NZ208320A - Drive chain particularly for a window winder mechanism - Google Patents

Description

208320 PATENTS FORM NO. 5 PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION NO.: 208320 Dates 30 May 1984 Complete After Provisional fetohi\q 4o cVcmSs A CHAIN FOR A WINDER MECIIANIOM' WE, CRAFTBILT DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED of 117 Woburn Road, Lower Hutt, New Zealand, a New Zealand company, hereby declare the invention, for vdiich we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by Which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: _ l _ .'(followed by page 1A.y 208320 - lA- A CHAIN FOR A WINDER MECHANISM The present invention relates to improvements in and relating to chains.

More particularly but not exclusively the present invention relates to a chain which is particularly suited for use in a window winder. Such window winders incorporate a chain which is connected at its outer end with a window and which is able, as it is fed out of or 10 retracted into the winder, to open and close the window and also support the window.

To achieve this the chain needs to be both flexible so as to enable it to be wound into and from the winder and also to be rigid so as to enable it to support 15 the window and also to transmit the opening and closing forces to the window.

Various solutions to the problem of providing a chain having both rigidity and flexibility have been proposed in the past. These have generally required the 20 chain links to have one end which is narrower than the other end so that the narrower end of one link can fit into the wider end of an adjacent link and when the links are aligned in a straight line adjacent two portions of respective links will abut with one another so as to keep 25 the chain rigid.

The manufacture of such relatively complex chain links of course increases the cost of the chain. This is 203320 of course also the case where in other previous proposals two entirely different types of chain links were required in the chain.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an improved chain which is able to be both flexible and rigid and Which overcomes or at least obviates the disadvantages of previous proposals for such chains.

As mentioned previously the chain of the present invention is particularly suited for use in a window winder or other winder mechanisms.

Various proposals have been put forward for such winders. All of these proposals have been generally similar in requiring a housing in Which the chain is accommodated, a chain outlet through vfliich the chain can be fed and a sprocket connected with a winder to achieve the feeding out and retraction of the chain.

A disadvantage of previous proposals has been the relative bulk of the chain housing due to the way in which a full chain loop is accommodated within the housing.

It is thus an object of another embodiment of the invention to provide a window winder itfiich can accommodate a chain within its housing in such a way that the housing can be less bulky than previous window winder housings so that the window winder can be of a more streamlined and attractive appearance.

Further objects of this invention according to 208320 all its various embodiments will become apparent from the following description.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a chain link having a pair of side portions and an interconnecting web portion extending between the side portions and providing a transverse edge at each end of the web extending between the side portions adjacent to but spaced apart from the respective ends of the side portions, the side portions at each end being equi-spaced from one another but the side portions being transversely off-set between their said ends, whereby a plurality of the links can be interconnected together with the ends of the side portions of one link respectively internally and externally overlapping the ends of the side portions of an adjacent link and respective adjacent transverse edges being capable of abuttment.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a flexible chain which is able to be rigid when extending in a substantially straigh direction, said chain being formed from a plurality of links as above defined.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided a window winder including a flexible chain as above defined. — .... ■ i 208320 Further aspects of this invention which should be considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following description given by way of example of possible embodiments of the invention and in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIGURE 1 : FIGURE 2 : FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4 FIGURE 5 FIGURE 6 shows diagranmatically a plan view from one side of a window winder according to One embodiment of the inven t ion; shows an end view of the window winder of Figure 1; shows a part exploded plan view from the other side of the window winder of Figure 1; shows a plan view, very diagrammatica1ly, of a length of chain according to another embodiment of the invent ion; shows a plan view of a chain 1 ink according to another embodiment of the invent ion; shows a side view of the chain link of Figure 5; If - 1 MAY 1987 ^ 4' 203320 FIGURE 7 : shows a view along arrows A-A of Figure 6.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figures 1, 2 and 3 show a window winder according to one possible 5 embodiment thereof.

The window winder referenced generally by arrow 1 has a substantially hollow body 2 with apertures 3 to accommodate bolts or the like to engage with and retain a closure plate 4. The body 2 forms a housing 5 for a chain 10 6. The chain 6 extends around a sprocket 7 rotatably mounted on boss 8 within the housing 5. The sprocket 7 can be rotated by operation of a handle 9. This has a shaft 10 extending into a hollow bush 11. An "0" ring 12 provides a snug fit of the shaft 10 within the bush 11. 15 The end of the shaft 10 suitably has a groove therein which can engage with a pin or bar extending across the bottom end of the bush 11, Thus, as the handle 9 is rotated the shaft 10 correspondingly rotates as does the bar engaged by the 20 shaft 10. A suitable gear or other mechanism may then be used to translate the rotation of the bar or pin into a corresponding rotation of the sprocket 7. However, When it is wished to ensure, perhaps for safety or security purposes, that the window remains closed or open only to a 25 preset extent, the shaft 10 can be withdrawn from the bush 11 and the handle 9 removed completely from the window 208320 winder 1. A pin may if required be provided to extend through the shaft 10 and the body 2 to normally hold the handle 9 in position.

