GB2429028A

GB2429028A - Overlapping shutter lath

Info

Publication number: GB2429028A
Application number: GB0516715A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Chisnall
Original assignee: AS Fire and Rescue Equipment Ltd
Current assignee: AS Fire and Rescue Equipment Ltd
Priority date: 2005-08-13
Filing date: 2005-08-13
Publication date: 2007-02-14
Also published as: GB0516715D0

Abstract

A shutter, as used on fire engines, consists of a number of laths 10, which are connected together and can be drawn across an opening. The laths 10 being formed with hinge members 13, 14 along their longitudinal edges that co-operate with the hinge members 13, 14 of the adjacent lath 10 so that the laths 10 have rotation about each other, and each lath 10 having a projecting portion 15 of the outer external surface 12 that projects beyond the co-operating hinge members 13, 14 and overlaps a co-operating portion 16 of the outer external surface 12 of the adjacent lath 10 thereby shielding the co-operating hinge members 13,14 and thereby presenting a substantially continuous flat external surface 12, 15 when the shutter is in the closed position and the laths are inline.

Description

I

Overlapping shutter lath This invention relates to roller shutters and is concerned in particular with the laths that form the shutter curtain and the interconnection of these laths by which such a shutter curtain articulates and rolls up for storage.

British Patent Specification No. GB2367851 discloses a shutter curtain which comprises pivotally joined laths. It is usual practice for laths to be interconnected by a mechanical hinge formed at their co-operating adjacent longitudinal edges. Such connections can be vulnerable to the ingress of dust and water and the hinge shape can tend to retain them which can be detrimental to the operation of the shutter. The laths do not present a continuous flat surface at the hinge when the laths are inline and in the same plane. Other forms incorporate separate inter lath seals which form part of the hinge mechanism and are partly visible at all times. It is also common practice for roller shutters to have stick on coverings for high perspicuity on emergency vehicles or for information and advertisements. The fitting and the subsequent parting of coverings necessary to allow the lath hinge to pivot can be difficult either because of the shape of the surface of the lath adjacent to the hinge or that the parting operation may result in damage to the inter lath seals.

An object of this invention is to provide a shutter that when closed is less vulnerable to the ingress of dust and water with or without the aid of additional seals and does not tend to retain any dust and or water that should enter or be detrimentally affected by them. Another objective is to hide and protect from damage the inter lath seal when fitted. A further objective is to present a flatter continuous surface there by making it simpler to fit stick on coverings and then part them in way of the hinge without causing damage.

According to this invention there is provided a shutter assembly comprising a structure which surrounds an opening, a shutter curtain which comprises a plurality of laths hingedly connected together at their longitudinal edges and moveable across the opening in a direction substantially normal to those longitudinal edges to an open or a closed position in which the plurality of laths extend across the opening, the laths being formed with hinge members along their longitudinal edges that co-operate with the hinge member of the adjacent lath so that the laths have rotation about each other in an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal edge of the lath, and each lath having a projecting portion of the outer external surface that projects beyond the co-operating hinge members and overlaps a co-operating portion of the outer external surface of the adjacent lath thereby shielding the co-operating hinge members and thereby presenting a substantially continuous flat external surface when the shutter is in the closed position and the aths are inline.

Preferably the lath is formed with an inner and outer surface joined at their longitudinal edges so as to form an enclosed space and on each longitudinal edge there is formed a hinge member which extends over substantially the full length of the lath upon which it is mounted. Conveniently the hinge member formed on one longitudinal edge of the lath co-operates with the hinge member formed on the other longitudinal edge so that the hinge members on adjacent laths can co-operate with each other to pivotally connect the laths together. At each end of the lath there is a guide means that co-operates with longitudinal guide ways so that the lath extends between and substantially normal to the longitudinal guide ways. Usually the connected laths are mounted with their longitudinal edges substantially horizontal and their outer surface substantially vertically and inline when in the closed position. Each hinge member may form a stop surface which limits pivotal movement of the lath member relative to the adjacent lath with which it is connected.

In another embodiment substantially as previously described the lath may incorporate a seal which extends substantially over the full length of the lath and is positioned behind and shielded by the projecting portion of the external surface which projects beyond the co-operating hinge members and overlaps the adjacent lath, the seal not forming part of the lath hinge. The arrangement being such that when the shutter is in the closed position the seal is in contact with both of the adjacent laths and thereby forming a barrier to the ingress and passage of dust or water between the laths.

