Architectural protection devices and system and method utilizing same

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, a protection device is provided for restricting an object from sliding along an edge formed by a pair of surfaces of a structure. The protection device includes an obstruction fixture having a mounting surface and a body projecting away from the mounting surface, and a fastener securing the mounting surface to at least one of the surfaces of the structure. The obstruction fixture is positioned on the structure with the body positioned sufficiently close to the edge such that the object sliding along the edge will contact the body.

1 . A protection device for restricting an object from sliding along an edge formed by a pair of surfaces of a structure, the protection device comprising: 
 an obstruction fixture having a mounting surface; and    an attaching structure securing the mounting surface to at least one of the surfaces of the structure sufficiently close to the edge that the object sliding along the edge will contact the obstruction fixture.    
     
     
         2 . The protection device of  claim 1  wherein the attaching structure comprises at least one fastener extending into the structure.  
     
     
         3 . The protection device of claim I wherein the obstruction fixture is positioned astride the edge.  
     
     
         4 . The protection device of  claim 1  wherein the structure further comprises a second edge substantially parallel to the first edge, and the mounting surface comprises a three-flange bracket positioned astride both edges of the structure.  
     
     
         5 . The protection device of  claim 1 , further comprising a body secured to the obstruction fixtures, the body projecting away from the mounting surface.  
     
     
         6 . The protection device of  claim 5  wherein the mounting surface comprises a bracket having one flange, the body being attached to the bracket.  
     
     
         7 . The protection device of  claim 5  wherein the mounting surface comprises a bracket having two flanges at least one of which is attached to one of the surfaces, the body being attached to at least one of the flanges.  
     
     
         8 . The protection device of  claim 7  wherein the body projects away from one of the flanges.  
     
     
         9 . The protection device of  claim 7  wherein the body simultaneously projects away from both flanges.  
     
     
         10 . The protection device of  claim 7 , further comprising a second body attached to the bracket, each body being sufficiently close to an edge that the object sliding along the edge will contact the bodies.  
     
     
         11 . The protection device of  claim 5  wherein the body has a solid circular cross section.  
     
     
         12 . The protection device of  claim 5  wherein the body has an annular cross section.  
     
     
         13 . The protection device of  claim 5  wherein the body has a quadrilateral cross section.  
     
     
         14 . A protection device for restricting an object from sliding along an edge formed by a pair of surfaces of a structure, the protection device comprising: 
 a mounting bracket positioned astride the edge and attached to at least one surface of the structure;    a body attached to and projecting away from the mounting bracket; and    an attaching structure securing the mounting bracket to at least one of the surfaces.    
     
     
         15 . The protection device of  claim 14  wherein the attaching structure comprises at least one fastener extending into the structure.  
     
     
         16 . The protection device of  claim 14  wherein the mounting bracket comprises two flanges, at least one of which is attached to one of the surfaces, the body being attached to at least one of the flanges.  
     
     
         17 . The protection device of  claim 16  wherein the body projects away from one of the flanges.  
     
     
         18 . The protection device of  claim 16  wherein the body simultaneously projects away from both flanges.  
     
     
         19 . The protection device of  claim 16  wherein the structure further comprises a second edge substantially parallel to the first edge, and the mounting bracket comprises three-flanges and is positioned astride both edges of the structure.  
     
     
         20 . The protection device of  claim 14 , further comprising a second body attached to the bracket, each body being sufficiently close to an edge that an object sliding along the edge will contact the bodies.  
     
     
         21 . The protection device of  claim 14  wherein the body has a solid circular cross section.  
     
     
         22 . The protection device of  claim 14  wherein the body has an annular cross section.  
     
     
         23 . The protection device of  claim 14  wherein the body has a quadrilateral cross section.  
     
     
         24 . A protection device for restricting an object from sliding along an edge formed by a pair of surfaces of a structure, the protection device comprising: 
 an obstruction fixture comprising: 
 a mounting bracket having a flange, and  
 a body attached to and projecting away from the mounting bracket; and  
   an attaching structure securing the flange to at least one of the surfaces of the structure with the obstruction fixture positioned astride the edge so that the object sliding along the edge will contact the obstruction fixture.    
     
