GB2105395A - Stay for a sliding-pivoting window assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A window assembly incorporating a vertically slidable sash in which drop-back of the sash is possible, to enable cleaning of the external glass surfaces of the sash window comprises support means to support the sash when in an inwardly pivoted position, the support means consists of a stay member engageable with a formation on the window sash and a formation on the fixed frame of the window assembly. The length of the stay member is less than the distance between the formation on the sash to which the stay member is fixed and the pivotal axis of the sash. The stay 19 may have one end pivotally secured to the sash frame 3, the other end having a hook 23 engageable with the jamb 8 (Figs. 1 and 2) or the stay 111 may have slide shoes 113, 115 engageable in the sideways 108, 117 in the sash frame and the jamb frame, the sash frame slideway having a stop 118 (Fig. 3). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Window assembly This invention relates to a window assembly incorporating a sliding drop-back ventilator sash.

In a window assembly incorporating a vertically slidable ventilator sash, the sash is known as a drop-back sash when it can be disengaged at its upper end from sliding engagement with the fixed frame of the window and pivoted inwardly about a substantially horizontal axis adjacent the lower end of the sash, to enable cleaning of the external glass surface of the open sash window. However a window assembly incorporating a drop-back ventilator sash has the disadvantage in that the weight of the drop-back sash can be relatively large, particularly if it is double-glazed. A person cleaning the window may support the weight of the sash with one hand whilst cleaning it with the other, or rest the sash on some form of support. In either event, these procedures are inconvenient and potentially dangerous.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means to support the weight of a dropped back sash window.

According to the invention, there is provided a window assembly incorporating a drop-back ventilator sash, wherein there is provided support means to support the sash when in an inwardly pivoted position, said means comprising a stay member engageable with a formation on the window sash and with the fixed frame of the window assembly.

The length of the stay member is preferably less than the distance between the formation on the window sash and the pivotal axis adjacent the lower end of the sash. Provided that the length of the stay member is less than the distance between the formation on the sash and the pivotal axis of the sash, the sash is prevented from approaching an angle of 900 from the vertical, which if it were allowed to occur could in some circumstances lead to damage to the sash.

The stay member may be provided at one end with a hook formation, engageable with a track provided on the fixed frame of the window assembly, which track may form part of the track in which the sash can slide. Alternatively, the stay member may be provided at one end with a roller engageable with part of the sliding track.

The stay member may be completely removable from the window assembly when not in use, or arranged to remain attached to the sash in a position in which its does not interfere with the sliding movement of the sash.

The formation on the sash may comprise a bracket to which the stay member is pinned, to allow relative arcuate movement of the stay during drop-back of the sash.

The stay member may have at one end an element received in a guide track of a fixed frame member of the window assembly and providing for sliding and pivoting of the stay member relative to said track, and at its other end having an element received in a guide track of the sash, and providing for sliding and pivoting of the stay member relative to the track of the sash, and there may be means for limiting sliding movement of one of said elements relative to its track so that the stay member can support the sash when in an inwardly pivoted position.

Each of said elements may be releasably and pivotally secured to a respective end of the stay member by a bracket.

The guide track in the window sash may be provided with a stop member which limits sliding movement of the element in the guide track thereof such that the effective length of the stay member is always less than the distance between the pivotal axis of the element and the pivotal axis of the sash, thus ensuring that the sash is never pivoted to or beyond a perpendicular position relative to the fixed frame.

The window assembly may be provided with a pair of support means which act together, one on each side of the sash.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a window assembly with a double-glazed slidable ventilator sash incorporating the invention; and, Figure 2 shows schematically one embodiment of the support means according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of part of a window assembly according to a further embodiment of the invention.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2 in which one half of a window assembly is shown, the assembly comprises an upright window jamb 1 of extruded aluminium alloy and having formations supporting for sliding vertical movement an outer window sash 2 and an inner window sash 3, each with complementary sliding formations and each double-glazed with glass panels 4.

