AU652354B2 - Window ventilation - Google Patents

Description

.4 23 5 4 NOEL FRANCIS

WOOLGAR

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0 0 FORM COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR THE INVET!IONENTITLED: "WINDOW

VENTILATION"

The following statement is a fuil descriptiy of this invention, including the best method jf performing i 4 known to me:

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features for window assemblies having horizontally slidable panels, especially but not exclusively to cater for wet weather. Such assemblies will be referred to herein as "horizontally sliding window assemblies".

In almost every building today, particularly residential buildings and blocks of home units or apartments, horizontally sliding glass windows are employed extensively, proving both popular and efficient in most respects. The admission of air for ventilation purposes can be controlled by leaving a horizontally sliding window panel slightly open, various standard types of locking mechanisms or devices being currently available on the market to lock the panel against further opening by a person on the outside, so that security can be maintained. However, the partly open window will allow rain to enter when the occupier is absent or is asleep or otherwise fails to realise that the window should be closed. In consequence rain may enter the room and damage window •r surrounds, walls, curtains and floor coverings.

:Z My invention has been devised to overcome the 00 aforementioned problem currently associated with horizontally sliding window assemblies, and it has for its principal object the provision of a ventilator unit which may be installed in a sliding window assembly at a vertical side edge thereof so that :normal security and other functions are available and air canQ.

be admitted, but at the same time will operate to prevent or impede entry of rain water.

0.0 Another object of-the invention is to provide a ventilator Sl

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unit as aforementioned which will be aesthetically attractive when installed but which may be quickly and easily removed from the window assembly and stored when it is not required or if it is desired that conventional window appearance or weatherproofing be restored.

0 Other objects of the invention are to provide such a ventilator unit which may be made simply and inexpensively and can be installed by the purchaser without needing a tradesman; which will deter would-be intruders and maintain their inability to gain access; which can be made in desired sizes according to the dimensions of the various window openings which can be encountered, and which will not infringe on the space currently provided in most window assemblies for fitting insect screens.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention resides broadly in a ventilator unit of rectangular form adapted to be installed at one end of the rectangular window opening of a horizontally sliding window assembly, said opening being defined by a rectangular window frame including two oil spaced parallel top and bottom frame members extending horizontally in the direction of sliding and two spaced parallel vertical frame members at the respective ends the opening, said opening being normally closable upon sliding movement of a horizontally slidable rectangular window panel at said one end of the opening where the free or non-cverlapping edge of the panel seals against the adjacent vertical frame member, said unit being adapted to be installed when the window panel has been moved horizontally from closed position to an open position, being of less horizontal dimension than the j o4 wi window panel in the horizontal direction and so made that when the panel is brought back to part-open position against the unit, the latter will effectively occupy the partly opened window area at said one end and h'e retained therein between the adjacent vertical frame member and said free edge of the panel, the unit having ventilation opening means of such nature as to allow air through the unit while impeding or preventing entry of rain water, the unit being of such height as to extend between the top and bottom horizontal frame members but of such limited horizontal dimension that the area it occupies in the window opening would be too small to allow entry of a would-be intruder therethrough if the unit were to be forcibly removed when the panel is locked or held in said part-open position by known-type latch means associated with said horizontally sliding window assembly, said unit having along its vertical edge at the adjacent vertical frame member a male rib assembly adapted "to engqge in a channel constituting or forming part of the vertical frame member and normally receiving the free edge of the window panel in the absence of the unit, said unit also 0 having along its other vertical edge a continuous channel

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adapted to receive the free edge of the panel when the latter is moyed closably to its part-open position against the unit.

i In a preferred construction, the ventilator unit has along its bottom edge engagement means for engagement in a horizontal .15 up-facing channel of the lower horizontal frame member when the latter has said channel constituting the sliding panel track, said engagement means then fitting within said channel and acting to retain the bottom edge of the unit therein.

S0. rthermore, in such instance, the unit suitably has at its top r 111 1

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edge means to engage and be retained in a down-facing channel of the upper horizontal frame member, the unit being of similar height to the window panel permitting installation by lifting of the unit up into the channel of the upper horizontal frame member and then dropping the unit down into the main sliding tr ck of the lower horizontal frame member.

A feature of the invention is that the ventilator unit is adapted to be held operatively by the two upper and lower horizontal frame members and said adjacent vertical frame member and is so made as to be manually removable from the window assembly and window opening for storage purposes when the window panel is moved to an open position from said partopen position. Preferably also the ventilation opening means of the unit comprise openings between spaced parallel louvre slats within a peripheral unit frame and disposed horizontally when the ui1t is operative, the slats being inclined downwardly and outwardly to deflect rain water and prevent same entering the openings between the louvre slats. Other features and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter apparent.

