Abstract
A hurricane panel system on the outside of an opening that can be installed from inside a multiple story building, through an open window without requiring tools of any type or outside assistance. This panel system includes a pliable, fabric, polyester panel that has a pair of parallel, vertical hems each containing a hem cord that are sized in diameter to fit into a pair of parallel, vertical or horizontal tracks connected to the outside of the building adjacent a window. The pliable, fabric panel includes one or more fabric straps that can be used to manipulate the panel in and out of the tracks. One or more locking pins are used to secure the panel in place relative to the tracks.
Claims
1. A protective panel for storm, security, insect or solar purposes that can be mounted over a window, door, or wall opening from either the inside or outside of a building comprising: a single pliable body panel, substantially rectangularly-shaped and sized to cover a building window; said pliable body panel having a pair of parallel sides, each parallel side having a separated upper and lower hem which affixes a respective separated upper and lower hem cord to each side of said body panel and each upper and lower hem and hem cord on each side separated by a respective pin-slot; and a pair of body panel mounting and securing hem tracks sized to engage each of upper and lower hems in a respective hem track's hem chamber, said hem tracks being mountable on the exterior of the building adjacent an a opening to be protected and spaced apart to receive and secure said body panel over the building opening; and at least one locking pin engageable with at least one of said pair of body panel mounting and securing hem tracks within the pin-slot on each side of said body panel; each said pin-slot made to allow access to the at least one locking-pin from either one or both sides of the body panel; said locking pin once in its locked position, restricts at least one panel's upper and lower hem and hem cord sliding movement relative to said pair of body panel mounting and securing hem tracks.
2. A protective panel as in claim 1, wherein: said body panel is made of a hurricane resistant polyester fabric.
3. A protective panel as in claim 1 including: at least one elongated, hand-strap fastened to one side of said body panel either extending from one end of the body panel to an opposite end of the body panel or placed at intervals that can be used for manually sliding said body panel along a track hem chamber; said hand strap oriented in any direction that suits the opening body panel installation.
4. The protective panel in claim 1 including: one or more hand-straps of a pliable material attached to one side of said body panel for manually carrying or assisting in the manipulating said body panel during installation or removal.
5. A protective panel as in claim 1 including: a tether for said at least one locking-pin for said body panel that is used to immobilize the storm panel at a pre-determined location within the said pair of body panel mounting and securing hem tracks once the at least one locking-pin is in its locked position.
6. A protective panel as in claim 1 including: each said pin-slot positioned at any location along said pair of body panel mounting and securing hem tracks.
7. A protective panel as in claim 1 including: said pliable body panel is installed into said pair of body panel mounting and securing tracks at any pre-determined location along said pair of body panel mounting and securing tracks.
8. A protective panel as in claim 1 including: said pair of body panel mounting and securing hem tracks with hem chambers are each configured as a single track with a respective screen loading point located at the end of each one of said pair of body panel mounting and securing hem tracks.
9. A protective panel as in claim 1 including: said pair of body panel mounting and securing hem tracks with hem chambers are each configured as two single tracks, separated by a space, that are aligned in such a way that each of the tracks load in points is facing the other separated track's load in point.
10. A protective panel as in claim 1 including: said pair of body panel mounting and securing tracks with hem chambers are each configured as a single track that has a segmented opening as to provide a gap with two opposing load in points.
11. A protective panel as in claim 1 including: locations of said at least one locking pin on said at least one of said pair of body panel mounting and securing hem tracks are each identified by a marker physically placed on said at least one of said pair of body panel mounting and securing hem tracks.
12. A protective panel as in claim 1 including: locations of said at least one locking pin are each identified by a marker physically placed on the pliable body panel and a relative location of the locking pin slot within said at least one of said pair of body panel mounting and securing hem tracks.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 shows a perspective installer-side view of the flexible hurricane panel used in the present invention. It consists of the fabric panel, side hems (optionally on all 4 sides), long hand-straps, attached locking pins (optionally not attached), short hand straps, pin-slots and pin-slot location indicators.
(2) FIG. 2 shows a cutaway view of the exterior of a building disclosing a window and two vertically mounted parallel tracks that can be used to support a flexible hurricane panel (not shown). This drawing also shows that the top of each track that is restricted and the bottom load point where the top edge of the hem will be inserted into the track.
(3) FIG. 3 shows a cutaway view of the exterior of the building having a window and vertical parallel sidetracks with each side track comprising two separated segments that are used to support a flexible hurricane panel (not shown). Note that the side tracks are located right above a fixed point (example: ledge 17) on the building thus blocking the normal lower load in point on the side track. In this configuration there is a bottom load point for the top track, a gap in the tracks and a top load point for the bottom track on each side of the opening. The locking pin location is normally located on the longer track. Another embodiment can be a single side track in such a way as to provide the same effect as to separately aligned side tracks. Example: FIG. 6.
(4) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of parallel fastening tracks and a flexible hurricane panel with side hems engaged in the tracks. Note the pin-slot indicators.
(5) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view partially cutaway of a flexible hurricane panel partially inserted into a pair of parallel fastening tracks.
