Abstract:
An automatic protective shutter system that is controlled by atmospheric and or human intervention conditions. The shutter consists of a net that can be deployed automatically to cover any opening in a building structure. The shutter net can withstand high winds such as are prevailing winds in a hurricane. The shutter net can also withstand any projectiles that are being encountered in a hurricane. The shutter also protects against the incidence of high ultraviolet UV rays and/or excessive light. The shutter net also detects any tampering by a burglar or vandalism to shut down the opening or to sound an audible alarm. The shutter system is also extremely useful as a shield against the intrusion of insects. The protective shutter system can be controlled locally or by a remote system. The remote system would include a computer system operating through the internet. All of the above can be detected by various sensors such a high wind sensors, ultraviolet sensors and proximity sensors. The shutter net itself has an established surface frequency that operates within tolerable limits to generate a signal when that frequency is disturbed or changed to indicate a disturbance.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to protective shutter systems and, more particularly, to automated environmental and security oriented shutter systems.  
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART  
       [0002]     Hurricane and other intense windstorms may cause significant property damage to homes and buildings and other structures. Specifically, strong winds may cause objects to become projectiles that have enough force to shatter windows of buildings. Thereafter, dangerous winds and rain can enter the buildings and cause costly damage throughout. Consequently, to minimize the damage of hurricanes and windstorms, many communities and insurance underwriters require hurricane shutters for the protection of the buildings.  
         [0003]     Prior art hurricane shutters traditionally are constructed of resilient panels that are strong enough to resist projectiles and prevent them from shattering the underlying window. One such hurricane shutter is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,263 to Poirier. Drawbacks associated with the Poirier hurricane shutter and other shutters utilizing metal panels include, but are not limited to, the obstruction of outward visibility and the transmission of daylight onto the building when the shutter is in use. Other forms of prior art hurricane shutters include roll-up storm curtains. One such storm curtain is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,851,464 to Hudoba et al. Drawbacks associated with the Hudoba storm curtain include, but are not limited to, the obstruction of transmission of daylight and the ability to prevent criminal break-in.  
         [0004]     Furthermore, hurricane shutters of the prior art are unable to protect the building if there is no person physically present to manually deploy the shutters. For example, if a homeowner is away from his or her home on vacation and a hurricane strikes, the homeowner either must contact a relative or a friend to deploy the shutters for them. However, reliance on others in an emergency may not always guarantee that the shutters will be deployed. For example, the friend or relative delegated to deploy the shutters may be preoccupied with attending to his or her own concerns during the time of the emergency. Alternatively, the homeowner must return to a dangerous storm in order to employ the shutters. This is unfeasible if the conditions are too severe or if the homeowner is in a geographic region remote from the affected home. In addition, the homeowner often cannot deploy the hurricane shutters as a precaution prior to leaving for an extended period (e.g. vacation) because the presence of shutters during clear weather may notify potential burglars that the homeowner is away from the premises and may not soon return to the home.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     Accordingly, there is a need to provide a protective shutter system that may be automatically deployed under certain environmental conditions of human intervention. Additionally, such a protective shutter should resist criminal break-ins and allow for light passage into the home when deployed. Furthermore, such a protective shutter system should be integrated into a communications system to allow a remote monitoring of the status of the protective system and the environmental conditions in the immediate area thereof.  
         [0006]     The inventive shutter system is also useful for applications for safety, protective, and closure purposes such as windows, sliders, doors, walls, siding, perimeters, fencing, pool/screen enclosures, lanais, porches, entryways, breezeways, foyers, vestibules and the like, and other passageways, openings and enclosures applicable to residential and commercial buildings, as well as for barriers, fencing and perimeter uses independent of buildings and structures.  
         [0007]     The foregoing need for an improved protection system for a home or any other structures is addressed in the present invention. The inventive protective shutter is of a somewhat rigid and durable construction while maintaining aesthetic functionality.  
         [0008]     The protective shutter system is designed to withstand flying debris, ammunition and unlawful intruders. It is also important to note that the inventive shutter system prevents the intrusion of insects operating in the same manner as other well known screens in the insect prevention art. Additionally, the protective shutter system is designed to reduce ultraviolet rays penetration into the home. The protective shutter system may operate under the direction of a computer control that senses environmental changes and deploys the protective shutter accordingly. Furthermore, the protective shutter system may be integrated with the home&#39;s existing alarm system. The protective shutter system may also provide remote monitoring and deployment thereof of the status of the protective shutter system and the environmental conditions of the immediate area thereof.  
