Patent ID: 6935082

Claim:
An impact protection system for building openings, the system comprising: a shutter having a shutter frame including two opposing elongated lateral frame members having facing openings; shutter blades extending between the two lateral frame members along blade axes and having ends positioned in the facing openings; the shutter blades being angled relative to longitudinal axes of the frame members and spaced along the longitudinal axes of the frame members; the blades each having transverse edges extending along the blade axis, a side flange extending, at a first end, from one of said transverse edges of the blade and extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of the frame members; a connecting flange extending from an end of the side flange opposite said first end, said connecting flange connecting to an adjacent blade at a location between its transverse edges and spaced from said transverse edges; whereby the shutter blades provide a louvered appearance on one side and provide access to the facing openings between at least two of the shutter blades on the opposing side for insertion of bracing clips when the shutter is arranged for impact protection; and a hinge provided along one of the lateral frame members for mounting the shutter to a wall adjacent an opening to be protected, the hinge permitting the shutter to pivot between an open position against the wall, in which a front face of the shutter is exposed outwardly from the wall and a rear face of the shutter faces the wall, and a closed position over the opening, in which the front face faces the opening and the rear face is exposed outwardly from the opening; in the closed position, said facing openings including access areas adjacent the shutter blades on the exposed rear face of the shutter.