Abstract: A louver blade positioning device of a motorized shutter assembly includes an indented positioning portion or a protruded portion formed upon a driving shaft and a resilient member coming into contact with the driving shaft and the indented positioning portion or the protruded portion in a radically movable manner at a fixed angle. When the louver blades are rotated to approach a specific angle, the resilient member moves into the indented positioning portion or the protruded portion. Through the resilient force exerted by the resilient member on the indented positioning portion or the protruded portion, the driving shaft rotates to approach the specific angle, such that the louver blades become positioned at the specific angle when being rotated to approach the specific angle, thereby becoming free from the angular clearance inherent among transmission components of the motorized shutter assembly.

Abstract: A window shutter which can be used for interior and exterior. The window shutter has a feature that, if any side (ex., the right side to the user when he or she is facing the window) of the window needs to be blocked by some stuff, its louvers can also be adjusted from the other side of the window by the user. Two embodiments are provided to implement this feature.

Abstract: An active material actuated louver system having an actuator mechanism operable to selectively place a louver or louver system in an open or closed state of operation. The actuator mechanism includes a cable or wire formed from an active material, such as a shape memory alloy.

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: A light regulating transom shutter including a bead chain and a plurality of ratchet wheels that are coupled to perform transmission, and a regulator to adjust the inclination angle of a plurality of slats located on a frame. The slats have one end coupled respectively with the ratchet wheels. The bead chain can be moved to synchronously drive the ratchet wheels to rotate. By moving the regulator fastened to the bead chain, the ratchet wheels can be moved to drive and rotate the slats at the same time, thereby enable users to adjust the inclination angle of the slats as desired.

Abstract: A shutter is provided that utilizes a rack and pinion mechanism for tilting the louvers of the shutter. The rack and pinion mechanism preferably is hidden within the stiles of the shutter. In a preferred embodiment, the louvers of the shutter may be installed and removed without disassembling the assembled frame and rack and pinion mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for opening and closing window shutter slats or louvers converts rotary motion by a knob or electric motor into rotary motion of one of the slats. The apparatus is attached to a frame structure that is included with the window shutter and which surrounds the slats. A connecting rod that is pivotally attached to all of the slats pivots all of the slats an amount that is nearly equal to that of the one slat. The knob includes a first shaft that is attached to a drive gear in an enclosure which turns a driven gear. The driven gear is attached to a second shaft which is adapted to turn a pin end of the one slat. The motor is adapted to rotate one of the slats directly. Retrofit use and use in newly manufactured shutters is described. The apparatus can also be used to pivot open the shutter with respect to a pair of hinges that pivotally attach the shutter to a surrounding support structure.

Abstract: A method to motorize bladeset rotation angle of a shutter including the following steps: resetting the bladeset to an origin point position at first when a start instruction is received, rotating the bladeset to a given target angle with respect to the origin point, and calculating a residual angle deviation to continuously rotate the bladeset to the given target angle when an instruction of the given rotation angle is received again during the operation. Further, a device provided to motorize bladeset rotation angle of a shutter includes an input interface for inputting instructions, a sensor for sensing an origin point position of the bladeset, a driver for driving the bladeset to rotate, and a controller for calculating and controlling the operation of the driver according to the origin point position and target angle, such that the bladeset is controlled to be rotated to the required angle.

Abstract: A chain movement apparatus for slats of transom shutters to regulate the inclined angle of slats located on a frame. The apparatus includes a moving member and a plurality of rotary members. The slats have at least one end fastened to the rotary members. The rotary members are engaged concurrently with the moving member so that movement of the moving member can synchronously drive and turn the rotary members. Therefore users can turn any one of the slats to activate a chain movement for the rest of slats to turn at the same time to enable the users to adjust the inclined angle of the slats as desired.

Abstract: This invention comprises a transparent/translucent panel system including two spaced flat panels and a series of elongated, abutting, rotatably mounted transparent/translucent light-controlling members disposed between the panels in which the light-controlling members are at least partially tubular or have annular members along their length to facilitate rotation of the light-controlling members and include a light-blocking surface whereby differently sized light-controlling members may be used and the light-controlling members, when rotated by a simple drive mechanism, can vary the light passing through the panel system from clear to opaque and can effectively block light between adjacent light-controlling members.

Abstract: An automated shutter control for a shutter having a plurality of slats which are pivoted in unison, the automated shutter control comprises a motor, a slat interface having a body portion and a connector portion, the connector portion having a contour configured to register with and connect to at least a portion of an end of one of the slats of the shutter, and a moving assembly moved by the motor and connectable to the slat interface so as to move the slat interface between a first and a second position.

Abstract: A shutter includes a frame with frame members that are spaced apart from one another, and a series of louvers are respectively rotatably mounted to the frame members. At least one of the frame members includes a casing defining a cavity. A controller, which preferably includes a rack and pinion system, is at least partially positioned in the cavity for synchronously pivoting the louvers. A housing of the controller is preferably an extrusion that reinforces the casing.

Abstract: The invention provides a panel unit of controllable radiation transmissivity, including a housing constituted by a front, radiation-receiving panel and a rear panel, the panels being spaced apart and connected to one another by connecting means; a plurality of rotatable radiation-blocking members disposed between the front panel and the rear panel, the members being rotatable from one angular position in which the radiation-blocking members are adapted to substantially block the passage of light through the panel unit, to a selectable plurality of other angular positions in which the radiation-blocking members are adapted to provide a plurality of differing radiation transmissivities; characterized in that first guiding surfaces for the rotatable radiation-blocking members are disposed inside of, and extend across, the housing.

