Patent Grant
12012789
The present disclosure relates generally to window hardware assemblies for vent-style windows, including awning windows and casement windows and, more particularly, to window hardware assemblies for use with vent-style windows that inhibit window vents from opening under conditions of a rapid acceleration.
This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Vent-style windows typically include linkages that attach a window sash or vent to a window frame and enable the vent to be opened and closed in a hinged manner. Awning windows and casement windows are two well-known types of vent-style windows.
Awning-type windows are generally hinged at the top and open outward from the bottom. For example, the top portion of a window vent may be attached to the top portion of a window frame by a hinge, and the bottom portion of the vent may swing outward from the bottom of the frame while the top portion of the vent remains attached to the top portion of the frame. Thus, when an awning-type window is open, the vent may form an awning adjacent to and/or over the window opening. During inclement weather, this arrangement allows awning-type windows to protect the interior of a structure from precipitation while still allowing for ventilation.
During the construction of structures such as commercial buildings, large awning-type windows are often installed before construction of the remainder of the building is complete. Due to the dynamic nature of construction sites, the large awning-type windows may not always be latched or otherwise secured in a closed condition during the course of construction. Because the interior of partially-constructed buildings may be open to the exterior (i.e., outside) environment, strong winds and other environmental forces may apply unusually high forces to the vent, and may cause an unlatched or inadequately secured awning-type window to swing open rapidly. As the large awning-type windows installing in commercial buildings typically have high mass, the resultant momentum from the vent swinging open under rapid acceleration may cause the vent and/or window assembly to become damaged, resulting in increased material costs and construction delays for the builder.
It, therefore, would be advantageous to provide window hardware assemblies for vent-style windows that can inhibit or prevent the window from opening under conditions where the vent is subjected to forces causing the vent to move from a closed position toward an open position under rapid acceleration.
This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.
The present disclosure provides a window hardware assembly comprising a motion-activated vent stop and/or vent retention system for a vent window assembly. Under certain environmental conditions, the vent window may be subjected to excessive forces that may induce the vent to move rapidly toward the OPENED position. In such circumstances, the vent window or the structure in which it is installed may become damaged. The window hardware assembly of the present disclosure can detect excessive forces acting on the vent and quickly arrest any unintended or induced movement of the vent. At the same time, the window hardware assembly enables the regular function of the vent window under normal operating conditions. The window hardware assembly can be reset and/or reused.
In one aspect of the disclosure, the window hardware assembly can be generally understood to include a vent bracket that is configured to attach to a vent. The vent bracket is pivotally connected to an end of a link. A track is mounted to the inside of the frame of the vent window and fixed in place. The track includes a guide slot. A stepped profile is formed in a wall of the guide slot. A shoe is pivotally connected to an end of the link opposite from the vent bracket. The shoe resides in the guide slot of the track. The shoe travels vertically along the track in the guide slot as the vent moves between the CLOSED and OPENED positions. A force acting on the vent (e.g., when opening and closing the vent) is translated to the shoe by the vent bracket and the link in the form of a torque applied to the shoe. Under conditions where the opening force acting on the vent exceeds a predetermined value (such as when the vent is subjected to an acceleration force), the resulting torque applied to the shoe causes the shoe to pivot in the guide slot and engage the stepped profile of the guide slot. Once engaged with the stepped profile of the guide slot, the shoe is prevented from continuing to travel along the track, thereby arresting any continued opening movement of the vent. In order to enable the shoe to easily travel along the guide slot under normal operating conditions, and to avert or inhibit an undesired premature actuation of the vent retention system, the shoe includes a biasing member. The biasing member engages the guide slot and produces a counter-torque acting on the shoe. The counter-torque tends to orient the shoe generally vertically in the guide slot under normal operating conditions. As a result, the shoe is nominally urged in a manner to avoid engaging the stepped profile. The counter-torque may be overcome, however, when the opening force acting on the vent exceeds the predetermined value.
