Patent Publication Number: US-11047169-B2

Title: Shutter panel for an architectural opening

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/766,147, filed Aug. 6, 2015, which is a National Stage Entry of International Application Ser. No. PCT/US2013/031780, filed Mar. 14, 2013, the disclosures of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to shutters for architectural openings and, more particularly, to a louvered shutter for an architectural opening. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Louvered shutters for architectural openings, such as doors, windows, and the like, have taken numerous forms for many years. Louvered shutters generally provide adjustable light and privacy control through the inclusion of multiple rotatable louvers. In operation, consumers may rotate the louvers to a desired position that provides a preferred amount of light and privacy. 
     SUMMARY 
     Examples of the disclosure may include a shutter panel for an architectural opening. The shutter panel may include a frame and a louver rotatably coupled to the frame and automatically closable based on an angular orientation of the louver. The shutter panel may include a closure device operably associated with the louver and actuated based on an angular orientation of the louver. 
     In another example, the shutter panel may include a frame, a louver rotatably coupled to the frame, and a closure device operably associated with the louver and configured to move the louver. The closure device may be actuated based on an angular orientation of the louver. The closure device may be automatically actuated or self-actuated based on the angular orientation of the louver. The closure device may be configured to rotate the louver toward a closed position, such as a fully-closed position. 
     The closure device may include a first cam member and a second cam member. The first cam member may be rotatable relative to the second cam member. The second cam member may be non-rotatable relative to the first cam member. The second cam member may be slidable relative to the first cam member. One of the first cam member or the second cam member may include a protuberance, and the other of the first cam member or the second cam member may include a recessed area configured to receive the protuberance. The first cam member and the second cam member may be aligned along a common axis. The first cam member and the second cam member may be at least partially received within a common housing. 
     The shutter panel may include a louver pin. The louver pin may interconnect the louver and the frame. The louver pin may be non-rotatably coupled to the first cam member. The first cam member, the second cam member, and the louver pin may be aligned along a common axis. The first cam member, the second cam member, and the louver pin may be at least partially received within a common housing. 
     The closure device may include a biasing element. The biasing element may bias the second cam member into contact with the first cam member. The first cam member, the second cam member, and the biasing element may be aligned along a common axis. The first cam member, the second cam member, and the biasing element may be at least partially received within a common housing. The housing may include an outer envelope of about one inch in length and about three-eighths of an inch in diameter. 
     The shutter panel may include a damping device operably associated with the louver. The damping device may include an angular range of disengagement or non-engagement, or a deadband. The damping device may include a damper, such as a linear damper or a rotary damper. The damper may be fluid-based, spring-based, or both. The damper may provide a damping rate that controls or governs a louver closure speed. The damping device may include a centering device configured to substantially center the damper within the angular range of non-engagement of the damping device. The damper may be actuated substantially simultaneously with the closure device. The closure device and the damper may be aligned along a common axis. The closure device and the damping device may be at least partially received within a common housing. The shutter panel may include a tension device operably associated with the louver. 
     In another example, the shutter panel may include a frame, a louver rotatably coupled to the frame, and a damping device operably associated with the louver and configured to resist movement of the louver. The damping device may be actuated based on an angular orientation of the louver. The damping device may be automatically actuated or self-actuated based on the angular orientation of the louver. The damping device may be configured to control the rate of movement of the louver from an open position toward a closed position, such as a fully-closed position. 
     The damping device may include a deadband device configured to selectively engage or disengage a damper based on the angular orientation of the louver. The deadband device may include a first deadband member and a second deadband member. The first deadband member may be non-rotatably coupled to the louver. The first deadband member may be rotatable relative to the second deadband member. The first deadband member and the second deadband member may be aligned along a common axis. The second deadband member may be angularly offset relative to the first deadband member about the common axis when the damping device is in a disengaged state. The second deadband member may be angularly aligned with the first deadband member about the common axis when the damping device is in an engaged state. 
     The damping device may include a damper, such as a linear damper or a rotary damper. The damper may be fluid-based, spring-based, or both. The damper may provide a damping rate that controls or governs a louver closure speed. The damping device may include a centering device configured to substantially return the damper to an initial state associated with a midpoint of a deadband range of the damping device. The centering device may include a first centering member and a second centering member. The first centering member may be non-rotatably coupled to the second deadband member. The first centering member may be rotatable relative to the second centering member. The second centering member may be non-rotatable relative to the first centering member. The second centering member may be slidable relative to the first centering member. One of the first centering member or the second centering member may include a protuberance, and the other of the first centering member or the second centering member may include a recessed area configured to receive the protuberance. The protuberance may be a wedge. The recessed area may be a groove. The protuberance may be a lobe, which may extend outward from a side of the centering member. The recessed area may be defined by a trough and opposing sidewalls of a leaf spring. 
     The first centering member and the second centering member may be aligned along a common axis. The first centering member and the second centering member may be at least partially received within a common housing. The first deadband member, the second deadband member, first centering member, and the second centering member may be aligned along a common axis. The first deadband member, the second deadband member, first centering member, and the second centering member may be at least partially received within a common housing. The housing may include an outer envelope of about one inch in length and about three-eighths of an inch in diameter. 
     The damping device may include a biasing element. The biasing element may bias the second centering member into contact with the first centering member. The first centering member, the second centering member, and the biasing element may be aligned along a common axis. The first centering member, the second centering member, and the biasing element may be at least partially received within a common housing. 
     The shutter panel may include a louver pin. The louver pin may interconnect the louver and the frame. The louver pin may be non-rotatably coupled to the first deadband member. The first deadband member, the second deadband member, and the louver pin may be aligned along a common axis. The first deadband member, the second deadband member, and the louver pin may be at least partially received within a common housing. The first deadband member, the second deadband member, the first centering member, the second centering member, the biasing element, and the louver pin may be aligned along a common axis. The first deadband member, the second deadband member, the first centering member, the second centering member, the biasing element, and the louver pin may be at least partially received within a common housing. 
     The shutter panel may include a closure device operably associated with the louver. The damping device may be actuated substantially simultaneously with the closure device. The damping device and the closure device may be aligned along a common axis. The damping device and the closure device may be at least partially received within a common housing. The shutter panel may include a tension device operably associated with the louver. The damping device and the tension device may be aligned along a common axis. 
     In another example, the shutter panel may include a frame, a louver rotatably coupled to the frame, and a tension device operably associated with the louver and configured to retain the louver in an angular orientation. The tension device may include a first tension member non-rotatably coupled to the louver, a second tension member slidable relative to the first tension member, and a biasing element biasing the second tension member into contact with the first tension member. The first tension member may be non-rotatably coupled to a louver pin. The first tension member may be rotatable relative to the second tension member. The second tension member may be non-rotatable relative to the first tension member. The first tension member, the second tension member, and the biasing element may be at least partially received within a common housing. The louver pin, the first tension member, the second tension member, and the biasing element may be at least partially received within a common housing. The first tension member, the second tension member, and the biasing element may be aligned along a common axis. The louver pin, the first tension member, the second tension member, and the biasing element may be at least partially received within a common housing. The housing may include an outer envelope of about one inch in length and about three-eighths of an inch in diameter. The tension device may be configured to resist movement of the louver regardless of an angular orientation of the louver. 
     This summary of the disclosure is given to aid understanding, and one of skill in the art will understand that each of the various aspects and features of the disclosure may advantageously be used separately in some instances, or in combination with other aspects and features of the disclosure in other instances. Accordingly, while the disclosure is presented in terms of examples, it should be appreciated that individual aspects of any example can be claimed separately or in combination with aspects and features of that example or any other example. 
     This summary is neither intended nor should it be construed as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is set forth in various levels of detail in this application and no limitation as to the scope of the claimed subject matter is intended by either the inclusion or non-inclusion of elements, components, or the like in this summary. Moreover, reference made herein to “the present invention” or aspects thereof should be understood to mean certain examples of the present disclosure and should not necessarily be construed as limiting all examples to a particular description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate examples of the disclosure and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of these examples. 
         FIG. 1A  is an isometric view of a shutter panel. 
         FIG. 1B  is an enlarged front elevation view of a section of the shutter panel of  FIG. 1  taken along the line  1 B- 1 B illustrated in  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 2A  is an isometric view of a louver closure assembly. 
         FIG. 2B  is a partially-exploded, isometric view of the louver closure assembly of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 2C  is a fully-exploded, isometric view of the louver closure assembly of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 3A  is a top plan view of one-half of a housing of the louver closure assembly of  FIGS. 2A-2C . 
         FIG. 3B  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the housing of  FIG. 3A  taken along the line  3 B- 3 B illustrated in  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 4A  is a side elevation view of a louver pin associated with the louver closure assembly of  FIGS. 2A-2C . 
         FIG. 4B  is an elevation view of an end of the louver pin of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 4C  is an elevation view of an opposite end of the louver pin of  FIG. 4A  relative to  FIG. 4B . 
         FIG. 5A  is an isometric view of a rotary cam of the louver closure assembly of  FIGS. 2A-2C . 
         FIG. 5B  is an elevation view of an end of the rotary cam of  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 5C  is an elevation view of an opposite end of the rotary cam of  FIG. 5A  relative to  FIG. 5B . 
         FIG. 5D  is a top plan view of the rotary cam of  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 6A  is an elevation view of an end of a linear cam of the louver closure assembly of  FIGS. 2A-2C . 
         FIG. 6B  is a top plan view of the linear cam of  FIG. 6A . 
         FIG. 7A  is a top plan view of the louver closure assembly of  FIGS. 2A-2C  in a first position, which may correspond to a fully-opened louver position. One-half of the housing is removed for clarity purposes. 
         FIG. 7B  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the louver closure assembly of  FIGS. 2A-2C  taken along the line  7 B- 7 B illustrated in  FIG. 7A . 
