US2801845A - Window operator device - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 6, 1957 K. s. RODAWAY 2,801,345

WINDOW OPERATOR DEVICE Filed Feb. 17, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l 5a INVENTOR. Ks/r14 5. Room mg Aug. 6, 1957 K. s. RODAWAY 2,801,845

v wmnow OPERATOR DEVICE Filed Feb. 17, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 165/774 Bobdwnyg' INVHVTOR.

/ lirakway nite States Patent grad:

WINDOW OPERATOR DEVICE Keith S. Rodaway, Pacoima, Calif., assignor to Hehr Manufacturing Company, a corporation of California Application February 17, 1954, Serial No. 410,843

3 Claims. (Cl. 268-105) This invention relates generally to window structures and more particularly to operators for hinged windows to vary the degree of opening thereof.

Window operators are presently employed for operating hinged windows of the type commonly installed in house trailers. One such operator has a pivoted operating arm, the free end of which has a roller or slide element engageable in a guideway in the window and adapted, when the arm is pivoted, to adjust the angularity of the window relative to the window frame. The operating arm has a worm wheel segment at one end pivotally mounted in a small casing attached to the window frame. The operator also includes a worm rotatable within the casing and meshing with the gear segment, and an operating crank or handle is provided at the inner side of the window frame for rotating the worm.

The windows of house trailers commonly are hinged along their upper edge to adapt them to pivot upwardly to open position and downwardly to closed position, the windows varying in height from approximately six inches to eighteen inches. For this reason it has heretofore been necessary for the manufacturer to produce the operator, particularly the operating arms thereof, in a variety of sizes, each adapted for use in connection with a window of a particular size.

Such window operators have the disadvantage of pro jecting inwardly from the window frame into the trailer room to a distance such that operation of Venetian blinds over the windows is impaired. It is therefore desirable that the window operator project a minimum distance.

It is also essential that the point of engagement of the operating arm with the pivoted window be adjacent the opening edge of the window, when the latter is in its closed position, so as to attain a high leverage to effectively compress the window against a seal at its edge. To achieve maximum effectiveness, a window should.

open through an angle of at least ninety degrees. With the window pivoted upwardly to such a degree, its inner, upper edge or flange is moved downwardly and outward 1y thus reducing the height of the window opening and the area in which an operating arm can function. Prior window operators are unsuitable for operating such windows through such a large angle.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved window operator which employs a specially designed operating arm of double-crook or S-shape, the outer curve thereof providing clearance for theupper flange of the window dring pivotal movement of the window, thereby allowing actuation of the window to a ninety-degree fully-open position. Also, by this particular shape of the operating arm the inner curved portion thereof provides clearance for the operating screw to thus adapt the arm to assume a position where it completely closes the window with sufficient force to tightly seal the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a window operator of the character referred to, in which the operating arm may be made in various lengths to adapt it for 2,801,845 Patented Aug. 6, 1957 ice use with windows of diiferent heights, in each case the arm having such an S-shape at its pivotal end.

Another object of the invention is to provide a window operator of the type indicated in which the particular S-shape of the operating arm makes it possible to arrange the axis of the actuating screw and hand crank below the pivotal axis of the arm. By this provision, the crank is located at a distance below the upper edge of the window opening in the structural wall such that rotation of the handle, without striking the hand against the window edge, is made possible.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wint dow operator device which is simple in construction,

economical to manufacture, highly practical and efficient in use, and one which may be applied to use with existing pivoted windows without modifying the structure thereof.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description and from the drawings which are intended for the purpose of illustration only, and in which:

Fig. 1 is an outside face view of a hinged window as used in a house trailer structure, showing the present improved window operator applied to use therewith;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the same, in larger scale;

Fig. 3 is a rear or inside view of the central portion of the window structure and operator;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a side view of the window operator device, showing it equipped with an operating arm of extended length for use with larger windows.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the present improved window operator is shown, by Way of example, as applied to use in connection with a hinged window structure of the type commonly used in the side wall 10 of a house trailer, the window being adapted to open and close the opening 11 in said wall.

The metal window structure includes a rectangular frame 12 having respective sides, top and bottom members 13, 14 and 15 of substantially 2 cross section providing outer flanges 16 abutting the outer face of the trailer wall 10 with a resilient sealing ring 17 interposed therebetween. The inner bent flanges 18 have hook shaped edges or lips 19 for clamping the edges of a wire insect screen 20 which is stretched across the frame.

Secured to the upper outer flange 16 of the frame 12 is a hinge strip 23 of angular cross section, the horizontal web 24 of which projects outwardly from the frame. This web has a semi-circular hook-like socket portion 25 providing one part of a hinge connection for the window.

