Patent Publication Number: US-6910312-B2

Title: Storm brace assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for protecting windows, glass doors, and the like from damage during severe storms, such as hurricanes. 
   2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
   Large panels of plywood or similar rigid materials have long been used to protect windows and glass doors from damage resulting from severe storms, such as hurricanes. The panels are typically attached to the area surrounding the windows or doors with nails or screws, thereby permanently damaging the building. In addition, it is very time consuming to secure and later remove plywood over doors and windows using traditional methods involving nails or screws. 
   In attempts to solve problems associated with securing buildings for an imminent storm, some devices have been developed to secure plywood panels without damaging the surrounding building structure. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,673,883, 6,330,768 and 6,371,422 all describe methods of retaining plywood boards over windows with bars for the sake of protecting the windows from storms without damaging the surrounding window frames. However, none of these patents discloses a brace assembly for securing a panel across a window, glass door, or the like, wherein the brace assembly that can be quickly installed and may be easily used for a variety of different sized windows and doors. To this end, there still exists a need in the art for a method and apparatus for quickly and easily protecting windows, glass doors and the like against storm damage. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for holding a panel across a windowed building component, such as a building window, glass door, windowed garage door, or the like, arranged within opposing frame walls in order to prevent undue property damage during a severe storm. In accordance with the invention, a brace assembly is employed which includes a bar having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion is provided with a plate having a threaded hole formed therein. The brace assembly also includes a threaded rod that is fastened to the threaded hole at one end and includes a foot plate at a second end. A turn handle extends through the threaded rod adjacent the second end for facilitating rotation of the threaded rod. 
   In use, the brace assembly is placed in front of and across a panel covering a windowed building member, whether in the form of a window, a glass door, or the like. Thereafter, rotation of the threaded rod forces the foot plate and second end portion of the bar against the opposing walls of the frame, thereby holding the panel in a position which protects the windowed building member. In accordance with the invention, the bar can take various forms which provide for varying degrees of extension. More specifically, the bar can be formed of a single member or multiple, interconnected members. For larger windowed building members, provisions are made for employing one or more brace assemblies to retain multiple panels which are joined by a connecting strip. 
   Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view of a brace assembly constructed in accordance with a first embodiment, with the brace assembly being shown securing a panel within a window frame of a building; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of an end portion of the brace assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a modified form of the brace assembly of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a third embodiment of the brace assembly; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the brace assembly of  FIG. 1  used in combination with a panel connecting strip for securing two protection panels together; and 
       FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of the panel connection strip shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   With initial reference to  FIG. 1 , a brace assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention is generally indicated at  2 . In general, brace assembly  2  is used to retain a protective panel  5 , such as a sheet of plywood, within a window or other building opening  8 , defined by opposing frame walls  10  and  11 , in preparation for a severe storm. In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , brace assembly  2  includes a bar  15 , a metal end plate  18  having a threaded hole  20  defined by an integrated nut member  21 , and a threaded rod  23 . Bar  15 , which may be formed of wood, plastic, metal, fiberglass, or the like, has a first end portion  26  and a second end portion  27 . In general, bar  15  has a length such that, when placed horizontally between opposing frame walls  10  and  11  of opening  8 , enough space is left as to allow for side to side movement of bar  15  as discussed further below. First end portion  26  of bar  15  includes a bore  30  which is drilled or otherwise formed in bar  15  to allow threaded rod  23  to enter bar  15 , as will also be discussed in detail below. 
   End plate  18  is placed over first end portion  26  of bar  15  and positioned so that threaded hole  20  of end plate  18  is aligned with bore  30  formed in bar  15 . End plate  18  may be attached to bar  15  with nails, screws, or any other securing means. Threaded rod  23  includes a first threaded end  34 , which is screwed into threaded hole  20 , and a second end  35 , which includes a foot plate  40  that can spin freely relative to second end  35 . Threaded rod  23  also includes a turn handle  45  designed to allow a user to easily rotate threaded rod  23 . More specifically, second end  35  includes a cross bore  46  through which handle  45  extends such that handle  45  extends substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of rod  23 , while preferably being slidable relative to rod  23 . 
   Brace assembly  2  is preferably assembled and sized to fit within opening  8  prior to a storm. More specifically, bar  15  is cut to a length about 3–6 inches (approximately 7.5–15 cm) less than the distance between opposing frame walls  10  and  11 . End plate  18  is then securely attached to bar  15  and threaded rod  23  is screwed into threaded hole  20  until the combined length of bar  15  and a protruding portion of threaded rod  23  is slightly less than the distance between opposing walls  10  and  11  of opening  8 . That is, when a storm is determined to be approaching, a building component, which is not shown in  FIG. 1  but includes either a window, glass door, or the like, may be covered by panel  5 . Brace assembly  2  is then positioned between opposing walls  10  and  11  of opening  8  and against panel  5  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Rotation of threaded rod  23  through turn handle  45  extends the overall length of brace assembly  2  and secures brace assembly  2  across opening  8 . More specifically, rotation of turn handle  45  in a specified direction causes threaded rod  23  to move in a direction away from bar  15 , thereby forcing foot plate  40  and second end  27  of bar  15  against opposing walls  10  and  11 . By securing brace assembly  2 , panel  5  is held firmly in place to protect the window, glass door or other glass containing building component (not shown) arranged behind panel  5  from damage. 
