AU2005209681A1 - A method and apparatus for improving the thermal efficiency of windows in buildings - Google Patents

Description

13 Sep 05 04:27p Richard Lyth 63260 6433296503 p.3 Australia Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT A mnethod and apparatus for improving the thermal efficiency of windows in buildings The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: COMS ID No: SBMI-01499104 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:20 Date 2005-09-13 13 Sep 05 04:27p Richard Lyth 6433296503 p.4 O1 i A method and apparatus for improving the thermal efficiency of a windows in buildings CField of the Invention The invention relates to the insulation of buildings and particularly to a method 00 of improving the thermal efficiency of windows in buildings such as domestic

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Sdwellings and commercial buildings, and to apparatus usable in the method.

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Background to the Invention It is well known that significant heat loss occurs through glazing in a building and a variety of methods are used to minimise heat loss through glass panels used as glazing. For example many new buildings are now built with double glazing which reduces heat loss. In addition, depending on the area of the glass, about 6% of heating costs can be saved by insulating windows with pelmeted curtains or blinds. This information is now used, in at least the Australian Capital Territory, to create an energy efficiency rating for a house.

This information is required before a dwelling can be sold and those buildings with pelmeted curtains have a higher energy efficiency rating and are therefore more desirable than others.

The majority of curtains are draped from tracks and rods which are attached from either an architrave or wall by means of brackets. A gap is thereby formed between the wall or architrave and the track. Currently air is free to circulate through this gap. As warm air rises a draught develops thereby creating a heat loss in the adjacent room through the air gap. This can be the main cause of heat loss from a room.

All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert and the applicant reserves the right to COMS ID No: SBMI-01499104 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:20 Date 2005-09-13 13 Sep 05 04:28p Richard Lyth 6433296503 2 O challenge the accuracy and pertinency of the cited documents. It will be Cclearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are O referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of CJ) these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in M New Zealand or in any other country.

It is acknowledged that the term 'comprise' may, under varying jurisdictions, 00 be attributed with either an. exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the 0purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, the term 'comprise' C shall have an inclusive meaning, ie that it will be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components it directly references, but also other non- Sspecified components or elements. This rationale will also be used when the term "comprised" or "comprising" is used in relation to one or more steps in a method or process.

An object of this invention is to minimise heat loss and overcome the disadvantages of existing curtain systems and to offer a useful alternative choice.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description which is given of examples of the invention.

Summary of the Invention According to a broadest aspect of the invention there is provided a method of improving the thermal efficiency of windows in a building, the method including the step of sealing the gap or space between a curtain track or rod and a wall by placement therein of a member or members which eliminates airflow therebetween.

The sealing of the gap or space can be by the placement of an insulating member placed on and/or between brackets supporting the curtain track or rod relative to the wall.

COMS ID No: SBMI-01499104 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:20 Date 2005-09-13 13 Sep 05 04:28p Richard Lyth 6433296503 p.6 3 O According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus or 0 member for reducing and/or eliminating heat loss across the top of a curtain, the apparatus including any flat, stiff or rigid material or member which can

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span between or across brackets supporting a curtain track or rod to thereby Mf create a trap for moving air across the top of a curtain.

_The flat, stiff or rigid member can be formed from plywood, composite material 00 or board such as fibreboard or cardboard, timber, plastics, folded metal or an Oinsulating material which is rigid or stiffened by reinforcing members.

oThe member can be a structural and formed to span a distance of at least one ometre. For example the member can be constructed from a fluted plastics material having sufficient structural strength and rigidity to span about 1 metre.

The member can be simply placed on or between the brackets or can be adapted to completely seal the gap by attaching the member to the wall or track by means of a sealing means such as a sealant caulking compound, such as a silicon or the like sealant, or a single or double sided tape.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a member for sealing the gap between a curtain track and a wall or architrave, the member having a fin or extension which is adapted to fit or engage with the curtain track.

The fin or extension can, for example, slot into a channel formed in the curtain track.

The other edge of the member can be either fixed by a sealant, screws or nails to the wall or architrave.

Further aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following descriptions which are given by way of example only.

COMS ID No: SBMI-01499104 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:20 Date 2005-09-13 13 Sep 05 04:28p Richard Lyth 6433296503 p.7 4 Description of the Drawings SExamples of the invention will now be described with reference to the

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accompanying drawings in which: Mf Figure 1 shows a typical section through the top of an existing window and curtain assembly; Figure 2 shows a section through an example of wall and adjacent 0 curtain track incorporating an example of the present invention; Figure 3 shows sections through six different examples of member C usable in accordance with the method and apparatus of the present o invention; 0Figure 4 shows a section through an example according to the third aspect of the invention; Figure 5 shows a section through yet another example of the present invention; Figure 6 shows a section through yet another example of the present invention; and Figure 7 shows a section through yet another example of the present invention.

Description of the Examples Examples of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which similar parts of the examples will be referenced by the same numerals for ease of understanding.

