Integrated power window operator

Abstract

Power window operators and windows incorporating the power window operators are described herein. The power window operators include both a guide pin and guide pin slot, as well as a pivot pin and pivot pin slot to control movement of an operator arm.

Claims

1. A window comprising a window frame having a sash rotatable attached to the window frame, wherein the sash moves between a closed position in the window frame and an open position in the window frame, wherein the window further comprises a power window operator that comprises: a motor operably connected to a gear and configured to rotate the gear about a gear axis; an operator arm extending from a first end to a second end, wherein an operator arm axis extends through the first and second ends of the operator arm, and wherein the second end of the operator arm is operably attached to the sash, and further wherein the operator arm comprises: gear teeth arranged along an arcuate path at the first end of the operator arm, wherein the gear teeth mesh with the gear; a pivot pin slot formed in the operator arm, wherein the pivot pin slot comprises a first end located closer to the first end of the operator arm than the second end of the operator arm and a second end located further away from the first end of the operator arm than the first end of the pivot pin slot; a housing attached to the window frame; and a pivot pin operably attached to the housing, wherein the pivot pin is received in the pivot pin slot of the operator arm; a lock assembly configured to lock the sash in the closed position; and a tie bar attached to the window frame and configured to move along the window frame between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the tie bar comprises a lock interface pin attached to the tie bar, wherein the tie bar extends around at least one corner of the window frame, and wherein the tie bar is operably attached to the lock assembly such that the lock assembly moves to a locked configuration when the tie bar moves to the locked position and the lock assembly moves to an unlocked configuration when the tie bar moves to the unlocked position; and a drive notch in the operator arm, the drive notch located between the first end of the pivot pin slot and the second end of the operator arm, wherein the lock interface pin on the tie bar is engaged with the drive notch when the pivot pin is located at the second end of the pivot pin slot; wherein, when the sash in the closed position, the pivot pin is located at the second end of the pivot pin slot, and the tie bar is in the locked position, rotation of the gear in a first direction moves the operator arm along the operator arm axis relative to the housing such that the pivot pin slot moves along the pivot pin until the pivot pin is positioned at the first end of the pivot pin slot and the drive notch and the lock interface pin are engaged to move the tie bar into the unlocked position which moves the lock assembly to the unlocked configuration; wherein further rotation of the gear in the first direction after the pivot pin is positioned at the first end of the pivot pin slot rotates the operator arm about the pivot pin at the first end of the pivot pin slot such that the drive notch disengages from the lock interface pin and the sash moves from the closed position to the open position; wherein rotation of the gear in a second direction after the sash is in the open position rotates the operator arm about the pivot pin at the first end of the pivot pin slot to move the sash to the closed position and move the drive notch into engagement with the lock interface pin; wherein further rotation of the gear in the second direction after moving the sash from the open position to the closed position moves the operator arm along the operator arm axis relative to the housing such that the pivot pin slot moves along the pivot pin until the pivot pin is positioned at the second end of the pivot pin slot and the tie bar moves into the locked position which moves the lock assembly to the locked configuration.

2. A window according to claim 1, wherein the pivot pin slot and the operator arm axis are aligned with each other.

3. A window according to claim 1, wherein the window comprises an awning window.

4. A window according to claim 1, wherein the window comprises a casement window.

5. A window according to claim 1, wherein, when the sash is in the closed position, the drive notch on the operator arm is engaged with the lock interface pin: when the tie bar is in the locked position, when the tie bar is in the unlocked position, when the tie bar is moving from the locked position to the unlocked position, and when the tie bar is moving from the unlocked position to the locked position.

6. A window according to claim 1, wherein the drive notch in the operator arm begins to move away from the lock interface pin to disengage from the lock interface pin at the same time as the sash begins to move away from the window frame when rotating the gear in the first direction.

7. A window according to claim 1, wherein movement of the tie bar between the locked position and the unlocked position is along a direction aligned with the operator arm axis when the sash in the closed position and the pivot pin is located at the second end of the pivot pin slot.

8. A window according to claim 1, wherein the pivot pin slot comprises a uniform width transverse to the operator arm axis between the first end and the second end of the pivot pin slot.

9. A window according to claim 1, wherein the pivot pin slot comprises a uniform width transverse to the operator arm axis between the first end and the second end of the pivot pin slot, and wherein the pivot pin comprises a circular pin attached to the housing.

