GB2268531A - Security panel - Google Patents

Abstract

A security panel for protecting an opening (e.g. a door or window) in a vacant building against intruders, comprises a plate (1) sized to cover at least part of the opening, and a network structure (16) such as a mesh of metal rods attached to the back of the plate and spaced therefrom to enable fixing straps (32, 34) to be passed around the mesh. Bars (38, 40) are located inside the opening in the building and the straps secured tightly around them to fix the panel in place. The network structure provides a multiplicity of fixing points allowing fitting to windows and doors of varying configurations. <IMAGE>

Description

SECURITY PANEL The present invention relates to a panel for protecting a window, doorway or other opening in an unoccupied building.

At any one time, there is a significant number of properties which are vacant for one reason or another. In particular, housing owned by local authorities may be vacant for sometime prior to renovation. There is a need to secure such property against the entry of unauthorised persons such as squatters, and especially to protect such properties against vandalism.

Many suitable systems have been used and proposed in the literature. British Patent GB2160248 discloses a window panel having inturned edges which captively retain sliding bars, which allow the point of attachment of the window panel to the window opening to be varied according to the particular type of window to which the panel is to be fixed. This allows the panel to be fixed without damaging the window or breaking the glass.

Other systems are disclosed in patent specifications GB2208171, GB2232435, GB2198175, and GB2194275.

However, whilst these prior constructions address to some extent the need to provide variable fixing points on the panel in order to allow the panel to be fixed over windows of a wide variety of constructions, without damaging the window or breaking the glass, either they do not solve this aspect sufficiently or involve unduly complicated constructions. It is an object of the present invention to mitigate these problems in a simple manner.

The present invention provides a panel for protecting an opening in a building, which comprises - a plate adapted to cover at least part of said opening; - a network structure attached to the plate, the network structure being spaced from an inner surface of the plate for facing the opening in use; and - fixing means adapted to be connected to the network structure for fixing the panel over the opening.

Whilst the panel will generally be intended to cover the whole of a window or door opening, it will be understood that a number of panels may be provided according to common practice to cover larger openings.

This simplifies the fitting procedure and avoids handling inconveniently large panels. Provision may be made for connecting the panels together in situ.

The plate is generally formed of a sheet metal, though impact resistant plastics might also be employed.

In order to save weight and to let in light, the plate would usually be perforated. Preferably, the plate is provided with inturned edges to which the network structure is attached in spaced relationship to the inner surface of the plate.

The network structure could also be a sheet of perforated material, but in order to provide good strength, is preferably a grid structure formed of rods.

Mesh used for reinforcing concrete, or as fencing material is particularly suitable. The strength of the network structure will be chosen such that it does not distort to any substantial degree when the panel is fixed in place.

The network structure may be attached in place by means of a spacer attached to the inturned edges of the plate on the inner surface of the network structure, and extending substantially around the periphery thereof. A strengthening piece (such as a top-hat section) may be attached across the inside of the network; or might be attached across the outer side of the network and also attached to the--rear face of the plate.

Usually, the network structure will extend over substantially the entire inner surface of the plate in order to provide an almost infinite choice of fixing positions.

The fixing means for fixing the panel over the opening may be any means known in the art suitable for attaching to the network structure. In particular, any of the fixing means disclosed in GB2160248 may be employed.

However, it is particularly preferred to employ a hook means which hooks over the network structure, or fixing straps which pass through openings in the network structure.

Thus, for simplicity and flexibility, it is particularly preferred to use metal or plastics straps such as employed in the packaging industry as the fixing means. The straps are arranged to encircle the parts to be fixed and the ends of the straps are connected together either by sealing using heat or adhesives, or employing buckles. Suitable straps and buckles are available under the Trade Mark CORDSTRAP.

The fixing means are generally attached to bars running up and down or across the inside of the opening and bearing against the peripheral wall structure. These bars may be of any suitable construction, such as of top-hat or I-beam cross-section.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the drawings wherein; Figure 1 is a perspective view of a panel according to the invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the panel fixed in place over a window opening; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a buckle used for securing a fixing strap; and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a bottom retaining bracket.

The panel comprises a perforated steel sheet (which may be galvanized or painted as required) which has been bent so as to form a plate 1 having upper and lower inturned edges 2, 4 and further inturned rims 6, 8. Side pieces 10, 12 (which may or may not be perforated) are welded by means of flaps 14 etc into the sides of the panel in order to produce a box structure having inturned sides 2, 4, 10, 12 and a peripheral rim.

A sheet of mesh 16 formed of vertical and horizontal rods connected together at the intersections is captively retained within the window panel by the peripheral rim and four hollow box-sections 20, 21, 22, 23 welded to the side pieces. Alternatively, the box-sections might be replaced with rolled metal of U-section.

As shown in Figure 2, the panel is held in place over a window opening 30 by means of straps 32, 34 formed of polyester and connected together by means of buckles 36.

The straps at one end encircle vertical or horizontal rods of the mesh, and at the other end encircle I-beams 38, 40 placed across (either vertically or horizontally) the window opening so as to rest against the periphery thereof. The straps are tightened through the buckles by means of known tightening devices.

Figure 3 shows a buckle 36 formed of spring metal and one end of a strap 32 is shown looped over one of the free ends 42 of the buckle. As the strap is tightened, it becomes trapped in the buckle as the free end 42 tightens against the remainder of the buckle.

Figure 4 shows a retaining bracket 44 for attaching the bottom of a panel, when the window only opens at the top so that fixing straps can only be attached to the top of the panel if the glass is not to be broken. The bracket 44 is attached by screws 50 to the window sill 46. It has an upturned end portion 48 on which a horizontal rod of the mesh 16 rests. The weight of the panel tends to force the rod down the end portion 48, so pulling the bottom of the panel tightly against the wall beneath the window opening.

The panel may be used as follows.

Firstly, the panel is constructed by folding over the edges 2, 4 and the rims 6, 8. Then, the hollow members 20, 22 are inserted and spot welded in place. Next, the mesh 16 is slid into the panel from the open sides so as to lie behind the hollow sections. The mesh may be spot welded in place if desired, though this is not essential.

Finally, the side pieces 10, 12 with respective hollow members 21, 23 are fitted and spot welded in place to complete the panel.

The panel is perforated so as to provide for ventilation and to allow the entry of light. This also reduces the weight of the panel. The perforations in the bottom edge 4 allow any water collected to drain away.

The panel is mounted over the window opening of a vacant property by holding the panel over the outside of the opening. A person on the inside of the building then locates the I-beams across the inside of the opening and attaches these to the mesh by means of the straps. The ends of the straps are threaded through the buckles and are then tightened to pull the panel firmly against the outside of the window opening. The straps are formed of a relatively soft, somewhat elastic polyester material which holds the panel firmly in place. The multitude of fixing points provided by the mesh 16 allows the straps to be passed through any opening provided in the window. The straps may be threaded perpendicularly through the window opening or at an angle. In this way, damage to the window is minimised and it is only rarely necessary to break the glass in the window. Usually, sufficient access may be provided by opening the window casement sufficiently to allow a fixing strap to be passed through. This allows the window panel to be quickly and securely fixed in place, without the need to tighten nuts or bolts. The polyester strapping is inexpensive and may be discarded after use. The use of a mesh spaced to the rear of the panel prevents vandals from cutting the fixing straps.

Claims (9)

1. A panel for protecting an opening in a building, which comprises - a plate adapted to cover at least part of said opening; - a network structure attached to the plate, the network structure being spaced from an inner surface of the plate for facing the opening in use; and - fixing means adapted to be connected to the network structure for fixing the panel over the opening.

2. A panel according to claim 1 wherein the plate is provided with inturned edges, the network structure being attached to the inturned edges.

3. A panel according to any preceding claim wherein the network structure is a grid formed of rods.

4. A panel according to any preceding claim which further comprises a spacer located between the periphery of the network structure and the plate for spacing the network from the plate.

5. A panel according to any preceding claim wherein the fixing means comprises a strap passing around an element of the network structure.

6. A panel according to claim 5 which further comprises buckle means on the strap for connecting ends of the strap and enabling the strap to be tensioned.

7. A panel according to any preceding claim wherein the fixing means further comprises a bar sized to bear against the peripheral wall structure around the inside of the opening in the building.

8. A panel according to any preceding claim which further comprises a bracket adapted to be fixed to a lower edge of the opening in the building, the bracket having an upturned end for location within a lower end of the network structure.

9. A panel substantially as described in conjunction with the drawings.