US3842891A

US3842891A - Shutter-blind device

Info

Publication number: US3842891A
Application number: US00391969A
Authority: US
Inventors: S Kinnroth; I Friedman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-08-27
Filing date: 1973-08-27
Publication date: 1974-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 1991-10-22

Abstract

In a preferred embodiment, a shutter-blind device having an upright track mounted on each of opposite sides of a window jamb with opposite shutter strip ends respectively mounted to slidably ride on the tracks one end per track with the shutter strip each extending therebetween, with the strips being parallel and sideby-side to one-another aligned and slidable edge-wise with their respective faces aligned in a common plane and with the side edges of serially consecutive-relationship being abuttable with one-another, each pair of consecutive shutter strips being joined by an intermediate linking strip mounted to permit the attached pair of strips to pivot in a common one direction whereby a blind composed of a series thereof folds in an accordion-like fashion, but each edge of each linking strip mounted with the shutter strip edge in a manner permitting a minor predetermined amount of free-play such that space between adjacently paired shutter strips may be increased or decreased to and fro by sliding the shutter strips further apart or closer together, each link strip defining a light-transmittable through-passage through which light is admitable through the shutter blind when consecutively adjacent shutter strips are spaced openly apart, there being both a pulley mechanism for slidably raising and lowering the blind and a lock mechanism for immovably anchoring a selected pair of the consecutively adjacent pairs of shutter strips of the linked series.

Description

United Patent [191 Kinnroth et a1.

[111 3,842,891 ['45] Oct. 22, 1974 SHUTTER-BLIND DEVICE [76] Inventors: Samuel F. Kinnroth, 351 W. 24th I St., Apt. 20-A, New York, N.Y.

10011; Irving 1. Friedman, 100-22 Erdman Pl., Bronx, N.Y. 10475 [22] Filed: Aug. 27, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 391,969

[521 U.S.'Cl....'.'..., 160/35, 160/220 [51] Int. Cl E0611 9/00 [58] Field of Search 160/1, 2, 32-35, 160/19, 26, 130, 133, 199, 219, 220, 221

[56] References Cited I 3 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 3,516,470 6/1970 Kurz 160/35 X 3,570,579 3/1971 Matsushima 160/35 X 3,738,413 6/1973 Frobosilo et al 160135 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 361,389 5/1962 Switzerland 160/220 562,940 10/1932 Germany 160/219 1,238,802 7/1960 France 160/220 636,606 3/1962 Italy 160/220 587,264 6/1959 ltaly 160/220 Primary Examiner.l. Karl Bell I57] ABSTRACT In a preferred embodiment, a shutter-blind device tracks one end per track with the shutter strip each and side-by-side to one-another aligned and slidable extending therebetween, with the strips being parallel edge-wise with their respective faces aligned in a common plane and with the side edges of serially consecu-' tive-relationship being abuttable with one-another, each pair of consecutive shutter strips being joined by an intermediate linking strip mounted to permit the attached pair of strips to pivot in a common one direction whereby a blind composed of a series thereof folds in an accordion-like fashion, but each edge of each linking strip mounted with the shutter strip edge in a manner permitting a minor predetermined amount of free-play such that space between adjacently paired shutter strips may be increased or decreased to and fro by sliding the shutter strips further apart or closer together, each link strip defining a light-transmittable through-passage through which lightis admitable through the shutter blind when consecutively adjacent shutter strips are spaced openly apart, there being both a pulley mechanism for slidably raising and lowering the blind and a lock mechanism for immovably anchoring a selected pair of the consecutively adjacent pairs of shutter strips of the linked series. 7

24 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures 1 SHUTTER-BLIND nnvrca This invention relates to a new type shutter-blind device for doors, window, outside shutters, or the like.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Prior to the present invention there has been no adequate shutter blind available of simple structure which could offer total privacy or alternatively and alternately privacy together with air-ventilation and/or light admission space between shutters together with compact storage and a continual anchoring to the window or door of each of opposite ends of each shutter strip to offer both security against unauthorized entry past the shutter blind and against peeping-tom activities past one or the other ends of the respective shutter strips or between consecutive shutter strips, together with minimal and convenient compact storage space structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Objects of the present invention include the obtaining one or more and/or each of the above-noted and additional desired features overcoming defficiencies and problems of prior shutter blind structures, while obtaining additional advantages, utilities, and features of flexibility of utilities.

