Patent ID: 6848213

Claim:
A drive assembly for a shutter having a frame with opposed stiles with at least two louvers having opposite ends extending between the stiles, one of said stiles defining a longitudinally extending groove, said drive assembly comprising: (a) a rack in positionable said groove having: (i) a wall with first and second flanges having inner and outer surfaces defining a generally U-shaped longitudinal channel; (ii) one of said flanges having a linear gear extending along an inner surface of one of said flanges; (iii) said wall defining a bore; and (b) a one-piece pinion associated with the end of one of said louver, each said pinion comprising: (i) a pin having an outer end extending through said bore receivable in the end of a louver and an inner end; and (ii) a drive gear on the inner end of the pinion positioned between the flanges and engaging said linear gear to reciprocate the rack to drive adjacent louvers.