         FIG. 8A  is a top plan view of the louver closure assembly of  FIGS. 2A-2C  in a second position, which may correspond to a partially-opened louver position. One-half of the housing is removed for clarity purposes. 
         FIG. 8B  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the louver closure assembly of  FIGS. 2A-2C  taken along the line  8 B- 8 B illustrated in  FIG. 8A . 
         FIG. 9A  is a top plan view of the louver closure assembly of  FIGS. 2A-2C  in a third position, which may correspond to a fully-closed louver position. One-half of the housing is removed for clarity purposes. 
         FIG. 9B  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the louver closure assembly of  FIGS. 2A-2C  taken along the line  9 B- 9 B illustrated in  FIG. 9A . 
         FIG. 10  is a transverse cross-sectional view of a louver of the louvered shutter of  FIG. 1B  taken along the line  10 - 10  illustrated in  FIG. 1B . The louver is illustrated in a fully-opened position, a partially-opened position, and a fully-closed position. 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded, isometric view of a louver tension assembly. 
         FIG. 12A  is a top plan view of the louver tension assembly of  FIG. 11  with one-half of the housing removed for clarity purposes. 
         FIG. 12B  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the louver tension assembly of  FIG. 11  taken along the line  12 B- 12 B illustrated in  FIG. 12A . 
         FIG. 13  is an exploded, isometric view of a louver damping assembly. 
         FIG. 14  is another exploded, isometric view of the louver damping assembly of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 15  is a top plan view of the louver damping assembly of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 16  is an isometric view of another louver damping assembly. 
         FIG. 17  is an exploded, isometric view of the louver damping assembly of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 18  is another exploded, isometric view of the louver damping assembly of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 19A  is a front elevation view of the louver damping assembly of  FIG. 16  in a first position, which may correspond to a fully-opened louver position. 
         FIG. 19B  is a front elevation view of the louver damping assembly of  FIG. 16  in a second position, which may correspond to a partially-opened louver position. 
         FIG. 19C  is a front elevation view of the louver damping assembly of  FIG. 16  in a third position, which may correspond to another partially-opened louver position. 
         FIG. 20  is an isometric view of a combined louver closure and damping assembly. 
         FIG. 21  is an exploded, isometric view of the louver closure and damping assembly of  FIG. 20 . 
         FIG. 22  is another exploded, isometric view of the louver closure and damping assembly of  FIG. 20 . 
         FIG. 23  is a front elevation view of a louvered shutter with a standard louver pin, a louver tension assembly, a louver closure assembly, and a louver damping assembly. 
     
    
    
     It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the disclosure or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. In the appended drawings, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a letter that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label. It should be understood that the claimed subject matter is not necessarily limited to the particular examples or arrangements illustrated herein. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure relates to a shutter panel for an architectural opening. The shutter panel may include one or more rotatable louvers. For shutter panels with multiple louvers, the louvers may be linked together by a tilt bar, a gear track system, a pulley system, or another operating system. To move the louvers, a force may be applied directly to a louver or indirectly to a louver through the operating system. 
     The shutter panel may include a closure feature. For example, during rotation of a louver toward a closed position, the louver may be automatically closed after reaching a certain angular orientation. The automatic closure of the louver may occur without user actuation or interaction. The automatic closure of the louver may ensure a full panel closure, thereby addressing any stacked tolerance issues with the shutter panel. 
     The shutter panel may include a closure device operably associated with the louver and configured to move the louver. The closure device may be actuated based on an angular orientation of the louver relative to a fully closed position. In some implementations, the closure device is actuated based on the louver being oriented between about 1 degree and about 30 degrees from a fully closed position. In some implementations, the closure device is actuated based on the louver being oriented between about 10 degrees and about 20 degrees from a fully closed position. In some implementations, the closure device is actuated based on the louver being oriented at about 15 degrees from a fully closed position. Upon actuation, the closure device may drive or rotate the louver into the fully closed position. 
     Additionally or alternatively, the shutter panel may include a damping feature. For example, during rotation of a louver toward a closed position, the rate of louver rotation may be automatically damped after the louver reaches a certain angular orientation. The automatic damping of the rate of motion of the louver may occur without user actuation or interaction. The automatic damping of the rate of louver motion may ensure a substantially consistent, controlled, slow, smooth, and/or soft panel closure. 
     The shutter panel may include a damping device operably associated with the louver and configured to resist movement of the louver. The damping device may be actuated based on an angular orientation of the louver relative to a fully closed position. In some implementations, the damping device is actuated based on the louver being oriented between about 1 degree and about 30 degrees from a fully closed position. In some implementations, the damping device is actuated based on the louver being oriented between about 10 degrees and about 20 degrees from a fully closed position. In some implementations, the damping device is actuated based on the louver being oriented at about 15 degrees from a fully closed position. 
     Upon actuation, the damping device may control a rate of louver movement. In some implementations, the damping device is used in a shutter panel employing a closure device. In these implementations, upon actuation, the damping device may control or govern a rate of closure of the closure device and may provide a substantially consistent, controlled, smooth, and/or slow closure of the louver. In these implementations, the damping device may be actuated before, simultaneously, substantially simultaneously, or after the closure device is actuated. 
     Additionally or alternatively, the shutter panel may include a tensioning feature. For example, once a louver is positioned in a desired orientation, the louver may be automatically held or retained in the desired orientation until a subsequent reorienting force is applied to the louver. The automatic orientation retention of the louver may occur without user actuation or interaction. The automatic tensioning of the louver may ensure the louver remains in the desired orientation without inadvertent rotational slippage of the louver relative to a frame, substantially regardless of the tolerance between a louver pin and a receiving hole formed in the frame. 
     The shutter panel may include a tensioning device operably associated with the louver and configured to retain the louver in a desired angular orientation. The tensioning device may provide substantially constant and/or uniform friction or tension to the louver substantially regardless of the angular orientation of the louver. The tensioning device may be substantially unaffected by tolerance differences between the tensioning device and a receiving hole or cavity defined by a frame. The tensioning device may be used in a shutter panel employing a closure device, a damping device, or both. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1A , a shutter panel  2  for an architectural opening, such as a door, a window opening, or the like, is provided. The shutter panel  2  may include a frame  4  and one or more louvers or slats  6 . The frame  4  may include a pair of spaced apart, substantially-vertical members or stiles  8  interconnected together by a pair of spaced apart, substantially-horizontal members or rails  10 . Collectively, the stiles  8  and the rails  10  may form a perimeter of the frame  4  and define an interior space configured to receive the louvers  6 . Although a rectangular frame  4  is depicted, the frame  4  may be formed in substantially any shape (e.g., semi-circular) to accommodate various architectural openings. 
     The louvers  6  may be positioned within the interior space defined by the frame  4  and may be rotatably coupled to the frame  4 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1A , the louvers  6  may extend between the stiles  8  in a transverse orientation (e.g., perpendicular) relative to the stiles  8 . The louvers  6  may be individually attached to the stiles  8  so that a single louver  6  may be replaced if damaged. Each louver  6  may be rotatable or tiltable about a longitudinal axis of the respective louver  6  between open and closed positions. In a fully opened position, each louver  6  may be positioned substantially perpendicular to the associated architectural opening to provide a minimum amount of privacy and a maximum amount of light passage. In this opened position, immediately adjacent louvers  6  may be separated from each other by a maximum distance. In a fully closed position, immediately adjacent louvers  6  may contact or abut one another to provide a maximum amount of privacy and a minimum amount of light passage. In this closed position, immediately adjacent louvers  6  may be separated from each other by a minimum distance. The louvers  6  may include one or two fully closed positions depending on the type of shutter panel  2 . For shutter panels with two closed positions, each closed position may be associated with an opposite end of travel of a respective louver  6 . 
     The louvers  6  may be coupled or grouped together so that the louvers rotate substantially in unison. For example, a tilt bar  12  may be attached to each louver  6  to link the individual louvers together so that movement of the tilt bar  12  causes a substantially uniform movement of the louvers  6 . Alternatively, each louver  6  may be operably associated with a gear track system embedded within each stile  8 . A slider knob or other actuator may be operably associated with the gear track system to substantially uniformly move the louvers  6 . Alternatively, each louver  6  may be operably associated with a pulley system embedded within each stile  8 . A slider knob or other actuator may be operably associated with the pulley system to substantially uniformly move the louvers  6 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , each louver  6  may be rotatably attached to the stiles  8  by a pair of louver devices  14   a ,  14   b . One louver device  14   a  may be received within a stile  8  and a first end  6   a  of a respective louver  6 . The other louver device  14   b  may be received within an opposing stile  8  and a second end  6   b  of the respective louver  6 . The louver devices  14   a ,  14   b  may be substantially aligned along a longitudinal axis  16  of the respective louver  6 . The louver devices  14   a ,  14   b  may be a standard louver pin, a louver closure device, a louver damping device, a louver tension device, or any combination thereof. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2A-2C , a louver closure device  18  is provided. The closure device  18  may include a housing or shell  20 , a louver pin  22 , a rotary cam  24 , a linear cam  26 , and a helically-wound compression spring  28 , all of which may be aligned along a longitudinal axis  30  of the louver closure device  18 . The rotary cam  24  and the linear cam  26  may be positioned between the louver pin  22  and the compression spring  28  along the longitudinal axis  30  of the louver closure device  18 . The rotary cam  24 , the linear cam  26 , and the compression spring  28  may be substantially encased or surrounded by the housing  20  while the louver pin  22  may extend outward from the housing  20 . The louver pin  22  and the rotary cam  24  may be rotatable relative to the housing  20  while the linear cam  26  may be non-rotatable relative to the housing  20 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2A-3B , the housing  20  may be configured to receive at least a portion of the louver pin  22 , the rotary cam  24 , the linear cam  26 , and the compression spring  28 . The housing  20  may be formed as single part or multiple separable parts. In implementations where the housing is formed with multiple parts, the housing may include any number of parts, such as two or more parts. In one implementation, the housing includes two substantially identical halves, which may snugly fit together to encompass or surround at least some of the other components of the pin assembly. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 2A-3B , the housing  20  may be formed as two housing members  20   a ,  20   b  that may be substantially identical to one another. Each housing member  20   a ,  20   b  may form a lengthwise half of the housing  20 . Each housing member  20   a ,  20   b  may include a peripheral, substantially planar abutment surface  34  extending lengthwise along the respective housing member  20   a ,  20   b . A pair of interference pins  36  may protrude from each abutment surface  34  and may be snugly received within corresponding pin holes  38  formed in an opposing abutment surface  34  to secure the two housing members  20   a ,  20   b  together. 
