US2560179A - Window actuating mechanism - Google Patents

Description

y 1951 B. LEl RMONT EIAL 2,560,179

wmnow ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 5, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l IN ENTORS BASIL LERMONT BY LE6LIE R.BIRD6ALL w ww July 10, 1951 B. LERMONT ETAL WINDOW ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 5, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS BASIL LERMONT y LESLIE R.BIRD6ALL MA T Tom/5x:

y m, 1951 B. LERMONT ETAL WINDOW ACTUATING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 5, 1947 INVENTOR5 BASIL LERMONT BY LESLIE RBIRDJALL THE/A 47702/1/575- J y 10, 1951 B. LERMONT ETAL 2,560,179

WINDOW ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed bee. 5, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TORS BASIL LERMONT y LELlE RBIRDJALL W ATTORNEY! Patented July 10, 1951 WINDOW ACTUATING MECHANISM Basilv Lermont, New York, and Leslie R. Birdsall,

Sloatsburg, N. Y., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Eastern Metals Research (30., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 5, 1947, Serial No. 789,906

9 Claims.

free rotation about an axis within the spring so.

that the spring may be uncoiled or unwound and straightened as the panel is moved to an Open position, thereby tensioning the spring and normally urging the panel, to closed position. A braking member: is provided to. engage and maintain: the panel in an, open or partially open, position. Upon release of the braking, member, the. spring winds. up. due to. the tension thereof. and.

urges the panel. toward closed, position.

The above-described. panel control mechanism is.ver.y useful under many conditions, but, even.

so,. it. hascertaindeficiencies. For example, in

order. to assure the closing. of. the panel or the moving of the panel to closed position, it. is necessary to. provide, a. spring. sufficiently powerful to assure the movement of the panel regardless of the friction between the. panel and its guide elements. Under humid, or cold conditions, thefriction may be relatively high, and, therefore, a.

rather powerfulspring is required to overcome friction. On the other hand, under dry or warm.

conditions, they friction may be relatively low, and

the powerful. spring. therefore, will urge the panelvery quickly to closed position, causing. it to slam as it reaches closed position- Another deficiency of thev prior. devicev for some purposes is that the braking mechanism. engages the panel itself, and,. if. the panelis. a glass panel,

usechfor example, ina. vehicle door, the grit that. accumulates onv the panel and on the braking member may cause the panel. to become scratched afte prolonged use.

Another deficiency of the prior device. is that itis not particularly well. adapted to use in vehicles whichlack guide channels for the windowsabove the level of the door. Thus,,in convertible vehiclesand even in some varieties of 4-door vehicles, there is no pillar between the front and? rear doors, and the. glass panel or window is left largely unsupported when it is moved; toward closed position. The. pri r devi e does not-include guide elements, and, therefore, it cannot be used in vehicles of the type referred to above.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved forms, of window or panel actuating devices in which the deficiencies of the panel actuating device described above are largely overcome.

Another object, of the present invention is to providev a window actuating mechanism for vehicles in which a positive locking of the window in any of its closed, open or partially open positions is obtained.

A further object of the invention is tov provide a window-actuating mechanism in which slamming of the window as it moves to closed position is overcome.

Other objects and advantages of the'invention will become apparent from the following description. of typical forms of window and panel actuating devices describedhereinafter.

In accordance with the present invention, window actuating devices are provided which are based generally upon principles of operation similar to those disclosed in the Lermont application referred to above but in which. positive locks are provided for retaining the panel in any of its adjusted positions. Moreover, in certain forms of the invention, dampening devices. are provided to prevent slamming of the panel or window as it moves to closed position. In addition, in the preferred forms of the device, the supporting mechanism for the panel is housed completely the edges of the window when it is in its projected.-

position.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is aview in elevation of a typical formof window actuating mechanism for use in ve.-- hicles embodying the present invention with parts. broken away and parts shown in section to disclose details thereof;

Fig-1a is a view in section taken on line lap-la,-v

of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is a view inside elevation'of the mechanism disclosedin Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 41s a view showingthe roller structure of the device;

Fig. 5- is a. view in side elevation showing av portion of. a modified, form of window actuating mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig.

