Abstract:
A window opener is provided. In one embodiment the window opener may include a handle of predetermined width and length, the handle having a grabbing tip and a pivot pin. The window opener may also include a pole, repositionable with respect to the handle, wherein the pole has a first end, a second end, and a cleat in physical communication with the pivot pin. In another embodiment a method of sliding a stuck window within a window frame having a sash is provided. This method may include providing a handle having a proximate end, a distal end, and an opening with a pivot point. It also may include inserting a rigid pole having a plurality of cleats through the opening of the handle, aligning the cleat of the rigid pole with the pivot point of the handle, and applying force to the stuck window section by pivoting the handle in the cleat.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This Application claims the benefit of and is a continuation-in-part of prior application Ser. No. 09/578,914 filed May 26, 2000. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention is directed to the opening of windows. More specifically the present invention regards the opening of double and triple hung windows that are painted shut or otherwise not opening properly.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Double and triple hung windows are common aspects of modern architecture. They are used in both residential and commercial buildings due to, among other things, their aesthetic appeal and their ease of operation.  
           [0004]    A common double hung window includes two moveable glass sections, each containing a sheet or pane of glass placed within a wooden sash. These sections are most often placed parallel and adjacent to one another within a frame and are designed to slide up and down within the frame. Alternatively, instead of placing only one sheet of glass within each section, several sheets or panes of glass are sometimes placed within each section. When several panes of glass are placed inside a section, the glass panes are placed within and separated by vertical and horizontal mullions attached to the wooden sashes. Like the single pane sections these multiple pane sections are also designed to slide up and down within the frame.  
           [0005]    The frames themselves often contain two separate channels, one channel for each of the sections to slide within. The overall width or thickness of the frame is typically wider than the combined thickness of both sections in order to form a ledge around the entire perimeter of the frame.  
           [0006]    These sections are intended to move up and down within the frame with only minimal force. On occasion, however, more than minimal force is required to slide the sections up and down within the channels of the frame. In fact, in some instances, the sections become fixed within the channel, refusing to move either up or down. This sticking or immobilization is sometimes caused by the swelling or warping of the frames and the sashes. Alternatively, this sticking or immobilization can also be caused by foreign materials which have glued the sections in place. For example, when made of wood, the sashes and frames are often painted to protect them from their environment. When this paint dries it behaves like a glue to lock the section within the frame. If the paint adhering the sashes of the sliding sections to the frame or to one another has cured the amount of force necessary to unstick the sections can be significant. The amount of force required to unstick the windows can increase further still when the sections have been painted shut a few times without being “unstuck” between coats of paint.  
           [0007]    Unsticking the windows, to allow the free travel of the sections within the frame, can be a time consuming and laborious process. In one known method illustrated in FIG. 1 a hand-held paint scraper  100  is hammered by a hammer  110  into the crevice between the border  130  and the sash  120  of a section  170 . The section  170  located within the channel  140  also has a mullion  15 . The paint scraper  100  is then removed from this crevice, repositioned, and again hammered between the border  130  and the sash  120  of the section  170 , this time at a different location. This hammering and removal continues around the entire perimeter of the section until the seal is broken and the section can again travel up and down within the channel  140 . As is evident, this is a time-consuming, inefficient, and risky process; one that can result in the glass within the section being broken by the impact force of the hammer  110  against the scraper  100  or by the vibratory shocks of the hammer&#39;s impact resonating through the section  170  or the frame  160  after each blow.  
           [0008]    It would, therefore, be desirable to have a process that can unstick windows in an efficient and effective manner. One that is simple to perform and one that does not risk damaging the window from the impact required to open the window.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    A window opener is provided. In one embodiment the window opener may include a handle of predetermined width and length, the handle having a grabbing tip and a pivot pin. The window opener may also include a pole, repositionable with respect to the handle, wherein the pole has a first end, a second end, and a cleat in physical communication with the pivot pin.  
