Security system window guard apparatus and anchor assembly therefor

A window guard method and apparatus for a mobile home, which method and apparatus employ wall and foundation anchors, as well as cable-reinforced structural members, to prevent unauthorized entry while also providing wind-bracing for the mobile home.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a security system for securing windows against 
entry and, more particularly, relates to a window-opening guard that does 
not interfere with the normal opening and closing action of an operable 
window mechanism. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
In the past, home security was a serious concern of all. To prevent 
intruders from gaining entry through the windows of a home, metal bars 
were often solidly anchored to the adjoining structure of the home. The 
bars prevented unauthorized entry, without interfering with the opening 
and closing functions of the window. Particularly in the case of multiple 
shutter-type windows, as commonly sold under the trademark "Jalousie", 
this required that the bar structure be spaced away from the structure of 
the home. 
However, a problem existed: the structure of mobile homes, and similar 
manufactured structures, was generally somewhat lighter than the structure 
of conventional wood or masonry constructed buildings or houses. Thus, it 
was often difficult or impossible to securely anchor a typical 
bar-structure over the window of a mobile home. 
A need continued to exist for an easily installed window guard structure, 
compatible with use on a mobile home.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accord with the broadest aspect of the invention, it is an object to 
provide a window guard for a mobile home. 
It is another object to provide a secure anchoring mechanism to connect a 
window guard to a mobile home. 
It is a further object to provide a reinforced beam-and-column structure 
for a window guard. 
It is an object to simultaneously provide a wind bracing for a mobile home. 
In accord with one embodiment of this invention, an anchor for a window 
guard for a mobile home is disclosed, comprising: inner plate means having 
an inner plate disposed to contact an inner wall of the mobile home for 
distributing over the wall an outwardly directed axial load; outer plate 
means having an outer plate disposed to contact an outer wall of the 
mobile home for distributing over the wall an inwardly directed axial 
load; connector means for sandwiching the wall between the inner plate and 
the outer plate; and column means for rigidly connecting the window guard 
to the outer plate so that the window guard is fixedly positioned with 
respect to the wall. 
In accord with another embodiment of this invention, a window guard is 
disclosed, comprising: means having a plurality of tubes connected into a 
grid positioned adjacent the window for limiting access through the 
window; and cable means having a cable passing through the tubes for 
resisting the severing of the grid. 
In accord with a further embodiment of this invention, a method for 
reinforcing a window guard is disclosed, comprising the steps of: 
fabricating the guard from tubular material; and encasing a radially 
movable cable within the tubular material so that the guard is extremely 
difficult to cut. 
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of this invention 
will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the 
preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying 
drawings. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
In FIG. 1, an improved security system for a mobile home 2 is shown 
generally by reference number 10. The security system 10 mounts or is 
installed outside of the mobile home 2, to prevent entry through a window 
3. Columns 12 are anchored to a foundation 14, which is shown in FIG. 2. 
The columns 12 extend upward to the roof-overhang 4. 
The respective columns 12 flank the window 3. A number of wall-spacers 16 
may connect, and space, the vertical columns or supports 12 from an 
outside vertical wall 6 of the mobile home. A soffit-plate 17 is secured 
to the overhang 4 of the roof, as subsequently explained and operably 
coupled to the top end portion of the vertical column or support 12. 
A grate, as shown generally by reference number 18, overlies the window 3, 
and is connected directly to the columns 12. The grate 18 is formed from 
horizontal beams, bars or members 20 and relatively closely spaced 
vertical instrusion beams, members or bars 22. The columns 12, the 
wall-spacers 16, the beams 20 and the intrusion bars 22 are all fastened 
together in a secure manner, as by welding or the like. 
FIG. 2 is a partially sectioned elevational view taken along line 2--2 of 
FIG. 1. The column 12, preferably an elongated substantially hollow tube, 
pipe or similar vertical member is shown connected to a baseplate 13, 
which underlies the concrete foundation 14. The column 12 is therefore 
encased, cemented or otherwise secured within the foundation 14. The 
foundation 14 has an enlarged upper end, and is buried at a given depth in 
the earth sufficient to resist any attempted displacement of the security 
system 10 by burglars, intruders, vandals or the like. 
The base or bottom 9 of the mobile home 2 rests or is operably disposed 
upon frame support beams 7. The column 12 is further secured in place by 
frame-spacers 19, which may be connected, preferably by welding, to both 
the column 12 and to the mobile home frame beam 7. Clamps or similar 
fastening devices, as shown generally by reference number 30, pass through 
the wall 6 and connect the space-bars 16 to the mobile home 4 by 
sandwiching the wall between load-distributing inner 38 and outer plates 
38, 34, respectively, to avoid wall collapse, tearing, or similar damage 
and the like. Threaded fasteners 32 can be used to assemble the clamps 30, 
and thereby secure the spacer bars 16 and the columns 12 in place with 
respect to the wall 6 although any similar fastening means known in the 
art could also be used. A spacer sleeve 33 prevents a destructive 
compression of the wall 6. In the alternative, welded connections as shown 
in FIG. 3 can be used to effect the connection between the respective 
portions of the clamp 30. A bolted clamp connection 40 secures the soffit 
plate 17 to the overhang 4 of the roof. 
