US2779068A - Spacer for awning type window vents - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 29, 1957 D. c. BLANCHARD 2,779,063

SPACER FOR AWNING TYPE WINDOW VENTS Filed Nov. 12, 1954 Fie.4.

INVENTOR. DONN C. BLANCHARD, BY

&,M\ C1 4.

ATTORNEY United States Patent SPACER FOR AWNING TYPE WINDOW VENTS Donn C. Blanchard, Miami, Fla., assignor to Stanley Building Specialties Company, North Miami, Fla., a corporation of Florida Application November 12, 1954, Serial No. 468,291

2 Claims. (Cl. 20-42) This invention relates to a sash spacer and has particular reference to a device for connection with an upper channeled head rail of sashes such as that commonly employed in the well recognized awning types of windows, and provides a means whereby the lower sill rail of an upper adjacent sash will be maintained in accurate parallel relation with the upper head rail of the adjacent lower sash whereby the sashes are held against flexing under the conventional glazing operation.

The relatively long upper and lower rails of sash constructions commonly employed in awning type windows are commonly constructed of aluminum or other light weight metal and, due to their length, have a tendency to flex downwardly upon the application of any unusual pressure thereon, such as that imparted thereto during the glazing of a window, and this tendency to flex frequently causes the lower sill rail to flex downwardly under the force exerted thereon by the application of putty or other sealing mediums employed in the glazing of a windew and, as a result of this flexing, which incidentally, will be relatively small but is sufficient to prevent the fully closing and Weatherstrip position of the window in use.

An object of this invention resides in the provision of a spacer device that is proportioned to have clipping engagement within the channel of the upper head rail to lie in the path of swinging movement of the sill rail of an adjacent sash, whereby the overlapping sash rails will be effectively held in proper alignment during the glazing of the window so as to assure of a full and weather-tight closure in accordance with the construction of the window and with the spacer being disposed substantially intermediate the ends of the rail to be subsequently removed after glazing or may be left in position as a permanent form of aligning spacer.

A further object of the invention resides in a novel form of spacer having adequate spring tension that will maintain the spacer against accidental displacement, permitting the spacer to be installed at the point of manufacture to be shipped with the window as an assurance that the subsequent glazing will not distort the rails.

A further object resides in forming a spacer that is constructed to have a camming action at its forward side whereby the sill rail of the upper sash will be flexed upwardly to its normally straight and parallel relation to the head rail of the adjacent sash.

Features of construction and operation of the spacer will be clearly apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein has been illustrated a preferred form of the device and wherein like characters of reference are employed to denote like parts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a spacer constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of an upper header rail of a conventional awning type window sash showing the invention applied thereto,

2,779,068 Patented Jan. 29, 1957 Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a pair of co-acting sash rails in the partially open position, and

Figure 4 is a similar view but with the sashes in the fully closed position.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a channeled upper head rail of a window sash, and figure 6 designates a channeled lower sill rail of an adjacent upper sash. The sashes are pivoted in a horizontal plane as is customary and are simultaneously swung in a vertical plane for the opening and closing of the window, this being well recognized in sash constructions of the awning window type.

The spacer, illustrated as a whole by the numeral 7, embodies a generally U-shaped member of any desired length and preferably formed of relatively stiif metal. The spacer embodies a vertical rear leg portion 8 and a forward inclined leg portion 9. The upper portion of the leg 9 is curved upwardly and rearwardly to merge into a substantially flat head portion 10 with the curved portion forming a camming surface 11. The transverse width of the spacer will obviously be determined in accordance with the particular window with which it is used.

In-use, the spacer is inserted within the channel of the rail 5 substantially intermediate its length and with the leg portion 8 resting against the flanged construction 12 of the sash. The leg 9 is flexed inwardly at which time the spacer is forced downwardly to rest upon the transverse web 13 of the rail 5 and upon its fully seated position, the leg 9 will spring outwardly to bind against the forward side of the channel. in this position, the flat head portion 10 will be disposed at an elevation representing the normal elevation of the lower flange 14 of the lower rail 6, which position has been pre-determined for the accurate glazing and sealing of the rails with respect to each other. Should the lower rail 6 be slightly bowed downwardly prior to glazing, the flange 14 will engage the curved cam surface 11 and force the rail 6 upwardly to its proper alignment with the rail 5 and a continued closing movement will dispose the flange 14 in overriding and seating engagement upon the head portion 10, in which position the glazer may proceed with the glazing of the window without danger of flexing the rail 6 downwardly and will assure that, after glazing, the parts will remain in their proper position of alignment to permit an accurate closing action of the window. After the glazing compound has hardened, the spacer may be removed,

if desired, or may be left in position within the channel of the rail 5 without in any way interfering with the proper movement of the sashes with respect to each other. The spacer may be constructed of spring tensioned material and preferably of a material that is resistant to rust or corrosion.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a very desirable and essential means has been provided to facilitate the glazing of window sashes in a manner to prevent flexing of the rails. The device is extremely cheap to manufacture, is strong, durable and highly effective for the purposes stated.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown, but that changes are contemplated as readily fall within the spirit of the invention as determined by the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a window construction wherein a plurality of sashes are horizontally pivoted to swing to and from a position overlapping sealing engagement and wherein each of the sashes include channeled frame members having a header and a sill member, a spacer device that is detachably engaged within the channel of each header member for overriding contacting engagement of the sill member of a next adjacent sash whereby the sill member will be accurately aligned in parallel relation to the adjacent header member to permit a fully closed overlapping and sealing engagement of the sashes with respect to each other, the said spacer being of U-shape and provided with a bearing head portion and supporting leg members and with the leg members being compressible for permitting insertion of the spacer within the channel of the header whereby the leg members frictionally bind against the inner sides of the channel and with the leg members determining the depth of movement of the spacer into the channel whereby the head portion is disposed at an elevation that supports the sill member of the adjacent sash in a position parallel with the header and that permits a fully closed and overlapping engagement of the sashes throughout their length.

2. In combination with a window construction wherein a plurality of sashes are horizontally pivoted to swing to and from a position of overlapping sealing engagement and wherein each of the sashes include channeled frame members having a header and a sill member, a spacer device that is detachably engaged within the channel of each header member for overriding contacting engagement of the sill member of a next adjacent sash whereby the sill member will be accurately aligned in parallel relation to the adjacent header member to permit a fully closed overlapping and sealing engagement of the sashes with respect to each other, the said spacer being stamped from sheet metal and with the spacer being of inverted U-shape having an upper fiat head portion, a rear right angle leg portion and a forward inclined leg portion, the forward leg portion at its upper extremity being upwardly and rearwardly curved into the flat head portion to form a lifting cam surface that is disposed in the path of movement of the adjacent sill member that has been accidently bowed downwardly out of parallelism with the adjacent header frame member, the cam surface elevating the bowed sill member whereby it will override and have resting support upon the flat head portion.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATEIITS 2,212,221 Alexander et al Aug. 20, 1940 2,622,672 Thomas Dec. 23, 1952 2,690,336 Belmont Sept. 28, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 624,506 Great Britain June 10, 1949 282,969 Switzerland Sept. 1, 1952

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