AU2003271401B2 - Sash window - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): CRANE ENFIELD METALS PTY LIMITED A.C.N. 008 408 151 Invention Title: SASH WINDOW The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 SASH WINDOW FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a sash window and relates particularly but not exclusively to a sash window which is fabricated from aluminium or like extrusions. The present application is a divisional application of application no. 47496/99 which is directed to a lock for a double hung sliding sash window.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention there is provided a sash window mounted within a window frame, said window frame being, in use, fittable within a window opening, said window frame having a generally shaped transverse cross section jamb part which extends the height of the sash at one side of the sash, the having its open ends directed towards said sash, there being a jamb liner received in said shaped jamb part, said jamb liner also extending the height of the sash and able to advance or retreat in said jamb part towards or away from said sash, spring biasing means between said jamb part and said jamb liner biasing said jamb liner towards said sash, said jamb liner carrying sash engaging surface means for engaging with a side edge of said sash, said sash engaging surface means having inclined surfaces which engage with complimentary inclined surfaces of said sash, whereby to locate said sash relative to said jamb liner, to permit said sash to slide up and down relative to said jamb liner, and to inhibit against movement of said sash in a direction perpendicular to the plane of said sash, said sash window also being pivoted relative to said jamb part by a pivot connection so when required said sash window can be pivotally swung relative to said window frame by retreat of said jamb insert in said jamb liner, and wherein the pivot connection is maintained to retain a swung sash window located relative to said jamb liner.

H: \Priyanka\Keep\speci\P51762 .doc 9/03/06 3 Preferably said sash engaging surfaces are "V" shaped in transverse cross section, and wherein the complimentary inclined surfaces of said sash are complimentary shaped transverse cross section edge surfaces.

Preferably said sash carries pressing means for pressing against said jamb insert to cause said jamb insert to retreat in said jamb part to permit said sash to move in a direction perpendicular from the plane of said sash.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention can be more clearly ascertained reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a front elevational view of one example of a preferred embodiment; Figure 2 is a close up view showing the top part of one of the sashes; Figure 3 is a perspective view similar to that of Figure 2 and showing only part of the top of the sash; Figure 4 is rear perspective view showing components of the lock; Figure 5 is a plan view which diagrammatically shows operation of push rods and locking pins; Figure 6 is a perspective view similar to that of Figure 3 but showing the locking mechanism displaced from the sash and locking pins for co-operation into opening in the other sash; Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view showing components of the push rods and locking pin; Figure 8 is a front elevational view of a swingable arm and pin means used for locating in a track of H\Priyanka\Keep\speci\P51762.doc 9/03/06 3a the outer peripheral frame of the window and for pressing against the outer peripheral frame when the swingable arm is rotated; Figure 9 is an isometric view of the outer peripheral frame showing how the sash frame engages therewith; Figure 10 is a transverse cross sectional view at one side of the outer peripheral frame showing the_ H:\Priyanka\Keep\speci\P51762.doc 9/03/06 4 relationship of the outer peripheral frame with two sash window frames; Figure 11 is a side elevational view of a spring means used in the outer peripheral frame; Figure 12 is a perspective view of the spring means shown in Figure 11, and Figure 13 is an isometric view of a bottom corner of the lower part of the sash 9 showing pivot pin means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring firstly to Figure 1 it can be seen that there is a window having an outer peripheral frame 1 typically of aluminium extrusion. Mounted within the outer peripheral frame 1 are a pair of sash windows 3 and Sash window 3 has its own sash frame 7 of aluminium extrusion, and sash window 5 has its own sash frame 9 of aluminium extrusion. The sash window 5 is provided for up and down sliding movement relative to sash window 3 by sliding in tracks provided in the vertical outer peripheral frame i. When sash window 3 and sash window 5 are in the position shown in Figure i, the sash windows 3 and 5 can be locked relative to one another by operation of a handle 11 mounted midway at the top of the sash frame 9 of the window Figure 2 shows that the handle 11 can be rotated in an anti-clockwise direction to effect unlocking. A lock barrel is provided within the handle 11 to effect locking of the handle 11 to, in turn, lock the sash windows 3 and together so that the whole window assembly cannot be opened without releasing the lock barrel and rotating the handle 11.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing how the sash frame 9 and the sash frame 7 interlock when the top of the sash frame 9 is aligned with the bottom of the sash frame 11. In this case, the upper part of sash frame 9 is shaped with a downwardly extending flange 15, and the lower-most part of the sash frame 7 is shaped with a H \Priyanka\Keep\speci\P51762 .doc 29/12/03 5 complimentary outstanding flange 17. The flanges 15 and 17 locate one behind the other when the windows 3 and 5 are in the fully closed position. This prevents lateral back and forth movement of one window relative to the other. The glazing has not been shown in Figure 3 to aid clarity.

