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 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 gear includes a circular base having a front surface that includes an inner region and an outer region that surrounds the inner region. The circular base is rotatable about a central axis. Plural gear teeth are arranged in a same row and extend outward from the outer region of the front surface and are evenly spaced from each other along plural locations on the outer region. Each gear tooth has a cross-sectional width that decreases with decreasing distance from the central axis, and has an outer shape configured to permit any one of the gear teeth in the row to contact and directly mesh with any gear tooth in a corresponding row of gear teeth of a substantially identical gear for any gear angle within a predefined range of gear angles between the central axis of the gear and the central axis of the substantially identical gear.

A gear includes a circular base having a front surface that includes an inner region and an outer region that surrounds the inner region. The circular base is rotatable about a central axis. Plural gear teeth are arranged in a same row and extend outward from the outer region of the front surface and are evenly spaced from each other along plural locations on the outer region. Each gear tooth has a cross-sectional width that decreases with decreasing distance from the central axis, and has an outer shape configured to permit any one of the gear teeth in the row to contact and directly mesh with any gear tooth in a corresponding row of gear teeth of a substantially identical gear for any gear angle within a predefined range of gear angles between the central axis of the gear and the central axis of the substantially identical gear.

A window shade system includes a first bracket coupled to a first pivot and rotatable at least within a first range of angles, a second bracket coupled to a second pivot and rotatable at least within a second range of angles, and first and second gears that each include a circular base rotatable about a central axis. Gear teeth are arranged in a same row and extend outward from the outer region and are evenly spaced from each other along the outer region of the gears. The first and second pivots are arranged relative to each other and relative to the central axes of the first and second gears, respectively, such that for any angle within the first range of angles, the gear tooth of the first gear meshes with the gear tooth of the second gear at a corresponding angle within the second range of angles.

A window shade system includes a first bracket coupled to a first pivot and rotatable at least within a first range of angles, a second bracket coupled to a second pivot and rotatable at least within a second range of angles, and first and second gears that each include a circular base rotatable about a central axis. Gear teeth are arranged in a same row and extend outward from the outer region and are evenly spaced from each other along the outer region of the gears. The first and second pivots are arranged relative to each other and relative to the central axes of the first and second gears, respectively, such that for any angle within the first range of angles, the gear tooth of the first gear meshes with the gear tooth of the second gear at a corresponding angle within the second range of angles.

In one aspect, a shutter assembly may include a shutter frame having a top rail, a bottom rail, and first and second stiles extending between the top and bottom rails. The shutter assembly may also include two or more louvers extending between the first and second stiles, with the louvers including at least one driven louver. The louvers may be configured to rotate simultaneously relative to the shutter frame. Additionally, the shutter assembly may include a motor positioned within the shutter frame that is rotatably coupled to the driven louver(s) via at least one shaft. Moreover, the shutter assembly may include a clutch configured to rotationally disengage the driven louver(s) from the motor when the louvers are being manually rotated relative the shutter frame.

In one aspect, a shutter assembly may include a shutter frame having a top rail, a bottom rail, and first and second stiles extending between the top and bottom rails. The shutter assembly may also include two or more louvers extending between the first and second stiles, with the louvers including at least one driven louver. The louvers may be configured to rotate simultaneously relative to the shutter frame. Additionally, the shutter assembly may include a motor positioned within the shutter frame that is rotatably coupled to the driven louver(s) via at least one shaft. Moreover, the shutter assembly may include a clutch configured to rotationally disengage the driven louver(s) from the motor when the louvers are being manually rotated relative the shutter frame.

An involute gear bracket system includes first and second involute gears. Each includes a circular base and a plurality of gear teeth extending outward from an outer region of a surface and evenly spaced apart from each other along a plurality of locations on the outer region of the surface. The shape of each gear tooth is defined by a varying cross-sectional involute profile, wherein starting from a first involute profile that is in a plane parallel to the surface of the circular base and extending outward from a center of the circular base, each location on the first involute profile is rotated about a corresponding axis while traversing a path defined by a corresponding imaginary ray extending from the center of the circular base to that location, the corresponding axis being tangential to an imaginary circle that encompasses the inner region of the surface and perpendicular to the corresponding imaginary ray. A first bracket is coupled to a first pivot located at a first distance from the central axis of the first involute gear. A second bracket is coupled to a second pivot and rotatable about the second pivot at least within a second range of angles. The first and second pivots are arranged relative to each other and relative to the central axes of the first and second involute gears, respectively, such that the gear tooth of the first involute gear meshes with the gear tooth of the second involute gear at a corresponding angle within a second range of angles.

An involute gear bracket system includes first and second involute gears. Each includes a circular base and a plurality of gear teeth extending outward from an outer region of a surface and evenly spaced apart from each other along a plurality of locations on the outer region of the surface. The shape of each gear tooth is defined by a varying cross-sectional involute profile, wherein starting from a first involute profile that is in a plane parallel to the surface of the circular base and extending outward from a center of the circular base, each location on the first involute profile is rotated about a corresponding axis while traversing a path defined by a corresponding imaginary ray extending from the center of the circular base to that location, the corresponding axis being tangential to an imaginary circle that encompasses the inner region of the surface and perpendicular to the corresponding imaginary ray. A first bracket is coupled to a first pivot located at a first distance from the central axis of the first involute gear. A second bracket is coupled to a second pivot and rotatable about the second pivot at least within a second range of angles. The first and second pivots are arranged relative to each other and relative to the central axes of the first and second involute gears, respectively, such that the gear tooth of the first involute gear meshes with the gear tooth of the second involute gear at a corresponding angle within a second range of angles.