Security shutter locking system

An obstruction device for the purpose of securing a hatch or window opening from the interior on a room, using shutter slats hingedly mounted and vertically hung to the track on the inside edge of the shutter frame; horizontal members are fixed to the back of the frame near the top and bottom, and continuous from one side to the other to obstruct the shutters from swinging outwardly: the shutter frame is slotted continuously from one side of the frame to the other side and along a small portion of the inside edge in the four corners in the top and bottom: top and bottom horizontal sliding members are fitted into the said top and bottom sliding spaces and extend into slots of opposing corners so as to allow them to slide up and down in said slotted spaces but remain in the slots in opposing corners: Strong flexible straps attached to both ends of a bottom horizontal sliding member, are routed up over the rounded ends of spacer blocks and down the other side where it is attached to the ends of vertical sliding members; said vertical sliding members extend within vertical hollow spaces in both sides of the frame from the bottom of the frame to the top horizontal sliding member where they are firmly attached. When the shutter slats are extended to close the opening, and the top and bottom horizontal sliding members are in the obstructive locking position, a locking pin is inserted through either or both sides of the shutter frame to penetrate the vertical sliding members.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In may construction business, I have noticed an increase in the use of 
interior shutters, but there is not one that has a security locking system 
adequate to repel an attempted break-in. This is primarily because of 
shutter design and inherent weakness of the hinged connections used in all 
currently produced shutter locking systems. 
It was my intention to make a locking system for shutters that would be 
extremely strong, easy to operate, and operatable from the inside of the 
building. 
After hours of research and experimentation, this was accomplished by 
building a frame in such a way that it will allow a horizontal member from 
inside the frame at the bottom to be slid up over the bottom of the 
vertical shutters simultaneously causing a top horizontal member to slide 
down out of the frame and over the top ends of the vertical shutter when 
the shutters are in a closed position. These horizontal sliding members 
serve the purpose of keeping the shutters from being pushed toward the 
inside of a building. On the opposite side of the shutter, horizontal 
members are permanently attached at the top and bottom of the opening to 
prevent the shutters from being pulled toward the outside of a building. A 
locking pin is inserted through the side of the frame and into one of the 
sliding vertical members to create an obstruction to the moving parts 
connected to the top and bottom horizontal sliding members to prevent them 
from being jimmied open when in the locked position. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Briefly stated, the invention contemplates the provisions of an improved 
locking system for vertical shutters. The locking system is built into the 
frame which houses the shutters. Fixed top and bottom horizontal members 
will create an obstruction on one side of the shutters. Top and bottom 
horizontal sliding members concealed within the frame, will be manually 
operated to obstruct the interior face side of the shutter. The purpose 
for the horizontal members at the top and bottom of both sides of the 
shutters, is to bear the pressure of an intruder trying to push the 
shutters in or pull the shutters out. When the shutters are locked, they 
will be completely blocked on both sides and at the top and bottom ends to 
prevent an intruder from moving the shutters from side to side or up and 
down. 
A locking pin inserted through the side of the frame and into a sliding 
side member, will obstruct the movement of the top and bottom horizontal 
sliding member, preventing an intruder from using a tool to jimmy the 
shutters open.

SECURITY SHUTTER SYSTEM 
The locking system comprises of frame 10, which is slotted at the top and 
bottom, and along a small portion of the inside edge in the four corners 
26. Within the bottom slotted space 23, is a horizontal member 11, which 
is fitted to slide within the slotted space and extend from one slotted 
corner of the opening into the opposing slotted corner 24. Attached to the 
bottom horizontal member, is a flexible strap 12, which is routed up over 
the smooth round end of a spacer block 13, and down the other side where 
is attaches to a narrow vertical member 14, which is fitted to slide in a 
narrow hollow vertical space 15, near the outer edges of the frame. These 
narrow vertical members extend up and attach to the ends of the top 
horizontal sliding member 17, which is fitted to slide within the slotted 
space in the top of the frame 18, and extend from one slotted corner in 
the top of the frame 24, and into the opposing corner. A pin 20, is placed 
through the side of the frame and into the vertical sliding member to 
cause an obstruction to prevent both horizontal sliding members 11 and 17, 
from being moved away from the shutters 21, by a potential intruder. 
Shutters 21, are vertical, hinged together 16, and hinged to the side of 
the locking frame. When shutters 21, are extended to close off the window 
opening, shutters shall rest against horizontal cross members called 
shutter stops 22, attached to the back of the shutter frame near the top 
and bottom and continuous from one side of the frame to the other side of 
the frame. The bottom horizontal sliding member 11, is raised by lifting 
the knob 23, attached to the center of it. As the bottom horizontal member 
is raised up over the bottom ends of the shutter slats 21, the flexible 
strap 12, attached to the ends of the bottom horizontal member 11, reacts 
by the weight of the bottom horizontal member 11, being lifted off the 
flexible straps 12, causing the flexible straps to slip up over the round 
end of the space element 13, at the same time, the weight of the top 
horizontal member 17, is pushing down on the small vertical sliding 
members 14, which are also pushing down on the flexible straps 12 attached 
to them, subsequently, when the top horizontal sliding member 17 drops, 
this simultaneously creates an obstruction in front of the shutters 21, 
which will prevent someone from the outside from pushing the shutters 
open. The shutters 20 in the closed position, will also be obstructed by 
the top and bottom fixed horizontal members 22 which will prevent someone 
from the outside from pulling the shutters outward. Subsequently, when the 
shutters 21 are closed, and locked, they cannot be pushed in or pulled out 
by someone on the outside. A pin 20, shall be inserted through a small 
hole 19, in the side of the frame, and through the narrow vertical sliding 
member 14, which causes an obstruction to all sliding parts. 
The housing frame shall be securely fastened 26, to the window opening in 
known manner. 
NUMBERED ELEMENTS 
10. Frame for housing horizontal and vertical sliding element. 
11. Bottom horizontal sliding member. 
12. Flexible strap. 
13. Spacer with round end. 
14. Vertical sliding member. 
15. Vertical hollow space. 
16. Hinged elements. 
17. Top horizontal sliding member. 
18. Slotted space within the top of the housing frame. 
19. Hole through frame and vertical sliding member. 
20. Locking pin. 
21. Shutter slats. 
22. Top and bottom stops. 
23. Knob for lifting bottom horizontal member. 
24. Slotted space within the bottom of the frame housing. 
25. Slotted space in the four inside corners of the frame. 
26. Location for fasteners.