Additionally, other objects include the obtaining of low cost structures, easy installment, simple structures in design and operation thereof, security barrier-bars in concealed combination with the respective shutter strips, a minimum of accessory parts or elements for the assemblying and mounting of the shutter blind, compact storage space of an closed shutter blind, a flexibility in and plurality of available shutter-position choices, fire-hazard safety-features, together with other multiple utilities of individual components as well as of the shutter blind itself.

Other objects become apparent from the preceding and following disclosure.

One or more objects of the invention are obtained by the invention as defined'hereinafter.

Broadly the invention is directed to a basic combination of two units or elements, these two elements being used in pluralities of each and in physical combinations with one-another, other elements used therewith being possibly of a conventional nature. However there are preferred novel other combinations including other novel elements considered in their own stead as well as in new combinations and utilities thereof achieving the aforestated objects in part or in whole. In particular, there is provided a slat structure hereafter referred to as a shutter blind strip which is of a predetermined shape, either premolded or precast, or alternatively assembled from several separate parts. The general and preferred structures illustrated for this invention are however precast or premolded insofaras the slat structure (shutter blind strip) is concerned. Although for this invention to function it is important that the shutter blind strip include two substantially flat-faced strips with the faces thereof in about parallel planes and with the flat-faced strips having their longitudinal axes extending about parallel to one-another in common directions and important that the parallel flat-faced strips be rigidly anchored together in a spaced relationship fixedly permanently maintaining the above-noted relationship fixedly positioned one strip to the other, it nevertheless is possible and preferred for the two flat-faced strips to be separate from one-another yet each to include matable locking structure as matable male and female elements for securably locking-together the two flat-faced strips. When locked together, the opposing two strips one relative to the other are inverted as compared to each other, each strip having one blunt edge and another arced circularly rounded edge and in the mated state the blunt edge of each strip is space from and adjacent to the arced circularly rounded edge of the other strip a distance of predetermined spacing just slightly greater than the thickness of a linking member used to hook together two adjacent paired-strip combinations into a linked series. The linking element is the second element essential to the functional series of shutter blinds, each paired-strip combination being a shutter blind. Each link element is essentially an element shaped to extend substantially lineally between the shutter blinds edges to be linked, lineally through the predetermined space of each shutter blind and for each link element edge after extending through the predetermined space the link edge assume an arced circularly curved shape of substantially hook-shape having a radius slightly greater than that of each shutter blinds flat-faced strips arced circularly curved shape such that the shutter blinds arced circularly curved edge fits slidably within the link elements curved edge, but with the blunt edge flat-faced strip wall (defining the predetermined space) offering snug back-support to the linear portion of the link element which is passed through the predetermined space described above. Accordingly, adjacent side edges of different shutter blinds are linked together such that both shutter blinds (relative to a link element linking the two) are pivotal about toward each other resulting in the two shutter blinds having their respective flat-faces in juxtaposition and parallel to oneanother; the (in-effect) reverse relationship of blunt edge-curved edge at the opposite edge of each flat-faced strip results in a series of shutter blinds folding in accordion-like fashion. Additionally, however, there is a space hereafter referred to as a freespace located between the flat-faced strips curved edge and the joining structure joining the opposing flatfaced strips, such that the link structure is slidable and shiftable to and fro within this free-space with the result of the adjacent shutter blinds edges being able to shift to and fro from flush adjacent relationship to spacedapart relationships; the effect of this is that it makes possible light transmission through light passages provided in the link element. When the shutter blinds are pushed together, no light nor air is transmittable therethrough. When spaced apart, light and air are transmittable through the link element passages. The anchoring structure attaching together the spaced-apart two flatfaced strips, preferably includes two spaced-apart flanges parallel to one-another perpendicular to and extending between each of the two flat-faced strips, and also preferably there is inserted within the passage formed thereby metallic preferably iron or steel rods thereby providing for barring the windows while nevertheless having available ventilation within the room; as a preferred combination, there is provided a guide rail at at-least one end of the series of linked shutter blinds and preferably at both ends thereof, with the shutter blind having at the guide-rail end appropriate slot guide structure as a part of a particular at-least one of the flat-faced anchored-together strips such that the end of the shutter blind is not readily removed from its respective guide rail except by being slid-off the end of the rail. Accordingly, also, although there would be provided convenient means for the mounting and dismounting of one or more of the series of shutter blinds, in a preferred embodiment the base extending across the bottoms of the rails is readily releasable such that in event of fire or the like, the entire series of linked shutters may be dumped from the bottom of the guide rails in a second by mere release of a catch or flipping of a pivotable bottom structure or the like.

