GB1594960A

GB1594960A - Anti-vandal screens

Info

Publication number: GB1594960A
Application number: GB4695977A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: CONTEC DEVELOPMENTS Ltd
Current assignee: CONTEC DEVELOPMENTS Ltd
Priority date: 1978-05-30
Filing date: 1978-05-30
Publication date: 1981-08-05

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN ANTI-VANDAL SCREENS (71) We, CONTEC DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED, a British Company, of An Cala, 21 Gartcows Crescent, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Great Britain, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to protective screens for potential access areas in buildings.

There currently exists a serious problem for landlords and other property owners particularly municipal housing authorities in protecting houses and other buildings which are temporarily unoccupied between tenancies or other reasons such as during redevelopment. At the present time such buildings are normally protected by nailing timber or corrugated metal sheeting over the windows and other openings. However, this method has proved totally ineffective against determined vandals who find little difficulty in forcing entry and thereafter causing damage to the property. In order to avoid access by vandals many landlords have been forced to provide screens which require extensive work on the permanent fabric of the building, such as the removal or breaking of window panes or the insertion of fixing devices into the walls of the building or by means of bricking up the openings. All of these methods involve expensive renovation work when the building is to be re-occupied.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method of fixing a protective screen over a potential access area of a building, and apparatus therefor, which obviate or mitigate the above disadvantages of previously known methods and apparatus.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of fixing a protective screen over a potential access area of a building, comprising locating the screen on the outer side of the access area, securing a flexible elongate connecting member at one end to the screen so that the connecting member is hidden from the outer side of the screen, passing the connecting member through the access area to its inner side, securing the other end of the connecting member against a support member on the inner side of the access area and tensioning the connecting member.

Preferably, the screen has extending from its inner face fixing lugs to which the connecting member is secured.

The connecting member is flexible, and if the access area is a window it may pass through the weather checks of the window, which may be partially closed. Alternatively, the tie may pass through holes formed in a frame adjacent the access area.

Further according to the present invention there is provided apparatus providing a protective screen over a potential access area of a building, comprising a protective screen covering the access area at its outer side, a flexible elongate tensioned connecting member fixed at one end to the screen so as to be hidden from an outer side of the screen and passing to an inner side of the access area, and a support member against which the other end of the connecting member is fixed on the inner side of the access area.

Preferably, the connecting member is in the form of flexible steel or other metal strapping, or wire.

Preferably also, a fixing strip is provided for mounting on the outer face of the screen, the screen being apertured to allow passage therethrough of lugs extending from the fixing strip, the lugs being fixed to the connecting member.

Preferably also, said fixing strips are formed from sheet metal with the lugs projecting therefrom. For example, the lugs may be formed by portions of the sheet material bent out of the plane of the sheet, or they may be welded to the sheet. The lugs are preferably of a height between one-third and one-half of the width of the strip.

Alternatively the fixing strip may be formed from a T-section from which the stem of the T has been removed at regular intervals.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. I is a partial cross-sectional view through a window opening covered by a protective screen fixed in position by the method of the present invention and having an opening window; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Fig. 1 with a non-opening window; and Figs. 3 to 8 show front and plan elevations, alternately, of three different forms of fixing strips for use in the invention.

Referring now to the drawings a window opening indicated generally at 1 of a building susceptible to vandalism has a static frame 2 and astragal 3 and opening glazed frames 4.

An anti-vandal screen 5 is provided over the opening and is formed from any appropriate sheeting material such as steel, aluminium, plywood, glass-fibre or metal reinforced plastics material such as polycarbonate, for example one of those marketed under the Registered Trade Marks MESHLITE, LEXAN, MAKROLON or DARVIC. The screen 5 is provided with rows of slots 6 through which pass lugs 7 on fixing strips 8 which extend across the screen 5 at intervals.

Three different forms of fixing strips 8 are shown in Figs. 3 to 8, the strength of strip selected being dependent on the extent of vandalism anticipated. Figs. 3 and 4 show a fixing strip comprising a strip of sheet steel 8 which has at intervals a lug 7 formed thereon by cutting and bending. In Figs. 3 and 4 the lugs 7 are all formed by portions of one edge of the strip 8 and each lug is provided with a pair of lateral slots 9. The height of each lug 7 is equal to half the width of the strip 8. The fixing strip shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is similar to that described above except that the lugs 7 are formed alternately from different edge portions of the strip 8 and the height of each lug 7 is approximately one-third of the width of the strip 8. The strip shown in Figs. 7 and 8 comprises a steel strip 8 on to which the lugs 7 have been welded. The strip shown in Figs.

