The present invention relates to motorized automatic mechanism for operating sliding doors or windows.
Sliding panes of doors and windows can be heavy and hard to move thus placing a burden on a user in opening and closing them or moving pane slabs from one state to another. This is especially problematic for children, elderly people and people with disabilities.
In some cases motors have been applied to mobilize the pane slabs to make it easier to open and close the door or window. Such motorized doors or windows may be typically present in entrances to public places, e.g., a mall or shopping center, a hospital, however, there is no good solution for motorized doors or windows for private households, which would enable ease of operation of doors or windows inside private homes, while being esthetic. Furthermore, most automatic mechanisms require installation of a new system incorporating the automatic mechanism. Therefore, there is a need for an automatic mechanism that may be installed in existing non-automatic doors or windows, in order to enable cheaper and quicker installation.
An aspect of an embodiment of the disclosure relates to a system comprising an automatic mechanism for easily operating sliding doors or windows within private households. Embodiments of the disclosure provide an automatic mechanism that may be quickly and simply installed in existing non-automatic sliding doors or windows in order to upgrade them to being automatic, or it may be installed as part of newly assembled doors or windows.
In one embodiment of the disclosure, a system for operating sliding doors or windows may comprise:
In some embodiments, the first pulley may be a toothed pulley, the second pulley may be a toothed pulley, and the third pulley may be an idler pulley.
In some embodiments, the belt is selected from a group consisting of: a belt, a chain, a cable, and a toothed timing belt.
In some embodiments, the second pulley is located beneath the first pulley such that the axis of rotation of the second pulley is parallel to the axis of rotation of the first pulley, and further wherein the second pulley is displaced along an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the first pulley.
In some embodiments, the automatic mechanism is connected to a tension modulator configured to maintain a predetermined tension, e.g., an initial minimum tension of the belt. In some embodiments, the automatic mechanism and the tension modulator are situated on the plane defined by the pane frame and corresponding to the sliding pane that the automatic mechanism is intended to operate.
In some embodiments, the belt is configured to pass through a belt fastener, such that the belt is fastened towards and threaded through the opening frame.
In some embodiments, the automatic mechanism is configured to fully or partially open, and fully or partially close the sliding pane of a door or window.
In some embodiments, the system comprises a plurality of sliding panes, each sliding pane positioned in parallel to any other sliding pane, further wherein each sliding pane is associated with a corresponding automatic mechanism, each automatic mechanism positioned in parallel to any other automatic mechanism. In some embodiments, the width of each of the automatic mechanisms is no more than the width of a corresponding pane frame that surrounds the sliding pane associated with each of the automatic mechanisms. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of automatic mechanism operates independently of operation of any other automatic mechanism.
In some embodiments, one of the plurality of automatic mechanisms performs any of the following operations: open, close, partially open, partially close or rest, while any other automatic mechanism simultaneously performs any of the following operations: open, close, partially open, partially close or rest.
In some embodiments, each of said first, second and third pulleys rotates around a first, second and third shaft, respectively. Each of said first, second and third shafts is positioned on the plane defined by the pane frame.
In some embodiments, the belt wounds around the first pulley, the second pulley, and the third pulley to create a U shaped loop in the belt, wherein the U shaped loop extends in the same plane as defined by the pane frame, in a direction away from the pane frame.
In some embodiments, the width of the automatic mechanism is no more than the width of the pane frame.
In some embodiments, access to the automatic mechanism is achieved through the bottom side of the top horizontal end of the pane frame.
The present disclosure will be understood and better appreciated from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings. Identical structures, elements or parts, which appear in more than one figure, are generally labeled with the same or similar number in all the figures in which they appear. It should be noted that the elements or parts in the figures are not necessarily shown to scale such that each element or part may be larger or smaller than actually shown.
In one embodiment of the disclosure, a system comprising an automatic mechanism for operating sliding panes of doors or windows is disclosed. The automatic mechanism comprises a motor to provide power for operating, e.g., opening and closing the sliding panes. The automatic mechanism may enable control of the degree of opening and closing of the sliding pane, e.g., whether opening or closing is partial or complete, and if partial, the mechanism may enable control of the amount of movement of the sliding pane to either the open state or the closed state.
