Abstract:
The present invention is an adjustable support for installing a planar sheet of material between opposed surfaces without the need for piercing the opposed surfaces with nails or screws. The supports provide pressure to wedge the planar sheet, thereby holding it in place during storms, etc. The supports are easily removed. The support has a base and adjustably/removable attached clamp whereby the planar material is sandwiched between the base and clamp. A pressure screw threaded through the clamp and passing through the base is tightened, thereby applying traverse pressure on the planar sheet, wedging it between the opposed surfaces.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates to the field of supports and more particularly to an adjustable support device for mounting a planar object between two opposing surfaces.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     In hurricane-prone areas or possibly tornado-prone areas, often when advance notice is provided, windows and doors get covered with plywood to reduce penetration by wind and flying debris. In the past, the plywood was screwed or nailed to the door or window frame and removed when the storm resided. The process of holding the plywood in place and nailing or screwing it to the frame is time-consuming and often required one person to hold the plywood while another person fastens the plywood to the window or door frame. Unfortunately, the screws leave holes where they entered the frame. Even worse, if not pre-drilled, the nails or screws sometimes crack the frame.  
         [0005]     An improvement to the process of mounting plywood to the door or window frame is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,618 to Farmer, Jr. et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference. This patent describes an adjustable clip for mounting the plywood between two opposing surfaces (e.g., the inner side surfaces of the door or window frame). The clip described in this patent has a U-shaped “cup” portion into which the plywood fits and a means to apply force to the opposing surfaces which, in one embodiment, is a screw. Unfortunately, this clip is not suitable for a range of materials, being designed to fit only one size of material (e.g., ¼″ plywood). This requires installers to carry different clips for different sizes of plywood or similar material (e.g., ¼″ plywood, ⅜″ plywood,  1 / 2 ″ plywood, 10 mm plastic). Furthermore, after the storm, if plywood is used, it often absorbs moisture. The plywood swells from the moisture and may not fit in the U-shaped cup of this patent.  
         [0006]     What is needed is a clip or support that is adjustable to fit many different thicknesses of planar material such as plywood while exerting sufficient force against the inner surfaces of the window or door frame as to hold the planar material in place during severe weather.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     In one embodiment, an adjustable support for mounting a substantially planar object between substantially opposed support surfaces is disclosed including a substantially L-shaped base that has a first side and a second side and a clamp that has a side surface and a bottom surface. The clamp is removably attached to the first side of the L-shaped base forming an aperture between the second side of the L-shaped base and the bottom surface of the clamp means. The aperture is adapted to accept the substantially planar object. A pressure screw is threaded through the clamp and passes through an elongated hole in the first side of the L-shaped base. The pressure screw is adapted to apply force against a first support surface to wedge the substantially planar object between the first support surface and a substantially opposed second support surface.  
         [0008]     In another embodiment, a system for mounting a substantially planar object between substantially opposed support surfaces is disclosed including a substantially planar object and a first and second opposed support surfaces forming at least a portion of an opening. There is at least one support that has a substantially L-shaped base with a first side and a second side and a clamp with a side surface and a bottom surface. The clamp is removably attached to the first side of the L-shaped base, thereby forming an aperture between the second side of the L-shaped base and the bottom surface of the clamp and the aperture is adapted to accept the substantially planar object. A pressure screw is threaded through the clamp and passes through an elongated hole in the first side of the L-shaped base thereby applying force against a first support surface to wedge the substantially planar object between the first support surface and a substantially opposed second support surface.  
         [0009]     In another embodiment, an adjustable support for mounting a substantially planar object between substantially opposed support surfaces is disclosed including a substantially L-shaped base having a first side and a second side and a clamp having a side surface and a bottom surface. The clamp is removably attached to the first side of the L-shaped base thereby forming an aperture between the second side of the L-shaped base and the bottom surface of the clamp, the aperture adapted to accept the substantially planar object. A pressure screw is threaded through the clamp and passes through an elongated hole in the first side of the L-shaped base and is adapted to apply force against a first support surface to wedge the substantially planar object between the first support surface and a substantially opposed second support surface. A first set of serrated edges are on an inside surface of the first side of the L-shaped base where the L-shaped base interfaces with the clamp and are angled towards the aperture. A second set of serrated edge are on the side of the clamp where the clamp interfaces with the L-shaped base and are angled away from the aperture. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a support of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a rear perspective view of a support of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of a support of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  illustrates a view of a door shielded by a planar sheet of material held in place by multiple supports of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  illustrates an exploded view of an alternate support of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. The support of the present invention is designed to hold in place any conceivable stiff, planar object including wood (e.g., plywood), composite material, plastic (e.g., clear polycarbonate panels or polypropylene panels), glass and metal (e.g., aluminum and galvanize steel). Furthermore, the planar material can be corrugated or accordion style. If corrugated or accordion style, the support of the present invention is preferably deployed at locations along the structural sides of the planar material such that as force is applied, it forms a wedge instead of compressing the corrugations or accordion folds. The support of the present invention holds this planar object securely between two substantially opposed support surfaces by applying traverse pressure between at least one of the support surfaces and the planar object. The support surfaces can be any substantially opposed surface including, but not limited to, two parallel sides of a door frame or window frame.  
