AU681864B2 - Improvements in and relating to double hung windows - Google Patents

Description

1 p/'xooI I Regulation 32

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT 9*

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for service in Australia: Invention Title: Frank Knj Gyldendal Langner CARTER SMITH BEADLE 2 Railway Parade Camberwell Victoria 3124 Australia IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO DOUBLE HUNG

WINDOWS

Details of Associated Provisional Application: PL8333 filed 16 April 1993 The following statement is a full description of this invention, Including the best method of performing it known to us -2- IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO DOUBLE HUNG WINDOWS This invention relates to double hung windows.

Double hung windows have been known for several years and generally consist of at least one pane of glass suspended in a frame, the, glass pane being guided for substantially vertical movement relative to the frame with the pane being connected to either another pane or to a counterbalancing weight by cord means which extends around pulley means, so that upward or downward movement of said at least one :pane causes a corresponding downward or upward movement of the other pane or 10 counterbalancing weight.

In one type of known double hung window, as disclosed in Australian Patent Specification No 19639/83, the edges of the panes on each side of the frame are received in pane-receiving members located in a retaining channel comprising or associated with a stile, the panes and pane-receiving members being guided for vertical movement by guide surfaces on guide members which abut base parts of the pane-receiving members. Anti-rattle strips in the form of mohair brush seals are provided on the stile to rest against either the panes or arms of the pane-receiving members to prevent the panes of glass from rattling and also to seal the retaining channel against the glass panes. A locking pin may also be provided extending 20 through one of the channel members and being movable into a locking position in which it abuts against one of the pane-receiving members to lock the panes against vertical movement relative to the window frame.

The known type of double hung window described above and disclosed in the afore-mentioned Australian Patent specification suffers from several drawbacks.

This type of double hung window can be difficult to install, particularly when both the channel members and the guide members are formed by aluminum stiles, because if the panes are first mounted in the retaining channels, subsequent fixing of the stiles to the surrounding frame can be difficult. Conversely, the alignment of the guide members on each side of the frame is made more complicated if the guide members are fixed to tile surrounding frame prior to mounting the panes within the IRG:NB:12788SPC

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-3channel members.

Also, the known types of double hung windows suffer from poor sealing from wind-driven rain at the bottom corners of the lower glass pane and at the edges where the upper and lower panes overlap.

Further, the locking arrangement is visible and unsightly and does not provide adequate security if the locking pin only abuts the pane-receiving member.

Also, there is often insufficient clearance between the glass panes as they move past each other because wider panes of glass are often bowed, and poor operational tolerances may be caused by insufficient clearance between t&e supporting cord and the surround channel members and the locking pin.

It is therefore desirable to provide a double hung window which overcomes at least one of these or other disadvantages of the known prior art.

It is desirable to provide a double hung window of a relatively simple, inexpensive construction which may readily be installed, which has a low 15 maintenance cost, and allows broken glass panes to be easily replaced.

It is further desirable to provide a double hung window which, in its closed position, provides effective sealing against the ingress of rain and wind.

It is also desirable to provide a double hung window with an effective locking arrangement which provides improved operation and security and which, if required, 20 has alternative locking positions for locking the window in an open position.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a double hung window comprising a window frame having an upper frame member, a lower frame member and side frame members, each side frame member defining or having S"thereon a channel, first and second counterbalanced spaced panes suspended in the frame, with the side edges of each pane extending into the channels of the respective side frame members, a plurality of pane-receiving members disposed within said channel and secured to the side edges of said panes, guide means in each channel for guiding the pane-receiving members and the panes for substantially vertical sliding movement, and cord means attached to the panes and which extends around pulley 0 i36Y"o ,means in at least one of said channels enabling the panes to be moved substantially )G:A#278\.RS2 1/9 June 1997 /1 ,/7JG'JA 1288RS -4vertically along the guide means relative to the frame and to each other, wherein adjacent pane-receiving members secured to adjacent side edges of the panes define a gap therebetween, and the guide means in each channel comprises an elongate guide member extending from the base of the channel into the gap between adjacent pane-receiving members to provide guide surfaces between the panes, said guide surfaces extending substantially vertically and substantially parallel to the major surfaces of the panes.

