Slide operator assemblies and components for fenestration units

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11560746-B2
Application number	US-202016883481-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 26, 2020
Priority date	May 24, 2019
Publication date	Jan 24, 2023
Grant date	Jan 24, 2023

Abstract

Slide operator assemblies and components for fenestration units, as well as associated methods of manufacture and use thereof.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fenestration unit comprising:
a rectangular frame including a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a third side, and fourth side opposite the third side, wherein the third and fourth sides are perpendicular to the first and second sides;
a sash hinged to the first side of the frame and configured to be movable between an open position and a closed position;
a lock assembly including a handle on the second side of the frame;
an operator assembly configured to transition the sash between the open and closed positions,
the operator assembly including:
a drive mechanism on the third side of the frame, the drive mechanism configured to impart an opening force on the sash toward the open position and a closing force on the sash toward the closed position;
a slide mechanism on the second side of the frame operatively coupled to the drive mechanism, the slide mechanism being slidable to cause the drive mechanism to impart the opening force and the closing force on the sash; and
a transfer mechanism operatively coupling the slide mechanism to the drive mechanism, the transfer mechanism including a linkage member extending over the lock assembly on a side of the lock assembly opposite the second side of the frame.

2. The fenestration unit of claim 1 wherein the linkage member of the transfer mechanism includes a drive belt operatively coupling the slide mechanism to the drive mechanism.

3. The fenestration unit of claim 2 wherein the slide mechanism comprises:
a linear rail on the second side of the frame, between at least portions of the lock assembly and the fourth side of the frame; and
a carriage configured for slidable motion along the rail and coupled to the drive belt, wherein the motion of the carriage causes motion of the drive belt.

4. The fenestration unit of claim 3 wherein the transfer mechanism further comprises a plurality of pulleys to support the drive belt about first and second travel paths extending along the second side of the frame, wherein the first travel path is opposite the second travel path from the second side of the frame, and wherein the plurality of pulleys includes one or more jump pulleys to support lock sections of the first and second travel paths on the side of the lock assembly.

5. The fenestration unit of claim 4 wherein:
the plurality of pulleys further includes a first end pulley located between the lock assembly and the fourth side of the frame, wherein the drive belt extends around the first end pulley to define first end portions of the first and second travel paths; and
the one or more jump pulleys includes:
a first jump pulley between the lock assembly and the first end pulley, to support the drive belt about a rail section of the second travel path, wherein the rail section of the second travel path is between the lock assembly and the first end pulley;
a second jump pulley between the first jump pulley and the lock assembly, to support the drive belt about a transition section of the second travel path, wherein the transition section of the second travel path is between the rail section and the lock section of the second travel path; and
a third jump pulley opposite the lock assembly from the second jump pulley, wherein the second and third jump pulleys support the drive belt about the lock section of the second travel path.

6. The fenestration unit of claim 5 wherein the plurality of pulleys further includes:
a first end pulley opposite the third jump pulley from the lock assembly, to support the drive belt about a second end portion of the first travel path; and
a second end pulley opposite the third jump pulley from the lock assembly, to support the drive belt about a second end portion of the second travel path.

7. The fenestration unit of claim 6 wherein the first end pulley, the first, second and third jump pulleys, and the first and second end pulleys are configured to locate the first end portions of the first and second travel paths parallel to one other and spaced apart from one another by a first distance, and to locate the lock and second end portions of the first and second travel paths parallel to one another and spaced apart from one another by a second distance that is less than the first distance.

8. A fenestration unit comprising:
a frame defining a depth dimension and including a head, a first jamb, a second jamb and a sill;
a sash hinged to the frame such that the sash is movable between an open position and a closed position; and
an operator assembly configured to transition the sash between the open and closed positions,
the operator assembly including:
a drive mechanism including a drive pulley configured to impart an opening force on the sash toward the open position and a closing force on the sash toward the closed position, wherein the drive mechanism is associated with a first axis;
a slide mechanism, wherein the slide mechanism is slidable and associated with a second axis that is a non-zero angle with respect to the first axis; and
a transfer mechanism operatively coupling the slide mechanism to the drive pulley of the drive mechanism, the transfer mechanism comprising a plurality of pulleys to support a drive belt about first and second travel paths extending along the first and second axes, wherein the first and second travel paths are spaced from one another about the depth dimension, wherein the plurality of pulleys of the transfer mechanism includes: an end pulley, wherein drive belt extends around the end pulley to define slide portions of the first and second travel paths associated with the slide mechanism; and a corner pulley, wherein the drive belt extends around the corner pulley to define actuator portions of the first and second travel paths associated with the drive mechanism, and that extend from the slide portions to the drive mechanism, wherein, wherein the end pulley is configured for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the depth dimension, and the corner pulley is configured for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the end pulley and parallel to the depth dimension.

9. The fenestration unit of claim 8 , wherein the drive belt is defined by a thickness and a major surface having a width that is greater than the thickness, and wherein the major surface of the drive belt engages the end pulley and the corner pulley, causing the belt to rotate ninety degrees between the end pulley and the corner pulley.

10. The fenestration unit of claim 9 , wherein the drive pulley of the drive mechanism is configured for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the depth dimension, causing the belt to rotate ninety degrees between the corner pulley and the drive pulley.

11. The fenestration unit of claim 10 , wherein the first and second axes are perpendicular to one another.

12. A fenestration unit comprising:
a frame including a head, a first jamb, a second jamb, and a sill;
a sash hinged to the frame such that the sash is movable between an open position and a closed position; and
an operator assembly configured to transition the sash between the open and closed positions,
the operator assembly including:
a drive mechanism including a drive pulley defined by a radius and a diameter and configured for rotation about a drive axis, the drive mechanism configured to impart an opening force on the sash toward the open position and a closing force on the sash toward the closed position in response to rotation of the drive pulley;
a transfer mechanism including a drive belt coupled to the drive pulley, wherein the drive belt rotates the pulley;
an actuator operatively coupled to the drive belt, the actuator

Assignees

• Pella Corp

Inventors

• Bernhagen Todd A
• Hansen Ted L
• Shroder Paul D

Classifications

• E06B3/36

  with a single vertical axis of rotation at one side of the opening, or swinging through the opening (wings requiring lifting before opening E06B3/52) · CPC title

• E05Y2900/148

  Windows · CPC title

• E05F11/24

  shifting the wing by pivotally-connected members {(moving) in a plane parallel to the pivot axis of the wing} · CPC title

• E05F11/06 Primary

  in guide-channels · CPC title

• E05F11/34 Primary

  with screw mechanisms · CPC title