GB2109846A - Window frame member with water drain - Google Patents

Abstract

An elongate frame member, for use as the lower member of a window frame, comprises a sill portion 16, a glazing channel 21 for locating the lower edge of a glazing pane 13, and a drainage channel 22 on the inner side of the glazing channel for receiving moisture draining downwardly from the inner face of the glazing pane. The glazing channel 21 is spaced above the sill portion 16 so as to provide between the underside of the glazing channel and the upper surface of the sill portion a space 30 which opens outwardly of the frame, drainage holes 31, 32 being provided which place the lower part of the drainage channel 22 in communication with said space, so that moisture accumulating in the drainage channel may drain downwardly through said holes into said space. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to window frames The invention relates to window frames and particularly, but not exclusively, to window frames suitable for installation in caravans and other comparatively light-weight structures such as chalets.

A common problem with windows arises in connection with moisture which finds its way on to the interior surface of the window as a result of condensation or through inward leakage past the window frame. It is known to collect moisture running down the inside of a window by providing a drainage channel in the lower window frame member on the inner side of the glazing channel. It has been common practice for the glazing channels of the window frame members to be so located that both the glazing channel and drainage channel lie outside the plane of the outer surface of the wall in which the window frame is mounted.With such an arrangement, therefore, moisture accumulating in the drainage channel may readily be allowed to escape by providing holes in the bottom of the drainage channel, since such holes will be outside the wall and the liquid will simply drain downwardly through the holes on to the ground.

However, in order to improve the appearance of a fitted window, it is preferred that the glazing panel be disposed within the thickness of the wall instead of lying outside the plane of the wall. In this case the lower frame member of the window frame includes a glazing channel disposed within the thickness of the wall and a sill portion extending outwardly away from the glazing channel to cover the upper surface of the bottom of the wall aperture. The sill portion normally slopes downwardly as it extends outwardly and also projects outwardly beyond the outer plane of the wall. With such an arrangement it is no longer possible to provide a drainage channel which simply drains downwardly on to the ground since the drainage channel must be disposed on the inner side of the glazing channel, and thus also is within the thickness of the wall.One method of overcoming the problem has been to provide horizontal drainage holes from the drainage channel to the glazing channel and from the glazing channel to the outside of the lower window frame member. However, since such holes face outwardly they are unsightly, and under certain external wind conditions the wind may cause draughts or prevent the moisture escaping through the drainage holes.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved window frame member, for use in a window frame, which locates the glazing panel within the thickness of the wall in which the window frame is fitted and yet where adequate provision is made for draining moisture from the inner side of the window.

Throughout this specification references to the orientation of the frame member, such as "upper", "lower", "inner" and "outer" refer to the position of the frame member when installed in a window assembly. The "inner" side of the member is that nearer the internal side of the wall in which the assembly is fitted and "outer" refers to the side of the frame member near the exterior surface of the wall.

According to the invention there is provided an elongate frame member, for use as the lower member of a window frame, comprising a sill portion, a glazing channel for locating the lower edge of a glazing pane, and a drainage channel on the inner side of the glazing channel for receiving moisture draining downwardly from the inner face of the glazing pane, the glazing channel being spaced above the sill portion so as to provide between the underside of the web portion of the glazing channel and the upper surface of the sill portion a space which opens outwardly of the frame, drainage holes being provided which place the lower part of the drainage channel in communication with said space, so that moisture accumulating in the drainage channel may drain downwardly through said holes into said space.

Thus, moisture from the drainage channel will run on to a part of the sill which is below the glazing channel and which is yet on the outer side of the window frame. The moisture can then run outwardly away over the sill in the same manner as, for example, rain falling on the outer side of the window.

The drainage holes may include holes leading from the lower part of the drainage channel to the glazing channel and holes leading from the lower part of the glazing channel to said space, whereby moisture from the drainage channel flows first to the glazing channel and then to said space.

The glazing channel and the drainage channel may be separated by a flange common to the two channels, and the bottom of the drainage channel may be on the same level as the bottom of the glazing channel.

