Safety guard

The present invention provides a children's safety guard apparatus for installation into the frame of a window. A plurality of preferably square guard bars disposed in spaced relationship are connected to two support members, which are secured to the frame of a window. The bars are adjustable to a predetermined length, comprising two elongated members, one slidably mated inside the other. A means for locking the members so as to prevent them from sliding together is mounted to at least one bar of the plurality, the means being attached to the smaller member abutting the larger member. The means for locking includes a flexible sleeve portion surrounded by a flexible grip having flanges that can be drawn together or released via a bolt extending through bolt holes in the flanges, the bolt having a head provided with a keyway that fits a key.

The present invention relates generally to a safety guard apparatus and 
more particularly to an improved adjustable safety guard apparatus for 
children for installation into the frame of a window or door. 
Increasing attention is being given to installing safety guards on windows 
and the like to which children have access, particularly in the large 
cities with apartments above one floor. The number of children being 
injured, maimed, or killed by falls from open windows or such apertures 
has been a problem for some time. A resistance to laws requiring 
installation of window safety devices has developed, however, in part 
because of problems associated with cost, general strength and reliabiliy, 
and ease of both installation and removal. 
Efforts have been made to overcome these difficulties and are known to 
those familiar with the art. One of the leading manufacturers of window 
guards, prior art apparatus, features childrens safety guards for double 
hung windows and another for casement windows. These guards are 
illustrated and described in the company catalogue. One set of three 
tubular horizontal members welded to two stiles is slidably interconnected 
with a second set of three tubular horizontal members also welded to two 
stiles. Each set is screwed to opposite sides of the window frame after 
being mounted in the window and slid into connecting position. This 
construction is amplified upon below, where an illustration of this 
apparatus is further described with reference to prior art FIG. 1. 
The above construction, while successful in performing certain desirable 
functions, such as adjustability to the width of a particular window, has 
several drawbacks. Briefly, these drawbacks are as follows. First, the 
apparatus is not easily removed since the frame screws holding the stiles 
to the frames must be unscrewed. Thus, easy placement and removal is, for 
practical purposes, eliminated. Yet, ease of removal and replacement is a 
desirable performance characteristic, since, for any number of reasons, 
such as varying use of particular rooms, the necessity of always having 
the guard installed can become a nuisance. Added to this is a reverse 
safety feature, such as easy access through the window, which is lacking 
when it must be unscrewed. To overcome this problem by providing the side 
stiles with screw head receiving holes with connecting screw slots for 
holding the stile to the frame allowing it to be sliding released by 
lifting the stile from the screw would not be practical, because, if once 
one set of horizontal members is lifted and released by accident, the 
entire apparatus will tend to slide, one portion into the other portion, 
and the entire apparatus becomes loose and hanging from the opposite stile 
screws. Thus, with a simple unintentional movement by a child, the entire 
apparatus becomes ready for collapse, possibly out of a multistory window. 
A second drawback of the Jaybil apparatus is that with the middle portion 
slidable in both directions, any pressure against the middle portion 
causes the horizontal members to move against the screws and a leverage of 
the screws from the frame occurs. This can of course tend to loosen the 
screws in the frame. A third drawback of the Jaybil apparatus, related to 
the above, is that it must be protected when mounted by fitting in channel 
stiles over the back track of double hung windows. Thus, the apparatus can 
only be placed on the outside of the window. This is further discussed 
below with reference to prior art FIG. 1. A fourth drawback of the Jaybil 
apparatus is that is must be used only in a horizontal mounting, that is, 
with the members, or bars, never oriented vertically. The reason for this 
is that, even if the top "side" stile were equipped at the top with side 
flanges for connecting to the window frame, the sheer weight of the top 
set of bars and stiles would cause an unchecked downward pull with only 
the flange screws holding up the entire apparatus. A fifth drawback of 
Jaybil is the aesthetic and the vision-blocking problems caused by the two 
middle vertical stiles. 
Prior art apparatus also advertise an adjustable childrens safety guard for 
casement windows with adjustable horizontal tubular members inserted into 
smaller horizontal tubular members each welded to opposed side stiles that 
are screwed or clipped to the sides of the casement frame. Although this 
model has no vertical middle stiles because of the shortness of the span, 
the same general comments apply to this design as to the design discussed 
above. 
Although the Jaybil Industry safety guards have certain advantages, the 
primary one being adjustability, they have the above discussed drawbacks. 
