Storm panel assembly for covering a window or door opening

A plurality of elongated panels of light transmitting plastics sheet material each have longitudinally extending parallel spaced ribs and longitudinally extending co-planner opposite edge portions. An elongated support member for each panel has a base portion secured to the opposite edge portions of the panel adjacent the upper end portion of the panel and includes a hook portion adapted to engage a hook-shaped support rail mounted on a building over a window or door opening. Each hook portion has end surfaces recessed inwardly from opposite edge surfaces of the panel and provide for overlapping edge portions of adjacent panels. The lower end portion of an outer panel is supported by a sill bracket mounted on the building under the opening and receives a U-shaped track member secured to the panel. The bracket and track member are connected by pull pins located within the ribs of the outer panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to hurricane and storm shutter or panel assemblies including elongated corrugated panels of sheet material which may be light transmitting and which are used for temporarily covering a window or exterior door opening within a building in preparation of heavy storms and impacts such as produced by a hurricane. Examples of such storm shutter or panel assemblies are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,878,536, 4,333,271, 5,345,716, 5,457,921, 5,487,244, 5,651,221, 5,855,099, 5,996,292, 6,079,168, 6,189,264 and 6,615,555. In any such storm shutter or panel assembly, it is desirable for the assembly to be easily and quickly installed over a door or window opening and for the panels to be conveniently and easily removed after the forces of impacts and windloading has ceased.

Once a panel assembly has been installed on a building over an exterior door opening or window opening of the building, it is frequently desirable for the storm panels to be conveniently removed from inside the building through the opening and to be reinstalled from within the building through the opening without the requirement of a ladder, especially on a second floor level or above. In addition to the above desirable features, it is desirable for the installed panel assembly to be architecturally pleasing and to meet all of the building codes on repetitive impacts and cyclic windloading as well as provide for quick removal of a panel from inside the building for escape through the window or door opening if it becomes necessary to vacate the building.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an improved storm panel assembly of the general type disclosed in the above mentioned patents and which provides all of the desirable features mentioned above. In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a plurality of elongated panels are formed from the sheet material having a uniform thickness and which is preferably light transmitting. Each panel has longitudinally extending and parallel spaced ribs to form a corrugated cross-sectional configuration and also has co-planar longitudinal opposite edge portions which are also co-planar with a longitudinal center portion.

A support member is mounted on the upper end portion of each panel and is attached to the opposite edge portions and center portion of the panel. The support member includes an upper hook portion having opposite end surfaces recessed laterally inwardly from the longitudinal edge surfaces of the panel. The hook portion of each panel engages a hook-shaped support rail mounted on the building above the opening and provides for overlapping longitudinal edge portions of adjacent panels. The lower edge portion of each outer panel is supported by a sill bracket mounted on the building and projecting under the ribs of an outer panel, and an elongated track member is secured to the lower end portion of an outer panel and receives the support bracket. A pair of pull pins are located within the ribs of the outer panel and secure the track member to the bracket and provide for quick removal of the outer panel for escape from the building.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIG. 1, a storm panel assembly10includes a plurality of elongated panels12each of which is vacuum-formed from a sheet of substantially rigid light transmitting or clear transparent plastics material such as polycarbonate. Each of the panels12is formed with a pair of parallel spaced and longitudinally extending ribs14which have a trapezoid cross-sectional configuration, as shown inFIG. 5, and project from longitudinally extending co-planar flat edge portions16and a flat center portion18which is co-planar with the edge portions16. The panel assembly10is constructed to cover a door or window opening20within a residence or building22and is used to protect the window or door and the contents of the building during a heavy windstorm and impacts such as occur during a hurricane.

An elongated support rail or member24is attached to the upper end portion of each panel12and is formed from an extrusion of rigid material such as aluminum. Each support member24includes a longitudinally extending flat base portion26which is secured to the upper end portion of the panel12by a set of flat head threaded fasteners or screws28(FIG. 3) and wing nuts29on top of washers31. Each support rail or member24also includes a longitudinally extending and upwardly projecting hook portion32which has an inverted J-shaped cross-sectional configuration. As shown inFIG. 1, the opposite end surfaces34of the hook portion32of each support member24are recessed laterally inwardly from the longitudinal edge surfaces36of the attached panel12.

