EP0063964B1

EP0063964B1 - Improvements in or relating to windows

Info

Publication number: EP0063964B1
Application number: EP19820302202
Authority: EP
Inventors: Joseph Pritchard
Original assignee: Clearpane Products Ltd
Current assignee: CLEARPANE PRODUCTS LIMITED
Priority date: 1981-04-29
Filing date: 1982-04-29
Publication date: 1985-07-17
Also published as: EP0063964A3; DE3264756D1; EP0063964A2

Description

The present invention relates to frame assemblies of the kind comprising a glass pane within a window frame, and is more particularly concerned with the drainage of condensation from the glass panes thereof.
The problems associated with condensation on the inside of window panes are numerous. For example, the condensation will run down the window pane and collect as pools on, for example, a bottom frame member or sill of the assembly. The removal of such pools is a tedious operation. More serious however is the rotting of the window frame, where it is of wood, due to repeated occurrence of condensation.
Condensation may be avoided by providing double glazing but this can be expensive. The problem of rotting can, of course, be avoided by use of metal frames, but the cost of replacing wooden window frames in a house can be considerable.
It is already known to provide window frame assemblies in which the glass pane is disposed within a window frame having a bottom frame member providing a riser against which the pane abuts by its inner surface and carrying a channel for receiving condensation which runs down the pane, and having outlet means extending through said bottom frame member.
However, in one known such arrangement, as shown by German Gebrauchsmuster No. 1790588, the bottom of the channel is provided by the wooden bottom frame member which accordingly is still susceptible to rotting. Alternatively the bottom frame member may be formed as a metal profiled member. Another proposal, as disclosed in German Gebruachsmuster No. 1987349 involves the complete modification of the window frame by capping the entire upper surface of the bottom frame member with a plastics profile member providing a riser abutted by the glass pane and an integral channel for collecting condensation. The fitting of such an arrangement to an existing window would, of course, involve removal of the glass pane, grooving the bottom frame member and securing the profile member in place, reduction of the height of the glass pane to match the reduced space available in the frame, and refitting of the window pane.
A further proposal as disclosed in U.K. Patent Specification No. 819112 involves the provision of a channel-sectioned gutter at the bottom of a window to collect condensation moisture, but in this case, the gutter is provided against a metal bottom cross member of a fixed outer frame of a window and is disposed so as to be abutted by the complementary metal bottom member of a pivoted sash or light carrying the window pane. Thus, in this proposal condensed moisture running down the window pane firstly encounters the metal of the sash or light (and any sealing material holding the pane therein) and then the metal of the fixed frame before reaching the gutter. Thus, there is still, with this arrangement, the problem of deterioration of the window structure due to the action of moisture.
A plastics channel for location on top of the bottom frame member is disclosed in CA A 1052184.
An object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement which is simple to apply to or incorporate into wooden framed windows, whether in the course of their manufacture or pre- existant, which will ensure efficient diversion away from the window pane of any condensed moisture running down the pane in such a way that it cannot under any circumstances encounter the structure of the window frame or parts thereof, the arrangement of the invention including a channel, for receiving the condensation, which seals effectively with the inner surface of the glass. pane to achieve this object.
With this aim in view, the present invention provides a window frame assembly comprising a glass pane within a window frame having a bottom frame member including a step portion providing a riser against which the pane abuts by its inner surface and carrying a channel for receiving condensation which may run down said inner surface and having outlet means extending through said bottom frame member for conducting condensation from said channel to the exterior of the assembly characterised in that the channel is accommodated in a groove present in the step portion at a spacing from the riser and comprises a flap portion which is inclined upwardly towards and presses in water-tight abutment against the inner surface of the pane.
Preferably the outlet means comprises a drainage pipe integral with the channel and projecting downwards in an aperture extending downwards from the base of the groove to intersect a respective aperture extending right through the bottom frame member below the step portion and flexible tubing fitted to said pipe and extending through the aperture and part of the aperture to the exterior of the assembly.
The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the window frame assembly of the invention; and
Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a drainage channel which constitutes outlet means incorporated in the window frame assembly in Fig. 1.
The illustrated window frame assembly 1 comprises a frame including a wooden bottom window frame member 2 and a glass pane 3, having an outer surface 4 and inner surface 5.