           [0010]    In another embodiment a method of sliding a stuck window within a window frame having a sash is provided. This method may include providing a handle having a proximate end, a distal end, and an opening with a pivot point. It also may include inserting a rigid pole having a plurality of cleats through the opening of the handle, aligning the cleat of the rigid pole with the pivot point of the handle, and applying force to the stuck window section by pivoting the handle in the cleat. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 illustrates a known process for opening stuck windows.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a side view of a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a side view of a component from a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a top view of the component in FIG. 3 viewed from line  4 - 4 .  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a top view of a component from a third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a component from the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a top view of the component in FIG. 6.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a top view of another component from the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a side view of the component in FIG. 8.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the component in FIG. 8.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 11 is a side view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention before a cleat has been placed underneath a window mullion.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 12 is a side view of a fourth embodiment after the cleat has been placed underneath a window mullion.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 13 is a front view of the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 when used in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of individual components used in a fifth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 15 is an assembled perspective view of the individual components from FIG. 14.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the assembled components from FIG. 15 being used to open a window.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 17 is a side view of a sixth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the embodiment from FIG. 17 being employed to open a window.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 19 is a side view of the handle from FIG. 17.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 20 is a top view of the handle from FIG. 17.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 21 is a side view of the rigid pole from FIG. 17.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 22 is a top view of the rigid pole from FIG. 17. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0033]    [0033]FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a first embodiment of the present invention. As is evident FIG. 2 illustrates a handle  200  having a fulcrum or foot  210  at one of its ends. FIG. 2 also illustrates a bracket  220  located on top of the handle  200 , an extension pole  230  positioned in the  20  bracket  220 , a rigid pole  240  having cleats  250  attached to its exterior and being positioned on top of and firmly connected to the extension pole  230 . The extension pole  230  is resting in the bracket  220  and can be removed from the bracket  220  by simply lifting it out of the bracket  220 . The bracket  220  may be sized to allow the end of the extension pole  230  to pivot around within the bracket  220 . While the bracket  220  is illustrated as a separate component mounted on top of the handle  200  it may also be an integral depression or notch formed in the handle  200 .  
         [0034]    In this embodiment each of the components: the rigid pole  240 ; the cleats  250 ; the extension pole  230 ; the foot  210 ; and, the handle  200  are made from a rigid polymer. They can, alternatively, be made from wood, from a combination of wood and plastic, or from any other rigid material. In addition, while the cleats  250  are illustrated with an identical size and shape, the cleats  250  may, alternatively, be different sizes or shapes. Moreover, while the rigid pole  240  and the extension pole  230  are both illustrated in this embodiment and in subsequent embodiments as having a fixed length, they can be adjustable to vary in length. For example, both the rigid pole  240  and the extension pole  230  can have locking telescoping elements which provide for the adjustment and readjustment of the length of both members.  
         [0035]    As will be set out in more detail below, this embodiment of the invention is utilized to open stuck windows by placing the foot  210  of the handle  200  on the sill of a window (not shown). The extension pole  230 , having the rigid pole  240  attached to it, is then placed on the handle  200 , in the bracket  220 . The cleat  250  closest to a mullion or border of the immobilized window section is then placed underneath the mullion of that section. The handle is then lifted, urging the cleat up and into the mullion, thereby forcing the section up and open—an elegant and efficient process.