GB2225367A

GB2225367A - Roller shutter assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2225367A
Application number: GB8924204A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Omar El Said Eigner
Original assignee: JALOUSIE SHUTTERS Ltd
Current assignee: JALOUSIE SHUTTERS Ltd
Priority date: 1988-10-27
Filing date: 1989-10-27
Publication date: 1990-05-30
Also published as: GB8924204D0; GB8825131D0

Abstract

A system for closing an opening in a wall structure comprises a lintel for the opening, a shutter assembly, a window or door frame (27) in the opening, and a pair of lateral cheek pieces (50) selected from a range of pairs of cheek pieces or differing cross-sections and then fixed to the frame (27). The cheek pieces (50) have forwardly directed faces against which respective shutter guide rails (33) abut to determine a distance (D) between the rails (33) and the frame (27), and provide respective steps to determine a distance (T) through which the rails (33) can be set back relative to the window or door (25). If desired, each cheek piece (50) could alternatively be in one integral piece with the frame (27). The rails (33) form part of the shutter assembly. The lintel, the frame (27), the cheek pieces (50) and the shutter assembly occupy a spatial relationship which is determined by an arrangement of mechanical abutment and fixing reference locations or by linking them to form a tailor-made unit. <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS for CILSDNG AN OPENING IN A w#T#. STRUCTURE This invention relates to apparatus for closing an opening in a wall structure.

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 led 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 the ability to 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 United Kingdom in that the walls of continental houses tend to have a single brick or concrete skin, whereas houses built in the United Kingdom tend to have walls with two skins, with a cavity therebetween.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for closing an opening in a wall structure, comprising a lintel for extending across an upper edge of said opening, frame means extending along other edges of said opening, and an assembly including a retractable cover for said opening, said cover being displaceable between a relatively extended condition in which it covers said opening and a relatively retracted condition in which said opening is substantially uncovered, said lintel, said frame means and said assembly occupying a spatial relationship relative to one another which relationship was determined prior to mounting of said apparatus at said opening.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for closing an opening in a wall structure, comprising frame means extending along lateral edges of said opening, and an assembly including å retractable cover for said opening, said cover being displaceable between a relatively extended condition in which it covers said opening and a relatively retracted condition in which said opening is substantially uncovered, said assembly comprising respective guide rails extending along respective lateral edges, and said frame means comprising outer parts serving as spacers and inner parts, said inner parts being fixed to but not integral with said outer parts, and said rails being fixed to but not integral with said outer parts.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of providing for closing an opening in a wall structure, comprising selecting outer parts of a desired cross-section from a range of outer parts of frame means which outer parts in the range are of differing cross-sections, arranging inner parts of said frame means to extend along said selected outer parts, fixing said inner parts to the selected outer parts, arranging the desired frame means to extend along lateral edges of the opening, and mounting at said opening an assembly including a retractable cover for said opening, the cover being displaceable between a relatively extended condition in which it covers said opening and a relatively retracted condition in which said opening is substantially uncovered.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for closing an opening in a wall structure, comprising frame means extending along lateral edges of said opening, and an assembly including a retractable cover for said opening, said cover being displaceable between a relatively extended condition in which it covers said opening and a relatively retracted condition in which said opening is substantially uncovered, and said frame means comprising a one piece member having shoulder means for abutting a closure panel of said opening and a groove for receiving a lateral edge of said cover.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for closing an opening in a wall structure, the apparatus 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, and guide rails, along which the vertical edges of the shutter move, in which the guide rail and a frame around the opening are fixed at a predetermined substantially horizontal distance apart.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of storing a roller shutter to cover an opening in a wall structure, comprising the steps of a) installing lateral roller shutter side guides, one at each lateral edge of the opening; b) fixing a portion of a frame to the wall structure at a predetermined horizontal distance from said side guides; c) installing a generally s-shaped lintel across an upper edge of the opening above an upper horizontal section of the frame, said lintel including flange means for engaging and fixing the lintel to the wall structure and being open to one side of the wall structure; and d) storing a roller shutter casing containing a rotably mounted roller shutter under the upper flange of said lintel which further comprises means for removably mounting said casing thereto such that the roller shutter may be extended vertically downwards through an opening along one edge of the casing to cover the opening, the vertical edges of said shutter moving along said side guides.

