AU598786B2 - Slotted frame structures for doors and windows - Google Patents

Description

598786 ~1'~74~1 C r c r Cc cC c C cc c p COMMONWEAL.1TH OF AUSTf-2-.TA T-he Pa=tentS Act 1952--A%09 Name 0-f Acclicant: G. JAMES PTY LTD Addressz of Amolicant: 81 Montague Road WEST END QLD 4101 Australia Actual Inventor: Add~ress -for service: G. R. CULLEN COMPANY Pa:tent and Trace Mark Attorneys Medibank EBii 4 l-in 82 Ann t~ BRISBT?0ME QLD. 4001.

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SLOTTED FRAME STRUCTURES FOR DOORS AND WINDOWS The fLollowina_ st=zts~ent is a full descr-sition of the i:nvantion includ-4-a the best method of perf:ormin--g itc kncwn to us:

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C C This invention relates to slotted frame structures for doors and windows which may incorporate one or more ventilation slots in order to inhibit moisture penetration.

Rain penetration of building walls occurs all to frequently despite advances in building technology.

Through-wall or complete penetration may damage building contents as well as cause stains and deterioration of finished interiors; uncontrolled partial penetration, which is less frequently recognized, can permit undesirable !0 quantities of water within the wall. Water in excess is a key factor in most cases of deterioration of walls or wall materials and one source of this water is rain. Although a number of traditional wall systems have been proposed to overcome this problem, only very limited success so far has been achieved.

The use of sealants or gaskets may be effective in some cases but are ineffective in regard to relatively large gaps. If the sealants or gaskets are located where they are exposed to rain the seal must be substantially perfect and this is difficult to achieve because of fabrication or job site inaccuracies. Even more difficult is the maintenance of a perfect seal over a reasonable period of time because of ageing of the sealant or gasket and because differential movements between the building elements constantly flex and stress the material forming the sealant or gasket.

In regard to windows and doors, use of ventilation slots in window assemblies have been proposed ii *ly: S s:B 8_ ~"III~IIC~1"-~-l~-li-iil-l i:li-lil~i _l I i id: .1

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Li r: i generally in a front surface or exposed surface of a window sash or surround or perimeter frame. These have been included so as to enable the pressure inside a hollow window frame or surround frame to equal the pressure outside until the result that pressure equalization which may be achieved in this manner will inhibit water or rain penetration.

One ventilation slot structure of the type referred *to above is disclosed in United States Patent 3,181204 to Muessel. This slot is provided to achieve pressure equalization as described above and is formed between a sash member and surround frame member of a window. A lip is r provided which extends angularly outwardly from the sash t member to protect the slot. Because of the relative size of C te the slot, a water membrane is prevented from forming across it leaving the interior portion of the window open to atmospheric pressure. Such equalization of pressure prevents a water build-up that could be drawn eventually t. 9 at" through window sealing elements, caulking damage to sills and interior walls of a building.

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Use of a baffled sill has been proposed in regard So. :to sills having a rectangular frame portion cross-section eeoc e: wherein a front ventilation slot was included generally at the junction of a front wall and bottom wall of the rectangular frame portion and a rear slot located at or adjacent to the junction of the top wall and rear wall of the rectangular frame portion.

However prior art ventilation slots of the type I) -el m Nw -4- Sq s.

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0*86 ae 0 0505 0)0 ,..Wala referred to above have not proved successful in the case of high winds or in cyclonic conditions wherein an induced flow of air entrained with water droplets inside a.hollow frame member may gain access to the interior through a sealant or gasket. In this case the pressure outside the window structure may be considerably greater than the inside pressure so that water may gain access to the interior of the hollow frame member. Present building codes must cater for a pressure difference of 300 pascals (12psi) between outside and inside. However the insoluble problem in regard to conventional window structures using ventilation slots is that a water head may build up in the interior of the hollow frame member providing a seal against air entry through the bottom or exposed ventilation slot until water gains access to the interior of the building through the sealant or gasket. Attempts to overcome this problem by increasing the height of the hollow frame member to increase the effective depth of the water head are not satisfactory in that fabrication costs soar and in any event an efficient shield against rain/wind penetration is not always achieved.

