Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PULL-UP LOUVERED SHUTTER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a window shutter. More particularly it
relates to a pull-up louvered shutter with axially-tiltable slats.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Common window roller shutters consist of a plurality of horizontal slats
which are flexibly interconnected along their adjoining edges, allowing
raising
the shutter by winding it up on a horizontal shaft mounted above the window
opening.
When lowered, shutters protect the room from sunlight, providing
shade, and when up the room is exposed to direct sunlight. Lowered shutters
may also protect the room against unauthorized entry.
Shutter slats used to be made from wood, and later from plastic, but for
some years now it is customary to make shutter slats from aluminum, in order
to render the shutter tougher (additional fortification, in the form of metal
bars
positioned horizontally across the shutter slats, makes the shutter even
harder
to break and therefore preferable as security means against unauthorized
breaking and entry).
However when rolled up common roller shutters do not provide any
protection against unauthorized entry, leaving the window opening wide open.
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The so-called Venetian blind provide a plausible solution, offering
coverage of the window opening and yet allowing light to get into the room,
however they do not comprise effective blockage against entry. Venetian
blinds comprise overlapping horizontal slats which may be raised and drawn
together above the window opening by pulling a cord that interconnects the
slats together. The whole structure of the Venetian blinds is suspended over
the window opening by cords and can be easily be pushed aside. Moreover
Venetian blind slats are made of a thin pliable material, which is rather
flexible
and does not pose a real barrier against forceful entry.
In US Patent No. 5,566,738 (Yedidya), titled LOUVERED MOVABLE
WINDOW SHUTTER, there was disclosed a roller shutter comprising a
plurality of solid slats, which are flexibly interconnected along their
adjoining
edges in a wound up or raised state, and which are automatically separated
from each other into separate components in a completely louvered state,
thus permitting rotation of each slat about its horizontal axis into louvered
alignment of all slats of one shutter. In particular, each slat includes
alternately
bent edges of hook-shaped cross section which engage with the respective
hook-shaped edge of the adjoining upper and lower slat and hold all slats in
firm connection while the shutter is in raised or wound-up state, and their
axes
are at a maximum distance from each other, but which permit rotation of each
slat out of engagement of adjoining edges, as soon as the bottom slat is in
its
lowermost position and the distance between the axes of adjoining slats is
thereby reduced to a minimum, by means of stops on each slat defining this
distance.
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The slats are guided in parallel, preferably channel-shaped, guide rails
mounted on both sides of the window, or door, opening and in the vertically
positioned slots of rotors which are horizontally and rotatably mounted in the
guide rails at a distance coextensive with the minimum distance between the
slats. Each slat is provided at its two ends with sideways protruding flat
lugs,
each engaging with a slot in the corresponding rotor as soon as the shutter
has been lowered into its lowermost position, whereafter simultaneous
angular displacement of all rotors and slats effects mutual disengagement of
the hook-shaped edges of the slats, and rotation of all slats into louvered
position. In this position every slat is firmly held in its respective rotors
on both
sides by a rim surrounding each rotor and the lug positioned in the rotor
slot,
preventing its forceful removal.
A certain drawback in the above mentioned shutter is the fact that if the
user desires partial shading of the room, and for that purpose raises
partially
the shutter, leaving some of the window opening uncovered and some
covered, the slats cannot remain in their horizontal alignment, where sunlight
can pass through, but rather are positioned in their vertical alignment,
blocking
any light from coming through between them. In fact, the inventors have learnt
that most users prefer to have their shutter allow light to pass through it,
even
when partially raised, whereas full blockage of light is only required when
the
shutter is fully lowered.
Venetian blinds, on the other hand, can be partially raised and still
allow light to enter the room through the gaps between the slats.
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In fact, the inventors have learnt that most users prefer to have their
shutter allow light to pass through it, even when partially raised, whereas
full
blockage of light is only required when the shutter is fully lowered.
It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a pull-up shutter,
whose slats may be tilted between two positions: horizontal or vertical.
It is another purpose of the present invention to provide such shutter
whose slats can be raised in a horizontal tilt position.
Yet another purpose of the present invention is to provide such a
shutter which is suitable for the prevention of unauthorized entry, i.e. is
firmly
attached to the window opening and is made of strong durable material.
And it is a purpose of the present invention to provide such shutter
whose operating mechanism is simple, that is simple to use and that is
relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore thus provided, in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention, a pull-up louvered shutter comprising a
predetermined number of solid slats adapted to be lowered or raised along
substantially parallel rails provided on both sides of a window or door
opening,
said slats slidably attached at their ends to said rails, wherein said slats
are
aligned in parallel, connected to a collapsible suspending means suspended
over said opening, whereby when said suspending means is it is slack state,
said slats may be reoriented between a first horizontal overlapping
orientation
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and a second vertical upright orientation by tilting means, and wherein said
slats, when oriented in said first horizontal overlapping orientation may be
raised and lowered along said rails.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, said slats are each provided with two shafts, one on each
of
their ends whose distal ends are slidably mounted over said rails.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, said tilting means comprises a predetermined number of
aligned equidistant rotors along said rail , each provided with a plurality of
bars, each bar located across one of said rotors, in parallel to the other
bars,
said rotors adapted to simultaneously be rotated, so that when the slat shafts
are positioned over said bars, the rotation of said rotors causes said slats
to
tilt.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, each one of said rotors is provided with a lateral lug
which
is engaged to a vertical slat that can be lowered or raised, thus
simultaneously
rotating the rotors.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, said vertical slat is manually operated.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, said vertical slat is operated using at least one motor.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, said motor is located on or near said rail.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the louvered shutter further comprises a plurality of bars,
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each located and aligned between said rotors, so that when said rotors rotate,
the bars on the rotors can be brought to be aligned with said plurality of
bars,
so as to allow said slats to be moved along said bars.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, said suspending means comprise a chain of a plurality of
links, interconnected in a loose connection by joints.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, said suspending means comprise a chain of a plurality of
links, interconnected in a loose connection by joints, each link length being
half of the distance between the centers of two adjacent rotors, wherein each
joint is alternately defined either by two adjacent links mounted rotatably
over
one of said shafts or over an adapter which connects between two links,
halfway between two adjacent shafts.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the louvered shutter further comprises raising and lowering
means for raising or lowering said shutter slat along the rail.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, said raising and lowering means comprise a lever coupled
to an end of a strap or cord, suspended from the top of said window or door
opening, long enough to reach, when fully slack beneath the shaft of the
lowermost slat of said plurality of slats, when said lowermost slat is
positioned
in its lowermost position at the bottom of the opening.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, said strap is manually operated.
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Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, said strap is attached to a wheel coupled to and rotatable
by a motor, said motor positioned over said opening.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, said motor is further provided with transmission box and a
switch adapted to allow a person to actuate the lowering or raising of said
shutter slats.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, said slats are made of aluminum.
Finally, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, said slats are made of plastic material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
In order to better understand the present invention, and appreciate its
practical applications, the following Figures are provided and referenced
hereafter. It should be noted that the Figures are given as examples only and
in no way limit the scope of the invention as defined in the appending Claims.
Like components are denoted by like reference numerals.
Figure 1 illustrates an elevated view of a part of the louvered shutter
operating
mechanism with the guide rail inside the guide rail housing, and a slat
attachment.
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Figure 2 illustrates a front-side view of a part of the louvered shutter
operating
mechanism inside the guide rail housing, and a slat attachment.
Figure 3 illustrates a front-side view of a part of the guide rail mechanism.
Figure 4 illustrates a back view of a part of the guide rail mechanism.
Figure 5 is a lateral cross-section view of the guide rail housing.
Figure 6 is a partial view of a louvered shutter in accordance with a
preferred
embodiment of the present invention, with several slats in their vertical
upright orientation.
Figure 7 illustrates a partial view of a louvered shutter in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention, with several slats in the
horizontal orientation when raised.
Figure 8 illustrates a window with a louvered shutter in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention, installed over it.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND FIGURES
A main aspect of the pull-up louvered shutter of the present invention is
the provision of a movable louvered shutter, which can be lowered or raised
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with its slats in a laterally horizontal louvered orientation, and when
lowered to
its lowermost position, the shutter slats may be jointly oriented in a
laterally
vertical upright position, leaving no substantial gap between their adjoining
edges, reoriented in the horizontal overlapping orientation, or any
intermediary
orientation.
A pull-up louvered shutter in accordance with a preferred embodiment
of the present invention basically comprises two substantially parallel guide
rails mounted on both sides of a window or door opening, a plurality of slats,
aligned in parallel, positioned one over the other between the guide rails,
provided with raising and lowering means, for raising or lowering of the slats
when the slats are in a laterally horizontal louvered position, and tilting
means
for simultaneously tilting the slats between two positions, the first position
being when the slats are in a laterally horizontal louvered position, and the
second position being when the slats are in a laterally vertical upright
position. The later position can be assumed only when the shutter is in its
lowermost position.
Reference is now made to Figure 1, illustrating an elevated view of a
part of the louvered shutter operating mechanism with the guide rail inside
the
guide rail housing, and a slat attachment. It is noted that the Figures
generally
depict only one side of the shutter, for the purpose of brevity, as the other
side
is basically identical (it being, in fact, a mirror-image of the side depicted
in the
Figures). A guide rail 1 is mounted on each side of the window or door
opening on which the shutter is installed. The guide rail 1 houses an
incorporated guiding and tilting mechanism 2 (whose details are explained
hereafter). A shutter slat 3, having a wavy surface, in order to resemble two
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ordinary shutter slats joined together, is coupled at its end to a slat
connector
10, which connects the slat 3 to a shaft 15 engaged to bar 23 on rotor 16 in a
manner explained hereafter (with reference to Figure 3).
Reference is now made to Figure 2, illustrating a front-side view of a
5 part of the louvered shutter operating mechanism inside the guide rail
housing, and a slat attachment. The guide rail housing 1 is provided with a
vertical longitudinal slot 17, so that shaft 15 with the slat connector 10
protrude out of it, whereas the rotor 16 remains inside.
Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a front-side view and a back-side view of a
10 part of the guide rail mechanism with an attached slat. The construction of
the
guide rail mechanism is in fact duplicated in a predetermined number of
duplicates matching the number of the shutter slats. Slat connector 10
comprises top arcuate support 25 and bottom support 24 having a projection
which is supposed to nest within a corresponding recess (not shown in the
Figures) on the slat surface to hold it firmly in place. Rotor 16 is provided
with
a longitudinal bar 23 passing across the rotor, having two projections (one on
each side) each in the form of a step, designed to fit into a matching recess
on
a bar 26 that extends between rotor 16 and the rotor of the next slat (see
below). Bar 26 is an integral part of a separator 21, which is a longitudinal
flat
member, designed to keep the rotors 16 in place, aligned and evenly spaced.
There is a plurality of such bars, equidistant from each other along the guide
rail. Rotor 16 is provided with rim 32 designed to be fittingly seated inside
a
matching annular recess 33 on each of the ends of separator 21, so as to
allow rotor 16 to rotate freely but prevent lateral displacement of the rotor.
Note that as there is a plurality of rotors located along the rail, the bars
across
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the rotors have to be aligned in parallel to each other, and rotate
simultaneously, as will be explained hereafter.
The projection and corresponding recess on bars 23 and 26 are
designed to limit the rotary motion of rotor 16 and prevent it from further
rotation when the slat it brought to the horizontal orientation (as presented
in
Figures 2 and 3). Rotor 16 has a lateral lug in the form of a lever 27, having
a
cylindrical protrusion 28, which is designed to be engaged to a corresponding
bore on a vertical slat 30 that runs along the guide rail, substantially
parallel to
the rotors. When vertical slat 30 is raised it pulls lugs 27 upwards, causing
the
rotors 16 to rotate and consequently tilt the shutter slats to their
interlaced
vertical upright position. When vertical slat 30 is lowered, it pulls lugs 27
downwards, causing rotors 16 to rotate in the opposite direction, until bars
23
interlock with vertical bars 26, bringing the shutter slats to their lateral
horizontal position, as shown in Figure 3. The actuation of the tilting
mechanism may be done manually, for example by a lever connected to the
vertical slat which can be accessible by the person wishing to operate the
tilting of the slats, or it can be done by engaging the vertical slat 30 to a
motor
(or several motors) located along the guide rail housing or near it, and
actuated by a switch.
Shaft 15, bearing on one end the slat connector 10 has on its other end
a U-shaped block 31 adapted to be slidably mounted over bar 23.
In order for the tilting mechanism to operate, U-shaped block 31
bearing shaft 15 and the shutter slat connected to it, should be positioned
substantially over the axis of rotation of the rotor 16. To achieve this
accurate
positioning, rotors 16 need to be aligned, evenly spaced, equidistant from
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each other, and shaft 15 and the rest of the shutter slats' shafts (not shown
in
the Figure) need to be similarly equidistant. This is accomplished by a chain
of
solid links 4, to which all shafts 15 are connected, the chain suspended from
the top of the window opening, or from above it.
