Patent ID: 6089300
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: B29C,B29L,B32B,E06B,F41H

Abstract:
A shutter assembly for protecting at least a portion of a structural element comprising:first and second containers which are adapted to be positioned on opposing sides of said structural element, said first container having a first slot along a side portion of said first container adjacent to said structural element and said second container having a second slot along a side portion of said second container adjacent to said structural element;a plurality of first and second protective panels, said first container being capable of storing said first protective panels and said second container being capable of storing said second protective panels, said first protective panels being movable through said first slot so as to cover a first section of said structural element and said second protective panels being movable through said second slot so as cover a second section of said structural element, each of said first and second protective panels is provided with flanges along its opposing side edges such that flanges on adjacent protective panels are capable of interconnecting with one another;first and second front panels which are positioned respectively in said first and second containers said front panels engaging the outermost ones of said first and second protective panels in said first and second containers; andwherein said first container further includes upper and lower first spring assemblies, each of said first assemblies comprising a first cable having first and second ends, a second cable having third and fourth ends, first and second rollers and a tension spring, said first end of said first cable being connected to said first front panel and said second end being connected to a first end of said tension spring, said third end of said second cable being connected to said first front panel and said fourth end being connected to a second end of said tension spring, and said first cable extending about said first roller and said second cable extending about said second roller.