In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a window hardware assembly. The window hardware assembly may include a track member having a recessed portion. The recessed portion may have a first wall opposite a second wall, and a plurality of steps formed on the second wall. A shoe assembly may be slidably received within the recessed portion of the track member. The shoe assembly may include a spring member coupled to a body. The spring member may contact the first wall at a contact point. A retaining pin may be coupled to the body at a position below the spring member. The spring member may apply a spring force vector to the body. The spring force vector may exert a torque in a first rotational direction on the shoe assembly. The retaining pin may exert a torque in a second rotational direction on the shoe assembly in response to a force component applied to the retaining pin. The second rotational direction may be opposite the first rotational direction. The force component may be in a same direction as the spring force vector. The shoe assembly may rotate in the second rotational direction in response to the force component applied to the retaining pin exceeding a threshold. A step of the plurality of steps may prevent the shoe assembly from sliding downward within the recessed portion of the track member when the shoe assembly is rotated in the second rotational direction.
In other features, the track member may include an aperture formed through the track member at the recessed portion. The body of the shoe assembly may include an aperture. In other features, the retaining pin may be received through the aperture of the track member and the aperture of the body of the shoe assembly to slidably couple the shoe assembly to the track member. In other features, each step of the plurality of steps may include a first surface and an angled second surface. The body of the shoe assembly may include a bottom surface. The bottom surface may be configured to catch on the first surface of one of the plurality of steps when the shoe assembly is rotated in the second rotational direction.
In other features, the window hardware assembly may include a linkage member pivotally coupled to the shoe assembly. In other features, the linkage member may be pivotally coupled to the retaining pin. In other features, the linkage member may be pivotally coupled to the retaining pin by a pivot pin received through an aperture at an end of the linkage member and an aperture formed through the retaining pin. In other features, an attachment member may be pivotally coupled to the linkage member. The attachment member may be configured to be coupled to a window sash. In other features, the attachment member may be pivotally coupled to the linkage member by a pivot pin received through an aperture at an end of the linkage member and an aperture formed through the attachment member. In other features, the spring member may be a linear wave spring.
In still another aspect, a window hardware assembly including a body having a first face opposite a second face and a first side opposite a second side, an aperture formed through the body, and a recessed portion formed in the first face of the body is also disclosed. The aperture may extend from the first face to the second face. The recessed portion may be concentric with the aperture. A retaining pin may be received through the aperture. A plurality of cutouts may be formed on the first side of the body. A spring member may be received in the plurality of cutouts.
In other features, the plurality of cutouts may include a first cutout and a second cutout. A first end of the spring member may be received in the first cutout and a second end of the spring member may be received in the second cutout. In other features, the spring member may be a linear wave spring.
In other features, the retaining pin may include a columnar center portion, a first retaining cap at a first end of the center portion, and a second retaining cap at a second end of the center portion. In other features, the first retaining cap may have a diameter greater than a diameter of the columnar center portion. In other features, the second retaining cap may have a diameter greater than a diameter of the columnar center portion. In other features, the first retaining cap may have a retaining surface facing the columnar center portion. In other features, the retaining pin may be disposed such that the retaining surface is in contact with a surface of the recessed portion.
A system for immobilizing a window sash in response to a force applied to the window sash is also disclosed. A first member may include a recessed portion, the recessed portion having a first wall opposite a second wall formed by a plurality of steps. Each step of the plurality of steps may be formed by an angled surface and a flat surface. The angled surface and the flat surface may meet at an apex or peak. The system may include a second member including a first side opposite a second side, and a top surface opposite a bottom surface. The second member may be slidably received within the recessed portion. A spring member may be coupled to the first side of the second member. The spring member may be in contact with the first wall. A pin may be received through an aperture formed in the second member.