Preferably, the elongate guide member extends in the channel for the full height of the window thereby providing an effective barrier against draughts which might otherwise pass around the side edges of the window panes.

The guide member preferably includes an attachment portion adapted to be secured to a side frame member and a guide portion which extends between the pane-receiving members. In a preferred embodiment, the guide member is generally II: T-shaped in cross-section having attachment limbs extending substantially 15 perpendicularly to an elongate central guide portion, the side surfaces of which constitute planar guide surfaces for portions of the pane-receiving members disposed between opposed major surfaces of the panes. Such a guide member may be conveniently fixed to the surrounding frame and the planar guide surfaces which extend between the panes assist in aligning the panes for the required vertical 20 movement of the panes.

Preferably, each pane-receiving member comprises or includes a base portion and two arm portions which define a generally U-shaped body part to receive a side edge of a respective one of said panes, and the guide portion of the elongate guide member extends between arm portions of adjacent pane-receiving members and the guide surfaces on opposite sides of the guide portion engage with opposed surfaces on said arm portions.

Preferably, at least one of the pane-receiving members includes a leg extending rearwardly from the base portion and a window locking mechanism is provided having a locking member which is movable from a retracted position to a /io ',qockng posltion in which it extends through an aperture in said leg and an aperture GJA# I278.RS2 19 June 1997 in the guide member to lock the panes against vertical movement relative to the frame.

Such a locking mechanism provides enhanced security over previously proposed locking devices for double hung windows in that the locking member is held more securely by the guide member. Thus according to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a double hung window comprising a window frame having an upper frame member, a lower frame member and side frame members, each side frame member defining or having thereon a channel, at least one pane suspended in the frame having side edges extending into the channels of the respective side frame members, said pane being connected to another pane or a counterbalanced weight by cord means which extends around pulley means in at least one of said channels enabling the at least one pane to be moved substantially vertically relative to the frame, a plurality of pane-receiving members disposed within said channels and secured to the side edges of said at least one pane, and an 15 elongate guide member in each channel extending from the base of the channel for guiding the pane-receiving members and the at least one pane for substantially vertical sliding movement, wherein the window includes a locking device associated with one of said channels having a movable locking member which is arranged to extend in a locking position through one of said pane-receiving members and 20 through said guide member to lock the at least one pane against vertical movement relative to the frame.

The channels within which the side edges of the panes and the pane-receiving members are disposed are preferably formed by window stiles having channel cover members which define the sides of the channel and which are mounted on the side frame members of the window frame. The channel sides may be formed of timber, or of metal or plastics material. Preferably, the channel sides are detachably securable to the side frame members of the frame to constitute removable channel cover members of the window stile, and in accordance with a further advantageous feature of the invention, there is provided a window stile for a double hung window 3 4 ,Comlisin a central guide member having guide portion and a pair of attachment 9Jun 1997 er*jA#2788.R2 19 Jne 199 -6limbs each extending laterally from the guide portion, and a pair of channel cover members each of which is releasably attachable to a respective one of said pair of attachment limbs to form a side member of the window stile.

The channel cover members may be releasably attached to the attachment limbs by removable fixing means such as screws or the like. Alternatively, or additionally, the channel cover members and the attachment limbs may have interlocking projections and recesses thereon to assist in releasably attaching the cover members to the attachment limbs. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the central guide member is generally T-shaped and the channel cover members are generally L-shaped having attachment limbs adapted to be releasably secured to the transversely extending attachment limbs of the T-shaped central guide member.

In accordance with a further preferred feature of the invention, at least one of the pane-receiving members carries sealing means that is movable with said at least one pane.

