Description

LIFT AND SLIDE APPARATUS FOR WINDOW AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a lift and slide apparatus for a window, and more particularly, to a lift and slide apparatus for a window, which includes a runner for lifting a window sash and an operating plate for operating the runner and operates in such a manner that the operating plate is vertically moved by means of an electromotor unit, and a lift control unit for the lift and slide apparatus.

[2]

Background Art

[3] Generally, a lift and slide apparatus for a window is an apparatus for lifting and then sliding a window sash of a window when opening or closing the window. Such a lift and slide apparatus is widely used for relatively large windows such as patio doors in a living room or balcony windows. The lift and slide apparatus causes a window to quietly and smoothly slide when being opened or closed, and also provides airtight, waterproof and soundproof effects.

[4] The lift and slide apparatus mentioned above will be explained with reference to

Fig. 1. The conventional lift and slide apparatus includes a runner 3 mounted to a lower portion of a window sash (not shown), and an operating plate P mounted to a surface of the window sash that contacts with a window frame BF. The operating plate P is lifted up by means of a handle 5, and thus, the runner 3 lifts the window sash by means of the lifted operating plate P. The configuration and operation thereof are disclosed in Korean Patent No. 721455, so that details thereof will be omitted hereinafter.

[5] Meanwhile, the lift operation of the operating plate P will be explained with reference to Fig. 2. In the prior art, the handle 5 is operated to rotate a driving gear 61, and thus, a driven gear 65 is rotated such that a rack gear 67 meshed with the driven gear 65 is lifted to lift the operating plate P. Thus, the window sash is lifted as described above, and a user may easily slide the window sash.

[6] However, in case of the conventional lift and slide apparatus, the user should operate the handle 5 as described above to lift and slide the window, which is so inconvenient. In particular, a disabled person or an old or feeble person who cannot operate the handle 5 cannot open or close the window.

[7]

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[8] The present invention is conceived to solve the aforementioned problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a lift and slide apparatus, which can lift and slide a window sash by lifting an operating plate using electric power thereby enhancing convenience of use and allowing even a disabled person or an old or feeble person to open or close the window.

[9] In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a control unit, which has electrodes installed at each limit point of vertical displacement of the slider to detect the contact with a slider and controls the displacement of the slider accurately using the signal sent from the electrodes thereby preventing overload of a motor and allowing stable lifting movement of the window sash.

[10]

Technical Solution

[11] The above objects can be accomplished by providing a lift and slide apparatus for an electric-powered window, which includes a ball screw rotated by a motor, a slider threadly engaged with the ball screw to vertically move, a protrusion protruding from the slider and caught to a slit formed in the operating plate to lift the operating plate by the movement of the slider, and support plates respectively installed at both ends of the ball screw to support it.

[12] The above objects can also be accomplished by providing a lift control unit of an electric-powered window including position recognition pins, each of which is electr ically connected to a pair of position recognition electrodes installed at each of upper and lower limit points of displacement of the slider and electrically connected to each other by contacting with the slider, and position recognition controller electrodes for transmitting a signal to a controller by contacting with the pins.

[13]

Brief Description of the Drawings

[14] Figs. 1 and 2 are a perspective view and an exploded perspective view of a conventional lift and slide apparatus;

[15] Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a lift and slide apparatus according to the present invention;

[16] Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a support plate of the present invention;

[17] Figs. 5 and 6 are a perspective view and a front view of a stopper and a stopper holding piece of the present invention;

[18] Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a control unit for controlling an electric- powered lift apparatus according to the present invention;

[19] Figs. 8 and 9 are a perspective view and a perspective sectional view of a contact

unit of the present invention; and

[20] Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of the control unit of the present invention.

