Patent ID: 7124537

Claim:
A decorative louvered shutter, comprising: a frame including longitudinally extending first and second frame members that are laterally spaced apart from one another; each frame member comprising a longitudinally extending casing formed with an internal longitudinally extending cavity and with an opening to the cavity extending longitudinally along one edge of the casing, and a longitudinally extending rigid extrusion positioned within the cavity, the extrusion having a hollow interior and including an exterior wall that substantially closes the opening to the cavity, with the wall having a plurality of holes arranged in a longitudinally extending series; a plurality of laterally extending louvers arranged in a series along the longitudinal extent of said frame members, with each louver having opposite ends mounted respectively to the first and second frame members; a spindle mounted at each end of each said louver and including a shaft portion projecting into a respective one of said holes in said exterior wall for thereby mounting the louvers to said first and second frame members for movement about respective lateral pivot axes; a concealed actuator mechanism mounted in said first frame member and operable for causing each of the louvers to move simultaneously when one of the louvers is pivotally adjusted, said mechanism comprising a pinion gear provided on the shaft of the spindles in said first frame member, said pinion gear being positioned within the hollow interior of said extrusion; a toothed rack having teeth, said rack being located within the hollow interior of said extrusion and meshing with the respective pinion gears of said spindles, and being movable longitudinally within the hollow interior of said extrusion for causing the simultaneous pivoting of the louvers when one of the louvers is pivotally adjusted.