The present invention refers to a reinforcing tie, e.g. for a shutter, which could be placed either between a shutter and a hinge, whereby said tie carries the hinge and simultaneously serves as a reinforcement for a shutter frame, or independently, whereby serving only as a frame reinforcement.

During assembly of a reinforcing tie by means of screws that the protective layer on the lower part of the head of the screw is very often damaged. Also, due to tightening the screws the protective layer of the reinforcing tie is damaged by the head of each screw. As a result, the anti corrosion protection is questionable with the known solutions, in particular in environments with highly corrosive air such as maritime places.

It is the object of the present invention to create a reinforcing tie that eliminates the problems of the known solutions.

The object as set above is solved by a reinforcing tie according to the invention that comprises a reinforcing section and a protective section covering said reinforcing section, said reinforcing section being formed with a plurality of preferably uniformly spaced through-holes intended for the tight accommodation of hollow cylindrical projections of the protective section. The through-holes coincide with cylindrical projections when both sections are put on top of each other. Here, the protective layer is weakened on the side facing the reinforcing section and circumferentially around at least one hollow cylindrical projection at the junction with the protective section. Said weakening is preferably formed as a notch facilitating the breaking away of the projection when a hinge is mounted on top of the reinforcing tie and a cylindrical protrusion of said hinge pierces the protective section at the location of the through-hole.

According to the invention, the protective section is provided at most with such a number of the hollow cylindrical projections that correspond to the number of the through-holes in the reinforcing section.

The diameter of the each through-hole in the reinforcing section is such a size that the cylindrical protrusion of the hinge plate, when passing through the protective section, breaks off the cylindrical projection on the location of the weakening and passes loosely through each through-hole.

The reinforcing tie according to the invention is formed as an angle bar when used e.g. in the comers of the shutter, while according to another embodiment it is provided for the reinforcing tie to be oblong as being of particular relevance with relatively high shutters or frames where more than two hinges are to be mounted.

The reinforcing section of the tie according to the invention is preferably made of metal, while the protective section is preferably made of plastic. The use of other materials, however, is not excluded.

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinafter and the accompanying drawings, wherein

Fig. 1

shows a reinforcing tie according to the invention viewed from above,

Fig. 2

shows a section through the line II-II of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

shows a section through the line III-III of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4

shows another embodiment of a reinforcing tie according to the invention.

Reinforcing tie 1 according to the invention consists of a flat reinforcing angle bar 2 each leg thereof being formed with a plurality of preferably uniformly spaced through-holes 3. Diameter of said holes 3 is selected in a manner that when a hinge (not shown) is fixed on top of the reinforcing tie according to the invention, a cylindrical protrusion of a hinge plate passes loosely through the particular through-hole 3. The reinforcing angle bar 2 is covered on the outer face thereof i.e. on the side facing away from the shutter, with a flat protective angle bar 4 comprising on the lower side thereof, i.e. on the side facing the reinforcing angle bar 2, at most such a number of hollow cylindrical projections 5 that corresponds to the number of through-holes 3 in the reinforcing angle bar 2. The screws for fixing the reinforcing tie pass through said hollow cylindrical projections 5. Said projections 5 and said holes 3 form a tight fit. through-holes 3 and cylindrical projections 5 coincide when both angle bars are placed on top of each other. Said reinforcing angle bar 2 is preferably made of metal, while said protective angle bar 4 is preferably made of plastic.

The protective angle bar 4 is provided with a notch 6 on the side facing the reinforcing angle bar 2 and at least about the hollow cylindrical projection 5 located at the place of penetration e.g. of a cylindrical protrusion of a hinge plate through the angle bars 2, 4, said notch 6 facilitates the breaking off the projection 5 when e.g. said cylindrical protrusion of said hinge plate is pressed through the angle bars 2, 4. The remaining hollow cylindrical projections 5 are intended for accommodation of screws for fixing said angle bars e.g. to the shutter.

If needed, said angle bars 2, 4 assembly could also be used where only a comer reinforcement of a frame or a shutter is required. In the case, however, when the shutter is relatively high so that more than two hinges are necessary, an additional hinge is mounted on top of a flat reinforcing tie 7 between both comer reinforcing ties 1. Design of said tie 7 differs from the aforementioned embodiment with angle bars 2, 4 in that the reinforcing tie 7 is longitudinally extensive and comprises a flat reinforcing strip 8 and a protective strip 9 is placed on top of it. Said reinforcing strip is formed with a plurality of preferably uniformly spaced through-holes 3 intended for the tight accommodation of the hollow cylindrical projections 5 of the protective strip 9. Also with this embodiment the protective strip 9 is provided with a notch 6 on the side facing the reinforcing strip 8 and at least around the hollow cylindrical projection 5 located at the place of penetration e.g. of a cylindrical protrusion of the hinge plate through the strips 8, 9, said notch 6 facilitates the breaking off of projection 5 when e.g. said cylindrical protrusion of said hinge plate is pressed through the strips 8, 9. The remaining hollow cylindrical projections 5 are intended for accommodation of screws for fixing said strips e.g. to the shutter.