Patent Application
20170241194
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Field of the Disclosure
This disclosure relates generally to shutters, such as for covering window or door openings. More particularly, it relates to shutter panels and assemblies having frames and shutter panels retained therein.
Background Information
The design, fabrication, assembly, and installation of shutters (i.e. shutter panels or shutter assemblies) for window and door openings or casings can control light into a room, and add storm protection, privacy, or aesthetic beauty to homes and other buildings. Some shutters are functional, such as panels that pivotally mount to a window or door casing, allowing the panels to be selectively pivoted to cover a window or door opening or pivoted to the side of the opening. Other shutters are cosmetic, giving aesthetic appeal without allowing movement. Panels for functional or cosmetic shutters commonly include a series of louvers. For functional shutters, the louvers may be pivotable or may be fixed in place relative to a panel frame.
Design features that improve the appearance or performance of the shutters; that reduce manufacturing, assembly, and/or transportation costs; and/or that simplify the assembly of shutters are desirable to maintain an economic or another competitive advantage.
These and other needs in the art are addressed herein. In one embodiment, a shutter assembly includes a frame and at least one shutter panel coupled to the frame and configured to pivot about a first axis, the shutter panel comprising a panel body. Further, the shutter assembly includes at least one louvered subpanel coupled to the shutter panel and configured to pivot about a second axis. In this embodiment, the first axis is not parallel to the second axis and, in certain embodiments, is generally perpendicular to the second axis.
In another embodiment, a shutter assembly includes a frame having a first and a second side member spaced-apart and extending lengthwise in a first direction, and having a first and a second cross member spaced apart from one another and extending between the side members in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. In addition, the shutter assembly includes a shutter panel configured to swing between a closed position and an open position relative to the frame. The shutter panel includes a first and a second stile spaced-apart and extending lengthwise in a first direction, the first stile being pivotally attached to the frame's first side member or first cross-member, with the shutter panel also including a first and a second rail spaced apart and extending between the stiles in the second direction. Further, the shutter assembly includes louvered subpanel configured to swing between a closed position and an open position relative to the shutter panel. The subpanel includes a subpanel body pivotally attached to the first rail or the first stile and a first louver pivotally coupled within the subpanel body. In this embodiment, the shutter panel is configured to swing about a first axis extending in the first direction, and the subpanel is configured to swing about a second axis extending in the second direction.
In still another embodiment, a shutter assembly includes a frame having a first aperture. In addition, the shutter assembly includes a primary shutter panel hinged to the frame and configured to fit within the first aperture and to pivot about a first axis from an opened position to a closed position, the primary shutter panel comprising a second aperture. Further, the shutter assembly includes a subpanel hinged to the primary panel and configured to fit within the second aperture and to pivot along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis.
In still another embodiment, a shutter assembly includes a shutter panel comprising a panel body having a first and a second aperture therethrough. The shutter assembly includes a first louver pivotally coupled within the first aperture, and includes a subpanel configured to open and close the second aperture. Further, the shutter assembly includes a first pivotal coupling coupled to the shutter panel and configured to permit the shutter panel to pivot along a first axis, and includes a second pivotal coupling that couples the subpanel to the shutter panel and permits the subpanel to pivot along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis.
Thus, embodiments described herein include a combination of features and characteristics intended to address various shortcomings associated with certain prior devices, systems, and methods. The various features and characteristics described above, as well as others, will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description, and by referring to the accompanying drawings.
For a detailed description of the disclosed embodiments of this disclosure, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:
The following description is exemplary of certain embodiments of the disclosure. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the following description has broad application, and the discussion of any embodiment is meant only to be exemplary of that embodiment, and is not intended to suggest in any way that the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to that embodiment.
The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale. Certain features and components disclosed herein may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form, and some details of conventional elements may not be shown in the interest of clarity and conciseness. In some of the figures, in order to improve clarity and conciseness of the figure, one or more components or aspects of a component may be omitted or may not have reference numerals identifying the features or components. In addition, among the drawings, like or identical reference numerals may be used to identify common or similar elements.
The terms “including” and “comprising” are used herein including the claims, in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to . . . ” Also, the term “couple” or “couples” is intended to mean either an indirect or direct connection. Thus, if a first component couples or is coupled to a second component, the connection between the components may be through a direct engagement of the two components, or through an indirect connection that is accomplished via other intermediate components, devices and/or connections. The recitation “based on” means “based at least in part on.” Therefore, if X is based on Y, then X may be based on Y and any number of other factors.