The individual flat-faced strip and/or the full shutter blind (two mated or fused-together flat-faced strips) may be employed within guide slots positioned to form a front wall for a collapsed-linked shutter-blinds storage space, thereby making an additional utility for the basic shutter structure.

It is within the scope of the invention to utilize any desirable or appropriate or conventional lifting mechanism for raising the series of shutter blinds within a guide-structure, but preferably there is provided a cord and pulley mechanism typically of a typical shutter blind type well known in the art, and such may be attached to an upper one, for example, of the series of shutter blinds or alternatively to a base (bottom) one, for example, of the series of shutter blinds, for the raising of the top portions of the shutter-blind series to thereby stretch-out the individual shutter blinds from adjacent ones to permit light-passage when connected to the top one, for example, or to raise all in a closed state when attached to a bottom shutter blind, for example. There is also provided any of a plurality of possible brake key element(s) either slidably or preferably pivotably mounted for insertion within the path of some part of the structures of the linked series of shutter blinds such that for example when utilizing the raising cord attached liftingly to a bottom shutter blind, after raising the blinds from a bottom storage case or alternately after lowering the blinds from an overhead storage case, the key element is pivoted into a locking position for an upper shutter blind and thereafter the bottom shutter blind is permitted to be lowered sufficiently that beneath the locked shutter blind the series of linked shutter blinds become parted from oneanother to permit the passage of light. Alternatively if the braking or locking key element is located at a lower point relative to the guide track(s) (or guide rail(s)), the series would be lowered to a locking point being stretched apart to the light-passing state when lowering from the overhead storage, locked at a lower point and not lowered any further from the top if it is desired that light continue to pass but permitting further lowering of the top shutter blinds above the locked one if it is desired to permit a stacking-up of the shutter blinds in a closed non-light-passing state. Similarly, when the locking key is at the bottom location, if the series are pulled upwardly (for example, from a top-attached cord-shutter blind, once the series was raised to the desired extent from a base storage structure, being raised in the stretched open light-passing state, the raising cord is secured to prevent the lowering of the upper shutter blinds if it is desired that the shutter blinds remain spaced-apart for light admission through the lightadmitting passages associated with the link element(s).

Preferred combinations for the present invention include the unification of the parallel guide-rails with the upright window jambs and/or door jambs and/or as a shutter or door or window frame which may be totally opened or totally closed by the above-noted structures and mechanisms.

The invention may be better understood by reference to the figures as follow, illustrative of typical and preferred structures.

THE FIGURES FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective side view a typical and preferred specific embodiment of a larger inventive combination in the form of a guide rail frame with overhead storage compartment and self-contained mountable unit of the linked series of shutter blinds of the present invention, shown in a partially lowered position with the shutter blinds pushed-together in a nonlight-transmitting state as would naturally occur during the lowering of the bottom shutter blind to which the pulley cord is attached operatively before the pivoting of the locking key to a shutter-blind-locking position; this relationship is more aptly disclosed in each of the in-part views of FIGS. 2 and 3 as disclosed as taken respectively along lines 2-2 and 3-3 of FIG. 1. However, once the key element has been pivoted to the locking state of one shutter blind as illustrated in a typical in-part cross-sectional view analogous to that of FIG. 2, and when thereafter the bottom shutter blind is permitted to further stretch-out by further lowering to open-up the spaces between the adjacently previously stacked series of linked shutter blinds, light is thereby permitted to pass through shutter blind slots as illustrated in the in-part view of FIG. 5 in cross-section which FIG. 5 is analogous to FIG. 3 except that FIG. 5 represents the light-passing open state of the series of shutter blinds beneath the locked shutter blind of FIG.

The mechanism and relationships of various structures are further illustrated by the in-part and crosssectional view of FIG. 6 as taken along lines 66 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 illustrates an in-part and exploded view of preferred structures of the nature that would be a part of the shutter blinds and guide rails of FIG. 1 embodiment, showing the guide-rail flanges and showing the slots within each flat-faced strip for the riding thereof on its respective guide-rail flange. This FIG. 7 also discloses the preferred male-female attaching structures for the rigidly joined but detachable separate flat-faced strips which in the joined-state form the individual shutter blind unit.

FIG. 8 illustrates under A, B," and C alternate representative linking link elements 20 (A), 20' (B), and 20 (C), the C illustration illustrating in exploded view the mounting of the link elements 20" with serially adjacent shutter blinds with their respectively adjacent linkable opposing edges; also, as to the particular link structures (link elements) of part C, a preferred flange-slot arrangement is illustrated for anchoring the link element against lateral sliding or shifting. Each of the views of A, B, and C are in-part views, in side perspective view.

