Abstract:
Disclosed herein are systems, apparatus, and methods for mounting structures, for example panels, to doors, windows, and other building openings. Aspects and embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system of brackets which may be removably mounted onto a door, window, or other building opening and to which may be attached a protective panel which substantially covers the window or other building structure. Such a system may be used, for example, to provide protection to doors, windows and other building openings against flying debris from hurricanes and to other severe storms.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/227,554, titled “STORM PANEL BRACKET,” filed on Sep. 28, 2009, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    Embodiments of the present invention are directed generally to systems, apparatus, and methods for mounting structures, for example panels, to doors, windows, and other building openings. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system of brackets which may be removably mounted onto a door, window, or other building opening and to which may be attached a protective panel which substantially covers the window or other building structure. Such a system may be used, for example, to provide protection to doors, windows and other building openings against flying debris from hurricanes and other severe storms. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of Related Art 
         [0005]    Hurricanes and other severe storms may generate high winds resulting in flying debris. This debris may damage portions of buildings, for example, windows or doors. It is thus desirable to provide protection to windows and doors or other building openings upon the imminent arrival of a hurricane or other severe storm. In one method, protective storm panels, often made of wood, are nailed in place over windows or other building openings sought to be protected. This typically results in damage to the building from the nails used to secure the protective panel in place on the building. Also, the protective storm panels installed in this manner may be subject to being torn from the building by high winds associated with the hurricane or other severe storm. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0006]    In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a window protection system. The system comprises a plurality of brackets, each of the plurality of brackets configured to mount onto a window sash. Each of the plurality of brackets comprises an exterior surface, a body configured to engage the window sash, and a connector coupled to the exterior surface. The system further comprises a protective panel comprising apertures configured to receive the connectors of the plurality of brackets. 
         [0007]    In some embodiments the system further comprises a plurality of fasteners to configured to affix the protective panel to the connectors of the plurality of brackets. The fasteners may comprise nuts configured to engage portions of the connectors of the plurality of brackets passing through the apertures of the protective panel. 
         [0008]    In some embodiments, the body of at least one of the plurality of brackets may comprise a first member configured to engage an interior surface of the window sash, a second member extending from the first member and configured to engage an edge surface of the window sash, and a third member extending from the second member and configured to engage an external surface of the window sash. In some embodiments, the body of the at least one of the plurality of brackets may comprise a cavity defined by an interior surface of the first member, an interior surface of the second member, and an interior surface of the third member, the cavity substantially conforming to the window sash. In some embodiments, the cavity may comprise a protective layer configured to protect the window sash from damage by the at least one of the plurality of brackets. In some embodiments, the protective layer may be formed of a resilient material. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the third members of the at least one of the plurality of brackets are substantially triangular in shape. In some embodiments the body of at least one other of the plurality of brackets is U shaped. In some embodiments, at least one of the plurality of brackets is configured to encapsulate a corner of the window sash and in some embodiments, at least one other of the plurality of brackets is configured to engage a straight portion of the window sash. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments, the protective panel comprises a resilient material configured to form an air tight seal against the window sash. 
         [0011]    In some embodiments, the plurality of brackets are secured between the window sash and a window jamb when a window comprising the window sash is closed. 
         [0012]    In some embodiments, the plurality of brackets are configured to be removably mounted to the window sash without the use of tools, and in some embodiments, the plurality of brackets are configured to be removably mounted to the window sash without damaging the window sash. 
         [0013]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a window protection system. The window protection system comprises a plurality of devices, each of the plurality of devices configured to mount onto an edge of a window sash, each of the plurality of devices comprising a first member configured to engage an interior surface of the window sash, a second member extending from the first member and configured to engage an edge surface of the window sash, a third member extending from the second member and configured to engage an external surface of the window sash, the third member comprising an exterior device surface, and a connector coupled to the exterior device surface. The window protection system further comprises a protective panel comprising apertures configured to receive the connectors of the plurality of devices. 