In combination, the wall-spacers 16, the frame-spacers 19 and the 
soffit-plate 17 position the columns 12, the beams 20 and the bars 22 at a 
sufficient distance from the mobile home 2 so as to allow full operation 
for even "Jalousie" type windows, as shown generally by reference number 8 
without leaving sufficient room or space for an intruder, burglar, vandal 
or the like to squeeze or slip in to gain access to the house through the 
guarded window. 
In FIG. 3, an alternate, permanent-type connection for the wall-spacers 16 
is shown. The alternate connection employs an interior plate 34, rigidly 
connected by, for example, welding to a rod 36. An exterior plate 38 is 
rigidly attached to a tublar housing 76. The tubular housing 76 passes 
through the wall 6 at either or both positions adjacent to the top and 
bottom of the window. The outer end of the tubular housing 76 extends away 
from the wall 6, and is in turn rigidly connected to the column 12. The 
alternate connection is assembled by drilling a hole through the wall 6 of 
the mobile home 2 and passing the tublar housing 76 from the outside of 
the mobile home 2 through the freshly drilled hole until the exterior 
plate 38 rests flush upon the external face of the wall 6. The rod 36 is 
then inserted from the interior of the mobile home 2, through the tubular 
housing 76, until the interior plate 34 rests flush against the inner face 
of the wall 6. By then plug-welding the outer end of the rod 36 to the 
outer end of the tubular housing 76, a permanent installation of the 
column 12 can be effected. 
A particularly advantageous aspect of the alternate connection is the 
provision of a hanger 42 on the inner face of the interior plate 34, which 
is useful as a permanent load-supporting hanger. Since it is positioned 
adjacent the window 3, the hanger 42 is particularly suited to supporting 
a curtain rod or the like (not shown). 
In FIG. 4, a partially sectioned portion of one of the external structural 
members of the security system 10 is shown. The structural members 12, 16, 
19, 20 and 22 are each perferably hollow or tubular members, with a cable 
50 running therethrough. The cable 50 is anchored to the corresponding 
structural member in a known manner, such as with clamps or swaged 
fittings located at the respective ends of the cable 50. The cable 50 is 
smaller in diameter than the opening within the tubular members, and 
thereby is free to shift within the structural member and correspondingly 
present great difficulty to anyone trying to cut through the structural 
member 12, 16, 19, 20 or 22 with, for example, a hacksaw. In addition, the 
cable 50 can be fabricated from stainless steel, to provide a substantial 
resistance to being cut with a conventional oxy-acetylene torch lock or 
bolt cutters, hack saws, or the like. 
FIG. 5 is a sectional elevational view of an alternate configuration for 
the connection 40 to the overhang 4, particularly adapted to a situation 
where the overhang 4 actually forms the roof of the mobile home 2. In the 
alternate configuration, the overhang 4 is flanked below by the soffit 
plate 17, while an upper plate 80 adjoins the upper surface of the 
overhang 4. 
Sleeves 82 separate the plates 17, 80, while elongated bolts 84 and 
corresponding nuts 86 compress the plates 17, 80 against the sleeves 82 
within the overhang 4. The upper reaches of the bolts 84 are elongated and 
define retaining heads 8, to thereby provide cable-anchorage for tying the 
mobile home 2 down against overturning due to high winds. 
The security system 10 is used by first excavating, digging, or boring an 
opening to receive the column baseplate 13, and then placing an 
appropriately dimensioned column-and-baseplate assembly in the excavation. 
The frame-spacers 19 are welded to the mobile home frame 7, and the clamps 
30 are installed, as explained above, to secure the system 10 to the wall 
6 of the mobile home 2. The soffit-plate 17 is connected by the 
corresponding clamp 40 to the roof overhang 4. In this manner, an 
intrusion-prevention system 10 can be easily installed on a mobile home 2. 
In addition to providing a limitation on un-authorized entry into the 
mobile home 2, while still allowing normal operation of the windows of the 
mobile home, the security system can provide solid and stable supports for 
interior hangings, such as window-curtains, while also providing 
wind-bracing and anchoring for the mobile home 2. 
While the invention has been particularly described and shown in reference 
to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood and 
appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and 
detail, as well as omissions, may be made therein without deparating from 
the spirit and scope of the invention.