Referring now to Figure 4 there is shown a rear view of the lock mechanism. It can be seen that the handle 11 is carried by a front housing 19. The housing 19 can, in turn, be fastened to the upper part of the sash window 9 as it includes two tubular internally screw threaded tubes 21 integrally formed therewith. Suitable apertures are provided in the face of the upper part of the sash frame 9 to allow the tubes 21 to pass therethrough. Screws (not shown), can be inserted from the opposite side of the upper part of the sash frame 9 into the screw threaded tubes 21 to thereby fasten the housing 19 to the face of the upper part of the sash frame 9 as generally shown by the mounting positions shown in Figures i, 2 and 3. A further opening is provided in the upper part of the sash frame 9 to allow a pinion gear 23 to also pass into the body of the upper part of the sash frame 9. The pinion gear 23 is mounted on an axle which is supported in the housing 19 and connects with the handle 11 through the lock barrel 13 for rotation.

The pinion gear 21 has rectangular block shape rack gears 25 and 27 associated therewith. The rack gears 25 and 27 have a transverse rectangular dimension which enables sliding fitting within the hollow body of the upper sash frame 9. The rectangular hollow section of the upper part of the sash frame 9 can be seen in Figure 3 by the rectangular hollow body part 29. Each of the rack gears and 27 has an elongate slot 31 through which the tubes 21 pass. Accordingly, as the handle 11 is rotated, the pinion gear 23 is rotated which, in turn, drives the rack gears and 27 so that they extend or retract. The rack gears and 27 are, in turn, connected with push rods 33 which, in turn, co-operate with locking tongue members 35. Only one of the locking tongue members 35 is shown in Figure 4 being H: \Priyanka\Keep\speci\P51762 .doc 29/12/03 6 the left hand side. A similar locking tongue 35 is provided at the right hand side. As the push rods 33 extend, the locking tongue members 35 are caused to be retracted so that they can withdraw from a tongue receiving opening 36 in the opposite window sash.

Figure 6 shows that at one side of the sash frame 7 there are provided three tongue receiving openings 36 provided on a plate 37 which is, in turn, attached to the sash frame 7. Attachment can be by any convenient means to provide suitable locking of the sash windows 7 and 9 relative to one another. A similar plate 37 with corresponding tongue receiving openings 36 is provided on the other side of the sash window 7 The push rods 33 are held captive relate to the rack gears 25 and 27 by screw means which pass through screw openings 39.

Figure 5 diagrammatically shows how the push rods can be extended or retracted. Here it can be seen that a cam surface in the form of a block shaped cam 39 with a ramp surface 41 moves with the push rods 33 in a direction transverse to the plane of the sashes 3 and 5. The ramp surface 41 engages with a corresponding ramp surface 43 formed integrally with the tongue 35. The tongue 35 has a rectangular main body part 43 which is suitably housed within a block 45 which is attached at the side edge of the sash frame 9 as will be described hereinafter. The block therefore provides a housing for the block 43 and also for the cam surface 39. Spring means 47 is mounted within the block 45 to urge the tongue 35 outwardly from the sash frame 9 and into a tongue receiving opening 36. Thus, when the push rods 33 are retracted by operation of the handle 11, the spring means 47 pushes the tongues 35 into the corresponding tongue receiving openings 36 at each side of the sash frame 9. When the push rods 33 are extended the ramp surfaces 41 engage with the blocks 43 on their ramp surface and causes retraction of the tongues 35. This, in turn, releases locking of the sash windows relative to one Hi\Priyanka\Keep\speci\PS51762.doc 29/12/03 7 another. It can therefore be seen that the tongues 35 move in a direction transverse to the plane of the sashes resultant from a corresponding movement of the push rods 33 in a direction parallel with the plane of each of the sashes and windows. This, in turn, is effected by rotation of the handle 11. It can also be seen that the ramp surfaces or cam surfaces when engaged cause the tongues to move out of the tongue receiving openings 36. It can also be seen that the tongues 35 are biased by the spring means 47 to extend into the tongue receiving openings 36 when the push rods 33 are retracted and so the tongues will extend under the influence of the bias of the spring means 47 into the tongue receiving openings 36. It should be appreciated that the push rods 33 move within the hollow body 29 of the sash frame 9 and that part of the block is also mounted within the hollow body of 29 of the sash frame 9.

Figure 7 shows an exploded perspective view of the cam surface block 39, block 35 and block 43 carrying the tongue The block 45 has a rectangular transverse cross sectional shaped body part 49 which neatly fits within the hollow body 29 of the sash frame 9. It also has an upper part 51 with an undercut slot or space 53. In other words, the upper part 51 overhangs the body part 49 and there is a space 53 therebetween.

