AU2014277795B1

AU2014277795B1 - Improved Roller Shutter

Info

Publication number: AU2014277795B1
Application number: AU2014277795A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jonathan Crutcher
Original assignee: Cw Systems Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Cw Systems Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2014-12-18
Filing date: 2014-12-18
Publication date: 2015-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 2034-12-18

Abstract

A roller shutter for securing a window or access opening of a building; the roller shutter operable between a first fully open position, a second fully closed position and a third position in which opening sections at least a proportion of the blade elements comprising the roller shutter are rotated into at least a partially open position.

Description

- 1 IMPROVED ROLLER SHUTTER TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to roller shutter doors as typically found on windows, garage and other large entry openings in residential and industrial buildings. BACKGROUND [0002] Roller shutters which are formed of multiple blades which may be unrolled from, and rolled back onto, an overhead shaft and drum are in common use. They may be operated manually, for example by a user pulling on strands of a recirculating chain to rotate the drum, or electrically. [00031 Roller shutters when closed effectively secure the opening at which they are mounted, but a disadvantage of known typical shutters when they are closed is that they also shut out any light from outside the building, prevent any outlook and virtually allow no ventilation. [00041 Transparent and translucent roller shutters are known but are unsuitable for external use as offering only limited security. [00051 It is an object of the present invention to address or at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages or provide a useful alternative. Notes [0006] The term "comprising" (and grammatical variations thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive sense of "having" or "including", and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of".

2 [0007] The above discussion of the prior art in the Background of the invention, is not an admission that any information discussed therein is citable prior art or part of the common general knowledge of persons skilled in the art in any country. SUMMARY OF INVENTION [00081 Accordingly, in a first broad form of the invention, there is provided a roller shutter for securing a window or access opening of a building; the roller shutter operable between a first fully open position, a second fully closed position and a third position in which opening sections of the blade elements comprising the roller shutter are rotated into at least a partially open position, each blade element of the roller shutter comprising a pair of end caps with the opening section of the blade supported between the end caps; the opening section of the blade element being pivotally supported by shafts extending inwardly from the end caps at opposing ends of the blade element , and wherein a lower edge structure of the blade element is formed to engage with the opening section of a next adjoining blade element below. [0009] Preferably, the blade elements of the roller shutter are driven from the fully open position to the second fully closed position; the second fully closed position defined by a point at which a bottom rail of the roller shutter contacts a sill at the base of the window or access opening; the roller shutter then forming a substantially vertical closed surface. [000101 Preferably, the opening sections of the blade elements are in a closed and latched position when the roller shutter is driven into the second fully closed position at which the bottom rail of the roller shutter initially contacts the sill at the base of the access opening. [000111 Preferably, in which a further downward movement of the roller shutter into a third position induced by an operating mechanism of the roller shutter forces the opening 3 sections of the blade elements from the closed latched position to an opened position. [00012] Preferably, a lower edge structure of each blade element of the at least a proportion of the blade elements engages with an upper edge structure of an adjoining blade element of the proportion of blades elements. [00013] Preferably, the upper edge structure is an integral part of the opening section of the blade element. [00014] Preferably, the further downward movement of the roller shutter into the third position subsequent to reaching the second fully closed position releases the latched condition of the opening sections of the at least a proportion of the blades. [00015] (Deleted) [00016] Preferably, the end caps are guided between vertical channels arranged at each side of the access opening. [000171 Preferably, the upper edge structure of the opening section of each blade element is offset horizontally and rearwardly relative the shafts pivotally supporting the opening section; downward force applied to the upper edge structure by the lower edge structure of an adjoining blade element causing the opening section to pivot about the supporting shafts into the opened position. [00018] Preferably, a first upward force applied to the roller shutter when in the third position acts to rotate the blades of the at least a proportion of the blade elements from the open position to return to the closed latched position. [00019] Preferably, a further upward force applied to the roller shutter returns the roller shutter to the first fully open position. [000201 Preferably, the blade elements of the roller shutter are rolled onto a drum when in the first fully open position; the drum located above an upper inside edge of the access opening.

