Hurricane protection system

A bar assembly includes hollow interior and exterior tubes. Each tube has an inner and an outer end. The tubes are of a length less than the distance between spaced vertical window jamb side surfaces. The bar assembly includes a rigid stopper. A stopper is press fit into the outer end of each tube. The bar assembly includes pins. A pin extends outwardly from each stopper. The bar assembly includes a coil spring. The coil spring is provided within the exterior tube. The coil spring has a first end. The first end is in contact with the stopper of the exterior tube. The coil spring has a second end. The second end is in contact with the inner end of the interior tube. The coil spring is adapted to be compressed to a loading orientation. The coil spring is further adapted to be expanded to an operational orientation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hurricane protection system and more particularly pertains to precluding damage to windows during hurricanes in an efficient and economical manner.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of storm protection systems of known designs and configurations is known in the prior art. More specifically, storm protection systems of known designs and configurations previously devised and utilized for the purpose of protecting windows through known methods and apparatuses are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.

While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a hurricane protection system that allows for precluding damage to windows during hurricanes in an efficient and economical manner.

In this respect, the hurricane protection system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of precluding damage to windows during hurricanes in an efficient and economical manner.

Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved hurricane protection system which can be used for precluding damage to windows during hurricanes in an efficient and economical manner. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of storm protection systems of known designs and configurations now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved hurricane protection system. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved hurricane protection system and method which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a hurricane protection system. First provided is a rectangular window. The window is oriented in an essentially vertical plane. The window has an inside. The window has an outside. A peripheral support is provided. The peripheral support retains the window.

A wall is provided. The wall is in an essentially vertical plane. The wall has a rectangular opening. The rectangular opening is defined by a horizontal header surface. The horizontal header surface is provided above the rectangular opening. The rectangular opening is further defined by a horizontal sill surface. The horizontal sill surface is provided below the rectangular opening. Spaced vertical jamb side surfaces are provided between the header and sill surfaces. The spaced vertical jamb side surfaces are spaced by a fixed distance. The surfaces fixedly support the peripheral support with the window there within. The jamb side surfaces each have pairs of cylindrical holes. The holes of each pair are in axial alignment. The holes are spaced from the header surface and the sill surface. A plastic sleeve is provided. The plastic sleeve has a length. In this manner the plastic sleeve may be received within each hole.

Provided next is a ridged wooden panel. The wooden panel is in a rectangular configuration. The wooden panel is positioned within the opening in contact with the peripheral support during operation and use. The wooden panel has upper, lower and side surfaces. An upper edge of the wooden panel is adjacent to the header surface. A lower edge of the wooden panel adjacent to the sill surface. Parallel side edges are adjacent to the jamb side surfaces.

A bar assembly is provided next. The bar assembly includes a hollow interior tube. The interior tube has an inner end. The interior tube has an outer end. The bar assembly also includes a hollow exterior tube. The exterior tube has an inner end. The exterior tube has an outer end. The tubes are each of a length less than the distance between the spaced vertical jamb side surfaces. The bar assembly includes a rigid stopper. The stopper has an axial aperture and is press fit into the outer end of each tube. The bar assembly has a pin. The pin extends outwardly from each stopper. Each pin includes a base and a Tee-nut received within an axial aperture. Each base is threadedly received within a Tee-nut. The pins are of a length less than the length of the sleeves. A coil spring is provided. The coil spring is provided in the exterior tube. The coil spring has a first end. The first end is in contact with the stopper of the exterior tube. The second end is in contact with the inner end of the interior tube. The coil spring is adapted to be compressed to a loading orientation. In this manner the pins are located between the sleeves and an expanded operational orientation with the pins within the sleeves and the tubes in proximity to the panel.

Provided last is a pair of wedges. The wedges are provided on the panel facing the bar assembly. In this manner the contact force imparted by the bar assembly on the panel is maximized.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved hurricane protection system which has all of the advantages of the prior art storm protection systems of known designs and configurations and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved hurricane protection system which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved hurricane protection system which is of durable and reliable constructions.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved hurricane protection system which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such hurricane protection system economically available to the buying public.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a hurricane protection system for precluding damage to windows during hurricanes in an efficient and economical manner.

Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved hurricane protection system. A bar assembly includes hollow interior and exterior tubes. Each tube has an inner and an outer end. The tubes are each of a length less than the distance between spaced vertical window jamb side surfaces. The bar assembly includes rigid stoppers. A stopper is press fit into the outer end of each tube. The bar assembly includes pins. A pin extends outwardly from each stopper. The bar assembly includes a coil spring. The coil spring is provided within the exterior tube. The coil spring has a first end. The first end is in contact with the stopper of the exterior tube. The coil spring has a second end. The second end is in contact with the inner end of the interior tube. The coil spring is adapted to be compressed to a loading orientation. The coil spring is further adapted to be expanded to an operational orientation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention, the hurricane protection system10as described herein, has as the central component of its system a bar assembly.

