Patent ID: 8074408
Filing Date: 2011-12-13
Classification: E06B

Abstract:
1. A storm reinforcement brace that reinforces a hurricane shutter assembly for protecting an opening having an upper frame, a lower frame, and a pair of side frames extending between the upper frame and the lower frame, the hurricane shutter assembly includes a corrugated hurricane shutter panel having a middle section disposed between an upper edge and a lower edge, the hurricane shutter panel being supported over the opening by an elongated header attached to the upper frame and an elongated lower channel attached to the lower frame, said storm reinforcement brace comprising: an elongated bar member having a generally hat-shaped cross section defining a flat central portion, leg portions, and mounting flange portions, said central portion having an inwardly extending C-shaped channel extending a length of said bar member, said C-shaped channel sized to entrappingly slidably receive a head of a separate threaded fastener from either end of said channel, the threaded fastener being held in said channel in an outwardly extending orientation, said leg portions having a first end and a second end, said first end attached to said central portion and said mounting flange portions extending from said second ends of said leg portions; said bar member positioned between the elongated header and the lower channel and traversing the opening such that a portion of the mounting flange portions abuts each of the side frames, said central portion abutting an interior surface of the middle section of the hurricane shutter panel to brace the middle section of the hurricane shutter panel against the pair of side frames to reinforce the hurricane shutter panel against deformation.