HINGE SYSTEM FOR OPENING WINDOWS Related Applications This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U. S. Provisional Application No. 60/238,829, filed 6 October 2000, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Technical Field Our invention pertains generally to window hinge systems for windows having a swinging sash such as casement windows and awning windows. More particularly, it pertains to an improved X-bar hinge arrangement for such windows.

Background Casement windows swing open around a vertical axis on side- mounted hinges. Awning windows are hinged on their top edge and swing open around a horizontal axis. It is often desirable for both types of windows to be provided with some means by which their outside surfaces can be accessed from inside a dwelling for cleaning purposes. It is also desirable in many cases for the sash hinging system used to allow complete and ready egress in case of emergencies. Finally, it is usually desirable in awning windows for the hinged edge of the sash to remain adjacent or within the frame of the window, as this prevents precipitation from entering between the edge of the sash and frame.

Hinge systems have been suggested for opening a casement sash in a way that allows the outside surface of the sash to be washed from inside the building. While this is convenient and makes window washing easier, such a sash opening leaves the sash positioned within the window frame opening. This partially obstructs the window and can

block egress from the building. It is also possible for a hinge system to open a casement sash or awning sash in a way that moves the sash sufficiently to one edge of the window frame so that egress is possible and a person can escape through the open window. However, opening a sash this way tends to make it unwashable from inside the building.

Symmetrical X-bar type hinges feature two equal length elongate members joined by a pivot so as to form an X-shaped member with two sets of equal length arms. Such hinges have previously been used for mounting a swinging sash. U. S. Patent No. 3,722,142, in particular, discusses a symmetrical X-bar hinge for mounting overhead awning windows. However, although ready egress through open casement or awning windows and convenient washability from inside a building are both recognized as highly desirable, these have not previously been accomplished simultaneously in an X-bar type of hinge arrangement.

Moreover, symmetrical X-bar hinges of the type illustrated in U. S.

Patent No. 3,722,142 move the sash away from the frame as it is opened, creating a gap that can allow rain and other precipitation to enter and present another problem to be solved.

Summary of the Invention Many embodiments of our invention offer both a full egress opening and inside washability in an X-bar hinge system. The invention also includes convenient and effective ways of operating or actuating such a hinge system so that the invention accomplishes both of the previously desired features in a single effective mechanism. In addition, by virtue of its use of an asymmetrical X-bar system, some embodiments or our invention are able to retain the edge of the sash adjacent to or even within the window frame and eliminate the awning window gap discussed above. Finally, the non-facing tracks we utilize in our invention help to produce a stronger, more durable system.

In doing these things, our invention aims at economy, efficiency, convenience, and ease of operation in a window hinge system and operator that can open in two different ways--a normal opening mode that allows fuller egress through the window frame when the sash is fully opened, and a washability opening mode that positions the opened

sash to have its exterior washed from inside the building. The invention accomplishes-these goals with a hinge system that can be switched between two modes of opening and operators or actuators that conveniently operate such a hinge system in either mode.

Drawings Figures 1-5 show a preferred embodiment of an X-bar hinge system that can open a swinging sash in two different modes that alternately accommodate both egress and washability. The use of our hinge system is illustrated and exemplified in FIGS. 1-5 with respect to a casement sash. For simplicity and completeness of illustrating a preferred hinge system, FIGS. 1-5 do not include any operator or actuator of the hinge system. More specifically : Figure 1 schematically shows a preferred embodiment of the inventive casement hinge system with a casement sash in a closed position; Figure 2 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 positioned for normally and partially opening a sash; Figure 3 shows the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 positioned for fully opening a sash to provide egress; Figure 4 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 positioned partially open in a mode allowing an exterior of the sash to be washed; and Figure 5 shows the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 4 positioned to open the sash fully in a washability mode allowing the exterior of the sash to be washed from inside the building.

