Abstract:
Systems, devices, apparatus, kits and methods of attaching rigid panels over door and window openings of structures such as buildings and houses, with connecting adapters attached to the panels by fasteners, and a security rod slid into holes on the adapters with ends that abut against portions of the adjacent frames and casings about the openings. The fasteners can fasten the adapters to the outside of the rigid panels which cover the outer opening.

Description:
This application is a Divisional Patent Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/582,377 filed Dec. 14, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,169,689, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/921,228 filed Dec. 27, 2013. The entire disclosure of each of the applications listed in this paragraph are incorporated herein by specific reference thereto. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to securing openings, and in particular to systems, devices, apparatus, kits and methods of attaching rigid panels, over window and door openings of vacant and/or damaged buildings and houses, with connecting block adapters attached to the lower corners of the panels by fasteners, and security bars slid into holes on the adapters with ends that abut against portions of the adjacent frames and casings about the openings. 
     BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
     In the last decade, there has been an increase in the number of buildings and houses, where the property owner has left the property due to property owners defaulting on loans that are higher than the actual value of the property, and/or leaving properties that have been damaged by storms, or vandalism, and the like. As such, lenders and mortgage companies have the need for property preservation to secure the empty and vacant buildings and houses. 
     Vacant structures often have broken windows, which are an attractive nuisance for vagrants, criminals and children that can result in thefts and destruction of interiors of the structures, as well as be unsafe and dangerous to persons entering the property 
     Boarding up openings with plywood and traditional shutters, can be both expensive, and time consuming. Additionally, using fasteners, such as nails, screws, bolts to directly attach boards and shutters can cause further damage to the property. 
     Additionally, boards and shutters are generally opaque and do not allow light therethrough. As such, the interiors of the structures are darkened which can result in further problems by having darkened interiors at all times. 
     Furthermore, the use of boards and shutters gives an immediate indication to a passerby that the property is vacant, which further attracts vagrants, criminals and children that can cause undesirable problems such as damage to the property. 
     Still furthermore, the appearance of boarded up windows and opaque shutters are both unsightly and can lower the property values for the buildings and houses. 
     As such, there exists a need to allow for simple and easy securing of the buildings and houses for property preservation. Additionally, there is a need for securing openings to the property with panels that are transparent and let light into the structures, and can give the appearance of the property not being vacant. 
     Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary objective of the present invention is to provide systems, devices, apparatus, kits and methods of attaching transparent plastic panels over door and window openings of vacant buildings and houses, with connecting block adapters attached to the lower corners of the panels by fasteners, and security bars slid into holes on the adapters with ends that abut against portions of the adjacent frames and casings about the openings. 
     A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide systems, devices, apparatus, kits and methods for securing openings such as windows and doors of vacant and/or damaged buildings and houses that can be easily attached without causing permanent damage to the openings. 
     A third objective of the present invention is to provide systems, devices, apparatus, kits and methods for securing openings such as windows and doors of vacant and/or damaged buildings and houses that is easily and inexpensively attached to the openings. 
     A fourth objective of the present invention is to provide systems, devices, apparatus, kits and methods for securing openings such as windows and doors of vacant and/or damaged buildings and housings, using transparent panels to allow light inside. 
     A fifth objective of the present invention is to provide systems, devices, apparatus, kits and methods for securing openings such as windows and doors of vacant and/or damaged buildings and houses, that gives the appearance of the openings not being vacant nor boarded up or closed with shutters. 
     A sixth objective of the present invention is to provide systems, devices, apparatus, kits and methods for securing openings such as windows and doors of vacant and/or damaged buildings and houses, that is not unsightly and does not result in lowering of the property value of the buildings and houses. 
     A securing system for covering openings to buildings and housings, can include a rigid plastic panel sized to cover at least one exterior opening through a frame casing to a structure, at least one pair of securing block adapters, each being sized to overlap both left and right corners of the transparent plastic panel and portions of the frame casing, fasteners for attaching the transparent plastic panel to portions of the block adapters, and a securing bar attached to other portions of the block adapters, so that the transparent plastic panel is on an exterior side of the structure opening and the block adapter with securing bar are on an interior side of the structure opening. 
