GB2208541A

GB2208541A - Security latch in louvred shutter control

Info

Publication number: GB2208541A
Application number: GB8718671A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mamas Stavrou
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-08-06
Filing date: 1987-08-06
Publication date: 1989-04-05
Anticipated expiration: 2007-08-06
Also published as: GB8718671D0; GB2208541B

Abstract

There is provided a system for controlling the slats (10) of a shutter (1), which system comprises: a slat-controlling means (12) capable upon movement in opposing first and second directions of causing the slats (10) to rotate so as to open and close, respectively; and a security means (13) capable of being manually overridden, the security means (13) permitting the slat-controlling means (12) freely to move in the second, closing, direction but prohibiting the slat-controlling means (12) from moving in the first, opening, direction unless the security means (13) is manually overridden. The latch may comprise a cog and spring loaded ratchet. <IMAGE>

Description

A SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING THE SLATS OF A SHUTTER, AND A SHUTTER WHICH INCLUDES SUCH A SYSTEM In Mediterranean countries, such as Cyprus, the windows of buildings, and doorways of buildings, can be closed by means of shutters. To provide the maximum light and air into the interior of a building the whole shutter can be opened, particularly if it is provided with, for instance, hinges which enable it to pivot about a vertical axis along one of its edges.

When, however, the shutter is in the closed position, air and some light can still be admitted to the interior of the building if the shutter has a plurality of slats which can be inclined by being rotated about axes passing along the length of the respective slats. Existing shutters which have inclinable slats suffer from certain disadvantages.

Thus, the existing shutters are of such a construction that there is the danger of the slats and thus the whole shutter being opened from the exterior of the building, thus causing concern so far as security is concerned; also, with existing shutters the mechanism for controlling the slats is fixed on the exterior of the shutter frame with the result that the appearance is not entirely pleasing; furthermore, because the mechanism for controlling the slats is fixed on the exterior of the shutter, that mechanism can obstruct the movement of the shutter when the whole shutter is moved outwardly from the window and swung back against the external wall of the building; moreover it can be difficult to clean those parts of the shutter in the region of the mechanism for controlling the slats. Of these various disadvantages the most important is that relating to the lack of security.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for controlling the slats of a shutter, which system comprises: a slat-controlling means capable upon movement in opposing first and second directions of causing the slats to rotate so as to open and close, respectively; and a security means capable of being manually overridden, the security means permitting the slatcontrolling means freely to move in the second direction, but prohibiting the slat-controlling means to move in the first direction unless the security means is manually overridden.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a shutter which incorporates the aforementioned control system. Thus, this other aspect of the present invention provides a shutter for closing a window or doorway defined by a surround in a building, the shutter comprising: a frame intended to cooperate with the surround; a plurality of slats rotatably mounted with respect to the frame; a slat-controlling means capable upon movement in opposing first and second directions of causing the slats to rotate so as to open and close respectively; and a security means capable of being manually overridden, the security means permitting the slatcontrolling means freely to move in the second direction, but prohibiting the slat-controlling means to move in the first direction unless the security means is manually overridden.

The shutter in accordance with the present invention could be one intended to be permanently fixed in the surround of the building, in the closed position. Alternatively, the shutter could be mounted for movement relative to the surround, for example by being provided with hinges along one edge which permit pivoting about a vertical axis so as to open the whole window, with the shutter being swung through 1800 until it lies in front of the face of the building.

With regard to the slats, these need only be rotatable through about 900 between a substantially vertical position in which the-upper region of a slat is overlapped on its exterior by the lower region of the slat above (to prevent the entry of rain), and a substantially horizontal position (to admit the maximum amount of air and light). The slats are pivotably mounted at their opposite ends in opposing facing members of the upright components of the frame. To enable the slats to move in harmony, there is a control mechanism which, when actuated, causes the slats to move through the same degree.One such possibility for the mechanism is a rod provided at spaced intervals with links, one end of each link being fixedly secured to one end of a slat and the other end of the link being pivotally mounted with respect to the rod, so that movement of the rod along its own length causes rotation of the links and hence of the slats. Although such an arrangement is a convenient one, numerous other possibilities exist, for example a screw threaded control rod which through suitable gearing causes the slats to move.

