GB2217369A - Installation of shutters for windows or doors - Google Patents

Abstract

A shutter assembly for closing an opening 15 in a wall structure 10, 11 comprises a lintel 20 extending across an upper edge of the opening and a shutter 30. The lintel may be generally s-shaped including at least one substantially horizontally disposed flange means 23 for engaging and fixing the lintel to the wall structure and may be provided in addition to another, c-shaped, lintel. The lintel defines an aparture to one side of the wall structure and is adapted to receive said shutter which locates under the flange means. The shutter is a roller shutter and the aperture is sufficient size to allow the shutter to pass therethrough for installaton or removal in a rolled up state. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN THE INSTALLATION OF ROLLER SHUTTERS This invention relates to roller shutters and the installation of such shutters in buildings having double skinned walls.

Roller shutters have been widely used in continental Europe for many years.

Roller shutters provide security, privacy and assist energy saving in a practical and decorative manner. The increase in vandalism and burglaries to property in recent years has lead to an increased demand for an effective deterrent against break-in.

As roller shutters can be made to be self locking and cannot be pushed up from the outside they have been proven to be an effective deterrent whilst also being more aesthetic than bars or grills, which are usually fixed permanently in position across windows.

Further advantages include absolute privacy, protection against excessive heat and radiation, excluding draughts, insulating doors and windows and can also provide for ventilation without draughts.

Roller shutters are also very versatile and can be used to close off windows, doors, garages, warehouses and many other forms of opening.

The method of building houses and the like on the continent differs from that used in the UK in that the walls of continental houses tend to have a single brick or concrete skin, whereas houses built in the UK tend to have walls with two skins, with a cavity therebetween.

The standard method of installing roller shutters as used on the continent cannot be used on double skinned buildings particularly if exposed external brickwork is used above openings, and a new approach is needed.

According to the present invention, there is provided a shutter assembly for closing an opening in a wall structure, the assembly comprising a lintel extending across an upper edge of the opening and a shutter, the lintel including flange means for engaging and fixing the lintel to the wall structure, being open to one side of the wall structure and being adapted to receive the shutter, the shutter being located under the lintel.

The invention also provides for a wall structure comprising an outer skin and an inner skin having a cavity therebetween and at least one lintel extending across an upper edge of an opening, the lintel being adapted to receive a rotable spindle of a roller shutter.

Preferably the roller shutter is located under the lintel.

The wall opening is preferably a door or a window.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a section of wall, with parts ommitted for clarity, showing a concealed lintel mounting for a roller shutter; Figure 2 is a sectional view on Il-Il of figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation of an alternative section of wall containing a concealed lintel mounting for the roller shutter shown in figure 1.

Referring first to figures 1, 2 and 3 there is shown a typical building structure comprising an outer skin 10, formed of rows of bricks 11, joined together in a suitable manner, and an inner skin 12, formed of rows of concrete blocks 13 also joined together in a suitable manner, with a cavity 14 therebetween.

In the embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2, an opening 15 is provided in the skins 10, 12 for a window 25. The size of the opening in outer skin 10 is smaller than that in inner skin 12, which will be explained hereinafter.

To provide support for floor joists and the rows of concrete blocks 13 across the top of the window opening 15 in the inner skin, a load bearing lintel 16, which is generally c-shaped in cross section as shown in the drawings, is incorporated into the inner skin 12 in a known manner. The lintel 16 has a vertical portion 17, at both ends of which are provided flanges 18, which are sandwiched between rows of concrete blocks 13 as shown in figure 1, at each end of the lintel 16.

To provide support for rows of bricks 11 across the top of the window opening 15 in the outer skin 10, a second load bearing lintel 20, which is of a length greater than the width of the window opening 15 is incorporated into the structure. This lintel 20 is of the shape shown in the drawings and for ease of convenience will be referred to as an s-lintel, as its shape in cross-section is generally s-shaped.

The s-lintel 20 has a vertical portion 21, and outwardly pointing lower flange 22 and inwardly pointing upper flange 23. The s-lintel 20 is supported by its upper flange 23 which is fixed at either end'between two rows of concrete blocks 13 of the inner skin 12. The upper flange 23 of the s-lintel 20 is positioned beneath the lower flange 18 of the c-lintel 16 and may be separated by a row of filler blocks 26, which provide additional support for the c-lintel 16. The lower flange 22 of the s-lintel 20 supports the rows of bricks 11 of the outer skin 10 across the top of the window opening 15.

The lintels 16, 20 are preferably steel load bearing lintels.

In the window opening 15 is fitted a window frame 27. The window frame 27 is of a standard type and is fixed in a known manner to the inner skin 12 such that a gap 28 is left between the outermost edge of the frame 27 and the inside of the outer skin 10 where it surrounds the window opening 15. At both vertical edges of the window frame 27, a guide rail 33 is positioned in gap 28.

The guide rail 33 is generally c-shaped, with the upper and lower flanges 34 of the "c" facing inwardly into the window opening. The rails 33 are positioned so that in a view of the window 25 in the direction of arrow A in figure 2, they may be concealed behind the outer skin 10.

The head of the window frame 27 and the upper flange 23 of the s-lintel 20 form a cavity 34.

A roller shutter 30 comprises a spindle 31, which may be hollow or solid, means (not shown) for rotably mounting the spindle 31, a multiplicity of interconnected horizontal slats 32 (see figure 1) and operating means (not shown) which cause the spindle 31 to rotate either clockwise or anticlockwise about its central axis to raise or lower the shutter 37.

