Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a window comprising a frame and a glass pane, which frame comprises a recess in which recess the glass pane is placed, which glass pane is retained by strips which strips are made of wood, plastic or metal.

The present invention further relates to a device for protecting windows against unau- thorized removal of glass panes from a window, which window comprises at least a frame, which frame carries the glass pane in a recess, which device comprises a longitudinal base and a mostly perpendicular protrusion, which base comprises a plurality of downwards protruding teeth to interact with the frame, which base is to be placed in a cavity below, beside or above a glass pane, which mostly perpendicular protrusion is to be placed in front of the glass pane.

The present invention further relates to use of a device as disclosed hereafter.

The present invention further relates to a method for protecting windows against unau- thorized removal of glass panes by use of a device as disclosed hereafter.

Background of the Invention

DE3735637A1 discloses a device for preventing the unlawful removal of a pane from a window casement including a locking plate which is fixedly retained in the casement and is provided with one shank on the outside of the pane, A spacer member is disposed between an edge portion of the glass pane and a proximal surface of the casement, such that a space is formed for accommodating a second shank provided with barbs on the locking plate. Auxiliary spacers are disposed between the locking plate and the glass pane, these being suitably of one-piece manufacture with the spacer members which are located on both sides of the locking plate. Object of the Invention

It is the object of the invention to perform a fixation of a glass pane into a window frame in order to prevent unauthorized access through the window.

Description of the Invention

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the window can comprise one or more devises for protecting windows against unauthorized removal of a glass pane from a window, which device comprises a longitudinal base and a mostly perpendicular protrusion, which base comprises a plurality of downwards protruding teeth to interact with the frame, which base is to be placed in one or more cavities below, beside or above a glass pane, which mostly perpendicular protrusion is to be placed in front of the glass pane, which base comprises at least one longitudinal projecting edge.