15 A plurality of seal-carrying pane-receiving members may be provided on the side, upper and/or lower edges of the or each pane. The sealing means on a "vertically extending pane-receiving member secured to a side edge of a pane is preferably arranged to contact an adjacent channel cover member defining a side *wall of a channel. When the window includes upper and lower counterbalanced 20 panes, horizontally extending pane-receiving members with sealing means may also be provided on the upper edge of the upper pane and on the lower edge of the lower pane to contact the upper and lower frame members respectively when the window is closed. A further pane-receiving member with sealing means may be provided on *oooo either the upper edge of the lower pane or the lower edge of the upper pane to contact the other pane thereby providing a seal preventing draughts and wind driven rain from passing between the panes.

Each pane-receiving member preferably comprises or includes a U-shaped body part having a base portion and two arm portions, with a sealing strip mounted within a recess in one of the body parts. The pane-receiving members are preferably formed of extruded plastics material and are arranged to snap onto the edges of the JRG:!A#12788.RS2 19 June 1997 1/eI-ad4 -7glass panes. The provision of sealing strips on snap-on pane-receiving members eliminates the need to provide fixed seals on the upper and lower frame members and the channel cover members.

The various aspects of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an elevational view fiom inside a double hung window; Figure 2 is a horizontal section through a channel at one side of the double hung window with aluminum channel cover members; Figure 3 is a vertical section through the window of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged section through the channel of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a partially cut away perspective view of the locking mechanism shown in Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a vertical section through a double hung window mounted in a timber door frame; 15 Figure 7 is a horizontal section similar to Figure 4 through the window of i Figure 6; and Figure 8 is a horizontal section similar to Figure 2 through one side of a modified double hung window with wooden cover members; Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a double hung window comprising 20 overlapping upper and lower panes of glass 1 and 2 respectively suspended in a window frame 3 having an upper frame member 4, a lower frame member 5 and 19 June 1997 -8side frame members 6. As shown more specifically in Figures 2 and 4, the side, of the glass panes 1, 2 are received within vertical guide channels 10 the sides of which are defined by inner and outer channel cover members 7 and 8 mounted on the side frame members 6.

The glass panes 1 and 2 are arranged to be vertically movable relative to the frame 3 and to each other by means of cords 11 which are attached to panereceiving members 20 and 30 at the sides of the panes 1 and 2 and which extend around respective pulleys 12 mounted in the channels 10. Thus upward or downward movement of one pane causes a corresponding downward or upward movement of the other pane so that, when the window is opened the panes 1 and 2 :i move vertically towards the center of the window in unison, providing an equal opening at the top and bottom. A locking mechanism 9 is provided on one of the channel cover members 7 for preventing vertical movement of the glass panes.

Figures 2 and 3 show horizontal and vertical sections through a double hung 15 window in accordance with the invention in which the window frame 3 is made of timber having an upper frame member 4 in the form of a timber head section, a lower frame member 5 in the form of a sill section and side frame members 6 in the form of timber jambs.

As shown in Figures 2, 4 and 5, a guide member 13 is mounted to each side S 20 frame member 6 within the channel 10 defined between the inner and outer channel cover members 7 and 8. The guide member 13 preferably comprises an aluminum extrusion of generally T-shaped cross-section and extends vertically for substantially the full height of the channel 10. The guide member 13 has an attachment portion 14 comprising two limbs 15 which extend substantially perpendicularly from one end of an elongate guide portion 16.

The attachment portion 14 of the guide member may be secured to the side frame member 6 by screws 19 or any other convenient fixing means so that the elongate guide portion 16 extends outwards from the base of the channel substantially centrally between the inner and outer channel cover members 7 and 8 whereby the planar side surfaces of the guide portion 16 form vertical inner and JRG:NI:#12788.SPC -9outer guide surfaces 17 and 18 that are substantially parallel to the inner and outer major surfaces of the panes and which guide the panes 1 and 2 for relative vertical sliding movement relative to the frame 3 and to each other as will be described below.