Obviously it is only necessary to have the slatcontrolling means in one of the frame members, thus acting on only one end region of each slat.

The slat-controlling means can include, for instance, a rod of the type referred to above, there being a suitable drive between a handle and the rod such that the handle can be rotated in opposing first and second directions to cause movement of the rod in opposing first and second directions, to cause the slats to open and close, respectively. In such an arrangement the handle can be fixed to a wheel with teeth, i.e. a cog, so that rotation of the handle causes rotation of that cog. The teeth of the cog can engage teeth which are fixedly mounted with respect to the control rod, so that rotation of the handle and cog causes longitudinal movement of the control rod.

The security means, which is to allow the slatcontrolling means freely to move in the second direction but prohibits the slat-controlling means to move in the first direction, unless the security means is manually overridden, can take numerous forms; thus, one possibility is the equivalent of a ratchet which is normally urged into engagement with the teeth of the cog and which permits the cog to be rotated freely in the second direction but prohibits the cog from being rotated in the first direction, unless manually the ratchet is withdrawn from the region of the teeth on the cog.The ratchet could be spring loaded or could be in the form of a spring; alternatively, the ratchet could take the form of teeth so shaped that, under the action of a bias, they engage the teeth of the cog but in such a way as to permit movement in the second direction but prevent movement in the first direction, unless the ratchet teeth are moved away.

The slat-controlling means and the security means of the shutter in accordance with the present invention can be provided on that face of the component of the frame which faces into the interior of the building when the shutter closes the window or doorway. In this way none of the mechanism is visible from the exterior of the building when the shutter is closed, which is an improvement over the known arrangements from the point of view of security, aesthetic considerations, cleaning, and avoiding obstruction when the shutter is moved to the fully open position. Moreover, all that need be visible on the interior of the shutter is a relatively small housing which contains part of the slat-controlling means and most of the security means.

Projecting from the housing can be the aforementioned handle for rotating the cog, and another handle which, when pulled, disengages the security means from the slat-controlling means, thus allowing the handle to be moved freely in both directions.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a shutter in accordance with the present invention, looking towards that face of the shutter which is intended to face towards the interior of a room of a building; Figure 2 is a perspective view of part of the slat-controlling means present in the shutter of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of another part of the slat-controlling means, and of the security means, of the shutter, of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a cross-section through the facing member forming part of the right hand side of the frame, as shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 5 is a cross-section through the control rod appearing in Figure 2;; Figure 6 is a plan view looking towards the major face of the control rod of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a longitudinal section through a link, three of which are shown in Figure 2; Figure 8 is a view towards one face of the link of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a side view of a slat mount; Figure 10 is a view towards that face of the slat mount which is to face a slat; Figure 11 is a view towards the opposing face of the slat mount; Figure 12 is a side-view of a housing similar to that appearing in Figure 1; Figure 13 is a cross-section through the housing of Figure 12; Figure 14 is a view towards one face of a locator appearing in Figure 3; Figure 15 is a view towards another face of the locator of Figure 14; Figure 16 is a view towards a further face of the locator of Figure 14; Figure 17 is a side view of the spring appearing in Figure 3;; Figure 18 is a view towards the rear of a plug appearing in Figure 3; Figure 19 is a side view of the plug of Figure 18; Figure 20 is a view towards the front of the plug of Figure 18; Figure 21 is a view towards the right hand side of a moulding appearing in Figure 3; Figure 22 is a view towards the left hand side of the moulding shown in Figure 21; Figure 23 is a view towards the front of the moulding of Figure 21; Figure 24 is a view towards the rear of the moulding of Figure 21; Figure 25 is a side view of the handle appearing in Figures 1 and 3; Figure 26 is an end view towards the distal end of the handle of Figure 25; Figure 27 is a section through the cog wheel appearing in Figure 3; Figure 28 is a plan view of the cog shown in Figure 27; Figure 29 is a plan view of the plate with teeth, appearing in Figure 2;; Figure 30 is a section along the line XXX-XXX shown in Figure 29; and Figure 31 is an elevation taken in the direction shown by the arrow XXXI in Figure 29.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, the shutter is indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The shutter has around its periphery a frame 2 having a head 3, foot 4, a left side 5 and a right side 6. The frame 2 is formed along each of the sides 5 and 6 from two main components, namely a channel-shaped frame member 7 and a cooperating facing member, the facing member being indicated by the reference numeral 8 on the right side 6 and by the reference numeral 9 on the left side 5. Pivotally mounted with respect to the facing members 8 and 9 is a plurality of slats 10.