(6) FIG. 6 shows a partial cutaway front elevation view of a vertical track segmented opening in perspective that allows the user to install or remove a flexible hurricane panel in the midportion of the track instead of at each end.
(7) FIG. 7 shows a side elevational view of the locking pin used in the present invention to secure a flexible hurricane panel in place in the parallel tracks.
(8) FIG. 8 shows a partial cutaway view and includes a portion of the side track and portion of a flexible hurricane panel mounted within the track in secured with a locking pin.
(9) FIG. 9 shows a partial cutaway elevational view of a portion of the flexible hurricane panel and a portion of the fastener track that itself has a cutaway view showing the locking pin in place securing the flexible hurricane panel.
(10) FIG. 10 shows a perspective view partially cutaway of track to show the locking pin in place secured to the track. The locking pin is inserted far enough to allow the locking pin's detent ball to extend past the inner track wall.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
(11) FIG. 1 shows a flexible fabric storm and hurricane panel 20 that includes a polyester fabric flexible body 20a and parallel hems 20b on each side of the flexible fabric body 20a. The hems 20b are separated on each side of the flexible fabric body 20a by pin-slots 20c. Parallel panel mounting tracks 16 on one side and 18 on the opposite side (FIG. 2) receive (through load points LP) and secure the hurricane panel 20 with hems 20b to tracks on a building exterior. The hems 20b are wrapped around hem cords (not shown in FIG. 1) to enlarge the panel sides so that the hems 20b can be snugly fitted into the vertical parallel side tracks 16 and 18 in FIG. 2.
(12) The flexible fabric panel body 20a also has a pair of parallel, vertical long hand-straps 22 attached at each end at top and bottom that can be used to manually manipulate the panel 20 into and out of the mounting tracks. An additional top horizontal short hand-strap 24 and bottom hand-strap 25 are attached at the top end to the fabric body 20a as an additional hand-strap for pulling the fabric body into the vertical mounting tracks.
(13) The flexible fabric panel hems 20b are axially aligned but separated in the middle by pin-slots 20c also indicated by a colored marker 20cc. The purpose of the hem slots 20c are to separate one hem segment from the adjacent hem segment at one side which allows a locking pin 32 to be inserted into the vertical panel mounting tracks through the hem pin-slot 20c. The locking pin 32 acts as a hem stop on one side of the panel 20 above and below each hem 20b. The locking pin 32 manually inserted into a track wall and through hem pin-slot 20c prevents movement of the panel 20 in either direction because the locking pin 32 stops the movement of the hems 20b and the panel in either direction when the locking pins 32 are installed into the mounting tracks (not shown in FIG. 1) on each side. Each locking pin 32 can be tethered and connected to the panel 20 by a tethering strap 30 connected on each side to long hand-straps 22. Hems at top and bottom 20d are optional for horizontal tracks in lieu of vertical tracks,
(14) FIG. 2 shows a cutaway view of a building exterior wall 10 that contains a window 12 that can be opened inwardly or vertically. This configuration is used when the track bottom is easily accessible. For one-piece tracks 16 and track 18, the track hem chamber is accessed (for panel install or removal) from the track bottom end load point LP (if vertically installed). The track top is sealed on each track.
(15) FIG. 3 shows a cutaway view of a building exterior wall 10 that contains a window 12 that can be opened inwardly or vertically. This configuration is used when the track bottom or both ends of the track is obstructed. Multi-track segments 16a and 16b are aligned vertically on one side of the window 12 and track segments 18a and 18b are aligned vertically on the opposite sides of the window 12 and parallel to track segments 16a and 16b. The panel mounting tracks 16a and 16b and 18a and 18b can be used to receive a flexible hurricane panel in accordance with the present invention as described below. Each of the parallel track axially-aligned segments are separated from each other by a space 10a which allows an operator inside the building to install or remove a flexible panel into each of the track segments upwardly and downwardly because of the space 10a allowing insertion and removal of the flexible panel ends into each track segment load point LP positioned adjacent to the space 10a between the tracks. Both styles of tracks can be used either vertically or horizontally based upon the opening's configuration. A ledge 17 can be used to seal the bottom ends of the tracks 16b and 18b.
(16) FIG. 3 and FIG. 6 show the panel mounting tracks 16a and 16b and 18a and 18b are linearly aligned segments separated by a space 10a that allows the top end of a flexible hurricane panel hem 20 (FIG. 1) to be installed in the bottom load points (of the upper track segments 16a and 18a) and the bottom end of the flexible hurricane panel 20 hem into the load point at the top of the lower track segments 16b and 18b. Once the panel is fully installed into the tracks, it is locked into place by means of the locking pin. Panel removal from the upper tracks and the lower tracks is just the reversal of the installation process. The segmented tracks provide for a convenient panel insertion location.