         [0014]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of providing protection for a window. The method comprises providing a window protection system comprising a plurality of brackets, each of the plurality of brackets configured to mount on to a window sash, each of the plurality of brackets comprising an exterior surface, a body configured to engage the window sash, and a connector coupled to the exterior surface. The window protection system further comprises a protective panel comprising apertures configured to receive the connectors of the plurality of brackets. The method further comprises mounting the plurality of brackets on the window, mounting the protective panel on the plurality of connectors, and securing the protective panel to the plurality of connectors. 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, the mounting of the plurality of brackets on the window may be performed without the use of tools. 
         [0016]    In some embodiments, mounting the plurality of brackets on the window does not damage the window or a building in which the window is mounted. In some embodiments, the method further comprises forming a substantially air tight seal between the protective panel and the window. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the to drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a window fitted with protective panel mounting brackets of a window protection system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the window of  FIG. 1  with a protective panel installed on the mounting brackets; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a first bracket in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a second bracket in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the window protection system of  FIG. 2  through line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the window protection system of  FIG. 2  through line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the window protection system of  FIG. 2  through line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the window protection system of  FIG. 2  through line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the window protection system of  FIG. 2  through line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a plan view of a window fitted with protective panel mounting brackets of a window protection system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is a cross sectional view of a double hung window fitted with protective panel mounting brackets and a protective panel in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    This invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. 
         [0030]    Embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems, apparatus, and methods of installing a protective panel over building openings. Embodiments of the present invention may be used to protect various building openings, including, for example, windows, doors, and skylights, but for the sake of clarity will be described herein with reference to the protection of windows. 
         [0031]    Embodiments of the present invention include a system of brackets which may be removably attached to a window, and to which may be secured a protective panel. In some embodiments the brackets may be attached and removed from the window without the use of tools. In some embodiments, the brackets may be manually snapped on to a window. In some embodiments, the brackets may be attached and removed from the window without damaging the window or the building in which the window is mounted. The brackets may be attached and removed without utilizing fasteners such as nails or screws which may penetrate a portion of the building to hold the brackets in place. 
         [0032]    An embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 1  and indicated generally at  10 . The embodiment of  FIG. 1  includes a window having a glass pane  20 , mounted in a sash  30 . The sash  30  is coupled to a window jamb  40  which forms part of the window frame. The window may be either a casement-type or an awning-type window. For casement-type windows, hinges (not shown) along a side of the window sash couple the window sash to the jamb. For awning-type windows, hinges (not shown) along the top of the window sash couple the window sash to the jamb. On the window, and more specifically on the window sash, are mounted four corner brackets  50  and two side brackets  60 . The corner brackets  50  are configured to engage and mount to a corner of the window sash  30 , encapsulating the corner of the window sash  30 . The side brackets  60  are configured to engage and mount to a straight portion of the window sash  30 . These brackets each include a protruding bolt  70  (illustrated in further detail in  FIGS. 3-6 ). A protective panel  80  including through holes  75  at locations corresponding to the locations of the bolts  70  on the brackets may be mounted on the bolts  70  and may be secured in place by washers  90  and nuts  100 , such as, for example, wing nuts. 
         [0033]    The embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrates a system including four corner brackets  50  and two side brackets  60 . In other embodiments different numbers of brackets may be used. For example, in some embodiments only corner brackets  50  or only side brackets  60  are used, and in other embodiments more than one side bracket  60  per window side may be used. Although described herein as side brackets, it is to be understood that in some embodiments side brackets  60  may alternatively or additionally be mounted on upper or lower edges of the window sash  30 . 
         [0034]    The brackets  50 ,  60  may be formed from materials such as metal, plastic, composite, or combinations thereof. Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to any particular material for the brackets  50 ,  60 . The brackets  50 ,  60  may be formed by extrusion, machining, welding, or other fabrication methods appropriate for the material(s) of which they are constructed. 
         [0035]    The protective panel  80  may be formed from plywood, opaque, translucent, or clear plastic, composite, metal, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the protective panel  80  may be formed from clear LEXAN® brand polycarbonate resin thermoplastic (SABIC Innovative Plastics, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia). Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to any particular material for the protective panel  80 . 
