Patent Publication Number: US-7584579-B1

Title: Storm panel attachment system of plastic composition

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 60/882,765, EFS ID 1407932, Confirmation Number 5550, filed 29, Dec. 2006 by the present inventor. 

   FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
   Not Applicable 
   SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
   Not Applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   This invention relates to improved storm panel installation assemblies, specifically devices for home owner installation of such panel materials or boards, during that period following a storm watch or warning, to protect window and other openings in structures from damage caused by wind and wind blown debris associated with severe storms and hurricanes and the related looting and vandalism following a storm. 
   2. Prior Art 
   Much of the damage to structures during recent hurricane seasons occurred from wind and wind blown projectiles. Tree branches, outdoor furniture, trashcans, and many other objects were hurled through the air. Broken windows allowed wind and rain access inside homes and businesses. Once the integrity of a structure has been broken, the resultant storm pressure may blow out other windows and lift roofs from the structures. This “Venturi Effect” is a special case of the Bernoulli Principle, or the reduction of pressure producing a partial vacuum. In addition to the storm damage, when evacuation is required, the home and business owners can no longer protect their breached structures from looters and vandals. 
   The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season began Jun. 1, 2005 and lasted until Nov. 30, 2005. Unexpectedly, this became a most active season, shattering records on repeated occasions, with 27 tropical storms formed, of which a record  15  became hurricanes. The impact of the 2005 season was widespread and ruinous with recorded damages of over $100 billion and a death toll approaching 2,000 lives. 
   There are a number of sophisticated, commercially available systems for home and business owners to purchase, if they opt to protect their properties far in advance of the hurricane season. These effective systems are often very expensive and require substantial lead time, planning, and time-consuming installation weeks or months ahead of the storm season. A large storm protection industry exists for home and business owners able to afford such complex and expensive systems. Some systems are priced so high per window as to be uneconomical for many homeowners. These systems do not provide immediate solutions to impending damage following a storm watch or warning forecasting a storm&#39;s imminent arrival. 
   Current systems for plywood and plastic panel installation are often accomplished with relatively complex combinations of castings, metal extrusions, molds, machining, custom tooling and the requirement of professional installation for the majority of currently available systems. 
   Inventors have created several types of apparatus to install storm panels over windows. U.S. Pat. No. 6,330,768 to Rodrigues (2001) discloses a bar assembly that holds the panel against the window with a bar extending from one wall of the window to the other wall. This device is unusable in much of today&#39;s construction where windows are flush with the outside surface of the structure, lacking the necessary sills or opposing wall surfaces. The same drawback relates to many patents, including U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,422 to St. Martin (2002). 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,269,597 to Haas (2001) discloses a system of 4 permanently mounted channels around the window, properly sized vertically and horizontally for a specific window. The need exists for a temporary system designed to be installed in the hours before a storm arrives, able to accept a wide variety of panels materials of various thicknesses, by a homeowner with average skills, after a storm warning has been issued, 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,745,704 to Covington (1973) discloses aluminum extrusions shaped to receive and support a single removable plywood panel. The shape is a close tolerance to the thickness of the panel, with minimum provisions for displacement of debris, leaves, and other common airborne contaminants during periods when panels are not in place. Although this approach is effective to a substantial degree, it requires extensive tooling, machining costs and setups. The material specified is subject to salt air corrosion when exposed to coastal environments. 
   U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,738,040 to Waldin (1956), 3,516,470 to Kurz (1970), 3,528,196 to Luke (1970), 4,333,271 to DePaolo (1982), 4,384,436 to Green (1983), 4,685,261 to Seaquist (1987), 5,228,238 to Fenkell (1983), 5,487,244 to Hill (1996), 5,596,849 to Hill (1997), 5,603,190 to Sanford (1997), 5,620,037 to Apostolo (1997), 5,740,639 to Covington (1998), 5,768,833 to Golen (1998), and 5,787,642 to Coyle (1998) show various types of storm shutter attachment techniques requiring professional installation or special panels. These systems cannot be considered quick and low cost apparatus for installing a variety of whatever storm panel materials are available, often with only hours to spare before a violent storm comes ashore. In the hours before a hurricane, available materials of choice would include plywood, corrugated plastic, or common lumber. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,354 to Thompson (2000), discloses a complex system of locking mechanisms, brackets and mounts that are permanently attached to a structure. The bracketed system is not simple in nature and not suitable for installation during the hours prior to a storm making landfall. 
