Architectural mesh forced entry system

A forced entry system for a framed opening including a bracket assembly secured to the framed opening; a mounting tube including a saddle, the saddle being secured to the bracket assembly; and a mesh panel secured by the mounting tube to cover the framed opening.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a forced entry system, and more particularly, to an architectural mesh forced entry system configured to resist forced entry into framed openings including doors and windows.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One of the most common ways of gaining access to a locked premises is through a forced entry. Forced entry is generally defined as being an unauthorized entry accomplished by the use of force upon the physical components of the premises, generally doors, windows, and wall panels of any type, louvers, escape hatches and protective window grilles. With respect to doors, such forced entry usually takes the form of battering on the door adjacent to the door lock assembly, or adjacent to the center hinge of the door, usually applied by an intruder with one or more solid kicks delivered to the door. Since most entry doors are fabricated from soft wood, as are the strike and hinge jambs, they are not constructed to withstand such force. The bolt of the lock assembly, or the door, or the strike jamb split and break apart and thus give the intruder access to the premises. With respect to a window, attempts to force an entry may be made by breaking the glass panel of the window and/or cutting a hole in a window grille sufficiently large, not necessarily for a person to gain entry, but large enough for a person to place an incendiary device or explosive within the premises.

It would be desirable to have available options to prevent such unauthorized entry while still maintaining an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A forced entry system for a framed opening comprising a bracket assembly secured to the framed opening; a mounting tube including a saddle, said saddle being secured to said bracket assembly; and a mesh panel secured by the mounting tube to cover the framed opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the forced entry system10of the invention includes a bracket assembly20configured to be fastened to concrete, steel, or other framing material defining a framed opening12such as for a door, window or the like, a mounting tube30secured to the bracket assembly20, and a mesh panel40mounted within the opening12by the mounting tube30. As shown, the invention preferably includes an upper and lower bracket assembly20a,20band an upper and lower mounting tube30a,30b, thereby securing the mesh panel40along the top and bottom of the opening12.

As shown inFIGS. 3-5, bracket assembly20comprises a base plate22preferably defined by an angle bracket, and most preferably fabricated from a 3″×3″×¼″ angle, T316 stainless steel angle, T304 stainless steel angle, or the like. The base plate22is attached to the framed opening12, preferably with either anchors or bolts28depending upon the material of the opening12, i.e., concrete anchors such as epoxy anchors are preferred for a concrete framed opening and bolts can be used for a steel framed opening. The bracket assembly20further includes a tension screw or stud24and/or one or more guide rods26. Tension stud24is preferably a ⅜″ stainless all thread tension stud and guide rods26are preferably defined by ½″ guide rods. As shown inFIG. 1, the base plate22is best attached to the framed opening12at the top and bottom thereof.

Referring also toFIG. 6, the mounting tube30has apertures36(not shown inFIGS. 2-5) cut along the length thereof which are sized to accept the spirals of the architectural mesh panel40, as described below. A straight rod (not shown) is inserted into the uppermost/lowermost mesh spiral that is disposed inside the tube30in order to hold the mesh panel40in place. Preferably, a 6 gage straight rod can be used for this purpose and caps (not shown) can be attached to the ends of the tube30to thereby secure the straight rod inside the tube. Each mounting tube30preferably comprises a 1½″ schedule40tube (1.90 O.D.) made from T316 or T304 stainless steel, although other sizes and materials can certainly be utilized depending upon the particular installation.

Each mounting tube30further comprises a tube saddle32which allows the mesh panel40to be attached to the base plate22of the bracket assembly20. The saddles32are welded onto the mounting tubes30and fit onto the tension stud24and guide rods26preferably provided on the base plate22. The saddles32can be fabricated from ¼″ T316 or T304 stainless steel, or the like. Cover plates (not shown) also made from stainless steel can be welded to the front side of the saddles to prevent tools from being inserted and the tension screws being deliberately loosened by a would-be intruder.

The mesh panel40shown inFIG. 7, and an alternate mesh panel40′ shown inFIG. 8preferably comprise a mesh fabric, and more particularly, an architectural mesh. In assembling the mesh panel shown inFIG. 7, a single helically-wound spiral wire42is associated with two connector or crimp rods44positioned to be sequentially adjacent in the vertical direction of the architectural mesh panel40and to thereby define a spiral unit. The combination of a helically-wound spiral wire and two associated connector rods defines a plurality of widthwise side-by-side open recesses. The flexible mesh can be of any weave, as desired for the particular application. That is, the open area per square foot of mesh can be configured as desired by varying 1) the spread, or loops/foot in the widthwise direction; 2) the pitch, or spirals/foot; 3) the wire gauge of the connecting rods; and/or 4) the wire gauge from which the spiral units are formed. The mesh panel40can be woven from stainless steel wire, such as, for example, 10 gage (0.135) T316 or T304 stainless steel wire. The architectural mesh panel40may also be woven from a combination of spiral wire units of two or more different metals, for example, brass and stainless steel, a combination selected from stainless steel, aluminum, brass, bronze and copper, or the mesh may be woven using spiral wire units that are made from the same material. Similarly, all of the wires may be the same size or shape, or they may have different characteristics.

The horizontal crimp rods44are inserted into the woven spirals42to join the individual spirals together into a panel40. The ends of the crimp rods are welded to make the assembly permanent. The mesh panel40is tensioned by tightening the lock nut25on the tension screw24during installation, and the spirals thus nest in the crimp rod grooves to maintain the desired taught panel shape.

The mesh panel40′ shown inFIG. 8is similar to the round wire mesh pattern shown inFIG. 7, except that it comprises a flat wire style mesh having a flat wire link42′ associated with two connector rods44′ positioned to be sequentially adjacent in the vertical direction of the architectural mesh panel40′. The mesh panel40′ can also be of any weave, as desired for the particular application, as described above.

The round wire pattern of mesh shown inFIG. 7and the flat wire pattern of mesh shown inFIG. 8are examples of possible mesh that can be utilized in the forced entry system10. One skilled in the art will appreciate that not only other weaves, but other mesh patterns as well, could of course be utilized to achieve the desired strength.

One of the advantages of architectural mesh forced entry system10, particularly when used behind the glass of a window, is its ability to allow light and ventilation into open spaces and that it can be removed for cleaning, if necessary.

The above-described architectural mesh forced entry system10is designed to meet the standard established by the Department of State to resist forced entry into doors and windows as outlined in SD-STD-01.01, Revision G dated Apr. 30, 1993, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The architectural mesh forced entry system10is designed to meet or exceed the 5 minute protection level outlined in said above-noted standard. More particularly, in testing the forced entry system10, two men supplied with crowbars, sledge hammers and wire cutters failed within 5 minutes to break down the mesh forced entry system10or cut a hole large enough in the mesh panel40to place a “package” within the premises. The forced entry system10is also designed for low level blast mitigation in the event that a package, such as an explosive device, is detonated in the vicinity thereof.

While the present invention has been described with respect to a particular embodiment of the present invention, this is by way of illustration for purposes of disclosure rather than to confine the invention to any specific arrangement as there are various alterations, changes, deviations, eliminations, substitutions, omissions and departures which may be made in the particular embodiment shown and described without departing from the scope of the claims.