     The panel can be selected from at least one of a solid acrylic material, a solid transparent resinous material, or a transparent polycarbonate material. 
     Each of the block adapters each can include a first opening for a fastener, and a second opening perpendicular to the fastener opening for allowing a portion of the securing bar to be inserted therein. 
     The block adapters can include materials selected from wood, stainless steel, galvanized metal and aluminum. The block adapters can be formed from rigid plastic material identical to the rigid plastic panel. 
     The structure opening can include a window having glass attached to the frame casing. 
     The fasteners can include bolts and nuts, and/or screws and nuts. 
     A method of securing openings on structures, can include the steps of sizing a rigid plastic panel to fit over an opening to a structure, providing at least a pair of securing block adapters, providing at least one securing bar, positioning the rigid transparent plastic panel over the exterior of the structure opening, positioning one of the securing block adapters to overlap over a lower left corner portion of an interior to the structure opening and over a portion of a lower left corner of a frame casing about the structure opening, positioning another one of the block adapters to overlap over a lower right corner portion of an interior to the structure opening and over a portion of a lower right corner of a frame casing about the structure opening, attaching the block adapters to the sized rigid plastic panel with fasteners, and sliding the securing bar through openings in the block adapters so that ends of the block adapters abut against portions of the frame casing on both sides of the structure opening, wherein the structure opening is securely covered and protected by the rigid transparent plastic panel. 
     The plastic panel can be selected from a solid transparent acrylic material, a solid transparent resinous material, or a transparent polycarbonate material. 
     Each of the block adapters can include a first through-hole for the fastener, and a second through-hole perpendicular to the first through-hole for the securing bar. 
     The block adapters can include materials selected from wood, stainless steel, galvanized metal and aluminum. 
     The block adapters can be formed from rigid plastic material identical to the rigid plastic panel. 
     The structure opening can include a window having glass in the frame casing. 
     The fasteners can include bolts and nuts and/or screws and nuts. 
     A protection kit for covering openings to buildings and housings, can include a rigid plastic panel sized to cover at least one exterior opening through a frame casing to a structure, at least one pair of securing block adapters, each being sized to overlap both left and right corners of the plastic panel and portions of the frame casing, fasteners for attaching the transparent plastic panel to portions of the block adapters, and a securing bar attached to other portions of the block adapters, so that the transparent plastic panel is on an exterior side of the structure opening and the block adapter with securing bar are on an interior side of the structure opening. 
     Each of the block adapters can include a first opening for a fastener, and a second opening perpendicular to the fastener opening for allowing a portion of the securing bar to be inserted therein. 
     Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the novel block adapters, with fasteners and securing bar and plastic sheet for use with protecting window openings to a building or house. 
         FIG. 2A  is an enlarged upper front left perspective view of a novel block adapter of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2B  is an upper front right perspective view of the block adapter of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 2C  is another left front perspective view of the block adapter of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 2D  is a front view of the block adapter of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 3  is a partial perspective interior view of a window opening to a building or house with the novel block adapters and securing bar and fasteners of  FIG. 1  on the inside of the opening, with exterior plastic panel on outside of window opening. 
         FIG. 4  is an interior view of the window opening with block adapters, securing bar and fasteners on the window opening of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an exterior view of the window opening with block adapters, securing bar and fasteners on the window opening of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart of the installation steps to install a transparent plastic panel over an opening shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , using the connecting block adapters. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     In the Summary above and in the Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features (including method steps) of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally. 
     In this section, some embodiments of the invention will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime notation is used to indicate similar elements in alternative embodiments. 
     The components will now be described.