   Other disclosures of interest are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,572,764 to Rogers (1951, 2,622,285 to Ross (1952), 4,452,020 to Werner (1984), 5,335,452 to Taylor (1994), 5,347,775 to Santos (1994), 5,477,646 to Dietz (1995), 5,509,239 to Fullwood (1996), 6,393,777 to Renifrow (2002), and 6,9355,082 to Friedman (2005). 
   The following U.S. Patents are incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,794,217 to Croft (1957), 3,968,607 to Baran (1976), 4,085,788 to Bernardo (1978), 4,590,706 to Plowman (1986), 4,671,012 to Merklinger, et al. (1987), 5,383,509 to Gaffney, et al. (1995), 5,507,118 to Brown (1996), 5,673,883 to Figueroa, Jr. (1997), 5,709,054 to McGillivray (1998), 5,833,081 to Smith (1998), 5,937,593 to White (1999), 5,943,832 to Russell (1999), 7,069,700 to Heissenberg (2006), and 7,104,015 to Huynh (2006). 
   Following tropical storm warnings, little time remains for home and business owners to attempt to protect window and door openings from the damage associated with severe storm winds. The most common method to attempt protection, following the warning, is to nail plywood, boards, plastic panels, or other available materials over windows and doors as a form of emergency protection. Nailing or bolting plywood over openings can create many problems. Driving nails into window frames and masonry structures causes unsightly damage to the surface. Following the storm, other problems often result from removing the panels, sometimes inducing rotting, discoloration, and other forms of damage. 
   Following a storm watch or warning, the demand for plywood and other types of panels is heavy at building material suppliers and big box lumber yards. The missing component during this rush for protection, is a fast and simple way to mount temporary storm panels with minimum damage to the structure. Sheets of plywood and other materials are heavy, unwieldy, and essentially impossible for one person to support and hold a sheet in place while trying to nail it to the structure, especially if the weather is deteriorating. 
   Prior art does not provide the missing component in this protection scenario for a simple and low cost apparatus designed specifically for home and business owners to attach and retain plywood, plastic panels, or boards to structures immediately prior to or soon after a storm warning, using available do-it-yourself home owner tools. 
   The panel attachment systems, heretofore known, suffer from one or more of the following disadvantages: 
   (a) Their fabrication requires a manufacturer capable of complex mechanical sub-assemblies, extrusions, foundry or casting capabilities, and adherence to precise tolerances. 
   (b) Tooling and set up costs prior to manufacturing are normally substantial. 
   (c) A majority of prior art devices are fabricated of metal. Coastal climates are known for corrosive salt air that will eventually cause aluminum to corrode, steel to rust, and plating to deteriorate. Stainless steel is an obvious but prohibitively expensive alternative to aluminum and other metals. 
   (d) Systems requiring indented window openings with sills or side walls are of no use with windows mounted flush with the outside surface of the structure. 
   (e) Current flexible screen systems do not claim protection against glass breakage and require permanent unattractive multiple screw sockets around the entire window frame. 
   (f) Some prior art examples with close tolerances may be rendered less than optimum due to the requirement for regular maintenance or refinishing in corrosive salt air coastal environments. 
   (g) “U” shaped channels and tracks with close tolerances are subject to the drawbacks of debris accumulation, rendering them less than optimum. 
   (h) Lack of provisions for securing, locking or otherwise deterring the removal of storm panels is not addressed in many prior designs. 
   Prior art does not address the missing component of a simple, non-corrosive, and relatively low cost method of attaching plywood or plastic storm panels for protection against the destruction of property, looting, and vandalism associated with severe tropical storms during the limited time available following a storm watch or warning. 
   BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   Advantages 
   Accordingly, one or more embodiments of the present invention may have one or more of the following advantages: 
   (a) to provide an affordable and improved solution for the rapid installation of emergency storm panels by the average home or business owner prior to or following a storm watch or warning; 
   (b) to provide a panel attachment system designed to reduce manufacturing requirements and costs for set-up, tooling, and jigs; 
   (c) to provide an effective storm panel attachment system fabricated from materials selected for their non-rusting and non-corrosive properties to reduce the corrosive affect of salt air coastal environments; 
   (d) to design a system fabricated from relatively low-cost materials in plentiful supply to enhance affordability; 
   (e) to provide an off-the-shelf panel attachment system designed to reduce installation requirements and eliminate extended delivery and custom fabrication lead times or costly custom designing; 
   (f) to provide a panel installation system without a requirement for indented walls or inside sills around window openings; 
   (g) to provide a system with a provision allowing an owner the option of securing or locking installed storm panels in order to discourage unauthorized removal of panels and storm related looting and vandalism; 
   (h) to provide a panel installation system designed to reduce tooling and manufacturing set-up costs when fabricating a variety of lengths and sizes; 
   (i) to provide a system of compatible components allowing side by side installation for protecting long expanses of windows. 
   (j) to provide a system which reduces the need to discard storm panels damaged by nailing and bolting them directly to the outside building surface. 
   Further advantages of my interchangeable design of the assemblies allows panel installation from the right or left side of the opening. 
   Therefore, there is a need in the marketplace for an affordable and relatively simple storm panel installation system, installed by the owner following a storm watch or warning, effective in protecting windows and doors from wind and flying debris during a severe storm. 
   The improved panel installation system herein invented can, in one configuration, fill the above need using an unobvious application of corrosion-resistant, off-the-shelf Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipe. 
   Further advantages of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present invention is directed towards an improved system for securing storm panels to a building structure. The system is comprised of two interchangeable, substantially identical, storm panel attachment and retainer units, fabricated of corrosive-resistant, non-rusting plastic materials. The design improves upon prior art by virtue of the non-rusting materials incorporated and the ability of a home or business owner, possessing average do-it-yourself skills, to install the system following a storm warning, using a variety of those adaptable materials available during the period following a storm watch or warning. The devices are mounted parallel above and below the opening in the building to be protected, to receive the selected storm panel materials. 

   
     DRAWING FIGURES 
     In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes. 
       FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of panel attachment units mounted above and below a window opening in accordance with one embodiment. 
       FIG. 1B  is an end view of the mounted attachment units of  FIG. 1A . 
       FIGS. 2A ,  2 B, and  2 C show various aspects of a panel track element prior to fabrication. 
       FIG. 3  is an attachment element prior to fabrication. 
       FIGS. 4A ,  4 B, and  4 C show various aspects of a panel attachment unit of  FIG. 1A . 
       FIGS. 5A ,  5 B,  5 C, and  5 D show various aspects of the embodiment of  FIG. 1A  related to security devices. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  mounted in a contiguous end-to-end relationship. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the attachment units with flush ends. 
       FIG. 8A  is an alternative embodiment of a panel attachment unit with provisions for mounting to a horizontal surface. 
       FIG. 8B  is an end view of the embodiment of  FIG. 8A  secured to a horizontal surface and the embodiment of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  secured to a vertical surface. 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  show various aspects of an alternative embodiment of elements formed from rectangular plastic tubing and solid rod. 
       FIGS. 9C and 9D  show various aspects of an alternative embodiment of elements formed from hollow rectangular plastic tubing. 
       FIG. 10A  is an end view of a plastic extrusion of a panel attachment unit in accordance with another embodiment. 
       FIG. 10B  is a perspective view of the extruded attachment unit shown in  FIG. 10A . 
       FIG. 11  shows the embodiment of  FIG. 7  as attachment units for decorative holiday panels. 
