US1367240A - Protective movable shutter and interlocking slat therefor - Google Patents

Description

J. M. CORNELL.

PROTECTIVE MOVABLE SHUTTER AND INTERLOCKING SLAT THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3,1919.

1 ,3 67 ,240, Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

FWITNESSES INVENTOR QR 0Q. (3mm Q2 7 fi zj I 2/ 2 ATTORNEY UNITED STATES JOHN M. CORNELL, OF SEABRIGHT, NEW JERSEY.

PROTECTIVE MOVABLE SHUTTER AND INTERLOCKING SLAT THEREFOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

Application filed June 3, 1919. Serial No. 301,453.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. CORNELL, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Seabright, in the .county of Monmouth and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Protective Movable Shutters and Interlocking Slats Therefor, of which the followin is a specification.

he main objects of my invention are to provide a fire and burglar protective shutter, curtain or door, composed of a plurality of slats, linked together at and along their abutting edges so as to form a flexible pivothinge oint therebetween, so as to form from the plurality of more or less rigid slats so secured together, a shutter, curtain or sliding or rolling door of great flexibility, which may easily, and with greatest ease and but little expenditure of power, be quickly shifted from the visible protective door closing, to the concealed and door opening position, where it will take up but little space, and vice versa.

This shutter, curtain or door, of my improved form shown, described and claimed herein, has greater strength and greater rotective qualities against both fires and urglarious entry, is of greater wearing qualities, and less liable to distortion when subjected to great heat in case of fire, and simultaneously deluged with water, and the individual slats of which the same is made up of my new and improved form, have reater capability of resisting vertical bend ing or torsional strains, than any slats known in the prior art made of the same material of equally light weight; and in addition such shutter has numerous other desirable capabilities and features.

My said invention is full shown, described and claimed in the following specification of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, wherein similar letters or numorals of reference designate like or equivalent parts wherever found throughout the several views, and in which,

Figure 1, is a front face view of the upper left hand portion of a shutter of my imroved form, showing three of my improved orm of slats, and part of another, linked together, with two combined securing and runner-plates, also of my new and improved form attached thereto.

Fig. 2, is a side view, of the structure shown in Fig. 1 looking toward the left in the direction of the arrow;

F igs. 3 and 4, are views similar to Fig. 2, showing two different slightly modified forms of slats, from those shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

0 Fig. 5, is an end view of the upper port on of my said improved form of shutter, door or curtain, partially coiled upon its supporting actuating drum or roll, looking 1n the direction of the arrow in Fig. 6 toward the right;

F 1g. 6, is a front view of Fig. 5, looking toward the left, a portion of the front wall being broken away.

Referring to the drawing:

The reference letter A, designates the individual slats, and B, the combined slat securing and runner-plates, or lugs, one of which is secured at either end of each alternate slat, by rivets 11, by spot electric or autogenous welding or in any other suitable way, such rivets passing through the lugs 12 and 12' respectively and through the medial fiat side portions 13 and 13, or the welding being at the same points.

Separating the two medial flat side portions of the slat, and like such portions 13 and 13, extending longitudinally the entire length thereof, on the front side is the groove 14, and on the other and rear face or side of the slat, the rearwardly extending tongue 15,which for convenience of description, will be hereinafter named and referred to as the lon itudinal groove-tongue stiffening member Formed on one of the edges of the slat and extending longitudinally thereof throughout its entire length is an outer substantially cylindrical securing-coil 22, and on the other edge is an oppositely faced coil 23, of such lesser diameter than the coil 22, as to slide easily into the coil 22 of the adjacent slat of like form, so as to form an easily working pivot hinge-joint D therebetween, whereby a plurality of such slats being so successively linked together may be built up into a shot ter of any desired length.

The combined slat-securing and runnerplates B, which may be cast, dro -forged or otherwise formed of any suitab e metal or material, but are preferably made of sheetsteel, are then secured at either end of each alternate slat, in the manner before mentioned; the complete curtain for convenience of attachment to the roller, being provided at the upper and roller end with a slat having no attached runners, and for ease of running provided at the other and bottom end with runners B; and where the shutter is not to be rolled upon a .roller the same is made up of an uneven and odd number of slats, each end slat having at either end a runner B.