7 and 8 can alternatively be manufactured from a length of T-section steel bar from which the stem of the T has been removed at regular intervals to leave the lugs 7.

Support members 10 in the form of twin angles located back to back are provided on the inner side of the window opening and mounted so as to abut a fixed part of the building such as the wall adjacent the window opening and so as to extend across the opening adjacent the fixing strips 8. A flexible metal strap 11 is secured at one end to each lug 7 and at the other end to the support member 10. The strap 11 passes over the weather check between the frames 2 and 4, the astragals 3 and the frame 4 and is secured to the support member 10 by means of a device sold under the trade name SCRU-LOKT BUCKLE or the like. In the case of a non-opening window a flexible wire 1 la, as shown in Fig. 2, is substituted for the flexible metal strapping 11 and a hole is drilled in the frame 2 through which the wire is passed from the fixing strip 8 to the support member 10.

In use, a sheet of material is cut to the size of the window to be protected and fixing strips are cut to length to suit the sheeting material. The fixing strips are then used as a template to mark on the sheet of material, for example around its perimeter, the location of the lugs 7, and the slots 6 are cut in the sheet at the required places to enable the lugs 7 to pass through the sheet. The flexible metal straps 11 are then secured to the lugs 7 using the slots 9 provided therein, for example by means of a buckle of the type sold under the trade name SCRU-LOKT or by passing the strap 11 through the slots 9 in both directions to secure the strap therein. The sheet is then located over the window in the required position, the flexible straps 11 are passed to the inside of the window through the exposed weather checks and the window is then partially closed. The free ends of the flexible straps 11 can then be passed between the metal angles forming the support member 10 and a suitable tensioning tool may be used, such as that sold under the Registered Trade Mark BAND-IT, to apply tension to each metal strap 11 in turn. The strapping is then anchored against the twin angles, again using a suitable buckle or the like. Tensioning of the metal strip 11 pulls the fixing strip and the consequently the attached protective sheet tightly against the outside of the window frame where it is held firmly in position. In the case of non-opening windows as in Fig. 2 the flexible wire 1 la can be similarly secured and tensioned.

The fixing strips may extend horizontally or vertically across a window opening.

Improvements or modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Moreover, it will be clear that the anti-vandal protective screen described above is applicable not only to window openings but also to any other opening or potential access area in a building or other such structure.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A method of fixing a protective screen over a potential access area of a building, comprising locating the screen on the outer side of the access area, sucuring a flexible elongate connecting member at one end to the screen so that the connecting member is hidden from the outer side of the screen, passing the connecting member through the access area to its inner side, securing the other end of the connecting member against a support member on the inner side of the access area and tensioning the connecting member.

2. A method according to claim 1,

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

through a window opening covered by a protective screen fixed in position by the method of the present invention and having an opening window; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Fig. 1 with a non-opening window; and Figs. 3 to 8 show front and plan elevations, alternately, of three different forms of fixing strips for use in the invention.

Referring now to the drawings a window opening indicated generally at 1 of a building susceptible to vandalism has a static frame 2 and astragal 3 and opening glazed frames 4.

An anti-vandal screen 5 is provided over the opening and is formed from any appropriate sheeting material such as steel, aluminium, plywood, glass-fibre or metal reinforced plastics material such as polycarbonate, for example one of those marketed under the Registered Trade Marks MESHLITE, LEXAN, MAKROLON or DARVIC. The screen 5 is provided with rows of slots 6 through which pass lugs 7 on fixing strips 8 which extend across the screen 5 at intervals.

Three different forms of fixing strips 8 are shown in Figs. 3 to 8, the strength of strip selected being dependent on the extent of vandalism anticipated. Figs. 3 and 4 show a fixing strip comprising a strip of sheet steel 8 which has at intervals a lug 7 formed thereon by cutting and bending. In Figs. 3 and 4 the lugs 7 are all formed by portions of one edge of the strip 8 and each lug is provided with a pair of lateral slots 9. The height of each lug 7 is equal to half the width of the strip 8. The fixing strip shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is similar to that described above except that the lugs 7 are formed alternately from different edge portions of the strip 8 and the height of each lug 7 is approximately one-third of the width of the strip 8. The strip shown in Figs. 7 and 8 comprises a steel strip 8 on to which the lugs 7 have been welded. The strip shown in Figs.