     When assembled, the housing members  20   a ,  20   b  may define a series of substantially cylindrical inner walls  40   a ,  40   b ,  40   c  axially spaced along the longitudinal axis  30  of the louver closure device  18 . The inner walls  40   a ,  40   b ,  40   c  may define axially-spaced, contiguous sub-cavities  41   a ,  41   b ,  41   c  that may collectively form an internal cavity  41  of the housing  20 . The inner walls  40   a ,  40   b ,  40   c  each may have a different radius, thereby defining a series of shoulders  42   a ,  42   b  that form transitions between adjacent inner walls  40   a ,  40   b ,  40   c . The shoulders  42   a ,  42   b  may be oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  30 . A longitudinally-extending slot  44  may be formed in one of the inner walls  40   c.    
     The housing  20  may include a substantially cylindrical outer surface  46  extending lengthwise between opposing ends  48   a ,  48   b  of the housing  20 . The ends  48   a ,  48   b  of the housing  20  may be spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis  30  and may be oriented substantially perpendicular to the outer surface  46  of the housing  20 . A circumferential flange  50  may extend radially outward from the outer surface  46  of the housing  20  adjacent one of the ends  48   a  of the housing. When attached to a shutter panel  2 , the substantially cylindrical outer surface  46  of the housing  20  may be positioned within a receiving hole formed in a member of the shutter panel  2  (such as a louver  6 , a stile  8 , or a rail  10 ) and the circumferential flange  50  may abut a wall surrounding the hole to substantially prevent further insertion of the housing  20  into the hole. A pair of longitudinally-extending fins  52  may protrude radially outward from the outer surface  46  of the housing  20 . The fins  52  may key into an inner wall of the shutter panel member that defines the hole to substantially prevent rotation of the housing  20  within the hole. Although depicted as substantially cylindrical, the outer surface  46  of the housing  20  may be formed in various transverse cross-sectional shapes, such as rectangular, triangular, or other suitable shapes. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4A-4C , the louver pin  22  may include a first keyed portion  22   a , a second keyed portion  22   b , and a substantially cylindrical journal portion  22   c  positioned longitudinally between the first and second keyed portions  22   a ,  22   b . The first keyed portion  22   a  may include a pair of longitudinally-extending fins  56  protruding outward from opposing sides of a substantially cylindrical outer wall  54 . The second keyed portion  22   b  of the louver pin  22  may have a rectangular transverse cross-sectional shape. The first and second keyed portions  22   a ,  22   b  may include any suitable keyed shape. 
     With reference back to  FIGS. 2A-2C , the louver pin  22  may be positioned coaxial along the longitudinal axis  30  of the louver closure device  18 . The louver pin  22  may be oriented relative to the housing  20  so that the first keyed portion  22   a  of the louver pin  22  protrudes from an end  48   a  of the housing  20 , the second keyed portion  22   b  of the louver pin  22  protrudes into the inner cavity  41   b  of the housing  20 , and the journal portion  22   c  of the louver pin  22  is journaled within the inner wall  40   a  of the housing  20 . As such, the louver pin  22  may be rotatably supported by the housing  20  and may transfer rotation between components associated with the first and second keyed portions  22   a ,  22   b  of the louver pin  22 . 
     The louver pin  22  also may include a tip portion  22   d , which may be integrally formed with and extend longitudinally away from one end of the first keyed portion  22   a . The tip portion  22   d  of the louver pin  22  may align the louver pin  22  within a louver pin receiving hole, which may be formed in an end of a louver  6 , a stile  8 , a rail  10 , or the like. The tip portion  22   d  may be substantially conical ( FIGS. 2A-2C and 4A-4B ), pyramidal, frustum, or any other suitable longitudinally tapering shape. 
     The louver pin  22  further may include a collar portion  22   e , which may extend radially outward from an opposite end of the first keyed portion  22   a  relative to the tip portion  22   d . The collar portion  22   e  may be adjacent the journal portion  22   c  of the louver pin  22 . The collar portion  22   e  of the louver pin  22  may abut one end  48   a  of the housing  20  ( FIG. 2A ) to substantially prevent further insertion of the louver pin  22  into the internal cavity  41  of the housing  20 . The collar portion  22   e  may be inset into the end  48   a  of the housing to reduce an effective length of the assembled housing  20  and louver pin  22 , to provide an aesthetic appearance, or both. The collar portion  22   e  may be formed in various transverse cross-sectional shapes. 
     The housing  20  and the louver pin  22  may be non-rotatably secured to different structures of the shutter panel  2  so that rotation of one structure relative to the other structure of the shutter panel  2  causes relative rotation between the housing  20  and the louver pin  22 . For example, the housing  20  may be non-rotatably secured to a stile  8 . In this example, the louver pin  22  may protrude from an end of the housing  20  and may be non-rotatably secured to a corresponding louver  6 . As such, rotation of the louver  6  may rotate the louver pin  22  relative to the housing  20 . As another example, the housing  20  may be non-rotatably secured to a louver  6 . In this example, the louver pin  22  may protrude from an end of the housing  20  and may be non-rotatably secured to a stile  8 . As such, rotation of the louver  6  may rotate the housing  20  relative to the louver pin  22 . The housing  20  and the louver pin  22  may be non-rotatably embedded within the different structures of the shutter panel  2 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 5A-5D , the rotary cam  24  may include a substantially cylindrical body  58  having a substantially cylindrical outer wall  60  extending longitudinally between and terminating at opposing ends  62   a ,  62   b  of the body  58 , both of which may be oriented substantially perpendicular to the substantially cylindrical outer wall  60 . The body  58  may include an internal wall  64  that defines a receptacle  66  that opens through one end  62   a  of the body  58 . The receptacle  66  may be configured to receive the second keyed portion  22   b  of the louver pin  22 . The interface between the internal wall  64  of the body  58  and the second keyed portion  22   b  of the louver pin  22  may be configured to transmit rotational movement or torque. The second keyed portion  22   b  of the louver pin  22  and the internal wall  64  of the rotary cam  24  may have various corresponding keyed shapes, such as the depicted rectangular transverse cross-sectional shape. Alternatively, the louver pin  22  and the rotary cam  24  may be integrally formed as a single part. 
     The rotary cam  24  may include an alignment key and the linear cam  26  may include a complementary alignment feature. For example, the rotary and linear cams  24 ,  26  may include a complementary protuberance and groove. As another example, the rotary and linear cams  24 ,  26  may include a complementary spring-biased detent (such as a ball detent) and recessed receiving area. With continued reference to  FIGS. 5A-5D , a transversely-extending protuberance  67  may extend from the other end  62   b  of the body  58  and may define a cam surface  68 . The cam surface  68  may include opposing sloped surfaces  68   a ,  68   b  that extend away from the end  62   b  of the body  58  at an angle β. The sloped surfaces  68   a ,  68   b  may converge together as the surfaces  68   a ,  68   b  extend away from the end  62   b  and may intersect at a transversely-extending peak  68   c , which may be rounded. In some implementations, the angle α is between about 115 degrees and about 155 degrees. In one implementation, the angle α is about 135 degrees. The protuberance  67  may be integrally formed with the body  58  of the rotary cam  24 . Alternatively, the protuberance  67  and the body  58  of the rotary cam  24  may be formed separately and attached together. 
     With reference back to  FIGS. 2A-3B , the rotary cam  24  may be positioned within the cavity  41   b  of the housing  20  and may be rotatable relative to the housing  20  about the longitudinal axis  30  of the louver closure device  18 . In one implementation, the substantially cylindrical outer wall  60  of the rotary cam  24  is clearance fit within the inner wall  40   b  of the housing  20  to form a small annular gap between the outer wall  60  and the inner wall  40   b . In this implementation, the second keyed portion  22   b  of the louver pin  22  may centrally locate the rotary cam  24  along the longitudinal axis  30  of the housing  20 . In another implementation, the substantially cylindrical outer wall  60  of the rotary cam  24  is substantially congruent with and rotatably bears against the inner wall  40   b  of the housing  20 . 
     The rotary cam  24  may be oriented within the sub-cavity  41   b  of the housing  20  so that the receptacle  66  may open to the sub-cavity  41   a  ( FIGS. 2A-3B ). In this orientation, the journal portion  22   c  of the louver pin  22  may rotatably bear against the inner wall  40   a  of the housing  20  and the second keyed portion  22   b  of the louver pin  22  may extend into the receptacle  66  to non-rotatably couple the first keyed portion  22   a  of the louver pin  22  and the rotary cam  24 . The end  62   a  of the body  58  of the rotary cam  24  may confront the shoulder  42   a  of the housing  20 , and the opposite end  62   b  of the body  58  may confront the shoulder  42   b  of the housing  20  (see  FIGS. 7A-9B ). The shoulders  42   a ,  42   b  of the housing  20  may substantially restrain the axial or longitudinal position of the rotary cam  24  relative to the housing  20 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 6A-6B , the linear cam  26  may include a substantially cylindrical body  70  having a substantially cylindrical outer wall  72  extending longitudinally between and terminating at opposing ends  74   a ,  74   b  of the body  70 , both of which may be oriented substantially perpendicular to the substantially cylindrical outer wall  72 . A pair of longitudinally-extending ribs  76  may protrude radially outward from the outer wall  72  of the body  70  of the linear cam  26 . The ribs  76  may be diametrically opposed about the outer wall  72  and may be received within corresponding slots  44  formed in the inner wall  40   c  of the housing  20  (see  FIGS. 7B, 8B, and 9B ). 
