Patent Publication Number: US-10767415-B2

Title: Emergency school door barricade retrofit system apparatus and method

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention provides a retrofittable emergency barricade system to be used in conjunction with windowed school doors. This system closes off the line of sight and prevents entry and attack into the room through the door window, while also barring the door itself closed to entry in a manner not wholly dependent on door lock or hinge integrity. 
     In the United States, a school door is typically a door with a small vertical window at head height. The school window is shutterless and the door typically opens inward. The window on the door is a safety measure allowing the room to be checked while being used during the daily operation of the school. However, in the case of an active school shooter, the window becomes a danger. Suddenly, locking the door is not enough to prevent harm to the room, as a shooter may see the room filled with people or a specific person they are targeting through the window and be motivated to breach the window to reach the lock or to otherwise compromise the integrity of the lock. For instance, the Parkland, Fla. shooter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shot through the windows at fellow students. Clearly, merely providing a barrier to entry, although important, is not enough to protect students in the case of a school shooting. Any barrier system must present an effective barrier, taking not only the door into account but the door window as well. It must not interfere with normal use of the door, and because of the quickness in which a situation can arise and the varying physical ability of the teachers and students inside the room, an effective barrier system must be quick and easy to operate across a high range of physical abilities without much forethought by the operator beforehand. 
     An emergency barricade system used as a barrier to prevent school shootings should be ballistic resistant. Although ballistic resistance varies, Underwriters Laboratories (UL), an independent standards developer and audited designator accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), has defined eight levels of ballistic resistance for ballistic resistant products. Level 1 material survives at least three shots of 9 mm Full Metal Copper Jacket with Lead Core ammunition fired at up to 1293 feet per second. Level 2 material survives at least three shots with 158 grain 0.356 Magnum Jacket Soft Lead Point ammunition fired at up to 1375 feet per second. Level 3 material survives at least three shots of 240 grain 0.44 Magnum Lead Semi-Wadcutter Gas Checked ammunition fired at up to 1485 feet per second. Level 3 material is considered suitable for providing safety in industries susceptible to armed robberies such as banks and credit unions as it provides protection up to the level of resisting 0.44 magnum handguns. Level 4 material survives at least one shot of 180 grain 0.30 Caliber Rifle Lead Core Soft Point (0.30-06 Caliber) ammunition fired at up to 2794 feet per second. Level 5 material survives at least one shot of 150 grain 7.62 mm Rifle Lead Core Full Metal Copper Jacket, Military Ball (0.308 Caliber) ammunition fired up to 3025 feet per second. Level 6 material survives five shots of 124 grain 9 mm Full Metal Copper Jacket with Lead Core ammunition fired at up to 1540 feet per second. Level 7 material survives five shots of 55 grain 5.56 mm Rifle Full Metal Copper Jacket with Lead Core (0.223 Caliber) ammunition fired at up to 3388 feet per second. Level 8 material survives five shots of 150 grain 7.62 Rifle Lead Core Full Metal Copper Jacket, Military Ball (0.308 Caliber) ammunition fired at up to 3025 feet per second. Thus, the levels are determined by a mix of factors including ammunition type, feet-per-second, weight, and number of shots. A minimum of Underwriters Lab (UL) level 3 or an equivalent from a nationally accredited and audited designator should be provided in providing ballistic resistance to deter school shooters. 
     Although there are some barricade systems that were developed for use in schools for preventing intruder access through the door, the Parkland, Fla. shooter demonstrated the flaws in these systems by both identifying targets and shooting through windows. The previous systems rely on lock hinge or hinge integrity entirely or do not address the shooter&#39;s use of door windows and thus are not truly effective barriers to school shooters. 
