Automatic operator and locking mechanism for a closure

• US 4,497,135 A
• Filed: 11/15/1982
• Issued: 02/05/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Truth Hardware Corporation (Tyman Plc)
• Original Assignee: Truth Incorporated
• Inventors: Vetter, Gregory J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Downey, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US06/441,547
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 49/280, 49/300, 49/340, 49/341, 49/342, 49/252
• US Class Current: 49/280
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/30 with pivoted arms and sliding guides
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/622 using screw-and-nut mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/63 operated by swinging arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/72 Planetary gearing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/232 of motors and transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/148 Windows

Abstract

An automatic operator and locking mechanism for a casement window or the like having window locking structure including a movable tie bar which is moved to both lock and unlock the window, a window hinge mounting the window for opening and closing movement, an operator arm operatively connected to the window and a rotatable lead screw connected to the operator arm for movement thereof, planetary gearing having two alternately operable output connections structurally connected one to said tie bar and one to said lead screw, a motor for driving said planetary gearing and a trigger member for sensing the open or closed position of the window and operable when the window is open to hold the tie bar against movement whereby drive of the planetary gearing causes closing movement of the window.

Claims

1. An automatic operator and locking mechanism for a closure comprising, means connected between the closure and a closure frame operable to open and close the closure, means releasably connectable between the closure and the closure frame for releasably locking the closure in closed position, a power source, gearing connected between the power source and both of said means and having an input means operatively connected to the power source and a pair of output connections operatively continuously connected one to each of said means, said gearing being operable to continuously apply force to both said means and drive the output connection having the least resistance to movement, and trigger means movable by closure contact and responsive to the open or closed position of the closure for controlling the resistance applied to the output connection operatively connected to the means for releasably locking the closure.

2. A mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said means connected between the closure and the closure frame operable to open and close the closure comprises a closure hinge mounting the closure for movement, an operator arm operatively connected to the closure, and a lead screw connected to an output connection of the gearing and rotatable to move said operator arm.

3. A mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for releasably locking the closure comprises a movable tie bar and a throw arm connected to an output connection of the gearing and pivotally connected to said tie bar.

4. A mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said trigger means comprises a trigger member movably mounted on the closure frame and having a first position with an end engageable with the closure when the latter is closed, means urging the trigger member toward the closure to a limit position beyond said first position, a catch member movable with the tie bar, and catch means on the trigger member for holding the catch member against movement when the closure is open and the trigger member is in said limit position.

5. A mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said gearing comprises planetary gearing.

6. A mechanism as defined in claim 5 wherein said planetary gearing has a pair of sun gears and a planet gear carrier with a plurality of planet gears meshing with each of the sun gears, one of said sun gears being said input means and said planet gear carrier and other sun gear defining said output connections.

7. An automatic operator and locking mechanism for a window comprising, means mounting a window sash in a window frame for pivotal opening and closing movement, means for moving the window sash including an operator arm and a rotatable lead screw connected to said operator arm for moving the operator arm in response to lead screw rotation, means for locking the window sash in closed position including a tie bar movably mounted on the window frame, planetary gearing having two output connections one operatively connected to said lead screw and the other to said tie bar, a power source connected to an input gear of said planetary gearing, trigger means including a movable trigger member engageable by the window sash when the latter is closed and thereby held in a first position and having a second position when the window sash is open, and means on the trigger member coacting with a member movable with the tie bar for holding the tie bar and therefore one output connection of the planetary gearing against movement when the window sash is open and the trigger member is in said second position.

8. A mechanism as defined in claim 7 wherein the two output connections of the planetary gearing can be alternatively driven by the power source, one of said output connections comprising gearing connected to a rotatable throw arm and said throw arm being pivotally connected to said tie bar whereby said planetary gearing moves said tie bar in different directions to both lock and unlock the window sash.

9. An automatic operator and locking mechanism for a casement window or the like comprising, means including a movable member for locking the window, means including a movable member for opening and closing the window, planetary gearing having two alternatively operable output continuously structurally connected through gearing one to each of said members for powering the window open and closed and the movable member of the window locking means in window locking and unlocking movements, and a single power source for said mechanism.

10. A mechanism as defined in claim 9 including trigger means for holding the locking means against movement when the window is open.

11. An automatic operator and locking mechanism for a casement window or the like comprising, means connected between the window sash and a window frame operable to open and close the window sash, means releasably connectable between the window sash and the window frame for releasably locking the window sash in closed position, a single power source for said mechanism, gearing continuously connected between the power source and both of said means and having an input means operatively connected to the power source and a pair of output connections operatively connected one to each of said means, said gearing being operable to drive the output connection having the least resistance to movement, and trigger means pivoted on the window frame and responsive to the open position of the window sash for holding against movement the output connection operatively connected to the means for releasably locking the window sash.

12. A mechanism as defined in claim 11 wherein said means connected between the window sash and the window frame operable to open and close the window sash comprises a window hinge mounting the window sash for movement, an operator arm operatively connected to the window sash, and a lead screw connected to an output connection of the gearing and rotatable to move said operator arm.

13. A mechanism as defined in claim 11 wherein said means for releasably locking the closure comprises a movable tie bar and a throw arm connected to an output connection of the gearing and pivotally connected to said tie bar.

14. A mechanism as defined in claim 13 wherein said trigger means comprises a trigger member movably mounted on the window frame and having a first position with an end engageable with the window sash when the latter is closed, means urging the trigger member toward the window sash to a limit position beyond said first position, a catch member movable with the tie bar and catch means on the trigger member for holding the catch member against movement when the window sash is open and the trigger member is in said limit position.

15. A mechanism as defined in claim 11 wherein said gearing comprises planetary gearing.

16. A mechanism as defined in claim 15 wherein said planetary gearing has a pair of sun gears and a planet gear carrier with a plurality of planet gears meshing with each of the sun gears, one of said sun gears being said input means and said planet gear carrier and other sun gear defining said output connections.