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 sectional folding overhead door assembly that includes a pair of opposite, vertically disposed side supports and guides defining a door opening between them, each of the supports and guides including a first channel and a second channel disposed side-by-side, a door component having a first, second, third and fourth rectangular panel adapted for folding vertical movement along the supports and guides, a folding movement controlling member, each folding movement controlling member having a folding movement controlling member upper end hingeably connected to a respective side edge of the first and third panels, respectively, and a folding movement controlling member lower end hingeably connected to the respective guide plate lower end around a folding movement controlling member hinge axis, and a folding movement guiding channel into which a respective side plate guiding pin of a side plate attached to the second panel extends.

The present barrier includes barrier portions engaged to each other by a junction apparatus that includes first and second upper connectors and first and second lower connectors. A junction support member extends between the upper connectors and lower connectors. The junction support member is spaced from and adjacent to the upper connectors. A bridge connector bridges the spacing between the upper end of the junction support member and the upper connectors.

The present invention includes a foldable, impact resistant apparatus for protecting glass panels from projectile strikes. The object of this invention is to provide a unitary collapsible and foldable structure formed to provide impact protection to otherwise fragile glass of any window structure whether for a vehicle or a building. A further object is for the apparatus is to be easily deployed by a single person, easily folded away from the window structure or removed collapsed and folded for storage.

A child safety barrier system includes a plurality of elongated panel sections having a predetermined height and width. At least one support joint is connected between two of the plurality of panel sections to support the plurality of panels in a freestanding vertical orientation to form a panel assembly. A pair of telescoping anchors are positioned along each end of the panel assembly. Each of the telescoping anchors including a header assembly along the top end having an omnidirectional joint for positioning a malleable header block against the ceiling of a building in a plurality of different orientations.

A shutter with a dimming capability has a frame member, a first shutter body, and a second shutter body. The first shutter body has a plurality of through apertures on a surface and at least one magnetic member disposed along two sides of the through apertures. A height of the second shutter body is shorter than a height of the first shutter body, and the second shutter body further has a plurality of horizontal channels on a surface and at least one magnet member disposed along the horizontal channels. An area of the magnet member is smaller than an area of the magnetic member. The first and second shutter bodies are combinable via the magnetic member and the magnet member and slidably mounted in the frame member such that the second shutter body is movable in the frame member.

A folding shutter having a frame with at least one linear guide rail and a carriage mounted to the linear guide rail so that it can be moved in the first direction extending between a first and a second end of the guide rail, and at least two folding shutter elements where one folding shutter element is attached to the carriage via a first and a second bracket part attached to the carriage, so that the first and the second shutter element folds when the carriage moves away from the first end of the guide rail, and wherein each of a first and a second peg is arranged on one bracket part, and extending into engagement with a first and a second slot respectively arranged on the other bracket part.

A solar powered smart window includes a light diffuser configured to convert an incident direct solar radiation to a diffusive light toward interior direction, a light diffuser positioner, a driving mechanism, a solar panel, and a control unit. The control unit moved the light diffuser from a predetermined opened position to a closed position and to hold the light diffuser at the closed position with latch mechanism, when the output power of the solar panel exceeds a threshold for over a duration time. The controller releases the latch mechanism and to cause the light diffuser to return to the predetermined opened position when the output power lowers below threshold for over the duration time. A method includes storing a predetermined condition, monitoring the output power, comparing the output power with the predetermined conditions, making decision whether a positional transition is necessary, and causing the transitional transition or maintaining current position.

A hinge assembly for a folding closure includes a plurality of elongated, planar panels, each of which has a pair of parallel sides, and flanges on each side with the flanges on one side extending in one direction perpendicular to a plane of the panel and the flanges on the other side extending in a second direction opposite to the one direction; and a hinge for pivotally connecting panels in side by side relationship to each other, the hinge including an elongated body having a generally triangular cross section, generally C-shaped grooves extending the length of the body proximate two adjacent corners of the body, the grooves opening in opposite directions for receiving the flanges of adjacent panels and permitting rotation of the panels about a longitudinal axis of the hinge between closure open and closed position, and opposed stops at the open outer ends of the grooves for limiting rotation of the panels between the open and closed position.

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.