     For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0281416 was published on Sep. 29, 2016. Applicant DAW Technologies, LLC applied for “Classroom Retrofit Barriers,” as conceptualized by inventor Peter J. Spansy. Here, a ballistic door providing barrier-of-entry shielding blocks a doorway in certain emergency situations to shield against active shooters, while not inhibiting, impeding or changing the safe egress through the ballistic door. A ballistic assembly may be secured to the non-threat side of an existing door, by retrofit installation or by new construction installation. The ballistic assembly has a ballistic skin, a top ballistic skin clamp, and a bottom ballistic skin clamp. The top and bottom ballistic skin clamps secure the ballistic skin against the non-threat side of the door. The ballistic door has at least a N.I.J. Level IIIA of protection against gunfire. More particularly, it is disclosed that the classroom ballistic barriers provide barrier-of-entry shielding that may be retrofit to the existing classroom door by the school&#39;s own maintenance staff and will not inhibit emergency exits through the door. The system and method combine a minimally-thick ballistic skin with a solid-core wood as is typically used as a classroom door to create a shield equivalent to a N.I.J. Level IIIA ballistic panel. Hence, it is possible to retrofit a relatively thin ballistic skin onto an existing door to provide protection against multiple 0.44 magnum and 9 mm handgun blasts, as well as multiple 12-gauge shot gun blasts. The ballistic skin may comprise ballistic fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) material. For N.I.J. Level IIIA protection, the door and ballistic skin combination, constituting the ballistic door, must stop five rounds from a 0.44 magnum or five rounds from a 9 mm handgun within a 12″×12″ square shot 16 feet 4 inches away, with no penetrations. Normally, to achieve N.I.J. Level IIIA protection with this type of material, it would require a minimum of a ½″ thickness of FRP. Because FRP material weighs approximately 6 pounds per square foot, providing that thickness would add too much weight to the door, would make it difficult for a single maintenance person to install, and would add unnecessary cost. However, by applying the ballistic skin 18 of a ¼″ thickness to an existing door, the weight of the ballistic shielding is cut in half making it capable of installation by a single maintenance person, and the cost of the shielding is significantly reduced. Moreover, by using lightweight (thinner) ballistic material, the added weight will not fatigue the existing door, nor will the shielding protection provided be exorbitantly expensive for schools, offices, or the like. The use of lightweight (thinner) ballistic material, while not surrendering ballistic integrity for the door, is possible by always placing the ballistic material on the non-threat side of the door. This enables the solid core wood door to assist with and perform some of the work if stopping bullets. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 9,243,445 entitled “Protective Window Shutter,” issued on Jan. 26, 2016, to inventor Stephen Beaudoin. Here, a protective window shutter is designed to cover and uncover a door mounted “peek through” metal framed window. The shutter is made up of two shutter sections, rotatable in relation to each other. The first shutter section is secured adjacent to the window&#39;s metal frame and the second shutter section is rotatable from a first position in which the two sections are folded on each other, to a second position in which the second section is extended out from the first section, over the window. The shutter sections are maintained in the closed position by the attraction of metal strike plates on the first shutter section and corresponding magnets encased within the second shutter. The second section is maintained over the window by the attraction of the magnets to the window&#39;s metal framing. The shutter sections are made of high strength, lightweight PVC or like material. 
     U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0263958 was published on Oct. 30, 2008, disclosing a “Classroom Fortification System.” Inventor Frederick Can Edson conceptualized a device and method for preventing entry into a room having an upper window such as a school classroom door. Specifically, the device is an entry resistant material positioned on the lower part of the inside of the classroom door which can be moved into position over the inside of the classroom door window and prevent or resist entry into the window and optionally restrict viewing into the classroom. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 9,644,408 for a “Method and Device for Barricading a Door,” as issued on May 9, 2017, provides for a barricade device and a method of barricading a door, each conceptualized by inventor Michael Presutti. More specifically, the device and method may be used to barricade a door, and thereby prevent an intruder from entering a sheltering space, such as a classroom, storeroom, or hallway. The barricade-device may have a pivotable stop-device that is pivotable from a location adjacent to a door. The pivot-location may be at an elevation that is lower than a door handle on the door. The stop-device may be pivotable from a reserve-position to a stop-position. In the reserve-position, the stop-device does not barricade the door. In the barricade-position, the stop-device barricades the door. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 9,145,729 issued on Sep. 29, 2015 to assignee DAW Technologies, LLC for “Classroom Ballistic Barriers.” Inventor Peter J. Spransy conceptualized a classroom barrier comprising a sliding panel or hinged panel designed to block a classroom door or window opening in certain emergency situations such as the presence of an armed assailant. The barrier is locked from the inside with no chance for it to be unlocked from the exterior. The classroom barrier is simple to operate, bullet resistant, and impenetrable for some predetermined length of time. 
     U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0215755 for a “School-Wide Lockdown and Emergency Communication System” was published on Jul. 30, 2015 in relation to the system of inventor Joseph Bekanich. Here, disclosed is a multi-format emergency communication service for a school, office or home which allows for a non-law enforcement person to send a pre-defined location-based emergency digital message through a graphic user interface to a 911 emergency dispatcher or law enforcement individual and concurrently connect to the same 911 emergency dispatcher or law enforcement individual through a secure 2-way audio/video interface and messaging service. Additionally, a specially configured lockdown system/hardware will work in concert with the aforementioned emergency communication methods to lockdown and secure the door(s), window(s) or entry points at the said emergency location. More specifically, claimed is a hardware-implemented lockdown system that comprises a door bar system which secures or lockdown one or more doors, windows or entry points from entry during an emergency or crisis. 
