Storm shutter bracket and attachment system

• US 9,976,343 B1
• Filed: 11/03/2017
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wortec, LLC
• Original Assignee: Wortec, LLC
• Inventors: Worth, Joel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ford, Gisele D
• Application Number:
  US15/803,356
• Time in Patent Office: 200 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/005 Storm panels; hurricane shutters
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/02 Shutters, movable grilles, or other safety closing devices, e.g. against burglary louvre windows or grilles E06B7/08; lamellar blinds E06B9/26

Abstract

A storm shutter attachment system that provides for the temporary installation of a storm shutter against a window or a door during a period of extreme weather conditions, such as a hurricane or a tornado. The storm shutter utilizes an anchor pin and a retention pin to securely install within a building and exert a force against a storm shutter. A plurality of anchor pins and retention pins may be used to displace the pressure across the storm shutter, further protecting the window or door. A multipurpose tool is also provided that is couplable to the retention pin of the attachment system, allowing for a simple installation of the attachment system without requiring a professional.

Claims

1. A storm shutter attachment system comprising:

a first pin adapted to function as an anchor pin, the first pin having an elongated shaft and a head portion, the elongated shaft configured to reside within a pre-drilled hole within a building wall or a window jamb and the head portion configured to protrude from the pre-drilled hole, wherein a center longitudinal axis of the pre-drilled hole is parallel with respect to a surface of a window;

an aperture disposed within the head portion of the first pin, the aperture having an inner surface and a center axis, wherein the center axis is perpendicular to the elongated shaft of the first pin;

a second in coupled to the first pin, the second pin disposed within the aperture of the first pin, such that the second pin axially translates within the aperture along the center axis thereof, the second pin adapted to function as a retention pin, whereby the second pin is configured to exert a force onto a storm shutter in a direction perpendicular to the storm shutter;

a first ridge disposed on the inner surface of the aperture of the first pin; and

a second ridge disposed on the outer surface of the second pin, the second ridge engaging the first ridge, thereby immobilizing the second pin against axial movement along the center axis of the aperture, thus securing the storm shutter over the window.

2. The storm shutter attachment system of claim 1, wherein:

the first and second ridges are complementary threads.

3. The storm shutter attachment system of claim 1, wherein:

the elongated shaft of the first pin is configured to rotationally reside within the pre-drilled hole within the building wall or the window jamb.

4. The storm shutter attachment system of claim 3, wherein:

an orientation of the second pin is adjustable by rotating the first pin within the pre-drilled hole such that a center axis of the second pin is oriented substantially perpendicular to a surface of the storm shutter.

5. The storm shutter attachment system of claim 1, wherein the second pin further comprises:

a substantially planar attachment head configured to exert the force onto the storm shutter in the direction perpendicular to the storm shutter.

6. The storm shutter attachment system of claim 5, wherein:

the attachment head includes a male component extending in a direction away from the second pin and toward the storm shutter when the second pin couples to the first pin, with the male component insertable into the storm shutter.

7. The storm shutter attachment system of claim 5, wherein the second pin further comprises:

a tool driver coupling portion opposite the attachment head, the tool driver coupling portion adapted to translate the second pin with respect to the first pin.

8. The storm shutter attachment system of claim 7, wherein:

the tool driver coupling portion includes a driver attachment that is selected from the group consisting of a slot, cross, Phillips, square, hex, star, or a combination driver.

9. The storm shutter attachment system of claim 7, further comprising:

a multipurpose tool including a threading and a driver, each of the threading and the driver couplable with the tool driver coupling portion to linearly translate the second pin along the center axis of the aperture.

10. The storm shutter attachment system of claim 1, wherein:

the magnitude of the force exerted on the storm shutter by the second pin is controlled by axially translating the second pin within the aperture of the first pin.

