Abstract: An improvement in a rolling shutter assembly for covering an opening of a structure having an external protective surface, an underlying support structure and a subsurface disposed therebetween. The rolling shutter assembly includes a shutter housing, a shutter support member rotatably disposed within the shutter housing, a shutter coupled to the shutter support member, and a pair of side tracks. The improvement includes a plurality of dowels and corresponding openings through the external protective surface configured to receive the dowels. The dowels are disposed between the subsurface of the wall and the side tracks when the rolling shutter assembly is installed to minimize the portion of the external protective surface that is removed to accommodate the installation of the shutter assembly.

Abstract: An inflatable shutter is provided. The shutter comprises a protective layer and at least one air bladder, and is attached to the outside of a building structure. The shutter is positioned outside the building structure adjacent a window or other opening in order to protect the window or other opening from high velocity winds and flying debris during storms. The shutter may be removed from the outside of the building and compactly stored during periods of nonuse.

Abstract: An end retention system for a rolling shutter system is provided. The end retention system comprises a fastener that has a head and a shaft, a washer and a spacer. The aperture of the washer is greater than that of the shaft. The shaft is configured for insertion into a shutter slat. A guide track is provided with retention fins spaced apart a distance that is less than the outer diameter of the washer. The guide may include a channel partially bounded by the retention fins and having a width that is greater than the outer diameter of the washer. The washer is located in the channel, and is retained near the slat by the head of and the fastener. An end retention system may have a rigid spacer, or a compressible spacer that is a resilient member located between the head of the fastener and the washer.

Abstract: A rolling shutter and a slat for use in a rolling shutter are provided. The slat comprises an engaging track located at a first horizontal edge and a receptacle track located at a second horizontal edge. Illustratively, the engaging track has a hook shaped profile and is disposed at an acute angle, and the receptacle track comprises a lip and a guard defining a space adapted to receive therein an engaging track of an adjacent slat.

Abstract: A rolling shutter and a slat for use in a rolling shutter are provided. The slat comprises an engaging track located at a first horizontal edge and a receptacle track located at a second horizontal edge. Illustratively, the engaging track has a hook-shaped profile and is disposed at an acute angle, and the receptacle track comprises a lip and a guard defining a space adapted to receive therein an engaging track of an adjacent slat.

Abstract: An improvement in a rolling shutter assembly for covering an opening of a structure defined by a top wall, a bottom wall and oppositely disposed side walls. The rolling shutter assembly includes a shutter housing, a shutter support member rotatably disposed within the shutter housing, a shutter coupled to the shutter support member, the shutter comprising a plurality of individual slats and a plurality of hinges interconnecting the slats, and a pair of side tracks. The shutter rolls between a rolled position wherein the shutter is rolled onto the shutter support member and an unrolled position wherein the shutter covers the opening and the ends of the slats are disposed within the channels of the corresponding side tracks. The improvement comprises a support frame having top, bottom and side rails mounted to the walls defining the opening with the side tracks each mounted to a corresponding one of the side rails of the support frame.

Abstract: An improvement in a rolling shutter assembly for covering an opening of a structure defined by a top wall, a bottom wall and oppositely disposed side walls. The rolling shutter assembly includes a shutter housing, a shutter support member rotatably disposed within the shutter housing, a shutter coupled to the shutter support member, the shutter comprising a plurality of individual slats and a plurality of hinges interconnecting the slats, and a pair of side tracks. The shutter rolls between a rolled position wherein the shutter is rolled onto the shutter support member and an unrolled position wherein the shutter covers the opening and the ends of the slats are disposed within the channels of the corresponding side tracks. The improvement comprises a support frame having top, bottom and side rails mounted to the walls defining the opening with the side tracks each mounted to a corresponding one of the side rails of the support frame.

Abstract: An end retention system for a rolling shutter system is provided. The end retention system comprises a fastener that has a head and a shaft, and a washer that has an outer diameter and an aperture having an inner diameter. The inner diameter of the aperture of the washer is at least twice the diameter of the shaft of the fastener. The shaft is configured for insertion into a screw boss receptacle of a shutter slat. The end retention system may also comprise a guide track that has retention fins spaced apart a distance that is less than the outer diameter of the washer. The guide may include a channel that partially bounded by the retention fins. The channel may have a width that is greater than the outer diameter of the washer. The washer is located in the channel, and is retained near the slat by the head of the fastener.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a roll-up partition comprising a rolling shutter, a shutter assembly, a flexible strap and a tensioner. The tensioner includes a locking mechanism that is configured to lock and unlock the flexible strap and a quick release mechanism configured to release the locking mechansim, thus allowing the rolling shutter to change positions. The invention also includes a strap recoiler with a locking mechanism and a quick release mechanism, wherein activation of the quick release mechanism causes the release of the locking mechanism, thus allowing the roll-up partition to change positions. The invention also includes a method of exiting an enclosed space partially bounded by a portal protected by a roller shutter. The method includes operating the quick release mechanism, waiting for the shutter to retract and exiting the space through the portal.