Owing to each of these aspects of the invention, the accuracy of installation of the apparatus on site is not left totally to the skill of the installer.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, in detail and 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 omitted 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 plan view on III-III of Figure 2 showing a section of wall and showing the relationship between a window frame and roller shutter side guides; Figures 4 to 8 are sectional plan views of the section of wall of Figure 3 showing alternative arrangements of the window frame and roller shutter side guides; Figure 9 is a side view of an end cap for a self-contained unit for the roller shutter of Figure 1;; Figure 10 is a sectional front view of the roller shutter of Figure 1 mounted in a self-contained unit via the end cap shown in Figure 9 (parts have been omitted for clarity); Figure 11 is a sectional end view on XI-XI of the end cap of Figure 9; Figure 12 is a fragmentary front elevation of part of another modified version of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 13 is a fragmentary vertical section through an upper portion of that other modified version; and Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 3 through a lateral portion of that other modified version.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2 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 height of the opening in the outer skin 10 is lower than that in the inner skin 12.

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, in 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 slintel, as in cross-section it is generally s-shaped. The s-lintel 20 has a vertical portion 21, an outwardly pointing lower flange 22 and an 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 s-lintel 20 may be of standard design or have an additional upwardly pointing lip 23a on its upper flange 23. This lip 23a is advantageous as it provides additional stability to the lintel 20 resulting in greater strength. It also prevents blocks 26 from slipping out of position, thus making installation simpler. Alternatively the two lintels 16, 20 may be formed together to form a single lintel, although manufacture of 2 separate components is easier and cheaper.

The lintels 16 and 20 are preferably steel load-bearing lintels or a composite material of required strength.

A roller shutter 30 is of a known type comprising a spindle 31, which may be hollow or solid, means 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 photoelectric or radio control or other similar devices may also be used.

In a window opening 15 is fitted a window frame 27. The window frame 27 may be of a standard type and is fixed in a known manner to the inner skin 12.

It is of importance during the installation of roller shutters that they are correctly placed with respect to the window or door which they are to cover to prevent interference in the operation of the shutter and the opening of the window or door.

To ensure correct positioning the window/door frame, shutter and lintel may be so linked as to form a tailor-made unit in which the positioning of the shutter is exactly correct for the particular frame used.

The roller shutter 30 requires a pair of vertical guide rails 33 positioned one at each side of the window opening 15. The guide rail 33 is generally c-shaped, with the flanges of the "c" facing inwardly into the window opening so that the vertical edges of the shutter 37 travel within and along the rails 33 as it is raised and lowered. The rails 33 may be fashioned from metal, plastics or any other suitable material.

The guide rails 33 may be placed in any one of a number of different positions, but the distance D between the guide rails 33 and the frame 27 is a predetermined distance which generally lies in the range 30-50mm to avoid interference with the operation of the shutter by projections such as exterior handles, vents, etc. Examples of this relationship are shown in Figures 3 to 9. A further aid to minimisation of interference with opening of the window is the introduction of a further predetermined distance T, typically between 10 and 20mm.

Figure 3 shows a standard guide rail 33 with a stepped cheek piece 50 acting as a mask to the cavity 14 which is closed by the normal return of the inner blockwork 51. This means that the last block in the inner skin 12 adjacent the opening 15 is turned through 900 to cover over the cavity.

The cheek piece 50 by its design acts as a spacer element. When the window frame proper 27 is affixed to the cheek piece 50 in its correct position by means 52 (which may be a tongue-and-groove joint) and the guide rail 33 is also affixed to the cheek piece 50 in its correct position determined by abutment against a shoulder 53 of the cheek piece 50, the distance between the frame 27 and the guide rail 33 is fixed at the predetermined distance D. The height of the shoulder 53 also fixes the predetermined distance T.

Mastic 54 may be used to form a seal between the cheek piece 52 and the outer skin 10.

Figure 4 shows a variation of Figure 3 comprising a simpler cheek piece 55. In this embodiment the guide rail 33 has an extended flange 56 which acts as a mask for the cavity 14 which is also closed by the normal return of the inner blockwork 51. The front face 53' of the cheek piece 55 serves as a reference abutment for the rail 33 to predetermine the distance D.

