US3578060A

US3578060A - Vertically movable self-locking shutter

Info

Publication number: US3578060A
Application number: US817360A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lloyd Spencer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-04-18
Filing date: 1969-04-18
Publication date: 1971-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 1988-05-11

Abstract

An exposed shutter having horizontally disposed slats movable between a raised, stacked condition and a lowered, spaced condition; the slats being provided with end fittings slidable on fixed vertical guides and linkage arranged to tilt and lock each slat in a predetermined angular position as it reaches its spaced condition, and further includes a final locking mechanism operable, when the shutter is extended, to secure all the slats so as to resist windloads; the shutter being raised and lowered by tapes which also function to release the locking mechanism.

Description

United States Patent 1,965,262 7/ 1 934 Seregi 160/165X 2,242,697 5/ l 941 Duca 160/172 2,551,736 5/1951 Guarcello... 160/172X 2,639,766 5/1953 Pratt l60/l72X 3,473,597 10/ 1969 Chevaux 160/165X Primary Examiner-Peter M. Caun ABSTRACT: An exposed shutter having horizontally disposed slats movable between a raised, stacked condition and a lowered, spaced condition; the slats being provided with end fittings slidable on fixed vertical guides and linkage arranged to tilt and lock each slat in a predetermined angular position as it reaches its spaced condition, and further includes a final locking mechanism operable, when the shutter is extended, to secure all the slats so as to resist windloads; the shutter being raised and lowered by tapes which also function to release the locking mechanism.

PATENTED MAY] 1' I971 SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR.

VERTICALLY MOVABLE SELF-LOCKINGSIIU'ITER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Outside or exposed shutters are of the vertical slat-type or horizontal slat-type. Because of windload problems, it: has

LII

been necessary to fix the slats in position; however, in some in stances the slats have been mounted for rotationabout'their longitudinal axes. In either case, however, the shutters are permanently mounted in front of the window; whereas, it would be desirable to remove the shutters from in front of the window when they are not needed or iniorder to clean the window. Also, if the slats are individually rotated, the mechanism is complicated, and often produces noise when the shutters are subject to wind.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION links in such a manner that each slat causes the preceding slat to be locked in position as the slats are lowered, and which incorporates means for locking the lowermost slat'when the shutter is fully extended.

Third, to provide in a vertically movable shutter a simple motor operated means to effect raising and'lowering-the shutter, utilizing thin tapes which are wrapped on drums mounted on a common drive shaft which also carriesa novel spiral member for moving a limit switch engaging traveler.

Fourth, to provide a vertically movable shutter which may be prearranged with minimal change in parts .to dispose the slats, when extended, in essentially horizontal position as forsouthern exposure or in an angular position as for east or west exposure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary end view of the vertically movable self-locking shutter, shown in its extended condition with" the housing shown fragmentarily.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the shutter in its raised condition, with the housing indicated in section.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, taken through 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is another fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, taken through 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged transverse sectional view, taken through 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is another further enlarged transverse sectional view, taken through 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary end view of the shutter, illustrating the manner in which each slat .moves between its stacked and.

its extended and locked position.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of an end fitting, taken within circle 8 of FIG. 7, showing an adjacent portion 'of the guide member in elevation to illustrate the clearance between the. end fitting and the guide member when the end'fitting is:in its stacked position.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to FIG. 8; taken within circle 9 of FIG. 7, and showing'an end fitting in locking engagement with the guide memben FIG. 10 is a fragmentarytplan view of the shutter with the housingremoved.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken from 11-11 of FIG. 10, showing the traveler and the screw coil.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof, taken through 12-12 ofFlG. I1.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken through 13-13 of FIG. .1, showing one ofthe'slats in plan and showing by broken lines a means whereby slats may be connected horizontally.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary side view, taken from l4-I4'of FIG. 1, and showing a single slat.

FIG. 15'is a fragmentary end view, similar to FIG. 7, but illustrating the manner in which the slats, end fittings, and linkage may be rearranged to place the slats in essentially horizontal positions when extended.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken within circle 16 of FIG. 15, and corresponding to FIG. 8' to illustrate the free'sliding relation between a fitting, when stacked, and the guide member.

FIG. 17 is a corresponding sectional view, taken within circle l7 of-FIG. 15, illustrating an end fitting in its locked position on the guide member.

