Shutter assembly for protecting windows and the like

摘要

A protective shutter assembly includes a pair of rail members that are adapted to be mounted on opposing vertical sides of a window or the like, along with a plurality of shutter panels adapted to extend between the rail members. Each rail member includes an elongated channel which opens toward an associated channel of the other rail member. The shutter panels and the rail members are preferably formed from an extrusion process to reduce manufacturing costs. Due to this construction, the channels have open ends. The lower end of each channel is closed off, at least partially, such that the interengaging shutter panels can be positioned between the associated rail members and retained within the channels. According to one embodiment, the lower end of each channel is closed off by a substantially L-shaped bracket which is also preferably formed from an extrusion process and includes a first portion that projects into a longitudinally extending slot formed integral with the channel and a second portion that extends across the open end. According to the invention, the rail members can be individually formed and secured on either side of a window or the like, or integrally formed with a window frame.