In another embodiment of the disclosure, there may be more than one automatic mechanism, whereby each automatic mechanism corresponds to a specific sliding pane and a respective pane frame. Typically, the plurality of automatic mechanisms may be positioned in parallel to one another, while the sliding panes may also be positioned in parallel to one another. That is, each of the plurality of automatic mechanisms may be associated with a corresponding pane frame, each of the automatic mechanism being located in parallel to any other automatic mechanism, and each pane frame (and respective sliding pane) being located in parallel to any other pane frame (and respective sliding pane).
In some embodiments, each of the plurality of automatic mechanisms may be operated independently of any of the other automatic mechanisms. That is, a first sliding pane may be operated by its corresponding automatic mechanism to perform any one of the following operations: open, close or rest, while a second sliding pane may be simultaneously operated by its corresponding automatic mechanism to perform any one of the following operations: open, close or rest, independently of the kind of operation performed by the first sliding pane. More than two sliding panes, each operating via its respective automatic mechanism independently of operation of other sliding panes, may be implemented. In some embodiments, a first sliding pane may be configured to operate in relation to additional sliding panes in the same window or door, e.g., an ‘open door’ command initiated by a user may cause a plurality of panes to open, and/or a ‘close door’ command may cause a plurality of panes to close, e.g., sequentially or simultaneously with each other. Synchronization of movement of a plurality of panes may be performed by one central control unit, which may continuously monitor the position of each sliding pane and may thus enable movement of a plurality of sliding panes at substantially the same time period.
Reference is now made to
The sliding panes 122 and 132 may be parallel to each other, and may be positioned on the same plane or on separate, parallel planes.
According to some embodiments, each of sliding panes 122 and 132 may comprise a pane frame 120 and 130, respectively. Pane frame 120 may surround all four sides of sliding pane 122, e.g., horizontal bottom portion (e.g., portion 120Z), horizontal upper portion (e.g., portion 120X) and both vertical portions (e.g., portions 120Y). Similarly, pane frame 130 may surround all four sides of sliding pane 132, e.g., horizontal bottom and upper portions and both vertical portions.
In some embodiments, opening frame 110 may comprise a cover 140, which may be located along the upper horizontal portion of opening frame 110. Upper horizontal cover 140 may be positioned between opening frame 110 and a wall (not shown) in which opening 100 may be installed. In some embodiments, cover 140 may cover an automatic mechanism for operating sliding doors or windows, as later disclosed in the present disclosure. In some cases, windows or doors have certain standard sizes, and in order to have enough space in which to place the automatic mechanism, cover 140 may be part of a box intended to house shades or blinds, and thus to further house the automatic mechanism, whereas in other cases opening frame 110 and thus sliding panes 122 and 132 may be of a shorter height as compared to standard height of doors or windows, in order to provide space for placement of the automatic mechanism. The space occupied by the automatic mechanism may be, for example, between 25 to 75 mm, e.g., 50 mm, thus the height of the door or window in which such an automatic mechanism is installed should be shortened within that same range.
Reference is now made to
According to some embodiments, each sliding pane may comprise a respective automatic mechanism (and a respective tension modulator), such that each sliding pane may be operated independently of any of the other sliding panes, if present. For example, (outer) sliding pane 122 may comprise a first automatic mechanism 400 and a first corresponding tension modulator 700, wherein the first automatic mechanism 400 and the first corresponding tension modulator 700 may be situated on the plane defined by pane frame 120, which surrounds sliding pane 122. Whereas, (inner) sliding pane 132 may comprise a second automatic mechanism (not shown) and a second corresponding tension modulator (not shown), wherein the second automatic mechanism and the second corresponding tension modulator may be situated on the plane defined by pane frame 130, which surrounds sliding pane 132.
