Patent EA-001858-B1 (EA)
Title: Security bar assembly
Inventor: COHEN-RAVID MOCHE
IPC: E06B7/00
Filed: 1998-03-18
Abstract: 1. A security bar assembly for an opening, the security assembly bar comprising: (a) two channels on opposite sides of the opening; (b) a plurality of bars operably connected to be moveable within the channels to cover the opening, the bars having opposing ends in the channels; (c) a transport mechanism located on at least one side of the opening and connected to at least one bar of the plurality of bars, operable to move the plurality of bars within the channels; wherein the improvement comprises (d) enlargements on the ends of a plurality of the bars that cooperate with the channels to retain the bars in the channels independently of the transport mechanism. 2. A security bar assembly for an opening, the security bar assembly comprising: (a) two channels on opposite sides of the opening; (b) a plurality of bars operably connected to be moveable within the channels to cover the opening, the bars having opposing ends in the channels;  (c) a transport mechanism located on at least one side of the opening and connected to at least one bar of the plurality of bars, operable to move the plurality of bars within the channels; (d) a storage area substantially adjacent the opening, positioned to receive and retain the bars so that the bars are substantially adjacent each other when the bars are not in place over the opening; wherein the improvement comprises (e) flexible connection spacers that are attached to the ends of a plurality of adjacent bars, the flexible connection spacers folding to permit storage of the plurality of bars substantially adjacent each other in the storage area and pulling adjacent bars out of the storage area into successive positions to over the opening. 3. A security bar assembly for an opening, the security bar assembly comprising:  (a) two channels on opposite sides of the opening; (b) a plurality of bars operably connected to be moveable within the channels over the opening, the bars having opposing ends housed in the channels;  (c) a transport mechanism comprising a drive chain located on a side of the opening, having adjoining chain links and being connectable to at least one bar of the plurality of bars, operable to move the plurality of bars within the channels; wherein the improvement comprises  (d) at least one bar of the plurality of bars having a end piece sized to engage an aperture in a chain link in a drive chain, so that the plurality of bars can be moved to cover the opening. 4. The security bar assembly according to claim 2 or 3 further comprising enlargements on the ends of a plurality of the bars that cooperate with the channels to retain the bars in the channels. 5. The security bar assembly according to claim 4 wherein the enlargements on the ends of a plurality of the bars cooperate with the channels to retain the bars in the channels independently of the transport mechanism. 6. The security bar assembly according to any one of claims 1, 4 or 5 wherein the enlargements on the ends of the plurality of bars are retained by lips formed in the channels. 7. The security bar assembly according to claim 6 wherein the lips formed in the channels are inward sloping. 8. The security bar assembly according to any one of claims 1 or 4 through 7 wherein the enlargements are on a majority of the plurality of bars. 9. The security bar assembly according to claim 1 or 3 further comprising a storage area substantially adjacent the opening, positioned to receive and retain the bars so that the bars are substantially adjacent each other when the bars are not in place oven the opening. 10. The security bar assembly according to claim 9 further comprising flexible connection spacers that are attached to the ends of a plurality of adjacent bars, the flexible connection spacers folding to permit storage of the plurality of bars substantially adjacent each other in the storage area and pulling adjacent bars out of the storage area into successive positions to over the opening. 11. The security bar assembly according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the transport mechanism comprises at least one drive chain having adjoining chain links. 12. The security bar assembly according to claim 11 wherein at least one of the plurality of bars has an end piece sized to engage an aperture in a chain link in the drive chain, so that the bar is engaged in the drive chain so that the plurality of bars can be moved to cover the opening. 13. The security bar assembly according to any one of claims 1 through 12 wherein the transport mechanism is on both sides of the opening and engages both ends of the at least one bar. 14. The security bar assembly according to any one of claims 1 through 13 wherein the transport mechanism is connected to a plurality of the bars. 15. The security bar assembly according to any one of claims 1 through 14 wherein the plurality of bars are oriented horizontally and move vertically over the opening. 