Such part B has its securing-end plate 16 extending at a right angle to the securinglugs 12 and 12', between which is located the open-ended cavity 17, to receive the tongue 15; and the end-plate 16 is rounded from front to rear as indicated at 18; is dished or cut away at the central back central portion and-projects at 18 far back beyond the back of'the pivot hinge-joint D, in such manner and to such extent that in actuating the door, by contact with the inner wall 21 of the slidegroove of the door-frame, (Figs. 5 and 6) as they swing into contact therewith through the vibration of same, this will prevent contact therewith of the slats, while at the same time the enlarged heads of the rivets 11, will perform the same function as to the wall 20.

In Figs. 5 and 6, one of my improved shutters is shown partially rolled upon a drum or roller to partially open the doorway, and therein E, designates one of the roller support-end-brackets within which is located a suitable journal (not shown) supporting one end of the drum-shaft, supported at the other end in a like journal, and provided with any suitable rotating mechanism, also not shown; while C, designates the drum or roller to which the end of the shutter is secured in any suitable manner, usually by bolts or screws; and 26, designates the hub of the end-plate secured to the roller in any desired manner through which the shaft 27, which for sake of lightness is usually of the hollow form shown, passes.

In the two slightly modified forms of slats shown in Figs. 3 and 4:, they each differ from that shown in Fig. 1 in that instead of the longitudinal groove-tongue stiffening-member being in cross section of a substantially U or semi-circular form, they are each of a more V like and greater elongated shape; the tongue 15, extending about twice the distance toward the rear; and also that while in Fig. 2, the slat throughout its entire width, including coils, groove-tongue and medial connecting portions, is of the same thickness of material, in Fig. 3, the walls of the groove-tongue are much thinner than in Fig. 2, thus making the slat more capable of slightly bending along the longitudinal line of the groove; a feature very desirable under certain conditions and for certain uses; while in Fig. 4, the groove-tongue F, has walls of much greater thickness than any of the other portions of the slat; and also that from such groove-tongue F, the metal or material gradually lessens in thickness, until at the coils they are of extreme thinness as compared with the other portions thereof; and this gradual thinning of the metal of the medial portions and coils, may be combined with the forms of groove-tongues shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and each of these several forms possesses different, but highly valuable qualities and capabilities, for certain particular uses and purposes, under various conditions, which I do not deem it necessary to more particularly set forth herein.

It will be seen (Figs. 2, 3 and 4:) that the medial upper flat-face portion 13 of the slat flanking the groove-tongue F, is connected with the outer large hinge-coil 22, by a substantially flat angle portion 22, while the lower like medial flat face portion 13, is connected with the inner smaller diametered coil 23, by a curved portion 522" that to facilitate easy working upon the pivot-joint or hinge so formed they are made to fit somewhat loosely together; and that a space is left between the end of each coil and the adjacent abutting slat surface to permit of free play upon the hinge-joint without liability of disconnection except when the securing-runner plates 13, are removed and then only by sliding them apart. And when such coils are made of the proper respective dimensions, when in the extended and unrolled position shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, they are locked at each pivot-joint against any further movement to the front, so as to form by such interlocking a practically rigid protective door when assailed from the outside.

While usually I. prefer to form my said improved protective shutter of sheet steel, I do not limit myself to any particular material, nor even to metals; as for use in desks or cabinets the same may be formed of wood, wood-pulp, or other material capable of being worked to form. And for ornamental as well as protective purposes for use in public and semi-public buildings, such as courthouses, museums, libraries, and banks, etc, the same may be formed of metals other than ferric, or of mixtures or alloys, of any metals, such as bronzes, brasses, and other like alloys; many of which would be exceedingly useful for ornament; or in chemical works where iron or its compounds would be quickly destroyed by being brought into contact with disintegrating and corrosive dusts, liquids, vapors or gases.

\Vhile my improved shutter, curtain or door, may be used with either end as the top, it is preferable that the outer larger hinge-coils 22 should be placed at the top. for if for any reason, heavy rainstorm, or fire, the same should be deluged exteriorly with water, the same would not run into the hinge-joints by reason of the downward outward inclination of the inclined faces 22,

immediately below each of such hinge-joints D; whereas with its osition reversed more or less water would e bound to enter between the inner and outer coils.

The slats A, of whatever metal etc., made, are of material of such particular (gage of thickness, and such qualities require by the conditions it will have to meet in use, as may be necessary; and are brought to form, by any suitable process, or processes, tools or machines, as may be necessary, such as pressing, rolling, die-drawing, roller-drawing, swaging, etc., or by a combination of a plurality thereof; either while the stock is in a cold or heated state; and may, in many cases be cast in suitable molds.

In addition to stiffening the slat against bending on and along vertical lines, the

roove-tongue F, when viewed from the ront and grooved side, has the appearance, at first glance, of having slats 0 only half the width it actually possesses, which adds greatly to the artistic efiect. And while such groove-tongue as first formed is usually in almost the exact center of the flat strip of stock, out of which the slat is being formed, when finished with the hinge-joint coils formed at its edges, as shown in the drawing, it will be seen that such groovetongue F, is located much nearer to the lower inner small coil 23, than it is to the outer larger coil 22.

But in the actual door, by reason of the lights and shadows at the pivot-joints and the groove 14, each slat seems to the eye to be two of equal width; but while I prefer to form such groove-tongue closelly adjacent to the longitudinal center of the s at, it may be any distance from it; and may be even made by swaging, or rolling, or drop-for 'ng, of a zig-zag, waved, or beaded form; a l without departing from the broad scope of my invention; as I do not intend to limit myself to an of the various forms shown, all which may e widely varied, in various ways without so departing therefrom.

I claim:

1. A slat for the purposes described, comprising an extending tongue stiffening-member located substantially at and along the central axis of the slat; and two integrally formed hinge-coils formed one on one edge and one on the other, so as to leave a narrow s ace between the end of the coil and the abuttin slat surface, which is the op osite of the a utting surface of the other 001 the outer diameter of one coil bein substantially that of the inner diameter 0% the other coil; and the slat body thinning gradually away from a point adjacent to the ton estifi'enin -member to the ends of the coi s.

2. A s at for the purposes described, comprising a longitudinal groove-ton e stiflening-member, located substantia y at and other, so formed as to along the central axis of the slat so as to form a longitudinal cavity or groove on one side, and thecoincident extending tongue on the, other, the walls of the groove tongue being of a different thickness from that portion of the slat on either side save that immediately connected therewith, and an integrally formed hinge-coil upon and alon either edge, one of the exterior diameter 0 the interior diameter of the other, so formed as to leave a narrow s ace between the end of the coil, and the abutting adjacent slat surface which is the opposite of the abutting surface of the other coil.

3. A flexible protective shutter made u of a plurality of slats, each comprising a ongitudinal narrow roove-tongue stiffening: member located su stantially at and along the central axis of the slat so as to form a lon itudinal cavity or roove on one side, an a coincident exten ing ton ue on the other; and an inte rally forme hin e-coil upon and along eit er edge, one of t e exterior diameter of the other, so formed as to leave a narrow space between the end edge of the coil and the abutting slat surface, which is the opposite of that of the other coil; the outer diameter of one coil bein substantially that of the inner diameter 0 the other, whereby a series may be successively interlocked; the walls of the movetongue converging at such an angle 0 acuteness that when the same is viewed from the groove side or face it will appear to the eye to be separated on the longitudinal line of such roove into two slats.

4. 1 flexible protective shutter made up of a plurality of slats, each comprising a longitudinal groove-tongue stiffen1ng-member located substantially at and along the central axis of the slat, so as to form a longitudinal groove or cavity on one side, and a coincident extending tongue on the other; and an inte rally formed hinge-coil upon and along elther edge, one of the exterior diameter of the interior diameter of the leave a narrow space between the end edge of the coil and the abutting slat surface which is the opposite of that of the other coil; the outer diameter of one coil being substantially that of the inner diameter of the other, whereby a series may be successively interlocked; the material being thickest in the walls of the movetongue and thinning thence gradual y outward to the extreme ends of the coils.

Signed at the borough. of Manhattan, in the c1ty, count and State of New York, this 31st day of Mliy 1919.

JOHN M. CORNELL.

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