Patent Abstract:
The present invention is an adjustable support for installing a planar sheet of material between opposed surfaces for protection from events such as storms. The supports secure the planar sheet to an opening such as a door and window, thereby holding it in place during storms, etc. The supports are easily removed and include a substantially L-shaped base and a clamp. The clamp is removably and adjustably attached to the first side of the L-shaped base, thereby forming an aperture between the second side of the L-shaped base and the bottom surface of the clamp. The aperture is adaptable to accept various thicknesses of substantially planar objects. A device is provided for engaging the adjustable support with a support structure, passing through the clamp and passing through a hole in the first side of the L-shaped base and interfacing with support surfaces to hold the substantially planar object between the first support surface and a substantially opposed second support surface.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/406,417, filed on Apr. 18, 2006, which is incorporated by reference into this application. 
     
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to the field of supports and more particularly to an adjustable support device for mounting a planar object between two opposing surfaces. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In hurricane-prone areas or possibly tornado-prone areas, often when advance notice is provided, windows and doors get covered with plywood to reduce penetration by wind and flying debris. In the past, the plywood was screwed or nailed to the door or window frame and removed when the storm resided. The process of holding the plywood in place and nailing or screwing it to the frame is time-consuming and often required one person to hold the plywood while another person fastens the plywood to the window or door frame. Unfortunately, the screws leave holes where they entered the frame. Even worse, if not pre-drilled, the nails or screws sometimes crack the frame. 
         [0004]    An improvement to the process of mounting plywood to the door or window frame is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,618 to Farmer, Jr. et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference. This patent describes an adjustable clip for mounting the plywood between two opposing surfaces (e.g., the inner side surfaces of the door or window frame). The clip described in this patent has a U-shaped “cup” portion into which the plywood fits and a means to apply force to the opposing surfaces which, in one embodiment, is a screw. Unfortunately, this clip is not suitable for a range of materials, being designed to fit only one size of material (e.g., ¼″ plywood). This requires installers to carry different clips for different sizes of plywood or similar material (e.g., ¼″ plywood, ⅜″ plywood, ½″ plywood, 10 mm plastic). Furthermore, after the storm, if plywood is used, it often absorbs moisture. The plywood swells from the moisture and may not fit in the U-shaped cup of this patent. 
         [0005]    What is needed is an adjustable clip or support that fits many different thicknesses of planar material such as plywood while holding the planar material against the inner surfaces of a window or door frame during situations such as severe weather. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In one embodiment, an adjustable support for mounting a substantially planar object between substantially opposed support surfaces is disclosed including a substantially L-shaped base and a clamp. The clamp is removably and adjustably attached to the first side of the L-shaped base, thereby forming an aperture between the second side of the L-shaped base and the bottom surface of the clamp. The aperture is adaptable to accept various thicknesses of substantially planar objects. A device is provided for engaging the adjustable support with a support structure, passing through the clamp and passing through a hole in the first side of the L-shaped base and entering a hole in the support surface to hold the substantially planar object between the first support surface and a substantially opposed second support surface. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, a system for protecting an opening is disclosed; the opening has substantially opposed support surfaces. The system includes a substantially planar object sized to fit snuggly within the opening between a first and second opposing support surface. The system includes holes formed in the opposing support surfaces. A plurality of adjustable supports hold the planar object within the opening; each the adjustable supports includes a substantially L-shaped base having and a clamp. The clamp is removably and adjustably attached to a first side of the L-shaped base thereby forming an aperture between a second side of the L-shaped base and a bottom surface of the clamp. The aperture accepts and holds planar object of various widths. A locking pin passes through each clamp and through an elongated hole in the first side of the L-shaped base. The locking pin inserts into the holes in the substantially opposed support surfaces, thereby holding the substantially planar object within the opening. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, an adjustable support for mounting a substantially planar object between substantially opposed support surfaces is disclosed including a substantially L-shaped base and a clamp. The clamp is removably and adjustably attached to a first side of the L-shaped base forming an aperture between a second side of the L-shaped base and a bottom surface of the clamp. The aperture accepts and holds the planar object. A device for securing the adjustable support to the substantially opposed support surfaces passes through the clamp and through an elongated hole in the first side of the L-shaped base and interfaces with the substantially opposed support surfaces thereby holding the substantially planar object between the substantially opposed second support surfaces. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a support of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates a rear perspective view of a support of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of a support of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  illustrates a view of a door shielded by a planar sheet of material held in place by multiple supports of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  illustrates an exploded view of an alternate support of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of a support of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  illustrates a second perspective view of a support of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of a sleeve of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. The support of the present invention is designed to hold in place any conceivable stiff, planar object including wood (e.g., plywood), composite material, plastic (e.g., clear polycarbonate panels or polypropylene panels), glass and metal (e.g., aluminum and galvanize steel). Furthermore, the planar material can be corrugated or accordion style. If corrugated or accordion style, the support of the present invention is preferably deployed at locations along the structural sides of the planar material such that as force is applied, it forms a wedge instead of compressing the corrugations or accordion folds. The support of the present invention holds this planar object securely between two substantially opposed support surfaces by applying traverse pressure between at least one of the support surfaces and the planar object. The support surfaces can be any substantially opposed surface including, but not limited to, two parallel sides of a door frame or window frame. 
         [0019]    As will be seen, the adjustable supports of the present invention provide an adjustable aperture that can accept and hold a wide range of thicknesses of planar material allowing an installer to need only one type of support for installation of many types of planer material. For example, sheet steel may have a thickness of ¼″ while plywood or polycarbonate panels may have a thickness of ¾″. The supports of the present invention can be adjusted to work equally well with both thicknesses of planar material. Furthermore, often after the storm subsides, the planar material is removed from the structure being protected. If the planar material accepts moisture and expands (e.g., plywood), it is important that the supports adjust to the slightly thicker, off-tolerance planar material. This would not be easy to do with the supports of the prior art. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of an adjustable support of the present invention is shown. An L-shaped base  22  and clamp  20  are configured to sandwich a planar sheet of material  40  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) in an aperture  60 . In a preferred embodiment, base serrations  14  catch and hold clamp serrations  12 , holding the clamp against the planar sheet of material  40  until screws  24  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) are inserted and tightened. The base serrations  14  are angled toward the base  22  bottom while the clamp serrations  12  are angled away from the base  22  bottom, thereby engaging with each other to hold the clamp  20  in position with respect to the base  22  while inserting and tightening screws  24  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) creating an aperture  60  of desired size. The pressure screw  30  is threaded in preferably the clamp  20  or alternately the base  22  and is tightened to apply pressure against two opposing support surfaces in between which the planar sheet  40  has been inserted as will be shown in  FIG. 4 . The two opposing support surfaces are, for example, the inner walls of a door frame or the inner walls of a window frame. 