FIGS. 9 and 10, respectively, illustrate a preferred embodiment of the fire-hazard safety feature for ready release of all of a series of linked shutter blinds from the storage and/or guide rails, in the closed and retaining state in FIG. 9 and in the open and releasing state in FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 illustrates an in-part perspective view of an overhead storage structure of the nature generally as that of FIG. 2, but this FIG. 11 illustrating in particular the preferred arrangement in which slots are defined at each end into which individual flat-faced strips are slid, in series one stacked on top of the other to thereby form a front wall.

FIGS. l2, l3, and 14, respectively, disclose preferred embodiments of window, shutter (in the nature of an awning and/or as outside shutters for a house), and door, respectively, the FIG. 14- further disclosing a base-storage structure and one in which the pulley cord would be attached to preferably a top shutter blind.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 discloses a preferred shutter structure combination 11 of the novel shutter blinds in a linked state mounted in parallel upright rail guides having lower interconnecting base and upper interconnecting storage structure plus enclosed operating mechanisms. The overhead storage structure 12 includes spaced-apart forward and rearward walls typically as shown in FIG. 1 and also in FIG. 4 and also in FIG. 11 in a preferred embodiment for the overhead storage structure 12, and also in FIG. 12 the overhead storage structure 12" and in FIG. 13 the overhead storage structure 12", each defining a storage space into which the series of linked shutter blinds are collapsible and storable. The term collapsible refers to the previously note accordion-like folding of the series as they are pulled-up into the space as typically represented by the illustrated mechanism of FIG. 2. The FIG. 1 structure further illustrates the guide rail parallel structures 13a and 13b in their respective upright positions having forward guide flange 14a front side) and rearward guide flange 14a on one side and (not shown) 14b and 14b flanges on the other guide structure 13b between which are defined the FIG. I typically illustrated space 35 between flanges 14a and 14a and the FIG. 7 space 35 between FIG. 7

flanges

14 b and 14b of guide structure 13b. The base member 15 interconnects the bottoms of the guide structures 13a and 13b and acts as a bottom stop to the rail flanges. Typically each shutter blind unit may be referred to a 19 and includes in combination (either fused or otherwise mated-together) flatfaced strips 19a and 19b, in the one illustrated instance of FIG. 3, and 190 and 19d, in the other illustrated instance of FIG. 3 as partially shown as 19a and 190 in FIG. 1, and as illustrated in FIG. 12 by similar designations, and as illustrated in a mated detachable embodiment of FIG. 7 as 190' and 19b, and in the differing embodiment of FIG. 8 as 19' and 19". Between the linked shutter blinds is illustrated the partially visible (FIG. 1) link element 20, better shown and illustrated in FIG. 3 as and in FIG. 8A similarly as 20 and FIG. 88 as 20' and FIG. 8C as 20" as also shown as 20" in the FIG. 12 embodiment and also (but not numbered) in the FIG. 13 embodiment. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, there is a locking lever 16 with handle 16a therefor, with the locking cord 17 secured to the pivot key element lever arm 18b at end 18a thereof pivoted at 18c for the pivoting of the lock key pin 18d, these

parts

18a, 18b, 18c, and 18d also being shown in the locked pivoted state in FIG. 4, the FIGS. 2 and 4 also illustrating the pulley and pulley cord and catch mechanism including typically the pull cord 24a, pulley 25a, cord portion 24b, pulley 25b with its central rod 250 extending through the shutter blind for support thereof, cord portion 240 and the secured knot portion 24d; also there is the pivoting catch 26 which opens-up when the cord 24a is pulled and which remains open until the cord 24a is pulled (swung) slightly forwardly while being permitted to move upwardly to thereby catch into the catch 26a again, which catch 26a pivots on pivot pin 26b, and is conventional in its nature,'as also illustrated in FIG. 4 as well as the FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 further illustrates the paired spaced-apart connecting flange-

structures

27a and 27b with the pulley hollow-rod 25 within the defined space between

flange structures

27a and 27b, and arced circularly rounded edges 21a and 21b and 21a and 21b, blunt edges such as edge 1912; also illustrated is the preferred steel bar 23 inserted within the space of one of the illustrated shutter blinds in the space defined between the joining flanges such as the

flanges

27a and 27b. FIG. 6 better illustrates parts already described above.