     The linear cam  26  may be slidable relative to the housing  20 . With reference to  FIGS. 7B, 8B, and 9B , the ribs  76  may be shorter in length than the slots  44  to permit longitudinal movement of the linear cam  26  relative to the housing  20 . The difference in length between the ribs  76  and the slots  44  may substantially correspond to the longitudinal distance D 1  between the rounded peak  68   c  of the cam surface  68  and the associated end  62   b  of the body  58  of the rotary cam  24  ( FIG. 5D ). Additionally or alternatively, the linear cam  26  may be non-rotatable relative to the housing  20 . For example, the ribs  76  may have substantially equal widths to the slots  44  to substantially prevent rotation of the linear cam  26  relative to the housing  20  (see  FIG. 7A ). Although a pair of ribs  76  is depicted in  FIGS. 6A-6B , more or less ribs  76  may be provided. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 6A-6B , a cam surface  78  may be formed into an end  74   a  of the body  70  of the linear cam  26  and may define a transversely-extending groove  80 . The cam surface  78  may include opposing sloped surfaces  78   a ,  78   b  that recess into the body  70  from one end  74   a  of the linear cam  26  toward an opposing end  74   b . The sloped surfaces  78   a ,  78   b  may converge together as the surfaces  78   a ,  78   b  extend toward the opposing end  74   b  of the body  70  and may intersect at a transversely-extending trough  78   c , which may be rounded. The sloped surfaces  78   a ,  78   b  of the linear cam  26  and the sloped surfaces  68   a ,  68   b  of the rotary cam  24  may be formed at supplementary angles relative to one another. 
     With reference back to  FIGS. 2A-3B , the linear cam  26  may be positioned within the cavity  41   c  of the housing  20  and may be slidable relative to the housing  20  along the longitudinal axis  30  of the louver closure device  18 . The substantially cylindrical outer wall  72  of the linear cam  26  may be substantially congruent with and may slidably bear against the inner wall  40   c  of the housing  20 . The end  74   a  of the linear cam  26  associated with the cam surface  78  may confront the end  62   b  of the rotary cam  24  associated with the cam surface  68 . The opposite end  74   b  of the linear cam  26  may contact the compression spring  28 , which may be longitudinally positioned between the linear cam  26  and an inner end wall or abutment shoulder  42   c  of housing  20  (see  FIGS. 2B-3B ). Biasing elements other than a compression spring  28  may be used. For example, the biasing element may be other types of springs, a fluid, or other suitable resilient energy storage devices. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the louver closure device  18  is depicted in a first position, which may correspond to a fully-opened louver position (position A in  FIG. 10 ). In the first position, the rotary cam  24  and the linear cam  26  may be oriented relative to one another so that the protuberance  67  of the rotary cam  24  is oriented substantially orthogonal to the groove  80  formed in the linear cam  26 . The peak  68   c  of the cam surface  68  of the rotary cam  24  may abut or contact a confronting end  74   a  of the linear cam  26 . An opposing end  62   a  of the rotary cam  24  may abut or contact a confronting shoulder  42   a  of the housing  20 . 
     The louver closure device  18  may be configured to provide a consistent holding force that maintains the louvers  6  in a desired position. With continued reference to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the compression spring  28  may be positioned between one end  74   b  of the linear cam  26  and an opposing wall  42   c  of the housing  20 . The compression spring  28  may exert an axial force on the linear cam  26 , which may result in a compressive force being applied to the rotary cam  24 . The compressive force may be created by the end  74   a  of the linear cam  26  applying an axial force on the protuberance  67  of the cam surface  68  and the shoulder  42   a  of the housing  20  applying an axial, reactionary force on an opposite end  62   a  of the rotary cam  24 . 
     The compressive force exerted on the rotary cam  24  may generate a resistive friction force that generally opposes relative rotational movement between the rotary cam  24  (and thus the louver pin  22 ) and the housing  20 . In this manner, the louver closure device  18  may counteract gravitational forces applied to the louver  6  and generally resist louver movement. The magnitude of the resistive friction force may be increased or decreased by altering a coefficient of friction between the contacting surfaces (such as by altering materials, surface finish, or the like), by altering a spring force exerted by the compression spring  28 , or both. The spring  28  may be selected from an assortment of springs based on the specific louver panel application. 
     Once a torque sufficient to overcome the resistive friction force of the louver closure device  18  is applied to the louver pin  22  or the housing  20 , the rotary cam  24  and the louver pin  22  may rotate relative to the housing  20  and the linear cam  26 , or vice versa. During the relative rotation between the rotary cam  24  and the linear cam  26 , the transversely-extending peak  68   c  of the cam surface  68  may rotatably bear against the confronting end  74   a  of the linear cam  26 . The relative rotation between the rotary cam  24  and the linear cam  26  may cause the relative angle between the protuberance  67  and the groove  80  to decrease from substantially perpendicular to an acute angle. With reference to  FIG. 10 , this relative rotation between the rotary cam  24  and the linear cam  26  may correspond to the louver  6  moving from position A toward position B 1  or position B 2 . At substantially any point during this rotation, the user-initiated force may be ceased and the resistive friction force or tension in one or more louver devices may maintain the orientation of the louver  6  until further louver movement is initiated by the user. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 8A-8B , the louver closure device  18  is depicted in a second position, which may correspond to a partially-opened louver position (position B 1  or B 2  in  FIG. 10 ). In the second position, the transversely-extending peak  68   c  of the protuberance  67  may span the groove  80  formed in the linear cam  26  and contact the end  74   a  of the linear cam  26  immediately adjacent opposing corners of the groove  80 . Further rotation of an associated louver  6  in a closing direction may cause the opposing ends of the cam surface  68  to contact the opposing sloped surfaces  78   a ,  78   b  of the cam surface  78 . Once the protuberance  67  begins to enter the groove  80 , the compression spring  28  may slide the linear cam  26  axially relative to the housing  20  toward the rotatable, substantially non-slidable rotary cam  24 , which may cause the rotary cam  24  to rotate until the protuberance  67  is at least partially seated within the groove  80  ( FIGS. 9A-9B ). Generally, the interface of the protuberance  67  with the sloped side walls of the groove  80  may cause the rotary and linear cams  24 ,  26  to substantially align with one another with the protuberance  67  being at least partially seated in the groove  80 . As the louver pin  22  may be non-rotatably coupled to the rotary cam  24 , the cam-driven rotation of the rotary cam  24  may cause the louver pin  22  to rotate in the closed direction, thereby rotating a directly associated louver  6  toward a fully-closed position. As each louver  6  in a shutter panel  2  may be interconnected to every other louver  6  in the shutter panel  2 , the rotation of the directly associated louver  6  may cause every louver  6  in the shutter panel  2  to similarly rotate toward a fully-closed position. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 9A-9B , the louver closure device  18  is depicted in a third position, which may correspond to a fully-closed louver position (position C 1  or C 2  in  FIG. 10 ). In the third position, the protuberance  67  of the rotary cam  24  may be at least partially seated within the groove  80  of the linear cam  26 . The peak  68   c  of the cam surface  68  of the rotary cam  24  may be rotationally offset from the trough  78   c  of the cam surface  78  by an angle ϕ (see  FIG. 10 ), which may correspond to an angular offset of the closed louvers  6  from a reference axis (such as a vertical axis), which is further discussed below. In this third position, the compression spring  28  may apply an axial force to the linear cam  26  that biases the rotary cam  24  toward a fully seated position relative to the linear cam  26 . Thus, the louver closure device  18  may apply a continuous force to an associated closed louver  6  that may maintain the louver  6  in the fully-closed position until an opening force is applied to the louver  6 . As each louver  6  in a shutter panel  2  may be interconnected to every other louver  6  in the shutter panel  2 , the louver closure device  18  may maintain multiple louvers  6  in the shutter panel  2  in a fully-closed position. To move the louvers  6  from the fully-closed position into an open position, a user-initiated force that is sufficient to overcome the biasing force of the louver closure device  18  may be applied to the louvers  6  (such as by a tilt bar, a gear track system, a pulley system, or another suitable drive system). 
     With reference to  FIG. 10 , a single louver  6  is depicted in relation to an upper rail  10   a  and a lower rail  10   b  (for clarity purposes only one louver  6  is depicted, although multiple louvers  6  may operate in the same fashion with adjacent louvers  6  contacting each other substantially simultaneously). The louver  6  may be in a fully-opened position when oriented in position A, which as previously discussed may correspond to the louver closure device  18  configuration depicted in  FIGS. 7A and 7B . Rotating the louver  6  upward or downward toward the upper rail  10   a  or the lower rail  10   b  may rotate the louver within a non-automatic closure angular range  84 , which may have an angle β. When the louver  6  is positioned within the non-automatic closure angular range  84 , the louver closure device  18  may maintain the louver  6  in a desired orientation and a user-initiated force may be required to rotate the louver  6  into a different orientation. 
     Once the louver  6  is rotated to or beyond the angular position B 1  or B 2 , the louver  6  may enter into an automatic or cam-driven closure range  86 , which may correspond to the louver closure device  18  configuration depicted in  FIGS. 8A and 8B . When the louver  6  is positioned within the self-closure range  86 , which may have an angular range θ, the louver closure device  18  may drive or rotate the louver  6  into a fully-closed position. The louver closure device  18  may move the louver  6  into the closed position without user interaction. 
