GB2412687A

GB2412687A - Glazing breaker

Info

Publication number: GB2412687A
Application number: GB0407238A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Matthew Edwin Davison; John Frederick Shaw
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-03-31
Filing date: 2004-03-31
Publication date: 2005-10-05
Also published as: GB0407238D0

Abstract

A glazing breaker 10 comprises a strike member 20 having a strike tip 22 and a base member 13 to support the strike member in a first position with the strike tip on or near the pane of glass 3, said base member allowing the strike member to travel to a second position where the strike tip penetrates the pane of glass. The device may incorporate a removable shroud 30 which surrounds the strike member to prevent the strike member from sliding prior to removal of the shroud. The shroud may be secured to the base or strike members of frangible bridging means 33A, 33B. Spring means 24 may be provided to bias the strike member towards the first position.

Description

Title: Device for breaking glazing The present invention relates to a

device for breaking glazing on windows and doors.

In the event of a fire in a building or other enclosed object (such as a train, ship or plane), a common problem is the build up of smoke and fumes which can overcome persons in a building. Many buildings and other enclosed objects now have double glazing fitted. Most double glazing consists of two panes of glass spaced apart to define a sealed chamber of air between. if it is attempted to break 2 pane of double glazing' e.g. using a shoe or other object.

it is quite difficult as the air chamber behind cushions the blow. Often persons are thus trapped by double glazing without being able to breathe, and this can lead to fatalities in the event of fire.

The invention seeks to provide a solution to this difficulty.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for breaking glazing on windows and doors comprising: a) a strike member having a strike tip, and b) a base member to support the strike member in a first position with the strike tip on or spaced from, a pane of glass, said device allowing the strike member to travel towards said pane of glass such that the strike tip, when moved to a second position, penetrates the pane when an impact is applied to the strike member.

Preferably the base member comprises an open-ended cylinder adapted to be mounted on a pain of glass. The cylinder preferably provides a sleeve in which the strike member can slide.

Preferably the strike member is cylindrical. Preferably the strike member projects from one first open end of the base member cylinder when in the lirsi pOSiiiOil.

Preferably a removable shroud is provided to surround said strike member projecting from the base member and to abut the first open end of the base member to prevent the strike member from sliding upon impact prior to removal of the shroud. Preferably the shroud is removably secured to the base member or strike member by frangible bridging means.

Preferably spring means is provided to bias the strike member towards said first position whereby the strike member returns to said first position after an impact.

Preferably the strike member has a projection supporting said strike tip, which projection extends through an aperture in an internal flange in the base member cylinder. Preferably said spring means is a spring around said projection. Preferably the spring means biases one end of the cylindrical strike member away from the internal flange.

In one embodiment the base member cylinder has a circumferential flange at one end adapted to adhere to a pane ot glass. The circumferential flange may be generally square and in one embodiment one square flange has a rounded corner.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying draftings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a device secured to a window, Figure 2A shows a perspective view of the device with a shroud in place, Figure 2B shows a perspective view of the device with the shroud removed, Figure 3A shows a cross section view of the device of Figure 2A with a strike member in a first position, and Figure 3B shows a cross section view of the device of Figure 2B with a strike member in a second position.

Referring to Figure I there is shown part of a window 1 having a window frame 2 supporting a pane of double glazing in the form of sealed unit 3. Mounted in the bottom right corner of unit 3 is a device 10 according to the present invention as more fully described with reference to Figures 2A,2B,3A,3B. Device 10 may be fitted to unit 3 by pealing offal cover sheet 11 to expose a layer of self adhesive 12.

Referring to Figures 2A,2B and 3A,3B device 10 includes a base member in the form of an open-ended cylinder 13. Cylinder 13 has a first open end 14. Cylinder 13 tapers outward at a second opposing end 15 to a circumferential flange 16 supporting on its face adhesive 12.

Flange 16 is generally square, but has one rounded corner 1 6A which, in use, is located diametrically opposite a corner of a window frame as shown in Figure 1 so that device 10 is more pleasing aesthetically. Cylinder 13 further includes an internal flange 17 having an aperture 18 co-axially aligned with the cylinder 13.