         [0009]     The protective shield may also be useful in combination with an automotive convertible as a top cover as well as for protective, containing, restraining and closure covers for automobiles, trucks (including cargo and debris restraints), trailers (including debris restraints), and for recreational vehicles such as RV&#39;s etc., and for awnings, shades, shelters and barriers employed in both stationary and mobile circumstances.  
         [0010]     These and other advantages of the present invention will be understood from the description of the preferred embodiments, taken with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like elements throughout.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of an automatic shutter system in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the automatic shutter system of  FIG. 1  and components for the automatic shutter system;  
         [0013]      FIGS. 3 and 4  are a perspective view of an alternative drive system for a shutter net of the automatic shutter system;  
         [0014]      FIGS. 5-7  show a safety system for stopping the shutter drive when encountering an obstacle;  
         [0015]      FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate a different embodiment for stopping the shutter net when reaching its lowest position.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures. It is to be understood that the specific apparatus and system illustrated in the attached figures and described in the following specification is simply an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a shutter  10  system for use in a home, building or other structure and it is shown according to a desired embodiment of the invention. Desirably, the shutter system  10  is designed to fit over a window  12  ( FIG. 2 ). Specifically, the shutter system  10  is positioned adjacent and parallel to the window  12  which would be covered upon deployment of the shutter  10 . Although the present invention is discussed for use with windows, it is to be understood that the shutter  10  may be modified for use with sliding doors, doors or other outside access points. However, due to local ordinances or other fire safety restriction codes, such access points may be required to remain unobstructed.  
         [0018]     The shutter  10  includes a left side guide profile  14  and a right side guide profile  15  or guide channels which are spaced parallel relative to each other. The space there between spans at least the width of the glass of the window  12 . The left and right guide profiles  14  and  15  each include a groove or channel  16  extending the length of the respective profiles  14  and  15 . An upper profile  18  is connected to a top portion of each of the guide profiles  14  and  15  and is secured thereto in a perpendicular orientation in relation to the left and right guide channels  14  and  15  to thereby create a frame. A mounting plate  20  is secured to each of the left and right guide profiles such that the mounting plates  20  extend beyond the top portion of each of the left and right guide channels. As shown in greater detail in  FIG. 2 , each mounting plate  20  is adapted to rotationally receive a top belt wheel  22 . Each of the top belt wheels may be adapted to store potential energy via tension or compression loading members or springs therein when wound in one direction and held in a wound state. Upon release of the top band wheels  22 , the potential energy is transferred into a rotational movement of the top band wheel  22  in an opposite direction.  
         [0019]     A motor  24  is secured to each mounting plate such that each motor drives the respective band wheel  22 . This may be accomplished by either a direct drive system in which the motor  24  is directly coupled with the top belt wheel  22  or by an indirect drive system in which the motor is configured to impart movement to the top belt wheel  22  by way of a gear or drive belt arrangement. An exemplary embodiment of the motor  24  is a tubular motor, however, it is to be understood that any suitably sized motor having sufficient power may be utilized. A rewind roller  25  is situated between each of the mounting plates  20  and  20   a  and extends substantially the length along the length of the upper profile  18 . Desirably, the rewind roller  25  is adapted to store energy via tension or compression loading members or springs therein when wound in one direction and held in a wound state. Upon release of the rewind roller  25 , the potential energy is transferred into a rotational movement of the rewind roller  25  in an opposite direction.  
         [0020]     Attached or secured to the rewind roller  25  is a curtain or a net  26  which forms the basic shutter shield. The shutter net  26  is adapted to be wound to and unwound from the rewind roller  25 . The shutter net  26  is desirably constructed of a woven composite material having high tensile strength such as aramid. Aramid composite material has a higher tensile strength modulus on a volume basis than steel. However, it is to be understood that other composite materials such as Kevlar may also be utilized. The high tensile strength of such composite material lends itself to providing a shutter net  26  that is relatively tear resistant and impervious to projectiles or sharp instruments. Accordingly, the shutter net or shield  16  of the present invention functions as a barrier and is conducive to preventing flying debris, ammunition and intruders from penetrating the shutter net  26  and, therefore, entering the home. The nature of the plastic material will allow the surface of the shutter net to “give” to some extent upon impact and will immediately recover because of its inherent plastic memory without being or staying distorted. For example, the shutter net  26  is rated to sustain winds of up to 146 mph. Because of the woven construction the net is not totally impervious to high winds. However, the air that is allowed to or will penetrate the net will immediately form a pressure barrier between the window surface behind it and itself and this barrier will resist or counter any higher pressures to enter to thereby avoid any damage to the opening it is designed to protect.  