Reference is now made to
In some embodiments, the size, e.g., width of automatic mechanism 400 may be configured to substantially extend such to conform to no more than the width of the foot-print of the pane frame. For example, the width of automatic mechanism 400 may be of substantially the same or no more than the width of pane frame 120. Similarly, any other automatic mechanism that may be added to the system 200 may be of a width of no more than the width of the pane frame surrounding the sliding pane it is to operate. This enables to position a limitless number of automatic mechanisms side by side, typically positioned in parallel to one another, and thus allows independent operation of each of the sliding panes, since each automatic mechanism doesn't interfere with the position and thus operation of any of the other automatic mechanisms, all of which may be positioned on the upper horizontal portion of pane frame 120.
In some embodiments, timing belt 480 may pass along the existing space within the opening frame's guide. For example, timing belt 480 may pass along the inner space within guide 111. This is ideal since instead of creating a space through which to insert the timing belt, the existing space within guide 111 is utilized for insertion of timing belt 480.
In some embodiments, timing belt 480 may be looped around automatic mechanism 400 and around tension modulator 700. Automatic mechanism 400 may be located on top of the upper horizontal portion of opening frame 110, while tension modulator may be positioned along the bottom side of the upper horizontal portion of opening frame 110, such that one section of timing belt 480 passes above another section of timing belt 480.
Reference is now made to
In some embodiments, automatic mechanism 400 may comprise a base 410, which may protect and keep all the inner components of automatic mechanism 400 intact and clean.
In some embodiments, belt to pane connection plate 630 may be part of belt fastener 600 (
Reference is now made to
Unit 400′ may comprise motor 470, which may be configured to provide power for the operation of the sliding panes of the doors or windows. In some embodiments, motor 470 may be located in a niche along a portion of opening frame 110 (niche 155,
According to some embodiments, motor 470 may be positioned substantially within the plane defined by the pane frame 120, such that a longitudinal axis 470X of motor 470 is adjacent to and parallel to the top horizontal portion 120X of pane frame 120, which surrounds the sliding pane, e.g., sliding pane 122 that motor 470 is intended to move. In other embodiments, longitudinal axis 470X of motor 470 may be positioned adjacent to and perpendicularly to the top horizontal portion 120X of pane frame 120, which surrounds the sliding pane that motor 470 is intended to operate and move, e.g., sliding pane 122. In yet other embodiments, longitudinal axis 470X of motor 470 may be positioned adjacent to and at an angle with respect to the top horizontal portion 120X of pane frame 120, which surrounds the sliding pane it is intended to operate, e.g., sliding pane 122. According to some embodiments, longitudinal axis 470X of motor 470 may be positioned adjacent to the top horizontal portion 120X of pane frame 120, whereas in other embodiments motor 470 may be located adjacent to other locations along pane frame 120, e.g., at the bottom horizontal portion 120Z (
In some embodiments, motor 470 may be connected to a first pulley 420 via at least one cogwheel, e.g., cogwheel 422 and cogwheel 424 (in
Unit 400′ may further comprise a second pulley 430, which may rotate around an axis of rotation that is parallel to axis R, around second shaft 530. Second pulley 430 may be a toothed pulley. Second shaft 530 may be connected to base 410, and may be positioned adjacent to and perpendicularly to the top horizontal portion 120X of pane frame 120. In some embodiments, second shaft 530 may further be biased or offset with respect to the location of first shaft 520 along axes X and Y. A third shaft 540, which third pulley 440 (
Reference is now made to
In one embodiment, the sliding panes may be located in parallel to one another, and each automatic mechanism may be located such to be positioned within or aligned with a plane defined by a pane frame that surrounds its corresponding sliding pane. Therefore, the plurality of automatic mechanisms may also be positioned in parallel with respect to one another. As illustrated in
For example, a first automatic mechanism may comprise motor 470a connected to base 410a, while a second automatic mechanism may comprise motor 470b connected to base 410b, and a third automatic mechanism may comprise motor 470c connected to base 410c. As illustrated in
In some embodiments, each of the automatic mechanisms may comprise the respective motor and base serially connected to one another, such that the entire first mechanism comprising motor 470a connected to base 410a may be positioned in parallel with respect to the second mechanism, which comprises motor 470b connected to base 410b. Furthermore, the first automatic mechanism and the second automatic mechanism may be positioned in parallel to the third automatic mechanism, which comprises motor 470c serially connected to base 410c.
