IE54737B1 - Improvements in window frames and associated fittings - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to improvements in window frames and their fittings, especially to espagnclette window fittings.

Many developments are now being made in window 5 frames and window fittings associated therewith. This is especially apparent in Europe where very elegant and well-designed window fittings are available. One of the most popular window fittings is the espagnolettetype closure in which the turning of one handle locks or unlocks a window at a plurality of different points around the window frame. This method of closure may be used with both open-in and open-out windows, but this application relates solely to open-out windows with either side hinges or top hinges.

A typical open-out window comprises an outer frame onto which is mounted a vent frame which surrounds the edges of the glass of the window. The glass is held in a groove within the vent frame. The window frame is formed to provide an enclosed space located between this groove and the edge of the vent frame. The inside wall of this groove is formed by an inner upstand of the vent frame. The handle of an espagnolette fitting is usually placed on the outside wall of the inner upstand of the vent frame. Along one of the edges of the vent frame, which comes into contact with the outer frame is a metal 4 7 3 7 -2strip known as a face plate whicn carries roller cams.

The corresponding edge of the outer frame carries a metal or plastic plate known as a striking plate which includes slots which are positioned so that when the - 5 vent frame is closed.and secured hy turning the handle, the roller cams engage the slots in the striking plate.

On turning the handle to open the window the roller cams slide out of the slot or slots to disengage the striking plate and unlock the window. The gearing mechanism which converts the turning motion of the handle to the reciprocating motion of the face plate has conventionally been situated within the vent frame in the space defined between the base o.f the groove and the edge of the vent frame on which the face plate is mounted.

Many espagnolette fittings have been designed to be positioned in a window in this way. This is very popular in Germany where the depth of the inner vent frame, that is the distance between the base of the groove containing the glass and the edge of the vent frame on which the face plate is mounted is very wide.

With the advent of aluminium windows and more recently plastic windows the profile of the windows is becoming much slimmer and especially the depth of the vent frame, that is the depth of the space between the base of the groove and the edge of the vent frame on which the face plate is mounted is being rapidly decreased.

This means that the gearing which converts the rotary movement of the handle to the reciprocating movement of the face plate will not fit into this space. Thus, many manufacturers have in fact abandoned the use of the superior espagnolette fittings and returned to conventional British fittings, in which a handle attached to the vent frame incorporates an integral projection which engages a wedge or groove in the outer fixed frame when the handle is turned. With a normal size open-out window often two separate handles are required to achieve satisfactory / -3sealing of the closed wineow.

However it is desirable to use tbe elegant espagnolette fittings on windows since they can lock the windows in more than one position but only have one handle. The normal way of positioning the espagnolette fitting is to place the gearing in the space between the base of the groove and the edge of the vent frame, but this means that the gearing protrudes through the vent frame into the groove, between the two panes of glass in the case of a double-glazed window, or to the side of one pane of glass. However this solution is unsatisfactory since the base of the groove has to have a space cut out of it to accommodate the searing.

The depth of the gearing cannot be decreased since the centre of the gearing has to line up with the spindle passing through the handle. The outer frame of a window often includes an inner upstand which protrudes from the edge of the outer frame. To allow correct opening and closing the handle must clear this inner upstand of the outer frame. -This contributes to the depth of the gearing.

Such positioning of the gearing means that the integrity of the base of the groove is destroyed. Thus any water entering the window frame through any sealing around the glass will drop into the base of the groove and into the space between the base of the groove and the edge of the vent frame.

This will result in rusting and deterioration of the gearing, the spindle and the handles and could eventually lead to seizure or destruction through corrosion of the gearing or handle.

Covering the sealing of the hole in the base of the groove is not satisfactory.

Another method of overcoming the problem is to place 35 the gearing totally on the inside surface of the vent frame. This gives a very inferior action and clumsy 5473 -4appearance as the espagnolette is required to be especially ' designed to fit in this way so that none of the conventional well developed espagnolette fittings can be used.

