WO2016122398A1

WO2016122398A1 - A window grille

Info

Publication number: WO2016122398A1
Application number: PCT/SG2015/000025
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yew Ho YEO; Yu Fen YONG
Original assignee: Yeo Yew Ho; Yong Yu Fen
Priority date: 2015-01-29
Filing date: 2015-01-29
Publication date: 2016-08-04
Also published as: SG11201705267QA

Abstract

A post segment for a window grille configured to be attached to a window, the window grille comprising at least one grille panel configured for preventing entry or exit of a person through the window, the at least one grille panel comprising two side posts spaced apart by a plurality of crossbars, the post segment comprising: a body having a first end, a second end and a hole in a side of the body; wherein the first end and the second end are configured to allow the first end of one of the post segments to engage the second end of another of the post segments such that a plurality of the post segments can be assembled end-to-end to form each of the two side posts; and wherein the hole in the side of the body is configured to engage an end of one of the plurality of crossbars

Description

A WINDOW GRILLE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a window grille for preventing entry or exit of a person through a window.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Window grilles are typically configured such that a window grille can be attached to a window to prevent entry or exit of a person or an animal such as a cat through the window. Window grilles currently available in the market today are commonly made of aluminium, wrought iron and/or steel cables for strength and durability. These are typically made-to- measure units that are designed to suit individual windows, thereby requiring significant time and cost to produce and install.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to a first aspect, there is provided a post segment for a window grille configured to be attached to a window, the window grille comprising at least one grille panel configured for preventing entry or exit of a person through the window, the at least one grille panel comprising two side posts spaced apart by a plurality of crossbars, the post segment comprising: a body having a first, end, a second end and a hole in a side of the body; wherein the first end and the second end are configured to allow the first end of one of the post segments to engage the second end of another of the post segments such that a plurality of the post segments can be assembled end-to-end to form each of the two side posts; and wherein the hole in the side of the body is configured to engage an end of one of the plurality of crossbars.

The body may be made of a plastic, the first end may be provided with a first metal insert and the second end may be provided with a second metal insert.

The first metal insert of one of the post segments may be configured to protrude from the plastic body and to fit snugly into the second metal insert of another of the post segments.

The first end may be hollow and lined with the first metal insert, and the second end may be hollow and lined with the second metal insert. The hole in the side of the body may be lined with a tubular side metal insert. The post segment may be formed by injection moulding of the plastic body in a mould having provided therein the first metal insert, the second metal insert and the side metal insert during the injection moulding. According to a second exemplary aspect, there is provided a window grille configured for attaching to a window, the window grille comprising: at least one grille panel configured for preventing entry or exit of a person through the window; and a grille frame configured to support the grille panel; the at least one grill panel comprising two side posts spaced apart by a plurality of crossbars, wherein each side post comprises an end-to-end assembly of a plurality of the post segments of the first aspect.

The window grille may further comprise a reinforcing post provided between the two side posts, the reinforcing post comprising a plurality of through holes each configured for passage of each of the plurality of crossbars therethrough.

Each of the plurality of crossbars may be made of transparent acrylic. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily put into practical effect there shall now be described by way of non-limitative example only exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the description being with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective illustration of a first embodiment of a window grille (sliding type) according to the present invention.

Fig. 2A is a perspective illustration of a second embodiment of a window grille (casement type) in a closed position according to the present invention.

Fig. 2B is a perspective illustration of the window grille of Fig. 2A in an open position.

Fig. 3 is a perspective illustration of a grille frame of the window grille of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective illustration of a first embodiment of a grille panel according to the present invention.

Fig. 5 is two exploded assembly illustrations of a side post of the grille panel of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an exploded assembly illustration of a crossbar with post segments of a side post of the grille panel of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a perspective illustration of a second embodiment of a grille panel according to the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a perspective illustration of a reinforcing post of the grille panel of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a perspective illustration of a third embodiment of a window grille (sliding type) according to the present invention.

Fig. 10A is a perspective illustration of a fourth embodiment of a window grille (casement type) in a closed position according to the present invention.

Fig. 10B is a perspective illustration of the window grille of Fig. 10A in an open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments of the window grille 100 will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 10B below, in which the same reference numerals have been used for equivalent parts in the embodiments depicted.

