Patent ID: 7716884

Claim:
A shutter assembly for protectively covering an opening of a dwelling, the shutter assembly comprising: at least one shutter adapted to be mounted to the exterior of the dwelling and constructed and arranged to move between a closed position wherein the shutter covers at least in-part the opening and an open position wherein the shutter is clear of the opening; and a security bar device adapted to be engaged releasably to the dwelling, the security bar device having: an elongated retention portion located outward from the at least one shutter and with respect to the dwelling when in the closed position, an elongated member having an elongated flange section being in contact with the at least one shutter when in the closed position, the elongated member disposed parallel to the retention portion and located inward from the at least one shutter when in the closed position, with a portion of the shutter being located between the retention portion and the elongated member, the elongated member having an elongated side wall projecting laterally outward from the elongated flange section and inward with respect to the dwelling, and an elongated locking portion disposed parallel to the retention portion and spanning laterally between the retention portion and the elongated member for releasably engaging the retention portion and the elongated member together, the retention portion and the locking portion formed as one unitary piece, the side wall releasably engaged to the locking portion; a first aperture in the locking portion; a second aperture in the side wall; and a fastener extending through the first and second apertures for engaging the locking portion to the side wall.