GB2228284A - Device for collecting window pane condensation - Google Patents

Abstract

The device comprises an elongate strip 10 of channel section one limb 13 of which has an external substantially planar surface for engagement with the surface of a window pane 11 or the vertical face of the bottom rail 21 of a window frame. A wick 17 is contained in the channel 12 of the strip 10 and passes through drain opening and the associated tube 18 to drain off condensate which collects in the channel 12. The wick extends the full length of the channel and comprises a strip of tape material 17A by which condensate can drain by gravity into the channel 12, and a cord like length of material 17B which extends through the drain opening 16 and into the associated tube 18. The upper edge of the tape 17A may extend above the top of the channel 12. The continuous strip may be a plastics material or a powder-coated or anodized aluminium, and be fixedly secured to a window pane by an adhesive. The tube and wick cord may pass through a bore 20 to the outside of the window to drain to atmosphere or drain into any suitable receptacle. A suitable receptacle with a float to show when it is full is described. <IMAGE>

Description

DEVICE FOR COLLECTING WINDOW PANE CONDENSATION.

This invention relates to a device for collecting window pane condensation.

The nuisance of, and damage caused by, window condensation is a widespread problem, particularly in housing. A collection device is known comprising a continuous strip of channel section which in use is in engagement with or lies closely adjacent to the inside surface of a window pane. A disadvantage of such known device is that it has to be unplugged to allow collected condensate to drain off from the open channel. Another recognised disadvantage of an open channel even if drained is that stagnant droplets will often form mould which is bad for health.

An object of this invention is to provide a device which overcomes said disadvantages.

According to the present invention, there is provided a device for collecting window pane condensation, comprising an elongate strip of channel section one limb of the channel section having an external substantially planar surface, a drain opening in the strip, a tube associated with said opening and a wick which is contained in the channel section of the strip and which passes through the drain opening and the associated tube to drain off condensate which collects in the channel of the strip.

Preferably, the wick extends the full length of the channel.

Preferably also, the wick comprises a strip of material by which condensate can drain by gravity into the channel, and a cord like length of material which extends through the drain opening and into the associated tube.

Preferably also, the wick extends above the top of the channel section.

The drain opening may be in the base or in a limb of the channel.

Preferably also, the tube is flexible and preferably also is of a plastics material.

The continuous strip may also be a plastics material or a powder-coated or anodized aluminium.

Preferably also, the continuous strip is fixedly secured to a window pane by an aggressive adhesive.

The wick can drain into a container or the wick and the tube can be passed through an opening to the outside of the window to drain to atmosphere.

A container may be provided, e.g. in the form of a vessel designed to sit on an existing cill and be emptied without the need for removing it.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a cross sectional end elevation on the line I-I of Fig. 2 of a device according to the invention secured to a window pane.

Fig. 2 is a part sectional side elevation of part of the device.

Fig. 3 is a sectional end elevation of a modified device shown draining into a closed container; and Fig. 4 is a sectional end elevation of the device secured to the bottom rail of a window sash.

Referring firstly to Figs. 1 and 2, the device comprises an elongate strip 10, of channel section cut from an extrusion to a length equal to the width of the window pane 11 against which it is to be placed and closed at both ends by for example a sealant. The strip may be of a plastics material such as P.V.C. or nylon or aluminium which may be powder-coated, anodized or mill- finished. The strip 10 has a U shaped channel 12 formed by limbs 13, 14 and base 15. The strip is e.g. 6 mm wide and the channel 12 is e.g. 2 mm wide. One limb 13 of the strip has a substantially planar surface for engagement with the window pane to which it is secured, preferably by an aggressive adhesive or silicon mastic.

The strip 10 has a drain opening 16 which in this embodiment is in the limb 14 remote from the window pane.

The drain opening 16 is at one end of the strip, but for lengths over 1 metre, a drain opening may be provided at both ends.

An absorbent wick 17 is located in the channel 12 to draw the condensate into the channel 12 and then drain it from the channel through the drain opening 16. The absorbent wick 17 is a two-part assembly and comprises a strip of absorbent tape 17A which extends the length of the channel 12 of the elongate body 10, and an absorbant cord 17B which also extends the length of the channel 12 and exits from the channel 12 through the drain opening 16.

The tape and cord may be woven polypropylene. The upper edge of the tape 17A extends above the channel to lie closely adjacent to the window pane 11. The lower end of the tape 17A may extend to the base of the channel 12, so that the cord 17B is partially compressed as shown in Fig.

1, or it may stop short of the base to drip the condensate onto the cord 17B. The portion of the cord 17B outside the channel 12 is contained in a flexible tube 18.

The tube 18 may simply abut against the surface of limb 14 and be held in place by the thickness of the wick cord 17B located therein. Alternatively, it may be secured by bonding or located in the drain opening 16. A grommet, not shown, may be provided.

The length of the cord 17B may be such that the cord ends level with the end of the tube 18 or inside it or extending beyond the tube.

Thus, the strip 17A absorbs condensate which runs down the window pane 11. The condensate drains by gravity into the channel 12 and is absorbed into the cord 17A. By capillary attraction and syphonic action the water drains from the channel along the portion of the cord in the tube 18 and drips off to atmosphere or for collection in any suitable receptacle.

