AU2011204857B2

AU2011204857B2 - A chain winder

Info

Publication number: AU2011204857B2
Application number: AU2011204857A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Michael Brian Alchin
Original assignee: Azuma Design Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Azuma Design Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2010-07-19
Filing date: 2011-07-19
Publication date: 2016-06-30
Anticipated expiration: 2031-07-19
Also published as: AU2011204857A1

Abstract

A CHAIN WINDER Abstract A chain winder (10) including a hollow body (11) providing a first track (12) and a second track (13). Each of the tracks receives a respective chain (17) that extends from 5 the chain winder (10) to an associated window. By operation of a centrally mounted handle driven drive mechanism (19), the chains are moved between a retracted position and an extended position moving associated windows.

Description

A CHAIN WINDER

Technical Field

The present invention relates to chain winders for windows.

Background of the Invention

Chain winders are operated to pivotally move a window panel relative to the window frame. Winders have a number of advantages including the ability to pull the window tight shut in a sealingly closed position.

Known chain winders suffer from the disadvantage that they have difficulty moving, and pulling shut, window panels that are multi-glazed and large sized windows.

Object of the Invention

It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantage.

Summary of the Invention

There is disclosed herein a window winder including: a hollow elongated body providing a central portion, a first chain track and a second chain track, the chain tracks extending in opposite directions from the central portion; a first chain, the chain being located in the first track for movement relative thereto between a retracted position at least substantially located in the first track, and an extended position projecting from within the body; a second chain, the second chain being located in the second track for movement relative thereto between a retracted position at least substantially located in the second track, and an extended position projecting from within the body; a drive mechanism mounted on the body at the central portion and engaged with both chains to cause simultaneous movement of the chains so the chains move in unison between the retracted and extended positions; and wherein the body has an opening for each chain, the opening being located at longitudinal opposite ends of the body, each chain extends through a respective one of the openings when being moved to the extended position, and each chain has a first chain end to be attached to a movable window panel, and a second chain end retained in the body, with the second chain ends moved in opposite direction when the chains are moved between the extend and retracted positions, and each track extends from adjacent the central portion to adjacent a respective one of the openings.

Preferably, the tracks extend longitudinally of the body.

Preferably, the tracks extend in opposite longitudinal directions from the central portion of the body.

Preferably, said drive mechanism includes a first sprocket spaced from said central portion so as to be adjacent a respective one of the end openings and engaged with the first chain, and a second sprocket engaged with the second chain and spaced from the central portion so as to be adjacent a respective one of the end openings, the sprockets being located on opposite sides of the central portion and being driven in unison to move the chains.

Preferably, the sprockets are angularly driven in opposite angular directions to move the chains in unison.

Preferably, said drive mechanism includes a first gear connected to the first sprocket to drive the first sprocket, a second gear connected to the second sprocket to drive the second sprocket, a drive shaft means extending longitudinally of the body in opposite directions from the central portion, a third gear, the third gear being fixed to the shaft means and engaged with the first gear, and a fourth gear, the fourth gear being fixed to the shaft means and engaged with the second gear.

Preferably, said drive means includes a central gear located at the central portion and engaged with the shaft means with rotation of the central gear causing rotation of the shaft means and therefore the sprockets.

Preferably, the drive means includes a handle rotatably mounted in said body, a handle gear driven by the handle and engaged with the central gear to drive the central gear.

Preferably, said shaft means includes a first shaft attached to the central gear and the third gear, and a second shaft attached to the central gear and the fourth gear.

Preferably, each sprocket is rotated about a sprocket axis, with the sprocket axes being generally parallel, and the shaft means has a longitudinal rotational axis perpendicular to the sprocket axes.

Preferably, the handle gear rotates about a handle axis that is generally normal to the shaft axis.

Preferably, said body has a first chain opening and a second chain opening, the chain openings being at opposite ends of the body and provide for the chains to project outwardly of the body.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic isometric view of a chain winder;

Figure 2 is a schematic isometric view of an end portion of the chain winder of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a schematic isometric view of a central portion of the chain winder of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

In the accompanying drawings, there is schematically depicted a chain winder 10. Chain winder 10 includes a hollow body 11 providing a first chain track 12 and a second chain track 13. The body 11 is elongated so as to have a longitudinal axis 14. The body 11 is hollow but is provided with a cover that encloses the operating mechanism of the chain winder 10. The cover is not illustrated.

Each chain track 12/13 includes a first track length 15 and a second track length 16 so that each track 12/13 is of a U-shaped configuration. Located in each track 12/13 is a chain 17 (only one chain is illustrated). The chains may be a chain as described in Australian Patent Application 2009904770. However, the chain of Application 2009904770 is just an example as standard winder chains may be employed.

Each track 12/13 extends from an opening 18 through which chains 17 project when the chains 17 have moved the window from the closed position.

Typically the body 11 would be fixed to the lower frame member of the window, and the chains 17 attached to the pivotally mounted window panel or panels. The openings 18 are located at opposite longitudinal ends of the body 11. Each chain 17 has a chain end 37 that remains in the body 11, with chain ends 38 attached to the window panel.

