GB2271136A - Bay window - Google Patents

Abstract

A bay window (4) installed in a window opening partly defined by a header (12) comprises a lower housing part, a window part and a roof part (1). At least part of an air conditioner is housed in the roof part (1). The air conditioner is supported by an attachment angle (121) which is adjustably fastened to a support angle (122) which is fastened to the header (12). <IMAGE>

Description

BAY WINDOW AND METHOD OF INSTALLING THE SAME The present invention relates generally to a bay window, which should be taken to include oriel windows and the like, and more particularly to a bay window which is provided with an air conditioner of the type comprising separate interior and exterior parts, hereinafter referred to as "air-conditionered bay window".

In order to save a space for the installation of an air conditioner in a house or a building, some recent prefabricated bay windows are designed to house an air conditioner therein.

An air-conditionered bay window of the type described is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model publication 4-2331. This conventional air-conditionered bay window broadly comprises a lower housing part, a window body integrally mounted on the lower housing part and a roof part integrally mounted on the window body.

And, the lower housing part has an exterior unit of an air conditioner housed therein and the roof part has an interior unit of the air conditioner housed therein.

And, piping linking the exterior unit and the interior unit runs through the window body.

However, this conventional bay window has the lower housing part, the middle window part and the roof part all integrally formed as a single unit. As a result, such a large and heavy bay window is very difficult to transport from a factory to a construction site. Furthermore, it is also difficult to handle such a large bay window at usually narrow and messy construction sites and install it accurately and smoothly into a window opening; It is more so when the bay window is installed into an opening in a higher story of a multi-storied building.

Another conventional bay window is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open publication no. 56-97084.

This conventional bay window has overcome the above-mentioned drawback in having a housing part and a roof-and-window part formed as separate units. However, this conventional bay window is not of the type incorporating an air conditioner. And, the publication is completely silent as to how to install a separable-unit type bay window incorporating an air conditioner in a window opening.

Another conventional air-conditionered bay window is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-open Publication No. 64-41021. According to this publication, in order to install the air-conditionered bay window in a window opening formed in an outer wall of a house, first an additional upper crossbar is fastened between opposed jambs partly constituting the window opening. Then, a pair of brackets are fastened to the lower surface of the crossbar. Correspondingly, a pair of catching metals are fastened to the upper lateral corner edges of an interior unit of the air conditioner. The air conditioner is mounted on the crossbar with the catching metals of the former resting on and then fastened to the brackets of the latter.

However, in this conventional bay window, the whole gravity of the interior unit focuses on the crossbar, so that the crossbar is liable to move off the jambs accidentally . In order to prevent this, great attention and even dexterity is required on the part of workers in fastening the crossbar to the jambs, which naturally lowers the working efficiency at the site.

Furthermore, since the catching metals of the interior unit rest on the brackets fastened to the lower surface of the crossbar, whether the interior unit of the air conditioner can be correctly installed right in the horizontal plane hinges on whether the crossbar itself is mounted between the jambs correctly in horizontal plane. However little the crossbar may be mounted out of a horizontal plane, and some tilting is often the case, there is no way to adjust the position of the interior unit with respect to a horizontal plane.

With the foregoing difficulties in view, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a bay window incorporating an air conditioner wherein an interior unit of the air conditioner can be adjusted in position relative to an window opening after the bay window has been installed in the window opening.

It is another object of the invention to provide a bay window which can be easily transported to a construction site and easily handled at the construction site.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an air-conditionered bay window composed of a plurality of separable units which can be installed accurately in a window opening.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided, in a bay window adapted to be installed in a window opening partly defined by a header, the bay window comprising a lower housing part, a window part and a roof part provided one over another in the sequence described, at least a part of an air conditioner being housed in the roof part; the improvement comprising an attachment member supporting the air conditioner; a support member to be fastened to the header; and adjustable means for fastening the support member to the attachment member whereby the level of the air conditioner relative to the support member may be adjusted.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of installing a bay window in a window opening defined partly by a header and a sill, the bay window comprising a lower housing part, a window part and a roof part each formed as a separable unit and assuming a substantially identical outline with each of the others as viewed in plan, the bay window incorporating an air conditioner including an interior unit and exterior unit, the installing method comprising the steps of: fastening a support frame to the sill; fastening the lower housing part to the support frame; fastening a support bracket to the support frame in such a way as to be covered by the lower housing part; mounting the exterior unit on the support bracket; mounting the window part on the lower housing part; mounting the roof part on the window part and fastening the roof part to the header; and housing the interior unit in the roof part.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which preferred structural embodiments incorporating the principles of the present invention are shown by way of illustrative example.

