Patent Application
20220186500
This invention relates to awnings and storm shelters and more particularly to a foldable shutter that serves as a sun awning during normal weather and shutter during stormy weather.
Window coverings used in tropical climates, such as awnings and storm shutters, are used to provide shade, protection during storms and security when an owner is away for a season or period of time. Conventional awnings on homes and commercial buildings are generally fixed in place angularly over a window and although such awnings may provide some shade and protection from direct sunlight, such awnings provide little if no protection from storms.
Similarly, conventional shutters are installed or placed into operation on a permanent basis before an approaching storm or for security purposes and come in a variety of forms. Such shutters may take the form of louvers which may be attached to opposite sides of a window by hinges and pivot inwardly to cover a window. Other shutters consist of separate slats that must be inserted into tracks above an below a window. Some are motorized and are permanently encased in a holder above a window and powered downward to cover a window.
Perhaps the most basic window or door covering during storms consists of plywood sheets which are secured by screws around the sides of an opening which causes unsightly damage to a home when removed. Such conventional awnings and shutters are single purpose as none act as both awnings and shutters, most are time-consuming, labor-intensive or expensive to install, are unsightly and result in damage to the building on which they are installed.
In view of the above problems, a need exists for an apparatus that can serve as both an awning and a shutter, that is easy to install, that is attractive so it can be permanently installed over a door or window of a building and can quickly convert from an awning to a storm/security shutter and vice versa.
The primary object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that can serve as both an awning and shutter.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus that can be easily and quickly converted from an awning to a shutter and vice versa.
An additional object of the present inventions is to provide such an apparatus that is attractive so it can be permanently installed and remain in place on a home or building year round.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus that is inexpensive and thus affordable for all homeowners.
The present invention accomplishes the above and other objects by providing a combination awning and shutter having at least two panels of rigid material of same size and substantially rectangular configuration, having four sides which are foldably or hingedly attached along contiguous sides. An uppermost panel is attachable on a side opposite its contiguous side to a building over a top of an opening. A lowermost panel folds over the uppermost panel in an awning mode and folds outward and downward in a shutter mode. Two support posts each having two ends, one end which can be removeably attached on outer sides of the uppermost panel and the other end which is removably attached to the building, are provided to hold the two panels in an angular awning position. A three panel version is provided to cover large openings, such as a door.
At least one of the two panels of rigid material comprise forming
The awning, shutter preferably have an outer sheet of steel, an inner sheet of aluminum and a layer of foam sandwiched between the two sheets. At least two brackets on each side of an opening into which one end of each support post can be attached to hold the combination awning and shutter in an angular awning position.
The support posts may be adjustable in length to enable the angle of the awing to be adjusted as desired. Eye bolts on each side of the opening being covered into which The support posts can be inserted to hold the shutters in a closed position over the opening.
One aspect of the combination awning and shutter may use a folding scissor bracket attached on a first end to each side of the uppermost panel proximate a bottom and attached to a building on second end to a building for holding the combination awning and shutter in an open position.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.
In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:
For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered accessories in the drawings is as follows:
Discussing the preferred embodiments of the combination awning and shutter apparatus of the present invention, reference is made to the drawings.
The importance of the order of unfolding the panels of the three panel version of the awning/shutter is illustrated in
The final drawing in
The rigid panels forming the awning/shutters of the present invention are preferably multi-layer, having outer layers of metal with expandable foam insulation sandwiched between the two metal layers that would provide cooling insulation in hot climates and seasons as well as sound dampening during storms. For aesthetic appearance purposes the outer surfaces of the panels which are visible when the awning/shutters are in a closed shutter mode would be painted a desired color to fit the appearance of a house of building, whereas the inner layer could be a shiny aluminum or also painted as desired.
It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is described, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and/or drawings.
