Movable or removable closures – With specified means to effect emergency release to closure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-15
2001-04-17
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Movable or removable closures
With specified means to effect emergency release to closure
C049S050000, C049S052000, C049S053000, C049S067000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216391
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to gratings, and in particular to a quick-release grating.
2. Background of the Invention
In today's security-conscious world, gratings have become a common architectural feature in residences and commercial buildings alike. The incidence of burglaries, home invasions and thefts which has occurred in this century has contributed to a desire for protection against unwanted building entries. As a result, many windows feature sturdy gratings made of metal bars welded into a frame, which cover a window or other building aperture, and prevent entry by a burglar, who could otherwise gain entrance merely by breaking the window glass.
An unfortunate side effect of the existence of window gratings is their converse ability to prevent building occupants from exiting through the barred window in an emergency, such as a building fire. It is a sad irony that every year individuals are trapped inside burning buildings by the very window gratings which were supposed to protect them.
Thus it has become extremely important to provide a grating quick-release which on the one hand is secure enough to prevent burglaries, yet on the other hand is capable of quick, reliable release. In this fashion, building occupants would be provided an escape route through building apertures equipped with a grating quick-release, and yet when the apertures they cover are not being used as exits, the gratings would prevent unwanted entry by burglars and thieves.
Existing Designs
A number of devices capable of releasing a grating have been proposed. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,913,957, 4,243,090 and 5,657,578 were granted Astie et al., Kemp, and Thompson respectively. While these devices provided a means of releasing a security grating, it was possible for a burglar to break the window glass and introduce a hand or tool through the grating and open the grating. Needless to say, this design shortcoming defeated the very purpose for installing a security grating in the first place.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,476,957 and 5,603,183 were granted Ory and Giovinazzi respectively. These devices combined a ladder function with a security grating, and appear to have been designed for a second floor (or higher) window. Although means to release the grating was taught, the release mechanism in both cases required substantial vertical clearance below the window upon which the grating was mounted. Where such substantial vertical clearance did not exist, it would be difficult or impossible to open the grating in case of fire.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a quick-release grating which is easily unlocked with a single pull of a handle. Design features allowing this object to be accomplished include an actuator bar attached to deadbolts by means of cable and pulleys. Advantages associated with the accomplishment of this object include the ability to quickly and easily unlock a security grating in case of fire, and then to use the opening it covered to exit the structure.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a quick-release grating which provides a means to keep the opened grating from re-closing. Design features allowing this object to be accomplished include a safety pin disposed within a safety pin housing, and a safety pin spring which is pre-loaded in order to urge the safety pin into an extended position. A benefit associated with the accomplishment of this object is prevention of re-closing of the grating after it has been opened, thus maintaining open an escape route for other building occupants.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a quick-release grating which prevents burglars from accessing the actuator bar from the exterior of the building. Design features enabling the accomplishment of this object include a lockable box door, and an actuator disposed within the box. An advantage associated with the realization of this object is increased security from break-ins.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a quick-release grating which may be remotely activated from an interior location removed from the grating itself. Design features allowing this object to be accomplished include a remote actuator connected to remote deadbolt assemblies by means of cables. A benefit associated with the accomplishment of this object is obviation of the need to enclose the actuator within a locked box, and hence speedier quick-release grating unlocking.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a quick-release grating which may be used to unlock an exterior grating from the inside of a structure to which it is mounted. Design features enabling the accomplishment of this object include a transwall actuator featuring one or more deadbolts exterior to the building, connected to an interior remote actuator by means of cables carried on pulleys. Advantages associated with the realization of this object include the provision of a fire escape route actuatable from the inside of a building even when the grating is mounted external to the building, as well as elimination of the need to enclose the actuator in a locked box, thus providing faster grating unlocking.
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Rooy Paul S.
Stodola Daniel P.
Strimber Gregory J.
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