AUTOMATIC SAFETY WINDOW APPARATUS AND SYSTEM

A an automatic safety window apparatus comprising: a window unit configured to attach to the interior of a window, the window unit comprising: an actuator; a linkage in operable communication with the actuator, and configured to attach to a window sash; where the actuator is configured to open the window sash. An automatic safety window apparatus comprising: a window unit configured to attach to the interior of a window, the window unit comprising: an actuator; an alarm and transmitter unit in signal communication with the actuator; a linkage in operable communication with the actuator, and configured to attach to a window sash; where the actuator is configured to open the window sash when the alarm and transmitter unit detects gas levels above a threshold level. An automatic safety window system comprising: a window, the window comprising: a first window jam; a window head abutting the first window jam; a second window jam abutting the window head; a top sash vertically slideable between the first and second window jams; a bottom sash vertically slideable between the first and second window jams; a window unit configured to attach to the interior of the window, the window unit comprising: an actuator; a linkage in operable communication with the actuator, and attached to the top sash; a receiver in signal communication with the actuator; a battery power source in communication with the receiver and the actuator; a fan connected to the receiver, an alarm and transmitter unit located remotely from the window unit, the alarm and transmitter unit configured to transmit an open window signal to the receiver when a threshold level of a gas is reached and to initiate an alarm; and where the fan is configured to activate when the receiver receives an open window signal from the alarm and transmitter unit and where the fan is configured to blow air from outside of a room the automatic safety window apparatus is installed in, through the window, into the room; and where the receiver is configured to send a signal to the actuator to open the top sash when an open window signal is received from the alarm and transmitter unit.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an automatic safety window apparatus and system and more specifically to an automatic safety window apparatus and system that can detect unsafe levels of gases, and automatically open one or more windows to prevent deadly levels of gases from building up.

BACKGROUND

Many people are killed when unsafe levels of carbon monoxide (CO) and/or natural gas build up in the homes. CO detectors and Natural Gas detectors can detect these gases, but if people are already incapacitated, the audible alarms will do little good.

Thus there is a need for an automatic safety window apparatus and system that overcomes the above listed and other disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an automatic safety window apparatus comprising: a window unit configured to attach to the interior of a window, the window unit comprising: an actuator; a linkage in operable communication with the actuator, and configured to attach to a window sash; where the actuator is configured to open the window sash.

The invention also relates to an automatic safety window apparatus comprising: a window unit configured to attach to the interior of a window, the window unit comprising: an actuator; an alarm and transmitter unit in signal communication with the actuator; a linkage in operable communication with the actuator, and configured to attach to a window sash; where the actuator is configured to open the window sash when the alarm and transmitter unit detects gas levels above a threshold level.

The invention, in addition, relates to an automatic safety window system comprising: a window, the window comprising: a first window jam; a window head abutting the first window jam; a second window jam abutting the window head; a top sash vertically slideable between the first and second window jams; a bottom sash vertically slideable between the first and second window jams; a window unit configured to attach to the interior of the window, the window unit comprising: an actuator; a linkage in operable communication with the actuator, and attached to the top sash; a receiver in signal communication with the actuator; a battery power source in communication with the receiver and the actuator; a fan connected to the receiver, an alarm and transmitter unit located remotely from the window unit, the alarm and transmitter unit configured to transmit an open window signal to the receiver when a threshold level of a gas is reached and to initiate an alarm; and where the fan is configured to activate when the receiver receives an open window signal from the alarm and transmitter unit and where the fan is configured to blow air from outside of a room the automatic safety window apparatus is installed in, through the window, into the room; and where the receiver is configured to send a signal to the actuator to open the top sash when an open window signal is received from the alarm and transmitter unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1shows a perspective view of the automatic safety window apparatus10. The apparatus comprises an alarm and transmitter unit14. The alarm and transmitter unit14may be configured to sound an alarm when it senses a specified level of a particular gas. The gas may be CO or natural gas, or smoke. In addition, when the specified level of gas is sensed, the unit14will transmit a signal to the window unit18. The alarm and transmitter unit14may be installed anywhere in the home or building, either on a wall or ceiling. In one embodiment, the alarm and transmitter unit18will be located near a source of potentially dangerous gas. The window unit18attaches to a window20. The window20may comprise window jams22,26, window head30(top of window frame); top sash46, bottom sash50, and window lock62for bottom sash50, and a window sill52. The automatic safety window apparatus10may be configured to attach to double hung windows such as window20. However, the automatic safety window apparatus10may be configured to attach to any suitable window type. The window unit may attach to one or more of the window jams22,26, and/or the window head30. The window unit18comprises a window opening linkage34and a reset button38. The window unit18may comprise one more covers42. The window unit may have a power connection54and an optional air flow vent58. In addition, the automatic safety window apparatus10may also have an adjustable sliding joint78in the cover42. This joint78allows the window unit14to be adjustable to fit different width windows20.

FIG. 2shows a close up perspective view of the alarm and transmitter unit14. The unit may comprise an alarm and transmitter unit housing66, an alarm and transmitter unit reset button70, and an inlet74to allow the unit14to determine the level of a particular gas or gasses.

FIG. 3is a front view of the alarm and transmitter unit14fromFIG. 2. Please note that one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that in other embodiments, that the alarm and transmitter unit14may be incorporated into the window unit18, so that the window unit18is generally a self-contained unit without the need to separately install an alarm and transmitter unit14.

