GB2218448A

GB2218448A - Window support assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2218448A
Application number: GB8909546A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Christopher Allport
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-05-10
Filing date: 1989-04-26
Publication date: 1989-11-15
Anticipated expiration: 2009-04-26
Also published as: GB2218448B; GB8909546D0; IE881420L

Abstract

A window support assembly comprises at least one support member 11 for extending under and supporting the lower edge of a window unit 14, the support member projecting in use forwardly beyond the front face 25 of the window unit, and an elongate sill member 19 for extending along the lower edge of the front face of the window unit. The sill member 19 has front and rear edges 40 and 41 and is mountable intermediate its front and rear edges, e.g. by a ball and socket 17/18, on the forwardly projecting portion 42 of the support member for rotation of its rear edge 41 towards and away from the window unit. The support member and sill member are capable of locking engagement, e.g. by members 26/27, against such rotation such that the rear edge 41 of the sill member exerts a pressure on the front face 25 of the window unit to hold the same in position. The front edge 40 of the sill member is located forwardly of and at a lower level than the support member when the sill member is in locking engagement with the support member. The ball and socket may be replaced by complementary curved member and slot. Drainage channels 28, 30 may be provided to allow the condensation to escape to the outside. There may be plural spaced members 11, or a single member 11 extending across the window. <IMAGE>

Description

"WINDOW SUPPORT ASSEMBLY" The present invention relates to a window support assembly with particular, although not exclusive, use of double glazed windows.

According to the invention there is provided a window support assembly comprising at least one support member for extending under and supporting the lower edge of a window unit, the support member projecting in use forwardly beyond the front face of the window unit, and an elongate sill member for extending along the lower edge of the front face of the window unit, the sill member having front and rear edges and being mountable intermediate its front and rear edges on the forwardly projecting portion of the support member for rotation of its rear edge towards and away from the window unit, and the support member and sill member being capable of locking engagement against such rotation such that the rear edge of the sill member exerts a pressure on the front face of the window unit to hold the same in position.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings each of which is a cross-sectional view through a window frame carrying a double glazed window unit and incorporating a support assembly according to a respective embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown a window support assembly generally indicated at 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention. A plurality of generally 'L' shaped glazing support members 11 are mounted at spaced locations along a window sash 12 which slopes downwardly slightly away from the interior 13 of a building. The support members 11 (only one of which is shown) are preferably of a nylon or polypropylene material and are approximately 25mm wide in the direction normal to the drawing. A double glazed window unit 14 is supported by its lower edge on the support members 11 with the inner or rear face 15 of the window unit 14 abutting against the rear upright part of the glazing support members 11.Each member 11 extends from its rear upright part forwardly under the window unit 14 and has a portion 42 further projecting forwardly beyond the front face 25 of the unit 14.

As shown, the front portion 42 of each support member has a circular cross-section recess 17 for receiving in the manner of a ball and socket joint a circular cross-section projection or lug 18 formed intermediate the front and rear edges 40 and 41 respectively of an elongate aluminium protective sill member 19 extending along the lower edge of the front face 25 of the window unit 14. The sill member 19 includes a downwardly and forwardly extending portion 20 terminating in the front edge 40 which is located fowardly of and below the level of the glazing support members 11. In addition, the sill member 19 includes an upwardly and rearwardly extending portion 21 terminating in the rear edge 41 of the sill member and which has an elongate slot 23 for supporting a resilient sealing member 24.In use as shown the rear edge 41 exerts a pressure against the front or outer face 25 of the window unit 14, via the member 24, to hold the unit 14 in position.

The edge 41 of the protective sill member 19 also has a downwardly extending projection or locking member 26, which as shown is arranged to engage behind a corresponding upstanding projection or locking member 27 formed on each of the glazing support members 11. In the absence of such engagement of the locking members 26 and 27, the sill member 19 and hence its rear edge 41 is free to rock or rotate towards and away from the front face 25 of the unit 14.

It is to be understood that although only one support member 11 is shown, the sill member 19 engages in like manner in common with all the support members spaced along the lower edge of the window unit.

As shown in dotted outline, a condensation drainage channel 28 is formed in each support member 11 and extends downwards adjacent to the inner surface 15 of the window unit, and also extends forwardly in the horizontal part of the support member 11 to an outlet 29 in the front region 42. The channel 28 provides ventilation into the interior 13 of the dwelling and allows for the ready removal of condensation which may form on the inner face 15 of the window unit and then travel down to the glazing supports. In the horizontal part of the support member, the channel may be formed within the body of the support member so that any moisture does not contact the surface 30 of the window sash 12 which is normally of wood. In the horizontal region of the support member the channel may, however, be formed as a recess 31 formed in the lower part 32 of the support member 11 as shown.

The drainage channel is also in communication with the region between the two window panes of the double glazing unit so that any condensation forming between the window panes may drain away through the channel 28.

