Abstract:
A device for opening and closing a sliding window via a motorized drive mechanism, which can be controlled remotely. A drive assembly with a motor-controlled drive wheel is mounted on a window sill, and the drive wheel selectively engages with a track attached to the window glass. Signals are sent from a remote device to actuate the motor, turning the drive selectively engaged with the track to slide the window open and closed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This Application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from earlier filed U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/240,162, filed Oct. 12, 2015. The entirety of the above-listed provisional application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
       [0002]    The present device is in the field of powered window-opening devices, especially those which can be remotely operated. 
       Background 
       [0003]    Opening and closing windows regulates the ambient temperature in an enclosed space by controlling the air flow. Therefore, one may want to open or close a window to change the temperature or when a desired temperature is reached. However, at times one may not be close enough to a window to reach over and slide it open or closed. Further, a person may have difficulty getting over to a window due to disability or being inconveniently disposed, such as in bed. 
         [0004]    Although remotely controlled window systems do exist, the control mechanisms and devices are integrated into the system. These are usually seen in larger buildings or specialized high-end construction projects, but not in residential or common commercial properties. Therefore, a remote window operating system would need to be retrofitted to a window, which can be very costly, requiring professional installation. 
         [0005]    What is needed is a convenient and easily installed device to open and close a sliding window from a remote location. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The present device provides a mechanized system to remotely open and close a sliding window. A user, via a remote device, can operate a microcontroller unit that controls a motor. A motor can connect to a drive wheel that can selectively engage with a strip or “track” affixed to a window surface. As the wheel turns, a window can move in a linear path to open and close. Magnetic sensors can be mounted to a motor control housing to detect magnets at the terminal ends of a strip on a window surface to stop the motor when a window is fully opened or closed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Further details of the present device are explained with the help of the attached drawings in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the present device installed on a window. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2 a    depicts a detail view of a drive assembly embodiment of the present device. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2 b    depicts a detail view of a motor mount assembly embodiment of the present device. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2 c    depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a mounting bracket in the present device. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  depicts a planar view of an embodiment of the present device during installation. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]      FIG. 1  depicts an embodiment of the present device installed on a window. As shown, a drive assembly  102  can have a motor control housing  104  encasing internal drive control components, while a drive wheel  106  can be located exterior to a motor control housing  104 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , a motor control housing  104  can have a substantially rectangular geometry, with substantially flat and substantially orthogonal surfaces, but in other embodiments can have any other known and/or convenient configuration. A motor control housing  104  can be comprised of a polymer, metal, wood, or any other known and/or convenient material. 
         [0014]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a drive wheel  106  can be oriented above and, with its central axis substantially perpendicular to, the top surface of a motor control housing  104 . In some embodiments, a drive wheel  106  can have a longitudinal circumferential surface that can have a width substantially equal to that of a drive wheel  106  at its central axis. However, in other embodiments, a drive wheel  106  can have a tapered or any other known and/or convenient geometry. A drive wheel  106  can be comprised of a polymer, metal, wood, or any other known and/or convenient material or combination of these materials. 
         [0015]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , an elongated member  108  can be a strip or track segment, but in other embodiments can have any other known and/or convenient configuration. An elongated member  108  can be comprised of a flexible or rigid material, such as, but not limited to a polymer. In some embodiments, an elongated member  108  can be substantially transparent to not interfere with sight out of a window, but in other embodiments can be translucent or opaque. In some embodiments, an elongated member  108  can have a first substantially planar surface and a second substantially planar surface. A first surface can have adhesive properties conducive to removably or permanently affixing to a glass surface or any other known and/or convenient surface. At least a portion of the longitudinal circumferential surface of a drive wheel  106  can selectively engage with a second substantially planar surface of an elongated member  108  via friction contact, selectively compatible textured surfaces, or any other known and/or convenient method. In other embodiments, the longitudinal circumferential surface of a drive wheel  106  can have raised protrusions to selectively engage with corresponding recesses on second substantially planar surface of an elongated member  108 , or vice-versa. 
         [0016]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the present device can have an exterior power source connection  110  that can be plugged into a wall socket or an extension cord from such. In other embodiments, the present device can have an internal power supply, such as batteries instead of or in addition to an exterior power source connection  110 . 
         [0017]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 a   , a drive assembly  102  can have some components located inside of a motor control housing  104 . A motor  202  can be connected to a bracket  204  via at least one spring mount mechanism  206  and a motor attachment plate  208 . In such embodiments, a bracket  204 , spring mount mechanism  206 , and motor attachment plate  208  can be comprised of metal, polymer, or any other known and/or convenient material or combination of such materials. 
