Shutter slat assembly for roll down storm shutters

A shutter slat assembly for a storm shutter comprising:

• an elongated horizontally extending shutter slat having first and second longitudinally extending formed edges which slidably and interlockingly connect with a corresponding mating edge of a next adjacent said slat for limited pivotal movement between adjacent connected said slats sufficient for rolled-up storage of said storm shutter;
• said slat having a central port formed therethrough for permitting light transmission therethrough;
• an elongated transparent panel having enlarged edge portions which are configured and spaced for dependent slidable engagement between and within inwardly facing grooves formed inwardly adjacent said edges of said slat;
• said transparent panel tightly covering said port while permitting light transmission therethrough;
• and
• an outwardly extending bead formed on an outwardly facing surface of a central portion of said transparent panel, said bead disposed between said enlarged edge portions, said bead sized to space the outer surface of said transparent panel from an inner surface of said slat while said transparent panel is being slidably installed within said slat, said bead also matingly engaging in said port to resist removal of said panel from said slat.

A shutter slat for rolled-up storage of a storm shutter assembly, said shutter slat comprising:

• an elongated slat member having a first end, an opposite second end, and a first and second longitudinally extending edges, said edges cooperatively configured to interconnect with a next adjacent slat, said slat having a pair of elongated grooves disposed on a rear side of said slat, said pair of grooves extending from said first end to said second end of said slat;
• a port formed in said slat and positioned between said grooves;
• an elongated transparent panel having a front surface and a rear surface, said panel having a central portion generally conforming to said rear side of said slat;
• said central portion having a predetermined thickness and a pair of edge portions disposed at either side of said panel in a direction generally traverse to said longitudinal direction of said panel and which extend between said front surface and said rear surface, said pair of edge portions having a cross sectional width greater than the predetermined thickness of the central portion;
• said pair of edge portions extending substantially along a longitudinal length of said transparent panel, said pair of edge portions formed for slidable engagement with a respective one of said grooves, said central portion of said transparent panel covering and substantially sealing said port while permitting light transmission therethrough.