Preferably the space beneath the web portion of the glazing channel extends across substantially the whole width of the web portion.

Preferably also, the inner flange of the drainage channel lies in substantially the same plane as the inner edge of the sill portion.

The invention includes within its scope a window frame and a window assembly incorporating an elongate frame member of the kind referred to above.

The following is a detailed description, by way of example, of an embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawing which is a vertical section through the lower part of a window assembly incorporating a lower frame member according to the invention.

In the drawing there is indicated at 10 a section through a wall immediately below a rectangular aperture 11 in which a window assembly is to be mounted. The lower window frame member is indicated at 12 and locates the lower horizontal edge of a double-glazed sealed unit 13 the side and upper edges of which are located in conventional extruded frame members, only the upper frame member 14 being shown in the drawing. The lower end of a pivotable upper window assembly 15 is also shown, cooperating with the upper frame member 14, but this forms no part of the present invention and will not be described in further detail.

The lower frame member 12 is mounted on the upper and front surfaces 17 and 18 respectively of the wall 10. The upper surface 19 of the sill portion slopes downwardly towards the exterior of the wall and projects outwardly beyond the wall. Adjacent the inner side edge of the sill portion 16 there is provided an upstanding flange 20 which supports a glazing channel 21 and a drainage channel 22. The glazing channel 21 comprises an outer flange 23 and an inner flange 24 projecting upwardly from a horizontal web portion 25. The flange 24 is common to the drainage channel 22, the inner flange of which is indicated at 26 and the web portion of which is indicated at 27.

The inner flange 26 of the drainage channel is flush with the inner edge of the sill portion 1 6 which is, in turn, flush with the inner surface 28 of the wall 10. A shaped groove 29 is formed in the vertical inner face of the sill portion 1 6 so that a plastics facing strip (not shown) may be clipped into the groove so as to extend along the frame member 12, the strip being of such a depth as to cover the junction between the wall 10 and the frame member 12.

An outwardly facing space 30 is formed beneath the lower surface of the web portion 25 of the glazing channel and the upper surface 19 of the sill portion.

Horizontal drainage holes 31 are provided at spaced intervals along the lower portion of the flange 24, and vertical holes 32 are formed along the length of the web portion 25 of the glazing channel.

Sealing gaskets or glazing bars (not shown) are provided to locate and secure the lower edge of the glazing panel 13 within the glazing channel 21.

In use of the window, moisture condensing on the inner surface of the glazing pane 13, or leaking past the window frame, will run down the interior surface of the glazing pane 13 and will be collected in the drainage channel 22 from where it will flow thorugh the holes 31 into the glazing channel 21 and thence through the holes 32 on to the upper surface of the sill 16, from where the water will run off in the normal way. Also any water finding its way into the glazing channel 21, for example by leakage past the sealing gaskets or glazing bars, will also flow downwardly through the holes 32 on to the sill 16.

Thus, the arrangement provides an effective and visually attractive arrangement for permitting water to drain from the inside to the outside of a window even though the window is mounted within the thickness of the wall.

Claims (Filed on 30 Sept 1982) 1. An elongate frame member, for use as the lower member of a window frame, comprising a sill portion, a glazing channel for locating the lower edge of a glazing pane, and a drainage channel on the inner side of the glazing channel for receiving moisture draining downwardly from the inner face of the glazing pane, the glazing channel being spaced above the sill portion so as to provide between the underside of the web portion of the glazing channel and the upper surface of the sill portion a space which opens outwardly of the frame, drainage holes being provided which place the lower part of the drainage channel in communication with said space, so that moisture accumulating in the drainage channel may drain downwardly through said holes into said space.

2. A frame member according to claim 1, wherein the drainage holes include holes leading from the lower part of the drainage channel to the glazing channel and holes leading from the lower part of the glazing channel to said space, whereby moisture from the drainage channel flows first to the glazing channel and then to said space.

3. A frame member according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the glazing channel and the drainage channel are separated by a flange common to the two channels.

4. A frame member according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bottom of the drainage channel is on the same level as the bottom of the glazing channel.

5. A frame member according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the space beneath the web portion of the glazing channel extends across substantially the whole width of the web portion.

6. A frame member according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the inner flange of the drainage channel lies in substantially the same plane as the inner edge of the sill portion.

7. An elongate window frame member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

8. A window frame or a window assembly incorporating an elongate frame member according to any of the preceding claims.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. only the upper frame member 14 being shown in the drawing. The lower end of a pivotable upper window assembly 15 is also shown, cooperating with the upper frame member 14, but this forms no part of the present invention and will not be described in further detail. The lower frame member 12 is mounted on the upper and front surfaces 17 and 18 respectively of the wall 10. The upper surface 19 of the sill portion slopes downwardly towards the exterior of the wall and projects outwardly beyond the wall. Adjacent the inner side edge of the sill portion 16 there is provided an upstanding flange 20 which supports a glazing channel 21 and a drainage channel 22. The glazing channel 21 comprises an outer flange 23 and an inner flange 24 projecting upwardly from a horizontal web portion 25. The flange 24 is common to the drainage channel 22, the inner flange of which is indicated at 26 and the web portion of which is indicated at 27. The inner flange 26 of the drainage channel is flush with the inner edge of the sill portion 1 6 which is, in turn, flush with the inner surface 28 of the wall 10. A shaped groove 29 is formed in the vertical inner face of the sill portion 1 6 so that a plastics facing strip (not shown) may be clipped into the groove so as to extend along the frame member 12, the strip being of such a depth as to cover the junction between the wall 10 and the frame member 12. An outwardly facing space 30 is formed beneath the lower surface of the web portion 25 of the glazing channel and the upper surface 19 of the sill portion. Horizontal drainage holes 31 are provided at spaced intervals along the lower portion of the flange 24, and vertical holes 32 are formed along the length of the web portion 25 of the glazing channel. Sealing gaskets or glazing bars (not shown) are provided to locate and secure the lower edge of the glazing panel 13 within the glazing channel 21. In use of the window, moisture condensing on the inner surface of the glazing pane 13, or leaking past the window frame, will run down the interior surface of the glazing pane 13 and will be collected in the drainage channel 22 from where it will flow thorugh the holes 31 into the glazing channel 21 and thence through the holes 32 on to the upper surface of the sill 16, from where the water will run off in the normal way. Also any water finding its way into the glazing channel 21, for example by leakage past the sealing gaskets or glazing bars, will also flow downwardly through the holes 32 on to the sill 16. Thus, the arrangement provides an effective and visually attractive arrangement for permitting water to drain from the inside to the outside of a window even though the window is mounted within the thickness of the wall. Claims (Filed on 30 Sept 1982)

1. An elongate frame member, for use as the lower member of a window frame, comprising a sill portion, a glazing channel for locating the lower edge of a glazing pane, and a drainage channel on the inner side of the glazing channel for receiving moisture draining downwardly from the inner face of the glazing pane, the glazing channel being spaced above the sill portion so as to provide between the underside of the web portion of the glazing channel and the upper surface of the sill portion a space which opens outwardly of the frame, drainage holes being provided which place the lower part of the drainage channel in communication with said space, so that moisture accumulating in the drainage channel may drain downwardly through said holes into said space.

2. A frame member according to claim 1, wherein the drainage holes include holes leading from the lower part of the drainage channel to the glazing channel and holes leading from the lower part of the glazing channel to said space, whereby moisture from the drainage channel flows first to the glazing channel and then to said space.

3. A frame member according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the glazing channel and the drainage channel are separated by a flange common to the two channels.

4. A frame member according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bottom of the drainage channel is on the same level as the bottom of the glazing channel.

5. A frame member according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the space beneath the web portion of the glazing channel extends across substantially the whole width of the web portion.

6. A frame member according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the inner flange of the drainage channel lies in substantially the same plane as the inner edge of the sill portion.

7. An elongate window frame member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

8. A window frame or a window assembly incorporating an elongate frame member according to any of the preceding claims.