IE53409B1 - Window assembly - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a window assemblyincorporating a sliding drop-back ventilator sash.

In a window assembly incorporating a vertically slidable ventilator sash, the sash is known as a drop-back sash when it can be disengaged at its upper end from sliding engagement with the fixed frame of the window and pivoted inwardly about a substantially horizontal axis adjacent the lower end of the sash, to enable cleaning of the external glass surface of the open sash window. However, a window assembly incorporating a drop-back ventilator sash has the disadvantage in that the weight of the drop-baok sash can be relatively large, particularly if it is double-glazed. A person cleaning the window may support the weight of the sash with one hand whilst cleaning it with the other, or rest the sash on some form of support. In either event, these procedures are inconvenient and potentially dangerous.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means to support the weight of a dropped back sash window.

According to the present invention, there is provided a window assembly incorporating an outer fixed frame and a drop-baok ventilator saeh having a frame slidable within a track in said fixed frame, wherein there is provided a 3tay member pivotally connected to said sash frame and having a formation which engages said track in said fixed frame, to support said sash when It ia pivoted inwardly from said fixed frame.

The formation on the stay member may be a hook engaging said track in the fixed frame of the window assembly. Alternatively, the stay member may be provided at one end with a roller engaging said track.

The stay member formation may be an element slidable in said track and pivoted to the stay member and at its other end the stay member may be pivotally connected to an element received for sliding movement in a guide track of the sash frame, and there may be means for limiting sliding movement of one of said elements relative to its track so that the stay member can support the sash when in an inwardly pivoted position.

The guide track in the window sash may be provided with a stop member which limits sliding movement of the element therein such that the effective length of the stay member is always less than the distance between the pivotal axis of the element and the pivotal axis of the sash, thus ensuring that the sash is never pivoted to or beyond a perpendicular position relative to the fixed frame.

The window assembly may be provided with a pair of support means which act together, one on each side of the sash.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a window assembly with a double-glazed slidable ventilator sash incorporating the invention; and, Figure 2 shows schematically one embodiment of the support means according to the invention.

Figure 3 Is a schematic perspective view of part of a window assembly according to a further embodiment of the invention. 4 89 Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2 in which one half of a window assembly is shown, the assembly comprises an upright window jamb 1 of extruded aluminium alloy and having formations supporting for sliding vertical movement an outer window sash 2 and an inner window sash 3, each with complementary sliding formations and each double-glazed with glass panels 4.

The window jamb 1 is fixed at its lower end to a sill with outer and inner parts 5, 6. Thermal insulation of the metal window jamb 1 is provided by a plastics insulator strip 7 engaged with the jamb 1. Further insulator strips (not shown) are provided on the exposed metal surfaces of the inner side of the window assembly in a like manner.

Each of the sashes 2 and 3 is vertically slidable along guide tracks defined by the jamb, and surfaces 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 on the jamb are engaged by pile sealing strips 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 which also assist smooth sliding operation of the sashes.

To facilitate access to the outer glass panel in the inner sash 3, and the inner panel of outer sash 2, the inner sash 3 is pivotable inwardly about a horizontal axis adjacent its lower edge in a known manner. A suitable catch means is provided at the top of sash 3 to enable its disengagement from the jamb 1.

The invention comprises support means shown generally at 18, in which an elongate stay member 19 is pivotally fixed by pivot pin 20 to a bracket 21 secured by screws 22 to part of the inner sash 3· The other end of the stay member 19 has a hook formation 23 which is engagable with a complementary surface 24 on the track 8.

In operation, if it is required to pivot the inner sash 3 inwardly to facilitate cleaning of the outer glass panels the catch means (not shown) at the top of the inner sash 3 is operated. It will be apparent, as shown in Figure 2, that as the inner sash is pivoted inwardly, the hook formation 23 on the stay 19 engages with the surface 24 on the guide track 8 and thus the extent to which the inner sash can be opened is determined by the length of the stay member 19· Provided that the distance between the hook formation 23 and the pivot axis 20 on the stay 19 is less than the distance between the pivot axis 20 and the horizontal sash pivot axis, the sash is prevented from approaching an angle of 90° from the vertical.

In an alternative embodiment, it is envisaged that the hook at the end of the stay member may be replaced by a roller or slide mechanism engagable with the guide surface 24, which mechanism may also engage with a further guide surface such that, upon pivotal movement of the sash the roller or slide is guided for substantially vertical movement only. If it is desired to pivot the window more than is permitted by the stay, the roller or slide arrangement may be disengaged from the window jamb 1 through a suitably shaped aperture near the lower end of the jamb.

