GB2374384A

GB2374384A - Stay slider with groove engaging projections

Info

Publication number: GB2374384A
Application number: GB0204916A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jang-Woo Lee; Gi-Won Lee; Myoung-Soo Kyoung; Kyou-Chul Choo
Original assignee: 3GTECHNOLOGY CO Ltd
Current assignee: 3GTECHNOLOGY CO Ltd
Priority date: 2001-03-02
Filing date: 2002-03-01
Publication date: 2002-10-16
Anticipated expiration: 2022-03-01
Also published as: KR20020070610A; GB2374384B; KR100408360B1; GB0204916D0; JP2002303075A; CN1374432A

Abstract

A stay 100 comprises an elongated base plate 113 with first and a second locking stages 111,112 forming first and second guide grooves 115,116. A slider 120 includes a first fitting stage (121, Fig2a) being formed projecting downward integrally with a centre portion of a lower surface of the slider 120, and a second fitting stage (122, Fig 2a) being formed projecting integrally with one corner of the slider 120. A metal stiffening piece (160, Fig 3) can strengthen the rigidity of the slider 120. A slide stopper 114 and circular guiding protrusion 117 may protrude upwards from the surface of base plate 113. This arrangement enables the apparatus to effectively distribute a concentrated load.

Description

APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND CLOSING A WINDOW Background of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for opening and closing a window, and more particularly to an apparatus for opening and closing a window capable of distributing a concentrated load over a contact mount portion between a guide rail being fixed to a window frame of the window and a slider which is guided by the guide rail and moveable with respect to the guide rail, which is capable of preventing the contact mount portion there between from coming loose owing to any external force or wear of the slider, which is capable of providing dampening of noise being generated from there between, by improving a contact mount structure between the guide rail and the slider.

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, apparatuses for opening and closing a window may be classified as an automatic apparatus for opening and closing a window with a motor, and a hand-operated apparatus for opening and closing a window.

The apparatus for opening and closing a window includes a guide rail being fixedly installed to a window frame, a slider being slidably mounted on the guide rail, and a plurality of links for moving the slider and the guide rail together synchronically relative to the window frame. Ends of the links are coupled to the guide rail and the slider, respectively. Other ends of the links are coupled to the window frame of the window.

FIG. 6 shows an apparatus for opening and closing a window according to a prior art.

As shown in FIG. 6, an upset L-shaped locking stage 11 is formed projecting upwardly integrally with one-side edge of a guide rail 10 of the apparatus for opening and closing a window and extends along the longitudinal axis of the guide rail 10 over a predetermined length.

A guide groove 15 is formed between the locking stage 11 and an upper surface of the guide rail 10. The guide groove 15 functions to guide a longitudinal movement of the slider 20 on the guide rail 10.

One end of the link 30 is hingedly connected to one end of the slider 20 and the other end of the link 30 is hingedly connected to a predetermined position of the window frame (not shown) of the window (not shown). The second link (not shown) may be hingedly connected to the middle portion of the link 30 and the third link (not shown) may be hingedly connected to one end of the guide rail 10.

Because the guide rail 10 and the slider 20 have a contact mount structure there between as described above, a load transmitted via the link 30 is concentrated to the slider 20. In other words, because only a moving end 22 of the slider 20 is inserted into the guiding groove 15 of the guide rail 10, the load transmitted to the slider 20 is concentrated to the moving end 22 and the guiding groove 15. Accordingly, the moving end 22 of the slider 20 or the guiding groove 15 of the guide rail 10 may be transformed when the apparatus for opening and closing a window is used for a long time.

Furthermore, in the apparatus for opening and closing a window according to the prior art, the slider 20 may be worn away by friction with the joint surface on the guide rail 10 because of vibration, or thermal expansion or contraction of the joint surface during the operation of the apparatus. Consequently, noise may be produced and also the apparatus may not accurately operate.