The window grille 100 of the present invention comprises a grille frame 10 and at least one grille panel 20. The grille frame 10 is configured to be attached to a window frame by known means for example screws, rivets or brackets. The grille frame 10 is also configured to support the at least one grille panel 20, and comprises a bottom bar 11 , a top bar 2 and two vertical side bars 13 that together define a space within which the at least one grille panel 20 is provided. The grille panel 20 is configured to prevent entry or exit of a person or an animal such as a cat through a window. In a first embodiment as shown in Fig. 1, the window grille 100 has two grille panels 20 configured to slide laterally within the grille frame 10. In this embodiment, the bottom bar 11 of the grille frame 10 (as shown in Fig. 3) comprises a double sliding track 15 provided therein, each sliding track being configured to slideably engage one of the two grille panels 20.

In a second embodiment as shown in Figs. 2A and 2B, the window grille 100 has a casement configuration comprising a single grille panel 20 configured to pivot between a closed position (Fig. 2A) and an open position (Fig. 2B). In this configuration, no sliding track is required and none is provided in the bottom bar 11 of the grille frame 10. The grille panel 20 is configured to pivot about a vertical axis Y adjacent one of the side bars 13 of the grille frame 10.

For all embodiments, as shown in Fig. 4, each grille panel 20 comprises two vertically provided side posts 21 that are spaced apart by a plurality of horizontally provided crossbars 22. As shown in Fig. 5, each side post 21 comprises a plurality of interlocking post segments 30. Each post segment 30 comprises a body 31 having a first end 32, a second end 33 and a hole 34 in its side 35. The first end 32 and second end 33 are configured to allow the first end 32 of one post segment 30 and the second end 33 of another post segment 30 to engage each other with a snug fit so that a plurality of post segments 30 may be assembled end-to-end to form one side post 21.

In a preferred embodiment of the post segment 30 as shown in Fig. 5, the first end 32 is preferably hollow and provided with a first metal insert 36 that protrudes beyond the hollow first end 32. The first metal insert 36 is preferably tubular and lines the hollow first end 32. The second end 33 is similarly preferably hollow and provided with a second metal insert 37. The second metal insert 37 is preferably also tubular and lines the hollow second end 33. The first metal insert 36 and the second metal insert 37 are configured to allow the protruding first metal insert 36 of one post segment 30 to fit snugly into the tubular second metal insert 37 of another post segment 30, so that a plurality of post segments 30 can be thus fitted together to form a side post 21.

The preferred embodiment of the post segment 30 is configured to be formed by injection moulding, in which the first, second and side metal inserts 36, 37, 38 are preloaded into a mould for forming the plastic body 31 of the post segment 30. In this way, after injection moulding of the plastic body 31 with the first, second and side metal inserts 36, 37, 38 in the mould during the injection moulding, the first, second and side metal inserts 36, 37, 38 are secured by the plastic body 31 , thereby giving strength to the post segment 30. Having a plastic body 31 reduces weight of the post segment 30 and at the same time provides a desired external finish immediately after moulding, for example, in terms of colour and texture. Such external finishes cannot be achieved for metal posts without secondary processes that would add cost and time to their manufacture.

The top post segment 30T of each grille side post 21 is preferably configured such that the first metal insert 36 is flush with the first end 32. This may be achieved by trimming off a protruding part of the first metal insert 36 from a post segment 30 at the time of assembling the grille side post 21 , or a specially moulded top post segment 30 may be used in the assembly.

The hole 34 in the side of each post segment 30 is configured to engage an end of a crossbar 22. In the preferred embodiment of the post segment 30, the hole 34 is preferably provided with a tubular side metal insert 38 that lines and is flush with the hole 34. During assembly of the grille panel 20, the hole 34 of each post 30 is oriented to face an opposite side post 21 and the ends of a crossbar 22 are fitted snugly into the tubular side metal inserts 38 of two post segments 30, as shown in Fig. 6. The crossbars 22 may be of any desired shape, size and material according to the required function of the window grille 100. In a preferred embodiment, the crossbars 22 are made of transparent acrylic.

