Low profile crank handle assembly for fenestration unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12129701-B2
Application number	US-202217648599-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 21, 2022
Priority date	Jan 21, 2022
Publication date	Oct 29, 2024
Grant date	Oct 29, 2024

Abstract

A crank handle assembly for actuating a panel of a fenestration unit relative to a frame includes an arm. The arm is elongate and is configured to be supported at one end by the frame for rotation to actuate the moveable panel relative to the frame. The crank handle assembly also includes a knob that is moveably attached to an opposite end of the arm and that extends therefrom. The knob is supported for movement between an aligned position and a misaligned position relative to the arm. The arm and the knob cooperatively define a crank handle longitudinal axis. The knob, in the aligned position, is aligned with the arm and the crank handle longitudinal axis is straight. The knob, in the misaligned position, is misaligned with the arm, and the crank handle longitudinal axis is nonlinear.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A crank handle assembly for actuating a panel of a fenestration unit relative to a frame, the crank handle assembly comprising:
an escutcheon configured to be mounted to the frame, the escutcheon including a recessed space;
an arm that is elongate and that is configured to be supported at one end by the frame for rotation to actuate the moveable panel relative to the frame, the arm supported at the one end for movement between a first position and a second position relative to the frame;
a knob that is moveably attached to an opposite end of the arm and that extends therefrom, the knob supported for movement between an aligned position and a misaligned position relative to the arm, the recessed space configured to receive the arm in the first position and to receive the knob in the aligned position;
the arm and the knob cooperatively defining a crank handle longitudinal axis;
the knob, in the aligned position, being aligned with the arm and the crank handle longitudinal axis being straight;
the knob, in the misaligned position, being misaligned with the arm and the crank handle longitudinal axis being nonlinear; and
the escutcheon including a first projection and a second projection that project outward from within the recessed space, the arm configured to receive and engage the first projection to support the arm in the first position, the knob configured to receive and engage the second projection to support the knob in the aligned position.

2. The crank handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the arm and the knob are configured to lie flat against the escutcheon when the arm is in the first position and the knob is in the aligned position.

3. The crank handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the arm has a first flat surface, and wherein the knob has a second flat surface that is flush with the first flat surface when the knob is in the aligned position.

4. The crank handle assembly of claim 3 , wherein the arm and the knob cooperatively define a crank handle with an exterior profile, the exterior profile having a substantially cuboid shape with the knob in the aligned position.

5. The crank handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the knob is rotationally attached to the arm at a rotational joint; and
wherein the arm and the knob, in the aligned position, cooperatively define a plurality of flat surfaces that extend along the crank handle longitudinal axis, the plurality of flat surfaces interrupted by the joint.

6. The crank handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the knob is moveably attached to the arm at a joint, the knob having a knob joint face and the arm having an arm joint face that face each other on opposite sides of the joint; and
wherein the knob joint face and the arm joint face are substantially parallel to a plane, the plane disposed at a nonorthogonal bias angle relative to the crank handle longitudinal axis.

7. The crank handle assembly of claim 6 , wherein the knob and the arm cooperatively define a flat surface that is interrupted by the joint, the flat surface having a first longitudinal edge; and
wherein the longitudinal edge includes a point on one side of the joint and a bevel on an opposite side of the joint.

8. A crank handle assembly for actuating a panel of a fenestration unit relative to a frame, the crank handle assembly comprising:
an escutcheon configured to be mounted to the frame, the escutcheon including a recessed space;
a first handle part that is elongate and axially straight and that is configured to be supported at a first end by the frame for rotation about a first axis to move between a stowed position and a deployed position, the first end of the first handle part supported for rotation about a second axis to actuate the moveable panel relative to the frame;
a second handle part that is rotationally attached to an opposite end of the first handle part at a joint, the opposite end being opposite to the first end, the joint supporting the second handle part for rotational movement between an aligned position and a misaligned position relative to the first handle part, the recessed space configured to receive the first handle part in the stowed position and to receive the second handle part in the aligned position;
the first and second handle parts cooperatively defining a crank handle longitudinal axis;
the second handle part, in the aligned position, being aligned with the first handle part and the crank handle longitudinal axis being straight;
the second handle part, in the misaligned position, being misaligned with the first handle part and the crank handle longitudinal axis being nonlinear; and
the escutcheon including a first projection and a second projection that project outward from within the recessed space, the first handle part configured to receive and engage the first projection to support the first handle part in the first position, the second handle part configured to receive and engage the second projection to support the second handle part in the aligned position.

9. The crank handle assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first handle part, in the stowed position, and the second handle part, in the aligned position, are configured to lie substantially flat against the frame.

10. The crank handle assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first and second handle parts cooperatively define a crank handle with an exterior profile, the exterior profile having a substantially cuboid shape with the second handle part in the aligned position.

11. The crank handle assembly of claim 8 , wherein the second handle part is moveably attached to the first handle part at a joint, the second handle part having a second joint face and the first handle part having a first joint face that face each other on opposite sides of the joint; and
wherein the first and second joint faces are substantially parallel to a plane, the plane disposed at a nonorthogonal bias angle relative to the crank handle longitudinal axis.

12. The crank handle assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first and second handle parts cooperatively define a flat surface that is interrupted by the joint, the flat surface having a first longitudinal edge; and
wherein the longitudinal edge includes a point on one side of the joint and a bevel on an opposite side of the joint.

13. A fenestration unit comprising:
a frame;
a panel that is supported for movement relative to the frame between a closed position and an open position;
a crank handle assembly for selectively actuating the panel between the closed position and the open position, the crank handle assembly comprising:
an escutcheon that is mounted to the frame and received into the frame, the escutcheon including an outer rim, the escutcheon including a front face with a recessed space that is recessed relative to the outer rim;
an arm that is elongate and that is configured to be supported at one end, within the recessed space, by the frame for rotation to actuate the moveable panel relative to the frame;
a knob that is moveably attached to an opposite end of the arm and that extends therefrom, the knob supported for movement between an aligned position and a misaligned position relative to the arm;
the arm and the knob cooperatively defining a crank handle longitudinal axis;
the knob, in the aligned position, being aligned with the arm and the crank handle longitudinal axis being straight; and
the knob, in the misaligned position, being misaligned with the arm and the crank handle longitudinal axis being nonlinear.

14. The fenestration unit of claim 13 ,
wherein the arm is supported at the one end for movement between a first position and a second po

Assignees

• Jeld Wen Inc

Inventors

• Meyer Shane Michael

Classifications

• E05F11/10

  Mechanisms by which a handle moves the bar · CPC title

• E05F11/34

  with screw mechanisms · CPC title

• E05Y2900/148

  Windows · CPC title

• E05F11/02 Primary

  for wings in general, e.g. fanlights (E05F11/36 takes precedence; for windows to be lowered vertically E05F11/38; for doors E05F11/54) · CPC title