Patent Publication Number: US-2019186193-A1

Title: Barrier for rough openings in construction sites

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to security devices and safety barriers for construction sites and more particularly a barrier for covering rough openings in a structure, such as garage doors, entry doors and windows during the construction process. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Construction sites are frequently victimized by vandalism or the theft of machinery, equipment, tools, and materials. In addition, construction sites can be attractive nuisances for trespassers, such as neighbors and/or juveniles, merely interested in looking around a job site and inspecting a building while under construction. 
     Many buildings are open to entry by unauthorized individuals and to the elements for extended periods of time while waiting for permanent doors and windows to be installed. These rough openings may be sealed using plywood which is screwed into place over garage doors, entry doors, and/or windows. However, this is a time consuming process that requires a large amount of hard material and labor to put up and take down every day. 
     Therefore, a need exists for a barrier for covering rough openings in a structure, such as garage doors, entry doors, and windows during the construction process that does not have to be fully removed to gain entry, exit and/or airflow through the opening. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a barrier for covering rough openings in a structure, such as garage doors, entry doors, and windows during the construction process that does not have to be fully removed to gain entry, exit and/or airflow through the opening. 
     The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing a temporary barrier for rough openings of structures during construction, such as garage doors, entry doors and windows. The barrier is a flexible panel that is attached to a frame of an opening via a plurality of grommets spaced apart along edges of the panel. The grommets may be secured to the wooden frame of a rough opening via screws or other fastening devices. At least one edge of the panel is left unattached to the frame of the rough opening in instances where one edge of the opening does not provide any attachment points, such as a concrete garage floor, a threshold of a door, a concrete header and so forth. The unattached edge is preferably supported by a cable that traverses the unattached edge. The unsecured edge and cable allows a central portion of the panel to be opened using one or more zippers. When the one or more zippers are opened, the central portion of the panel may be rolled out of the way and stored in a retracted position. 
     Locking brackets, such as eyelets, U-bolts, and so forth, are preferably secured to the frame of the rough opening at opposing sides of the unattached edge to support the cable. In addition, the locking brackets provide an attachment point for one or more locks that secure the one or more zippers in closed and locked positions. 
     The panel may be made of a weather resistant material, such as plastic and/or metal mesh or equivalent material that is difficult to cut through in order to provide additional security. 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective side view of a barrier of the present invention installed on a rough opening of a garage door and in a closed position; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective side view of a barrier of the present invention installed on a rough opening of a garage door and in an open position; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of a barrier of the present invention installed on a rough opening of a window and in a closed position; and 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of a barrier of the present invention installed on a rough opening of a window and in an open position. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered accessories in the drawings is as follows:
           1 . barrier, generally     2 . rough opening     3 . garage door     4 . window     5 . panel     6 . perimeter edge of panel     7 . top edge of panel     8 . first side edge of panel     9 . second side edge of panel     10 . bottom edge of panel     11 . front surface of panel     12 . rear surface of panel     13 . aperture     14 . grommet     15 . frame     16 . screw     17 . cable     18 . first side of rough opening     19 . second side of rough opening     20 . locking bracket     21 . zipper     22 . lock     23 . central portion of panel     24 . tieback     25 . alarm     26 . wire       

     With reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , a barrier  1  of the present invention used for covering rough openings  2  of structures during construction, such as a garage door  3 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , or a window  4 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , is illustrated. The barrier  1  preferably comprises a rectangular-shaped panel  5  having a perimeter edge  6  comprising a top edge  7 , a first side edge  8 , a second side edge  9 , a bottom edge  10 , a front surface  11  and a rear surface  12 . 
     A plurality of apertures  13 , such as reinforced grommets  14 , are spaced apart along the edges of the panel  5 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , the grommets  14  are located along the top edge  7 , the first side edge  8 , the second side edge  9 , and the bottom edge  10 . The edges may be secured to a frame  15  of a rough opening  2  via screws  16  or other fastening means and the grommets  14 . For situations where the rough opening  12  provides a surface for the bottom edge  10  of the panel  5  to be attached using screws  16 , then the top edge  7 , the first side edge  8 , the second side edge  9 , and the bottom edge  10  are all secured to the rough opening  2  using screws  16 . This is illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , wherein the rough opening  2  of a window  4  provides a wooden sill for securing the bottom edge  10  using screws  16 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the rough openings  2  do not provide a surface for the bottom edge  10  of the panel  5  to be attached to using screws  16 . For example,  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a concrete garage floor. Thus, the unattached bottom edge  10  is preferably supported by a cable  17  that traverses the unattached bottom edge  10  and extends the length of the bottom edge  10 . Alternatively, a cable  17  may be fixedly or slideably attached to the bottom edge  10  preferably by lacing the cable  17  through the grommets  14  located adjacent to the bottom edge  10 . Ends of the cable  17  are then secured to a first side  18  of the rough opening  2  and a second side  19  of the rough opening  2  using locking brackets  20 , such as eye screws, U bolts and so forth, preferably located at lower corners of the panel  5  that support the cable  17  in an extended position. 
     At least one zipper  21  is located parallel to the first side edge  8  and top side edge  7  to allow a central portion  23  of the panel  5  to be opened. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the zipper  21  may be opened and the cable  17  may be released from one of the locking brackets  20  so that the central portion  23  of the panel  5  may be retracted to one side of the rough opening  2  to allow the rough opening  2  to be used as an entry and exit. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the at least one zipper  21  is located parallel to the first side edge  8 , second side edge  9  and top side edge  7  to allow a central portion  23  of the panel  5  to be opened downward to allow for air flow though the rough opening  2  of the window  4 . The at least one zipper  21  may be locked into a closed position, using a locking bracket  20  and a lock  22  that engages the at least one zipper  21  and the locking bracket  20 . The panel  5  may be rolled into a stored position and maintained in a stored position using one or more tiebacks  24 , which may be tied around the rolled panel  5  or secured using an attachment means, such as a hook and loop fastener. 
     The flexible panel  5  may be made of a weather resistant material, such as plastic and/or metal mesh or equivalent material that is difficult to cut through in order to provide additional security and protection from rain and other inclement weather. An additional feature of the present invention may comprise an audible alarm  25  that emits an alert when a circuit is broken. The circuit may be created by one or more wires  26  extending horizontally and/or vertically across the barrier  1  and connected the alarm  25 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . When one of the wires is cut  26 , the circuit is broken and the alarm  25  is activated. 
     It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.