     U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0191306, entitled “Removable Ballistic-Resistant Door Barricade,” published on Jul. 6, 2017, disclosing the door barricade of inventors Alex J. Falesch, Ryan Walsh, and Christopher LeClair. Here, provided is a door barricade configured to secure a door from an outside threat can include a ridged bulletproof plate. The door barricade can be connected to the door via a fastener. In some embodiments, the fastener is an L-bracket. In other embodiments, the fastener is a ballistic nylon mechanism. The door barricade can also include at least one crossbar and at least one foot to help prevent the door from being forced open. The door barricade can also include a carrying handle to allow for easier deployment of the barricade. In some embodiments, the plate can include a door handle notch that can be covered with a door handle cover. In other or the same embodiments, a door skirt is present. In some embodiments, side panels are attached to the barricade via mounting brackets. 
     Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 8,850,949 was issued on Oct. 7, 2014 to inventor Lois A. Lopez for a “Safety Door for Classrooms and the Like.” The &#39;949 Patent discloses a door safety shield that completely overlies a door having a frame and a doorknob, replaceabley and slidably attaches to the frame of the door and not the door so as to eliminate damage to the door and prevents unauthorized opening of the door. The door safety shield includes a sheet and bolt assemblies. The sheet completely overlies the door. The bolt assemblies are affixed to the sheet, replaceabley and slidably attach to the frame of the door and not the door so as to eliminate the damage to the door and prevent the unauthorized opening of the door. 
     While the above discussed approaches may be beneficial in certain circumstances, there exists a need for an easy-to-operate, effective system of retrofitting classroom doors with a protective shield to restrict physical access of a potential criminal to the people in the classroom. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention provides a retrofittable emergency barricade system to be used in conjunction with windowed school doors. 
     It is, therefore, an objective of the present invention to deny line of sight into the room through the window of a windowed door during a shooting incident, by providing a ballistic-resistant shutter for windowed school doors. 
     It is further an objective of the present invention to deny line of fire through the window of a windowed door during a school shooting, by providing a ballistic resistant shutter for windowed school doors. 
     It is further an objective of the invention to bar entry to a schoolroom in a manner not wholly dependent on door lock or hinge integrity, by providing a bar and bar mounts which attach to the door frame or wall around the door frame. 
     It is further an objective of the present invention to allow windowed doors to remain clear and unobstructed under normal school conditions, so to allow school staff to maintain the integrity of the schoolroom under such conditions. 
     It is further an objective of the present invention to provide a protective system that can be easily engaged in a manner of seconds by someone with limited physical ability, thereby decreasing the time and chances the room is unprotected in a shooter situation. 
     It is further an objective of the present invention to provide a classroom door protection system retrofittable across the range of windowed school doors, including windowed double-wide school doors, and form an affordable and effective barrier system. 
     The present invention achieves these objects by providing a door protection assembly, which comprises a bar positioned next to the door frame; a holster or holsters attached to the door frame or next to the door frame which allows the bar to be laid horizontally across the doorway; and a sliding ballistic window shutter. The present invention provides an easy to operate but strong and reliable system of securing a room. The system secures a room by denying line of sight and the ability to open or shoot through the window, as well as removing the possibility of taking advantage of a broken window to unlock the room while further preventing entry to the room by barring the door. The system can be engaged to secure a room in a manner of a few seconds by anyone across a high range of physical abilities without much preparation or training. The system of the present invention is retrofittable and adjustable to fit a variety of school doors. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of the emergency school door barricade system of the present invention retrofitted to a windowed school door, in a disengaged state. 
         FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the emergency school door barricade system of the present invention retrofitted to a windowed school door, in a partly engaged state, wherein the ballistic shutter is closed. 
         FIG. 1C  is a perspective view of the emergency school door barricade system of the present invention retrofitted to a windowed school door, in a fully engaged state. 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the emergency school door barricade system of the present invention retrofitted to a double-wide windowed school door, in a disengaged state. 
         FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the emergency school door barricade system of the present invention retrofitted to a double-wide windowed school door, in a partly engaged state, wherein the ballistic shutter is closed. 
