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.

An exemplary method involves operating a storm shutter system installed to a building adjacent an opening. The storm shutter system includes a panel, a motor operable to drive the panel between a first position and a second position, and a control assembly operable to control the motor. The method includes receiving, by the control assembly, information from an external device. The method further includes operating the motor to linearly drive the panel from the first position to the second position in response to receiving the information.

Described is a louver having a frame that forms an enclosure defining an opening, and a plurality of louver blades disposed within the opening. Each of the plurality of louver blades include a catch member that longitudinally extends between a first blade end and a second blade end of a corresponding louver blade. The louver may also include a rotation assembly configured to rotatably couple with the plurality of louver blades and the frame. The plurality of louver blades may autonomously rotate about rotation members of the rotation assembly based on environmental elements captured in the catch member such that the plurality of louver blades are configured in an open position in response to no water in the catch member and are configured in a closed position in response to an amount of environmental elements in the catch member.

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.

A fire door system is disclosed herein. The fire door system comprises a door and a door control unit coupled to the door. A plurality of sensors is configured on the door or adjacent the door. A controller is coupled to the door control unit and the plurality of sensors. The controller facilitates activation of the motorized door unit for maintaining the door in a closed position subsequent to sensing of a surrounding temperature by the plurality of sensors, wherein the surrounding temperature is greater than a threshold temperature.

Window for outdoor settings, which comprises a movable wing provided with a first support frame hinged to a second support frame of a fixed framework by means of a hinging system, so that, when the movable wing is closed, the two frames define two opposite perimeter faces delimiting a slit. The window comprise a first perimeter gasket fixed to one of the two opposite perimeter faces, acting against the other perimeter face, and placed at an internal opening of the slit in order to conceal from view the hinging system of the window. The window further comprises a second perimeter gasket fixed to one of the two opposite perimeter faces, acting against the other perimeter face, and placed at an intermediate position between the internal opening and an external opening of the slit.

The invention relates to an overhead door for covering a door opening comprising a door blade (11) with a plurality of panels (17), said door blade (11) being movable between a vertical, closed position and a horizontal, opened or overhead position within a side frame (12) comprising double-sided a vertical track (13) and a horizontal track (14), connected by a connecting portion (15), respectively, and with a belt (20) or a chain associated with one side each of the said side frame (12) to lift the panels (17) from said vertical position to said horizontal position. To develop the stated overhead door in a way that the advantages of a high speed rollup door and an overhead door are combined, to offer an overhead door with a low space requirement, low maintenance requirements and a high speed closing possibility, the stated overhead door comprises driving means (27) for simultaneously driving a plurality of said panels (17).

Described is a louver having a frame that forms an enclosure defining an opening, and a plurality of louver blades disposed within the opening. Each of the plurality of louver blades include a catch member that longitudinally extends between a first blade end and a second blade end of a corresponding louver blade. The louver may also include a rotation assembly configured to rotatably couple with the plurality of louver blades and the frame. The plurality of louver blades may autonomously rotate about rotation members of the rotation assembly based on environmental elements captured in the catch member such that the plurality of louver blades are configured in an open position in response to no water in the catch member and are configured in a closed position in response to an amount of environmental elements in the catch member.

A gray code driving device for an electric roller shutter contains: a base, a transmission assembly, and a torque detection unit. The base includes an accommodating space for accommodating the transmission assembly and the torque detection unit and includes a rotary cover connected with the transmission assembly. The transmission assembly includes an electric motor for supplying power source, and the base further includes a digital module for controlling the electric motor. The torque detection unit is in connection with the transmission assembly and is driven by the transmission unit to encode gray codes, wherein the torque detection unit is electrically connected with the digital module to transmit the gray codes.

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.