EP0490707A1

EP0490707A1 - Window mechanism

Info

Publication number: EP0490707A1
Application number: EP91311644A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Colin Grundon; Jurgen Henninger
Original assignee: PALLOT GLASS (HOLDINGS) Ltd
Current assignee: PALLOT GLASS (HOLDINGS) Ltd
Priority date: 1990-12-14
Filing date: 1991-12-16
Publication date: 1992-06-17
Also published as: GB9027155D0

Abstract

A window mechanism includes an external frame (5a) for securing in a window opening, a sash frame (10) for mounting the window pane and at least one support arm assembly for securing sash frame (10) to the external frame (5a). Each support arm assembly includes a support arm (6) having one end mounted for longitudinal sliding movement along a guide rail (5) formed on the external frame member (5a) and its other end pivotably secured to the sash frame (10). The support arm assembly includes a secondary support arm (7) which also has one end mounted for longitudinal sliding movement along the guide rail (5) and has its other end pivotably secured to the support arm (6) adjacent the point at which it is secured to the sash frame (10). The sash frame can, thus, be tilted about an edge transverse to the guide rail and pivoted, by means of friction bearings (4) about the ends of the support arm (6) of the support arm assembly. Preferably, locking means (3) are provided for engagement with recesses (15) in the guide rail (5) to prevent further sliding movement of the support arms (6,7) relative to the guide rail (5).

Description

The present invention relates to an improved window mechanism.
For many living in high rise buildings, operating and/or cleaning windows is both nerve-racking and hazardous. For anyone afraid of heights, unnecessary fear may be induced if the movement required to operate a window involved pushing outwards rather than pulling into the room. Many users also feel nervous about standing close to open voids created by wide open windows. Such voids are, of course, particularly dangerous when children are about.
Ideally, of course, all the movements of a window should be simple and require minimal physical strength; if not, it may not be suitable for use by anyone elderly or disabled. The mechanism should also be as simple as possible so as to make maintenance straightforward and to simplify replacement of parts, should such replacement prove necessary.
Preferably, the window mechanism should lock automatically in safe positions. The locking arrangements provided should be simple for adults to operate but sufficiently difficult to release that they cannot be sprung accidentally or operated by small children. It is also desirable that a standard design should be provided which can cater for different kind of window situations, for example, in outside walls, in corridors and on balconies.
Any window system intended to meet these various requirements must, of course, also be competitively priced.
There are available at present a number of window opening mechanisms which aim to give the user security, protection against the elements and ventilation as required, whilst allowing the window to be cleaned from the inside of the building. Some of these meet, to a certain extent, some of the other requirements set out above. The designs available at present fall into five classes:-