     The angles β and θ may be altered based on different applications, user preferences, and many other factors. For example, the corresponding cam features  67 ,  80  of the rotary and linear cams  24 ,  26  may be altered to change the closure angles. With reference to  FIGS. 6A-6B , the angles β and θ may be altered by changing the width W of the entrance to the groove  80 . By increasing the width W of the groove  80 , the angle β may decrease and the angle θ may increase. By decreasing the width W of the groove  80 , the angle β may increase and the angle θ may decrease. In some implementations, the angle β is between about 120 degrees and about 160 degrees, and the angle θ is between about 5 degrees and about 25 degrees. In one implementation, the angle β is about 140 degrees and the angle θ is about 15 degrees. 
     Once the louver  6  is oriented into the fully-closed angular position C 1  or C 2 , which as previously discussed may correspond to the louver closure device  18  depicted in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , the louver  6  may be maintained in this orientation until a user-initiated force rotates the louver  6  from the closed position toward an open position. When the louver  6  is positioned in the fully-closed angular position C 1  or C 2 , the louver  6  may be offset from a plane that bisects the upper and lower rails  10   a ,  10   b  by an angle ϕ, which may vary depending on the shutter panel  2 . In some implementations, the angle ϕ is between about 6 degrees and about 8 degrees. As previously discussed, the louver closure device  18  may provide a closure range that includes the stop offset angle ϕ. That is, the louver closure device  18  may provide a closure range of angle θ plus angle ϕ in relation to either or both ends of travel of a louver  6 . Thus, the effective closure range of a louver  6  may be represented as the self-closure range  86  having an angular range of θ. 
     Generally, the corresponding cam features may generate a rotational force when substantially aligned with one another. The profiles of the cam surface  68  and the cam surface  78  may be switched without effecting the operation of the louver closure device  18 . That is, in one implementation, the cam surface  68  is recessed into an end  62   b  of the body  58  of the rotary cam  24  and the cam surface  78  protrudes from a confronting end  74   a  of the body  70  of the linear cam  26 . 
     The automatic or self-closure of the louvers  6  may be advantageous in view of conventional shutters, which may experience inconsistent or uneven louver closure due at least in part to component tolerances designed to prevent binding. For example, when a force is applied near an end of a conventional shutter panel, some of the louver motion caused by the force may not be transferred through the shutter panel as the component tolerances may absorb some of the motion. Thus, louvers near an opposite end of the panel may not travel as far as the louvers near the force application point. The varying amount of louver travel through the shutter panel may result in inconsistent or uneven louver closure. In some circumstances, the inconsistent or uneven louver closure may permit undesired light passage through the shutter panel, despite a user applying a force to the shutter panel to close the shutters. By including at least one louver closure device  18  in a shutter panel  2 , the louvers  6  in the shutter panel  2  may automatically close into a fully closed position and may remain in that position until an opening force is applied to the louvers  6 . Multiple louver pin cam assemblies  18  may be used in some shutter panels and may be dispersed through the shutter panel to ensure consistent and reliable louver closure. The automatic closure angle of the louver closure assembly may be altered based on user preferences. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 11-12B , a louver tension device  118  is provided. With the exception of the rotary cam  124  not including a protuberance  67 , the louver tension device  118  generally has the same features as the louver closure device  18 . Accordingly, the preceding discussion of the housing  20 , the louver pin  22 , the rotary cam  24 , the linear cam  26 , and the compression spring  28  should be considered equally applicable to the louver tension device  118 , except as noted in the following discussion. The reference numerals used in  FIGS. 11-12B  generally correspond to the reference numbers used in  FIGS. 1-10  to reflect the similar parts and components, except the reference numerals are incremented by one hundred. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 11-12B , the louver tension device  118  may include a housing  120 , a louver pin  122 , a rotary cam  124 , a linear cam  126 , and a spring  128 . The housing  120 , the louver pin  122 , the rotary cam  124 , the linear cam  126 , and the spring  128  may be aligned along a longitudinal axis  130  of the louver tension device  118 . The louver pin  122  may be rotatably mounted to the housing  120  such that a first keyed portion  122   a  protrudes from the housing  120  along the longitudinal axis  130  of the louver tension device  118  and a second keyed portion  122   b  extends into an inner cavity  141  defined by the housing  120 . The rotary cam  124 , the linear cam  126 , and the spring  128  may be positioned within the housing  120 , with the linear cam  126  positioned intermediate the rotary cam  124  and the spring  128  along the longitudinal axis  130 . The rotary cam  124  may be positioned within the cavity  141  and may be non-rotatably coupled to the louver pin  122 . The linear cam  126  may be positioned within the cavity  141  immediately adjacent the rotary cam  124  and may be biased into contact with the rotary cam  124  by a compression spring  128  or many other suitable biasing elements. 
     The louver tension device  118  may be configured to provide a consistent holding force that maintains the louver  6  in a desired position. With continued reference to  FIGS. 11-12B , the compression spring  128  may be positioned between one end  174   b  of the linear cam  126  and an opposing wall  142   c  of the housing  120 . The compression spring  128  may exert an axial force on the linear cam  126 , which may result in a compressive force being applied to the rotary cam  124 . The compressive force may be created by the end  174   a  of the linear cam  126  applying an axial force on a confronting end  162   b  of the rotary cam  124 , and the shoulder  142   a  of the housing  120  applying an axial, reactionary force on an opposite end  162   a  of the rotary cam  124 . 
     The compressive force exerted on the rotary cam  124  may generate a resistive friction force that generally opposes relative rotational movement between the rotary cam  124  (and thus the louver pin  122 ) and the housing  120 . In this manner, the louver tension device  118  may counteract gravitational forces applied to the louvers  6  and generally resist louver movement. The magnitude of the resistive friction force may be increased or decreased by altering a coefficient of friction between the contacting surfaces (such as by altering materials, surface finish, or the like), by altering a spring force exerted by the compression spring  128 , or both. The spring  128  may be selected from an assortment of springs based on a specific shutter panel application. 
     Each louver tension device  118  may be configured to restrain or inhibit rotation of at least a portion of one louver  6  until a user-initiated force is applied to the louver  6 . For example, a single louver tension device  118  may resist rotation of a portion of the louvers  6  in a given shutter panel  2  so that multiple louver pin tension assemblies  118  may collectively maintain all of the shutter panel louvers in a given position. As another example, a single louver tension device  118  may resist rotation of all louvers  6  in a given shutter panel  2  so that a single louver tension device  118  may individually maintain all of the shutter panel louvers in a given position. 
     Once a torque sufficient to overcome the resistive friction force of the louver tension device  118  is applied to the louver pin  122  or the housing  120 , the rotary cam  124  and the louver pin  122  may rotate relative to the housing  120  and the linear cam  126 , or vice versa. During the relative rotation between the rotary cam  124  and the linear cam  126 , one end  162   b  of the rotary cam  124  may rotatably bear against the confronting end  174   a  of the linear cam  126 . At substantially any point during this rotation, the user-initiated force may be ceased and the resistive friction force or tension in one or more louver tension assemblies  118  may maintain the orientation of the louver  6  until further louver movement is initiated by the user. As the rotary cam  124  does not include the protuberance  67 , the contact area between the rotary cam  124  and the linear cam  126  is generally increased in the louver tension device  118  compared to the louver closure device  18 . As such, the louver tension device  118  may provide a larger resistive friction force relative to the louver closure device  18 . Although the linear cam  126  is depicted with a groove  180  formed in a rotary-cam-confronting end  174   a  of the linear cam  126 , in some implementations the linear cam  126  does not include the groove  180  and the rotary-cam-confronting end  174   a  of the linear cam  126  may be substantially continuous. 
     The louver tension device  118  may provide advantages relative to conventional louver tension pins. For example, the louver tension device  118  may provide substantially consistent frictional resistance or tension to the shutter panel regardless of a fit or tolerance between an inner wall of a receiving hole and an outer wall of the housing  120 . In various implementations, the resistive frictional force generated between the confronting end faces of the rotary cam  124  and the linear cam  126  may be substantially unaffected by the fit or tolerance of the housing  120  and an inner wall of a receiving hole. That is, the louver tension device  118  may resist louver rotation with a substantially consistent force regardless of tolerance variations between the louver tension device  118  and a corresponding structure of the shutter panel  2 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 13-15 , a louver damping device  218  is provided. The louver damper assembly  218  may include a damper  219 , a deadband system  221 , a centering system  223 , and a housing  220 . The damper  219 , the deadband system  221 , and the centering system  223  may be received within an internal cavity  241  of the housing  220  and may be aligned along a longitudinal axis  230  of the louver damping device  218 . 
     The damper  219  may be a rotary damper and may include a barrel or outer wall  225  that is non-rotatably keyed to the housing  220  to substantially prevent relative rotation between the outer wall  225  of the damper  219  and the housing  220 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 13-15 , a longitudinally-extending spline  227  may protrude radially outward from a substantially cylindrical section  225   a  of the outer wall  225  of the damper  219  and may be received within a corresponding longitudinally-extending slit  229  formed in the housing  220 , although other corresponding keyed structures may be used. In one implementation, one-half of the slit  229  is defined by a first housing member  220   a  and the other half of the slit  229  is defined by a second housing member  220   b  to ease positioning of the spline  227  within the slit  229  during assembly. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 13-15 , the substantially cylindrical section  225   a  of the damper  219  may terminate at opposing, transversely-oriented ends  225   b ,  225   c . One of the ends  225   b  of the outer wall  225  of the damper  219  may abut against a shoulder  242   c  of the housing  220  and the other of the ends  225   c  of the outer wall  225  of the damper  219  may abut against an opposing shoulder  242   a  of the housing  220  to substantially axially restrain the damper  219  within the housing  220 . A boss  231  may extend longitudinally away from one end  225   b  of the outer wall  225  and may extend beyond the shoulder  242   c  of the housing  220  to reduce the longitudinal envelope of the louver damping device  218 . An operative shaft  233  of the damper  219  may extend longitudinally away from the other end  225   c  of the outer wall  225 . 