         [0021]    The L-shaped base  22  and clamp  20  are made from any sturdy material, preferably aluminum, steel, stainless steel, ultra-high molecular weight plastic (UHMW) or a structural plastic such as glass-filled polypropylene. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a rear perspective view of an adjustable support of the present invention is shown. Shown is the base  22  with elongated screw holes  26  through which clamp screws  24  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) pass and another elongated screw hole  32  through which the pressure screw  30  passes. The elongated screw holes  24 / 32  allow movement of the clamp  20  with respect to the base  22 . In this embodiment, serrations  12 / 14  hold the clamp  20  in place with respect to the base  22  while tightening clamp screws  24 , thereby locking the clamp  20  in position with respect to the base  22 . The serrations also provide structural locking between the clamp  20  and the base  22 . 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , an exploded view of an adjustable support of the present invention is shown. Shown is the base  22  with the optional serrations  14  visible from the side only. The optional serrations  12  of the clamp  20  are visible. The pressure screw  30  threads through threads  34  in the clamp  20  and passes through an elongated hole  32  in the base  22 , thereby permitting the clamp  20  to move closer to the base  22  to tightly hold the planar material  40  (not shown). Likewise, clamp screws  24  pass through the elongated holes  26  in the base and into threaded holes  28  in the clamp. The clamp screws  24  hold the clamp  20  and base  22  in relative position after they are adjusted to the desired aperture size. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a view of a door shielded by a planar sheet of material held in place by multiple adjustable supports of the present invention is shown. The door is by example. Any opening can be protected with the present invention including, but not limited to, a door and a window. The door has a frame with decorative molding  44 . In this example, a sheet of plywood is fitted within the inside edges of the door frame  47 / 48  and a plurality of supports  10  of the present invention are situated holding the plywood  40  between the clamp  20  and base  22  of the supports  10  and the supports  10  apply pressure to the opposing inside edges of the door frame  47 / 48  by tightening the pressure screws  30  of each support  10 . As shown, supports are positioned on opposite edges of the planar material  40 , which can be any relatively flat and stiff material such as plywood, etc. It is preferred to place the supports  10  at 6 inches from the edge of the planar material  40  and at every 12 inches thereafter. For added strength, supports  10  can be placed on the top and bottom edges of the planar material  40 , thereby exerting pressure on the top and bottom inside walls  48  of the frame  42 . In another embodiment, supports  10  are placed along only one edge of the planar material  40 . For additional protection, the pressure screw  30  can have a protective cup on its end where it interfaces with the door frame  47 / 48  or a thin sheet of a stiff material such as steel can be placed between the end of the pressure screw  30  and the opposed surfaces. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , an exploded view of an alternate support of the present invention is shown. Shown is the base  22  with a relatively smooth surface  64  (without serrations) visible from the side only. The face  62  of the clamp  20  is also relatively smooth. Being that the base  22  and the face  62  of the clamp  20  are relatively smooth, friction between these two surfaces holds them in place with respect to each other. In some embodiments (not shown) these surfaces  62 / 64  can be textured or alternately, a gasket can be placed between them to hold the base  22  in place with respect to the clamp  20 . The pressure screw  30  threads through threads  34  in the clamp  20  and passes through an elongated hole  32  in the base  22 , thereby permitting the clamp  20  to move closer to the base  22  to tightly hold the planar material  40  (not shown). Likewise, clamp screws  24  pass through the elongated holes  26  in the base and into threaded holes  28  in the clamp. The clamp screws  24  hold the clamp  20  and base  22  in relative position after they are adjusted to the desired aperture size. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a perspective view of an adjustable support  110  of a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. An L-shaped base  122  and clamp  120  are configured to sandwich a planar sheet of material  40  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) in an aperture  160 . The base serrations  114  are angled toward the base  122  bottom while the clamp serrations  112  are angled away from the base  122  bottom, thereby engaging with each other to hold the clamp  120  in position with respect to the base  122  while inserting and tightening screws (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) creating an aperture  160  of desired size. The locking pin  131  and locking pin handle  130  are shown in position of being engaged with the opposing support surfaces  47 / 48 . To release the clip from the opposing support surfaces  47 / 48 , the locking pin handle  130  is rotated 90 degrees past a detent  133  to a point where it clears the locking pin retainer  135 , at which point it can be easily pulled to disengage from the hole in the opposing support surfaces  47 / 48 . This locking mechanism is easier to operate during installation and removal since the locking mechanism of the prior embodiments require a screw driver held against the planar material  40  to turn the locking screw  30 . 
         [0027]    In some embodiments, a boss  126  is provided in the L-shaped base  122  and an elongated hole  127  in the clamp  120  to secure the clamp  120  to the L-shaped base  122  with screws (not shown). 
