Gear-driven automated window or door system

• US 10,718,150 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2018
• Issued: 07/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hall Labs, LLC
• Original Assignee: Hall Labs, LLC
• Inventors: Hall, David R., Miles, Jerome, Brimhall, Emily, Davis, Nathan, Myer, Seth J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rephann, Justin B
• Application Number:
  US15/945,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20190003236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/635 operated by push-pull mechanisms, e.g. flexible or rigid rack-and-pinion arrangements E05F15/652 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/643 operated by flexible elongated pulling elements, e.g. belts, chains or cables by flexible elongated push-pull mechanisms E05F15/635
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/71 responsive to temperature changes, rain, wind or noise
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/72 responsive to emergency conditions, e.g. fire
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/434 Electromotors; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/652 Belts
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/654 Cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/656 Chains
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/716 Pinions
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/722 Racks
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/32 Position control, detection or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/42 for multiple openings
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/44 Sensors not directly associated with the wing movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/45 Control modes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/458 for generating service signals
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/614 charging thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/628 Solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/818 Visual
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/85 User input means
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/148 : Windows
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/4609 : for windows E06B3/4654 - E06B3/4681 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 : involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 : Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 : Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A motorized window with one or more motors and a frame with a slidable segment is disclosed. A drive system with gears, transmission or worm drive engage with a gear track mounted to the frame or slidable segment. Rotating a first gear in a first rotational direction causes the first gear to pull the slidable segment in a first linear direction. Rotating the first gear in a second rotational direction causes the first gear to pull the slidable segment in a second linear direction. Preferably, a controller controls the operation of the motors. Sensors inform the controller, and user input via a mobile device enables both direct user control and programming of the controller.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a frame and a slidable window that is slidably mounted within the frame;

wherein the frame comprises a first open channel with two parallel walls that retain the slidable window as it slides in the frame;

a first motor mounted on the slidable window;

a controller that controls the operation of the first motor;

a first gear driven by the first motor;

a first gear track retrofitably mounted to a surface of one of the two parallel walls of the first open channel;

wherein teeth of the first gear mesh with teeth of the first gear track;

wherein rotating the first gear in a first rotational direction moves the slidable window in a first linear direction as the first gear walks along the first gear track;

wherein rotating the first gear in a second rotational direction moves the slidable window in a second linear direction as the first gear walks along the first gear track;

wherein the device further comprising one or more sensors;

wherein the controller is adapted to communicate with a user'"'"'s smart device running an app; and

wherein the controller and smart device running an app are configured to provide (a) user control of the slidable window, (b) notice to the user when the slidable window has been automatically moved in response to a signal from at least one of the one or more sensors and (c) warnings to the user in response to a signal from at least one of the one or more sensors.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a second open channel, parallel to and opening toward the first open channel, which second open channel comprises two parallel walls, the device further comprising a second motor retrofitably mounted on the slidable window, a second gear driven by the second motor, a second gear track retrofitably mounted to one of the two walls of the second open channel, and wherein teeth of the second gear align with teeth of the second gear track, and wherein the second motor is controlled by the controller.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein:

the first gear and the second gear are oriented anti-parallel to each other,

rotating the second gear in the second rotational direction causes the second gear to move the slidable window, in conjunction with the first gear, in the first linear direction as the second gear walks along the second gear track, and

rotating the second gear in the first rotational direction causes the second gear to move the slidable window, in conjunction with the first gear, in the second linear direction as the second gear walks along the second gear track.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the first and second open channel are horizontal, so that the slidable window travels in a horizontal direction.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second open channel are vertical, so that the slidable window travels in a vertical direction.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a fixed window offset from the slidable window such that the slidable window can slide past the fixed window.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises one or more communication systems comprising Bluetooth communication chips, Internet Wi-Fi transceivers, network transceivers, wireless mesh network transceiver, or a combination thereof, and wherein the one or more communication systems communicate with at least one of an external remote controller and a cloud-based network.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the one or more communication systems receive instructions from the external remote controller, generate signals instructing the first motor to rotate in a direction, receive signals from the first motor regarding a status of the first motor, and generate a signal informing the external remote controller of the status of the first motor.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the first motor includes a transmission that drives the first gear, wherein the transmission prevents the first gear from rotating when the transmission is not driven by the motor such that the transmission locks the slidable window in place when the transmission is not driven by the motor.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more batteries and wherein the first motor is powered by the one or more batteries.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the one or more batteries are rechargeable.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising a solar panel adapted to charge the one or more batteries.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors which are configured to generate signals related to at least one of the following:

