Powered sash driving apparatus having a connection block

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9382745-B2
Application number	US-201414557586-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2014
Priority date	Dec 3, 2013
Publication date	Jul 5, 2016
Grant date	Jul 5, 2016

Abstract

Windows including one or both of a powered sash driving apparatus and a window balance apparatus and further including a sash connector block and latch bolt assembly are described herein, along with methods of assembling and/or operating the windows.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A window comprising:
a window frame comprising first and second side jambs that are connected to each other by a head jamb and a sill;
a sash movably mounted in the window frame, the sash positioned between the first and second side jambs and configured for movement between the head jamb and the sill along a first axis aligned with the first and second side jambs;
a latch assembly attached to a first side of the sash, wherein the first side of the sash is adjacent to and moves along the first side jamb, wherein the latch assembly comprises a latch bolt movable between an extended position and retracted position, wherein the latch bolt is biased in the extended position in which the latch bolt extends away from the first side of the sash towards the first side jamb and wherein the latch bolt is movable from the extended position to the retracted position in which the latch bolt moves towards the first side jamb; and
a window balance apparatus configured to counteract the weight of the sash during movement of the sash between the head jamb and the sill;
a powered sash driving apparatus comprising a motor and a linear actuator;
a sash connector block operably connected to the linear actuator of the powered sash driving apparatus, wherein the powered sash driving apparatus is configured to move the sash connector block along the first side jamb between the head jamb and the sill;
wherein the sash connector block comprises:
a head jamb end and a sill end, wherein the head jamb end is closer to the head jamb than the sill end and wherein the sill end is closer to the sill than the head jamb end,
a bolt recess configured to receive the latch bolt of the latch assembly when the latch bolt is in its extended position, wherein the bolt recess is located between the head jamb end and the sill end,
a head jamb side ramp comprising an inclined surface between the head jamb end and the bolt recess, wherein the inclined surface of the head jamb side ramp is closer to the first side of the sash at the bolt recess than at the head jamb end of the sash connector block, wherein, when the sash connector block moves along the first axis towards the head jamb with the latch bolt located between the head jamb end of the sash connector block and the head jamb, the inclined surface of the head jamb side ramp is configured to move the latch bolt from its extended position to its retracted position until the latch bolt reaches the bolt recess at which point the latch bolt moves to its extended position in the latch bolt recess, and
a sill side ramp comprising an inclined surface between the sill end and the bolt recess, wherein the inclined surface of the sill side ramp is closer to the first side of the sash at the bolt recess than at the sill end of the sash connector block, wherein, when the sash connector block moves along the first axis towards the sill with the latch bolt located between the sill end of the sash connector block and the sill, the inclined surface of the sill side ramp is configured to move the latch bolt from its extended position to its retracted position until the latch bolt reaches the bolt recess at which point the latch bolt moves to its extended position in the latch bolt recess;

wherein the powered sash driving apparatus is operably connected to the sash and configured to move the sash along the first side jamb between the head jamb and the sill only when the latch bolt is in the extended position in the bolt recess of the sash connector block;
and wherein the window balance apparatus is connected to the sash and configured to counteract the weight of the sash during movement of the sash between the head jamb and the sill whether or not the latch bolt is in the extend position in the bolt recess of the sash connector block.

2. A window according to claim 1 , wherein the powered sash driving apparatus comprises a powered mode and unpowered mode, wherein the sash is coupled to the motor through the linear actuator and the sash connector block when the powered sash driving apparatus is in the powered mode such that operation of the motor moves the linear actuator which, in turn moves the sash connector block and the sash only when the latch bolt is in the extended position in the bolt recess of the sash connector block, and wherein the sash connector block and the sash are decoupled from the motor when the powered sash driving apparatus is in the unpowered mode such that the sash can be manually moved between the head jamb and the sill when the powered sash driving apparatus is in the unpowered mode.

3. A window according to claim 2 , wherein the powered sash driving apparatus comprises a clutch between the motor and the linear actuator, and wherein the clutch is engaged when the powered sash driving apparatus is in the powered mode, and further wherein the clutch is disengaged when the powered sash driving apparatus is in the unpowered mode.

4. A window according to claim 1 , wherein the powered sash driving apparatus is attached to the first side jamb.

5. A window comprising:
a window frame comprising first and second side jambs that are connected to each other by a head jamb and a sill;
a sash movably mounted in the window frame and configured for movement between the first and second side jambs along a first axis aligned with the head jamb and the sill;
a latch assembly attached to the sash, the latch assembly comprising a latch bolt movable between an extended position and retracted position, wherein the latch bolt is biased in the extended position in which the latch bolt extends away from the sash and wherein the latch bolt is movable from the extended position to the retracted position in which the latch bolt moves towards the sash; and
a powered sash driving apparatus comprising a motor and a linear actuator;
a sash connector block operably connected to the linear actuator of the powered sash driving apparatus, wherein the powered sash driving apparatus is configured to move the sash connector block between the first side jamb and the second side jamb;
wherein the sash connector block comprises:
a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is closer to the first side jamb than the second end, and wherein the second end is closer to the second side jamb than the first end,
a bolt recess configured to receive the latch bolt of the latch assembly when the latch bolt is in its extended position, wherein the bolt recess is located between the first end and the second end,
a first ramp comprising an inclined surface between the first end and the bolt recess, wherein the inclined surface of the first ramp is closer to the sash at the bolt recess than at the first end of the sash connector block, and wherein, when the sash connector block moves along the first axis towards the first side jamb with the latch bolt located between the first end of the sash connector block and the first side jamb, the inclined surface of the first ramp is configured to move the latch bolt from its extended position to its retracted position until the latch bolt reaches the bolt recess at which point the latch bolt moves to its extended position in the latch bolt recess, and
a second ramp comprising an inclined surface between the second end and the bolt recess, wherein the inclined surface of the second ramp is closer to the sash at the bolt recess than at the second end of the sash connector block, and wherein, when the sash connector block moves along the first axis towards the second side jamb with the latch bolt located between the second end of the sash connector block and the second side jamb, the inclined surface of the second ramp is configured to move the latch bolt from its extended position to its retracted position until the latch bolt reaches the bolt recess at which point the latch bol

Assignees

• Andersen Corp

Inventors

• Plummer David D

Classifications

• E05F15/603 Primary

  using rotary electromotors · CPC title

• E05F1/00

  Closers or openers for wings, not otherwise provided for in this subclass · CPC title

• E05D13/1207 Primary

  with tension springs · CPC title

• E05F15/665

  for vertically-sliding wings · CPC title

• E05D15/16

  for wings sliding vertically more or less in their own plane · CPC title