       10  fasteners such as carriage bolt(s) and screws     12  fastener head(s)     14 . threads     16  washer(s)     18  nut(s)     20  bar/pipe     22  caps     30  plastic sheet/panel     100  block adapter(s)     110  flat front face     112  convex curved top     115  fastener through-hole     118  convex curved bottom     120  flat rear face     130  left flat side     135  securing bar through-hole     140  right flat side     200  assembled view     210  interior window frame/casing     220  exterior window opening     225 . existing glass in window opening   

       FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the novel block adapters  100 , with fasteners  10 , and securing bar  20  and plastic sheet/panel  30  for use with protecting window openings to a building or house.  FIG. 2A  is an enlarged upper front left perspective view of a novel block adapter  100  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2B  is an upper front right perspective view of the block adapter  100  of  FIG. 2A .  FIG. 2C  is another left front perspective view of the block adapter  100  of  FIG. 2A .  FIG. 2D  is a front view of the block adapter  100  of  FIG. 2A . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2D , the invention can include a pair of fasteners  10 , bar/pipe  20 , a pair of block adapters  100 , and a plastic sheet/panel  30 . The fasteners  10  can include carriage type bolts, with enlarged heads  12 , threaded sides  14 , washers  16  and nuts  18 . Other types of fasteners, such as screws and the like, can also be used. 
     The securing bar  20  can an elongated metal pipe, and the like, that can be solid or hollow. Additionally, a solid plastic rod/bar can be used as well as PVC, and the like. 
     The plastic sheet panel  30  can be formed from polycarbonate material, and be sized to cover the opening to a window. The rigid transparent plastic panels  30 , that can be used with the invention, include but are not limited to a rigid transparent plastic, such as but not limited to a solid transparent acrylic material, a solid transparent resinous material, or a transparent polycarbonate material, such as those sold under the trade names of LEXAN®, PLEXIGLASS® and the like, can be used. 
     Each of the block adapter(s)  100 , can have a flat front face  110 , convex curved top  112 , fastener through-hole  115 , convex curved bottom  118 , flat rear face  120 , left flat side  130 , securing bar through-hole  135 , and a right flat side  140 . 
     The novel connecting block adapters  100  can have a generally rectangular block configuration and be approximately 1½ inches wide by approximately 2 inches tall by approximately 1½ inches thick. Other dimensions can be sized as needed. The connecting block adapters  100  can have two through-holes  115 ,  135 , each perpendicular to one another as shown. A hole  115  for the fastener  10  can be approximately ½ inch in diameter, and the perpendicular hole  135  for a securing bar  20  can be approximately ¾ inch in diameter. The securing bar  20  can be a metal bar or pipe having an outer diameter sized to fit into the securing bar hole  135  in the connecting block, and be long enough to be wider than the width of the window opening. 
     The novel connecting block adapters  100  can be formed from plastic, wood, and metal, such as but not limited stainless steel, galvanized metal, aluminum, and the like. Additionally, the connector block adapters  100  can be formed from the same transparent material as the rigid transparent panels  30 . The connector block adapters  100  can each be solid, honeycomb inside, or hollow. 
       FIG. 3  is a partial perspective interior assembled view of a window opening  220  to a building or house with the novel block adapters  100  and securing bar  20  and fasteners  10  of  FIG. 1  on the inside of the opening, with exterior plastic panel  30  on outside of window opening.  FIG. 4  is an interior view of the window opening  220  with block adapters  100 , securing bar  20  and fasteners  10  and exterior plastic panel  30  on the window opening  220  of  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 5  is an exterior view of the window opening  220  with block adapters  100 , securing bar  20  and fasteners  10  with plastic panel  30  on the window opening  220  of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart of the installation steps to install a transparent plastic panel  30  over an opening shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , using the connecting block adapters  100 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , an opening  220 , such as a window opening in a building structure or house structure having broken glass  225 , needs to be secured. The novel invention can install rigid transparent or opaque plastic panels  30  over the exterior of window openings  220  using the novel connecting block adapters  100 . 
