Patent Publication Number: US-2022235603-A1

Title: System and method for implementing an improved bi-fold shutter

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/311,718, entitled “System and Method for An Improved Bi-Fold Shutter,” filed Mar. 22, 2016, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Architects and engineers have developed various windows, door, and window coverings in buildings for hundreds of years. Design of a window itself will usually include a way to open the window and then subsequently close the window. Similar aspects are also involved with doors and window coverings. A particular subset of window coverings is called window shutters. Window shutters may be designed to block, tune, or modulate light from coming through a window or may be designed to protect a window from severe weather. Common designs for shutters have also been around for hundreds of years. 
     In more modern designs, the manner in which the window shutter opens and closes may provide additional architectural or engineering features. For example, the window shutter itself may provide shade when opened or look aesthetically pleasing when in the open or closed position. However, various conventional designs of window shutters are typically clunky and somewhat difficult to operate even with motorized assistance. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Aspects and many of the attendant advantages of the claims will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of a bi-fold window shutter showing an inefficient design for the mechanism to open and close the window shutter. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram of an improved bi-fold window shutter showing a more efficient design for the mechanism to open and close the window shutter according to an embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram of an improved hinge mechanism for the bi-fold window shutter of  FIG. 2  in a retracted position according to an embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram of an improved hinge mechanism for the bi-fold window shutter of  FIG. 2  in an extended position according to an embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram of another improved hinge mechanism for the bi-fold window shutter of  FIG. 2  in a retracted position according to an embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram of another improved hinge mechanism for the bi-fold window shutter of  FIG. 2  in an extended position according to an embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following discussion is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the subject matter disclosed herein. The general principles described herein may be applied to embodiments and applications other than those detailed above without departing from the spirit and scope of the present detailed description. The present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed or suggested herein. 
     By way of overview, the subject matter disclosed herein may be an improved bi-fold shutter that includes a more efficient coupling mechanism at a hinge point suited to facilitate opening and closing the bi-fold shutter with greater ease. In one embodiment, the shutter may be designed for a window such that the shutter, when closed, is relatively close to the face of the associated window, and when open, forms an awning or overhang. The shutter includes an improved coupling mechanism at a hinge point between a first shutter portion and a second shutter portion. The improved hinge point shifts a direction of force needed to maneuver the shutter when moving the shutter from one position to another. The shift in opening and closing force directions improves the efficiency by which the shutter can be operated. In some embodiments, the shutter may be hand-operated. In other embodiments, the shutter may be powered. These and other aspects and features are discussed below with respect to  FIGS. 1-6 . 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of a bi-fold window shutter  100  showing an inefficient design for the mechanism to open and close the window shutter. In  FIG. 1 , a side view of the shutter  100  is shown in two positions relative to a window  115  of a building  110 . The first position is a retracted or closed position and is shown with solid lines. The second position is an extended or open position and is shown with broken lines. The window shutter  100  of  FIG. 1  is shown situated on an outer facing of the building  110  on or next to the window opening  115 . Further, the window shutter  100  may include two portions. In  FIG. 1 , the portions include a first lower portion  120  and a second upper portion  121 . The two portions may be attached to each other at a coupling point by a conventional pivoting hinge  125 . 
     When a person wished to extend (e.g., open) the window shitter  100 , a force  131  is applied in an upward direction to the lower portion  120 , the two portions may swing out away from the window  115  at the coupling point hinge  125  Because the upper portion  121  is attached to the building at a stationary pivoting hinge  126 , the two portions fold together into the open position shown in broken lines. This is further assisted by a guide track  123  that keeps a pin assembly  127  of the lower portion  120  in a plane parallel to the window  115 . 
     When a person wants to retract the shutters, a force  132  may be applied in the downward direction on the lower portion  120 . However, because of the pin assembly  127  and the coupling point with the pivoting hinge  125  are aligned in the same horizontal plane, there is no downward thrust force applied to the shutter itself. Rather, the thrust is only in the horizontal plane as shown by force  130 . That is the downward force  132  is orthogonal to the force  130  needed to overcome any holding force of the window shutter  100  in the open position. This makes closing the shutter difficult and inefficient. 
