Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02310998 2000-06-08
This invention relates to a crank assembly for use on a window operating
mechanism.
More specifically, the invention relates to a crank assembly for use on the
shaft of a casement window operating mechanism.
Crank handles for window opening and closing devices are disclosed, for
example by United States Patents Nos. 4,189,248, issued to G.R. Sully on
February
19, 1980; 5,168,770, issued to F.G. Ellis on December 8, 1992; 5,400,473,
issued to
G.S. Delman on March 28, 1995; 5,410,778, issued to Y. Langevin on May 2,
1995;
5,467,503, issued to D.A. Nolte et al on November 21, 1995; 5,551,316, issued
to
J.L. Blank on September 3, 1996 and 5,802,673, issued to J. Nemeth on
September
8, 1998. As clearly illustrated by some of these patents, a crank handle is
mounted
on a splined shaft, which is rotated to operate a lever to open or close a
window.
Various efforts have been made to make such handles more streamline, because a
handle projecting outwardly form a window operating mechanism is somewhat
obtrusive, interfering with the opening and closing of curtains or blinds. An
obvious
solution to the problem is to make the handle foldable for storage in a non-
use
position. Such a structure is proposed by the Delman, Langevin, Nolte et al,
Blank
and Nemeth patents. However, there still exists a need for a crank handle
which
while streamlined, can be easily moved between use and non-use positions. It
is
also important that the handle is stable during rotation, and provides maximum
torque to facilitate window opening.
There are many different versions of window operating assemblies, i.e.
assemblies having splined shafts which differ from each other in terms of
length,
diameter and spline configuration. Examples of such assemblies are available
from
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CA 02310998 2000-06-08
Andersen Corporation, Bayport, Minnesota; Peachtree Doors, Inc., Norcross,
Georgia; Pella Corporation, Pella, Iowa and Truth Hardware Corporation,
Owatonna,
Minnesota. The handles used to crank the different assemblies are unique to
each
model, i.e. they are not interchangeable. Moreover, for the most part the
crank
handles on available assembles are not foldable to a storage position.
An object of the present invention is to provide a solution to the above-
identified problems with existing devices in the form of a relatively simple,
compact,
streamline crank assembly for a window operating mechanism which includes a
foldable handle, and which is universal, i.e. can be used on most if not all
existing
models of window operating mechanisms.
Accordingly, the invention relates to a crank assembly for use on a splined
shaft operable to open and close a casement window comprising a tubular body
having a closed top end and an open bottom end; a socket in said open bottom
end
for mounting the body on the splined shaft; a handle pivotal on one corner of
said
top end for rotation between an extended position in which the handle extends
outwardly from the body for rotating the body and the splined shaft to open
and
close the window, and a stored position in which the handle extends across the
top
of the body, one of the top end of the body and the handle defining a trough
or ridge;
and the other said top end of the body or the handle defining a complementary
ridge
or trough, whereby in the stored position, with the trough and ridge mating,
the
bottom edge of the handle lies beneath the end of the body; and a knob on a
free
end of said handle, in the stored position, the knob being spaced apart from
one end
of the body for facilitating manual access to the knob and rotation of the
handle to
the extended, use position for rotating the body and the shaft.
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CA 02310998 2002-02-20
The invention is described below in greater detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the
invention,
~~nd wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the crank
:assembly in accordance with the present invention with a handle in a stored,
non-
use position;
Figure 2 is a view of the crank assembly of Fig. 1 with the handle in the
extended, use position;
Figure 3 is a top view of the crank assembly of Figs. 1 and 2;
Figure 4 is a bottom view of the handle assembly of Figs. 1 and 2;
Figure 5 is a schematic cross section of one end of the body of the handle
assembly of Figs. 1 to 3 on a larger scale;
Figures 6, 8, 10 and 12 are longitudinally sectional views of the handle
assembly of Figs 1 to 3 mounted on a variety of shafts of window operating
mechanisms;
Figures 7, 9, 11 and 13 are cross sections taken generally along line 7-7 of
Fig. 6, 9-9 of Fig. 8, 11-11 of Fig. 10 and 13-13 of Figs. 12, respectively.
Figure 14 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the crank
assembly of the present invention with a handle portion thereof in the non-use
position;
Figure 15 is a perspective 'view of the crank assembly of Fig. 14 with the
handle in the use position; and
Figure 16 is a longitudinal sectional view of one corner of the body and
handle of Figs. 14 and 15.
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CA 02310998 2000-06-08
Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, the basic elements of a crank assembly in
accordance with the present invention include a solid body generally indicated
at 1
and a handle generally indicated at 2.
