GB2256220A

GB2256220A - Sash window seals.

Info

Publication number: GB2256220A
Application number: GB9211463A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Sibley
Original assignee: Eileen Mary Sibley
Current assignee: Eileen Mary Sibley
Priority date: 1991-04-27
Filing date: 1992-04-27
Publication date: 1992-12-02
Anticipated expiration: 2012-04-27
Also published as: GB2256220B; GB9211463D0; GB9109147D0

Abstract

A sliding sash window consists of two sashes or leaves 35 and 63 sliding in a frame 10-13. For draughtproofing, each sash has three seals 15 attached to it, each seal running vertically along substantially the whole height of the sash. These seals bear against the three inner faces of the channel in which the sash slides. The position of the seals ensures that they are never visible, and can therefore be used where an "as original" appearance is required. Fewer than 3 seals can be used, with diminished performance. The sashes can have the seals adhered to them or be grooved to receive seals with prong backs. Compression seals can be provided along the horizontal members (not shown) if desired. <IMAGE>

Description

Sash Window Seals This invention relates to seals for sash windows and similar sliding installations such as shutters or doors.

A conventional sash window comprises a pair of leaves or sashes which slide up end down in vertical tracks or channels in a fixed window frame.

(Strictly, a sash is 8 sliding frame and a leaf is a sash together with glazing (a sheet of glass, or sometimes more than one sheet of glass), but this distinction is irrelevant for present purposes.) Although such sash windows are relatively rare in new premises, they are very common in somewhat older properties, typically though not necessarily domestic. Such sashes are virtually always made of wood, which is subject to expansion, contraction, and warping as a result of variations of moisture content.

To minimize the chances of the sashes jamming, it is conventional to leave a significant clearance between the sashes and the tracks. Whilst this clearance is necessary if easy sliding is to be obtained, it has the considerable disadvantage that draughts, dirt, small insects, noises and so on can readily penetrate around the suspended sashes from the exterior into a room having windows of this kind.

Attempts have been made to reduce the penetration of draughts and noises without interfering unduly with the necessary slidability of the sashes. For example, GB Patent No 2 140 064 shows such an arrangement. In that arrangement, seals in the form of weatherstrips are provided in slots in the parting bead of the window frame, with the seals engaging the side faces of the sashes that are movable in the frame.

That arrangement reduces the penetration of draughts and noise when the window is shut, and also reduces any possible tendency to rattling. However, it has certain disadvantages, a major one being that the various seals are clearly visible. The owner of the building may find this objectionable; and there may even be a legal requirement for the building to be maintained in an "as original" condition. Also, the visible seals are at least partially exposed to the weather.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a system of draught-proofing sliding sash windows and the like that overcomes the disadvantage briefly discussed above without being unduly expensive (using draught proofing" as a convenient term for the reduction as well as the elimination of draughts.) Accordingly the invention provides, in a sash window or the like having a sash slidable in a track or channel in a frame, draughtproofing means comprising, for each channel, at least one elongate seal located in the gap between the channel and the edge of the sash which slides in that channel, wherein the seal or seals are exclusively attached to the sash and fully concealed for all positions of the sash.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the drawing, which is a schematic section through a vertical sliding sash box frame window which is draught-proofed in accordance with the invention.

The drawing shows a horizontal section. through one side of a box frame in the form of a window having vertically slidable leaves or sashes that lie between an interior room 1 and the open air or exterior 2. An upper and outer leaf comprises an upper sash 3 carrying a pane of glass 4 which is secured in the sash 3 by putty 5. Similarly, a lower and inner leaf comprises a lower sash 6 carrying a pane of glass 7 which is secured in the sash 6 by putty 8. The sashes 3 and 6 have grooves 9 in which sash cords (not shown) are fixed. The window is completed by fixed parts in the form of an outside lining 10, an inside lining 11, a pulley stile 12, a staff bead 13 and a parting bead 14. The pulley stile carries pulleys (not shown), associated with the sash cords and weights (also not shown) which counterbalance the upper and lower sashes 3 and 6.

In order to reduce the passage of outside air and loud noises from the outside 2 to the inside 1 when the window is closed (ie with the upper sash 3 at the upper limit of its movement and the lower sash 6 at the lower limit of its movement), three vertically extending elongate seals 15 are provided on each of the sashes - the upper sash 3 and the lower sash 6 - one on each of the three "outer" surfaces of the frame of the sash. Thus on the upper sash 3, the three seals are located between the that sash 3 and the outside lining 10, the pulley stile 12, and the parting bead 14, while on the lower sash 6, the three seals are located between that sash 6 and the staff bead 13, the pulley stile 12, and the parting bead 14, as shown.Each seal extends along substantially the full height of its sash. (Obviously there is another set of three seals on the other side of each sash, where it fits into the other side of the window frame.) Depending on circumstances, the seals 15 may be of various types. A socalled "brush" seal, comprising a large number of bristles, is particularly suitable for many installations. Another suitable form of seal is a strip of foam plastics material, which may have a central strip of flexible sheeting of plastics material projecting from it. The bristle brush or foam plastics material may conveniently be mounted on a support strip.

The seals 15 may be secured to the upper and lower sashes 3 and 6 in a variety of ways. For example, each location on the sash 3 or 6 at which a seal is to be provided may have cut into it a relatively narrow inwardly directed slot, by a hand-driven or power-driven tool. For this, the support strip of the seal would be formed with a projecting portion which can be pushed into the slot.

Such a support strip would normally be formed from a relatively rigid synthetic plastics material. The projecting portion can conveniently be barbed, though adhesive may be used, alone or in conjunction with barbs, to assist in retaining the seal in position. Alternatively, the support strip may be flat and directly secured by adhesive at an appropriate location on the sash concerned.

When fitted, each seal 15 is located in the sinuous path around the edges of the sash frame between the opposite regions (that is to say, the internal room 1 and the open air or exterior 2) that are separated by the sash. The seals substantially reduce, if not completely eliminate, draughts, and minimize noises getting into the internal room 1 from the exterior or open air 2 around the upper and lower leaves of the sash member. This also reduces heat loss considerably, with a beneficial effect from the point of view of energy efficiency.

Also, rain and other moisture is largely prevented from penetrating around the upper and lower leaves of the sash member.

The seals 5 greatly reduce friction between the upper and lower sashes and the fixed members of the frame, so that the sashes can be slid up and down, as may be required, very smoothly. The seals will normally have a degree of inherent flexibility, and that flexibility will more than compensate for minor movements of the timber of both the fixed and movable parts, so that minor warping, expansion, and contraction due to moisture changes will have very little, if any, effect. Thus the sashes are unlikely either to stick or to rattle in the way that can otherwise happen in, for example, very wet weather or after a long period of time.

It will be evident that since the seals 15 are carried by vertically extending "hidden" surfaces of the upper and lower sashes 3 and 6, the seals are always concealed from view even when the window is open.

The seals 15 only seal the sides of the sashes, of course. In addition to these seals, horizontally extending elongate seals (not shown) may be provided at the top of the upper sash 3 and at the bottom of the lower sash 6. Such seals can conveniently be ompression seals that become effective when the window concerned is closed.

Such horizontal seals will generally be visible when the window is partially open. Since the penetration of draughts and other air leakage is normally present to only a very minor extent at the tops and bottoms of upper and lower sashes when they all fit properly, it will often be unnecessary to have seals at these locations. However, there are circumstances in which the provision of horizontally extending seals at these rails can make a significant contribution to increasing the effect of the sealing provided by the vertically extending seals 15.

It is not essential that each slidable sash or leaf should be provided with three seals as described above. In some circumstances, at least some of the benefits of the invention may be obtained with the installation of only two seals, or even a single seal.

It will of course be realized that the invention is not limited to sash windows, but is equally applicable to sash members in the form of shutters, doors and the like. Also, it is equally applicable to double-glazed or even multiple-glazed window sashes. Furthermore, although such sash members normally slide vertically, they can instead slide horizontally or even at some intermediate angle. (With non-vertical arrangements, the disposition of any counterbalancing items that may be required will usually be different to that employed with vertically disposed sash members.) There may also be only a single sliding sash.

Claims

1 In a sash window or the like having a sash slidable in a track or channel in a frame, draughtproofing means comprising, for each channel, at least one elongate seal located in the gap between the channel and the edge of the sash which slides in that channel, wherein the seal or seals are exclusively attached to the sash and fully concealed for all positions of the sash.

2 Draughtproofing means according to claim 1 comprising, for each channel, at least two seals located on different faces of the edge of the sash.

3 Draughtproofing means according to claim 2 comprising, for each channel, three seals located on three different faces of the edge of the sash.

4 Draughtproofing means according to any previous claim wherein each seal comprises a brush seal.

5 Draughtproofing means according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein each seal comprises a strip of foam plastics material.

6 Draughtproofing means according to claim 5 wherein each seal includes a central strip of flexible sheeting of plastics material projecting from the foam plastics material.

7 Draughtproofing means according to any previous claim wherein each seal is attached to sash by adhesive.

8 Draughtproofing means according to any of claims 1 to 6 wherein each seal is attached to sash by a rear extension fitting in a groove in the sash.

9 Draughtproofing means according to any previous claim including further seal means transverse to the aforsesaid seal means.

10 In a sash window or the like having a sash slidable in a track or channel in a frame, draughtproofing means substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.