Hereby, the device protects a window from unauthorized access, where for example a burglar dismounts wood strips and hereafter removes the glass pane in order to get full access to the room behind the window. The device can be placed so that for example two devices are beside or above the window's pane, two at each side and maybe two at the top. The downward protruding teeth will automatically go deeper into the material if somebody tries to remove the device. But especially the longitudinal protecting edge below and in the same direction as the teeth is protecting the teeth from access with tools that could cut the teeth. Therefore, it will probably be quite a time consuming job if a burglar tries to remove one of the devices and in a situation where for example six devices are in use, the burglar has to remove maybe four of these devices in order to remove the glass pane. Therefore, the pending patent application is effective seeing that a burglar who wants access to a room through a window has to break the pane in order to get inside. But breaking the pane is generating noise, wherefore most burglars will avoid breaking the pane. It is possible to place the device in many existing window frames without having to make any changes to the frame. The device can be placed by gently knocking the device into the correct position beside or above a glass pane. Another possibility is of course that the devices here disclosed may be used in connection with new production of windows, where the devices are placed in the frame during a normal production process of a window. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the window's frame can have a groove to cooperate with the protruding teeth, which is intended to interact with the frame. Hereby it is guaranteed that the teeth get access to the frame material. Especially with hard materials, such as hard wood or maybe plastic, a groove will give the teeth a better possibility of being pressed into the material. Hereby the device can be used in a lot of different materials.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the base can comprise at least one longitudinal projecting edge. The longitudinal projecting edge will give the base a much higher degree of stiffness with the result that it is completely impossible to perform any bending of the device using tools from the outside when the device is in place beside or over a glass pane. The longitudinal projection also prevents access for tools such as for example a saw that can cut away the teeth. The longitudinal projecting edge will as such be pressed against the window frame and any attempt to get ac- cess by lifting the device using tools can result in a broken pane which makes an awful noise. Therefore, the longitudinal projection can lead to a broader selection of materials for the device because the stiffness of the device is achieved by forming the longitudinal projecting edge. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the device can be made of a steel alloy. Steel alloy is just one of the possible materials that could be used for the device. Many hard materials could be used but the teeth need some degree of flexibility. Therefore, stainless steel, having good spring characteristics, is one of the materials that could be used. Other materials such as reinforced plastic could also be a possibil- ity, as a plastic could carry fibres of glass or carbon and in that way the plastic will reach high stability. Other materials such as titan or some alloys of aluminium are probably also an option.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the projecting edge of the device can form a downwards protrusion formed by a stamping process. It is possible to produce the device by a stamping process, probably by a number of continuous stamping steps. One of the steps could be to produce the downward protrusion. Through the stamping process and by forming a protrusion, further stiffness is probably added to the material by the deforming of for example a steel alloy. By forming the projection edge through a stamping process, the projection edge as such will, because of the stretching of the material and the deforming of the material, be extremely hard and therefore be nearly impossible to destroy using normal tools. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the base of the device can be folded downwards by a stamping process at both ends of the base. Hereby the base will be protected from access with tools from the ends of the base in the direction of the teeth. Furthermore, the downward stamping of the end of the base has resulted in further stiffness of the base. A combination of a relatively stiff material and the forming of folded ends, together with the folded longitudinal projections leads to an extremely stiff construction. In that way getting access to a window will be very difficult using traditional tools. The device is so stiff that it probably has to be removed without any bending of the device and in order to get the tooth free of the frame it is necessary for a burglar to more or less destroy the frame. Hereby another positive effect is achieved, because in some situations window panes have been removed and the burglar has been inside a house and has stolen computers or paintings, or other rather costly items from a home. Afterwards the burglar has replaced the window's pane and put the wood clips in place in a way where it is nearly impossible to see that anybody has been inside the building. However, opening a window that is protected by one or more of the devices will absolutely reveal that somebody has been opening the window in an unauthorized manner.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the mostly perpendicular protrusion can continue into a downwards protrusion forming a strip, which plurality of downwards protruding teeth interact with a groove formed in the frame, which device is placed around a glass pane and performs the fixation of the glass pane in the window. With the pending application it is possible to produce a relatively long device, in fact the device can be as long as one of the sides of the glass pane and the device can comprise a form that has the same effect as the wood strip which usually keeps the glass pane in place in a window. Hereby the device has a double function where it is not only protecting the glass pane from being removed as part of a criminal act but the device also has a full fastening function for keeping the glass pane in place in a window frame. By using a plurality of teeth that are placed in a groove in the frame it is possible to perfectly fix the glass pane in the frame without any further fixation of the pane. Therefore, the device will probably soon be known by criminals as a way in which a window can be protected, making it impossible to get access to a building for the criminals. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the device can be produced of a plastic material. One possibility will of course be to produce the device in a plastic material, as the device can be produced in an extruding process, which will allow the length of the device to be relatively long. By the extruding process it is possible to produce the device with an extreme length if necessary but a limitation to the maxi- mum size of windows will probably set a limit to the size. The use of plastic as a material can be highly effective if reinforcement of the plastic is performed by adding fibre materials such as glass fibres, metal fibres or carbon fibres. In some types of plastic it is possible to add relatively high percentages of fibre material. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the device can comprise a downwards oriented projecting edge. By placing a downwards oriented projecting edge, access to the teeth will be difficult if someone wants to cut away the teeth. Furthermore, a downwards oriented projection will lead to a relatively stiff product. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the longitudinal base and/or the mostly perpendicular protrusion can carry a protective material such as an adhesive tape. Hereby, the glass pane is protected by the tape. Other materials such as soft foam layers can be used. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the use can be protection of windows from unauthorized removal of glass panels, where the window frame has a groove to cooperate with the downwards protruding teeth to interact with the frame, whereby removal of a glass pane from a window is prohibited. Hereby it will be nearly impossible to remove the device once it is placed in a window frame.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention a method can be disclosed in the following steps: a: generate a groove in the window frame with a tool, b: move the glass pane into a first mounting position in the window frame c: place a device below or beside the glass pane d: move the glass pane to a second position in the window frame e: place further devices above or beside the glass pane.

Hereby it is possible to place the device around a glass pane in a window frame, whereby it is very difficult and time consuming to remove a glass pane without breaking the pane. By existing windows wood, plastic or metal strips can be removed from a window before starting the steps a-e. Hereby the invention can be used on existing windows.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the wood, plastic or metal strips can be replaced in the window frame. After the device is placed in a window frame, it is hereby possible to replace the wood strips and in that way hide the device and end up with the same fastening technology of holding the glass pane in place.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention can the mostly perpendicular protrusion be configured with break lines for weakening section of the mostly perpendic- ular protrusion. Herby can an effort from a burglar end in breaking away a small part of the protrusion and the burglar has to repeat breaking away the next section of the protrusion, herby increasing the period of time the burglar has to use for removing a device. The break lines can be formed towards the glass pane by the stamping process used during production of the device.

Glass pane is in the pending patent application defines as any kind of window pane made of one or more layers of glass or plastic. Description of the Drawing

Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a window. Figure 2 shows a sectional view of a device according to the invention. Figure 3 shows single drawings 3A, 3B and 3C of the device. Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 shows the same embodiment as figure 4 but seen from another angle.

Figure 6 shows a magnified section of a device as indicated in figure 4 and 5. Figure 7 and 8 disclose a devise with breaking lines Detailed Description of the Invention

Figure 1 shows a possible embodiment of the invention indicating a window (2) which window is placed in a frame (4) and in that frame (4) a glass pane (6) is indicated which glass pane (6) is placed in a recess (8). The glass pane (6) is held in place by a strip (10) which is fastened to the frame (4). Below the glass pane (6) a device (12) is indicated. The device (12) comprises a mostly perpendicular protrusion (16), downwards protruding teeth (18) placed in the cavity (20) where the longitudinal projecting edge (22) is also indicated in which the protruding teeth (18) are placed in a groove (24).