Fig. 7 is a view in elevation of a portion of a modified form of window actuating mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a side view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 7 with parts broken away to disclose details thereof;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a further modification of the window actuating or panel control mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a view in elevation of the mechanism disclosed in Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is an end view of the mechanism shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, this embodiment of the invention being particularly useful for supporting the windows of vehicles which lack guide channels at opposite edges of the windowopenings. Thedevice is particularly adapted for use, for example, in convertible coupes and sedans, which do not have a center pillar extending from the top of the door to the top of the vehicle to guide and support the window panels of the two adjacent doors of the vehicle. 7

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, a typical mechanism embodying the present invention may include a channel member H] which is adapted to be secured by means of the screws H and i2 tobosses struck out from the door panel |3 of a vehicle, these bosses being so arranged that the channel |D extends substantially parallel with the intended direction of movement of the window panel. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the channel Iii has edge flanges l4 and I5, the flange |4 extending generally perpendicular to the base of the channel and having an inturned edge.. The flange |5 also extends substantially perpendicular to the base of the chanand viliiwhich bear against the inner surfaces of theflanges. l4 and I5 and thereby prevent rela tive rocking movement of the carriage 55:3 in all directions. The upper end of the carriage is provided with a frame portion 24 which is bent upwardly and to theright, as viewed in Fig. 2 joined. to the plate members 26 and 27 secured to the flanges of the channel l9. The members 26 and 21 are of generally annular formation and form journals 29 and 35 for receiving rotatably a tubular shaft or roller 3|. The upper edges of the flange members 29 and 5t! are joinedby means of a cross bar 32 which in turn is joined to the upwardly bent portion 24 to form a strong, rigid structure.

The shaft 3| is closed at is outer ends by means of disk- like cap members 33 and 34 which are welded or otherwise secured to the opposite ends of the shaft 3|. Mounted upon the frame portion 24 and the cross-bar 32 are the channel members 35 and 36 which are adapted to receive the lower edge of the window panel 31. The roller 3| is connected to the inner ends of normally coiled spring members 38 and 38a of the type disclosed more particularly in the Lermont applications Serial Nos. 717,707 now Patent No. 2,543,785, and 747,189, now abandoned. The spring members 38 and 38a are normally tightly coiled for the reason that every increment of these springs is bent on the same radius of curvature. However, inasmuch as all of the convolutions of this spring cannot occupy the same space, the various convolutions must lie in a tightly coiled spiral form. These springs are secured at their inner ends to the shaft 3| in any conventional way, such as for example, by riveting, welding or by means of screws.

The springs 38 and 38a are tensioned by exerting a force or stress on the outer free ends of these springs. Such a stress tends to straighten out the springs and unwind them much like a strip of paper can be unwound from a freely rotating roll of paper. Inasmuch as the action of the stress is primarily at the point of tangency of the straightened portion of the spring to the coiled remainderof the spring, and each portion of the spring is equally bent, the stress required to straighten the spring is substantially the same for any portion of the length of the spring and is non-accumulative.

If the stress tending to straighten and unroll the spring is relieved slightly, the spring will rewind itself on the shaft by rotating the shaft.

The upper ends of the springs 38 and 38a may be provided with hook-like members 35 for engagement in slots 48 in the upper end of the door panel 3|. The structure described thus far normally urges the window 31 to closed position but permits the window to be opened by pulling it downwardly and thereby unrolling the springs 38 and 38a from the shaft 3| to which the inner end of the spring is connected. In any lowered position of partially lowered position of the window, the spring tends to urge the window to closed position with a constant force.

In order to prevent the window from slamming as it moves to closed position, the carriage |9 may be provided with a projecting pin 4| to which is connected a lever 42 having a sliding pivot connection with a pin 43 projecting. from the door panel l3 so that the lever rocks up and down as the carriage l9 moves up and down the channel Ill. To cushion the upward movement of the carriage, a dash pot mechanism 44 is provided which is supported on the door panel l3. The dash pct 44 consists of a cylinder 45 which is supported by means of a bracket 46 and a pivot 41 on the door panel |3 so that it can rock about the pivot to accommodate itself to the position of the lever 42. The cylinder 45 is provided with a piston 48 of any desired construction which is mounted on the end of a piston rod 49. The outer end 50 of the piston rod is pivotally connected to the lever 42. The fit between the piston rod 49 and the reduced end 5| of the cylinder may be such as to permit ready flow of air out of the cylinder so that downward movement of the link is not appreciably retarded or resisted by the movement of the piston 48 in the cylinder.