   

   REFERENCE NUMERALS 
   
       
         10 . panel attachment unit 
         12 . floor panel attachment unit 
         14 . attachment element 
         15 . deck attachment element 
         16 . attachment element apertures 
         18 . fastener 
         20 . panel track element 
         22 . panel channel track 
         24 . inside surface of track element 
         26 . retaining face 
         28 . security device aperture 
         32 . adhesive caulk 
         34 . bonded area 
         36 . vertical reference plane 
         38 . vertical building structure 
         41 . horizontal structure 
         42 . window opening 
         44 . storm panel 
         45 . bottom edge of storm panel 
         46 . top edge of storm panel 
         48 . decorator window panel 
         50 . security sleeve 
         52 . security sleeve aperture 
         54 . security sleeve opening 
         55 . security sleeve face 
         56 . padlock security device 
         58 . cap screw 
         60 . cap screw locknut 
         64 . extruded panel attachment unit 
         66 . rectangular plastic track element 
         68 . rectangular rod attachment element 
         69 . hollow rectangular attachment element 
         70 . security fastener aperture 
         72 . security fastener 
     
  
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to the drawings, one form of the storm panel attachment system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention will be described. One embodiment of the storm panel attachment system is illustrated in  FIG. 1A  (perspective view) and  FIG. 1B  (end view). As can be seen by reference to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the interchangeable storm panel attachment and retaining units that form the basis of the present invention are designated generally by the reference number  10  and are attached to the outer wall of a building structure thereof indicated as  38 , above and below a window opening  42 . Referring first to  FIG. 1A , a building structure  38  has a rectangular window opening  42 , two storm panel attachment units  10 , and a user fabricated storm panel  44 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1A , the substantially interchangeable and parallel lower and upper storm panel attachment units  10  are secured to the structure  38  with appropriate fasteners  18 , to facilitate the installation of protective storm panels  44 . 
   The method of fabrication of this embodiment is as follows. The panel attachment unit  10  includes a PVC pipe tracking element  20  and a PVC pipe attachment element  14  which are formed from standard schedule  40  PVC (polyvinyl chloride) pipe. This low cost, non-corrosive PVC pipe is of the type widely available for domestic and commercial use and would be readily selectable by a person of ordinary skill in the art.  FIG. 1B  shows an end view of the panel attachment units  10  mounted above and below a window opening  42 . As illustrated, the tracking element  20  is a larger pipe size than the attachment element  14 . The preferred schedule  40  PVC pipe sizes for window openings  42  up to six feet wide (across the bottom) would be 1½ inch PVC pipe for the tracking element  20  and 1½ inch PVC pipe for the attachment element  14 . Panel attachment units  10  to protect window openings  42  wider than six feet might call for larger PVC pipe sizes. 
   In this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1A , the tracking element  20  is longer than the attachment element  14 . The minimum preferred length of the tracking element  20  must first be determined. It is recommended to fabricate the tracking element  20  a minimum of six inches longer than the width of the window opening  42  to be covered. The minimum preferred length of the tracking element  20  will include the width of the window opening  42 , a preferred one inch storm panel  44  overlap at each side of the window opening  42  and two inches at each end of the tracking element  20  for accommodating a method of discouraging the removal of the storm panel by looters, to be discussed later in the specification. Now turning to the attachment element  14 , in this embodiment, the preferred length of the attachment element  14  would be four inches shorter than the tracking element  20  in order to accommodate a method of discouraging looters covered later. It is obvious that panel attachment units  10  could be fabricated in virtually an unlimited number of lengths, dependent upon the width of the window opening  42  to be covered. 