Added problems beyond the design problems discussed are those of the cost 
of manufacture, packaging, and shipping. That is to say, there is an 
obvious excess material factor for the horizontal members double over in 
the middle for no good safety reason, In addition, the two middle stiles 
likewise perform little useful function once the apparatus is installed, 
for their basic function is to provide adjustability to the apparatus. The 
extra stiles and unneeded horizontal member add material, weight, size, 
and complexity to the manufacturing and shipping process. 
My invention contemplates the elimination of most or all of the limitations 
and disadvantages in the present state of the art noted above. 
Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide an adjustable 
window guard with means for locking the guard bars into a predetermined 
position. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a means for 
transferring longitudinal thrust so that the guard bars can be mounted in 
a vertical position. 
It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide rigidity to 
the guard bars to prevent them from sliding together at their area of 
adjustability, thus preventing said bars from being shortened and aiding 
in maintaining the integrity of the fastening connections to the window 
frame and allowing placement of the apparatus inside as well as outside 
the window. 
It is another object of my invention to provide rigidity to the bars via a 
locking device thus allowing the apparatus to be used in windows of all 
types in varied positions with the bars either horizontal or vertical. 
It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a window safety 
apparatus that can be easily removed and replaced. 
It is yet another object of my invention to provide a window safety 
apparatus that can be easily locked into position with a key and can be 
unlocked with a key and easily removed. 
It is yet a further object of this invention to provide safety bars of 
rectangular configuration that act to prevent passage of a child between 
the bars. 
It is yet a further object of my invention to provide a window safety 
apparatus that maintains a relatively clear field of vision. 
It is still another object of my invention to provide a window safety 
apparatus having a plurality of single parallel bars that are adjustable 
and can be prevented from sliding together. 
It is still another object of my safety apparatus to provide a novel means 
of reducing cost of materials, manufacturing, weight, and shipping.

Reference is now made in more detail to the drawings. A brief description 
of the prior art childrens safety buted by Jaybil Industries Inc. shown in 
FIG. 1 will first be made in order to more clearly distinguish the 
improvements of thements of the present invention over the present state 
of the art. 
Prior art childrens safety guard apparatus 10 in FIG. 1 is mounted on the 
outside of double hung window 12 with outer upper window sash 14 holding 
upper pane 16 and inner lower window sash 18 (shown in raised position) 
holding lower pane 20. Window frame 22 and outer sill 24 are also shown 
set into house wall 25. Three horizontal members 26, 28, and 30 are welded 
to side stile 32 (hidden behind frame 10) and middle stile 34 to form 
first unit 36. Second unit 38 comprises three horizontal members 40, 42, 
and 44 welded to side stile 46 and middle stile 48. First and second units 
36 and 38 are slidingly joined to one another for purposes of 
adjustability to conform to different size windows. Specifically, first 
unit horizontal members 26, 28, 30 set through passages 50, 52, and 54 
formed in middle stile 48; and second unit 38 is joined to first unit 36 
via second unit horizontal members 40, 42, and 44 set through passages 56, 
58, and 60 formed in middle stile 34. Thus, the horizontal members of the 
first unit slide in passages in the middle stile of the second unit; and 
the horizontal members of the second unit slide in passages in the middle 
stile of the first unit. At the time of installation of the apparatus in 
the window, the side stile of either the first or second unit may be 
screwed to the window frame, for example, at screws 62, and 64 of side 
stile 46 of second unit 38, and then the other unit, for example, first 
unit 36, is adjusted to the width of the window the stile set flush to the 
window frame and screwed to the frame. The side stiles are channel members 
and with the channel 66 set over the back track 68 of the upper outside 
window. This positioning is necessary to aid in protecting the screws of 
the apparatus from being levered for it limits levering and in addition 
would keep the stile in position to some extent even if the screws failed. 
For this reason, the prior art apparatus can only be mounted on the 
outside of the window. 
FIG. 2 illustrates in a perspective view the childrens guard apparatus 70 
according to one embodiment of the present invention. Apparatus 70 is, 
like prior art apparatus 10, mounted on the outside of double hung window 
12 with outer upper sash 14, upper pane 16, inner lower sash 18, lower 
pane 20, window frame 22, outer sill 24, and upper window back track 68. 
