Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Louvered panel
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-22
2001-07-24
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Louvered panel
C052S314000, C052S455000, C052S586200, C052S800120, C049S079100, C454S221000, C403S331000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263632
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is related to, and claims priority of, Canadian Patent Application No. 2,269,433 filed Apr. 20, 1999.
MICRO-FICHE APPENDIX
Not applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an adjustable decorative shutter, and more particularly to a decorative shutter which is adjustable in both height and width.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Adjustable louver and panel shutters, including specifically shutters of modulus rigid molded plastic construction, have heretofore been proposed in the art.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,251,966 (Foltman) teaches an adjustable-length shutter which comprises a pair of extruded side rails having respective single-channel tracks disposed in opposition. Louvered panels are injection molded with integral side runners which are slidably received in the opposing tracks. Upper and lower cross pieces are fastened to the side rails by fasteners to hold the panels in place. Adjustment of the height dimension of the shutter is accomplished by cutting the side rails to the desired length, and then cutting the louvered panel(s) as required to fit within the available opening. This necessarily requires careful measuring and cutting, on the job site, in order to achieve an esthetically pleasing result. Furthermore, for practical purposes, the height adjustment is restricted to increments equal to the spacing of the louvers in the louvered panel, as cutting the panel at an intermediate position within a louver slat produces an unsightly result. Finally, Foltman '966 does not provide any means of adjusting the width of the shutter.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,110 (MacLeod) adjustable-length shutter which comprises a pair of extruded side rails having respective single-channel tracks disposed in opposition. Louvered panels are injection molded with integral side runners which are slidably received in the opposing tracks. Upper and lower cross pieces are fastened to the side rails by fasteners to hold the panels in place. Adjustment of the height dimension of the shutter is accomplished by cutting the side rails to the desired length, and then assembling the shutter so that a portion of one louvered panel is received within (and concealed by) the upper cross piece. While the shutter of MacLeod '110 permits a finer adjustment of the length of the shutter, the fact that the upper portion of the louvered panel is received within the top cross piece means that the severely limits the extent to which the height can be adjusted without producing an unsightly result.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,932,599 (Jansons et al.) teaches a height-adjustable shutter comprising a pair of opposed vertical frame members secured by top and bottom members to define a rectangular frame. A plurality of slats or louvers are pivotally mounted within the frame. Height adjustment is accomplished by means of legs which extend downwardly from the vertical frame members, and parallel horizontal slots provided on the bottom member. The legs are designed to be cut on site to a desired length, and a boot having a generally hollow U-shaped cross-section is fitted on the bottom of the shutter between the severed legs and in engagement with one of the horizontal slots of the bottom member.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,191,242, (Rauen), 3,797,186 (Smith), and 3,968,738 (Matzke) also teach adjustable shutters.
One problem with adjustable length shutter assemblies of the prior art is a requirement that components of the shutter must be cut or trimmed on site. In some cases, fairly complex cutting or trimming operations are required for tailoring overall length at the installation site. The side rails in Foltman '966, for example, are cut to length in a stepped, rather than a planar, configuration. In Frederick '079, the integral panel and side rail must be trimmed to length and then slotted to receive the end rails. Cutting and trimming of shutter components requires the use of proper tools and a high degree of skill in order to achieve a fine finish of the cut components and thus an esthetically pleasing finished shutter.
Another problem with adjustable shutter assemblies of the prior art is that they typically permit adjustment of only one overall dimension, usually length. However, in order to achieve a “custom-fitted” appearance, it will frequently be desirable to adjust both the length and width of the shutter assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a shutter which can be readilly adjusted in longitudinal and/or laterial dimensions (i.e. width and/or height) independently.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a shutter assembly in which adjustments in the overall dimensions of the shutter can be accomplished without cutting or trimming anycomponents.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a shutter assembly in which adjustments in the overall dimensions of the shutter can be accomplished easily, and without the use of special tools.
Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention provides an adjustable shutter comprising; a substantially rectangular shutter frame comprising two pairs of opposed spaced apart frame members and defining a substantially rectangular opening between the frame members; a plurality of substantially parallel louvers operatively mounted within the shutter opening and extending between the opposed pair of first frame members, the louvers being capable of at least partially occluding the rectangular opening of the shutter frame; a respective frame cover operatively affixed to each one of the frame members; an adjustment mechanism disposed between at least one frame member and its respective frame cover, the adjustment means being operable to adjust a separation between the frame member and its respective frame cover, whereby a first overall dimension of the shutter can be adjusted; and a respective corner cover member disposed in operative relation to each of the frame covers to visually occlude a gap between each adjacent frame cover.
In an embodiment of the invention, the adjustment mechanism comprises: a pair of opposed walls of a frame member defining an interior longitudinal channel, each the opposed walls comprising a plurality of parallel opposed longitudinal grooves; and a cantilevered wall disposed longitudinally within a respective frame cover, the cantilevered wall being suitably dimensioned to facilitate sliding engagement within the longitudinal channel of the frame member, a free longitudinal edge of the cantilevered wall comprising at least one pair of opposed longitudinal ridges capable of sliding engagement with a respective pair of opposed longitudinal grooves.
In an embodiment of the invention, the two pairs of opposed frame members comprise one pair of opposed elongate first frame members adapted for operatively supporting the purality of louvers, and one pair of opposed elongate second frame members capable of being substantially ridgidly affixed to the first frame members for maintaining the first frame members in substantially parallel spaced relation.
In an embodiment of the invention, an adjustment mechanism is provided between at least one first frame member and its respective frame cover, whereby an overall lateral dimension of the shutter can be adjusted. Preferably, an adjustment mechanism is provided between at each first frame member and its respective frame cover, to thereby permit a maximum extent of adjustment of the overall lateral dimension of the shutter.
In an embodiment of the invention, wherein an adjustment mechanism is provided between at least one second frame member and its respective frame cover, whereby an overall longitudinal dimension of the shutter can be adjusted. Preferably, an adjustment mechanism is provided between at each first frame member and its respective frame cover, to thereby permit a maximum extent of adjustment of the overall longitudinal dimension of the shutter.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a respective first adjustment mechanism is provided between at least one first frame member a
Friedman Carl D.
Horton Yvonne M.
Royal Window Coverings (Canada) Inc.
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
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