     FIG. 2A  shows a perspective view of the tracking element  20  after a section has been removed creating a panel channel track  22  the full length of the PVC pipe tracking element  20  with retaining faces  26 , an inside surface  24  and a panel channel track  22  with a preferred minimum width of ⅞ inch. As shown in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B, and  2 C, a security fastener aperture  70  is drilled through the center of the tracking element  20  at a point equally distant from each end of the tracking element  20 . The preferred hole size for the security fastener aperture  70  is ⅜ inch.  FIG. 2B  shows a top view of the tracking element  20  illustrating the retaining faces  26  and two security device apertures  28  drilled through the inside surface  24  of the tracking element  20  at each end of the panel tracking element  20 . The preferred location of the security device apertures  28  is one inch from each end of the tracking element  20  on the inside surface  24  of the tracking element  20  and opposite the panel channel track  22 . The preferred hole size for the security device apertures  28  is ⅜ inch. 
     FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the attachment element  14  before the bonding, welding, and drilling processes to be described next. 
     FIGS. 4A  (perspective view),  4 B (front view), and  4 C (end view) illustrate a panel attachment unit  10  after the PVC tracking element  20  and the PVC attachment element  14  have been chemically welded together, creating a bonded area  34 . All PVC materials have characteristics permitting a fusion of materials together upon application of many commercially available PVC liquid fusion compounds. These bonding compounds are formulated to ensure the fusion between PVC plastic materials and are proven formulations combining specific ingredients formulated to achieve the desired bonding result. Such PVC pipe bonding compounds are available in the hardware and big box retail plumbing departments and are readily selectable by a person of ordinary skill in the art. Heat gun plastic welding is an alternative bonding option. Sources for equipment and materials for heat guns and plastic welding rods include, but are not limited to, Plastic Welding Technologies, Auto Body Toolmart, and Pamran Company. The methods of heat gun welding are well known in the art. The known and proven bonding and welding procedures discussed, known by a person of ordinary skill in the art, will form a single integrated unit after the parts have been welded together. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4C , the bonding of the PVC pipe attachment element  14  to the tracking element  20  will be described. As illustrated In  FIG. 4C , during the described welding process, the PVC pipe attachment element  14  and the tracking element  20  are positioned against each other, while positioned against a simulated vertical building structure designated as a vertical reference plane  36  to ensure that the panel channel track  22  and the retaining faces  26  of the tracking element  20  are aligned parallel with the surface of the vertical reference plane  36 .  FIG. 4C  shows the bonded area  34  following the welding process. Adhesive caulk  32  is then applied to both sides of the bonded area  34  to form an approximate one-quarter of an inch bead of adhesive caulk  32  for increased strength and cosmetic appearance enhancement. Adhesive latex acrylic caulks  32  are available in multiple formulas, colors and brands. Desired characteristics of the adhesive latex acrylic caulk  32  would include paintable, exterior grade, and mildew resistant. 
   It is recommended that a plurality of attachment element apertures  16  be drilled in the attachment element  14  following the welding process. As shown in  FIG. 1A , the PVC pipe attachment element  14  includes apertures  16  adapted for receiving fasteners  18  for attaching the panel attachment units  10  to a building structure  38 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4C , following the welding process, the PVC pipe attachment element apertures  16  can then be drilled through the center of the attachment element  14  accurately at right angles to and perpendicular to the vertical reference plane  36 . The preferred hole size for the attachment element apertures  16  is ⅜ inch. The number and spacing of the holes  16  can vary within the scope of the present invention.  FIG. 4A  shows a perspective view of the tracking element  20  and the attachment element  14  following the welding process illustrating drilled attachment element  14  fastener apertures  16  and the drilled security fastener aperture  70 . 
   The preferred material for fabrication of a security sleeve  50 , as shown in  FIG. 5A , is a standard PVC NS (no stop) pipe coupler, available to fit standard PVC pipe sizes, said coupler being well known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B, and  5 C illustrate a security sleeve  50 , cut to a preferred length of two inches, following fabrication from a PVC NS pipe coupler matching the PVC pipe size of the tracking element  20 , ensuring the security sleeve  50  to be of a proper size to slide horizontally over the end of the tracking element  20 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 5A  (perspective) and  5 B (end view), the security sleeve  50  is shown with two security sleeve apertures  52  drilled and centered approximately one inch from the end of the security sleeve  50 .  FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate the security sleeve  50  after a section has been removed creating an opening  54  the full length of the security sleeve  50  and two security sleeve faces  55 . As shown in  FIG. 5B , the security sleeve  50  is now adapted to slide over the end of the tracking element  20  of an installed panel attachment unit  10  secured to a building structure  38  with security sleeve faces  55  flush with the building structure  38 . 