         [0021]     The screen is made of a woven net or shield of a weave having a density of 13.5 strands in the warp direction and about 10 in the weft/fill direction leaving about 32% of an open area made up of interstices between the warp and the weft directions. The warp consists of 1400-1500 denier of aramid fibers or strands and the weft strands consist of about 0.7 mm-1.1 mm steel wire consisting of a 7 strand multi-filament twisted twine wherein each of the filaments has a size of about 0.30 mm to 0.35 mm diameter.  
         [0022]     In addition to projectile and wind resistance, the shutter  26  may be designed to inhibit the passage of ultraviolet radiation there through. Specifically, the woven composite material may include a coating in addition to the composite material that together prevent an estimated 80% of ultraviolet radiation from entering the home. The primary purpose of the coating is to prevent UV rays from degrading the chemical composition of the yarns or strands. Desirably, the shutter net mesh is semitransparent to allow unobstructed vision through the window even when the shutter is lowered. The shutter  26  may be constructed such that the semi-transparency of the shutter net  26  applies only in the context of an observer inside the home looking out.  
         [0023]     As shown in greater detail in  FIG. 2 , an upper profile cap  28  having a substantially equal length and width of the upper profile  18  ( FIG. 2 ) and is secured to each of the mounting plates  20  and the left and right side guide channels  14  and  15 . A side cap  30  is secured to each of the mounting plates  20  so as to rest flush against respective ends of the upper profile cap  28 . Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the mounting plate  20 , top band wheel  22  and the rewind roller are concealed behind the upper profile cap  28  and the side caps  30  to prevent a direct exposure to the elements and to provide an aesthetic appearance to the shutter system  10 .  
         [0024]     Referring once again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , attached to the bottom of each of the left and right guide channels  14  and  15  is a housing  32 . Each housing  32  is adapted to receive an end cover  34  to seal the bottom the bottom portion of the left and right guide channels  14  and  15 . Each end cover  34  includes a lower band wheel  36  that is rotationally fixed to the housing  32 . A magnetic lock  38  including a micro switch is secured to the housing  32  to provide a movement of the locking cylinder  40  from an extended position to a retracted position. A sensor  42  and a sensor plate  44  operating in conjunction therewith may be affixed to either housing  32  or the magnetic lock  38 . Although not indicated in the drawings, it is to be understood that wiring is routed to the sensor  42  and the mechanical lock  38  to provide the electrical conductivity necessary for a proper functioning thereof.  
         [0025]     The shutter net  26  is designed to extend from the rewind roller  25  to at least a point below the glass of the window and onto a window sill, if present. With respect to the desirable embodiment of the present invention, A lower profile  46  is secured to a bottom edge of the shutter net  26  and a beam  48  is attached to the lower profile  46 . This configuration is shown in greater detail in  FIG. 5 . Specifically, the beam  48  protrudes beyond the length of the lower profile  46  in each direction or on both sides in such a manner that the respective ends  50  and  51  are secured within the left and right guide channels  14  and  15 . Accordingly, the ends  50  and  51  that are secured within the left and right guide channels allows the beam  48  and, consequently, the attached lower profile  46  to move along or within the left and right guide channels  14  and  15 . The shutter net is therefore enabled to move up and down from a raised position to a lowered position and to every position there between. When the shutter net  26  is in a closed position, the lower profile  46  extends between the housings  32  and is flush with a bottom portion thereof. As the shutter net  26  is moved into a raised position, the lower profile also moves upwardly between the left and right guide channels  14  and  15 .  
         [0026]     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 3  and  6 , to effectuate the movement of the shutter net  26 , respective belts  52  are secured from their respective top band wheels  22 , are guided around the lower band wheels  36 , and secured to pins  54  extending from the beam  48 . In operation, when the shutter net  26  is in a raised position, rotational movement imparted by the motors  24  coupled to the top band wheels will cause the winding of the respective bands  52  thereon. Consequently, the shutter net  26  is unwound from the rewind roller  25  as potential energy is stored in the tension or compression loading members thereof. Upon reaching a lowered position, the respective magnetic locks  38  may be activated to cause the locking cylinders  40  to engage corresponding holes  56  in the lower profile  46  and effectively lock the shutter net  26  in the lowered position. The sensor  42  via the sensor plate  44  is configured to determine whether the shutter net  26  is actually in the lowered position. Upon disengagement of the locking cylinders  40  from the holes  56 , the shutter net  26  is wound onto the rewind roller  25  until the shutter net  26  returns to a raised position.  
