Fenestration automation systems and methods
AssigneePella Corporation
InventorsEvan R. Vande Haar, Todd A. Bernhagen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fenestration assembly including a panel, a lock assembly coupled to the panel, and an actuation system coupled to the lock assembly. The lock assembly includes a motor, a transmission driven by the motor, a sensing assembly, and a slide assembly that includes a rack member operatively coupled to the motor by the transmission and a drive bracket member that is slidable by the rack member between a locked drive bracket member position and an unlocked drive bracket member position.
Claims21
A fenestration assembly comprising:
- a panel;
- a lock assembly coupled to the panel;
- and
- an actuation system coupled to the lock assembly and including a motor, a transmission driven by the motor, a sensing assembly, and a slide assembly that includes a rack member operatively coupled to the motor by the transmission and a drive bracket that is slidable by the rack member between a locked drive bracket position and an unlocked drive bracket position,
- wherein the bracket member is longer than the rack member.
A method of actuating a lock assembly of a fenestration assembly including a first panel having the lock assembly and an actuation system coupled to the lock assembly, the method comprising:
- activating a motor of the actuation system to drive a rack member of the actuation system to push a drive bracket of the actuation system to move an accessory bar coupled to the lock assembly to a locked position, the drive bracket and the rack member have different length to allow the drive bracket to travel relative to the rack member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.