A cylindrical strike member 20 is provided which slides in the sleeve provided by base member cylinder 13. Strike member 20 when in a first position projects from first open end 14 of cylinder 13 as shown in Figure 3A. Strike member 20 has a reduced diameter cylindrical projection 21 supporting a strike tip Z. Projection 21 passes through aperture 8 in flange 17, and a pair of opposing lugs 23A,23B extend outwards from the end of projection 21.

Spring means in the form of a helical spring 24 is provided around the projection 21 and biases the cylindrical strike m-e-m-tier 20 away from internal flange 17 into the first position.

Lugs 23A,23B engage the flange 17 to prevent the strike member 20 from separating from the base member cylinder 13.

A removable cylindrical shroud 30 is provided to surround the strike member 20 projecting from the base member cylinder 13 and to abut the first open end of the base member to prevent the strike member from sliding upon impact prior to removal of the shroud. Shroud is removably secured to strike member 20 by a disc 31. Disc 31 has a pair of flexible fingers 32A,32B which engage with apertures 20A,20B on the top of strike member 20.

Shroud 30 is connected to disc 31 by means of frangible bridging means 33A,33B.

Under normal use the device is in the configuration showrA in Figure 3A with the strike member in a first position with tip 22 touching or adjacent the glass surface of unit 3. in this position the strike member 20 is in the first position and projects out of open end 14 of the base member.

If it is desired to break the glass surface of unit 3, the shroud 30 is first removed by rotating it thereby breaking the frangible bridging means 33A,33B. Strike member 20 can be hit e.g. with a shoe or other object which will drive the projection 21 through aperture 18 of the base member internal flange 17 and penetrate tip 22 into the glass surface of unit 3 and so shatter it, such that the strike member is in a second position as shown in Figure 3B. The shattered glass can be peeled away to gain access to fresh air outside. This also provides an entry point for firemen or other rescuers.

If wit 3 is a douhie glowed unit, it may be that the tip 22:11 only shatter the first sheet of glass. Spring 24 will however bias the strike member back to the first position so that it can be struck again to allow the tip 22 to shatter the second sheet of glass. In this respect tip 22 may project out further to that shown when the strike member is in the second position in order to shatter the second sheet of glass.

Because the cylindrical strike member 20 is supported by the cylindrical wall 13 of the base member, the strike member can be struck at any angle without damaging or effecting the performance of device 10.

It is envisaged that the device of the invention may be applied to the surface of glass on windows in, inter alla, buildings, trains, cars, and planes. The device will thus always be available for use without the need to locate a special tool. If desired stickers could be applied to doors of rooms with windows fitted with the device of the invention to indicate that the room provides an escape route. Stickers could also be located next to the device of the invention with instructions for its use.

The device could have a visible marking such as a luminous or reflective area. For example disc 31 could be luminous or have a reflective surface.

The device of the invention may ideally be moulded from plastics, but with tip 22 formed from metal or other hard material Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for breaking glazing on windows and doors comprising: a) a strike member having a strike tip, and b) a base member to support the strike member in a first position with the strike tip on or spaced from a pane of glass, said device allowing the strike member to travel towards said pane of glass such that the strike tip, when moved to a second position, penetrates the pane when an impact is applied to the strike member.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the base member comprises an open-ended cylinder adapted to be mounted on a pain of glass.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the cylinder provides a sleeve in which the strike member can slide.

4. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the strike member is cylindrical.

5. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the strike member projects from one first open end of the base member cylinder when in the first position.

6. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein a removable shroud is provided to surround said strike member projecting from the base member and to abut the first open end of the base member to prevent the strike member from sliding upon impact prior to removal of the shroud.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the shroud is removably secured to the base member or strike member by frangible bridging means.

8. A tie-v-ice according to ally preceding clailll, wherein spring smears is prc,ided to bias the strike member towards said first position whereby the strike member returns to said first position after an impact.

9 A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the strike member has a projection supporting said strike tip, which projection extends through an aperture in an internal flange in the base member cylinder.

1 O. A device according to claim 8 and 9, wherein said spring means is a spring around said projection.

1 1. A device according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the spring means biases one end of the cylindrical strike member away from the internal flange.

12. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the base member cylinder has a circumferential flange at one end adapted to adhere to a pane of glass.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the circumferential flange may be generally square.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the square flange has a rounded corner.

15. A device for breaking glazing on windows and doors substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.