     Furthermore, in the design of the window shutter  110  in  FIG. 1 , the locations of the coupling point hinge  125  and the stationary pivoting hinge  126 , prevent the shutter from resting in a fully closed position. This is because the combined centers of gravity  134   a/b  of the first portion  120  and the second portion  121  tend to cause the window shutter  100  to rest is a slightly askew and open position. If a force  133  is applied to the shutters to remain closed, the shutter portions  120  and  121  may bind in place and be difficult to wrest open again. 
     Further disadvantages of the window shutter  100  of  FIG. 1  are numerous. Various part of the overall assembly protrude into the building interior as one or more additional counterweights  135  are needed. As the window shutter  100  tends to lock into place at the open position, additional devices (not shown) are needed to initiate the closing maneuver. Even further devices (also not shown) may be needed to apply enough force to fully close the window shutter  100 . The lower portion of the window shutter  100  typically cannot be raised to a fully horizontal position which is displeasing to the discerning eye. Unsightly and bulky operating mechanisms haunt the designer&#39;s vision when the window shutter  100  of  FIG. 1  is deployed. Complex hydraulic systems and electrical operators cause additional inefficiencies and maintenance and also require power for both opening and closing maneuvers. Additional drawbacks exist but are not enumerated for the sake of brevity. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram of an improved bi-fold window shutter  200  showing a more efficient design for the mechanism to open and close the window shutter  200  according to an embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein. The window shutter  200  in this embodiment includes a first lower portion  220  (e.g., a first rigid member) and a second upper portion  221  (e.g., a second rigid member) that are coupled together at a coupling utilizing a variable center hinge (shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 3-6  below). The variable center hinge provides for a coupling point  250  between an upper end of the lower portion  221  and a lower end of the upper portion  220  of the window shutter  200 , such that the coupling point  250  may move relative to the two portions of the window shutter  200  when in motion. As is shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , the center of rotation (e.g., the moving pivot point  250 ) of the variable center hinge shifts during maneuvering from near the outer face of the frame (as is shown in the closed shutter position) to near the inner face of the frame (as is shown in the open shutter position). That is, the coupling point  250  is between the first end of the first rigid member and the first end of the second rigid member wherein the coupling point  250  includes a rotation point that moves relative to the first end of the first rigid member  221  and relative to the first end of the second rigid member  220 . 
     In this manner, the non-coupling ends of the window shutter  200  (e.g., the second end (the lower end) of the first rigid member  221  and the second end (the upper end) of the second rigid member  220  are fix within a vertical plane of motion  260  that is parallel with the window  115  and the guide track  223 . This plane  260  is disposed such that the second end of the first rigid member  220  and the second end of the second rigid member  221  remain in the plane  260  during window shutter  200  motion and disposed such that the coupling  250  deviates from the plane  260  during window shutter  200  motion. 
     The window shutter  200  is supplemented with a lower roller assembly  255  that assists with overcoming the coefficient of friction when maneuvering the window shutter  200  from position to position. The roller assembly  225  includes wheels that remain in a plane of motion  260  parallel to the window  115 . In an embodiment, the wheels are encompassed in the guide track  223 . As the window shutter  200  moves to the open position, the window shutter  200  rotates about a pivot point  256  at the lower end (e.g., a second end opposite the first end at the upper end) of the lower portion  220 . 
     The variable center hinge and the roller assembly  225  assist with reducing the force needed to maneuver the window shutter  200 —especially when is a fully open or fully closed position. One reason for the reduction in force is that the thrust force  230  needed to move the shutter  200  out of the fully open position is now angled with respect to a normal of the plane of motion  260 . This is because the rotation point  250  moves relative to the windows shutter portions  220  and  221 . Thus, when in the fully open position, the thrust force  230  is angled from the center of rotation point  250  to the roller assembly  225  pivot point  256  so that at least some of the downward force  132  used to attempt to close the window shutter  200  is translated to this force angle  230 . In some embodiments, the window assembly may include a motor  245  configured to actuate the window shutter from an extended position to a retracted position and configured to actuate the window shutter from the retracted position to the extended position. 
     The embodiments of the coupling are discussed next with respect to  FIGS. 3-6  and provide a better understanding of the rotation point being relative to the motion of the window shutter members  220  and  221 . 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram of an improved hinge mechanism  300  for the bi-fold window shutter of  FIG. 2  in a closed position according to an embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein. The improved hinge mechanism  300  (sometimes called a variable center hinge) provides the coupling between portions  220  and  221  of the window shutter of  FIG. 2  and includes a first member  370  and a second member  380 . Each member  370  and  380  includes an elongated center portion  372  and  382  that each culminate in two protruding ends  375   a/b  and  385   a/b . With respect to the first member  370 , the protruding ends  375   a/b  may protrude away from the elongated center portion  372  in opposite angled directions with respect to a center line  373  of the elongated center portion  372 . With respect to the second member  380 , the protruding ends  385   a/b  may protrude away from the elongated center portion  382  in similar opposite angled directions with respect to a center line (not shown) of the elongated center portion  382 . 