The body 1 is generally rectangular in cross section with a flat or square end
3, a generally semicylindrical end 4, and straight, planar sides 5. A pair of
flanges 6
extend upwardly from the top end 7 of the body defining a square cross section
recess 8 for receiving the arcuate handle 2. As best shown in Fig. 2, the
trough 8
tapers from the square end 3 to the semicylindrical end 4 of the body. The
flanges 6
at the end 3 are generally semicircular, defining the sides of a bracket for
receiving
a transversely extending cylindrical inner end 10 of the handle 2. A pin 11
extending
through the flanges 6 and the end 10 pivotally connects the handle 2 to the
body 1
for rotation between a non-use or stored position (Fig. 1 ) and an extended,
use
position (Fig. 2). In the extended position, the handle 2 is used to rotate
the body 1.
In the non-use position, a substantial portion of the rectangular body 12 of
the
handle 2 is bordered by the flanges 6. A concave, transversely extending
groove or
depression 13 at the handle end of the trough 8 acts as a bearing surface for
the
end 10 of the handle 2. Because the large cylindrical inner end 10 of the
handle 2
has maximum surface area in contact with the semicircular flanges 6 of the
trough,
maximum torque is generated when the handle 2 is rotated. The large socket
defined by the groove 13 and the flanges 6 results in maximum contact between
the
inner end 10 of the handle 2 and the body 1 during rotation of the handle 2. A
transversely extending, convex projection 14 on the top of the cylindrical
handle end
10 (in the non-use position) acts as a stop to limit rotation of the handle 2
towards
the use position. As shown in Fig. 2, when the handle 2 is in the use
position, the
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CA 02310998 2000-06-08
ridge 14 rests on a transversely extending shoulder 16 at the top corner of
the
square end of the body 1. Thus, the bottom of the trough 8 resembles a wave,
with
transversely extending peaks 18 and 19 bordering the depression 13.
A generally frusto-conical knob 20 with an arcuate outer surface is rotatably
mounted on the circular outer free end 21 of the handle 2 by means of a bolt
22 with
a large head. In the non-use position, the knob 20 is inclined downwardly and
is
spaced a short distance from the semicylindrical end 4 of the body 1. By
grasping
the knob end 21 of the handle 2, the latter is rotated around the axis of the
pin 11 to
the use position (Fig. 2) in which the handle 2 is used to rotate the body 1.
In the
use position, the outer end 21 of the handle 2 is substantially perpendicular
to the
vertical, longitudinal axis of the body 1 for providing maximum leverage
during
rotation.
With reference to Figs. 2, 6 and 7, a socket 25, extends from the bottom end
26 of the body to a location proximate the closed top end 7 of the body 1. The
socket 25, which is ovoid in cross section, is designed to receive the splined
shaft 28
of a casement window operating mechanism (not shown), whereby the body 1 and
the handle 2 can be used to rotate the shaft 28 to open and close the window.
For
such purpose, the sides and ends of the socket 25 are splined, i.e. include
longitudinally extending, alternating ridges 30 and grooves 31 for engaging
splines
or teeth 32 on the shaft 28. The body 1 is secured on the shaft 28 by a set
screw 33
(Figs. 6 to 13) in a threaded bore 34 extending through the flat end 3 of the
body to
intersect the socket 25. The outer end 36 (see e.g. Fig. 6) of the bore 34 is
countersunk to facilitate access to the screw 33.
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CA 02310998 2000-06-08
Because of the existence of many different crank assemblies, i.e. crank
assemblies having shafts of different lengths, diameters and spline
configuration, in
order to be universal, the socket 25 is adapted to receive and retain a
variety of
shafts. For such purpose, as mentioned above, the socket 25 is generally ovoid
in
cross section. As best shown in Fig. 5, the ovoid socket 25 includes a narrow
end
37 for receiving a narrow diameter shaft 28 (Figs. 6 and 7). Because the shaft
28
includes a tapering shoulder 39 (Fig. 6), an arcuate notch 40 is provided in
the
bottom end of the socket 25 for receiving the shoulder end of the shaft 28
limiting
movement of the latter into the socket 25. The particular shaft 28 shown in
Figs. 6
and 7 has two annular rows of short teeth 32 with a pronounced taper.
Accordingly
the grooves 31 at the end 43 of the socket 25 (closest to the round end 4 of
the body
1 ) are relatively deep with a taper corresponding to the taper of the teeth
32. Thus,
(as best shown in Fig. 7) when the set screw 33 is tightened, a maximum number
of
the teeth 32 are engaged by the splines in the socket 25.