[21]

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[22] The present invention is directed to a lift and slide apparatus for a window including a runner for lifting a window sash and an operating plate for operating the runner, in which the operating plate is vertically moved by means of an electromotor unit. [23] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail through embodiments and accompanying drawings. [24]

[25] Embodiment 1

[26] In this embodiment, an electromotor unit 300 includes a slider 320 caught to an operating plate P to vertically move the operating plate P, a ball screw 310 threadly engaged with the slider 320 to move the slider 320, and a motor M for rotating the ball screw 310, as shown in Fig. 3. [27] That is, in order to operate a runner 3 as described above, the operating plate P should be vertically moved. This embodiment is configured so that the slider 320 is caught to the operating plate P and then vertically moved. [28] At this time, the motor M rotates the ball screw 310. The ball screw 310 is used since it shows less friction on its thread and can also ensure the high accuracy as a backlash can be approximated to 0. [29] Meanwhile, the slider 320 is mounted on the ball screw 310 through thread engagement. That is, the rotation of the ball screw 310 causes the slider 320 to vertically move. [30] At this time, the slider 320 includes a body 321 having a spiral thread formed therein to be thread engaged with the ball screw 310, and a protrusion 322 protruding from one side of the body 321 and caught to a slit Pl of the operating plate P as described above. [31] In addition, support plates 330 and 340 are respectively installed at both sides of the ball screw 310 to support the ball screw 310. [32] In such a configuration, if the motor M is rotated, the ball screw 310 is rotated, and then, the slider 320 threadly engaged with the ball screw 310 is vertically moved. As a result, the protrusion 322 protruding from the slider 320 and caught to the slit Pl of the operating plate P lifts up the operating plate P. Thus, if the operating plate P is lifted up, the runner 3 lifts the window sash as described above. [33] Meanwhile, in the present invention, the ball screw 310 is rotated using the motor

M and accordingly the operating plate P is lifted, as described above. At this time, it is required to control the lift displacement of the operating plate P.

[34] To this end, referring to Fig. 4, a pair of position recognition electrodes 330a or

340a are provided on each of the inner surfaces of the support plates 330 and 340, i.e., a surface with which the slider 320 contacts.

[35] However, since the support plates 330 and 340 have the same shape, only one of the support plates is illustrated in the figure.

[36] The position recognition electrodes 330a or 340a are installed to be spaced apart from each other, and electrically connected by contacting with the slider 320. Due to this configuration, the position recognition electrodes 330a or 340a recognize a position of the slider 320 and then the displacement of the operating plate P can be controlled.

[37] More specifically, the slider 320 is vertically moved by means of the ball screw 310 as described above. For example, if the slider 320 moves up to the upper limit point, i.e., to the upper support plate 330, the slider 320 is brought into contact with the position recognition electrodes 330a installed to the upper support plate 330. At this time, the position recognition electrodes 330a, which are spaced apart from each other and thus not electrically connected to each other, are brought into contact with the slider 320 to thereby be electrically connected to each other. If a signal accordingly generated is sensed, it is possible to recognize that the slider 320 reaches the upper limit point and thus to stop the operation of the motor M.

[38] Meanwhile, the support plate 330 or 340 has a fastening hole 331a or 341a, which is formed in a support plate body 331 or 341 to be threadly engaged with the ball screw 310. At this time, a damper D is preferably installed between the position recognition electrodes 330a or 340a and the body 331 or 341 in order to absorb an impact generated by the contact with the slider 320.

[39] In the meantime, a structure for sensing the signal and stopping the operation of the motor M will be explained later.

[40] As described above, in the present invention, the ball screw 310 is rotated by means of the rotating force from the motor M, and accordingly, the slider 320 is moved up to lift the operating plate P, whereby the runner 3 lifts the window sash. At this time, in a case where it is intended to lift the window sash by lifting the operating plate P and then slide the window sash, the slider 320 should keep the operating plate P to be lifted, which may causes overload applied to the motor M. Thus, this problem should be solved.

[41] This configuration for solving the above problem will be described with reference to Fig. 5. At this time, Fig. 5 shows that the lift apparatus of the present invention is used together with a conventional lift apparatus using a handle as shown in Figs. 1 and

2. Although not shown in Fig. 5, the electromotor unit 300 takes a charge of moving the operating plate P vertically, and overload of the aforementioned motor M is prevented using the configuration shown in Fig. 5.