Links 4 are interconnected in a loose connection by joints, each link 4
length being half of the distance between the centers of two adjacent rotors.
Each link 4 has a U-shaped connector 19 on both ends. Each joint is
alternately defined either by two adjacent links mounted rotatably over shaft
or over cylindrical adapter 18, which connects between two links 4, halfway
10 between two adjacent shafts 15.
Note that in order to provide interlaced slats each shutter slat is
provided with a flat rim 34 on one lateral edge, and an elevated flat rim 35
on
the other edge, which are designed to fit and overlap when the shutter slats
are tilted to their vertical upright position. Preferably the lower rim (when
the
15 slat is in the vertical orientation) should be placed on top of the rim of
the slat
beneath it, so that when it rains water will run over the slats and not
penetrate
through the edges into the room.
In their lowered position, the shutter slats are suspended from the top
by the chain of links, in its slack state, connected to the shafts 15 as
described
herein. Each shaft 15 is positioned over a rotor 16, with the u-shaped block
31
positioned substantially over the center of rotation of the rotor 16. In this
state
the slats may be rotated to the louvered position or to the vertical upright
orientation, or to any intermediary orientation.
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When it is desired to raise the slats, they first have to be brought to the
horizontal orientation, so that bars 23 and bars 26 are aligned and u-shaped
block 31 of shaft 15 can slide over the bars freely.
Then the lowermost slat is raised, causing the links between this slat
and the slat over it to collapse and fold sideways, and allowing the lowermost
slat to be drawn nearer to the slat over it. When the lowermost slat comes in
contact with the slat over it, it pushes the second slat upwards causing it
too
to be raised. Consequently if the raising operation is conducted for enough
time, all slats are raised.
In order to facilitate the lowering of the raised shutter slats, the
lowermost slat needs to be lowered. As it is lowered the remaining slats are
lowered too and when the chain of links is finally freely suspended, the slats
realign over their corresponding rotors, ready to be tilted as desired.
Figure 5 is a lateral cross-section view of the guide rail housing. The
lowermost slat can be raised by a lever 36, which is coupled to the distal end
of a strap or cord 37, suspended from the top of the window, optionally
passing along the guide rail housing, long enough to reach when fully slack
beneath shaft 15 of the lowermost slat, when it is positioned in its lowermost
position at the bottom of the window opening. Strap 37 can be manually
pulled up, or can be attached to a wheel 40 that may be rotated by a motor
41, positioned over the window (see Figure 8 illustrating a window with a
louvered shutter in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, installed over it), pulling up or lowering the strap as desired
(depending on the direction of rotation of the wheel 40 which can be governed
by a transmission box 42, operated by the user (by a switch electrically
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connected to the transmission box 42). Note that when the strap is rolled
down the weight of the slats will cause them to be lowered until the chain of
links reaches its slack state, with the slats positioned each against a rotor.
The axle of motor 41 may run over the entire window, and operate the raising
and lowering mechanism on the other side of the window too, operating the
raising and lowering mechanisms on both sides of the window simultaneously.
It should be again emphasized that the Figures depict only one side of
the window, showing the raising and lowering mechanism and the tilting
mechanism on one side of the window only. In principle the shutter of
the present invention can be operated by a raising and lowering
mechanism and tilting mechanism
Note that guide rail housing 1, may also house a motor (or a plurality of
motors aimed at operating the tilting mechanism, shifting vertical bar 30
between its positions.
Optionally a gathering box 44 may be installed over the window, so that
the raised slats may be stored inside it when fully raised, totally removed
from
the window opening.
Figure 6 is a partial view of a louvered shutter in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention, with several slats in their
vertical upright orientation.
Figure 7 illustrates a partial view of a louvered shutter in accordance
with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with several slats in
the
horizontal orientation when raised.
The slats can be made of plastic material or other solid material, but
are preferably made from aluminum or other solid material possessing enough
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strength to yield it resistant to withstand attempts of forceful breaking and
entry.
It should be clear that the description of the embodiments and attached
Figures set forth in this specification serves only for a better understanding
of
5 the invention, without limiting its scope as covered by the following
Claims.
It should also be clear that a person skilled in the art, after reading the
present specification could make adjustments or amendments to the attached
Figures and above described embodiments that would still be covered by the
following Claims.
