GB2220968A

GB2220968A - Sliding window

Info

Publication number: GB2220968A
Application number: GB8815068A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terry J Dolman
Original assignee: PERCY LANE Ltd
Current assignee: PERCY LANE Ltd
Priority date: 1988-06-24
Filing date: 1988-06-24
Publication date: 1990-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 2008-06-24
Also published as: GB2220968B; GB8815068D0

Abstract

A sliding window panel 12 is guided by runners 32, 37 fixed on the panel which engage in respective tracks provided in plastics rails 16, 25, 26, 36 clipped into the frame 10 (see figure 5). The tracks are non-linear so that the panel can move from a closed position, where it compresses seal 38, to an open position shown, where the runners are resiliently gripped to prevent vibration. <IMAGE>

Description

Title:"Window and method of controlling the position of a glazing panel" Description of Invention The present invention relates to a window comprising a frame and a glazing panel which is movable relative to the frame between two positions, called herein the open position and the closed position, without substantial change in the attitude of the panel with respect to the frame. A window of the kind described is commonly referred to as a sliding window, although contact between the frame and parts which move with the glazing panel may be rolling contact or sliding contact.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a window of the kind described in which guide means is provided for guiding the glazing panel along a predetermined path relative to the frame between said open and closed positions and in which the path includes respective portions which extend transversely of each other.

The glazing panel of a window in accordance with the invention can be moved behind other structure of the window, for example another glazing panel or a member of the frame and can be substantially flush with that other structure when in the closed position.

The guide means may comprise an elongated track on the frame and a runner for running along the track, the runner being on the glazing panel.

The track preferably includes a portion which grips the runner to avoid freedom for movement of the runner relative to the track except in a direction along the path. The track may include a further portion which does not grip the runner. With this arrangement, when the runner is gripped by the track, the possibility of vibration of the runner relative to the track is substantially eliminated but there will be substantial friction between the runner and the track and the friction is substantially reduced or substantially eliminated when the runner is on the further portion of the track.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of controlling the position of a sliding glazing panel relative to a window frame during sliding of the panel from a fully open position to a closed position, wherein the panel is provided with runners which engage in respective tracks of the frame, during movement of the panel towards the closed position, the runners are gripped by the tracks to restrain movement of the panel relative to the frame except in directions along the tracks and wherein, as the panel approaches the- closed position, the gripping of the runners is reduced or eliminated so that the position of the panel relative to the frame in directions transverse to the length of the tracks is less precisely controlled.

An example of a window embodying the first aspect of the invention and which is used to carry out a method in accordance with the second aspect of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: FIGURE I is a perspective view of an assembly of certain parts of the window, FIGURE 2 is a cross-section through the window in a vertical plane, looking along the window; FIGURE 3 is a section on the line 111-111 of Figure 2 with a glazing panel of the window in an open position; FIGURE 4 is a view of certain parts of Figure 3 showing the glazing panel in the closed position; FIGURE 5 shows certain parts of Figure 2 on an enlarged scale; and FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a part of a frame and part of a track of the window; The window illustrated in the accompanying drawing comprises a generally rectangular frame 10 which supports a movable glazing panel 12.

The frame also supports a further panel 11 which is fixed with respect to the frame. In the illustrated example, the panel II also is a glazing panel but that part of the frame 10 which is closed by the fixed panel 11 may alternatively be closed by other fixed structure. The glazing panels may be formed of glass or of plastics materials and may be laminated, reinforced or toughened.

The glazing panel 12 is movable relative to the frame between the fully open position illustrated in Figure 3, in which the panel 12 lies mainly behind the panel 11, and the closed position illustrated in Figure 4, in which the panel 12 lies beside the panel II and substantially flush with that panel. The panels 11 and 12 are preferably flat and of uniform thickness and may have respective faces which, when the panel 12 is in the closed position, are coplanar. The frame 10 includes a glazing bar 13 adjacent to that margin of the fixed panel 11 which is nearer to the movable panel 12, when the latter is in its closed position. When the movable panel is in its closed position, the glazing bar and associated gaskets seal a gap between mutually adjacent margins of the panels 11 and 12.

The frame 10 comprises a single length of excluded aluminium, opposite ends of which are joined together in a known manner to form a closed rectangle. The transverse cross-sectional shape of the aluminium extrusion is essentially that of a channel. At the outside of the channel, there may be provided formations such as the flange 14 to facilitate mounting of the frame 10 in a surrounding structure. At the inside of the channel, there are provided ribs for co-operation with further components disposed in the channel. These further components include a gasket 15 for sealing the fixed glazing panel 11 to the frame and to the glazing bar 13.

There is disposed in the channel of the frame 10 adjacent to a lower margin of the fixed glazing panel 11 a first rail 1 6 which is of uniform transverse cross-section throughout its length and which may be formed by extrusion of a plastics material. As shown in Figure 5, the rail 16 seats on the flat bottom of the channel and has along its front and rear margins respective limbs 17 and 18 which snap beneath respective ribs 19 and 20 of the channel when the rail is inserted through the open mouth of the channel.

Immediately adjacent to the rear limb 18, there is a groove 21 which extends along the rail and approximately mid-way between the ribs 19 and 20 there is an intermediate rib 22 which also extends along the rail and which bears against a rear face of the fixed glazing panel II. The dimensions of the rail 16, gasket 15 and the thickness of the panel 11 are such that the gasket 15 is compressed between the panel 11 and a front wall of the channel of the frame 10.

In a portion of the channel at the end of the frame 10, there is disposed a vertical rail 23 having the same transverse cross-section as does the rail 16 and a rectilinear, upper rail 24, also of the same transverse cross-section, is disposed at an upper margin of the fixed glazing panel 11.

A further, rectilinear rail 25 is disposed in the channel at the bottom of the frame 10 in a position spaced along that channel from the rail 16. The rail 25 is of uniform transverse cross-section along its entire length and this cross-section differs from the transverse cross-section of the rail 16 # only in that the intermediate rib 22 is omitted from the rail 25. A corresponding upper rail having the same transverse cross-section as does the rail 25 is disposed in the channel of the upper part of the frame, directly above the rail 25.

There is interposed between the rails 16 and 25 a middle guide 26. The middle guide is of non-uniform cross-section and is conveniently formed as a moulding of a plastics material. As shown in Figure 6, the middle guide has front and rear limbs 27 and 28 corresponding to the limbs 17 and 18 of the rail 16. An end portion of the middle guide which is adjacent to the rail 25 is formed with a groove 29 which is aligned with and forms an extension of the groove 30 of the rail 25 corresponding to the groove 21 of the rail 16. The groove 29 is, however, relatively short and closed at its end remote from the groove 30. The groove 29 is rectilinear. There is also formed in the middle guide 26 a non-rectilinear groove 31 which communicates with the groove 21 and, together therewith, defines a non-rectilinear track for receiving a runner 32 on the movable glazing panel 12.The middle guide defines a track portion which extends transversely of a rectilinear portion of the track defined by the first rail 16.

The non-rectilinear groove 31 in the middle guide 26 includes an open end portion 33 which is immediately adjacent to the rail 16, a closed end portion 35 which is near to the rail 25 and an intermediate portion 34 extending between the end portions. The transverse dimensions of the end portions are substantially the same and are approximately the same as the transverse dimensions of the groove 21, with the exception that the width of the end portions 33 and 35 is such that the runner 32 is a free-sliding fit in these end portions. The end portions of the grove 31 are each rectilinear and parallel to the length of the groove 21. The intermediate portion 34 also is rectilinear but is inclined to the end portions, as viewed in Figure 4. The dimensions of the intermediate portion 34 are such that the runner 32 can move through the intermediate portion freely, whilst remaining in the attitude in which it slides along the groove 21.

At the end of the rail 25 remote from the middle guide 26, there is an end guide 36. The end guide may be identical in form with the middle guide 26, although the rectilinear groove in the end guide serves no purpose.

Movement of the guides 26 and 36 along the channel of the frame is restrained by means of fasteners (not shown) which penetrate through the base of the channel of the frame into the guides. The or a fastener associated with the middle guide 26 may also engage the glazing bar 13 to fix a lower end of the glazing bar with respect to the frame. It will be seen that the glazing bar rests at its lower end on the middle guide 26.

Guides corresponding to the guides 26 and 36 are provided in the channel of the upper part of the frame, one being adjacent to an end of the upper rail 24 and the other being spaced from that guide by a further rail corresponding to the rail 25. The upper guides are mirror images of the guides 26 and 36.

The movable glazing panel 12 has adjacent to its lower margin a further runner 37 which runs in the track defined by the lower rail 25 and the end guide 36. The runners 32 and 37 may be bonded to one face of the movable glazing panel and may be formed of metal or of a substantially rigid plastics material. A corresponding pair of runners are provided on the movable glazing panel adjacent to the upper margin thereof. Accordingly, the glazing panel is guided by four runners which slide along respective tracks in the frame. It will be understood that, whilst runners which are fixed with respect to the movable glazing panel are provided in the particular example illustrated, rollers or other runners which move relative to the glazing panel may alternatively be provided.

When the movable glazing panel 12 is in its closed position, it closes an opening defined by portions of the frame 10 and the glazing bar 13. These portions of the frame and the glazing bar carry a resiliently deformable gasket 38 which, as can be seen by a comparison of Figures 3 and 4, is compressed by the movable glazing panel, when the latter is in its closed position. When the panel 12 is in this position, the runners 32 and 37 are disposed in the closed end portion 35 of the groove 31 and in the corresponding end portion of the groove provided in the end guide 36. The dimensions of the guides are such as to establish the required degree of compression of the gasket 38. The pressure exerted on the runners by the guides and on the glazing panel by the gasket is sufficient to prevent vibration of the movable glazing panel 12 relative to the frame 10, when in its closed position.A latch of known construction (not shown) may be provided on the movable glazing panel for co-operation with the frame 10 in a known manner to retain the glazing panel in its closed position. The latch may also serve as a handle to focilitote movement of the glazing panel along the tracks.

With the latch released, the glazing panel can be moved slightly from its fully closed position to bring the runner 32 into the intermediate portion 34 of the groove 31 and the other runners into corresponding intermediate portions of their grooves. There is then no substantial resistance to movement of the movable glazing panel away from the gasket 38 and the gasket will tend to return to the configuration illustrated in Figure 3, thus helping to initiate movement of the glazing panel. As the glazing panel is drawn away from its closed position, the runner 32 runs along a surface at the boundary of the intermediate portion 34 of its groove and thus is subjected to a camming action which drives the runner and the movable glazing panel in a rearwards direction as the glazing panel is drawn by means of the handle in a direction along the frame.It will be noted that the attitude of the movable glazing panel relative to the frame 10 does not change as the runners move along the non-rectilinear portions of the tracks.

Continued movement of the glazing panel 12 along the frame causes the runner 32 to enter the groove 21 in the rail 16 and the other runners to enter corresponding grooves in the other rails. As illustrated in Figure 5, the rear limb 28 of the rail 16 bears on the runner 32 and forces the runner into firm engagement with an opposite wall of the groove 21. The rail 16 is so formed that the minimum separation between the rear limb and the opposite wall of the groove 21, in the absence of the runner 32, is slightly less than the thickness of the runner. Accordingly, resilient deformation of the limb 18 is necessary, in order to admit the runner 32 to the groove and the runner is gripped by the rail 16 whilst it is in the groove 21. The other runners are gripped in a similar manner.Gripping of the runners eliminates vibration of the movable glazing panel 12 when the runners occupy the grooves defined by the rails.

As the movable glazing panel approches its fully open position, the runner 37 enters the rectilinear groove 29 and comes to rest when it reaches the closed end of this qroove, thus arresting travel of the moving glazing panel. This defines the fully open position of the movable glazing panel and it will be noted that the panel 12 then lies mainly behind the fixed glazing panel II.

It will be appreciated that gripping of the runners by the rails results in significant friction which avoids inadvertent movement of the movable glazing panel from its fully open position, or from a partly open position. A significant force must be applied to the glazing panel, either directly or via the handle, to propel the glazing panel along the tracks towards the closed position. As the runner 32 moves out of the groove 21, the friction falls to an insignificant level and the glazing panel is therefore likely to be accelerated until the runner 32 engages a boundary of the intermediate portion 34 of the groove 31.Continued movement of the glazing panel causes the runners to be driven by a camming action in a direction from rear to front of the frame 10, so that the glazing panel 12 is moved into co-planar relation with the glazing panel 11 and the gasket 38 is compressed. The closed position of the glazing panel is defined by engagement of the runner 32 with the closed end of the groove 31 and of the other runners with the closed ends of their grooves.

The rail 16 and other rails are formed of a resiliently deformable material which has a low cbefficient of sliding friction with respect to the runners. A nylon or other thermoplastic is a suitable material. The guides are preferably formed of material which is somewhat softer, that is more easily deformed resiliently, than is the material of which the rails are formed.

Leading and trailing edges of the runners are bevelled or rounded to assist movement of, for example, the runner 32 past the end of the rear limb 18 from the groove 31.

A trim strip 39 is provided inside the frame 10 at the end thereof which is remote from the movable panel 12, when the latter is in its closed position.

The strip 39 closes off the groove in the vertical rail 23 which corresponds to the groove 21 and is held in position by opposed ribs on the channel of the frame and on the intermediate rib 22 on the rail 16.

It will be appreciated that the guides 26 and 36 can be used in frames of various sizes, the lengths of the rails being selected according to the dimensions of the frame and the dimensions of the glazing panels. Since the rails can be cut from extrusions and the frame 10 is also formed from an extrusion, glazed frames having a variety of sizes can be produced without large costs being incurred in respect of one particular size of frame. A frame may be provided with more than two glazing panels. In a case where more than two movable glazing panels are provided, four guides would be incorporated in the frame for each movable glazing panel.

The window illustrated in the accompanying drawing is suitable for use in a vehicle, for example a motor road vehicle.

The particular example of window illustrated has flat glass panels. The invention also is advantageous in windows having curved glazing panels, particularly panels which have a curved cross-section in a vertical plane. The use of such panels is becoming more common in vehicles.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

I. A window comprising a frame and a glazing panel which is movable relative to the frame between two positions, called herein the open position and the closed position, without substantial change in the attitude of the panel with respect to the frame, wherein guide means is provided for guiding the glazing panel along a predetermined path between said open and closed positions and wherein said path includes respective portions which extend transversely of each other.
2. A window according to Claim I wherein the guide means comprises an elongated track on the frame and a runner for running along the track, the runner being on the glazing panel.
3. A window according to Claim 2 wherein the track is non-rectilinear.
4. A window according to Claim I wherein there is on the glazing panel a plurality of runners and wherein a corresponding number of non-rectilinear tracks or non-rectilinear track portions, one for each runner, is provided in the frame.
5. A window according to Claim 4 wherein the glazing panel has mutually parallel opposite margins and wherein one or more runners are provided at each of said opposite margins, the frame having respective tracks adjacent to each of said opposite margins of the glazing panel.
6. A window according to any one of Claims 2 to 5 wherein the or each track is defined by a combination of an elongated member of uniform transverse cross-section and an end member at an end of the elongated member.
7. A window according to Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein the or each track includes a rectilinear portion.
8. A window according to any one of Claims 2 to 7 wherein the or each track includes a portion which grips the runner to avoid freedom for movement of the runner relative to the track except in directions along said path.
9. A window according to Claim 8 wherein the or each track includes a further portion which does not grip the runner.
10. A method of controlling the position of a sliding glazing panel relative to a window frame during sliding of the panel from a fully open position to a closed position, wherein the panel is provided with runners which engage in respective tracks, during movement of the panel towards the closed position, the runners are gripped by the tracks to restrain movement of the panel relative to the tracks except in directions along the tracks and wherein, as the panel approaches the closed position, the gripping of the runners is reduced or eliminated so that the position of the panel relative to the frame in directions transverse to the lengths of the tracks is less precisely controlled.
I 1. A window substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
12. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein or in the accompanying drawing.