GB2447973A

GB2447973A - Sash window frame with wood covering

Info

Publication number: GB2447973A
Application number: GB0706266A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Derham; Michael John Hawker
Original assignee: Mighton Products Ltd
Current assignee: Mighton Products Ltd
Priority date: 2007-03-30
Filing date: 2007-03-30
Publication date: 2008-10-01
Anticipated expiration: 2027-03-30
Also published as: WO2008119968A3; GB2447973B; GB0706266D0; WO2008119968A2

Abstract

A sash window has a frame 10 in which stepped window sashes 12, 14 can move up and down. The frame has plastics extrusions 24 in the vertical stiles which carry the window lifters and the guides for the vertical movement. On the faces of the extrusions facing into the frame are provided wooden mouldings 42, 44 which snap into grooves 40 in the extrusions, to cover those parts of the extrusions which would otherwise be visible from the inside of the building when the window is closed. Weatherstrips 38 may be fitted into the extrusions, or weatherstrip carriers may be provided which snap-fit into the extrusions and which hold the weatherstrips in place. Window lifters and shoes may be provided in channels in the extrusions.

Description

Sash Window

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to sash window constructions.

A sash window has a frame and at least one sash which slides up and down in the frame. In the simplest arrangement, there may be one fixed sash and one movable sash, but the most common arrangement is to have two movable sashes movable in parallel in the frame, which provides guides for the up and down movement.

Sash windows traditionally have been made with wooden frames and wooden sashes. More recently, it has become commonplace to make sash windows with frames made from plastics extrusions. While plastics frames have advantages in terms of uniformity of material, they are generally considered to be less aesthetically attractive than wooden frames.

When wooden windows are made on a bespoke basis, it is difficult to ensure that each window meets applicable building standards which might apply.

* The present invention aims to produce sash windows which combine the best * 25 characteristics of plastics and wooden frames. * SS* * I.

A,id(-A,c rgrii,irc crrY frirm rf Iiffinn iQfrv'c tr irtrl lrAIcr fhc na,l p vypi l.a.., TV J I.a9II, 1L#S I l.a I.aI III.aI III SIP I Ia..fl.,IPS4I I'' I V.VI.a.a *PV P SI sashes. The lifting assistance may be provided, for example, by sash cords and : * weights or by spring balances or by motor driven mechanisms. In this :"s0 specification, the term "window lifters" will be used to denote some means to provide lifting assistance, without being specific as to the form which that assistance takes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a sash window frame for mounting in a building wall, wherein the vertical frame sides are formed by plastics extruded sections, and wherein the extrusions are clad, on all their faces which are visible from inside the building when the window is closed, by wooden cladding sections.

The top and bottom rails of the frame are preferably all of timber and are screwed into the top and bottom ends of the extrusions.

The invention also provides a sash window assembly, comprising a frame and window sashes mounted in the frame for up and down sliding movement in the frame, wherein the vertical frame sides are formed by plastics extruded sections, and wherein the extrusions are clad, on all their faces which are visible from inside the building when the window is closed, by wooden cladding sections.

The extrusion preferably provides parallel channels for accommodating window lifters and shoes, the channels being closed on three sides but having an open slot on a fourth side, facing the window sash, such that the shoe which carries the window sash can connect with the sash through the slot.

The plastics extruded sections can include grooves for receiving weatherstrips for *.. sealing against window sashes mounted in the frame. The weatherstrip receiving "25 grooves preferably receive weatherstrip carriers, and brush type weatherstrips are I...

fitted in the carriers. * ** * a a

The carriers can carry the weatherstrips with the brushes extending outwardly : *..* from the extrusions to seal against the edge of a window sash or with the brushes *,3 extending towards one another to close the open slot of a channel in the extrusion.

Both types of carrier are likely to be found in a window assembly.

The slots in the extruded sections can be fitted with mouldings of wood to close those faces, and the extruded sections can have resilient lips at the edges of the slots, so that the wood mouldings can be snap fitted between the lips. The wood mouldings can have guide channels for accommodating a tongue projecting laterally from the sash, to guide the sash for vertical movement in the frame.

The sashes may be capable of being tilted out of the plane of the frame, and in this case, the tongue is preferably the end of a slide bolt which can be retracted from the guide channel when the window is to be tilted.

Alternatively the window can be provided with staff beads which can guide the up and down movement of the windows but can be removed or hinged away when the window is to be tilted.