The opposite end 52 of the cylinder 45 is provided with an air check valve 53 permitting air to be drawn into the cylinder as the piston moves downwardly so as to not appreciably retard or resist the movement of the piston. Movement of the piston in an upward direction is retarded by providing a small air passage 54 in the end 52 of the cylinder which limits the rate ofescape of air from between the piston and the upper end of the cylinder as the piston moves upwardly. The speed of upward movement'of the carriage I9 can be controlled by adjusting the size of the passage 54.

The device described is also provided with a locking mechanism and abraking mechanism for, regulating or adjusting the position of theawindow; As best shown in Fig. 2, a lever or pawl.

the-carriage I9. The bell crank is normally urged in a clockwise direction by means of a spring 60 having one end engaged in an aperture in the bell crank and the other end engaged beneath a lever member 62 which is mounted at a right angle to the bell crank 58 on a bracket 63- extending laterally from the carriage I9 behind the channel member I0. The lever 62 forms a part of an element 64 which is pivotally supported on a pivot member 65 on the bracket 63 and is provided with a pair of outwardly projecting lugs 66 and 61 in spaced apart relation near the lower end of the member 64. The lugs 66 and 61 cooperate with a link member I0 which is supported on a pair of lever members 'II and 12 which are pivotally mounted in substantially parallel relationship on the member I0 so that when the link member is moved outwardly, or inwardly, it is maintained in substantially parallel relation with the channel member I0. Such movement of the link I0 may be produced by means of a rotary member M which has an eccentric pin 15 thereon supporting a link I6 which is pivotally connected to the link I0. The disk or rotary member I4 is mounted on the door panel and may be provided with a knob or handle exposed at the interior of the door so that it can be rotated by an occupant of the vehicle.

The link member I0 is disposed between the lugs 66 and 61. so that when the link I0 is movedto the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, the lever 62 is rocked in a clockwise direction. When the link member I0 is moved to the right, it engages the lug 61 and thereby rocks the lever 62 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1. This motion of the lever 62 is transmitted to the bell crank lever 58 (Fig. 2) and. moves the lock pawl 55 into engagement with the rack I'I. When the lever 82 is rocked counter-clockwise or upwardly. the pawl 55 is disengaged. When the lever 62 is rocked. in a clockwise direction or downwardly, the pawl 55 is moved into engagement with the rack IT.

The lever 82 may be maintained in either of its adjusted positions by means of a spring member 11 which engages in notches I8 and I9 in the lower edge of the member 64.

Movement of the lever 02 is also utilized to actuate a friction braking member 80' which is mounted coaxially with the bell crank lever 58 and is provided with an eccentric surface BI that is engageable with the bottom'of the channel I0 when in its lowermost position. The braking member 80, as best shown in Fig. 3, has substantially parallel rearwardly projecting arms- 82 and 83 which rotatably receive the shaft 84 on which the bell crank 58 is also mounted; Also, as shown in Fig. 3, the lever 52 is in a position to engage the lever and arm 82 of the brake-member so-that when the arm 62 moves upwardly, the surface 8|" of the brake member is disengaged from the bottom of the channel. When the lever 62' moves The pawl downwardly, the brake member also moves 75- 6% downwardly to. engage-the surface 8Iv with: the: baseof the channel I01, thereby frictionally bringing the carriage'. Is. to a stop before the, pawlmember 55 engages the rack H.

The above-described mechanism, because of its structure, is capable of supportingv the glass panel during its movement between its open and closed positions, and may be used readily in vehicles which do not have guide channels toengage the edges of the panel during its upward and downward movement. all of its operating mechanism concealed within the panel and in such relationship to the panel or window that it will not under any circumstances mar or damage the panel or the window. Moreover, the device assures proper and strong locking of the panel in any of its adjusted positions and the presence of the dash'pot mech-- anism prevents slamming of the panel even when the friction in the mechanism is reduced to a minimum.