Referring now to Figure 3 of the drawings, in which only part of the assembly is shown, an upright fixed frame member 101, of extruded aluminium alloy, has formations for supporting for vertical sliding movement, an inner window sash 102 and an outer window sash (not shown), each having complementary sliding formations thereon and each having a double-glazed glass panel 103· The fixed frame member 101 is fixed at its lower end to a sill (not shown) and thermal insulation is provided by elongate plastics insulator strips 104, 105 and 106, each having formations which inter-engage with complementary formations on the frame member 101. The sash 102 is vertically slidable along a recess afforded in the frame 101 adjacent strips 105 and 106 and to facilitate access to the outer glass panels in the inner sash 102 and the other sash, the inner sash 102 is pivotable inwardly about a horizontal axis adjacent its lower edge.

A balance mechanism 107 extends vertically within a 5 generally rectilinear recess 108 of the frame 101 and comprises a spring balance 109 having a spiral portion 110. The balance mechanism 107 ensures that vertical sliding movement of each eash is controlled so that each sash cannot drop under gravity.

Support means according to the invention comprises an elongate stay member 111 of flat metal strip, to one end of which is pivotally secured a bracket 112. A shoe element 113 is secured to the bracket 112 by screws (not shown) and comprises a plastics tube of rectangular section, through a central aperture 114 of which is free to move the spiral portion 110 of the balance mechanism 107. Shoe element 113 has formations which are slidably engaged within the correspondingly shaped recess 108 in the frame 101 in the position shown in phantom. The recess 108 defines a guide track of the fixed frame member according to this embodiment of the invention.

A further shoe element 115 is secured by a bracket 116 to the other end of the stay member 111 and comprises a generally T-section plastics member which is slidably engaged in the position shown in phantom within a correspondingly shaped guide track 117 in the sash 102. A stop member 118 Is secured within track 117 to the sash 102 by screw 119 and limits sliding movement of shoe 115 within track 117.

In operation, when the sash 102 is not pivoted inwardly it is slidable vertically along the length of the frame 101 to open or close the sash 102 as desired. However, if it is required to pivot the sash 102 inwardly to facilitate cleaning of the outer glass panels, a catch member (not shown) in the uppermost part of the sash 102 can be unlocked such that the sash 102 pivots inwardly about a horizontal axis at the lower edge thereof adjacent the window sill. Stop member 118 prevents shoe element 115 from sliding along the whole length of the track 117 in sash 102 and thus ensures that the effective length of the stay member 111 is always less than the distance between the pivot axis of the shoe 115 and the pivot axis of the sash 102, thus ensuring that the sash 102 is prevented from reaching or exceeding an angle of 90° from the vertical frame member 101. Shoe element 113 is free to slide within the guide track afforded by the recess 108 in the frame 101.

Since each shoe 113 and 115 is free to slide within its respective guide track and each is also pivotable with respect to the stay member 111, it will be apparent that whenever the sash 102 is pivoted away or towards the frame member 101, one or both of the shoes 113, 115 can slide in either direction along its respective guide track. As a consequence, if for some reason one shoe becomes snagged within a guide track, pivotal movement of the sash 102 can still occur since the other of the shoes would still be free to slide within its respective track. Accordingly, the stay member 111 can be prevented from becoming buckled or distorted during such pivotal movement of the sash 102.

As a further feature of the invention, if for some reason the stay member 111 or one or both of the shoes 113, 115, is required to be replaced they can be simply detached from the brackets 112, 116 and this ensures that the whole of the support means does not need to be replaced.

As an alternative to the provision of detachable shoe elements 113, 115, the stay member 111 may instead incorporate elements at each end integral therewith such that pivotal and sliding movement of each end of the stay 53408 member can be afforded within the respective guide track and such an integral end may be generally circular in the plane of the stay member 111.

Claims (7)

1. A window assembly incorporating an outer fixed frame and a drop-back ventilator sash having a frame slidable within a track in said fixed frame, wherein there is provided a stay member pivotally connected to said sash frame and having a formation, which engages said track in said fixed frame to support said sash when it is pivoted inwardly from said fixed frame.

2. A window assembly according to claim 1 wherein said stay member formation comprises a hook.

3. A window assembly according to Claim 1 wherein said stay member formation comprises a roller engaging said track.

4. A window assembly according to Claim 1 wherein said stay member formation comprises an element slidable in said track and pivoted to the stay member, and at its other end the stay member is pivotally connected to an element received for sliding movement in a guide track of the sash frame, there being provided means for limiting sliding movement of one of said elements relative to its track so that the stay member can support the sash when in an inwardly pivoted position.

5. A window assembly according to Claim 4 wherein said guide track in the window sash is provided with a stop member which limits sliding movement of the element therein.

6. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a pair of said stay members which act together, one on each side of the sash. 5340θ

7. A window assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, or Figure 3, of the accompanying drawings.