GB2484813A

GB2484813A - Window assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2484813A
Application number: GB201118013A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mervyn Montgomery
Original assignee: HAMPTON CONSERVATORIES Ltd
Current assignee: HAMPTON CONSERVATORIES Ltd
Priority date: 2010-10-21
Filing date: 2011-10-19
Publication date: 2012-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 2031-10-19
Also published as: GB201017827D0; GB201118013D0; GB2484813B

Abstract

A window assembly comprising a box frame 20 with at least one sliding sash 14 16, an inner face of each side of the frame defining at least one channel 42 44 within which said at least one sash 14 16 is received for vertical movement within the frame, wherein beveled mating surfaces 52 58 are provided between the sides of the at least one sash and the respective receiving channels of the frame. Resilient seals 46 may be provided on the inner faces of the sash, the resilient seals applying a biasing force in directions substantially perpendicular to the channel and transverse to the channel to centralise the sash in the frame. Beveled edges may also be provided in channels at the top and bottom of the sash and frame.

Description

Window Assembly This invention relates to a window assembly and in particular to a sash window assembly wherein at least one sash is vertically slidably mounted within a box frame.

Sash windows typically comprise one or more movable panels or "sashes" that form a frame to hold panes of glass, which are often separated from other panes (or "lights") by narrow glazing bars or sash bars. Although any window with this style of glazing is technically "a sash", the term is used almost exclusively to refer to windows where the glazed panels are opened by sliding vertically within an outer frame, referred to as a box frame. The sash is typically supported by weights mounted on sash cords extending over pulleys mounted in the sides of the box frame, the weights being located within weight pockets behind the inside lining on each side of the box frame.

A single slidable sash may be provided, typically mounted below a fixed window, this arrangement being referred to as a single hung sash window. Alternatively, two sliding sashes may be provided in overlapping relationship. This arrangement is referred to as a double hung sash window. In a double hung sash window a parting bead is mounted on the inside lining of the box frame on either side of the window to define separate channels for the upper and lower sashes to run in.

Sash windows are often found in Georgian and Victorian houses, and are often desired to provide a period appearance to an older house. Indeed the use of sash windows may be required on period style properties. However, due to neglect or wear and tear, many sash windows are left inoperable or rattling and draughty at best. Even when new, the sliding contact between the stiles of the sashes and the inside linings of the box frame may lead to sticking and jamming and traditional sash windows do not generally provide very good draft proofing.

In some instance home owners have chosen to replace the original sash windows with alternative types that offer enormous benefits such as draught seals, ease of operation and security locks.

However, very rarely do these alterations enhance a building's internal or external appearance.

According to the present invention there is provided a window assembly comprising a box frame within which at least one sash is slidably mounted, an inner face of each side of the frame defining at least one channel within which said at least one sash is received for vertical movement within the frame, wherein beveled mating surfaces are provided between the sides of the at least one sash and the respective receiving channels of the frame.

In one embodiment inner corners of each of said receiving channels of the box frame comprise beveled side faces defining said beveled mating surfaces against which the respective sides of the at least one sash make sliding contact.

Preferably resilient seal means are mounted on one of the sides of the at least one sash and the inner corners of the respective receiving channel, said resilient seal means engaging the respective beveled mating surfaces of the other of the respective receiving channels and the sides of the at least one sash, such that each respective resilient seal means applies a biasing force to the at least one sash in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the respective channel and in a second direction substantially transverse the respective channel to centralise the at least one sash within the box frame.

In one embodiment a respective resilient seal means is mounted on each outer corner of a stile on either side of said at least one sash, said beveled mating surfaces being provided on an inner corner of each respective receiving channel of the box frame such that said resilient seal means make sliding contact with said beveled mating surfaces of the receiving channels.

A similar receiving channel having may be provided on an upper side of the frame for receiving a top rail of the at least one sash, beveled mating surfaces being provided between said receiving channel and the top rail of the at least one sash. Preferably said beveled mating surfaces are defined by beveled side faces of said receiving channel of the upper side of the frame. Resilient seal means may be provided on the top rail of the sash located to engage said beveled side faces to provide a draft proof seal thereagainst.

Preferably a bottom rail of the at least one sash is provided with a stepped face adapted to engage a corresponding stepped face of a cill of the window assembly. At least one elongate resilient seal means may be provided between said stepped face of the bottom rail and the cill. A beveled mating surface may be provided on said cill against which said at least one elongate resilient seal may act.

In one embodiment said window assembly comprises a double hung sash window comprising upper and lower sashes mounted in overlapping relationship within a box frame for vertical sliding movement with respect to the box frame. The stiles of each of the upper and lower sashes and the corresponding receiving channels of the box frame may be provided with beveled mating surfaces.

Resilient seal means may be provided between said beveled mating surfaces. Such resilient seal means may provide a biasing force against the upper and lower sashes acting in a direction having a first component extending perpendicular to the inside linings of the box frame and a second component extending transverse to the inside linings of the box frame such that said biasing force acts to centralise the respective sash within the box frame, stabilising the sash and eliminating rattling.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a front view of a sash window assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectional plan view of the window assembly of Figure 1 on line A-A; Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view of one side of the window assembly of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a detailed vertical sectional view through the cill region of the window assembly of Figure Figure 5 is a detailed vertical sectional view through the meeting rail region of the window assembly of Figure 1; and Figure 6 is a detailed vertical sectional view through the head region of the window assembly of Figure 1.

As illustrated in the drawings, a window assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a double hung sash window having a box frame 12 within which is mounted a pair of glazed sashes comprising an upper sash 14 and a lower sash 16, said sashes 14,16 being mounted in overlapping relationship to be vertically slidable within the box frame 12.

Each sash 14,16 is supported bya pair of weights 18 mounted within weight pockets 20 behind the inner linings 22 on either side of the box frame, said weights 18 being mounted on the end of respective sash cords attached to each sash and extending over respective pulleys 24 mounted in the sides of the box frame 12. As shown in Figure 2, each sash 14,16 comprises a double glazed window assembly mounted within a frame comprising a pair of vertical stiles 26,28 between top and bottom rails 30,32.

While an embodiment of the invention is described in relation to a double hung sash window, the invention is also applicable to single hung sash windows or any other windows having at least one vertically sliding sash.

The box frame 12 comprises a cill 34, a head portion 36 and a pair of side portions 38,40, the head portion 36 and side portions 38,40 including inside linings 22 defining the inner faces of the box frame 12. As described above, weight pockets 20 are defined in each side portion 38,40 behind the respective inside linings 22, weights 18 being located within the weight pockets 20, said weights 18 being connected to the respective sashes via sash cords extending over pulleys 24 mounted in the side portions 38,40 of the box frame 12 for supporting each sash 14,16 to retain each sash in any desired vertical position within the box frame 12, as is known in the art.

As shown in Figure 3, the inside face of each side portion 38,40 or the box frame is provided with a pair of parallel sash receiving channels 42,44 within which are mounted the respective sashes 14,16 to guide the vertical movement of the sashes 14,16 within the box frame 12 while retaining the sashes 14,16 within the box frame 12.

Each sash receiving channel 42,44 is provided with beveled side faces extending at 45° to the inside lining on either side of the respective channel, said beveled faces of each channel defining mating surfaces against which a respective stile 26,28 of a respective one of the sashes slides, as will be described below in more detail.

The outer corners of the stiles 26,28 of each sash are provided within elongate resilient seals 46 adapted to engage the beveled side faces of the respective receiving channel 42,44 of the box frame 12, such that the seals 46, when compressed against the beveled faces of the respective channel 42,44, permit vertical sliding movement of the respective sash 14,16 while providing a draught proof seal between the sash and the box frame. At the same time, the seals 46 provide a biasing force against the sides of the respective sash in a direction having a first component extending perpendicular to the inside linings 22 of the box frame 12 and a second component extending transverse to the inside linings 22 of the box frame 12 such that said biasing force acts to centralise the respective sash 14,16 within the box frame 12, stabilising the sash and eliminating rattling.

As can be seen from Figure 3, each elongate resilient seal 46 is mounted within a respective elongate groove 48 provided in an outer side region of each stile 26,28 adjacent an outer corner thereof.

On each side region of the box frame 12 a respective first channel 42 for receiving the upper sash 14 of the window is defined between a beveled side face 50 of the respective inside lining and a cooperating beveled side face 52 of a parting bead 54 mounted on the inside lining 22 to separate the two sashes 14,16 and hold them in place. A second channel 44 for receiving the lower sash 16 is defined between a second beveled side face 56 of the parting bead 54 and a beveled side face 58 of an inner frame member 60 attached to the box frame 12.

The bottom rail 32 of the lower sash 16 has a stepped lower face 62 engaging a correspondingly stepped portion 44 of the cill 34. A lower corner of the inner side of the bottom rail 32 is provided with an elongate resilient seal 66 engaging a beveled mating face 68 of an inner frame member 70 mounted on the cill 34 to define a draft proof seal between the bottom rail 32 and the cill 34. A further seal 72 is provided on a lower face of the stepped face 62 of the bottom rail 32 adjacent an outer side of the bottom rail 32 to engage a cooperating portion of the cill 34, as shown in Figure 4.

The lower face of the bottom rail 32 and the upper face of the cill 34 are inclined downwardly towards the outside of the window to ensure that the cill sheds rainwater to the outside of the window.