In Figure 1 is shown a typical section through an existing window and curtain assembly. The window pane is indicated by arrow 1 and this glass pane is supported at its top by a typical window transom 2 which may be made from a variety of different materials. The transom 2 is mounted in a wall 4 from which a curtain track 5 can be supported. The track 5 can be supported at intervals along its length either directly from a bracket 6 or as is shown the bracket 6 can be supported from an architrave or window surround 7. The track supports a draped curtain generally indicated by arrow 8. In this known COMS ID No: SBMI-01499104 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:20 Date 2005-09-13 13 Sep 05 04:28p Richard Lyth 6433296503 p.8 construction an air gap (not shown) exists between spaced apart brackets 6 Swhich support the curtain track. Air can therefore flow or circulate in the 0. direction of the arrows 9 from the space between window pane 1 and the draped curtain 8 thereby creating heat loss from this space.

In Figure 2 is shown a first and perhaps simplest form of the present invention.

In this case the spaced apart brackets 6, which supports curtain track 5 from 00 the wall 4, has a member 10 placed thereon. The member 10 in this example is an elongate length of board the rigidity or stiffness of which is selected so that it can span structurally between adjacent brackets 6 without distorting.

SIn Figure 3 is shown sections through six different examples of member which could be used instead of the board member 10 shown in Figure 2. The member 11 is constructed from wood, plywood or composite board. The member 12 is an elongate foam sandwich panel. The member 13 is a folded metal tray. The members 14, 15 and 16 are structural members which are folded, fabricated, cast or extruded from a number of materials such as aluminium or a plastics material. The material can be reinforced if required by a suitable reinforcing material such as glass or carbon fibres.

In Figure 4 is shown an example according to the third aspect of the invention.

In this case the curtain track 5 has a channel 17 in which an extruded extension 18 of an extruded member 19 is engaged. The extruded member 19 in this example can be fitted between adjacent brackets (not shown) which also clip into the channel 17 to support the bracket relative to a wall. The edge of the member 19 can be either fixed by a sealant, screws or nails to the wail or architrave.

In Figure 5 is shown a curtain track 5 similar to that shown in Figure 4 which is shown mounted relative to an architrave or window frame member 7. The extruded member 21 in this example has a fin 22 for engagement in the channel 17 and a shaped recess or channel 23 at the other end for attachment to the window frame member 7.

COMS ID No: SBMI-01499104 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:20 Date 2005-09-13 13 Sep 05 04:28p Richard Lyth 6433296503 P.9 6 o In Figure 6 is shown an extruded aluminium track 5 mounted by a bracket 6 to 0< wall 1. In this case the bracket 6 uses a connector 24 which locks an end 0^ of an extension 26 of the track 5 relative thereto by a fixing means such as a self tapping screw 31. In this example an extruded member 27 is used to mc close the space between the wall 1 and the top of the track 5. The member 27 can rest along the full length of the track 5 rather than extending between adjacent brackets 6. The member 27 is fixed in place by any suitable fixing 00 means.

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0 In Figure 7 is shown another example of currently used extruded track 5. In V this case the track 5 has an upwardly facing channel 28 in which a fixing Sbracket can be engaged. In this example the extruded member 29 which rests on the bracket 6 and connector 24 includes an extension which is located in the channel 28 to both support the track 5 and seal the gap between wall 1 and the curtain track. The extruded member 29 in this example being fixed in place at 30 by fixing means to the bracket and connector.

In the foregoing examples where particular mechanical means have been mentioned it is envisaged that their mechanical equivalents can be substituted as if they had been described.

Particular examples of the invention have been described and it is envisaged that improvements and modifications can take place without departing from the scope of the attached claims.

COMS ID No: SBMI-01499104 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:20 Date 2005-09-13

Claims (6)

1. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sealing of the gap or space is by the placement of an insulating member placed on and/or between 00 brackets supporting the curtain track or rod relative to the wall. NO 0 3. A method as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore Sdescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. t 4. An apparatus or member for reducing andlor eliminating heat loss Sacross the top of a curtain, the apparatus including any flat, stiff or rigid material or member which can span between or across brackets supporting a curtain track or rod to thereby create a trap for moving air across the top of a curtain. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the flat, stiff or rigid member is formed from plywood, composite material or board such as fibreboard or cardboard, timber, plastics, folded metal or an insulating material which is rigid or stiffened by reinforcing members.
2. 6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the member is structural and formed to span a distance of at least one metre.
3. 7. An apparatus as claimed in claim6 wherein the member is constructed from a fluted plastics material having sufficient structural strength and rigidity to span about 1 metre.
4. 8. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein the member is placed on or between the brackets or is adapted to completely seal the gap by attaching the member to the wall or track by means of a sealing means.
5. 9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the sealing means is a sealant caulking compound, such as a silicon or the like sealant, or a single or double sided tape. member for sealing the gap between a curtain track and a wall or architrave, the member having a fin or extension which is adapted to fit or engage with the curtain track. COMS ID No: SBMI-01499104 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:20 Date 2005-09-13 13 Sep 05 04:29p Richard Lyth 6433296503 p.1 1 8 O 11 .A member as claimed in claim 10 wherein the fin or extension slots into Sa channel formed in the curtain track. S12.A member as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the other edge of the member is either fixed by a sealant, screws or nails to the wall or C architrave.
6. 13.An apparatus or member as claimed in claim 4 or claim 10 and Ssubstantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of 00 the examples and as described with reference to the drawings. O 0 COMS ID No: SBMI-01499104 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:20 Date 2005-09-13