Weather protector kit

United States Patent Application 20040250477

The present invention relates to a weather protector (1) comprising a panel (5) of a single pre-determined shape ard size and adapted to obturate an opening (10). A plurality of securing means (4) adjacent edges of the panel (1) are adapted for operative co-operation with closure elements predisposed on a structure adjacent said opening, and a continuous seal (3) formed of a sealing material at least adjacent the edges of the panel are adapted to form a watertight seal with the panel when in position over said opening. The protector according to the present invention is used in flood defence systems with a stanchion (12).

Butcher, Henry Louis (Harwich, GB)

10/458845

12/16/2004

06/11/2003

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BUTCHER HENRY LOUIS

52/3

E06B9/02; (IPC1-7): E04B1/34

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KWIECINSKI, RYAN D

LAUBSCHER & LAUBSCHER, P.C. (ANNAPOLIS, MD, US)

1. A weather protector kit comprising a panel of a single pre-determined shape and size and adapted to obturate an opening and a stanchion for co-operation therewith, said panel comprising; a plurality of securing means adjacent edges of the panel and adapted for operative co-operation with a plurality of closure elements predisposed on a structure or stanchion adjacent said opening, and a continuous seal formed of a sealing material adapted to be at least adjacent said edges of the panel in use and adapted to form a watertight seal with the panel or stanchion when in position over said opening either in a building or on a bank.

2. A weather protector kit according to claim 1 wherein the panel comprises a convexity to its intended outer face and wherein panels of equivalent size are stackable.

3. A weather protector kit according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the seal is formed of a water resistant foam material mouldable to the exterior contours of a surface and wherein each panel is formed with at least one handle to the intended exterior of each panel.

4. A flood defence system comprising a panel according to claims 1 to 3 and a spaced plurality of stanchions adapted to support said panels secured adjacent a water-course.

5. A system according to claim 4 wherein the edges of the panels and/or the sealing material are slightly angled to the plane of the structure or stanchion such that the outer edges thereof are mote firmly in contact.

[0001] The present invention relates to a weather protector and particularly to a weather protector comprising a shaped panel adapted to obturate window and/or door openings and indeed vent openings for domestic and office buildings and also for flood defence systems on a water-course.

[0002] The problem of flood and hurricane protection has long exercised those unfortunate enough to be engaged in such procedures. With the increase in poor weather it has become more necessary than ever to protect buildings on a temporary basis.

[0003] In many countries, particularly when a hurricane has been signalled by weather experts, it is usual for those with buildings to protect to cut pieces of plywood, for example, to a desired size and secure them to a window or door frame. The difficulty with such arrangements is that it requires a carpenter, or those with carpentry skills, to effect such protection and takes some time. Further although the protective plywood can be retained for use with the building, it is not intended to be watertight and because it tends to bend, unless very heavy, it can result in broken glass even if the building itself is not overwhelmed. Finally the increasing likelihood of flooding, particularly in low lying areas, indicates that some protection from flooding is required on a temporary basis.

[0004] One of the problems with the prior art in this field is that doors and windows are of a different dimension as between houses and accordingly a single panel cannot be formed for universal co-operation with frames in all houses if a single weather protector is to be secured to the window or doorjamb.

[0005] The protection of town centres for example is also required. The buildings of walls while effective, tends to be expensive and a wall cannot be removed during the summer when flooding does not occur.

[0006] According to the invention a single panel with an edge seal may be formed of a standard size, said panel being securable to the exterior face of a wall or other structure rather than to a framed opening therein and wherein the same panel may be used with a stanchion adjacent a water-course.

[0007] Obviously smaller weather protector panels may be required for vents/air-bricks disposed in buildings to ventilate the under-floor space. Single panels of identical shape can thus also form the basis of a flood protection system.

[0008] GB-A-2046819 requires that an anti-flood panel is fitted into a door frame. Since doorframes tend to be peculiar to a house, my invention obviates the need to provide a large number of differently shaped acid sized panels.

[0009] GB-A-2346646 provides a frame which is permanently attached to a building wall immediately about an opening. My invention obviates the need to affix a sealing frame permanently adjacent the opening. Further said document requires that the frame immediately surrounds the doorway and this predicates a number of differently sized rigid panels.

[0010] GB-A-2249335 reveals the use in flood defence systems of an aluminium panel with a width depending upon the reveal opening size which is permanently affixed to the exterior wall. Again m, invention is quite different in that it requires only a single size of panel for large openings and requires no permanent seal to the building wall.

[0011] GB-A-2343907 and GB-A-2346168 both require a frame to be permanently sealably secured to a built structure. Again my invention does not require a permanent frame fixing. Further the panels of these documents may be made in a plurality of sizes to accommodate door openings of different sizes for example. My invention requires only one size for all large openings.

[0012] Accordingly the present invention provides a weather protector kit comprising a panel of a single pre-determined shape and size and adapted to obturate an opening and a stanchion for co-operation therewith, said panel comprising;

[0013] a plurality of securing means adjacent edges of the panel and adapted for operative co-operation with a plurality of closure elements predisposed on a structure or stanchion adjacent said opening, and a continuous seal formed of a sealing material adapted to be at least adjacent said eddies of the panel in use and adapted to form a watertight seal with the panel when in position over said opening.