Figures 6A-D schematically show the frame track and frame shoe portion of the hinge system of FIGS. 1-5 to illustrate operation of a switch allowing alternate shoe movement.

Figures 7-20 schematically show a variety of preferred actuators for the X-bar hinge embodiment of FIGS. 1-5. For simplicity and clarity of illustration, FIGS. 7-20 do not include a frame and sash for a casement window, but show a frame track and a sash track that

correspond with the positions of the frame and sash illustrated in FIGS.

1-5. Each of the embodiments of FIGS. 7-20 shows an X-bar hinge system partially opened toward an egress position.

Figures 21-22C provide schematic side views of a preferred embodiment of our invention as used in an awning window. More specifically: Figure 21 provides a schematic side view of our awning hinge system in a closed position; Figure 22A provides a schematic side view of our awning hinge system installed in an awning window with the awning window closed ; Figure 22B provides a schematic side view of our awning hinge system installed in an awning window with the awning window partially open; and Figure 22C provides a schematic side view of our awning hinge system installed in an awning window with the awning window fully open.

Detailed Description Our invention grows out of two primary areas of innovation. The first relates to our use of movable hinge shoes in an X-bar hinge. The second relates to our use of an asymmetrical X-bar hinge. In addition, we have developed ways of efficiently operating or actuating such a hinge system via a single effective mechanism and a non-facing track system that increases our system's durability and utility.

1. Providing a Window with Two Opemng Modes Through the Use of AlternatmPlv Movable Hmge Shoes in an X-bar Hmge The inventive way of opening a swinging sash in two different modes we have discovered involves hinge shoes that are alternately movable along a frame track of an X-bar hinge system. For one of the opening modes, one of the frame track shoes is held in position to serve as a fixed pivot; and for the other opening mode, the opposite shoe is held in place on the frame track to serve as a fixed pivot. Put another way, one of the frame shoes is allowed to move while another

is held in place for each opening mode, and the fixed and movable roles of a pair of frame track shoes are reversed for each opening mode.

The two opening modes are illustrated with reference to an X-bar hinge system 9 in a casement window 10 in FIGS. 1-5. From the closed position of FIG. 1, sash 11 opens in the normal egress mode to the intermediate position shown in FIG. 2 and to the fully open egress position shown in FIG. 3. As this occurs, shoe 16 on track 15 of frame 12 stays in a fixed location at the right hand end of track 15, as shown in FIGS. 1-3. At the same time, shoe 17 on track 15 moves from the fully leftward, closed position shown in FIG. 1 to the fully rightward, open position shown in FIG. 3.

Opening sash 11 in a washability mode, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, reverses the roles of shoes 16 and 17 on frame track 15. Shoe 17 stays in place toward the left hand end of track 15, and shoe 16 is allowed to move from right to left as sash 11 opens in a wash mode.

This positions sash 11 within the opening of frame 12 where it's outside can be washed from inside a building.

The operator of window 10 decides which opening mode to use when opening sash 11, and the operator actuates a switching mechanism to hold one of the shoes 16 and 17 in place and allow the other to move. Such a switching system can take many forms and can include locking mechanisms of types well known to those of ordinary skill in the mechanical arts that hold one of the shoes 16 and 17 in place while the other shoe is released. Since a swinging sash using the invention has an X-bar hinge arranged at both ends of sash 11, shoes must be locked and unlocked appropriately on frame tracks at both ends, only one of which is shown in the drawings, for convenience of illustration.

A shoe switching system can use lock and unlock mechanisms for each shoe involved so that a user locks shoes 16 and unlocks shoes 17 for the normal opening mode of FIGS. 2 and 3 and locks shoes 17 and unlocks shoes 16 for the wash opening mode of FIGS. 4 and 5. This involves dealing with four track shoes. Where a casement window is involved, there are two shoes at the top of the window frame and two at the bottom of the window frame.

A more convenient switch system is schematically shown in FIGS.