Reference is now made to
In some embodiments, motor 470 is configured to rotate cogwheel 424 around an axis of rotation, e.g., around an axis parallel to axis X. Cogwheel 422 is then turned by cogwheel 424 around a different perpendicular axis of rotation, e.g., around an axis parallel to axis R. In some embodiments, first toothed pulley 420 turns around an axis of rotation that is parallel to the axis of rotation of cogwheel 424, e.g., around an axis parallel to axis R, since first toothed pulley 420 is directly connected to cogwheel 424. First toothed pulley 420 as does cogwheel 424 may be located within a vertical plane that is defined by pane frame 120, which surrounds sliding pane 122. First toothed pulley 420 may rotate around first shaft 520, which may be connected to base 410 such that first shaft 520 may be positioned in parallel to the axis of rotation of first toothed pulley 420.
In some embodiments, second toothed pulley 430 may be positioned adjacent to the first toothed pulley 420 and on substantially the same plane as the plane on which first toothed pulley 420 is positioned, e.g. within a vertical plane that is defined by pane frame 120, which surrounds sliding pane 122. In some embodiments, second toothed pulley 430 may be positioned beneath first toothed pulley 420 along the vertical axis Y, and further such that second toothed pulley 430 is offset along the axis X on which the first toothed pulley 420 is located, in a direction opposite from motor 470. In some embodiments, second toothed pulley 430 may rotate around second shaft 530. Second shaft 530 may be positioned in parallel to the axis of rotation of second toothed pulley 430.
In some embodiments, second toothed pulley 430 may be positioned beneath first toothed pulley 420 at a distance from the location of first toothed pulley 420, e.g., further along axis X in a direction opposite from motor 470, such that toothed belt 480 may be wound around first toothed pulley 420 and then divert on an angle θ in order to proceed to wound around second toothed pulley 430. In some examples, angle θ may be between −45° to +80°, whereby the angles denoted with ‘minus’ are angles that extend from vertical line 501 towards motor 470, whereas the angles denoted with ‘plus’ are ones that extend from vertical line 501 towards the direction opposite motor 470, similarly to the illustrated angle θ in
In some embodiments, the third pulley 440, e.g., idler pulley 440 may be positioned on the same plane as the plane at which first toothed pulley 420 and second toothed pulley 430 are positioned. In addition, idler pulley 440 may be positioned adjacent to the first toothed pulley 420 and adjacent to the second toothed pulley 430. In some embodiments, idler pulley 440 may further be located in between the location of the first toothed pulley 420 and the location of the second toothed pulley 430, along axis Y. The idler pulley 440 may be positioned above second toothed pulley 430 while at a displacement or offset along axis X from the location of second toothed pulley 430, e.g., not directly above the X axis coordinate of second toothed pulley 430.
The idler pulley 440 may further be positioned beneath the first toothed pulley 420 along axis Y, along a vertical plane defined by pane frame 120, and corresponding to sliding pane 122. Idler pulley 440 may typically be positioned at a displacement along axis X from the location of the first toothed pulley 420, e.g., not directly beneath the X axis coordinate of first toothed pulley 420. In some embodiments, the axis of rotation of the idler pulley 440 may be parallel to the axis of rotation of the first toothed pulley 420, which may further be parallel to the axis of rotation of the second toothed pulley 430, along a vertical plane defined by pane frame 120, which surrounds sliding pane 122. In some embodiments, idler pulley 440 may rotate around third shaft 540. Third shaft 540 may be parallel to the axis of rotation of idler pulley 440.
Furthermore, the position of idler pulley 440 may be displaced or offset from the position of the first toothed pulley 420 along an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the first toothed pulley 420, as well as being displaced from the position of the second toothed pulley 430 along an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the second toothed pulley 430.
