IL170100A - Sliding and pivoting assembly and release/closure mechanism therefor - Google Patents

Description

170100 p'Ti I 453588 SLIDING AND PIVOTING ASSEMBLY AND RELEASE/CLOSURE MECHANISM THEREFOR SLIDING AND PIVOTING ASSEMBLY AND RELEASE/CLOSURE MECHANISM THEREFOR FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to constructions adapted for sliding and pivoting, particularly windows and doors which may both slide from side to side and pivot open. For convenience, the invention will be described hereinbelow with reference to window constructions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Sliding windows which pivot inward, for example to facilitate cleaning thereof, are disclosed in the art.

An example of such a window is described in US 6,276,092 (Neo) providing a combined sliding and pivot window assembly including a plurality of sashes separately pivotally mounted on substantially C-shaped sash support frames that are slidably fixed on rails provided on an outer window frame. The window assembly includes elastic two-end locking mechanisms mounted in a lower rail of the sashes to lock the sashes at upper and lower ends to the sash support frames. The locking mechanisms include a horizontal pull member biased by a spring, a lower locking tab biased by a further spring and an upper locking tab biased by an additional spring. The movement of the tabs is controlled by a trapezoidal cam plate adapted to simultaneously urge a pin attached to the lower tab and a pin attached to a vertical transmission bar to thereby retract the tabs and release the sash for pivoting.

US Patent Nos. 4,222,201 ; 4,337,597; 4,592,168; and 5,065,544 provide examples of additional window assemblies with sliding and pivoting features.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention there is provided a sliding and pivoting assembly and a release/closure mechanism therefor. The sliding and pivoting assembly may be, for example a window, a door, and the like and for convenience will be described herein in relation to windows.

The assembly comprises the components and their functioning as defined in claim 1.

By a particular embodiment of the present invention, the release/closure mechanism further comprises a rod mechanically connecting the button and close/release tabs.

A particular feature of the assembly and release/closure mechanism of the present invention is that the mechanism is simple and comprises few components, therefore allowing for easy and low cost manufacture and maintenance thereof and simple operation.

Another particular feature of the present invention is that it need comprise no more than one biasing component while allowing reversible pivotal opening and locked closing of the window.

A further particular feature of the present invention is that it comprises no cam plate to induce movement of any components in order to allow reversible pivotal, opening and locked closing of the window.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention may be more clearly understood upon reading of the following detailed description of non-limiting exemplary embodiments thereof, with reference to the following drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a window of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of portions II and III of the window of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view with a cut-away illustrating an embodiment of a release/closure mechanism of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-I V of Fig. 3; Figs. 5A and 5B are exploded perspective views of an embodiment of a pivoting mechanism of the window of the present invention; Fig 5B being an enlarged view of portion V of Fig. 5A; Figs. 6-8 are exploded perspective views of another embodiment of the window assembly and pivoting/sliding mechanism of the present invention, wherein Figs. 6 and 7 show details of the release/closure mechanism of the window assembly; and Fig. 8 is shows one wing of the window; Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of yet another embodiment of the window assembly; Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a mechanism preventing pivoting during sliding; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a mechanism to release and slide the sash from the outer frame; and Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing first and second close/release actuators being correspondingly disposed and designed to interface one with the other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring initially to Fig. 1, there is shown an embodiment of a window assembly 10 of the present invention comprising an outer frame 12, sash support frames 14 with tracks 15, and sashes 16. The sashes 16 comprise an upper rail 18, lower rail 20 and a pair of stiles 22 (hereinafter, collectively referred to as a window, which typically comprises a window pane; not shown).

The window assembly 10 further comprises a release/closure mechanism 24 including a close and release actuatorlOO, a pair of close/release tabs 28 and a pair of close/release brackets 30 correspondingly located with the tabs and adapted to interact therewith. The close/release actuator 100 has a low profile to allow free sliding passage of an outer window passed any adjacent inner window. The actuator 100 may thus project out only a minimal distance from the sash support frame 14, be flush thereto or be recessed. A handle 32 is also provided to facilitate pivotally opening the window.