FIG. 7 illustrates a preferred shutter blind formed by detachable matable identical but invertedly mounted with one-another flat-faced strips 19a and 19b, having the preferred slots 34a and 34b into which fit the

flanges

14b and 14b riding in space 35', the male members 31a and 31b being retainably mated within the female structures 33 in the respective receptacles 32a and 32b.

In the FIG. 8 embodiment, there are illustrate three different

types link elements

20, 20', and 20" in the part A, B, and C respectively of FIG. 8, the part A link element 20 having a window slot 22 for the through passage of light and/or air, but the part C embodiment having space-apart separate portions achieving the same effect by defining therebetween an open space, and the two space-apart link elements 20 each including a flange 28 which rides in slots 29b and 29a, respectively, preventing the link elements 20" from shifting or sliding laterally left or right along the arced circularly rounded edges of the opposing flat-faced strips of the adjacent shutter blinds being linked. The hooked relationship of the various embodiments of the link element is best illustrated in FIG. 3, in which it is illustrated how the link elements arced circularly curved hook-edges at each of opposite upper and lower edges thereof are identified as typically 20a and 20b of the link element 20 and which snugly but slidable fit and conform to the arced circularly curved edges 21a and 21b of the shutter blinds being linked; also illustrated well in the FIGS. 3 and 5 are the closed relationship of FIG. 3 and the open relationship of FIG. 5 made possible by the defined space 52 between the arced circularly curved edge 21a and the connecting or joining flange 27b, for example, making possible the to and fro shifting of the link element which thereby makes possible the opening and closing of the adjacently linked shutter blinds as illustrated in a closed state in FIG. 3 and in an open state in FIG. 5, the FIG. 5 embodiment permitting light to be transmitted through the aperture or slot 22 of the link element 20.

FIG. 9 illustrates in an in-part view an embodiment analogous to that of FIG. 1, except a preferred embodiment having a flip-base pivotable on pivot pin 38 with a catch pin 39 for typically wedge-catch locking in a closed state but easily flipped to an open state in direction 40 as shown in FIG. 10 whereby the shutter blinds 41 drop-out in their entirety within one or two seconds in direction 42.

In the FIG. 11 illustration, there are forward and rearward flanges 43a and 43b, respectively, defining slot 46 therebetween into which are slid matched abutting edges of paired shutter blinds the same as in the serially linked shutter blinds except that in this wallforming embodiment there are no linking elements present nor necessary. Thus, this provides an additional utility for the basic shutter blind or for individual flatfaced strips thereof depending upon the width of the slot and upon whether the the flat-faced strip is of the type of FIG. 7 where each is separately usable or whether it is a fused structure as in FIG. 3, for example. The U-shaped structure providing flanges 43a and 43b is mounted onto the side member 44 of the storage structure (as a whole) 12', with the side flange 44 being an extension of the back member 46, and the U- structure being mounted by brads 45.

FIG. 12 illustrates an entire window jamb and window structure in combination with the shutter blind combination heretofore described, all as a single unit separately manufacturable and insertable into the appropriate space in a house structure being constructed during initial home or apartment building, with a mounting flange 48 and mounting aperture 49 and lower window 50 and upper window 51 illustrated in intermediate positions. The panel 52' channels separately the linked series of shutter blinds of this invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates an outside shutter blind awninglike 53 combination illustrated in the spaced-apart state with spaces 52" in which the unitary guide-rail and storage structure 54 slidable pivots into space 55 as the slidable support member 57 is slid upwardly and- /or downwardly on slide upright bar 56 above the window ledge 58 outside window 51.

FIG. 14 basically differs only in being a door combination instead of a window combination of FIG. 12, and has the storage compartment 12"" at the bottom and the lock element l8'a at the bottom with the lifting pulley connected as pulley 25b by cord 24'b to an upper-most shutter blind, pulled upwardly by pulling downwardly on the cord portion 24a, channeled through opening 25'a, and with the blind in the lowered state, there being a light-transmittable space 52" above the top of the upper-most shutter blind.

It is within the scope of the present invention to make such variations and modifications as are apparent to a person or ordinary skill in this art, including substitution of equivalents. For example, the individual shutter blinds or matable parts thereof as in FIG. 7 may be in part and/or in whole plastic, metal, fiberglass, glass, wood, or the like, or one the one and the other different.