It was also relatively difficult to quantify the size and number of ventilation slots in the sill since if the slots were located where they would be wetter or exposed to moisture they had to be sufficiently large so that they could not be bridged by the amount of water passing through the slot. Also if the slots into one space were at different levels then it was necessary to consider ancillary i;:

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:1 -i ;i_ y,- Lu l- F factors such as the corrective flow of air through the spaces and also the resulting thermal effects.

It therefore is an object of the invention to provide a slotted frame structure for doors and windows which may alleviate the problems of the prior art discussed above.

In one form the invention resides in a slotted frame structure for doors or windows installable in a building and including: a surround frame member; a sash member; said sash member and/or surround frame member being provided with an internal part for accommodating a waterhead 4 r~ formed by entry of water into said internal part, the i-F£ pressure within said internal part above said waterhead being maintained at substantially the same pressure as the exterior of the building by means of a ventilation slot or slots in t T( fluid communication with the interior of the internal part l above said waterhead and with the exterior of the building.

r3® The surround frame member may be of any suitable type and thus include a part tubular channel or hollow member or rail which may engage with the sash member in use.

oc Usually there is incorporated a sealing member between the surround frame member and the sash member when they are in abutting relationship.

S1 The sash member also may be of any suitable type I and thus include a part tubular, channel or tubular shape.

Si0 Cik 'ii S- 5a Preferably however when both the sash member and the surround frame member are in abutting relationship or in a closed position the internal C C.

C. 4r 'I C C r:tC tC e C C C C C '4 1T 2~ A 1< the combination of both these members and is thus tubular or channel shaped with the ventilation slots located in an upper region of the internal part so as to create an air barrier or "air seal" to thus inhibit water in the internal part gaining access to the aforementioned sealing member.

The ventilation slots may be located in said internal part or adjacent thereto in the sash member or the surround frame member. The ventilation slots may also be provided in both the internal part as well as in an adjacent part of the sash member or surround frame member.

The invention is applicable to a wide variety of door or window installations and these include sliding sash windows, awning sash windows, sliding doors, vertical sliding sashes or double hung windows, top hung in swing windows and pivot windows.

Reference may now be made to preferred embodiments of the invention shown in the attached drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sliding sash window constructed in accordance with the invention; 20 Figure 2 is a sectional view of the window shown in 20 Figure 1 along the line A-A; Figure 3 is a sectional view of a first type of awning sash window constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 4 is a sectional view of a second type of awning sash window constructed in accordance with the invention; t r 1rF C rc 1;Pt 6 Vd ;i r i

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Figure 5 is a sectional view of a first type of sliding door assembly constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of a second type of sliding door assembly constructed in accordance with the invention; and Figure 7 is a sectional view of a double hung w-J.ndow assembly constructed in accordance with the invention.

In the drawings in Figures 1 to 2 there is shown surround frame or perimeter frame member 10 having a web 11, upstanding flanges or tracks 12, end wall 13 and top wall 14. Also shown are depending flanges 15 and 16 and screw grooves 17 and 18. There is also shown member 19 having an is upper channel 20 for reception of glass window sheet 21, internal chamber part 22 incorporating ventilation slots 23 and 24, and depending channel part 25. Also shown is seal 26 interposed between members 10 and 19. There is also shown internal part or passage 27 formed by members 10 and 19 in abutting relationship. Water may gain access to passage 27 through gap 28 as shown and thus form a water head 29 shown in dotted outline in passage 27. The provision of ventilation slots 23 and 24 ensures that water may easily drain from passage 27 unde- ;he influence of gravity and that there is always an ai barrier preventing water gaining access to seal 26. Also shown are stiles or vertical sash members 1> 4 -8- In figure 3 there is shown surround frame member 31 having web 32, depending flanges 33, screw grooves 34 and and upstanding flange 36. There is also shown sash member 37 having cover 38, groove 39 for window sheet depending leg 41, ventilation slots 42 and 43 located in internal chamber 43A, web 44, and seal 45 interposed between members 31 and 37. Water may gain access to internal part or passage 46 through gap 47 and slots 42 and 43 carry out the same function as slots 23 and 24 referred to above in Figures 1 to 2.