   An alternative and simplified embodiment of panel attachment units  10  will now be described. This embodiment is substantially similar to that the first embodiment absent the described provisions for the installation of security sleeves  50 . In lieu of the panel attachment unit  10  being fabricated with track channel  20  and the attachment element  14  being of different lengths as shown in  FIG. 1A  as a provision for installing security sleeves, the tracking element  20  and the attachment element  14  can be fabricated to be of equal lengths, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . This embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 7 , illustrates the panel attachment units  10  with tracking elements  20  and attachment elements  14  fabricated to be of equal lengths and flush at each end of the panel channel attachment unit  10 . The preferred minimum length of this embodiment of the panel attachment unit  10  would be two inches wider than the window opening  42  to be protected. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the tracking element  20  and the attachment element  14  are fabricated and chemically welded together, as described earlier, to form the illustrated panel attachment units  10 . The fabrication of this embodiment would imitate and include the same steps as the first embodiment, with the elimination of the security sleeves  50  and the steps related to providing for the installation of security sleeves  50 . 
   Operation 
   The manner of installing and using the panel the attachment units  10  and building owner selected storm panels  44  will be described. The panel attachment units  10  operate and function in a manner superior to the prior art in the ability to accept, support, and retain a wide variety of usable and available storm panel materials. As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the lower installed panel attachment unit  10  supports the weight of the panel  44  on the inside surface of the track channel  24  between the retaining faces  26 . The upper panel attachment unit  10  serves to retain the installed storm panel  44  between the retaining faces  26  of the upper panel attachment unit  10 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , a storm panel attachment unit  10  is attached to the structure  38  below the base of the window opening  42 , with a plurality of appropriate fasteners  18  through the fastener apertures  16  provided in the attachment element  14 . The lower panel attachment unit  10  is installed with the panel channel track  22  upwardly opening, to serve as the storm panel  44  support and retaining unit. A similar panel attachment unit  10  is attached to the structure  38  above the window opening  42  directly above and parallel to the lower panel attachment unit  10  with a plurality of appropriate fasteners  18  passing through fastener apertures  16  of the upper panel attachment unit  10 . As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the upper panel attachment unit  10  is attached with the panel channel track  22  downwardly opening to provide a track and retaining channel for receiving one or more storm panels  44 . 
   Appropriate fasteners to install the panel attachment units  10  to a wooden building structure  38  could be standard hex headed lag bolts. Installation to a masonry building structure  38  could be standard cement screw anchors. The selected appropriate fasteners are recommend to be of galvanized plated metal or of stainless steel material, to minimize the corrosive effects of the salt air environments encountered along coastal regions. It will be understood that a variety of fasteners could be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
   The building owner users of this invention, a panel attachment system, can select and fashion rigid rectangular protective panels  44  from a wide variety of panel materials which are sized to cover their window openings  42 . Panel material selection taking place during non-emergency situations might include but not be limited to plywood, plastic, polycarbonate, fiberglass, corrugated plastic, corrugated steel sheets, pleated steel sheets, or other structurally sound and protective materials. Plastic panels are growing in popularity including lexan (trademark), tuffak (trademark), polycarbonate, fiberglass, and corrugated plastic. In emergency cases, such as following a severe storm watch or warning, the most common panel material in demand is exterior grade plywood, pressure treated plywood, and waterproofed OSB or wood sheathing. During such situations of an impending severe storm, plywood supplies are quickly exhausted at local and big box lumber yards. The panel attachment units  10  described are not limited to providing a means for attaching a specific type of panel material to a building structure. The present invention is compatible with a wide variety of panel material solutions from whatever panel material, common lumber, or combinations of materials are available immediately prior to the arrival of a severe storm. 