         FIG. 2C  is a perspective view of the emergency school door barricade system of the present invention retrofitted to a double-wide windowed school door, in a fully engaged state. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 2A, 2B, and 2C  generally, the figures depict a perspective view of the emergency school door barricade retrofit system  100  of the present invention from the perspective of a person in a school room. The emergency door barricade retrofit system comprises two main sections: the window shutter section and the barricade section. The window shutter section comprises a ballistic shutter member  400 , a shutter handle  410 , and a shutter frame  420 . The barricade section comprises a bar  200 , a bar holster  210 , as well as a securing bracket  300 . All parts of the present invention are ballistic resistance material equivalent to or greater than a UL level 3 ballistic rating, preferably of steel. The emergency school door barricade retrofit system may be modified in terms of scale to retrofit to a variety of doors  102  and door windows  110 . The system of the present invention can be retrofitted to many door styles including doors covering double-wide entryways such as windowed double-wide doors as illustrated in  FIG. 2A ,  FIG. 2B , and  FIG. 2C . 
     The invention has three states disengaged, engaged, and partly engaged. In a disengaged state, as can be seen in  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 2A , the system of the present invention remains when there is no emergency. In an engaged state, as shown in  FIG. 1C  and  FIG. 2C , the system of the present invention is activated during a time of emergency such as an intruder or school shooter. In a partly engaged state, as illustrated in  FIG. 1B  and  FIG. 2B , the system of the present invention appears when the system is in the process of being engaged or disengaged by student, faculty, or other persons. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, going from disengaged state of  FIG. 1A or 2A  to the engaged state of  FIG. 1C  or  FIG. 2C  is done in no more than a few seconds. 
     The ballistic shutter member  400  comprises a ballistic plate sized to fit directly over and cover the window  110 . The shutter frame  420  is configured to substantially extend to the edges of the window  110  and about an area that allows the ballistic plate to fit in the ballistic frame while beside and not covering the window  110 . The shutter frame  420  enables the ballistic shutter member to be manually moved within the frame using the handle  410  to cover the window  110 . All parts of the ballistic frame  420  and the ballistic plate are preferably formed from steel or of a material composition and thickness equivalent or greater to UL level 3 rating. In one of the preferred embodiments, the ballistic shutter member  400  is preferably formed from ¼-inch steel having a composition and thickness with ballistic resistance equivalent to or greater than a UL level 3 ballistic rating. 
     The UL level 3 rating, which stops three 0.44 magnum shots, is generally considered the sufficient level for the needs of those in industries which suffer from armed robberies. A barricade system designed to stop a shooter should have at least a level 3 UL ballistic rating or an equivalent from a nationally accredited and audited designator overall. In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, this material is preferably steel of a material composition and thickness such as to meet or exceed the UL level standard. 
     Thus, the ballistic shutter member  400 , which closes off line of sight, is also adapted to provide at least UL level 3 ballistic resistance: significantly helping to prevent a shooter from shooting through the door window  110 . 
     The shutter plate handle  410  attaches to the ballistic shutter member  400  and has a thickness and material composition with a ballistic resistance equivalent to or greater than a UL level 3 ballistic rating, preferably of steel. The plate handle  410  allows for the ballistic plate to be moved within the ballistic shutter frame  420  to a position covering the window  110 . The plate handle  410  is easily accessible to persons inside the classroom. 
     A latch  430 , also of ballistic resistant material with a ballistic resistance equivalent to or greater than a UL level 3 ballistic rating, preferably of steel, is designed to latch onto the plate handle  410 . The latch  430  is anchored to the door  102  adjacent the window  110 . In some alternative embodiments of the present invention, the latch  430  may be anchored to the ballistic shutter frame  420  or the wall near the door  102 . Regardless of placement, the latch  430  is configured to secure the ballistic shutter member  400  over door window  110  in the ballistic shutter frame  420 . 
     The securing bracket  300  is adapted to be secured to a wall adjacent to the door  102 . One end of the bar  200  is pivotally attached to the bracket  300 . The bracket  300  comprises a U-shaped bracket member comprising a first planar member  302  attached to the wall adjacent the door  102 , a second planar member  304  extending transversely to the first planar member  302 , and a third planar member  306  extending transversely to the second planar member and in parallel to the first planar member  302 . 
     A pivot pin  310  extends through the third planar member  306  and is secured to the bar  200 . The pivot pin  310  defines a pivot axis for the bar  200 , allowing the secured end  202  of the bar  200  to pivot between a position extending substantially vertically along the door  102 , as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  to a position extending horizontally across the door  102 , as shown in  FIG. 1C . 
