A hinge device includes a fixed element, a movable element and a slider housed in a working chamber and coupled to a pivot, so that a rotation of the movable element corresponds to the sliding of the slider. The working chamber includes an end cap and a working fluid and is divided into first and second variable volume compartment by a plunger member of the slider. A hydraulic circuit includes a first duct passing through an end cap that is in fluid communication with the first and second compartments and has an elongated tubular wall extending within the working chamber, and the interspace between the working chamber and the elongated tubular wall. The plunger member is tightly inserted in the elongated tubular wall, which includes a first peripheral conduit having a first and a second port in fluid communication with the first and respectively second first compartment through the first duct.

To keep the same size motor when panel numbers are varied, the invention includes a torsion spring counter balancing mechanism for a stacking panel shutter door, wherein one end of the or each torsion spring is fixable to a drive transmission shaft of the stacking panel shutter door, the drive transmission shaft being adapted to raise and lower the or each shutter of the stacking panel shutter door; and the other end of the or each torsion spring is fixable to a separate rotatable member of the stacking panel shutter door; and whereby the mechanism is provided with means adapted to enable both the drive transmission shaft and the rotatable member to rotate, during opening and closing of the stacking panel shutter door, in such a manner as to cause respective ends of the or each torsion spring to travel at different speeds during the opening and closing sequence.

The invention relates to a unit for covering and uncovering a surface using adjustable slats (3), comprising: for each slat (3), a set of two carriages (10.sub.1, 10.sub.2) guided in translation along guide tracks (8); a system (II) for moving the slats (3), comprising two movement motors (12) for each carriage pair (10.sub.1, 10.sub.2) equipping a slat, each motor being mounted in a different carriage; a system (I) for orientating the slats (3), comprising at least one orientation motor (14) for each carriage pair equipping a slat, said at least one motor being mounted in at least one of the carriages; and a control device for moving at least part of the slats in translation and orientating said slats.

An improved bi-fold shutter that includes a more efficient coupling mechanism at a hinge point suited to facilitate opening and closing the bi-fold shutter with greater ease. In one embodiment, the shutter may be designed for a window such that the shutter, when closed, is relatively close to the face of the associated window, and when open, forms an awning or overhang. The shutter includes an improved coupling mechanism at a hinge point between a first shutter portion and a second shutter portion. The improved hinge point shifts a direction of force needed to maneuver the shutter when moving the shutter from one position to another. The shift in opening and closing force directions improves the efficiency by which the shutter can be operated. In some embodiments, the shutter may be hand-operated. In other embodiments, the shutter may be powered.

A dimmer mechanism is movable by a motor that is powered by solar-charged supercapacitors between a first configuration, in which the dimmer mechanism blocks little of the interior of a skylight tube to maximize light throughput into a room, and a second configuration, in which the dimmer mechanism blocks more of the interior of a skylight tube to reduce light throughput into the room.

An improved bi-fold shutter that includes a more efficient coupling mechanism at a hinge point suited to facilitate opening and closing the bi-fold shutter with greater ease. In one embodiment, the shutter may be designed for a window such that the shutter, when closed, is relatively close to the face of the associated window, and when open, forms an awning or overhang. The shutter includes an improved coupling mechanism at a hinge point between a first shutter portion and a second shutter portion. The improved hinge point shifts a direction of force needed to maneuver the shutter when moving the shutter from one position to another. The shift in opening and closing force directions improves the efficiency by which the shutter can be operated. In some embodiments, the shutter may be hand-operated. In other embodiments, the shutter may be powered.

A damper providing varying damping force is provided. The damper may include a housing and a rotary member rotatably received the housing. The rotary member may rotate within the housing between defined end points of travel to define an angular range of travel of the rotary member. An outermost surface of the rotary member may be spaced inwardly from an inner surface of the housing defined between the end points of travel to define a gap between the outermost surface of the rotary member and the inner surface of the housing throughout the angular range of travel. The gap may vary in dimension depending on a rotational position of the rotary member to provide varying damping rates within the angular range of travel of the rotary member.

A device for a system for opening/closing a door or a sliding shutter includes a jacket defining a longitudinal axis and a rod, having a cylinder at one end inserted into the jacket and an opposite end external thereto, which reciprocally slides along the longitudinal axis or along an axis parallel thereto in relation to the jacket between a position proximal to the jacket and a position distal therefrom.

An opening/closing direction restriction mechanism for a manual shutter device and an opening/closing direction restriction mechanism for a suspended sliding door device This opening/closing direction restriction mechanism is provided with: a flange fixedly mounted on a fixed shaft; a bracket which is loosely fitted to the fixed shaft and can be integrally rotated with a winding member; and a two-way clutch which can be switched between a reverse rotation inhibited state in which the revolution of a planetary external gear along a winding direction of the winding member is allowed and the revolution of the planetary external gear along an unwinding direction is inhibited, and a forward rotation inhibited state in which the revolution of the planetary external gear along the winding direction of the winding member is inhibited and the revolution of the planetary external gear along the unwinding direction is allowed.

A drive arrangement for a door device which includes a door member. The drive arrangement includes a door shaft, a driven shaft which is operatively connected to the door shaft, a transmission arrangement which drives the door shaft, and at least one electric motor which is coupled to the transmission arrangement to move the door member of the door device from a closed state to an open state and vice versa. The at least one electric motor has at least one eccentric drive shaft. The transmission arrangement includes an eccentric gear transmission which has at least two orbiting toothed disks, each of which have an internal toothing. The at least two orbiting toothed disks are driven by the at least one eccentric drive shaft of the at least one electric motor, and, via the internal toothing, engage with the driven shaft.