The present invention relates to a device for protec¬ ting windows against damages, which windows preferably are of shop window type, whereby an extra window unit is posi¬ tionable on the outside of the window to be protected and whereby a window rame with an extra window pane is inclu¬ ded in said extra window unit.

Devices of the above type are previously known from e.g. EP, Al 0 284 522 and DE, C2 32 06 884. The problem at these prior art devices is that the extra window units are not secured against being torn away in their entirety. This means that access to the inner window pane is possible for breakage simply by first tearing away the extra window unit instead of breaking the window pane therein.

If the extra window unit is secured such that it is difficult to tear away, then there is instead the problem that it may take a long time to remove for exchange against an undamaged. It may also take a long time to resecure an undamaged extra window unit so that it is difficult to tear away. The object of the present invention is to eliminate this problem and at the device of the abovementioned type see to that the extra window unit is difficult to get at such that it can not be torn away in its entirety when damaged, and see to that said extra window unit, after breaking its window pane, can be removed quickly and quick¬ ly and easily replaced by a new. This is arrived at accor¬ ding to the invention by providing the abovementioned de¬ vice with the characterizing features of claim 1.

The outer frame forming part of the invention renders the extra window unit inaccessible to be torn away while simultaneously a damaged extra window unit can be quickly and easily removed in a legal manner simply by pulling it out of the outer frame, whereafter it is immediately re¬ placed by a new, undamaged extra window unit which can be

quickly and easily mounted by moving or pushing it into the outer frame and preferably locking it thereto by means of a locking device.

The invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein fig. 1 is a perspective view which schematically illu¬ strates a device according to the invention, whereby an extra window unit according to the invention for clarifying purposes is shown at a distance in from of the shop window to be protected; fig. 2 is a vertical section through the device accor¬ ding to the invention; fig. 3 is a section along the line III-III in fig. 2; fig. 4 is an enlargement of a section through an upper portion of the device according to the invention; fig. 5 is a front view of the enlarged part according to fig. 4; and fig. 6 is a section along the line VI-VI in fig. 5.

The device 1 illustrated in the drawings is adapted to protect windows 2 against damages. The window 2 can be mounted in a building 3 and be of the shop window type with a window frame 4 and a window pane 5. The device 1 comprises an extra window unit 6 which is positionable on the outside of the window 2 to be protected, in such a pro- tective position S that the window 2 normally is inacces¬ sible from the outside. The extra window unit 6 can be locked in the protective position S for preventing unautho¬ rized removal thereof from said protective position S. How¬ ever, the extra window unit 6 is after unlocking removable from the protective position S if said unit is damaged either for replacement by an undamaged window unit 6, pre¬ ferably of the same type, and locking therein or for re¬ pair e.g. at a glazier's workshop and after repair rein- stallation in the protective position S and locking therein. An extra window pane 7 in the extra window unit 6 in¬ cludes a transparent film 8 which preferably is glued onto

the inner side of said extra window pane 7 but which also can be provided in other ways. This film 8 is of such type that it provides improved resistance against damage to the extra window pane 7 e.g. by forming a sticky or tough coat on said extra window pane which reinforces said window pane and which is capable of binding glass splinters.

The extra window pane 7 is preferably designed and/or mounted at such substantial distance A from the window pane 5 to be protected that said window pane 5 at least during the initial damage remains undamaged or at least substan¬ tially less damaged than the extra window pane 7. Further¬ more, the extra window pane 7 preferably is designed and mounted such that it first must be worked on for some time before a hole is obtained therein which is sufficiently large for obtaining such a sufficiently large hole in the window pane 5 to be protected that goods behind said win¬ dow pane 5 are within reach.

The extra window unit 6 is preferably positionable in an outer frame 9 which is adapted to be mounted on the al- ready present window 2 to be protected and/or on the buil¬ ding 3 adjacent thereto. The extra window unit 6 can be locked relative to the outer frame 9 by means of a locking device 10 to prevent unauthorized removal of said extra window unit 6 from said outer frame 9, but permit removal thereof from said outer frame after having unlocked the locking device 10, preferably with a key (not shown) there¬ for.

The extra window pane 7 preferably comprises a window frame 11 which can be inserted into the outer frame 9 and locked therein by means of said locking device 10, which preferably can be brought to cooperate with the window frame 11 as well as the outer frame 9.

The locking device 10 preferably comprises two locking members 12, 13 which can be put together by displacement re- lative to each other and of which a first locking member 12 is provided on the window frame 11 (or outer frame 9), while

a second locking member 13 is displaceably mounted on said first locking member 12 such that said second locking mem¬ ber 13 can be brought to a locking position L relative to the outer frame 9 (or window frame 11), wherein a lock 5 housing 14 is insertable into the locking device 10 to a position LL for locking said locking members 12, 13 to each other so that they can not be displaced relative to each other. The lock housing 14 preferably includes a locking means 15 which is pivotable relative to said lock

10 housing 14 by means of a key (not shown) removable from said locking means 15. By turning the key, the locking means 15 is brought to such a position that the lock hou¬ sing 14 is blocked from withdrawal from its locking posi¬ tion LL in the locking device 10 e.g. by pivoting a blocking

15 tooth 16 on the locking means 15 into a recess in one of the other locking members 12, 13.