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of an air-conditionered bay window according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a window opening in which the air-conditionered bay window of FIG. 1 is to be installed.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the air-conditionered bay window of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the window opening, showing how to install a window unit on a lower housing unit 3 already fixed to the window opening.

FIG. 5 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the window opening, showing how to install a roof part on the window part which is fixed to the lower housing part 3.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the lower housing part.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the lower housing part mounted on a window opening of a steel-framed and ALC-panel-covered building.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the lower housing part mounted on a window opening of a wooden house.

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the roof part.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the roof part.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a support angle, a bracket and an attachment angle prior to being fitted together.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary rear view of the roof part.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an air-conditionered bay window 4 according to the present invention broadly comprises a lower housing part 3, a window part 2 and a roof part 1 mounted one over another in the sequence described. The air-conditionered bay window 4 is installed into a window opening 6 formed in an outer wall of a building, such as a house, as closely described hereinbelow. The lower housing part 3 has an exterior unit 8 of an air conditioner housed therein and the roof part 1 has an interior unit 7 housed therein.

As better shown in FIG. 2, the window opening 6 is defined by a window frame 11. The window frame 11 comprises a pair of opposed jambs 14, 14, a header 12 having its ends joined to the jambs 14, 14 adjacent their upper ends and a sill 13 joined at its ends with the opposed jambs 14, 14 adjacent to their lower ends, thus forming a rectangular window frame 11. The jambs 14, 14, the sill 13 and the header 12 are all made of L-profiled steel rods. The rectangular frame 11 is surrounded by a number of autoclaved light-weight concrete panels commonly called ALC panels 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, a rectangular support frame 15 comprises a pair of upper and lower horizontal frame members 16, 17 and a pair of end vertical members 18, 18 each joined at the ends with the opposed ends of the upper and lower horizontal frame members 16, 17. In addition, a plurality of (two illustrated here in FIG.

2) intermediate vertical members 18', 18' are joined with the opposed horizontal frame members 16, 17 at their intermediate positions. The rectangular support frame 15 is mounted on the window frame 11 by fastening the lower horizontal member 17 and the end vertical members 18 of the support frame 15 to the upper surface of the sill 13 and the confronting surfaces of the lower portions of the opposed jambs 14, respectively, by welding or otherwise.

As better shown in FIG. 3, the lower housing part 3 is of a trapezoidal box-like shape. As better shown in FIG. 6, the housing part 3 generally comprises a housing frame 81 and a plurality of panels 23, 93, 93 mounted on the housing frame 81, as closely described hereinafter.

