Abstract: A shutter panel having a plurality of louvers having a composite construction. Each of the louvers is rotationally coupled to a shutter frame by a drive pin on one end and a support pin on the other end. The drive pins are linked to a rack and pinion louver mechanism for common rotational movement. In operation, the plurality of louvers rotate in unison by a simple manual action applied to a single louver. The drive pin includes a louver engaging end and a frame engaging end. The louver engaging end is a flat plate adapted to slip fit into a complementary slot included in a first end portion of the louver and retained therein by a complementary slot included in a first end portion of the louver and retained therein by interference forces. The slip fitting of the drive pin into the slot creates less stress on the louver and thus reduces the potential of crack initiation in the composite material of the louver.

Abstract: A shutter panel having a plurality of composite louvers each of which is rotationally coupled to a shutter frame by a drive pin on one end and a support pin on the other end. The drive pin includes a louver engaging end and a frame engaging end. The louver engaging end is a flat plate adapted to slip fit into a complementary slot included in a first end portion of the louver and retained therein by interference forces. The slip fitting of the drive pin into the slot creates less stress on the louver thus deduces the potential of crack initiation in the louver. The frame engaging end of drive pin is adapted for rotatably engagement with the shutter frame. The support pin includes a louver insertion end and a stile engaging end. Stile engaging end includes a spring flap. Spring flap is adapted to presses against the shutter frame after received therein to discourage the support pin from slipping out of engagement.

Abstract: Base rail (12) and arch rail (13) frame holds horizontal slats (14). The frame (12, 13) is removable from a window opening for service. The slats (14) are mounted on ladders (17) with notches (31, 32) in the slats for removal individually. The base rail (12) opens down and receives a closure piece removable for access to the mechanism. Guide plates (21) on the arch rail (13) facilitate sliding the ladder cords (18, 19) forward and rearward for tilting the slats (14) without mechanism external to the base rail (12) or arch rail (13), other than the ladder cords (18, 19) themselves. The arch rail (13) inside face is channeled to receive slat ends to obscure direct line of sight through the assembly when the slats (14) are closed. Slat ends are chamfered for tilting the slats (14) without interference with the inner surface of the arch rail (13) when the slats (14) are closed.

Abstract: A fan-like array of louvers around a hub in a half-circle shaped frame is adapted to cover a Palladian-style window. Two facing ring gear sectors are slidable in a channel in the hub to turn about an axis that is common to the half-circle, the channel bottom and the arc of the window. A series of pinions has pinion teeth between and engaged with the two gears, each pinion receiving a drive pin therein, each of which has a point directed away from the gear and embedded in a louver. A pivot pin has a point rotatably received in the opposite end of each louver and an outer end received and spring loaded in a blind hole in the outer, arched, frame member. A drive motor in the hub has a pinion with teeth between and engaged with the gears to drive the gears simultaneously but in opposite directions, thus turning the louvers in unison to open and shut them as and to the extent desired.

Abstract: An enclosed louver actuating mechanism is disclosed which employs generally a rack and pinion gear system for actuating a plurality of louvers. The louver mechanism is configured so that upon manual rotation of one louver the remaining louvers are rotated. The louver mechanism is contained within a longitudinal slot in a stile of a louvered panel and includes a plurality of pinion gears enmeshed between opposing longitudinal gear racks. A pinion gear is provided for each louver and is located in the stile between the gear racks so that the longitudinal gear racks translate in opposite directions relative the pinion gears. A longitudinal cover encloses the rack and pinion drive mechanism and includes through holes corresponding to the pinion gears and louvers. Drive pins are received through the longitudinal cover between the louvers and pinion gears.