10. A window according to claim 1, wherein the lock assembly comprises a lock pin on the tie bar and a keeper attached to the sash, wherein the lock pin engages the keeper when the lock assembly is in the locked configuration and the sash is in the closed position, and wherein the lock pin is disengaged from the keeper when the lock assembly is in the unlocked configuration and the tie bar is in the unlocked position.

11. A window according to claim 10, wherein, when the sash in the closed position, the pivot pin is located at the second end of the pivot pin slot, and the tie bar is in the locked position, rotation of the gear in a first direction moves the operator arm along the operator arm axis relative to the housing such that the pivot pin slot moves along the pivot pin until the pivot pin is positioned at the first end of the pivot pin slot and the drive notch and the lock interface pin are engaged to move the tie bar into the unlocked position in which the lock pin disengages from the keeper; wherein further rotation of the gear in the first direction after the pivot pin is positioned at the first end of the pivot pin slot rotates the operator arm about the pivot pin at the first end of the pivot pin slot such that the drive notch disengages from the lock interface pin and the sash moves from the closed position to the open position; wherein rotation of the gear in a second direction after the sash is in the open position rotates the operator arm about the pivot pin at the first end of the pivot pin slot to move the sash to the closed position and move the drive notch into engagement with the lock interface pin; wherein further rotation of the gear in the second direction after moving the sash from the open position to the closed position moves the operator arm along the operator arm axis relative to the housing such that the pivot pin slot moves along the pivot pin until the pivot pin is positioned at the second end of the pivot pin slot and the tie bar moves into the locked position in which the lock pin on the tie bar engages the keeper on the sash.

12. A window according to claim 1, wherein the drive notch is located closer to the second end of the pivot pin slot than the second end of the operator arm.

13. A window comprising a window frame having a sash rotatable attached to the window frame, wherein the sash moves between a closed position in the window frame and an open position in the window frame, wherein the window further comprises a power window operator that comprises: a motor operably connected to a gear and configured to rotate the gear about a gear axis; an operator arm extending from a first end to a second end, wherein an operator arm axis extends through the first and second ends of the operator arm, and wherein the second end of the operator arm is operably attached to the sash, and further wherein the operator arm comprises: gear teeth arranged along an arcuate path at the first end of the operator arm, wherein the gear teeth mesh with the gear; a pivot pin slot formed in the operator arm, wherein the pivot pin slot comprises a first end located closer to the first end of the operator arm than the second end of the operator arm and a second end located further away from the first end of the operator arm than the first end of the pivot pin slot; a housing attached to the window frame; and a pivot pin operably attached to the housing, wherein the pivot pin is received in the pivot pin slot of the operator arm; a lock assembly configured to lock the sash in the closed position; and a tie bar attached to the window frame and configured to move along the window frame between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the tie bar comprises a lock interface pin attached to the tie bar, wherein the tie bar extends around at least one corner of the window frame, and wherein the tie bar is operably attached to the lock assembly such that the lock assembly moves to a locked configuration when the tie bar moves to the locked position and the lock assembly moves to an unlocked configuration when the tie bar moves to the unlocked position; and a drive notch in the operator arm, the drive notch located between the first end of the pivot pin slot and the second end of the operator arm, wherein the lock interface pin on the tie bar is engaged with the drive notch when the pivot pin is located at the second end of the pivot pin slot; wherein, when the sash in the closed position, the pivot pin is located at the second end of the pivot pin slot, and the tie bar is in the locked position, rotation of the gear in a first direction moves the operator arm along the operator arm axis relative to the housing such that the pivot pin slot moves along the pivot pin until the pivot pin is positioned at the first end of the pivot pin slot and the drive notch and the lock interface pin are engaged to move the tie bar into the unlocked position which moves the lock assembly to the unlocked configuration; wherein, when the sash is in the closed position, the drive notch on the operator arm is engaged with the lock interface pin: when the tie bar is in the locked position, when the tie bar is in the unlocked position, when the tie bar is moving from the locked position to the unlocked position, and when the tie bar is moving from the unlocked position to the locked position; wherein further rotation of the gear in the first direction after the pivot pin is positioned at the first end of the pivot pin slot rotates the operator arm about the pivot pin at the first end of the pivot pin slot such that the drive notch disengages from the lock interface pin and the sash moves from the closed position to the open position; wherein the drive notch in the operator arm begins to move away from the lock interface pin to disengage from the lock interface pin at the same time as the sash begins to move away from the window frame when rotating the gear in the first direction; wherein rotation of the gear in a second direction after the sash is in the open position rotates the operator arm about the pivot pin at the first end of the pivot pin slot to move the sash to the closed position and move the drive notch into engagement with the lock interface pin; wherein further rotation of the gear in the second direction after moving the sash from the open position to the closed position moves the operator arm along the operator arm axis relative to the housing such that the pivot pin slot moves along the pivot pin until the pivot pin is positioned at the second end of the pivot pin slot and the tie bar moves into the locked position which moves the lock assembly to the locked configuration.