In another embodiment, substantially as previously described the shutter has a stick on high visibility one piece covering which is applied to the outer surface of the laths whilst the shutter is in the closed position. Following application the covering is parted by the use of a blade at the edge of the projecting portion of the outer surface where it overlaps the co-operating portion of the outer surface on the adjacent lath thereby allowing the laths to pivot about each other.

Specific embodiments of this invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:Figure 1 is a section through a pair of laths viewed from the side showing the laths in the inline closed position.

Figure 2 is a view similar to figure 1 illustrating a pair of laths viewed from the side showing the laths in the curved open position such as when rolled up for storage.

Figure 3 is a section through the laths that incorporate a seal viewed from the side showing the laths in the inline closed position.

Figure 4 is a view similar to figures 2 and 3 illustrating laths that incorporate a seal viewed from the side showing the laths in the curved open position such as when rolled up for storage.

A vehicle such as a fire engine has an opening which provides access to a storage compartment. The opening is normally closed by a roller shutter the curtain of which is formed by a plurality of hingedly connected laths.

Figure 1 and Figure 2 show sections through a plurality of elongate laths 10, which are hingedly connected together along their longitudinal edges. The arrangement being such as to allow pivotal movement of one lath 10 upon another as shown in figure 2, thereby allowing the laths 10 to roll around the storage roller.

The lath 10 comprises an inner surface 11 and an outer surface 12 joined at their longitudinal edges where hinge members 13, 14 are formed. The shape of hinge member 13 co-operates with hinge member 14 so as to allow a plurality of laths 10 to be joined together and allow pivotal movement of adjacent laths 10 in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal edge of the laths 10. Each lath 10 has a projecting portion 15 of the outer surface 12 which projects beyond the co- operating hinge members 13, 14 and overlaps a co-operating portion 16 of the outer surface 12 of the adjacent lath 10 thereby protecting the co- operating hinge members 13, 14 and forming a barrier to the ingress and passage of dust or water between the laths 10 when the shutter is in the closed position as shown in figure I and the outer surfaces 12 of the laths 10 are inline. Each hinge member 13, 14 form stop surfaces 17, 18 which limit the amount of rotation of each lath 10 about another.

In certain embodiments, substantially as previously described and as shown in figures 3 and 4, the lath 10 incorporates a seal 19 which extends over substantially the full length of the lath 10. The seal 19 is shaped and positioned so as to be in contact with both adjacent laths 10 when the shutter is in the closed position, the seal 19 thereby forming a barrier to the ingress and passage of dust or water between the laths 10. The seal 19 is hidden and protected by the projecting portion 15 of the outer surface 12 of the lath 10 when the shutter is in the closed position as shown in figure 3 and the outer surfaces 12 of the laths 10 are inline.

In another embodiment, substantially as previously described and as shown in figures 1 to 4, the shutter has a stick on high visibility one piece covering which is applied to the outer surface 12 of the laths 10 whilst the shutter is in the closed position as shown in figures 1 and 3. Following application the covering is parted by use of a blade at the edge of the projecting portion 15 of the outer surface 12 where it overlaps the co-operating portion 1 of the outer surface 12 on the adjacent lath 10 thereby allowing the plurality of laths 10 to articulate about each other as shown in Figures 2 and 4.

Claims

1. A shutter comprising a structure which surrounds an opening, a shutter curtain which comprises a plurality of laths hingedly connected together at their longitudinal edges and moveable across the opening in a direction substantially normal to those longitudinal edges to an open or a closed position in which the plurality of laths extend across the opening, the laths being formed with hinge members along their longitudinal edges that co-operate with the hinge member of the adjacent lath so that the laths have rotation about each other in an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal edge of the lath, and each lath having a projecting portion of the outer external surface that projects beyond the co- operating hinge members and overlaps a co-operating portion of the outer external surface of the adjacent lath thereby shielding the co-operating hinge members when the shutter is in the closed position and the laths are inline and subsequently presenting a substantially continuous flat external surface.

2. A shutter according to Claim 1, wherein each lath incorporates a seal which extends substantially over the full length of the lath and is positioned behind and shielded by the projecting portion of the external surface which projects beyond the co-operating hinge members and overlaps the adjacent lath such that when the shutter is in the closed position the seal is in contact with both of the adjacent laths and thereby forming a barrier to the ingress and passage of dust or water between the laths.

3. A shutter according to Claim 2, wherein the seal forms no part of the hinge mechanism formed by the co-operating hinge members of the adjacent laths.

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