Each side edge of the lower pane 2 is received in an inner pane-receiving member 20, and each side edge of the upper pane 1 is received in an outer panereceiving member 30. Each of the inner and outer pane-receiving members 20 and is of uniform cross-section having a main body part 22, 32; first and second arms 23 and 24; 33 and 34 extending from the ends of the body part 22; 32 on one 10 side thereof, and a leg 25; 35 extending from a central location on the other side of :f the body parts 22; 32. The body part 22; 32 and the arms 23, 24; 33. 34 of each pane-receiving member 20; 30 form a U-shaped portion 21; 31 adapted to receive an edge of one of the glass panes 1 and 2. The pane-receiving members 20; 30 are preferably formed from an extruded plastics material which has sufficient flexibility 15 allowing the U-shaped portions 21; 31 to snap onto an edge of a glass pane.

Although the U-shaped portions 21; 31 of the pane-receiving members 30 are conveniently arranged to snap onto edges of the glass panes 1 and 2, as shown in Figure 4, small recesses 26 and 27; 36 and 37 may be provided in the internal surfaces of the first arms 23; 33 and of the body parts 22; 32 for receiving S 20 a small quantity of glue to assist in fixing the pane-receiving members 20; 30 more securely to the glass panes 1 and 2.

As shown in Figures 4, the pane-receiving members 20 and 30 are mounted in the channel 10 with the elongate guide portion 16 extending in a gap between the first arms 23; 33 of the pane-receiving members 20 and 30 so that the inner and outer guide surfaces 17 and 18 on the guide portion 16 co-operate with adjacent external surfaces on the first arms 23; 33 to guide the panes 1 and 2 for vertical movement in the channel The second arms 24 and 34 of the pane-receiving members 20 and 30 are thus disposed in positions adjacent the channel cover members 7 and 8 respectively, and each of the second arms 24; 34 is provided with a seal-retaining recess 28; 38 JRO:NB:#12788.SPC on its external surfaces which carries a seal member 29; 39 to engage with a vertical surface on a flange 70; 80 provided on the end of the respective channel cover member 7; 8.

Also referring to Figure 4, the channel cover members 7 and 8 each comprise aluminum extrusions of generally L-shaped section having an attachment limb 71; 81 adapted to be attached to a side frame member or jamb 6, and a main body part 72; 82 extending generally perpendicularly from the attachment portion 71; 81. The ends 73; 03 of the body parts 72; 82 remote from the attachment limbs 71; 81 extend inwardly towards the center of the channel 10 and are provided with the 10 flanges 70; 80 which extend substantially parallel to the panes 1 and 2 for be..

:I engagement with the seal members 29; 39 carried by the pane-receiving members 30. Each attachment limb 71; 81 is adapted to clip onto a respective limb 15 of the guide member 14 by means of projections 74 and 75; 84 and 85 on each side of a recess 76; 86 on the attachment limbs 71; 81 which engage with a complementary 15 projection 77; 87 and recess 78; 88 on the respective limb 15. As shown in Figure 2, the attachment limbs 71; ,61 are retained between th- limbs 15 of the attachment portion 14 of the guide member 13 and the side frame member or jamb 6, but if S. required additional fixing means, such as screws, may be provided to fasten the limbs 15 of the guide member 13 and the attachment limbs 71; 81 securely to the jamb 6. As will be apparent from Figure 4, the aluminum guide covers 7 and 8 have a slimline form and the body parts 72; 82 preferably extend from the attachment limbs 71; 81 at a few degrees from the perpendicular to give greater clearance for mounting and operation of the locking device 9.