Figs. 2-4 provide details of the release/closure mechanism 24. The actuator 100 has integral therewith, or connected thereto, a projection 34, which in turn interfaces with a rod 36, for example by passing through a slot 38 therein. The close/release tabs 28 (only one seen in Figs. 2-4) are attached to the rod 36 at upper and lower locations thereof. The rod 36 is biased upward, for example by a spring 40, and thus the actuator 100 and tabs 28 are so biased.

The close/release brackets 30 are L-shaped having legs 42 and 44, the latter having a lower surface 46. The tabs 28 have a slanted top surface 48 adapted to interface with the bottom surface 46 of the brackets 30, as will be discussed below.

Figs. 5 A and 5B illustrate an example of a pivoting arrangement 50, which may include identical sets of components located at the two corners of one side of the window, designated as corners 52 and 54, for allowing the windows to pivot (the components being shown only at corner 52). The pivoting arrangement 50 comprises an angle bracket 53 connected to a corner of the sash 16, corresponding to the corner 52, by suitable fastening means such as screws 54. The angle bracket 53 comprises a pivot pin 56 having a washer 58 associated therewith.

The pivoting arrangement 50 further comprises a plate 60 attached to the sash support frame 14 at corner 52 and attachable thereat by any suitable means. The plate 60 comprises a suitably sturdy receptacle 62 to receive the pin 56 designed to allow the pin to pivot thereat. The pin 56 may alternatively be received by a portion (not illustrated) of the sash 'support frame 14, which may for such purpose should be an appropriately reinforced portion thereof.

It should be understood that the pivoting arrangement 50 could be adapted to allow the window to pivot, for example, at its midpoint, whereby one side of the window pivots inward and one side pivots outward, with only minor changes to the pivot arrangement; essentially accomplished by designing the angle bracket 53 as a flat plate (like plate 60) with a pin like pin 56. It should be further understood that the positions of the pins 56 and elements 62 could be reversed whether the pivoting arrangement 50 is at the corners 52, 54 or at some point along the sashes 16 and rails 18, 20.

Operation: Assuming that the window is initially in a pivot-open position (e.g. as shown in Fig. l), to close the window, it is pushed in a direction shown by arrow 70. When the window is about to close, the lower surfaces 46 of the close/release brackets 30, will interface with corresponding slanted top surfaces 48 of the close/release tabs 28. At this point, the action of the brackets 30 on the slanted faces 48 as the window is closed will push the tabs 28 downward in the direction of arrow 72 (Fig. 3), against the upward force of the spring 40. When the brackets 30 have reached the backside of the tabs 28 and the window is closed, the tabs will be freed and will be pushed upward by the spring 40, thus locking the brackets behind the tabs to secure the window in the closed position.

To open the window, the actuator 100 is pushed against the force of spring 40 thereby lowering projection 34, rod 36 and tabs 28. This frees the brackets 30 from behind their corresponding tabs 28 whereby the window may be opened, possibly with the aid of handle 32.

Additional embodiments include the following: (a) the release/closure mechanism 24 could be designed in a reverse fashion. In other words, the button 26 and tabs 28 could be biased downward, with slanted faces 48 being at the bottom of the tabs. The top surface of the leg 44 of the brackets 30 would then interface with the bottom face of the tabs 28 to urge them upward upon pivot-closing of the window. (b) To release the window to allow pivoting, the button 26 could be pushed in any of a variety of motions including downward, upward or inward. Operation by an upward or downward pushing on the button 26 should be understood by the above description, whereas releasing the operation by pushing inwardly can be realized, for example, by a portion or component of the button comprising a slanted face, analogous to that of surface 48, adapted to interface with the projection 34 to urge it in a direction counter to the biasing direction of spring 40.

The above-described embodiment of the window assembly 10 of the present invention comprises two close/release tabs 28 and close/release brackets 30. Such an assembly secures the window at more than one point to provide desirable characteristics such as better sealing, limiting window warpage, etc. To potentially enhance these 170100/6 characteristics, the assembly 10 may comprise more than two sets of tabs and brackets.

