Abstract:
A security grille and frame construction provides a frame which can be connected to a building around a window. The frame preferably provides a front overhang assisting in defining a channel into which the grille is directed at a first side, such as the top. The grille has a second side opposite the first side when installed which has a security fastener with a shaft which can be cut by emergency personnel in the event of an emergency so the grille can be removed from the frame. A reflective exterior surface such as on a spacer may assist in locating the shaft. An adjustable leg may assist in holding the grille during cutting to prevent binding of the cutting tool.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/469,264 filed Mar. 30, 2011. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a security grille and frame system, and more preferably to a frame that is configured to be placed on an exterior of a building external to a window and then provide a security grille within the frame which is preferably both easy to install and then readily removable by emergency personnel, if necessary. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various companies have made security windows and security grilles of various constructions. 
     However, the applicant believes room for improvement still exists in this area. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a present object of the present invention to provide an improved frame and grille structure for various applications. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a frame and security grille system which, for many embodiments provides security and/or shrapnel protection while still providing relatively ready access for emergency responding personnel. 
     In accordance with many embodiments of the present invention, a frame is provided as a component which preferably easily installable external to a window. The frame may be constructed principally of angle iron such as on three sides with a channel iron piece at the top which provides a front overhang. The frame may be provided with a series of bores provided for easy connection such as with a quarter inch tress head lag or other fastener such as at predetermined spacing intervals. The front overhang in the top portion preferably cooperates with an upper portion of a security grille to provide a channel into which the top portion of the security grille can be installed into while preventing outward removal at the top of the security grille. The bottom portion of the grille is preferably configured to fit within the bottom portion of the frame and then have adjustable connectors or legs to at least temporarily support the grille internal the frame. Then, connectors like a bolt or other connector such as one insert through a spacer can then connect the grille to the frame such as through a nut tack welded to the frame and grille so it cannot be easily removed. Alternatively, a round bolt head could be utilized externally so there is no grip. 
     Meanwhile the spacer and possibly reflector material provides a location which may be easy to identify to allow emergency personnel to cut through the bolt in case of emergency so that the grille can then be easily removed relative to the frame for access and/or fire fighting. The legs can support the grille once the connectors are cut to prevent binding on a cutting tool. 
     The adjustable connectors may at least temporarily support the grille can be adjustable glide bolts or other connectors which may provide an adjustable foot so that the grille can be slid into a desirable position and then the foot extended to contact the bottom frame portion during installation until the more permanent connectors can be installed for security or other purposes as described above. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The particular features and advantages of the invention as well as other objects will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of a window frame and security grille combination prior to installing the frame and security grille relative to the window; 
         FIG. 2  shows a plan view of the grille installed relative to the frame in an installed configuration; 
         FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 5  shows a detailed cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  shows a portion of a building  8  having a window  6  typically boarded by trim  4 . Trim  4 , of course, could be a portion of exterior portion of the building  8 . Trim  4  is some part of the building  8  external to the transparent material forming window  6  such as glass, plastic or other material. 
     External to window  6  relative to inside of building  8  is preferably installed the frame and grille system  10  of the presently preferred embodiment. Frame and grille system  10  is comprised of a frame  12  and a grille  14 . The frame  12  may be comprised of four frame members such as side members  16 , 18  which connect to top and bottom members  20 , 22 . Side members  16 , 18  may be somewhat similarly constructed as bottom member  22  in a preferred embodiment or may be differently constructed in other embodiments. Top member  22  may have a slightly different construction as will be discussed in detail below for at least some embodiments. Lengths and widths may be selected as needed as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     Side members  16 , 18  as well as bottom member  22  may be constructed of angle iron type material and preferably provided with a plurality of bores such as spaced apart bores  24 , 26 , 28 , 30 , 32  which may be at designated locations and/or spacings. While angle iron can be welded such as at corners  34 , 36  or otherwise as will be understood by those or ordinary skill in the art. In a presently preferred embodiment the angle iron employed is a 2×2×⅛″ steel angle. Other embodiments may have other constructions for the side and bottom members  16 , 18  and  22 . 
     Top member  20  may have a slightly different construction, such as made out of a 2×⅛″ channel. The angle and channel members may be steel or other appropriate constructions such as aluminum alloy or other material. Connectors such as connectors  38  illustrated as bolts or other fasteners such as ¼ truss head lags which could be directed through the bores such as bores  24 , 26 , 28 , 30 , 32  and into the trim  4  or other portion of the building  8  as desired to secure the frame  12  about the window  6 . It is preferred that an interior perimeter  40  of frame  12  circumscribe (i.e., completely surround) the exterior perimeter  42  of the transparent member of the window  6  for the preferred embodiment. Other embodiments may have other constructions. 