As shown inFIG. 3, the support members24on the panels12hook onto an elongated J-shaped header track or rail40which is secured to a spacer member or tube42(FIG. 3) by longitudinally spaced self-tapping screws44. The spacer member or tube42is attached to the building22by longitudinally spaced anchor bolts46. The spacer tube42has longitudinally spaced clearance holes48which are aligned with the holes for the bolts46for securing the bolts46to the building with a socket wrench extending through the holes48which are covered by the rail40.

Referring toFIG. 1, three of the panels12are arranged so that two inner side panels12hook onto the rail40first, and then an outer center panel12hooks onto the rail40with the co-planar edge portions16of the center panel and the attached end portions of the support member24overlapping the panel edge portions16and the attached end portions of the support member24of the adjacent side panels12, as shown inFIG. 2. As also shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the recessed end surfaces34of the hook portions32provide for overlapping the edge portions16of the panels12and for overlapping of the opposite end portions of the base portion26attached to the panel edge portions16. Also, the flat head portions of the threaded fasteners or screws28face inwardly on the center panel12and outwardly on the adjacent side panels12to provide for overlapping the edge portions16of the panels. The hook portion32of the support member24on the center panel has sufficient depth to provide for overlapping the panel edge portions16.

Referring toFIGS. 1,4and5, a horizontal right angle sill bracket55is attached to the outer surface of the building22below the opening20by a series of longitudinally spaced anchor bolts57, and the bracket55extends under each of the panels12. The lower end portion of each of the inner side panels12is attached to the bracket55by a corresponding conventional angle track60, commonly referred to as a reverse F-track. The track60has a longitudinally extending under-cut groove or recess62which receives the square or hex head of a set of three bolts64which extend through corresponding holes within the lower end portions of the panel edge portions16and center portion18of each inner side panel12. The outer end portions of the bolt64receive corresponding flat washers31and wing nuts29to secure the lower end portion of each side panel12to the corresponding angle bracket60which is attached by bolts (not shown) to the sill bracket55.

As also shown inFIGS. 1,4and5, a lower end portion of the outer center panel12receives an extruded aluminum elongated track member70having parallel spaced outer flange72and inner flange73. The outer flange72is secured to the ribs14by flat head bolts28, washers31and wing nuts29. The inner flange73is secured to the center portion18of the center panel12also by a pair of flat head bolts28, washers31and wing nuts29. The lower end portion of the track member20has parallel spaced and integrally connected walls76and77which define a slot or groove78for receiving the outer end portion of the sill bracket50. The track member70is rigidly secured or connected to the sill bracket55by a pair of pull pins80which are located within the ribs14, as shown inFIG. 5. Each of the pull pins80has an upper ring82which is adapted to be gripped from inside the building through the opening20when it is desired to pull the pins80and release the track member70from the sill bracket55.

From the drawings and the above description, it is apparent that a storm panel assembly constructed and installed in accordance with the invention, provides all of the desirable features and advantages mentioned above. More specifically, after the top support rail40and the lower sill bracket55are attached to the outer surface of the building above and below the window or door opening20, the panels12may be quickly and conveniently attached or hooked onto the rail40with the edge portions16of the panels overlapping so that the overlapping edge portions16of the panels reinforce the assembly. Furthermore, when a set of three panels12are used to cover an opening20, as shown inFIGS. 1 & 2, the outer center panel12is positively connected to the sill bracket55by the track member70and the pull pins82. As a result, the center panel12may be conveniently and quickly installed on the header rail40and sill bracket55from inside the building through the opening20simply by hooking on the top portion of the center panel, sliding the sill bracket55into the groove78, and inserting the pull pins82.

In the event it is desired to remove the center panel quickly from inside the building and through the opening20, the pull pins82are pulled upwardly, and the lower end portion of the center panel12is pushed outwardly from the sill bracket55and unhooked from the rail40so that the center panel may be completely removed and placed outside or inside the building. If it is desired to have more or all of the panels12be installed and/or removable through the opening20from inside the building, a separate track member70may be attached to the lower end portion of each of the panels12and used in place of the angle tracks60. Thus after the header rail40and sill bracket55are once installed above and below a window on a floor above the ground floor, all of the panels12may be conveniently installed and removed from inside the building through the window opening20by attaching a track member70to the lower end portion of each panel12.

While the form of storm panel assembly herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of storm panel assembly, and that changes made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.