The housing frame 81 comprises a trapezoidal frame base 83, four vertical posts 61, 61, 85, 85 mounted on the trapezoidal frame base 83 and a trapezoidal upper rail 67 mounted on the tops of the vertical posts 61, 61, 85, 85. The trapezoidal frame base 83 comprises a pair of parallel spaced front and rear bars 89, 62 and a pair of side bars 91, 91 each joined at their ends with the corresponding ends of the front and rear bars 89, 62, the opposed side bars 91, 91 converging forward to thus make the housing frame 81 assume a trapezoidal shape. The pair of rear vertical posts 61, 61 are mounted on the respective corners where the rear bar 62 and the side bars 91, 91 are joined together. The pair of opposed front vertical posts 85, 85 are mounted intermediately on the front bar 89.A flat rear panel 23 is fitted into an opening 101 defined by the rear bar 62 and the opposed rear vertical posts 61, 61. A pair of angled side panels 93, 93 are each fitted into an opening 103 defined by the side bar 91, part of the front bar 89 and the front and rear vertical posts 85, 61. A rectangular louvre unit 95 shown in FIG. 1 is fitted into a rectangular opening 105 defined by the front bar 89 and the opposed vertical front posts 85, 85. As shown in FIG. 1, a bottom panel 20 is placed on the frame base 83. As shown in FIG. 6, the upper rear bar 64 is mounted on the upper ends. of the opposed rear vertical posts 61, 61 to thus confine the rear panel 23 in the opening 101.And, a trapezoidal upper rail 67 is mounted on the upper ends of the front and rear vertical posts 85, 85, 61, 61 to thus confine the opposed side panels 93, 93 and the louver unit 95 in the openings 103, 103, 105, respectively. The lower rear bar 62 functions as a throating bar. The upper rear bar 64 has an L-shaped profile and comprises a vertical part 64a and horizontal part 64b integrally joined with each other. The horizontal part 64b has on its upper surface an elongated sealing gasket (not shown) extending throughout its entire length. The trapezoidal upper rail 67 comprises a front part 97 and a pair of side parts 99, 99 each joined at its front end with the corresponding end of the front part 97, assuming a substantially identical trapezoidal shape as the frame base 83. Each side part 99 of the trapezoidal upper rail 67 has a rear extension 67a provided at its rear end.The trapezoidal upper rail 67 is fastened to the front and rear vertical posts 85, 61 by screwing the extensions 67a to the upper ends of the rear vertical posts 61 and the trapezoidal upper rail 67 to the front vertical posts 85.

As shown in FIG. 7, each rear vertical post 61 is an elongated hollow tube of substantially triangular cross-section. A vertical portion 73 of a bracket 71 is fastened to an interior side plate 69 of the rear vertical post 61 by fasteners (not shown) with a horizontal portion 75 of the bracket 71 projecting rearward for resting engagement with the upper horizontal frame member 16 of the support frame 15.

As shown in FIG. 1, a support bracket 60 is of an L-shaped cross-section and comprises a vertical part 60b and a horizontal portion 60c formed integrally with and disposed normal to the vertical portion 60b. The bracket also includes a hook portion 60a extending substantially normal from the upper end of the vertical part 60b for resting engagement with the upper horizontal frame member 16 of the support frame 15. A diagonal beam 60d is fastened between the vertical portion 60b and the horizontal portion 60c for reinforcing the support bracket 60.

As better shown in Fig. 3, the window part 2 is of substantially the same trapezoidal shape as the lower housing part 3, as viewed in plan. The window part 2 comprises a trapezoidal window frame 30 and glass pane fitted therein. The trapezoidal frame 30 comprises a pair of parallel spaced rear and front rectangular frames 30a, 30b. The large rear rectangular frame 30a includes a pair of top and bottom rear rails 39, 40 and a pair of stiles 31, 31 each joined at its opposed ends with the corresponding ends of the top and bottom rear rails 39, 40. The small front rectangular frame 30b includes a pair of top and bottom front rails 35, 36 and a pair of mullions 32, 32 each joined at its opposed ends with the corresponding ends of the top and bottom front rails 35, 36. A pair of top and bottom side rails 33, 34 are joined each at its opposed ends with the corresponding ends of the stiles 31 and mullion 32 so that a central opening 38 is defined by a front rectangular frame 30b and a pair of side openings 37, 37 are each defined by the top and bottom side rails 33, 40 and the stile 31 and the mullion 32. A trapezoidal bottom plate 41 is mounted on the bottom front and rear rails 36, 40 and the bottom side rails 34, 34. Glass panes are fitted in the central opening 38 and the side openings 37, 37.