         [0018]    A drive assembly mounting bracket  210  can have a top surface and a bottom surface. In some embodiments, a drive assembly bracket  210  can have an L-shaped cross-section, but in other embodiments can have any other known and/or convenient geometry. A bracket  204  can connect to the top surface of a drive assembly mounting bracket  210  with threaded connectors, rivets, adhesive, or any other known and/or convenient connecting devices. 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIG. 2 a   , a microcontroller unit  212  can electrically connect to a motor  202 . In some embodiments, a microcontroller unit  212  can also electrically connect to at least one magnetic sensor  214 . A microcontroller unit  212  can be configured to accept input from a remote device  216  to a receiver  218  via wireless, Bluetooth, hard-wired or any other known and/or convenient method, and a receiver  218  can be integrated with or electrically connected to a microcontroller unit  212 . In some embodiments, a microcontroller unit  212  can be configured to accept preset values as well as manual remote operation corresponding to desired duration and direction of motor  202  rotation output. 
         [0020]      FIG. 2 b    depicts a detail view of a motor  202 , mounting bracket  204 , spring mount mechanisms  206 , and motor mounting plate  208 . A spring mount mechanism  206  can comprise a helical coil, elastomeric component, or any other known and/or convenient device. A motor mounting plate  208  can be connected to a motor mounting bracket  204  via threaded connectors, adhesive, friction-fit connectors, or any other known and/or convenient device. A mounting bracket  204  and a motor mounting plate  208  can be comprised of metal, polymer, or any other known and/or convenient material. In some embodiments, a mounting bracket  204 , spring mount mechanisms  206 , and motor mounting plate  208  can be fabricated to allow position adjustment relative to each other.  FIG. 2 c    depicts a perspective view of a mounting bracket  204 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  depicts an embodiment of mounting hardware for the present device. In  FIG. 3 , a drive assembly  102 , which can include a motor control housing  104 , which can be removed from a drive assembly mounting bracket  210  to facilitate installment. A drive assembly mounting bracket  210  can be attached to a window sill  302  via threaded connectors, such as, but not limited to screws, adhesive, or any other known and/or convenient device. In some embodiments, at least one removable height alignment guide  304 , can be attached to a longitudinal edge of an elongated member  108  to indicate the proper height to place an elongated member  108  on window glass  306 . 
         [0022]    In some embodiments, at least one magnetic component  308  can be affixed to an elongated member  108 . At least one magnetic sensor  214  can be configured to detect a magnetic component  308 , which can provide an input to a microcontroller unit  212  to correspond to desired duration and direction of motor  202  rotation output; for example, stopping a motor  202  when a window has reached the limits of its sliding range. At least one magnetic sensor  214  can be positioned externally to a motor control housing  104  and substantially horizontally aligned with a drive wheel  106  to detect when a magnetic component  308  is in position indicating a desired sliding range limit. 
         [0023]    In use, an elongated member  108  can be affixed to a window  306  using at least one removable height alignment guide  304 . As shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , a user can position an elongated member  108  next to window glass  306  by placing the distal ends of removable height alignment guides  304  in contact with and substantially perpendicular to the top surface of a window sill  302 . This can provide the proper placement of an elongated member  108  on window glass  306 . A user can then affix an elongated strip  108  in this location on window glass  306  via adhesive or any other known and/or convenient method. After an elongated strip  108  is securely affixed to window glass  306 , a user can remove height alignment guides  304  by snapping, cutting, or any other known and/or convenient method. 
         [0024]    A user can affix a drive assembly  102  to a window sill  302  via a drive assembly mounting bracket  210 . In some embodiments, a drive assembly  102  can be mounted such that the bottom surface of a motor control housing  104  can be substantially flush with the top surface of a window sill  302  and substantially flush against the window frame. In this position, a drive wheel  106  can be substantially horizontally aligned with an elongated member  108  to selectively engage. In some embodiments, a spring mount mechanism  206  can allow for fine adjustments. A mounting bracket  204  and a motor mounting plate  208  can also allow for adjustments. When a drive wheel  106  selectively engages with an elongated member  108 , the present device can be ready for actuation. 
         [0025]    To actuate the present device, a remote device  216  can transmit input signals to a receiver  218 , which can be connected to a microcontroller unit  212 . A microcontroller unit  212  can process input signals to direct a motor  202  to rotate forward or reverse, which can rotate a drive wheel  106  accordingly. In some embodiments the drive shaft of a motor  202  can connect directly to a drive wheel  106 , but in other embodiments, a drive train system, such as, but not limited to gears, chain drives, and pulley drives, can intervene to produce a different rotation speed and/or direction in a drive wheel  106 . A drive wheel  106  can selectively engage with an elongated member  108 . As a drive wheel  106  rotates, engagement with an elongated member  108  can result in a linear movement of a window in a direction to open or close it. 
         [0026]    In some embodiments, magnets  308  can be placed at the terminal points of an elongated member  108 . When magnetic sensors  214  detect magnets  308 , they can signal a microcontroller unit  212  to stop a motor  202 . Also, in some embodiments, a bar-code or any other known and/or convenient sensing device can be used to pre-set desired window positions. 
         [0027]    Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention as described and hereinafter claimed is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the claims.