Patent Application
20140259940
The invention relates to operators for casement and awning windows. More particularly, the invention relates to operators for casement and awning windows that are lockable to prevent operation of the window by unauthorized persons.
Many windows are located in publicly accessible places. Yet, it may be undesirable for the windows to be situated so that anyone can operate the windows to open and close them at any time. Unauthorized opening of windows may permit unauthorized access to the building and can also create safety concerns particularly in buildings where children are present. Accordingly, various schemes are available so that a window may be locked in either an open, closed or partially open condition and can only operated by authorized persons such as custodians.
A casement or an awning window generally refers to a sash that is attached to its frame by one or more hinges. The hinges can be located on any side of the sash and the frame though generally not on the lower edge of the sash and frame. In general, a casement window rotates along a horizontal plane (the hinges of a casement window defining a vertical rotation axis), while an awning window rotates along a vertical plane (the hinges of an awning window defining a horizontal rotation axis). Most casement and awning windows which employ the use of a crank lever or cam handle operator open outwardly so as not to interfere with the operator of the window.
An advantage of many casement and awning windows is that substantially the full window opening can be exposed without requiring the removal of the window from the frame. In contrast, for example only half of the opening of a double-hung window can be exposed by raising the lower sash or lowering the upper sash. The sashes of double hung or horizontally sliding windows must be completely removed from the frame to expose the entire window opening
Window operators for casement or awning windows often have a folding handle that is freely moveable from a folded position in which the handle is nestled into a cover of the operator to an operating position in which the handled is movable to crank the window open or closed.
There exists, in the prior art, a casement or awning window operator with a folding handle and a cover with a key cylinder located in the cover. Rotation of the key approximately 180° actuates a sleeve that can be extended and retracted. When in the extended position, the sleeve covers a part of the handle knob thus preventing the handle from being moved from a folded position to an operating position in which it may be used as a crank to open and close the window. According to the prior art, the sliding sleeve is actuated by a pin at the end of the key cylinder.
While the prior art locking operator cover secures the crank of the operator handle by covering it with the retractable sleeve, the retractable sleeve is fully visible and accessible from outside of the operator cover and may be subject to tampering because of this visibility and accessibility. Accordingly, there is still room for improvement in the lockable window operator arts.
The invention substantially addresses the aforementioned needs of the industry. A key lockable operator, according to an example embodiment of the invention, generally includes a handle and a housing. According to known prior art operators, the handle is typically engaged to a worm gear which engages a gear coupled to an operating arm which is moved arcuately to open and close the casement or awning window. According to an example embodiment of the invention, the handle generally includes a crank, a knob, a hinge, a base and an axle which is coupled to the worm gear. The crank, hinge, base and axle according to the invention are generally conventional with those utilized in the prior art. The knob of the key lockable operator according to the invention includes a body that presents a pin receiving cavity at an end thereof.
The housing according to an example embodiment of the invention generally includes a base portion and a cover.
The base generally includes a plate having mounting holes for mounting on a window frame, lock cylinder supports and a pinion spring. The plate and mounting holes are generally conventional. The lock cylinder supports are formed in the base to support a lock cylinder according to the present invention. The pinion spring is coupled to the base and positioned to engage a portion of the lock cylinder assembly and to act as a detent to the lock cylinder.
The cover generally includes a body and a lock assembly. The cover body generally presents a lock cylinder block. The body also may present indicia indicating when the lock cylinder is locked and unlocked as well as a pin passage through which a pin to secure the cover body to the base of the housing is passed. According to an example embodiment of the invention, the body includes a detent adapted to engage a detent groove in the pin.
The lock assembly generally includes a lock cylinder, a pinion, a rack and a sliding pin.
According to an example embodiment of the invention, the pinion is engaged to an internal end of the lock cylinder so that when the lock cylinder is turned the pinion turns therewith. The pinion generally includes a toothed portion and a smooth portion about the circumference thereof. The pinion may also have teeth continuously around the circumference thereof. The pinion also includes a pair of parallel ridges defining a spring space along a circular surface thereof that is opposed to the end of the pinion engaged to the lock cylinder.