The roof part 1 is also of the substantially same trapezoidal shape as the window part 2 and the lower housing part 3, as viewed in plan. As shown in FIG. 3, the roof part 1 is of a hollow-hood shape and comprises a slant roof 110, a surrounding skirt 111 hanging from the front and side edges of the slant roof plate 110, a bottom plate 112 provided on the lower edges of the surrounding skirt 111 and a rear plate 113 fastened to the upper edge of the slant roof plate 110 and the rear edge of the surrounding skirt 111. As better shown in FIG. 10, the rear plate 113 has a substantially rectangular cutaway 116 formed substantially in the middle. The hollow roof part 1 is filled with a filling material 114 such as polyurethane foam except a rectangular recess 115 formed in the same outline as the rectangular cutaway 116 of the rear plate 113.The rectangular recess 115 is intended for partly housing the interior unit 7 of the air conditioner.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a pair of bracket 120 are mounted on the opposed sides on an upper part of the cutaway 116 and fastened to the rear plate 113 by means of bolts 127. As shown in FIG. 11, a pair of right and left attachment members or attachment angles 121, 121 are connected to the corresponding brackets 120, 120 by means of bolts 133. The thus connected brackets 120 and attachment angles 121 are attached by bolts 138 and nuts 139 to a pair of support members or support angles 122 fastened to the header 12. As shown in FIG. 12, the support metal 140 fastened to the interior unit 7 of the air conditioner are carried by the opposed attachment angles 121, 121, as closely described hereinbelow.

As better shown in FIG. 11, the bracket 120 assumes an L-shape as viewed in plan and comprises an attachment part 123 and a support body 124 integrally formed with and disposed normal to each other. The support body 124 is of a substantially L-shaped profile and has a large diameter circular hole 125 formed adjacent to the attachment part 123. The support body 124 also has a pair of slant slots 126, 126 formed therein remote from the attachment part 123 and disposed in parallel relation to each other. As better shown in FIG. 9, the bracket 120 is fastened to the rear plate 113 of the roof part 1 by screwing the bolts 127 through the attachment part 123 of the bracket 120 and the rear plate 113 into a back plate 113a placed behind the rear plate 113.

As shown in FIG. 11, the attachment angle 121 comprises an elongated body 128 and a pair of shelves 129, 130 integrally provided on one end thereof. The elongated body 128 has a similar L-shaped profile as the support body 124 of the bracket 120. One shelf or a support shelf 129 extends normal from the lower edge of the elongated body 128 and the other shelf or the attachment shelf 130 extends normal from the upper edge of the elongated body 128 in opposite direction to the support shelf 129. The elongated body 128 has a large-diameter hole 131 formed adjacent to the other end thereof. A pair of juxtaposed small threaded holes 132 are formed substantially in the middle of the elongated body 128. A threaded aperture 130a is formed through the attachment shelf 130.

As better shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the elongated body 128 of the attachment angle 121 is joined to that side of the support body 124 of the bracket 120 from which the attachment part 123 projects by inserting the bolts 133, 133 through the slants slots 126, 126 and screwing them into the threaded hole 132, 132. With this engagement by the bolts 133 within the slots 126, the position of the attachment angle 121 relative to 20 the bracket 120 can be adjusted by simply sliding the bolts 133 along the slant through slots 126, 126.Since the attachment angle 121 carries the interior unit 7 of the air conditioner and the bracket 120 is fastened to the rear plate 113 of the roof part 1, this means that the relative position of the interior unit 7 relative to the roof part 1 can be adjusted by simply sliding the bolts 133 along the slant through slots 126, 126 As shown in FIG. 11, a support angle 122 assumes an L-shape and comprises a vertical part 135 and a horizontal part 134 formed integral with and extending normal to each other. The vertical part 135 has a through slot 136 formed longitudinally thereof. As better shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the horizontal part 134 of the support angle 122 is fastened to the header 12 by fasteners such as bolts or by welding.And, the vertical part 135 of the support angle 122 is fastened to the bracket 120 and the attachment angle 121 by inserting a bolt 138 through the slot 36 of the support angle 122, the large-diameter hole 125 of the bracket 120 and the large-diameter hole 131 of the attachment angle 121 and tightening the bolt 138 to the nut 139.