The metal window 30 consists of a rectangular plate 31 having a substantially rectangular opening 32 therein, a resilient sealing strip 33 being applied to the edges of this opening. The plate 31 carries at its rear or inner side a rectangular frame 35 of angular cross-sectional shape. A pane of glass 36 is disposed within the confines of the frame 35 and is held against the inner side of the sealing strip 33 by means of an angular retainer strip 37, this strip fitting within the window opening frame 12 when the window 30 is in its closed position, as shown by full lines in Fig. 4. It is also to be noted that-the window engages against the sealing ring 17 to seal the window opening.

The window structure 30 has a sheet metal hinge strip 39 at its upper edge, this strip having an upwardly directed hook portion 40 of semi-circular cross-sectional shape, this portion engaging in the elongate hinge socket 25 of the frame 12. By this means, the window 30 is hingedly connected to the frame 12 for pivotal movement from the closed position shown by full lines to the fully open position indicated by the broken lines at A in Fig. 4. The means for operating the window from within the trailer is constructed and arranged as next described.

Secured by screws 44 to the upper and lower portions of the frame of the window 30 and extending therebetwcen is a guide strip 45 of channel-shaped cross-sectional shape, see Figs. 4 and 5. One side of the channel has an inturned lip 46 which provides a guideway 47.

Fastened against the lips 19, by means of bolts 50 and slotted backing strip 51, is a relatively narrow casing 52, the front side of which is open to register with a slit formed in the screen 20. The casing 52 may be a metal die-casting and is formed with a semi-circular bearing portion 53 in which an operating worm 54 is rotatable. The worm has a shaft 55 extending through a hole in the inner vertical wall 56 of the casing. Secured to the projecting end of the shaft 55 is a crank or operating handle 57.

Extending between the vertical side walls of the casing 52 is a pivot pin 58. Pivotally mounted on the pin 58 is the hub portion 59 of an operating arm 60, the hub portion being formed with a gear segment 62, the teeth of which mesh with the worm 54.

It is important to note that the operating arm 60 is of S shape, having an upper or inner curved portion 63 providing a recess 64 into which the bearing 53 and worm 54 extend when the arm is in its retracted position within the casing, as shown by full lines in Fig. 4. The lower or outer offset curve 65 of the S defines a curved recess 66 at the front edge of the arm for the purpose to be later explained.

The operating arm 60 carries a roller 68 at its free end, this roller having a peripheral flange 69 which engages in the guideway 47 as clearly shown in Fig. 5. During pivotal movement of the window 30 to open and closed positions, the roller 68 rides in the guideway 47 of the channel-shaped strip 45.

Assuming that the window 30 is in its fully closed position as shown by full lines in Fig. 4, the upper curved portion 63 of the arm straddles the bearing 53 and worm 54 to allow complete counterclockwise pivotal movement of the arm to its fully retracted position so as to force the lower edge portion of the window firmly against the sealing strip 17 to provide a weather-tight joint. It is to be observed at this point that the engagement of the roller 68 in the channel-shaped guide strip 45 is at the lower end of this strip, that is, at a location which is most remote from the hinge 25, 40 of the window. Consequently, the inward force is applied to the distal edge of the window to attain maximum pressure thereof against the sealing strip 17 to positively seal the window, with minimum manual effort on the part of the person operating the Window.

7 To open the window, it is only necessary to rotate the handle or crank 57. Rotation of the worm 54, acting through the gear teeth 62 of the operating arm 60, serves to pivot the arm outwardly and upwardly with its roller 68 traveling in the arc shown at 70 in Fig. 4. By reason of the rolling movement of the roller 68 in the guide 45 toward the hinge axis 40, 25, the window 30 is caused to pivot upwardly to uncover the opening 11 in the trailer wall 10.

During this upward pivotal movement of the window 30, the rear edge 71 of its flange 35, 37 at the upper, inner portion of the window pivots downwardly and outwardly, as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 4. Now, if a conventional straight operating arm were employed, this arm would engage the downwardly moving edge 73 and thus restrict the opening of the window to an angle considerably less than ninety degrees. On the other hand, by the use of the present S-shaped arm 60, as this arm is raised, the descending edge 71 of the window is free to enter and move within the recess 66 which provides the necessary clearance therefor. Consequently, by the present concept of a reversely-curved operating arm it is possible to open the window to more than ninety degrees, thus attaining maximum ventilation. As will be apparent, the window may be opened to any desired angle between its fully closed and fully open positions, for example, to the intermediate position indicated at 30B in Fig. 4. The worm and gear driving connection 54, 62 is self-locking and thus serves to retain the window in any selected position.

To close the window, the above procedure is reversed, and as the operating arm 60 is pivoted downwardly it acts through the roller and guide means 68, 45 to hinge the window downwardly. During this movement, the edge 71 of the window 30 moves through the curved recess 66 of the downwardly moving operating arm 60.

The window 30 illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 is of a relatively long narrow type, that is, one having minimum height. The present operator is, however, not limited to use with such a window.