Operation of the roller shutter 30 may be manual, or by electric motor via interior controls. Remote operation using photo electric control or other similar devices may also be used. The roller shutter 30 is of a known type and its construction will not be discussed in detail.

The s-lintel 20 is adapted to receive the mounting means for the roller shutter spindle 31 in the cavity 34.

The preferred mounting means comprise a box shaped structure 35 at least as long as the roller shutter 30 which is contained therein, having an opening 36 along its length through which the shutter 37 passes as it is raised or lowered. The spindle 31 is rotably mounted within the box structure 35 by means of brackets (not shown) such that in order to install the roller shutter 30 under the lintel a single unit may be placed in the cavity 34. This unit may be fixed in position under the lintel in any suitable manner, either with brackets or flanges or the like, such that the vertical edges of the shutter 37 run inside guide rails 33 when the shutter 37 is lowered or raised. Alternatively the unit is simply positioned, and not fixed, so that it is removable from the cavity 34.

Insulating material 39 may be provided to surround the unit (see figure 2) before a screen 38 of plaster board or other suitable material is placed on the inside of the inner skin 12, as shown in figure 1, to provide a suitable internal wall for the building. The screen 38 has a hole or gap therein, through which a cord 40 or a shaft (not shown) passes, which activates the roller operating means.

Alternatively electric cable may pass through the hole to an electric or electronic switch mounted on the screen 38, the shutter roller shaft containing an electric motor to rotate the shaft.

The main advantage of this construction is that the roller shutter 30 may be installed during construction of a building, or as long as the lintel mounting is fitted during construction, the roller shutter 30 may be installed at any time thereafter.

The roller shutter 30 and mounting means are preferably provided as a single unit which slides into position in the cavity 34. In an alternative embodiment of the invention (not shown) the s-lintel 20 has mounting means for spindle 31 fitted thereto, which obviates the need for the box structure 35.

During installation, the spindle 31 is simply fitted into its mountings and the operating means installed in a suitable position. In yet another embodiment rigid preformed insulation may be used to fully or partially hold the mounting of the spindle 31, which obviates the need for all or some of the box structure and loose insulation.

Figure 3 shows another embodiment of the invention, in which the window 25 is positioned under roof eaves 41. In this embodiment, a c-lintel 16 cannot be fitted so the s-lintel 20 is adapted to provide extra support. The adapted lintel 20a is basically s-shaped but incorporates an additional c-shaped portion 20b which is supported by a row of concrete blocks 13, as shown in figure 3. The inwardly pointing upper flange 20c of the adapted lintel 20a is sandwiched between the roof joists 42 and the concrete blocks 13 to provide support for the bricks 11 of the outer skin 10 over the window opening 15.

The mounting lintel may therefore be adapted to a variety of shapes to make it more versatile, although the s-shape should also be retained.

Additional flanges may also be incorporated, for example, to create an inverted "U" which comprises two s-shaped lintels back to back.

The s-lintel 20, 20a may be installed over a window or door opening, or any other opening which is required to be covered by a shutter.

The adaptation of the s-lintel 20, 20a to receive the roller shutter 30 may be such that the roller shutter 30 is mounted on either side of the vertical portion 21 of the s-lintel 20, 20a.

Alternatively, the shutter 37 may be positioned such that it falls inside or outside the glazing or door.

The method of mounting depends on requirements and space available.

The skins 10, 12 may be constructed from materials other than brick and concrete, as long as suitable means for supporting the s-lintel are provided.

Claims (14)

1. According to the present invention, there is provided a shutter assembly for closing an opening in a wall structure, the assembly comprising a lintel extending across an upper edge of the opening and a shutter, the lintel including flange means for engaging and fixing the lintel to the wall structure, being open to one side of the wall structure and being adapted to receive the shutter, the shutter being located under the lintel.

2. A shutter assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the shutter is a roller shutter comprising a rotable spindle, a multiplicity of interconnected horizontal slats at least one of which is fixed to the spindle and operating means for rotating the spindle.

3. A shutter assembly as claimed in claim 2 in which the spindle is rotably supported under the lintel.

4. A shutter assembly as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 in which the roller shutter is contained in a casing, the spindle being rotably supported by the casing and the casing being supported under the lintel.

5. A shutter assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the lintel is generally s-shaped having an upright web, an outwardly pointing lower horizontal flange attached at one end of the web and an inwardly pointing upper horizontal flange attached at another end of the web.

6. A shutter assembly as claimed in claim 5 in which the inwardly pointing flange is supported by an inner skin of the wall structure and the outwardly pointing flange supporting a part of an outer skin of the wall structure above the said opening.

7. A shutter assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the arrangement being such that the shutter is installed during construction of the wall structure or at any time, providing that the lintel has first been installed.

8. A wall structure comprising an outer skin and an inner skin having a cavity therebetween and at least one essentially s-shaped lintel, a lower flange of which supports a portion of the outer skin above an opening in the wall, and the upper flange of which being supported by the inner skin, the lintel being adapted to receive a rotable spindle of a roller shutter.

9. A wall structure as claimed in claim 8 in which at least one bracket is affixed to the lintel capable of supporting the rotable spindle of a roller shutter.

10. A wall structure as claimed in claim 8 in which the lintel is adapted to receive the casing of a roller shutter as claimed in claim 4.

11. A wall structure comprising an outer skin and an inner skin having a cavity therebetween, at least one lintel as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and a roller shutter located under the lintel.

12. A wall structure as claimed in any one of the claims 8 to 11 in which the opening is a door or a window.

13. A shutter assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

14. A wall structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.