I claim:

1. A shutter-blind device comprising in combination: a shutter strip extending axially length-wise in a plane and having opposite edges one of which defines a substantially blunt abutment and the other of which is arcuate curving circularly beneath the strips main body between the opposite edges, and spaced from the arcuate edge and extending from the strips underside there being joining means extending substantially downwardly for joining with a substantially similar shutter strip structure in an inverted position such that a curved edge of one strip is adjacent and space from a blunt edge of the other strip structure and that the remaining blunt edge of the one strip is adjacent and spaced from a curved edge of the other strip structure.

2. A shutter-blind device of claim 1, in which the shutter strip includes adjacent and spaced from each end thereof slot-defining structure defining a slot extending transversely across the shutter strip between and through each of said opposite edges such that each slot is receivable of a linear guide-rail structure for slidably guiding the shutter strip therealong.

3. A shutter-blind device of claim 1, including link means for slide-pivotably linking serially one adjacent shutter strip and mounted said similar shutter strip structure together-with another adjacent shutter strip and mounted similar shutter strip structure positioned such that when linked together blunt edges are opposingly position and curved edges are opposingly positioned to one-another whereby linked strips are foldable face-to-face and in juxtaposition to one-another.

4. A shutter-blind device of claim 3, in which said link means includes a substantially linear mid-section extending between and including opposite edges each shaped to extend laterally in an arcuate curve circularly with both arcuate edges of the link means extending in a substantially common lateral direction relative to the linear mid-section, said mid-section having a predetermined thickness, and said shutter strips blunt abutment spaced from said shutter strips arcuately circularly curved edge sufficiently to define a space therebetween of a distance therebetween a minor degree greater than said predetermined thickness such that one of said link means arcuate edges is slidably receivable within said space, and said shutter strip extending width-wise on the blunt-abutment edge thereof for the blunt abutment to meet and abut an opposing blunt abutment of a linked other shutter strip.

5. A shutter-blind device of claim 4, in which said link means includes linking structure at about each end of and extending in a linking state between adjacently linked shutter strips and defines at least one throughspace passage extending about transversely perpendicular to said linear mid-section such that light is transmittable through the through-space passage from one to the other side of the linear mid-section.

6. A shutter-blind device of claim 5, in which each shutter strip arcuate circularly curved edge at its nearest point of the curved structure thereof is spaced away from and opposing to a lateral portion of said shutter strips downwardly extending joining means defining therebetween a free-space of predetermined breadth and width sufficient for movement within the freespace of one of said link means arcuate circularly curved edges in to and fro directions in a plane substantially parallel to a linear plane extending between the shutter strips opposite edges by sliding action of said linear mid-section within said defined space between the spaced-apart blunt-abutment edge and arcuatecircularly curved edge, such that linked-together serially adjacent strips are abuttable and slidable-apart from one-another to and fro while maintaining linear alignment of the widths of the respective strips within a common plane.

7. A shutter-blind device of claim 6, in which said joining means comprises two spaced-apart flanges, including a plurality of pairs of said shutter and said substantially similar shutter strip structure joined by each of the two spaced-apart flanges, including a plurality of said link means occuring alternately with the serially aligned side-by-side ones of said plurality of pairs linking together the adjacent'pairs, including track means for receiving and guiding sliding movement of said linked pairs along a direction substantially parallel with a width-wise face of each said shutter strip, including shutter movement means fon causing said plurality of serially linked pairs to slide along said track means, and including locking means for locking at least one of said pairs against sliding movement and for unlocking a locked one of said pairs for permitting sliding movement along said track means.

8. A'shutter-blind device of claim 7, in which the shutter strip includes adjacent and spaced from each end thereof slot-defining structure defining a slot extending transversely across the shutter strip between and through each of said opposite edges of the strip such that each slot is receivable of a linear guide-rail structure for slidably guiding the shutter strip therealong, andin which said track means comprises spacedapart two guide-rail structures one at each of opposite ends of the shutter strips of each said pair with the respective rail extending through the serially aligned slots of the serially linked plurality such that a shutter blind is formed and is ridable on the respective guide-rails slidably when unlockedfor movement and caused to slide by the shutter movement means.

9. A shutter-blind device of claim 8, in which said locking means comprises a key element and an actuation handle operatively mounted and connected to the key element, said key element being movable into a space obstructive thereby of sliding movement of said at least one of said pairs.

10. A shutter-blind device of claim 8, in which the locking means is pivotably mounted on said track means in a position pivotable of the key element to a point intermediate between adjacent linked shutter strips arcuate circularly curved edges and intermediate between laterally extending opposite arcuate circularly curved edges of a link means such that further sliding movement is substantially inhibited and blocked by the intermediately positioned key element.

