received by the International Bureau on 23 July 2014 (23.07.2014)

Claims

1. Shutter assembly for architectural openings, including:

at least one first substantially rectangular panel for hingedly mounting to a perimeter of the architectural opening along a first vertical edge; and

at least one second substantially rectangular panel hingedly connected to the at least one first panel at a second vertical edge remote from the first vertical edge,

wherein each of the at least one first and second panels comprises:

spaced substantially parallel first and second vertical frame columns;

spaced substantially parallel top and bottom horizontal frame beams, the top horizontal frame beam connecting upper longitudinal ends of the first and second vertical frame columns and the bottom horizontal frame- beam connecting the lower longitudinal ends of the first andf second vertical columns to define a rectangular perimeter frame; and

first and second rectangular plates coextending within the rectangular frame in relative sliding arrangement, the first and second plates each have a pattern of apertures complementary to one another, the first and second plates are arranged to be relatively slidable between an open position, in which the apertures of each first and second plate are in register with one another, and a closed position, in which areas without apertures of one of the first and second plate are in register with apertures in another of the first and second plates. 2. Shutter assembly of claim 1, wherein a first indexing mechanism is operatively interposed between the first and second plates of the at least one first panel and a second indexing mechanism is operatively interposed between the first and second plates of the at least one second panel, and wherein the first and second indexing mechanisms are arranged to provide identical positions of adjustment of the first and second plates in each of the at least one first and second panels between the open and closed positions. 3. Shutter assembly of claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one first panel along its first vertical edge is hinged to a mounting frame, and wherein the mounting frame is adapted for mounting to a vertical perimeter portion of an architectural opening. 4. Shutter assembly of claim 3, wherein the mounting frame includes a wall mount frame member and an adjustment frame member, and wherein the adjustment frame member is arranged for adjustment of its angle and distance with respect to the wall mount frame member. 5. Shutter assembly of one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a first hinge adapted for hingedly mounting the at least one first panel to a perimeter of an architectural opening.

6. Shutter assembly of one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a second hinge adapted for hingedly connecting the at least one second panel to the at least one first panel.

7. Shutter assembly of claim 5 or 6, wherein each of the first and second hinges comprises a hinge member and a hinge cover plate for retaining the hinge member in position with respect to the first panel and the relevant one of the mounting frame and the second panel.

8. Shutter assembly of one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first and second plates are each relatively thin

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9. Shutter assembly of one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first plate is a fixed plate and the second plate is a movable plate.

10. Shutter assembly of claim 9, wherein the movable plate is mounted for vertical movement with respect to the fixed plate.

11. Shutter assembly of claim 9 or 10, wherein the movable plate has at least three slide bushings attached thereto, which are each slidably engaged in one of at least three corresponding longitud nal slots in the fixed panel.

12. Shutter assembly of one of claims 9, 10 or 11, wherein an adjuster is connected to the movable plate. 13. Shutter assembly of one of claims 9 to 12, wherein each of the first and second indexing mechanisms includes an indexing holder on the movable plate, an indexing spring on the indexing holder, and a plurality of indexing recesses on the fixed plate. 14. Shutter assembly of one of claims 1 to 13, wherein each of the complementary patterns of apertures includes elongated slots alternated with strips.

15. Shutter assembly of claim 14, wherein the slots and strips are parallel.

16. Shutter assembly of claim 14 or 15, wherein the slots and strips are horizontal.

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17. Shutter assembly of one of claims 1 to 16, further including a further first panel for hingeldly mounting to an opposite perimeter portion of the same architectural opening and a further second panel hingedly connected to the further first panel, wherein in a closed position the innermost vertical frame columns of the at least one second panel and the further second panel engage one another.

18. Shutter assembly of claim 15, wherein the engaging innermost vertical frame columns have magnetic means for attracting one another.

19. Shutter assembly of one of claims 1 to 18, wherein a wire netting covers the apertures in one of the first and second plates.

20. Shutter assembly of claim 19, wherein the wire netting is an insect screen mesh.

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