The invention relates generally to shutter panel assemblies for architectural openings, such as windows. Often these are louvred panels for interior decoration offering light, vision and ventilation control to rooms in which they are applied. Such structures are also popularly referred to as "plantation shutters". While such structures are usually arranged for interior applications, the construction is also adaptable for application on the outside of windows.

In the past such panel shutter assemblies have been made from wood or plastic simulated wood to be commensurate with traditional and retrospective styles with which these panel shutters have been associated. There has nonetheless been a demand to adapt the functionalities of such panel shutters to less traditional styles of interior decoration. There has furthermore also been a desire for such shutters to be less artisanal in their manufacture and allowing assembly by unskilled workers from

prefabricated standardized components. Manufacturing time and cost have been important drawbacks associated with a relatively limited popularity of the known panel shutters. Also in use the known panel shutters have not always satisfied the most critical consumer. On the one hand this is because wood and plastic do not always behave well when exposed to sunlight. On the other hand it has proven extremely difficult to have the louvres of one shutter panel adjusted to exactly the same position as those of a

neighbouring panel. This has often resulted in a restless atmosphere in rooms fitted with the prior art panel shutters and offered little in the way of stress prevention for the occupants of such rooms.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to propose an improved shutter assembly for architectural openings. In a more general sense it is an object of the invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art. It is also an object of the present invention to provide alternative structures which are less cumbersome in assembly and operation and which moreover can be made relatively inexpensively. Alternatively it is an object of the invention to at least provide the public with a useful alternative.

To this end the invention provides a shutter assembly as defined in one or more of the appended claims.

One important aspect of the present invention is its use of relatively flat plates with openings in a mutually complementary pattern. In contrast to the inclined vanes or slats of the conventional shutter panels, the apertures in the relatively flat and thin plates allow unobstructed use of light and vision from any position.

The reference to architectural openings is not intended to limit the invention to window openings or room dividers. It is also envisioned for the shutter panel assembly of the invention to be applicable to access openings of closets or furniture. Similarly the invention is also useful for mobile homes or ships. Apart from offering light and vision control the shutter assembly according to the invention may also improve security and be an additional thermal and/or sound barrier.

Further advantageous aspects of the invention will become clear from the appended description and in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a shutter assembly according to the invention mounted in a window opening;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of a typical panel of a shutter assembly according to the invention;

Figure 3 is an exploded view showing the construction of a typical perimeter frame for a shutter panel;

Figure 4 is a partly exploded view of a mounting frame arrangement for mounting a shutter panel to an architectural opening, such as a window opening; Figure 5 is a partial cross section according to the line VI -VI indicated in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective detail view of meeting innermost shutter panels in a closed position of the panel assembly; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary top plan view showing first and second panels and first and second hinge arrangements in an opened position.

In Figure 1 a shutter assembly 1 is shown mounted in a window opening 3. The shutter assembly 1 can be mounted to either the inside or the outside of a window opening, but a preferred application as shown is to the inside of a window opening. The shutter assembly 1, depending on the size of the window opening 3 comprises at least one first rectangular shutter panel 5 and at least one second rectangular shutter panel 7. The first panel 5 is hingedly connected to a perimeter 9 of the window opening 3 along a first edge 11 by a first hinge member 13. The first hinge member 13 connects to a mounting frame 15, which attaches to a vertical part of the window perimeter 9. The first and second panels 5, 7 are of a substantially similar construction and include first vertical frame columns 17A, 17B, and second vertical frame columns 19. Further the first and second panels also each include top and bottom horizontal frame beams 21, 23. The first and second vertical frame columns 17A, 17B, 19 are spaced and connected at their upper longitudinal ends by the top horizontal frame beams 21, and at their lower longitudinal ends by the bottom horizontal frame beams 23 to form into a rectangular perimeter frame for each of the first and second panels 5, 7. The second rectangular panel 7 is hingedly connected to the first rectangular panel 5 by a second hinge member 25. Each of the first and second panels 5, 7 is provided with a plate assembly 27 within the

rectangular perimeter frame of each panel 5, 7 defined by the first and second vertical frame columns 17A, 17B, 19 and the top and bottom horizontal frame beams 21, 23. Each of the plate assemblies 27 has a plurality of apertures 29 for light and ventilation control with a function that will be desribed herein below.

