Abstract: An louver rotation mechanism for use in rotating a louvered shutter having louvers rotationally engaged with a frame. The device features one or a plurality of gear modules which are positionable to a fixed location on one or a plurality of rack bars. The gear modules may be spaced on the rack bars to any number of positions wherein they will engage with louver gears from an array of louvers engaged with the frame. A high degree of customization is provided by allowing the use of the rack bars with any number of different sized louvers at different spacings in a frame by simply adjusting the positions of the rack modules for operative engagement with the louver gears.

Abstract: An improved rolling pivot for suspended support of articulated panels such as shutters or room dividers in an overhead channel. The pivot features angled engagement of overlapped wheels of the rolling pivot in the overhead channel to thereby allow the supported articulated panels to be closed and opened by directing force to side edges of the suspended panels instead of having to pull the lead panel in the array. The pivot also allows for minimizing the width of the overhead channel and easy insertion and removal of individual pivot assemblies with the overhead channel by a simple rotation of the carriage of the pivot assembly to remove the wheels from operational engagement with tracks formed in the carriage and allow the wheels and pivot assembly to slide through a gap in the channel between the tracks.

Abstract: An improved louver rotation mechanism for use in a louvered shutter having a frame and a plurality of rotating louver rotationally engaged in the frame. The device features one or a plurality of rack gears slidably engaged in one of the vertical stiles of the frame. The racks are geared about their exterior sides to concurrently engage gears formed on the louver axles of the louvers and a geared knob assembly operatively mounted in the stile such that a twist of the handle of the knob assembly is communicated to at least one of the racks which in turn twists the louvers. When two racks are used of equal weight they function as a counter weight in their engagement with the louvers thereby stabilizing them. Optionally a brake mechanism may be included in the knob assembly to hold the louvers stationary and the brake mechanism may also function as a clutch to prevent damage to the louvers if force is applied to the louvers sufficient to overcome the clutch.

Abstract: An improved rolling pivot for suspended support of articulated panels such as shutters or room dividers in an overhead channel. The device features angled engagement of overlapped wheels of the rolling pivot in the overhead channel to thereby allow the supported articulated panels to be closed and opened by directing force to side edges of the suspended panels instead of having to pull the lead panel in the array. The device also allows for minimizing the width of the overhead channel and easy insertion and removal of individual pivot assemblies with the overhead channel by a simple rotation of the carriage of the pivot assembly to remove the wheels from operational engagement with tracks formed in the carriage and allow the wheels and pivot assembly to slide through a gap in the channel between the tracks.