         [0017]     As will be seen, the supports of the present invention provide an adjustable aperture that can accept and hold a wide range of thicknesses of planar material allowing an installer to need only one type of support for installation of many types of planer material. For example, sheet steel may have a thickness of ¼″ while plywood or polycarbonate panels may have a thickness of ¾″. The supports of the present invention can be adjusted to work equally well with both thicknesses of planar material. Furthermore, often after the storm subsides, the planar material is removed from the structure being protected. If the planar material accepts moisture and expands (e.g., plywood), it is important that the supports adjust to the slightly thicker, off-tolerance planar material. This would not be easy to do with the supports of the prior art.  
         [0018]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a support of the present invention is shown. An L-shaped base  22  and clamp  20  are configured to sandwich a planar sheet of material  40  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) in an aperture  60 . In a preferred embodiment, base serrations  14  catch and hold clamp serrations  12 , holding the clamp against the planar sheet of material  40  until screws  24  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) are inserted and tightened. The base serrations  14  are angled toward the base  22  bottom while the clamp serrations  12  are angled away from the base  22  bottom, thereby engaging with each other to hold the clamp  20  in position with respect to the base  22  while inserting and tightening screws  24  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) creating an aperture  60  of desired size. The pressure screw  30  is threaded in preferably the clamp  20  or alternately the base  22  and is tightened to apply pressure against two opposing support surfaces in between which the planar sheet  40  has been inserted as will be shown in  FIG. 4 . The two opposing support surfaces are, for example, the inner walls of a door frame or the inner walls of a window frame.  
         [0019]     The L-shaped base  22  and clamp  20  are made from any sturdy material, preferably aluminum, steel, stainless steel, ultra-high molecular weight plastic (UHMW) or a structural plastic such as glass-filled polypropylene.  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a rear perspective view of a support of the present invention is shown. Shown is the base  22  with elongated screw holes  26  through which clamp screws  24  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) pass and another elongated screw hole  32  through which the pressure screw  30  passes. The elongated screw holes  24 / 32  allow movement of the clamp  20  with respect to the base  22 . In this embodiment, serrations  12 / 14  hold the clamp  20  in place with respect to the base  22  while tightening clamp screws  24 , thereby locking the clamp  20  in position with respect to the base  22 . The serrations also provide structural locking between the clamp  20  and the base  22 .  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , an exploded view of a support of the present invention is shown. Shown is the base  22  with the optional serrations  14  visible from the side only. The optional serrations  12  of the clamp  20  are visible. The pressure screw  30  threads through threads  34  in the clamp  20  and passes through an elongated hole  32  in the base  22 , thereby permitting the clamp  20  to move closer to the base  22  to tightly hold the planar material  40  (not shown). Likewise, clamp screws  24  pass through the elongated holes  26  in the base and into threaded holes  28  in the clamp. The clamp screws  24  hold the clamp  20  and base  22  in relative position after they are adjusted to the desired aperture size.  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a view of a door shielded by a planar sheet of material held in place by multiple supports of the present invention is shown. The door is by example. Any opening can be protected with the present invention including, but not limited to, a door and a window. The door has a frame with decorative molding  44 . In this example, a sheet of plywood is fitted within the inside edges of the door frame  47 / 48  and a plurality of supports  10  of the present invention are situated holding the plywood  40  between the clamp  20  and base  22  of the supports  10  and the supports  10  apply pressure to the opposing inside edges of the door frame  47 / 48  by tightening the pressure screws  30  of each support  10 . As shown, supports are positioned on opposite edges of the planar material  40 , which can be any relatively flat and stiff material such as plywood, etc. It is preferred to place the supports  10  at 6 inches from the edge of the planar material  40  and at every 12 inches thereafter. For added strength, supports  10  can be placed on the top and bottom edges of the planar material  40 , thereby exerting pressure on the top and bottom inside walls  48  of the frame  42 . In another embodiment, supports  10  are placed along only one edge of the planar material  40 . For additional protection, the pressure screw  30  can have a protective cup on its end where it interfaces with the door frame  47 / 48  or a thin sheet of a stiff material such as steel can be placed between the end of the pressure screw  30  and the opposed surfaces.  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , an exploded view of an alternate support of the present invention is shown. Shown is the base  22  with a relatively smooth surface  64  (without serrations) visible from the side only. The face  62  of the clamp  20  is also relatively smooth. Being that the base  22  and the face  62  of the clamp  20  are relatively smooth, friction between these two surfaces holds them in place with respect to each other. In some embodiments (not shown) these surfaces  62 / 64  can be textured or alternately, a gasket can be placed between them to hold the base  22  in place with respect to the clamp  20 . The pressure screw  30  threads through threads  34  in the clamp  20  and passes through an elongated hole  32  in the base  22 , thereby permitting the clamp  20  to move closer to the base  22  to tightly hold the planar material  40  (not shown). Likewise, clamp screws  24  pass through the elongated holes  26  in the base and into threaded holes  28  in the clamp. The clamp screws  24  hold the clamp  20  and base  22  in relative position after they are adjusted to the desired aperture size.  
         [0024]     Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result.  
         [0025]     It is believed that the system and method of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.