Summary of the Invention The present invention solves the foregoing problems. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for opening and closing a window capable of distributing a concentrated load over a contact mount portion between a guide rail being fixed to a window frame of the window and a slider which is guided by the guide rail and moveable with respect to the guide rail, which is capable of preventing the guide rail, the slider and related parts from being transformed owing to any external force or wear of the slider, by improving a contact mount structure between the guide rail and the slider.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for opening and closing a window capable of enhancing the rigidity of a slider guided by a guide rail fixed to a window frame of the window and of preventing the window from falling out of the window frame when a fire breaks out, by disposing a metal stiffening piece in the slider made of a synthetic resin.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for opening and closing a window capable of preventing a contact mount portion between a guide rail and a slider from coming loose owing to any external force or wear of the slider, which is capable of providing dampening of noise being generated from there between, which is capable of ensuring accurate operations of links and the slider, by controlling the size of a gap created between the guide rail fixed to a window frame of the window and a slider which is guided by the guide rail and moveable with respect to the guide rail.

In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention an apparatus for opening and closing a window, the apparatus comprising: a guide rail including an elongated plate-shaped base plate, a first and a second locking

stages being formed projecting upward integrally with both sides of the base plate and extending along the longitudinal axis of the base plate over a predetermined length, a first guide groove being formed between the first locking stage and an upper surface of the base plate and a second guide groove being formed between the second locking stage and the upper surface of the base plate; a slider being slidably mounted on the base plate of the guide rail, the slider sliding on the base plate along the first guiding groove and the second guiding groove in the longitudinal direction of the base plate, the slider including a first fitting stage being formed projecting downward integrally with a center portion of a lower surface of the slider, the first fitting stage having a shape corresponding to the shape of the second locking stage, a supporting groove being formed between the first fitting stage and the lower surface of the slider, and a second fitting stage being formed projecting integrally with one comer of the slider, the second fitting stage having a shape corresponding to the shape of the first guiding groove of the guide rail; and a plurality of links for coupling the guide rail and the slider to a window frame of a window, one end of a first link among the links being pivotally engaged with one side of the slider, one end of a second link among the links being pivotally engaged with a middle portion of the first link, and the other end of the second link being pivotally engaged with one end of the base plate of the guide rail.

The slider is made of a synthetic resin, and a metal stiffening piece is longitudinally disposed in the slider in order to strengthen the rigidity of the slider.

A screw hole is formed through the slider, a female threaded portion is formed at an upper portion of the screw hole and a lower portion of the screw hole is enlarged in a stair shape, and a tightening screw is inserted into the screw hole. The tightening screw is made of a synthetic resin,

and contact protrusions protrude from the surface of a head portion of the tightening screw. The contact protrusions of the tightening screw inserted into the screw hole contact with the upper surface of the guide rail. A supporting protrusion horizontally protrudes from an inner surface of the supporting groove toward an inner side of the supporting groove at the inlet portion of the supporting groove.

As described above, in the apparatus for opening and closing the window, it is possible to distribute the concentrated load applied to the slide by moveably installing the slider between the locking stages of the guide rails.

Since the fitting stages of the slider are inserted into the guide grooves of the guide rail and the horizontal extending portion of the locking stage of the guide rail is inserted into the supporting groove of the slider and the supporting protrusion of the slider closely contacts with the outer surface of the horizontal extending portion of the locking stage of the guide rail, it is possible to prevent the slider from being unstably shaken and operation for opening or closing the window may be performed stably.

Furthermore, even if a certain oversized gap is created between the slider and the guide rail, it is possible to prevent the contact mount portion there between from coming loose by tightening the tightening screw.

Brief Description of the Drawings The above object and other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is an exploded perspective view of an apparatus for opening and closing a window according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. IB shows a combined state of the apparatus for opening and closing a window according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2A is a bottom perspective view of a slider illustrated in FIG. 1A ; FIG. 2B is a plan view of the slider illustrated in FIG. 1A ; FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2B; FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2B; FIGS. 5A to 5C show operation of the apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of an apparatus for opening and closing a window according to a prior art.

Detailed Description of the Invention Hereinafter, the apparatus for opening and closing a window according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the apparatus 100 for opening and closing a window according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a guide rail 110, a slider 120 slidably mounted on the guide rail 110, and a plurality of links 131,132 for moving the slider 120 and the guide rail 110 together in synchronically relative to the window frame (not shown) of the window.