6A-D. This involves a single switch 20 mounted on a pivot 21 so that switch 20 can move between the position shown in FIGS. 6A and B to the position shown in FIGS. 6C and D. Switch ends 24 and 25 respectively interlock with notches 26 and 27 in shoes 16 and 17 that are movable along frame track 15. Switch ends 24 and 25 hold in place whichever shoe they are interlocked with so that the shoe cannot move, but the opposite shoe not engaged by a switch end is free to move.

Detents 22 and 23 preferably hold switch 20 in either of its operating positions, and switch 20 is preferably moved from one position to another only when sash 11 is closed in the position of FIG. 1.

This locates shoes 16 and 17 at the extreme ends of their travel where switch ends 24 and 25 can engage shoe notches 26 and 27.

With switch 20 in the normal operating position shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the closed window position is illustrated in FIG. 6A and the half- open window position of FIG. 2 is illustrated in FIG. 6B. With switch 20 in the wash mode position of FIGS. 6C and 6D, FIG. 6C represents the closed window position of FIG. 1 and FIG. 6D represents the partially open window position of FIG. 4.

A switch 20 is preferably arranged adjacent tracks at both ends of a swinging sash. Thus, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, it is located adjacent both upper track 15 and lower track 15 for sash 11. An operator of window 10 preferably moves both switches 20 into appropriate positions for the desired window opening mode. Otherwise, problems could ensue. For example, if a switch 20 above a sash were switched to a different position from a switch 20 below a sash, sash 11 would tend to rack or incline from a vertical plane as it opened.

Opening sash 11 in a wash mode, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, occurs much less frequently than opening sash 11 in a normal or egress mode, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Hence, switch 20 needs to be operated only occasionally when sash 11 must be opened in a wash mode for washing or repair. Even though switch 20 may be operated infrequently, it is possible to arrange a connection between upper and

lower switches 20 so that they are operated jointly to corresponding positions for each mode of sash opening.

Switch systems allowing alternate movement of frame track shoes can be arranged in many other ways than the switch 20 schematically illustrated in FIGS. 6A-D. Any satisfactory arrangement will reliably hold a predetermined one of the shoes 16 and 17 in place while allowing the other of the shoes 16 and 17 to move. Such a successful switching arrangement can also be incorporated into a window actuator.

2. Providing an Actuator for an X-bar H) nge Wmdow w) th Two Opening Modes and Alternativelv Movable Hmge Shoes An operator or actuator for a swinging sash that can open in two modes must be able to open and close the sash in a normal or egress opening mode, but need not necessarily open and close the sash in a wash mode. Since opening a sash in a wash mode occurs relatively rarely, this opening mode can be left to manual force applied by a human operator by pulling and pushing on opposite stile edges of the sash to achieve both opening and closing.

Actuators for swinging sashes are widely used and are preferred for the purposes of our invention, especially for sashes that use internal insect screens. Several alternative actuators suitable for use with our dual opening mode system as applied to casement windows are shown in FIGS. 7-20. These systems can also be readily adapted for use with awning windows.

Generally, an actuator suitable for opening and closing sash 11 in the normal opening mode shown in FIGS. 1-3 can accomplish this by moving shoe 17 rightward along track 15 to open sash 11 and by moving shoe 17 leftward along track 15 to close sash 11. An actuator that accomplishes only this much can succeed in opening and closing sash 11 in the egress mode. Opening and closing sash 11 in the more rare wash mode can then be left to manual exertion of an operator.