Mounted on the right side 6 of the frame 2 is a housing 11 on the front of which is a rotatable handle 12 and below which is a release 13. Many of the foregoing components will be described in more detail herein below.

Turning now to Figure 2 of the drawings there can be seen the facing member 8 of the right side 6 of the frame 2. The facing member 8 is in the form of a channel but this is a less deep channel than that possessed by the frame member 7.

Located within the channel of the facing member 8 is a plurality of links 14, of which three are shown.

The links 14 are pivotally connected to a control rod 15 to which is secured a plate 16 provided with a row of upstanding teeth 17. Also shown in Figure 2 are three of the slats 10 which are fixedly secured to the links 14 through apertures (not shown) in the facing member 8. It can be appreciated from what is shown in Figure 2 that any action on the teeth 17 in such a direction as to cause the control rod 15 to move upwardly or downwardly along its length will have the effect of causing rotation in one direction or the other of the slats 10.

Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings shows the housing 11 which has a main body 18 which is chamfered at its top end 19 which is closed there by a plug 20.

Located within the body 18 is a wheel 21 with teeth 22.

Secured to another portion of the housing 18 is a locator 23 used for locating a compression spring 24.

Also present is a moulding 25 most of which is located within the housing 18. The moulding has an abutment region 26 on which that end of the compression spring 24 remote from the locator 23 can act; the moulding also has a lower end region 27 shaped as the manually grippable release 13. An upper region of the moulding 25 has teeth 28 capable of engaging with the teeth 22 of the wheel 21. It can be appreciated that if the release 13 of the moulding 25 is manually moved downwards (as viewed in Figure 3) the whole moulding 25 moves downwardly against the action of the spring 24, thus disengaging the teeth 28 from the teeth 22, thereby leaving the wheel 21 free to rotate in either direction; when, however, the release 13, 27 is not actuated, the spring 24 acts on the moulding 25 so as to cause the teeth 28 to engage the teeth 22. This action is sufficient to prevent anti-clockwise (as viewed in Figure 3) rotation of the wheel 21 and the handle 12 associated therewith. In contrast, however, the disposition and shape of the teeth 28 are such that, even with the release 13, 27 not being operated, the wheel 21 and handle 12 can be rotated clockwise.

This has the effect in practice of permitting the slats 10 to move from a relatively open position to a relatively closed position, but not in the opposite direction (unless the release 13, 27 has been operated).

It can be seen from Figure 2 that a major part of the system for controlling the slats lies inside the channel of the facing member 8 and thus within the right hand side 6 of the frame 2. The facing member 8 is, however, provided with a slot to allow appropriate longitudinal movement of the plate 16, which projects from the facing member 8 towards the interior of the building. With the housing 11 suitably positioned, the teeth 22 on the left hand portion (as viewed in Figure 3) of the wheel 21 engage the teeth 17 on the plate 16.

Thus the projecting portion of the plate 16 is covered by the housing 11; consequently all that is apparent of the slat-controlling means and the security means are the housing 11, the handle 12 and the release 13. An aesthetically pleasing shutter can thus be provided.

Figure 4 is a cross-section through the facing member 8 and it can be seen that the member is provided with two parallel projections 29 capable of engaging suitable cooperating projections on the channel-shaped member 7 of the right side 6 of the frame 2.

Figure 5 shows a cross-section through the control rod 8, which has a major planar face 30 in which is provided a plurality of slots 31 at spaced intervals along its length, as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal section through a link 14 which has at one end region a major projection 32 provided with a generally square hole 33 and a smaller circular hole 34; at the opposite end region of the link 13 is a minor projection 35. The projections are also shown clearly in Figure 8 which is a view looking towards the free end regions of the projections 32 and 35. The links are to form part of the linkage between the ends 10A of the slats 10 and the control rod 15.

The slat end 10A is shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11.

