Hurricane resistant window and screen combination

Abstract

A hurricane resistant window/screen system comprises a structural frame sized to fit substantially within a building window frame, at least one window pane received by the structural frame, at least one screen corresponding to each window pane located at a predetermined distance from the pane, and a retainer and locking means that, in combination, secure the screen to the frame, wherein each screen has a tensile strength that, in combination with the predetermined distance, is sufficient to substantially slow or stop a wooden object that strikes the screen at a speed of approximately 50 feet per second, and is also sufficient to prevent shattering of its corresponding pane when the combination is installed.

The invention claimed is:  
     
         1 . A window-screen combination, comprising: 
 a structural frame sized to fit substantially within a building window frame, the building having an interior and an exterior;    at least one window pane received by the structural frame;    at least one screen corresponding to each pane that is received by the structural frame, located parallel to its corresponding pane and at a predetermined distance from the pane, and positioned so that the screen does not substantially protrude from the frame; and    a retainer and locking means that, in combination, secure the screen two the frame;    wherein each screen has a tensile strength that, in combination with the predetermined distance, is sufficient to substantially slow or stop a wooden object that strikes the screen at a speed of approximately 50 feet per second, and is also sufficient to prevent shattering of its corresponding pane when the combination is installed.    
     
     
         2 . The window-screen combination of  claim 1  wherein the building window frame has a standard window frame width.  
     
     
         3 . The window-screen combination of  claim 1  wherein each pane is comprised of a plexiglass, plastic, or acrylic material.  
     
     
         4 . The window-screen combination of  claim 1  wherein each screen is comprised of a mesh material having a tensile strength of at least about 100,000 psi.  
     
     
         5 . The window-screen combination of  claim 4  wherein each screen is comprised of a mesh material having a tensile strength of at least about 200,000 psi.  
     
     
         6 . The window-screen combination of  claim 5  wherein each screen is coated with an epoxy finish.  
     
     
         7 . The window-screen combination of  claim 4  wherein each screen has a mesh size that is no greater than the width of a piece of size #6 aggregate.  
     
     
         8 . The window-screen combination of  claim 7  wherein each screen is comprised of at least 12 wires per lineal inch, each of said wires having a diameter of at least 0.023 inches.  
     
     
         9 . The window-screen combination of  claim 1  wherein the wooden object has nominal widths of approximately two inches by four inches and a length that is approximately between seven feet and nine feet.  
     
     
         10 . A window-screen combination system, comprising: 
 a structural frame sized to fit substantially within a standard building window frame, the structural frame including at least one guideway;    a first window pane that, in combination with a gasket, is received by a pane frame, wherein the pane frame is sized and positioned to be received by one of the guideways;    a first screen corresponding to the first pane, the first screen located parallel to and at a predetermined distance from the pane, the first screen further positioned so that the screen does not substantially protrude from the structural frame; and    a retainer and locking means that, in combination, secure the first screen to the structural frame;    wherein the first screen has a tensile strength that, when the system is installed in combination with the predetermined distance, is sufficient to substantially slow or stop a wooden object that strikes the first screen at a speed of approximately 50 feet per second, and is also sufficient to prevent substantial damage to its corresponding pane.    
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the mesh size, tensile strength and the predetermined distance are also sufficient to stop or substantially slow a small object weighing approximately 2 grams which strikes the screen at a speed of about 80 feet per second.  
     
     
         12 . The window-screen combination of  claim 10  wherein each pane is comprised of a plexiglass, plastic, or acrylic material.  
     
     
         13 . The window-screen combination of  claim 10  wherein each screen is comprised of a mesh material having a tensile strength of at least about 100,000 psi.  
     
     
         14 . The window-screen combination of  claim 10  wherein each screen is comprised of a mesh material having a tensile strength of at least about 200,000 psi.  
     
     
         15 . The window-screen combination of  claim 14  wherein each screen is coated with an epoxy finish.  
     
     
         16 . The window-screen combination of  claim 11  wherein each screen has a mesh size that is no greater than the width of a piece of size #6 aggregate.  
     
     
         17 . The window-screen combination of  claim 16  wherein each screen is comprised of at least 12 wires per lineal inch, each of said wires having a diameter of at least 0.023 inches.  
     
     
         18 . The window-screen combination of  claim 10  wherein the wooden object has nominal widths of approximately two inches by four inches and a length that is approximately between seven feet and nine feet.  
     
     
         19 . A window-screen combination system, comprising: 
 a structural frame sized to fit substantially within a standard building window frame, the structural frame including at least one guideway;    a first window pane comprised of plexiglas, plastic or acrylic material that, in combination with a gasket, is received by a pane frame, wherein the pane frame is sized and positioned to be received by one of the guideways;    a first screen corresponding to the first pane, the first screen located parallel to and at a predetermined distance from the pane, the first screen further positioned so that the screen does not substantially protrude from the structural frame; and    a retainer and locking means that, in combination, secure the first screen to the structural frame;    wherein the first screen has a tensile strength that, when the system is installed in combination with the predetermined distance, is sufficient to slow a wooden object that strikes the first screen at a speed of approximately 50 feet per second, and that in combination with the shatter resistance of its corresponding pane, prevents substantial damage to the pane in the event the object strikes the pane.    
     
     
         20 . The window-screen combination of  claim 19  wherein each screen is comprised of a mesh material having a tensile strength of at least about 100,000 psi.  
     
     
         21 . The window-screen combination of  claim 19  wherein each screen is coated with an epoxy finish.  
     
     
         22 . The window-screen combination of  claim 19  wherein each screen has a mesh size that is no greater than the width of a piece of size #6 aggregate.  
     
     
         23 . The window-screen combination of  claim 22  wherein each screen is comprised of at least 12 wires per lineal inch, each of said wires having a diameter of at least 0.023 inches.  
     
     
         24 . The window-screen combination of  claim 19  wherein the wooden object has nominal widths of approximately two inches by four inches and a length that is approximately between seven feet and nine feet.  
     
     
         25 . A window-screen combination system, comprising: 
 a structural frame sized to fit substantially within a standard building window frame, the structural frame including at least one guideway;    a first window pane that, in combination with a gasket, is received by a pane frame, wherein the pane frame is sized and positioned to be received by one of the guideways;    a first screen corresponding to the first pane, the first screen located parallel to and at a predetermined distance from the pane, the first screen further positioned so that the screen does not substantially protrude from the structural frame; and    a retainer and locking means that, in combination, secure the first screen to the structural frame;    wherein the first screen comprises a wire mesh having a tensile strength of at least 100,000 psi, such that, when the system is installed, said first screen, in combination with the predetermined distance, is sufficient to substantially slow or stop a wooden object that strikes the first screen at a speed of approximately 50 feet per second, and is also sufficient to prevent substantial damage to its corresponding pane.    
     
     
         26 . The window-screen combination of  claim 25  wherein said first screen is comprised of wire mesh having at least 10 strands of wire per lineal inch.  
     
     
         27 . The window-screen combination of  claim 25  wherein said first screen is comprised of wire mesh in which said wire has a diameter of at least 0.018 inches.  
     
     
         28 . The window-screen combination of  claim 26  wherein said first screen is comprised of a wire mesh having a tensile strength of at least 200,000 psi, said wire mesh having at least 12 wire strands per lineal inch, the diameter of said wire being at least 0.023 inches.