The rack, according to an example embodiment of the invention, generally includes a rack portion and a ramp portion. The rack is generally a unitary structure formed in one piece and also presents a flange, a recess and reinforcements within the recess. The rack also presents a pin engagement rail along the ramp portion thereof. The pin engagement rail includes an outwardly extending portion extending outwardly from the ramp and an upwardly extending portion extending upwardly from the outwardly extending portion.
The sliding pin is also a generally unitary structure and generally presents a pin extension extending outwardly from a body. The body, according to one example embodiment of the invention, has a generally irregular hexagonal shape and presents a rack engagement slot along one edge thereof. The body may also present a ridge extending therefrom to engage the cover.
The lock assembly is supported within the body of the cover so that the lock cylinder is engaged actually with the pinion. The pinion turns with the lock cylinder.
The rack is positioned so as to be engaged with the pinion so that as the lock cylinder is turned, the rack is moved linearly.
The ramp portion of the rack is engaged to the rack engagement slot of the body of the sliding pin via the pin engagement rail which is engaged within the rack engagement slot of the sliding pin. Thus, as the rack is linearly moved, the sliding pin is also linearly moved but on an axis that is at diagonal to the motion of the rack. As the sliding pin is linearly moved, the pin extension is extended or retracted. When the pin extension is in the extended position, it engages the pin receiving cavity of the knob thus securing the knob in a folded position. Accordingly, when the lock cylinder is in the locked position, the knob of the crank is secured within the recess of the cover body and cannot be unfolded to operate the lockable operator. When it is desired to operate the lockable operator, the key is inserted into the lock cylinder and the lock cylinder is rotated to the unlocked position thus retracting the rack and, thereby, retracting the sliding pin and freeing the knob so that is can be folded to the operating position and used to operate the window.
Generally, operator covers are secured by a snap system. In the case of a lockable operator it is undesirable if the operator cover can be removed by merely unsnapping it. Accordingly, the pin engaged in the pin passage of the cover can be pressed inwardly to secure the cover to the housing thus making the cover and the base securely assembled to one another and inhibiting tampering with the lock assembly. The pin includes a detent groove which engages a detent in the cover body when the pin is fully inserted into the cover body. Accordingly, once the pin is advanced and the detent is engaged, the cover body cannot be easily removed from the base of the housing.
In an embodiment, a casement window system includes a frame, a sash hinged to the frame and shiftable between a window closed position in which the sash is received in the frame and a window open position in which the sash is swung outwardly from the frame. A window operator operably couples the frame and the sash and is arranged to shift the sash between the window open and the window closed position. The window operator includes a housing, an arm mechanism, and a crank handle for operating the arm mechanism to shift the sash between the window open and the window closed position, the handle being shiftable between a folded storage position and an unfolded operating position. The operator further includes a handle locking mechanism in the housing, the handle locking mechanism operable with a key to shift between a locked position in which a portion of the mechanism engages and retains the crank handle in the folded storage position and an unlocked position in which the crank handle is freely shiftable between the folded storage position and an unfolded operating position.
In an embodiment, the handle locking mechanism includes a lock cylinder operably coupled to a rack and a sliding pin, the sliding pin engaging the crank handle when the crank handle is in the folded storage position. The lock cylinder may be coupled with a pinion, the pinion engaged with the rack.
In an embodiment, the housing defines a recess for receiving the crank handle when the crank handle is in the folded position. The handle locking mechanism may include a lock cylinder operably coupled to a rack and a sliding pin, the sliding pin engaging the crank handle when the crank handle is received in the recess. The crank handle can present a distal end defining a recess, the sliding pin engaging in the recess defined in the distal end of the crank handle. The lock cylinder may be coupled with a pinion, the pinion engaged with the rack.