11. A shutter-blind device of claim 10, in which said track means further includes spaced between the guide-rails at one end thereof a storage-space-defining structure including spaced-apart forward and rearward walls spaced-apart a distance about the same as a width of a shutter strip and having a receiving-openingdefining structure receivable within the storage space the series of linked plurality of pairs as the series of linked pairs are caused to move slidably toward the storage-space-defining structure along the two tracks, said tracks being substantially parallel to each other.

12. A shutter-blind device of claim 1], in which said shutter movement means comprises cord and pulley structures operatively mounted on said guide-rail means and operatively attached to said serially linked plurality of pairs such that the shutter strips are caused to slide along the guide-rail structures.

13. A shutter-blind device of claim 12, including gate means at an end of the guide-rail structures spaced and mounted operatively for alternately blocking further sliding movement and permitting all of said serially linked plurality of pairs to exit from said guide-rail 14. A shutter-blind device of claim 12, including barrier bars, at least one mounted in the space defined between said spaced-apart flanges of the joining means of the shutter strip such that security against unauthorized entry is provided for thereby providing security.

15. A shutter-blind device of claim 11, in which the storage-space-defining structure includes spaced-apart strip-tracks defining a track space in each receivable of the thickness of said sutter strip such that the front wall of the storage-space-defining structure is composed of side-to-side edge-wise stacked shutter strips.

16. A shutter-blind device of claim 7, in which said shutter movement means includes lever elements operatively attached to a lower one of said plurality of pairs such that when the track means is uprightly positioned for upright sliding movement of the pairs, upward lifting force on the attached lower one causes pairs stacked on top thereof to be pushed upwardly riding in the track means.

17. A shutter-blind device of claim 12, in which said shutter movement means includes lever elements operatively attached to a lower one of said plurality of pairs such that when the track means is uprightly positioned for upright sliding movement of the pairs, upward lifting force on the attached lower one causes pairs stacked on top thereof to be pushed upwardly riding in the track means.

18. A shutter-blind device of claim 17, including an annular window structure, said track means being mounted fixedly within said window structure within the through-space thereof along opposite upright edges thereof.

19. A shutter-blind device of claim 18, in which said track means includes pivot structure at an upper end thereof providing for outward pivoting of a lower end thereof, when the track means is uprightly positioned for upright sliding movement of the pairs.

20. A shutter-blind device of claim 17, including an annular door structure, said track means being mounted fixedly within said door structure within the through-space thereof along opposite upright edges thereof.

21. A shutter-blind device of claim 17, in which said key element is positioned at an upper portion of said track means, when the track means is uprightly positioned for upright sliding movement of the pairs.

22. A shutter-blind device of claim 6, in which said joining means includes for at least one of (a) said shutter strip and (b) said shutter strip structure, at least one of a male element and a female element, and for the remaining one of (a) said shutter strip and (b) said shutter strip structure, at least one of the remaining one of a male element and a female element, the male element and female element being receivably matable with oneanother as said joining means.

23. A shutter-blind device of claim 1, in which said joining means includes for said shutter strip at least one of a male element and a female element extending from and continuous with the shutter strip.

24. A shutter-blind device of claim 23, in which there also is at least one of the remaining one of said male element and said female element as a part of the structure of said shutter strip such that a second one of said shutter strip in an inverted state is matable with each structures, thereby providing a fire-hazard safety- 5 of the male element and the female element.

feature.

Claims

1. A shutter-blind device comprising in combination: a shutter strip extending axially length-wise in a plane and having opposite edges one of which defines a substantially blunt abutment and the other of which is arcuate curving circularly beneath the strips main body between the opposite edges, and spaced from the arcuate edge and extending from the strip''s underside there being joining means extending substantially downwardly for joining with a substantially similar shutter strip structure in an inverted position such that a curved edge of one strip is adjacent and space from a blunt edge of the other strip structure and that the remaining blunt edge of the one strip is adjacent and spaced from a curved edge of the other strip structure.

4. A shutter-blind device of claim 3, in which said link means includes a substantially linear mid-section extending between and including opposite edges each shaped to extend laterally in an arcuate curve circularly with both arcuate edges of the link means extending in a substantially common lateral direction relative to the linear mid-section, said mid-section having a predetermined thickness, and said shutter strip''s blunt abutment spaced from said shutter strip''s arcuately circularly curved edge sufficiently to define a space therebetween of a distance therebetween a minor degree greater than said predetermined thickness such that one of said link means'' arcuate edges is slidably receivable within said space, and said shutter strip extending width-wise on the blunt-abutment edge thereof for the blunt abutment to meet and abut an opposing blunt abutment of a linked other shutter strip.

