Patent ID: 7814705
Filing Date: 2010-10-19
Classification: E06B

Abstract:
1. An automatic storm shutter system comprising an actuator, a support, a shutter, and means of releasably attaching said shutter to said support; said shutter being hingeadly attached to a wall with a hinge above a structure opening; said support being attached to said wall; said actuator being attached to said shutter; whereby when said actuator causes said means of releasably attaching said shutter to said support to release said shutter from said support, said shutter swings down as urged by gravity into a closed position covering said structure opening; said means of releasably attaching said shutter to said support comprising: a support aperture in said support; a support aperture cutout in said support extending from said support aperture to a support lower edge; said actuator comprising a piston reciprocating in a cylinder, and an actuator shaft attached to said piston; an actuator shaft head at an extreme of said actuator shaft opposite said piston, said support aperture being sized to slidably admit said actuator head; and an actuator shaft neck disposed adjacent said actuator shaft head, between said actuator shaft head and said piston, said support aperture cutout being sized to slidably admit said actuator shaft neck, a width of said support aperture exceeding a width of said support aperture cutout; whereby actuation of said actuator causes said actuator shaft to translate axially so as to move said actuator shaft head out of said support aperture and align said actuator shaft neck with said support aperture cutout, thereby permitting said actuator shaft neck to slide out of said support aperture through said support aperture cutout, and permitting said shutter to swing down as urged by gravity into a closed position covering said structure opening.