GB2211887A

GB2211887A - Window apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2211887A
Application number: GB8725889A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Friedrich Hoellrigl
Original assignee: Smith W H & Sons
Current assignee: Smith W H & Sons
Priority date: 1987-11-04
Filing date: 1987-11-04
Publication date: 1989-07-12
Also published as: GB8725889D0

Abstract

A safety device, for a pivotally openable sliding sash window assembly, comprising a moulded plastics brake member 35 which extends into one of the channels in the frame 15 so as to straddle the sash supporting spring device 16 therein; and a stay 34 connected by a pivot 37 at one end to sash frame 11 and by a pivot 36 at the other end to the brake member 35. The pivot 37 may be mounted on a slider 30. The device prevents the window being e.g. blown open in a violent fashion. <IMAGE>

Description

WINDOW APPARATUS This invention concerns sliding-sash window assemblies, and safety devices or like fittings for use in such assemblies.

In traditional sliding sash window assemblies, a glazed timber sash frame is guided in parallel tracks provided by an outer or fixed frame so that the sash frame is confined to linear movement in a predetermined plane; and the weight of the sash frame is usually balanced by weights, in the fixed frame, connected by sash cords to the sash frame in known manner.

More recently the fixed frames have been modified to allow springs to be used to compensate for the weight of the sash frames; and to allow the sash frames to be moved pivotally out of said plane about an axis extending through pivots connecting the sash frame with linearly movable supports which engage in the tracks and are connected to the springs.

During normal sliding operation releasable or retractable guide members, mounted on the sash frame, engage in the tracks to prevent such pivotal movement, and these guide members are manually actuable to disengage from the tracks to permit the pivotal movement.

However, problems arise when the guide members are disengaged from the tracks, in that: (a) the weight of the sash frame may be difficult for a person to support during pivotal movement; (b) the area of the glazed sash frame may be exposed to wind or air-pressure derived forces tending to make said pivotal movement too violent to control; (c) the load on the springs will be reduced progressively as the angle of movement increases, to the point whereat the supports rise rapidly and cause uncontrolled movement of the sash frame, and (d) any loss of control over the sash frame may cause injury to the user and damage to the assembly.

Various expedients (such as chain, lever and pivotal arm-devices in which one part or end has been secured to the fixed frame and another part or end is connected to, or arranged to be engaged by, the sash frame) have been tested in attempts to limit or restrain pivotal movement of the sash frame, but all suffer from one or more of the problems of unsatisfactory operation, insufficient safety, mechanical unreliability, cost, complexity and vulnerability to misuse and damage. Whilst some thereof enable a slight reduction in problems (a) and (b) aforementioned to be achieved, they require, as a pre requisite, the sash frame to be carefully positioned in a predetermined linear position prior to commencement of pivotal movement.

According to the present invention said problems can be reduced substantially by incorporating in such a pivotally openable sliding sash window assembly a safety device which primarily comprises, (a) a stay, pivotally connected at one end to the sash frame, and (b) a brake member, pivotally connected to the other end of the stay, slidable longitudinally of and engaging in the track provided by the fixed frame, and movable in the track in response to application of a force transverse to the longitudinal direction of the track, to frictionally engage the track so as to resist being moved longitudinally of the track.

According to the present invention there is further provided a pivotally openable sliding-sash window assembly comprising a fixed frame, a sash frame, releasable means cooperating with tracks of the fixed frame to constrain the sash frame to move linearly between said tracks and operable to release the sash frame for pivotal movement about pivot means, and safety means to restrict said pivotal movement, wherein the safety means comprises a stay extending between and pivotally connected to the sash frame and a brake member, which engages in one of said tracks so as to be movable longitudinally of the track.

The stay is preferably pivotally connected to the sash frame by a slider which is slidably located on the sash frame.

The slider is preferably cooperative with a guide secured to or provided by the sash frame to restrict the slider to linear movement along margin of the sash frame.

A stop is preferably provided to limit movement of the slider along the sash frame.

The brake member is preferably engageable with a spring device which is located in, or serves as part of, the track and supports the sash frame.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, wherein FIGURE 1 shows part of a window assembly, in which a sash frame is in a pivotally opened position, and shows safety means of the assembly in side elevation; and FIGURE 2 is a part-sectional view of part of the assembly showing a section through parts one sash frame and the safety means, and an underside view of part of a second sash frame.

The assembly comprises a fixed frame 10, two sliding sash frames 11, 12 and safety means 13.