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3 a rigid pole  310  is shown having cleats  300  and a screw  320 . In this embodiment the cleats  300  have been integrally formed as part of the rigid pole  310 , alternatively the cleats  300  could have been firmly secured to the rigid pole  310  with glue or anchors of some kind. The screw  320  is anchored into the end of the rigid pole  310  and is sized to be able to firmly anchor and support the rigid pole  310  when it is placed into the extension pole (not shown in this illustration). The screw  320  may be removable from the bottom of the rigid pole  310  so that the rigid pole  310  can be used without the extension pole as well. The cleats  300  in this embodiment are shown with grooves or indentations  330 . These indentations  330  are “V” shaped and are sized to assist in grasping the mullion or border of a sticking section. FIG. 3 also illustrates that the top of each of the cleats  300  may be a different distance from the top of the rigid pole  310 . This staggered spacing provides adjustment in the position of the cleat  300  relative to the mullion or border of the window section. By simply rotating the rigid pole  310 , a different cleat  300 , located at a different height on the rigid pole  310 , will be facing the window section and will be available for use in lifting the window section.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 4 is a view from line  4 - 4  of FIG. 3. The cleats  300 , their indentations  330 , and the rigid pole  310  are clearly apparent in this illustration. As is also evident in this illustration the rigid pole  310  may be rectangularly shaped with the cleats  300  being placed on each side of the rigid pole  310 .  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 5 is a top view of a rigid pole  510  in a third embodiment of the present invention. As is evident, the rigid pole  510  has a triangular cross-section; however, while both a triangular and a rectangular cross-section have been illustrated, the cross-sectional profile of the rigid pole  510  can vary widely. For example, the rigid pole can also be octangular or hexagonally shaped.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 5 also illustrates the cleats  500  mounted on each side of the rigid pole  510 . The cleats  500 , illustrated in this third embodiment, are not indented as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 3.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the extension pole  230  of FIG. 2. This enlarged view illustrates the threaded receptacle  610 , which may be sized to accept the screw from the rigid pole (which is not shown in this illustration but is illustrated in FIG. 3). The extension pole  230  may have the same exterior shape as the rigid pole that it will be connected too. When the rigid pole (not shown) and the extension pole  230  are connected end to end their surfaces may be flush with one another.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 7 is a view taken along line  7 - 7  of FIG. 6. As can be seen the cross-section of the extension pole  230  is rectangular in shape. As can also be seen the threaded receptacle  610  is centered in the end of the extension pole  230  in this embodiment.  
         [0042]    FIGS.  8 - 10  are different views of the handle  200 , foot  210 , and bracket  220  of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2. In FIG. 8, which is a top view of the handle  200 , the bracket  220  is shown closer to the foot  210  end of the handle  200  although it can also be positioned in other locations on the handle as well. The bracket  220  is also shown to be oblong in shape and located between the two sides of the handle  200 . In FIG. 9, which is a side view of the handle  200 , the top of the bracket  220  is shown. It is evident that the bracket  220  has a depression in it. This depression may be sized to accept either the end of the extension pole or the end of the rigid pole. FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the handle  200 . This view illustrates that the foot  210  can be rectangularly shaped.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 11 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the present invention before it is used to open a window  1150 . This illustration shows a foot  1130  resting on top of a sill  1100  of a window frame  1140 . Inside the window  1150  are sections  1145  that slide up and down within the channel (not shown) of the frame  1140 . These sections contain sashes  1160  and mullions  1170 . As is evident no extension pole is required in this embodiment. Instead, the screw in the end of the rigid pole has been removed and the rigid pole  1120  has been placed directly into the bracket  1165  on top of the handle  1115 .  
         [0044]    The cleats  1110  in this embodiment do not have flat top surfaces and indentations as shown in previous embodiments, instead the top surface of the cleats  1110 , in this fourth embodiment, are inclined and form an acute angle with the rigid pole  1120 .  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 12 illustrates how the fourth embodiment may be used to open a stuck window. As shown in FIG. 12 the rigid pole  1120  is lifted up and into the mullion  1170  a component of the widow section  1145 . The cleat  1110 , positioned below the mullion  1170 , presses on the mullion  1170  during the uplifting stroke to create an upward lifting force on the mullion  1170 . This upward lifting force pushes the window section  1145  up, freeing it from its stuck position. If the section  1145  does not become dislodged after one lifting cycle, the window opener can be placed on a different point of the sill  1100  to engage a different point of the mullion  1170  to be urged upwards. Due to the rigid but lightweight design, the window opener is readily moved from point to point on the window sill.  