1. Casement windows - these open either internally or externally and are hung by means of hinges along the top or one side. In the case of externally open casement windows, cleaning from the inside of the building is not possible.
2. Sliding windows - these may be either vertical or horizontal sash windows but in either case they cannot be cleaned properly from the inside of the building.
3. Pivot windows - these may be horizontally or vertically pivoted to enable both sides of the window to be cleaned from the inside of the building. Restrictions have to be included in the system to avoid the window swinging out of control and the dangers of large, open voids. Consequently, modern pivot windows have quite sophisticated pivot systems to cater for locking at pre-set positions and usually include a friction bearing to restrain the window from swinging freely. Such windows have, consequently, become relatively expensive.
4. Tilt and Turn - these allow two movements of the window, one for ventilation and one to open the window fully inwards to enable the outsides to be cleaned. Consequently, there are two mechanisms interlinked through the window handle. The mechanism required is complex and needs skilled maintenance.
5. "H" window - this is a top swing window vented by pushing out at the sill. It can be fully reversed for cleaning. All movements are outside the building.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a window mechanism comprising a frame member for securing in a window opening, a sash frame for mounting the window pane and at least one support arm assembly securing the sash frame to the frame member; the support arm assembly including a support arm having one end mounted for longitudinal sliding movement along a guide rail formed on the frame member, and its other end pivotably secured to the sash frame so that the sash frame may be tilted about an edge transverse to the longitudinal sliding movement of the support arm and pivoted about the other end of the said support arm.
A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail by way of example with reference to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded view of a window mechanism in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 is a side sectional view of a part of the mechanism of Figure 1; and
Figures 3 to 6 show operation of the window mechanism to bring the window into a number of desired positions.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the window mechanism of the invention includes a sash frame 10 in which is supported the window pane 20. The sash frame 10 is secured in the window opening by means of support arm assemblies 1 and 2 includes a guide rail 5 which is secured to the wall defining the window opening and a pair of support arms 6 and 7 each of which has one end mounted in the guide rail 5 so that it can slide longitudinally thereof. The other end of the arm 7 is pivotally secured to the arm 6 part way along its length, so that, together the guide rail 5 and support arms 6 and 7 form a generally triangular structure. The free end of the support arm 6 carried the main pivot bearing 4 on which the sash frame 10 is mounted. The pivot bearing 4 is preferably a friction bearing. The sash frame 10 is thus mounted for pivoting movement about a horizontal axis extending between the pivot bearings 4 on the two support assemblies 1 and 2.
The guide rails 5 are formed as part of the external frame lining the window opening which is, for example, of extruded UPVC or aluminium. Similarly the sash frame 10 may be formed of aluminium or extruded UPVC profiles.
Operation of the window mechanism is shown schematically in Figures 3 to 6.
In Figure 3, the sash frame 10 is tilted slightly inwards about its lower edge so as to provide a slight gap at the top of the window for night ventilation. During this movement, the lower edge of the sash frame 10 rests on the external frame 5a and rolls over a circular cross-section hollow gasket 16 made from EDPM or PVC and secured to the external frame 5a. At the same time the support arms 6 and 7 move so that the pivot bearings 4 travel away from external frame 5a slightly, towards the inside of the room and the ends of the support arms 6 and 7 slide in the guide rails 5 of the external frame 5a a little towards one another.
If the tilting movement is continued the window reaches the normal ventilation position shown in Figure 4. It will be seen that in this position the pivot bearings 4 are further distanced from the external frame towards the interior of the room and that the sliding ends of the support arms 6 and 7 have moved along the guide rails 5 quite some distance towards each other.
In both of these positions, the weight of the sash frame 10 and its associated pane of glass rests on, and is largely supported by, the lower edge of the sash frame 10, allowing the weight of glass and frame to become counterbalanced and therefore light in operation.
As shown in Figure 5, the tilting movement can be continued until the pivot bearings 4 at the end of the support arms 6 are at table top height. In this position, the sash frame 10 can be pivoted about the pivot bearings 4 until it is horizontal and resting on a table-top or other suitable support for each cleaning of the outside of the window pane. Again, the weight of the sash frame 10 and its associated pane of glass is supported and does not have to be balanced by the user.
Alternatively, the outside of the window can be cleaned with the sash frame 10 fully reversed and vertically oriented as shown in Figure 6. To achieve this orientation, the sash frame 10 is pivoted about the pivot bearings 4 past the position shown in Figure 5 until it has been completely reversed. The sash frame 10 is then pushed back towards the external frame 5a. As it moves towards the external frame 5a, the support arms 6 and 7 move apart, sliding along the guide rails 5 until they are more or less parallel to it.
From the above, it will be appreciated that the mechanism described is simple in construction, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and provides a movement which takes place entirely inside the room with no part of the opening sash protruding outside the building structure in which the window is mounted; no outward opening movement is involved at all. No other mechanism available today can achieve a totally internal fully-reversible movement.
It should also be noted that in opening the window, the operator moves away from the external frame as the sash frame 10 pivots, so that, when the void at the external frame is widest, the operator is further from the external frame. Once the sash frame 10 is past the horizontal point in its pivoting movement, the operator moves back towards the external frame but, at the same time, the sash frame closes with the external frame. Operation to reverse the sash frame 10 is, consequently, very safe.
As mentioned above, it is desirable that the sash frame 10 can be locked in any of the positions shown in Figures 3 to 6. This can be achieved in a relatively straightforward manner.
It will be appreciated that, in each of the positions shown in Figures 3 to 6, the ends of the support arms 6 and 7 occupy a unique position along the guide rails 5. Consequently, by locking the support arms 6 and 7 in these positions, further tilting movement of the sash frame 10 can be prevented.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2 a locking member 3 is carried by each support arm assembly 1 and 2. The locking member 3 is slidable along the guide rail 5 and is coupled to the sliding end of the support arm 6 by means of a connecting rod 21 for movement therewith. Each locking member 3 includes a stud 13 which is spring-biassed outwardly, that is, towards the guide rail 5.
Locking is achieved by engagement of the stud 13 in one of a number of recesses 15 formed in the guide rail 5. Once the stud 13 is engaged in the recess 15, further sliding movement of the locking member 3 and, hence, of the connecting rod 21 and support arms 6 and 7 is prevented. The locking member 3 can be released simply by withdrawing the stud 13 from the recess 15. It will be appreciated that locking at any number of suitable positions can be provided simply by forming appropriate recesses in the guide rail 5.

Claims

A window mechanism comprising a frame member for securing in a window opening, a sash frame for mounting the window pane and at least one support arm assembly securing the sash frame to the frame member; the support arm assembly including a support arm having one end mounted for longitudinal sliding movement along a guide rail formed on the frame member, and its other end pivotably secured to the sash frame so that the sash frame may be tilted about an edge transverse to the longitudinal sliding movement of the support arm and pivoted about the other end of the said support arm.
A mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the support arm assembly includes a secondary support arm having one end mounted for longitudinal sliding movement along the guide rail and the other end pivotably secured to the support arm adjacent a point at which it is pivotably secured to the sash frame.
A mechanism according to claim 1 or 2 in which two support arm assemblies are provided at opposite sides of the sash frame.
A mechanism according to any preceding claim in which the or each support arm assembly is secured to the sash frame by means of a friction bearing.
A mechanism according to any preceding claim in which the or each support arm assembly includes locking means engagable with the guide rail to prevent sliding movement of the support arm assembly relative thereto.