FIG. 18 is an end view of a modified end fitting and a modified slat. secured thereto.

FIG; 19 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof, taken through 19-19 of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20-is a fragmentary sectional view, taken through 20-20 of FIG. 13, illustrating the clampingmeans for joining slats end-to-end.

Thevertically movable self-locking shutter includes a set of slats 1, which may be formed of various materials such as fiber glass, aluminum extrusions, or folded sheet'metal. The transverse profile of the slats may for ornamental purposes take various forms; it is essential, however, that the slats be selfsupporting when held merely at their ends. By wayof example, each slat may include a central web 2, bordered by inner flanges 3, extending in opposite directions therefrom and joined to lateral webs 4 having marginal flanges 5 also extending'in opposite directions.

Each slat is provided with a pair of end fittings 6, which may be in the form of metal castings such as aluminum die castings or injection molded of high strength plastic. Each end fitting.

includes a cross plate 7'which underlies the end of a slat 1', overwhich is placed a clampplate 8 secured to the cross plates by screws or rivets 9. A pair of parallel arms-l0'extend from the plate 7. The confronting sides of the arms'10 are provided with beveled binding faces 11 and angularly related clearance end faces 12. The arms terminate in cylindrical end portions 13. The. end fittingsare arrangedin right and left pairs; however, if the arms are cylindrical, the same end fitting may be mounted at either end of the slat 1.

Each shutter utilizes a pair of fixed guide members 14, preferably channel shaped in cross section and thus include webs 15 joined to parallel side flanges 16 having inturned extremities 17. Each guide member is also provided at the side margins of its web 15' with internal guide ribs 18, forming therebetween a shallow clearance channel. Each guide member is supported from a wall or window frame by an upper bracket 19 and a lower bracket 20. The upper brackets serve to support a housing 21, having a sloping upper wall and a depending outer wall. The arms 10 of each fitting extend across the side flanges and are spaced so that the end fittings 6 and the slats supported have limited angular movement.

One. arm of eachend fitting 6 receives a pivot 22, which may be a rivet or screw, and journals a minor link 23 in the form of a metal strip. The extremity of each link is folded to form a stop 24 which engages a side flange 16 of a corresponding guide member 14. The other arm of each fitting 6 receives a pivot '25, similar to the pivot 22, which journals a major link 26. The minor link 23 of the preceding fitting 6 is joined to the major link 26 of the succeeding fitting by a'pivot 27, the major posed clearance recesses 30' to receive guide wheels 3I mounted onshafts 32 pressfitted in the weight bar. The wheels ride loosely between the side flanges 16 and are loosely retained between the inturned portions 17 and ribs 18. The bottom end of the weight bar forms a depending yoke 33 forming a slot with parallel walls, having an opposed pair of sloping cam or wedge slots 34. Received in the yoke is a latch bolt 35 of rectangular cross section. The latch bolt is provided with a pair of mounting screws 36, provided with rollers 37 adapted to ride in the wedge slots 34 to move the latch bolt 35 to and from a confronting side flange 16. Secured to the latch bolt is a latch strip 38, having, preferably, fine teeth 39 which mate with corresponding teeth 40 provided in a keeper strip 41 secured to the confronting side flange 16.

Secured to the latch bolt 35 by the screws 36 is a stacking cage 42 which includes a crossmember 43 disposed across the open side of the guide member and receiving the screws, and an upright angle member 44. One flange of the upright member confronts the guide member 14 and forms a lateral stop 45 for the cylindrical end portion 13 of the arm 10 which receives the pivot 25 to which the major link 26 is connected. The upper edge of the crossmember 43 at the bottom of the lateral stop 45 forms a bottom stop 46. The crossmember 43 is provided with a lateral projection 430 which is connected to the lowermost end fitting by a modified link 23a.

