AU2012100260C4

AU2012100260C4 - A window winder

Info

Publication number: AU2012100260C4
Application number: AU2012100260A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Isaac Yeshouroun
Original assignee: Azuma Design Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Azuma Design Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2009-03-24
Filing date: 2012-03-07
Publication date: 2016-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 2018-03-23
Also published as: AU2012100260A4; AU2012100260B4

Abstract

A WINDOW WINDER Abstract A window winder (10) that includes a chain (13) that is moved between an extended position opening the window, and a closed position closing the window. The chain (13) is moved between the extended and retracted positions thereof by means of a sprocket (15). The body (12) of the chain winder (10) has a track (22) of a "U" configuration within which the chain (13) is moved.

Description

1 A WINDOW WINDER Technical Field The present invention relates to window winders to move a window panel between an open and closed position relative to a jamb frame, and more particularly but 5 not exclusively to window winders that employ a chain that is attached to the window panel and moved to cause movement of the window panel. Background of the Invention Window winders consist of a hollow body within which a chain is mounted. The chain projects from within the body so as to have an extremity attached to a movable 1o window panel. A winding mechanism causes movement of the chain so as to in turn cause movement of the window panel. For safety purposes it is necessary to limit movement of the window panel. However this is frequently difficult in that a particular type of window winder may be employed with any size window. To limit the degree to which the window can open be is opened, the length of the chain is modified. This requires disassembly of the chain winder. This is therefore time consuming. This therefore leads to cost increases in respect of the installation of windows and their winders, and sometimes damage to the winder. Object of the Invention 20 It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages. Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein a window winder to move a window panel relative to a window frame, the winder including: 25 a body; an elongated flexible element mounted in the body for movement relative thereto, and to be attached to the window panel; a winder mechanism mounted on the body and operatively associated with the element, the mechanism being operable by a user to cause movement of the element 2 relative to the body between an extended position at which a desired length of the element extends from the body, and a retracted position at which the element is substantially entirely located in the body; a stop member fixed to the body at a desired first position and operatively associated with the element to limit movement of the element to thereby limit said length to a maximum length, the stop member being alterable to a further desired position and fixed to the body at the further desired position to thereby change said maximum length, the positions being spaced and predefined by the body; wherein said element is a chain and said mechanism includes a sprocket engaged with the chain and that is driven to move the chain. Preferably, said body is adapted to receive said stop member in one of a plurality of positions, each position corresponding to a maximum length of the element projecting from within the body. Preferably, the winder includes an abutment that moves with the element and that is located within the body, and that is adapted to engage the stop member to determine said maximum length. Preferably, the chain has a longitudinal direction of extension and said abutment moves relative to said chain so as to move about an abutment axis generally normal to said longitudinal direction of extension. Preferably, the sprocket is rotatable about an axis generally parallel to the abutment axis. Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a window winder; Figure 2 is a schematic isometric view of the window winder of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a schematic enlarged view of portion of the chain winder as illustrated in Figure 2.

3 Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a chain winder 10. Typically the chain winder 10 would be operatively associated with a window that includes a window frame and a movable panel window pivotally attached to the frame. s Typically the window panel would be angularly movable about a generally horizontal axis located near the upper frame member of the window frame. More particularly the window winder 10 would have an attachment part 11 to be attached to a lower member of the movable panel, and a hollow body 12 fixed to a lower member of the window frame. The window (chain) winder 10 illustrated would further include a cover (not io illustrated) which is securable to the body 12 to generally enclose the operating mechanism of the winder 10. The winder 10 includes a chain (elongated flexible element) 13 that is movable between a retracted position at which the chain 13 is substantially entirely located within the body 12 and its associated cover, and an extended position (as illustrated) at which the chain 13 projects beyond the body 12 so as to support is the window panel at an open position. In the retracted position the chain 13 maintains the window in the closed position. In the extended position the chain 13 extends beyond the body 12 by a desired length. The body 12 includes a handle support 14 that rotatably supports a handle (not illustrated). The handle at its inner end, via a drive mechanism (not illustrated) drives a 20 winder mechanism including a sprocket 15. That is, upon an operator rotating the handle in either direction the sprocket 15 is rotated in a selected direction about the axis 16. The handle is rotated about the axis 17 which is inclined relative to the axis 16. The chain 13 consists of a plurality of links 18, with each pair of adjacent links being pivotally attached by means of a chain pin 19. Each pin 19 provides a pivot axis 20 25 about which adjacent links 18 move angularly relative to each other. The axes 20 extend generally normal to the longitudinal direction of the chain 13 and generally normal to the direction 21 of the chain 13.