For situations where the window opening 3 is larger than could be covered by the first and second panels 5, 7, Figure 1 shows a version in which further first and second rectangular shutter panels 5A, 7A are used to cover the remaining portion of the window opening 3. The further first and second shutter panels 5A, 7A are shown partly opened over the window sill 31, but in construction are substantially identical to the first and second panels 5, 7. Each panel 5, 5A, 7, 7A is provided with an adjuster 33 in its second vertical frame column 19, for the purpose of selectively opening and closing the plurality of apertures 29, as will be described herein below.

Furthermore a grip or knob 35 may be provided at one of the vertical columns, such as shown in Figure 1 on the inner central first vertical frame column 17B. The central vertical columns 17B of the second panels 7, 7A may have complementary shapes that overlap when closed, to keep out light. Also these meeting central vertical columns 17B may be provided with magnetic means to keep these engaged, as will be explained later.

Referring now to Figure 2, which shows the first shutter panel 5 in an exploded arrangement, it is seen that the plate assembly 27 includes a fixed plate 27A and a movable plate 27B. The fixed plate 27A when mounted is fixed with respect to the perimeter frame defined by the first and second frame columns 17A, 19 and horizontal frame beams 21, 23. The movable plate 27B is mounted vertically movable with respect to the fixed plate 27A by means of rivets 37 and slide bushing 38 attached to the movable plate 27B, which are slidably engaged in longitudinal slots 39 in the fixed plate 27 A.

Indexing means are provided between the fixed and movable plates 27A, 27B as follows. An indexing spring holder 41 is attached to the movable part 27B by means of suitable fasteners 43, such as screws and/or rivets. Attached to the indexing spring holder 41 is an indexing spring 45, which is positioned to selectively engage one of a plurality of indexing recesses 47 formed on the fixed plate 27A. The movable plate 27B further has a plurality of complementary apertures 29A, which are complementary to the apertures 29 in fixed plate 27A, but in an offset position with respect to those in the fixed plate. As a result of the movability of the movable plate 27B allowed by the longitudinal slots 39, the complementary apertures 29A can be positioned in register with the apertures 29 in the fixed plate 27A, or the plate material between the individual complementary apertures 29A can cover each of the apertures 29 of the fixed plate 27A. The relative position of the movable plate 27B with respect to the fixed plate 27A thus defines a fully open position and a fully closed position of the plate assembly 27.

Between these fully open and fully closed positions the indexing means formed by the spring holder 41, indexing spring 45, and indexing recesses 47, also allow the movable plate 27B to be arrested in predefined partially open and partially closed positions in-between the fully open and fully closed positions. Not only does this offer a very simple and reliable mechanism for adjusting the plate assembly 27, it also enables adjacent first and second panels 5, 7, 5A, 7A to be adjusted to identical positions of opening. The latter is effective for light control, but is also advantageous from a decorative point of view. Further it is seen in Figure 2 that the second vertical frame column 19 is provided with an adjuster slot 49 to allow passage and movement of the adjuster 33 which fixes to the indexing holder 41. As shown in Figure 2, each of the complementary patterns of apertures 29, 29A includes elongated slots alternated with strips, while these slots and strips are parallel to one another and horizontally arranged. Not shown in Figure 2, but easily conceivable the complementary pattern of apertures could take many other forms as well. Furthermore a wire netting, such as an insect screen, may cover the apertures in one of the fixed and movable plates 27A, 27B, to prevent ingress of foreign matter when a window covered by the shutter panel assembly is open for ventilation. Figure 3 shows an example, in exploded view, of the construction of a typical perimeter frame in this case for the further second shutter panel 7 A. A connecting element 51 is provided at each corner where confronting longitudinal ends of each of the first frame column 17B, top and bottom beams 21, 23 and second frame column 19 meet. The form of the connecting elements 51 is mated in a suitable manner to the inner contours of the respective frame columns 17B, 19 and horizontal beams 21, 23, as is conventional in the art. Screw fasteners 53 are provided to secure the connecting elements 51 to the respective columns and beams. Also visible in Figure 3 is that the second hinge member 25 is secured in respect of the second frame column 19 by a hinge cover plate 55. The hinge plate 55 is attached to the second hinge member 25 by screw fasteners 57. As can be generally appreciated from Figures 2 and 3, the parallel first and second vertical frame columns 17A, 17B, 19 of the perimeter frame, as well as the top and bottom horizontal beams 21, 23 thereof may each have a

longitudinal grooves facing one another. Such opposite parallel grooves may conventionally be employed to allow the coextensive first and second rectangular plates 27A, 27B with opposite vertical edges thereof to be engaged by two or more of the opposite longitudinal grooves for guidance and fixing. Also shown in Figure 3 is an optional magnetic strip 77, which will be described in more detail with respect to Figure 6.

In Figure 4 an adjustable version of the mounting frame 15 of Figure 1 is shown. In this case a wall mount frame member 15A adjustably receives an adjustment frame member 15B. The first hinge member 13 of the first shutter panel 5 connects to the adjustment frame member 15B. The wall mount frame member 15A is arranged to be fixedly mounted to the perimeter of a window opening. Screw blocks 59 one adjacent each end are attached to the wall mount frame member 15 A, by means of fastener 61. Each screw block 59 has an internal screw thread for receiving an

adjustment screw 63. One adjustment screw 63 is held with respect to a bottom end of the adjustment frame member 15B by a bottom plate 65. The other adjustment screw 63 is held to an upper end of the adjustment frame member 15B by an upper plate 67. The arrangement is such that with the bottom plate 65 and the upper plate 67 affixed to the adjustment frame member 15B, the head of the adjustment screws 63 are each held between the relevant bottom and upper plates 65, 67 and an outer wall of the adjustment frame member 15B. A corresponding opening in the outer wall of the adjustment frame member 15B (not shown, but conventional) allows the introduction of a tool for adjusting each of the adjustment screws 63 as may be necessary to adjust the angle and distance of the adjustment frame 15B with respect to the perimeter of the window opening. This adjustment option will ensure that the bottom edge of the foldable panels 5, 7 and 5A, 7A as shown in Figure 1 can extend parallel to the window sill 31.

Referring now to Figure 5, there is shown a partial cross section according to the line VI- VI indicated in Figure 4. From this detail it can be recognized that each of the second vertical frame columns 19 has an internally extending screw receiving channel 69, which is part of the continuous cross section of frame column 19.

All frame columns 17A, 17B, 19 and beams 21, 23 are conveniently formed as extrusions, so that these have a continuous cross section. The internal screw receiving channel 69 thereby serves to receive a relevant one of the screw fasteners 53 for affixing the connecting element 51 as shown in Figure 3. The second frame columns 19 also each have an external hinge receiving channel 71 for rotatably engaging inwardly extending screw receiving channels 73 of the second hinge member 25. The inwardly extending screw receiving channels 73, apart from functioning as hinge pins, also receive the screw fasteners 57 for affixing the hinge cover plates 55, as shown in Figure 3. The construction of the first hinge member 13 (shown in Figures 1, 4 and 7) is substantially similar to the second hinge member 25 in this regard. While it appears that the left hand and right hand second frame columns 19 illustrated in Figure 5 are mirrored to one another, they use in fact identical extrusion profiles, but in a reversed position with respect to one another. Clearly this is advantageous as it reduces the number of different components necessary in constructing the shutter assembly of the invention.

