A window safety plate includes a window-mounted frame, a bullet resistant plate, and a locking mechanism. The window mounted frame includes an upper track, a lower track, a first stopper, and a second stopper. The upper track and the lower track are terminally connected to the first stopper. The upper track and the lower track are terminally connected to the second stopper, opposite of the first stopper. The bullet resistant plate is slidably engaged within the upper track, the lower track, the first stopper, and the second stopper so that a window section of a door can be concealed from inside of a room. The locking mechanism is integrated in between the window-mounted frame and the bullet resistant plate thus enabling an intruder to slide back the bullet resistant plate from outside of the room.

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 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.

In one aspect, a shutter assembly includes a shutter frame and a plurality of louvers supported by the frame. The shutter assembly also includes a louver drive assembly and a motor positioned within the frame. The motor is configured to rotationally drive a drive shaft extending within the frame. Additionally, the shutter assembly includes a clutch assembly rotationally coupled between the drive shaft and the louver drive assembly. The clutch assembly is configured to disengage or decouple the drive shaft from the louver drive assembly when a torque transmitted through the clutch assembly exceeds a given torque threshold.

A device control system includes: a touch panel that receives an execution instruction for scene control that operates at least part of a plurality of devices disposed in a facility in order to approximate an inside of the facility to a predetermined indoor environment; a controller that performs the scene control when the execution instruction for the scene control is received by the touch panel; and a communicator and an obtainer that obtain at least one of information indicating an environment condition in the facility or outside the facility, prediction information of the environment condition in the facility or outside the facility, and information about timing. The controller changes a content of the scene control according to the information obtained by the communicator and the obtainer.

A louvre shutter comprising louvres 20 rotatably mounted in a frame on louvre axles, and a louvre drive system that, in summary, comprises a rack and pinion gear system including an externally operable rack assembly and a set of pinion gears 28 mounted to the louvre axles. The rack is externally operable rack and is reciprocably mounted in the drive system housing 42, 48. The pinion gears 28 mounted to the louvre axles are engaged with the rack such that reciprocation of the rack rotates the louvre 20 relative to the frame.

A thermal insulating apparatus for insulating a building envelope is provided. The thermal insulating apparatus may comprise at least one panel comprising one or more layers of insulating material, and at least one attachment site for joining the thermal insulating apparatus to at least one position of said building envelope. The thermal insulating apparatus may be operable between an open position allowing access to a wall opening, and a closed position in which at least one panel of the thermal insulating apparatus substantially covers and thermally insulates said wall opening. The thermal insulating apparatus may further comprise at least one solar thermal energy collector unit for collecting heat from solar thermal energy from sunlight, and the collected heat may be used for heating a structure such as a home or garage.

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 hinge for the rotatable movement of a closing element, such as a door, a window, a shutter or the like, between a closing position and an opening position, the closing element being anchorable to a stationary support structure, such as a wall, a floor, a frame or similar, includes a hinge body anchorable to the stationary support structure or the closing element, and a pivot defining an axis and anchorable to the closing element or the stationary support structure. The pivot and the hinge body are coupled so as to cause the closing element to rotate between the opening and the closing position. The hinge body includes a working chamber defined along the axis to house the pivot.

An architectural covering may include an adjustment member configured and positioned to adjust friction affecting movement of the covering. The adjustment member may be manipulated to increase friction in the architectural covering so a covering member (e.g., a panel) of the architectural covering does not move as freely as it would without the increased friction, yet the covering member nonetheless remains simple to operate. The additional friction may be effective to inhibit the covering member from moving across an associated architectural feature on its own without a user's input.