Figure 5 shows another variation of the arrangement of Figure 4, with another differently shaped cheek piece 59. In this embodiment the guide rail 33 has an L-shaped flange 60 for locating against the front face 53' of the cheek piece 59 and for fixing to the cheek piece 59 to ensure correct positioning, and a leg 61 protruding from the flange 56 for locting in the exposed part of the cavity 14 and for abutting against the inside face of the outer skin 10 to establish a predetermined spatial relationship between the outer skin and the rail 33 and thus the frame 27.

Figure 6 shows an embodiment of the invention similar to that shown in Figure 3, except inasmuch as the cheek piece 50 in Figure 6 also acts as the cavity 14 closure, needing no return of the inner blockwork 51 as in Figure 3. Preferably, the underside 58 of the cheek piece 50 is coated with a water resistant material such as bitumastic.

In Figure 7 the cavity 14 is closed by returning the facing brick 10.

In this embodiment a simple cheek piece 55 in Figure 4 is used, but because of the location of the exposed part of the cavity 14 no extended flange 56 is required as the cavity is covered by the cheek piece 55.

In Figure 8 the jamb of the window frame 27 is extended and provided with an inwardly facing groove to receive the guide rail 33, and may also act as the cavity closure.

Thus the guide rail 33 may be in view or out of view. In all of these examples the guide rails 33 are positioned in front of a window. There may of course be some cases wherein the shutter is required behind a window or door, in which case the predetermined distance D will be a different measurement from the inside of the frame.

If, in the embodiments shown in Figures 3 to 7 cheek piece 50, 55 or 59, or in the embodiment in Figure 8 the frame 27, is made of a material suitable for long-term guiding of the shutter, the rail 33 can be formed in one piece with that cheek piece or that frame.

The head of the window frame 27 and the upper flange 23 of the slintel 20 form a cavity 34. The s-lintel 20 is adapted to receive in the cavity 34 the mounting means for the roller shutter spindle 31.

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 in support means 70a in end caps 70 (see Figures 9 to 11) such that in order to install the roller shutter 30 under the lintel 20 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 correctly inside the 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 fran the cavity 34.

Each end cap 70 has a spigot 71 protruding from a lower side thereof, which fits into the upper ends of the guide rails 33 to support the roller shutter 30 and to locate accurately the shutter 37 with respect to the guide rails 33 so that it runs freely and smoothly therein as it is raised or lowered. Although not so shown, the spigot 71 may be a secure push fit in the guide rails 33.

Although the guide rails 33 can be fitted to a window frame 27, which gives a degree of dimensional stability on the width between them, the manufacturing tolerances and changes due to wood movement (where wooden frames 27 are used) can give a variation of +/- on a larger window too great for ease of insertion of the spigots 71 on the roller end caps 70 which support the roller 30.

To overcome this problem each spigot 71 as shown has an H section (of the order of 20mm between its two flanges) and two shaped spring steel strips 73 are fitted inside the section with their uncompressed "bow" projecting each side. These strips 73 are held together by rivet 74.

Compression of these strips as the spigot 71 is pushed into its guide rail 33 will hold the spigot 71 sufficiently firmly to support the shutter 30 whilst permitting some variation of the overall width between the guides 33. By this means the complete roller box assembly 35 can be fitted into and removed from the guide rails 33 from the inside of the building through the opening in the specially shaped lintel 20.

The dotted lines 33a on Figure 11 show the guide rails 33 out of alignment, with the self-adjustments 73a accordingly made by the spring strips 73.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 12 to 14, the two cheek pieces 50 have at their lower ends respective downward protrusions 80 for extending into the cavity 14 to locate the frame means 27, 50 relative to the brickwork of the wall 10, 12, which in Figure 12 is shown at its level before the brickwork has been built up beside the frame means 27, 50. The front faces 50a and the outer cheek faces 50b of the cheek pieces 50 serve as reference faces for abutting and aligning, respectively, of the brickwork of the skin 10 during bricking-up. The cheek pieces 50 have at their upper ends respective upward protrusions 81 which, when the brickwork has been built up to the level of the top of the frame means 27, 50, have the inside surface of the portion 21 of the lintel 20 butted up against them to locate the lintel relative to the frame means 27, 50.The lintel 20 is then bricked-in and the spigots 71 are inserted into the upper ends of the rails 33 to locate the structure 35 and thus the shutter 37 relative to the frame means 27, 50. The cheek pieces 50 again have shoulders 53 against which the rails 33 are abutted prior to fixing to the cheek pieces 50 by screws 82, to fix the rails at the selected distance D from the frame 27. The depth T of the shoulder 53 has been selected so as to ensure that the lateral brickwork of the opening in the wall 10, 11 is built up sufficiently far from the window 25 that the window can be opened outwardly without being obstructed by the rails 33.