         [0027]     Desirably, the structural components of the shutter including, but not limited to, the left and right guide channels  14  and  15 , the upper profile  18 , the upper profile cap  28  and the side caps  20  are constructed of metal or other sturdy material. These structural components are preferably of a unitary construction to provide increased strength. Such components may be molded. extruded or machined into the appropriate dimensions. Additionally, because the shutter  10  is exposed to the elements, it may be desirable to construct the components of a rust-resistant material such as aluminum or plastics. However, it is to be understood that any suitable material may be utilized. It is also to be understood that the fastening and securing of the aforementioned components may be implemented in a variety of ways. Desirably, for ease of assembly, the majority of the components are secured to one another via screws, however, it is still further to be understood that the securing techniques or implements may be utilized including, but not limited to rivets, glues, welding and friction fit.  
         [0028]     An alternate embodiment shutter  60  is disclosed in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The alternate embodiment shutter  60  is similar in overall functionality of the shutter  60  is implemented through substituted or modified components. The shutter  60  differs from the shutter  10  in  FIG. 1  in that instead of utilizing a belt drive system, the shutter  60  utilizes an endless screw drive system to raise and lower the shutter net  26 . Specifically, endless screws are desirably situated or located within the left and right guide channels  14  and  15 . Each end of the lower profile  46  or beam  48  is adapted to threadably engage a respective threaded nut. The motors  24  will impart a rotational movement to each of the endless screws  62 . Accordingly, when each endless screw rotates, the threadably engaged lower profile  46  or the beam  48  moves along the length of both the endless screws  62 , which causes the shutter net  26  to move up or down.  
         [0029]     With continuing reference to  FIG. 2 , a shutter system  70  for use with the shutter system  10  is disclosed. In the desirable embodiment, the shutter system  70  may include a computer control  72  interfaced with a variety of subsystems. For example, the computer control  72  may be communicatively connected to a wind sensor or anemometer  76 , a sound alarm  78 , an in-house alarm system  80  and an external communication network, such as the internet  82 . The system may also be connected to an entrapment protection relay of the proprietary design.  
         [0030]     The computer control  72  my be embodied as a dedicated computing device or a multi-functional computer, such as a personal computer system. The wireless functioning of the system is very unique in that the wireless system controls the window shutter system remotely by way of an IP internet control from remote locations. The system may also be programmed to dial 911 or other authorities including the owner (in case of an absence) when unauthorized intrusion is sensed. The computer control  72  is responsible for transmitting control signals to the motors  24 , which in turn, causes the motors  24  to lower or raise the shutter  26 . The wind sensor  74  my be configured to detect the intensity and the direction of the wind around the home or the building structure. Based upon predetermined wind speeds corresponding to the severity of storms, hurricanes and other inclement weather conditions, the shutter net  26  can automatically be lowered if increased wind conditions are sensed. Once the increased wind condition has subsided, the shutter net  26  can be raised again. The UV intensity sensor  76  may be configured to determine the amount or intensity of sunlight directed toward the home or building. The intensity sensor  76  may be embodied as an omni-directional sensor or individual sensor placed in various sunlight or UV intensity levels corresponding to unacceptable UV levels that may be harmful to furniture or individuals, the shutter net  26  can be lowered automatically if such levels are sensed.  
         [0031]     It is to be understood that the computer control  72  can control individual shutters  10  covering respective windows  12  in the home. This allows independent lowering and raising of each of the shutter nets  26  of the home as needed or desired. For example, if intense sunlight has been detected by the UV intensity sensor as emanating from only a particular direction, then the computer control  72  may cause only the shutter nets  26  on windows facing that particular direction to be lowered.  
         [0032]     The alarm system  80  may be configured such that if a break-in in the home is detected by the alarm system&#39;s own sensors, the alarm system  80  immediately indicates to the computer control  72  the break-in, whereby all the shutters in the home are automatically lowered. For example, if proximity sensors, such as IR sensors, detect intrusion upon the property, each of the shutter nets  26  may be lowered in anticipation of a break-in of the home or to prevent further intrusion thereof. The computer control  72  may also be configured to activate the sound alarm  78  and transmit an increased decibel sound if the window  12  is blocked when an attempt is made to lower the shutter  26 .  
