GB2232433A

GB2232433A - A lath for a roller shutter

Info

Publication number: GB2232433A
Application number: GB8912472A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter William Jackson
Original assignee: CENTURY ALUMINIUM Co LIMI
Current assignee: CENTURY ALUMINIUM Co LIMI
Priority date: 1989-05-31
Filing date: 1989-05-31
Publication date: 1990-12-12
Also published as: GB8912472D0

Abstract

An oblong lath 1 for a roller shutter has a generally planar web 3 at one longitudinal edge of which there is one hinge part 4 and at the opposite longitudinal edge of which there is a second hinge part 5. The first hinge part 4 is hollow, has an opening 6 which subtends an angle of less than 180 DEG , in this case 161 1 DIVIDED 2 DEG , has an internal joint part 7 and external abutment means 8. The second hinge part 5 is hollow, has an opening 9 which subtends an angle of less than 180 DEG , in this case 1611 DIVIDED 2 DEG and a socket with inwardly directed projections 22. The shutter is made of extruded aluminium. <IMAGE>

Description

A LATH FOR A ROZZER SHUTTER DEVICE The invention relates to a lath for a roller shutter device, and to a roller shutter device made from one or more of the laths.

A roller shutter device is basically a security screen comprising several extruded aluminium laths connected by hinging together along their longitudinal edges. The majority of such shutters have been limited in application because of their inability to be wound in either direction around a tubular section positioned usually above the shop front door, window etc. in a housing.

Preferably this roller housing is recessed into the structure of the building so that it is hidden from view.

Prior shutters have been proposed that retract into the housing in one direction only, either forward or reverse, in order to present a flat front face to the frontages of buildings in which they are installed.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a lath for a roller shutter device, comprising a planar web which is generally rectangular in plan view, along one edge of which is a first hinge part which is hollow, and along an edge opposite the one edge there is a second hinge part which is hollow the relative sizes of the first and second hinge parts being such that the first hinge part can be linked with the second hinge part of an adjacent lath for relative hinging movement between the laths with the respective joint parts in operative engagement, the hinge parts both being developed round an axis of rotation at the same distance from a face of the web, the arrangement being such that the hinge parts rotate in use round the axis of rotation throughout hinging action.

Using the invention only one form of lath is required so that both forward and reverse mountings are obtainable which in either mounting present a flat front or outer face in use when a roller shutter device incorporating the lath(s) is unwound.

There may be openings defined by the hinge parts, one of which may comprise an external abutment means which may comprise a shoulder between the web and the edge of the opening opposite the web.

The one, or first, hinge part may comprise a first arcuate part and a second arcuate part, which parts have different radii of curvature and are connected by a shoulder.

There may be external abutment means of the second hinge part which may comprise an edge of that part which is a continuation of a surface of the web which in use is an external or exposed surface.

There may be a joint part of the first hinge part which may comprise a spigot and there may be a joint part of the second hinge part which may comprise a socket in which in use the spigot is received.

The spigot may have an enlarged head of generally circular shape in cross-section.

The socket may be defined by an arcuate part which has a plurality of spaced apart inwardly directed projections against which the spigot can bear.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a roller shutter device including one or more laths as hereinbefore defined.

Laths embodying the invention are hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is an end elevational view of part of a lath according to the invention, showing a first hinge part at one edge; Figure 2 is an end elevational view of part of the lath of Figure 1, showing a second hinge part at an edge opposite the edge shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows part of a roller shutter device including adjacent laths like those of Figures 1 and 2 with the first hinge part of one lath hingedly connected with the second hinge part of an adjacent lath Figure 4 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of lath according to the invention; Figures 4A and 4B are enlarged elevational views of first and second hinge parts of the lath of Figure 4; Figure 5 is a side elevational view of another lath according to the invention; Figure 6 is a side elevational view of yet another lath according to the invention; and Figure 7 is a side elevational view of a further lath according to the invention.

Referring to Figures 1-3 of the drawings, there is shown in Figures 1 and 2 an oblong lath 1 formed in one piece by extrusion in aluminium which can be hingedly connected with a similar lath 2 (Figure 3). The lath has a generally planar web 3 at one longitudinal edge of which there is one hinge part 4 and at the opposite longitudinal edge of which there is a second hinge part 5. The first hinge part 4 is hollow, has an opening 6 which subtends an angle of less than 1800, in this case l6l0, has an internal joint part 7 and external abutment means 8.The second hinge part 5 is hollow, has an opening 9 which subtends an angle of less than 1800, in this case 16l0, has an internal joint part 10 which is car##lerrentary to the joint part 7 of the first hinge part 4, and has external abutment means 11.

The first hinge part 4 calgrises a first arcuate part 12 continuous with the web 3 and a second arcuate part 13 the two arcuate parts 12 and 13 having different radii of curvature and being connected by the abutment means 8 which comprises a shoulder which is continuous with both parts 12 and 13. The second arcuate 13 part defines an edge 15 of the opening opposite the web 3, and carries the joint part 7 in the form of an inwardLy projecting spigot 16 which has an enlarged head 18 of generally circular shape in cross-section. The first hinge part 4 extends over the length of the lath 1 in the embodbrent shown, the centre of the head 18 lying along the axis 17 about which the lath 1 can hinge.