While the above-described embodiment is thepreferred form, it is possible to modify the window or panel actuatingmeans considerably to conform to different types of door constructions,

one modified form of the device being disclosed in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings. This form of the device includes a pair of spaced apart tubularelements and 9| which are provided with brackets 93 and 94 at their upper and lower ends, only the upper brackets being disclosed. The brackets 93 and M are secured to the door panel 95 at the inside portion of the door by means of suitable bolts or screws 96 or the like. The tubular members are provided with slots 91 and 98 on their opposing sides for receiving the laterally projecting brackets 99 and I00 at the opposite ends of the channel member IIiI which receives the lower edge of the window panel. The flanges 99v and I00 are similar and essentially are mirror images of each other providing a pair of spaced apart arms I02 and I03 which extend through the slot 91, for example, into the interior of the tubular member 90 so as to provide a guide for the window panel. The upper end of the arm I02 is provided with a piston member E04 which fits slidably-within the tubular member 90, and when the window receiving channel is in the position shown, that is, corresponding to the closed positionof the window, it is disposed within the upper end portion of the tubular member 90.

The slot 91 terminates at the upper edge of the arm I02 in the position shown in Fig. 5, so that the piston member I04 is disposed within a closed tubular portion at the upper end of the member 90. The upper end of the member 90 may be closed by means of a cap I05 so that when the piston I04 moves into the upper end of the member 90,.it is cushioned by the air within that portion to prevent slamming of the window. The lower arm I03 of the bracket may also be providedwith a piston-like member for guiding the bracket 99 slidably in the tubular member 90. The bracket I00 is similarly constructed and cooperates in a similar way with the tubular guide member 9I Extending between the brackets 99 and Illi! is a shaft I06 to which is secured one end of the uniform tension spring I01 of the type described above. The spring I07. is normally coiled around a roller I08 which is rotatably mounted in brackets I09 and H0 which are secured to the panel 95 of the door; The spring thus tends'to urge the window panel upwardly toward closed position but can be unwound from the roller M0 The device also has by downward movement of the window panel by means of a handle secured to the window panel, not shown. In order to retain the window panel in any desired open or partially open condition, the brackets 99 and I are provided with friction brake members I I I and I I2 which are pivotally connected to the brackets 99 and I00 by means of the pivot pins I I3 and I I4, respectively. The brake members I I I and I I2 may be retracted out of engagement with the opposed surfaces of the tubular members 30 and 9| or moved into engagement with them by means of the link members H5 and H6 which are supported by means of the links III and H8, respectively, at their upper and lower ends. The links H! and H8 are pivotally connected respectively to the brackets 95 and 96 at the upper and lower ends of the tubular members 90 and 9|. The links I I5 and H6 may be moved simultaneously inwardly and outwardly by means of a rotary member I having eccentrically located pins I2I and I22 thereon which are connected by means of the links I23 and I24 to thhe upper ends of the links H5 and I I6, respectively.

Inward and outward movements of the links 5 and H3 are used to actuate the brake elements III and H2 by engaging the laterally projecting pins I25 and I26 thereon. Thus, as the links H5 and H6 are moved inwardly, the brake elements are rocked away from the tubular members 90 and 0|, and as the link members I I5 and H0 move outwardly, the brake members II I and H2 are permitted to rock into engagement with the tubular members SI and 92, thereby retaining the window panel in a desired position.

While the above-described mechanism does not include a positive lock for the window, it will be understood that it can be modified to include looking mechanism similar to that of the device disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings.

The actuating mechanism is suspectible to still further modification, as disclosed in Figs. '7 and 8 of the drawings. In this form of window actuating mechanism, channel members I30 are provided adjacent opposite edges of the glass window panel I3 I, only one of the channel members being disclosed in the drawings for purposes of illustration. Each channel member I30 is secured to the door panel, not shown, in the manner described above. Each channel member I30 has a bottom portion I32 which may be stamped or otherwise formed to provide a series of gear or rack teeth I33 extending lengthwise of the channel. The channel I30 is also provided with laterally directed flanges I34 and I35 on opposite sides thereof.

The window glass I3I is mounted in a channel member I36 which is provided near each end with a pair of brackets I 3! and I38 in spaced apart relationship which are disposed on opposite sides of the guide chamiel member I30. The brackets I31 and I38 are of L-shaped cross-section and have flanges I39 and I40 extending forwardly on opposite sides of the channel member I30. Each of the flanges I39 and I40 is provided with a pair of rotatably mounted rollers MI and I42 which engage behind the flanges I34 and I35 on the channel member I30 to aid in retaining the panel in substantially parallel relation to the channel member I30. The glass panel I3I isprevented from rocking in the opposite direction by means of a gear member I43 which is disposed between the flanges I39 and I40 in a position to engage the rack teeth I33. If desired, other rollers similar to the rollers MI and I42 may be provided to engage the sides of the flanges I34 and I35 opposite the rollers I4I and I42. The gears I43 00- operating with each of the channels I30 are connected by means of a cross shaft I44 which is journalled in a bearing I45 in the flange I40 at each end so that the gears I43 rotate together. The shaft I44 is also rotatably received in a tubular sleeve at one end of the uniform tension spring I40 which is coiled upon a shaft or roll, not shown, the shaft being rotatably mounted in brackets, not shown, connected to the door panel.