         [0046]    As noted earlier the rigid member  1120  may contain cleats  1110  on each of its sides. These cleats  1110  may be at a different elevation on the rigid member relative to the top of the rigid pole  1120 . As required, depending on the height of the mullion  1170  above the sill  1100 , the rigid pole  1120  would be rotated to align the most appropriate cleat  1110  directly below the mullion  1170 . Alternatively, instead of positioning the cleat below the mullion, the cleat  1110  could be positioned below the sash  1160  if the sash  1160  was more accessible or more sturdy than the mullion  1170 . Whether the cleat was placed below the mullion  1170  or the sash  1160 , the process for raising the window section  1145  would proceed as described above. Alternatively, if the rigid pole  1120  did not reach the mullion  1170  or the sash  1160  of the sticking window section  1145 , an extension pole may be added to the bottom of the rigid pole  1120  to better position the cleat  1110  below the sticking section  1145 .  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 13 illustrates the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 as used to open a sticking window. As is evident the foot  210  of the handle  200  is resting on the sill  1100 , the extension pole  230  has been screwed to the rigid pole  240  in order to position the rigid pole  240  next to the section  1300  to be opened or slid and the rigid pole  240  is tipping in towards the mullion  150  of the section  1300  to be slid. One of the cleats  250 , located on the rigid pole, has been placed immediately below the mullion  150  of the section  1300 . In use, the handle  200  is lifted up, pushes the cleat  250  up against the mullion  150  and, thereby, urges the section up. If the section  1300  does not open after one lifting cycle the window opener will be repositioned on the sill  1100  in order to place a lifting force on a different portion of the mullion  150  or alternatively on the border  120  instead.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of components utilized in a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Evident in FIG. 14 is a handle  1400  having a grasp  1410 , a channel  1430 , a beveled edge  1450 , and a foot  1440 . As can be seen the channel  1430  in the handle  1400  is closer to the beveled edge  1450  side of the handle  1400  than the grasp  1410  side of the handle  1400 . As can also be seen the channel  1430  completely penetrates through the handle  1400 .  
         [0049]    Also evident in FIG. 14 is a solid cylindrical pin  1420 . This pin  1420 , like the handle and the pole  1460 , is preferably made from a rigid plastic but may also be made from other materials such as wood, metal alloys, a combination of these materials, or any other suitable material. The pin  1420  is smaller in diameter than the openings  1470  located along the length of the pole  1460  so that the pin  1420  may be readily slid in and out of the openings  1470 . The pin  1420  is not only longer than the width of the pole  1460 , it is also longer than the width of the channel  1430 . Consequently, when the pin  1420  is placed in an opening  1470  of the pole  1460  the pin  1420  will protrude from both sides of the opening  1470  and, when the pole  1460  is placed into the channel  1430 , will prevent the pole  1460  from sliding further through the channel  1430 . The pole  1460  will thus be suspended in the channel by the pin  1420 . As is evident, the pole  1460  contains a sash seat  1480  on both of its ends so that the pole  1460  may be slid into channel  1430  from either end.  
         [0050]    Alternatively, rather than having the openings completely penetrate the pole as described above, the openings, aligned with one another on opposite sides of the pole, may only penetrate a portion of the pole. In this sixth embodiment, rather than using a single pin, two would be needed, one for each side of the pole. In use, once the two pins were inserted into the pole, the pins would act as a support for the pole when the pole was inserted into the channel of the handle, like the embodiments described above.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the components from FIG. 14 after they have been assembled. Clearly evident in FIG. 15 is the pin  1420  located within one of the openings  1470  of the pole  1460 . As can be seen and as described above, the pin  1420  supports the pole  1460  within the channel  1430 . Arrows  1550  of FIG. 15 make evident that the pole  1460  is free to pivot back and forth when it is paced in the channel  1430 . This pivoting about the pin  1420  provides a range of adjustment for the pole  1460  when it is used to open a window.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the assembled components from FIG. 15 being utilized to open a stuck window. The window in FIG. 16 contains a sill  1610 , a pane  1620  of glass, and a sash  1600 . As can be seen the sash seat  1480  of the pole  1460  is positioned underneath the sash  1600 , a component of the window, while the foot  1440  of the handle  1400  is resting on the sill  1610 . The arrow  1630  indicates the direction of movement of the grip  1410  when the window opener  1650  is utilized to open a window. As the grip  1410  is lifted, the pole  1460  and, concomitantly, the sash seat  1480 , will be urged up towards the sash  1600  of the window. As described above, this upward lifting movement can be repeated at several locations of the window until the window has been dislodged from its frozen position.  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 17 is a side view of a sixth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment the rigid pole  1710  is preferably configured to rest on the sash of a window while the handle  1700  is preferably configured to contact the stuck window section to be opened. In FIG. 17 a handle  1700  having a pivot pin  1711 , a recess  1713 , and a grabbing tip  1712  can be seen. A rigid pole  1710  having a plurality of cleats  1715  along one of its sides and having a sash seat  1714  at its lower end can also be seen in FIG. 17. The pivot pin  1711  in this embodiment may be sized to fit within one of the cleats and allow the handle  1700  to pivot up and down at this point. The actual configuration of the pivot pin and the cleat can take innumerable configurations including a cylinder and accommodating groove, a polygon and accommodating channel, and a sphere and accommodating pocket.  
