Adjustable shutter assembly and slat control mechanism using a control gear and gear engaging positioner
First Claim
1. A shutter assembly comprising a support frame formed by opposed parallel hollow side frame members and bottom and top block members each connected to said side frame members adjacent an associated pair of opposed ends of said side frame members;
- a plurality of equidistantly spaced slats are pivotally secured between said side frame members in pivotal parallel relationship and pivotally interconnected to one another in one of said hollow side frame members, said side frame members each having a removably securable inner side wall provided with equidistantly spaced holes each receiving an associated one of a pair of opposed pivot pins of each said slat, a slat positioning mechanism is disposed in said one of said side frame members, said positioning mechanism having a pair of vertically disposed slat interconnecting bars, pivot pin connectors secured to said pivot pins, each of said pivot pin connectors having a connecting bore secured to one of said pivot pins of said slats, each of said pivot pin connectors further having a pair of connecting arms each pivotally connected to a respective one of said pair of slat interconnecting bars, one of said connecting arms of each said pivot pin connector projects from a spacing base formation disposed above a base of said pivot pin connector which maintains said slat interconnecting bars in spaced parallel planes, a control gear having a circular disc shape is provided with gear teeth on at least an outer peripheral portion thereof, said gear having a pair of pivotal connections secured to a respective one of said pair of slat interconnecting bars, said pair of pivotal connections having a pivot axis extending parallel to an axis at a center of said gear, controllable gear engaging means for rotating said control gear to a desired position to displace said interconnecting bars to tilt said slats in unison to a desired angle and to hold said slats at said desired angle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A shutter assembly which is comprised of a support frame formed by opposed parallel hollow side frame members and a bottom and top block member interconnected between the ends of the side frame members. A plurality of equidistantly spaced slats are pivotally inter-connected to one another and disposed between the side frame members in a parallel relationship. The side frame members each have a removably securable inner side wall which is provided with equidistantly spaced holes to receive opposed pivot pins of each of the slats. A slat positioning mechanism is disposed in one of the side frame members and has a pair of vertically disposed slat interconnecting bars. Pivot pin connectors are secured to each of the pivot pins and each has a pair of connecting arms pivotally connected to respective one of the slat interconnecting bars. A control gear, of circular disc shape, has gear teeth on at least an outer peripheral portion thereof. A controllable gear engaging mechanism is provided for rotating the gear to a desired position to displace the slat interconnecting bars to tilt the slats in unison to a desired angle and to retain them at that desired angle. The gear is also pivotally connected to a respective one of the pair of slat interconnecting bars.
100 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A shutter assembly comprising a support frame formed by opposed parallel hollow side frame members and bottom and top block members each connected to said side frame members adjacent an associated pair of opposed ends of said side frame members;
- a plurality of equidistantly spaced slats are pivotally secured between said side frame members in pivotal parallel relationship and pivotally interconnected to one another in one of said hollow side frame members, said side frame members each having a removably securable inner side wall provided with equidistantly spaced holes each receiving an associated one of a pair of opposed pivot pins of each said slat, a slat positioning mechanism is disposed in said one of said side frame members, said positioning mechanism having a pair of vertically disposed slat interconnecting bars, pivot pin connectors secured to said pivot pins, each of said pivot pin connectors having a connecting bore secured to one of said pivot pins of said slats, each of said pivot pin connectors further having a pair of connecting arms each pivotally connected to a respective one of said pair of slat interconnecting bars, one of said connecting arms of each said pivot pin connector projects from a spacing base formation disposed above a base of said pivot pin connector which maintains said slat interconnecting bars in spaced parallel planes, a control gear having a circular disc shape is provided with gear teeth on at least an outer peripheral portion thereof, said gear having a pair of pivotal connections secured to a respective one of said pair of slat interconnecting bars, said pair of pivotal connections having a pivot axis extending parallel to an axis at a center of said gear, controllable gear engaging means for rotating said control gear to a desired position to displace said interconnecting bars to tilt said slats in unison to a desired angle and to hold said slats at said desired angle.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A shutter assembly comprising a support frame formed by opposed parallel hollow side frame members and bottom and top block members each connected to said side frame members adjacent an associated pair of opposed ends of said side frame members;
- a plurality of equidistantly spaced slats are pivotally secured between said side frame members in pivotal parallel relationship and pivotally interconnected to one another in one of said hollow side frame members, said side frame members each having a removably securable inner side wall provided with equidistantly spaced holes each receiving an associated one of a pair of opposed pivot members of each said slat, a slat positioning mechanism is disposed in said one of said side frame members, said positioning mechanism having a pair of vertically disposed slat interconnecting bars, pivot member connectors secured to said pivot members, each of said pivot member connectors further having a pair of connecting arms each pivotally connected to a respective one of a pair of slat interconnecting bars, a control gear having a circular disc shape is provided with gear teeth on at least an outer peripheral portion thereof, said gear having a pair of pivotal connections each secured to a respective one of said pair of slat interconnecting bars, each of said pair of pivotal connections having a pivot axis extending parallel to an axis at a center of said gear, controllable gear engaging means for rotating said control gear to a desired position to displace said interconnecting bars to tilt said slats in unison to a desired angle and to hold said slats at said desired angle, each said pivot member includes an integrally formed end cap, a through bore which receives a connecting fastener therethrough and a spring nut secured to said fastener, wherein each said pivot member is detachably secured to one of two opposed ends of a respective one of said slats by said spring nut of said pivot member extending into an engaging channel of said respective one of said slats and said fastener of said pivot member causing said spring nut of said pivot member to be immovably engaged with said engaging channel, said pivot member having a hexagonal outer cross-section for non-rotational engagement with said pivot member connectors.
Specification