Power window operator

Aug. 10, 1965

J. P. KOBLENSKY

POWER WINDOW OPERATOR

3,199,858

Filed Sept. 11, 1962

Sheets-Sheet 1

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FIG-2

INVENTOR.

JOSEPH P KOBLENSKY

BY

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ATTORNEYS

Aug. 10, 1965

J. P. KOBLENSKY

POWER WINDOW OPERATOR

3,199,858

Filed Sept. 11, 1962

Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US3199858A_D0004.tif" />

FIG.3

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F1G.4

INVENTOR.

JOSEPH P. KOBLENSKY

BY

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ATTORNEYS

3,199,858

Patented Aug. 10, 1965

United States Patent Office

3,199,858

POWER WINDOW OPERATOR Joseph P. Keblensky, Box 38, Markham Village, Ontario, Canada

Filed Sept. 11, 1962, Ser. No. 222,895

Claim. (Cl. 268—97)

This invention relates to power operated window assemblies.

It is known in power operated window assemblies to raise and lower simultaneously, and in vertical planes, the upper and lower windows of a window assembly by means of a motor driven horizontal shaft driving a gear which mutually engages racks affixed to the vertical parts of the sashes on the interior facing sides of the upper and lower windows. The shaft, gear and racks are exposed at various window positions and are quite oily and unsightly.

It is also known to employ complicated electrical circuits, swatches and a series of gears to start and stop movement of the windows at various positions by stopping the window-driving motor.

Power window operators presently in use generally are permanent installations which can only be repaired with difficulty, and the windows of power operated window assemblies generally are not removeable.

It is one object of this invention to provide a power operated window assembly designed in such a manner that no drive shaft extends across the windows and that the racks, gear, drive shaft and windo-w-driving motor are hidden from view.

It is another object of this invention to provide a power operated window assembly wherein the windows thereof can be easily removed for cleaning or replacement.

A further object of this invention is to provide a power operated window assembly employing a window-driving motor of a known type, but which will stop itself, without damage to the motor, when the windows being driven engage an obstruction.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a power operated window assembly which includes a window frame and two windows, each of the windows comprising a window light and a sash in which the window light is mounted. Each sash has a first part extending along one edge of the window light mounted in the sash and a second part extending along the opposite edge of the window light mounted in the sash. Means are provided for mounting the windows in the frame for sliding horizontal movement relative to each other with one of the windows behind the other and with the first and second parts of the sash of one window lying horizontally and being parallel to the first and second parts respectively of the sash of the other window. Two toothed racks are provided with one of the racks being on the first part of the sash of one window and the other on the first part of the sash of the other window, the racks facing each other. A gear is positioned between the first pails of the sashes and engages the racks. A shaft which terminates at the gear and is connected thereto extends through the frame away from the windows and is driven by a motor which rotates the gear to drive the windows horizontally.

In the drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a power operated window assembly with a horizontal sliding windows and equipped with the power window operator of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the structure in FIG. 1 taken along the plane 2—2, and looking in the direction of the arrows assigned thereto;

FIG. 3 is a further sectional view of the structure of

FIG. 1 taken along the plane 3—3, looking in the direction of the arrows thereof, and

FIG. 4 is yet a further cross-sectional view of a portion of the structure of FIG. 1, taken along the plane 4—4, and looking in the direction of the arrows thereof.

The window assembly illustrated comprises two horizontal sliding windows 10 (FIG. 2) set in a metal frame 11 (FIG. 4) which, in turn is shown as set into surrounding wall material 12. Each window consists of a window light which is mounted in a window sash. The windows are in slightly spaced relationship to each other and slide horizontally relative to one another. Toothed racks 13 are provided on the upper parts of the sash of each window 10. These racks face each other, are parallel to each other and are horizontal. Between windows 10 is a pinion gear 14 which engages racks 13. Pinion gear 14 is connected to a shaft which is driven by a reversible electric motor 15.

Small rollers 16 and 17 (FIG. 2) within the window frame engage the upper parts of the window sashes on the surfaces thereof opposite to racks 13 to reduce the coefficient of friction between the frame and the sashes. Other small rollers 18 (FIG. 2) are also located within the lower parts of the window sashes to reduce friction between the sashes and the frame and to support the windows.

The reversible motor 15 is of a known type and employs a “cutoff” system which stops the motor whenever either of windows 10 strikes an obstruction. Motor 15 may be started or stopped by a switch 19.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that in order to open or close windows 10 motor 15 is started thus driving gear 14 which, in turn, and through racks 13, drives windows 10 in opposite horizontal directions.

An important feature of this invention is that the shaft connected to gear 14 terminates at gear 14 and does not extend across the window lights. Furthermore, as best shown in FIGURE 2, the upper part of frame 11 has two downwardly depending side walls between which windows 10 are positioned. These side walls overlap the upper parts of the sashes so that gear 14 and its shaft and racks 13 are hidden from any horizontal line of sight in any position of windows 1®. These features result in a power operated window assembly wherein all of the window driving components are hidden from view.

Windows 1® may be removed easily from frame 11 by first lifting the windows up to clear rollers 18 and then tilting and withdrawing the windows.

While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed herein, those skilled in the art will appreciate that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the appended claim.