5. A shutter-blind device of claim 4, in which said link means includes linking structure at about each end of and extending in a linking state between adjacently linked shutter strips and defines at least one through-space passage extending about transversely perpendicular to said linear mid-section such that light is transmittable through the through-space passage from one to the other side of the linear mid-section.

6. A shutter-blind device of claim 5, in which each shutter strip arcuate circularly curved edge at its nearest point of the curved structure thereof is spaced away from and opposing to a lateral portion of said shutter strip''s downwardly extending joining means defining therebetween a free-space of predetermined breadth and width sufficient for movement within the free-space of one of said link means'' arcuate circularly curved edges in to and fro directions in a plane substantially parallel to a linear plane extending between the shutter strip''s opposite edges by sliding action of said linear mid-section within said defined space between the spaced-apart blunt-abutment edge and arcuate-circularly curved edge, such that linked-together serially adjacent strips are abuttable and slidable-apart from one-another to and fro while maintaining linear alignment of the widths of the respective strips within a common plane.

7. A shutter-blind device of claim 6, in which said joining means comprises two spaced-apart flanges, including a plurality of pairs of said shutter and said substantially similar shutter strip structure joined by each of the two spaced-apart flanges, including a plurality of said link means occuring alternately with the serially aligned side-by-side ones of said plurality of pairs linking together the adjacent pairs, including track means for receiving and guiding sliding movement of said linked pairs along a direction substantially parallel with a width-wise face of each said shutter strip, including shutter movement means for causing said plurality of serially linked pairs to slide along said track means, and including locking means for locking at least one of said pairs against sliding movement and for unlocking a locked one of said pairs for permitting sliding movement along said track means.

8. A shutter-blind device of claim 7, in which the shutter strip includes adjacent and spaced from each end thereof slot-defining structure defining a slot extending transversely across the shutter strip between and through each of said opposite edges of the strip such that each slot is receivable of a linear guide-rail structure for slidably guiding the shutter strip therealong, and in which said track means comprises spaced-apart two guide-rail structures one at each of opposite ends of the shutter strips of each said pair with the respective rail extending through the serially aligned slots of the serially linked plurality such that a shutter blind is formed and is ridable on the respective guide-rails slidably when unlocked for movement and caused to slide by the sHutter movement means.

10. A shutter-blind device of claim 8, in which the locking means is pivotably mounted on said track means in a position pivotable of the key element to a point intermediate between adjacent linked shutter strips'' arcuate circularly curved edges and intermediate between laterally extending opposite arcuate circularly curved edges of a link means such that further sliding movement is substantially inhibited and blocked by the intermediately positioned key element.

11. A shutter-blind device of claim 10, in which said track means further includes spaced between the guide-rails at one end thereof a storage-space-defining structure including spaced-apart forward and rearward walls spaced-apart a distance about the same as a width of a shutter strip and having a receiving-opening-defining structure receivable within the storage space the series of linked plurality of pairs as the series of linked pairs are caused to move slidably toward the storage-space-defining structure along the two tracks, said tracks being substantially parallel to each other.

12. A shutter-blind device of claim 11, in which said shutter movement means comprises cord and pulley structures operatively mounted on said guide-rail means and operatively attached to said serially linked plurality of pairs such that the shutter strips are caused to slide along the guide-rail structures.

13. A shutter-blind device of claim 12, including gate means at an end of the guide-rail structures spaced and mounted operatively for alternately blocking further sliding movement and permitting all of said serially linked plurality of pairs to exit from said guide-rail structures, thereby providing a fire-hazard safety-feature.

14. A shutter-blind device of claim 12, including barrier bars, at least one mounted in the space defined between said spaced-apart flanges of the joining means of the shutter strip such that security against unauthorized entry is provided for thereby providing security.

22. A shutter-blind device of claim 6, in which said joining means includes for at least one of (a) said shutter strip and (b) said shutter strip structure, at least one of a male element and a female element, and for the remaining one of (a) said shutter strip and (b) said shutter strip structure, at least one of the remaining one of a male element and a female element, the male element and female element being receivably matable with one-another as said joining means.

24. A shutter-blind device of claim 23, in which there also is at least one of the remaining one of said male element and said female element as a part of the structure of said shutter strip such that a second one of said shutter strip in an inverted state is matable with each of the male element and the female element.