US 12,448,834 B2
Storm shutter panel systems and method of design
Michael Wayne Kuenstle, Gainesville, FL (US); John Bernal, Vero Beach, FL (US); Carlos Rios, Gainesville, FL (US); and Margaret Sobrino Almanzar, Miami, FL (US)
Assigned to University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc., Gainesville, FL (US)
Filed by University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc., Gainesville, FL (US)
Filed on Jul. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/875,633.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/226,426, filed on Jul. 28, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0043952 A1, Feb. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. E06B 9/02 (2006.01); G06F 30/27 (2020.01); G06F 30/28 (2020.01); E06B 9/00 (2006.01); G06F 113/08 (2020.01)
CPC E06B 9/02 (2013.01) [G06F 30/27 (2020.01); G06F 30/28 (2020.01); E06B 2009/005 (2013.01); G06F 2113/08 (2020.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A storm shutter panel comprising:
a first surface configured to face an exterior environment of a building and a second surface configured to face an interior of the building;
at least one perforation extending between the first and second surface;
rail connection holes configured to securely affix the panel to at least a rail connection element of a rail without the use of additional hardware; and
interlocking elements configured for panel-to-panel assembly, wherein the interlocking elements comprise at least one of: a plurality of tab shapes along an edge of the storm shutter panel, a plurality of nodules protruding from the first surface proximal to the edge of the storm shutter panel, a curved cutout shape along the edge of the storm shutter panel, or any combination thereof.