GB2565255A

GB2565255A - Seal element, assembly, and method

Info

Publication number: GB2565255A
Application number: GB1818979.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Pilch Andrzej; Brown David
Original assignee: GOWERCROFT Ltd
Current assignee: GOWERCROFT Ltd
Priority date: 2013-03-04
Filing date: 2014-03-03
Publication date: 2019-02-06
Also published as: GB201403710D0; GB201818979D0; GB2514213B; GB201303818D0; GB2514213A

Abstract

The seal element 200 comprises a body portion (216 fig 2b) for locating against a parting bead 136 or for locating between first and further parting bead sections, the parting bead or sections having two parallel sides and a further side joining the parallel sides. The seal also comprises a skirt portion (218, fig 2b) extending from the body portion, wherein in use, the skirt portion extends a distance from the two parallel sides and the further side sufficiently to reach adjacent fixed or movable parts of the window or door. The skirt portion may be flexible and may extend in a direction orthogonal to the two parallel sides and further side of the parting bead or bead sections. The skirt element may also be shaped and sized to extend at least 1.5mm from three sides of the parting bead or bead sections. The sealing element may comprise PVC. Also disclosed is a window comprising the sealing element and a method of manufacturing a window with a seal element.

Description

SEAL ELEMENT, ASSEMBLY, AND METHOD

The present invention relates to a seal element, assembly including a seal element, and a method of providing a seal element or assembly. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to sealing arrangements for sliding windows or doors, for example sash windows, for giving enhanced draught proofing capability.

Traditionally, sliding windows and doors have been fitted in houses and buildings, and they often include at least one slideable panel and a further panel that may be slideable or fixed (but in certain circumstances, both panels can be fixed). For vertically slideable windows (known as sash windows or hung sash windows), a weighted system or spiral balance system is used to assist in moving the sliding panel, which is known in the art. Each panel (or sash) generally includes one or more pane of glass and a housing frame, usually of timber, aluminium, or plastic. For example, in a window with one slideable panel, this first panel is slideable vertically with respect to a second, fixed panel, in a plane parallel to the second fixed panel. In a closed position, a middle rail of the housing frame of the first panel meets a middle rail of the housing frame of the second panel. In a window with two slideable panels, both panels slide vertically with respect to each other.

A typical sash window 100 is illustrated in Figs. 1a, 1b and 1c, in which an upper sliding sash 110 and a lower sliding sash 120 are housed within a frame 130. Fig. 1a shows a view of the window when looking from within a room to the window. The lower sash 120 is provided closest to the room (to face the room) and covers the lower portion of the window frame aperture in a closed position. The upper sash 110 is provided furthest from the room and covers the upper portion of the window frame aperture in a closed position. The upper and lower sash 110, 120 are provided in planes that are parallel, and may slide alongside each other during movement. In this embodiment each sash is slideable vertically up and down, and is connected to a cord and weight pulley (or alternative counter-balance) system 102 hidden within the frame 130 (shown in Fig. 1c). The pulley (or alternative counter-balance) system is known in the art and will not be further described here for brevity.

The upper sash 110 may have a top rail 104 as an uppermost portion of the sash frame, a middle rail 106 as the lowermost portion of the sash frame, and two stiles 108,112 as vertical wall sections of the sash frame, joining the top rail to the middle rail. A single pane of glass or double/triple glazing glass is fitted within the frame.

The lower sash 120 may have a middle rail 114 as an uppermost portion of the sash frame, a bottom rail 116 as the lowermost portion of the sash frame, and two stiles 118,122 as vertical wall sections of the sash frame, joining the middle rail to the bottom rail. A single pane of glass or double/triple glazing glass is fitted within the frame.

As can be seen in Fig. 1b, the middle rails 106,114 of the upper sash 110 and lower sash 120 are the contact area or meeting area when the sashes are in a closed position. The middle rail 106 includes an upwardly extending protrusion or ‘applied sash rebate strip’ 138 that extends the full length of the rail (as shown in the cross-section of Fig. 1b). Similarly, the middle rail 114 has a downwardly extending protrusion (applied sash rebate strip) 140 that extends the full length of the rail.

Along the entire length of the two vertical walls 132,134 of the frame 130 is a parting bead 136^1362, which is a protrusion extending from the frame inwards, i.e. each parting bead protruding towards the other. The parting bead is usually around 27 mm by 10 mm in cross section, extending the full height of the window frame aperture, partly recessed into the vertical wall of the frame 132,134, and separates the planes of the upper and lower sashes 110,120. The parting bead is generally rectangular in shape having two parallel straight sides/edges (partially embedded in the frame at one end thereof) and a shorter side/edge, which is an exposed face that may be rounded (or chamfered, or straight). The remaining shorter side/edge of the parting bead is the recessed side and abuts with the frame and is not visible after manufacture. The parting bead allows each sash to slide independently of the other sash, without one sash impeding the action of the other sash. Essentially the parting bead separates the top and bottom sashes and allows them to move freely and independently of each other, it keeps them in alignment within the window frame and ensures that the sashes return to their original position when they are closed. Although the sashes generally move in two different but parallel planes separated by the parting bead, when the sashes each move to the fully closed position, the middle rails and shelf portions of the two sashes meet to close any space between the two sashes.

That said, there is generally some relatively small degree of movement in where the sashes will sit within the frame, and it cannot be guaranteed that the sashes return to the exact same position every time when closed. Even fully factory finished timber windows move seasonally, will swell and contract, and so there has to be room to allow them to move within the frame. Also, allowance has to be made for when windows are painted (often several times over their lifetime) to accommodate the changing thickness caused by additional paint layers. These and other issues may lead to gaps between the sashes and/or gaps between sash and frame, causing possible draught pathways.

The use of brush seals and compressible gasket seals helps to increase the draught proof standard of sash windows. GB2358658 discloses a system for draught proofing sash and casement windows.

A problem with such known sash windows is that certain sealing strips are designed short of the length along which they run, so as to allow for operation of the window (enabling a small degree of room for movement as the user locates each sash, avoiding excessive friction, and allowing for a degree of movement of the timber frame (swelling and contracting) due to temperature, moisture, etc.). For example, a sash window of the type shown in Fig. 1a may have a horizontal seal strip across the middle rail of each of the upper sash and lower sash, which terminates around 3 mm from the parting bead at each end. More specifically, the window as shown in Fig. 1a includes a foam-filled compressible plastic gasket provided along each of the rebate strips 138,140 (available from Reddiseals Ltd of Droitwich, UK, for example). Because of the termination prior to the parting bead, there is a gap at each end of the seal strip effectively unsealed. The window 100 also includes vertically extending seals along edges of the stiles. These include a brush seal between the stile and the frame wall, a compressible gasket between the stile and the parting bead, and a compressible gasket between the stile and a staff bead that runs completely around the frame on the ‘room side’ of the window (meeting the outer edge of the lower sash). The window may have further seal strips along other sections of the sashes.

The unsealed areas at the end of the compressible gaskets on the rebate strips, and areas between the end of those strips and the next vertical seal, allow airflow, and therefore reduce the draught proofing and thermal efficiency of the window. For external windows in particular, draught proofing is of importance not only for ensuring that cold winds do not enter a building but also to ensure warm air is prevented from leaving the building as much as possible. It will also likely be of increasing importance in the future for complying with increasing air permeability standards introduced by Building Regulations bodies.

One option to help increase the draught proof standard of a sash window has been to introduce a transom as an additional horizontal rail extending across the width of a window frame, with upper and lower parting beads, which the top sash and bottom sash meet in a closed position. However, this transom alters the visual appearance of the window considerably, particularly in an open position, reducing area of visibility, and also adds to the cost and complexity of manufacturing a window.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a seal element for sealing against fixed and moveable parts of a window or door, comprising:

a body portion for locating against a parting bead or for locating between first and further parting bead sections, the parting bead or parting bead sections having two parallel sides and a further side joining the parallel sides;

a skirt portion extending from the body portion, the body portion and skirt portion being generally planar; wherein, in use, the skirt portion extends a distance from the two parallel sides and the further side sufficiently to reach adjacent fixed or moveable parts of the window or door.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a window comprising one or more sliding sash, a frame for housing the one or more sliding sash, a first parting bead extending vertically along a first vertical wall of the frame, and a further parting bead extending along a further vertical wall of the frame, wherein at least one of the first and further parting beads is split to include a gap between two portions of the parting bead, and the window further comprising a sealing element secured in the gap such that the skirt portion extends a distance from two parallel sides and a further side of the parting bead sufficiently to reach adjacent fixed or moveable parts of the window.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a window, comprising:

providing a frame;

providing two portions of parting bead to be connected against a vertical wall of the frame, extending along the vertical wall with a gap therebetween; and securing a seal element in the gap.

Certain embodiments of the invention provide the advantage that sliding windows or doors can be provided with enhanced draught proof capabilities compared to known arrangements. Certain embodiments of the invention provide sliding windows that have draught proof capability equal to that of casement windows. Certain embodiments of the invention provide a sash window with improved draught proofing without detriment to the visual appearance of the window.

Certain embodiments of the invention provide a cost effective and easy to manufacture sealing arrangement for improved windows and doors.

Embodiments of the invention are further described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1a illustrates a known sliding sash window with two sliding sashes (viewed from within a room);

Fig. 1b illustrates a side view of the window of Fig. 1;

Fig. 1c illustrates a top view of the window of Fig. 1;

Figs. 2a and 2b illustrate a sealing element of the present invention;

Fig. 3 illustrates the sealing element in situ as part of a window arrangement;

Fig. 4 illustrates a cross-section through the sealing element in situ;

Fig. 5 illustrates another cross-section through the sealing element in situ; and

Fig. 6 illustrates a schematic plan view of the sealing element in situ.

In the drawings like reference numerals refer to like parts.

The present invention provides a sealing element and an assembly comprising an improvement to a known window assembly such as that described above.

Fig. 2a shows a sealing element 200 according to an example of the invention. The sealing element 200 is planar and generally rectangular in shape, with one relatively narrower end stepped inwards from the remainder of the sealing element.

The sealing element 200 in this example is of PVC, though it could be of other materials, e.g. LDPE, HDPE, or a mixture thereof. Plasticisers or other additives may be used to improve the quality of the plastic. Elastic modulus may be around 1.5 to 15 MPa. As such, the sealing element 200 is a flexible body, able to hold its shape without flexing when held from one end for example, but with enough flexibility to flex and move when a force is applied, such as by a moving adjacent part. Aptly the sealing element is moisture and heat resistant with a good lifetime performance.

The sealing element of this example has a length of about 37mm, a width of about 12 mm, with a width of about 10 mm at the narrower portion, and a depth of about 1.6 mm.

The sealing element of this example also has chamfered corners at one end of the rectangle, though this is optional, for reducing sharp edges to interfere with adjacent elements.

A plan view of the sealing element is shown in Fig. 2b, in which the dotted line represents the location of a split parting bead 136 > adjacent the sealing element 200, between which the sealing element is positioned in a window assembly. In plan view, the sealing element 200 has two parallel edges 202,204, each stepped inwards at a first end 206. A shorter edge 208 joins the inwardly stepped edges. At a further end 220, the parallel edges 202,204 are joined by a further edge 210 with chamfered corners 212,214. The parting bead includes two parallel edges 142,144 and a curved end 146 joining the parallel edges.

As shown in Fig. 3, a parting bead that runs vertically along the window frame has been split into 2 portions, with a gap therebetween, sized to accommodate the sealing element

200 (i.e. around a 1.6 mm gap). The gap is for receiving the sealing element and is located adjacent the location of the end of the horizontal seal strips 124,126. A view of the sealing element 200 in place between the parting bead portions is shown in Fig. 4.

A side view of the horizontal seal strips 124,126 and surrounding area is shown in Fig. 5, where it can be seen that a portion of the sealing element 200 is sandwiched between the two horizontal seal strips 124,126.