14. A window according to claim 13, wherein movement of the tie bar between the locked position and the unlocked position is along a direction aligned with the operator arm axis when the sash in the closed position and the pivot pin is located at the second end of the pivot pin slot.

15. A window according to claim 13, wherein the pivot pin slot comprises a uniform width transverse to the operator arm axis between the first end and the second end of the pivot pin slot.

16. A window according to claim 13, wherein the pivot pin slot comprises a uniform width transverse to the operator arm axis between the first end and the second end of the pivot pin slot, and wherein the pivot pin comprises a circular pin attached to the housing.

17. A window according to claim 13, wherein the lock assembly comprises a lock pin on the tie bar and a keeper attached to the sash, wherein the lock pin engages the keeper when the lock assembly is in the locked configuration and the sash is in the closed position, and wherein the lock pin is disengaged from the keeper when the lock assembly is in the unlocked configuration and the tie bar is in the unlocked position.

18. A window according to claim 17, wherein the lock pin is located on the tie bar distal from the operator such that the tie bar extends around the at least one corner of the frame between the lock pin and the housing.

19. A window according to claim 17, wherein, when the sash in the closed position, the pivot pin is located at the second end of the pivot pin slot, and the tie bar is in the locked position, rotation of the gear in a first direction moves the operator arm along the operator arm axis relative to the housing such that the pivot pin slot moves along the pivot pin until the pivot pin is positioned at the first end of the pivot pin slot and the drive notch and the lock interface pin are engaged to move the tie bar into the unlocked position in which the lock pin disengages from the keeper; wherein further rotation of the gear in the first direction after the pivot pin is positioned at the first end of the pivot pin slot rotates the operator arm about the pivot pin at the first end of the pivot pin slot such that the drive notch disengages from the lock interface pin and the sash moves from the closed position to the open position; wherein rotation of the gear in a second direction after the sash is in the open position rotates the operator arm about the pivot pin at the first end of the pivot pin slot to move the sash to the closed position and move the drive notch into engagement with the lock interface pin; wherein further rotation of the gear in the second direction after moving the sash from the open position to the closed position moves the operator arm along the operator arm axis relative to the housing such that the pivot pin slot moves along the pivot pin until the pivot pin is positioned at the second end of the pivot pin slot and the tie bar moves into the locked position in which the lock pin on the tie bar engages the keeper on the sash.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various illustrative embodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1a depicts one illustrative embodiment of a motorized window operator as described herein in a locked/closed position, and with a cover 16 as seen in FIG. 2 removed to facilitate viewing of internal components;

(3) FIG. 1b depicts the motorized window operator of FIG. 1a in an unlocked/open position, and with a cover 16 as seen in FIG. 2 removed to facilitate viewing of internal components;

(4) FIG. 1c depicts the motorized window operator of FIG. 1c in a window sash open position, and with a cover 16 as seen in FIG. 2 removed to facilitate viewing of internal components;

(5) FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the motorized window operator of FIG. 1a;

(6) FIG. 3 is a top plan view of another illustrative embodiment of a motorized window operator in a locked/closed position and coupled with a window lock mechanism, with cover 16 as seen in FIG. 2 removed to facilitate viewing of internal components and the sash 102 depicted in broken lines;

(7) FIG. 4 is a top plan view of another illustrative embodiment of a motorized window operator in an unlocked/open position and coupled with a window lock mechanism, with cover 16 as seen in FIG. 2 removed to facilitate viewing of internal components and the sash 102 depicted in broken lines;

(8) FIG. 5 is a top plan view of another illustrative embodiment of a motorized window operator in a window sash open position and coupled with a window lock mechanism, with cover 16 as seen in FIG. 2 removed to facilitate viewing of internal components and the sash 102 depicted in broken lines;