     In some implementations, a rotary damper manufactured by Nifco Inc. may be used. In one implementation, a small axis damper manufactured by Nifco Inc. (for example, part number 3F7W or 3F7X) may be used. The torque specification of the damper may vary depending on the shutter panel application. In one implementation, the damper torque may be about 5 Ncm, about 10 Ncm, or any other suitable torque level based on the shutter panel application. 
     The deadband system  221  may be non-rotatably keyed to the shaft  233  of the damper  219  to selectively transfer torque from an associated louver  6  to the damper  219  based upon a rotational orientation of the louver  6 . The deadband system  221  may include a damper adapter  235  and a louver pin adapter  237 . The damper adapter  235  may be positioned intermediate the louver pin adapter  237  and the damper  219  along the longitudinal axis  230  of the louver damping device  218 . 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 13-15 , the damper adapter  235  may be keyed to the damper  219  and selectively transfer torque between the louver pin adapter  237  and the damper  219 . The damper adapter  235  may include a damper interface portion  235   a , a louver pin adapter interface portion  235   b , and a centering system interface portion  235   c . The damper interface portion  235   a  may be associated with one end of the damper adapter  235 . The damper interface portion  235   a  may be formed as a sleeve having a substantially cylindrical outer wall  239  and a keyed inner wall  243  corresponding in shape to an outer surface of the operative shaft  233  of the damper  219 . When the louver damping device  218  is assembled, the damper interface portion  235   a  may at least partially surround the operative shaft  233  of the damper  219 . 
     The louver pin adapter interface portion  235   b  of the damper adapter  235  may be associated with an opposing end of the damper adapter  235  relative to the damper interface portion  235   a . The louver pin adapter interface portion  235   b  may include two diametrically opposed tangs  245 . The tangs  245  may protrude axially from a substantially flat end face  247  of the louver pin adapter  237 . When the louver damping device  218  is assembled, the tangs  245  may selectively interact with the louver pin adapter  237 , which is discussed in more detail later in this disclosure. 
     The centering system interface portion  235   c  of the damper adapter  235  may be positioned intermediate the damper interface portion  235   a  and the louver pin adapter interface portion  235   b . The centering system interface portion  235   c  may include a cam actuator  267  extending axially in a direction away from the tangs  245  toward the damper  219 . The cam actuator  267  may be formed as a wedge, as illustrated in  FIGS. 13-15 . When the louver damping device  218  is assembled, the cam actuator  267  may interact with the centering system  223 , which is discussed in more detail later in this disclosure. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 13-15 , the louver pin adapter  237  may be non-rotatably keyed to the louver pin  22  (see  FIGS. 2A-2C ) to selectively transfer torque between the louver pin  22  and the damper adapter  235 . The second keyed portion  22   b  of the louver pin  22  may be received within a receptacle  266  defined by an internal wall  264  of the louver pin adapter  237 . The receptacle  266  may open through one end  237   a  of the louver pin adapter  237 . In some implementations, the louver pin adapter  237  may be integrally formed with the louver pin  22 . 
     The louver pin adapter  237  may include two wings  249  extending radially outward from a substantially cylindrical bearing surface  251 . The wings  249  and the substantially cylindrical bearing surface  251  may protrude longitudinally from an end  237   b  of the louver pin adapter  237 . When the louver damping device  218  is assembled, the tangs  245  of the damper adapter  235  may rotatably bear against the substantially cylindrical bearing surface  251  of the louver pin adapter  237  to maintain an axial alignment between the damper adapter  235  and the louver pin adapter  237 . Additionally, the tangs  245  of the damper adapter  235  may be positioned within a rotational path of the wings  249  of the louver pin adapter  249  to selectively transfer torque from the louver pin adapter  237  through the damper adapter  235  to the damper  219 . 
     Within continued reference to  FIGS. 13-15 , the centering system  223  of the louver damping device  218  may include a linear cam  226  and a helically-wound compression spring  228 . The linear cam  226  may include one or more longitudinally-extending slots  253  formed in an outer surface of the linear cam  226  that may slidably receive one or more longitudinally-extending, radially inward directed ribs  255  of the housing  220 . As such, the linear cam  226  may be slidable, but substantially non-rotatable, relative to the housing  220 . The linear cam  226  also may include a substantially v-shaped groove  257  recessed into one end of the linear cam  226  and defined by opposing sidewalls  259 . The mouth or width of the groove  257  may be larger than the width W of the groove  80  of the linear cam  26  (see  FIGS. 6A-6B ) so that the cam actuator  267  remains at least partially seated within the groove  257  during closure of the louver  6 . When the louver damping device  218  is assembled, the cam actuator  267  of the damper adapter  235  may be seated within the groove  257  of the linear cam  226  ( FIG. 15 ). Additionally, the compression spring  228  may be positioned between the linear cam  226  and a confronting end  225   c  of the damper  219 . The compression spring may bias the cam actuator  267  into the seated position. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 13-15 , the operation of the louver damping device  218  is discussed in relation to a shutter panel  2  including a louver closure device  18  for clarity purposes. As the louver pin adapter  237  may be linked to a louver  6  through a louver pin  22 , the louver pin adapter  237  may rotate in unison with the louver  6 . Thus, as the louver  6  is rotated, the louver pin adapter  237  may rotate in the same general direction as the louver  6 . Similar to the corresponding cam features of the rotary cam  24  and the linear cam  26  of the louver closure device  18 , the wings  249  of the louver pin adapter  237  and the tangs  245  of the damper adapter  235  may be rotationally misaligned by about 90 degrees when the louver  6  is in a fully-opened position. From this fully-opened position, rotation of the louver  6  toward a closed position may rotate the louver pin adapter  237  relative to the damper adapter  235 , thereby moving the wings  249  of the louver pin adapter  237  toward the tangs  245  of the damper adapter  235 . 
     Once the wings  249  of the louver pin adapter  237  contact the tangs  245  of the damper adapter  235 , further rotation of the louver  6  in a closing direction (which may be driven by the louver closure device  18 ) may be transferred to the damper  219  through the keyed engagement of the damper adapter  235  and the shaft  233  of the damper  219 . That is, rotational alignment of the wings  249  and the tangs  245  may result in damper engagement. Once engaged, the damper  219  may resist further rotation of the louver  6  in a closing direction. The radial width of the wings  249  and the tangs  245  may be configured such that the wings  249  contact or engage the tangs  245 , thereby actuating the damper  219 , substantially simultaneously with the actuation of the louver closure device  18 . The damping rate of the damper  219  may restrain the closing force of the louver closure device  18  and provide a generally controlled, consistent, slow, and/or smooth closure. As such, the damping rate of the damper  219  may control or govern the rate of closure of the louver  6 . The actuation of the louver damping device  218  may be altered by changing the radial width of the tangs  245 , the wings  249 , or both. 
     As the damper adapter  235  is rotated by the louver pin adapter  237  during closure of the louver  6 , the damper adapter  235  may rotate relative to the linear cam  226 , which may be positioned around the outer wall  239  of the sleeve portion  235   a  of the damper adapter  235 . The relative rotation between the damper adapter  235  and the linear cam  226  may cause the cam actuator  267  to contact a sidewall  259  of the groove  257  and drive the linear cam  226  toward the damper  219  against the spring force of the compression spring  228 . When the louver  6  is in a fully closed position, the louver closure device  18  may hold the louver  6  in the fully closed position, thereby maintaining the cam actuator  267  in engagement with the sidewall  259  of the groove  257  (the spring force of the compression spring  28  of the louver closure device  18  is larger than the spring force of the compression spring  228 ). 
     To open the louver  6  from the fully-closed position, an opening force that exceeds the closing force of the louver closure device  18  may be applied to the louver  6 . As the louver  6  is opened, the louver pin adapter  237  may rotate in unison with the louver  6 . Also, the compression spring  228  of the louver damping device  218  may slide the linear cam  226  away from the damper  219  toward the louver pin adapter  237 , which may cause the sidewall  259  of the groove  257  to apply a lateral force to the cam actuator  267  of the damper adapter  235 , which may rotate the damper adapter  235  (and thus the damper  219 ) into its initial position that may correspond to a fully-opened louver position. In this position, the cam actuator  267  may be seated in the groove  257  and the tangs  245  may be rotated into their pre-engagement position relative to the wings  249  of the louver pin adapter  237 . 
     The louver damping device  218  may provide a generally controlled, consistent, slow, and/or smooth closure of the louver  6 . The deadband system  221  of the louver damping device  218  may provide a first angular range in which the damper  219  is disengaged from the louver  6  and a second angular range in which the damper  219  resists rotation of the louver  6 . The centering system  223  of the louver damping device  218  may re-align or re-center at least some of the components of the louver damping device  218  (which may include the damper  219 ) in preparation for subsequent louver closure. 