7 and 8 can alternatively be manufactured from a length of T-section steel bar from which the stem of the T has been removed at regular intervals to leave the lugs 7.

Support members 10 in the form of twin angles located back to back are provided on the inner side of the window opening and mounted so as to abut a fixed part of the building such as the wall adjacent the window opening and so as to extend across the opening adjacent the fixing strips 8. A flexible metal strap 11 is secured at one end to each lug 7 and at the other end to the support member 10. The strap 11 passes over the weather check between the frames 2 and 4, the astragals 3 and the frame 4 and is secured to the support member 10 by means of a device sold under the trade name SCRU-LOKT BUCKLE or the like. In the case of a non-opening window a flexible wire 1 la, as shown in Fig. 2, is substituted for the flexible metal strapping 11 and a hole is drilled in the frame 2 through which the wire is passed from the fixing strip 8 to the support member 10.

In use, a sheet of material is cut to the size of the window to be protected and fixing strips are cut to length to suit the sheeting material. The fixing strips are then used as a template to mark on the sheet of material, for example around its perimeter, the location of the lugs 7, and the slots 6 are cut in the sheet at the required places to enable the lugs 7 to pass through the sheet. The flexible metal straps 11 are then secured to the lugs 7 using the slots 9 provided therein, for example by means of a buckle of the type sold under the trade name SCRU-LOKT or by passing the strap 11 through the slots 9 in both directions to secure the strap therein. The sheet is then located over the window in the required position, the flexible straps 11 are passed to the inside of the window through the exposed weather checks and the window is then partially closed. The free ends of the flexible straps 11 can then be passed between the metal angles forming the support member 10 and a suitable tensioning tool may be used, such as that sold under the Registered Trade Mark BAND-IT, to apply tension to each metal strap 11 in turn. The strapping is then anchored against the twin angles, again using a suitable buckle or the like. Tensioning of the metal strip 11 pulls the fixing strip and the consequently the attached protective sheet tightly against the outside of the window frame where it is held firmly in position. In the case of non-opening windows as in Fig. 2 the flexible wire 1 la can be similarly secured and tensioned.

The fixing strips may extend horizontally or vertically across a window opening.

Improvements or modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Moreover, it will be clear that the anti-vandal protective screen described above is applicable not only to window openings but also to any other opening or potential access area in a building or other such structure.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A method of fixing a protective screen over a potential access area of a building, comprising locating the screen on the outer side of the access area, sucuring a flexible elongate connecting member at one end to the screen so that the connecting member is hidden from the outer side of the screen, passing the connecting member through the access area to its inner side, securing the other end of the connecting member against a support member on the inner side of the access area and tensioning the connecting member.
2. A method according to claim 1,

wherein the screen has extending from its inner face fixing lugs to which the connecting member is secured.
3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the access area is a window and the connecting member is passed through the weather checks of the window.
4. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connecting member is passed through a hole formed in a frame adjacent the access area.
5. A method offixing a protective screen over a potential access area of a building, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 1 and Figs.

3 and 4, or 5 and 6, or 7 and 8, of the accompanying drawings.
6. A method of fixing a protective screen over a potential access area of a building, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 2 and Figs.

3 and 4, or 5 and 6, or 7 and 8, of the accompanying drawings.
7. Apparatus providing a protective screen over a potential access area of a building, comprising a protective screen covering the access area at its outer side, a flexible elongate tensioned connecting member fixed at one end to the screen so as to be hidden from an outer side of the screen and passing to an inner side of the access area, and a support member against which the other end of the connecting member is fixed on the inner side of the access area.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the connecting member is in the form of flexible metal strapping or wire.
9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, wherein a fixing strip is provided on the outer face of the screen, the screen being apertured to allow passage therethrough of lugs extending from the fixing strip, the lugs being fixed to the connecting member.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the fixing strip is formed from sheet metal with the lugs projecting therefrom.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the lugs are formed by portions of the sheet metal bent out of the plane of the sheet.
12. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the lugs are welded to the sheet metal.
13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the fixing strip is formed from Tsection bar from which the stem of the T has been removed at intervals along its length so that the remaining stem portions form the lugs.
14. Apparatus providing a protective screen over a potential access area of a building, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 1 and Figs. 3 and 4, or 5 and 6, or 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.
15. Apparatus providing a protective screen over a potential access area of a building, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 2 and Figs. 3 and 4, or 5 and 6, or 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.