carbon monoxide levels;

carbon dioxide levels;

smoke;

fire;

humidity levels;

moisture;

dust;

pollen;

air quality;

motion;

attempted movement of the slidable window;

intrusion;

sunlight and noise.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the controller is adapted to receive the signals from the one or more sensors and operate the first motor to move the slidable window to an open or closed position as appropriate without input from a user.

15. The device of claim 14 further comprising a release mechanism configured to automatically release the first gear from the first gear track, thereby allowing the slidable window to be moved to an open position by the user, in response to an emergency condition as detected by at least one of the one or more sensors.

16. The device of claim 14 wherein the controller is also adapted to receive and process information from online sources.

17. The device of claim 14 wherein the controller is also adapted to communicate with a user as appropriate.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein the controller and/or smart device running an app are/is also configured to receive and process information from online sources.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the slidable window is slidably mounted by being between tracks on the first horizontal member of the frame and a second horizontal member of the frame, the tracks allowing the slidable window to freely move side to side.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a latching device that mates to a latching receiver attached to the slidable window, wherein mating prevents movement of the slidable window.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein the latching receiver comprises a communication device that generates a signal when the latching device is mated and transmits that signal to the controller which generates a control signal that is sent to the motor, wherein the control signal deactivates the motor.

22. The device of claim 1 further comprising a release mechanism configured for a user to release the first gear from the first gear track, thereby allowing the slidable window to be moved to an open position by the user.

23. The device of claim 1 wherein the first and second linear directions are horizontal.

24. The device of claim 1 wherein the first and second linear directions are vertical.

25. A kit for motorizing a sliding window in a frame, comprising:

a motor configured to be mounted to the slidable window;

a controller that controls the operation of the motor;

a gear driven by the motor;

wherein the frame comprises a first open channel with two parallel walls that retain the slidable window as it slides in the frame;

a gear track configured to be affixed to a surface of one of the two parallel walls of the first open channel;

wherein teeth of the gear mesh with teeth of the gear track;

wherein, when the motor rotates the gear in one direction, the sliding window is opened as the gear walks along the gear track;

wherein, when the motor rotates the gear in the opposite direction, the sliding window is moved toward a closed position as the gear walks back along the gear track;

wherein the kit further comprising one or more sensors;

wherein the controller is adapted to communicate with a user'"'"'s smart device running an app; and

wherein the controller and smart device running an app are configured to provide user control of the slidable window, notice to the user when the slidable window has been automatically moved in response to a signal from at least one of the one or more sensors and warnings to the user in response to a signal from at least one of the one or more sensors.

26. The kit of claim 25 wherein the gear track is configured to be affixed to a horizontal member of the frame, to thereby motorize a horizontally sliding window.

27. The kit of claim 25 wherein the gear track is configured to be affixed to a vertical member of the frame, to thereby motorize a vertically sliding window.

28. The kit of claim 25 wherein the gear track is affixed by a peel-and-stick adhesive.

29. The kit of claim 25 further comprising a second motor, second gear and second gear track, and wherein the second motor is configured to be controlled by the controller.

30. The kit of claim 25 further comprising one or more rechargeable batteries to power the motor.

31. The kit of claim 30 further comprising one or more solar panels for charging the one or more rechargeable batteries.

32. The kit of claim 25, wherein the controller is configured to communicate with a remote controller.

33. The kit of claim 32, wherein the remote controller is a smart device running an app.

34. The kit of claim 25, further comprising one or more sensors which are configured to generate signals related to at least one of the following:

carbon monoxide levels;

carbon dioxide levels;

smoke;

fire;

humidity levels;

moisture;

dust;

pollen;

air quality motion;

attempted movement of the slidable window;

intrusion;

sunlight and noise.