The actuator alternatives schematically illustrated in FIGS. 7-20 are simplified by eliminating frame 12 and sash 11. The drawings then

show with less clutter frame track 15 and sash track 13, which in themselves reveal the positions of the frame and sash. FIGS. 7-20 show window 10 in a partly open position in the egress mode of FIG. 2; but in each case, the illustrated actuator is capable of fully opening and closing window 10 in the normal or egress mode and at least. accommodating manual opening of window 10 in the wash mode, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

The actuator alternatives of FIGS. 7-11 show arrangements for moving track shoe 17 rightward for opening window 10 and leftward for closing window 10. The embodiment of FIG. 7 uses a cable driven by winder 30 and reeved over a pair of pulleys 31 and 32. Winding in or pulling on cable 33 moves track shoe 17 rightward and opens window 10, and winding in or pulling on cable 34 has the opposite effect of moving track shoe 17 leftward to close window 10. A lever arm 35 extending from sash arm 40 increases the leverage or mechanical advantage applied by cables 33 and 34, especially during initial opening and final closing of window 10.

As opening cable length 33 is pulled or wound inward by winder 30 to open window 10, cable length 34 is paid out to allow the sash opening movement to occur. Similarly, during closing of window 10, cable length 33 is paid out by winder 30 during winding in of closing pull cable 34. There are many ways that cable winders can accomplish this task, and one preferred way is shown in PCT Publication AU98/00982.

A similar actuator alternative shown in FIG. 8 uses a chain or cog belt 36. This arrangement works the same as described for FIG. 7, except that winder 30 can be arranged with a sprocket or drive wheel meshing with chain or cog belt 36 to effect the winding in and paying out necessary to move track shoe 17 rightward and leftward for opening and closing of window 10.

Cog belt or chain 36 can also be alternately connected to sash shoes 16 and 17 by a selective connecting mechanism so that cog belt or chain 36 can alternately move either frame shoe and can thus accomplish both modes of operation. This selective connecting mechanism can utilize snaps, locks, latches or other mechanisms of

types well known to those of ordinary skill in the mechanical arts to connect the desired frame shoe to cog belt or chain 36.

Another alternative actuator schematically illustrated in FIG. 9 uses a rack 37 and a pinion 38 driven by winder 30 for opening and closing window 10. Rack and pinion drives can be arranged in many ways; and especially with a movable electric drive, rack 37 can be arranged as part of track 15, and a pinion rotatable on shoe 17 can drive shoe 17 back and forth along track 15.

Rack 37 can also be extended to selectively and alternately engage each of the frame track shoes 16 and 17, so that actuator 30 can move either shoe back and forth along track 15 to accomplish both modes of opening and closing. This would require a mechanism of the type discussed above for selectively connecting rack 37 alternately between shoes 16 and 17.

A screw drive 39, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 10, can also be arranged for moving track shoe 17 rightward and leftward along track 15. Drive screw 39 is preferably operated with an electric motor 30, but can also be rotated by a hand crank.

Screw drive 39 can also be extended to alternately engage frame track shoe 16 so that when screw 39 is rotated, it selectively moves one of the shoes 16 or 17. This would require thread-engaging mechanisms of types well known to those or ordinary skill in the mechanical arts that can alternately open and close to connect the desired one of the shoes 16 and 17 to screw 39.

A gear drive winder 30, as schematically shown in FIG. 11, can move a lever 41 driving a connecting arm 42 connected to lever arm 35 of X-bar lever 40 attached to shoe 17. Many arrangements of this type for moving a single lever 41 through an arc as illustrated by the double-ended arrow can effectively move track shoe 17 rightward and leftward for opening and closing window 10.

By giving lever 41 alternating connections between frame track shoes 16 and 17, lever 41 can then alternately move one of the frame shoes to accomplish sash opening in either desired mode. A mechanism

of the type discussed with reference to FIG. 9, above, can be used to selectively connecting lever arm 41 alternately between shoes 16 and 17.

It is also possible to open and close window 10 by moving sash shoe 50 back and forth along sash track 13; and this can accomplish opening and closing of window 10 in both the normal and wash modes, providing that the actuator is flexible enough to accommodate the different movement paths of the sash. Cable actuators can accomplish this, as schematically shown in FIG. 12, providing they use flexible cable conduits 51. An opening pull cable 53 can then pull sash shoe 50 rightward for opening window 10, and a closing pull cable 54 reeved over a pulley 55 can pull sash shoe 50 leftward for closing window 10. An alternative schematically shown in FIG. 13 runs closing pull cable 54 over a pulley 56 and back to frame track 15 for pulling window 10 directly closed. The alternative of FIG. 14 runs cable conduits 51 to movable track shoe 17 and from there runs opening pull cable 53 around pulley 57 and along track 13 to track shoe 50. Closing pull cable 54 then pulls directly inward on track 13 to close window 10.

Cables shown connected to tracks can also connect to the sash or frame or to a shoe on a track or an arm or some other structure, including a lever arm of an X-bar hinge. Also, the schematic examples shown can be varied in a multitude of ways while preserving the basic operating principle schematically illustrated.

Since frame shoes 16 and 17 move toward each other along frame track 15 during opening of window 10, it is possible to exploit this fact by guiding an opening pull cable to one of the shoes through a cable conduit and connecting it to the other shoe. Tensioning the opening pull cable will then move whichever shoe is free to move, to accomplish window opening in the desired mode.

Examples of this strategy are shown schematically in FIGS. 15 and 16. In FIG. 15, conduits 51 lead the cables from winder 30 to track shoe 16. From there, opening pull cable 53 extends to shoe 17 and closing pull cable 54 extends around a pulley 56 and back to track 15 or the frame to which it is secured. Closing pull cable 54 directly pulls a sash inward toward its frame, and opening pull cable 53 shortens the

distance between track shoes 16 and 17. This allows opening pull cable 53 to open window 10 in either mode.

The example schematically illustrated in FIG. 16 reverses the connection of opening pull cable 53. Cable conduits 51 then extend flexibly to track shoe 17, and opening pull cable 53 extends from track shoe 17 to track shoe 16 to reduce the distance between them for opening window 10. Closing pull cable 54 extends to sash track 13 or sash 11 for pulling window 10 directly closed.

An actuator 30 as schematically shown in FIG. 17 can accomplish both opening and closing of window 10 in either mode by pulling shoes 16 and 17 together and pushing shoes 16 and 17 apart. Only one of the shoes 16 and 17 will be movable in any opening mode, but an actuator that is flexible enough to accommodate one shoe standing still while another is moved can accomplish all the shoe movements necessary for both opening and closing. This capability is schematically illustrated in FIG. 17 by the arrows applied to lever arms 35 and 45 extending respectively from X-bar hinge lever arms 40 and 44. If shoes 16 and 17 are each provided with movable electric drives to run pinions along a rack extending along track 15, similarly to what was described above relative to FIG. 9, then actuator 30 can both select the mode of sash opening and also accomplish both opening and closing.

Screw drives and chain and cog belt drives can also be arranged to accomplish this.

Cable actuators can also accomplish both opening and closing of window 10 in each operating mode by using an arrangement such as shown in FIG. 18. With double pulleys 46 and 47 arranged on lever arms 35 and 45, opening pull cable 53 can be reeved around pulley 59 and then around pulleys 46 and 47 and secured to a fixed point 57 to draw toward each other whichever of the shoes 16 and 17 is free to move.

This opens window 10 in whichever mode is desired. Similarly, closing pull cable 54 is reeved over additional pulleys 58,48, and 49 to fixed point 67 so as to urge apart whichever of the shoes 16 and 17 are free to move. This accomplishes closing of window 10 in either operating mode.

Manipulation of track shoes 16 and 17 toward and away from each other for opening and closing window 10 in either operating mode can also be accomplished with winder 30 operating a planetary gear drive as shown in FIG. 19. A planetary gear drive can move lever 41 and connecting arm 42 to move shoe 17 along track 15 in a normal operating mode similar to what is shown in FIG. 11. If movement of shoe 17 is blocked so that window 10 can open in a wash mode, the same planetary gear drive then moves lever 61 and connecting rod 62 to move shoe 16 leftward along track 15 to open window 10. Reverse operation of a planetary gear drive also moves whichever shoe is free to move to accomplish closing of window 10 from either open mode.

