Reinforced accordion-type folding shutters

A reinforced accordion-type folding shutter formed of a number of substantially identical, vertically extending, aligned, narrow slats having their adjacent edges pivotally connected together for permitting folding and opening the shutter, comprising:

• each slat being generally in the shape of an elongated, flat strip with its opposite vertical edges formed in a generally tubular shape which is integral with and extends substantially the full length of the respective slat edge;
• each slat edge tube being notched along its length to provide numerous, spaced apart, generally equal length loops, whose lengths are greater than the diameters of the loops, and with the spaces formed by the notches between each adjacent pair of loop ends being of a length to receive the corresponding loops formed on the edge of the next adjacent slat and with the loops of each adjacent pair of slats being co-axially aligned to form a single tube made of alternating loops;
• a rigid rod extending through the aligned loops of each pair of adjacent slats edges to form a rigid hinge pin which together with the aligned loops form a hinge for pivoting the slats relatively to each other and, simultaneously, to form a rigid, composite bar formed by the co-axially aligned loops and rod, which bar extends substantially the full height of the shutter;
• each rigid rod extending a short distance above and a short distance below its respective slats and a guide member positioned above the slats and secured with said rod for receiving and guiding the upper extensions of the rods and a guide member located beneath the shutter and secured with said rod for guiding the lower extensions of the rods when the shutter is moved into open and closed positions;
• whereby the shutter is provided with a series of closely spaced reinforcing bars for resisting penetration by wind hurled objects or other forcibly applied objects.