[0014] The panel thus must exceed the dimensions of the opening over which it is intended to be positioned. The panel may be formed of a metal, for example aluminium, or said panel may be formed of, or with, a plastics material. Either way a window at least of a transparent or translucent plastics material may be included.

[0015] Preferably the panel comprises a convexity to its intended outer surface. The seal may be formed of a water-resistant material mouldable to the exterior contours of a rough surface when in-situ on said building. Conveniently the panel may be formed with at least one handle to the intended exterior of each panel. It is desirable that for storage purposes that panels of an equivalent size are stackable. In a particularly preferred form of the invention the edges of the panels and/or sealing material strip are slightly angled to the intended exterior of the wall such that the outer most edges thereof are more firmly in contact with the wall or other structure in use.

[0016] The securing means may be a nut and bolt, or may be any clip which loads the panel against the seal or the structure against which it is to be positioned.

[0017] Aspects of the present invention will now be described, by way of illustration only with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein

[0018] FIG. 1 shows a plain view from above of a weather protector panel in accordance to the present invention, FIG. 1A shows a vertical section through a line ‘A-A’ in FIG. 1,

[0019] FIG. 2 shows an arrangement similar to FIG. 1A disposed upon a wall in vertical cross-section,

[0020] FIG. 3A shows the panel of the invention applied to a door in vertical cross-section;

[0021] FIG. 3B shows an arrangement similar to FIG. 3A but with the foot of the panel displaced;

[0022] FIG. 4 shows the panel of the invention disposed adjacent a water-course in vertical cross-section and, FIG. 4A shows the arrangement of FIG. 4 in plan, from above.

[0023] With reference to FIGS. 1, 1A, 2, 3A and 3B of the drawings a panel shown generally (1) is provided with generally rectangular outer edge (2) and bears upon it a plurality of clips (4) to secure the same to a brick building. The panel shown generally at (1) is also provided with a chamfered portion (5) extending inwardly from the outer edge (2) in a generally angled configuration. Integral with the chamfered portion (5) is a convex panel portion (6), either stamped from aluminium or formed from a plastics material of a generally translucent or transparent plastics material. The convex panel portion (6) is provided with a pair of handles (7) shown generally in the Figures.

[0024] With reference particularly to FIG. 2 a sealing material (3) is shown diagrammatically. This extends continuously about the edge of the panel (1) and is made of a resilient material to form a seal with the outer exterior of the wall (8). In order that it may affect this, the depth of the material (3) is sufficiently deep to accommodate relatively small differences in the wall finish. A toggle or over the centre clip device (4) is shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 1 and 2. This may be a nut and bolt if desired. The clips are arranged such that pivotal movement of the clip or bolt (4) exerts significant pressure on the aluminium or plastics material so compresses the sealing material (3) against the exterior of the wall (8).

[0025] In FIG. 2 a window (9) is shown disposed in a window opening (10). Where the panel is formed of an opaque material such as aluminium, a transparent window (11) may be formed in the panel for viewing purposes.

[0026] In use a plurality of closure elements are adapted for operative co-operation with the clips (14) pre-secured in the brickwork adjacent each opening in the brick wall. The, weather protectors of the invention may be thus readily secured prior to any danger of hurricane or flooding. Thus when a flood or extreme wind or both are forecast, a householder merely takes out the kit of aluminium panels which are light enough individually to be lifted by a person in reasonable health. Each panel is then hung on the uppermost of the closure elements and secured thereto by means of clip (4). This process is repeated such that a window opening for example is completely obturated by means of a panel. Vent openings for example the ground floor of a building may be obturated with smaller elements formed in analogous way for under floor vents etc. between houses and through to the exterior.

[0027] It will be appreciated that it is most desirable that one of the door openings can be closed from the inside rather than the outside. This may be achieved by forming the panels in exactly the same way but providing the intended interior face of the panel (1) (not shown) with a threaded rod adjacent each corner of the panel (1) inboard of the seal and adapted to extend generally rearwardly of the panel aperture. These threaded rods may then be secured to a cross piece extending between opposed door jambs; said threaded rods being adapted to receive a wing nut or wheel of a proportion adapted to exert significant pressure on the rod and hence on the cross pieces and the panel.

[0028] By means of this invention flood waters rising to the exterior of the building, do not enter the building directly and hence the contents of the building are preserved.

[0029] With reference now to FIGS. 4 and 4A a further arrangement of the present invention is dc scribed. In this embodiment a panel in accordance with that previously described is disposed between stanchions upwardly directed, preferably at a right angle, with respect to a river bank (17). The lower edge of the panel is adapted to contact a concrete or other web between the stanchions at the lowermost position thereof. Each stanchion (12) is provided with a flanged web (13) secured to the concrete base for the stanchion (14) which may also form the said lowermost position of the panel. In use a flood water (16) will impinge against the outer periphery of the panel (1) which may be up to 2 metres high.

[0030] In this embodiment each panel (1) is secured to the stanchion (12) by means of bolts (14) which may extend, as in FIG. 4, through the outer web of an I beam or right through the rectilinear section beam as shown in FIG. 4A. The stanchion (12) is supported against the concrete base with a bolt (15) by means of a web (13) which braces the stanchion (12) against pressure exerted by a flood water (16) should this rise towards the top of the stanchion (12) and in-situ panel (1). The invention provides therefore a weather protector kit in accordance with the present invention and a kit of parts comprising a plurality of such weather protecting panels and a stanchion for use therewith.