     By including a louver closure device  18  and a louver damping device  218  in a shutter panel  2 , the louvers  6  in the shutter panel  2  may automatically close in a generally controlled, consistent, slow, and/or smooth manner into a fully closed position and may remain in that position until an opening force is applied to the louvers  6 . Multiple louver damping assemblies  218  may be used in some shutter panels and may be dispersed through the shutter panel to ensure a controlled louver closure. The actuation of the louver damping device  218  may be altered based on user preferences. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 16-19C , another louver damping device  318  is provided. With reference to  FIGS. 16-18 , the louver damping device  318  may include a housing  320 , a rotary damper  319 , a damper adapter  335 , a rotary cam  324 , and a pair of leaf springs  328 . The rotary cam  324  may include a gear portion  361  for engagement with a pair of gear racks  363 , which may form part of a gear track system embedded within a substantially hollow stile  8 . Although the gear racks  363  are depicted as being generally elongated, the gear racks  363  may be shortened and form part of a louver rotation mechanism as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,389,609, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     The housing  320  may include a base  320   a  and multiple side panels  320   b - 320   e  attached to and extending away from the base  320  to form a substantially rectangular body closed at one end and open at the other end. Although not depicted, the housing  320  may include a removable cover that closes the open end of the substantially rectangular body. The cover may include an aperture for permitting passage of the gear portion  361  of the rotary cam  324  so that the gear portion  361  may engage the gear racks  363  exterior to the housing  320 . 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 16-18 , the rotary damper  319  may include one or more mounting ears  331 , each of which may define an aperture  331   a  configured to receive a mounting pin  329  that protrudes from the base  320   a  of the housing  320 . The rotary damper  319  may be mounted to the housing  320  in many other manners, including by use of various types of fasteners. The rotary damper  319  may include an operative shaft  333 . The rotary damper  319  may function in a similar manner as the rotary damper  219 . An example rotary damper  319  may be a dual direction damper available at McMaster-Carr® and identifiable by part number 6597K14. 
     The damper adapter  335  may interconnect the rotary damper  319  and the rotary cam  324 . The damper adapter  335  may include a body  365  that includes an outer wall  365   a  and an inner wall  365   b . The inner wall  365   b  may define a keyed socket corresponding in shape to and configured to receive the shaft  333  of the damper  319 . A pair of wings  349  may extend radially outward from the outer wall  365   a  of the body  365  of the damper adapter  335 . The wings  349  may be diametrically opposed about the outer wall  365   a . A latch feature  371  may extend longitudinally from one end of the body  365 . The latch feature  371  may include two resilient, transversely spaced arms  373  each having a barb  375  formed on a distal end relative to the body  365  of the damper adapter  335 . 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 16-18 , the rotary cam  324  may include a body  377  defining a recessed opening  379  configured to receive the damper adapter  335 . The resilient arms  373  of the damper adapter  335  may pass through a portion of the recessed opening  379  and the barbs  375  may snapingly engage an inner, transversely-oriented wall  381  of the rotary cam  324  (see  FIGS. 19A-19C ) to attach the damper adapter  335  to the rotary cam  324 . For example, during passage through a lengthwise-extending bore defined by an inner wall of the rotary cam  324 , the resilient arms  373  may be elastically deformed toward one another in a transverse direction. Once the barbs  375  axially surpass the transversely-oriented wall  381  of the rotary cam  324 , the resilient arms  373  may elastically move away from one another in a transverse direction, thereby engaging the barbs  375  with the inner, transversely-oriented wall  381 . An abutment surface may contact or abut an opposing transversely-oriented wall of the rotary cam  324  to substantially prevent further insertion of the damper adapter  335  through the lengthwise-extending bore of the rotary cam  324 . As such, when attached together, the rotary cam  324  and the damper adapter  335  may be axially constrained, but rotatable, relative to another. As illustrated in  FIGS. 17-18 , the rotary cam  324 , the damper adapter  335 , and the damper  319  may be aligned along a longitudinal axis  330 , which may be coaxial with a rotation axis of a louver  6 . 
     The rotary cam  324  may include a pair of diametrically opposed tangs  345  that extend radially inward from the body  377  into the recessed opening  379  ( FIG. 18 ). When the damper adapter  335  is attached to the rotary cam  324 , the tangs  345  of the rotary cam  324  may reside within a rotational path of the wings  349  of the damper adapter  335 . As such, during relative rotation between the rotary cam  324  and the damper adapter  335 , the tangs  345  and the wings  349  may abut or contact one another. 
     The recessed opening  379  may extend through the body  377  of the rotary cam  324  and may be configured to receive a louver pin in an opposing relationship to the damper adapter  335 . In this configuration, the louver pin and the damper adapter  335  may be aligned along the longitudinal axis  330  of the louver damping device  318 . The louver pin and the rotary cam  324  may be non-rotatably keyed together with an interference or press fit or other keying structures, such as those previously discussed in connection with the louver pin  22  and the louver closure device  18 . 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 16-18 , the rotary cam  324  may include a pair of lobes  367  extending outward from opposing sides of the body  377  of the rotary cam  324 . The lobes  367  may include an arcuate or curved outer cam surface  383 . The lobes  367  may be substantially identical to one another. The lobes  367  may be axially separated from a louver pin side of the rotary cam  324  by the gear portion  361 , which may include a plurality of external teeth  385  radiating outward from the body  377  of the rotary cam  324 . 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 16-18 , the leaf springs  328  may be substantially identical to one another. Each leaf spring  328  may be formed in a substantially sinusoidal shape with a pair of peaks  387  separated from each other by an elongated trough  389 . Each leaf spring  328  may include two free ends  328   a ,  328   b , both of which may reside in a substantially common plane with the trough  389 . When associated with the housing  320  ( FIGS. 16 and 19A-19C ), the free ends  328   a ,  328   b  of each leaf spring  328  may be received in opposing, longitudinally-extending channels  390  formed in the housing  320 . The channels  390  may permit one or both of the free ends  328   a ,  328   b  of each leaf spring  328  to extend away from one another when the leaf spring  328  is elastically deformed. That is, at least one end  328   a ,  328   b  of each leaf spring  328  may not be fully seated in a respective channel  390  so that each leaf spring  328  may elastically deform in a lengthwise or flattening direction. Alternatively, each leaf spring  328  may include a pinned end. For example, at least one end  328   a ,  328   b  of each leaf spring  328  may be include a lengthwise extending slot and a pin may be extended through the slot to permit axial movement of the respective end of the leaf spring  328  relative to the housing  320 . When the leaf springs  328  are associated with the housing  320  ( FIGS. 16 and 19A-19C ), the peaks  387  and troughs  389  of the leaf springs  328  may be aligned with one another in a confronting relationship. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 19A-19C , the louver damping device  318  is illustrated in an assembled configuration with the rotary cam  324  positioned between the leaf springs  328 . In the assembled configuration, the lobes  367  of the rotary cam  324  may be positioned adjacent opposing troughs  389  of the leaf springs  328 . With reference to  FIG. 19A , the louver damping device  318  is depicted in a first position, which may correspond to a fully-opened louver position. In this position, each lobe  367  may be positioned substantially equidistant between successive peaks  387  of a corresponding leaf spring  328 . 
     Similar to the louver closure device  18 , the louver tension device  118 , and the louver damping device  218 , the louver damping device  318  may be coupled to a louver  6  so that at least one component of the louver damping device  318  may rotate in unison with the louver  6 . As previously discussed, the rotary cam  324  may be non-rotatably coupled to a louver pin to transfer torque between the louver  6  and the rotary cam  324 . With reference back to  FIGS. 17-18 , a user initiated force may be transmitted through the gear racks  363 , which may link multiple louvers  6  together. The gear tracks  363  may interface with opposing sides of the gear portion  361  of the rotary cam  324  such that substantially linear movement of each of the gear tracks  363  in generally opposite directions relative to one another may rotate the rotary cam  324  about the longitudinal axis  330  of the louver damping device  318 . As the rotary cam  324  may be non-rotatably coupled to a louver  6  through a louver pin (such as the louver pin  22 ), rotation of the rotary cam  324  may cause rotation of the louver  6 . Thus, the operable movement of the gear racks  363  may rotate the rotary cam  324 , which in turn may rotate the louver  6 . Although not depicted, the louver pin closure device  18 , the louver tension device  118 , and the louver damping device  218  may be slightly modified to operate in connection with the gear racks  363 . For example, the louver pin  22  or the housing  20 ,  120 ,  220  may include external teeth configured to operatively engage the gear racks  363 . In this manner, the louver closure device  18 , the louver tension device  118 , the louver damping device  218 ,  318 , or a combination thereof may be used in connection with a shutter panel  2  employing a gear rack drive or operating system. 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 19A , as the louver  6  is rotated from the fully-opened position toward a closed position through motion of the gear racks  363  relative to one another, the rotary cam  324  may rotate in unison with the louver  6 . As the louver  6  approaches an automatic closure angular range (based on inclusion of a louver cam assembly  18  within the shutter panel  2 ), the lobes  367  of the rotary cam  324  may approach sidewalls  391  of the peaks  387  of the leaf springs  328  ( FIGS. 19B and 19C ), the tangs  345  on the rotary cam  324  may approach the wings  349  on the damper adapter  335 , or both. The rotary cam  324 , the leaf spring  328 , or both may be configured such that the lobes  367  of the rotary cam  324  may contact or engage the sidewalls  391  of the peaks  387  simultaneously or substantially simultaneously with initiation of the automatic closure of the louver  6 . Additionally or alternatively, the tangs  345 , the wings  349 , or both may be configured such that the tangs  345  of the rotary cam  324  may contact or engage the wings  349  of the damper adapter  335  simultaneously or substantially simultaneously with initiation of automatic closure of the louver  6 , thereby engaging the damper  319  (through the operative shaft  333 ) simultaneously or substantially simultaneously with the initiation of the automatic closure of the louver  6 . Thus, as the louver closure device  18  drives the louver  6  toward a fully-closed position, the lobes  367  of the rotary cam  324  may contact and resiliently deform the sidewalls  387  of the peaks  391  of the leaf springs  328 , which may generally resist or dampen the closure motion of the louver  6 . Additionally or alternatively, as the louver closure device  18  drives the louver  6  toward a fully closed position, the damper adapter  335  may selectively couple the rotary cam  324  and the damper  319  to generally resist or dampen the closure motion of the louver  6 . 