The sashes can preferably be removed from the frame without the use of tools.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of a sash window frame according to the invention, with top and bottom window sashes in place and shown in the window closed position; Figure 2 is a section on the lines Il-Il from Figure 1; 1 *25 S...

: Figure 3 is a section on the lines Ill-Ill from Figure 1; S...

Figure 4 is a section on the lines IV-lV from Figure 1; * S. * * I Figure 5 is a section on the lines V-V from Figure 1; Figure 6 is a section on the lines Vl-Vl from Figure 1; Figure 7 is a section on the lines VIl-VIl from Figure 1; Figure 8 is an enlarged view on the section Il-lI with certain parts omitted, for clarity: Figure 9 shoes a shoe adapted to slide in the frame; Figure 10 is a view, partly cut away, showing the bottom of the frame and the bottom sash in its fully closed position; Figure 11 shows the sash of Figure 10 tilted out of the plane of the frame; Figure 12 shows the sash in a tilted and stayed position; Figure 13 shows one end of the sash stay from Figure 12; and Figure 14 shows the other end of the stay.

The sash window shown in Figure 1 has a frame 10, an upper sash 12 and a lower sash 14. The frame 10 has two vertical frame members or stiles 16, 18, a top frame member or rail 20 and a bottom frame member or rail 22.

* As is known, the sashes 12 and 14 slide vertically in the frame 10 to open and "25 close the window. * **

Figure 2 shows a cross-section through one of the stiles 16 and the adjacent I. S * upper sash 12. The stile is based on a plastics extrusion 24. The extrusion is clad : **. with a timber facing 26 on the side of the frame which, in use, will be on the :::. outside of a building, and with another timber facing 28 on the side of the frame which will be on the inside. The timber facings 26, 28 are bonded to the surface of the extrusions using an adhesive. -5-.

As is conventional in uPVC window constructions, the window sashes are carried on shoes which run in vertical tracks in the extrusions. The sashes have brackets fitted at their bottom edges, and the brackets have pegs which extend laterally from the sashes to engage in the shoes. The shoes are connected to window lifters to balance the weight of the sashes The extrusion 24 has channels 30 and 32, and the shoes and spring balances 34 are housed in these channels. The extrusion 24 also has tracks 36 for receiving weather strips 38 and resilient fingers 40 which allow blanking strips 42 of wood to be clipped into those parts of the extrusion where access does not have to be had into the channels 30, 32 through those faces.

It will be seen from a consideration of Figure 2 that the plastic extrusion 24 is completely hidden behind the wooden cladding 26, 28, 42. Figure 2 also shows that the window construction is stepped, ie the lower sash 14 is wider than the upper sash. A stepped central wooden bead 44 which snaps into position between fingers 40 provides a guide surface for the wider, lower sash.

Figure 3 shows the same section as Figure 2, but looking down onto the top of the lower sash 14. In addition to the features described with reference to Figure 2, Figure 3 shows a slide bolt 46 fitted in the top rail of the lower sash which is normally extended so that the end of the bolt engages in a groove 48 in the blanking strip 42. When the sash is to be swung out of the plane of the frame (eg for cleaning the outside of the glass) the bolt is retracted so that the end of the bolt : leaves the groove and the window can be swung about a pivot point at the bottom

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: *. Figure 4 shows the lower half of the frame. The right hand track (as seen in the . Figure), which houses the upper sash has weather strips 50 which face each other across the opening of the channel 30. These strips provide a barrier to the channel but allow a supporting member supporting the sash on a window lifter to move up and down in the channel with the brush strips yielding as the supporting member passes, and then returning to their position as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 5 shows a section through the top rail and the upper sash 12. on the outside of the frame there is a wooden batten 52, and on the inside a wooden strip 54 which has a rebate 55 to accept a sealing strip, if required. A parting bead 56 is also fitted in the top rail. The top face of the sash has sealing strips 58 which seal against the top rail, when the sash 12 is fully raised, ie in the "window closed" position.

Figure 6 shows a section at the meeting rails 60, 62 of the two sashes 12, 14.

Each sash carries an extruded section 64 which provides a carrier for a weatherstrip 66 and has a projecting lip 68 which, as shown in Figure 6, overlaps with the lip on the other sash to form a weathertight seal between the meeting rails when the window is closed, It will be apparent from Figure 6 that the sections 64 are fitted one way up on one meeting rail 60 and the other way up on the other rail 62, in order for the lips to overlap.

