Protective device for window openings

The invention is a system for attaching a protective netting over windows. A main netting portion is made of nylon mesh and reinforced along its edges with nylon portions in the form of straps. Screws or other means of secure attachment are used to secure the bottom edge of the main portion to the area below the window. The screws are placed through in the strap that reinforces the bottom edge. A pair of upper straps secure the upper portion of the netting to the area above the window. Each strap is in connection with a clip that is secured to an eyelet on the wall of the building. Other means for connection of the upper straps are disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to the field of protective devices and in particular 
to a netting and supporting features that are used to support a netting 
over a window opening. Many times small children have been found to have 
fallen out of open windows. Oftentimes, such windows are in large high 
rise buildings and of course the consequences of falling out of a window 
in such a building can be fatal. It is believed that many children may be 
saved by placing a protective netting over the window to allow air and 
light to pass through while preventing children from falling out. 
Such a protective netting should have some means to allow the netting to be 
removed in the event of fire or other emergency that mandates that the 
occupants leave the house or building through the window. By using readily 
detachable clips that are in turn secured to the wall of the building, a 
secure means may be had for attaching the upper part of the netting to the 
building and still allowing this part to be removed by an adult in case of 
emergency. It is not believed that small children will be able to reach up 
to this area where the upper straps are secured and also that they will 
not understand how to undo the clips. Thus, the upper portions will not be 
readily detachable by a child. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
While there are protective devices used to keep workmen etc. from falling 
off of buildings, there are no devices known to the applicant that protect 
people from falling out of windows. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention is a system for supporting a netting over an otherwise open 
window to protect small children as well as other people from falling out 
of windows. A main netting portion is preferably made of a rather fine 
nylon mesh and is reinforced along its edges with nylon straps. Screws are 
used to secure the bottom edge of the netting to the area below the 
window. The screws are placed through eyelets in the strap that reinforces 
the bottom edge. A pair of upper straps secure the upper portion of the 
netting to the area above the window. Each strap is in connection with a 
readily detachable clip or other such means that is secured to an eyelet 
on the wall of the building. 
It is an object of the invention to provide a protective netting over a 
window to prevent children as well as other people from falling out of 
open windows. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a protective netting over 
open windows that may easily be opened in the event the occupants of the 
building need to get out through the window. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a protective netting for 
windows that will be of small enough mesh to prevent children from placing 
their hands through the netting. 
Other objectives of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in 
the art once the invention has been shown and described.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The overall construction of the apparatus is as shown in FIG. 1. The main 
netting portion (2, 4, 13, 14) is of generally rectangular shape in order 
to conform to the dimensions of most windows. The size of the netting may 
vary depending on the size of the window that is to be covered. 
It is preferred that the netting be made of a thin nylon mesh 2 and that 
the outer edges of the main portion be nylon straps 4, 13, 14 which serve 
to reinforce the edges of the netting. The straps may also cross the 
netting in gridiron fashion to further reinforce the netting. It is 
thought that the use of a rather small mesh will prevent things from 
getting caught in the netting which may otherwise lead to small children 
having their attention drawn to the netting. 
The upper portion of the netting should be secured to the frame 12 of the 
window by sturdy and relatively easy to open means such as clips 10 in 
case the occupants need to exit through the window in the case of fire, 
etc. Those members 5 used to secure the bottom of the netting are referred 
to as the lower securing means and those used to secure the top of the 
netting are called the upper securing means. 
The bottom edge of the netting should be attached closely to the area 
around the bottom of the window. The netting, in other words, should be 
flush with the surface of the window frame (or the wall) or as flush as 
possible. The bottom edge is preferably secured with screws 5 that are 
placed through reinforced eyelets in the bottom edge 13 of the netting (or 
in small straps in close connection with the bottom edge) and then into 
the wall or frame. 
The eyelets may be reinforced with e.g. metal washers and may be placed in 
the nylon strap 13 that goes along the bottom edge. Eyelets are used to 
prevent wear and tear on the netting. The use of the screws allows the 
netting to be closely secured to the area beneath the window by screwing 
the netting tightly to the wood or other material found there. These lower 
securing means are not meant to be readily detachable-in contrast to the 
upper means which are meant to be readily detachable by an adult in the 
event of emergency. 
The netting may be emplaced by first attaching the lower securing means 
i.e. the aperture is drilled into the wall of the building in the window 
frame area. The lower portion is then secured by the screws 5 placed in 
through the eyelets and screwed into place. The upper straps 7 are then 
attached to e.g. dog clips 10 that are connected to eyelets 8 already in 
place in the frame or wall. 
The upper securing members (8, 10) of the netting should be secured to the 
area around the window in a manner that allows it to be easily released in 
case of emergency. A pair of upper straps 7 of nylon or other material may 
be used to connect the upper edge of the netting to the clips. "Upper" is 
used to distinguish these straps from those that are used to reinforce the 
edges of the netting. The two upper straps 7 are connected at one end to a 
strap 14 bordering the upper edge of the netting. At the other end, the 
straps are attached to detachable clips e.g dog clips 10 shown in FIG. 1. 
Such clips should be relatively easy for adults to use and relatively 
difficult for infants (e.g. 6 years of age and younger) to undo. 
The upper straps 7 should be at least 18" in height so that they may be 
attached to the frame or wall at a point (roughly analogous to 8) some 
distance above the lower window pane 15 so that they will be out of the 
reach of small children. In this manner, the straps will be difficult for 
a child to remove as the upper securing means would then also be 18" above 
the window. 
The eyelets and the dog clips means may be made of any rigid materials. 
Probably steel and other metals would be useful in this regard. There can 
be any number of lower and upper attaching means. It is thought that two 
upper straps would be preferred but more can be used. 
An alternate type of clip that may find use for the upper attaching means 
is known as an adjustable release buckle, see FIG. 2. One portion 22 has 
two projecting ends 20 that are slightly pointed so that they may be 
inserted into a second portion 26 having an opening 28 for the first. The 
projecting ends may be flexed left or right by squeezing on their sides. 
To attach the two portions to one another, the portion 22 is inserted into 
26, the projecting portions flex inward as they are inserted and then flex 
outward as they lock into place they will be inserted through the opening 
28 and remain in place with each projecting member at one side of 26. This 
locks them into place. 
To separate the two members, the projecting portions are squeezed (when 
locked these portions are found at either side of 26) to release them from 
26. If the sides are not squeezed the insertion end cannot be removed and 
the strap cannot be released. It is believed that this sort of action will 
prevent infants and small children from detaching the upper straps from 
the frame or wall. Other types of clips may also be used without violating 
the spirit of the invention.