FIG. 4is a front view of the automatic safety window apparatus10fromFIG. 1. In this view, the window sash connector82is shown. The window sash connector82is in operable communication with window opening linkage34. The sash connector82is attached to the top sash46in this embodiment.

FIG. 5is a perspective view of the automatic safety window apparatus10with the covers42removed. In this view an actuator86, which comprises the automatic safety window apparatus10is shown. The actuator may be any suitable device that provides linear movement, including and not limited to an electric cylinder. The actuator86is configured to move the linkage34, window sash connector82, and the top sash46. Thus, the actuator86can open the window20(by lowering the top sash46in one embodiment) to prevent a deadly accumulation of deadly gases or smoke. Also comprising the automatic safety window apparatus10is a receiver90and solid state relay94configured to activate the actuator86. The receiver90is in signal communication with the alarm and transmitter unit14. In some embodiments, the alarm and transmitter unit18may be configured to be in signal communication with two or more receivers90in two or more window units18. In one embodiment the receiver90is in wireless communication with the alarm and transmitter unit14, but in other embodiments they may be in wired communication. Thus, when the alarm and transmitter unit14detects an unsafe level of gas, the alarm goes off in the unit14, and a signal is sent from the unit14to the receiver90, which in turn communicates with the relay94which activates the actuator86which lowers the top sash46. An optional power supply98is shown in communication with the actuator86, relate94, and recover90. The power supply may be a battery, either rechargeable, or replaceable battery after a length of time. In other embodiments, the window unit18may be powered via the power connection54to an electrical line. The window unit18may also comprise a fan102in electrical communication with the power supply98or the power connection54. The fan102may be any suitable fan, including and not limited to a vertical cross-flow fan. The fan102may be configured to pull outside air into the room where the window unit18is located via the open window. In other embodiments, the fan102may be configured to take air out of the room where the window unit18is located and direct the room air to the outdoors via the open window.

FIG. 6shows a front view of the window unit18with the covers42removed. In this figure, the top sash46is in a closed position.

FIG. 7shows a front view of the window unit18with the covers42removed. In this figure, the top sash is in an opened position with an opening106made by the lowering of the top sash46by the actuator86, linkage34and sash connector82.

FIG. 8shows a side view cutaway view of the window20and window unit18. In this view the top sash46is closed.

FIG. 9shows a side view cutaway view of the window20and window unit18. In this view the top sash46is opened, showing an opening102in the window20to let clean outside air into the room.

In one embodiment, the automatic safety window apparatus, and system may be attached to the interior of an existing window frame that operates wirelessly with CO and/or Natural Gas alarms. When the alarm is activated a signal may be sent from the alarm to a receiver in the window unit and then that triggers an electric cylinder to drop the upper window pane about 4 inches to about 6 inches. This allows the evacuation of the gases from the room, in one embodiment a bedroom or a plurality of bedrooms. A drop of 1000 to 2000 particles per million may allow a person to survive and leave the building. The size of the building and location of the gas sources will determine the location and number of alarms and window units required. The alarm may activate at 275 ppm and the window would open. Based on testing on this invention, the parts per million never exceeded 275 ppm. A remote main power supply with a backup battery to power up to 4 windows and alarms may be supplied. A lot of these types of gas leaks or CO accidents happen when there is a loss of power in the building, so the backup battery may be a an important part of this system. There is also an optional fan built into the frame to aid in evacuating the air through the window opening. This system can also be integrated in the window frame as a self-contained unit for new window installation or as an interior surface applied unit and these same systems and also be adapted to commercial casement windows for schools, offices and apartment buildings.

In one experimental test, the exhaust of a car with a V8 engine was connected to a chamber, the chamber was meant to represent a bedroom. 440 Particles per Million (ppm) of CO was exiting at the exhaust pipe of the car. The chamber size was 10′×10′×7′9″. The temperature in chamber was 62° F. at the beginning of the test. The room had 4 ppm of CO before the car was running. The alarm activated when an index gauge read 272 ppm, and a window was open about 4 inches. The chamber never reaches higher than 272 ppm. Three consecutive tests were run with the internal ppm triggering the alarm from 247 to 272 ppm. The ppm within the room on all 3 tests dropped to 200 ppm in 20 minutes and to 129 ppm in 30 minutes. Gage reading outside window when the alarm activated and the window opened 4 inches went from 151 ppm to 40 ppm in 13 minutes without an exhaust fans. Volume of air exiting the window was between 53 and 125 cubic feet per minute. For the 4th test, air fans were added blowing inward into the chamber. The room temperature was 68° ; it dropped from 220 ppm upon opening the window to 115 ppm in 15 minutes.

This invention has many advantages. It automatically opens a room window when a threshold level of gas is detected, thereby saving the life of whoever is the room, and allowing that person to escape the room. The invention may have a rechargeable battery to power the device, thus in the event of a power failure the device will still work. The invention may have a remote alarm and transmitter unit that may be located near a gas source, in order to provide early detection of unsafe gas levels, and early opening of the window. The invention may be attached to almost any residential or commercial window in an aftermarket fashion. The invention not only provides an alarm, but will provide proactive action, and open a window in a person's bedroom. The invention can monitor the building twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, whether or not someone is in the building or not, and open the windows if required.

It should be noted that the terms “first”, “second”, and “third”, and the like may be used herein to modify elements performing similar and/or analogous functions. These modifiers do not imply a spatial, sequential, or hierarchical order to the modified elements unless specifically stated.