GB2351520A

GB2351520A - A lintel for containing a security shutter/blind mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2351520A
Application number: GB9928572A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Colin Bell; Graham John Broom; Andrew Robert Crossley
Original assignee: BCB ENGINEERING Ltd
Current assignee: BCB ENGINEERING Ltd
Priority date: 1999-12-03
Filing date: 1999-12-03
Publication date: 2001-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 2019-12-03
Also published as: GB9928572D0; GB2351520B

Abstract

A lintel which can contain a security shutter mechanism is formed with a front flange (1) and a back flange (2), which contact an inner and outer skin of a building. The front flange is lower than the back flange. The lintel has a vertical back upstand (3) contiguous with the back flange (2), a first vertical front profile plate (4) contiguous with the front flange (1). A second profile plate (5) contiguous with the first profile plate (4) extends at an acute angle to the back upstand (3). Two fixing plates (6,7), positioned near the ends (8, 9) of the lintel, each connect the back flange (2) to the first profile plate (4). This arrangement forms a space (10, fig 2) within which a shutter mechanism can be attached.

Description

2351520 Security Shutters This invention concerns security shutters

systems and in particular lintels for use therewith.

Security shutters and their associated actuating mechanisms are bulky objects which hitherto have either been secured to the outside of a building over an aperture which is to be protected, or within the line of the building in a box secured below a conventional lintel over the opening. Security shutters secured to the outside of buildings are unsightly and suffer from the disadvantage that they can be relatively easily levered away from the building. However, although locating security shutters in a box below a conventional lintel makes tampering with them more.difficult, there are space penalties in that either the headspace below an existing lintel is reduced by the shutter mechanism, which may be unacceptablei or there is insufficient space to raise the lintel itself and increase the headspace below the box containing the shutter mechanism, apart from the cost'implications in making such changes to the buildings themselves.

In theory it is possible to keep security shutters and their actuating mechanisms out of sight when not in use by locating them within the lintel itself. However, in order to gain access to the space within the lintel, one side of the lintel has to be removed so that the shutter can be wound onto and off the actuating mechanism, with the result that the mechanical strength of the lintel is reduced because they are only three sided. This presents alignment problems not only during building construction but also in fitting the shutter assemblies into the lintels once the building work has been completed.

GB2297113-A describes a method for reducing these problems by increasing the torsional rigidity of what would otherwise be a three sided lintel by including a horizontal support wall which extends down the length and internally of the lintel, in effect forming a secondary box section lintel within an open sided lintel housing the security shutter and the actuating mechanism for the shutter. Such lintels work well,particularly under high loadings. However, the extra space taken up by the box pection forming the secondary lintel referred to above can still be undesirable in certain building situations.

According to the present invention there is provided a lintel for use with roller shutter assemblies, the lintel comprising front and back flanges which in use extend horizontally within the structure of a building, the front flange then being lower than the back flange, a substantially vertical back upstand contiguous with the back flange, a first and substantially vertical profile plate contiguous with the front flange, a second profile plate contiguous with the first profile plate and also with the back upstand and extending at an acute angle to the back upstand, and two fixing plates each connecting the back flange and to the first profile plate substantially orthogonally, one of each of the said two fixing plates being positioned in the two end portions of the lintel.

An embodiment of lintel in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is an isometric view of the embodiment from the front; Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the embodiment from the rear; Fig. 3 is an end view of the embodiment to an enlarged scale positioned in a building; and Fig. 4 is a rear view of an end portion of the embodiment positioned over an aperture in a building, and to an enlarged scale.

The illustrated lintel has front flange 1 and a back flange 2 which enable the lintel to be built into the outer 11 and inner 12 skins respectively of a wall 13 of a building, the flanges 1 and 2 then being substantially horizontal but at different vertical positions within their respective skins 11 and 12 as will subsequently be described in more detail.

Extending substantially vertical upwardly from the back',flange 1, and within the cavity 14 between the inner and outer skins 11 and 12, is an upstand 3, the upstand 3 being in contact with the inner surface of the inner skin 12. A front profile 4 extends substantially vertical upwardly from the front flange 2, and within the cavity 14 between the inner and outer skin 11 and 12, the front flange 2 being in contact with the inner surface of the outer skin 11.

The upstand 3 and the front profile 4 are connected by a second profile plate 5 which extends upwardly of the front profile 4 to meet the upstand 3 at an acute angle.