Firstly, the guide rail 110 is provided with an elongated plate-shaped base plate 113. Upset L-shaped locking stages 111,112 are formed projecting upwardly integrally with both side edges of the base plate 113 of the apparatus for opening and closing a window and extend along the longitudinal axis of the guide rail 110 over a predetermined length. The first locking stage 111 has a pair of extending portions llla, lllb. Likewise, the second locking stage 112 has a pair of extending portions 112a, 112b. At this time, the vertical extending portions llla, 112a upwardly protrude from the side edges of the base plate 113 of the guide rail 110 and thereby they are substantially perpendicular to the base plate 113 of the guide rail 110. The horizontal extending portions 11 lb, l 12b integrally extend from upper ends of the vertical extending portions 11 la, l 12a, respectively and thereby they are substantially perpendicular to the vertical extending portions 111 a, 112a. At a position adjacent to a distal end of one side of the base plate 113, a part of the vertical extending portion 111 a of the first locking state 111 is exposed to the outside over a predetermined length.

A first guide groove 115 and a second guide groove 116 are formed between the locking stages 111,112 and an upper surface of the base plate 113. The first guide groove 115 and the second guide groove 116 function to guide a longitudinal movement of the slider 120 on the guide rail 110.

A slider stopper 114 upwardly protrudes from the surface of the base plate 113 between one end of the first locking stage 111 and one end of the second locking stage 112. The slider stopper 114 functions to prevent the slider 120 from being released from the first guiding groove 115 and the second groove 116 when the slider 120 moves on the base plate 113 of the guide rail 110 during the opening of the window.

Furthermore, a circular guiding protrusion 117 protrudes from the surface of the base plate

113 between the other end of the first locking stage 111 and the other end of the second locking stage 112. The guiding protrusion 117 functions to allow the slider 120 to be released from the first guiding groove 115 after it is released from the second guiding groove 116 during the closing of the window.

Meanwhile, a link stopper 127 upwardly protrudes from the surface of the slider 120. The link stopper 127 functions to prevent the first link 131 from moveing by contacting itself with one side surface of the first link 131 at the time that the first link 113 is aligned in a straight line with the guide rail 110 during the closing of the window. That is, the link stopper 127 makes the first link 131 stop stably.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show the slider in detail.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the slider 120 comprises a synthetic resin and an L-shaped first fitting stage 121 downwardly protruding from a center portion of a lower surface 123 of the slider 120. The first fitting stage 121 has a shape corresponding to the shape of the second locking stage 112 of the guide rail 110. The first fitting stage 121 has a vertical extending portion 121 a and a horizontal extending portion 123. At this time, the vertical extending portion 121a extends vertically downward from the lower surface 123 of the slider 120 at the central portion of the lower surface 123. The horizontal extending portion 121b extends from a lower end of the vertical extending portion 121 a and thereby substantially perpendicular to the vertical extending portion 121 a and parallel with the vertical extending portion 121a.

A supporting groove 124 is formed between the first fitting stage 121 and the lower surface 123 of the slider 120 due to the formation of the first fitting stage 121. The supporting groove 124 functions to support a sliding movement of the slider 120 by receiving the horizontal extending

portion 112b of the second locking stage 112 when the slider 120 slides on the base plate 113 of the guide rail 110. At this time, the supporting groove 124 has a relatively oversized inlet portion at one side thereof for easily receiving the horizontal extending portion 112b of the second locking stage 112.

As best seen in FIG. 3, a supporting protrusion 128 horizontally protrudes from an inner surface of the supporting groove 124 toward an inner side of the supporting groove 124 at the inlet portion of the supporting groove 124. The supporting protrusion 128 functions to support a sliding movement of the slider 120 by contacting itself with an outer side surface of the vertical extending portion 112a of the second locking stage 112 when the slider 120 slides on the base plate 113 of the guide rail 110.

Meanwhile, a second fitting stage 122 protrudes from one comer of the slider 120. The second fitting stage 122 has a shape corresponding to the shape of first guiding groove 115 of the first locking stage 111. The second fitting stage 122 functions to support a sliding movement of the slider 120 by fitting itself into the first locking stage 111 when the slider 120 slides on the base plate 113 of the guide rail 110.

A metal stiffening piece 160 is longitudinally disposed in the slider 120 in order to strengthen the rigidity of the slider 120. Even if the slider 120 made of the synthetic resin burned in a fire, the stiffening piece 160 would not bum in a fire. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the window from releasing from the window frame when a fire breaks out.