When the window panel or panels are to be pivotally moved, the chains 17 move relatively to their tracks 12/13 between an extendable position and a retractable position. In the fully retractable position, the panel or panels are pulled shut. In the fully extended positions, the chains 17 hold the panel or panels in the fully open position.

Associated with the chains 17 is a drive mechanism 19. The drive mechanism 19 includes a first sprocket 20 and a second sprocket 21. Each sprocket 20/21 is operatively associated with a respective one of the chains 17, with the sprockets 20/21 being driven in opposite angular directions to move the chains 17 in unison between the extended and retracted positions.

The drive mechanism 19 further includes a first gear 22 and a second gear 23. The first gear 22 is fixed to the gear 20 so that when the gear 22 is driven, the sprocket 20 is driven to thereby move the associated chains 17. When the gear 23 is driven, the associated chain 17 is moved between the extended and retracted positions.

The gears 22 and 23 are driven by means of a shaft means 24 that includes a first shaft 25 and a second shaft 26. The first shaft 25 terminates with a third gear 27 that drives the gear 22, while the shaft 26 terminates with a fourth gear 28 that drives the gear 23.

The housing 11 has a central portion 29 within which there is rotatably mounted, by means of a mounting 30, a central gear 31. The central gear 31 is attached to the shafts 25 and 26 so that the gear 31 drives the shafts 25 and 26 to thereby drive the associated sprockets 20 and 21.

In the present embodiment, the chain winder 10 is manually driven. However, the chain winder 10 may also be provided with a motor so that it could be, as an example, electrically operated.

The drive mechanism 19 includes a winder handle 32 that terminates at its end with a gear 33. The gear 33 is engaged with the gear 31 so that upon rotation of the handle 32, about the axis 34, the gear 31 is driven and therefore the shafts 25 and 26 are driven. The chain tracks 12/13 are located on opposite sides of the central portion 29 so that the chain ends 37 move in opposite directions when the handle 32 is operated.

The sprockets 20 and 21, as well as their associated gears 22 and 23, rotate about their respective axes 35 and 36. The axes 35 and 36 are generally parallel and generally perpendicular to the axis 14. The axis 34 is also generally perpendicular to the axis 34 however, the axis 34 is inclined by an acute angle to the axes 35 and 36. The axis 14 is also the rotation axis for both shafts 25 and 26.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A window winder including: a hollow elongated body providing a central portion, a first chain track and a second chain track, the chain tracks extending in opposite directions from the central portion; a first chain, the chain being located in the first track for movement relative thereto between a retracted position at least substantially located in the first track, and an extended position projecting from within the body; a second chain, the second chain being located in the second track for movement relative thereto between a retracted position at least substantially located in the second track, and an extended position projecting from within the body; a drive mechanism mounted on the body at the central portion and engaged with both chains to cause simultaneous movement of the chains so the chains move in unison between the retracted and extended positions; and wherein the body has an opening for each chain, the opening being located at longitudinal opposite ends of the body, each chain extends through a respective one of the openings when being moved to the extended position, and each chain has a first chain end to be attached to a movable window panel, and a second chain end retained in the body, with the second chain ends moved in opposite direction when the chains are moved between the extend and retracted positions, and each track extends from adjacent the central portion to adjacent a respective one of the openings.
2. The winder of claim 1, wherein the tracks extend longitudinally of the body.
3. The winder of claim 1 or 2, wherein the tracks extend in opposite longitudinal directions from the central portion of the body.
4. The winder of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said drive mechanism includes a first sprocket spaced from said central portion so as to be adjacent a respective one of the openings and engaged with the first chain, and a second sprocket engaged with the second chain and spaced from the central portion so as to be adjacent a respective one of the end openings, the sprockets being located on opposite sides of the central portion and being driven in unison to move the chains.
5. The winder of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sprockets are angularly driven in opposite angular directions to move the chains in unison.
6. The winder of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said drive mechanism includes a first gear connected to the first sprocket to drive the first sprocket, a second gear connected to the second sprocket to drive the second sprocket, a drive shaft means extending longitudinally of the body in opposite directions from the central portion, a third gear, the third gear being fixed to the shaft means and engaged with the first gear, and a fourth gear, the fourth gear being fixed to the shaft means and engaged with the second gear.
7. The winder of claim 6, wherein said drive means includes a central gear located at the central portion and engaged with the shaft means with rotation of the central gear causing rotation of the shaft means and therefore the sprockets.
8. The winder of claim 6 or 7, wherein the drive means includes a handle rotatably mounted in said body, a handle gear driven by the handle and engaged with the central gear to drive the central gear.
9. The winder of claim 6, 7 or 8 wherein said shaft means includes a first shaft attached to the central gear and the third gear, and a second shaft attached to the central gear and the fourth gear.
10. The winder of any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein each sprocket is rotated about a sprocket axis, with the sprocket axes being generally parallel, and the shaft means has a longitudinal rotational axis perpendicular to the sprocket axes.
11. The winder of claim 10, when appended to claim 8, wherein the handle gear rotates about a handle axis that is generally normal to the shaft axis.
12. The winder of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said body has a first chain opening and a second chain opening, the chain openings being at opposite ends of the body and provide for the chains to project outwardly of the body.