With the engagement of the bolt 138 within the slot 136, the position of the attachment angle 121 and the bracket 120 relative to the support angle 122 can be adjusted by simply sliding the bolt 138 along the through slots 136. Since the attachment angle 121 carries the interior unit 7 of the air conditioner and the bracket 120 is fastened to the rear plate 113 of the roof part 1, while the support angle 122 is fastened to the header 12 partly constituting the window opening 6, this means that the position of the interior unit 7 and the roof part 1 relative to the window opening 6 can be similarly adjusted by simply sliding the bolt 138 along the through slot 136.

As better shown in FIG. 12, the pair of right and left support metals 140, 140 are fastened to the upper surface of the interior unit 7 of the air conditioner one on each side thereof by bolts (not shown). Each support metal 140 includes a horizontal part 140a and a vertical part 140b integrally formed with and extending normal to each other. The horizontal part 140a extends beyond the vertical part 140b and forms a support extension 140c. The support extensions 140c of the support metals 140 rest on the confronting support shelves 129 of the attachment angles 121. Thus, the interior unit 7 of the air conditioner is installed in the roof part 1 with its front half fitted into the rectangular recess 115 of the roof part 1 and its rear half projecting toward the interior of the building, as shown in FIG. 9.

As shown in FIG. 9, a head casing 142 is fastened at the opposed ends to the attachment shelves 130 of the the respective attachment angles 121 by means of screws 143 screwed into the threaded holes 130a (FIG. 11).

As shown in FIG. 9, a support ledge 148 is fastened to the rear edge of the bottom plate 112 of the roof part 1 so as to extend rearwardly therefrom in the plane of the bottom plate 112. The support ledge 148 is offset upward adjacent the rear edge and terminates in a downward-projecting ridge 151 to thus define with the offset portion a downward-open groove 152 extending longitudinally of the rear edge thereof.

As shown in FIG. 9, an interior cover 141 is of a substantially J-shaped cross-section. The cover 141 comprises a vertical portion 146 and a horizontal portion 147 formed integrally with and extending normal to the vertical portion 146. The horizontal portion 146 is offset adjacent to the terminal edge to thus provide inverted substantially U-shaped offset portion 150. The horizontal portion 147 of the cover 141 terminates in a upward-projecting ridge 149 extending throughout the width of the horizontal portion 147. The cover 141 is attached to the the end of the support ledge 148 with the upward-projecting ridge 149 of the former fitted in the downward-open groove 152 of the latter, so that the cover 141 is rotatable upon the downward-open groove 152.When the the cover 141 rotates to a predetermined position, the tip 150a of the Unshaped offset portion 150 comes into abutting engagement with the upper surface 148a of the support ledge 148. With this construction, advantageously, the interior cover 141 is very easy to attach to or detach from the support ledge 148 for inspection, repair and replacement of the interior unit 7.

For installing the bay window 4 according to the present invention into the window opening 6; as better shown in FIG. 2; first, the support frame 15 is fastened to the jambs 14 and the sill 13 partly constituting the window opening 6 as by welding.

As better shown in FIG. 2 and 7, the lower housing part 3 is mounted on the support frame 15 by fastening the horizontal parts 75 of the brackets 71 to the upper horizontal frame member 16 of the support frame 15 by means of fasteners (not shown).

As better shown in FIG. 1, a support bracket 60 is likewise mounted on the support frame 15 by fastening the hook portion 60a of the support bracket 60 to the upper horizontal frame member 16 of the support frame 15. Then, the exterior unit 8 of the air conditioners mounted on the horizontal portion 60c of the support bracket 60.

Subsequently, as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 4, the window part 2 is mounted on the lower housing part 3 by fastening the bottom side rails 34 and the bottom front rails 36 to the side parts 99 and the front part 97, respectively, of the trapezoidal upper rail 67 of the lower housing part 3 by means of bolts 42. In this instance, the bottom rear rail 40 is mounted on the horizontal part 64b of the upper rear bar 64 with the elongated sealing gasket interposed therebetween.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5, the roof part 1 is mounted on the window part 2.