Referring now to FIG. 2A, a rounded third guiding groove 125 is formed between the first fitting stage 121 and the second fitting stage 122 at the lower surface 123 of the slider 120. The third guiding groove 125 has a relatively oversized inlet portion for easily receiving the guiding protrusion

117 of the guide rail 110 during the movement of the slider 120 on the base plate 113 of the guide rail 110.

If the first fitting stage 121 of the slider 120 is released from the second locking stage 112 and the second guiding groove 116 during the closing of the window, the third guiding groove 125 guides a rotational movement of the slider 120 while maintaining that the second fitting stage 122 of the slider 120 from being released from the first guiding groove 115.

A screw hole 129 is formed through the slider 120 at a position adjacent to the third guiding groove 125.

As best seen in FIG. 4, a female threaded portion is formed at an upper portion of the screw hole 129 and a lower portion of the screw hole 129 is enlarged in a stair shape. A tightening screw 140 made of a synthetic resin is inserted into the screw hole 129 in the direction of the arrow in FIG.

4. Contact protrusions 142 protrude from the surface of a head portion of the tightening screw 140.

When the slider 120 is mounted on the guide rail 110, the contact protrusions 142 of the tightening screw 140 inserted into the screw hole 129 contact with the upper surface of the guide rail 110. At this time, the tightening screw 140 is exposed to the outside through the screw hole 129.

Accordingly, if a user tightens the tightening screw 140 after inserting a screw driver (not shown) into the tightening groove 141 of the tightening screw 140, the contact protrusion 142 closely contacts with the upper surface of the guide rail 110. Alternatively, if the user loosens the tightening screw 140, the contact protrusion 142 is spaced from the upper surface of the guide rail 110.

At this time, the head portion of the tightening screw 140 is positioned between the upper surface of the guide rail 110 and the enlarged lower portion of the screw hole 129. Accordingly, even if the tightening force of the tightening screw 140 weakens, the tightening screw 140 is not released

from the slider 120. Since the tightening screw 140 is made of a synthetic resin, no noise occurs when it contacts with the guide rail 110.

Referring now to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the slider 120 is mounted on the base plate 113 of the guide rail 110 after engagement of the tightening screw 140 is completed. After mounting the slider 120 on the guide rail 110, the first link 131 and the second link 132 are coupled to be one body.

At this time, one end of the first link 131 is hingedly coupled to one end portion of the slider 120 and the other end of the first link 131 is hingedly coupled to one end of the second link 132. The other end of the second link 132 is hingedly coupled to one end of the guide rail 110. For this purpose, a first link-engaging hole 134 is formed through the one end of the first link 131 and a link through hole 133 is formed through a middle portion of the first link 131. Furthermore, a second link engaging hole 135 and a third link engaging hole 136 are formed through both ends of the second link 132.

The one end of the first link 131 is coupled to the one end portion of the slide 120 by means of a first pivot pin 151 passing through a first link engaging hole 134 of the first link 131 and the engaging hole 126 in a state that the first link engaging hole 134 is vertically aligned in a straight line with the engaging hole 126 formed through the one comer of the slider 120. At this time, for minimizing or preventing noise and for ensuring a smooth operation, a bush 154 and a washer 155 are combined with the first pivot pin 151.

The one end of the second link 132 is coupled to the middle portion of the first link 131 by means of a second pivot pin 152 passing through a link through hole 133 of the first link 131 and a second link engaging hole 135 of the second link 132 in a state that that the link through hole 133 is vertically aligned in a straight line with the second link engaging hole 135. At this time, for

minimizing or preventing noise and for ensuring a smooth operation, a bush 154 and a washer 155 are combined with the first pivot pin 151.

Finally, the other end of the second link 132 is coupled to a link coupling portion 118 by means of a third pivot pin 153, which passes through a third link engaging hole 136 of the second link 132 and is inserted into the link coupling portion 118, in a state that that the link through hole 133 of the first link 131 is vertically aligned in a straight line with the second link engaging hole 135 of the second link 132. At this time, for minimizing or preventing noise and for ensuring a smooth operation, a bush 154 and a washer 155 are combined with the first pivot pin 151.

Hereinafter, the operation of the apparatus for opening and closing a window according to the embodiment the present invention as above will be described in detail with reference drawings FIGS. 5A to 5C.

