Patent Publication Number: US-9890961-B1

Title: AC window security device

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
     The present application is related to commonly-assigned and co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 62/174,947, entitled AC WINDOW SECURITY DEVICE, filed on Jul. 2, 2015, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention pertains to window air conditioners and, in particular, to a security device to prevent a window in which an air conditioner has been installed from being opened. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Window air conditioning (AC) units are a relatively inexpensive and convenient way to cool selected rooms or areas. A window is partially opened, the AC unit is installed in the window, and the window is then closed on top of the AC unit. While convenient, window AC units also have some drawbacks, including limited ability to keep the window from being opened, either from someone the outside, such as an intruder trying to break in, or from someone on the inside, such as a child who could fall out. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide an AC window security device, comprising: a sill plate bracket, a cross-bar, a pair of U-brackets, and a pair of U-brackets. The sill plate bracket comprises an elongated flat plate and a bracket on both ends of the flat plate extending substantially perpendicular to the flat plate, each bracket having an opening formed therethrough. The sill plate bracket is configured to be secured to a window sill under a window AC unit in an at least partially open window, the elongated flat plate extending beyond both sides of the AC unit. Each U-bracket comprises a first elongated strip and a narrow hook at a first end. The narrow hook is configured to fit into the opening in one end of the sill plate bracket with the first elongated strip positioned substantially vertically on a side of the AC unit. The J-bracket, comprises a second elongated strip and a wide hook at a first end, configured to fit over an upper frame of the at least partially open window with the second elongated strip positioned substantially vertically on a side of the AC unit. A second end of the U-bracket is removably secured to a second end of the J-bracket. The cross-bar is configured to be positioned along a top surface of the AC unit and removably secured to both U-brackets, wherein the at least partially open window is prevented from being opened. 
     Embodiments of the present invention also provide a method for securing a window in which an air conditioner (AC) is installed, comprising: securing a sill plate bracket to a window sill under a window AC unit in an at least partially open window, the sill plate bracket extending beyond both sides of the AC unit and having a bracket on both ends extending substantially perpendicular to the window sill, each bracket having an opening formed therethrough; clipping first hooks at lower ends of each of a pair of U-brackets to the openings in the sill plate brackets with a first elongated strip of each U-bracket positioned substantially vertically along the sides of the AC unit; positioning second hooks at upper ends of each of a pair of J-brackets over an upper frame of the at least partially open window with a second elongated strip of each J-bracket positioned substantially vertically on the sides of the AC unit; positioning a cross-bar along a top surface of the AC unit; and securing the first elongated strip of each U-bracket to the second elongated strip of a corresponding J-bracket and securing the cross-bar to both U-brackets, wherein the at least partially open window is prevented from being opened. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of an AC window security device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates a front view an embodiment of a sill plate bracket usable with the security device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates an end view of the sill plate bracket of  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 2C  illustrates a top view of the sill plate bracket of  FIG. 2A  before the end brackets are bent down; 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates a front view another embodiment of a sill plate bracket usable with the security device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates an end view of the sill plate bracket of  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 3C  illustrates a top view of the sill plate bracket of  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a cross-bar usable with the security device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4B  illustrates a side view of the cross-bar of  FIG. 4A ; 
         FIG. 5A  illustrates a front view of an embodiment of a U-bracket usable with the security device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5B  illustrates a side view of the U-bracket of  FIG. 5A ; 
         FIG. 6A  illustrates a front view of an embodiment of a J-bracket usable with the security device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6B  illustrates a side view of the J-bracket of  FIG. 6A ; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates the security device of  FIG. 1  installed on a window; and 
         FIG. 8  illustrates another embodiment of a U-bracket and a J-bracket usable with the AC window security device of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of an air conditioner (AC) window security device  100  of the present invention. The device  100  includes a sill plate bracket  110 , a cross-bar  130 , a pair of U-brackets  140 , and a pair of J-brackets  150 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2A, 2B , the sill plate bracket  110  includes an elongated flat plate  112  with a bracket  114  at each end. Both brackets  114  are perpendicular to the flat plate  112  and have an opening  116  formed therethrough. Thus, when the sill plate bracket  110  is installed on a window sill, the flat plate  112  is substantially horizontal and the brackets  114  are substantially vertical. The sill plate bracket  110  also has mounting holes  118  formed through the flat plate  112 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2A, 2B , the sill plate bracket  110  is cut from a single piece of material and the end brackets  114  are bent about  90 ° from the flat plate  112  ( FIG. 2C ).  FIGS. 3A-3C  illustrate another embodiment of a sill plate bracket  120  having a flat plate  122  with end brackets  124 . Both brackets  124  are formed with a T-shaped cross-section and have an opening  126  formed therethrough. The flat plate  122  and the end brackets  124  are cut separately from a material and the brackets  124  welded onto the top surface of the flat plate  122 . The sill plate bracket  120  also has mounting holes  128  formed through the flat plate  122 . 