In Figure 4 there is again shown an awning sash cc cc window which is pivoted from a top hinge (not shown) so that I cit may be pivoted to contact seal 45. In this arrangement there is shown surround frame member 48 having screw grooves 34 and 35, depending flanges 33, web 49, and vertical upper S flange 50. There is also shown sash frame member 51, cover flange 52, groove 53 for window sheet 54, adjacent hollow t lpart 55, in internal chamber 56 and depending leg 57. Again cce water may gain access to internal part or passage 58 through Sgap 59 and slots 60 and 61 located in sash frame member have cCCcCr 20 the same function as previously described.

In the sliding door arrangement shown in Figure "ia there is shown sash member 62 having groove 63 for window Ct t sheet 64, internal bore 65, base channel 66 and opposed side walls 67. There is included a roller 68 which may engage track 69 of surround frame member 70. Also shown is ventilation slot 71 and seal 45 between members 62 and L ii 1 .4i -9-

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c c C C 0 C ccce CC C Member 70 has upper part 75, and base chamber 72. Water may gain access to internal part of passage 73 through gap 74 and slot 71 has the same function as previously described.

In Figure 6 which also illustrates a sliding door arrangement similar to that shown in Figure 5 there are shown alternative ventilation slots 76, 77 and 77A to slot 71 utilized in Figure 5. Similar reference numerals are also utilized in Figure 6 to those utilized in Figure It will.be noted that slots 76, 77 and 77A are all located in surround member 70 with slots 76 and 77 being located in upper chamber 75 and slot 77A being located in bottom chamber 72.

In Figure 7 there is shown a vertical sliding window or double hung window assembly comprising sash member 78 and surround frame member 79 with sash 45 interposed therebetween. Window sheet 80 is shown supported on flange 81. Also shown is recess 82, handle 83 and base channel 84. Ventilation slots 85 and 86 are included in each side wall 87 of box channel 84. The surround frame member 79 20 includes upright wall 88, downwardly sloping base 89 and internal passage or part 90 to which water may gain access thereto through gap 91.

It can be appreciated from the foregoing that the slotted frame structure of the invention and windows and doors formed therefrom are extremely advantageous over the prior art and especially for installation in cyclone prone areas. Water access to the seal interposed between the *2 2 C;C I~ j i i i

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surround frame the the sash frame are inhibited or substantially eliminated and provision is made for effective drainage of water heads which may form in internal passages of the frame structure from exposed exit gaps.

The ventilation slots may be included in either the sash member, surround frame member or be located in both these members.

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Claims (2)

1. A slotted frame structure for doors or windows installable in a building and including: a surround frame member; t St Sa t a. a a t$r a *4 a, a. 0 0* a a 04 C *04* a I

9. S 0 a sash member; said sash member and/or surround frame member being provided with an internal part for accommodating a waterhead formed by entry of water into said internal part, the pressure within said internal part above said waterhead being maintained at substantially the same pressure as the exterior of the building by means of a ventilation slot or slits in fluid communication with the interior of the internal part above said waterhead and with the exterior of the building. 2. A slotted frame structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ventilation slot(s) are located in said internal part. 3. A slotted frame structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ventilation slot(s) are located adjacent to said internal part in the sash member or surround frame member. 4. A slotted fram structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ventilation slot(s) are located in said internal part and a further secondary slot is located adjacent to said internal part in the sash member or the surround frame member. A slotted frame structure as claimed in any one of claims 1-4, wherein the ventilation slot(s) are located in a i 12 base channel part of the sash member. 6. A slotted frame structure as claimed in claim wherein the ventilation slot(s) are located in opposed side walls of the base channel part. 7. A slotted frame structure as claimed in any one of claims 1-4, wherein the ventilation slot(s) are located in a hollow internal cavity or chamber of the sash member. 8. A slotted frame structure as claimed in any one of claims 1-4, wherein ventilation slot(s) are also located in the surround frame member. T 9. A slotted frame structure as claimed in claim 8, c T wherein the ventilation slot(s) are located in a base chamber t get of the surround frame member. tte 10. A slotted frame structure substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this twentieth day of April 1990. G. JAMES PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys C1 G R CULLEN CO c Cc Ce T A- E *N N 'P