In Figure 1 the outer end of the chain 6 is shown provided with a plate 13, suitably apertured, for securement with the window.

The other end of the chain 6 is shown in Figure 3 adjacent a groove 14 provided about a boss 15 at the opposite end of the housing 2 from the sprocket 7.

In window winders of this type to the present time as the chain is fed into the window winder housing it forms a complete loop extending from one end of the housing to the other. This means that the window winder housing must be fairly large so as to accommodate this full loop. The groove 14 shown in Figure 3, however, preferably arcuate, receives and traps a groove following means such as a stud, roller or the like, 22 located at the end of the chain 6 so that as more chain is fed in it moves behind the end of the chain vftiich effectively acts as a pivot point for the rest of the chain. By stopping the chain end from travelling right around the housing to form a full loop a reduction in the size of the sides required for the housing 5 can be achieved. The chain 6 instead loops itself about the boss 15 as it pivots about the chain end. The stud or other groove follower in the end of the chain also serves to stop the chain at the other end of the groove When the chain is at its maximum O ,'} Q O c r\ extension. The length and disposition of the groove thus controls the movement of the chain 6 into and out of the housing 2. Only the inner end portion of the groove 14 is shown in Figure 3, the remaining outer end portion being obscured by the chain 6.

Turning now to Figures 4 to 7 of the accompanying drawings a chain link 16 has a pair of side portions 17 with a substantially central bend 18 so that the side portions or plates 17 form a zig-zag shape.

The side portions 17 are joined along part of their length by an interconnecting web 19 which provides at each end thereof a transverse edge 20. The outer ends of the side portions 17 are shown provided with apertures 21 through Which pins or rivets can pass to interconnect adjoining links 16 to form a chain. As is seen particularly in Figure 4, by providing the side portion 17 of a zig-zag shape, adjoining links 16 can have the respective ends of their side portions 17 overlapping respectively externally and internally so that although the links 16 are of a zig-zag shape the overall length of the chain 6, is a straight line. It will also be appreciated that the chain links 16 can flex in one direction but vhen in a substantially straight line are unable to flex in an opposite direction due to the abuttment of the transverse edges 20 of adjacent links 16. Thus, the chain 6 is flexible but rigid when in a substantially straight line and in achieving this each of 208320 the links 16 are of the same design. In particular the links are not required to have any reduction in width between the chain link ends as in previous designs.

Also, and importantly, as the chain links of the 5 present invention are symmetrical about their central transverse axes, vriien a chain is being assembled it makes no difference which end of the chain link is connected first thus making assembly much simpler.

Where in the aforegoing description reference has 10 been made to specific components or integers having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Although this invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments 15 thereof it is to be understood that modifications or improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. ft"*. ;u ;"351 *

Claims (9)

303320 t ? V-

1. A chain link having a pair of side portions and an interconnecting web portion extending between the side portions and providing a transverse edge at each end of the web extending between the side portions adjacent to but spaced apart from the respective ends of the side portions, the side portions at each end being equi-spaced from one another but the side portions being transversely off-set between their said ends, whereby a plurality of the links can be interconnected together with the ends of the side portions of one link respectively internally and externally overlapping the ends of the side portions of an adjacent link and respective adjacent transverse edges being capable of abuttment.

2. A chain link as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said side portions is of a substantially equal length and said interconnecting web extends only partially along the respective lengths of said side portions.

3. A chain link as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said off-setting of said side portion results in each side portion being of a substantially zig-zag shape.

4. A chain link as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the spacing apart of said transverse edges from the respective ends of the side portions is such that said plurality of said links can extendi_i-n-* subs"irffntially\ straight direction with said adjacent ^t^c^^^s% edges \ " - 1"MAY 1987 20832 - 10 - abutting so as to maintain said plurality of links substantially rigid.

5. A chain link as claimed in any one of claims 1to 4 wherein each of said respective ends of said side portions has an aperture therein to accommodate means to interconnect said link with an adjoining link.

6. A chain link substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 4 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A flexible chain which is able to be substantially rigid when extending in a substantially straight direction and including a plurality of chain links as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

8. A window winder including a flexible chain as claimed in claim 7.

9. A window winder as claimed in claim 8 and substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings. BALDWIN, SON & CAREY ATTORNEYS FOR THE APPLICANT? ;! - 1 HAY 1937,;