The flanges 1 and 2, the upstand 3, and the first and second profiles are preferably formed from a single sheet of metal to form an integral lintel structure. However, it will be appreciated that the lintel structure'can be formed from two or more pieces of metal which can be joined using known techniques such as welding.

The two end portions 8 and 9 of the illustrated lintel each contain a fixing plate 6, 7 which are connected to the front and rear flanges 1 and 2, thereby providing a space 10 for the shutter and its associated mechanism in addition to increased torsional rigidity to the lintel itself. In addition, the plates 6 and 7 can be used for the attachment of the shutter and its actuating mechanism.

As will be seen more clearly from Fig. 3, the upstand 3 and the second profile plate 5 define a space within which is located a thermal insulating material 15, for example polystyrene foam.

The acute angle between the upstand 3 and the second profile plate 5 serves to improve the run-off of condensation which may form in the cavity 14.

Fig. 4 is a view of the lintel from inside the building showing it positioned over an aperture in the building, for example a window or door opening. Blockwork 16 forming the inner skin 12 of the building is shown by broken lines, with the lintel itself being shown by full lines.

The two end portions of back flange 2 of the lintel rest on and are supported by the blockwork 16, the blockwork 16 being formed up to the two fixing plates 6 and 7 to secure the lintel in place. The two end portions of the front flange 1 are similarly supported by blockwork forming the outer skin 12 of the building.(not shown in Fig. 4), but by a lower course of the blockwork. The blockwork 16 forming the inner skin 12 continues above the aperture and is supported along the length of the back flange 2, and in a similar manner the blockwork forming the outer skin continues above the aperture and is supported along the length of the front flange 1.

The space 10 for housing the shutter and its actuating mechanism (neither being shown) can be seen from Fig. 4, and as will be appreciated, all of the vertical height traditionally occupied by a lintel is available for the shutter and its actuating mechanism. The illustrated lintel is therefore of particular value in building situations where space and in particular available height is limited. Furthermore, the torsional strength of such lintels has been found to be satisfactory for use with roller shutters and their associated mechanisms but without the need for a strengthening box structure having four sides which extend down the length of the lintel.

Also shown in Fig. 4 is a guide 17 for the roller shutter to be housed within the space 10, the guide 17 being located within the cavity formed by the inner and outer skins of the wall 15.

The present invention further includes security shutter systems comprising combinations a lintel in accordance with the present invention and a security shutter and its actuating mechanism.

Claims

1. A lintel for use with roller shutter assemblies, the lintel comprising front and back flanges which in use extend horizontally within the structure of a building, the front flange then being lower than the back flange, a substantially vertical back upstand contiguous with the back flange, a first and substantially vertical profile plate contiguous with the front flange, a second profile plate contiguous with the first profile plate and also with the back upstand and extending at an acute angle to the back upstand, and two fixing plates each connecting the back flange and to the first profile plate substantially orthogonally, one of each of the said two fixing plates being positioned in the two end portions of the lintel.

2. A lintel for use with roller shutter assemblies, the lintel being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3. Roller shutter systems comprising a lintel as claimed in either of the preceding claims and a roller shutter assembly adapted for use therewith.

111+1 Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Maims 1. A lintel for use with roller shutter assemblies, the lintel comprising front and back flanges which in use extend horizontally within the structure of a building, the front flange then being lower than the back flange, a substantially vertical back upstand contiguous with the back flange, a first and substantially vertical profile plate contiguous with the front flange, a second profile plate contiguous with the first profile plate and also with the back upstand and extending at an acute angle to the back upstand, and two fixing plates each connecting the back flange and to the first profile plate substantially orthogonally, one of each of the said two fixing plates being positioned in the two end portions of the lintel.

2. A lintel according to claim 1, wherein the junction between the first and second profile plates is substantially in the plane of the rear flange.

3. A lintel according to either of the preceding claims, having an integral structure formed from a single sheet of metal.

4. A lintel according to claim I or claim 2, formed from two or more pieces of metal joined together.

5. A lintel according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fixing plates are positioned inwardly from the ends of the lintel.

6. A lintel according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fixing plates define a space for a roller shutter and its actuating mechanism.

7. A lintel for use with roller shutter assemblies, the lintel being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9 1

8. Roller shutter systems comprising a lintel as claimed in any of the preceding claims and a roller shutter assembly adapted for use therewith.