         [0036]    Illustrated in  FIG. 3  is a corner bracket  50  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The corner bracket  50  is formed from two triangular walls joined by a side wall  52  and a bottom wall  54 . The two triangular walls may in some to embodiments be substantially parallel. A bolt  70 , which in some embodiments may comprise a metallic, threaded bolt, is coupled to and exterior sidewall  57  of one of the triangular walls. The bolt  70  extends outward from the bracket in a direction normal to, or substantially normal to the exterior sidewall  57 . The bolt may be permanently joined to the exterior sidewall  57  by, for example, welding or soldering. In other embodiments, the bolt may be coupled to the exterior sidewall  57  by, for example, screwing into a threaded hole in the sidewall. In some embodiments the triangular walls of the bracket  50  may be formed in different shapes, for example in an arcuate shape. Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to any particular shape of the walls of the bracket  50 , or the bracket  60  discussed below. 
         [0037]    The bracket  50  may in some embodiments be between about 1 inch and about 6 inches wide and between about 1 inch and about 6 inches high, for example, about 4 inches wide by about 4 inches high. The triangular walls may be separated by a distance sufficient to fit around a corner of a window sash, for example, between about ½ inches to about 4 inches. In other embodiments the bracket  50  may be formed in different sizes. Embodiments of the brackets  50 ,  60  of the present invention are not limited to any particular dimensions. 
         [0038]    In use, a corner of a window sash  30  is inserted into a cavity defined by the inner walls  55  of the triangular walls, side wall  52 , and bottom wall  54 . The bracket  50  may be manually snapped in place on the corner of the window sash. The bracket  50  may be sized to just barely fit over the corner of the window sash  30  such that it will remain attached to the window sash by friction once placed on the corner of the window sash. In some embodiments the bracket  50  may be formed of a material that is at least slightly flexible such that it may elastically deform when being mounted on a window sash and remain secured on the window sash by friction as the bracket attempts to return to its non-deformed state. 
         [0039]    In some embodiments the interior walls  55  of the bracket may be coated with a protective material to prevent the bracket from marring the surface of the window sash upon being mounted or removed. This protective material may be a plastic such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polypropylene, polystyrene, or any other appropriate material. 
         [0040]    In some embodiments at least a portion of the inner walls  55  may be covered with a resilient material such as rubber, foam rubber, or weather stripping. Other examples of resilient materials which may be used include, but are not limited to, various types of thermoplastic elastomers, such as styrene block copolymers, copolyesters, polyurethanes, polyamides, thermoplastic elastomeric olefins, and thermoplastic vulcanizates. Some commercially available thermoplastic elastomers which may be useful in the present invention include, but are not limited to, SOFTFLEX® resin (Network Polymers, Inc., Akron, Ohio), STARFLEX® resin (Star Thermoplastic Alloys &amp; Rubber, Inc., Glen View, Ill.), VERSALLOY® XL9000 resin (GLS Corporation, McHenry Ill.), MORTHANE® resin (Rohm and Haas, Philadelphia, Pa.), ESTANE® resin (B F Goodrich, Cleveland, Ohio), and SANTOPRENE® resin (Applied Elastomer Systems, Akron, Ohio). The resilient material may deform when applying the bracket  50  to a window sash, and may serve to both protect the window sash from damage by the bracket  50  and provide a compressive and/or frictional force to retain the bracket  50  on the window sash. 
         [0041]    Illustrated in  FIG. 4  is a side bracket  60  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In some embodiments, the side bracket  60  is generally U shaped, for example, formed of two walls at about 90° angles to a third wall when viewed in cross-section. The side bracket  60  is formed from two rectangular walls  62  joined by a side wall  64 . The two rectangular walls  62  may in some embodiments be substantially parallel. A bolt  70 , which in some embodiments may comprise a metallic, threaded bolt, is coupled to and exterior sidewall  67  of one of the rectangular walls  62 . The bolt  70  extends outward from the bracket in a direction normal to, or substantially normal to the exterior sidewall  67 . The bolt may be permanently joined to the exterior sidewall  67  by, for example, welding or soldering. In other embodiments, the bolt may be coupled to the exterior sidewall  67  by, for example, screwing into a threaded hole in a rectangular wall  62 . 