FIG. 3 shows a top cross-sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2, 
including window sill 102 and pane putty 103. Four continous horizontal 
bars, preferably square in cross-section, namely upper bar 72, upper 
middle bar 74, lower middle bar 76, and lower bar 78 are shown disposed in 
spaced, approximately parallel relationship. The bars are spaced 
sufficiently far apart so as to prevent a small child from passing between 
the bars. The four bars each include two horizontal elongated members as 
follows. Upper bar 72 includes first horizontal member 80 in sliding 
connection with second horizontal member 82 with first member 80 rigidly 
connected to first side support member 84 and member 82 rigidly connected 
to second side support member 86. Horizontal members 72, 74, 76 and 78 are 
provided with vertical flanges disposed through side support members 84 
and 86 as portrayed in exemplary illustrations in the side view 
cross-section in FIG. 4 and an end view elevation in FIG. 6. In 
particular, vertical flanges 88 and 90 of horizontal member 82 are shown 
clasping side support element 86 inside of "U" channel 92 with horizontal 
member 82 passing through aperature 94. Thus first member 80 is rigidly 
connected to first side support element 84 (hidden in FIG. 2 by 
perspective and shown in FIG. 3) at first connecting end 96; and second 
member 82 is rigidly connected to second side support element 86 (shown in 
FIGS. 2 and 3) at second connecting end 98. 
First and second side support elements 84, 86 are positioned in window 
frame 22 outside back track 68 (in contrast to the mouning of prior art 
apparatus 10 in FIG. 1, which is shown with stile "U" channel 66 
positioned clasping back track 68). It is, of course, possible for side 
support elements 84, 86 of the present invention to straddle back track 68 
as does prior art apparatus 10, but positioning adjacent to outside back 
track 68 is shown in order to emphasize the greater possibilites of the 
present invention. With regard to this range, FIG. 3 illustrates a 
practical application of this greater range of possibilites of my 
invention. Shown in phantom illustration at the top of FIG. 3 is my 
apparatus 100 as it would be portrayed if it were shown mounted in FIG. 2 
inside the inner lower window sash 18, where no upper sash track passes. 
Here, inner sill 102 is shown and the frame supports 104, 106 adjoin the 
inner track (not shown) on which inner lower sash 18 rides. Phantom first 
support 108 and phantom second support 110 are shown positioned abutting 
frame supports 104, 106. Other related elements are noted in primes. 
First elongated member 80 has receiving end 112 opposed to its connecting 
end 96, and second elongated member 82 has inserting end 114 opposed to 
its connecting end 98. First member 80 is preferably hollow, that is, 
forms a longitudinal or elongated, central internal chamber 15 opening at 
least by way of aperature 116 at receiving end 112. Second member 82 at 
insertable end 114 is sized so as to be capable of being inserted into 
aperature 116 in sliding mating relationship with first member 80. As 
shown in the embodiment, both elongated members 80 and 82 are rectangular, 
that is, square as particularly shown, in cross-sectional outer 
configuration. Member 82 does not have to be hollow, but for reasons of 
cost and weight, member 82 is preferably hollow as illustrated in FIGS. 4, 
6, and 7. Members 80 and 82 are thus joinable and slidable back and forth, 
and upper bar 72 is thus adjustable to a predetermined length, and a first 
means for adjusting 118 is provided. The details of the above discussion 
are likewise fully applicable to the three remaining bars 74, 76, and 78, 
each having a first and second elongated member having a means for joining 
thus providing second, third and fourth means for adjusting 120, 122, and 
124 respectively. The four bars are, of course, a preferred embodiment and 
the number of bars may vary according to use. 
Apparatus 70 thus comprises two separate units, that is, a first unit 126 
including the four first elongated members; namely, upper member 80, upper 
middle member 130, lower middle member 132, and lower member 134, each 
connected, in the manner described with reference to member 80 to first 
side support element 84; and a second unit 128 including the four second 
elongated members, namely, upper member 82, upper middle member 136, lower 
middle member 138, and lower member 140, each connected, in the manner 
described with reference to member 82, to second side support element 86. 
In installation, the four first and second elongated members are slidingly 
mated to the four bars described, and apparatus 70 is placed into the area 
desired. Either first or second unit 126 or 128 is placed next to window 
frame 22 abutting (or straddling) back track 68 (or front track 104) with 
first or second side support elements 84 or 86 respectively hard against 
the frame. FIG. 2 shows second side support element 86, and, assuming that 
this was first placed into position, first unit 126 with first side 
support element 84 is slidingly adjusted to the full width of the window 
until it presses against the frame in an area opposing second support 
element 86, as indicated in FIG. 3. 
