Shutter panel for an architectural opening
AssigneeHunter Douglas Inc.
InventorsMichael S. Holford, James M. Anthony, Joseph E. Kovach
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shutter panel for an architectural opening is provided. The shutter panel may include a frame and a louver rotatably coupled to the frame. The louver may be automatically closable based on an angular orientation of the louver. The shutter panel may include a closure device operably associated with the louver. The closure device may be actuated based on the angular orientation of the louver. The shutter panel may include a damping device operably associated with the louver. The damping device may be actuated based on the angular orientation of the louver. The shutter panel may include a tension device operably associated with the louver.
Claims31
A shutter panel for an architectural opening, the shutter panel comprising:
- a frame;
- a louver coupled to the frame and rotatable relative to the frame about a longitudinal axis of the louver to move the louver across a non-automatic angular range of louver positions in which the louver is maintained in a position in which it is placed by a user, and an automatic self-closure angular range of louver positions;
- and
- a louver closure assembly coupled to the louver and operable on the louver when the louver is rotated by a user into the automatic self-closure angular range of louver positions to drive the louver without further user interaction about the rotational axis into a closed position relative to an adjacent louver to block light from passing between the louver and the adjacent louver.
A shutter panel for an architectural opening, the shutter panel comprising:
- a frame;
- a louver rotatably coupled to the frame and including a louver pin;
- a damper operably associated with the louver;
- and
- a louver closure assembly operably associated with the louver and actuated based on an angular orientation of the louver, the louver closure assembly including a first cam member and a second cam member, the first cam member including a protuberance extending outwardly from a first base surface of the first cam member, the second cam member defining a groove configured to receive the protuberance;
- wherein:
- the protuberance defines opposed sloped surfaces that converge towards each other as the opposed sloped surfaces extend away from the first base surface;
- when the protuberance begins to enter the groove of the second cam member, the second cam member is configured to move relative to the first cam member to cause the first cam member to rotationally drive the louver pin to rotate the louver to a closed position;
- and
- the damper is configured to resist rotation of the louver towards the closed position as the first cam rotationally drives the louver pin.
A shutter panel for an architectural opening, the shutter panel comprising:
- a frame;
- a louver rotatably coupled to the frame, the louver rotatable within a non-automatic angular range of louver positions in which the louver is maintained in a first position in which it is placed by a user, and an automatic self-closure angular range of louver positions in which the louver automatically rotates from a second position in which it is placed by a user into a closed position without further user interaction;
- and
- a damper operably associated with the louver to resist rotation of the louver, the damper actuated based on an angular orientation of the louver;
- wherein:
- the damper is configured to be rotationally disengaged from the louver as the louver is rotated through the non-automatic angular range of louver positions such that the louver rotates relative to the damper across the non-automatic angular range of louver positions;
- and
- the damper is configured to be rotationally engaged with the louver as the louver is rotated through the automatic self-closure angular range of louver positions such that the damper acts on the louver to resist rotation of the louver as the louver moves through the automatic self-closure angular range of louver positions to the closed position.
A shutter panel for an architectural opening, the shutter panel comprising:
- a frame;
- a louver rotatably coupled to the frame, the louver rotatable across a range of angular positions between a closed position and an opened position;
- and
- a tension device operably associated with the louver and configured to retain the louver in an angular orientation, the tension device including:
- a first tension member non-rotatably coupled to the louver;
- the first tension member defining a first planar surface;
- a second tension member slidable relative to the first tension member, the second tension member defining a second planar surface;
- a biasing element biasing the second planar surface into contact with the first planar surface;
- and
- a common housing within which the first tension member, the second tension member, and the biasing element are positioned;
- wherein the first and second planar surfaces are maintained in frictional engagement with each other within an interior of said common housing as the louver is rotated across the range of angular positions from the closed position to the opened position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.