In some embodiments, all the pulleys 420, 430 and 440 may be positioned on the same plane, e.g., the same plane defined by pane frame 120. Each toothed pulley may be offset with respect to the other two pulleys, the offset being both along the X axis and along the Y axis of the plane in which the toothed pulleys are positioned. The shafts of the toothed pulleys may be positioned along an axis that is parallel to the axis of rotation of the corresponding pulleys. According to some embodiments, the idler pulley 440 may be positioned such that toothed belt 480 is wound beneath idler pulley 440, and continues in a straight line upwards along axis Y towards the upper side of the first toothed pulley 420, and then continues to be wound at an angle θ around the bottom side of the second toothed pulley 440. Other embodiments may implement other positioning and locations for any of the pulleys and the toothed belt 480 that is wound around them.
In some embodiments, the toothed belt 480 may be positioned such that it is parallel to the upper horizontal portion of opening frame 110. In some embodiments, the direction of motion of toothed belt 480 is parallel to the direction of motion of the sliding pane that toothed belt 480 is configured to operate.
According to some embodiments, the first toothed pulley 420 may be located behind upper horizontal cover 140 (
In some embodiments, in order to thread timing belt 480 through guide 111, a hole is to be made, such to obtain access to guide 111. Timing belt 480 may be located between the opening frame and the pane frame since timing belt 480 passes along a guide that is part of the opening frame, while the guide may slide along a corresponding tunnel that is part of the pane frame. In a preferred embodiment, toothed belt 480 may pass through a guide, e.g., guide 111 (
When motor 470 receives a command of ‘open door/window’ or ‘close door/window’, motor may cause cogwheels 424 and 422 to turn, thus turning first toothed pulley 420, which causes toothed belt 480 to turn along with the first toothed pulley 420, and this may cause second toothed pulley 430 as well as idler pulley 440 to turn around. The direction in which toothed belt 480 is turned at, may be dictated by the direction of turning of motor 470, which may correspond to the type of operation required, e.g., whether it is to open the sliding pane or whether it is to close it. In some cases, for example with respect to sliding pane 122, the direction of opening sliding pane 122 may be to the left (
Reference is now made to
Timing belt 480 may be wound around several toothed pulleys and possibly an idler pulley (see
In some embodiments, as illustrated in
In some embodiments, toothed pulley 420 and toothed pulley 430 may be configured to pull the sliding pane (e.g., sliding pane 122) via the pane frame (e.g., pane frame 120), whereas the idler pulley 440 may be configured to orient timing belt 480 into guide 111.
The toothed belt 480 may continue to pass along guide 111 until reaching the tension modulator 700, may turn around the tension modulator 700 and then return back towards automatic mechanism 400, thus creating a loop around both automatic mechanism 400 and tension modulator 700.
In some embodiments, belt clamp plate 620 may be connected to belt to pane connection plate 630 via section 630a through connectors, e.g., screws, bolts, nails, rivets, glue, etc. When using connectors that need to pass through belt clamp plate 620 and section 630a, e.g., screws, bolts and so on, belt clamp plate 620 may comprise holes 622 through which to insert such connectors. Other numbers and/or shapes of holes may be implemented. Section 630a may comprise corresponding holes in order to enable ease of insertion of such connectors.
In some embodiments, belt to pane connection plate 630 may comprise protrusions 640a and 640b, which are configured to adjust the width of belt to pane connection plate 630 to the space it is placed within, e.g., per various pane frame profiles. In some embodiments, belt to pane connection plate 630 may comprise an extension 650 which may be attached to belt to pane connection plate 630 at an angle, for example, at an angle of 90°, if extension 650 is to be attached to the side of the sliding pane, e.g., to side 128 of sliding pane 122, which is perpendicular to tunnel 124 that is located at the upper horizontal portion of pane frame 120. In order to firmly attach extension 650 to sliding pane side 128, a connector(s) may be used, e.g., glue, screws, rivets, bolts, nails, etc. In order to use a connector that is to be inserted into side 128, extension 650 may comprise a hole 652. Other numbers of holes may be implemented.
Reference is now made to
In some embodiments, tension modulator 700 may comprise a pulley 720, which toothed belt 480 may wound around. In some embodiments, pulley 720 may be a toothed pulley. Tension modulator 700 may further comprise a pulley 740, which may be intended to lead the toothed belt 480 into the correct position in guide 111 through which the toothed belt 480 passes on its way back towards the automatic mechanism 400 (and through which the toothed belt passed in order to reach the tension modulator 700). In some embodiments, pulley 740 may be an idler pulley. Pulley 720 may rotate around shaft 820, while pulley 740 may rotate around shaft 840.
In some embodiments, tension modulator 700 may comprise base 710, which may house or encapsulate substantially the entirety of the components that tension modulator 700 comprises. Base 710 may be made of different materials, typically solid, e.g., metal and/or plastic. Base 710 may be designed to be opened relatively easily, in order to enable access to any of the components encapsulated within it, in any case of malfunction of operation of tension modulator 700, or for standard maintenance of tension modulator 700.
According to the example illustrated in
Reference is now made to
Reference is now made to
Reference is now made to
Similarly, when there is more than one sliding pane, each of the sliding panes may comprise a corresponding automatic mechanism that may operate independently of operation of the other automatic mechanisms, and thus each of the automatic mechanisms may comprise corresponding protruding elements. For example, in case there are three parallel sliding panes, then the first sliding pane may comprise respective protruding elements 460a and 460b, the second sliding pane may comprise respective protruding elements 460c and 460d, and the third sliding pane may comprise respective protruding elements 460e and 460f. According to some embodiments, each of the sets of two protruding elements may be part of an independent stand-alone automatic mechanism. In some embodiments, other numbers of protruding elements may be associated with each automatic mechanism.
Reference is now made to
In some embodiments, each of the bottom covers may be firmly connected to opening frame 110, in order for each bottom cover to stay in place during operation of the sliding panes.
In some embodiments, each bottom cover may not entirely cover its respective automatic mechanism, in order to provide access to the automatic mechanisms behind the bottom covers. For example, bottom cover 160a may leave section 162a uncovered, in order to enable access to the automatic cover behind cover 160a. Similarly, sections 162b and 162c may be uncovered to enable access to their respective automatic mechanisms.
In some embodiments, access to the automatic mechanisms that are positioned at the top horizontal portion of the opening frame, may be achieved through the corresponding pane frame that each automatic mechanism is intended to operate. The access to each of the automatic mechanism may be from the bottom side of the top horizontal portion of the respective pane frame. Access to the automatic mechanism may be desired during assembly and maintenance. Easy and quick access to the automatic mechanism is enabled due to lack of cumbersome covers on the sides of the automatic mechanism, and further due to direct access through the bottom side of the upper horizontal portion of the pane frame.
Other numbers of sliding panes, and thus of respective bottom covers may be implemented. Typically, each sliding pane is parallel to another, thus each of their respective bottom covers is also parallel to one another.
In some embodiments, the shape of the bottom covers, e.g., bottom covers 160a, 160b, and 160c may be adjusted such to create a smooth continuation of the rest of the bottom side of the top horizontal end of opening frame 110. This is important both ecstatically as well as for operational reasons, such to ensure smooth sliding of each of the sliding panes that is to slidably move along the bottom side of the top horizontal portion of opening frame 110, e.g., along the guides of opening frame 110. For example, bottom covers 160a, 160b and 160c may be configured to form an extension of the guides that are a part of opening frame 110, and which are positioned on the bottom side of the top horizontal portion of opening frame 110, e.g., cover 160a may be shaped such to form an extension of guide 111. Similarly, cover 160b and cover 160c may be shaped as a continuation of guides 112 and 113, respectively.
