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US 12,188,296 B2Granted
Shutter panel with an automatic louver closure assembly and related damping features
AssigneeHunter Douglas Inc.
InventorsBrent Mangiapane, Michael F. Schroeder, Scott J. Mydock
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A shutter panel includes a frame, and a louver coupled to the frame for rotation about a longitudinal axis across a given angular travel range of the louver. The shutter panel also includes a louver closure assembly operable to automatically rotate the louver into a closed position when the louver is moved into a specific angular range of louver positions within its angular travel range. For instance, in an exemplary implementation, the louver closure assembly is configured to linear translation into rotational movement of the louver.
Claims23
A shutter panel for an architectural opening, said shutter panel comprising:
- a frame;
- a louver rotatably coupled to said frame, said louver rotatable about a longitudinal axis across an angular travel range comprising a first angular range of louver positions and a second angular range of louver positions, the first angular range of louver positions differing from the second angular range of louver positions;
- and
- a louver closure assembly operable to automatically rotate said louver into a closed position when said louver is moved into the second angular range of louver positions, said louver closure assembly comprising first and second actuators positioned within said frame, said first and second actuators being coupled to said louver such that linear translation of said first and second actuators results in rotation of said louver, said first actuator including a first rack section and a follower member, said second actuator including a second rack section and an engagement section;
- wherein:
- when said louver is rotated to a louver position within the second angular range of louver positions, said follower member of said first actuator engages said engagement section of said second actuator in a manner such that the engagement of said first and second actuators generates a resultant force applied through said first and second actuators that results in opposed linear translation of said first and second actuators to automatically rotate said louver from said louver position into the closed position;
- a tilt gear is positioned between the first and second rack sections and is configured to engage the first and second rack sections such that the opposed linear translation of said first and second actuators results in rotation of said tilt gear;
- and
- said follower member and said first rack section linearly translate together in a first direction with the opposed linear translation of said first and second actuators and said engagement section and said second rack section linearly translate together in an opposed second direction with the opposed linear translation of said first and second actuators.
6 more elements
A shutter panel for an architectural opening, said shutter panel comprising:
- a frame;
- a louver rotatably coupled to said frame, said louver rotatable about a longitudinal axis across an angular travel range between a first closed position and a second closed position;
- a louver closure assembly operable to rotate said louver into both the first closed position when said louver is moved into a first range of louver positions of the angular travel range and the second closed position when said louver is moved into a second range of louver positions of the angular travel range, said louver closure assembly comprising first and second actuators positioned within said frame;
- and
- a damper operable to resist rotation of said louver into the first and second closed positions, said damper defining a common contact end configured to engage said first and second actuators depending on a current position of said louver;
- wherein said common contact end of said damper engages only one of said first actuator or said second actuator when said louver is moved into the first range of louver positions to resist rotation of said louver and wherein said common contact end of said damper engages only the other of said first actuator or said second actuator when said louver is moved into the second range of louver positions to resist rotation of said louver.
3 more elements
A shutter panel for an architectural opening, said shutter panel comprising:
- a frame;
- a louver rotatably coupled to said frame, said louver rotatable about a longitudinal axis across an angular travel range between a first closed position and a second closed position;
- first and second actuators configured to linearly translate within said frame with rotation of said louver across the angular travel range;
- and
- a damper operable to resist rotation of said louver into the first and second closed positions, said damper defining a common contact end configured to engage said first and second actuators depending on a current position of said louver;
- wherein said common contact end of said damper engages only one of said first actuator or said second actuator when said louver is rotated in a first direction towards the first closed position and wherein said common contact end of said damper engages only the other of said first actuator or said second actuator when said louver is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction towards the second closed position.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.