(9) FIG. 6 is a partial isometric view of one illustrative embodiment of a window assembly including a motorized window operator and lock system a s described herein, with the motorized window operator in a locked position;

(10) FIG. 7 is a partial isometric view of another illustrative embodiment of a window assembly including a motorized window operator and lock system a s described herein, with the motorized window operator in an unlocked position;

(11) FIG. 8 is a partial isometric view of another illustrative embodiment of another illustrative embodiment of a window assembly including a motorized window operator and lock system as described herein, with the motorized window operator in a window open position; and

(12) FIG. 9 is a partial isometric view of another illustrative embodiment of a window assembly including a motorized window operator and lock system a s described herein, depicting the interconnection of the operator with a lock tie bar.

(13) While the power window operators and windows described herein are amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the present invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(14) In FIGS. 1a-9 there is depicted a motorized window operator 10 and window system according to various illustrative embodiments of the invention. Motorized window operator 10 generally includes a housing formed by a base 14 and top cover 16, along with a drive motor 18, worm gear 20, operator arm 22, and pivot pin 24. Base 14 of the housing defines, in the depicted embodiment, motor recess 26, worm recess 28, guide slot 30, and pin receiving recess 32. Drive motor 18 is received in motor recess 26 and is operably coupled to worm gear 20, which in turn is received in worm recess 28. Pivot pin 24 is received in pin receiving recess 32. Top cover 16 of the illustrative housing defines motor recess 26a, worm recess 28a, guide slot 30a, and pin receiving recess 32a structures that register with the corresponding structures in base 14 when top cover 16 is mated with base 14 to form the depicted illustrative housing.

(15) Operator arm 22 defines gear teeth 34 at proximal end 36 and slot 38, the gear teeth arranged along an arcuate path at the proximal end 36. Guide pins 40 project downwardly from bottom side 42 and upwardly from top side 43 near proximal end 36 and are received in guide slot 30 and guide slot 30a of base 14, respectively. Pivot pin 24 is slidably received in pivot pin slot 38. Coupling pin 44 is carried at distal end 46 of arm 22. Drive notch 48 is defined in edge 50. Gear teeth 34 are in-mesh with worm gear 20.

(16) According to one or more embodiments of the invention, base 14 of motorized window operator 10 is attached to frame 100 of the window with suitable fasteners (not depicted), and sash 102 is hinged to frame 100 with, e.g., hinge 101. Operator arm 22 is attached to sash 102 with coupling pin 44. Separate locking apparatus 104 is provided on the window system, including tie bar 106, tie bar guide 108, operator interface pin 110 and one or more lock pins 112 on tie bar 106, keepers 114, and (optionally) around-the-corner mechanism 116. In locked and unlocked positions of motorized window operator 10, operator interface pin 110 is received in drive notch 48 of arm 22.

(17) Tie bar 106 and tie bar guides 108 can be known tie bar guide components such as are disclosed in U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2012/0146342 A1, entitled SELF LOCATING TIE BAR GUIDE FOR SASH LOCK TIE BARS or U.S. Pat. No. 7,452,014 B2, entitled MULTI-POINT SASH LOCK SYSTEM FOR CASEMENT WINDOW, said applications being hereby fully incorporated herein by reference. Around-the-corner mechanism 116 may be a known ATC mechanism as disclosed in, e.g., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/539,399, entitled AROUND-THE-CORNER MULTI-POINT WINDOW LOCK MECHANISM FOR CASEMENT AND AWNING WINDOWS, and filed Nov. 12, 2014, said application being hereby fully incorporated herein by reference, or any other suitable ATC mechanism.

(18) In operation, first end 51 of gear teeth 34 are in-mesh with worm gear 20 at proximal end 52 of worm 20 as depicted in FIGS. 1a, 3, and 6. Sash 102 is locked to frame 100, due to the engagement of lock pins 112 with keepers 114. Pivot pin 24 is positioned at proximal end 54 of pivot pin slot 38. Upon application of power to drive motor 18, worm gear 20 is rotated so that operator arm 22 is translated along longitudinal operator arm axis X-X so that the distal end 56 of pivot pin slot 38 approaches pivot pin 24, and guide pins 40 move along the straight section of guide pin path 30 as they approach curved/arcuate sections 58a, 58b of guide slots 30, 30a, respectively, as depicted in FIGS. 1b, 4, and 7. Due to the engagement of operator lock interface pin 110 in drive notch 48 of operator arm 22, tie bar 106 is shifted in tie bar guide 108 so that lock pins 112 are disengaged from keepers 114, thereby unlocking sash 102 from frame 100 and enabling pivotal movement of sash 102 relative to frame 100.