Figure 6 shows in perspective a detail of how the innermost first vertical frame columns 17B meet when the panel assembly 1 of Figure 1 is closed. Each of the innermost frame columns 17B has a flange potion 75 extending in a plane parallel to the adjacent second shutter panel 7, 7A and partially beyond the boundary thereof. The flange portions 75 of the confronting inner second frame columns 17B overlap one another as shown in Figure 6. Also in this case the confronting columns 17B are identical extrusions in a reversed position with respect to one another. An additional feature shown in Figure 6 is that each flange portion 75 on its side facing the other flange portion has a magnetic strip 77 inserted into an undercut groove. The magnetic strips 77 are arranged to attract one another so that the shutter assembly 1 is firmly but releasably held in its closed position. In a situation, other than that of Figure 1, when a window opening can be covered by only the first and second panels 5, 7 it is possible to provide a magnetic strip on an auxiliary profile member that is fitted to an opposite vertical part of the window perimeter 9.

For clarity Figure 7 shows a top plan view of the first and second panels in a folded open position. It is thus generally seen how the

adjustment frame member 15B is engaged over the wall mount frame member 15A, how the first hinge member 13 connects the first shutter panel 5 to the adjustment frame member, and how the second hinge member 25 connects the second shutter panel 7 to the first shutter panel 5.

Alternatively the adjustment frame member 15B may also be engaged over the wall mount frame member 15 A. It is further clear from Figure 7 that in an open position the first and second shutter panels 5, 7 can be folded flat against a wall that surrounds the perimeter of a window opening.

A shutter assembly 1 for architectural openings 3 is described that at least includes a first rectangular panel 5 hinged to a perimeter 9 of the architectural opening 3, and a second panel 7 hinged to the first panel 5. Each of the first and second panels 5, 7 comprises spaced parallel first and second vertical frame columns 17A, 17B, 19, and spaced parallel top and bottom horizontal frame beams 21, 23 connecting upper longitudinal ends and lower longitudinal ends of the first and second vertical columns 17A, 17B, 19 to define a rectangular perimeter frame. First and second

rectangular plates 27A, 27B are arranged within the rectangular frame in a relative sliding arrangement. The first and second plates 27A, 27B each have a pattern of apertures 29, 29A complementary to one another, to provide an open position, in which the apertures 29, 29A of each plate 27A, 27B are in register with one another, and a closed position, in which areas without apertures of one of the first and second plates 27A, 27B are in register with apertures 29, 29A in another of the first and second plates 27A, 27B. Indexing means 41, 45, 47 are operatively interposed between the first and second plates 27A, 27B. The indexing means 41, 45, 47 are arranged to provide identical positions of adjustment of the first and second plates 27A, 27B between the open and closed positions in each of a plurality of shutter panels 5, 7, 5A, 7 A.

It is thus believed that the operation and construction of the present invention will be apparent from the foregoing description and drawings appended thereto. It will be clear to the skilled person that the invention is not limited to any embodiment herein described and that modifications are possible which should be considered within the scope of the appended claims. Also kinematic inversions are considered inherently disclosed and to be within the scope of the invention. In the claims, any reference signs shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The term 'comprising' and 'including' when used in this description or the appended claims should not be construed in an exclusive or exhaustive sense but rather in an inclusive sense. Thus the expression 'comprising' as used herein does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps in addition to those listed in any claim. Furthermore, the words 'a' and 'an' shall not be construed as limited to 'only one', but instead are used to mean 'at least one', and do not exclude a plurality. Features that are not specifically or explicitly described or claimed may be additionally included in the structure of the invention within its scope. Expressions such as: "means for ..." should be read as: "component configured for ..." or "member constructed to ..." and should be construed to include equivalents for the structures disclosed. The use of expressions like: "critical", "preferred", "especially preferred" etc. is not intended to limit the invention. Additions, deletions, and modifications within the purview of the skilled person may generally be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as is determined by the claims.