Abstract: A pre-cut, pre-painted shutter door includes a pair of vertical members available in a range of discrete or quantum heights, and having a two level slot along their length for engaging an upper and a lower panel to form the outer portions of a shutter door. Vertical members are preferably pre-tapped with bores to facilitate threaded member access to engagement for attachment to the upper and lower panels. The upper and lower panels have a curved surface to either facilitate direct manual pivoting of the louvers or to provide clearance for an optional common actuator bar. A louver pivot support fits within the two level slot of the vertical members and carries a series of pre-drilled holes for pivotally supporting the louvers. Both the vertical members, panels and louver member supports are of constant cross section to facilitate the use of finger joints and to promote continuous extrusion-type processing. A series of louvers have shafts which extend through pre-drilled holes in the louver pivot supports.

Abstract: A tilt control is adapted to rotate a louver between at least a partially open position and a partially closed position within a shutter frame. The tilt control comprises a stile adapted as a portion of the shutter frame and a gear rotatably retained within the stile. A rack slideably retained within the stile. The gear engages the rack so that linear movement of the rack causes a corresponding rotation of the gear. The louver removably connected to the gear so that rotation of the gear rotates the louver.

Abstract: A concealed louver drive mechanism for a shutter assembly having multiple louvers. A gear rack is disposed in a channel in one of the stiles. One-piece pinions each having a gear engaging the rack and a pin end received in the end of the associated louver. The rack and pinion have relieved areas to reduce frictional resistance to movement. When one of the louvers is manually adjusted, simultaneous coordinated movement is imparted to the rack and to the other louvers.

Abstract: A pre-cut, pre-painted shutter door includes a pair of vertical members available in a range of discrete or quantum heights, and having a two level slot along their length for engaging an upper and a lower panel to form the outer portions of a shutter door. Vertical members are preferably pre-tapped with bores to facilitate threaded member access to engagement for attachment to the upper and lower panels. The upper and lower panels have a curved surface to either facilitate direct manual pivoting of the louvers or to provide clearance for an optional common actuator bar. A louver pivot support fits within the two level slot of the vertical members and carries a series of pre-drilled holes for pivotally supporting the louvers. Both the vertical members, panels and louver member supports are of constant cross section to facilitate the use of finger joints and to promote continuous extrusion-type processing. A series of louvers have shafts which extend through pre-drilled holes in the louver pivot supports.

Abstract: A shutter includes a frame with frame members that are spaced apart from one another, and a series of louvers are respectively rotatably mounted to the frame members. At least one of the frame members includes a casing defining a cavity. A controller, which preferably includes a rack and pinion system, is at least partially positioned in the cavity for synchronously pivoting the louvers. A housing of the controller is preferably an extrusion that reinforces the casing.

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: A motorized shutter assembly includes a frame having a pair of parallel spaced frame members, louver slats extending between the frame members and having shafts extending into and pivotably seated in the frame members. A coupling is engaged with the louver slats to produce concurrent pivotal movement of the louver slats in either direction. An adapter on one of the frame members has a drive portion engaged with the end of a louver slat and is rotatable to effect pivotal movement of the slats in either direction. The adapter is engaged with a reversible drive motor assembly to effect rotation of said adapter and the adapter also desirably provides a clutch to protect the drive motor assembly.

Abstract: The invention provides a panel (2) of controllable radiation transmissivity, including a plurality of tubular cells (4), in at least some of which cells is rotatably mounted at least one radiation-blocking member (6), at least one portion of at least one surface of which is substantially opaque, and means (8) for rotating the radiation-blocking member (6) inside the tubular cells (4), wherein the radiation-blocking member (6), when rotated, is adapted, in at least one angular position, to substantially block the passage of radiation through the panel (2), and in a plurality of other, selectable, angular positions, to provide a plurality of differing radiation transmissivities.

Abstract: A louvre system is disclosed which includes a frame having spaced apart side frame members (13, 14). A plurality of louvre blades are disposed between, and mounted to the side frame members (13, 14) so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation. One of the frame members (14) includes a drive arrangement (21) which includes a plurality of gears (28) mounted on a subframe and connected to respective louvre blades. The gears are driven by a timing belt under the drive of a manual or electric actuator, to impart synchronised movement to the louvre blades.

Abstract: A louvre shutter adapted to be assembled from elements forming a kit. The elements are so adapted that the shutter dimensions can vary, enabling the shutter to be installed within a window frame that falls within a predetermined range of sizes. The side rails of the shutter incorporate elongate channels for receiving elongate support members. The support members have a plurality of apertures that journal elongate pinion gears projecting from the louvres. The combination of the support rails, louvres, and pinion gears forms a sub-assembly that can be received within the side rails and top rails of the shutter frame. The support members include channels that receive gear racks. The pinion gears mesh with the gear racks enabling synchronous rotation of the louvres. The pinion gears perform the additional function of operating as spindles for the louvres. The dual functionality of the pinion gears reduces the complexity of component parts in the kit and facilitates assembly.