         [0054]    In use the rigid pole  1710  may be slid through an opening in the handle  1700  until one of the cleats engages the pivot pin  1711  of the handle  1700 . The sash seat  1714  may then be placed on the sash of a window and the end of the handle  1700  may then be depressed such that the gabbing tip  1712 , the recess  1713  or both engages the window section to be opened. The plurality of cleats on the rigid pole provides for adjustability to accommodate different window sizes as well as providing for adjustments to be made during the lifting process as the window section is lifted away from the grabbing tip  1712 .  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the handle and rigid pole of FIG. 17 as employed in accord with an embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen the sash seat  1714  is resting on the sash of the window and the pivot pin is resting in one of the cleats of the rigid pole. As described above, by pushing down on the handle  1700 , in the direction of arrow  1800 , an amplified upward force will be placed on the mullion  1810  of the moveable window sections  1800 . In order to open a stuck window section, the rigid pole may be positioned at numerous points along the sash in order to apply forces to different parts of the mullion  1810 . Moreover, as the window begins to open, if necessary, the handle  1700  and pivot pin  1711  may be repositioned in a different cleat of the rigid pole to accommodate the partially slid section  1800 .  
         [0056]    Alternatively, rather than resting the sash seat  1714  on the sash of the window it may also be placed on other portions of the window and any other nearby positions. Moreover, it may be oriented in any direction as well. In each of these alternative positions it is preferable, however, to place the sash seat  1714  in contact with a rigid material that will adequately resist the forces being exerted against it during the opening process. While a single length pole is shown in FIG. 18 the pole may also have an adjustable length capable of being lengthened or shortened as necessary.  
         [0057]    The handle and rigid pole assembly may be made from numerous materials including plastic, metal, reinforced fiberglass, rigid carbon composites, and other suitable materials. FIGS. 19 and 20 show a side and top view of the handle  1700  from FIG. 17. The handle  1700  in this embodiment has been made from plastic although it may have been made from the other materials described above as well as any other suitable material. The handle and rigid pole may also have numerous cross-sectional configurations including various polygonal (e.g., square and rectangular) cross-sections and various round (e.g. circular and elliptical) cross-sections.  
         [0058]    The pivot pin  1711 , recess  1713 , reinforcement struts  2010 , grabbing tip  1712 , and opening  2000  can be clearly seen in these two figures. As can also be seen the pivot pin is positioned in the opening  2000  such that the cleats of the rigid pole being placed into the opening may come in contact with and grasp it, as necessary, during the opening process.  
         [0059]    [0059]FIGS. 21 and 22 show side and top views, respectively, of the rigid pole  1710 . Like the handle  1700 , the rigid pole  1710  also contains reinforcing struts  2210  to provide added rigidity without a substantial addition of weight or bulk. While reinforcing struts  2210  are used in this embodiment other configurations with alternative designs are also plausible.  
         [0060]    In these figures the sloped and fanning configuration of the sash seat  1714  is clearly visible. In addition to providing a base from which to work from, the sash seat may also be used to pry open windows after they have been opened by the rigid pole and handle. In other words, in this alternative embodiment, after the window has been moved by the handle and pole assembly, the pole may be disconnected from the handle and the pole may be used as a crow bar to continue to open the window.  
         [0061]    A window opener is described above. The disclosed embodiments are illustrative of the various ways in which the present invention may be practiced. Other embodiments, not discussed above, can also be implemented by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.