As shown in Figure 5, a draft proof seal is provided between the meeting rails of the upper and lower sash 14,16. Such seal is provided by a respective closing strip 74,76 mounted on the meeting rail of each sash 14,16, said closing strips 74,76 being adapted to vertically abut one another when the upper and lower sashes 14,16 are both in their closed positions. An elongate resilient seal 78 is mounted on an abutting face of one of said closing strips 74 to engage a cooperating abutting face of the other of said closing strips 76. As shown in Figure 5, the closing strips 74,76 are mounted on the meetings rails so that they do not interfere with the opening of the upper and lower sashes.

As can be seen from Figure 3, a further resilient seal 79 is provided between each end of each closing strip 74,76 and an outer face of an adjacent parting bead 54 to act as a draft excluder.

As shown in Figure 6, the construction of the head portion 36 of the box frame 12 and the cooperating upper face of the top rail 30 of the upper sash 14 is essentially the same as the side portions 38,40 of the box frame 12, the inner face of the head portion 36 defining a pair of parallel receiving channels 80,82 having beveled side faces 85a,85b, said beveled faces of each channel 80,82 defining mating surfaces which may be engaged by the top rail 30 of the upper sash 14 when the sash 14 is in its fully raised position. An elongate resilient seal 84 is mounted on either side of each top rail 30 adjacent the uppermost edges of the top rail 30 to engage a respective beveled faces of the corresponding receiving channel 80,82 in the head portion 36 of the box frame 12, providing a draft proof seal between top rail 30 of the upper sash 14 and the box frame 12.

In an alternative embodiment it is envisaged that said elongate resilient seals may be mounted on the sides of each receiving channel of the box frame, the cooperating sides of the or each sash being provided with beveled side faces adapted to engage the seals of the respective receiving channel.

By providing beveled side mating faces between the sides of the or each sash and the corresponding receiving channel of the box frame the problems associated with prior art sash windows, in particular sticking, rattling and drafts, are alleviated. The beveled mating faces provide enhanced sealing between the sash and the box frame of the window and serve to central ise the associated sash in the box frame, preventing rattling and providing a smoother sliding action.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment(s) described herein but can be amended or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims 1. A window assembly comprising a box frame within which at least one sash is slidably mounted, an inner face of each side of the frame defining at least one channel within which said at least one sash is received for vertical movement within the frame, wherein beveled mating surfaces are provided between the sides of the at least one sash and the respective receiving channels of the frame.
2. A window assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein inner corners of each of said receiving channels of the box frame comprise beveled side faces defining said beveled mating surfaces against which the respective sides of the at least one sash make sliding contact.
3. A windoow assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein resilient seal means are mounted on one of the sides of the at least one sash and the inner corners of the respective receiving channel, said resilient seal means engaging the respective beveled mating surfaces of the other of the respective receiving channels and the sides of the at least one sash, such that each respective resilient seal means applies a biasing force to the at least one sash in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the respective channel and in a second direction substantially transverse the respective channel to centralise the at least one sash within the box frame.
4. A window assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a respective resilient seal means is mounted on each outer corner of a stile on either side of said at least one sash, said beveled mating surfaces being provided on an inner corner of each respective receiving channel of the box frame such that said resilient seal means make sliding contact with said beveled mating surfaces of the receiving channels.
5. A window assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a receiving channel is provided on an upper side of the frame for receiving a top rail of the at least one sash, beveled mating surfaces being provided between said receiving channel and the top rail of the at least one sash.
6. A window assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said beveled mating surfaces are defined by beveled side faces of said receiving channel of the upper side of the frame.
7. A window assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein resilient seal means are provided on the top rail of the sash located to engage said beveled side faces to provide a draft proof seal thereagainst.
8. A window assembly as claimed in any peceding claim, wherein a bottom rail of the at least one sash is provided with a stepped face adapted to engage a corresponding stepped face of a cill of the window assembly.
9. A window assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least one elongate resilient seal means is provided between said stepped face of the bottom rail and the cill.
10. A window assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein a beveled mating surface is provided on said cill against which said at least one elongate resilient seal may act.
11. A window assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a double hung sash window comprising upper and lower sashes mounted in overlapping relationship within a box frame for vertical sliding movement with respect to the box frame.
12. A window assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the stiles of each of the upper and lower sashes and the corresponding receiving channels of the box frame are provided with beveled mating surfaces.
13. A window assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherien resilient seal means are provided between said beveled mating surfaces.
14. A window assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein such resilient seal means provide a biasing force against the upper and lower sashes acting in a direction having a first component extending perpendicular to the inside linings of the box frame and a second component extending transverse to the inside linings of the box frame such that said biasing force acts to centralise the respective sash within the box frame, stabilising the sash and eliminating rattling.
15. A window assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.