In a modification of the cross-section of the cheek piece 50 shown in Figure 14, the cheek piece may continue forwards as a lip overlying part of the lateral surface of the opening in the skin 10.

It will be appreciated that the cheek pieces for any particular rail, frame and window/door combination are selected from a range of cheek pieces including the cheek pieces of differing dimensions and of the differing cross sectional shapes shown in Figures 3 to 7 and 14 and then fixed to the frame.

Insulating material 39 may be provided to surround a part of or the whole 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.

A 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 20 is fitted during or after 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 hold fully or partially the mounting of the spindle 31, which obviates the need for all or some of the box structure and loose insulation.

It is very advantageous that the roller shutter 30 (whether in a box structure 35 or not) may be installed or removed after the building work is completed in its rolled up state, which prevents damage to the slats and the roller mechanism which may occur if it was required to be installed or removed in its unrolled state.

The mounting lintel may be adapted to a variety of shapes to make it more versatile, although the s-shape is preferably retained for doubleskinned walls. 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 s-lintel 20, 20a may be reversed such that the roller shutter 30 may be inserted beneath the now outwardly pointing flange 23 from externally of the building. 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

aAIMS

1. Apparatus for closing an opening in a wall structure, comprising a lintel for extending across an upper edge of said opening, frame means extending along other edges of said opening, and an assembly including a retractable cover for said opening, said cover being displaceable between a relatively extended condition in which it covers said opening and a relatively retracted condition in which said opening is substantially uncovered, said lintel, said frame means and said assembly occupying a spatial relationship relative to one another which relationship was determined prior to mounting of said apparatus at said opening.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lintel, said frame means and said assembly comprise locating means whereby said relationship has been mechanically established.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said lintel, said frame means and said assembly are so linked as to form a unit, whereby said relationship has been mechanically established.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said other edges comprise lateral edges of said opening and said assembly comprises respective guide rails extending along said lateral edges.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said frame means comprises outer parts serving as spacers and inner parts, said inner parts being fixed to but not integral with said outer parts, and said rails being fixed to but not integral with said outer parts.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said outer parts serve to space said inner parts laterally from said wall structure.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6 as appended to claim 2, wherein said inner parts serve to bound a closure panel of said opening and said outer parts serve to space said rails from said closure panel to provide part of said spatial relationship.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said outer parts are formed with respective shoulders providing respective faces which are directed away from said inner parts and against which said rails abut.

9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein said outer parts serve to extend over at least part of a cavity width of said wall structure.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said outer parts serve to extend into respective cavity mouths of said wall structure.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein front faces of said respective outer parts serve to abut against front inside faces of said respective cavity mouths.

12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein said rails serve to extend over at least part of a cavity width of said wall structure.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said rails are formed with respective flanges serving to extend into respective cavity mouths of said wall structure and to abut against front inside faces of said respective cavity mouths.

14. Apparatus according to claim 4, 5, or 6 as appended to claim 2, wherein said rails are formed with respective flanges which serve to space said rails from said frame means to provide part of said spatial relationship.

15. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said frame means extends along a lateral edge of said opening and comprises a one-piece member having shoulder means for abutting a closure panel of said opening, and a groove for receiving a lateral edge of said cover, to provide part of said spatial relationship.

16. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said frame means extends along respective lateral edges of said opening and comprises respective one-piece members having respective shoulder means for co-operating with a closure panel of said opening and respective grooves for receiving respective lateral edges of said cover, to provide part of said spatial relationship.

17. Apparatus according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the groove(s) has (have) extending therealong a guide rail(s) of said assembly for guiding the lateral edge(s) of said cover, to provide part of said spatial relationship.

18. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 14, or claim 17, wherein said assembly further comprises mounting means upon which said cover is rolled in its relatively retracted condition, an upper end(s) of the guide rail(s) co-operating with a spigot(s) of said mounting means for locating said mounting means relative to said rail(s) to promote said spatial relationship.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein resilient means is interposed between the spigot(s) and the rail(s) to allow for limited misalignment of said rail(s) relative to said mounting means.

20. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said frame means comprises downwardly protruding means for extending into a cavity of said wall structure to locate said frame means relative to said wall structure to promote said spatial relationship.

21. Apparatus according to claim 2, 7, 8, 14 or 20, wherein said frame means comprises upwardly protruding means for abutting by said lintel to provide part of said spatial relationship.

22. Apparatus for closing an opening in a wall structure, comprising frame means extending along lateral edges of said opening, and an assembly including a retractable cover for said opening, said cover being displaceable between a relatively extended condition in which it covers said opening and a relatively retracted condition in which said opening is substantially uncovered, said assembly comprising respective guide rails extending along respective lateral edges, and said frame means comprising outer parts serving as spacers and inner parts, said inner parts being fixed to but not integral with said outer parts, and said rails being fixed to but not integral with said outer parts.

23. Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said outer parts serve to space said inner parts laterally from said wall structure.

24. Apparatus according to claim 22 or 23, wherein said inner parts serve to bound a closure panel of said opening and said outer parts serve to space said rails from said closure panel.

25. Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said outer parts are formed with respective shoulders providing respective faces which are directed away from said inner parts and against which said rails abut.

26. Apparatus according to any one of claims 22 to 25, wherein said outer parts serve to extend over at least part of a cavity width of said wall structure.

27. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said outer parts serve to extend into respective cavity mouths of said wall structure.

28. Apparatus according to claim 27, wherein front faces of said respective outer parts serve to abut against front inside faces of said respective cavity mouths.

29. A method of providing for closing an opening in a wall structure, comprising selecting outer parts of a desired cross-section from a range of outer parts of frame means which outer parts in the range are of differing cross-sections, arranging inner parts of said frame means to extend along said selected outer parts, fixing said inner parts to the selected outer parts, arranging the desired frame means to extend along lateral edges of the opening, and mounting at said opening an assembly including a retractable cover for said opening, the cover being displaceable between a relatively extended condition in which it covers said opening and a relatively retracted condition in which said opening is substantially uncovered.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein said outer parts of said range differ in respect of their dimensions in a plane of said frame means and perpendicularly to said lateral edges.

31. A method according to claim 29, or 30, and further comprising fixing to the respective selected outer parts guide rails of said assembly, which guide rails abut against faces of the selected outer parts directed away from the respective inner parts, said outer parts of said range differing in the distances between said faces, on the one hand, and said inner parts when fixed thereto, on the other hand.

32. Apparatus for closing an opening in a wall structure, comprising frame means extending along lateral edges of said opening, and an assembly including a retractable cover for said opening, said cover being displaceable between a relatively extended condition in which it covers said opening and a relatively retracted condition in which said opening is substantially uncovered, and said frame means comprising a onepiece member having shoulder means for abutting a closure panel of said opening and a groove for receiving a lateral edge of said cover.

33. Apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said frame means comprises a second one piece member having second shoulder means for cooperating with said closure panel and a second groove for receiving a second lateral edge of said cover.

34. Apparatus according to claim 32 or 33, wherein the groove(s) has (have) extending therealong a guide rail(s) of said assembly for guiding the lateral edge(s) of said cover.

35. Apparatus for closing an opening in a wall structure, the apparatus 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, and guide rails, along which the vertical edges of the shutter move, in which the guide rail and a frame around the opening are fixed at a predetermined substantially horizontal distance apart.

36. A method of storing a roller shutter to cover an opening in a wall structure, comprising the steps of a) installing lateral roller shutter side guides, one at each lateral edge of the opening; b) fixing a portion of a frame to the wall structure at a predetermined horizontal distance from said side guides; c) installing a generally s-shaped lintel across an upper edge of the opening above an upper horizontal section of the frame, said lintel including flange means for engaging and fixing the lintel to the wall structure and being open to one side of the wall structure; and d) storing a roller shutter casing containing a rotably mounted roller shutter under the upper flange of said lintel which further comprises means for removably mounting said casing thereto such that the roller shutter may be extended vertically downwards through an opening along one edge of the casing to cover the opening, the vertical edges of said shutter moving along said side guides.

37. Apparatus for closing an opening in a wall structure, substantially in accordance with any example hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

38. A method of providing for closing an opening in a wall structure, substantially in accordance with any example hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.