Engagement of the gear I43 with the rack teeth I33 and engagement of the rollers MI and I42 with the channel member prevents tilting of the window panel and its supporting carriage with respect to the door panel.

This form of window control mechanism is provided with a positive look but does not include a friction brake as in the mechanisms described above. The positive lock includes a pawl member I47 which is pivotally mounted on a pin I4'8 that projects inwardly from the bracket member I38 and supports the pawl in a position to engage the rack teeth I33 below the gear I 43. The pawl M! can be rocked out of engagement with the teeth I33 by means of a link structure I49 like that described above, the link I49 engaging a laterally projecting pin I50 of the pawl I41 when the link I49 is moved to the right, as viewed in Fig. 8. Such movement may be produced by means of a push-pull plunger I5I which extends through the door panel into the interior of the car.

The pawl I Il may be locked against movement of engagement with the rack teeth I33 by means of a cam member I52 which is pivotally supported on a pin I53 projecting from the bracket member I38. The cam may be rotated by means of a plunger member I54 into and out of engagement with the upper surface of the pawl I47.

The above-described construction can be modifled, of course, to include a friction brake of any of the types described above and also it can be provided with a dampening or dash pot arrangement of the type disclosed in Fig. l of the drawings.

All of the above-described forms of window actuating mechanisms are especially adapted for use in the doors of vehicles which do not include guide channels extending the length of the window opening, They are, however, useful in window constructions which do provide such guide channels, and, therefore, should not be considered as being restricted in their use to the guideless type of window construction.

In many other types of vehicles which include a Window guide construction in the upper part of the door, less complex types of window actuating mechanisms may be used. An improved type of actuating mechanism for such purposes is disclosed in Figs. 9, 10 and 11 of the drawings.

This form of device includes a plate member I which is adapted to be secured to the inside panel of the door of the vehicle or other mechanism and is provided with a pair of outwardly projecting arms or brackets I61 and I02. These brackets receive a shaft I63 which is provided with a head IE4 at one end and a removable cross pin I65 at its opposite end to permit it to be inserted lengthwise through the brackets NH and IE2 and retain it therein. As shown in Fig. 10, the cross pin supports a roller I66 which may be formed of wood or other desired material upon which the uniform tension sprin IE! is coiled with its inner end fixed to the roller I66.

.like .pawl element A1112. .loosely supportedonashaft I13 wthichiismounted The opposite send or the spring is provided ,:with

ment of a locking mechanism ;for locking a win- .dow :panel in an open, partially open Q1'. C1Q Sfid position. To this :end, the end plate .118 ,is .pro-

svide'diwith a plurality of peripheral notches "Z111 which vare adapted to :receive the .end of a book- The pawl element is in Va :bushing I14 fixed :to the platezltli so that ;the,shaft can motate in the bushing. ilhe rlflaw can move independently ;o f the -,-sh a;ft i553, and

:may be moved inwardlyiagainst .the,;-periphery of thexiisk-like brake element by-means of ,a,.spring :l 15 which cooperates ,withonearmyof an -shaped is disposed substantially parallel with theshaft.

I13 nd ext nds toward .i s inner "end s t at i can engage one {end I18 ,of the spring I15 upon "rotation in one d ect on t c u the en o th pawl H to enga e 51 of t e no hes J1 IJpon movement 9f the arm I11 in .the opposite direction, it engages the inner edge of the pawl 11. to k the rawlsoutq en ag m n w t a he member I18, thereby releasing the -,roll I66 to permit the spring to coil up upon it.

The device is also provided with-atrictionlbraking mechanism which is adapted to engage the window panel. The friction braking mechanism -includes a lever member [80 having -a facing I8I of friction material. The lever I8i) is piv- =ota1ly supported on the shaft v1.63 ,between the bracket I61 and the end plate or disk -memb er 110. with another similar brake member J82 at the opposite endof the shaft I63 by meansof a plate member I83 which extends between the spring ried on the shaft I63 and having legs Lbearing against the plate 1.68 andithe brake member 182.