At least two screws for each side support are provided as exemplified by 
upper screw 142 and lower screw 144 provided for second side support 86 in 
FIG. 3 and in profile in FIG. 4. The two screws are then screwed into the 
frame. The frame may be either wood or metal and different techniques and 
equipment would be necessary for each. Screw holes are provided in support 
element 86 exemplified by upper screw hole 143. 
FIG. 6 illustrates an end view of a preferred embodiment of upper screw 
aperature 146 for upper screw 142 for affixing second side member to frame 
22. Aperature 146 includes overlapping upper screw-mounting slot, or hole, 
148 and lower screw-releasing slot, or hole, 150, comprising a preferred 
means for connecting elements 84 and 86 to the window frame when the bars 
of the apparatus are horizontal. (When the bars are vertical, flanges with 
screw holes may be necessary.) A plurality of aperatures 146 match a 
plurality of screws, exemplified by screw 142 having screw head 143 
secured to frame 22. Aperature 146 comprises, then, overlapping first and 
second screw holes 148 and 150 respectively. First hole 148 is smaller 
than screw head 143 and second screw hole 150 is larger than the screw 
head. Second hole 150 is positioned over hole 148. Thus, apparatus 70 can 
easily be mounted to existing screws by sliding the support elements over 
the screws via the lower second screw hole and then dropping the apparatus 
so that the screw slides into the upper first hole. Removal of the 
apparatus from the window is accomplished by reversing the process 
described, namely, by lifting the apparatus so that the screw head is 
sligned with the lower screw hole. Unlocking of the means for locking is 
necessary, and once accomplished, the first and second members are slid 
together, thus shortening the bars, and the first and second elements are 
pulled away from the support screws via the lower holes, exemplified by 
lower hole 150. 
Two bar locks, upper lock 152 and lower lock 154, are illustrated in FIG. 
2. Each lock is mounted to a second elongated member, specifically upper 
second member 82 and lower second member 140. Although one, three, or four 
locks could be mounted, two locks, one secured to the upper and lower 
member as shown, is preferred. Upper lock 152 will be taken as the example 
for other locks, which are identical in detail as lock 152. Lock 152 is 
shown in detail in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and particularly in FIG. 5. As 
illustrated, lock 152 is mounted on second member 82 abutting on upper 
first member 80 for a reason set forth below. FIG. 5 shows lock 152 in 
detail as including flexible sleeve portion 156, which is slidably mounted 
around second member 82. It is to be noted that the outer cross-sectional 
configuration of the first and second members, that is, the bars, is 
preferably rectangular rather than circular in configuration. In fact, the 
outer-cross-sectional configuration of the bars can be circular, 
triangular, or irregular. In practice, however, sleeve 156 has superior 
gripping strength when the bar is rectangular and inner cavity 158 and 
outer surface 160 of the sleeve are rectangular in cross-section. This 
rectangular configuration has the advantage of providing an added safety 
feature, for it is apparent that a child would have more difficulty 
passing between rectangular bar than cylindrical bars. Lock 152 also 
includes grip 162 also rectangular in configuration that is mounted in 
surrounding contact with flexible sleeve 156. The grip has longitudinal 
slot 164 and opposed flanges 166 and 168 extending from the grip on either 
side of slot 164. Flanges 166 and 168 form opposed bolt holes 170 and 172 
capable of receiving the threaded shaft 174 of bolt 176, which also 
includes bolt head 178. Nut 180 is positioned in nut-gripping pocket, or 
cavity, 182, which is capable of preventing the nut from turning in the 
cavity. Bolt 176 also has bolt head 184, which is provided with keyway 
186. When key 188, which matches keyway 186, is inserted into the keyway 
and turned in a tightening direction, via handle 189, bolt 176 is threaded 
to nut 180 and flanges 166, 168 are drawn together and grip 162 tightens 
around sleeve 156 until lock 152 becomes locked to second member 82 and 
relatively immovable. When the key is turned in the opposite direction, 
grip 162 is loosened and lock 152 is released. 
