초록 ▼

A single generally rectangular frame, with extruded guides on the lateral sides, which guides contain tracks for a retractable pleated shutter system, and similarly contain channels for the mounting of a window or a door. The shutter system utilizes extracted pleated plates of uniform cross-section.

A single generally rectangular frame, with extruded guides on the lateral sides, which guides contain tracks for a retractable pleated shutter system, and similarly contain channels for the mounting of a window or a door. The shutter system utilizes extracted pleated plates of uniform cross-section. At the ends of the shutter panels, provision is made for a guide assembly which is secured internally of the tracks on the lateral sides of the frame. In one embodiment, means are provided for removing and replacing the shutter system and shutter panels, which does not require the removal of any cement, stucco, or any other permanent securing materials.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A combination shutter system and architectural feature being one of a window and a door, said shutter system and architectural feature unitized in a rectangular bracket for use in a building opening, comprising:said rectangular bracket having guide members and channels to secure the shutter syste

1. A combination shutter system and architectural feature being one of a window and a door, said shutter system and architectural feature unitized in a rectangular bracket for use in a building opening, comprising:said rectangular bracket having guide members and channels to secure the shutter system and architectural feature in a single unit for insertion within the building opening;a main shutter body comprising a series of unitary horizontal substantially identical plate members each having two longitudinal edges and an intermediate portion and terminating in two ends;a first hollow hinge member with inwardly projecting stop flanges on one said longitudinal edge of each said plate member;a second hollow hinge member with outwardly projecting stop flanges having a gap therebetween on the opposite said longitudinal edge of each said plate member;each of said hollow hinge members being formed to matingly and pivotally engage the opposite said hollow hinge member on an adjacent such plate member in a hinged joint;said plates being curvilinear in longitudinal cross-section such that each said plate member nests into an adjacent said plate member when the storm panel is retracted upwardly with the curvilinear portions of adjacent plates uniformly spaced apart;said hollow hinge members stop flanges being proportioned as to prevent the curvilinear plate members from deploying past a pre-determined angleextensions from each of the hinged joints;a further extension proportioned for extending from a mid-portion in each of said plates at the mid-portion on no less than every other plate;one of said extensions having rolling means secured at the end of its plate and within a track with yieldable means urging the rolling means to put its secured plate in tension; andall of said rolling means filling a mid-position supporting member, and said supporting member being proportioned within the tracks in the channel so that when the panel is fully employed in the unfolded configuration each of said members is constrained within the channel;whereby internal support at the ends of the plates adds additional strength to resist bending or impact of the panel when in the fully operating unfolded configuration. 2. In the combination shutter system and architectural feature according to claim 1,said main body portion of each plate member being uniformly curvilinear concave downwardly from longitudinal edge to longitudinal edge. 3. In the combination shutter system and architectural feature according to claim 1,each of the subject hollow hinge members being cylindrical in basic construction,one of said hollow hinge members being formed to slide interiorly of the other said hollow hinge member,said hollow hinge members being uninterrupted from one end to the other to thereby permit the one to be assembled into the other with uninterrupted stop support, throughout the entire length of the panel,whereby the storm panel may be assembled by slidably engaging adjacent plate members. 4. The combination shutter system and architectural feature according to claim 1,the exterior portions of each hollow hinge member being circular,said plate members being formed and proportioned along with said hollow hinge members such that when said hollow hinge members are hinged to each other in pleatable panel form, the spacing between the plate members when the panel is pleated is controlled by the tangential contact between the adjacent circular hollow hinge members. 5. In the combination shutter system and architectural feature according to claim 1,said plates being a unitary extruded one piece member formed of a single extrusion,whereby each of every one of said plate members in the subject panel are interchangeable each with the other. 6. In the combination shutter system and architectural feature according to claim 1,one of said hollow hinge members being smaller than the other, said smaller member being proportioned to slide longitudinally into the larger member and also to be secured therein,said smaller member having a swarf channel throughout its longitudinal length, said swarf channel being positioned opposite the gap between the outwardly projecting stops. 7. In the combination shutter system and architectural feature according to claim 1,said plate members being defined by an arcuate surface facing concave downwardly,at least two longitudinal ribs being extruded along the lower concave portion of said plate member,whereby additional reinforcing strength in tension is provided by the longitudinal extending ribs. 8. In the combination shutter system and architectural feature according to claim 1,said hinge members being C-shaped in cross-section;protruding stop members extending from the ends of the C-shaped cross-members, and extending inwardly on the larger tubular hinge portion, anda plurally of stop members extending outwardly from the end portions of the C on the smaller tubular hollow hinge member,whereby means are provided for stopping the rotation of the successfully pleated panels at the remote portion of each of the C-shaped hollow hinge members. 9. In the combination shutter system and architectural feature according to claim 2,said curvilinear plate member being defined by an arcuate surface. 10. In the combination shutter system and architectural feature according to claim 4,a longitudinal of swarf channel formed at the base of the C-shaped smaller hollow interior hinge member to ease the taping of a self-taping screw to engage the end of said tubular member and to also contain the swarf of material cut while such screw is being self-taped into the smaller hollow hinge member. 11. A combination shutter system and architectural feature unitized in a bracket for use in a building opening, which shutter system is made up of several horizontal plates, and which system can be opened or closed from top to bottom, or bottom to top to protect the window/door, comprising, in combination.said bracket with channels and guide members to secure the shutter system and window/door in a single unit for insertion within with a building opening;a series of one-piece, substantially horizontal, substantially identical plate members each having two longitudinal edges and a main body portion,a first hollow hinge member formed on one longitudinal edge of each said plate member, and,a second hollow hinge member on the opposite longitudinal edge of each plate member,said first and second hollow hinge members being formed to matingly and pivotally engage the opposite hollow hinge member on an adjacent such plate member to form a hollow hinge,the main body portion of each said plate member is being joined to each of said longitudinal hollow hinge edges,the main body portion of each said plate member being essentially curvilinear and uninterrupted from said first hollow hinge edge to said second hollow hinge edge and substantially identical with adjacent plate members,said main body portion being downwardly concave and upwardly convex in cross-section such that each said plate member nests into an adjacent said plate member,said plate members being formed and proportioned along with said hollow hinge members such that when the hollow hinges are hinged to each other to form a panel, said panel is foldable and the spacing between said plate members when said panel is folded is dictated by the contact between adjacent hollow hinge members,whereby the amount of space occupied by a plurality of such plate members when folded in the shutter folded configuration is minimized. 12. A method for forming a combination shutter system and architectural feature unitized system in a bracket for insertion into a building opening comprising:extruding and cutting to the length intended for the panel opening covering of the building opening a series of one piece, substantially horizontal, substantially identical plate members each having two lateral edges and a main body, said main body being curvilinear between the edges presenting one convex face and one concave face, each edge member being tubular with a longitudinal slot therein, one C-shaped edge member being larger than the other C-shaped edge member, said larger edge member having an interior opening sufficiently to slidably receive the tubular smaller edge member, the larger edge member having its longitudinal opening facing downwardly, and the smaller edge member having its opening facing upwardly sequentially securing the like plate members by inserting opposed longitudinal edges into the other plate member with an orientation such that when extended and covering the building opening the plates are alternatively convex and concave facing, and,reversing the plates so that the opening on the larger lateral edges extend downwardly, and the opening on the smaller lateral edges extend upwardly when tubularly and slidingly engaging the adjacent plate,orienting the plates when hinged to each other to present a downwardly facing concave plate and an upwardly facing convex face to thereby facilitate drainage and inhibit water trapping between the two C-shaped longitudinal edges,proportioning said hinges to progressively shift the lifting load from the panel center to the tangentially contacted longitudinal hinge edges;providing extensions from each of the hinged joints,adding a further extension proportioned for extending from a mid-portion in each of said plates at the mid-portion on no less than every other plate,causing one of said extensions having rolling means secured at the end of its plate and within a track with yieldable means urging the rolling means to put its secured plate in tension,establishing that all of said rolling means filling a mid-position supporting member, and said supporting member being proportioned within the tracks in the channel so that when the panel is fully employed in the unfolded configuration each of said members is constrained within the channel,whereby internal support at the ends of the plates adds additional strength to resist bending or impact of the panel when in the fully operating unfolded configuration, whereby a shutter panel is formed which has alternative convex and concave plates, whereby said plates when folded together are secured in tangential tubular opposed relationship, and whereby the larger of such longitudinal edges diverts drainage of fluid and contaminants from the interior portion of the plate assembly when in the closed position. 13. Installing in a building opening the shutter system and architectural feature formed by the method according to claim 12, comprising the steps of:framing said panel with a frame having a top and sides,inserting the combination shutter system into a building opening, andsecuring split shims on the lateral sides of the frame. 14. A combination shutter system and architectural feature being one of a window and a door, said shutter system and architectural feature unitized in a bracket for use in a building opening, comprising:said bracket with guide members and channels to secure the shutter system and architectural feature in a single unit for insertion within with the building opening;a plurality of transversely curvilinear plates, each of said plates having lateral longitudinal edges, each of said edges terminating in a hollow hinge forming member, one of said hollow hinge forming members being a large tubular member and one of said members being a smaller tubular member, the smaller tubular member being proportioned for sliding engagement interiorly of the larger member to form hinged joints, each of said hollow hinges being C-shaped in cross-section, each of said C-shaped hollow members having opposed end portions;the larger of said C-shaped hollow members having inwardly disposed stops,the smaller of said C-shaped hollow members having outwardly disposed stops,said stops being positioned and oriented with regard to the joinder to the plate member so that the outward stops engage that portion of the smaller hinge member which extends to the curvilinear plate,the inner hinge member having stops which interiorly engage the stops of the outer member,the two hinge members in such combination that at all times in the totally open or totally closed position there is an engaged inner and outer stop member on each of said hinged joints;extensions from each of the hinged joints,a further extension proportioned for extending from a mid-portion in each of said plates at the mid-portion on no less than every other plate,one of said extensions having rolling means secured at the end of its plate and within a track with yieldable means urging the rolling means to put its secured plate in tension,all of said rolling means filling a mid-position supporting member, and said supporting member being proportioned within the tracks in the channel so that when the panel is fully employed in the unfolded configuration each of said members in constrained within the channel,whereby internal support at the ends of the plates adds additional strength to resist bending or impact of the panel when in the fully operating unfolded configuration. 15. A shutter system comprising a plurality of plates which can be folded or unfolded which are transversely curvilinear and proportioned and oriented for a downward concave presentation, each of said plates having hollow hinge forming longitudinal parallel edges which co-act with each other to form hinged joints, in combination with a guide member having a plurality or tracks for guiding said folded plates, the improvement comprising:extensions from each of the hinged joints,a further extension proportioned for extending from a mid-portion in each of said plates at the mid-portion on no less than every other plate,one of said extensions having rolling means secured at the end of its plate and within a track with yieldable means urging the rolling means to put its secured plate in tension,all of said rolling means filling a mid-position supporting member, and said supporting member being proportioned within the tracks in the channel so that when the panel is fully employed in the unfolded configuration each of said members is constrained within the channel,whereby internal support at the ends of the plates adds additional strength to resist bending or impact of the panel when in the fully operating unfolded configuration. 16. A combination shutter system and architectural feature being one of a window and a door, said shutter system and architectural feature unitized in a rectilinear bracket for use in a building, comprising:said rectilinear bracket with guide members to secure the shutter system and architectural feature in a single unit for insertion within the building opening;opposed guide members providing multiple guide channels for the operation of a folding hurricane shutter made up of several horizontal plates and having hinted joints and an interior channel for nesting the architectural feature,a channel jam bracket portion;a shutter guide channel portion with tracks spacedly connected to said guide members;said channels proportioned to guide the shutter from open to closed, and said interior channel jam bracket portion proportioned to receive an architectural feature;extensions from each of the hinged joints,a further extension proportioned for extending from a mid-portion in each of said plates at the mid-portion on no less than every other plate,one of said extensions having rolling means secured at the end of its plate and within a track with yieldable means urging the rolling means to put its secured plate in tension,all of said rolling means filling a mid-position supporting member, and said supporting member being proportioned within the tracks in the channel so that when the panel is fully employed in the unfolded configuration each of said members in constrained within the channel,whereby internal support at the ends of the plates adds additional strength to resist bending or impact of t he panel when in the fully operating unfolded configuration. 17. In the combination shutter system and architectural feature according to claim 16,each said plate being curvilinearly concave downwardly. 18. In the combination shutter system and architectural feature according to claim 16,each horizontal plate having parallel longitudinal edges;each such edge having hollow integral hinged members; andeach hollow hinge member slidably engaging an adjacent plate hinge member. 19. In the combination shutter system and architectural feature according to claim 16,means for raising and lowering said plates while the plates are constrained horizontally within said bracket. 20. In the combination shutter system and archtectural feature according to claim 16,said plates being stackable at the top of the bracket. 21. In the combination shutter system and architectural feature according to claim 16,said channel jam bracket being proportioned to receive one of a sliding glass door, a curtain wall and a full view picture window in the interior portion of the opposing guide members. 22. In the combination shutter system and architectural feature according to claim 16, which further comprises:a guide chamber member having inner and outer tracks;a wheel carrier centrally positioned in said guide chamber member,means for securing said wheel carriers to one of said hollow hinge members;yieldable means co-acting with the wheel carriers to engage the inner tracks thereby pulling against the plate to hold the plate in tension;said wheel carriers being optionally positionable at one of an edge and a mid-position of said plate;whereby at all times the plates are carried in tension, and whereby at all times the plates are constrained against lateral displacement by said wheel carriers running up and down the guide chamber member's inner tracks. 23. In the combination shutter system and architectural feature according to claim 16,a pair of opposed guide chamber members framing the lateral edges of the plate and shutter system;said guide chamber members having inner and outer tracks for constraining a wheel carrier;a wheel carrier having at least two rolling members thereon proportioned to engage said tracks; andyieldable means biasing the rolling members so that the co-action with the plates is to hold the plates in tension. 24. A combination shutter system and architectural feature being one of a window and a door, said shutter system and architectural feature unitized in a rectangular bracket for use in a building opening, comprising:said shutter system having several horizontal plates with hinged joints;extensions from each of the hinged joints,a further extension proportioned for extending from a mid-portion in each of said plates at the mid-portion on no less than every other plate,one of said extensions having rolling means secured at the end of its plate and within a track with yieldable means urging the rolling means to put its secured plate in tension,all of said rolling means filling a mid-position supporting member, and said supporting member being proportioned within the tracks in the channel so that when the panel is fully employed in the unfolded configuration each of said members is constrained within the channel,whereby internal support at the ends of the plates adds additional strength to resist bending or impact of the panel when in the fully operating unfolded configuration;said rectangular bracket with guide means to secure the shutter system and architectural feature in a single unit for insertion within with the building opening;said bracket comprising opposed guide members having channels;said opposed guide members having means for receiving the shutter system in an exterior portion;said guide members having channel areas for receiving architectural feature;whereby an architectural feature can be delivered to a job site along with its own prepackaged hurricane shutter system ready for mounting in a building opening. 25. In the co mbination shutter system and architectural feature according to claim 24, in which the shutter system includes plates that are curvilinearly concave downwardly. 26. In the combination shutter system and architectural feature according to claim 25,each curvilinear plate having side edges;each such edge having hollow integral hinge members; andeach hollow hinge member slidably engaging an adjacent plate hinge member. 27. In the combination shutter system and architectural feature according to claim 24,means for raising and lowering said plates while the plates are constrained horizontally within said guide members. 28. In the combination shutter system and architectural feature according to claim 24,said plates being stackable at the top of the shutter system. 29. In the combination shutter system and architectural feature according to claim 25,said bracket being proportioned to receive one of a sliding glass door, a curtain wall, and a full view picture window in the channel areas for receiving an architectural feature. 30. In the combination shutter system and architectural feature according to claim 24,a guide chamber member having inner and outer tracks;wheel carriers centrally positioned in said guide chamber member,means for securing said wheel carriers to one of said hollow hinge members;yieldable means co-acting with the wheel carriers to engage the inner tracks thereby pulling against the plate to hold the plate in tension;said wheel carriers being optionally positionable at one of an edge and a mid-position of said plate;whereby at all times the plates are carried in tension, and whereby at all times the plates are constrained against lateral displacement by said wheel carriers running up and down the guide chamber member's inner tracks. 31. In the combination shutter system and architectural feature according to claim 24,a pair of opposed guide chamber members framing the lateral edges of the shutter system;said guide chamber members having inner and outer tracks for constraining a wheel carrier;a wheel carrier having at least two rolling members thereon proportioned to engage said tracks; andyieldable means biasing the rolling members so that the co-action with the plates is to hold the plates in tension. 32. A combination shutter system and architectural feature being one of a window and a door, said shutter system and architectural feature unitized in a rectilinear bracket for use in a building opening, comprising:said rectilinear bracket with guide members to secure the shutter system and architectural feature in a single product for insertion within with a building opening; whereby an architectural feature may be placed within a self-contained shutter system for installing in an opening in a building structures;said shutter system having several horizontal plates with hinged joints;extensions from each of the hinged joints,a further extension proportioned for extending from a mid-portion in each of said plates at the mid-portion on no less than every other plate,one of said extensions having rolling means secured at the end of its plate and within a track with yieldable means urging the rolling means to put its secured plate in tension,all of said rolling means filling a mid-position supporting member, and said supporting member being proportioned within the tracks in the channel so that when the panel is fully employed in the unfolded configuration each of said members is constrained within the channel,whereby internal support at the ends of the plates adds additional strength to resist bending or impact of the panel when in the fully operating unfolded configuration. 33. In the combination shutter system and architectural feature according to claim 32,each said plate being curvilinearly concave downwardly. 34. In the combination shutter system and architectural feature according to claim 33,each curvilinear plate having parallel lateral edges;each such edge having a hollow integral hinge member; andeach hollow hinge member slidably engaging an adjacent plate hinge member. 35. In the combination shutter system and architectural feature according to claim 32,means for raising and lowering said plates while the plates are constrained horizontally within said bracket. 36. In the combination shutter system and architectural feature according to claim 32,said plates being stackable at the top of the frame. 37. In the combination shutter system and architectural feature according to claim 32,said bracket being proportioned to receive one of a sliding glass door, a curtain wall and a full view picture window. 38. In the combination shutter system and architectural feature according to claim 32, in which said guide members are removably secured to the side brackets thereby permitting removal and replacement of the panels while in a wall.