The drainage channel 28 is closable by means of. a sealing cap 33 pivotally mounted at the top of the upright part of the support member 11. Thus, the drainage channel may be closed if not required.

In use, the window assembly is constructed as follows.

The elongate aluminium protective sill member 19 is cut to a length coresponding to the width of the window sash. The support members 11 are then pushed on to the circular lugs 18 and spaced at regular intervals along the window sash rebate, and fixed in position by means of screws 43.

The rear edge 41 of the aluminium protective sill member 19 is then pivotted upwards, i.e. away from the intended position of the window unit, by pressing downwards on the region 20, and the double glazed unit 14 is then located in position on the members 11. A resilient sealing member or gasket 24 is then located in the recess 23 of the sill member 19. The sill member 19 is then pushed downwards on the region 21 so that the locking member 26 on the sill member engages with the locking members 27 on the glazing support members 11.

This maintains the sealing member 24 in comression against the front face 25 of the window unit 14.

The aluminium protective sill member 19 shields the lower region of the window frame from U.V. light and also moisture, to increase the life of the window frame.

The support members 11 enable air to circulate under the window 14 and avoids the accumulation of moisture under window 14, and the channel provides effective drainage of condensation forming on the window. The window assembly is simple and inexpensive to construct.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the invention, in which the same reference numerals have been used as in Figure 1 for the same parts or parts having an equivalent function.

The main difference between this and the preceding embodiment is the nature of the rotatable connection between the sill member 19 and the support members 11.

In the former case a ball and socket type joint is used, whereas in this embodiment the sill member 19 has a downwardly extending flange 18' of curved cross-section which-engages complementary recesses or slots 17' likewise of curved cross-section in the support members 11.

In this case the rotation of the sill member 19 relative to the support members 11, indicated in Figure 2 by the dotted outline, is effected by the flange 18' sliding into and out of the recesses 17'. As before, locking members 26' and 27' are provided, these being of slightly different construction but serving the same purpose as before. The width of the support member 11 can be advantageously reduced by cutting off the end 44 to accommodate thinner glazing units.

It is to be understood that while the foregoing has described an assembly which uses a plurality of glazing support members 11 and a single sill member 19 engaging them all in common, a single support member 11 could be used extending the full width of the window unit, and engaging the sill member as shown with vertical saw cuts to allow for drainage and/or ventilation.

One particular security advantage of the invention is that the sill member 19 cannot be removed until the glazing unit has been removed.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art, that in the embodiment comprising a plurality of 'L' shaped glazing supports, the gaps on the interior side of the window between each pair of glazing supports, are sealed with internal glazing material such as silicone, mastic, butyl or rubber gaskets.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A window support assembly comprising at least one support member for extending under and supporting the lower edge of a window unit, the support member projecting in use forwardly beyond the front face of the window unit, and an elongate sill member for extending along the lower edge of the front face of the window unit, the sill member having front and rear edges and being mountable intermediate its front and rear edges on the forwardly projecting portion of the support member for rotation of its rear edge towards and away from the window unit, and the support member and sill member being capable of locking engagement against such rotation such that the rear edge of the sill member exerts a pressure on the front face of the window unit to hold the same in position.

2. A window support assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the sill member is mountable on the support member for rotation as aforesaid by having a projection of circular cross-section which engages a recess of circular cross-section in the support member, whereby the sill member can rotate relative to the support member in the manner of a ball and socket joint.

3. A window support assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the sill member is mountable on the support member for rotation as aforesaid by having a flange of curved cross-section which engages a recess of curved cross-section in the support member, whereby the sill member can rotate relative to the support member by sliding movement of the flange into and out of the recess.

4. A window support assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support member and sill member have respective projections which extend towards and engage behind one another to effect said locking engagement.

5. A window support assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the front edge of the sill member is located forwardly of and at a lower level than the support member when the sill member is in locking engagement with the support member.

6. A window support assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the rear edge of the sill member has a slot for accommodating a resilient sealing member.

7. A window support assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a plurality of support members are provided for supporting the lower edge of a window unit at spaced locations along the said lower edge, the sill member being adapted to engage the support members in common.

8. A window support assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each support member is of generally L-shaped cross-section.

9. A window support assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each support member is of a rigid plastics material, and the sill member is of a corrosion resistant metal.

10. A window assembly comprising at least one support member extending under and supporting the lower edge of a window unit, the support member projecting forwardly beyond the front face of the window unit, and an elongate sill member extending along the lower edge of the front face of the window unit, the sill member having front and rear edges and being mounted intermediate its front and rear edges on the forwardly projecting portion of the support member for rotation of its rear edge towards and away from the window unit, and the support member and sill member being in locking engagement against such rotation such that the rear edge of the sill member exerts a pressure on the front face of the window unit to hold the same in position.

11. A window support assembly substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.