Midway along its length the slat end 10A has a circular projection 36 from which extends a square-section projection 37 from which, in turn, extends a smaller circular projection 38. On that face of the slat 10A which is to support one end region of the slat are two spaced apart ribs 39 and 40, and on that face of the slat end 10A which is to face the facing member 8 is a rib having an upper portion 41A and a lower portion 41B, the portions being parallel but offset slightly.

The slat end 10 is mounted with respect to the facing member 8 such that the circular projection 36 passes through an aperture in the facing member 8 and the square projection 37 engages with the square hole 33 of a link 14, the smaller circular projection 38 being located in the hole 34 of the link 14. It can be appreciated that the square projection 37 fitting in the square hole 33 means that rotation of the link 14 causes rotation of the slat end 10A.

The projection 35 of the link 14 is intended for accommodation in the slot 31 of the control rod 15, with the result that longitudinal movement of the control rod 15 causes rotation of the link 14 and hence of the slat end 10A and the slat 10.

Figure 12 is a side view of a housing 11 A similar to the housing 11 shown in Figure 3, the only difference being that the lower end 42 of the housing 11A is chamfered, for aesthetic reasons. Also shown in Figure 12 is a screw 43 which passes through the housing 11A and is located in a hole in the locator 23 which is accommodated within the housing 11A. As is clear from Figure 13, the housing is formed of an extrudate which defines a main channel 44 and is provided with a slot 45. It is in the slot 45 that the projecting portion of the plate 16 carrying the teeth 17 is located, to allow those teeth to engage the teeth 22 of the wheel 21 which is mounted within the housing 11A.

The locator- is shown in more detail in Figures 14, 15 and 16, where it can be seen that the locator 23 has a main body 46, having a screw hole 47 (for receiving the screw 43) and a projection 48 for locating the spring 24. The spring 24 is shown in Figure 17.

Figures 18, 19 and 20 show different views of the plug 20 used to plug the channel 44 in the upper end of the housing 11A, the plug 20 having an insert 49 and an inclined face 50.

Figures 21, 22, 23 and 24 show different views of the moulding 25 and show more clearly the abutment region 26, the release 27 (13) and the teeth 28 which are so shaped and located so as to permit free rotation of the wheel 21 in one direction but not in the opposite direction. All of the moulding 25 is located within the housing 11A, apart from the release 27 which projects below the lower end 42 of the housing 11A.

Figures 25 and 26 show the handle 12, which has a bar 51 near the centre of which there is a core 52 from which leads a circular cross-section projection 53 from which, in turn, projects a further projection 54 of generally square cross-section. Along the axis of the handle is a screw hole 55. The handle 12 is to cooperate with the wheel 21 which is shown in more detail in Figures 27 and 28 and it can be seen that the cross-section of the projection 54 corresponds to that of a hole 56 in the wheel 21, there being a screw hole 57 axially located. In practice, the handle 12 is positioned on the front face of the housing 11, 11A with the projections 53 and 54 projecting into the interior of the housing and with the projection 54 located within the hole 56 of the wheel 21.A screw passes through from the reverse side of the housing 11, through the hole 57 and is located in the hole 55 to help serve to locate the handle 12 and wheel 21.

In operation, assuming that the shutter is closed, it is first necessary to pull downwardly the release 27 so as to disengage the teeth 28 from the teeth 22.

This allows the wheel 21 to be free to be turned in an anti-clockwise manner which causes the plate 16 and teeth 17 to be moved downwardly, thereby causing downward movement of the control rod 15 and hence opening of the slats 10. If the release 27 is then released, the teeth 28 and 22 will re-engage, thus preventing any anti-clockwise movement of the wheel 21 and handle 12. It will still be possible, however, for the slats 10 to move from a relatively open position to a relatively closed position either by moving the slats 10 themselves or by turning the handle 12 clockwise.

As this happens the moulding 25 is moved downwards slightly against the action of the spring 24, in the form of a ratchet.

The shutter 1 of the type shown in the drawings can be firmly secured within a surround of a window or doorway, but is preferably mounted on hinges so that the whole shutter 1 can be swung open which is obviously necessary in the case of a door and is desirable in the case of a window to allow maximum entry of air and light.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the slats of a shutter, which system comprises: a slat-controlling means capable upon movement in opposing first and second directions of causing the slats to rotate so as to open and close, respectively; and a security means capable of being manually overridden, the security means permitting the slatcontrolling means freely to move in the second direction, but prohibiting the slat-controlling means to move in the first direction unless the security means is manually overridden.

