US3913957A

US3913957A - Device for opening a window grille in case of fire

Info

Publication number: US3913957A
Application number: US490870A
Authority: US
Inventors: Georges P Astie; Jean J Astie; Gabriel S Astie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-07-22
Filing date: 1974-07-22
Publication date: 1975-10-21
Anticipated expiration: 1992-10-21

Abstract

A window grille slidably retained in an exterior bracket has a socket fixed thereto for receiving the end of a lock shaft projecting through the wall structure. A lock plate is fixed to the shaft on the inside of the wall structure. A hook formation projecting from the wall structure in overlying relation to the lock plate prevents withdrawal of the lock shaft from the socket except in a release position to which the lock plate is rotated by a handle connected to the inside end of the lock shaft.

Description

item States atem 1191 [111 3,913,957

Astie et al. Oct. 21, 1975 DEVICE FOR OPENING A WINDOW GRILLE IN CASE OF FIRE Primary ExaminerRobert L. Wolfe [76] Inventors: Georges P. Astie, 1248 W. 78th Attorney Agent or Flrmclarence O Bnent Terrace, Hialeah, Fla. 33120; Jean Harvey Jacobson J. Astie; Gabriel 5. Astie, both of 6899 NW. 7th Ave., Miami, Fla.

33150 [57] ABSTRACT A window grille slidably retained in an exterior [22] Flled' July 1974 bracket has a socket fixed thereto for receiving the PP 490,870 end of a lock shaft projecting through the wall structure. A lock plate is fixed to the shaft on the inside of 52] US. Cl. 292/57; 292/DIG. 65; 292/92 the etmetutefermatiowpmiecting them 51 1m. 01. E05C 5/02 the Structure evehyhg elaheh t0 the leek [58] Field of Search 292/57, 58, 59, 60, 61, Plate Prevents Withdrawal ef the leek Shaft them the 292/62 92 DIG 49/50 57 socket except in a release position to which the lock plate is rotated by a handle connected to the inside References 6nd Of the lock Shaft.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 3,352,585 11/1967 Crosswell 292/113 X US. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,913,957

U.S. Patmt Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,913,957

DEVICE FOR OPENING A WINDOW GRILLE IN CASE OF FIRE This invention relates to a releasable locking arrangement for an exterior window grille.

The mounting and locking of window grilles on the outside of a building wall is well known. While it is essential that such grilles be reliably secured in place as a protective measure, it is also of utmost importance that such grilles be easily and quickly released from inside the buildingto provide exit from the-window open ing in the event of fire. The structural arrangement of the present invention uniquely achieves these objectives.

Structural arrangements possibly pertinent to this invention, which are known to applicants, are disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 224,324, 1,150,450, 1,396,478 and 1,434,523.

In accordance with the present invention a window grille is inserted upwardly into a slide bracket fixed on the outside to a vertical wall structure and is retained in place by a lock shaft extending horizontally through the wall structure below the window opening into a socket secured to the window grille. Thus, upon with drawal of the lock shaft inwardly of the wall structure, the grille will drop down and out of the bracket to permit exit through the window opening. The lock shaft has a circular lock plate secured thereto abutting the wall structure on the inside. A hook formation projects from the wall structure in overlying relation to the lock plate to prevent withdrawal of the shaft. In one angular position of the lock shaft, a radial slot in the lock plate is aligned with the hook formation to permit withdrawal of the shaft and release of the grille. A handle is pivotally connected to the lock shaft at the inside end to rotate the lock plate to the release position and axially withdraw the lock shaft.

These together with other objects and advantages .which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the structural arrangement of the present invention installed in atypical wall structure.

FIG. 2 is an inside front elevation view of the installation shown in FIG. 1 in a locked condition.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view similar to FIG. 2 but in the release position.

FIG. 4 is a side section view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 44 in FIG.

showing the grille released.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIGS. 1 and 4 show any typical vertical building wall structure having a window opening 12 adapted to be blocked on the outside by a window grille generally denoted by reference numeral 14. A bracket assembly 16 is fixedly mounted by fasteners 18 on the exterior surface 20 of the wall structure and includes parallel spaced, vertical slides or tracks 22 interconnected below the window opening by a bridging member 24. The grille 14 is slidably received in the tracks 22 by being inserted upwardly from below the bracket assembly.

A tubular socket 26 is secured to the window grille centrally along its bottom edge and projects axially FIG. 5 is a side section view similar to FIG. 4 but therefrom into abutment with an anchor plate 28 secured to the exterior surface, 20 of thewall structure by fasteners 30. The anchor plate 28 is positioned centrally below the window opening 12 and is aligned with an anchor plate 32 secured to the interior surface 34 of the wall structure by fasteners 36. The socket 26 is axially aligned with holes centrally formed in the anchor plates and a horizontal opening 38 in the wall structure, when the grille is in proper position as more clearly seen in FIG. 4.

The grille is retained in position by an elongated, tubular lock shaft 40 having one axial end 42 received in the socket 26. The lock shaft is slidably and rotatably supported in the opening 38 and by the

anchor plates

28 and 32 with its axial end 44 exposed on the inside of the wall structure. A handle 46 is in the form of a ring element andis pivotally connected to the lock shaft adjacent to the end 44. By use of the handle ring 46, axial and angular displacement may be imparted to the lock shaft.

A circular lock plate 48 is concentrically fixed to the lock shaft to limit its insertion into the wall structure by abutment with the anchor plate 32. A planar hook element 50 is secured to the anchor plate 32 in radial overlying relation to the lock plate 48 as more clearly seen in FIGS. 2 and 4. The hook element thus forms a recess 52 through which the lock plate is rotatable but prevents axial displacement of the lock plate inwardly and withdrawal of the lock shaft from the socket 26.

