A hurricane shutter for a building opening closure having a window or door frame recessed from the outer face of the building a predetermined depth-wise distance, the shutter being composed of a pair of normally open doors swingable to a closed position with the doors normally flush with the outer face of the building and spanning the opening and a grid-like structure in the recess between the doors, when closed, and the recessed window or door frame to which the doors are releasably locked.

A window guard assembly having a multiple set of permanent window brackets installed on the exterior sides of a window framing of a building or residential home at the top and bottom thereof. A top set of window brackets is arranged with mechanical fasteners as first and second inverted J-shaped mounting brackets. A bottom set of window brackets is disposed on the bottom window framing as first and second mounting brackets, and the bottom brackets are aligned with the top set of window brackets. The brackets facilitate the installation of a protective planar covering to prevent damage from flying debris during violent weather. The brackets can also facilitate substitution of a pair of decorative shutters during non-hazardous weather conditions. Each bracket may have rounded corners and include an opening in the back portion.

This invention provides for a composite panel (10) which may be mounted to a base surface (12) of a building structure (16) to allow for absorbing impact or other force loading considerations. The composite panel (10) includes a first core (20) which is made up of a number of first cell members (22) which are located next to each other and form through passageways (32) extending in a longitudinal direction (24). Mounted in adhesive contact with the first core (20) is a second core (26) formed of a number of second cell members (28) which are located next to each other and provide for second core through passageways (44) which extend in a transverse direction to produce a cross-pattern with respect to the first and second through passageways (32 and 44). The first core (20) and the second core (26) are adhesively mounted to each other to provide an overall laminated composite panel structure which blocks access to the window or door areas (14) of the building structure (16).

An improved hurricane shutter is disclosed. The shutter is of the type in which a plurality of interlocking corrugated panels are attached between a header above the opening and a sill below the opening. The corrugated panels extend beyond lateral edges of the opening, so that they cover the entire opening. The hurricane shutter is improved with a reinforcement bar extending substantially parallel to and midway in between the header and the sill of the opening. The bar is additionally attached to the wall structure next to the opening. A concomitant method for improving the strength of a hurricane shutter assembly is also disclosed.

Described is a preferred shutter system for protecting building interiors against severe weather conditions such as hurricanes. Advantageous shutter systems are stackable, comprising a plurality of panels, and are adapted for pressure fit within a window frame. Shutter systems of the invention also include cross bars engageable by the panels of the shutter system which provide support against both positive and negative pressures.