     After installing the frame  12  to the trim  4 , the grille  14  may be installed relative to the frame  12 . Specifically, as may be better seen with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the grille  14  may be comprised of edge members  44 , 46 , 48 , 50 . The edge members can be any particular size as desired to fit in the frame  12 . It is understood that the frame members  16 , 18 , 20 , 22  and edge members  44 , 46 , 48 , 50  can be any size to accommodate the window  6 . 
     Many of the frame members  16 , 18 , 20 , 22  could be made of angle iron and/or channel iron such as shown in  FIG. 3  which can be welded to a mesh  52  so that the mesh provides at least one of a security and/or safety barrier possibly together with the edge members  46 , 48 , 50 , 52 . 
     The mesh  52  may be a ¾×9 expanded metal mesh or other appropriate structure. As can be seen from  FIG. 3 , the upper edge member  44  can be inserted in the channel  54  as defined by the downwardly extending legs  56 , 58  which downwardly extend relative to cross members  60  of the top member  20  forming the frame  12 . The exterior downward leg  56  preferably prevents outward removal of at least a portion of the upper edge member  44 . 
     In order to secure the bottom portion of the grille  14  to the frame  12 , the applicant provides what is believed to be a unique configuration. Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 5 , an adjustable glide bolt  62  may be employed which is received within nut  64  and the threads  66  can allow the foot  68  to be moved upwardly or downwardly as it is rotated relative to nut  64 . The nut  64  may be welded to the bottom edge member  48  until the foot  68  supports the weight of the grille  14  in a desired position with the upper edge  44  preferably located above a bottom  70  of the leg  56  so that it cannot be outwardly removed. In fact, it may be desirable for the upper surface  72  of the upper edge member  44  to contact the lower surface  74  of the cross member  60  in some embodiments. 
     With the grille  14  in a desired location, the security fasteners  76  may be installed relative to the lower edge member  48  and the bottom frame member  22 . A spacer  78  may be located about a shaft  84  of fastener between lower edge members  48  and bottom frame member  22 . The spacer  78  and/or shaft  84  may be painted OSHA yellow or other color. The spacer  78  may be a PVC or nylon spacer. The spacer  78  may alert emergency responding personnel as to where cuts can quickly be made to allow the grille  14  to be removed relative to the frame  12  for emergency access and/or fire fighting. Although the head of the fastener  76  is illustrated as having angled surfaces for being able to turn which could be the case particularly if the nut  82  is welded to the shaft  84  after installation, other constructions such as locking constructions may be provided. It is preferable for some embodiments that fastener  76  may not be removed without cutting through the sleeve  79  and the shaft  84  running through the sleeve  78 . By maintaining the foot  68  in contact with the bottom frame member  22 , the grille  14  does not then drop to the ground or the bottom frame member  22 , but instead may then be relatively easily slid out of position by the emergency responding personnel off of the bottom frame member  22 . 
     The mesh  52  or other grille construction such as expanded metal can be tack welded to the edge members  44 , 46 , 48 , 50  such as every two inches or otherwise securely connected  32  thereto. 
     Although the channel piece forming the top member  20  is shown, top member  20  could be any of the four members  16 , 18 , 20 , 22  of the frame  12  and it would be understood that the similarly connected fasteners  76  could be connected opposite the channel member. The applicant has found that this construction works particularly well in many applications. However, those of ordinary skill in the art would realize that other constructions could be possible for other embodiments. 
     By providing the glide bolts  62 , when the emergency responding personnel such as a fire fighter cuts through the fasteners  76 , the grille  12  does not drop down on the blade of the saw or cutting tool. Those of ordinary skill in the art will see that the fastener such as glide bolt  62  could facilitate supporting the grille  14  relative to the frame  12  while not pinching the saw during cutting. 
     In addition to providing a reflective surface as a portion, reflective and/or colored portion, the sleeve  68  could also be provided with shaft  84  and/or sleeve  78 . Reflective tape or other material and/or paint could be utilized to facilitate identification of the cut points (i.e., the sleeves  78 ) in the dark. Two spaced apart fasteners  76  with sleeves  78  are believed to be sufficient for many embodiments with two feet  68 . The feet  68  and fasteners  76  are symmetrically disposed relative to the grille  14  in this embodiment and the feet  68  are externally disposed relative to the fasteners  76  relative to a center axis of the grille  14  as shown 
     Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to the preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.