Figure 2 shows a device (12) formed by a longitudinal base (14) and a mostly perpendicular protrusion (16). Furthermore, downwards protruding teeth (18) are indicated. Furthermore, figure 2 indicates a possible embodiment of a longitudinal projecting edge (22). Furthermore, figure 2 indicates a protective material (26) which material is placed in order to have a soft contact against the glass.

Figure 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention where a device (12) is indicated from the downside on figure 3 A, from the front side on figure 3B, from a side view on figure 3C. On figure 3A the device (12) indicates the longitudinal base (14), the mostly perpendicular protrusion (16), the downwards protruding teeth (18) and sideward protection (28). Figure 3B indicates the mostly perpendicular protrusion (16), the longitudinal base (14), where figure 3C shows the longitudinal base (14) and the mostly perpendicular protrusion (16). Furthermore, the protruding teeth (18) and the longitudinal projecting edge (22) are indicated. Furthermore, the sideward protection (28) is indicated

The device (12) placed below or beside a glass pane (6) will protect a window from removal of the glass pane. The downward protruding teeth (18) will be pressed downwards in the frame (4) if someone tries to remove the device (12). In order to protect the projecting teeth (18) against any cutting device, such as a saw, the longitudinal protrusion (22) is making any access from tools towards the teeth (18) very difficult. In order to protect from access from the side, the sideward protection (28) will in the same way make it very difficult for any burglar to have access to the teeth (18). Therefore, removing the glass pane will be rather time consuming. Devices (12) can be placed below the glass pane, on both sides of the glass pane and above the glass pane. There is probably only one way of removing the glass pane which is to break the pane.

Figure 4 shows a device (112) which device comprises a longitudinal base (114) which has a mostly perpendicular protrusion (116). Furthermore, downwards protruding teeth (118) are indicated. The device (112) further comprises a longitudinal projecting edge (122) and the mostly perpendicular protrusion (116) comprises a down- wards protrusion (126).

Figure 5 shows the same invention as figure 4 but now seen from another angle. The device (112) comprises the longitudinal base (114) which is connected into the mostly perpendicular protrusion (116). At the longitudinal base (114) downwards protruding teeth (118) are indicated. Furthermore, protrusions (124) and the downwards protrusion (126) are indicated.

Figure 6 shows an enlarged view of the device (112). At figure 6 the longitudinal base (114), the mostly perpendicular protrusion (116), the downwards protruding teeth (118) and the downwards protrusion (126) are indicated, which are directly fastened to the mostly perpendicular protrusion (116).

In operation, a device (112) will be placed around a glass pane in a frame. The down- wards protruding teeth (118) will cooperate with cavities such as indicated in figure 1 (24). It will be nearly impossible to remove a device (112) because access to the downwards protruding teeth (118) will be very difficult from the outside. At first a tool must be placed below the downwards protrusion (126) and pass below the longitudinal projecting edge (122) and also the protrusions (124) will make it very difficult to get any tools into contact with the teeth (118) from the side. Therefore, a window protected by the device (112) is protected against removal of the glass pane. The length of the device (112) is to be the whole size of the frame of the window. The device (112) can in a preferred manner be produced by extruding material such as plastic or maybe a metal. Therefore, the device (112) can be formed in the length that is nec- essary for protecting a window. In practice a number of relatively short devices will probably be produced but these can be combined by dovetailed connections. Hereby devices can be produced in different lengths and if the devices are formed in a plastic material or maybe a metal material they can be cut in the correct length but connection of smaller devices is performed in a much stabilised manner.

Different materials that could be used for the device (112) are of course different plastic materials. Reinforcement of these materials by metal fibres, maybe glass fibres or carbon fibres are also possible. In this way a device can be produced that is extremely hard and nearly impossible to destroy by normal hand tools.

Fig. 7 and 8 disclose a device 212 seen from the glass pane. Further is indicated the longitudinal base (214) and the mostly perpendicular protrusions (216) and downwards protruding teeth (218). Further is breaking lines (220) indicated. The breaking lines are both horizontal and vertical dividing the mostly perpendicular protrusions (216) into section.

A window (2)

a frame (4) glass pane (6)

recess (8)

strips (10)

devices (12)

longitudinal base (14)

mostly perpendicular protrusions (16) downwards protruding teeth (18) cavities (20)

longitudinal projecting edge (22) groove (24)

protective material (26)

sideward protection (28) device (112)

longitudinal base (114)

mostly perpendicular protrusions (116) downwards protruding teeth (118) cavities (120)

longitudinal projecting edge (122) protrusions (124)

downwards protrusion (126) devices (212)

longitudinal base (214)

mostly perpendicular protrusions (216) downwards protruding teeth (218) Breaking lines (220)