2. A system according to Claim 1, wherein the slat-controlling means includes a rod and a drive between a handle and the rod, such that the handle can be rotated in opposing first and second directions to cause movement of the rod in opposing first and second directions

3. A system according to Claim 2, wherein the handle is fixed with respect to a cog having teeth which engage teeth which are fixedly mounted with respect to the control rod.

4. A system according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the security means includes a ratchet.

5. A system according to Claim 4, wherein the ratchet is spring loaded or in a form of a spring.

6. A system according to Claim 4 when appendant to Claim 3, wherein the ratchet is provided with teeth so shaped that, under the action of a bias, they engage the teeth of the cog in such a way as to permit movement in the second direction but to prevent movement in the first direction unless the ratchet teeth are moved away.

7. A system according to Claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A shutter for closing a window or doorway defined by a surround in a building, the shutter comprising: a frame intended to cooperate with the surround; a plurality of slats rotatably mounted with respect to the frame; a slat-controlling means capable upon movement in opposing first and second directions of causing the slats to rotate so as to open and close respectively; and a security means capable of being manually overridden, the security means permitting the slatcontrolling means freely to move in the second direction, but prohibiting the slat-controlling means to move in the first direction unless the security means is manually overridden.

9. A shutter according to Claim 8, which is permanently fixed in the surround of the building in the closed position.

10. A shutter according to Claim 8, wherein the shutter is mounted for movement relative to the surround, whereby it can be pivoted through 1800 until it lies in front of the face of the building.

11. A shutter according to Claim 8, 9 or 10 wherein the slats are rotatable through approximately 900 between a substantially vertical position in which the upper region of a slat is overlapped on its exterior by the lower region of the slat above, and a substantially horizontal position.

12. A shutter according to any one of Claims 8 to 11, wherein the slats are pivotally mounted at their opposite ends in opposing facing members of upright components of the frame.

13. A shutter according to any one of Claims 8 to 12, wherein the slat-controlling means causes the slats to move in harmony.

14. A shutter according to Claim 13, wherein the slat-controlling means includes a rod provided at spaced intervals with links, one end of each link being fixedly secured to one end of a slat and the other end of that link being pivotally mounted with respect to the rod, so that movement of the rod along its own length causes rotation of the links and hence of the slats.

15. A shutter according to Claim 14, wherein the slat-controlling means also includes a handle connected to the rod in such a way that rotation of the handle in opposing first and second directions causes movement of the rod in opposing first and second directions, respectively.

16. A shutter according to Claim 15, wherein the handle is fixed with respect to a cog having teeth which engage teeth which are fixedly mounted with respect to the control rod, whereby rotation of the handle and cog causes longitudinal movement of the control rod.

17. A shutter according to Claim 16, wherein the security means is in the form of a ratchet which is normally urged into engagement with the teeth of the cog and which permits the cog to be rotated freely in the second direction but prohibits the cog from being rotated in the first direction unless the ratchet is withdrawn from the region of the teeth on the cog.

18. A shutter according to Claim 17, wherein the ratchet is spring loaded or in the form of a spring.

19. A shutter according to Claim 17, wherein the ratchet includes teeth so shaped that, under the action of a bias, they engage the teeth of the cog but in such a way as to permit movement in the second direction but prevent movement in the first direction, unless the ratchet teeth are moved away from the cog teeth.

20. A shutter according to any one of Claims 8 to 19, wherein, with the shutter in the closed position relative to the surround, the only parts of the slatcontrolling means and the security means which are visible face the interior of the building, the remainder being contained within the frame of the shutter.

21. A shutter according to Claim 20, which also includes a housing mounted on an upright of the frame, the housing. containing part of the slat-controlling means and part of the security means.

22. A shutter according to Claim 21 when appendant to Claim 15, wherein, projecting from the housing, are the handle for rotating the cog and another handle which, when moved, disengages the security means from the slat-controlling means.

23. A shutter according to Claim 8, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

24. A shutter according to Claim 8, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

25. A shutter according to Claim 8, substantially and hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in, Figures 2 to 31 inclusive of the accompanying drawings.