4 [000211 Preferably, the blade elements are supported on horizontal rails extending rearwardly from above an upper inside edge of the access opening. [000221 Preferably, operation of the roller shutter is by an electric motor; a motor control module driving the roller shutter between the first fully open position, the second fully closed position and the third position. [00023] In another broad form of the invention, there is provided a method of providing light ingress and ventilation through a roller shutter when the roller shutter is in a fully closed position; the method including the steps of: (a) driving the roller shutter from a first fully open position to a second fully closed position, (b) applying a further downward force to the roller shutter; the further downward force acting to rotate at least a proportion of opening sections of the blade elements forming the roller shutter from an initial latched and closed position into an open position relative a previously substantially vertical surface of the roller shutter, and wherein each blade element of the roller shutter comprises end caps with the opening section of the blade element supported between the end caps and-wherein the opening section of each blade element is pivotally supported by shafts extending inwardly from the end caps at opposing ends of the blade elements; a lower edge structure of the blade element being formed to engage with the opening section of a next adjoining blade element below. [000241 Preferably, movement of the roller shutter between the first, second and third positions is by means of an electric motor. [000251 Preferably, the first, second and third positions of the roller shutter are determined by programmed settings of the electric motor.

5 [00026] Preferably, the first, second and third position are determined by switching the electric motor responsive to sensors for the first, second and third positions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [00027] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: [00028] Figure 1 is a front view of a portion of the blade elements of the roller shutter according to the invention in a closed state, [00029] Figure 2 is a cross sectioned end view of the blade element of Figure 1 in a closed state, [000301 Figure 3 is a further enlarged cross sectioned end view of the blade elements of Figures 1 and 2. [00031] Figure 4 is a cross section end view of the blade elements of Figures 1 and 2 with portions of the blades in an opened position, [000321 Figure 5 is a front view of a single blade element of the roller shutter shown in the closed state. [00033] Figure 6 is an exploded view of the blade element of Figure 5 showing the components and their cross sections of a preferred arrangement of the blade element. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS With reference to Figure 1, a roller shutter 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, is comprised or a series of blade elements 12. Each blade element 12, as can be seen more clearly in Figure 6, is comprised of end caps 14 and 16, a lower edge structure 18 and, at least in a proportion of the blades, with an opening section 20. In a preferred arrangement, the opening section 20 is comprised of a central extruded mid portion 20 supported between pivoting elements 22. [00035] As is common in the art, the blade elements 12 are guided between vertical channels 24 (only the left hand channel is shown in Figure 1) affixed at either side of the window or access opening at which the roller shutter 10 is installed. [00036] An electric motor (not shown) may operate to open and close the roller shutter. When open, the blade elements are either rolled onto a drum (not shown) mounted above the lintel of the window or access opening, or, in the case of a garage door installation, stored on horizontal rails or channels (not shown), as is well known in the art. [00037] The lower edge structure 18 of a blade element 12 is formed so as to engage with an upper edge structure 26 of the opening section 20 of the next adjoining blade element below. As can be seen in the sectioned view of Figures 2, 3 and 4, the lower edge structure 18 and the upper edge structure 24 comprise channel-shaped extrusions to loosely engage while allowing rotation both between the adjoining blade elements as well as between the opening section 20 and blade element 12 of which it forms a part. [000381 The opening section 20 of a blade element 12 is pivotally supported on shafts 28 extending inwardly from the end caps 14,16 as best seen in Figure 6. As can best be seen from the enlargement of Figure 2, the upper edge structure 26 of the opening section 20 of a blade element 12, is offset horizontally and rearwardly relative the pivot shafts 28 extending from the end caps 14. [00039] When the roller shutter of the invention is driven from a first fully open position into a second fully closed position at which the bottom rail (not shown) of the roller shutter initially contacts the surface at the base of the window or access opening, the opening sections 20 of - 7 those blade elements 12 so provided, are in a fully closed latched position, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. [00040] The roller shutter 10 may be driven into a third position by the electric motor, or manually, further urging downward motion of the blade elements 12. This causes the lower edge structure 18 of each blade element 12 to exert force on the upper edge structure 26 of the opening section 20 of the next blade element below. This then causes rotation of the opening section 20 of that lower blade element from its fully closed latched position to an open position as shown in Figure 4. [000411 When the electric motor, or manual operating means is activated to reopen the roller shutter, the first upward movement induces the opening sections 20 of the blade elements 12 to rotate back into their fully closed and latched positions. [00042] Preferably the first, second and third positions of the roller shutter are determined by programmed setting of the electric motor. Alternatively, the switching of the electric motor may be responsive appropriately located sensors. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY [000431 The roller shutter of the invention thus provides a secure shutter system which allows for a significant degree of light and ventilation while maintaining the security of a window or the access opening at which it is installed.