Figure 7 shows a section through the bottom rail 22 and the lower sash 14. As with the top rail/upper sash (Figure 5) the bottom sash carries sealing strips 70, and a wooden bead 72 has a rebate for a weatherstrip 74 to seal against the lower sash, when the wtndow is closed.

The top and bottom rails are joined to the frame by screws which pass through the rails and screw into bores 59 provided as part of the extrusion (Figure 8). *...

*.::.* Figure 8 shows the extrusion 24 and the associated cladding components in greater detail. At the open sides of the channels 30, 32, the fingers 40 which allow : **** the mouldings 42 to be snapped in can be clearly seen. These fingers run the :s3! length of the stiles 16, 18 and have sufficient resilience to allow the mouldings 42 to be snapped in by hand pressure, and then to be retained there. It will be seen that the mould ings have rebated grooves which will receive radiused edges of the fingers 40.

Adjacent the fingers 40 are two further fingers 80, 82. These fingers, between them, provide a seating for tracks 36 which themselves are separate extrusions, and in which brush type weatherstrips 38 can be retained. The weatherstrips will be slid into the tracks 36 from one end, and the tracks with the weatherstrips will then be pushed laterally into the seating between the fingers 80, 82. In the lower half of Figure 8, the tracks and weatherstrips are configured to face the edge of the upper sash 12. In Figure 4, modified tracks 36a are seated between the fingers 80, 82 and carry weatherstrips which face each other to close across the open face of the track 30.

The sashes 12, 14 are mounted so that they can be swung out of the plane of the window frame, and then removed from the frame. Each sash has a bracket 90 fixed at each bottom corner, and the bracket ends in a peg 92 which is connected to a slide shoe 100 (Figure 9) which in turn is connected to a spring balance. The peg 92, in the case of the lower, inner sash, has to travel from the bottom corner of the frame (when the window is closed) to a point about midway up the frame, when the window is fully open. The peg 92 in the case of the upper, outer sash has to travel down from midway up the frame to the bottom of the frame to the fully open position. To allow this movement of the upper sash, the bottom half of the track which has to allow the peg to move along it is fitted with the weatherstrips 50 (Figure 4). In the closed position of the window, these weatherstrips will close the channel 30 and will thus avoid there being a route through which air can flow from outside, into the channel 30. *

* . S. . . . . . . ----A..d4 4AA. . a..-.. fl TI,.. * .mIIr +r fk, ----t bIIU I IU WV I IIUVVi I III I IUI. I I 110 01 I'J 10 VI y oil i uiic LJ LI l 01 ILJ described in our earlier patent specification GB 2 398 097. The shoe has a body : ** 102 which is dimensioned so as to be an easy sliding fit within the channels 30, *".! 32. At the bottom of the body is a socket 104 which can rotate in the body about a horizontal axis. The socket is held between walls 105 which close of the open end of the socket except when the socket is rotated to one particular position, ie where the open end of the socket faces upwards. The socket receives the peg 92 at the bottom of each sash and the peg is held captive in the socket by the walls 105, until the socket is rotated to the position where its open end faces upwards. At the top, the shoe has a fixture 106 for attachment to a spring balance. The shoe also has an internal spring 108 (visible through a cut-away part of the shoe) which becomes active when a sash is to be removed from the frame, in a manner to be described.

Figures 10, 11 and 12 illustrate the arrangements for removing the lower sash 14 from the frame 10. These figures in which we are looking from the outside of the wall in which the window is to be fitted, show the stile 18 partly cut away to reveal the shoe 100.

With the sash in its lowermost position, shown in Figure 10, the spring 108 in the shoe 100 is fully extended, by the weight of the sash, and the bottom of the sash sits on the bottom rail 22. When the window is to be removed, the first step is to disengage the slide bolts 46 (Figure 3) so that the sash can be tilted out of the vertical, into the interior of the building. When this happens, some of the weight of the sash is taken off the shoe, and as a result, the spring 108 will be relieved and the shoe will lift into the position shown in Figure 11, where the window can rise up over the bead 72. As the sash is tilted, the socket 104 (Figure 9) will rotate until the open top of the socket faces upwards, allowing the peg 90 to be removed from the socket and thus from the shoe. The sash is then wholly detached from the frame.