       FIG. 4A and 4B  illustrate top and side views, respectively, of an embodiment of a cross-bar  130  usable with the security device  100  of  FIG. 1 . The cross-bar  130  comprises an elongated flat plate with mounting holes  132  formed through both ends. 
       FIGS. 5A, 5B  illustrate front and side views, respectively, of an embodiment of a U-bracket  140  usable with the security device  100  of  FIG. 1 . Both U-brackets  140  comprise an elongated strip  142  with a narrow hook  144  at the bottom end, forming an upward-opening channel  146  (best seen in  FIG. 5B ). Spaced-apart mounting holes  148  are formed along the elongated strip  142 . 
       FIGS. 6A, 6B  illustrate front and side views, respectively, of an embodiment of a J-bracket  150  usable with the security device  100  of  FIG. 1 . Both J-brackets  150  comprise an elongated strip  152  with a wide top hook  154  at the top end, forming an downward-opening channel  156  (best seen in  FIG. 6B ). Spaced-apart mounting holes  158  are formed along the elongated strip  152 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates the AC window security device  100  installed around an AC unit  10  in a window  20 . The window  20  includes a frame  22 , a sill  24 , an upper window  26  and a lower window  28 . Although  FIG. 7  illustrates the security device  100  installed in a double-hung window, it may also be installed in a single-hung window. To install the security device  100 , the sill plate bracket  110  is secured to the top of the window sill  24 , such as by screwing the flat plate  112  into the sill  24  through the holes  118 . The lower window  28  is raised and the AC unit  10  is then mounted in the window  20  with the bottom of the AC unit  10  resting on top of the flat plate  112  of the sill plate bracket  110 . The lower window  28  is lowered onto the top of the AC unit  10 . The top hooks  154  of the J-brackets  150  are positioned so that the top of the lower window  28  fits within the channels  156 . With the U-brackets  140  on either side of the AC unit  10 , the narrow hooks  144  of the U-brackets  140  are inserted into the openings  116  of the brackets  114  of the sill plate bracket  110 . The elongated strips  142 ,  152  of the J-brackets  140  and U-brackets  150  are bolted together through the holes  148 ,  158 . The cross-bar  130  is then positioned across the top of the AC unit  10  and bolted to the elongated strips  152  of the two U-brackets  150  through the holes  132 ,  148 . For additional security, the U-brackets  140  and the cross-bar  130  may also be screwed into the lower frame of the lower window  28 , again through the holes  132 ,  148 . 
     The security device  100  is easily removed by reversing the installation steps, such as for maintenance or during the colder season when the AC unit  10  is removed and stored. The sill plate bracket  110  may be left in place if desired. 
     The sill plate bracket  110 , cross-bar  130 , U-brackets  140 , and J-brackets  150  may be formed from any appropriate material, such as aluminum, steel, or other metal, and may be untreated, galvanized, or powdered coated. Although screws, nuts, and bolts are one method of securing the components together and to the window  20 , other fasteners may also be used. Any of the components may have a foam backing to protect the surface of the window sill or frame. 
     The dimensions of the components are not critical to the practice of the present invention. Moreover, the components of the security device  100  may be manufactured in a variety of sizes to accommodate windows and AC units of different sizes. Thus, the following dimensions are provided as examples only and are not meant to be limiting. For a standard size double-hung window illustrated in the figures, the sill plate bracket  110  may be 26 inches long and two inches wide, and the brackets  114  may be two inches high. The U-brackets  140  may be about 30 inches long or shorter for a small window to about 96 inches or longer for a large window and  1  inch wide. The cross-bar  130  may be about 26 inches long (or longer or shorter) and two inches wide. The J-brackets  150  may be about 33 inches long (or longer or shorter) and 1 inch wide. The cross-bar  10 , U-brackets  140 , and J-brackets may be ⅛ to 3/16 inches thick. Again, the components may be manufactured to various dimensions to fit windows of various dimensions. 
     In another embodiment of the security device  100 , illustrated in  FIG. 8 , upper and lower straps  160 ,  170 , made from a fabric such as nylon, Kevlar, or other like material, may be substituted for the U-brackets  140  and J-brackets  150 . A U-hook  162  secured to the lower end of the lower strap may be hooked into the opening  116  in the bracket  114  and a J-hook  172  secured to the upper end of the upper strap  170  may hook over the top of the lower window  28 . A releasable connector  180 , such as a side-release adjustable buckle or other like connector, may be used to connect and tighten the two straps  160 ,  170  when installing the security device  100 . 
     With the AC window security device  100  installed in the window  20  around the AC unit  10 , the lower window  28  cannot be raised, thereby preventing anyone on the outside gaining entrance through the window  20  and preventing anyone on the inside, such as a child, from accidentally falling out of the window  20 . 
     The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.