Shutter construction with prefabricated, horizontally movable panel assemblies

Claim 1

In a horizontally movable shutter construction including a fixed outer frame and at least one panel assembly mounted within said outer frame, the improvement wherein said panel assembly comprises, in combination: a supporting frame including a top rail, a bottom rail, and first and second stiles; said first stile having a tongue projecting toward said second stile; said second stile having a pair of clamping jaws projecting toward said first stile, said jaws being so shaped as to be capable of clamping engagement of said tongue; and a series of elementary panels fixedly mounted in a continuous plane within said supporting frame; said elementary panels each having a tongue along one of the lateral edges thereof which is exactly identical with said tongue of said first stile, and a pair of clamping jaws along the other lateral edge thereof whih is exactly identical with said jaws of said second stile; whereby said elementary panels are connected to each other and to said first and second stiles solely by the clamping engagement of said tongues by said pairs of jaws, respectively, in such a manner that the outer surfaces of said elementary panels and said first and second stiles are arranged in coplanar relationship to each other; the tongue of said first stile and the jaws of said second stile being formed on flanges integral with said first and second stiles respectively, said flanges being disposed in coplanar relationship to said elementary panels; each of the tongues of said first stile and said elementary panels being disposed slightly interiorly with respect to the plane of said elementary panels, each of the pairs of jaws of said second stile and said elementary panels consisting of a first jaw disposed in the plane of said elementary panels and a second jaw disposed further interiorly of said tongues; each of the tongues of said first stile and said elementary panels gradually increasing in thickness toward the tip and extending in offset relationship to the flange of said stile and being arranged slightly interiorly, each of the pairs of jaws of said second stile and said elementary panels having rims formed along the tips of the respective jaws, said rims being disposed to assure positive engagement of said tongues by said jaws to maintain said coplanar relationship of said elementary panels and first and second stiles.