         [0042]    The bracket  60  may be between about 1 inch and about 6 inches wide and between about 1 inch and about 6 inches high, for example, about 4 inches wide by about 4 inches high. The rectangular walls  62  may be separated by a distance sufficient to fit around a side edge of a window sash, for example, between about ½ to inches to about 4 inches. In other embodiments the bracket  60  may be formed in different sizes and/or shapes to suit a particular use. 
         [0043]    In use, a side edge of a window sash is inserted into a cavity defined by inner walls  65  of the rectangular walls  62  and the side wall  64 . In some embodiments the bracket  60  may be mounted on a straight edge of a window sash other than a side edge, for example, an upper or lower edge. The bracket  60  may be manually snapped in place on the window sash. The bracket  60  may be sized to just barely fit over the window sash such that it will remain attached to the window sash by friction once placed on the window sash. In some embodiments the bracket  60  may be formed of a material that is at least slightly flexible such that it may elastically deform when being mounted on a window sash and remain secured on the window sash by friction as the bracket attempts to return to its non-deformed state. 
         [0044]    In some embodiments the interior walls  65  of the bracket may be coated with a protective material to prevent the bracket from marring the surface of the window sash upon being mounted or removed. This protective material may be a plastic such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polypropylene, polystyrene, or any other appropriate material. 
         [0045]    In some embodiments at least a portion of the inner walls  65  may be covered with a resilient material such as one or more of those listed above with reference to the corner bracket  50 . This material may deform when applying the bracket  60  to a window sash, and may serve to both protect the window sash from damage by the bracket  60  and provide a compressive force to retain the bracket  60  on the window sash. 
         [0046]      FIG. 5  illustrates a cross section through the covered window of  FIG. 2 , taken along line  5 - 5 . In  FIG. 5 , only an upper portion of the cross section is shown, including a cross section of a corner bracket  50 . The structure of the window protection system at the side brackets  60  and the lower corner brackets  50  typically would be substantially similar to that illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Features discussed below with respect to the bracket  50  illustrated are equally applicable to other brackets  50  or  60 . 
         [0047]    As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , a corner bracket  50  overlies a portion of an upper edge of the window sash  30 . Although not illustrated in this figure, the corner bracket  50  would also overlie a portion of a side edge of the window sash  30 . The corner bracket  50  is retained between the window sash  30  and a portion of the window jamb  40 . The bolt  70  which is coupled to the corner bracket  50  extends through a through hole  75  in the protective panel  80 . The protective panel  80  is secured in place on the bolt  70  by a washer  90  and a wing nut  100 . In other embodiments, other forms of fasteners and other methods of fastening the protective panel  80  to the bolt  70  may be used. For example, in one embodiment cotter pins may pass through holes in the bolts  70  to secure the protective panel to the bolts  70 . In another embodiment, keyhole type openings may be formed in the protective panel  80  and the bolts  70  may include flattened or reduced diameter sections which could be secured in the keyhole openings of the protective panel  80 . 
         [0048]    The corner bracket  50  illustrated in  FIG. 5  includes an optional inner layer  57  disposed on the internal surface  55  of the bracket. The inner layer  57  may in some embodiments comprise a protective material as described above. The inner layer  57  may in some embodiments comprise a resilient material as described above. 
         [0049]    In  FIG. 5 , an optional resilient material  87  is shown mounted to the inner surface  85  of the protective panel  80 . The resilient material  87  may comprise one of the resilient materials described above with respect to the corner bracket  50 . In some embodiments, the resilient material is only present on areas of the protective panel  80  which overlay portions of the window sash  30  when the protective panel  80  is mounted on the window. In use, the resilient material  87  may undergo compression as the protective panel  80  is installed on the bolts  70  of the brackets  50 ,  60 , forming an air tight, or at least substantially air tight seal against the window sash. This seal may reduce the likelihood or prevent wind from entering the space between the window glass  20  and the protective panel  80 , making it less likely that the protective panel  80  would be ripped off of the window by high winds. In some embodiments, the resilient material  87  coupled with the protective panel  80  may provide thermal insulation to the window, preventing or reducing the amount of heat escaping from the window. 
