GB2224062A

GB2224062A - Roller shutter

Info

Publication number: GB2224062A
Application number: GB8922074A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Nelson
Original assignee: POLYGARD Ltd
Current assignee: POLYGARD Ltd
Priority date: 1988-09-30
Filing date: 1989-09-29
Publication date: 1990-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 2009-09-29
Also published as: GB2224062B; ZA897428B; GB8922074D0; IE882981L

Abstract

A roller shutter comprises a plurality of parallel horizontal elongate laths 15 each of whose opposite longitudinal edges 16, 18 is articulated to the longitudinal edge of a respective neighbouring lath, at least one lath having means 30, 31 for retaining an elongate strip of material along the length of the lath substantially covering one face thereof. The material may be coloured or decorative or transparent and cover apertures in the lath. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to improvements in roller shutters.

According to the present invention there is provided a roller shutter comprising a plurality of parallel horizontal elongate laths each of whose opposite longitudinal edges is articulated to the longitudinal edge of a respective neighbouring lath, at least one lath having means for retaining an elongate strip of material along the length of the lath substantially covering one face thereof.

The strip of material may be decorative so that with a number of such laths located in juxta-position, the strips of material may form a pattern.

Alternatively, the strips of material may be transparent or translucent, and the lath may have one or more apertures to enable a person to view through the lath.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lath according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of two laths of Figure 1 pivotted forwardly; Figure 3 is a perspective view of two laths of Figure 1 pivotted rearwardly; Figure 4 is a perspective view of laths of Figure 1 with transparent strip in place; Figure 5 is a perspective view of laths of Figure 1 with decorative strips in place; Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, wherein similar numerals have been used to indicate like parts, there is shown therein an elongate lath for a roller shutter generally indicated at 10.The lath 10 is of generally constant cross-section metal sheet, and has a main body portion 11 with upper and lower edges 12, 13 respectively and front and rear faces 14, 15 respectively. The lath 10 further comprises an elongate top hinge 16 in the form of a forwardly curled male edge 17, and an elongate bottom hinge 18 in the form of a rearwardly curled female edge 19. As shown, the top hinge 16 is disposed above and rearwardly of the front face 14 of the lath 10, with the top hinge 16 being connected to the lath by means of an integrally formed sloping flange 20. The male edge 17 is larger in diameter than the female edge 19 and two or more such laths can be connected together by mating of the male edge 17 of one lath with the female edge 19 of another lath, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

However, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, each lath can articulate in both the forward and rearward directions relative to its neighbour when the latter is substantially vertical-. This is possible because of the arrangement of the top and bottom hinges 16, 18 and the fact that the top hinge is disposed at the end of the sloping flange 20. Further, the flange region 20 lies at an angle of approximately 450 relative to the front face 14 of the lath. Also, a flange region 33 at the lower edge 13 also slopes at an angle of approximately 450 relative to the front face 14 of the lath. Thus, the upper of two such laths when connected together as shown in Figure 2 can pivot forwardly by a substantial amount until the flanges 20 and 33 abut each other.The laths can also pivot by a substantial amount in the rearward direction (Figure 3) due to the loose nature of the coupling between the male and female edges 17, 19 respectively. Thus, when a series of the laths 10 are connected together to form a roller shutter, Figure 4, the roller shutter may be rolled up in either the forward or rearward direction relative to a vertical plane, and thus, the front face 14 of the lath 10 can always be arranged to be located as the outermost surface of the roller shutter. Thus, the same roller shutter may be used in circumstances where the shutter is to be rolled in either a forward or rearward direction, but in each instance keeping the front face 14 of the laths as the outermost surface. The front face 14 of the lath is formed having a series of parallel decorative ribs 34.

The lath 10 further has respective upper and lower elongate projections 30, 31 along each longitudinal edge of the front face 14, the projections defining opposing slots acting as retaining members for elongate plastic strips 32 (Figure 5) substantially covering the face 14. The strips 32 may be coloured or decorative as shown in Figure 5 and provide for an aesthetic or other appearance to the roller shutter. Thus, a premises having such a roller shutter can advertize their products even with the shutter covering their shopfront. The strips 32 are slid into position with each opposite edge of the strip being engaged in a respective slot.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figure 4, the lath 10 may have one or more apertures 39 provided therein, and a transparent or translucent plastics strip 40 may be retained in place by the projections 30, 31. The transparent or translucent strip 40 enables a person to view through the apertures 39 in the laths 10 but at the same time providing the required security.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A roller shutter comprising a plurality of parallel horizontal elongate laths each of whose opposite longitudinal edges is articulated to the longitudinal edge of a respective neighbouring lath, at least one lath having means for retaining an elongate strip of material along the length of the lath substantially covering one face thereof.

2. A roller shutter as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the retaining means comprises a pair of projections along each longitudinal edge of the lath, the projections defining opposing slots which permit the strip of material to be slid into position on the lath with each opposite edge of the strip of material being engaged in a respective slot.

3. A roller shutter as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein each lath is articulated to its neighbour in such a way that it is capable of substantial pivotal movement forwardly or rearwardly relative to said neighbour when the latter is substantially vertical, whereby the shutter may be rolled up in either direction relative to a vertical plane.

4. A roller shutter as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the opposite longitudinal edges of each lath are curled in opposite directions with one of the curled edges having a greater diameter than the other, the laths being articulated together by the smaller diameter curled edge of each lath engaging in the larger diameter curled edge of the neighbouring lath.

5. A roller shutter as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the larger diameter curled edge is the top edge of each lath, and is disposed above and is laterally offset relative to the main body of the lath, being connected thereto by a sloping flange.

6. A roller shutter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the at least one lath has one or more apertures therein which may be covered by the strip of material.

7. A roller shutter substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.