(17) FIG. 4 shows a flexible fabric hurricane panel 20 mounted and connected to parallel side tracks 16 and 18. The panel hem on each side containing a hem cord is not visible because they are inside the tracks 16 and 18. The parallel side tracks are not shown mounted to a building; however the flexible hurricane panel (as seen from the installation side) is shown including vertical long hand-straps 22 and horizontal short strap 24 and short strap 25 that can be manually engaged by the installer for moving the flexible panel 20 along the vertical tracks 16 and 18 during installation and removal. Once the side tracks are installed on the exterior of a building, the flexible hurricane panel 20 can be installed from either the inside or outside of the building using the bottom load points LP. The locking pins 32 (not shown in FIG. 4) are each connected to tether 30. The tether 30 is in turn connected at one end to the fabric panel.
(18) FIG. 5 shows cutaway view of either a single or segmented track including upper segment track 16a and track 18a engaging a portion of panel 20 in the track hem chamber (load point) 16c and 18c which have received hems 20b on each side. Each hem 20b includes a hem cord 20bb that is sewn inside hem 20b. Thus the panel 20 is securely fastened to the track segments 16a and 18a as shown and the panel 20 can be moved manually in either direction along the length of the side track for installation or removal. The cut outs 20c in the hem are pin-slots. They are indicated by a contrasting color flag 20cc to mark the location where the locking pin should be inserted into the side track.
(19) FIG. 6 shows vertical side track segments 16a and 16b separated by a space 10a that is used by an installer to insert the top hem of a panel into the hem chamber via the track load point 16c for track 16a and insert the bottom hem into the hem chamber via the load point 16c located at the top of the bottom track 16b. Therefore an installer does not have to always install the panels at the very bottom of the tracks. They can install and remove the flexible panel at some mid portion load points LP of the tracks which is much more convenient from inside the building.
(20) FIG. 7 shows a quick release locking pin 32 connected to a circular retaining ring 32a that includes a spring loaded movable ball and detent 32b used to secure the locking pin shaft through a wall aperture of the track that contains the flexible hurricane panel. The locking pin 32 when engaged in the track prevents removal of the flexible hurricane panel when the panel is in place.
(21) FIG. 8 shows a cutaway view of both the portion of the flexible hurricane panel attached to a portion of the parallel track 16. FIG. 8 shows how the locking pin insert location is identified by means of the pin fabric panel location flag marker 20cc, how the locking pin 32 is connected to vertical track 16 through an aperture in a wall of the vertical track (not shown). The locking pin 32, when in place, is positioned between the upper and lower edges of pin-slot 20c in the flexible hurricane hem 20b shown in FIG. 1. Once the installer has attached the flexible hurricane panel 20 between two parallel vertical tracks from top to bottom of the hurricane panel 20, the installer inserts the locking pin 32 into each parallel side track 16 and 18. A locking pin black arrow marker 16e (placed on the track 16 or 18) or locking pin marker (20cc placed on the panel 20) indicates the location of the hem slot 20c inside the hurricane panel 20 as shown in FIG. 1. The locking pin markers 16e or 20cc are necessary because once the flexible hurricane panel has been installed into the side track, the hem slot 20c is no longer visible, so that a track locking pin markers 16e or 20cc are necessary to determine where the locking pin needs to be inserted into the track 16 to prevent removal of the hurricane panel 20.
(22) FIG. 9 shows the locking pin 32 inside a track wall aperture 16d and mounted between the flexible hurricane panel hem 20b and the hem slot 20c. The locking pin 32 (shown in FIG. 7) is mounted in track wall aperture 16d manually and the locking pin 32 is removed using the circular retainer 32b. The fabric location marker 20cc is colored to indicate location for the pin.
(23) FIG. 10 shows a view of a side track 16 used to mount and connect to the flexible hurricane panel (not shown in FIG. 10). The locking pin 32 is received down through hem channel 16c that receives the hem and hem cord of the flexible hurricane panel (not shown in FIG. 10). The track wall aperture 16d receives the locking pin 32 which is used with a hurricane panel installed in the side track 16 through its bottom load point, thus securing the panel in place.
(24) The side tracks are mounted by fasteners to the exterior of a building. Each track pair is parallel and vertically (or horizontally) connected to a building exterior next to an opening to be protected. In one embodiment, each track has a C-shaped hem channel to receive a hem and hem cord. Each track is U-shaped on the outer edge with a fastener hole that receives a fastener to permanently mount the track to the building exterior surface. The parallel tracks can be vertical or horizontal depending upon the direction the panel is to be mounted.
(25) To install a flexible hurricane panel from the inside of a building, the installer opens the window so that the installer has access to the segmented linear, parallel, vertical panel securing tracks on each side of the open window. The installer inserts the top of the panel's hems into the upper track hem chambers and via each track bottom load point. The installer then uses the long hand-straps 22 to slide the panel in an upward direction until the panel reaches the uppermost portion of the track. The installer would then insert the panels bottom hem into the hem chamber 16c and 18c via the bottom tracks load point. The panel 20 is then pushed down into the lower vertical, parallel track segments and again using the straps 22 to force the panel downwardly until the bottom end of the panel reaches the end of the tracks. The installer then inserts each locking pin 32 into each track (a pin-marker identifies the location of the pin-slot on each track). The installer inserts the locking pin 32 on each side thereby locking the panel 20 in place. The window can then be closed. To remove the panel the installer reverses the process by removing the locking pins and sliding the ends of the panel to the middle, removing the panel.