At first, as shown in FIG. SA, when the window is closed, the guide rail 110, the slider 120 and the first and the second links 131,132 are aligned in a straight line together.

Under this state, the slider 120 is positioned at one distal end of the base plate 113 of the guide rail 110. Accordingly, only a part of the second fitting stage 122 of the slider 120 is inserted into the first guiding groove 115, and the first fitting stage 121 of the slider 120 is released from the second guiding groove 116. As a result, engagement between the horizontal extending portion 121b of the guide rail 120 and the supporting groove 124 of the slider 120 is released. At this time, the guiding protrusion 117 of the guide rail 110 is positioned at an inner part of the third guiding groove 125 of the slider 120. Furthermore, one side surface of the slider 120 contacts with the vertical extending portion 111 a that is exposed to the outside.

Under this state, when the window begins to open, the first link 131 and the second link 132

deploy outwardly from the guide rail 110. In other words, the first link 131 is pivoted in the clockwise direction while centering around the first pivot pin 151 and the second link 132 is pivoted in the counterclockwise direction while centering around the third pivot pin 153. Since the first link 131 and the second link 132 are combined together by means of the second pivot pin 152, the slider 120 rotates in the counterclockwise direction while centering around the guiding protrusion 117 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. SA. Since the third guiding groove 125 has a relatively oversized inlet portion at one side thereof, the guiding protrusion 117 of the guide rail 110 is easily guided into the third guiding groove 125 and thereby the slider 120 may be easily rotated while centering around the guiding protrusion 117.

By rotating the slider 120 while centering around the guiding protrusion 117, the slider 120 moves toward the other distal end of the base plate 113 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 5B.

Thereby, the second fitting stage 122 is fully inserted into the first guiding groove 115. At this time, the horizontal extending portion 112b of the guide rail 110 and the supporting groove 124 of the slider 120 are aligned in a straight line. Accordingly, the horizontal extending portion 112b of the second locking stage 112 of the guide rail 110 is inserted into the supporting groove 124 of the slider 120 and the horizontal extending portion 121b of the first fitting stage 121 of the slider 120 is inserted into the second guiding groove 116 of the guide rail 110.

Meanwhile, when the window is slightly opened, the slider 120 remains at a predetermined angle with respect to the guide rail 110. At this time, the supporting protrusion 128 projecting from the inlet portion of the supporting groove 124 contacts with the outer side surface of the vertical extending portion 112a. Also, the guiding protrusion 117 is aligned in a straight line with the inlet portion of the third guiding groove 125 so that the slider 120 may be released from the third guiding

groove 125.

Continuously, as the window opens more, the slider 120 is guided along the first and the second guiding grooves 115,116 on the base plate 113 and then slides toward the slider stopper 114.

The second fitting stage 122 of the slider 120 moves along the first guiding groove 115 of the guide rail 110 and the first fitting stage 121 of the slider 120 moves along the second guiding groove 116 of the guide rail 110. At this time, since the supporting protrusion 128 projecting from the inner surface of the supporting groove 124 of the slider 120 contacts with the outer surface of the vertical extending portion 112a of the second locking stage 112 of the guide rail 110, the slider 120 may be moved stably. Since the first locking stage 111 and the second locking stage 112 of the guide rail 120 support both sides of the slider 120, the concentrated load applied to the slider 120 owing to the weight of the window may be efficiently distributed.

Meanwhile, when the window is fully opened, as shown in FIG. 5C, the one side surface of the slider 120 contacts with the slider stopper 114 protruding from the base plate 113 of the guide rail 110 and thereby the slider 120 may not move more. Consequently, operation for opening the window is completed.

Under this state, if the window begins to be closed, the slider 120 moves back to its initial position in accordance with an operational mode for closing the window that is opposite to the operational mode for opening the window as described above. In other words, the slider 120 is moved from the position as shown in FIG. 5C to the position as shown in FIG. 5B on the base plate 113 of the guide rail 110. Then, the guiding protrusion 117 of the guide rail 110 is inserted into the third guiding groove 125 of the slider 120. Under this state, if the slider 120 further moves toward its initial position, the guiding protrusion 117 is guided along the third guiding groove 125.

