GB2276904A

GB2276904A - Pivotable sliding sash window

Info

Publication number: GB2276904A
Application number: GB9405553A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert William Tunnicliffe; John Stuart Walton
Original assignee: Ventrolla Ltd
Current assignee: Ventrolla Ltd
Priority date: 1993-03-25
Filing date: 1994-03-21
Publication date: 1994-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 2014-03-21
Also published as: IE77777B1; GB9306206D0; GB9405553D0; GB2276904B; IE940262A1

Abstract

The sliding sash window has a frame holding two sashes which slide vertically between a parting bead 14 and staff beads 15. The inner sash 11 conceals a pair of spaced hinges on one side edge surface 13. The adjacent frame surface 12 has two screw heads 27 or locating studs hidden beneath the parting bead. The parting bead can be removed to reveal the screw heads or locating studs and the sash can be moved laterally to engage with the screw heads 27, or locating studs and so mount the sash for inward swinging open movement. Fig. 3 illustrates a hinge with a channel 25 in which the screw or stud locates. <IMAGE>

Description

SLIDING SASH WINDOWS The invention relates to sliding sash windows.

In a sliding sash window, at least two sashes are mounted in the frame. At least one of the sashes is slidable in the plane of the frame between raised and lowered positions in order to open and close the window aperture.

The sash has two side edge surfaces that extend in respective directions parallel to the direction of movement of the sash and which are parallel to but spaced from respective adjacent guiding frame surfaces. In general, the frame surface is provided with a spaced staff bead and parting bead, which extend along the frame surfaces and which act as guides for the sash in the sliding movement.

It has long been a problem to clean, paint or maintain the exterior surfaces of such sashes. They must either be accessed from the exterior of the window or, from the interior, it is necessary to lean out of the window. This is plainly dangerous and may not, in fact, allow all such sash surfaces to be accessed.

It has been proposed to overcome this problem by screwing hinges to the staff bead and then engaging the sash with these hinges when it is in its lowered position. By removing the staff bead at the opposite side edge of the sash, the sash can be pivotted away from the frame.

This arrangement has the disadvantage that the hinges on the staff bead are unsightly. They are permanently on view and this can be a particular problem in old and historic houses. In addition, it can be very difficult to engage the screw heads that are provided on the sash with the slots that are provided on the hinges.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a window system comprising a frame holding at least two sashes, at least one of said sashes being guided by the frame for sliding movement between raised and lowered positions, said movable sash having a side edge surface extending in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the sash and being parallel to but spaced from an adjacent guiding frame surface, said edge surface carrying at least one hinge having two leaves relatively pivotable about an axis parallel to the direction of movement of the sash, one leaf being connected to said edge surface of the sash and the other leaf being engageable by movement of the sash laterally of the plane of sliding movement thereof, with a fixing on the frame at a point on said frame surface spaced laterally of the sash, to permit the sash to be swung about said hinge pivot.

By mounting the hinge on the sash edge, it is concealed during normal use of the sash. All that is required on the frame is a fixing point which can be small and unobtrusive.

Preferably the frame includes a staff bead which extends along the said frame surface and which guides the sash in said sliding movement, the fixing being normally hidden by said staff bead and the staff bead being removable to reveal said fixing to allow engagement between said fixing and the hinge.

By having the fixing beneath the staff bead, it is concealed in normal use.

The fixing may comprise a projection, the hinge leaf having means engageable with said projection to mount the sash for said pivotal movement. The projection is preferably a locating stud.

The means on the hinge leaf may comprise a slot extending from a lower edge of said leaf and receiving said projections.

The hinge may comprise two flat metal leaves which are connected together by a pivot pin.

The hinge may be recessed below the level of the remainder of the sash edge surface.

The hinge is preferably one of two such hinges provided at spaced positions along said sash edge surface, the frame surface being provided with two fixings.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of operating a sliding sash window including at least one sash guided by a frame for sliding movement between raised and lowered positions and comprising moving said sliding sash laterally of the plane of sliding movement thereof and then engaging said sash with the frame such that the sash is pivotable relative to the frame about an axis parallel to the direction of sliding movement of the sash.

In this case, there may be at least one hinge between the sash and the frame at said laterally spaced positions.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a set of parts for use in the system of claim 1 or the method of claim 13 comprising a hinge having two relatively pivotable leaves, one leaf including means for connecting the leaf to a sash and the other leaf having means for engaging the leaf with a fixing, and a fixing for connection to a window frame and engageable with said other leaf.

The following is a more detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a horizontal cross section through a part of a sliding sash window and showing a vertical sash member guided between a staff bead and a parting bead provided on a vertical frame member, the sash member carrying a hinge, Figure 2 shows a side elevation of a hinge of Figure 1 both closed (left) and open (right), Figure 3 shows a similar view to Figure 2 but with the closed (left) and open (right) hinge engaged with a screw head for mounting on the frame member, Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 2 but showing an alternative version of the hinge incorporating a backing plate, Figure 5 is a plan view of the backing plate of the hinge of Figure 4, Figure 6 is a side elevation of a locating plate carrying a stud for engagement with the hinge of Figures 1 to 3 or the hinge of Figures 4 and 5, and Figure 7 is a plan view of the locating plate and stud of Figure 6.

