Abstract:
A window rotatable about a pivot point to selectively cover and uncover an opening of a structure, and having at least one operable sash selectively movable within a channel to partially uncover the opening without requiring rotation of the window about the pivot point. The window is preferably configured to rotate inwardly about a top edge whereby the window is protected within the structure when the opening is uncovered by rotation of the window about the pivot point.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates generally to windows, and more particularly to casement windows. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Windows of varying types are available in the home construction and remodeling industries to provide light and/or ventilation for structures of many types. Such windows may provide ventilation by uncovering the entire window opening in which they are installed, such as in a casement window that opens on one side or an awning window that opens outwardly at is the bottom. Both of these windows are typically operable via a hand-operated crank. Alternatively, windows may have one or more operable sash(es) adapted to move vertically or horizontally may provide ventilation by uncovering a fraction of the window opening. 
         [0003]    Both traditional casement windows and windows with one or more operable sash(es) suffer from disadvantages. Specifically, casement windows suffer from an inability to open the window a substantial amount without requiring clearance for an arc of travel of the casement, and further involve slow, clumsy, and inconvenient crank operation. Thus, opening such windows, especially in an emergency, can be difficult. Furthermore, casement windows are arranged to open outwardly, whereby the casement, particularly the edges thereof, is exposed to sun, rain, insects, and other environmental hazards. For example, a conventional side hinged casement window may suffer from water damage if left open during a rain shower, or the window may be damaged by wind if left open in a storm. Additionally, since casement windows open outwardly, if a screen is provided, it must be mounted on the interior of the window, where it is exposed to damage caused by projectiles or the like, especially in a home with small children. 
         [0004]    Windows with operable sashes suffer from an inability to uncover the window opening completely, since the sashes merely slide along tracks of the window, a space equal to the size of one sash will always be blocked. Additionally, windows with sashes, even tilting sashes, are notoriously difficult to clean, because access to the exterior portion of the windows is restricted. Furthermore, installation and/or removal of exterior screens is difficult from inside a structure due to such restricted access to the exterior of the window. As a further disadvantage, escaping from a window having sashes is difficult due to the inability to completely uncover the window opening. 
         [0005]    As such, it is clear that there is an unmet need for a window which provides opening alternatives to consumers whereby the window may fully or partially uncover the window opening without exposing the window to environmental hazards, and that allows for easy operation, cleaning, and maintenance, including installation and removal of screens. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Briefly described, in a preferred embodiment, the window of is the present disclosure overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and meets the recognized need for such a device by providing a window having a frame including at least one operable sash, the frame being hingedly operable with an opening of a structure. 
         [0007]    More specifically, the frame of the window is preferably formed generally as a rectangle having top, bottom, left, and right edges, and preferably includes two operable sashes arranged in vertical tracks, whereby each sash may slide vertically within an associated track, preferably with assistance provided by a spring, piston, or other device, as known by those ordinarily skilled in the art. The frame preferably further includes a hinge disposed on the top edge whereby the frame may pivot about the hinge. The hinge is preferably arranged such that the frame may swing inwardly from the opening of the structure. A lift assist device is preferably further included, such as in the form of a pneumatic piston and cylinder arrangement engaged with an area of the frame proximate at least one of the left side edge and the right side edge. The lift assist device preferably substantially maintains the frame in an open position, whereby the frame may conveniently and easily be opened and maintained in the open position via simply lifting the bottom edge of the frame inwardly. Such hinged opening preferably allows the entire window opening of the structure to be uncovered. Alternatively, the sashes may be arranged such that the window is completely closed, wherein the entire opening of the structure is covered, or such that the window is partially open, wherein a portion of the top and/or the bottom of the opening of the structure is uncovered. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, one feature and advantage of the window of the present disclosure is its ability to provide a greater number of alternative window configurations, whereby some, all, or none of an opening of a structure may be uncovered, as desired. 
         [0009]    Another feature and advantage of the window of the present disclosure is its ability to swing inwardly, whereby opening the window may not interfere with a screen disposed on an exterior of the window, and whereby an exterior of the window may easily be cleaned. 
         [0010]    Yet another feature and advantage of the window of the present disclosure is its ability to position the frame proximate a ceiling of a room when opened inwardly via the hinge, whereby accidental contact with the window frame is avoided when the opening is completely uncovered, and whereby exposure of the frame and sashes of the window may be avoided when the opening is completely uncovered. 