As shown in Figures 2 and 5, the locking device 9 comprises a lock body mounted on the inner channel cover member 7 by a mounting plate 91 and by attachment means such as screws (not shown), and a locking member in the form of a locking pin 92 axially movable relative to the lock body 90. Apertures 93 and 94 are respectively provided in the leg 25 of the inner pane-receiving member and in the guide portion 16 of the guide member 13 to receive the locking pin 92 when the window is closed, and further apertures (not shown) may also be provided JRG:NB:f12788SPC

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11 at different predetermined locations to enable the window to be locked at any one of a nuinber of predetermined open positions.

It will be appreciated that when the window panes 1 and 2 are locked against relative vertical movement by the locking device of the present invention, the locking pin 92 extends through not only the inner pane-receiving member 20 of plastics material, but also through the aluminum guide member 13 to provide more secure locking. If required, at least one aperture 95 may also be provided in the outer pane-receiving member 30 for receiving a locking pin of greater length and providing more secure locking of both panes 1 and 2.

As shown in Figure 3, the upper and lower edges of the lower pane 2 and the :I upper edge of the upper pane 1 are each received in horizontally extending panereceiving members 40, 50 and 60 respectively. The horizontally extending panereceiving members 40, 50 and 60 are conveniently formed of plastics extrusions of uniform U-shaped cross-section having first and second side arms 43, 44; 53, 54; 15 63, 64 connected by a base part 42; 52; 62. The first side arm 53 of the pane- S"receiving member 50 on the lower edge of lower pane 2 and the first side arm 63 of the pane-receiving member 60 on the upper edge of upper pane 1 carry inward", Sfacing seal members 55 and 65 which contact respective surfaces 56 and 66 on the lower frame member 5 and on the upper frame member 4 when the window is closed. The first side arm 43 of the upper pane-receiving member 40 on the lo;,V pane 2 carries an outwardly facing seal member 45 for engagement with 12 inwardly facing surface of the upper pane 1. The lower edge -of the upper pane 1 is not shown in Figure 3, but it may also include a horizontally extending panereceiving member with r seal to engage the outwardly facing surface of the lower pane member 2, although such an additional seal may not necessarily be required.

The double hung windows as shown in Figure 3 also includes a horizontally extending extruded handle 47 secured along the bottom part of the inwardly facing surface of the lower pane 2 to assist in opening the window from the closed cone shown in Figures 1 and 3. A fly screen 48 may also be mounted between the outer parts of the upper and lower frame members 4 and JRG:NB:#I2788SPC 12- It will be appreciated that, in contrast to convertji double hung windows which have fixed seals mounted on side channel members of window stiles members and on upper and/or lower frame members for engagement with the glass panes 1 and 2, double hung windows of the present invention as described above have the weatherproofing seal members 29, 39, 45, 55 and 65 mounted on the pane-receiving members 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 and so the seal members move with the glass panes 1 and 2 when the window is opened or closed.

Since the pane-receiving members 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 which carry the seal members 29, 39, 45, 55 and 65 are formed of flexible plastics material, they may 10 readily be clipped onto the edges of the g1iss panes 1 and 2 thereby providing effective sealing for the top, bottom, center and sides of the double hung window in a simple construction which is easy to install and which does not require fixed seals to be mounted to the surrounding window frame. The seal members may take any convenient form, but preferably they comprise weatherproofing brush strips of 15 a known type.

It will be appreciated that the various features of the present invention may be incorporated in different types of double hung windows either individually or in combination. For instance, Figures 6 and 7 are vertical and horizontal sections through a double hung window mounted in a timber door frame in which the upper and lower frame members comprise top and bottom rails 4' and 5' respectively, and the side frame members comprise timber door stiles The remaining parts of the double hung window of Figures 6 and 7 are identical to those illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 and corresponding reference numerals have been applied to corresponding parts.