In an embodiment, a key lockable window operator includes a crank handle that is shiftable between a folded storage position and an unfolded operating position, a lock cylinder operably coupled to a rack and a sliding pin, the rack and the sliding pin being shiftable between an unlocked position and a locked position wherein, when in the locked position, at least a portion of the sliding pin is engaged into a cavity in the crank handle such that the crank handle is secured in the folded storage position.
In an embodiment, the rack shifts position along a first rectilinear path and the sliding pin shifts position along a second rectilinear path that is oriented diagonal with the first rectilinear path.
In an embodiment, the key lockable operator further includes a housing, the housing defining a recess, with the crank handle received in the recess when the crank handle is in the folded storage position. In an embodiment, the lock cylinder is coupled to a pinion, the pinion engaged with the rack.
In a further embodiment, a window operator includes a housing, an arm mechanism, a crank handle for operating the arm mechanism, wherein the handle is shiftable between a folded storage position and an unfolded operating position, and a handle locking mechanism in the housing, the handle locking mechanism operable with a key to shift between a locked position in which a portion of the mechanism engages and retains the crank handle in the folded storage position and an unlocked position in which the crank handle is freely shiftable between the folded storage position and an unfolded operating position.
The embodiments of the present invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
While the present invention is 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.
Referring particularly to
Handle 22 generally includes crank 30, knob 32, hinge 34, base 36 and axle 38. Knob 32 is secured as to be rotatable relative to crank 30. Crank 30 is pivotable about hinge 34 between a folded storage position and an unfolded operating position. Hinge 34 couples crank 30 to base 36. Base 36 is engaged to axle 38. Referring particularly to
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Ramp portion 98 presents pin engagement rail 108. As best seen in
Sliding pin 86 is also a unitary structure which can be formed by, for example, casting or molding of any sufficiently rigid material. Sliding pin 86 generally includes body 114 and pin extension 116. Body 114, in the depicted embodiment, is a generally irregular hexagonal structure that is engaged to ramp portion 98 of rack 84. Body 114 defines rack engagement slot 118. Rack engagement slot 118 is structured to complement and interface with pin engagement rail 108. Pin engagement rail 108 also presents ridge 120 extending upwardly therefrom.
Rack 84 and sliding pin 86 are generally supported in a conforming structure of housing 24 within rack cavity 122 and pin cavity 124. Pin cavity 124 also includes locking pin passage 126.
For reference purposes, an example of casement window 200 is depicted in
In operation, key lockable operator 20 is secured to a casement or awning window such as casement window 200 via mounting holes 50. When it is desirable to lock key lockable operator 20, handle 22 is shifted to a folded position as depicted in
As rack 84 shifts from the unlocked position to the locked position, ramp portion 98 which engages sliding pin 86, bears against body 114 of sliding pin 86. Pin engagement rail 108 of rack 84 couples to rack engagement slot 118 of sliding pin 86. As rack 84 is shifted to the locked position, sliding pin 86 is moved forward in a direction diagonal to the motion of rack 84.
As sliding pin 86 moves on its diagonal path, pin extension 116 passes through locking pin passage 126 and into pin receiving cavity 42 of knob 32. Thus, knob 32 is secured to housing 24 and unauthorized persons are inhibited from shifting crank 30 from a folded position to an operating position. Crank 30 can be secured with window 100 in a variety of positions including fully closed, fully opened and at least one position in between.
When it is desired to unlock key lockable operator 20, a key (not shown) is inserted into lock cylinder 80 and lock cylinder 80 is rotated approximately 90° in a counter clockwise direction. Pinion 82 engages with rack 84 and shifts rack 84 from a locked position to an unlocked position. As rack 84 is shifted, sliding pin 86 follows rack 84 because of the engagement between pin engagement 108 and rack engagement slot 118. Thus, sliding pin 86 is withdrawn in a direction diagonal to that of the direction of travel of rack 84. Pin extension 116 is thus withdrawn from pin receiving cavity 42 in knob 32 freeing crank 30 to be shifted from the folded position to the operating position.
Referring particularly to
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.
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.