     In this embodiment, one protruding end  375   a  of the first member  370  is pivotally attached (at pivot point  376   a ) to an end of the lower section  220  of the window shutter  200  and the other protruding end  375   b  of the first member  370  is pivotally attached (at pivot point  376   b ) to an end of the upper portion  221  of the window shutter  200 . In an opposite manner (mirror-image in the retracted position), one protruding end  385   a  of the second member  380  is pivotally attached (at pivot point  386   a ) to an end of the lower section  220  of the window shutter  200  and the other protruding end  375   b  of the second member  380  is pivotally attached (at pivot point  386   b ) to an end of the upper portion  221  of the window shutter  200 . Further, the two members  370  and  380  may be nested such that one protruding end  375   b  of a first member  370  nests around (e.g., on the outside of) a protruding end  385   b  of the second member  380  as shown. 
     In this manner, when in the closed position (e.g., retracted), the relative coupling point  250  is aligned with the outer edge (top edge with respect to the alignment of the window shutter as depicted in  FIG. 3 ). However, as the window shutter  200  begins to move into an open position, the coupling point  250  will move along a range of motion at the ends of the portions  220  and  221  of the window shutter  200  in manner relative to the motion of the ends of the window shutter members  220  and  221 . This can be seen in  FIG. 4  when the window shutter  200  is maneuvered to an open position (e.g., extended). 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram of the improved hinge mechanism  300  of  FIG. 3  for the bi-fold window shutter  200  of  FIG. 2  in an open position according to an embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein. As the improved hinge mechanism  300  is maneuvered, the protruding ends  375   a/b  and  385   a/b  of each member  370  and  380  pivot about the attached pivoting points  376   a/b  and  386   a/b  at each end of each shutter portion  220  and  221 .  FIG. 4  shows the variable center hinge  300  in an open shutter position so that one can see that the relative rotation point  250  has now moved along the coupling to be located away from the outer edge of the window shutter  200 . 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram of another improved hinge mechanism  500  for the bi-fold window shutter of  FIG. 2  in a retracted position according to an embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein. The improved hinge mechanism  500  provides the coupling between portions  220  and  221  of the window shutter of  FIG. 2  and includes a member  590  that is coupled at respective pivot points  591   a/b  on each respective portion  220  and  221 . The member  590  includes an elongated center portion  592  that each culminate in two ends  595   a/b.    
     In this embodiment, one end  595   a  of the member  590  is pivotally attached (at pivot point  591   a ) to an end of the lower section  220  of the window shutter  200  and the other end  595   b  of the member  390  is pivotally attached (at pivot point  591   b ) to an end of the upper portion  221  of the window shutter  200 . In this manner, when in the closed position (e.g., retracted), the relative coupling point  250  is aligned with the outer edge. However, as the window shutter  200  begins to move into an open position, the coupling point  250  will move along a range of motion at the ends of the portions  220  and  221  of the window shutter  200  in manner relative to the motion of the ends of the window shutter members  220  and  221 . This can be seen in  FIG. 6  when the window shutter  200  is maneuvered to an open position (e.g., extended). 
     The embodiment of  FIG. 5  may include additional inter-weaving teeth  599  that may assist with facilitating the move from open to closed position or from the closed to open position. Various embodiment may also have a different shape of hinged member  590  for facilitating the pivoting and the coupling. 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram of another improved hinge mechanism  500  for the bi-fold window shutter  200  of  FIG. 2  in an extended position according to an embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein. As the improved hinge mechanism  500  is maneuvered, the ends  595   a/b  of the member  590  pivot about the attached pivot points  591   a/b  at each end of each shutter portion  220  and  221 .  FIG. 6  shows the variable center hinge  500  in an open shutter position so that one can see that the relative rotation point  250  has now moved along the coupling to be located away from the outer edge of the window shutter  200 . 
     While the subject matter discussed herein is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and have been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the claims to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the claims.