         [0028]    In this embodiment of the present invention, holes are made in the opposing support surfaces  47 / 48  to accept the locking pin  131 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a perspective view of a sleeve of the second embodiment of the present invention is shown. In some embodiments, a sleeve  170  is inserted into the holes in the opposing support surfaces for ascetic reasons and to reduce friction when inserting and removing the locking pin  131 . In some embodiments, a cap  172  is provided to cover the open end of the sleeve  172  and in some embodiments the cap  172  is tethered to the sleeve  170  (tether not shown) and covers the holes when not in use for ascetic reasons and to keep debris out of the sleeve. 
         [0030]    During installation, the locking pin handle  130  is positioned to an approximately 90 degree angle from the clamp  120 , thereby clearing the locking pin retainer  135 . Once the locking pin  131  is aligned with the hole in the opposing support surfaces, the locking pin  131  is pushed into the hole. To keep the locking pin  131  in place, the locking pin handle  130  is rotated approximately 90 degrees, passing a detent  133  that holds it against the clamp  120 . 
         [0031]    In some embodiments, a security screw  121  is used to keep the planar material from pulling out of the adjustable support  110  during high winds. The security screw  121  passes through the clamp  120 , through a hole cut in the planar material  40  and through a hole in the L-shaped base  122 , where it is held in place by a nut  123  (not visible in  FIG. 6 ). 
         [0032]    The L-shaped base  122  and clamp  120  are made from any sturdy material, preferably aluminum, steel, stainless steel, ultra-high molecular weight plastic (UHMW) or a structural plastic such as glass-filled polypropylene. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a second perspective view of an adjustable support  110  of a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. An L-shaped base  122  and clamp  120  are configured to sandwich a planar sheet of material  40  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) in an aperture  160 . The base serrations  114  are angled toward the base  122  bottom while the clamp serrations  112  are angled away from the base  122  bottom, thereby engaging with each other to hold the clamp  120  in position with respect to the base  122  while inserting and tightening screws (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) creating an aperture  160  of desired size. The locking pin  131  and locking pin handle  130  are shown in position of being engaged with the opposing support surfaces  47 / 48 . To release the clip from the opposing support surfaces  47 / 48 , the locking pin handle  130  is rotated 90 degrees to a point where it clears the locking pin retainer  135 , at which point it can be easily pulled to disengage from the hole in the opposing support surfaces  47 / 48 . This locking mechanism is easier to operate during installation and removal since the locking mechanism of the prior embodiments require a screw driver held against the planar material  40  to turn the locking screw  30 . Once all adjustable supports  110  are disengaged, the planar material  40  is easily removed from the opposing support surfaces  47 / 48 . 
         [0034]    In this embodiment of the present invention, holes are made in the opposing support surfaces  47 / 48  to accept the locking pin  131 . In some embodiments, a sleeve  170  (see  FIG. 7 ) is inserted into the holes for ascetic reasons. In some embodiments, a cap  172  is provided to cover the holes in the opposing support surfaces when not in use for ascetic reasons and to keep debris out of the sleeve. 
         [0035]    During installation, the locking pin handle  130  is positioned to an approximately 90 degree angle from the clamp  120 , thereby clearing the locking pin retainer  135 . Once the locking pin  131  is aligned with the hole in the opposing support surfaces, the locking pin  131  is pushed into the hole. To keep the locking pin  131  in place, the locking pin handle  130  is rotated approximately 90 degrees, passing a detent  133  that holds it against the clamp  120 . 
         [0036]    In some embodiments, a security screw  121  is used to keep the planar material from pulling out of the adjustable support  110  during high winds. The security screw  121  passes through the clamp  120 , through a hole cut in the planar material  40  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) and through a hole in the L-shaped base  122 , where it is held in place by a nut  123 . 
         [0037]    The L-shaped base  122  and clamp  120  are made from any sturdy material, preferably aluminum, steel, stainless steel, ultra-high molecular weight plastic (UHMW) or a structural plastic such as glass-filled polypropylene. 
         [0038]    Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result. 
         [0039]    It is believed that the system and method of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4