Referring first to Figure 1, the sliding sash window, of which only a part is shown in Figure 1, is of generally conventional I design with a rectangular frame formed by spaced vertical side members, of which one is shown at 10, and spaced horizontal upper and lower members. The frame holds two glazed sashes with the sashes being slidable in side-by-side but spaced vertical planes. Each sash includes spaced vertical side members, of which one is shown at 11, and spaced horizontal upper and lower members.

Each side member of the frame has a guide surface, one of which is shown at 12 in Figure 1, parallel to but spaced from an adjacent sash side edge surface 13. Each frame guide surface 12 is provided with a parting bead 14 and two staff beads, one of which is shown at 15, which are spaced on respective opposite sides of the parting bead 14. Each staff bead 15 forms with the parting bead a channel which guides the edge of one of the sashes in its vertical sliding movement.

The side edge surface 13 of the sash is provided with two vertically spaced hinges, one of which is shown at 16.

Such a hinge is shown in greater detail in Figure 2 and comprises two generally flat metal leaves 17,18 connected together by a pivot pin 19. One leaf 17, the left hand leaf in Figure 2, is provided with three spaced screw holes 20. The leaf 17 also has, along its outer edge 21 spaced from the pivot pin 19, two lugs 22,23 projecting from the leaf in a direction normal to the plane of the leaf.

The other leaf 18 is provided at its lower edge with a slot 24 which has a flared opening 25.

The hinges 16 are recessed into the side edge surface 13 of the sash, as seen in Figure 1 and connected to the sash by screws extending through the screw holes 20 so that the second leaf 18 lies generally flush with the remainder of the side edge surface 13 of the sash. The pivot pin 19 extends generally parallel to the length of the side edge surface 13.

The staff beads associated with the sash shown in Figure 1 are both removable from their respective frame side members. They may be held in position by clips or screws or by a press stud arrangement. As seen in Figure 1, the staff bead 15 adjacent the side edge surface 13 carrying the hinges 16 is provided with two recesses, one of which is shown at 26, each fitting over the head 27 of a screw 28 that projects from the guide surface 12 of the frame side member 10.

There are thus two such screws 28 and their position and spacing is such that, when the sash is in a partially raised position, each screw is laterally aligned with the closed end of the slot 24 of an associated one of the hinges 16.

The sash is provided with the usual ropes and counter-balance weights. In general, when the sliding sash window is mounted in a room, the sash shown in Figure 1 will be the interior sash, that is to say the sash closer to the interior of the room. Thus, the staff bead 15 will also be within the room.

The sash operates normally, sliding in vertical movement guided by the staff beads 15 and the parting beads 14.

If, however, access is required to the exterior of the sash, for, for example, cleaning, maintenance or painting, then the following procedure is adopted.

First, both the staff beads associated with the sash are removed from their respective side members. In the case of the staff bead 15 this reveals the two screw heads 27.

With the sash in the partially raised position, the sash is moved laterally and the leaves 18 of the hinges 16 engaged with the screws 28 by slotting the screw heads 27 into the slots 24; this being facilitated by the flared openings 25 of the slots 24. The lugs 22,23 act to space the leaves 17,18 of the hinge so that the head 27 of the screw 28 can slide up between the leaves 17,18.

When so engaged with these fixings, the sash can be pivotted on the hinges into the room for easy access to the exterior surface.

While the hinge is being pivotted, the cord system on the opposite side of the sash may be immobilised by a suitable cord clutch.

The sash can be returned to normal vertical sliding movement by lifting the hinges 16 off the heads 27 and moving the sash laterally back against the parting beads 14. The staff beads are then replaced.

It will be appreciated that the system is totally invisible until required for use. The hinges 16 are recessed into the side edge surfaces 13 of the sash and the screw heads 27 are normally concealed beneath the staff beads.

It will be appreciated that there are a number of modifications that can be made to the arrangement described above. First, the fixing on the frame side member 10 need not be screw head 27; it could be any suitable fixing. There need not be two hinges 16; there could be one hinge or three hinges or more. Each hinge 16 need not be as described above; engagement with the fixing need not be via a slot it could be any other suitable form of engagement. Although the screws 28 are positioned to engage the hinges 16 when the sash is in its lowered position, it will be appreciated that they may be arranged to engage the hinges 16 in some other position of the sash.

An example of an alternative hinge 16 is shown in Figure 4. This hinge 16 has the leaf 17 of rectangular shape and the lugs 22,23 formed on a separate backing plate 40.