     The third planar member  306  of the securing bracket  300 , is provided with an opening  320 , which receives a release pin  340  therein. The release pin  340  is adapted to support the secured end  202  of the bar  200  in a vertical stored position within the securing bracket  300 . The release pin  340  extends through the third planar member  306  transversely to the third planar member  306  into the U-shaped space defined by the bracket  300  and contact one side surface of the bar  200 . 
     A release pin cable  330  is attached to one end of the release pin  340 ; and a second end of the release pin cable  330  is secured to the second planar member  304 . When the bar  200  rests in the bracket  300 , as shown in  FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B , the release pin  340  extends through the bracket  300 . When the system  100  is activated and the bar  200  is pivoted across the door  102 , the release pin  340  is withdrawn from the opening  320  and is suspended by the release pin cable  330 , as shown in  FIGS. 1C and 2C . 
     In cases such as a double-wide door wherein the bar  200  may be too long to store upright, the bar  200  may be extendable in a locking fashion and retractable in a non-locking fashion. In each case, the release pin  340 , secures the bar  200  in place when the bar  200  is not engaged across the doorway. The release pin  340  secures the bar  200  in place, by preventing it from pivoting around the fixed pivot pin  310 . 
     A bar-receiving support holster  210  is secured on about the same horizontal level as the securing bracket  300 , on opposite side of the door  102 . The support holster is configured to receive a free end  204  of the bar  200  when the bar  200  is moved into an active position barring the door  102 . The holster  210  defines a receptacle with an upwardly facing, open channel  212  for the bar  200 ; it is configured to receive and house the free end  204  of the bar  200  and prevent the bar  200  from pivoting further downwardly about the pivot pin  310 . 
     The holster  210  has upwardly extending sides  214  and  216 ; the side  214  is used as an attachment plate for attaching the holster to the room wall near the door  102 , while the side  216  stops movement of the bar  200  if pushing force is applied to the door during an active status of the system. A bottom part  218  of the holster  210  allows the bar  200  to rest within the holster  210  and prevents its downward movement within the channel  212 . 
     However, the bar holster  210  is not necessary for this system, as the bracket  300  may be fitted to support the bar  200  in a horizontal position. Other preferred embodiments of the invention have a bar which is positioned near the door  102  against the wall when disengaged and wherein the holster bracket  210  is duplicated on the opposite side of the door  102  to allow the bar  200  to lay across door  100  when engaged. 
     Other preferred embodiments may have a holster bracket that provides support in four directions or may forgo holster bracket  210  altogether if the securing bracket  300  only allows for a limited range of pivot motion. Other preferred embodiment the release pin  340  may act as a locking pivot point, eliminating the need for a fixed pivot pin  310  and making the bar  200  detachable. 
     In use, the system is usually disengaged and is in a stored position shown in  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 2A . In this position, the bar  200  is pivotally connected to the wall near the door  102  and rests in a vertical orientation. The securing bracket  300  maintains the bar  200  in the normally vertical position using the release pin  340 . The shutter member  400  is positioned next to, but not covering, the door window  110 . The latch  430  is in a disengaged position on the door  102 . 
     When an emergency arises, the system  100  is activated by one or more room occupants.  FIGS. 1B and 2B  depict a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a partly engaged state where ballistic shutter member  400  has been moved within the ballistic shutter frame  420  and latched by the rotating latch  430  so that it latches the handle  410  thus holding the ballistic shutter member  400  in place over the window  110 . The shutter member  400  completely covers the window  110  and prevents a would-be intruder to see inside the classroom. It will be understood that although the shutter may be closed first in the preferred method of operating the present invention, in some cases the bar  200  will be lowered before the ballistic shutter  400  is engaged. 
       FIGS. 1C and 2C  show a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a fully engaged state. In this active position, the release pin  340  has been withdrawn from the bracket  300  allowing the bar to pivot about the pivot pin  310  in the bracket  300 . The bar  200  has been pivoted into engagement with the holster  210 . The bar  200  lays across the door  102  preventing entry into room in manner not wholly dependent on door hinge or lock integrity, being held in place by the holster bracket  210  and the securing bracket  300 , both of which are firmly anchored to the room wall. The bar  200  laying across the doorway in this manner also supports hinge and lock integrity by further preventing travel of the door in a way that would compromise lock or hinge integrity. 
     Many changes and modifications can be made in the security system according to the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. We therefore pray that our rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.