     The installer measures the window opening  220  to determine the size of the rigid transparent plastic panel  30  that is needed. The correct size is cut to cover part or the entire glass area  225  of the window opening  220 . Next, the installer places the cut panel  30  over the exterior of the glass area  225  of the window opening  220 . 
     Next, the installer places the novel connecting block adapters  100  on the bottom left and bottom right of the interior of the window opening  220 , so that the connecting block adapters  100  overlap the bottom frame or casing of the window opening  220 . The connecting block adapters  100  can be oriented vertically, or horizontally or even at an angle as needed. 
     Next, the installer will drill holes using a drill through the fastener hole(s)  115  of the connecting block adapter  100  and through the transparent plastic panels  30 . A hole size in the plastic panels  30  can be approximately ½ inch. Alternatively, the connecting block adapters  100  can only have a securing bar hole  135 , so that the fastener hole(s)  115  are drilled also therethrough. 
     Next, fasteners  10  such as bolts with nuts with washer(s)  16  can be used to secure the connecting block adapters  100  to the inside of the window and opening  220 . The securing bar  20  can be slid through both connecting securing bar holes  135  in the connecting block adapters  100  so that outer ends of the securing bar  20  abut against interior portions of the frame/casing  210  on both sides of the window opening  220 . Caps  22  can be used on the outer ends of the bar  20 . 
     As a result, the exterior transparent plastic panel  30  can be sandwiched between the bolt head(s)  12  of the fasteners  10  and the securing bar  20 . The bolt heads  12  can be on the outside of the window opening  220  and the nuts  18  on the inside rotated about the threads  14  of the fasteners  10 . Alternatively, bolt heads  12  can be on the inside and nuts  18  on the outside. Additionally, washers  16 , such as but not limited to locking washers can also be used as needed with the fasteners  10 . Additionally, other types of fasteners  10  can be used, such as but not limited to carriage bolts, and screws, and the like. 
     In the preferred embodiment, other generic types of fasteners  10 , such as but not limited to bolts, screws and the like, can also be used on the top edge(s) of the transparent plastic panel  30  to attach the panel to the frame/casing  210 , without using the novel connecting block adapters  100 . Additionally, the novel connecting block adapters  100  with another securing bar  20  can also be placed over the top right and top left transparent plastic panels  30  and similarly attached so that four block adapters  100  and two securing bars  20  can be used. The transparent rigid plastic panels  30  can be easily removed from covering the opening(s) by reversing the installation steps referenced above. 
     The connecting block adapters  100  can be an object of suitable size, shape, material and strength, intended to accept a threaded or unthreaded fastener in order to secure a cover over an opening. The connecting block adapters  100  can utilize holes of suitable size to insert a securing bar and the above mentioned fastener. 
     The fasteners  10  can be passed through the primary surface, the covering, to be secured. As mentioned, fastener holes  115  and/or securing bar holes  135  of suitable size can be drilled through the primary surface to allow the fasteners  10  to pass through. A suitable stop is on, or must be placed on the fastener to prevent it from going through the primary surface. The number of holes drilled and the number of connecting block adapters  100  used depends on the size of the opening to be covered and the type of covering material used. 
     The connecting block adapters  100  are generally placed over the securing bar  20 . The securing bar  20  must be of sufficient length to allow it to span greater than the width of the window opening  220 . The fasteners  10  that have already passed through the primary surface are then passed through the connecting block adapters  100  and secured against the surface with whatever pin, washer, nut, or other component required by the fasteners  10 . The fasteners  10  can then be tightened against the connecting block adapters  100  to cause the securing bar  20  to tighten against the side surfaces of the opening  220  thereby drawing the primary surface (the cover) tightly against the opposite side of the opening. 
     Although the connecting block adapters  100  shown have a generally rectangular configuration, other geometrical shapes can be used 
     Although the openings described in the preferred embodiment in relation to the Figures show a window opening, the invention can be used with other openings, such as but not limited to openings for doors and the like. 
     While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.