Alternatively, according to a particular embodiment of the present invention (easily understood and thus not shown), a more simple window assembly (similar to that of Fig.2) is provided wherein the assembly comprises only one tab and bracket arrangement. Such that the bracket 30 is typically located midway along the stile 22 and adjacent the actuator 100. With such a configuration, not only is there one less tab and bracket arrangement, there is no need for a rod 36 (as in Fig 2), and the tab 28 may be directly connected to the actuator's projection 34 and raised and lowered with the actuator 100.

Alternatively, the window assembly 10 could be one comprising a window that pivots out from the top, pivoting at lower corners of the window, or, pivoting at a point along the right and left stiles of the window - for example at the midpoint thereof. Figs. 6-8 illustrate another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the sliding and pivoting window assembly comprises a release/closure mechanism 26 having two close and release actuators, illustrated by an actuator 100 and another actuator 101.

Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of yet another embodiment of the window assembly. The numerals represent the same elements as the numerals in Figs 1-8 and 1 l-12._In addition, a part 102 controls the actuator 100 to enable pivoting the window. Part 102 consists of a lever 102 A (seen in detail in Figure 10) mounted on the sash support frame 14 (see Figure 7) and a tab 102B mounted on the outer frame 12, (as shown in Figure 8). The lever 102A pivots along an axis in its center. When the sash support frame 14 is not engaged by the outer frame 12 the spring 102C pivots the lever 102A to engage plate 34 thus locking the actuator 100 and preventing pivoting during sliding of the window. However, when the sash support frame 14 engages the outer frame 12 the tip of the lever 102 A encounters 102B mounted on the outer frame 12, and flips to release tab 34 freeing the actuator 100 to enable pivoting the window. 170100/1 Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a mechanism preventing pivoting during sliding. The bottom surface of the lever 102A is in contact with projection 34.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a mechanism to release and slide the sash from the outer frame, showing the exterior of the mechanism similarly to Fig. 7, and alongside is Fig. 12, showing in an exploded perspective view the first and second close/release actuators being correspondingly disposed and designed to interface one with the other. As shown, the parts 105 (for locking the pivoting) and 101 (for locking the sliding) are conveniently proximal to each other, both being held within a housing of the release/closure mechanism 26, and fittingly constructed such that can independently slide over each other. The construction of the mechanism 26 both enables easily performing 7A coordinated sliding and pivoting operations and easily retrofitting the mechanisms in ordinary window assemblies. In an analogous manner to that described above, the actuator 100, when pulled outward, raises the rod 36 thereby raising close/release tabs 28a attached thereto (three tabs shown in this embodiment; Fig. 6). The close/release tabs 28a are similar to close/release tabs 28 except they comprise a bottom slanted surface 48a rather than the top slanted surface 48. Raising the tabs 28 frees them from behind the brackets 30 (Fig. 7), whereby the window, bordered by sashes 16, is released and can be pivoted outward.

To close the window from its pivoted open position and secure it in its closed position, the window is pushed closed. Upon closing the window, the bottom slanted surfaces 48a of the tabs 28a interface with and slide upward on an upper surface 46a of the brackets 30.

It should be understood that the release/closure mechanism 26can be designed in a variety of permutations, for example, the actuator 100 can be pulled down and outward, up and outward; the rod can thus be nioved downward instead of upward and the close/release tabs 28a can have top slanted surfaces 48 and interface with the bottom of the brackets 30.

To release and slide the window, defined by the border of the sash support frames 14, from the outer frame 12, the actuator 101 is pressed. Pressing actuator 101 causes a tongue 103 (Fig. 7) to be lowered and free itself from a catch 104 (Fig. 8) disposed in the outer frame 12. Sliding the window to its closed position results in the reverse action, whereby the tongue 103 is held behind catch 104.

