A protective barrier device adapted for placement within a structure with a particular use adjacent to a vehicle. The device includes a pair of base members comprised of a hollow housing having a cavity for the addition of a weighted material. The device including a top rail and a bottom rail assembled from sections and coupled to the base members to define a perimeter of the device. A central portion generally comprising a panel is shaped for receipt within the perimeter and coupled to the rails in a cohesive assembly. The device is configured for assembly from a collapsed to an extended position for easily transport and shipping.

This home-automation system for a building comprises: home-automation equipment, distributed within areas of the building; and a communication network, to which the home-automation equipment is connected, and authorizing an inter-communication of the home-automation equipment according to a predefined communication protocol. The communication network is a hard-wired hierarchical network comprising: a first network of rank n; a plurality of sub-networks of lower hierarchical rank n−1, connected to the first network, each sub-network being associated with an area and containing at least one of the home-automation equipment items; each sub-network of the lower hierarchical rank n−1 being hooked up to the first network of rank n by a network equipment item.

This disclosure provides connectors for smart windows. A smart window may incorporate an optically switchable pane. In one aspect, a window unit includes an insulated glass unit including an optically switchable pane. A wire assembly may be attached to the edge of the insulated glass unit and may include wires in electrical communication with electrodes of the optically switchable pane. A floating connector may be attached to a distal end of the wire assembly. The floating connector may include a flange and a nose, with two holes in the flange for affixing the floating connector to a first frame. The nose may include a terminal face that present two exposed contacts of opposite polarity. Pre-wired spacers improve fabrication efficiency and seal integrity of insulated glass units. Electrical connection systems include those embedded in the secondary seal of the insulated glass unit.

This disclosure provides connectors for smart windows. A smart window may incorporate an optically switchable pane. In one aspect, a window unit includes an insulated glass unit including an optically switchable pane. A wire assembly may be attached to the edge of the insulated glass unit and may include wires in electrical communication with electrodes of the optically switchable pane. A floating connector may be attached to a distal end of the wire assembly. The floating connector may include a flange and a nose, with two holes in the flange for affixing the floating connector to a first frame. The nose may include a terminal face that present two exposed contacts of opposite polarity. Pre-wired spacers improve fabrication efficiency and seal integrity of insulated glass units. Electrical connection systems include those embedded in the secondary seal of the insulated glass unit.

A barrier assembly for preventing items from falling behind domestic appliances and a method of using the same is provided. The barrier assembly provides one or more mesh nets, each mesh net extending between two pivotable columns. Each pivotal column is mounted to spaced apart surfaces along an upper periphery of an appliance. As a result, each independent mesh net may be pivoted to different angles of incident relative to the upper surface of the appliance so as to close off the space between that portion of the periphery of the appliance and an adjacent wall, preventing item from falling therein.

A barrier assembly for preventing items from falling behind domestic appliances and a method of using the same is provided. The barrier assembly provides one or more mesh nets, each mesh net extending between two pivotable columns. Each pivotal column is mounted to spaced apart surfaces along an upper periphery of an appliance. As a result, each independent mesh net may be pivoted to different angles of incident relative to the upper surface of the appliance so as to close off the space between that portion of the periphery of the appliance and an adjacent wall, preventing item from falling therein.

A pest/debris infiltration prevention device in the form of a netting barrier that spans a passageway at the floor level. The netting barrier assembly is mounted to the supportive framing of the passageway by opposing tensioning mechanisms that provide tension along the netting barrier. The different engagements of the upper and lower portions of the netting barrier to the tension mechanisms enables the netting barrier to be biased in an upright position and pivot about the floor level to a prone position when stepped on, run over by a wheel or otherwise top loaded, and spring back upright when unloaded. The present invention permits vehicles or other objects to pass in and out of the passageway whilst still performing its core function of preventing ingress of unwanted elements.

A pest/debris infiltration prevention device in the form of a netting barrier that spans a passageway at the floor level. The netting barrier assembly is mounted to the supportive framing of the passageway by opposing tensioning mechanisms that provide tension along the netting barrier. The different engagements of the upper and lower portions of the netting barrier to the tension mechanisms enables the netting barrier to be biased in an upright position and pivot about the floor level to a prone position when stepped on, run over by a wheel or otherwise top loaded, and spring back upright when unloaded. The present invention permits vehicles or other objects to pass in and out of the passageway whilst still performing its core function of preventing ingress of unwanted elements.

A window locking apparatus includes a proximal cross brace, a distal cross brace, a first track brace, and a second track brace. The first track brace is positioned parallel to the second track brace. The proximal cross brace is perpendicularly positioned in between the first track brace and the second track brace. The distal cross brace is perpendicularly positioned in between the first track brace and the second track brace, wherein the proximal cross brace and the distal cross brace are positioned offset of each other. The proximal cross brace is rotatably connected to the first track brace and removably mounted to the second track brace. The distal cross brace is rotatably connected to the first track brace and removably mounted to the second track brace. The removable connections of the second track brace allows the window locking apparatus to be installed or removed from a window.

A double door gate apparatus having a frame, a main gate and a secondary gate, where the apparatus includes the unique features of a) a latch apparatus between uppermost framework members of the main gate and secondary gate, b) the latch apparatus being weighted to return to a normally closed position, c) each of the main gate and secondary gates having an inverted U-shaped piece engaging the bottommost horizontal member such that each of the main and secondary gates need to be lifted prior to being opened and prior to being closed, and d) a pair of hand wheels on a common shaft that work together to space the double door gate apparatus a desired distance from a vertical surface such as a wall.