4 The body 12 provides a track 22 along which the chain 13 moves. The track 22 is of a "U" configuration in that it provides a pair of linear portions 23 and a curved end portion 24. The portions 23 are generally parallel, with the portion 24 being at least partly defined by a curved chain guide 25. A longitudinal guide 26 separates the portions 23 and therefrom at least partly defines the portions 23 as best seen in Figure 1. When the chain 13 is being moved to a retracted position, the end portion 27 of the chain 13 moves along the portion 23, through the portion 24 to move finally along the second portion 23. When the chain 13 is being moved to the extended position the reverse happens. The winder 10 includes stop means 28 that limits movement of the chain to therefore determine the length (maximum length) of chain 13 that extends from the body 12 when the chain 13 is in the extended position. Accordingly the stop means 28 determines the degree by which the window panel is opened. The stop means 28 is alterable so that the length of chain 13 extending from the body 12 can be changed to suit a particularly window. That is, the stop means 28 can be changed without altering the total length of the chain 13. In this embodiment the stop means 28 is a pin 29 that is fixed to the body 12 in one of a plurality of spaced predefined positions, in this instance there are two positions. The two positions are provided by apertures 30. Each aperture 30 is threaded and threadably engages a shaft 31 that secures the pin 29 to the body 12. However any number of apertures may be included. The apertures 30 are spaced along the guide 26, that is the apertures 30 are spaced in the direction 21 the chain 13 moves along the guide 26. Attached to the end portion 27 is an abutment 32. Since the abutment 32 is attached to the chain 13 it moves with the chain 13 in the direction 21. However the abutment 32 extends laterally beyond the chain 13 and track 22 so as to engage the pin 29 and therefore limit the amount of chain 13 that is to extend beyond the body 12.

5 To enable the chain 13 to move to the fully retracted position, the abutment 32 is pivotally attached to the end portion 27 for angular movement about an axis 33. When the chain 13 is being moved to the retracted position from an initial extended position at which the abutment 32 is engaged with the pin 29, the pin 29 passes along the first 5 portion 23 to enter the portion 24 and then pass along the second portion 23 at which stage the abutment 32 will again engage the pin 29. However as the abutment 32 is pivotally attached to the end portion 27, it is allowed to pivot to a position at which it can pass the pin 29 thereby allowing the chain 13 to move to the fully retracted position. However when the chain 13 is being moved to the extended position, the abutment 32 10 initially passes the pin 29 but is caused to pivot to a position at which it will again engage the pin 29 to limit movement of the chain 13. The abutment when now engaged with the pin 29 is prevented from further pivoting by engagement with the cover. As best seen in Figure 3, the abutment 32 includes an arm 34 that engages the pin 29, as well as an eyelet 35 through which one of the pins 19 passes to pivotally attach is the abutment 32 to the chain 13.

Claims

1. A window winder to move a window panel relative to a window frame, the winder including: a body; an elongated flexible element mounted in the body for movement relative thereto, and to be attached to the window panel; a winder mechanism mounted on the body and operatively associated with the element, the mechanism being operable by a user to cause movement of the element relative to the body between an extended position at which a desired length of the element extends from the body, and a retracted position at which the element is substantially entirely located in the body; a stop member fixed to the body at a desired first position and operatively associated with the element to limit movement of the element to thereby limit said length to a maximum length, the stop member being alterable to a further desired position and fixed to the body at the further desired position to thereby change said maximum length, the positions being spaced and predefined by the body; wherein said element is a chain and said mechanism includes a sprocket engaged with the chain and that is driven to move the chain.

2. The winder of claim 1, wherein said body is adapted to receive said stop member in one of a plurality of positions, each position corresponding to a maximum length of the element projecting from within the body.

3. The winder of claim 1 or 2, wherein the winder includes an abutment that moves with the element and that is located within the body, and that is adapted to engage the stop member to determine said maximum length.

4. The winder of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the chain has a longitudinal direction of extension and said abutment moves relative to said chain so as to move about an abutment axis generally normal to said longitudinal direction of extension.

5. The winder of claim 4, wherein the sprocket is rotatable about an axis generally parallel to the abutment axis. Azuma Design Pty Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON