Coupling Fitting Links Skylight Tilt to Main Sash Lock

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing window and door systems with skylights face issues such as limited ventilation, complex and visually disturbing rod or electric drives for tilting, and difficulty in accessing skylights for opening, leading to dead ventilation areas and increased energy consumption.

Innovation Solution

A coupling fitting system that connects the rotary fitting of the main sash to the tilting fitting of the skylight via a central lock, allowing the skylight to be actuated without visible mechanics, enabling tilting and ventilation with minimal effort and reducing the need for complex drives.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a rod or electric drive is used to tilt the skylight, then the skylight can be tilted for ventilation, but the mechanism becomes visually disturbing and structurally complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveskylight tilting capabilityVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the skylight tilting function with the existing central locking mechanism of the main window sash. The coupling fitting integrates the tilt fitting and rotary fitting into a single coordinated system, allowing the skylight to be tilted through the same handle operation that controls the main sash locking, thereby eliminating the need for separate rods or electric drives

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The central locking mechanism is given multiple functions: it simultaneously controls the locking of the main sash and the tilting of the skylight. The coupling fitting enables this multi-functionality by mechanically linking the rotary fitting (main sash) and tilt fitting (skylight) so that one actuation performs both operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If the main wing is made tiltable to enable ventilation above it, then ventilation is possible, but the main wing becomes heavier and requires more complex fitting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveventilation capabilityVSAvoidmain wing weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The window system is segmented into two independent functional parts: the main sash for primary ventilation and the skylight for upper ventilation. By assigning the tilting function to the lighter skylight rather than the heavier main wing, the system achieves comprehensive ventilation capability while keeping the main sash simple and lightweight

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If the skylight is made fixed to simplify the structure, then the fitting system becomes simpler, but a dead ventilation area is created above the main wing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefitting system simplicityVSAvoidventilation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The skylight is designed with dynamic tilting capability through the tilt fitting, allowing it to adjust between closed and tilted positions. This dynamic feature enables the skylight to provide active ventilation when needed while maintaining a simple fixed appearance when closed, eliminating dead ventilation areas without requiring complex permanent open structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If a rod or electric drive is provided to operate the skylight, then the skylight can be tilted, but the visible mechanics become optically disturbing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveskylight actuationVSAvoidvisual appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The operating mechanism for the skylight is merged with the existing central locking mechanism of the main window. The coupling fitting is concealed within the window structure, and the same handle used for locking the main sash is used to tilt the skylight, eliminating visible rods or electric drives while maintaining full operational capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2824265B1Fitting system
Publication Date: 2019.08.07 MACO TECHNOLOGIE GMBH
  • EP2824265B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2824265B1 patent drawingFigure 2~6
  • EP2824265B1 patent drawingFigure 7~11

AI summary

A hardware system for windows, doors, or the like, with at least one main sash (10) and a transom (12) arranged above it, comprises a turn fitting associated with the main sash (10) and having a central locking mechanism (18), and a tilt fitting associated with the transom (12). The turn fitting associated with the main sash (10) is coupled to the tilt fitting associated with the transom (12) via a coupling fitting (22) in a force-fit and/or form-fit manner, such that the tilt fitting of the transom (12) can also be operated via the central locking mechanism (18) associated with the main sash (10).