Figure 3 shows an elongate slot 55 in the top surface of the upper part of the sash 9 and this slot enables a screw to pass through a screw opening 57 in the upper part 51 and into the body part 49. When the screw is tightened, it clamps the block 49 at the end of the upper part of the sash 9. The upper part 51 is then mounted at the top of the upper part of the sash frame 9 as also shown in Figure 3.

Referring now to Figures 9 and 10 it can be seen that the outer peripheral frame 1 has three individual aluminium extrusions. A first extrusion comprises a H.\Priyanka\Keep\speci\P51762.doc 29/12/03 8 standard window frame 63 which has a depending leg 65 for permitting structural mounting to a building. The second extrusion is a generally shaped extrusion 67 which is fitted to the standard frame 63 and is dimensioned so that it nestles therein. The free ends of each of the arms of the shaped extrusion 67 have inwardly directed tongues 69. The third extrusion, which is mounted within the "U" shaped extrusion 67 is a jamb liner 71. The jamb liner 71 has a generally shaped configuration in transverse cross section which provides two internal cavities 73 and in the jamb liner 71. The transverse width of the jamb liner 71 is such that it can be neatly received between the tongues 69. Ribs 77 provided on the jamb liner 71 prevent the jamb liner 71 from being displaced laterally outwardly of the shaped extrusion 67. The jamb liner 51 can be fitted within the shaped extrusion 67 by sliding longitudinally therein. The jamb liner 71 can therefore move to advance or retreat within the shaped extrusion 67 except that it is limited in its advancing by the engagement of the tongue 69 with the rib 77.

Spring means 79 shown in Figures 11 and 12, in the form of leaf springs, are fitted to the top and bottom of the jamb liner behind each cavity 73 and 75 as shown in Figure 10. The spring means 79 have a generally arcuate shaped body portion 81 and a return folded clip part 83.

The clip part 83 is provided to clip over the thickness of the metal in the jamb liner 71. Thus, the spring means 79 engages with the bottom surface 85 of the shaped extrusion 67 and urges the jamb liner 71 outwardly. The spring means 79 can be made of any suitable material.

Stainless steel is typically a suitable material.

Each of the cavities 73 and 75 of the jamb liner 67 have a pair of leading faces 87 and 89 which are inclined inwardly and define respective slots 91 and 93 therebetween. The sash frame 7 and 9 each carry a glide member 95 of a suitable plastics material which can be H:\Priyanka\Keep\opeci\P51762 .doc 14/02/06 9 extruded. The glide member 95 can therefore be fitted to the sash frames 7 and 9 in a manner similar to that shown where the glide member 95 has slots 97 which engage with inwardly directed ribs 99 formed internally of the sash frame 7 and 9. The glide member 95 has correspondingly oppositely inclined faces to the faces 87, 89 of the jamb liner 71.

The inclined surfaces 87 and 89 define tracks and the corresponding surfaces of the glide members 95 locate the respective sash frame 7 and 9 relative to the outer peripheral frame 1 and permit the respective sashes 7 and 9 to slide upwardly and downwardly in the tracks in the outer peripheral frame 1. The U shaped extrusion 67 and the sash liner 71 are new components which fit to the existing standard window frame section 63. The bias of the spring means 79 maintains the windows 7 and 9 located in the respective tracks formed by the respective incline surfaces 87, 89 at each of the cavities 73 and Figure 10 shows that sash 9 has a protruding finger 101 which locates in the slot 93 between the inclined leading faces 87 and 89 above cavity 75. The finger 101 therefore assists in retaining the sash window 9 relative to the outer peripheral frame 1. Returning now to Figure 2, 4 and 8 it can be seen that the finger 101 forms an integral part of the block 45. The block 45 carries a swingable arm 103 which has an axle 105 which passes through an upstanding rib 107 on the block 45 (see Figure Each arm carries a pin 107 and the pin 107 is dimension with the same transverse dimensions as the finger 101. Thus, the pin 107 extends further into the slot 93 than the finger 101 when the arm 103 is swung to the vertically extending position as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

This further assists in maintaining the sash window 9 held relative to the outer peripheral frame 1 for its upwards and downwards sliding movement.

When the arm 103 is swung so that the free end moves inwardly of the outer peripheral frame i, pressing H:\Priyanka\Keep\speci\P1762.doc 29/12/03 10 means 109 forming part of the arm 103 engages with the jamb liner 71 and pushes the jamb liner 71 away from the sash 9 against the bias of the spring means 79. The jamb liner 71 tends to bow outwardly ie the region closest to the pressing means 109, extends further away from the sash 9 than the portions of the jamb liner 71 at the top and bottom of the frame 1. This occurs because of the flexibility of the metal in the jamb liner 71. Thus, under such condition the top of sash 7 and the bottom of sash 9 may still be engaging with the jamb liner 71. Under such conditions, the sash window 9 can be swung downwardly from the outer peripheral frame 1 in a manner similar to that described in our aforementioned patent application 56100/96. During this swinging, the engaged inclined faces of the glide member 95, at the bottom region of sash window 9, move relative to the inclined faces 87 and 89 on the jamb liner 71 and this causes the lower part of the jamb liner 71 to move further away from the sash 9 by a wedging type action to accommodate such swinging.

Referring now to Figure 13 there is shown detail of pivot pin means 113 at a bottom corner of the sash frame 9 of sash window 5. A similar pivot means 113 is mounted on the opposite side of the sash window 5. The pivot pin means 113 is generally circular in transverse cross-section having a diameter which approximately equals the width of the slots 91 in the jamb liner 71. The vertical faces 115 are flattened to permit easy movement within the slots 91.

The pivot pin means 113 forms an integral part of an "Lshaped" block 117 which is shaped to fit in a sliding manner in the sash frame 9 as shown. The L-shaped block 117 therefore has an upstanding lug 119 and a main body 121. The main body 121 has the face which projects outwardly of the jamb frame 9 as the glide member Thus, the transition between the outer surface of the glide member 95 and the block 117 is smooth and continuous. This also assists in the location of the pivot pin means 113 between the slots 91. The block 117 is fastened to the H:\Priyanka\Keep\speci\P51762.doc 14/02/06 11 sash frame 9 by a screw 123 which passes through the lug 119 and into the sash frame 9.

Thus, when the jamb liner 71 is moved away from the sash window 9 by operation of the pressing means 109, the pivot pin means 113 is still retained in the slots 91.

Under such conditions, the sash window 5 can be swung downwardly out of the outer peripheral frame 1 to permit cleaning.

It can therefore be seen that the sashes have engaging surfaces being the inclined surfaces to the leading faces 87 and 89 and that these are all complimentary V shaped in transverse cross section. Such permits the sash to be located relative to the jamb liner and inhibits movement of the sashes in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the sashes until such time as the arms 103 are rotated to cause the pressing means 109 to push the jamb liner 71 away from the sash window 9. The pressing means 109 effectively provides a cam arrangement which pushes the jamb liner 71 away from the sash window 109.

Modifications may be made to the above embodiment without departing from the ambit of the invention. The glide member 95, instead of being made from a plastic material may, in fact, be made from metal or other material. Typically, however, in order to facilitate easy smooth gliding without undue binding, the glide member is made of a plastics material such as rigid PVC.

Other modifications may be made. For example, instead of the U shaped extrusion 67 fitting to an existing standard window frame section 63, the U shaped extrusion 67 may be provided with a flange 65 similar to that of the standard section 63 to permit fastening to the structural part of the building in which the window is to be mounted.

It should be appreciated that with the above embodiment, the sashes are minimised for rattling because of the arrangement of spring biased mounting within the jamb liner 71. Further, operation of the arms 103 to H:\Priyanka\Keep\speci\P51762.doc 14/02/06 12 effect downward swinging of the sash 9 is a relatively easy operation. The arrangement provides for smooth sliding of the sashes and enhanced security over known sash window arrangements. Further, screws which fasten components in the sashes are not exposed. Additionally, the plastics material parts which are exposed to sunlight are maintained to a minimum. Further, standard spring balances can be used by locating within the hollow cavities 73 and Figure 10 shows a known spring balance 111.

Other modifications may be made to the invention as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art of production of windows. These and other modifications may be made without departing from the ambit of the invention the nature of which is to be determined from the aforegoing description.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

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Claims (4)

1. 2. A sash window as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sash engaging surfaces are shaped in transverse cross section, and wherein the complimentary inclined surfaces of said sash are complimentary shaped transverse cross section edge surfaces.
2. 3. A sash window as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said sash carries pressing means for pressing against said jamb insert to cause said jamb H:\Priyanka\Keep\npeci\P51762.doc 9/03/06 14 insert to retreat in said jamb part to permit said sash to assist in initial retreat prior to swinging of said sash.
3. 4. A sash window as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inclined surfaces of said sash engaging means and the complementary inclined surfaces of said sash engaging means assist retreating movement of said jamb insert as the sash window is pivotally swung.
4. 5. A sash window substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 9 th day of March 2006 ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION AND DISTRIBUTION PTY LIMITED By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia H;\Priyanka\Keep\soeci\P51762.doc 9/03/06