E2 In order that the invention be more readily understood 0e and put into practical effect, eference will now )be made to o the accompanying drawings, wherein:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view, taken from the outer side, of a ventilator unit according to one embodiment of i :the invention, in operative attitude for use with a o' horizontally-sliding window assembly; Fig. 2 shows in elevational view a horizontallysliding window assembly having installed thereinr a u a ventilator unit as shown in Fig. 1, the view being from

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the inner side as taken from th inside of a room; Fig. 3 is a plan view showing diagrammatically and partly in section the ventilator unit of, Fig. 1 and adjacent components of a horizontally-sliding window assembly, and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic, sectional view corresponding to Fig. 3.

As shown in the drawings, the ventilator unit 10 is adapted to be installed in and at one end of the window opening 11 of a rectangular sliding window assembly 12 of the horizontally sliding type. As illustrated, the horizontallysliding window assembly 12 has a pair of spaced parallel longitudinal frame members 13 and 14 extending longitudinally relative to the horizontal direction of sliding, as well as two spaced parallel transverse frame members 15 and 16, the member being adjacent to the unit 10 in this installation. As the sliding is horizontal, the longitudinal frame members 13 and 14 are disposed horizontally one above the other, while the transverse frame members 15 and 16 are disposed vertically, all 2.i frame members being of course in the same general vertical plane.

Referring to Fig. 2, the window assembly 12 contains two equal rectangular glass window panels, one panel 17 being dealt with .or convenience of illustration as a fixed panel, while S the other panel 18 is a sliding panel having an upper edge 19, a bottom edge 20, an overlapping vertical edge 21 to slide past S the panel 17 in overlapping relationship, and a free or nonoverlapping vertical ed 2. The sliding panel 18 is Ssupported slidably in a track chenel 23 having an up-facing

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yi 4, 7 mouth, while its upper edge 19 is retained in a channel 24 having a down-facing mouth. The free edge 22 of the panel 18 normally closes into the mouth of a channel 25 of 'the vertical adjacent frame member To install the ventilation unit 10 in the window assembly 12, the sliding panel 18 is moved to an open position, whereafter the unit 10 is fitted as shown in Fig. 2 and then the panel 18 is brought back to the part-open position as shown where the free edge 22 is back against the oo oo^ **oo -A ;*ooo I ,lo 1 11 rin 14 unit 10 to hold the unit between the free edge 22 and the adjacent vertical frame member 15. Figs. 1 and 2 show opposite sides of the unit 10 which has spaced horizontal inclined louvre slats 26, the top or outer sides 27 of the slats being shown in Fig. 1, while the underneath of inner sides 27a are shown in Fig.2.

The ventilator unit 10 has a pair of opaced parallel vertical slat-supporting bars 28 and 29 between which the louvre slats 26 are mounted, one bar 28 being held in a slat- 10 protector extrusion 30, while the other bar 29 is mounted in an identical but opposed slat-protector extrusion 31 which as installed is adjacent the vertical frame member 15 and has •two integral ribs 32 to fit into the mouth of the side channel 25 of the frame member 15 as best shown in Fig. 3 where the numeral 33 denotes the outside extremity of the window frame of the assembly 12, the slats 26 and protector extrusions 30 and 31 being inside the room to the maximum extent. Fig. 3 also shows the attachment to the extrusion of a panel receiving extrusion 34 having a channel 35 into the motth of which the free edge 22 of the panel 18 engages I *in the part-open position against the ventilator unit The various other components will also be clear from Fig. 3 where there are shown outer and inner wall members 36 and 37, as well as the window opening surround member 38.

Fig. 4 best shows the disposition and inclination of the louvre slats 26 which deflect rain water away from entering the ventilation spaces between the slats, the vertical line of the outer edges of the slats being denoted by the numeral Ii I I I TI-~ I- 9 39. As well as having the aforementioned extrusions of aluminium, the same material could be used for the slats and for all other components, but if so desired a suitable plastics material could be substituted in respect of some, all or most components. Fig. 4 shows the outer wall member 36, inner wail member 37 and window surround member 38 as in Fig. 3, with a bottom outer sill 40 also shown. Because of the inner location of the slats 26, there is ample room on the outside of the assembly 12 for the full size insect S 10 screen 41 in its frame 42 to be clear of the unit In use, when the unit 10 is installed as shown in Fig.

0 2, the sliding panel 18 will be holding the unit between the free edge 22 and the frame member 15, and suitably currently available latch or locking means of known type may be used to prevent further opening of the panel 18. This may take the form of a key-operable lock as indicated at 43 in Fig. 2 on a' the window assembly, or even a solid bar or dowel of 0* 0 effective predetermined length may be placed in the door track to prevent further opening until release is required.

With the ventilator unit 10 locked in position by the sliding window itself, security is in no way diminished. It will bQ Snoted that 'the height of the unit 10 allows it to be installed in the same way as the window panel itself, that is, by lifting it up into the head frame of the window opening and then dropping it back down into the main sliding track.