The window jamb 1 is fixed at its lower end to a sill with outer and inner parts 5, 6. Thermal insulation of the metal window jamb 1 is provided by a plastics insulator strip 7 engaged with the jamb 1. Further insulator strips (not shown) are provided on the exposed metal surfaces of the inner side of the window assembly in a like manner.

Each of the sashes 2 and 3 is vertically slidable along guide tracks defined by the jamb, and surfaces 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 on the jamb are engaged by pile sealing strips 13, 14, 15, 1 6 and 1 7 which also assist smooth sliding operation of the sashes.

To facilitate access to the outer glass panel in the inner sash 3, and the inner panel of outer sash 2, the inner sash 3 is pivotable inwardly about a horizontal axis adjacent its lower edge in a known manner. A suitable catch means is provided at the top of sash 3 to enable its disengagement from the jamb 1.

The invention comprises support means shown generally at 18, in which an elongate stay member 1 9 is pivotally fixed by pivot pin 20 to a bracket 21 secured by screws 22 to part of the inner sash 3.

The other end of the stay member 19 has a hook formation 23 which is engageable with a complementary surface 24 on the track 8.

In operation, if it is required to pivot the inner sash 3 inwardly to facilitate cleaning of the outer glass panels the catch means (not shown) at the top of the inner sash 3 is operated. It will be apparent, as shown in Figure 2, that as the inner sash is pivoted inwardly, the hook formation 23 on the stay 1 9 engages with the surface 24 on the guide track 8 and thus the extent to which the inner sash can be opened is determined by the length of the stay member 19.

Provided that the distance between the hook formation 23 and the pivot axis 20 on the stay 1 9 is less than the distance between the pivot axis 20 and the horizontal sash pivot axis, the sash is prevented from approaching an angle of 900 from the vertical.

In an alternative embodiment, it is envisaged that the hook at the end of the stay member may be replaced by a roller or slide mechanism engageable with the guide surface 24, which mechanism may also engage with a further guide surface such that, upon pivotal movement of the sash the roller or slide is guided for substantially vertical movement only. If it is desired to pivot the window more than is permitted by the stay, the roller or slide arrangement may be disengaged from the window jamb 1 through a suitably shaped aperture near the lower end of the jamb.

Referring now to Figure 3 of the drawings, in which only part of the assembly is shown, an upright fixed frame member 101, of extruded aluminium alloy, has formations for supporting for vertical sliding movement, an inner window sash 102 and an outer window sash (not shown), each having complementary sliding formations thereon and each having a double-glazed glass panel 103.

The fixed frame member 101 is fixed at its lower end to a sill (not shown) and thermal insulation is provided by elongate plastics insulator strips 104, 105 and 106, each having formations which interengage with complementary formations on the frame member 101. The sash 102 is vertically slidable along a recess afforded in the frame 101 adjacent strips 105 and 106 and to facilitate access to the outer glass panels in the inner sash 102 and the other sash, the inner sash 102 is pivotable inwardly about a horizontal axis adjacent its lower edge.

A balance mechanism 107 extends vertically within a generally rectilinear recess 108 of the frame 101 and comprises a spring balance 109 having a spiral portion 110. The balance mechanism 107 ensures that vertical sliding movement of each sash is controlled so that each sash cannot drop under gravity.

Support means according to the invention comprises an elongate stay member 111 of flat metal strip, to one end of which is pivotally secured a bracket 112. A shoe element 113 is secured to the bracket 112 by screws (not shown) and comprises a plastics tube of rectangular section, through a central aperture 114 of which is free to move the spiral portion 110 of the balance mechanism 107. Shoe element 113 has formations which are slidably engaged within the correspondingly shaped recess 108 in the frame 101 in the position shown in phantom. The recess 108 defines a guide track of the fixed frame member according to this embodiment of the invention.

A further shoe element 11 5 is secured by a bracket 11 6 to the other end of the stay member 111 and comprises a generally T-section plastics member which is slidably engaged in the position shown in phantom within a correspondingly shaped guide track 11 7 to the sash 102. A stop member 11 8 is secured within track 11 7 to the sash 102 by screw 11 9 and limits sliding movement of shoe 11 5 within track 117.