The lock plate 48 is provided with a radial slot 54 that is wider than the hook element 50 with which it may be aligned as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, the lock plate may be rotated by the handle ring 46 to the single release position shown in FIG. 3 permitting axial withdrawal of the lock shaft as shown in FIG. 5. When the lock shaft is withdrawn from the socket as shown, the grille 16 will drop down out of the bracket assembly.

vEasy and rapid removal of the grille is thereby effected from the inside of the building only. 7

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and-operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A releasable locking device for an externally mounted member retained in a bracket fixed exteriorly to a wall structure, comprising an axially slidable, rotatable shaft extending through an opening in the wall structure and having opposite ends, a socket fixed to said externally mounted member receiving one of said ends of the shaft exteriorly of the wall structure, a handle connected to the shaft adjacent the other end interiorly of the wall structure, a lock element fixed to the shaft interiorly of the wall structure and having a single angular release position, and hook means secured to the wall structure in overlying relation to the lock element for preventing axial withdrawal of the shaft from the opening in the wall structure except in the release position of the lock element, said lock element comprising a lock plate having a slot aligned with the hook means in the release position of the lock element.

2. The combination of claim 1 including anchor plates secured to the wall structure exteriorly and interiorly having holes aligned with said opening in the wall structure to receive the shaft therethrough, said hook means projecting from the anchor plate secured interiorly to the wall structure.

3. A releasable locking device for an externally mounted member retained in a bracket fixed exteriorly to a wall structure, comprising a rotatable shaft extending through an opening in the wall structure and having opposite ends, a socket fixed to said externally mounted member receiving one of said ends of the shaft exteriorly of the wall structure, a handle connected to the shaft adjacent the other end interiorly of the wall structure, a lock element fixed to the shaft interiorly of the wall structure and having a single angular release position, and hook means secured to the wall structure in overlying relation to the lock element for preventing axial withdrawal of the shaft from the opening in thewall structure except in the release position of the lock element, anchor plates secured to the wall structure exteriorly and interiorly having holes aligned with said opening in the wall structure to receive the shaft therethrough, said hook means projecting from the anchor plate secured interiorly to the wall structure, and said lock element comprising a circular plate having a radial slot aligned with the hook means in the release position of the lock element.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said hook means comprises a planar hook formation radially positioned relative to the shaft and forming a recess through which the circular plate is rotatable.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said handle comprises a ring element pivotally connected to the shaft.

6. A releasable locking device for an externally mounted member retained in a bracket fixed exteriorly to a wall'st ructure, comprising a rotatable shaft extending through an opening in the wall structure and having opposite ends, a socket fixed to said externally mounted member receiving one of said ends of the shaft exteriorly of the wall structure, a handle connected to the shaft adjacent the other end interiorly of the wall structure, a lock element fixed to the shaft interiorly of the wall structure and having a single angular release position, and hook means secured to the wall structure in overlying relation to the lock element for preventing axial withdrawal of the shaft from the opening in the wall structure except in the release position of the lock element, said lock element comprising a circular plate having a radial slot aligned with the hook means in the release position of the lock element.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said hook means comprises a planar hook formation radially positioned relative to the shaft and forming a recess through which the circular plate is rotatable.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said handle comprises a ring element pivotally connected to the shaft.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said externally mounted member is a protective window grille slidably received in the bracket.

10. In combination with a vertical wall structure having a window opening protectively blocked by an exterior grille, bracket means fixed to the wall structure for retaining the grille in alignment with the window opening, a socket secured to the grille below the window opening, a lock shaft extending through the wall structure and received in said socket to prevent the grille from dropping out of the bracket means, a lock plate secured to the shaft and displaceable therewith from a position abutting the wall structure to withdraw the shaft from the socket, hook means secured to the wall structure in overlying relation to the lock plate for preventing said displacement thereof from abutting relation to the wall structure except in one angular release position of the lock plate, and handle means connected to the shaft for rotation of the lock plate to said release position and axial withdrawal of the shaft from the socket.

Claims

3. A releasable locking device for an externally mounted member retained in a bracket fixed exteriorly to a wall structure, comprising a rotatable shaft extending through an opening in the wall structure and having opposite ends, a socket fixed to said externally mounted member receiving one of said ends of the shaft exteriorly of the wall structure, a handle connected to the shaft adjacent the other end interiorly of the wall structure, a lock element fixed to the shaft interiorly of the wall structure and having a single angular release position, and hook means secured to the wall structure in overlying relation to the lock element for preventing axial withdrawal of the shaft from the opening in the wall structure except in the release position of the lock element, anchor plates secured to the wall structure exteriorly and interiorly having holes aligned with said opening in the wall structure to receive the shaft therethrough, said hook means projecting from the anchor plate secured interiorly to the wall structure, and said lock element comprising a circular plate having a radial slot aligned with the hook means in the release position of the lock element.

6. A releasable locking device for an externally mounted member retained in a bracket fixed exteriorly to a wall structure, comprising a rotatable shaft extending through an opening in the wall structure and having opposite ends, a socket fixed to said externally mounted member receiving one of said ends of the shaft exteriorly of the wall structure, a handle connected to the shaft adjacent the other end interiorly of the wall structure, a lock element fixed to the shaft interiorly of the wall structure and having a single angular release position, and hook means secured to the wall structure in overlying relation to the lock element for preventing axial withdrawal of the shaft from the opening in the wall structure except in the release position of the lock element, said lock element comprising a circular plate having a radial slot aligned with the hook means in the release position of the lock element.