The spring member may bias the second member away from the first member such that the second side of the second member is in contact with at least one apex of the plurality of steps. The second member may be configured to rotate in response to the force being applied to the pin when the force exceeds a threshold. The second member may be configured to slide freely within the recessed portion when the second member is not rotated. The bottom surface of the second member may be configured to catch on the flat surface of one of the plurality of steps when the second member is rotated.
In other features, the system may further include a linear member having a first end and a second end. The linear member may be pivotally coupled to the pin at the first end. A connecting member may be pivotally coupled to the linear member at the second end. The connecting member may be configured to be attached to the window sash. The force applied to the window sash may be transmitted from the window sash to the connecting member, from the connecting member to the linear member, and from the linear member to the pin.
In still other aspects of the disclosure, a motion-activated stop for a vent window having a window frame and a vent disposed in the window frame and moveable toward an opened position in response to an opening force being applied to the vent is provided. The motion-activated stop has a connector configured to attach to the vent, a link comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is pivotally coupled to the connector, a track configured to attach to the window frame. The track extends along a longitudinal direction and has a recessed portion with a first wall and a second wall, the first wall being opposite the second wall and the second wall having a plurality of steps. A shoe assembly is received in the recessed portion of the track and configured to be movable along the track in a first direction when the vent is moved toward an opened position. The shoe assembly includes a body extending along the longitudinal direction from a first end to a second end, a biasing member comprising a proximal end engaging the body and a distal end engaging the first wall of the recessed portion, wherein the biasing member applies a first force to the body at a first location to create a first torque acting on the body, the first torque having a first rotational direction, and a retaining pin coupled to the body and spaced from the first location along the longitudinal direction. The second end of the link is pivotally coupled to the retaining pin.
In another aspect, when the opening force is applied the vent, the link is configured to transfer a second force to the retaining pin to create a second torque acting on the body, the second torque having a second rotational direction that is opposed to the first rotational direction. Further, when the opening force applied the vent exceeds a predetermined value such that the second torque is greater than the first torque, the body of the shoe assembly rotates in the second rotational direction from an unlocked position to a locked position and the shoe assembly is prevented from moving along the track in the first direction.
In still other aspects of the motion-activated stop, in the locked position the second end of the body engages a step of the plurality of steps.
Also, each step of the plurality of steps comprises an angled surface and a latching surface, the body of the shoe assembly comprises a surface at the second end of the body, and in the locked position, the bottom surface of the body engages the latching surface of the step of the plurality of steps.
In still other aspects of the motion-activated stop, each step of the plurality of steps comprises a first surface, an angled surface extending from the first surface and a latching surface extending from the angled surface. The body of the shoe includes a projection extending from the second end of the body. In the locked position, the projection engages the latching surface of the step of the plurality of steps.
Still further, the first surface and the angled surface form an included angle φ, wherein 90°<φ<180°. Also, the angled surface and the latching surface form an included angle θ, wherein θ<90°. Further, the first surface extends generally parallel to the longitudinal direction.
Still further, the projection is formed by a surface extending from the second end of the body and a surface extending from the second side of the body. Also, the surface extending from the second end of the body forms an included angle (α) with the second end of the body. Further, the included angle (α) is obtuse.
In other aspects, the surface extending from the second side of the body forms an included angle (β) with the second side of the body, the included angle (β) can be obtuse and/or the included angle (β) can be less than 180 degrees. Further, the included angle (β) can be between about 150 and 175 degrees.
In still other aspects, of the motion-activated stop the projection can be generally triangular shaped. In the locked position, the surface of the projection extending from the second end of the body engages the latching surface of the step of the plurality of steps.
In another aspect, the plurality of steps comprise a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys and the body of the shoe comprises a projection extending from the second end of the body and, in the locked position, the projection engages at least one of a peak and a valley.
In another aspect, the body of the shoe assembly comprises a first side and a second side, the biasing member applies the first force to first side of the body and, in the unlocked position, the second side of the body maintains contact with the first side wall of the recess over a plurality of steps.
The biasing member can include one of a linear wave spring and a compression spring.