This plate 40 (see Figure 5) has a portion that is overlaid by the leaf 17 and provided with three holes 41 in register with the holes 20 in the leaf 17. The plate 40 also has a side edge 42 carrying one lug 23 and a depending portion 43 of truncated triangular shape carrying the other lug 22 on a side edge of said portion 43. The leaf 17 and backing plate 40 may be recessed below the level of the side edge surface 13.

An example of an alternative to the screw head 27 is shown in Figures 6 and 7. This comprises a circular locating plate 45 carrying a stud formed by a stem 46 and a head 47. The locating plate 45 has three screw holes 48 for fixing the plate 45 to the guide surface 12 of the frame side member 10. The stud acts in the same way as the screw head 27, being normally concealed behind the staff bead 15 but being revealed on removal of the staff bead 15 for engagement with the hinge 16.

In a further modification to either the hinge of Figures 1 to 3 or the hinge of Figures 4 and 5, the leaf 18 may be provided with a second slot having a flared opening and opening in a direction opposite to the direction of opening of the first slot 24. This allows the hinge 16 to be used on either side of a window.

Claims

1. A window system comprising a frame holding at least two sashes, at least one of said sashes being guided by the frame for sliding movement between raised and lowered positions, said movable sash having a side edge surface extending in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the sash and being parallel to but spaced from an adjacent guiding frame surface, said edge surface carrying at least one hinge having two leaves relatively pivotable about an axis parallel to the direction of movement of the sash, one leaf being connected to said edge surface of the sash and the other leaf being engageable, by movement of the sash laterally of the plane of sliding movement thereof, with a fixing on the frame at a point on said frame surface spaced laterally of the sash, to permit the sash to be swung about said hinge pivot.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the frame includes a staff bead which extends along the said frame surface and which guides the sash in said sliding movement, the fixing being normally hidden by said staff bead and the staff bead being removable to reveal said fixing to allow engagement between said fixing and the hinge.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein the fixing comprises a projection, said other hinge leaf having means engageable with said projection to mount the sash for said pivotal movement.

4. A system according to claim 4 wherein the projection is a locating stud.

5. A system according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the means on said other hinge leaf comprises a slot extending from a lower edge of said leaf and receiving said projection.

6. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the hinge comprises two flat metal leaves which are connected together by a pivot pin, said one leaf having associated therewith means for holding the leaves separated so that said other leaf can engage said fixing.

7. A system according to claim 6 wherein said holding means are formed integrally with said one hinge leaf.

8. A system according to claim 6 wherein said holding means are formed on a separate backing plate secured to the sash with said one hinge leaf.

9. A system according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein said holding means comprise a pair of spaced lugs projecting in directions normal to the plane of said one leaf.

10. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the hinge is recessed below the level of the remainder of the sash edge surface.

11. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the hinge is preferably one of two such hinges provided at spaced positions along said sash edge surface, the frame surface being provided with two fixings.

12. A window system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or to Figures 1 to 3 as modified by Figures 4 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A method of operating a sliding sash window including at least one sash guided by a frame for sliding movement between raised and lowered positions and comprising moving said sliding sash laterally of the plane of sliding movement thereof and then engaging said sash with the frame such that the sash is pivotable relative to the frame about an axis parallel to the direction of sliding movement of the sash.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein at least one hinge is provided between the sash and the frame at said laterally spaced positions.

15. A method of operating a sliding sash window substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A set of parts for use in the system of claim 1 or the method of claim 13 comprising a hinge having two relatively pivotable leaves, one leaf including means for connecting the leaf to a sash and the other leaf having means for engaging the leaf with a fixing, and a fixing for connection to a window frame and engageable with said other leaf.

17. A set of parts according to claim 16 wherein said other leaf has an edge extending in a direction normal to the pivot axis, said edge being formed with a recess providing said connecting means.

18. A set of parts according to claim 17 wherein said other leaf has a second edge extending in a direction normal to the pivot axis, said second edge being formed with a recess providing alternative connecting means.

19. A set of parts according to any one of claims 16 to 18 wherein said fixing comprises a locating plate carrying a stud formed by a stem extending from the locating plate and having a head at an end thereof remote from the locating plate.

20. A set of parts according to any one of claims 16 to 19 wherein said one leaf has associated therewith means for holding the leaves separated so that said other leaf can engage said fixing.

21. A set of parts according to claim 20 wherein said holding means are formed integrally with said one hinge leaf.

22. A set of parts according to claim 20 and further comprising a backing plate, said holding means being formed integrally with said backing plate and said backing plate being securable to said sash with said one hinge leaf.

23. A set of parts according to claim 21 or claim 22 wherein said holding means comprise a pair of spaced lugs.

24. A set of parts according to any one of claims 16 to 23 and further including a plurality of press studs for connecting releasably a staff bead to a frame.

25. A set of parts substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or to Figures 1 to 3 as modified by Figures 4 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.