The two weight bars 29 are suspended and moved by tapes 47; preferably metal tapes such as used for flexible measuring tapes. Such tapes have high tensional strength capable of supporting the loads imposed and capable of being wrapped about a drum 48 of small diameter. Also, such tapes are quite thin so that change in diameter as the wrapped tape even for a shutter 8 feet or so in height is minimal. The upper end of each weight bar is provided with a cross bore 49 intersected by a slit 50. The cross bore and slit receives the looped end of a tape 47. The tape is secured by an expansion plug 51 of a suitable elastomer. A bolt 52, having a washer 53 and nut disc 54 is employed to squeeze the plug 51 axially so as to lock the tape in place.-

The pair of tape drums 48 are mounted above the guide members. One drum is joined to a control shaft 55 and the other to an extension shaft 56, coaxially connected by a coupling 57. The shafts are suitably journaled in upper mounting brackets 19. The control shaft, which may be of a fixed length irrespective of the width of the shutter, is mounted between a pair of such brackets and its extremity is provided with a gear 58. A motor 59, suitably supported from a bracket 19 is provided with a pinion gear which engages the gear 58. The motor, which is conventional, is reversible and preferably provided with a lock to prevent rotation when not in operation.

Mounted on the control shaft 55 is a lead screw 61. The lead screw may be a helically coiled wire or tube secured at its extremities to the shaft as the axial thrust imposed is minimal. A pair of guide rods 62, parallel to the shaft, receive a traveler bar 63 which journals a pin 64, having a grooved head fitting the lead screw and functioning as a half nut. The traveler bar 63 is provided with setscrews 65 which engage limit switches 66 mounted on bars 67 also supported and axially adjustable on the guide rods 62. The limit switches serve to stop movement of the shutter at its stacked condition and at its extended condition by conventional electrical connection with the motor 59.

Operation of the vertically movable self-locking shutter is as follows:

When the slats are stacked, the slats 1 are in an essentially horizontal position, the end fittings 6 are tilted so that the arms 10 clear the guide members 14, as shown in FIG. 8. The stacking cage 42, lateral stop 45 and bottom stop 46, in conjunction with the lowermost minor link 23, hold the lowermost end fitting at the correct angle. The other end fittings stack thereon and are restrained by the lateral stop 45.

When the motor turns the drums to unwind the tapes, the stacked slats move downward by gravity. The uppermost slat lifts from the stack and pivots from the horizontal position shown in FIG. 2 to the inclined position shown in FIG. 1. As illustrated, particularly in FIG. 7 and by comparison of FIGS. 8 and 9, the end fittings reverse their angle of inclination, for example, between an angle of 20 in one direction to an angle of 30 in the opposite direction.

At the latter angle, the faces 11 of the arms 10 tend to bind against the guide member 14, each major link 26- pulls upwardly on the end fitting while the minor link 23 pulls downwardly, securely locking the end fitting and the corresponding slat. As the slats progressively lift from the stack, or more correctly, the stack moves downwardly, the end fittings and the slat therebetween are progressively locked in position. The

links

23 and 26 are prevented from aligning by the stop tabs 24 which engage the guide member.

When the bottom or final slat has tilted, as indicated in FIG. 1, the weight bars continue to move downwardly, causing the latch bolt to move laterally until the latch and

keeper teeth

39 and 40 interlock, securing the lowermost slat, and, indirectly, securing all of the slats above.

The limit switch controlling downward movement of the shutter is preferably adjusted to permit limited overtravel so that the weight bars maintain a load on the latch bolts.

When the motor 59 is operated to turn the drums 48 in a direction to raise the tapes 47, the weight bars 21 are first raised to disengage the latch bolts 35. Further upward movement tilts the end fittings 6 and corresponding slats 1 in sequence from the tilted position shown in FIG. 1 and top of FIG. 7 to the stacked position shown in FIG. 2 and bottom of FIG. 7. This progressive action continues until the slats are completely stacked as indicated in FIG. 2. The uppermost pair of

links

23 and 26 are not completely folded to pennit some tolerance in the operation of the limit switch which stops upward movement.

Tests have indicated that slats having a plan width of 8 inches may have an extended spacing of 6 inches and a stacked spacing of one-half inch, so that the shutter occupies a minimum of space when stacked.

The arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 through 14 is such that, when tilted, the lower edge of the upper slat is level or nearly so, with the upper edge of the lower slat and thus, is particularly suited for East and West exposure. For Southern exposure, and to minimize view obstruction, it is sometimes desirable that the slats be horizontal or only slightly tilted when extended.

If the slat 1 is inverted as shown in FIG. 15, and the end fitting be moved only slightly from their binding position; that is, between the positions shown in FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, this result can be attained. in such case, it is desirable to reverse the positions of the major link 26 and minor link 23 and to substitute a modified stacking cage 68, having a crossmember 69 fastened similarly to the crossmember 43 to the latch bolt 35. The vertical angle member 70 is provided with a lateral stop 71 and a slot 72 at the lower end of the angle member to receive a pivot 22a extending from the lowermost end fitting. This fitting is held at the proper angle by an extension 73, corresponding to the extension 43a and link 23a.