In further embodiments of the window grille 100 as shown in Figs. 9 (sliding type) and Figs. 0A and 10B (casement type) respectively, each grille panel 20 further comprises a reinforcing post 23 that is provided between the two side posts 21 , as shown in Fig. 7. The reinforcing post 23 is preferably configured to be vertically and centrally provided between the two side posts 21. Each reinforcing post 23 comprises a plurality of through holes 24 each configured for passage of each of the plurality of crossbars 22 therethrough, as shown in Fig. 8. The reinforcing post 23 of each grille panel 20 is preferably made of metal.

By providing the window grille 100 as described above with side posts 21 that are assembled from a plurality of post segments 30, each of which comprises an injection moulded plastic body having a plurality of metal inserts provided therein, the window grille 100 can be lightweight due to the reduced use of metal, and can be cost and time effectively produced and installed. Whilst there has been described in the foregoing description exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the technology concerned that many variations in details of design, construction and/or operation may be made without departing from the present invention. For example, while the reinforcing post has been described as being preferably vertically and centrally provided, it can be configured to be provided at an angle to the vertical and off-centred if aesthetically preferred. While the crossbars have been described and illustrated in the figures as being horizontally provided and equally spaced apart from each other, spacing between the crossbars may be varied and the crossbars may be provided at an angle to the horizontal if aesthetically preferred. While the side posts, post segments, crossbars and reinforcing post have been illustrated in the figures as having rectangular cross-sections, these can alternatively each be configured to have other cross-sectional shapes, e.g. circular. While it has been depicted in the figures that the side post 21 is assembled with each of the post segments 30 having the first end 32 with protruding first metal insert 36 on top and the second end 33 below, in other embodiments, the post segments 30 may be configured to allow the side post 21 to be assembled with each of the post segments having the second end 33 on top and the first end 32 with protruding first metal insert 36 below. While the protruding first metal insert has been described as being tubular, this may alternatively be a solid rod instead of hollow. While the first end and second end of adjacent post segments have been described as being engaged by fitting the first metal insert snugly into the second metal insert 37, other ways to engage the first end and second end of adjacent post segments may be used, for example, by providing a joining rod having a first end fitting snugly into the first end of one post segment and a second end fitting snugly into the second end of another post segment, or screwing or riveting the first end and second end of adjacent post segments together, or other appropriate engagement means as may be envisaged.

Claims

1. A post segment for a window grille configured to be attached to a window, the window grille comprising at least one grille panel configured for preventing entry or exit of a person through the window, the at least one grille panel comprising two side posts spaced apart by a plurality of crossbars, the post segment comprising:

a body having a first end, a second end, and a hole in a side of the body;

wherein the first end and the second end are configured to allow the first end of one of the post segments to engage the second end of another of the post segments such that a plurality of the post segments can be assembled end-to-end to form each of the two side posts; and

wherein the hole in the side of the body is configured to engage an end of one of the plurality of crossbars.

2. The post segment of claim 1 , wherein the body is made of a plastic, the first end is provided with a first metal insert and the second end is provided with a second metal insert.

3. The post segment of claim 2, wherein the first metal insert of one of the post segments is configured to protrude from the plastic body and to fit snugly into the second metal insert of another of the post segments.

4. The post segment of claim 2 or 3, wherein the first end is hollow and lined with the first metal insert, and wherein the second end is hollow and lined with the second metal insert.

5. The post segment of any preceding claim, wherein the hole in the side of the body is lined with a tubular side metal insert.

6. The post segment of claim 5, wherein the post segment is formed by injection moulding of the plastic body in a mould having provided therein the first metal insert, the second metal insert and the side metal insert during the injection moulding. A window grille configured for attaching to a window, the window grille comprising:

at least one grille panel configured for preventing entry or exit of a person through the window; and

a grille frame configured to support the grille panel;

the at least one grill panel comprising two side posts spaced apart by a plurality of crossbars, wherein each side post comprises an end-to-end assembly of a plurality of the post segments of any one of the preceding claims.

The window grille of claim 7, further comprising a reinforcing post provided between the two side posts, the reinforcing post comprising a plurality of through holes each configured for passage of each of the plurality of crossbars therethrough.

The window grille of claim 7 or 8, wherein each of the plurality of crossbars is made of transparent acrylic.