Patent Publication Number: US-11649672-B2

Title: Security screen mounting system and method therefor

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/833,675, filed Dec. 6, 2017. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Security screens are a popular option to protect windows of businesses and homes from unauthorized intrusion such as burglars breaking the window to gain access, hail or other weather conditions, and other types of damage. Many commonly installed windows are made from materials such as “vinyl” (poly vinyl chloride, or PVC) or fiberglass that due to their relative strength in comparison to materials such as aluminum or wood, are not suitable for using mechanical fasteners such as screws to attach the security screen directly to the window. Also, direct attachment to the window itself, regardless of the material the window is made from, would cause damage such as punctures that could produce leaks and could void the window manufacturer&#39;s warranty. Consequently, existing systems and methods for installing security screens attach the screens to the exterior wall surrounding the window opening, either directly, or using spacers to build out around the window to provide clearance for the installation of the screen in circumstances where the window has not been installed recessed or flush relative to the wall surface. Security screens attached to the wall surrounding the window opening must thus be as large as, or often larger, than the window they are to protect, which is both aesthetically undesirable and increases manufacturing cost for the screens due to increasing the amount of materials required for their construction. A need therefore exists for a security screen mounting system and method which will not cause damage to the window that could void the window manufacturer&#39;s warranty, reduces manufacturing cost for the security screen, and improves the aesthetics of the installed screens by not hiding the window entirely behind an oversized security screen. 
     REFERENCE NUMBERS 
     
         
           100  Security screen (prior art) 
           110  Screen subframe (prior art) 
           112  Mounting flange (prior art) 
           120  Screen main frame (prior art) 
           130  Fasteners (prior art) 
           140  Spacers (prior art) 
           160  Window frame 
           162  Header 
           164  Left jamb 
           166  Right jamb 
           170  Screen track 
           200  Security screen 
           220  Screen subframe 
           240  Screen main frame 
           242  Screen 
           244  Screen retaining strip 
           246  Weatherstripping 
           260  Hinge 
           280  Latch 
           300  Security screen (center hinged) 
           320  Screen panels 
           322  Fixed screen panel 
           324  Working screen panel 
           340  Connecting hinge 
           400  Mounting rail 
           420  Fasteners 
       
    
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is an exploded oblique front elevation view of a hinged security screen in closed position illustrating a prior art mounting method. 
         FIG.  2    is an assembled oblique front elevation view of a hinged security screen in closed position illustrating a prior art mounting method. 
         FIG.  3    is an exploded oblique front elevation view of a hinged security screen in closed position illustrating a mounting method according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG.  4    is an assembled oblique front elevation view of a hinged security screen in closed position illustrating a mounting method according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG.  5    is an assembled detail partial cutaway oblique rear elevation view of the fixed security screen of  FIG.  4   , illustrating a mounting method according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG.  6    is an assembled cross-sectional plan view of the hinged security screen of  FIG.  4    sectioned along line i-i and illustrating a mounting method according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG.  7    is an assembled oblique front elevation view of a hinged security screen in open position illustrating a mounting method according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG.  8    is an exploded oblique front elevation view of a hinged security screen in closed position illustrating a mounting method according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG.  9    is an assembled oblique front elevation view of a hinged security screen in open position illustrating a mounting method according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG.  10    is an assembled cross-sectional plan view of the hinged security screen of  FIG.  9    sectioned along line ii-ii and illustrating a mounting method according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG.  1    is an exploded oblique front elevation view of a hinged security screen in closed position illustrating a prior art mounting method. Existing security screens  100  are mounted to the wall (not shown) surrounding the window frame  160  using fasteners  130  such as screws, either directly, by attaching the security screen  100  to wall structure, such as brick or wood, or indirectly through the use of spacers  140  which are attached to wall structure, and which the screen  100  is then attached to. The spacers  140  may be wood, or as shown, metal tubing, such as aluminum, which can be used to build up around windows which are not mounted flush to the wall surface, so as to provide sufficient clearance for installation. The security screen  100  includes a mounting flange  112  through which fasteners  130  are driven into the surrounding wall structure or into spacers  140  attached to the wall structure. For clarity of illustration, only the window frame  160  is illustrated, and the sashes of the window being protected are not shown. 