     To reset or re-center the wings  349  of the damper adapter  335  relative to the tangs  345  of the rotary cam  324  (thereby resetting the damper deadband to the fully-opened louver position), the lobes  367  of the rotary cam  324  and the leaf springs  328  may be used on a smaller scale in association with the damper adapter  335 . That is, the body  365  of the damper adapter  335  may include lobes protruding from opposite sides of the body  365  that selectively contact or engage peak sidewalls of opposing leaf springs based on the angular orientation of the louver  6 . As the peak sidewalls of the opposing leaf springs may elastically deform during automatic louver closure, the leaf springs may store potential energy that may be released as the louver  6  is rotated from a fully-closed position toward a fully-opened position, which in turn may rotate the damper adapter  335  into its louver fully-opened position through the contact or engagement of the leaf springs and the lobes associated with the body  365  of the damper adapter  335 . Additionally or alternatively, a button may be associated with a lobe  367  of the rotary cam  324  and selectively engagable with a wing  349  of the damper adapter  335 . A sidewall  387  and/or peak  391  of a corresponding leaf spring  328  may depress the button as the louver  6  is approaching full closure, which may cause the button to contact a wing  349  of the damper adapter  335 , which may rotate the damper adapter  335  and reorient or re-center the wings  349  of the damper adapter  335  relative to the tangs  345  of the rotary cam  324 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 20-22 , a louver closure and damping assembly  418  is provided in association with a common housing  420 . The preceding discussion of the housing  20 , the louver pin  22 , the rotary cam  24 , the linear cam  26 , and the compression spring  28  should be considered equally applicable to the louver closure and damping assembly  418 , except as noted in the following discussion. The reference numerals used in  FIGS. 20-22  generally correspond to the reference numbers used in  FIGS. 1-10  to reflect the similar parts and components, except the reference numerals are incremented by four hundred. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 20-22 , the louver closure and damping assembly  418  may include a housing  420 , a louver pin  422 , a rotary cam  424 , a linear cam  426 , a compression spring  428 , and a linear damper  419 , all of which may be aligned along a longitudinal axis  430  of the louver closure and damping assembly  418 . The rotary cam  424 , the linear cam  426 , the compression spring  428 , and the linear damper  419  all may be at least partially encased or received within the housing  420 . The louver pin  422  may be rotatably supported by the housing  420  and may be non-rotatably coupled to the rotary cam  424 . The louver pin  422  and the rotary cam  424  may be formed as a single part (as may be the louver pin  22  and the rotary cam  24 ) or the louver pin  422  and the rotary cam  424  may be formed as separate parts non-rotatably keyed together with a keying structure, such as that depicted in  FIGS. 1-10  in relation to the louver pin  22  and the rotary cam  24 . 
     The linear cam  426  may include a longitudinally-extending rod  488  protruding from an end  474   b  of the linear cam  426 . The rod  488  may extend along the longitudinal axis  430  of the louver closure and damping assembly  418  through an inner space of the compression spring  428  and the damper  419 . A fastener, such as a clip  490 , may be interference or press fit within a circumferential groove  491  formed in a distal end of the rod  488  that extends axially beyond the damper  419 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 20 , the louver closure and damping assembly  418  is illustrated in a first position, which may correspond to a fully-closed louver position. In the first position, the protrusion  467  of the rotary cam  424  may be substantially fully seated within the groove  480  formed in the linear cam  426 . The compression spring  428  may be positioned between the linear cam  426  and a stationary wall  492  of the housing  420 . The compression spring  428  may bias the linear cam  426  into the fully seated position with the rotary cam  424 . As the rod  488  may be attached to the linear cam  426 , linear movement of the cam  426  toward the rotary cam  424  may cause the clip  490  to compress the linear damper  419  between the clip  490  and the stationary wall  492 , as illustrated in  FIG. 20 . Thus, the damping or resistive force of the damper  419  may generally oppose the spring force of the compression spring  428 . The spring force of the compression spring  428  may be greater in magnitude than the damping force of the damper  419 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 20 , to move a louver  6  from a fully-closed position toward a fully-opened position, the louver pin  422  may be rotated relative to the linear cam  426 , which may cause the protrusion  467  of the rotary cam  424  to unseat from the groove  480  of the linear cam  426 . The unseating of the protrusion  467  from the groove  480  may cause the linear cam  426  to slide along the longitudinal axis  430  relative to the housing  420  away from the rotary cam  424  toward the stationary wall  492 , thereby compressing the compression spring  428 . The sliding movement of the linear cam  426  also may cause the clip  490  to move axially away from the stationary wall  492 , thereby allowing the damper  419  to expand, for example. The louver pin  422  may continue to be rotated relative to the linear cam  426  until the protrusion  467  may be substantially orthogonal to the groove  480 , at which point the louver  6  may be oriented in a fully-opened position. When the louver  6  is in the fully-opened position, the clip  490  may abut or contact the shoulder  442   c  of the housing  420 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 20 , to move the louver  6  from the fully-opened position toward the fully-closed position, the louver pin  422  may be rotated relative to the linear cam  426 , which may cause the protrusion  467  of the rotary cam  424  to rotate relative groove  480  of the linear cam  426 . Once the protrusion  467  substantially aligns with an edge of the groove  480 , the compression spring  428  may slide the linear cam  426  along the longitudinal axis  430  relative to the housing  420  away from the stationary wall  492  toward the rotary cam  424 , thereby rotating the rotary cam  424  to further align the protrusion  467  with the groove  480 . The resulting rotation of the rotary cam  424  may cause the louver pin  422  to rotate in a louver closing direction, which may rotate the louver  6  toward the fully-closed position. The sliding movement of the linear cam  426  also may cause the clip  490  to move axially toward the stationary wall  492 , thereby compressing the damper  419 . The damping or compression rate of the damper  419  may control or govern the spring force of the compression spring  428 , which may result in a generally consistent, slow, and/or smooth louver closure. The louver  6  may be fully closed when the protrusion  467  of the rotary cam  424  is substantially fully seated within the groove  480  of the linear cam  426 . The damper  419  may be a compressible material, such as a closed-cell or open-cell foam. In one implementation, the damper  419  is a closed-cell foam. 
     With reference to  FIG. 23 , a shutter panel  2  with a standard louver pin  15 , a louver tension device  118 , a louver closure device  18 , a louver damping device  218 ,  318 , and a louver closure and damping assembly  418  is provided. The shutter panel  2  may include any combination and/or arrangement of the standard louver pin  15 , the louver tension device  118 , the louver closure device  18 , the louver damping device  218 ,  318 , and the louver closure and damping assembly  418 . The louver closure device  18 , the louver tension device  118 , the louver damping device  218 ,  318 , the louver closure and damping assembly  418 , or a combination thereof may be used in connection with a shutter panel  2  employing a gear rack operating system, a pulley operating system, a tilt bar operating system, or other louver operating systems. As the louvers  6  in a shutter panel  2  may be coupled together to move in unison (such as by a tilt bar, a gear track system, a pulley system, or other drive system), a louver device may be removably attached to one end of a single louver  6 , one end of multiple louvers, both ends of a single louver, both ends of multiple louvers, or a combination thereof. If multiple louver devices are individually attached to multiple louvers, the selected louvers may be immediately adjacent one another, evenly distributed throughout the shutter panel, or randomly chosen. The louver devices may be attached to a stile, a rail, or other structures of the panel. As such, one or more louver devices may be used in connection with a shutter panel  2 . The number, location, or both of the louver devices may be based on the number of louvers  6 , the weight of the louvers  6 , the size (height and width, for example) of the shutter panel  2 , and other suitable factors. 
     The components or parts discussed herein may be constructed from various types of materials, including metallic and non-metallic materials. In one implementation, the various housings, rotary cams, cams, and louver pins are made from Lustran® acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)  433 . In one implementation, the various springs are made from stainless steel. The components or parts discussed herein may include various surface finishes or textures. In one implementation, the various housings, rotary cams, cams, and louver pins include a polish of SPI-A2 (Society of Plastics Industry). 
     The foregoing description has broad application. The louver closure, damping, and tension assemblies may be incorporated into any type of shutter panel, including shutter panels with solid wood frames and hollow vinyl frames. Further, the louver closure, damping, and tension assemblies may be used in connection with any type of louver actuation system, including gear rack systems, pulley systems, tilt bars, and other louver actuation systems. Moreover, the louver closure, damping, and tension assemblies may be provided as a self-contained module or unit that may be retrofit into existing shutter panels. Furthermore, the louver closure, damping, and tension assemblies may include a relatively small outer envelope, which may not compromise the integrity of the frame of the shutter panel. For example, the louver closure, damping, and tension assemblies may include an outer envelope of about one inch in length and about three-eighths of an inch in diameter. Accordingly, the discussion of any example is meant only to be explanatory and is not intended to suggest that the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to these examples. In other words, while illustrative examples of the disclosure have been described in detail herein, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed, and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations, except as limited by the prior art. 
     The foregoing discussion has been presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to limit the disclosure to the form or forms disclosed herein. For example, various features of the disclosure are grouped together in one or more aspects, embodiments, or configurations for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. However, it should be understood that various features of the certain aspects, embodiments, or configurations of the disclosure may be combined in alternate aspects, embodiments, or configurations. Moreover, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description by this reference, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     The phrases “at least one”, “one or more”, and “and/or”, as used herein, are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C”, “at least one of A, B, or C”, “one or more of A, B, and C”, “one or more of A, B, or C” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together. 
     The term “a” or “an” entity, as used herein, refers to one or more of that entity. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. 
     The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Accordingly, the terms “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof are open-ended expressions and can be used interchangeably herein. 
     All directional references (e.g., proximal, distal, upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, lateral, longitudinal, front, back, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, radial, axial, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader&#39;s understanding of the present disclosure, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of this disclosure. Connection references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, and joined) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a collection of elements and relative movement between elements unless otherwise indicated. As such, connection references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to each other. Identification references (e.g., primary, secondary, first, second, third, fourth, etc.) are not intended to connote importance or priority, but are used to distinguish one feature from another. The drawings are for purposes of illustration only and the dimensions, positions, order and relative sizes reflected in the drawings attached hereto may vary.