In accordance with particular embodiments, the window assembly also comprises a mechanism preventing the typically undesirable phenomenon of pivoting during sliding. This mechanism comprises a 8 lever 102 positioned immediately above the projection 34. When the window defined by the sash support frames 14 is open (i.e. the window is sliding), the lever 102 presses on the projection 34 to thereby prevent the rod 36 from being raised and thereby prevent pivoting during sliding. When the window is in its closed (non-sliding) position, the lever 102 interfaces with the frame 12 and is raised away from the projection 34 to free it and thus the rod 36, to allow pivoting when the actuator 100 is pulled.

As noted above, the present invention is not limited as to direction of window pivoting, and it can be noticed that in Fig. 8 that the window is designed to pivot open from a side opposite to that shown in Fig. 1.

There are a variety of sliding and pivoting assemblies or constructions (e.g. windows, doors and the like) and release/closure mechanisms therefor that can be devised according to the present invention and that the above description is merely explanatory. Thus, the present window and release/closure mechanism therefor can be embodied in a variety of aspects falling within the scope of the present invention, mutatis mutandis. 9 170100/5

Claims (14)

1. A sliding and pivoting assembly having: an outer frame; a sash frame slidable in said outer frame; a sash fitted in said sash frame and including a lower rail, upper rail and pair of stiles; a sash pivot closure/release mechanism, a sash frame slide release/closure mechanism and a mechanism preventing pivoting during sliding said pivot release/closure mechanism comprising: a first actuator; first and second close/release interface members being correspondingly disposed and designed to interface one with the other and characterized as further comprising a single biasing component coupled to said first actuator and said first close/release interface member; whereby, to allow pivotal opening of said sash, said first actuator is actuated to move said first interface members in a direction counter to said biasing component thereby releasing said second close/release interface members, and, upon closing of said assembly, each of said second close/release interface members interface with one of first close/release interface members, urging the first close/release interface members in a direction counter to said biasing so that each of said second close/release interface members can be moved to a position behind one of said first close/release interface members, at which point said biasing component pushes each of said first close/release interface members to a position locking said second close/release interface members behind said first close/release interface members, said slide release/closure mechanism comprising: a second actuator, a tongue and a catch, 10 170100/5 whereby to release and slide the sash from the outer frame, the second actuator is actuated, whereby the tongue is lowered and freed from a catch disposed in the outer frame and to fasten the sash to the outer frame the sash is slid to its closed position, whereby the reverse action occurs so that the tongue is held behind the catch; said mechanism preventing pivoting during sliding comprising a lever positioned immediately above a projection, such that when the sash frame is in a sliding position, the lever presses on the projection to thereby prevent the first close/release interface member from being moved in a direction counter to said biasing, and when the sash frame is in a non-sliding position, the lever interfaces with the sash frame and is raised away from the projection to free it and thus the first close/release interface member is free to move in a direction counter to said biasing when the first actuator is actuated, the sliding and pivoting assembly characterized by said first and second close/release actuators being correspondingly disposed to interface one with the other.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein it is constituted a window assembly and the sash frame is a window.

3. The assembly according to either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the first close/release interface members are constituted by at least one close/release tab and the second close/release interface members are constituted by at least one close/release bracket.

4. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein the tab(s) comprise a slanted surface adapted to slidingly interface with a portion of the bracket(s) to urge the tabs in a direction counter to the biasing, upon pivotal closing of the sash frame. 11 170100/4

5. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein the tab(s) comprise a slanted surface adapted to slidingly interface with a portion of the bracket(s) to urge the tabs in a direction counter to the biasing, upon pivotal closing of the sash frame.

6. The assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first actuator is disposed in the sash frame.

7. The assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first actuator is disposed in the stile.

8. The assembly according to either one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the first actuator actuates the tab(s).

9. The assembly according to either one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the first actuator actuates the bracket(s).

10. The assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a rod adapted to transfer movement actuated by the first actuator, to the first interface members.

11. The assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sash pivots about one of the stiles.

12. The assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sash pivots about one of the upper and lower rails.

13. The assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sash pivots at a point located at some point intermediate the upper and lower rails or at some point intermediate the stiles.

14. The assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuators are flush or recessed with respect to the sash frame. For the Applicant Seligsohn Gabrieli & Co. 12