, 1 0 The brake element I88 is .also connected Thus,-both of the brake members I88 and The brakes I88 and I82 may be moved outof engagement l-With the window panel by means of another oppositely directed .arm I86 of the S- shaped rod 116. The arm I86 engages ,avshoulder I81 on the brake member [88 sothat when the shaft I13 is rotated by means .of .a knob,

not shownpinsidethe vehicle, the .brakes I80 and I82 are retracted and alsothe' pawl I12 is retracted. When-the shaft I13 is rotated clockwise, as viewedimFig. 10, the brakes I88 and I82 engage the panel and the pawl I12 engages the locking member -I-10.

The shaft 113 may be maintained in either the -locked-'orunlocked' posi-tion by means "of a From the preceding descriptionof typicallem- :bOdimB HtSQf window actuating mechanisms f the type embodying the present invention, it will be understood that these mechanisms are capable of operating a window or other panel member easily and positively and they also pro- 75 10 vide positive l ck ng and braking to avoid damage to the window durin opening and plosins operations. Devices of the type des ribed above are especiallys itable for actuating the windows of v icles but they iarewialso adapt d t many oth r u s, such as, slidinepanel constructions forfurniture, houses, boats and many other purposes.

:Itwill be understood thateacn of the abovedeserihed m chanisms is susceptible to gfurther modification and @change .in dimensions and shape, ,as the purpose demands. Therefore, .the forms of the invention described aboveshpuld be consider ed; as illustrative and not as limiting e-the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A,,p fi operat n mecha sm c mprisin mean for en a in edge of a p nel, a supp tin member adapted to be fix to gain element having opening to :be closed by said panel, a spirally :eoiled sprin member vha ing uniform tension when uncoi1ed, aro1ler connected to the inner .end of saidieoiled spring member, means .rotatably supporting said roller on .one of saidpanelie g e nslh ndsaid sunporting member, ian rmeans ponnectin the outer :end iofzsaid sprin to the other of .sai ipanellenga in means and :said suppor in member, 1 whereby imovementiof said lpaheliensaeinsim m ber relative to said suppor in memb r in on dire tion ,unwinds .sai sprin pla in it unde t nsion to ;move said paneli n asins member in he op site direc on, paw and :r tehet means for retaining said ipanel sunpert n member in any of a plurality o p sitions relativ to .said --supportin membe nd-mean ife imahuallyi ieleasing said h wk-a d ratche mean to r l as s i "p -s pport n means for movement. $2. enamel-op ratin m chan sm eem r sinsa fixed supporting and guide element, a carria e for supporting ,a :closure panel movable along said .guide element, means restraining .zsaid :guide element and .carriageagainst arelative rocking movement, braking .means mounted-.onsaid car.- -riage- :for movement into iandout of :engagement :with :said .guide element, manually operable means for moving said braking :means into and out-ofiengagement with said guide means, :a ro- 'tary mernber, a spirally coiled spring wound on said rotary member and having its inner end connected-to saidrotary member, inembersup porting said rotary member for rotation about its axis, and means connecting said supporting *member 'in fixed relation 'to' said carriage, and the outer end "of-said spring in *fixed relation "to "said supporting and guide elements to "cause said spr g to u in ffr iisa d t r em e as sai ca i e i m ve in on d et e long s support n and gui e e em t said s ring winding ,upon said rotary member ,as said ciarfi e moves in theopposite direction a'long said supporting guide element.

3. A ,panel operating 1 mechanism comprising a fixedsupportingandguide element a carriagelfor supporting a iclos ire panel movable along ,said guide element with said guide element located ,substantially icentrally pie-said support, means ,lre- ;strainingesaidaguide element .andicarriage; against +relative rocking lmovement, :braking ,means meunt den aid earriae m mov men -h ianfl out of engagement with said guide element, manually operable means for moving said braking means into and out of engagement with said guide means, a rotary member, a spirally coiled spring wound in a plurality of overlying convolutions on said rotary member and having its inner end connected to said rotary member, a member supporting said rotary member for ro- Ltation about its axis, means connecting said supporting member in fixed relation to said carriage for movement therewith, and means connecting the outer end of said spring in fixed relation to said guide element, whereby movement of said carriage relative to said guide element in one direction unwinds said spring from said rotary member and thereby tending to move said carriage in the opposite direction.