[42] That is, another slit, i.e., a stopper catching slit P2 is formed in the operating plate

P, and a stopper S 1 is provided so that it is caught to the stopper catching slit P2. The stopper Sl is rotatably mounted within a window sash frame to which the operating plate P is mounted. At this time, an elastic member E such as a spring is installed to the stopper S 1 such that elastic force is applied to rotate the stopper S 1 toward the operating plate P.

[43] According to this configuration, when the slider 320 moves up the operating plate P as described above, the stopper Sl is caught to the stopper catching slit P2. This is performed in such a manner that the stopper S 1 is rotated due to the elastic force of the elastic member E and then inserted into the stopper catching slit P2.

[44] At this time, when the slider 320 is lowered, the operating plate P is not lowered since the stopper S 1 is caught thereto, and as a result, the window sash can be maintained in the lifted state. That is, it means that the window sash can be maintained in its lifted state even while a load is not continuously applied to the motor. Thus, this configuration can improve durability of the lift and slide apparatus of the present invention.

[45] Meanwhile, when the stopper Sl supports the operating plate P as described above, the stopper S 1 may rotate in a reverse direction due to the weight of the operating plate P and thus escape from the operating plate P. In order to fix the stopper Sl, there is provided a stopper holding piece S2.

[46] The stopper holding piece S2 is rotatably installed under the stopper S 1 and receives elastic force from an elastic member E to be rotated toward the operating plate P. At this time, an upper part of the stopper holding piece S2 is formed to be engaged with a lower side of the stopper Sl.

[47] According to such a configuration, when the stopper Sl supports the operating plate

P, the stopper holding piece S2 under the stopper Sl fixes the stopper Sl not to rotate, whereby the stopper S 1 does not escape from the operating plate P to maintain the window sash in its lifted state.

[48] Meanwhile, the lifted state of the window sash is maintained by means of the stopper S 1 and the stopper holding piece S2 as described above. At this time, when it is intended to lower the window sash, a configuration for lowering the operating plate P is required. To this end, it is possible to install a locking manipulation switch S3 to the stopper holding piece S2. At this time, the locking manipulation switch S3 is configured to protrude from one side of the stopper holding piece S2 and then pass through the stopper catching slit P2 of the operating plate P.

[49] According to this configuration, if the locking manipulation switch S3 is pressed in a state where the stopper holding piece S2 and the stopper S 1 are fixed to each other, the stopper holding piece S2 is rotated to thereby being released from the mutual fixed state with the stopper Sl, so that the stopper Sl may freely rotate. Thus, the stopper Sl is rotated due to the weight of the operating plate P caught to the stopper Sl, and therefore, the stopper Sl escapes from the stopper catching slit P2, so that the operating plate P is lowered and the window sash is moved down (see Fig. 6).

[50]

[51] Embodiment 2

[52] This embodiment is directed to controlling the aforementioned electromotor unit

300, and includes a contact unit 100 and a controller 200 for performing control. Hereinafter, this embodiment will be explained with reference to Figs. 7 to 10.

[53] The position recognition electrodes 330a or 340a of Embodiment 1 are configured in a pair to be spaced apart from each other, as already explained. Thus, the position recognition electrodes 330a or 340a are not electrically connected to each other in an ordinary state, but the position recognition electrodes 330a or 340a are electrically connected to each other by the slider 320 when they are brought into contact with the slider 320.

[54] When the pair of position recognition electrodes 330a or 340a are electrically connected to each other as described above, the controller 200 receives the signal and precisely controls the displacement of the operating plate P by controlling the motor M. The contact unit 100 is installed to transmit the signal to the controller 200.

[55] That is, the contact unit 100 is provided to transmit the signal generated from the pair of position recognition electrodes 330a or 340a to the controller 200, which will be described later with reference to Figs. 8 and 9.

[56] The contact unit 100 includes position recognition pins 12Od and 12Oe, each of which is electrically connected to the pair of position recognition electrodes 330a or 340a installed to the upper or lower support plate 330 or 340, and a contact unit body 110 for accommodating the position recognition pins 12Od and 12Oe.