In summary, the means for locking includes a flexible sleeve portion 
mounted a second elongated member (as selected) and positioned so as to 
abut shoulder 190. The flexible grip is mounted around the sleeve portion, 
the grip having the same configuration as the bar, preferably, as shown, 
square in cross-section. The grip has a longitudinal slot and two opposed 
flanges extending from the grip on either side of the slot, the flanges 
forming opposed bolt holes. One of the flanges forms a nut gripping cavity 
around its bolt hole. A nut capable of being held immobile in the cavity 
is positioned in the cavity, and a bolt having a threaded shaft is 
positioned the bolt holes is threaded to the nut . The bolt has a head 
forming a keyway capable of receiving a key. The shaft of the bolt is 
positioned through the bolt holes, the head positioned outside the flange 
opposite the flange holding the nut. Thus, when a key matching the keyway 
is inserted into the keyway and is turned in a bolt-tightening direction, 
the flanges of the grip are drawn together and the grip pressures the 
sleeve portion into pressured immobile relationship with the second 
elongated member, and when the key is turned in the opposite direction, 
the sleeve portion is released. 
The strengthening of device 70 by means of the locks as exemplified by lock 
152 just described is exemplified as follows. Typical first elongated 
member 80 has a first cross-sectional area and typical second elongated 
member 82 has a second cross-sectional area. These areas are indicated in 
FIG. 5 through inside dimension D.sub.1 of square member 80 and outside 
dimension D.sub.2 of square member 82. D.sub.1 is greater than D.sub.2, 
since member 82 is slidingly matable into member 80. This mating 
relationship comprises first means for adjusting 118 described previously. 
The resulting difference in cross-sectional areas creates shoulder 190 
(see FIG. 4), abutting which is lock 152. Thus, the bar is resistent to 
compression, or shortening, of the length as predetermined by the width of 
the window. It is noted that, although lock 152 does not prevent 
lengthening of the bar, that length is already maintained by the window 
frame. In addition, the abutment of lock 152 against shoulder 190 does 
inhibit the leverage of the fastening screws, for any radial pressure, 
that is, pressure lateral to the length of the bar, is met by a counter 
pressure of the lock and the shoulder meeting. Since the lock, via the 
sleeve portion and the grip, mates the bar in configuration, the 
inhibition counter pressure would be created approximately equally around 
the periphery of the lock and the shoulder, since the second elongated 
member is inserted at the center of the first elongated member. The 
inhibition of levering action against the screws, therefore, is in 
addition with the prevention of the shortening of the length of the bars, 
discussed below. In addition, it should be noted that the remaining bars 
remain locked in position by the action of one lock, although, as 
illustrated, two locks on two bars is preferred. Finally, apparatus 70 
cannot be removed from the window frame unless the lock or locks are 
unlocked. 
The lock described in conjunction with the shoulder described creates other 
possibilities for apparatus 70. Because of the compressive resistence 
given to the bars, they may be employed successfully not only horizontally 
inside or outside windows without having to straddle the window track but 
also vertically, as illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9, 10, and 11. 
FIG. 8 illustrates apparatus 70 fitted with bars 72, 74, 76, and 78 mounted 
vertically outside a double hung window 198. FIG. 9 illustrates apparatus 
70 with vertical bars mounted inside a casement window 200. FIG. 10 
illustrates apparatus 70 mounted with vertical bars in side sliding window 
202. Also, apparatus 70 is shown in FIG. 11 with the bars hung vertically 
in door window 204. In each of these illustrations, top horizontal support 
member 194 and bottom support member 196 are situated at the top and 
bottom of the apparatus. It is noted that the larger first members, 
exemplified by first elongated member 80, are located at the bottom of the 
apparatus and the smaller elongated members, typified by second member 82, 
are located at the top. Thus, shoulder 190 faces upward, and the locks, 
typified by lock 152, press downward on the shoulder. Thus, the weight of 
second unit 128 is absorbed at the shoulder and mostly passed on to the 
bases of the bars, typified by bar 192 of the bars. Upper support member 
194 is equipped with side securing flanges or other attachment devices 
(not shown) known in art for securing the apparatus on the top side. 
In the illustrations, the bars are shown as disposed in approximately 
parallel relationship and the support members also are approximately 
parallel, the support members and the bars being approximately in 
perpendicular planes. This is the general and usual configuration for 
these elements of apparatus 70. It is possible, however, for the apparatus 
to be applicable for frames of non-rectangular configuration as it is for 
the bars to be disposed in other than parallel relationship. 
The material employed is generally and usually a lightweight, strong metal, 
but any rigid, strong material can be used, such as many of the polymer 
plastic substances known to the art, for example. 
The embodiment of the invention particularly disclosed and described here 
is presented merely as an example of the invention. Other embodiments, 
forms, and modifications of the invention coming within the scope and 
spirit of the appended claims will, of course, readily suggest themeselves 
to those skilled in the art.