       FIG.  2   . is an assembled oblique front elevation view of a hinged security screen in closed position illustrating a prior art mounting method. Fasteners  130 , such as screws, are used to attach the security screen  100  to wall structure (not shown) surrounding the window frame  160 , either by driving them directly through the mounting flange  112  into surrounding wall structure, such as brick or wood, or as illustrated here, into spacers  140  which are attached to surrounding wall structure. The spacers  140  may be wood, or as shown, metal tubing, such as aluminum, which can be used to build up around windows which are not mounted flush to the wall surface, so as to provide sufficient clearance for installation. For clarity of illustration, only the window frame  160  is illustrated, and the sashes of the window being protected are not shown. Attaching the security screen  100  to surrounding wall structure requires that the screen be as large or larger than the window to be protected, which is both aesthetically undesirable and increases manufacturing cost for the screens due to increasing the amount of materials required for their construction. Attachment to the surrounding wall structure has also been necessary because the materials many commonly installed windows are made from, such as “vinyl” (poly vinyl chloride, or PVC) or fiberglass are not suitable for using mechanical fasteners such as screws to attach the security screen directly to the window, due to their relative strength in comparison to materials such as aluminum or wood. Direct attachment to the window itself, regardless of the material the window is made from, would also cause damage such as punctures that could produce leaks and could void the window manufacturer&#39;s warranty. 
       FIG.  3    is an exploded oblique front elevation view of a hinged security screen in closed position illustrating a mounting method according to an embodiment of the invention. For windows having an integral screen track  170  as part of the window frame  160 , which would include most double-hung windows, a security screen  200  can be sized to fit between the screen track  170  in the left jamb  164  and the screen track  170  in the right jamb  166 . The security screen  200  according to the present invention is thus smaller in size than prior art security screens (see  FIGS.  1  and  2   ) relative to the window to be protected and the mounting method according to the present invention does not require a mounting flange, reducing materials requirements for construction and manufacture of the security screen  200 . According to the mounting method of the present invention, a plurality of mounting rails  400  which are sized and configured to fit within the integral screen track  170  of the window frame  160  is inserted in the integral screen track  170  and sized to the length of a portion of the integral screen track  170 , such as the length of the integral screen track  170  of the left jamb  164  and the integral screen track  170  of the right jamb  166 . Optionally, a mounting rail  400  sized and configured to fit within the integral screen track  170  of the header  162  of the window and sized to the length of the integral screen track  170  of the header  162  may be used, if desired, and can provide additional strength to the installation. The security screen  200  according to the present invention is attached to the plurality of mounting rails  400  inserted in the integral screen track  170  of the window frame  160  using fasteners  420 , such as screws, and in a preferred embodiment, self-tapping screws are used which may be inserted through pre-drilled holes in the security screen  200 , and driven into the mounting rails  400 . The mounting rails  400  may be made of any suitable rigid material, such as metal, wood, polymer or composite materials, and in a preferred embodiment are metal tubing having a substantially rectangular cross section, such as aluminum tubing. Although four-sided hollow rectangular tubing is shown as the mounting rails  400 , “U”-channel or solid bar stock may also be used, and bolts or machine screws could be used for the fasteners  420  attaching the security screen  200  to mounting rails  400  having threaded holes. For clarity of illustration, only the window frame  160  is illustrated, and the sashes of the window being protected are not shown. 