[57] The contact unit body 110 is formed with a container 111 for accommodating one sides of the position recognition pins 12Od and 12Oe and exposing their distal ends.

[58] That is, the signal generated when the position recognition electrodes 330a or 340a are electrically connected is transmitted to the position recognition pin 12Od or 12Oe and then sent to the controller 200.

[59] At this time, the position recognition electrodes 330a and 340a and the position recognition pins 12Od and 12Oe are connected through a well known manner, which is not described in detail herein.

[60] The signal is transmitted to the controller 200 by the contact unit 100 as described

above. The controller 200 includes position recognition controller electrodes 21 Id and 21 Ie provided on a controller body 210 and respectively contacted with and electrically connected to the position recognition pins 12Od and 12Oe, and the electrodes 21 Id and 21 Ie are connected to a drive C for control.

[61] According to the above configuration the vertical movement of the operating plate

P can be controlled, which will be explained below in more detail.

[62] First, when the slider 320 is lifted to the uppermost position, the slider 320 contacts with a pair of position recognition electrodes 330a installed to the support plate 330. At this time, the pair of position recognition electrodes 330a are electrically connected to each other through the slider 320, and the signal is transmitted to the position recognition pin 12Od. Then, the position recognition controller electrode 21 Id in contact with the position recognition pin 12Od receives the signal and transmits it to the drive C.

[63] As a result, the drive C recognizes by the signal that the slider 320 reaches the uppermost point among the displacement limits, and then, stops the operation of the motor M.

[64] According to this configuration, the displacement of the operating plate P can be precisely controlled, whereby it is possible to prevent overload from being applied to the motor M or to stably lift the window sash.

[65] Meanwhile, the above procedure can be identically applied to a case where the slider 320 is lowered to the lowermost point.

[66] At this time, for the purpose of more stable control, it is also preferred that power supply pins 120a and 120b for supplying power and a common contact pin 120c electrically connected to one of the upper position recognition electrodes 330a and one of the lower position recognition electrodes 340a in common be installed to the contact body 110 in addition to the position recognition pins 12Od and 12Oe, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

[67] The present invention so configured is explained in more detail with reference to

Fig. 10.

[68] Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a signal transmission concept according to the operations of the contact unit 100, the controller 200 and the slider 320.

[69] As shown in Fig. 10, when the slider 320 is lifted up to the uppermost point, the upper position recognition electrodes 330a are electrically connected through the contact with the slider 320 to transmit a signal to the position recognition pin 12Od, and also, the signal is transmitted to the common contact pin 120c. Thus, the position recognition pin 12Od and the common contact pin 120c are electrically connected to transmit a signal to the position recognition controller electrode 21 Id and a common contact controller electrode 21 Ic of the controller 200, and the signal is input to the

drive C to stop the operation of the motor M as described above.

[70] Meanwhile, the controller 200 may be configured at any position if it can be electrically connected with the contact unit 100 as described above, and in this embodiment, the controller 200 is mounted to a window frame (not shown) as shown in Fig. 7. In addition, various position recognition pins of the contact unit 100 are electrically connected with the various electrodes 21 Ia, 21 Ib, 21 Ic and 21 Id of the controller 200 through a slit P3 formed in one side of the operating plate P.

[71]

Industrial Applicability

[72] As described above, a conventional lift and slide apparatus can lift or slide a window sash only when a user manipulates a handle, which is so inconvenient. Also, there is a problem in that a disabled person or an old or feeble person cannot open or close the window.

[73] However, the lift and slide apparatus for a window according to the present invention does not require direct manipulation of a user, thereby enhancing convenience of use, and a disabled person or an old or feeble person can open or close the window.

[74] In addition, the lift control unit for an electric-powered window according to the present invention includes position recognition pins, each of which is electrically connected to a pair of position recognition electrodes installed at each of upper and lower limit points of displacement of the slider and electrically connected to each other by contacting with the slider, and position recognition controller electrodes for transmitting a signal to a controller by contacting with the pins. Thus, there is an advantage in that it is possible to prevent overload from being applied to a motor and ensure stable lifting operation of a window sash.

[75]

[76]