Operation of the modified shutter is essentially the same as the first described construction, the essential difference being that the angular movement of the slats is minimal.

Reference is now directed to FIGS. 18 and 19 which illustrate a modified end fitting 74 having arms 10 as in the first described structure, but having a cross plate 75 which is twisted with respect to the common plane of the two arms 10 and joined by transition portions 76 dimensioned so that the modified fitting stacks in the same center-to-center spacing as the fitting 6. This arrangement permits the use of a a modified slat 77 which may be channel shaped, comprising a web 78 and depending side flanges 79, and may be substituted for the inverted slat 1 for Southern exposure.

In this regard, it should be noted that the slat clamping plane of the end fitting may be varied to accommodate slats of various transverse profile.

If it is desired to provide a shutter to cover a row of windows, the marginal flanges 5 and adjacent portions of the lateral webs 4 may be provided at their extremities with clamp members 80 which are joined to the slats of the adjacent shutter, as indicated by broken lines in FIG. 13. With this arrangement, one guide post 14, and: one set of end fittings and links may serve for the adjacent shutters. In this case, the drums 48 for the shutters may be mounted on a single shaft, individual motor drives may be retained; however, only. one set of limit switches is required.

While particular embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the details of the constructions set forth, but instead, the invention embracessuch changes, modifications and equivalents of the various parts and their relationships as come within the purview of the appended claims.

lclaim: l. A shutter construction, comprising: a. a pair of vertical guide posts; b. a plurality of slats extending horizontally therebetween; c. fittings for said slats tiltable between a slidable position and a locking position relative to said'posts; v

d. linkage serially connecting said fittings, said linkage operable to pen'nit said fittings to occupy a slidable position relative to said posts, and operable, when extended, to tilt said fittings to a locked position relative to said posts;

e. an extensible and retractable operating mechanism for connection with the fittings of the lowermost slat, causing said linkage and slats to be extended in sequence and for causing said linkage and slats to stack in sequence;

. the fittings of each slat, on'becoming locked, being operable through their corresponding linkage to secure the fittings of the preceding slat against displacement from their locked position;

g. and latching means actuated by the operating means, as the operating means approaches its extendedposition and as the fittings of the lowermost slat approach their locking position, to secure said fittings against displacement from their locked position by force applied to the lowermost slat independent of the operating mechanism;

means on initialretraction thereof to free the lowermost fittings and permit stacking of the linkage and slats. 2. A shutter, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. each fitting is disposed at an end of its slat and extends across three sides of a post;

b. and each linkage extends across the fourth side of said post between adjacent end fittings.

3. A shutter, as defined in claim l, wherein:

a. said operating mechanism includes means operable on predetennined retraction thereof for disposing the lowermost fittings and their corresponding slat in a predetermined slidable position on said posts, and means for aligning the remaining fittings and their slats in a corresponding slidable position and in stacked relation thereon.

4. A shutter, as defined in claim 2, wherein:

a. said posts are hollow to form guideways;

b. said operating mechanism includes suspension means movable in said guideways and connected withthe lowermost end fittings to permit extension of said end fittings and slats by gravity.

5. A shutter, as defined in claim 4, wherein:

a. said operating mechanism and locking means further includes weight members and latch elements carried thereby interposed between said suspension means and said lowermost end fittings; said latch elements being movable by said weight members into locking engagement with said posts to secure said lowermost end fittings against displacement upon terminating extension movement of said lowermost end fittings, saidlatch elements being movable to free said lowermost cnd' fittings upon raising said suspension means and saidweight members.

6v Ashuttcr, as defined in claim I, wherein:

a. said posts are hollow to form guideways;

. said latching means also being activated by the operating.

said operating mechanism includes flexible metal suspension tapes movable in said guideways and connected to the lowermost fittings to permit extension of said fittings and slats by, gravity, drums receiving said tapes, a shaft therefor, and a motor for turning said shaft and drums in a selected direction.

7. A shutter, as defined in claim 6, wherein:

a. said operating mechanism further includes a helical coil wrapped about said shaft to form a lead screw, a traveler movable along said lead screw coil and spaced limit switches for controlling said motor and engaged by said traveler.