Claims

1. A roller shutter for securing a window or access opening of a building; the roller shutter operable between a first fully open position, a second fully closed position and a third position in which opening sections of blade elements comprising the roller shutter are rotated into at least a partially open position, each blade element of the roller shutter comprising a pair of end caps with the opening section of the blade supported between the end caps; the opening section of the blade element being pivotally supported by shafts extending inwardly from the end caps at opposing ends of the blade element, and wherein a lower edge structure of the blade element is formed to engage with the opening section of a next adjoining blade element below.

2. The roller shutter of claim 1 wherein the blade elements of the roller shutter are driven from the fully open position to the second fully closed position; the second fully closed position defined by a point at which a bottom rail of the roller shutter contacts a sill at the base of the window or access opening; the roller shutter then forming a substantially vertical closed surface.

3. The roller shutter of claim 2 wherein the opening sections of the blade elements are in a closed and latched position when the roller shutter is driven into the second fully closed position at which the bottom rail of the roller shutter initially contacts the sill at the base of the access opening.

4. The roller shutter of claim 1 or 2 in which a further downward movement of the roller shutter into a third position induced by an operating mechanism of the roller shutter forces the opening sections of the 9 blade elements from the closed latched position to an opened position.

5. The roller shutter of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein a lower edge structure of each blade element of the at least a proportion of the blade elements engages with an upper edge structure of an adjoining blade element of the proportion of blades elements.

6. The roller shutter of claim 5 wherein the upper edge structure is an integral part of the opening section of the blade element.

7. The roller shutter of any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the further downward movement of the roller shutter into the third position subsequent to reaching the second fully closed position releases the latched condition of the opening sections of the at least a proportion of the blades.

8. The roller shutter of claim 7 wherein the end caps are guided between vertical channels arranged at each side of the access opening.

9. The roller shutter of any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the upper edge structure of the opening section of each blade element is offset horizontally and rearwardly relative the shafts pivotally supporting the opening section; downward force applied to the upper edge structure by the lower edge structure of an adjoining blade element causing the opening section to pivot about the supporting shafts into the opened position.

10. The roller shutter of any one of claims 4 to 9 wherein a first upward force applied to the roller shutter when in the third position acts to rotate the blades of the at least a proportion of the blade elements from the open position to return to the closed latched position. 10

11. The roller shutter of claim 10 wherein a further upward force applied to the roller shutter returns the roller shutter to the first fully open position.

12. The roller shutter of any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the blade elements of the roller shutter are rolled onto a drum when in the first fully open position; the drum located above an upper inside edge of the access opening.

13. The roller shutter of any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the blade elements are supported on horizontal rails extending rearwardly from above an upper inside edge of the access opening.

14. The roller shutter of any previous claim wherein operation of the roller shutter is by an electric motor; a motor control module driving the roller shutter between the first fully open position, the second fully closed position and the third position.

15. A method of providing light ingress and ventilation through a roller shutter when the roller shutter is in a fully closed position; the method including the steps of: (a) driving the roller shutter from a first fully open position to a second fully closed position, (b) applying a further downward force to the roller shutter; the further downward force acting to rotate at least a proportion of opening sections of blade elements forming the roller shutter from an initial latched and closed position into an open position relative a previously substantially vertical surface of the roller shutter, and wherein each blade element of the roller shutter comprises end caps with the opening section of the 11 blade element supported between the end caps and wherein the opening section of each blade element is pivotally supported by shafts extending inwardly from the end caps at opposing ends of the blade elements; a lower edge structure of the blade element being formed to engage with the opening section of a next adjoining blade element below.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein movement of the roller shutter between the first, second and third positions is by means of an electric motor.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the first, second and third positions of the roller shutter are determined by programmed settings of the electric motor.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the first, second and third position are determined by switching the electric motor responsive to sensors for the first, second and third positions.