     
         25 . The protection device of  claim 24  wherein the attaching structure comprises at least one fastener extending into the structure.  
     
     
         26 . The protection device of  claim 24  wherein the obstruction fixture is positioned near the edge.  
     
     
         27 . The protection device of  claim 24  wherein the mounting bracket comprises a flange to which the body is attached.  
     
     
         28 . The protection device of  claim 24  wherein the mounting bracket comprises two flanges, at least one of which is attached to one of the surfaces, the body being attached to at least one of the flanges.  
     
     
         29 . The protection device of  claim 28  wherein the body projects away from one of the flanges.  
     
     
         30 . The protection device of  claim 28  wherein the body projects away from both flanges.  
     
     
         31 . The protection device of  claim 24  wherein the structure further comprises a second edge substantially parallel to the first edge, and the mounting surface comprises a three-flange bracket positioned astride both edges.  
     
     
         32 . The protection device of  claim 31 , further comprising a second body attached to the bracket, each body being sufficiently close to an edge that the object sliding along the edge will contact the bodies.  
     
     
         33 . The protection device of  claim 24  wherein the body has a solid circular cross section.  
     
     
         34 . The protection device of  claim 24  wherein the body has an annular cross section.  
     
     
         35 . The protection device of  claim 24  wherein the body has a quadrilateral cross section.  
     
     
         36 . A system for restricting an object from sliding along an edge formed by a pair of surfaces of a structure, the system comprising: 
 a plurality of protection devices attached the structure, the protection devices being spaced along the structure at selected intervals, each protection device comprising: 
 an obstruction fixture having a mounting surface and a body projecting away from the mounting surface; and  
 an attaching structure securing the mounting surface to at least one of the surfaces of the structure with the body of the obstruction fixture positioned sufficiently close to the edge that the object sliding along the edge will contact the body of the obstruction fixture.  
   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36  wherein the attaching structured comprises at least one fastener extending into the structure.  
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 36  wherein the obstruction fixture is positioned astride the edge.  
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 36  wherein the mounting surface comprises a bracket having one flange, the body being attached to the bracket.  
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 36  wherein the mounting surface comprises a bracket having two flanges, at least one of which is attached to one of the surfaces, the body being attached to at least one of the flanges.  
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40  wherein the body projects away from one of the flanges.  
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 40  wherein the body projects away from both of the flanges.  
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 36  wherein the structure further comprises a second edge substantially parallel to the first edge, and the mounting surface comprises a three-flange bracket positioned astride both of the edges.  
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43 , further comprising a second body attached to the bracket, each body being sufficiently close to the edge that the object sliding along the edge will contact the bodies.  
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 43  wherein the body has a solid circular cross section.  
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 36  wherein the body has an annular cross section.  
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 36  wherein the body has a quadrilateral cross section.  
     
     
         48 . A method of restricting an object from sliding along an edge formed by a pair of surfaces of a structure, the method comprising: 
 positioning a protection device sufficiently close to the edge so that the object sliding long the edge will contact the protection device; and    securing the protection device to at least one surface of the structure.    
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising attaching a plurality of protection devices at selected intervals along the length of the edge.  
     
     
         50 . A method of restricting an object from sliding along an edge formed by a pair of surfaces of a structure, the method comprising: 
 positioning a plurality of protection devices astride the edge, the distance between protection devices being chosen to restrict sliding motion between successive protection devices, with each protection device comprising an obstruction fixture having a mounting surface and a body projecting away from the mounting surface; and    securing the mounting surface of the protection device to at least one of the surfaces of the structure.    
     
     
         51 . A method of restricting an object from sliding along an edge formed by a pair of surfaces of a structure, the method comprising: 
 positioning a mounting bracket astride the edge;    securing the mounting bracket to at least one surface; and    attaching a body to the mounting bracket with the body projecting away from the mounting bracket.    
     
     
         52 . The method of claim  51 , further comprising attaching a plurality of protection devices at selected intervals along the length of the edge.