8. A shutter construction, comprising:

a. a pair of fixed guide posts adapted to be mounted vertically at opposite sides of a window and spaced outwardly therefrom;

b. two sets of end fittings guided by said posts and tiltable between a locking position and a sliding position thereon, each of said fittings including a cross portion and first and second arms engageable with opposite sides of the corresponding post to bind said fitting against sliding movement thereon, and movable to clear said sides thereby to permit sliding movement of said fitting thereon;

c. a set of slats extending between said posts and secured to the cross portions of opposing pairs of said fittings, said slats being movable between a spaced operating position when said fittings occupy their locked position, and a contiguous stacked position when said fittings occupy their sliding position;

d. a set of linkages, each linkage being attached to a first arm of one fitting and to the second arm of the next fitting thereby connecting the members of each set of fittings in series whereby, on tensioning said linkage, said slats are spaced and said fittings are locked with respect to said posts;

e. and means for effecting movement of said slats between their spaced operating position and their stacked position.

9. A shutter construction, as defined in claim 8, wherein:

a. said posts are channel shaped;

b. and said movement effecting means includes tension members extending longitudinally within said' channels and connected to the lowermost pair of end fittings, said tension members being operable to permit lowering and spacing of said end fittings until said end fittings lock on said guide posts, and operable to raise said fittings and slats to their stacked position.

10. A-shutter construction, as defined in claim 8, wherein:

a. said posts are channel shaped;

b; and said movement efi'ecting means includes a weight member movable in each of said posts and connected with acorresponding lowermost end fitting, and'a longitudinally movable tension member suspending said weight members; said weight members when permitted by said tension members, tending to move said end fittings and slats to their extended, locked position, said tension members operable to raise said end fittings and slats to their stacked position.

11. A shutter construction, as defined in claim 10, which further comprises:

a. a latchmeans including a bolt member carried by each weight member and connected to a lowermost end'fitting, a keeper fixed in the lower end of each guide post, and

means operable as said weight members reach their lowermost position to cause mutual engagement of said bolt and keeper to lock said end fittings against upward displacement, said means being releaseable upon raising said weight members.

12. A shutter construction, as defined in claim 8, wherein:

a. said slats, when in their stacked, as well as their operating position, are essentially horizontal;

h.- and said end fittings tilt a-minimal distance from their locked positions to their slidable positions.

[3. A shutter construction, as defined in claim 8, wherein:

a. said slats, when in their stacked position, are disposed essentially horizontal, and when in their operating position are tilted to place the lower edge of an upper slat in an essentially horizontal common plane with the upper edge of the next slat below;

b. and said end fittings pivot from an angular locking position through a horizontal position to an oppositely sloping, sliding position.

14. A shutter construction, comprising:

a. a pair of guide posts of channel cross section;

b. a set of horizontally disposed individually tiltable slats extending between the posts;

c. means serially connecting the slats for vertical and tilting movement of each slat between a stacked position and an extended position, said slats and connecting means therebetween engageable with the posts to cause each slat to bind against vertical movement when in its extended position;

d. operating means vertically movable in the posts and attached to the lowermost slat to cause sequential movement of the slats to their respective binding positions as the operating means is lowered and to cause sequential movement of the slats toward their respective stacked positions as the operating means is raised;

e. and locking means responsive to the operating means, as it approaches its lowermost position, to secure the lower most slat in its binding position thereby to secure the other slats above in their respective binding positions, and responsive to the operating means as the operating means retreats from its lowermost position to release the lowermost slat for movement toward its stacked position and permits, as the operating means is raised, the slats above to assume their stacked positions.

15. A shutter, as defined in claim 14, wherein said operating mechanism comprises:

a. a flexible metal tape in each guide post;

b. a drum on which each tape is spirally wrapped, the convolutions being in a common plane;

c. a shaft connecting the drums;

d. and a motor for turning the shaft and drums in a selected direction.

16. A shutter, as defined in claim 15, wherein the operating mechanism further comprises:

a. a helical coil wrapped about the shaft to form a lead screw;

b. a traveler member movable along the lead screw;

0. and spaced limit switches for controlling the motor engaged by the traveler.