As such, the sealing element 200 should have a body portion 216 to be located between two portions of parting bead (shown in dotted line in Fig. 2b), to thereby hold the sealing element in position, and an overhang or skirt portion 218 extending outwardly from the body portion 216. The skirt portion 218 should extend from the two parallel sides of the parting bead 142,144 and also from the curved, shorter side of the parting bead 146. As such, the skirt portion extends from each side of the parting bead that is not recessed into the frame. The first end 206 of the sealing element (that is stepped inwardly) may be used to fix the sealing element 200 into the frame, matching the portion of the parting bead 1361 that is recessed into the frame.

A standard parting bead such as the parting bead 136t shown in the drawings has the cross-sectional dimensions of approximately 27 mm in length, including 10 mm that is recessed into the frame, and a 10 mm width. As such, the sealing element 200 shown in Figs. 2a and 2b would have a skirt portion 218 that extends from the body portion 216 by about 1.5 mm from each of the parallel sides 202,204, and extends perpendicularly by about 10 mm at the further end 220.

As shown in Fig. 6, the sealing element 200, when in position between the parting bead portions, includes a section 222 of the skirt portion 218 that is sandwiched between the horizontal seal strips 124,126. This forms an effective seal over that area. In addition, the skirt portion 218 extends to fill a space 224 between the end of the horizontal seal strips 124,126 and the parting bead 136^ The skirt portion 218 additionally fills a space 226t between the parallel side 202 of the parting bead and an edge of the stile 108 of the upper sash, and a space 226₂ between the parallel side 204 of the parting bead and an edge of the stile 118 of the lower sash. The space 226t extends to meet a vertical sealing strip 228. The space 226₂ extends to meet a vertical sealing strip 230.

In use, the seal element described above may be secured in a window or door, for example, by splitting a parting bead for fixing to a frame, or alternatively providing two portions of parting bead, and setting a gap between the portions of parting bead to accommodate the sealing element. The sealing element may be inserted into the gap with the skirt portion protruding from the gap such that the skirt portion projects to meet horizontal and vertical sealing strips of a sliding sash provided within the frame.

Although the sealing element 200 has been described above as including a body portion and a skirt portion, a skilled person will appreciate that the element itself may be a single unitary piece. Alternatively, the body portion may be of another material with only the skirt portion of a flexible material.

As such, the sealing element 200 seals the space extending between the end of the horizontal sealing strips and the vertical sealing strips, linking the planes of the horizontal and vertical sealing strips. The sealing element 200 has sufficient flexibility of seal against the surfaces that the skirt portion contacts. Therefore, an airflow pathway previously open with known window assemblies is sealed. The sealing element is sufficiently flexible to allow a degree of movement of the upper and lower sashes when in the closed position, such as that needed for expansion/contraction of wood, or tolerance for different people moving the sashes in slightly different ways.

Various modifications to the detailed designs as described above are possible. For example, the dimensions given above are exemplary only. Aptly, the sealing element may have a length of about 30 to 45 mm, a width of about 12 to 20 mm and a depth (thickness) of about 1 to 2 mm. Aptly the length may be about 35 to 40 mm. Aptly the width may be about 12 to 15 mm. Aptly the depth may be about 1.3 to 1.7 mm. The skirt portion should be of suitable dimensions to bridge the gap and seal between the horizontal and vertical sealing strips. Similarly, the shaping of the sealing element need not be exactly as described and as shown in the drawings. Although the sealing element above is planar, there could be a non-planar portion as part of or extending from the body portion, for example for assisting in locating the sealing element in position between the parting bead portions.

Although the sealing element has been described in relation to its use within a sash window arrangement, the sealing element could equally be used in a sliding door arrangement, for example. In this case the sliding part or parts are rotated 90 degrees compared to the window above, i.e. sliding horizontally rather than vertically, and therefore the whole arrangement can be rotated accordingly.

Although the sealing element has been described above so as to be sandwiched between two parting bead portions of a window, it will be clear that other arrangements are possible. For example, a body portion of a sealing element may be adhered (by bonding or adhesive, for example) to the parting bead surface, with the skirt portion (overhang portion) being provided in approximately the same configuration as described above. As such, the skirt portion of the sealing element can perform the same sealing function as described above. In this case, the body portion and skirt portion may not be a planar body but may be formed in different planes so as to accommodate one portion for connecting with the parting bead and one portion for sitting horizontally (in use) in the sealing position.

With the above-described arrangement sliding windows or doors can be provided with enhanced draught proof capabilities compared to known arrangements.

An air permeability test was conducted on a sash window including the sealing element, the window having an overall area of 1.815 m², total opening perimeter 5.04m to the requirements of BS 644:2003 and BS 6375-1:2009. Three positive pulses of 660Pa were applied prior to testing. The test sample met the requirements of BS 6375-1:2009 in respect of Exposure Category Class 4.

In addition, because the sealing element has an outwardly extending portion that is flexible, damage to adjacent moving parts, e.g. a painted wooden frame is avoided. A reduction in lifetime because of such damage is also avoided.

Because of the location of the sealing element sandwiched between the parting bead at the point where the middle rails meet, both the horizontal seal strips and the vertical seal strips can be effectively joined together via the sealing element, thereby plugging any gap extending from the end of the horizontal seal strip and around the corner to the end of the vertical seal strips.

Because the sealing element is relatively small compared to the window as a whole, and because a horizontal transom is not required, an entirely traditional sash window look is maintained, with no visible alteration.

It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that features described in relation to any of the embodiments described above can be applicable interchangeably between the different embodiments. The embodiments described above are examples to illustrate various features of the invention.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words “comprise” and “contain” and variations of them mean “including but not limited to”, and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A seal element for sealing against fixed and moveable parts of a window or door, comprising:

a skirt portion extending from the body portion, wherein, in use, the skirt portion extends a distance from the two parallel sides and the further side sufficiently to reach adjacent fixed or moveable parts of the window or door.

2. A seal element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the skirt portion is flexible.

3. A seal element as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the skirt portion extends in a direction orthogonal to the two parallel sides and further side of the parting bead or parting bead portions.

4. A seal element as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the skirt portion is shaped or sized to extend at least about 1.5 mm from 3 sides of the parting bead or parting bead portions.

5. A seal element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body portion is for locating between the first and further parting bead sections, and the body portion and skirt portion are generally planar.

6. A seal element as claimed in claim 5 wherein the body portion has a length and width to correspond with a cross-sectional length and width of the parting bead portions.

7. A seal element as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the skirt portion is shaped or sized to extend from the further side of the parting bead or parting bead portions to be sandwiched between horizontal sealing strips positioned along middle rails of sashes.

8. A seal element as claimed in claim 7 wherein the skirt portion is shaped or sized to extend from the horizontal sealing strips to at least one vertical sealing strip located along the stile on the sashes.

9. A seal element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the seal element is approximately rectangular having a length of about 30 to 45 mm and a width of about 12 to 20 mm and a depth of about 1 to 2 mm.

10. A seal element as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the seal element comprises PVC.

11. A window comprising one or more sliding sash, a frame for housing the one or more sliding sash, a first parting bead extending vertically along a first vertical wall of the frame, and a further parting bead extending along a further vertical wall of the frame, and the window further comprising a sealing element according to claim 1 secured on the first or further parting bead, or in a gap between two portions of a split parting bead, such that the skirt portion extends a distance from two parallel sides and a further side of the parting bead sufficiently to reach adjacent fixed or moveable parts of the window.

12. A window as claimed in claim 11 wherein the window has two sliding sashes, and wherein the gap is located in the region where the middle rails of the two sliding sashes meet.

13. A window as claimed in claim 11 or 12 wherein the skirt portion extends between horizontal and vertical sealing strips on the one or more sliding sash.

14. A method of manufacturing a window, comprising:

providing a frame;

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising providing two further portions of parting bead to be connected against a further vertical wall of the frame with a gap therebetween, and securing a further seal element in the gap.

16. A method as claimed in claim 14 or 15 wherein the seal element or elements are provided in the region of where a sliding sash meets a further sliding sash or fixed sash.

17. A seal element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. An assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.