A patch fitting coverplate or cap for a patch fitting that extends a pivot point centerline of the patch fitting. The patch fitting coverplate may be constructed as a retrofit cover to integrate a patch fitting of one standard pivot point centerline to a door pane of another standard pivot point centerline. A patch fitting assembly including the patch fitting coverplate and patch fitting may also include buffers to fill in the interior portion between the extended patch fitting coverplate and the patch fitting. The patch fitting may be tapered at an edge close to the pivot axis of the door pane for smooth actuation of the door pane.

A mechanical adaptation to a vehicle power window controls is provided that require less hand/finger coordination and less force to actuate, therefore becoming useful for persons with limited control of their hands (e.g., arthritis, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injury, among others). A power window control includes four levers, one on each control switch. Two of the levers are long and the other two are shorter. The long levers are provided on the two switches further away from the user (which control the front and rear left side windows). The short levers are attached to the two switches closer to the user (which control the front and rear right side windows). The base of each lever can be attached to the corresponding switch through a heavy-duty double-sided tape, where for flat switches, the lever is attached directly to the switch surface and for contoured switches, an adapter can be provided between the base of the lever and the surface of the power window switch.

A mechanical adaptation to a vehicle power window controls is provided that require less hand/finger coordination and less force to actuate, therefore becoming useful for persons with limited control of their hands (e.g., arthritis, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injury, among others). A power window control includes four levers, one on each control switch. Two of the levers are long and the other two are shorter. The long levers are provided on the two switches further away from the user (which control the front and rear left side windows). The short levers are attached to the two switches closer to the user (which control the front and rear right side windows). The base of each lever can be attached to the corresponding switch through a heavy-duty double-sided tape, where for flat switches, the lever is attached directly to the switch surface and for contoured switches, an adapter can be provided between the base of the lever and the surface of the power window switch.

A swing door operator having a powered driver operable to manipulate a drive unit that rotates a spindle to open a door. As the door is opened, the drive unit compresses a spring engaged with a spring mount that is pivotally connected to the drive unit. The spring mount is pivotable between an operating configuration in which the spring is arranged to be compressed by the drive unit as spindle rotates in the first direction and to expand thereafter to rotate the spindle in a second direction opposite the first direction, and a servicing configuration in which the spring is slidably removable from the spring mount.

A mechanism is disclosed for automating a sliding window having window components comprising a stationary pane component, a sliding pane component and a window frame component. The mechanism includes a telescoping mounting assembly attached to a first of the window components. The telescoping mounting assembly includes a housing and one or two extension arms, selectively extensible from the housing to either one or both sides of the first window component. A motor is disposed within the housing driving a first gear. Either one or two telescoping drive shafts are disposed within the extension arms, each having a gear on one end of the telescoping drive shaft driven by the first gear and having a gear on an opposite end of the telescoping drive shaft that engages a rack mounted on one side of a second of the window components. The telescoping drive shafts are coupled to the extension arms and are therefore selectively extensible with first extension arms. This mechanism is installed by extending the extension arm to fit the first of the window components. The sliding window is opened and closed by rotation of the motor and the telescoping drive.

A retrofit unit is disclosed, adapted to be attached to a door as part of a door closer apparatus, the door closer apparatus being adapted to selectively prevent or facilitate movement of a door relative to its associated door frame, the retrofit unit comprising energy harvesting means adapted to convert energy harvested into electrical energy, the retrofit unit further having a first energy storage means, control means adapted to control the door closer unit, one or more sensors adapted to detect one or more environmental state, and a communication means adapted to transmit and receive information wirelessly to and from a remote base station and adapted to transmit and receive information wirelessly to and from a further retrofit unit. A door-integrated unit is also disclosed, as well as a fire safety system having a plurality of units and one or more base stations.

A swing door operator having a powered driver operable to manipulate a drive unit that rotates a spindle to open a door. As the door is opened, the drive unit compresses a spring engaged with a spring mount that is pivotally connected to the drive unit. The spring mount is pivotable between an operating configuration in which the spring is arranged to be compressed by the drive unit as spindle rotates in the first direction and to expand thereafter to rotate the spindle in a second direction opposite the first direction, and a servicing configuration in which the spring is slidably removable from the spring mount.

A structure access system that allows a user at ground level to open and close a traditionally ladder-accessed entrance on the top of a structure like a silo through a pivotable lever-controlled linkage that includes elongate members joined by a rocker arm configured to translate vertical movement into angled movement to open and close the top entrance.

The invention is an automated window mechanism having an electric motor attached to a sliding panel of a window configured to open and close the window by moving the sliding panel. The electric motor has a locked state in which the electric motor and sliding panel are stationary. The automated window mechanism also includes a monitor configured to detect an external force applied to the sliding panel while the electric motor is in the locked state. In response to the monitor detecting the external force while the electric motor is in the locked state the positive lead and the negative lead to a same electric potential thereby rendering the electric motor an electric brake impeding the external force from moving the sliding panel. A method and system for preventing unwanted movement of an automated window are also disclosed.

The invention is systems and methods of operating a window with an automated window mechanism. The systems and methods include moving with the automated window mechanism a sliding panel of a window relative to a window frame to open or close the window. The sliding panel moves through a proximate closing zone. The method also includes in the proximate closing zone, operating the automated window mechanism in a limited state comprising at least one of reduced velocity, reduced current to the automated window mechanism, or reduced voltage to the automated window mechanism.