Then, as better shown in FIG. 9, the interior unit 7 of the air conditioner is installed in the roof part 1 with its front half housed in the roof part 1 and its rear half projecting toward the interior of the building.

Eventually, as shown in FIG. 12, the roof part 1 and the interior unit 7 are fastened to the header 12 by fastening the bracket 120 attached to the roof part 1, the attachment angle 121 attached top the interior unit 7 to the support angle 122 attached to the header 12 by means of the bolt 138 and the nut 139.

It is to be noted that the bolts 133 is engaged with the slots 126 and the bolt 138 is engaged with the the slot 136. With the engagement by the bolts 133 with the slots 126, a mere sliding of the bolts 133 along the through slots 126, 126 will readily adjust the portion of the attachment angle 121 relative to the bracket 120 so that the interior unit 7 fastened to the attachment angle 121 can be adjusted in position relative to the roof part 1 fastened to the bracket 120.With the engagement by the bolt 138 with the 136, a mere sliding of the bolt 138 along the through slot 136 will adjust the position of the position of the attachment angle 121 and the bracket 120 relative to the support angle 122, so that the interior unit 7 fastened to the attachment angle 121 and the roof part 1 fastened to the bracket 120 can be adjusted in position relative to the header 12 partly constituting the window opening 6.

Although description has been made about a bay window 4 having the lower housing part 3, the window part 2 and the roof part 1 each formed as a separable unit so far, the position adjusting mechanism set forth above can apply to a bay window 4 having a lower housing part, a window part and a roof part integrally formed as a single unseparable unit.

Furthermore, although description has been made in respect to installation of a bay window 4 into a steel-framed and ALC-panel-covered building, the position adjusting mechanism and the installing method according to the invention may apply to a wooden house as well. In this event, as shown in FIG. 8, the lower housing part 3 can be readily set in horizontal position in the plane of the window opening 6 by simply making the horizontal portion 75 of one bracket 71 fastened to the lower housing part 3 abut against one of a pair of wooden jamb 70.

With the construction set forth above, an interior unit of the air conditioner can be readily and accurately adjusted in position relative to an window opening after the bay window 4 has been installed in the window opening.

Furthermore, the bay window can be easily transported to a construction site and easily handled at the construction site.

Still furthermore, the air-conditionered bay window can be installed smoothly and accurately in a window opening.

Obviously, various modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teaching. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than an especially described.

Claims (4)

CLAIMS:

1. A bay window adapted to be installed in a window opening partly defined by a header, the bay window comprising a lower housing part, a window part and a roof part provided one over another in the sequence described, at least a part of an air conditioner being housed in the roof part; the bay window further comprising comprising an attachment member supporting the air conditioner; a support member to be fastened to the header; and adjustable means for fastening the support member to the attachment member whereby the level of the air conditioner relative to the support member may be adjusted.

2. A bay window according to claim 1, the attachment member comprising an attachment angle including an elongated body and a support shelf extending substantially normal from the elongated body for supporting the air conditioner; and a support member comprising a substantially L-shaped support angle comprising a vertical part and a horizontal part extending substantially normal to the vertical part and fastened to the header.

3. A bay window according to claim 2, the fastening means comprising a through slot formed longitudinally of the vertical part of the support angle; a through hole formed through the elongated body of the attachment angle; and a~bolt inserted through the slot of the support angle and the through hole of the attachment angle and tightened to a nut.

4. A method of installing a bay window in a window opening defined partly by a header and a still, the bay window comprising a lower housing part, a window part and a roof part each formed as a separable unit and assuming a substantially identical outline with each of the others as viewed in plan, the bay window incorporating an air conditioner including an interior unit and exterior unit, the installing method comprising the steps of: fastening a support frame to the sill; fastening the lower housing part to the support frame; fastening a support bracket to the support frame in such a way as to be covered by the lower housing part; mounting the exterior unit on the support bracket; mounting the window part on the lower housing part; mounting the roof part on the window part and fastening the roof part to the header; and housing the interior unit in the roof part.