AU752821B2 - Roller shutter systems - Google Patents

Description

-1- Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

(ORIGINAL)

r Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Invention Title: WINDOW SHUTTER SYSTEM AUSTRALIA PTY.LTD.

MESIANO, Frank DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys, 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

"Roller shutter systems" Details of Associated Provisional Application(s) No(s): P08418/97 filed 6 August, 1997 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 103498

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Q:\OPER\RSH\SHtF1TER.21? 5/8/98 P \OPER\RS-\2087109.SPE.DC 1/8/02 -2- ROLLER SHUTTER SYSTEMS The present invention relates to roller shutter systems and more particularly to a window or door unit incorporating a roller shutter.

There is disclosed in our Australian Patent 679503 a combined window (or door) and shutter unit comprising a frame defined at each side by vertically-extending stiles each having an integral track for receiving an edge of a security roller shutter. Each stile also provides an integral reveal portion which extends above the level of the window opening to provide a mounting for the roller shutter. In the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed in the aforesaid application, each stile is in the form of an extrusion which provides the reveal, the track for receiving the edge of the slats of the roller shutter, and guides for receiving window sashes or window lights. In practice, a stile of this form is restricted for use with sliding windows and also due to the relative complexity of the shape of the stile, it is relatively time consuming to assemble the frame due to the necessity of shaping the ends of the head and sill of the frame to conform to the profile of the stile.

S.One aspect of the present invention relates to an improvement or modification to the combined window and shutter unit of the aforesaid patent whereby the unit can be constructed using a separate window frame of standard construction to which additional components are then mounted to form the combined window and security roller shutter unit.

According to the present invention there is provided a combined window (as herein defined) and shutter unit including a frame for the window, said frame comprising stiles, a head, and a sill, stile sections separable from the frame but attached externally to the stiles of the frame and extending above the head of the frame, and a roller shutter attached to the stile sections above the frame, each stile section having an integral track for receiving an edge of the roller shutter, said track lying at an outer side of the frame, and each stile section also including an integral reveal portion lying at an internal side of the frame, the roller shutter being mounted to parts of the reveal portions of the stile sections above the head of the frame.

P:\OPER\RSH\2087109.SPE.DOC- 1/8/02 -3- The term "window" as used herein is also intended to include windows which extend from the floor and are openable to provide access in the manner of adoor. As such, a sliding or hinged door with a glass panel is covered within the scope of the term.

Advantageously, the reveal portion of each stile section is laterally outwardly offset with respect to the part of the stile section having the track.

Preferably the stile sections are engaged to the stiles of the frame using snap-in engagement means. Preferably, the unit also includes a head section applied to an external surface of the head of the frame. The head section, which also provides a reveal portion, is also preferably attached to the head of the frame by snap-in engagement means.

The above-defined head section applied to the frame provides a reveal and preferably also an architrave. Such a section also has separate utility for forming a reveal and architrave around a window or door frame by attachment to the stiles, head and if necessary to the sill.

pp Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: p P:\OPER\RSH\PW08418-9.SPE 4/8/98 -4- Figure 1 is a cross section of a stile section of a combined frame and roller shutter unit in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention and showing its manner of application to the stile of a window frame of the unit; Figure 2 is a cross section showing a head section of the unit and its cooperation with the head of the window frame; Figure 3 is a section showing a sill section of the unit and its application to the sill of the window frame; Figure 4 is a section similar to Figure 1 but showing a stile section for a combined unit incorporating a sliding door and showing the cooperation between the stile section and a stile of the door frame; .ooooi 15 Figure 5 is a cross section showing the head section of the combined sliding door/shutter unit and its application to the head of the door frame.

With reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings a window frame consisting of opposed vertically extending stiles 2, a head 4 and a sill 6 is converted into a 20 combined window and shutter unit by attachment of stile sections 8 externally to the stiles 2 of the frame. The stile sections 8 are in the form of extrusions shaped to provide externally of the window frame a vertical track 10 for the edges of the roller shutter, and internally of the frame a reveal 12 with an architrave 14. The stile sections 8 extend above the level of the window frame to provide a mounting for the roller shutter. The mounting members for the shutter are attached to the stile sections 8 in the area of the reveals 12 whereby the roller shutter is mounted above the frame in the general manner illustrated in Australian Patent 679503. Reference may be made to that patent for further information concerning the cooperation between the slats of the roller shutter and the vertical tracks Each stile section 8 has, adjacent the vertical track 10, formations 16 configured for P \OPER\RSH\2087109.SPE.DOC 1/8/02 snap-in engagement with lateral flanges 18 at the outer surface of the stile 2 of the window frame. It will also be noted that the stile 2 of the window frame when attached to the stile section 8 is displaced laterally inwardly of the reveal 12 of the stile section 8 and this laterally outwards offset of the reveal 12 serves to accommodate the mounting members for the roller shutter which lie outwardly of the roller shutter itself and also facilitates direct downwards extension of an actuating strap or cord when the roller shutter is set up for manual operation, as described in the aforesaid application.

