Thermal insulating shutter assembly

A thermal insulating shutter assembly for selective covering of the interior of a wall opening, said assembly comprising:

• at least one set of shutter elements, each said set including first and second shutter elements;
• each said shutter element comprising a pair of spaced, substantially parallel panel members having congruent end edges, peripheral end means interconnecting the end edges of said panel members to form top and bottom end members interconnected by oppositely disposed side members and to define an enclosed interior chamber therewithin, core means centrally disposed between and spaced from said panel members within said chamber and bounded on all sides by said peripheral end means for providing thermal insulation and to define an enclosed, dead air space between said core means and each said panel member, said core means and panel members being formed so as to define the size and shape of said dead air spaces to prevent convection currents from forming therewithin and being sufficiently sealed to substantially prevent condensation within said dead air spaces, and thermal reflective means disposed on the outer surfaces of said core means for substantially preventing thermal radiant energy loss, said reflective means being spaced from and facing the inner surfaces of said panel members;
• a shutter jamb element for supporting said set of shutter elements and adapted for mounting adjacent said wall opening;
• elongated tongue means disposed along the length of one side member of each said shutter element;
• channel means disposed along the length of said jamb element and along the length of the other side member of said second shutter element for receiving the tongue means of said second and first shutter elements, respectively, when said shutter assembly is in a closed position wherein said jamb element and said shutter elements of said set of elements are in substantially co-planar alignment and covering said wall opening, said channel means including a layer of insulation along the bottom thereof adapted to be compressed by and flow around said tongue member when engaged within said channel means to provide firm mechanical and thermal sealing of said assembly when in said closed position;
• first hinge means interconnecting said jamb element and said second shutter element to permit pivotal movement of said second shutter movement relative to said jamb element between said closed position and an open position wherein said second shutter element is disposed adjacent the inner face of said jamb element substantially parallel to said wall;
• second hinge means interconnecting said first and second shutter elements to permit pivotal movement of said first shutter element relative to said second shutter element between said closed position and said open position wherein said first shutter element is disposed adjacent and congruent with said second shutter element;
• lap joint means disposed along the length of the other side member of said first shutter element for sealing and locking said first shutter element in said closed position;
• and
• a layer of insulation disposed along said top and bottom end members of each said shutter element to provide thermal sealing in said closed position, said insulation creating in conjunction with said tongue and channel means insulation an enclosed, substantially sealed air space between said shutter assembly and said window to reduce thermal energy conduction losses.