17. An operating mechanism for shutters having a set of vertically movable and tiltable slats positioned between a pair of vertical guide posts having guide channels therein, the lowermost slat having means for attachment to the operating mechanism, said operating mechanism comprising:

a. a pair of flexible metal tapes joined at their lower ends to said attachment means and extending upwardly therefrom through the guide channels;

b. a pair of similar drums at the upper ends of the guide posts on which the tapes are spirally wrapped, the convolutions of each tape occupying a common plane, the tapes being equal in length and thickness as well as similarly wrapped on their drums whereby the tapes advance and retract equally thereby to effect equal movement of both ends of the slats;

c. a drive shaft extending between the drums for turning the drums in unison;

d, and means for turning the shaft.

18. An operating means, as defined in claim 17, which further comprises:

a7 a relatively stiff helical coil secured to the drive shaft;

b. a parallel shaft;

c. a traveler member slidable on the parallel shaft and engageable with the convolutions of the coil for movement along the drive shaft;

d. a pair of spaced limit switches positioned for engagement by the traveler member; e. and the shaft turning means the limit switches.

being a motor controlled by

Claims

1. A shutter construction, comprising: a. a pair of vertical guide posts; b. a plurality of slats extending horizontally therebetween; c. fittings for said slats tiltable between a slidable position and a locking position relative to said posts; d. linkage serially connecting said fittings, said linkage operable to permit said fittings to occupy a slidable position relative to said posts, and operable, when extended, to tilt said fittings to a locked position relative to said posts; e. an extensible and retractable operating mechanism for connection with the fittings of the lowermost slat, causing said linkage and slats to be extended in sequence and for causing said linkage and slats to stack in sequence; f. the fittings of each slat, on becoming locked, being operable through their corresponding linkage to secure the fittings of the preceding slat against displacement from their locked position; g. and latching means actuated by the operating means, as the operating means approaches its extended position and as the fittings of the lowermost slat approach their locking position, to secure said fittings against displacement from their locked position by force applied to the lowermost slat independent of the operating mechanism; h. said latching means also being activated by the operating means on initial retraction thereof to free the lowermost fittings and permit stacking of the linkage and slats.

2. A shutter, as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. each fitting is disposed at an end of its slat and extends across three sides of a post; b. and each linkage extends across the fourth side of said post between adjacent end fittings.

3. A shutter, as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. said operating mechanism includes means operable on predetermined retraction thereof for disposing the lowermost fittings and their corresponding slat in a predetermined slidable position on said posts, and means for aLigning the remaining fittings and their slats in a corresponding slidable position and in stacked relation thereon.

4. A shutter, as defined in claim 2, wherein: a. said posts are hollow to form guideways; b. said operating mechanism includes suspension means movable in said guideways and connected with the lowermost end fittings to permit extension of said end fittings and slats by gravity.

5. A shutter, as defined in claim 4, wherein: a. said operating mechanism and locking means further includes weight members and latch elements carried thereby interposed between said suspension means and said lowermost end fittings; said latch elements being movable by said weight members into locking engagement with said posts to secure said lowermost end fittings against displacement upon terminating extension movement of said lowermost end fittings, said latch elements being movable to free said lowermost end fittings upon raising said suspension means and said weight members.

6. A shutter, as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. said posts are hollow to form guideways; b. said operating mechanism includes flexible metal suspension tapes movable in said guideways and connected to the lowermost fittings to permit extension of said fittings and slats by gravity, drums receiving said tapes, a shaft therefor, and a motor for turning said shaft and drums in a selected direction.

7. A shutter, as defined in claim 6, wherein: a. said operating mechanism further includes a helical coil wrapped about said shaft to form a lead screw, a traveler movable along said lead screw coil and spaced limit switches for controlling said motor and engaged by said traveler.

8. A shutter construction, comprising: a. a pair of fixed guide posts adapted to be mounted vertically at opposite sides of a window and spaced outwardly therefrom; b. two sets of end fittings guided by said posts and tiltable between a locking position and a sliding position thereon, each of said fittings including a cross portion and first and second arms engageable with opposite sides of the corresponding post to bind said fitting against sliding movement thereon, and movable to clear said sides thereby to permit sliding movement of said fitting thereon; c. a set of slats extending between said posts and secured to the cross portions of opposing pairs of said fittings, said slats being movable between a spaced operating position when said fittings occupy their locked position, and a contiguous stacked position when said fittings occupy their sliding position; d. a set of linkages, each linkage being attached to a first arm of one fitting and to the second arm of the next fitting thereby connecting the members of each set of fittings in series whereby, on tensioning said linkage, said slats are spaced and said fittings are locked with respect to said posts; e. and means for effecting movement of said slats between their spaced operating position and their stacked position.