In still further aspects of the motion-activated stop, the biasing member includes a compression spring, a guide rod and an end cap. The compression spring is arranged over the guide rod and a distal end of the compression spring is covered by the end cap. A proximal end of the compression spring is received in an aperture in the first side of the body.
Further, the second side wall of the track can be tapered at an angle (Δ) between a first end of the track and a second end of the track. The angle (Δ) can be less than about 5 degrees. Further, the angle (Δ) can be about 1.5 degrees.
Alternatively or in addition, the second side wall has a first thickness T1 at the first end and a second thickness T2 at the second end and the second side wall can be angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the track.
Still further, the track can include an aperture extending through the recessed portion and the body can include an aperture extending through the body. The retaining pin can be received in the aperture through the track member and the aperture through body and slidably couple the shoe assembly to the track.
In yet another aspect of the motion-activated stop of the disclosure, the body of the shoe assembly further has a first face and a second face, the first being opposite to the second face, an aperture formed through the body and extending from the first face to the second face. The retaining pin is received in the aperture. Still further, the body has a recessed portion formed in the first face of the body, the recessed portion concentric with the aperture and a plurality of cutouts formed on the first side of the body. The biasing member comprises a linear wave spring that is retained to the body by the plurality of cutouts.
Also, the plurality of cutouts comprises a first cutout and a second cutout and the linear wave spring comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is retained in the first cutout and the second end is retained in the second cutout.
In a still further aspect of the disclosure, a vent window assembly comprising the motion-activated stop of the disclosure is provided.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As illustrated in
In operation, some examples of the window hardware assembly 122 may engage to inhibit or prevent the vent 104 from opening and/or moving from a CLOSED or partially closed position toward an OPENED position, or continuing such movement, under certain predetermined conditions. For example, if the vent 104 is caused to move toward the OPENED position at an acceleration greater than or equal to an acceleration threshold value, or if the vent 104 is otherwise subjected to a force tending to urge the vent 104 toward the OPENED position that is greater than a force threshold value. In the absence of the occurrence of such predetermined conditions, however, the window hardware assembly 122 may allow the vent 104 to freely move or continue to move away from the frame 102 toward the OPENED position.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As shown in
Referring back to
In various implementations, the shoe assembly 304 may also include a retaining member, such as retaining pin 718.
As illustrated in
In the scenario where force vector 1104 is zero, the force vectors acting on the shoe assembly 304 may be balanced. For example, the biasing member 702 may exert a spring force vector 1208 on the shoe assembly 304, and the track member 302 may exert an opposing normal force vector 1210 at contact point 1202, and an opposing normal force vector 1212 at contact point 1204. Thus, the sum of normal force vectors 1210 and 1212 may be equal in magnitude to the spring force vector 1208, the scalar magnitude Fs of which may be expressed by equation (1) below:
Fs=k·x, (1)
where k represents the spring constant of the biasing member 702 and x represents the compression of the biasing member 702.
In other scenarios, force vector 1104 may not be zero. In such examples, the force vector 1104 may be decomposed into a first force vector component 1214 in a direction parallel to force vectors 1208, 1210, and 1212, and a second force vector component 1216 in a direction orthogonal to force vectors 1208, 1210, and 1212, and in a direction between the first end 408 and second end 410 of the body 402 of the track member 302. Each force vector may exert a rotational moment at a pivot point of the shoe assembly 304, which may be expressed as a torque τ. The torque τ exerted by each force vector or component may be expressed by equation (2) below:
τ=F·d, (2)
where F represents the magnitude of the force vector or component and d represents the distance of the force vector or component from the pivot point. In some examples, the pivot point may be at contact point 1204.