If the slider 120 rotates in the clockwise direction while centering around the guiding protrusion 117 and returns its initial position, the horizontal extending portion 112b of the second locking stage 112 of the guide rail 110 is released from the supporting groove 124 of the slider 120.

Continuously, the first fitting stage 121 of the slider 120 is released from the second guiding groove 116 of the guide rail 110.

When the window is gradually closed, the guiding protrusion 117 is positioned at the inner portion of the third guiding groove 125 of the slider 120 due to the movement of the slider. At this time, one side surface of the first link 131 contacts with the link stopper 127 formed on the upper surface of the slider 120 and thereby operation for closing the window is completed. Consequently, as shown in FIG. 5A, the slider 120 and the first and the second links 131,132 are aligned in a straight line with the guide rails 110.

Meanwhile, when the slider 120 moves on the guide rail 110 according to the operational mode as described above while opening the window, the slider 120 made of the synthetic resin wears out. As a result, certain over sized gaps are created between the first guiding groove 115 of the guide rail 110 and the second fitting stage 122 of the slider 120, between the first guiding groove 115 of the guide rail 110 and the second fitting stage 122 of the slider 120, and between the horizontal extending portion 112b of the second locking stage 112 of the guide rail 110 and the supporting groove 124 of the slider 120. In order to minimize or remove the gaps, the tightening screw 140 is tightened by using a driver after it is fitted into the tightening groove 141 of the tightening screw 140 which is exposed to the upper portion through the screw hole 129 of the slider 120.

After the tightening operation for the tightening screw 140 is completed, as shown in FIG. 4, the contact protrusions 142 protruding from the lower surface of the tightening screw 140 tightly

contact with the upper surface of the guide rail 110.

Therefore, it is possible to minimize or remove the gaps between the slider 120 and the guide rail 110 by controlling a tightening force of the tightening screw 140.

Since the tightening screw 140 is made of the synthetic resin, dampening of noise being generated between the contact protrusions 142 and the upper surface of the guide rail 110 is possible.

Since the fitting stages of the slider are inserted into the guide grooves of the guide rail and the horizontal extending portion of the locking stage of the guide rail is inserted into the supporting groove of the slider and the supporting protrusion of the slider closely contacts with the outer surface of the horizontal extending portion of the locking stage of the guide rail, it is possible to prevent the slider from being unstably shaken and operation for opening or closing the window may be

performed stably.

Furthermore, even if a certain oversized gap is created between the slider and the guide rail, it is possible to prevent the contact mount portion there between from coming loose by tightening

the tightening screw.

Even if the slider made of the synthetic resin burned in a fire, it would be possible to prevent the window from falling out of the window frame by disposing a metal stiffening piece in the slider.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is

1. In an apparatus for opening and closing a window, the apparatus having a guide rail, a slider being slidably mounted on the base plate of the guide rail and a plurality of links for coupling the guide rail and the slider to a window frame of a window, the improvement comprising: the guide rail including an elongated plate-shaped base plate, a first and a second locking stages being formed projecting upward integrally with both sides of the base plate and extending along the longitudinal axis of the base plate over a predetermined length, a first guide groove being formed between the first locking stage and an upper surface of the base plate and a second guide groove being formed between the second locking stage and the upper surface of the base plate; the slider sliding on the base plate along the first guiding groove and the second guiding groove in the longitudinal direction of the base plate, the slider includes a first fitting stage being formed projecting downward integrally with a center portion of a lower surface of the slider, the first fitting stage having a shape corresponding to the shape of the second locking stage, a supporting groove being formed between the first fitting stage and the lower surface of the slider, and a second fitting stage being formed projecting integrally with one comer of the slider, the second fitting stage having a shape corresponding to the shape of the first guiding groove of the guide rail; and one end of a first link among the links being pivotally engaged with one side of the slider, one end of a second link among the links being pivotally engaged with a middle portion of the first link, and the other end of the second link being pivotally engaged with one end of the base plate of the guide rail.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and the second locking stages include vertical extending portions and horizontal extending portions, respectively, the vertical extending portions upwardly protrude from the side edges of the base plate of the guide rail and thereby they are substantially perpendicular to the base plate of the guide rail, the horizontal extending portions extend from upper ends of the vertical extending portions and thereby they are substantially perpendicular to the vertical extending portions, whereby the first and the second locking stages form an upset L shape, respectively.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein a slider stopper upwardly protrudes from a surface of the base plate of the guide rail between one end of the first locking stage and one end of the second locking stage, the slider stopper functions to prevent the slider from being released from the first guiding groove and the second guiding groove when the slider moves on the base plate of the guide rail during the opening of the window.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein a circular guiding protrusion upwardly protrudes from the surface of the base plate of the guide rail between the other end of the first locking stage and the other end of the second locking stage, the guiding protrusion functions to allow the slider to be released from the first guiding groove after it is released from the second guiding groove during the closing of the window.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein a rounded third guiding groove is