The fixed frame provides, for each sash frame 11,12, a pair of parallel vertical tracks 14 in the form of channels defined by extruded plastics side members 15 of the frame 10. Each channel houses a spring device 16 having an upper end anchored to the member 15 and a lower end connected to a support 17 which is captive in the channel and slidable longitudinally of the channel. The support 17 is provided with a bearing 18 having a socket.

A pair of projecting spigots 20, at a lower end of the sash frame 11 or 12, engage in the sockets in the bearings 18 to locate the lower end between the channels, in known manner.

At the upper end of each sash frame 11 or 12 there are a pair of retractable guide members 21, in the form of latches such as those described in our co-pending Application No. 8715784, which in a normal condition project from the sash frame 11 or 12 to engage in the channels to constrain the sash frame to vertical sliding movement in a plane extending through the sash frame and both channels laterally adjacent thereto.

The safety means 13 comprises a slider 30 linearly movable in a guide 31 between limits defined by stops 32 adjacent the ends of the guide 31, which guide is secured by fasteners 33 in a recess 22 extending along one side of the sash frame; and a moulded plastics brake member 35 which extends into one of the channels so as to straddle the spring device 16 therein; and a stay 34 connected by a pivot 37 at one end to the slider 30 and by a pivot 36 at the other end to the brake member 35.

The brake member 35 is slidable longitudinally of the channel.

Each side run of the sash frame is preferably provided with a respective safety means 13; and FIGURE 1 shows the slider, guide and one end part of the stay of one safety means, and the brake member and the other end part of the stay of the other safety means.

When the latches 21 are retracted, the sash frames 11 or 12 is free to pivot out of said plane, about the common axis of the bearings 18, e.g. to the pivoted open position illustrated in FIGURE 1, substantially irrespective of the vertical position of the sash frame (i.e. unless such movement is obstructed by the other sash frame).

During such movement the safety means move from normal positions (FIGURE 2) in which they are concealed between the sash and fixed frames by draught or weather protective members 23, to the extended positions shown in FIGURE 1 in which the stay extends almost horizontally between the frames 10 and 11 or 12; and during such movement and in the extended position forces having a horizontal component, will be applied by the stays to the frame members so as to tend to turn each brake member about a vertical axis so that the brake member is urged engage frictionally the channel-defining surfaces of the track 14 with a force proportional to said horizontal component, and, optionally, so that the brake member also frictionally engages the spring device, whereby to frictionally damp the pivotal movement and hinder vertical movement of the sash frame, e.g. by the spring devices.

Tests have shown that the automatically operating, low-cost, easily assembled safety means is well protected in the normal condition, is resistant to tampering, and is extremely effective in use.

The invention is not confined to details of the foregoing example, and many variations are possible within the scope of the invention. For example, the safety means may be applied to many other, e.g. nonsliding, forms of window or pivotally openable closures such as ventilators.

In sliding sash window assemblies, the safety means may, if the window opening geometry permits, be arranged so that the guide and slider are omitted, and the stay is connected pivotally directly to the sash frame, e.g. by a fixed pivot.

The guide may be constituted by a suitable channel in the sash frame instead of a separate member secured to the sash frame. The slider may engage or be gripped by the guide to provide further frictional clamping.

The stay is preferably substantially rigid and inextensible.

Claims

1. A pivotally openable sliding-sash window assembly comprising a fixed frame, a sash frame, releasable means cooperating with tracks of the fixed frame to constrain the sash frame to move linearly between said tracks and operable to release the sash frame for pivotal movement about pivot means, and safety means to restrict said pivotal movement, wherein the safety means comprises a stay extending between and pivotally connected to the sash frame and a brake member, which engages in one of said tracks so as to be movable longitudinally of the track.

2. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the stay is pivotally connected to the sash frame by a slider which is slidably located on the sash frame.

3. - An assembly as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the slider is cooperative with a guide secured to or provided by the sash frame to restrict the slider to linear movement along margin of the sash frame.

4. An assembly as claimed in Claim 2 or 3 wherein a stop is provided to limit movement of the slider along the sash frame.

5. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the brake member is engageable with a spring device which is located in, or serves as part of, the track and supports the sash frame.

6. An assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A safety device constructed and arranged to constitute the safety device in a window assembly as claimed in any preceding claim.

8. A safety device, in or for incorporation into a pivotally openable sliding sash window assembly, comprising, (a) a stay, pivotally connected or connectable at one end to a or the sash frame of the assembly, and (b) a brake member, pivotally connected to the other end of the stay, slidable longitudinally of and engaging or engagable in a or the track provided by a or the fixed frame of the assembly, and movable in the track in response to application of a force transverse to the longitudinal direction of the track, to frictionally engage the track so as to resist being moved longitudinally of the track.

9. A safety device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.