9. A shutter construction, as defined in claim 8, wherein: a. said posts are channel shaped; b. and said movement effecting means includes tension members extending longitudinally within said channels and connected to the lowermost pair of end fittings, said tension members being operable to permit lowering and spacing of said end fittings until said end fittings lock on said guide posts, and operable to raise said fittings and slats to their stacked position.

10. A shutter construction, as defined in claim 8, wherein: a. said posts are channel shaped; b. and said movement effecting means includes a weight member movable in each of said posts and connected with a corresponding lowermost end fitting, and a longitudinally movable tension member suspending said weight members; said weight members when permitted by said tension members, tending to move said end fittings and slats to their extended, locked position, said tension members operable to raise said end fittings and slats to their stacked position.

11. A shutter construction, as defined in claim 10, which further comprises: a. a latch means including a bolt member carried by each weight member and connected to a lowermost end fitting, a keeper fixed in the lower end of each guide post, and means operable as said weight members reach their lowermost position to cause mutual engagement of said bolt and keeper to lock said end fittings against upward displacement, said means being releaseable upon raising said weight members.

12. A shutter construction, as defined in claim 8, wherein: a. said slats, when in their stacked, as well as their operating position, are essentially horizontal; b. and said end fittings tilt a minimal distance from their locked positions to their slidable positions.

13. A shutter construction, as defined in claim 8, wherein: a. said slats, when in their stacked position, are disposed essentially horizontal, and when in their operating position are tilted to place the lower edge of an upper slat in an essentially horizontal common plane with the upper edge of the next slat below; b. and said end fittings pivot from an angular locking position through a horizontal position to an oppositely sloping, sliding position.

14. A shutter construction, comprising: a. a pair of guide posts of channel cross section; b. a set of horizontally disposed individually tiltable slats extending between the posts; c. means serially connecting the slats for vertical and tilting movement of each slat between a stacked position and an extended position, said slats and connecting means therebetween engageable with the posts to cause each slat to bind against vertical movement when in its extended position; d. operating means vertically movable in the posts and attached to the lowermost slat to cause sequential movement of the slats to their respective binding positions as the operating means is lowered and to cause sequential movement of the slats toward their respective stacked positions as the operating means is raised; e. and locking means responsive to the operating means, as it approaches its lowermost position, to secure the lowermost slat in its binding position thereby to secure the other slats above in their respective binding positions, and responsive to the operating means as the operating means retreats from its lowermost position to release the lowermost slat for movement toward its stacked position and permits, as the operating means is raised, the slats above to assume their stacked positions.

15. A shutter, as defined in claim 14, wherein said operating mechanism comprises: a. a flexible metal tape in each guide post; b. a drum on which each tape is spirally wrapped, the convolutions being in a common plane; c. a shaft connecting the drums; d. and a motor for turning the shaft and drums in a selected direction.

16. A shutter, as defined in claim 15, wherein the operating mechanism further comprises: a. a helical coil wrapped about the shaft to form a lead screw; b. a traveler member movable along the lead screw; c. and spaced limit switches for controlling the motor engaged by the traveler.

17. An operating mechanism for shutters having a set of vertically movable and tiltable slats positioned between a pair of vertical guide posts having guide channels therein, the lowermost slat having means for attachment to the operating mechanism, said operating mechanism comprising: a. a pair of flexible metal tapes joined at their lower ends to said attachment means and extending upwardly therefrom through the guide channels; b. a pair of similar drums at the upper ends of the guide posts on which the tapes are spirally wrapped, the convolutions of each tape occupying a common plane, the tapes being equal in length and thickness as well as similarly wrapped on their drums whereby the tapes advance and retract equally thereby to effect equal movement of both ends oF the slats; c. a drive shaft extending between the drums for turning the drums in unison; d. and means for turning the shaft.

18. An operating means, as defined in claim 17, which further comprises: a. a relatively stiff helical coil secured to the drive shaft; b. a parallel shaft; c. a traveler member slidable on the parallel shaft and engageable with the convolutions of the coil for movement along the drive shaft; d. a pair of spaced limit switches positioned for engagement by the traveler member; e. and the shaft turning means being a motor controlled by the limit switches.