According to this invention there is provided a window frame for an open out-window including an outer frame and a vent frame, the vent frame having a groove formed therein for accommodating a pane of glass, the groove having an inner wall, an outer wall and a base, the inner wall of the groove being formed by an inner upstand of the vent frame, said window frame also having an espagnolette fitting, the gearing of said fitting being located within said inner upstand, said gearing being arranged so that it does not penetrate the base of the groove.

Thus the gearing does not penetrate any of the groove holding the glass. This position for the gearing is ideal since the depth is great enough to accommodate the gearing. Conventional espagnolette-type window fittings and operating handles may be used which ssaves costs on development and design of alternative fittings. The appearance of such a window is elegant and neat since the gearing it totally enclosed and concealed.

This window frame may be made of any plastics material, of aluminium or of wood.

The vent frame may have a solid inner upstand which has a hole drilled out of it bo accommodate the gearing but preferably the inner upstand is hollow and so no modification is required to accommodate the gearing. 4 7 3 7 -5This particular location of the gearing of the espagnolette fitting may be used in a frame for one or more panes of glass.

An example of a window frame in accordance with the 5 invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying·drawing which is a cross-section of the bottom edge of the vent frame of a top hinged open-out window with the top of the outer frame.

A window frame 1 comprises an outer frame 2 which is 10 fixed to a wall and a vent frame 3 which surrounds the pane of glass (not shown). The vent frame includes a groove 4 which accommodates the glass. The inner wall of the groove 4 is formed by the hollow vertical upstand 5 of the vent frame 3. A space 6 is defined between the base of the groove 4 and the edge of the vent frame 3.

The vent frame 3 is extruded out of plastics material with two hollow chambers 5 and 6. The outer frame 2 comprises a substantially L-shaped plastic extruded shape comprising three hollow chambers. The 2P outer wall of the groove 4 is formed by the bead 7 which is placed in position when the glass has been inserted Into the groove 4. The bead is also hollow and extruded plastic. The window frame 1 includes an espagnolette fitting comprising a handle 8, located on the vent frame 3 which when turned operates a spindle 9 which projects 4 7 3 7 -6into the hollow upstand 5 to cooperate with gearing mechanism 10 situated therein. This moves roller cams 11 supported by the face plate 12 into slots 13 carried in a striking plate 14. The striking plate 14 is fixed to the outer frame 2.

To disengage the roller cams 11 from the striking plate .14 the turning of the handle 8 causes the face plate 12 to move from a locked position where the roller cams 11 are in contact with the slots 13 to an unlocked position where the roller cams 11 are not in contact with the slots 13.

In an alternative embodiment in accordance with the present invention the lockcase incorporating the gearing mechanism (equivalent to item 10 of the embodiment described above) projects, at its upper end,into the area where the normal glazing gasket would be fitted (this area can be seen in the drawing relating to the above-described embodiment at the top right-hand part of hollow upstand 5 where there is a relatively narrow gap and an enlarged recessed area behind the gap for accommodating the rear part of the glazing gasket). By having the lockcase projecting into the glazing gasket area, the vent frame profile can be reduced in size.

As a result the amount of material required for the vent frame is reduced and the sight lines of the window are improved. Typically the vent of the lockcase is about 47 3 7 -750 mm and accordingly the gasket has to be cut away around the lockcase area over this length. However the lockcase remains located within the inner upstand, an upper inner portion merely projecting into an area otherwise occupied by the locating portion of the glazing gasket.-

Claims (6)

1. A window frame for an open out-window including an outer frame and a vent frame, the vent frame having a groove formed therein for accommodating a pane of glass, the groove having an inner wall, an outer wall and a base, the inner wall of the groove being formed by an inner upstand of the vent frame, said window frame-also having an espagnolette fitting, the gearing of said fitting being located within said inner upstand, said gearing being arranged so that it does not penetrate the base of the groove.

2. A window frame according to claim 1 in which the outer frame and the vent frame are made of plastics material, of aluminium, or of wood.

3. A window frame according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the inner upstand of .the vent frame is solid and has a hole drilled out of it to accommodate the gearing of the espagnolette fitting.

4. A window frame according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the inner upstand of the vent frame is hollow.

5. A window frame according to claim 1 as substantially as herein described.

6. A window frame for an open out window substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.