Patent ID: 8191603

Claim:
An accordion-type shutter assembly used to protect against impact damage, said shutter assembly comprising: a plurality of elongated transparent solid blade panels each panel having a first side and an opposite second side, said first side includes a first hinge half having a first hinge portion extending a length of said blade panel, said second side having an elongated T-shaped rail extending outwardly from said second side, said rail extending a length of said blade panel, said first hinge half and said elongated rail being formed as one piece with said blade panel and composed of the same material as said blade panel; and a second hinge half having an inwardly extending channel on one side and a second hinge portion at an opposite side, said elongated rail engages within said channel to secure said second hinge half to said blade panel such that said second hinge half does not pivot relative to said blade panel, said second hinge portion engages with said first hinge portion of an adjacent blade panel to form a pivotal hinge for opening and closing said shutter assembly, said blade panel includes a first end and a second end, said first end includes a first tab and said second end includes a second tab, and wherein one of said first end and said second end includes a locking button and the other of said first end and said second end includes locking cavity, and wherein said first end engages with a second end of an adjacent blade panel in an end to end fashion such that said locking button is received within said locking cavity, and wherein said first tab and said second tab are offset from said blade panel such that upon engagement of said first tab with said second tab of an adjacent blade panel, said blade panels extend coextensively.