Referring to Figure 8 of the drawings there is shown an alternative embodiment in which the aluminum cover members 7 and 8 are replaced by timber cover members 7' and 8' secured on the side frame member 6 to define channels therebetween. The remaining parts of the window of Figure 8 are identical to those illustrated in Figure 2 and corresponding reference numerals have been applied to corresponding parts. The double hung window of Figure 8 operates in the same RO,:NB:#12788.SPC 13manner as the window of Figures 1 to 5 except that the seal members 29 and 39 carried by the pane-receiving members 20 and 30 engage with respective vertical internal surfaces 70' and 80' on the timber cover members 7' and 8' which define the internal walls of the channel It will also be appreciated that other modifications may be made to the embodiments of the invention described with reference to the drawings without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

Whilst the present invention has been described above with reference to a counterbalanced double hung window with two relatively movable glass panes, it is 10 possible that one of the panes could be fixed and/or replaced by a counterbalanced weight and still incorporate one or more of the various aspects of the invention.

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Claims (6)

14- The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1. A double hung window comprising a window frame having an upper frame member, a lower frame member and side frame members, each side frame member defining or having thereon a channel, first and second counterbalanced spaced panes suspended in the frame, with the side edges of each pane extending into the channels of the respective side frame members, pane-receiving members disposed within said channels and secured to the side edges of said panes, guide means in each channel for guiding the pane-receiving members and the panes for substantially vertical sliding movement, and cord means attached to the panes and which extends around pulley means in at least one of said channels enabling the panes to be moved substantially vertically along the guide means relative to the frame and to each other, wherein adjacent pane-receiving members secured to adjacent side edges of the panes define a gap therebetween, and the guide means in each channel comprises an elongate guide member extending from the base of the S 15 channel into the gap between adjacent pane-receiving members to provide guide surfaces between the panes, said guide surfaces extending substantially vertically and substantially parallel to major surfaces of the panes. 2. A double hung window according to claim 1 wherein the elongate guide member extends in the channel for the full height of the window. 20 3. A double hung window according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the guide member includes an attachment portion adapted to be secured to a side frame member of said frame and an elongate guide portion which extends between parts :O of the pane-receiving members that are disposed in the space between the panes, the S•elongate guide portion having substantially planar surfaces on opposite sides and which form said guide surfaces between the panes. 4. A double hung window according to claim 3 wherein each pane- receiving member comprises or includes a base portion and two arm portions which define a generally U-shaped body part to receive a side edge of a respective one of N 1- said panes, and the elongate guide portion of the guide member extends between arm f 7 p tions of adjacent pane-receiving members, and the guide surfaces on opposite 'I J kJR A# 2788S2 19 June 1997 I 15 sides of the guide portion engage with opposed surfaces on said arm portions. A double hung window according to claim 4 wherein at least one of the pane-receiving members includes a leg extending rearwardly from the base portion and a window locking mechanism is provided having a locking member which is movable from a retracted position to a locking position in which it extends through an aperture in said leg and an aperture in the guide member to lock the panes against vertical movement relative to the frame. 6. A double hung window comprising a window frame having an upper frame member, a lower frame member and side frame members, each side frame member defining or having thereon a channel, at least one pane suspended in the frame having side edges extending into the channels of the respective side frame members, said pane being connected to another pane or a counterbalanced weight by cord means extending around pulley means in at least one of said channels enabling said at least one pane to be moved substantially vertically relative to the frame, pane-receiving members disposed within said channels and secured to the side edges of said at least one pane, and an elongate guide member in each channel extending from the base of the channel for guiding said pane-receiving members and said at least one pane for substantially vertical sliding movement, wherein the window includes a locking device associated with one of said channels having a S: 20 movable locking member which is arranged to extend in a locking position through o: one of said pane-receiving members and through the guide member in said one channel to lock said at least one pane against vertical movement relative to the S: frame. 7. A double hung window according to claim 6 wherein said one pane- receiving member comprises a base portion, two arm portions extending forwardly from one side of the base portion to define a generally U-shaped body part to receive a side edge of said at least one pane, and a leg portion extending rearwardly from the base portion and having at least one aperture for receiving said movable locking member. 0 8. A double hung window according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the JRG'JA#12'88.RS2 19 June 1997