Abstract: A rolling shutter and a slat for use in a rolling shutter are provided. The slat comprises a first receptacle and a second receptacle, wherein each receptacle is c-shaped and adapted to receive a retention screw, and wherein each receptacle projects from one or more of interior surfaces of the shutter slat.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for performing three-dimensional surface measurements of a path length along a surface. The method for determining the path length along the surface of a three-dimensional object includes the step of first selecting a first and second point on the three-dimensional surface. A plane is then defined which contains both the first and second points. A determination is then made to find the shortest path curve between the first point and second point which is defined by the intersection of the three-dimensional object with the plane. This path length is recorded for future comparison. A series of subsequent planes is defined that contains the first and second point, wherein these planes are rotated at an angle to each other. A determination is then made for the shortest path length associated with each subsequent plane. The overall shortest path length is the minimum of these recorded path lengths.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a modular roll-up partition assembly, such as a rolling protective shutter, implementing an improved tension adjustment mechanism for torsion springs used in roll-up partition assemblies. In one embodiment, the roll-up partition assembly of the present invention includes a tension adjustment mechanism to adjust the tension of a torsion spring connected between a support rod and the partition support member. The tension adjustment mechanism rotates the support rod to move the end of the torsion spring connected to the rod relative to the end of the torsion spring connected to the partition support member. Unlike previous roll-up partition assemblies which permitted adjustment of the torsion spring tension only in increments of a full rotation of the support member, the tension adjustment mechanism facilitates fine adjustment of the torsion spring in increments of less than a full rotation of the partition support member.

Abstract: A rolling shutter assembly having shutter support member and a shutter coupled to the shutter support member. The shutter has a plurality of individual slats and a plurality of hinges interconnecting the slats. Each of the slats has a pair of end portions, and the slats include a first set of slats and a second set of slats, each of the slats in the first and second sets being alternated so that each of the hinges is connected to one of the slats in the first set and one of the slats in the second set. The shutter further includes a plurality of extension members extending from the slats and/or the hinges. The shutter assembly has a pair of shutter tracks and an arrangement for rolling the shutter from an extended position in which the end portions of the slats are disposed in the shutter tracks to a retracted position in which the shutter is rolled up on the shutter support member.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a modular roll-up partition assembly, such as a rolling protective shutter, implementing an improved tension adjustment mechanism for torsion springs used in roll-up partition assemblies. In one embodiment, the roll-up partition assembly of the present invention includes a tension adjustment mechanism to adjust the tension of a torsion spring connected between a support rod and the partition support member. The tension adjustment mechanism rotates the support rod to move the end of the torsion spring connected to the rod relative to the end of the torsion spring connected to the partition support member. Unlike previous roll-up partition assemblies which permitted adjustment of the torsion spring tension only in increments of a full rotation of the support member, the tension adjustment mechanism facilitates fine adjustment of the torsion spring in increments of less than a full rotation of the partition support member.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a modular roll-up partition assembly, such as a rolling protective shutter, implementing an improved tension adjustment mechanism for torsion springs used in roll-up partition assemblies. In one embodiment, the roll-up partition assembly of the present invention includes a tension adjustment mechanism to adjust the tension of a torsion spring connected between a support rod and the partition support member. The tension adjustment mechanism rotates the support rod to move the end of the torsion spring connected to the rod relative to the end of the torsion spring connected to the partition support member. Unlike previous roll-up partition assemblies which permitted adjustment of the torsion spring tension only in increments of a full rotation of the support member, the tension adjustment mechanism facilitates fine adjustment of the torsion spring in increments of less than a full rotation of the partition support member.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a modular roll-up partition assembly, such as a rolling protective shutter, implementing an improved tension adjustment mechanism for torsion springs used in roll-up partition assemblies. In one embodiment, the roll-up partition assembly of the present invention includes a tension adjustment mechanism to adjust the tension of a torsion spring connected between a support rod and the partition support member. The tension adjustment mechanism rotates the support rod to move the end of the torsion spring connected to the rod relative to the end of the torsion spring connected to the partition support member. Unlike previous roll-up partition assemblies which permitted adjustment of the torsion spring tension only in increments of a full rotation of the support member, the tension adjustment mechanism facilitates fine adjustment of the torsion spring in increments of less than a full rotation of the partition support member.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a modular roll-up partition assembly, such as a rolling protective shutter, implementing an improved mechanism for raising the partition in an emergency by disengaging a motor from a rolling shutter. The mechanism includes a cable that passes through an axial passage in a torsion spring. When the cable is pulled, the coupling mechanism is separated from the motor drive shaft, thereby disengaging the motor drive shaft from the shutter support member and permitting the torsion spring to quickly raise the rolling shutter.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rolling protective shutter having improved shutter tracks. The improved shutter tracks according to the present invention include an improved stopping mechanism that prevents the shutter from completely rolling up onto the shutter support member, and is hidden within the shutter tracks.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rolling protective shutter having slats with integrated screw bosses formed in their hinges. Each slat includes a first elongated socket along one edge of the slat, and a second elongated socket along the opposite edge of the slat. The hinges of the shutter curtain are formed by pivotally disposing the second elongated socket of one slat within the first elongated socket of an adjacent slat. After the shutter curtain is assembled, alignment/retention members are attached to either end of the second elongated socket to keep the slats substantially vertically aligned and retained within the side tracks. The alignment/retention members engage the adjoining slats to prevent substantial relative movement of the interconnected slats, and are dimensioned so that the alignment/retention members do not extend beyond the surfaces of the slats.

Abstract: A rolling shutter assembly having a shutter support member and a shutter coupled to the shutter support member. The shutter has a plurality of individual slats and a plurality of hinges interconnecting the slats. Each of the slats has a pair of end portions, and the slats include a first set of slats and a second set of slats, each of the slats in the first and second sets being alternated so that each of the hinges is connected to one of the slats in the first set and one of the slats in the second set. The shutter further includes a plurality of extension members extending from the slats and/or the hinges. The shutter assembly has a pair of shutter tracks and an arrangement for rolling the shutter from an extended position in which the end portions of the slats are disposed in the shutter tracks to a retracted position in which the shutter is rolled up on the shutter support member.