   Once selected, the storm panel material  44  must be sized. Proper sizing would include a rectangular storm panel  44  arrangement, covering and protecting the window opening  42 . It is recommended that the width of the storm panel  44  not be wider than the attachment element  14  and be sized to a proper height to slide horizontally between the upper and lower attachment and tracking units  20  of the upper and lower panel channel tracks  22  of the storm panel attachment units  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1B , the vertical height of the panel  44  should allow for a preferred minimum clearance of ½ inch between the inside surface  24  of the upper panel channel track  22  and the top edge  46  of storm panel  44 . Said clearance will facilitate the bottom edge  45  of storm panel  44  sliding horizontally along the inside surface  24  of the lower attachment unit  10 , held between the retaining faces  26  of the upper and lower attachment units  10 . It is recommended that the installed panel  44  be centered over the attachment element  14  of the lower panel attachment unit  10  to facilitate the installation of security sleeves  50  at each end of the lower tracking element  20 . 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 5C and 5D , a method of discouraging the removal of the storm panel  44  by looters or vandals is illustrated. A security sleeve  50  is adapted to slide over the end of the lower tracking unit  20  of an installed panel attachment unit  10  secured to a building structure  38  with security sleeve faces  55  flush with the building structure  38 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5B . Security apertures  52  allow the building owner the option of installing a padlock security device  56  or cap screw  58  with locknut  60 , at opposite ends of the lower tracking element  20 . The padlock security device  56  or cap screw  58  with locknut  60  would pass through the security sleeve aperture  52  and the tracking element security device aperture  28  as a means to discourage the unauthorized removal of the installed storm panel  44 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 6 , the design of the panel attachment system allows a plurality of attachment units  10  to be installed in an end-to-end fashion in order to form a contiguous arrangement of storm panel attachment units  10  in certain applications requiring storm protection for long or extended window openings  42 . 
   In lieu of security sleeves  50 , an optional supplemental method of securing the storm panel  44  to the structure  38  and the lower attachment unit  10  is available. Provisions are made in panel attachment units  10  for the installation of a optional security fastener  72 . As shown in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B, and  FIG. 7 , the security fastener  72  is installed through the security aperture  70  of the lower attachment unit  10  and the installed panel  44  into the building structure  38  so as to anchor the attachment unit  10 , panel  44 , and the building structure  38  securely together. 
   In lieu of the lower panel attachment unit  10  being attached to a vertical building structure  38 , an alternative preferred embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , illustrates the lower panel attachment unit, here designated as  12 , fabricated to receive fasteners to attach to and be supported by a horizontal surface, such as an outside deck, porch floor, or concrete slab. The fabrication of this embodiment would imitate and include the same steps as the first embodiment except that during the described welding process the PVC pipe attachment element  14  is welded in a different position to function as a deck attachment element, here designated as  15 . As shown in  FIG. 8B , the deck attachment element  15  and the tracking element  20  are positioned against each other while positioned on top of a simulated horizontal building structure designated as  41 . Otherwise, this embodiment is the same as that of  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
   Alternative Embodiments 
   An additional embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrating the storm panel attachment unit  10  fabricated with a standard rectangular plastic tubing track element  66  and a solid rectangular rod attachment element  68 . The rectangular plastic tubing track element  66  combines the attributes of the first embodiment including the panel channel track  22 , retaining faces  26 , and the inside tracking surface  24 . The solid rectangular rod attachment element  68  includes fastener apertures  16  for attachment to a building surface  38 . 
   An additional embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 9C and 9D  illustrating the storm panel attachment unit  10  fabricated from standard rectangular plastic tubing track element  66  with a hollow rectangular attachment element  69 . The rectangular plastic tubing track element  66  combines the attributes of the first embodiment including the panel channel track  22 , retaining faces  26 , and the inside tracking surface  24 . The hollow rectangular attachment element  69  includes fastener apertures  16  for attachment to a building surface  38 . 