16- guide member includes an attachment portion adapted to be secured to a side frame member of said frame and a guide portion having at least one aperture for receiving said movable locking member. 9. A double hung window according to claim 3 or claim 8 wherein the guide member is generally T-shaped in cross-section having attachment limbs extending substantially perpendicularly to said elongate guide portion. A double hung window according to any one of the preceding claims wherein channel cover members of timber are provided on each side frame member to form the sides of window stiles defining said channels. 11. A double hung window according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein removable channel cover members of metal or plastics material are mounted to the side frame members of the window frame to define the sides of said channels. 12. A double hung window according to claim 11 as appended to claim 9 wherein said channel cover members are generally L-shaped having attachment limbs 15 which are releasably attachable to the attachment limbs of the T-shaped guide be member to constitute a window stile. lms13. A double hung window according to claim 12 wherein the attachment limbs of the channel cover members and of the guide member have interlocking projections and recesses. 20 14. A double hung window according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one of the pane-receiving members carries sealing means that is movable with the pane to which the pane-receiving member is secured. 15. A double hung window according to claim 14 including sealing means carried by a vertically extending pane-receiving member secured to a side edge of at least one pane, and wherein said sealing means is arranged to contact an adjacent vertically extending channel cover member defining a side wall of one of said channels. 16. A double hung window according to claim 14 or 15 including sealing means carried by a horizontally extending pane-receiving member secured to an 0o u'3;upper or lower edge of least one pane. r:aA#1278.RS2 19 June 99

17- 17. A double hung window according to claim 16 wherein said sealing means carried by said horizontally extending pane-receiving member is arranged to contact a horizontally extending upper or lower frame member when said window is closed.

18. A double hung window according to claim 14 wherein the window includes two panes and sealing means carried by a horizontally extending pane- receiving member on one of said panes arranged to contact the other pane of the window.

19. A double hung window according to any one of claims 14 to 18 wherein at least one of said pane-receiving members comprises a U-shaped body part having a base portion and two arm portions, and said sealing means comprises a sealing strip mounted within a recess in one of said arm portions. A double hung window according to any one of claims 4, 5, 7, 8 or i: 19 wherein the or each pane-receiving member is formed of plastics material and is 15 arranged to snap onto an edge of said pane. eoo

21. A double hung window substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings. DATED: 19 June 1997 CARTER SMITH BEADLE Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: AEETA WNDOW SYSTEMS (VIC) PTY LTD 4 ANEETA WINDOW SYSTEMS (VIC) PTY LTD 19 June 1997 S. V ABSTRACT A double hung window construction is provided of the type which has counterbalanced window panes guided for substantially vertical movement in channels (10) defined by side or cover members 8; 7' of window stiles at the sides of the panes The sides of the panes are received in U-shaped pane-receiving members (20,30), and an elongate guide member (13) extends in the gap between inner arms (23,33) of adjacent pane receiving members (20,30) to provide planar guide surfaces (17,18) between the panes that extend substantially vertically and parallel to the major surfaces of the panes to assist in aligning the panes and in guiding the panes for their vertical movement relative to one i" another. The outer arms (24,34) of the pane-receiving members (20, 30) have recesses (28,38) for carrying sealing strips (29,39) that are movable with the panes and sealing strips (45,55,65) may also be provided on upper and lower pane- receiving members (40,50 and 60) to provide effective sealing for the top, bottom and center of the window in addition to the sides. A locking device may also be provided on one of the channel cover members having a locking member (92) which is movable to a locking position in which it extends through an elongate guide portion (16) of the guide member (13) and through a rearwardly extending leg of the pane-receiving member (20) to lock the panes (1 and 2) against vertical "movement relative to the frame and to each other. JROGNB:n27.SPC i