         [0050]    In some windows, an interior, or additionally or alternatively, an outer surface of the window sash  30  may be differently shaped than is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . For example, the window sash may include a decorative raised edge, as is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . For windows including sashes with shaped edges, the brackets  50 ,  60  could be formed in a shape to match the window sash  30  as is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0051]    An alternate mechanism for attaching the protective panel  80  to the bracket  50  is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . In  FIG. 7 , an internally threaded piece of material  110 , which may comprise, for example, a nut, is coupled to the bracket  50  by welding, soldering, or any other appropriate method. Bolts  120  passing through holes in the protective panel  80  may be screwed into the nuts  110  coupled to the brackets. A recess  130  may be provided in the protective panel  80  and/or resilient material  87  to accommodate the nut. 
         [0052]    Another alternate mechanism for attaching the protective panel  80  to the bracket  50  is illustrated in  FIG. 8 . This mechanism may include a bolt  130  which passes through a threaded hole  150  provided in the bracket  50 . The bolt  130  may make contact with the window sash  30 , and as tightened using, for example a screwdriver or hex wrench applied to aperture  140 , may pull the bracket outward until its inner surface is flush against the inner surface of the window sash. A space may then be present between the wall of the bracket positioned between the protective panel  80  and the window sash  30 . This mechanism may allow the use of a single sized bracket to fit on multiple sizes of window sashes. The bolt  130  may be provided with a layer of a protective material  160 , which may comprise one of the types of protective material described above with respect to the bracket  50 . This layer of protective material  160  may help prevent the bolt  130  from damaging the window sash  130 . 
         [0053]    In another alternative embodiment, a illustrated in  FIG. 9 , brackets  50 ,  60  may be provided with a spring  170  which may facilitate holding a bracket  50 ,  60  onto a window sash  30 . The spring  170  may allow the use of a single sized bracket to fit on multiple sizes of window sashes. The spring  170  may be provided with a layer of a protective material (not shown), which may comprise one of the types of protective material described above with respect to the bracket  50 . This layer of protective material may help prevent the spring  170  from damaging the window sash  130 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 10  illustrates an alternate embodiment of brackets which may be used to secure a protective panel to a window. The brackets  180  illustrated in  FIG. 10  may be between about 4 and about 24 inches long. The brackets  180  also may include multiple bolts  70 , for example 2 bolts, one proximate each end of the bracket  180 . The brackets  180  may be applied to an upper edge of a window sash, a lower edge of a window sash, one or more side edges of a window sash, or any combination of these. A protective panel having holes at locations corresponding to the locations of the bolts  70  on the brackets  180  may be mounted to the brackets  180  in a similar manner as described with respect to brackets  50  and  60  above. The use of brackets such as brackets  180  may be desired for windows which are structured such that it would be difficult to apply corner brackets  50  and/or side brackets  60  to the window as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In some embodiments one or more of brackets  180  may be used in conjunction with one or more of brackets  50  and/or  60 . 
         [0055]    Embodiments of the present invention may also be used to provide protection for double hung windows, as is illustrated in  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 11  is a cross section of a double hung window including a lower panel  190  and an upper panel  200 . The lower panel slides along track  230  and in its closed position abuts against a portion of a lower frame  220 . The upper panel slides along track  240  and in its closed position abuts against a portion of an upper frame  210 . An upper bracket  250  is mounted atop an upper edge of the upper panel  200 . A lower bracket  260  is mounted on a lower edge of the lower panel  190 . A protective panel  270  is mounted to bolts  255  and  265  coupled to upper and lower brackets  250  and  260  by washer and nut assemblies  280 . 
         [0056]    Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of this invention, it is to be appreciated various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only.