16. The security bar assembly according to any one of claims 1 through 15 further comprising a plurality of connector links that join adjacent bars. 17. The security bar assembly according to claim 16 wherein the plurality of connector links have at least one end pivotally connected. 18. The security bar assembly according to claim 17 wherein the plurality of connector links closest to the storage area are pivotally connected to the bars and the other end of each of the connector links furthest from the storage area have a fixed connection. 19. The security bar assembly according to any one of claims 2, 9, or 10 wherein the storage area for the bars is positioned substantially adjacent and below the opening. 20. The security bar assembly according to any one of claims 2, 9, 10 or 19 further comprising an engagement portion on a plurality of the bars, the engagement portion cooperating with a guide provided in the storage area to assist each of the bars to move into a folded configuration when the bars enter the storage area, and move back into the channels when the bars leave the storage area. 21. The security bar assembly according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the transport mechanism comprises a threaded connection attached an end of the at least one bar, the threaded connection engaging a threaded shaft on the side of the opening. 22. The security bar assembly according to claim 21 wherein the threaded shaft has provision to move parallel to the channels. 23. The security bar assembly according to any one of claims 1 through 22 further comprising a drive mechanism connected to the transport mechanism to move the plurality of bars over the opening. 24. The security bar assembly according to any one of claims 3, 11, or 12 further comprising a drive mechanism for moving the drive chain and a sprocket to engage the drive chain. 25. The security bar assembly according to claim 24 wherein the sprocket has truncated teeth. 26. The security bar assembly according to claim 24 or 25 wherein the sprocket has an axis substantially perpendicular to the bars. 27. The security bar assembly according to claim 24 or 25 wherein the sprocket has an axis substantially parallel to the bars, and wherein the apertures in the chain links comprise modified chain side link plates with engagement grooves for the ends of the bars. 28. The security bar assembly according to claim 24 wherein the sprocket has a tooth missing, and the connection at the end of the bar engages one of the apertures of the chain links at the location on the sprocket where the tooth is missing. 29. The security bar assembly according to claim 24 further comprising a notched wheel, the notch being sized to cooperate with the bar ends to consecutively feed bars into the chain links of the drive chain in a spaced apart relationship. 30. The security bar assembly according to claim 3 further comprising a storage area substantially adjacent the opening, positioned to receive and retain the bars so that the bars are substantially adjacent each other when the bars are not in place over the opening wherein the drive chain moves about a first sprocket nearest the storage area, the drive chain having an offset guide adjacent the first sprocket to guide the drive chain away from the first sprocket to enable the end piece of the bar to engage the aperture in the chain link in the drive chain. 31. The security bar assembly according to any one of claims 3, 11, or 24 through 30 further comprising a chain link insert in an aperture of chain link. 32. The security bar assembly according to claim 3 wherein a drive chain is driven by a single sprocket adjacent a face of the opening, the drive chain having bar ends attached to chain links in the drive chains, the drive chain and plurality of bars being retained in a storage area positioned substantially adjacent the opening when the bars are not in place over the opening. 33. The security bar assembly according to any one of claims 1 through 32 wherein a plurality of adjacent bars are pivotally joined at the bar ends. 34. The security bar assembly according to claim 3, further comprising: (a) a storage area substantially adjacent the opening, positioned to receive and retain the bars so that the bars are substantially adjacent each other when the bars are not in place over the opening; (b) a storage drive chain (180) on a side of the storage area and positioned adjacent to and in line with the drive chain (120); and (c) a connection at the end of the plurality of bars comprising anchors (182) to fit in at least two apertures of adjacent chain links and having sufficient length to span between the storage drive chain (180) and the drive chain (120). 35. The security bar assembly according to claim 34 wherein the anchors (182) of adjacent bars are superimposed on each other when the bars are in the storage area. 36. The security bar assembly according to claim 34 or 35 wherein two storage drive chains (180) are provided arranged adjacent two drive chains and in one line with them. 37. A method of sliding and folding a p