Cable actuators as shown in FIG. 20 can form another workable variation on the arrangement of FIG. 18. Instead of opening a sash by shortening the distance between pulleys 46 and 47, and then closing the sash by lengthening the distance between pulleys 46 and 47, the arrangement of FIG. 20 uses a pulley 71 arranged on sash track 13 so that closing pull cable 54 can pull the sash closed by moving sash track 13 toward frame track 15. Opening pull cable 53 works in a way similar to the arrangement of FIG. 18 by urging the movable one of frame track shoes 16 and 17 toward the other. While this happens, closing pull cable 54 pays out to allow a sash to open; and conversely, when closing pull cable 54 pulls a sash closed, opening pull cable 53 pays out to allow frame track shoes 16 and 17 to separate. The ends of both cables are anchored to a fixed structure 57 on the window frame.

3. Providing Asymmetncal X-bar Hlnges In a Swinging Window By virtue of its use of an asymmetrical X-bar system, our invention is able to retain the edge of the sash adjacent to or even within the window frame and eliminate the awning window gap problem.

Symmetrical X-bar hinges of the type illustrated and described in U. S.

Patent No. 3,722,142 have upper arms that are of equal length and lower arms that are of equal length. This can create gap problems where awning windows are involved. If the upper arm connection is slideable and the lower arm connection is not, the symmetrical X-bar hinge will force the edge of an awning sash downward by the same amount that it is forced outwards. Likewise, if the upper arm pivot

connection is non-slideable and the lower arm connection is slideable, the symmetrical X-bar hinge will force the edge of an awning sash upward by the same amount that it is. forced outwards. In the first case, an undesirable gap will be created. In the second, not only will a gap be created, the sash is also likely to impinge on the frame.

Figures 21-22C provide schematic side views of a preferred embodiment of our invention as used in an awning window. As will be observed in reviewing these figures, the most pronounced change made is the radical shortening of the upper (or first) outward arm 80 and the lower (or second) inward arm 81 of the X-bar system 9. This shortening has important effects. If first outward arm 80 were as long as first inward arm 82 and second inward arm 81 were as long as second outward arm 83, the top edge 90 of sash 11 would be forced upwards and outwards to a much more radical degree, initially impinging on frame lentil 100 and ultimately creating an undesirable gap between frame lentil 100 and top edge 90. As will be observed in reviewing the sequence provided by FIGS. 22A through 22C, the change made causes the top edge 90 to move outward along an almost straight line.

Shortening either first outer arm 80 or second inner arm 81 by itself would also help to moderate the creation of a horizontal gap and the upward movement of top edge 90. However, the best overall effect is achieved by shortening both arms simultaneously.

4. Providing Non-facing Hinge Tracks in an X-bar Wmdow Our system uses tracks that are parallel, substantially co-planar, and disposed in a substantially edge-to-edge fashion when the window is closed. This configuration allows the tracks to be mounted parallel to the frame and sash members. Mounting the members parallel eases fabrication by aligning mounting holes and adding the possibility of mounting against a linear feature in the sash or frame. Parallel mounting also reduces the depth of the flat area required on the sash or frame for mounting. In addition, facing tracks require the use of notches such as those used in U. S. Patent No. 3,722,142 to enable overlapping X-bar members and facing tracks. Using notches weakens the structural strength of the X-bar system. Our use of non-facing parallel tracks allows us to avoid the use of notches in the bars used in

our invention, increasing its strength. The canting of one or more arms of the X-bar system 9 facilitates the use of non-facing tracks.

We have found that canting first outward arm 80 further outward is the most advantageous configuration for our purposes as it also serves to further shorten the effective length of first outward arm 80 and facilitates the desired movement of top edge 90 almost straight outward and slightly downward as the window is opened.