The basic construction of the combined window and shutter unit also includes head and sill sections 20, 22 applied to the outer surfaces of the head 4 and sill 6 of the window frame and connected thereto by snap-in engagement of formations 23, 25 with lateral flanges 24, 26 at the outer surfaces of the head 4 and sill 6. The head section 20 and sill section 22 each provide a •reveal 30, 32 and an architrave 34, 36. In the embodiment shown the head section 20 and sill section 22 are identical sections although in other configurations they may be different. The head section 20 provides at the internal side of the unit horizontal tracks 40 for sliding panels which conceal the roller shutter assembly as described in the aforesaid application. The construction is completed by the addition of a pelmet as described in the aforesaid application.

Figure 4 shows a stile section 50 for application in a similar manner to the outside of S the stile 52 of a frame of a sliding door by snap-in engagement with external flanges 54 of the stiles 52. The stile section 50 has a vertical track 56 for the edges of the roller shutter, a reveal 58 and an architrave 60. As shown in Figure 5 the head section 64 for use with the head 62 of the sliding door frame is identical with the head section 20 previously described, the head section 64 being attached to the head 62 of the frame by snap-in engagement with a lateral lug 66 at the external side of the frame and by a screw-in attachment 68 at the internal side of the frame. In the case of the frame for a sliding door, the sill of the door frame will rest on an appropriate ground support and an additional sill section will not be required. The basic construction of a combined door and security shutter unit is otherwise as described above in connection with the window unit.

P:\QPER\RSH\2087109.SPE.DOC 1/8/02 -6- The units in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention offer the same advantages as regards installation of those of the aforesaid patent. Namely the window (or door) and shutter is installed as a single unit rather than as separate units as occurred previously.

However they are somewhat easier to fabricate, as fabrication is primarily effected by clipping the stile, head, and sill sections onto a previously constructed window (or door) frame and, if necessary, securing the sections firmly by screws applied at a few locations. This also has the important advantage that there is no practical restriction in the type of frame which can be incorporated in the unit. For example the frame may be of a construction to receive any type of sliding or hinged window or door. The same external stile sections, head section and sill section will be used irrespective of the internal configuration of the window or door frame.

As previously described, the sections 20, 22, 64 forming the head and sill of the .combined unit attach to the external profile of the preformed window (or door) frame by simple snap-in engagement and provides a reveal and an architrave. Although a primary usage of this section is within the context of the combined window (or door) and roller shutter unit as described, the section also has separate usage in that the section can be applied to the external profile of the four sides of a window frame (or three sides of a door frame) to provide a reveal and architrave around the entire perimeter of the frame thus avoiding the need for a wooden or other reveal and architrave. The section can be produced relatively inexpensively as an -aluminium extrusion and cost reduction in overall assembly and installation can be achieved.

The embodiments have been described by way of example only and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.

Throughout this specification and claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims (8)

1. A combined window (as herein defined) and shutter unit including a frame for the window, said frame comprising stiles, a head, and a sill, stile sections separable from the frame but attached externally to the stiles of the frame and extending above the head of the frame, and a roller shutter attached to the stile sections above the frame, each stile section having an integral track for receiving an edge of the roller shutter, said track lying at an outer side of the frame, and each stile section also including an integral reveal portion lying at an internal side of the frame, the roller shutter being mounted to parts of the reveal portions of the stile sections above the head of the frame.

2. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the stile sections are engaged to the stiles of the frame using snap-in engagement means.

3. A unit according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the unit includes a head section applied to an external surface of the head of the frame.

4. A unit according to claim 3, wherein the head section provides a reveal portion. oo00•

5. A unit according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the head section is attached to the head of the frame by snap-in engagement means.

6. A unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the reveal portion of each stile section is laterally outwardly offset with respect to the part of the stile section having the track.

7. A method of assembling a combined unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising providing an assembled window frame and applying the stile sections externally to the stiles of the frame. P:\OPER\RSH\2087109.SPE.DOC 1/8/02 -8-

8. A combined window and shutter unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 1 st day of August, 2002. WINDOW SHUTTER SYSTEM AUSTRALIA PTY.LTD. By its Patent Attorneys: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE