IL153317A - System with sliding sash - Google Patents

Description

ritt ii n ηυν» nai e SYSTEM WITH SLIDING SASH 1 153317/2 1189kll.doc SYSTEM WITH SLIDING SASH, ARTICULATION AND SEALING MECHANISM FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to sliding windows or doors, and particularly to a sliding window or door assembly with enhanced functionality, such as articulation and a sealing mechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Sliding windows are well known in the art. In general, a sliding window may comprise a window sash (i.e., a frame that holds and supports a window pane, such as a glass window pane) that slides along rollers in a track of a window frame or sill. Sliding windows may come in a variety of sizes and shapes. The window sashes may slide from one end of the window frame/sill to another, or they may further slide into recesses formed in a wall adjacent to the window frame/sill. Sliding doors operate similarly, and the term "sash" is used throughout the text to encompass a window or a door or a portion thereof.

Articulating windows are also well known in the art. In general, an articulating window comprises a window sash hinged or otherwise pivoted, such that the sash may be rotated inwards or outwards (or both) about a hinge, pivot or pin, for example.

Windows that both articulate and slide are also known. A sliding and articulating window is typically constructed with special hardware called roller hinges (also called hinge rollers) and roller releases. A roller hinge is a roller adapted to roll or slide in a track of a window frame or sill, much like a regular roller used in a sliding window assembly, but instead of the sash being fixedly secured to the roller, the sash is pivotally mounted on a pin that protrudes from the roller hinge. The pivoted mounting of the sash on the roller hinge permits rotating the sash about the pin, thus providing the sliding window with the ability to articulate. The edge of the sash, opposite to the edge hinged with respect to the roller hinge, is typically attached to a roller release. The roller release is also adapted to roll or slide in a track of a window frame or sill, much like a regular roller, but instead of the sash being fixedly secured to the roller, the sash is releasably attached to a catch provided with the roller release. By pressing or otherwise actuating the catch, the sash may be released from the roller release, which permits swinging the sash about the pivot of the roller hinge.

A problem with sliding and articulating windows is that they generally do not provide adequate sealing capability against wind, cold or other elements of the environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to provide an improved a sliding window or door assembly with enhanced functionality, such as articulation and a sealing mechanism.

There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a system comprising a sash slidingly mounted on a track motion system and pivotable with respect to the track motion system, and a guide member arranged for translation in and out of the sash between a first position, wherein the guide member protrudes from the sash into a portion of the track motion system sufficiently to prevent substantial pivoting of the sash with respect to the track motion system, and a second position, wherein the guide member is retracted in the sash sufficiently to permit pivoting of the sash with respect to the track motion system.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the guide member is adapted to seal the sash with respect to the track motion system in the first position. In one embodiment, a sealing element is attached to the guide member, adapted to sealingly contact the track motion system in the first position. In another embodiment, a sealing element is attached to the track motion system, adapted to sealingly contact the guide member in the first position.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the sash comprises a shaft arranged for translation in and out of the sash between a first position, wherein the shaft is retracted in the sash, and a second position, wherein the shaft is received in a pivot socket formed in the track motion system and the sash is pivotable about the shaft with respect to the track motion system.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention an actuator is coupled with and adapted to move the guide member between the first and second positions. An actuator may be coupled with and adapted to move the shaft between the first and second positions. Further, an actuator may be coupled with and adapted to move both the guide member and the shaft simultaneously together to their respective first positions and simultaneously together to their respective second positions.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a bottom portion of the sash is slidingly mounted on a bottom track motion system and a top portion of the sash is slidingly mounted on a top track motion system, and a bottom guide member is arranged for translation in and out of the sash between a first position, wherein the bottom guide member protrudes from the sash into a portion of the bottom track motion system sufficiently to prevent substantial pivoting of the sash with respect to the bottom track motion system, and a second position, wherein the bottom guide member is retracted in the sash sufficiently to permit pivoting of the sash with respect to the bottom track motion system, and a top guide member is arranged for translation in and out of the sash between a first position, wherein the top guide member protrudes from the sash into a portion of the top track motion system sufficiently to prevent substantial pivoting of the sash with respect to the top track motion system, and a second position, wherein the top guide member is retracted in the sash sufficiently to permit pivoting of the sash with respect to the top track motion system.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the sash comprises a bottom shaft arranged for translation in and out of the sash between a first position, wherein the bottom shaft is retracted in the sash, and a second position, wherein the bottom shaft is received in a pivot socket formed in the bottom track motion system and the sash is pivotable about the bottom shaft with respect to the bottom track motion system, and a top shaft arranged for translation in and out of the sash between a first position, wherein the top shaft is retracted in the sash, and a second position, wherein the top shaft is received in a pivot socket formed in the top track motion system and the sash is pivotable about the top shaft with respect to the top track motion system Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an actuator is coupled with and adapted to move the bottom guide member and the top shaft simultaneously together to their respective first positions and simultaneously together to their respective second positions, the actuator also being coupled with and adapted to move the top guide member and the bottom shaft simultaneously together to their respective first positions and simultaneously together to their respective second positions.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention at least one of the top and bottom guide members is adapted to seal the sash with respect to a corresponding one of the top and bottom track motion systems, respectively, in the first position.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a support element is adapted to support a weight of the sash when the sash is pivoted with respect to the track motion system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a system comprising a sliding and articulating sash, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a simplified sectional illustration of the system of Fig. 1 , taken along lines II-II in Fig. 1 , constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, showing a sash mounted on a track motion system; Figs. 3 and 4 are simplified sectional illustrations of a bottom portion of the system as shown in Fig. 2, respectively in non-sealing and sealing orientations; Fig. 5 is a simplified sectional illustration of the system of Fig. 1 , taken along lines II-II in Fig. 1 , constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a simplified front view illustration of the sash of the system of Fig. 1 , showing top and bottom guide members in retracted positions and top and bottom shafts in extended positions, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 is a simplified front view illustration of the sash as shown in Fig. 6, indicating with arrows movement of the top guide member with the bottom shaft, and movement of the bottom guide member with the top shaft, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 8 is a simplified front view illustration of the sash as shown in Fig. 6, showing the top and bottom guide members in extended positions and the top and bottom shafts in retracted positions, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 9 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a flexible band that forms part of an actuator that moves the guide members and shafts from the extended to retracted position and vice versa, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and Figs. 10 and 1 1 are simplified pictorial illustrations of a lower portion of the sash mounted on a roller of a track motion system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Reference is now made to Fig. 1, which illustrates a system comprising a sliding sash 10, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Sash 10 may comprise a window or a door or a portion thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, sash 10 may comprise a windowpane 12 (e.g., constructed of glass or transparent or translucent plastic) set in a frame 14 (e.g., constructed of aluminum alloy, steel alloy, wood, plastic or other suitable material). Frame 14 may slide along a track 16 of a window frame 18. More than one sash 10 may be mounted in window frame 18.

Reference is now made to Figs. 2-4. Sash 10 may be slidingly mounted on a track motion system 20. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, track motion system 20 may comprise a set of rollers 22 set in a track channel 24. Sash 10 may be attached to the set of rollers 22 by means of a shaft 26, which protrudes from sash 10 and is secured to a bearing axle 28 of rollers 22.

A guide member 30 may be arranged for translation in and out of sash 10, such as being mounted on shaft 26. Guide member 30 may be an elongate, ruler-type element. A more detailed description of one way of arranging guide member 30 for translation in and out of sash 10 is presented hereinbelow with reference to Figs. 6-8. Guide member 30 is shown in Fig. 3 retracted in sash l O.jTn such a position, sash 10 may be pivoted (i.e., articulated) with respect to track motion system 20 by rotation about shaft 26, as indicated by an arrow 31. Guide member 30 may be moved to the position shown in Fig. 4, as indicated by an arrow 32, wherein guide member 30 protrudes from sash 10 into a portion of track motion system 20 sufficiently to prevent substantial pivoting of sash 10 with respect to track motion system 20.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, guide member 30 is adapted to seal sash 10 with respect to track motion system 20 in the position shown in Fig. 4. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4, one or more sealing elements 34, such as but not limited to, a pair of brush seals, are attached to track channel 24. When guide member 30 slides into track channel 24, sealing elements 34 sealingly contact guide member 30. Another pair of sealing elements 34 may be mounted in sash 10 as well.

Reference is now made to Fig. 5, which illustrates another version of the guide member and sealing element. In the embodiment of Fig. 5, a guide member 36 has one or more sealing elements 38 attached thereto, such as but not limited to, a pair of brush seals. Fig. 5 illustrates guide member 36 in a retracted position in sash 10. In such a position, sash 10 may be pivoted (i.e., articulated) with respect to track motion system 20 by rotation about shaft 26, as indicated by an arrow 31. Guide member 36 may be moved towards track motion system 20, as indicated by arrow 32, wherein guide member 36 protrudes from sash 10 into a portion of track motion system 20 sufficiently to prevent substantial pivoting of sash 10 with respect to track motion system 20. In such a position, the sealing elements 38 would sealingly contact track channel 24.

Reference is now made to Figs. 6-8, which illustrate one way of arranging guide member 30 for translation in and out of sash 10, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In the illustrated embodiment, sash 10 may comprise one or more guide members, e.g., a top guide member 40 and a bottom guide member 42, and one or more shafts, e.g., a top shaft 44 and a bottom shaft 46. It is noted that the terms "top" and "bottom" are used throughout the specification as general terms. These terms were chosen as being relative to the situation illustrated in Fig. 6, and are used merely for clarity. However, the invention is not limited to top or bottom; rather the invention also encompasses any other direction, and the terms top and bottom are accordingly meant to encompass any direction.

An actuator 50, which preferably has a handle 52, may be coupled with top and bottom guide members 40 and 42, and with top and bottom shafts 44 and 46, for moving top and bottom guide members 40 and 42 and top and bottom shafts 44 and 46 in and out of sash 10. Actuator 50 may comprise a set of gears (not shown) that may be turned by handle 52 connected to them. However, actuator 50 is not limited to this example, and this and other examples are well known to the skilled artisan without further need for explanation. Actuator 50 may be coupled to the guide members 40 and 42 and shafts 44 and 46 by means of a flexible band 54, shown more in detail in Fig. 9. As seen in Fig. 9, flexible band 54 may comprise a flexible strip 72 with attachment hardware, such as but not limited to pins 70 and 74, or protrusions or threaded elements, just to name a few. Referring again to Fig. 6, flexible bands 54 may be placed at four corners of sash 10. Two corner flexible bands 54 may be attached to each other by a link 56, and the flexible bands 54 may be attached to actuator by links 58. actuator 50 may be connected to guide members 40 and 42 by means of links 59.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, actuator 50 is coupled with and adapted to move the guide members and shafts simultaneously together from their extended positions to their retracted positions and vice versa, as is now explained with reference to Fig. 7.

Sash 10 is shown initially in a position wherein the guide members 40 and 42 are retracted and the shafts 44 and 46 are extended. In such a position, shafts 44 and 46 may extend into a pivot socket (such as one of the pivot sockets 83 shown later in Fig. 10) of the track motion system 20 (not shown for the sake of simplicity in Figs. 6-8). Since the guide members are retracted and the shafts are in the pivot sockets, sash 10 may be articulated with respect to the track motion system.

By turning handle 52 in the direction of arrow 60, actuator 50 moves the lower link 59 downwards in the sense of Fig. 7 in the direction of an arrow 61 , and moves the upper link 59 upwards in the direction of an arrow 65. This moves the bottom guide member 42 downwards in the direction of arrow 61 to an extended position, and the top guide member 40 upwards in the direction of arrow 65 to an extended position. At the same time, the downward motion of the lower link 59 imparts a downward motion via link 58 to the lower right flexible band 54, which converts the motion to a sideways leftward motion on link 56, as indicated by arrows 62. The leftmost lower link 58 is connected to bottom shaft 46. The sideways motion is converted by the lower left flexible band 54 to an upward motion, thereby retracting bottom shaft 46 into sash 10, as indicated by arrow 63.

Similarly, the upward motion of the upper link 59 imparts an upward motion via link 58 to the upper right flexible band 54, which converts the motion to a sideways leftward motion on link 56, as indicated by arrows 64. The leftmost upper link 58 is connected to top shaft 46. The sideways motion is converted by the upper left flexible band 54 to a downward motion, thereby retracting top shaft 46 into sash 10, as indicated by arrow 66.

Fig. 8 illustrates the position so obtained by rotation of handle 52 in the direction of arrow 60 (Fig. 7). In this position, the guide members 40 and 42 are extended and the shafts 44 and 46 are retracted. In such a position, the guide members 40 and 42 may extend into the track motion system 20 (as explained hereinabove with reference to Figs. 2-4) and prevent articulation of sash 10 with respect to the track motion system 20. In this position, sash 10 may be slid along the track 16 (Fig. 1), and the sealing elements (34 or 38 in Figs. 4 or 5) seal sash 10 with respect to the track motion system 20.

It is appreciated that rotation of handle 52 in the direction opposite to arrow 60 may bring the system back to the position shown in Fig. 6, wherein sash 10 may be articulated with respect to the track motion system 20.

Reference is now made to Figs. 10 and 11, which illustrate one way of mounting a lower portion 84 of sash 10 on a track motion system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The sash is shown pivotally mounted on a shaft 80, which may be received in one or more pivot sockets 83 formed in a support element 82 of a track roller. The track roller may comprise rollers or wheels 86 for sliding or rolling along the track 16 (Fig. 1). Support element 82 is preferably adapted to support a weight of sash 10 when sash 10 is pivoted with respect to the track motion system. Support element 82 may thus significantly reduce a moment exerted upon shaft 80 when sash 10 is in the pivoted position. Moreover, support element 82 may help prevent sagging of sash 10 in the pivoted position.

It will be appreciated by person skilled in the art, that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described herein above. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims that follow: 9 153317/2

Claims (14)

CLAIMS What is claimecHs:

1. A system comprising: a sash slidingly mounted on a track motion system and pivotable with respect to the track motion system; a guide member arranged for translation in and out of said sash between a first position, wherein said guide member protrudes from said sash into a portion of said track motion system sufficiently to prevent substantial pivoting of said sash with respect to said track motion system, and a second position, wherein said guide member is retracted in I C / o said sash sufficiently to permit pivoting of said sash with respect to said track motion P , . .· , - \p system, wherein said guide member is adapted to seal said sash with respect to said track -- ic V motion system in said first position; and a sealing element attached to said guide member, adapted to sealingly contact said track motion system in said first position.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a sealing element attached to said track motion system, adapted to sealingly contact said guide member in said first position.

3. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said sash comprises a shaft arranged for translation in and out of said sash between a first position, wherein said shaft is retracted in said sash, and a second position, wherein said shaft is received in a pivot socket formed in said track motion system and said sash is pivotable about said shaft with respect to said track motion system.

4. The system according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising an actuator coupled with and adapted to move said guide member between said first and second positions.

5. The system accofding to claim 3, further comprising an actuator coupled with and adapted to move said shaft between said first and second positions.

6. The system according to claim 3, further comprising an actuator coupled with and adapted to move both said guide member and said shaft simultaneously together to their respective first positions and simultaneously together to their respective second positions.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein a bottom portion of said sash is slidingly mounted on a bottom track motion system and a top portion of said sash is slidingly mounted on a top track motion system, and a bottom guide member is arranged for translation in and out of said sash between a first position, wherein said bottom guide ; . 10 153317/2 member protrudes from said sash into a portion of said bottom track motion system sufficiently to prevent substantial pivoting of said sash with respect to said bottom track motion system, and a second position, wherein said bottom guide member is retracted in said sash sufficiently to permit pivoting of said sash with respect to said bottom track motion system, and a top guide member is arranged for translation in and out of said sash between a first position, wherein said top guide member protrudes from said sash into a portion of said top track motion system sufficiently to prevent substantial pivoting of said sash with respect to said top track motion system, and a second position, wherein said top guide member is retracted in said sash sufficiently to permit pivoting of said sash with respect to said top track motion system.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein said sash comprises a bottom shaft arranged for translation in and out of said sash between a first position, wherein said bottom shaft is retracted in said sash, and a second position, wherein said bottom shaft is received in a pivot socket formed in said bottom track motion system and said sash is pivotable about said bottom shaft with respect to said bottom track motion system, and a top shaft arranged for translation in and out of said sash between a first position, wherein said top shaft is retracted in said sash, and a second position, wherein said top shaft is received in a pivot socket formed in said top track motion system and said sash is pivotable about said top shaft with respect to said top track motion system i-r

9. The system according to claim 8, further comprising an actuator coupled with and adapted to move said bottom guide member and said top shaft simultaneously together to their respective first positions and simultaneously together to their respective second br positions, said actuator also being coupled with and adapted to move said top giiide member and said bottom shaft simultaneously together to their respective first positions and simultaneously together to their respective second positions.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein at least one of said top and bottom guide members is adapted to seal said sash with respect to a corresponding one of said top and bottom track motion systems, respectively, in said first position.

11. The system according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a support element adapted to support a weight of said sash when said sash is pivoted with respect to said track motion system.

12. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said sash comprises at least a portion of a window. 11 153317/2

13. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said sash comprises at least a portion of a door.

14. The system according to any of the preceding claims, and substantially as shown and described hereinabove. For the Applicant, David Klein, Patent Attorney Dekel Patent Ltd.