Detaching the sash in this way allows the whole of the window opening to be *::: accessible, for example for moving furniture into and out of a building. However complete removal of the sash may not always be necessary. To give access to : ** both sides of the glass, for cleaning, the sash can be simply tilted, to the position : shown in Figure 12, where the sash is held inclined by stay arms 130. The outside surface of the glass is then accessible for cleaning.

The stay arms 130 have one end 132 pivoted to a slider 134 which slides in a track 136 fitted in the side of the sash 14. The slider can slide along the track between a fixed stop 138 at one end and a spring stop 140 at the other end. To remove the slider from the track, the spring stop 140 needs to be held down to allow the slider to pass over.

The other end 144 of the stay arm is pivoted to a block 146 which is clipped onto a slide shoe 148 which slides in one of the channels 30, 32. The stay arm can be released from the frame by depressing a spring-loaded clip 150 arid then lifting the block 146 off the shoe 148.

These arrangements for releasing the stay arm are required when complete removal of the sash is required.

In place of the use of slide bolts 46 to guide the lower, inner sash in a vertical plane, a staff bead could be fitted on the edges of the vertical stiles 16, 18 to guide the sash between itself and the centre bead 44. The location of such a staff bead is shown in dotted lines at 150 in Figure 4.

The window frame described here uses the plastics extrusion 24 as its primary window sash guiding and supporting element, but uses wooden cladding to conceal the extrusion on the surfaces which will be visible inside the building, when the window is closed. The use of weatherstripping in the manner described, which makes the window frame sealed when the sashes are closed, does not *:: depend on the presence of the cladding, so that windows made in the manner described will all be uniform in performance because the sealing takes place " between the sashes and the weatherstrips carried in the extrusions in the stiles. * ** * S I S.. I * *

Claims

Claims 1. A sash window frame for mounting in a building wall, wherein

the vertical frame sides are formed by plastics extruded sections, and wherein the extrusions are clad, on all their faces which are visible from inside the building when the window is closed, by wooden cladding sections.
2. A frame as claimed in Claim, wherein the top and bottom' rails of the frame are all of timber.
3. A sash window assembly, comprising a frame and window sashes mounted in the frame for up and down sliding movement in the frame, wherein the vertical frame sides are formed by plastics extruded sections, and wherein the extrusions are clad, on all their faces which are visible from inside the building when the window is closed, by wooden cladding sections.
4. A window assembly as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the extrusion provides parallel channels for accommodating window lifters and shoes, the channels being closed on three sides but having an open slot on a fourth side, facing the window sash, such that the shoe which carries the window sash can connect with the sash through the slot.
5. A window assembly as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the plastics .. extruded sections include grooves for receiving weatherstrips for sealing against window sashes mounted in the frame. * **
6. A window assembly as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the weatherstrip S..

* receiving grooves receive weatherstrip carriers, and brush type weatherstrips are fitted in the carriers. S *S
7. A window assembly as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the carriers carry the weatherstrips with the brushes extending outwardly from the extrusions to seal -11 -against the edge of a window sash.
8. A window assembly as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the carriers carry the weatherstrips with the brushes extending towards one another to close the open slot of a channel in the extrusion.
9. A window assembly as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the weatherstrip carriers are snap-fitted into the extrusion.
10. A window assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 9, wherein the slots in the extruded sections are fitted with mouldings of wood to close those faces.
II. A window assembly as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the extruded sections have resilient lips at the edges of the slots, and the wood mouldings can be snap fitted between the lips.
12. A frame as claimed in Claim 10 or Claim 11, wherein the wood mouldings have guide channels for accommodating a tongue projecting laterally from the sash? to guide the sash for vertical movement in the frame.
13. A window assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 12, wherein the sashes can be tilted out of the plane of the frame. * ** * S S

*..25
14. A window assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 13, wherein the sashes can be removed from the frame without the use of tools. -S.

S S
15. A window assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 14, wherein the * ** sashes are of different width and the vertical frame sides are stepped.
16. A window assembly as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the stepped part of the frame sides is formed by a wooden insert with a rebated face which is snap-fitted into the extrusion, with the rebated face exposed.

1 7. A window assembly substantially as herein described with reference to any one embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. * IS * , * * 0I sq., * I * * * 5.. *1s * S. * S * 5*5 S. S * S S I *