In operation, when the sash 102 is not pivoted inwardly it is slidable vertically along the length of the frame 101 to open or close the sash 102 as desired. However, if it is required to pivot the sash 1 02 inwardly to facilitate cleaning of the outer glass panels, a catch member (not shown) in the uppermost part of the sash 102 can be unlocked such that the sash 102 pivots inwardly about a horizontal axis at the lower edge thereof adjacent the window sill.Stop member 11 8 prevents shoe element 11 5 from sliding along the whole length of the track 11 7 in sash 102 and thus ensures that the effective length of the stay member 111 is always less than the distance between the pivot axis of the shoe 11 5 and the pivot axis of the sash 102, thus ensuring that the sash 102 is prevented from reaching or exceeding an angle of 90" from the vertical frame member 101. Shoe element 113 is free to slide within the guide track afforded by the recess 108 in the frame 101.

Since each shoe 113 and 11 5 is free to slide within its respective guide track and each is also pivotable with respect to the stay member 111, it will be apparent that whenever the sash 102 is pivoted away or towards the frame member 101, one or both of the shoes 113, 11 5 can slide in either direction along its respective guide track. As a consequence, if for some reason one shoe becomes snagged within a guide track, pivotal movement of the sash 102 can still occur since the other of the shoes would still be free to slide within its respective track. Accordingly, the stay member 11 can be prevented from becoming buckled or distorted during such pivotal movement of the sash 102.

As a further feature of the invention, if for some reason the stay member 111 or one or both of the shoes 113, 11 5, is required to be replaced they can be simply detached from the brackets 11 2, 11 6 and this ensures that the whole of the support means does not need to be replaced.

As an alternative to the provision of detachable shoe elements 113, 11 5, the stay member 111 may instead incorporate elements at each end integral therewith such that pivotal and sliding movement of each end of the stay member can be afforded within the respective guide track and such an integral end may be generally circular in the plane of the stay member 111.

Claims (11)

1. A window assembly incorporating a sliding drop-back ventilator sash, wherein there is provided support means to support the sash when in an inwardly pivoted position, said means comprising a stay member engageable with a formation on the window sash and with the fixed frame member of the window assembly.

2. A window assembly according to Claim 1 wherein the length of the stay member is less than the distance between the formation on the window sash and the pivotal axis adjacent the lower end of the sash.

3. A window assembly according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which said stay member is provided at one end with a hook formation, engageable with a track provided on the fixed frame of the window assembly, which track forms part of the track in which the sash can slide.

4. A window assembly according to Claim 3 in which said stay member is provided at one end with a roller engageable with part of the sliding track.

5. A window assembly according to any one of the preceding claims in which said stay member is removable from the window assembly when not in use.

6. A window assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 in which said stay member is arranged to remain attached to the sash in a position in which it does not interfere with the sliding movement of the sash.

7. A window assembly according to Claim 5 in which said formation on the sash comprises a bracket to which the stay member is pinned, to allow relative arcuate movement of the stay member during drop-back of the sash.

8. A window assembly according to Claim 1 wherein the stay member has at one end an element received in a guide track of the fixed frame of the window assembly and providing for sliding and pivoting of the stay member relative to said track, and at its other end an element received in a guide track of the sash, and providing for sliding and pivoting of the stay member relative to the track of the sash, and there is provided means for limiting sliding movement of one of said elements relative to its track so that the stay member can support the sash when in an inwardly pivoted position.

9. An assembly according to Claim 8 in which each of said elements is releasably and pivotally secured to a respective end of the stay member by a bracket.

10. A window assembly according to Claim 8 or Claim 9 in which the guide track in the window sash is provided with a stop member which limits sliding movement of the element in the guide track.

11. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a pair of said support means which act together, one on each side of the sash.

1 2. A window assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, of Figure 3, of the accompanying drawings.