초록 ▼

A universal attachment assembly for installing, and bracing covers over openings. More particularly securing shutter panels over doors and windows in masonry construction without defacing the walls. Novelty, simplicity, economy, vibration resistance and speed of installation are characteristics of

A universal attachment assembly for installing, and bracing covers over openings. More particularly securing shutter panels over doors and windows in masonry construction without defacing the walls. Novelty, simplicity, economy, vibration resistance and speed of installation are characteristics of the assembly. Tensile force is created by commercially available ratcheting device 21 and transmitted by flexible, lightweight straps 22 within universal attachment assembly 20. Marginally distributed paired fulcrum holes 23 in shutter 24 provide bearing against the structural rigidity of shutters 24 to convert strap tension into compression by novel specialized structural clamping levers 10. Corner of wall opening 25 is clamped by lever against shutter 24. Elasticity of straps provides resilience in maintaining constant, high, compressive loading against concrete sills, etc. despite fluctuations due to turbulent wind loads. An additional embodiment is structural column assembly 30, which provides braces for garage doors or intermediate structure for wide architectural openings. All applications use identical, unaltered, universal attachment assemblies 20 for: shutter attachment, garage door bracing, and bracing of shutters in large architectural openings. Structural column, 31, herein shown as lumber and termination angle (not shown), provide shear connections of brace to structure.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. A removable assembly for covering an opening comprising: a compression withstanding, structural, cover plate having peripheral dimensions slightly larger than the opening to be covered, said cover plate comprising a plurality of marginally located fulcrum holes paired in longitudinal op

I claim: 1. A removable assembly for covering an opening comprising: a compression withstanding, structural, cover plate having peripheral dimensions slightly larger than the opening to be covered, said cover plate comprising a plurality of marginally located fulcrum holes paired in longitudinal opposition to one another; a plurality of ratcheting attachment assemblies, each said ratcheting attachment assembly comprising a pair of clamping levers having a first end for fixedly attaching to a tension transmitting means, a second end for engagement with a structural member and an arcuate midsection defined therebetween, wherein said first end, said second end, and said arcuate midsection define a curved shape visible from a first two opposing directions, and wherein said first end, said second end, and said arcuate midsection define a straight shape visible from a second two opposing directions, said second two opposing directions perpendicular to said first two opposing directions, said arcuate midsection for bearing against a fulcrum opening in a respective cover member; a ratcheting device comprising a body, said body carried between said pair of clamping levers; a first said tension transmitting means terminated at a first end by fixedly connecting to said clamping lever, and a second, free end for adjustably wrapping around a drum of said ratcheting device; a second said tension transmitting means terminated at a first end by a second said clamping lever, and terminated at a second end by fixedly attaching to the said body of said ratcheting device; whereby each said clamping lever can be rotatably engaged respectively to a first and second fulcrum point on said cover member to provide fine adjustment of length and the development of compressive force against respective said structural members, with each said pair of said clamping levers inserted respectively through said paired fulcrum holes, whereby said holes are positioned as required for said clamping levers to generate paired moment couples about the hole as a fulcrum point for said second end of said clamping levers to provide a clamping action to an interior edge of said opening by clamping said clamping levers between said structural cover plate and-said interior edge. 2. The removably assembly for covering an opening of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of grommets carried proximate said plurality of fulcrum holes located in said cover plate. 3. A structural brace comprising: an elongated structural support member; a plurality of ratcheting attachment assemblies, each said ratcheting attachment assembly comprising a pair of clamping levers having a first end for fixedly attaching to a tension transmitting means, a second end for engagement with a structural member and an arcuate midsection defined therebetween, wherein said first end, said second end, and said arcuate midsection define a curved shape visible from a first two opposing directions, and wherein said first end, said second end, and said arcuate midsection define a straight shape visible from a second two opposing directions, said second two opposing directions perpendicular to said first two opposing directions, said arcuate midsection for bearing against a fulcrum opening in a respective cover member; a ratcheting device comprising a body, said body carried between said pair of clamping levers; a first said tension transmitting means terminated at a first end by fixedly connecting to said clamping lever, and a second, free end for adjustably wrapping around a drum of said ratcheting device; a second said tension transmitting means terminated at a first end by a second said clamping lever, and terminated at a second end by fixedly attaching to the said body of said ratcheting device; whereby each said clamping lever can be rotatably engaged respectively to a first and second fulcrum point on said cover member to provide fine adjustment of length and the development of compressive force against respective said structural members; two L-profile angle adapters attached to ends of said elongated structural support member, wherein each said angle adapter has matching paired holes to provide fulcrum points to said clamping levers and to act as corresponding guide holes for said second ends of respective clamping levers, and wherein a paired plurality of opposing holes are defined in top and bottom inside faces of each said angle adapter, in matched spacing with said guide holes, whereby tension applied by said ratcheting attachment assemblies to said clamping levers is converted by fulcrums to compression, driving and holding said second ends of said clamping levers through said corresponding guide holes in a base leg of said angle adapter into a hole in an inside wall of an opening. 4. A lever system and panel for securing said panel over an opening, comprising: a pair of levers, each said lever comprising a resistance end, an effort end, and a centralized fulcrum, wherein said resistance end and said centralized fulcrum define arcuately opposing paths, and wherein said effort end and said centralized fulcrum define arcuately opposing paths; a tensile force transmitter carried by said pair of levers, extending from said effort ends thereof; and a tensile force generator carried by said tensile force transmitter, and adapted to deliver force thereto; wherein said resistance end of each said lever is passed through an aperture defined in said panel to be secured, such that said centralized fulcrum of said lever is able to perform as an axis of motion proximate said aperture, and wherein said resistance end of each said lever is dimensioned to be received by an aperture defined in a peripheral interior edge of the opening to be covered by said panel to be secured. 5. The lever system of claim 4, wherein said tensile force transmitter is at least one strap member. 6. The lever system of claim 5, wherein said at least one strap member is elastic. 7. The lever system of claim 4, wherein said tensile force transmitter is removable from said levers. 8. The lever system of claim 4, further comprising a linking member carried between said levers and said tensile force transmitter. 9. The lever system of claim 4, wherein said effort end of each said lever defines an essentially sealed circle. 10. The lever system of claim 4, wherein said tensile force generator is adapted to enable incrementally selectable force.