For easy mounting of the extra window unit 6 on the outer frame 9, said extra window unit 6 can be moved up into said outer frame 9 and thereafter lowered and located

20 resting down below on said outer frame 9 and then locked thereon.

The locking device 10 can be positioned such that the second locking member 13 can be moved up to a locking po¬ sition L wherein it is located within a downwardly direc-

25 ted drip moulding 17 (see fig. 4 and 5) and locked in this locking position L, whereby the extra window unit 6 can not be removed from the outer frame 9.

The extra window unit 6 is preferably positioned rela¬ tive to the outer frame 9 such that the extra window unit 30 6 from the outside covers retaining means 18, e.g. moun¬ ting screws, through which the outer frame 9 is mounted relative to the window 2 to be protected.

The window frame 11 preferably comprises a lower frame side 19, an upper frame side 20 and two lateral frame sides

35 21 and 22. These frame sides 19-22 preferably consists of aluminium profiles and they preferably have an H-shaped

cross section. Since the profiles have this shape, U-shaped grooves 23 are defined, into which the extra window pane 7 is inserted and retained by means of rubber mouldings or similar. The extra window unit 6 can preferably be placed such that an outwardly open U-shaped groove 24, defined by the H-shape, in its lower frame side 19 receives an upwardly directed longitudinal flange 29 on a lower part of the outer frame 9. Two opposite frame sides (e.g. the lateral frame sides 21, 22) may have a narrower profile than the other two frame sides, whereby end portions of the firstmentioned frame si¬ des can be inserted into end portions of the other two frame sides, whereafter the end portions engaging each other can be attached to each other in a suitable manner, e.g. by means of mounting screws (not shown).

The outer frame 9 preferably comprises a lower frame side 25, an upper frame side 26 and lateral frame sides 27, 28. The lower frame side 25 includes two upwardly directed, longitudinal flanges 29, 30, while the upper frame side 26 has two corresponding but instead downwardly directed pairs 31, 32 of flanges. The upper frame side 26 also includes the forwardly/downwardly directed drip moulding 17.

The two lateral frame sides 27, 28 have inwardly di- rected flanges 33, 34 of which the flange 33 protrudes in behind the flange 29 of the lower frame side 25 and one pair 32 of flanges of the upper frame side 26. Down below the flange 34 protrudes in between the flanges 29, 30 of the lower frame side 25 and at the top, it protrudes in between the pairs 31 and 32 of flanges of the upper frame side 26. The front sides of the flanges 34 define engaging edges 35 for the window frame 11 in the extra window unit 6 and said engaging edges 35 are preferably located within the front edges of the outer frame 9. The lateral frame sides 27, 28 are at the back provided with inwardly directed mounting flanges 36 with holes for

retaining means 18, e.g. mounting screws, through which the outer frame 9 is attached to the frame 4 or other members.

The frame sides 25-28 of the outer frame 9 are prefer¬ ably attached or secured to each other by means of screws 38 which are provided so that they protrude through holes in one of the frame sides and fit into a space defined by longitudi¬ nal flanges 29, 30, 31, 32 in an adjacent frame side.

The invention is not limited to what is described above and illustrated in the drawings, but may vary within the scope of the following claims. Thus, the device accor¬ ding to the invention can be used at other windows than shop windows, e.g. windows in an office building. The extra window pane 7 may include more than one film 8, there may e.g. be one such film 8 on each side of the extra window pane 7 and the film 8 consists e.g. of a plastic film. Ex¬ cept for reinforcing the extra window pane 7, the film 8 may have properties to filter away a substantial portion of such solar radiation, preferably such UV-radiation that causes bleaching. The extra window unit 6 can be locked by more than one locking device 10. The locking device 10 can also be of another type than shown, e.g. consist of a lock housing brought through holes in the outer frame 9 as well as the extra window unit 6, whereafter a locking means in said lock housing is pivoted by a removable key, so that said lock housing can not be removed from said hole. The locking device 10 can be unlocked preferably only with the right key.

It is also possible to provide the extra window unit 6 without using an outer frame 9. Furthermore, the window frame 11 on the extra window pane 7 can eventually be dis¬ pensed with.

Additionally, it should be mentioned that the frame profiles of the outer frame 9 and/or the window frame 11 can be designed in other ways and be made of another mate- rial than aluminium, e.g. of another metal or plastic mate¬ rial.