Patents by Inventor Stephen M. Piltingsrud

Stephen M. Piltingsrud has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6139070
    Abstract: A window locking assembly is disclosed for selectively locking a window sash closed against a window jamb. The assembly includes a motor mounted to the window sash, the motor having an output drive shaft. A keeper is movably mounted to the window sash. A gear train operably connects the motor drive shaft to the keeper for controlling movement of the keeper. The motor moves the keeper to selectively engage the keeper with a cam member secured to the window jamb when the window sash is substantially closed against the window jamb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Truth Hardware Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen M. Piltingsrud
  • Patent number: 6044587
    Abstract: An operator for controlling the movement of a window sash generally pivotable relative to a frame about a first edge between open and closed positions includes a first arm having a first end slidably attachable to a second edge of the window sash opposite the sash first edge. A second arm has a first end also slidably attachable to the sash second edge, and is further pivotally secured to the first arm. A base is attached to a frame and includes a drive attached to the other ends of the first and second arms for pivoting the first arm relative to the second arm whereby the first ends and second ends of first and second arms are disposed together with a window sash in an open position and the first ends and second ends are spaced apart with a window sash in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Truth Hardware Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory J. Vetter, Stephen M. Piltingsrud
  • Patent number: 5839767
    Abstract: An actuator for a window lock including a housing mountable to a window frame and defining an opening between opposite sides, one of the sides having a recessed portion therein. A handle is pivotable about an axis within the housing opening and has a central opening with sloped cam surfaces therearound. A cam bushing is receivable in the handle central opening and has sloped cam surfaces engageable with the handle cam surfaces whereby pivoting of the handle relative to the cam bushing axially biases the cam bushing relative to the handle toward a locking position. The cam bushing further includes a stop tab extending from one side of the cam bushing and receivable in the housing recessed stop when the actuator is in a locking position. The cam bushing one side is axially biased toward the housing one side. A lock link is operatively connectable to a window lock for operating a lock in response to pivoting of the lock link, and is pivotally connected to the cam bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Truth Hardware Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen M. Piltingsrud
  • Patent number: 5813171
    Abstract: An assembly for opening and closing a window sash from and against a window frame including a motor mounted to a window sash and having an output drive shaft, an operator arm having one portion pivotally connected to the sash and a second portion operably connected to the frame, and a drive train operably connecting the motor drive shaft to the output arm for controlling pivotal movement thereof in relation to the sash. A clutch mechanism permits the operator arm to be selectively disconnected from the drive train to allow the sash to be manually opened. A housing, disposable in a cavity defined in a generally rectangular box shape on a sash side, encloses the motor, drive train, and clutch mechanism. The housing has finger-jointed ends which are adhesively bonded to matching finger-joints formed on opposite sides of the sash cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Truth Hardware Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen M. Piltingsrud
  • Patent number: 5590491
    Abstract: An operator for controlling pivoting of a window sash relative to a window frame including dual arms which pivot relative to one another to move the window sash. A drive input pivotally drives a drive member which is eccentric about its pivot axis, where the drive input includes recesses spaced from the input pivot axis and engageable by a user's fingers to manual pivot the drive input. A drive ring gear is pivotable relative to the drive member and includes two axially spaced sets of gear teeth. The dual arms are secured to separate ring gears which are respectively associated with the two gear teeth sets. The drive ring gear is moved eccentrically relative to the pivot axis by the eccentric drive member whereby at least some of the teeth of the first set of drive ring gear teeth are disengaged from the teeth of its associated arm ring gear and at least some of the teeth of the second set of drive ring gear teeth are disengaged from the teeth of its associated arm ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Truth Hardware Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen M. Piltingsrud
  • Patent number: 5531045
    Abstract: A window operator and lock structure for controlling a window sash relative to a window frame, including a drive input securable to a frame and engaging both an operator linkage securable to a window sash to effectuate motion of a secured sash relative to a frame, and a lock linkage securable to a lock structure for locking a secured sash to a frame. A link in the lock linkage moves in a generally longitudinal direction when operating the lock structure and includes a substantially transverse slot. A cam is pivotable about a cam axis fixed relative to the frame and includes a member receivable in the link slot to block operation of the lock linkage. The sash when closed against the frame includes a member engaging the cam to pivot the cam in a first direction moving the cam member clear of the link slot. The cam is blocked from pivoting when the sash is closed by engagement of the cam member with a side surface of the lock linkage link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Truth Hardware Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen M. Piltingsrud
  • Patent number: 5493813