formed between the first fitting stage and the second fitting stage at the lower surface of the slider, the third guiding groove has a relatively oversized inlet portion for easily receiving the guiding protrusion of the guide rail 110 during the movement of the slider on the base plate 113 of the guide rail, when the first fitting stage of the slider is released from the second locking stage and the second guiding groove during the closing of the window, the third guiding groove guides a rotational movement of the slider while maintaining the second fitting stage of the slider from being released from the first guiding groove.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the supporting groove has a relatively oversized inlet portion for easily receiving the horizontal extending portion of the second locking stage, the supporting groove functions to support a sliding movement of the slider by receiving the horizontal extending portion of the second locking stage when the slider slides on the base plate of the guide rail.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein a supporting protrusion horizontally protrudes from an inner surface of the supporting groove toward an inner side of the supporting groove at an inlet portion of the supporting groove, the supporting protrusion functions to support a sliding movement of the slider by contacting itself with an outer side surface of the vertical extending portion of the second locking stage when the slider slides on the base plate of the guide rail.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a link stopper upwardly protrudes from

the surface of the slider, the link stopper functions to prevent the first link 131 from moving by contacting itself with one side surface of the first link at the time that the first link is aligned in a straight line with the guide rail during the closing of the window.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein an L-shaped first fitting stage downwardly protrudes from a center portion of a lower surface of the slider, the first fitting stage has a shape corresponding to the shape of the second locking stage of the guide rail, the first fitting stage has a vertical extending portion and a horizontal extending portion, the vertical extending portion extends vertically downward from the lower surface of the slider at the central portion of the lower surface, the horizontal extending portion extends from a lower end of the vertical extending portion and thereby substantially perpendicular to the vertical extending portion and parallel with the vertical extending portion.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slider is made of a synthetic resin, and a metal stiffening piece is longitudinally disposed in the slider in order to strengthen the rigidity of the slider.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a screw hole is formed through the slider, a female threaded portion is formed at an upper portion of the screw hole and a lower portion of the screw hole is enlarged in a stair shape, and a tightening screw is inserted into the screw hole.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the tightening screw is made of a

synthetic resin, contact protrusions protrude from the surface of a head portion of the tightening screw, when the slider is mounted on the guide rail, the contact protrusions of the tightening screw inserted into the screw hole contact with the upper surface of the guide rail, at this time, the tightening screw is exposed to the outside through the screw hole, when a user tightens the tightening screw after inserting a driver into the tightening groove of the tightening screw, the contact protrusion closely contacts with the upper surface of the base plate, alternatively, when the user loosens the tightening screw, the contact protrusion is spaced from the upper surface of the guide rail.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first link-engaging hole is formed through one end of the first link, a link through hole is formed through a middle portion of the first link, a second link engaging hole and a third link engaging hole are formed through both ends of the second link.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the one end of the first link is hingedly coupled to one end portion of the slide by means of a first pivot pin passing through a first link engaging hole of the first link and the engaging hole in a state that the first link engaging hole of the first link is vertically aligned in a straight line with the engaging hole formed through the one comer of the slider, the one end of the second link is coupled to the middle portion of the first link by means of a second pivot pin passing through a link through hole of the first link and a second link engaging hole of the second link in a state that that the link through hole of the first link is vertically aligned in a straight line with the second link engaging hole of the second link, the other end of the

second link is coupled to a link coupling portion by means of a third pivot pin, which passes through a third link engaging hole of the second link and is inserted into the link coupling portion, in a state that that the link through hole of the first link is vertically aligned in a straight line with the second link engaging hole of the second link.

15. An apparatus for opening and closing a window substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as shown in Figures 1 to 5.