       FIG.  4    is an assembled oblique front elevation view of a hinged security screen in closed position illustrating a mounting method according to an embodiment of the invention. The security screen  200  according to the present invention is smaller than prior art security screens (see  FIGS.  1  and  2   ), and the mounting method according to the present invention does not require a mounting flange ( 112  of  FIGS.  1  and  2   ) enhancing the aesthetics of the installed security screen  200 . The mounting method according to the present invention may also be performed from the interior side of the window, in contrast to the prior art, because the fasteners  420  used to attach the security screen  200  to the plurality of mounting rails  400  are on the interior side, and not readily accessible or visible from the exterior side of the security screen when the security screen  200  is in the closed position, as illustrated here. This lack of readily visible fasteners  420 , such as screws, on the exterior side of the screen both enhances aesthetic appearance of the installation, and prevents access from the exterior side to the fasteners  420  attaching the security screen  200  to the mounting rails  400  within the integral screen track  170  of the window frame  160 . For clarity of illustration, only the window frame  160  is illustrated, and the sashes of the window being protected are not shown. Security screens according to the present invention may also be installed on single-hung windows provided they have the necessary integral screen track, but installing security screens according to the method of the present invention on a single-hung window would be very difficult to do in the field, so it is preferred that the installation of the security screens on single-hung windows according to the method of the present invention be done at the factory during window manufacture. Installation of the security screens on double-hung windows according to the method of the present invention may be done in the field after window installation, or alternatively can be done at the factory during window manufacture. 
     Installation of security screens at the factory during window manufacture is another advantage of the present invention, and can greatly simplify installation at the construction site when compared to installing windows and security screens as separate steps, particularly in contrast to the prior art mounting method shown in  FIGS.  1  &amp;  2   . Additionally, security screens which are non-operating, or fixed, rather than hinged and able to open, may be installed in the field according to the method of the present invention on operating double-hung windows having the necessary integral screen track, provided the installation is performed from the interior side of the window. 
       FIG.  5    is an assembled detail partial cutaway oblique rear elevation view of the fixed security screen of  FIG.  4   , illustrating a mounting method according to an embodiment of the invention. According to the mounting method of the present invention, a plurality of mounting rails  400  which are sized and configured to fit within the integral screen track  170  of the window frame  160  is inserted in the integral screen track  170  and sized to the length of a portion of the integral screen track  170 , such as the length of the integral screen track  170  of the left jamb  164  and the integral screen track  170  of the right jamb  166 . A detail view of the interior side of the left jamb is shown, illustrating the integral screen track  170  of the window frame, the mounting rail  400  within, and attachment of the security screen  200  to the mounting rail  400  using fasteners  420 , such as screws. In a preferred embodiment, self-tapping screws are used which may be inserted through pre-drilled holes in the security screen  200 , and driven into the mounting rails  400 . The mounting rails  400  may be made of any suitable rigid material, such as metal, wood, polymer or composite materials, and in a preferred embodiment are metal tubing having a substantially rectangular cross section, such as aluminum tubing. Although four-sided hollow rectangular tubing is shown as the mounting rails  400 , “U”-channel or solid bar stock may also be used, and bolts or machine screws could be used for the fasteners  420  attaching the security screen  200  to mounting rails  400  having threaded holes. For clarity of illustration, only the window frame  160  is illustrated, and the sashes of the window being protected are not shown. 
       FIG.  6    is an assembled cross-sectional plan view of the hinged security screen of  FIG.  4    sectioned along line i-i and illustrating a mounting method according to an embodiment of the invention. For windows having an integral screen track  170  as part of the window frame  160 , which would include most double-hung windows, a security screen  200  can be sized to fit between the screen track  170  in the left jamb  164  and the screen track  170  in the right jamb  166 . In an exemplary embodiment, the security screen  200  consists of a screen subframe  220  and a screen main frame  240 , the screen main frame  240  being pivotably mounted to the screen subframe  220  by a hinge  260 , or other pivoting attachment means. This allows the security screen  200  to be pivoted open in the event access or egress through the window is needed, such as during an emergency. In a preferred embodiment, the screen main frame  240  and screen subframe  220  are made of metal, such as extruded aluminum, and the hinge is a steel piano hinge. As known in the art, screen retaining strips  244  may be used to attach the screen  242  to the screen main frame  240 , and the screen main frame  240  may include weatherstripping  246  on the side contacting the screen subframe  220 . In a preferred embodiment, most of the visible parts, including the screen main frame  240 , screen subframe  220 , hinge  260 , and screen  242  are powder-coated for appearance and durability. Mounting rails  400  that are sized and configured to fit within the integral screen track  170  of the window frame  160  are inserted in the integral screen track  170  and sized to the length of a portion of the integral screen track  170 , such as the length of the integral screen track  170  of the left jamb  164  and the integral screen track  170  of the right jamb  166 . The screen subframe  220  is attached to the mounting rails  400  using fasteners  420 , such as screws, and in a preferred embodiment the screws are self-tapping screws which are inserted into pre-drilled holes in the screen subframe  220  and driven into the mounting rails  400 . The mounting rails  400  may be made of any suitable rigid material, such as metal, wood, polymer or composite materials, and in a preferred embodiment are metal tubing having a substantially rectangular cross section, such as aluminum tubing. Although four-sided hollow rectangular tubing is shown as the mounting rails  400 , “U”-channel or solid bar stock may also be used, and bolts or machine screws could be used for the fasteners  420  attaching the security screen  200  to mounting rails  400  having threaded holes. A latching means, such as a latch  280  or barrel bolt may be used to reversibly secure the screen main frame  240  to the screen subframe  220  to prevent opening the security screen  200  until released from the interior side of the window. In a preferred embodiment, the latch  280  is a single-point latch as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,041. For clarity of illustration, only the window frame  160  is illustrated, and the sashes of the window being protected are not shown. 
       FIG.  7    is an assembled oblique front elevation view of a hinged security screen in open position illustrating a mounting method according to an embodiment of the invention. For windows having an integral screen track  170  as part of the window frame  160 , which would include most double-hung windows, a security screen  200  can be sized to fit between the screen track  170  in the left jamb  164  and the screen track  170  in the right jamb  166 . In an exemplary embodiment, the security screen  200  consists of a screen subframe  220  and a screen main frame  240 , the screen main frame  240  being pivotably mounted to the screen subframe  220  by a hinge  260 , or other pivoting attachment means. This allows the security screen  200  to be pivoted open in the event access or egress through the window is needed, such as during an emergency. In place of the hinge  260 , pivot pins may be used as known in the art, to pivotably mount the screen main frame  240  to the screen subframe  220 . In a preferred embodiment, the screen main frame  240  and screen subframe  220  are made of metal, such as extruded aluminum, and the hinge is a steel piano hinge. Besides the left jamb  164  as shown here, the hinge  260  or other pivotable mounting means may be located at the header side of the security screen  200  or the or right jamb side  166  as desired. A latching means, such as a latch  280  or barrel bolt, located at the side of the security screen  200  opposite to the hinge  260  or other pivotable mounting means, may be used to reversibly secure the main screen frame  240  to the screen subframe  220  to prevent opening the security screen  200  until released from the interior side of the window. In a preferred embodiment, the latch  280  is a single-point latch as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,041. For clarity of illustration, only the window frame  160  is illustrated, and the sashes of the window being protected are not shown. 
       FIG.  8    is an exploded oblique front elevation view of a hinged security screen in closed position illustrating a mounting method according to an embodiment of the invention. According to another embodiment of the invention, for windows having an integral screen track  170  as part of the window frame  160 , which would include most double-hung windows, a security screen  300  having a connecting hinge  340  can be sized to fit between the integral screen track  170  in the left jamb  164  and the integral screen track  170  in the right jamb  166 . The security screen  300  of this embodiment does not include a screen subframe  220  (see  FIGS.  3 - 7   ) but consists of a plurality of screen panels  320  dividing the space between the opposing sides of the integral screen track  170 , the plurality of screen panels  320  joined by at least one connecting hinge  340 . In an exemplary embodiment, as shown, two screen panels  320  are joined by a horizontal connecting hinge  340 . A plurality of mounting rails  400 , sized and configured to fit within the integral screen track  170  of the window frame  160  are inserted in the integral screen track  170  and sized to the length of a portion of the integral screen track  170 , such as the length of the integral screen track  170  of the left jamb  164  and the integral screen track  170  of the right jamb  166 . A fixed screen panel  322  is attached to the plurality of mounting rails  400  using fasteners  420 , such as screws, and in an preferred embodiment the screws are self-tapping screws which are inserted into pre-drilled holes in the fixed screen panel  322  and driven into the mounting rails  400 . A working screen panel  324  is pivotably mounted to the fixed screen panel  322  by a connecting hinge  340 , or other pivoting attachment means. This allows the working screen panel  324  of the security screen  300  to be pivoted open in the event access or egress through the window is needed, such as during an emergency. For clarity of illustration, only the window frame  160  is illustrated, and the sashes of the window being protected are not shown. 