11. A storm shutter attachment system comprising:

an anchor pin having an elongated shaft and a head portion, the elongated shaft configured to rotationally reside within a pre-drilled hole within a building wall or a window jamb and the head portion configured to protrude from the pre-drilled hole, wherein the pre-drilled hole is parallel with respect to a surface of a window;

an aperture disposed within the head portion of the anchor pin, the aperture having an inner surface and a first center axis, wherein the first center axis is perpendicular to the elongated shaft of the anchor pin,

a first thread disposed on the inner surface of the aperture;

a retention pin coupled to the anchor pin, the retention pin adjustably disposed within the aperture of the anchor pin such that the retention pin axially translates within the aperture along the first center axis thereof, the retention pin having a second center axis, parallel to the first center axis; and

a second thread disposed on an outer surface of the retention pin, the second thread configured to mate with the first thread, whereby rotation of the retention pin about the second center axis causes the retention pin to move axially along a direction of the first center axis;

wherein an orientation of the retention pin is adjustable by rotating the anchor pin within the pre-drilled hole such that the second center axis is oriented substantially perpendicular to a surface of a storm shutter, and wherein the retention pin is configured to be rotated about the second center axis such that the retention pin moves axially along the first axis to a position in which the retention pin perpendicularly engages the storm shutter and applies a force onto the surface thereof having sufficient magnitude to secure the storm shutter over the window.

12. The storm shutter attachment system of claim 11, wherein the retention pin further comprises:

a substantially planar attachment head configured to exert a force normal to the storm shutter.

13. The storm shutter attachment system of claim 12, wherein:

the attachment head includes a male component extending in a direction away from the retention pin and toward the storm shutter when the retention pin couples to the anchor pin, with the male component insertable into the storm shutter.

14. The storm shutter attachment system of claim 11, wherein the retention pin further comprises:

a tool driver coupling portion adapted to translate the retention pin with respect to the anchor pin, the tool driver coupling portion including a driver attachment that is selected from the group consisting of a slot, cross, Phillips, square, hex, star, or a combination driver.

15. The storm shutter attachment system of claim 14, further comprising:

a multipurpose tool including a threading and a driver, each of the threading and the driver couplable with the tool driver coupling portion to linearly translate the retention pin along the first and second center axes.

16. The storm shutter attachment system of claim 11, wherein:

the storm shutter is made of a material that is selected from the group consisting of plywood, corrugated steel, aluminum, rubber, polyurethane, vinyl, fabric, and a hybrid material.

17. A storm shutter attachment system comprising:

a first pin adapted to function as an anchor pin, the first pin having an elongated shaft and a head portion, the elongated shaft configured to reside within a pre-drilled hole within a building wall or a window jamb and the head portion configured to protrude from the pre-drilled hole, wherein a center longitudinal axis of the pre-drilled hole is parallel with respect to a surface of a window;

a second pin adapted to function as a retention pin, the second pin coupled to the first pin, the second pin having a center axis, wherein the center axis is perpendicular to the elongated shaft of the first pin;

a first thread disposed on an outer surface of the second pin;

a nut having a second thread disposed on an inner surface thereof configured to screw-threadedly mate with the first thread of the second pin;

a storm shutter having a hole with a diameter larger than a diameter of the second pin;

whereby the storm shutter is positioned over the second pin such that the second pin passes through the hole, the storm shutter being immobilized with respect to the second pin by screwing the nut onto an end of the retention pin protruding through the hole of the storm shutter.

18. The storm shutter attachment system of claim 17, wherein the first pin further comprises:

an aperture disposed within the head of the first pin, the aperture having a third thread disposed on an inner surface thereof and a second center axis, wherein the second center axis is perpendicular to the elongated shaft of the first pin;

wherein the second pin is adjustably disposed within the aperture, with the outer surface of the second pin mating with the inner surface of the through-hole, allowing the second pin to axially translate within the aperture along the second center axis.

19. The storm shutter attachment system of claim 17, wherein:

an orientation of the second pin is adjustable by rotating the first pin within the pre-drilled hole such that the center axis of the second pin is oriented substantially perpendicular to a surface of the storm shutter.

20. The storm shutter attachment system of claim 17, further comprising:

a multipurpose tool couplable with the second pin to linearly translate the second pin along the center axis.