         [0033]     The surface of the shutter net  26  includes a frequency that is readily measurable. Various forms of destruction such as piercing, cutting, stretching, etc., of the shutter net  26  results in a measurable change in frequency thereof. Accordingly, a change in frequency may be indicative of severe weather, break-in vandalism, etc. A sensor (not shown) may be mounted on the shutter  10  to monitor the frequency of the shutter net  26  while it is deployed. Desirably, the sensor may be communicatively connected to the computer control  72  and is configured to detect a tolerable amount of deviation in frequency, as defined by an acceptable range, which would not be indicative to the computer control  72  that the shutter net  26  is damaged. However, any frequency changes that fall outside of the accepted minimum and maximum frequencies would cause the sensor to signal to the computer control  72  that any one of the exemplary forms of destruction of the shutter net  26  has occurred. Additionally, the aforementioned sound alarm  78  may be activated if the computer control  72  senses any such attempted destruction of the shutter net  26 .  
         [0034]      FIGS. 5-7  illustrate a safety system that will prevent the shutter net  26  from moving downwardly if any obstruction  82  is detected in its downward movement. The lower beam  48  of the shutter structure, for example, has a soft rubber half or full circle tube  82  attached on its underside. In alignment with the half or full circle of the tube  82  on one side of the beam or profile  48  there is located an infrared sending unit  80  which emits an infrared light ray or light through the opening in the half circle tube. The infrared light may also be replaced by a laser or any other light band. On the other side of the beam  48  there is a reflector  63  which receives the infrared light ray and confirms through appropriate wiring that there is no obstruction under the beam  48  during its downward movement. However, if there is an obstruction  83 , such as a child, and animal or any item that was forgotten on the window sill, this obstruction will compress the soft rubber tube at that point and interrupt the infrared light beam. Again, through appropriate wiring the driving motors  24  will be stopped and the obstruction may be removed. The tube  82  may also be made of silicone or other soft pliable material  
         [0035]      FIGS. 8 and 9  show a different embodiment of stopping the downward movement of the shutter net with its lower beams  46  and  48 . To this end,  FIG. 8  shows the two side guides  14  and  14   a  which are part of the lateral guides  14  and  15  which are formed as U-shaped profiles. The shutter screen is guided through guide bars  89  prior to entering the casing made up of profiles  90  and  91 . The ends of the casing made up of the profiles  90  and  91  may be closed by cover plates  92  and  93 . Within the profile made up of the front and back casings or profiles  90  and  91  there are located stop rollers  85  located on either side of the guides  14  and  15 . Each of the stop rollers has a recess  86  therein. The stop roller  85  is driven by the belt  52  as which is trained around the stop roller  85  by a first deflection roller  83  which guides the belt  52  toward or around the first deflection roller  83 . From the stop roller  85  the belt  52  is further guided around a second guide roller  88  and then around a third guide roller  84  and then upward again to its descending lower beam  48 . The second guide roller may be used to activate the shutter net in its up and down movement by applying an appropriate tool thereon, such as a hand crank (not shown). The recess  86  is instrumental in stopping the downward movement of the shutter net when the lateral pin  54  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) reaches its predetermined position when the net  26  is moving downwardly. The movement of the net  26  and the rotation of the stop roller  85  are synchronously timed in such a manner that when the lower beam  46  or  48  with its lateral extension pin  54  reaches its lowest position, the lateral pin  54  will enter the recess  86  and be locked therein. At the same time, the micro switch  87  detects the union between the lateral pin and the recess  86  in the stop roller  85  and shuts off the electric power to the motors  24  after a predetermined delay in time. The delay in time is instrumental in tensioning the net or shield  26 . The tensioning will result in a stretching of the net to some degree so that a deflection of the net in the range of not more than 3-10 cm can be controlled when impacted by flying debris.  
         [0036]     The shutter  10  or shutter system  70  may incorporate a battery backup system or other uninterruptible power supply to, allow raising and lowering of the shutter net  26  in the absence of traditional power supplied to the home or the building. For example, in a storm in which the traditional power supplied to the home has been interrupted, the shutter net  26  may still fully function. The shutter system  70  may be configured to automatically maintain the shutter net  26  in a lowered position until normal power has been restored to the home.  
         [0037]     The computer control  72  may be communicatively connected through the internet  82  to a service provider secure website (not shown) that provides various status data relating to the shutter system  70  (e.g. verification of whether the shutter net  26  is in a raised or lowered position). Additionally, a homeowner may access the website to manually initiate remote closing or opening of the shutter net  26 . Although the operation of the shutter  10  has been described in the context of automatic use, it is to be understood that the shutter  10  may also be operated manually, via a button or remote control or by hand cranking including a winch.  
         [0038]     The following discussion pertaining to the system components associated with the related aforementioned shutter  10  and the alternate embodiment shutter  60 , however it should be realized that the system components may be integrated with other shutters.  
         [0039]     The present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Modifications combinations and alterations will occur to others upon reading the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications, combinations and alterations.