Patent ID: 7526896

Claim:
An apparatus for protecting from high winds a window that is mounted in a window opening in recessed relation to an exterior surface of a structure, said window opening including a pair of laterally opposed vertical sidewalls, comprising: an “L”-shaped bracket having a base and an arm integrally formed with one another, said base and arm being disposed in perpendicular relation to one another; said base adapted to be positioned into overlying relation to said exterior wall, thereby positioning said arm into overlying relation to a first vertical sidewall; said arm being secured to said first vertical sidewall; an externally threaded stud mounted in perpendicular relation to said base; a clamp including a sleeve and a cap formed integrally with one another; a common central bore formed in said sleeve and in said cap, said central bore adapted to slidingly receive said threaded stud; said cap having a diameter substantially greater than a diameter of said threaded stud; said threaded stud having a length greater than a length of said common central bore; an aperture formed in a sheet of protective material, said aperture having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of said sleeve but substantially less than the diameter of said cap; said sheet of protective material being positioned into overlying relation to said exterior surface of said structure by aligning said aperture formed in said sheet of protective material with said first threaded stud and centering said first threaded stud within said aperture; said sleeve and cap being slideably received over said threaded stud; a nut adapted to screwthreadedly engage said threaded stud; said nut adapted to be advanced so that said nut abuttingly engages and presses against said cap, thereby urging said cap against said sheet of protective material and urging said sheet of protective material against said bracket; whereby said sheet of protective material is spaced apart from said window, in parallel relation thereto; whereby said sheet of protective material is maintained in protecting relation to said window by the pressure of said nut applied to said cap, which pressure is applied by said cap to said sheet of protective material; and whereby said bracket relieves all stress from said window frame by transferring the positive wind load from the window to the exterior wall of the structure.