   In some situations it may be desirable to have a brace assembly that can be extended to cover larger openings. Such an extended brace assembly is considered to be particularly useful in connection with commercial windows or other long spanning windows or glass doors. As shown in  FIG. 3 , a brace assembly  2 ′ includes two bars  49  and  50  that are joined together with a connector  51 . Each of bars  49  and  50  are preferably metal, generally open and identically constructed. That is, each bar  49 ,  50  includes a first end portion  53  and a second end portion  54 , with both end portions  53  and  54  having threaded apertures  55  formed therein and rubber gripping pads  56  thereon. Each of bars  49  and  50  also includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced, internal plates  60 , each of which has a threaded hole  65  formed therein that is aligned with apertures  55  formed in end portions  53  and  54 . With this arrangement, each bar  49 ,  50  is reversible. In addition, each of bars  49  and  50  includes a top plate member  70  and a bottom plate member  71 , with both plate members  70  and  71  having various sets of aligned apertures  75  for receiving locking pins  76 , as will be discussed in detail below. 
   Connector  51  is open-ended to allow for easy insertion of bars  49  and  50 . A plate  78  is located within connector  51  to establish a permissible degree of insertion for each of bars  49  and  50 . Connector  51  also has apertures  80  formed therein which align with respective apertures  75  formed in bars  49  and  50 . When apertures  80  are aligned with apertures  75 , locking pins  76  may be inserted in order to attach bars  49  and  50  to connector  51 , as clearly shown in  FIG. 3 . In the preferred embodiment shown, each locking pin  76  includes a threaded portion  83  to which a fastener  85  is secured. More specifically, bars  49  and  50  are secured to connector  51  through the use of locking pins  76  and fasteners  85 . 
   When bars  49  and  50  are secured to connector  51 , threaded rod  23  may be screwed into one of apertures  55 , along with a threaded hole  65 , until the combined length of bars  49  and  50 , along with a protruding portion of threaded rod  23 , is slightly less than the distance between opposing walls of a windowed opening (not shown for this embodiment). After positioning brace assembly  2 ′ in between opposing walls of the opening, rotation of threaded rod  23  secures brace assembly  2 ′ across the opening in a manner directly corresponding to that described above with reference to brace assembly  2 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , either or both of bars  49  and  50  of brace assembly  2 ′ may be adapted to be of an intermediate adjustable length. For example, if an opening  8  is too small to accommodate both bars  49  and  50 , one of bars  49 ,  50  can be used in connection with an extension bar  90 . Extension bar  90  is hollow and has a first end portion  97  and a second end portion  98 . First end portion  97  is open to allow second end portion  54  of bar  49  to slide into extension bar  90 . Similar to bar  49 , extension bar  80  includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced, internal plates  100 , each of which preferably has a threaded hole  105  formed therein. In addition, extension bar  90  has a top plate  110  and a bottom plate  111 , with both plates  110  and  111  having apertures  115  for receiving locking pins  76 , as will be discussed below. 
   When apertures  75  in bar  49  are aligned with apertures  115  in extension bar  90 , locking pins  76  may be inserted in order to attach bars  49  and  90  together in a manner directly corresponding to that described above. After bar  49  is inserted into extension bar  90 , the combined length of bars  49  and  50  may be adjusted by moving bar  49  towards or away from extension bar  90  until the combined length of bars  49  and  90  reaches the desired size. Locking pins  76  may then be inserted to hold bars  49  and  90  in position. Given the corresponding structure between bars  49  and  90 , rod  23  can be employed at either end, or two rods  23  could actually be utilized which is also true in the first embodiment described above. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , an H-strip  155  may be used to secure two panels, one of which is indicated at  5  in  FIG. 5 , together to cover large building components, such as glass French doors or a set of directly adjacent windows  160 . H-strip  155  may be formed of plastic, metal or any other suitable material, and includes spaced walls  157  and  158  which are separated by a cross piece  160  so as to define opposing grooves or channels  165  and  166  for receiving a pair of panels  5 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , panel  5  may be inserted into groove  165  and secured by a brace assembly  2 ,  2 ′, etc. A second panel (not shown) may then be inserted into groove  166  to cover the upper portion of windows  160 . Thereafter, a second brace assembly (not shown) may be used to secure the second panel in place. 
   Based on the above description, it should be readily apparent that employing the brace assembly of the present invention provides for a strong and easily assembled protection system for a wide variety of windowed building components. Although described with reference to preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be readily understood that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. For instance, the size and shape of the various components can be readily varied. For example, foot plate  40  could be made rectangular and even provided with a rubber pad for enhanced gripping purposes. In addition, although the brace assembly of the invention has been shown and described as being mounted substantially horizontally in a building opening, it should be realized that substantially vertical or even angled mounting arrangements could be employed. In general, the invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the following claims.