In this embodiment, the device drains to atmosphere.

This is achieved by drilling a bore 20 through, e.g. the bottom rail 21 of the window frame and passing the tube 19 with the wick cord 17B inside it through the bore. For metal or plastics frames a grommet may be provided. The bore may exit on the external face of the window frame or, for a sash and case window, on the underside of the bottom rail 21 from where the condensate will run off externally.

The tube 18 can of course be passed through any suitably located bore.

Reference is now made to Fig. 3 which shows a modified device and a container for collecting the condensate.

The strip 10 in this embodiment is of inverted 'h' shape, the limb 13 extending below the bottom of the channel 12. Thus with the bottom of limb 13 engaging the bottom rail of the window frame, the channel 12 is spaced a short distance thereabove. The channel 12 is wider than in the previous embodiment and in addition to the wick tape 17A and cord 17B, a gasket 22 of e.g. neoprene is provided between the limb 14 and the tape 17A. The upper edge of the gasket is biassed towards the window pane to firmly press the upper edge of the tape against the pane. Any condensate which spills over the gasket will run down into the channel and be absorbed by the cord 17B.

In this embodiment, the condensate drains from the device into a container 23 which may be placed on a window cill (not shown) and can be emptied and cleaned as required without disturbing the collection strip 10.

One such container 23 is fitted with two vertical tubular uprights, namely inlet 25 and outlet 26. The inlet 25 may locate in the drain tube 18 of the collection strip 10 directly or via a length of tubing 27 connected to the end of the tube 18. The tubing 27 may be detachably secured to tube 18, e.g. by a connector 28 to enable the window to be opened, or the tubing 27 may be of a sufficient length to allow opening of the window without disconnection.

The outlet 26 extends from near the base of the tank 23 to some distance above the tank and may incorporate a warning device or indicator in the form of a floating rod 29 contained within the outlet 26. The upper end of the rod 29 is marked or coloured so that when it rises out of the outlet 26 it will indicate that the tank requires emptying.

The cill tank 23 is emptied by first removing the rod 29 and then connecting a suitable tube or piping to the outlet 26; then by disconnecting the inlet 25, e.g. at the connector 28 and blowing into it, the contents of the tank will syphon out into a bucket or to the outside as may be convenient.

Referring now to Fig: 4 for windows with astragals 30 or heavily patterned glass, the device can be attached to the vertical face of the bottom rail 21 of, in this example, a sash window. For this embodiment, the device 10 is of inverted h shape and is secured by screws which pass through the lower part of limb 13, into the bottom rail. Also in this embodiment, the drain opening 16 is provided on the limb 13 of channel 12 and a bore 20 is drilled through the bottom rail to receive the drain tube 18 and wick cord 17A.

To install the device, lifting handles 31 on the bottom rail 21 are firstly removed and the device screwed on so that the top of the channel 12 is lined up with or is slightly below the top surface 32 of the bottom rail. To re-fit a handle, a checked distance piece 33 is placed over the lower part of limb 13 and extends below the limb. The handle 31 is placed against the distance piece and screw holes bored through the distance piece to enable the handle to be screwed onto the rail. In this arrangement condensate from the window pane 11 will run over the top surface of the bottom rail and onto the wick tape 17A.

Modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the wick may be of unitary construction and may be contained within the channel as opposed to extending above it; in that arrangement the upper edge of limb 13 may be biassed to provide a firm contact with the surface of the pane or bottom rail. Where the device is wide enough, the drain opening may be in the base of the channel, for example in commercial or heavy duty condensation collection devices, as opposed to the domestic device of the described embodimentss.

The device is preferably secured to a window pane chemically by adhesive or mastic but alternatively or in addition, it may be secured mechanically by a beading fixed to the bottom rail and pressed against the limb 14 of the channel or against the lower part of limb 13 if provided.

The device as hereinbefore described is attractive, permanent and maintenance free. It is simple and effective and avoids the risk of standing water or mould.

The device is marketed under the Trade Mark DRIPSTRIP.

Claims (9)

1. A device for collecting window pane condensation, comprising an elongate strip of channel section one limb of the channel section having an external substantially planar surface, a drain opening in the strip, a tube associated with said opening and a wick which is contained in the channel of the strip and which passes through the drain opening and the associated tube to drain off condensate which collects in the channel of the strip.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the wick extends the full length of the channel.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the wick comprises a strip of material by which condensate can drain by gravity into the channel and a cord like length of material which extends through the drain opening and into the associated tube.

4. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the wick extends above the top of the channel section.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, in which the upper edge of the wick is biassed against the surface window pane.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, in which a gasket is provided in the channel to bias the upper edge of the wick against the panes.

7. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, and a receptacle to receive condensate drained from the device via the wick, said resceptacle comprising a closed container having upstanding tubular vertical inlet and outlet means and means for connecting the inlet to the tube of said device.

8. A device as claimed in claim 8 in which the outlet contains a floating rod, the upper end of which forms an indicator to indicate when the container requires to be emptied.

9. A device for collecting window pane condensation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.