         [0011]    These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reading the following Detailed Description and Claims in light of the accompanying drawing Figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Accordingly, the present disclosure will be understood best through consideration of, and with reference to, the following drawing Figures, viewed in conjunction with the Detailed Description referring thereto, in which like reference numbers throughout the various Figures designate like structure, and in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a window according to the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a detail view of the window of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the window of  FIG. 1  in an open position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the window of  FIG. 1  in a closed position; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the window of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
       [0018]    It is to be noted that the drawings presented are intended solely for the purpose of illustration and that they are, therefore, neither desired nor intended to limit the invention to any or all of the exact details of construction shown, except insofar as they may be deemed essential to the claimed invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    In describing preferred embodiment of the window of the present invention illustrated in the Figures, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The claimed invention, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , window  100  preferably comprises frame  110 , and upper sash  120  and lower sash  130  carried thereby. Frame  110  preferably includes first outer track  111  in which outer (upper) sash  120  may slide vertically and second inner track  113  in which inner (lower) sash  130  may slide vertically. Thus, frame  110 , upper sash  120 , and lower sash  130  preferably operate in a conventional fashion for a double-hung window, wherein upper sash  120  and/or lower sash  130  may be independently moved vertically within a respective one of tracks  111  and  113 . As will be understood by those ordinarily skilled in the art, additional features, such as locking, tilting, divided light, insulating, low-E, UV filtering, or the like, or combinations thereof, may be included with each of upper sash  120  and lower sash  130 . Furthermore, one or more of frame  110 , upper sash  120 , and lower sash  130  may be formed of wood, metal, such as steel, aluminum, or the like, plastic such as vinyl or the like, composites, combinations thereof, or other suitable material. 
         [0021]    Window  100  preferably further includes hinge  140  disposed along top edge  110   a  of frame  110 , whereby window  100  may be engaged with frame F of wall W. As will be understood by those ordinarily skilled in the art, window  100  may rotate about hinge  140 , whereby opening O of wall W may be completely uncovered. Thus, hinge  140  preferably operates as a pivot point, whereby window  100  may be selectively disposed in the open position illustrated in  FIG. 3  and the closed position illustrated in  FIG. 4 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , hinge  140  is preferably formed as a piano-style hinge having first leaf  141  connected to frame  110  and operable with central pin  145  and second leaf  143  connected to frame F of wall W and operable with central pin  145 . As will be understood by those ordinarily skilled in the art, hinge  140  may alternatively be replace by pins, a track, another style of hinge, or other structure adapted to enable pivoting of frame  110  between the open position and the closed position. 
         [0022]    Lift assist device  150  is preferably operable to assist in opening window  100  as window  100  swings about hinge  140 , and is preferably operable to substantially retain window  100  in the open position. For such purpose, lift assist device  150  preferably includes pneumatic cylinder  151  and pneumatic piston  153  operable therewith and biased axially away from cylinder  151 . As best shown in  FIG. 2 , a proximal end of pneumatic cylinder  151  is preferably rotatably operable with frame F via bracket  155  while a distal end of pneumatic piston  153  is preferably rotatably operable with frame  110  via bracket  157 . Thus, as window  100  is rotated about hinge  140  from the closed position to the open position, lift assist device  150  preferably extends to apply a lifting force to frame  110 . 
         [0023]    Additionally, and as shown in  FIG. 4 , when window  100  is in is the closed position, brackets  155  and  157  are preferably disposed approximately in vertical registration, and approximately linearly arranged with hinge  140 . Thus, in the closed position, lift assist device  150  preferably applies relatively little torque to frame  110  for an amount of extension force of lift assist device  150 , whereby window  100  is not opened thereby and does not require restraint to remain in the closed position. Nonetheless, as window  100  swings about hinge  140 , an amount of torque applied to frame  110  by the same amount of extension force of lift assist device  150  preferably increases due to mis-alignment of lift assist device  150  and hinge  140 . Particularly, the extension force of lift assist device  150  and the location of brackets  155  and  157  are preferably selected to allow lift assist device to apply a torque to frame  110  at least equal to an opposing torque applied thereto by gravity in the open position, that nonetheless may easily be manually overcome by a user. 
         [0024]    Optionally, lift assist device  150  may be configured to automatically open window  100 , such as upon activation of a switch. For example, lift assist device may be formed as an electrically-driven piston, or the like, such that a user may a not be required to apply any force to frame  110  during opening and/or closing of window  100  via rotation about hinge  140 . 
         [0025]    Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope and spirit of the present invention. For example, as an alternative, more than or fewer than two operable sashes may be provided, and one or more of such operable sashes may be arranged in a horizontal track, or the like. Additionally, while the frame of the window has been described and illustrated as swinging inwardly about a top edge thereof, the frame may swing outwardly, and/or may swing about a side or the bottom thereof, or the like. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments as illustrated herein.