Referring to Figs. 5, 8 and 9, a second form of shaft 45 from a commercially
available crank assembly is longer than the shaft of Figs. 6 and 7, and
includes a
pair of spaced apart, annular rows of teeth 46, which are shorter than the
teeth 32
on the shaft 28. The diameter of the shaft 45 in the tooth area and the height
and
taper of the teeth 46 are such that the teeth do not fully enter the grooves
31 at the
end 37 of the socket 25. Accordingly, steps or shoulders 48 (Fig. 5) are
provided on
the sides of some of the grooves 31 in the socket 25. The shoulders 48 ensure
maximum engagement between the teeth 46 and the splines 30 in the socket 25
when the set screw 33 is tightened.
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CA 02310998 2000-06-08
The cylindrical shaft 50 of a third version of a crank assembly (Figs. 10 and
11 ) also includes a pair of slightly spaced apart, annular rows of teeth 51.
The
diameter of the shaft 50 in the teeth area is larger than the diameter of the
shafts 28
and 45. Accordingly, the shaft 50 must be inserted into the slightly wider
middle
portion of the socket 25 (Fig. 11 ). When the screw 33 is tightened the teeth
51
engage the splines 30 in the socket 25 in such middle area. Because the teeth
5
are wide and relatively shallow, i.e. do not extend a great distance outwardly
from
the shaft 50, the grooves 52 in the sides of the socket 25 are wide and
shallow.
Moreover, small projections 54 (Fig. 5) are provided in two opposed grooves
52, i.e.
the outermost surfaces of the grooves are somewhat convex for maximum contact
with the splines 30 in the socket 25. Such a structure ensures a tight fit
between the
body 1 and shaft 50, and prevents movement of the shaft 50 relative to the
body 1
once the screw 33 has been tightened.
Referring to Figs. 12 and 13, a fourth type of currently available shaft 56
has
a relatively large diameter, permitting insertion of the shaft into the wide
end 57
(Figs. 5 and 12) of the ovoid socket 25. The shaft 56 includes relatively
long, wide
teeth 58 extending a short distance outwardly from the shaft in two parallel,
spaced
apart, annular rows. Thus, when the shaft 56 is slid into the wide end 57 of
the
socket 25, the teeth 58 fully engage the sides of wide, shallow grooves 60
(Figs. 5
and 13) in such wide end 57 of the socket.
With reference to Figs. 14 and 15, a second embodiment of the invention
includes a body 62, which is similar in cross section to the body 1, and an
arcuate
handle 63. In the second embodiment of the invention, the sides 65 of the body
slope upwardly and inwardly to roughly square shoulders 66 on each side of a
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CA 02310998 2000-06-08
rectangular cross section ridge 67. The ridge 67 extends the entire length of
the top
end of the body 62 between a square end 68 and a generally semicylindrical end
69
of the body. In this case, the handle 63 includes a trough 70 extending
substantially
the entire length thereof between an open inner end 72 and a closed outer end
74.
The trough 72 is complementary to the ridge 67, i.e. borders the ridge when
the
handle 63 is in the folded, non-use position (Fig. 14). A pair of generally
circular
ears 75 are provided at the open inner end 73 of the trough 70 for receiving a
pin 76,
which pivotally connects the handle 63 to a cylindrical end 77 of the ridge
67. The
ears 75 extend beyond the inner end 79 of the top wall 80 of the handle 63.
When
the handle 63 is rotated to the extended, use position, such inner end 79
abuts a flat
shoulder 82 (Fig. 16) on the square end of the body 62, i.e. the surface 82
acts as a
stop to limit rotation of the handle 63 relative to the body 62.
A hollow knob 84 with a closed top end (not shown) is rotatably mounted on
the bottom of the outer end of the handle 63 by means of a bolt 85. As best
shown
in Fig. 15, the knob 84 has a generally triangular cross section with rounded
corners
to facilitate manual manipulation of the knob.
As in the case of the first embodiment of the invention, when the handle 63 is
in the use position, there is maximum contact between the bracket defined by
the
ears 75 and the cylindrical end 77 of the body 62. In the folded, non-use
position,
the handle 63 overlaps the top end of the body 62, so that the assembly is
compact,
streamlined and unobtrusive.
It will be appreciated that the ovoid socket 25 can be used in virtually any
crank assembly for operating a casement window, e.g. in crank assemblies
including
non-foldable handles. Moreover, the specific foldable handle and body
structures
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CA 02310998 2000-06-08
described above can be used in crank assemblies in which the socket is
circular in
cross-section. Thus, both the ovoid socket and the particular foldable handle
arrangements are believed to be novel.
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