   An additional embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrating the storm panel attachment unit  10  as a one-piece plastic extrusion or molding. This alternative plastic embodiment combines the attributes of the first embodiment including the panel channel track  22 , retaining faces  26 , the inside tracking surface  24 , fastener apertures  16  for attachment to a building structure  38  and the security fastener aperture  70 . 
   An additional embodiment is shown in  FIG. 11  illustrating the storm panel attachment unit  10  in a non-emergency application. In lieu of storm panel  44  material, a holiday decorator panel  48  is fabricated and sized to slide horizontally between the upper and lower attachment and tracking units  20 . 
   As in all described embodiments, the plastic composition of each fabrication is a non-corrosive, non-rusting rigid plastic material achieving the same advantageous effects in each embodiment. 
   Advantages 
   Accordingly, one or more embodiments of the present invention may have one or more of the following advantages: 
   (a) to provide an affordable and improved solution for the rapid installation of emergency storm panels by the average home or business owner prior to or following a storm watch or warning, 
   (b) to provide a panel attachment system designed to reduce manufacturing requirements and costs for set-up, tooling, and jigs, 
   (c) to provide an effective storm panel attachment system fabricated from materials selected for their non-rusting and non-corrosive properties to reduce the corrosive affect of salt air coastal environments, 
   (d) to design a system fabricated from relatively low-cost materials in plentiful supply to enhance affordability, 
   (e) to provide an off-the-shelf panel attachment system designed to reduce installation requirements and eliminate extended delivery and custom fabrication lead times or costly custom designing, 
   (f) to provide a panel installation system without a requirement for indented walls or inside sills around window openings, 
   (g) to provide a system with a provision allowing an owner the option of securing or locking installed storm panels in order to discourage unauthorized removal of panels and storm related looting and vandalism, 
   (h) to provide a panel installation system designed to reduce tooling and manufacturing set-up costs when fabricating a variety of lengths and sizes, 
   (i) to provide a system of compatible components allowing side by side installation for protecting long expanses of windows, 
   (j) to provide a system which reduces the need to discard storm panels damaged by nailing and bolting them directly to the outside building surface, 
   Further advantages of my interchangeable design of the assemblies allows panel installation from the right or left side of the opening, 
   Therefore, there is a need in the marketplace for an affordable and relatively simple storm panel installation system, installed by the owner following a storm watch or warning, effective in protecting windows and doors from wind and flying debris during a severe storm, 
   The improved panel installation system herein invented can, in one configuration, fill the above need using an unobvious application of corrosion-resistant, off-the-shelf Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipe, 
   Further advantages of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
   CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE 
   Accordingly, the invention provides the home or business owner, with average do-it-yourself skills, a means of installing a low cost system for attaching and retaining storm panels following a severe storm warning, immediately prior to the arrival of the storm, as an acceptable means of protecting windows and doors from wind damage, wind driven debris, and heavy rain. In hurricane and storm prone areas, certain building codes are now in place, requiring new home builders to provide panels to the home owner as protection for window openings. In some areas, storm panels are provided while lacking a means for installation over the window openings. The invention design allows retrofitting existing homes and businesses built of wood or masonry with a practical form of protection. 
   Accordingly, the reader will see that the panel attachment units require minimum manufacturing facilities. The recommended material for the invention is PVC (polyvinyl chloride) pipe or a PVC extruded fabrication offering improved strength to weight ratios over other materials thereby increasing safety and convenience. PVC material is readily available, relatively low cost, a non-conductor of electricity, corrosion resistant, chemical resistant and immune to electrochemical reactions caused by acids, bases, and salts that cause corrosion in metals. PVC production is an energy efficient manufacturing process in addition, with more than half of the raw material used in PVC production provided by salt, of which there is a virtually unlimited supply. 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, unit, and use, are deemed to be within the expertise of those skilled in the art, and all equivalent structural variations and relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail hereinbefore, all improvements and modifications to this invention within the scope or equivalents of the claims are covered by this invention.