       FIG.  9    is an assembled oblique front elevation view of a hinged security screen in open position illustrating a mounting method according to an embodiment of the invention. According to an embodiment of the invention, for windows having an integral screen track  170  as part of the window frame  160 , which would include most double-hung windows, a security screen  300  having a connecting hinge  340  can be sized to fit between the integral screen track  170  in the left jamb  164  and the integral screen track  170  in the right jamb  166 . In an exemplary embodiment, as shown, two screen panels  320  are joined by a horizontal connecting hinge  340 . A plurality of mounting rails  400 , sized and configured to fit within the integral screen track  170  of the window frame  160  are inserted in the integral screen track  170  and sized to the length of a portion of the integral screen track  170 , such as the length of the integral screen track  170  of the left jamb  164  and the integral screen track  170  of the right jamb  166 . A fixed screen panel  322  is attached to the plurality of mounting rails  400  using fasteners  420 , such as screws, and in a preferred embodiment the screws are self-tapping screws which are inserted into pre-drilled holes in the fixed screen panel  322  and driven into the mounting rails  400 . A working screen panel  324  is pivotably mounted to the fixed screen panel  322  by a connecting hinge  340 , or other pivoting attachment means. The mounting rails  400  may be made of any suitable rigid material, such as metal, wood, polymer or composite materials, and in a preferred embodiment are metal tubing having a substantially rectangular cross section, such as aluminum tubing. Although four-sided hollow rectangular tubing is shown as the mounting rails  400 , “U”-channel or solid bar stock may also be used, and bolts or machine screws could be used for the fasteners  420  attaching the fixed screen panel  322  to mounting rails  400  having threaded holes. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the mounting rails  400  run the full lengths of the integral screen track  170  of the left jamb  164  and the integral screen track  170  of the right jamb  166 , supporting the fixed screen panel  322  and preventing it from sliding downward along with the mounting rails  400 , which it might do if the mounting rails  400  were shorter, or only the same length as the sides of the fixed screen panel  322 . A latching means, such as a latch  280  or barrel bolt, located at the side of the working screen panel  324  opposite to the connecting hinge  340  or other pivotable mounting means, may be used to reversibly secure the working screen panel  324  to the window frame  160  to prevent opening the working screen panel  324  until released from the interior side of the window. In a preferred embodiment, the latch  280  is a single-point latch as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,041. For clarity of illustration, only the window frame  160  is illustrated, and the sashes of the window being protected are not shown. 
       FIG.  10    is an assembled cross-sectional plan view of the hinged security screen of  FIG.  9    sectioned along line ii-ii and illustrating a mounting method according to an embodiment of the invention. The screen panels  320  of this embodiment have the same profile as the screen main frame  240  of the embodiment shown in  FIGS.  3 - 7    but instead of being used with a screen subframe  220 , the fixed screen panel  322  of this embodiment is attached directly to the mounting rails  400  using fasteners  420 , such as screws, and in a preferred embodiment the screws are self-tapping screws which are inserted into pre-drilled holes in the fixed screen panel  322  and driven into the mounting rails  400 . In a preferred embodiment, the screen panels  320  are made of metal, such as extruded aluminum, and the connecting hinge is a steel piano hinge. As known in the art, screen retaining strips  244  may be used to attach the screen  242  to the screen panels  320 , and the screen panels may include weatherstripping  246  on the side contacting the window frame  160 . In a preferred embodiment, most of the visible parts, including the screen panels  320 , screen connecting hinge  340 , and screen  242  are powder-coated for appearance and durability.