Referring now to Fig. 6, when the operator is to be used in connection with operating a window of greater height, it is equipped with an operating arm of greater length. The arm 80 is similar to the arm 30 with the exception that the lower end of the curve 65 is extended in a straight portion 81 carrying the roller 68 at its extremity. While the arm 30 is capable of operating the larger type windows, it has been determined that greater efficiency isattained by the use of the longer arm 80 which applies the inward force against the lower free end of the window necessary to compress the sealing strip 17.

It is thus seen from the foregoing that by the present operating device, embodying the S-shaped operating arm 30 or 80, sufficient clearance is provided for parts of the window at all times so that it is possible to open the window through at least a ninety degree are. At the same time, location of the arm pivot 62 between the worm 54 and the window hinge 25 is made possible so that the crank handle 57 is, in effect, lowered to a point where there is provided adequate clearance between the handle and the opening 11 in the structural wall 10 to allow free rotation of the crank without interference.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have herein described the principle of the invention, together with the structure which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof. I wish to have it understood, however, that various modifications might be made in the shape, construction, and use of the operator without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An operator for use in connection with a window structure having a fixed frame and a frame for said window, said frames being hinged along adjacent edges of the two frames for pivotal movement of the said window frame with respect to the said fixed frame to open and closed positions of said window frame, said window frame including guide means, said operator comprising: a casing attachable to said fixed frame transversely thereof; a worm screw mounted on said casing and rotatable about an axis extending normal to the hinge axis of said frames; crank means for rotating said worm screw; an operating arm pivoted to the casing on a pivot axis extending parallel to said hinge axis, said pivot axis being located between the worm screw and said hinge axis, said arm having a gear element at its pivotal end in mesh with said worm screw, said arm being of S shape and providing a first clearance recess in its edge disposed remotely from said window frame and adjacent its pivotal end, and a second clearance recess in its edge facing said window frame, said first recess being located to receive said worm screw when the arm is in or near its closed position, said second recess being located to receive the edge of said window frame adjacent said hinge axis as said window frame approaches a fully open position; and means at the free end of said arm and engageable with said guide means and operative, when the arm is pivoted, to move said window frame between said open and closed positions.

2. An operator for use in connection with a window structure having a fixed frame and a window frame hinged along adjacent edges of the frames for pivotal movement of said window frame with respect to said fixed frame to open and closed positions of said window frame, said window frame having guide means thereon, said operator comprising: An operator housing attachable to the fixed frame transversely thereof, said housing being open on the side thereof facing the area in which said window frame pivots; a worm screw mounted within said housing intermediate the ends of said open side for rotation about an axis extending normal to the hinge axis of said frames, said worm screw dividing said housing into first and second spaces, said first space lying on the side thereof adjacent said hinge axis and said second space lying on the opposite side thereof; crank means for rotating the worm screw; an operating arm pivoted to said housing on an axis extending parallel to said hinge axis, said pivot axis for said operating arm lying within said first space, said arm having a worm wheel at its pivotal end in mesh with said worm screw, said arm being of S shape and providing a first clearance recess in its edge disposed remotely from the window frame and adjacent its pivotal end, and a second clearance recess in its edge facing said window frame, said first recess being located to receive said worm screw when the arm is in a closed or slightly open position, said second recess being located to receive the edge of the Window frame adjacent said hinge axis as the window frame approaches a fully open position, the part of the arm that forms said second recess lying within said second space when said window frame is in a closed or slightly open position; and means at the free end of said arm and engageable with the guide means on said window frame and operative, when the arm is pivoted, to move said window frame between said open and closed positions.

3. A window operator for a wind-ow mounted in a window sill having a thickness corresponding to the thickness of the wall supporting said sill, said window having a fixed frame and a window frame pivoted on said fixed frame, said fixed frame being mounted within said sill, said window operator comprising: A guide strip mounted across and supported by said window frame, said guide strip being positioned midway between two opposite ends of said window frame; a casing mounted on said fixed frame, said casing and said guide strip having their longitudinal axes lying in a common plane perpendicular to the plane of said window; a worm screw supported by said casing and having its longitudinal axis lying in the said plane and being perpendicular to the plane of said window when said window is in closed position; a worm wheel having teeth engaging said worm screw, said teeth occupying at least of the periphery of said worm wheel, said worm wheel being mounted on an axle supported by said casing; an S-shaped operating arm with one end fixedly connected to said wheel and the other end slidingly connected to said guide strip; and an operating handle connected to said worm screw for opening and closing said window, one portion of said S-shaped operating arm providing a recess for accommodating the free end of said worm screw, and the second curved portion of said arm providing a recess for accommodating an adjacent portion of said window frame when said window frame is swung open to its extreme open position, said extreme open position being at least 90 away from said closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,724,011 Flagg Aug. 13, 1929 1,971,360 Watson Aug. 28, 1934 2,337,913 McClearen Dec. 28, 1943 2,699,232 Singleton Jan. 11, 1955

Images