In examples where the pivot point of the shoe assembly 304 is at contact point 1204, the spring force vector 1208 may act on the shoe assembly 304 to produce a first torque or rotational moment 1218 in a first rotational direction (shown as being clockwise (cw) in
In various implementations, it may be desirable to select the biasing member 702 such that the first force vector component 1214 may overcome the rotational moment 1218 generated by the spring force vector when a design pressure of DP-75 is applied to a vent 104 having a height between the top rail 114 and bottom rail 116 of about 110 inches, and a weight of about 400 pounds. For example, the biasing member 702 may be selected such that the vent 104 may be prevented from opening further within about 0.5 seconds in response to about a 150 pound per square foot (psf) being applied to the vent 104. For example, the vent 104 may be prevented from opening further when the magnitude of force vector 1104 exceeds about 0.299 pounds.
As illustrated in the example of
As can be understood from the foregoing description, the vent retention system comprising the window hardware assembly 122 may provide significant advantages. For example, when used with vent-style windows, the window hardware assembly 122 may inhibit window vents, such as vent 104, from opening under conditions where the vent 104 is subject to rapid acceleration or force that could cause damage to the window assembly. As such, the window hardware assembly 122 may offer a number of benefits to the builder during construction of structures such as commercial buildings, particularly if large and/or heavy awning-type windows are installed before the buildings are fully sealed against the outside environment. For example, during construction, strong winds and other environmental forces may enter the partially-constructed building through unsealed portions of the building and create a pressure differential across the vent 104. In certain scenarios, the pressure may be higher on the interior-facing side of the vent 104 than on the exterior-facing side of the vent 104, generating the previously described force vector 1102, which accelerates the mass of vent 104 toward the OPENED position. As the large awning-type windows are heavy, the large mass of the vent 104 may result in the vent 104 swinging toward the OPENED position with a large momentum, which could result in damage to the window assembly 100 or building.
However, the vent retention system comprising the window hardware assembly 122, may act as a countermeasure to environmental forces by inhibiting or arresting the motion of the vent 104 toward the OPENED position before the vent 104 can gain a sufficiently large momentum to cause damage to the window assembly 100 or associated structure of the building.
As described, force vector 1102 may cause the vent 104 to move from the CLOSED position toward the OPENED position under rapid acceleration. As previously discussed, when force vector 1102 is greater than or equal to the force threshold value, force vector 1102 may cause the vent 104 to accelerate toward the OPENED position at an acceleration greater than or equal to the acceleration threshold value. Under such a condition, the second rotation moment 1220 generated by the force vector 1102 exceeds the first rotational moment 1218 generated by the spring force vector 1208, causing the window hardware assembly 122 to transition from the first or unlocked position through the second or transitional position and into the third or locked position.
In the first or unlocked position shown in
Referring now to
In various implementations, the window hardware assembly 122′ generally includes a track member 302′, a shoe assembly 304′, a linkage member 306′, and an attachment member 308′. The track member 302′ may be coupled or attached to the frame 102, such as at the first side jamb 110. In various implementations, the attachment member 308′ may be coupled or attached to the vent 104, such as at the bottom rail 116. In various implementations, the track member 302′ may be coupled to the shoe assembly 304′, the shoe assembly 304′ may be coupled to the linkage member 306′, and the linkage member 306′ may be coupled to the attachment member 308′.
As best illustrated in
In various implementations, each vertical or parallel surface 516a′ may extend generally parallel to a longitudinal axis Y of the track member 302′ (e.g., each vertical or parallel surface 516a′ may be generally vertically-oriented). Each angled surface 516′ may extend from the vertical surface 516a′ in a direction upwardly and inwardly (i.e., toward the first end wall 506′ and toward the second side wall 512′) and form an included angle (φ) relative to the vertical or parallel surface 516a′. In various implementations, the included angle (φ) may be obtuse. Each angled surface 516′ may terminate at a latching surface 518′. In various implementations, each latching surface 518′ may extend from the angled surface 516′ to the vertical or parallel surface 516a′ of an adjacent step 514′. The latching surface 518′ may extend from the angled surface 516′ in a direction downwardly and outwardly (i.e., toward the second end wall 508′ and away from the second side wall 512′) and form an included angle (θ) with the angled surface 516′. In various implementations, the included angle (θ) may be acute.