(19) Once pivot pin 24 reaches distal end 56 of the pivot pin slot 38, and guide pins 40 begin to slide along the arcuate sections 58a, 58b of guide pin slot 30, distal end of 46 of operator arm 22 begins to pivot outwardly about pivot pin 24, due to the curved arrangement of gear teeth 34 along proximal end 52 of operator arm 22 and the shape of arcuate sections 58a, 58b of guide slot 30, thereby pivoting sash 102 outwardly relative to frame 100, as depicted in FIGS. 1c, 5, and 8.

(20) When power is applied to drive motor 18 so as to reverse the direction of rotation of the worm gear 20, operator arm 22 pivots inwardly, pivoting sash 102 toward frame 100 about pivot pin 24, due to the engagement of gear teeth 34 with worm gear 20, and according to the path defined by arcuate sections 58a, 58b, of guide pin slots 30, 30a. Once operator arm 22 reaches the unlocked position depicted in FIGS. 1b, 4, and 7, operator interface pin 110 reengages in drive notch 48 of operator arm 22, and operator arm 22 translates in the opposite direction along longitudinal arm axis X-X, and shifts tie bar 106 in tie bar guide 108 so that lock pins 112 are reengaged in keepers 114, so that sash 102 is again locked to frame 100.

(21) It will be appreciated that the motorized window operator according to embodiments of the invention can be used with currently available casement and awning window multi-point locking systems. In that regard, a linear sliding linkage or tie bar can communicate horizontal operator arm motion to a lock mechanism mounted on the same side of the window frame to which the operator is mounted.

(22) Furthermore, the linear worm drive mechanism employed to drive the operator arm horizontally provides a low profile operator to make it easier to hide under window stops. The operator can be mounted at the top head or bottom sill of the window frame for casement style windows and utilize an around-the-corner (ATC) device to transition to a lock mechanism located on the side jamb. The motorized operator could also be located in the side jamb of the window frame for casement style windows to avoid having to use an ATC device to drive the lock mechanism. Moreover, locating the operator at the top sill or on the side jamb of the window frame helps protect it from water issues. Keepers can be mounted to the window frame, and the operator arm can engage directly into and out of these keepers to perform the locking function.

(23) Still further, it will be appreciated that two arms could be driven by opposing worm gear helical angles similar to a traditional scissors-arm awning operator to improve load carrying capability on an awning window. Various methods might be used to accomplish this including: a motor could be used to drive a bevel gear which perpendicularly intersects and drives two separate worm gears with the same helical angle concurrently in opposite rotational directions; a motor could be applied to the end of a single worm gear made with two separate sections of opposing helical angles; a double ended motor could be located in the middle of two worm gears made with opposing helical angles; or a separate motor drive for each worm gear could be used.

(24) Benefits of apparatuses and systems according to embodiments of the invention are not limited to powered swinging windows, since as a perpendicularly intersecting bevel gear could be used to drive the worm manually so as to provide integration of the window opening and closing functions with the locking and unlocking functions. The motor could extend into a hole in the window frame and adjacent wall, but still could be serviceable from the window without needing an access panel in the window frame or wall. And any hole in the upper or side window frame would not have the water issues that a similar hole at the sill might potentially have.

(25) As used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms a, an, and the include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a or the component may include one or more of the components and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. Further, the term and/or means one or all of the listed elements or a combination of any two or more of the listed elements.

(26) It is noted that the term comprises and variations thereof do not have a limiting meaning where these terms appear in the accompanying description. Moreover, a, an, the, at least one, and one or more are used interchangeably herein.

(27) The foregoing descriptions present numerous specific details that provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the invention. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various embodiments, having been disclosed herein, may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, components as are known to those of ordinary skill in the art have not been described in detail herein in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments are set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of various embodiments, this disclosure is illustrative only. Other embodiments may be constructed that nevertheless employ the principles and spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the invention.

(28) For purposes of interpreting the claims for the present invention, it is expressly intended that the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(f) are not to be invoked unless the specific terms means for or step for are recited in a claim.