While air is able to enter freely, rain water will be substartially prevented from ntry, and of course the .it fao :7 is sufficiently narrow that a would-be intruder could not get his body through even if he were able to forcibly remove or cut out the unit 10 by some means.

While the louvre slats will keep out all but the strongest vind-driven rain, it is a simple Patter in times of very bad weather to remove the entire unit 10 and place it in a storage situation, a course which ry/ also be desirable if the occupier leaves the premises for an extended period.

Normally however there is no need to remove the ventilator I 10 unit which allows the window to operate normally except for the window opening being reduced by the area of the unit and Be there is resultantly only partial closing of the panel 18 against the unit.

While ventilator units as described and illustrated will therefore be found very effective in achieving the objects -I for which the invention has been devised, it will be clear *that numerous modifications of coistructional detail and design may be made additional to those already mentioned.

•'oe or i- la l'it nto t.lly :lidin airf .n-cnnt Where window openings of various heights are encountered, the unit 10 could be made with adjustable or telescopi.c sections so that a single unit would fit all instances, it being noted that a householder can purchase and fit the invention without h need for a tradesman. The invention is to be understood to embrace all variations which will be readily apparent to persons skillid in the art and which fall within is broad scope and ambit as defined by the appended claims.

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Claims (8)

1. A ventilator unit of rectangular form adapted to be S installed at one end of the rectangular window opening of a horizontally sliding window assembly, said opening being defined by a rectangular window frame including two spaced S parallel top and bottom frame members extending horizontally in the direction of sliding and two spaced parallel vertical frame members at the respective ends of the opening, said opening being normally closable upon sliding movement of a horizontally slidable rectangular window panel at said one end of the opening where the free or non-overlapping edge of the panel seals against the adjacent vertical frame member, said unit being adapted to be installed when the window panel has been moved horizontally from closed position to an open position, being of less horizontal dimension than the window panel in the horizontal direction and so made that when the panel is brought Sback to part-open position against the unit, the latter will effectively occupy the partly opened window area at said one end and be retained therein between the adjacent vertical frame member and said free edge of the panel, the unit having ventilation opcning means of such nature as to allow air through the unit while impeding or preventing entry of iin S water, the unit being of such height as to extend between the top and bottom horizontal frame members but of such limited I horizontal dimension that the area it occupies in the window opening would be tdo small to allow entry of a would-be intruder therethrough if the unit were to be forcibly removed when the panel is locked or held in said p art-open position by known-type latch means associat;d ~ith said horizontally i: 'A l l Y s 0 *0* S. C: C. Ci S; fte *5 0a I "U 6ZZ~ Ssliding window assembly, said unit having along its vertical edge at the adjacent vertical frame member a male rib assembly adapted to engage in a channel constituting or forming part of the vertical frame m mber and normally receiving the free edge of the window panel in the absence of the unit, said unit also having along its other vertical edge a continuous channel adapted to receive the free edge of the panel when the latter is moved closably to its part-open position against the unit.

2. A ventilator unit according to Claim 1, said unit having along its bottom edge engagement means for engagement in a horizontal up-facing channel of the lower horizontal frame member when the latter has said channel constituting the sliding panel track, said engagement means then fitting within said channel and acting to retain the bottom edge of the unit therein.

3. A ventilator unit according to Claim 2, said unit having at its top edge means to engage and be retained in a down- facing channel of the upper horizontal frame member, the unit being of similar height to the window. panel permitting installation by lifting of the unit up into the channel of the upper horizontal frame member and then dropping the unit down into the main sliding track of the lower horizontal frame member.

4. A ventilator uni- according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein th1e unit is held operatively by the two upper S: and lower horzontal frame members and said adjac:', vertical frame member and so made as to be manually removable from the window assembly and window opening for storage purposes when the window panel is moved to an open position -from said q* L 'P II L11 1 hori.zontal direction and so made that w hen the panel is brought '/2 13 part-open position.

A ventilator unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ventilation opening means of the unit comprise openings between spaced parallel louvre slats withiin a peripheral unit frame and disposed horizontally when the unit is operative, the, Plats being inclined downwardly and outwardly tr.) def lect rain water and prevent same entering the openings between the louvre slats.

6. A -,entilator unit according to any one of the preceding claims, said unit being made wholly ur partly of aluminium or of a plastics material.

7. The combination of a ventilator unit accordirr, to any one of the preceding claims with a horizontally sliding window assembly when said unit is installed at one end of the window opening of said assembly.

8. A horizontally sliding window assembly having a ventilator unit therein, all substantially as her'einbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 27th day of June, 1994. 0 0 0 0 S 0 0 2.J *0 @0 0 S 0 S 5055 0 OS* 6) 0* 0 S.. 0 0 S @000 00 S S 0. NOEL FRANCIS WOOLGAR By his Patent Attorneys AIIEARNS 0000 ciNI 0 .1-N