Reference is now made to
In some embodiments, each of automatic mechanisms 400a, 400b and 400c may be intended to operate a single sliding pane. Each of automatic mechanisms 400a, 400b and 400c may comprise its own respective toothed belt that is used to pull the respective sliding pane to an open position or to a closed position. For example, automatic mechanism 400a may comprise toothed belt 480a, automatic mechanism 400b may comprise toothed belt 480b, and automatic mechanism 400c may comprise toothed belt 480c. Similarly, each of automatic mechanisms 400a, 400b and 400c may comprise its own respective bases, toothed pulleys and cog wheels. For example, automatic mechanism 400a comprises base 410a, toothed pulley 420a and cog wheel 422a, automatic mechanism 400b may comprise base 410b, toothed pulley 420b and cog wheel 422b, and automatic mechanism 400c may comprise base 410c, toothed pulley 420c and cog wheel 422c. Any other element that is essential to the operation of the automatic mechanisms, may be implemented similarly in each of automatic mechanisms 400a, 400b and 400c.
In some embodiments, the size of each automatic mechanism is no larger than the width of the pane frame surrounding the sliding pane that the automatic mechanism is to operate. This enables to position an endless number of automatic mechanisms to operate an endless number of typically parallel sliding panes.
As illustrated in
In some embodiments, each of the plurality of automatic mechanisms, e.g., automatic mechanisms 400a, 400b and 400c, may operate independently of any of the other automatic mechanisms, thus each sliding pane may open, close, partially open or partially close without being dependent on the position of any of the other sliding panes. For example, a user may operate the outer sliding pane to open while simultaneously operating the inner sliding pane to close. Each of the sliding panes may accomplish its respective instruction regardless of operation (or lack of operation) of any of the other sliding panes.
In other embodiments, the sliding panes' operation may be synchronized, such that automatic closing or opening of any one of the sliding panes may lead to the same operation of all other sliding panes. For example, if a user operates the outer sliding pane such that it is to slide to its closed position, the system may proceed to operate such that the rest of the sliding panes are also operated in order to complete closure of all sliding panes and thus perform a complete closure of the door or window system. And further in case the user operates the outer sliding pane to slide to its open position, all other sliding panes may be automatically and synchronously operated in order to reach their open position. According to this example, synchronous operation of all of the sliding panes may be initiated by operation of any one of the sliding panes. That is, operation of any one of the sliding panes may initiate operation of all other sliding panes at substantially the same time such to accomplish the same movement of either opening, closing, semi-opening or semi-closing the sliding door/window system.
In yet other embodiments, some sliding panes may be defined to move synchronously with other sliding panes, such that this group of predefined sliding panes may operate such to accomplish the same instruction of sliding to the same position (e.g., either an open position, a closed position, partially open position or partially closed position), while other sliding panes may be operated independently of the group of predefined synchronous sliding panes. For example, automatic mechanism 400a may be predefined to perform synchronized operation with automatic mechanism 400b, while automatic mechanism 400c may operate independently of operation of automatic mechanisms 400a and 400b. Thus, for example, if a user operates automatic mechanism 400a to perform a certain change in position (e.g., to open, close, partially open or partially close) the other synchronously connected automatic mechanism 400b will move synchronously with automatic mechanism 400a to perform the same change in position that is to be performed by automatic mechanism 400a. Similarly, if the user operates automatic mechanism 400b to perform a certain change in position (e.g., to open, close, partially open or partially close) its connected automatic mechanism 400a will move synchronously with automatic mechanism 400b to perform the same change in position that is to be performed by automatic mechanism 400b. While doing so, automatic mechanism 400c may not operate at all, or may operate to move to any position regardless of the instruction provided to and accomplished by the synchronized automatic mechanisms 400a and 400b. Any other combinations of any number of connected and/or independent automatic mechanisms may be implemented.
It should be appreciated that the above described methods and apparatus may be varied in many ways, including omitting or adding steps, changing the order of steps and the type of devices used. It should be appreciated that different features may be combined in different ways. In particular, not all the features shown above in a particular embodiment are necessary in every embodiment of the disclosure. Further combinations of the above features are also considered to be within the scope of some embodiments of the disclosure. It will also be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove.