BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is an environmental front side view of a structure having openings with shutter assemblies mounted thereto;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the shutter assembly;
FIG. 3 is an exploded front perspective view of the shutter assembly;
FIG. 4 is a side view of the shutter assembly;
FIG. 5 is a front view of a panel assembly;
FIG. 6 is cross-sectional view of the panel assembly taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is cross-sectional view of the panel assembly taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the panel assembly indicated by line 8 in FIG. 6;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the panel assembly indicated by line 9 in FIG. 7;
FIG. 10 is an exploded view of one panel assembly;
FIG. 11 is cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 in FIG. 2;
FIG. 12 is cross-sectional view taken along line 12-12 in FIG. 2; and
FIG. 13 is cross-sectional view taken along line 13-13 in FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
With reference to FIG. 1, an exterior front side view of a structure 20, such as a house, having openings 22 therein, such as doors and windows, is illustrated. More specifically, the structure 20 includes a door with two first story windows positioned on opposite sides and a second story window. Shutter assemblies 24 are illustrated positioned about the openings 22 and each shutter assembly 24 includes two decorative shutters 26. The decorative shutters 26 may be formed to have an appearance of any type of shutter 26, such as louvered shutters or panel shutters. Further, the decorative shutter 26 may be any type of decorative exterior window treatment that enhances the appearance of the structure 20, such as lattice, trellis, or woven panels. The shutter assemblies 24 may be rigidly secured to the structure 20 by appropriate securing devices at a location that aesthetically accents the openings 22.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the shutter assembly 24 generally comprises an upper track 28 and a lower track 30. The upper track 28 extends between a first proximal end 32 and a first distal end 34. The lower track 30 extends between a second proximal end 36 and a second distal end 38. The decorative shutters 26 are spaced from one another and adjacent to the upper and lower tracks 28, 30 for providing an aesthetic appearance. It is to be appreciated that the shutters 26 may be mounted to the track or mounted to additional housings or directly to the structure 20. The upper and lower are preferably formed from a lightweight material, such as, but not limited to, plastic or aluminum. The upper and lower tracks 28, 30 may be concealed by a decorative header and a decorative sill (not shown) for improving an aesthetic appearance of the structure 20.
The shutter assembly 24 also includes a pair of wall interlocks 40, a pair of shutter mounts 42, and a pair of end caps 44 that define a cavity for receiving the panel assemblies 46 when in an open position, which are shown in FIG. 3. The wall interlocks 40 extend between the upper and the lower tracks 28, 30. The wall interlocks 40 may be secured to the structure 20 to provide additional support, as shown in FIG. 4 as fasteners 48. The shutter mounts 42 and the end caps 44 also preferably extend between the upper and the lower tracks 28, 30. It is to be appreciated that the wall interlocks 40, the shutter mounts 42, the end caps 44, and the upper and lower tracks 28, 30 may be formed as an integral housing or formed separately. The end caps 44 preferably enclose the upper and the lower tracks 28, 30. The wall interlocks 40, the shutter mounts 42, the end caps 44, and the upper and lower tracks 28, 30 may be formed of various materials, such as plastic or metal, but are preferably formed from extruded aluminum.
The end caps 44 also include a mounting portion 50, which in combination with the shutter mount 42, receive the decorative shutter 26. Preferably, the decorative shutter 26 has a snap-fit connection with the mounting flange and the shutter mount 42 for securing the decorative shutters 26 thereto. Other well known fasteners may be used to secure the decorative shutters 26, such as screws, rivets, suitable adhesives, or the like. The decorative shutters 26 may also be secured to the upper and lower tracks 28, 30 as is necessary to provide additional support.
The shutter assembly 24 also includes a plurality of panel assemblies 46 in sliding engagement with the upper and lower tracks 28, 30 for covering the opening 22. A front view of one panel assembly 46 is illustrated in FIG. 5, a top view of the panel assembly 46 is shown in FIG. 6, and a side view is shown in FIG. 7. Referring back to FIG. 3, four panel assemblies 46 are shown covering the opening 22. In this embodiment, two panel assemblies 46 extend from one side of the shutter assembly 24 and two panel assemblies 46 extend from the other side of the shutter assembly 24.
With reference to FIG. 10, an exploded view of the panel assembly 46 is illustrated. Each of the panel assemblies 46 comprises an upper rail 52, a lower rail 54, and a pair of stiles 56 extending therebetween. A panel 58 defining a top edge 60, a bottom edge 62, and side edges 64 extends between the upper and lower rails 52, 54 and the stiles 56. The panel 58 is selected having a width sufficient such that the opening 22 is covered. If more panels 58 are utilized, then each panel 58 may have a smaller width. Further, the panels 58 may be selected to cover larger openings, such as more than two panels 58 are required to enclose the opening 22. It is to be appreciated that the panel 58 may be made of various materials, such as, but not limited to, thermoplastic material, shatterproof glass, film-based materials, reinforced vinyl, plywood, or the like. The panel 58 may also be translucent or opaque depending upon the type of material selected. Preferably, the panel 58 is formed from a polycarbonate material that is translucent to allow light to pass therethrough. The panel 58 may be solid, hollow, or hollow with a reinforcing material disposed therein depending upon the desired amount of protection.
A retention portion 66 is disposed along the side edges 64 of the panel 58, which is shown in FIG. 10. The retention portion 66 extends outwardly from a plane 68 of the panel 58. The retention portion 66 may have various shapes so long as the retention portion 66 secures the panel 58 as will be described in more detail below. The retention portion 66 preferably includes a locking tab 70 extending therefrom. The retention portion 66 is further defined as extending continuously along each of the side edges 64. Preferably, the retention portion 66 is an L-shape.
Referring to FIG. 8, a cross-sectional view of the stiles 56 is shown. Each of the stiles 56 define a stile channel 72 having a configuration corresponding to the retention portion 66 such than an interference fit is created between the stile channel 72 and the panel 58 when the stile channel 72 receives the retention portion 66. The stile channel 72 is sized to allow movement when the panel 58 flexes. In other words, when a force is applied to the panel 58, such as from debris striking the panel 58, the panel 58 is able to flex without shattering and without the retention portion 66 becoming dislodged from the stile channel 72.
The stile channel 72 preferably has a retention cavity 74 to allow the movement of the retention portion 66 therein and a neck portion 76 to engage the side edges 64 of the panel 58. The locking tab 70 is received in the retention portion 66 such that the panel 58 is able to slide within the neck portion 76. Preferably, the stile channel 72 is generally an L-shaped configuration. The stile channel 72 may extend continuously along the stiles 56 or may be spaced, discrete sections along the stiles 56.
With reference back to FIG. 10, the panel 58 formed according to the subject invention may also have the retention portion 66 extending outwardly from the top edge 60 and bottom edge 62 of the panel 58. The retention portion 66 may further extend continuously along each of the top and bottom edges 60, 62. Said another way, the panel 58 includes the retention portion 66 along the side edges 64 and the top and bottom edges 60, 62 to ensure the panel 58 remains secured to the stiles 56 and upper and lower rails 52, 54 when subjected to a force.
Referring to FIG. 9, a cross-sectional view of the lower rails 54 is shown. It is to be appreciated that the upper rail 52 may have a similar configuration to the lower rail 54. Each of the upper and lower rails 52, 54 further defines a rail channel 78 having a configuration corresponding to the retention portion 66. The rail channel 78 may extend continuously along each of the rails 52, 54. The rail channel 78 preferably includes the retention cavity 74 to allow movement of the retention portion 66 therein and the neck portion 76 to engage the top and bottom edges 60, 62 of the panel 58. More preferably, the rail channel 78 has an L-shaped configuration.
Referring to again to FIGS. 9 and 11, the lower rail 54 is illustrated as having a configuration for engaging the lower track 30. The lower rail 54 has a rear member 80 that is slideably received in a rear slot 82 of the lower track 30. Both the lower rail 54 and the lower track 30 include interlocking portions 84 for engaging one another as the lower rail 54 slides along the lower track 30. Glider buttons 86 may also be disposed on either or both of the upper and the lower rails 52, 54 to provide support while sliding.
The upper and lower rails 52, 54 and the stiles 56 may be formed from plastic or metal materials, but are preferably formed from aluminum. Further, it is preferred that the upper and lower rails 52, 54 and the stiles 56 are formed in an extrusion process and more preferably from extruded aluminum.
Referring back to FIG. 8, each of the stiles 56 further comprise an interlocking member 88 extending therefrom for engaging adjacent panel assemblies 46. It is to be appreciated that one panel assembly 46 may include only one interlocking member 88 or that the panel assembly 46 may include more than one interlocking member 88. In other words, the panel assembly 46 may include two interlocking members 88 if both stiles 56 include the interlocking member 88. Further, the interlocking members 88 may extend from opposite sides of the panel assembly 46. Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, one interlocking member 88 of the panel assembly 46 engages the interlocking member 88 of the adjacent panel assembly 46 such that the two panel assemblies 46 are telescopically interlocked with one another. Said another way, extending one of the panel assemblies 46 results in both panel assemblies 46 extending therefrom, which is shown best in FIG. 12. Referring to FIG. 13, the opposite stile 56 of the panel assembly 46 abuts the stile 56 of the opposite panel assembly 46 and covers the opening 22. The other half of the shutter assembly 24 would also be slid close in a similar fashion. The other interlocking member 88 may engage the wall interlock 40 to limit motion of the panel assemblies 46.
Referring back to FIG. 2, the shutter assembly 24 may also include a locking mechanism 90 for locking the panel assemblies 46 in an extended position. The locking mechanism 90 may connect adjacent stiles 56 of the opposite panel assemblies 46 to provide additional support for covering the opening 22.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
Patent Application
20080005968