As can be understood with reference to
With further reference to
With further reference to
In various implementations, the second side 614′ may extend past the upper end 608′ and may form an extension portion 614a′. The extension portion 614a′ increases the overall length of the body 602′ of the shoe assembly 304′. The extension portion 614a′ enables the shoe assembly 304′, particularly in the unlocked position, to maintain contact against the first side wall 510′ of the track member 302′ over a plurality of steps 514′. The extension portion 614a′ helps promote the smooth operation of the vent retention system 122′.
As best seen in
In various implementations, biasing member 702′ may include a compression spring 702a′. The compression spring 702a′ may be formed of steel. In various implementations, the biasing member 702′ may also include a guide rod 702b′. The compression spring 702a′ may be arranged over the guide rod 702b′. The guide rod 702b′ may assist in preventing the compression spring 702a′ from buckling under a working load 716′. In various implementations of the biasing member 702′, an end cap 702c′ may also be included and attached to an end of the guide rod 702b′. The end cap 702c′ may cover a second or distal end 706′ of the biasing member 702′ so as to capture the compression spring 702a′ between the body 602′ and the second side wall 512′. The end cap 702c′ may be configured to abut and/or travel along the second side wall 512′ of the track member 302′. The end cap 702c′ may be integral with the guide rod 702b′.
In various implementations, the first or proximal end 704′ of the biasing member 702′ may be received in a blind aperture 624′ in the second side 614′ of the body 602′. The aperture 624′ may be located nearer to the first end 608′ of the body 602′. The second or distal end 706′ of the biasing member 702′ may extend substantially laterally outward from the second side 614′ of the body 602′ to the second side wall 512′ of the track member 302′. In various implementations, the biasing member 702′ may extend substantially perpendicularly to the second side 614′ of the body 602′.
When a working load 716′ is applied to the biasing member 702′, the biasing member 702′ may compress such that the length of the biasing member 702′ is reduced. See, e.g.,
In various implementations, the body 602′ of the shoe assembly 304′ may include a generally triangular-shaped projection or tooth-like catch 615′ extending downwardly from the body 602′. For example, the catch 615′ may extend from the second end 610′ and second side 614′ of the body 602′. In various implementations, the catch 615′ may be formed by a first surface 610a′ adjacent to and extending from the second end 610′ of the body 602′ and a second surface 614a′ adjacent to and extending from the second side 614′ of the body 602′. As best seen in
The distal end or peak 615a′ of the catch 615′ may be radiused to eliminate any sharp edges or corners and help promote the smooth operation of the vent retention system 122′.
With reference to
In order to help ensure that the vent retention system 122, 122′ does not inhibit normal operation of the vent window (i.e., not opening the vent under rapid acceleration), particularly when the window is opened to a greater angle, the track member 302″ may be provided.
As shown in
Then, as the vent 104 moves toward the OPENED position, and the shoe assembly 304, 304′ moves further along the track member 302″ toward the second end 410″, the spring compression increases, making it harder to pivot the shoe assembly 304, 304′. Thus, vent retention system 122, 122′ will be inhibited from inadvertently activating when the vent window is being operated under normal conditions.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.
Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
This application is a U.S. National Phase Application under 35 U.S.C. 371 of International Application No. PCT/US2022/030568, filed May 23, 2022, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/192,892, filed on May 25, 2021. The entire disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2022/030568 | 5/23/2022 | WO |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2022/251126 | 12/1/2022 | WO | A |
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| 9371672 | Tseng et al. | Jun 2016 | B2 |
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| 2044568 | Feb 1971 | FR |
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| International Search Report and Written Opinion of the ISA issued in International Application No. PCT/US2022/030568, mailed Sep. 20, 2022; ISA/EP. |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20230287717 A1 | Sep 2023 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63192892 | May 2021 | US |