In addition, as used herein including the claims, the terms “axial” and “axially” generally mean along or parallel to a given axis (e.g., a central axis of a body or a port), while the terms “radial” and “radially” generally mean perpendicular to the axis. For instance, an axial distance refers to a distance measured along or parallel to a given axis, and a radial distance means a distance measured perpendicular to the axis. As understood in the art, the use of the terms “parallel,” “perpendicular,” “vertical,” and “horizontal” may refer to idealized or precise conditions as well as to conditions in which to members are substantially parallel, substantially perpendicular, substantially vertical, or substantially horizontal, respectively. Furthermore, any reference to a relative direction or relative position is made for purpose of clarity, with examples including “top,” “bottom,” “up,” “upward,” “down,” “lower,” “clockwise,” “left,” “leftward,” “right” “right-hand,” “down”, and “lower.” For example, a relative direction or a relative position of an object or feature may pertain to the orientation as shown in a figure or as described. If the object or feature were viewed from another orientation or were implemented in another orientation, it may be appropriate to describe the direction or position using an alternate term. As used herein, including the claims, the term hinge refers broadly to any pivotal coupling, which includes, as examples, a conventional hinge having two plates joined by a pin, as well as an arrangement wherein a solitary pin extends between two other members that are to pivot or swing relative to another one another.
This disclosure presents various embodiments of a frame assembly and shutter panels, which may be formed into a shutter assembly, all of which are applicable to fenestration, i.e. window and door openings, frames, or casings. The embodiments include assemblies having a primary shutter panel with at least one shutter subpanel pivotally coupled to the primary shutter panel, the subpanel configured to swing between at least one closed position and at least one open position relative to that primary shutter panel. In various embodiments, the shutter assembly includes one or more primary shutter panel pivotally coupled to a frame assembly, configuring the shutter panel to swing between at least one closed position and at least one open position relative to the frame along with the subpanel. The configuration allows the panel to be selectively positioned within the window or door opening or to the side of the opening. The panel or subpanel may include one or more louvers.
Referring to
Frame 110 includes a pair of elongate, parallel side members 120 spaced-apart from one another, and includes a pair of elongate, parallel cross members 130 spaced-apart from one another and extending between the side members 120. Thus, side members 120 extend in a first direction, and cross members 130 extend in a second direction. In
Hinges 125 are coupled between primary panel 200 and a side member 120 of frame 110. Hinges 125 are connected to frame 110 so as to have a common pivot axis 126 parallel to the side member 120, configuring panel 200 to pivot about axis 126. As examples, hinge 125 may be a mortise hinge installed in a mortise, i.e. a recess that is cut to match the size of the hinge, or may be a non-mortise hinge having two mounting plates displaced from one another along the pivot axis 126. In the orientation shown for frame 110 in
Shutter panel 200 includes a panel body 205, a plurality of louvers 225 pivotally coupled to the panel body, and a lifting bar 228 coupled to the louvers by fasteners (not shown) that allow relative movement between louvers 225 and bar 228. Thus, panel 200 may also be called a louvered panel. Panel 200 further includes a subpanel 300 pivotally coupled to the panel body 205. Panel body 205 includes a pair of elongate, parallel, spaced-spaced apart stiles 210 and a pair of elongate, parallel, spaced-apart rails 215 that extend between and are perpendicular to the stiles 210. As such, panel body 205 may also be called a panel frame. The upper and lower rails 215 are located at opposite ends of the left and right stiles 210. The stile 210 on the left of
Louvers 225 are elongate and have two cylindrical axis pins or pin members (not shown) mutually aligned and extending from opposing ends of louver 225 and extending into the adjacent stiles 210. The two pins pivotally couple each louver 225 between the two stiles 210, parallel to rails 215. This embodiment includes three louvers 225 directly coupled to panel body 205 remaining adjacent and translationally fixed relative to stiles 210. Louvers 225 are coupled to panel 200 independently of subpanel 300. Other embodiments may have fewer or more louvers 225, such as one, two, ten, twenty-one, or any practical number of louvers.
Panel body 205 of louvered primary panel 200 further includes a divider rail 235 extending between the two stiles 210 located between the upper and lower rails 215. Divider rail 235 is spaced apart from upper rail 215, forming a generally rectangular upper aperture 236 in panel body 205. Divider rail 235 is also spaced apart from lower rail 215, forming a generally rectangular, lower aperture 237 in panel body 205. Divider rail 235 includes a mouse hole 238 to receive lifting bar 228. Louvers 225 are located between the divider rail 235 and the lower rail 215. Louvers 225 are received within lower aperture 237 and are configured to open and to close, variably, the lower aperture 237 in order to block or reduce the movement of light or air therethrough. In some embodiments similar to
Continuing to reference
Louvers 325 of shutter subpanel 300 are received within aperture 336 and are configured to open and to close, variably, aperture 336 in order to block or reduce the movement of light or air therethrough. Louvers 325 are elongate and have two cylindrical axis pins or pin members (not shown) mutually aligned and extending into the adjacent stiles 310. The two pins pivotally couple each louver 325 between the two stiles 310, parallel to rails 315. This embodiment includes three louvers 325 directly coupled to panel body 305 remaining adjacent and translationally fixed relative to stiles 310. Other embodiments may have fewer or more louvers 325. Because shutter subpanel 300 has pivotable louvers, it may also be called a louvered panel.
Subpanel 300 is configured to pivot about hinge axis 334 relative to the remainder of panel 200. In this embodiment, axis 334 is not parallel to axis 126, and is generally horizontal, and is perpendicular to axis 126, which is generally vertical. In
Referring now to
In
Frame 410 includes many of the same features of frame 110 described above and may include one or more of the possible variations disclosed. For example, frame 410 includes a pair of elongate, parallel side members 120 spaced-apart from one another and includes a pair of elongate, parallel cross members 130 spaced-apart from one another and extending between the side members 120. Side members 120 extend in a first direction, and cross members 130 extend in a second direction. In addition, frame 410 includes a plurality of intermediate members 420 parallel the side members 120 and extending between the pair of cross members 130.
In the example of
Shutter primary panels 200 of assembly 400 are louvered panels, having features similar to those previously described for the shutter primary panel 200 disclosed in relation to assembly 100 and may include any of the possible variations disclosed. For example, each panel 200 includes a panel body 205 formed from pair of parallel, spaced-spaced apart stiles 210 and a pair of parallel, spaced-apart rails 215 that extend between and are perpendicular to the stiles 210. Panel body 205 also includes a divider rail 235 positioned between the upper and lower rails 215 and extending between the two stiles 210, forming an upper aperture 236 and a lower aperture 237 in panel body 205. A shutter subpanel 300 is pivotally coupled to the panel body 205 within upper aperture 236, configured for the functionality previously described. A plurality of louvers 225 are pivotally coupled to the panel body 205 within lower aperture 237, configured for the functionality previously described. Another plurality of louvers 325 are pivotally coupled within panel body 305 of subpanel 300, configured for the functionality previously described. In this example, louvers 225, 325 may be pushed upward by a bar 228, 328, respectively, to achieve a closed position.
Continuing to reference
As shown in
In
Frame 110 of assembly 500 has the same features as the frame 110 described above and may include one or more of the possible variations disclosed. For example, frame 110 in
Panel 510 includes a panel body 515, which is formed as a frame, and a plurality of smaller, shutter subpanels 300 pivotally coupled to the panel body 515. Similar to panel body 205 (
The embodiment of
Shutter panel 510 within frame 110 of assembly 500 is configured for the similar functionality as was described previously for panel 200 within frame 110 of assembly 100. For example, each panel 510 has at least one closed position and at least one open position with respect to frame 110. Each subpanel 300 within panel 510 is configured for similar functionality as was described previously for subpanel 300 within panel 200. In
Referring now to
Frame 110 of assembly 600 has the same features as the frame 110 described above and may include one or more of the possible variations disclosed. For example, frame 110 in
Shutter panel 610 includes a panel body 615, which is formed as a frame, and a smaller, shutter subpanel 300 pivotally coupled to the panel body 615. Similar to panel body 205 (
The embodiment of
Shutter primary panel 610 within frame 110 of assembly 600 is configured for the similar functionality as was described previously for shutter primary panel 200 within frame 110 of assembly 100. For example, shutter primary panel 610 has at least one closed position and at least one open position with respect to frame 110. Subpanel 300 within primary panel 610 is configured for the similar functionality as was described previously for subpanel 300 within primary panel 200. Sub panel 300 is configured to pivot about axis 126 together with panel 510. In
Various exemplary embodiments consistent with the present disclosure have been presented. Multiple additional variations and uses are possible in accordance with principles described herein. Non-limiting examples are given here:
In some embodiments, a shutter assembly that has multiple primary shutter panels, as does assembly 400 of
In various embodiments based on
In various embodiments, any primary panel may be mounted to a frame by the side hinges 125 of
While exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, modifications thereof can be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope or teachings herein. The embodiments described herein are exemplary only and are not limiting. Many variations and modifications of the apparatuses and processes described herein are possible and are within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of protection is not limited to the embodiments described herein, but is only limited by the claims that follow, the scope of which shall include all equivalents of the subject matter of the claims. The inclusion of any particular method step or action does not necessarily mean that the particular step or action is necessary to the method. If feasible, the steps of a method may be performed in any order, and in some instances two or more of the method steps may be performed in parallel, rather than serially.