The frame member 2 is of generally stepped cross-section and includes an upper step portion 6, and intermediate step portion 7, and a lower step portion 8. The glass pane 3 abuts against the riser of the upper step portion 6, being sealed therewith e.g. by putty and is held in place by a beading.
Formed in the top surface of the upper step portion 6 is a groove 9 which is disposed at a spacing inwardly of the inner surface 5 of the pane 3 and therefore, from the riser. The groove 9 extends along the length of the bottom frame member 2 and has a depth corresponding approximately to that of the upper step portion 6.
The groove 9 serves to receive a plastics rectangular U-section channel 10 which is of a depth corresponding to that of groove 9 and extends along the length of the glass pane 3. The channel 10 includes outlet means in the form of a plurality of drainage outlets 11 spaced along its base, each said outlet 11 being associated with a short drainage pipe 12. The drainage pipes 12 are accommodated in respective apertures 13 drilled in and extending downwards from the base of groove 9 at suitable intervals therealong. The channel 10 additionally includes, on its edge adjacent the glass pane 3, a flap portion 14 which is inclined upwardly towards the glass pane 3 and in water tight abutment thereagainst.
Each of the drainage pipes 12 has attached thereto a respective short length of flexible polyvinyl chloride tubing 15 which extends outwardly through a respective aperture 16 bored through the step portion 7 from the inside to the outside of frame member 2, below the level of the upper stop portion 6.
The channel 10 may be located in position as follows. Firstly the groove 9 is formed, using a rebate plane, and the apertures 16 are bored through the frame member 2. The apertures 13 are then drilled in the base of the groove 9 to meet with and intersect the apertures 16.
The respective lengths of flexible polyvinyl chloride tubing 15 may then be inserted through the respective apertures 16 and the inner ends drawn upwards through the respective apertures 13 by use any suitable implement. The drainage pipes 12 are now inserted in the respective lengths of tubing 15 and the channel 10 is then seated down in the groove 9, with the tubing 15 being correspondingly drawn downwards.
Any condensation forming on the inside surface 5 of glass pane 3 will run downwards onto the flap 14 and thence into the channel 10. Water received in the channel 10 drains therefrom through the outlets 11, via the drainage pipes 12, into the tubing 15. Consequently condensation water accumulating in the channel 10 will drain through the tubing 15 to outside the window frame assembly.
Stop ends may be supplied for the channel member for positioning at the ends thereof when it has been cut to length.
It will thus be appreciated that the invention provides a simple solution to the problem of condensation which can be applied to either new or to existing windows, and which is more effective than the prior known proposals.

Claims

1. A window frame assembly comprising a glass pane (3) within a window frame having a bottom frame member (2) including a step portion (6) providing a riser against which the pane (3) abuts by its inner surface (5) and carrying a channel (10) for receiving condensation which may run down said inner surface (5) and having outlet means (12, 15) extending through said bottom frame member for conducting condensation from said channel (10) to the exterior of the assembly (1) characterised in that the channel (10) is accommodated in a groove (9) present in the step portion (6) at a spacing from the riser and comprises a flap portion (14) which is inclined upwardly towards and presses in water-tight abutment against the inner surface (5) of the pane (3).

2. A window frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said outlet means (12, 15) comprises a drainage pipe (12) integral with the channel and projecting downwards in an aperture (13) extending downwards from the base of the groove (9) to intersect a respective aperture (16) extending right through the bottom frame member (2) below the step portion (6) and flexible tubing (15) fitted to said pipe (12) and extending through the aperture (13) and part of the aperture (16) to the exterior of the assembly.