First provided is a rectangular window14. The window is oriented in an essentially vertical plane. The window has an inside16. The window has an outside18. A peripheral support20is provided. The peripheral support retains the window.

A wall24is provided. The wall is in an essentially vertical plane. The wall has a rectangular opening26. The rectangular opening is defined by a horizontal header surface28. The horizontal header surface is provided above the rectangular opening. The rectangular opening is further defined by a horizontal sill surface30. The horizontal sill surface is provided below the rectangular opening. Spaced vertical jamb side surfaces32are provided between the header and sill surfaces. The spaced vertical jamb side surfaces are spaced by a fixed distance. The surfaces fixedly support the peripheral support with the window there within. The jamb side surfaces each have pairs of cylindrical holes34. The holes of each pair are in axial alignment. The holes are spaced from the header surface and the sill surface. A plastic sleeve36is provided. The plastic sleeve has a length. In this manner the plastic sleeve may be received within each hole.

Provided next is a ridged panel40. The panel is in a rectangular configuration preferably fabricated of wood. Other materials such as metal or plastic could readily be utilized. The wooden panel is positioned within the opening in contact with the peripheral support during operation and use. The wooden panel has upper, lower and side surfaces. An upper edge of the wooden panel is adjacent to the header surface. A lower edge of the wooden panel adjacent to the sill surface. Parallel side edges are adjacent to the jamb side surfaces.

A bar assembly44is provided next. The bar assembly includes a hollow interior tube46. The interior tube has an inner end48. The interior tube has an outer end50. The bar assembly also includes a hollow exterior tube52. The exterior tube has an inner end54. The exterior tube has an outer end56. The tubes are each of a length less than the distance between the spaced vertical jamb side surfaces. The bar assembly includes rigid stoppers58. Each stopper, preferably fabricated of a dense hard wood, has an axial aperture and is press fit into the outer end of a tube. The bar assembly has pins60. A pin extends outwardly from each stopper. Each pin includes a base62and a Tee-nut64received within an axial aperture. Each base is threadedly received within a Tee-nut. The pins are of a length less than the length of the sleeves. A coil spring66is provided. The coil spring is provided in the exterior tube. The coil spring has a first end. The first end is in contact with the stopper of the exterior tube. The second end is in contact with the inner end of the interior tube. The coil spring is adapted to be compressed to a loading orientation. In this manner the pins are located between the sleeves and an expanded operational orientation with the pins within the sleeves and the tubes in proximity to the panel.

Lastly provided in the primary embodiment is a pair of shims or wedges72. The wedges are provided on the panel facing the bar assembly. In this manner the contact force imparted by the bar assembly on the panel is maximized.

FIG. 1illustrates a pair of horizontal bar assemblies for one window. It should be understood that one or a plurality of bar assemblies are adapted to be employed on one window as a function of the size of the window. For most applications, the bar assemblies are most efficient when placed apart two feet or less from an adjacent bar assembly or the adjacent header and sill and side surfaces. Further, the bar assemblies are adapted to be positioned vertically for horizontally oriented windows.

Provided in an alternate embodiment of the invention are a pair of eccentric lobes70. NoteFIGS. 6 and 7. The lobes are substitutes for the wedges of the primary embodiment. One eccentric lobe is provided on the exterior surface of each tube. In this manner the tubes are rotated upon their axes. In this manner the contact force imparted by the bar assembly on the panel is maximized.

Note is taken inFIG. 5that the exterior surface of the Tee-nuts are covered with an apertured plastic facing. Such facings for each bar assembly are preferably of a distinctive color indicative of the size of the bar assembly.

From a generic stand point, the invention includes a bar assembly. The bar assembly includes hollow interior and exterior tubes. Each tube has an inner and an outer end. The tubes are each of a length less than the distance between spaced vertical window jamb side surfaces. The bar assembly includes rigid stoppers. A stopper is press fit into the outer end of each tube. The bar assembly includes pins. A pin extends outwardly from each stopper. The bar assembly includes a coil spring. The coil spring is provided within the exterior tube. The coil spring has a first end. The first end is in contact with the stopper of the exterior tube. The coil spring has a second end. The second end is in contact with the inner end of the interior tube. The coil spring is adapted to be compressed to a loading orientation. The coil spring is further adapted to be expanded to an operational orientation.

As may be seen inFIGS. 1,2and5, the invention includes aligned apertures. Sleeves are provided. The sleeves face each other. The sleeves are provided in the spaced vertical jamb side surfaces. The sleeves are adapted to receive the pins when in an operational orientation.

As may be seen inFIGS. 8 and 9, an alternate embodiment of the invention, there are included parallel lag bolts102. The lag bolts are provided in a wall on opposite sides of the vertical jamb side surfaces. The lag bolts include aligned apertures104. The apertures are adapted to receive the pins when in an operational orientation.