The second hinge part 5 is continuous with the web 3 and extends over the length of the lath in the embodiment shown. The external abutment means 11 comprises an edge 19 of the second hinge part 5 which is a continuation of a surface 20 of the web 3 which in use is an external or exposed surface and which is shown by a dashed line. The joint part 10 of the second hinge part 5 comprises a socket 21 which depends from the abutment means 11 into the interior of the second hinge part 5, the socket being an arcuate part which has a plurality (in this case three) of spaced apart inwardly directed projections 22 against which the enlarged head 18 of the spigot 16 can bear.

The relative sizes of the first and second hinge parts 4 and 5 are such that the first hinge part 4 of one lath 1 can be linked with the second hinge part 5 of an adjacent lath 2 (Figure 3) for relative hinging movement between the laths 1 and 2, the respective joint parts 7 and 10 being operatively engaged with the head 18 of the spigot 16 received in the arcuate socket part 21 of the joint part 10 of the second hinge part 5. The head 18 of the spigot 16 can then bear on the projections 22 and can slide thereover when the laths 1 and 2 hinge relatively.

In Figure 3, the adjacent laths are shown with their exposed, or front or outer surfaces 20, as used, planar.

In use, a roller shutter device assembled from a plurality of laths 1,2, each one with at least one of its hinge parts 4 or 5 being hingedly connected with a hinge part 5 or 4 of an adjacent lath, is mounted for winding onto and off of a spindle or axle (not shown) mounted in a housing (not shown) which is mounted above an opening (also not shown) such as a shop front which is to be closed off by the roller shutter device when the device is unwound out of the housing. The device using laths 1,2 embodying the invention may be mounted, via its housing, either in front of or behind the opening and yet always presents a planar front, as viewed, face 20 so that the hinge joints 23 made up of the combined first and second hinge parts 1 and 5 are not exposed.However, the hinge joints 23 allow the adjacent laths 1,2 to hinge relative to one another as they are unwound from or wound onto the spindle and during such action the hinge parts 4 and 5 cannot separate, and have a minimum amount of play throughout the full extent of the 161h opening, because the shoulder 8 engages a free edge 24 of the second hinge part or the shoulder 8 engages the abutment means 11, depending on the direction of rotation, so preventing separation.

Referring to Figures 4,4A and 4B the lath 100 shown therein is similar to that of Figures 1 to 3 in that it has a planar web 101 at opposite ends of which are respective first and second hinge parts 102 and 103. The e first hinge part 102 has an internal enlarged joint part 104 in the form of a ball 105 on a spigot 106 and also has an internal abutment part 107 and a projecting lip 108. The second hinge part 103 is based on a circle, like the first hinge part 102, and has two external abutment parts 109,110 which are on radii from the centre or arms of rotation 111. The first hinge part 102 of one lath 100 can be slidably engageable with a second hinge part of another identical lath in order to build up a roller shutter.

Figures 4,6 and 7 likewise show respectively laths 200,300,400 which have first hinge parts 201,301,401 and second hinge parts 202,302,402 formed at respective ends of a planar web 203,303, 403, constructed so that the laths may each be connected with an identical lath for forming a roller shutter.

In every embodinent, the first and second or male and female hinge parts, are each constructed round a centre point or axis of rotation at the same distance from the front flat face of the respective web, and always rotate about that centre point throughout the whole range of a hinging action as a shutter assembled from identical laths is closed or opened. This ensures that the shutters are capable of rolling forwards and in reverse whilst presenting a flat face to the outside of premises to which the shutter is fitted.

The laths have a protective means in the form of a weather protection lip 108 which prevents infiltration of water, dust and the like into voids of the hinge mechanism whilst in the closed position.

It will be understood that the laths, 1,2 may be made integrally by extrusion from any suitable material, for example metal, plastic or plastic coated metal, and that the webs 3 may have any desired surface pattern or configuration, whilst remaining generally planar.

Claims

1. A lath for a roller shutter device, comprising a planar web which is generally rectangular in plan view, along one edge of which is a first hinge part which is hollow, and along an edge opposite the one edge there is a second hinge part which is hollow, the relative sizes of the first and second hinge parts being such that the first hinge part can be linked with the second hinge part of an adjacent lath for relative hinging movement between the laths with the respective hinge parts in operative engagement, the hinge parts both being developed round an axis of rotation at the same distance from a face of the web, the arrangement being such that the hinge parts rotate in use round the axis of rotation throughout the hinging action.

2. A lath according to Claim 1, including openings defined by the hinge parts, one of which comprises an external abutment means.

3. A lath according to Claim 2, the abutment comprising a shoulder between the web and the edge of the opening opposite the web.

4. A lath according to any preceding Claim, the first hinge part comprising a first arcuate part and a second arcuate part, which parts have different radii of curvature and are connected by a shoulder.

5. A lath according to any preceding Claim, there being external abutment means of the second hinge part comprising an edge of that part which is a continuation of a surface of the web which in use is an external or exposed surface.

6. A lath according to any preceding Claim, there being a joint part of the first hinge part comprising a spigot and a joint part of the second hinge part comprising a socket in which in use the spigot is received.

7. A lath according to Claim 6, the spigot having an enlarged head of generally circular shape in cross-section.

8. A lath according to Claim 6 or Claim 7, the socket being defined by an arcuate part which has a plurality of spaced apart inwardly directed projections against which the spigot can bear.

9. A lath for a roller shutter device, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A roller shutter device including one or more laths according to any preceding Claim.