4. A panel operating mechanism comprising a fixed supporting and guide element, a carriage for supporting a closure panel movable along :said guide element, means restraining said guide element and carriage against relative rocking movement, a rack member fixed to said guide element and extending in the direction of movement of said carriage, a lock member mounted on said carriage for movement into and out of engagement with said rack member to lock said carriage to and release it from said guide member, respectively, manually operable means for moving said locking means, a rotary member, a spirally coiled spring wound in a plurality of convolutions on said rotary member and having its inner end connected to said rotary member, a member supporting said rotary member for rotation about its axis, and means connecting said supporting member in fixed relation to said carriage, and the outer end of said spring in fixed relation to said guide member.

5. A panel operating mechanism comprising a channel member adapted to be fixed to a structure having an opening to be closed, a carriage mounted on said channel member for movement longitudinally thereof, means on said carriage for 'receiving an edge of a closure panel, at least one .spirally coiled spring mounted on said carriage for rotation about its axis, a rack extending lengthwise of said channel member, a toothed pawl member pivotally mounted on said carriage ,for movement into and out of engagement with said rack, a link member extending lengthwise of said channel member, and mounted adjacent thereto for movement toward and away from said channel member, means on said pawl member in the path of movement of said link memher for disengaging said pawl member from said rack and engaging said pawl member and rack upon movement of said link member in opposite directions, means for moving said link member,

and means at the outer end of said spring for connecting it fixedly to said structure adjacent to said opening whereby movement of said carriage to uncover said opening unwinds said spring and places it .under tension urging said carriage in a direction to close said opening.

6. A panel operating mechanism comprising a pair of spaced apart tubular guide members,

each having a slot therein terminating in spaced relation to adjacent ends of said guide members .forming cylinders at said adjacent ends, a carriage for supporting a closure panel having end portions disposed in, guided by and movable along said slots, piston elements on said end portions movable into said cylinders to retard movement of said carriage as it approaches said adjacent ends of said guide members, spring means con- 12 nected'to saidcarriage for urging said carriage toward said adjacent ends, and means on said carriage engageable with said guide members for retaining said carriage in any desired position along said guide members. i

'7. A panel operating mechanism comprising a least one channel member adapted to be fixed to a structure in spaced relation to an opening therein, a carriage having a plurality of rollers engaging said channel member to guide said carriage along said channel member, means on said carriage for receiving an edge of a closure panel for closing said opening, a brake member pivotally mounted on said carriage for movement into and out of engagement with said channel member, and normally spirally coiled spring means connected to said carriage for urging the latter toward said opening.

8. A panel operating mechanism comprising at least one channel member adapted to be fixed to a structure in spaced relation to an opening therein, a carriage having a plurality of rollers engaging said channel member to guide said carriage along said channel member, means on said carriage for receiving an edge of a closure panel for closing said opening, cooperating pawl and rack means on said channel member and said carriage for locking said carriage in any desired position along said channel member, means for releasing said pawl and rack means to permit movement of said carriage along said channel member, and normally spirally coiled spring means connected to said carriage for urging the latter toward said opening.

9. A panel operating mechanism comprising a fixed supporting and guide element, a carriage for supporting a closure panel movable along said guide element, means restraining said guide element and carriage against relative rocking movement, braking means mounted on said carriage for movement into and out of engagement with said guide element, manually operable means for moving said braking means into and out of engagement with said guide means, a r0- tary member, a normally coiled spring wound on said rotary member and having its inner end connected to said rotary member, a member supporting said rotary member for rotation about its axis, and means vconnecting said supporting member in fixed relation to saidsupporting and guide element and the outer end of said spring in fixed relation to said carriage to cause said spring to unwind from said rotary member as said carriage is moved in one direction along said guide element, said spring winding upon .said rotary member as said carriage moves in the opposite direction along said guide element.

BASIL LERMONT. LESLIE vR. BIRDSALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the UNITED STATES PATENTS VNumber Name Date 433,600 Marshall Aug. 5, 1890 620,468 Lowery et al Feb. 28, 1899 652,394 Lagus June 26, 1900 2,076,938 Chandler Apr. 13, 1937

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