    Abstract: A window operator including a first sun gear, a first drive gear including a drive gear portion and a ring gear portion, a manual worm drive operatively connected to the drive gear portion, a planetary gear carrier, a first set of planetary gears carried between the first sun gear and the ring gear portion, and an operable connection between the gear carrier and a window sash whereby pivoting of the gear carrier operates the sash. A first ring gear is drivably connected to pivot with the first sun gear, and a second ring gear is fixed with respect to the window frame. A second set of planetary gears has first and second axially spaced gear segments, the first gear segments being disposed between a motor driven sun gear and one of the ring gears, and the second gear segments drivably engaging the other of the ring gears. The ring gears and/or the gear segments have different numbers of teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Truth Hardware Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory J. Vetter, Stephen M. Piltingsrud
  • Patent number: 5440839
    Abstract: An operator for controlling movement of a window sash relative to a window frame, including a drive gear pivotable about a central axis substantially perpendicular to one side of the window frame and drivably linked to move the sash, a connector defining first and second pivot axes intersecting at a point and rotatable around the intersection point, a worm pivotable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the central axis and drivably engaging a portion of the drive gear by a helical thread having variable height peaks lying in an annular orientation substantially conforming to the annular orientation of the drive gear portion, and a drive input shaft rotatable about a shaft axis intersecting the worm axis at an angle. The worm, connector and drive shaft are secured whereby the connector is pivotable relative to the worm about the first pivot axis and the connector is pivotable relative to the drive shaft about the second pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: Truth Hardware Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen M. Piltingsrud
  • Patent number: 5440837
    Abstract: An apparatus for both manual and powered operation of the sash of a double hung window, including a drive belt adjacent one side of the sash, a power drive for the belt, and a pulley carried with the sash and engaging the belt. Two ratchets having wheels with oppositely facing inclined teeth and pawls biased into engagement with the wheel of the respective ratchet through a connecting shaft secure the pulley against pivoting in either direction to effectively lock the pulley relative to the engaged belt. A ratchet housing is disposed in a sash recess and has a D-shaped opening on one end adjacent a cylindrical opening to the pulley. A bushing for the ratchet shaft is received in the sash cylindrical opening and includes a D-shaped flange receivable through an annular opening in the housing whereby twisting of the bushing misaligns the flange with a suitable tab to secure the bushing in the sash cylindrical opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: Truth Hardware Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen M. Piltingsrud
  • Patent number: 5219193
    Abstract: A check rail lock with a handle pivot shaft secured for pivotal movement with respect to the housing and a cam which pivots with the shaft between an open position with the cam enclosed in the housing and a locking position with the cam extending from the housing for grasping a keeper. An axially reciprocable locking member is associated with the pivot shaft for pivoting therewith, and has a manually engageable button end projecting above the housing and a locking end within the housing. The locking end has circumferentially spaced locking surfaces, and a spring biases the member locking end into engagement with the housing. First and second locking notches in the housing receive the member locking end when the cam and handle are in the open and locking positions, respectively, and the locking notches each have a surface engaging one of the locking end locking surfaces to prevent pivoting of the locking member and pivot shaft when the member locking end is received therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: Truth Division of SPX Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen M. Piltingsrud
  • Patent number: 5161839
    Abstract: A check rail lock including a housing with a pivot opening, a handle having a pivot shaft extending through the pivot opening, the handle being disposed over the housing when operably pivoted between locking and unlocking positions, and a cam secured to the pivot shaft beneath the housing with a post extending toward the housing. A C-shaped spring mounted to the housing between the housing and the cam has shoulders which (1) allow the spring to flex outwardly to allow passage of the post past one of the shoulders when pivoting the handle from a painting position extending away from the housing to either operational locking or unlocking position and (2) stop the handle from being pivoted beyond the locking or unlocking positions to the painting position. Recesses in the spring adjacent the shoulders positively indicate when the lock is in either the locked or unlocked positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Truth Division of SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen M. Piltingsrud, Donald L. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5110165
    Abstract: A window lock has a window sash mounted housing with a cam which is manually pivotable between a locking position engaging a keeper on a second window sash and an open position clear of the keeper. A bearing post projects from the cam and a spring secured to the housing exerts a biasing force against the post. The spring is a leaf spring having a first portion bearing against the post when the cam is positioned toward the locking position from the neutral position, and a second portion bearing against the post when the cam is positioned toward the open position from the neutral position. A curved portion of the spring connects the first and second portions at an angle relative to each other, and bears against the post when the cam is in the neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: Truth Division of SPX Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen M. Piltingsrud