US2803857A - Sash construction - Google Patents

Description

Aug- 27, 1957 D. c. MUEssEL 2,803,857

sAsH CONSTRUCTION Filed June 8, 1954 46j r, ya

4 ,A n W M /4/ IN VEN TOR.

United tates SASH CGNSTRUC'EION Application .lune 8, 1954, Serial No. 435,161

1 Claim. (Cl. 20-56.4)

This invention relates to a construction for securing panels and, more particularly, to a sash construction for mounting panels of materials such as glass in store fronts and the like.

Since the advent of resilient metal sash, particularly for store fronts, in the early part of the century, various types of assemblies have been developed and tried with varying degrees of success. One is the so-called facescrew type in which an outer sash member is applied from the exterior of the store front opening and secured by a screw also applied from the exterior. The glass panel can thus be readily removed at will from the exterior and the screw is exposed to view. Another type is the snap-on type. It also includes an outer sash member applied from the exterior and has no exposed screws; but generally this type has not been too satisfactory because the securing means was not adequate or was difficult to install and in some cases there was nothing to prevent removal of the glass from the exterior. A third type is the inside-set in which the outer sash is applied from the exterior but in which securing and adjusting is done at the interior. This makes it somewhat inconvenient to install.

it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved sash that has the advantages of the foregoing types but none of their disadvantages. It can be readily applied from the exterior; it can be readily locked from the exterior without the use of tools and, once locked, there is no likelihood of the outer sash member from becoming unsecured with resulting damage to the glass; it has no exposed securing means; it cannot be released or unlocked from the exterior; and it can be released only from the interior and by means insertable between the glass and the inner sash member, whereby no openings or the like are required in the latter.

in accordance with the foregoing and many other obi jects, one embodiment of the invention comprises a fixed and inner sash member having a forwardly extending glass or panel engaging part and a part dependent defining a downwardly and inwardly inclined locking element. An outer and movable sash member having a panel engaging portion positioned opposite to that formed on the inner sash member is locked to the fixed sash member by a plurality of resilient securing means such as spring clips so that the panel engaging portions on the two sash members resiliently and firmly engage an interposed panel of material to maintain it in position.

The spring clip comprises a replicated body having a pair of resilient leg portions mounted on the outer sash member and a locking element with an upwardly and outwardly inclined part which engages the locking surface on the xed sash member securely to hold the construction in an assembled condition. The spring clip also includes an upper ilat end portion to facilitate guiding of the clip into interlocking engagement with the locking element formed by the inner sash member. The spring clips are each provided with an intermediate body portion which is engageable by a thin tool inserted adjacent the panel to arent release the spring clip. The locking elements of the spring clips are also constructed in a manner insuring that they lock the sash members until intentionally released so there is no danger of the outer sash member or glass panel falling off.

The locking element associated with the fixed sash member may be formed as a separate element which is later secured to the sash member. Alternatively, it may be formed integrally with the sash member. Also the inner sash member may be formed with a groove for receiving a weather sealing strip.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the specification together with the following drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary cross sectional View of a sash construction embodying the present invention and in which the sash construction is shown in a partially assembled condition;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a completely assembled sash construction;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a spring clip forming a portion of the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing a double face sash construction having an inner sash member with an integral locking element; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing a double face sash construction embodying the present invention.

Referring now to Figs. 1 3 of the drawings, 10 indicates generally a sash construction including a fixed and inner sash member' l2 and an outer and movable sash member i4 which are detachably secured together with portions thereof in resilient engagement with a panel of glass 16 by a plurality of locking elements such as the spring clips indicated generally as 18. The inner sash member 12 is rigidly secured to a supporting frame structure 19 including a sill 2t) and back stop 21. The panel 16 is supported above the bottom of sash member 12 by means of a plurality of setting blocks 191.

ln assembling the panel 16 in the sash construction 10, the panel is mounted on the blocks 191 and held in adjusted position by merely moving the outer sash member i4 into iirm resilient engagement with the outer surface of the panel 16 thereby producing automatic engagement of the spring clips 13 with locking structure on the xed sash member l2. To disassemble the construction 10, it is merely necessary to disengage the clips 18 from this locking structure and remove the outer sash member 14.

The inner sash member 12 which rests upon a base plate 22 is provided with a depending ange 24 for engaging one surface of the panel 16. The flange 24 is of sufficient length that, when the panel 16 is` pressed into engagement therewith, the engaged surfaces thereof form a substantially water impervious seal thereby to prevent moisture such as that produced by the condensation of vapors in the air from entering the hollow defined by the sash construction itl. The inner sash member 12 is formed of an integral construction and has no openings on its upper side so that moisture condensing on the inside of the glass cannot enter the space enclosed thereby and, accordingly corrosion and discoloration of the sash construction i@ is prevented.

The inner sash member is provided with a plurality of locking means 26 for engagement by the spring clips. An upper extremity 28 of member 2d engages the inner surface of the depending iiange 24 and extends upwardly to just below the underside of the top part of the sash member. it thus serves as a backing for flange 24, as a stop for downward movement of the top of the sash member i2, and as an abutment to prevent outward movement of the locking element.

Each member 26 has a lower portion 30 provided with an opening 31 for detachably receiving a locating and holding tongue or lug 33 formed integral with a lower leg 32 of the member 12. The interlocking of the lug 33 and the opening 31 holds the locking member 26 in a desired position during shipping and until such time as thesash member 12, the base plate- Z2, and the locking member 26 are permanently secured to the frame structure 19 by a plurality of screws 35. An intermediate replicated portion 34 of the lockingmember 26 extends inwardly and downwardly to provide a downwardly and rearwardly inclined locking surface 36 which engages oppositely formed means on the spring clips 18. The locking member 26- may eitherbe formed in aV plurality of separate elements which are secured at spaced positions within they innerv sash member 112 by the screws 35 as described or may be formed as a single continuous extrusion or stamping having a length correspondingto thatof the inner sash memberI 12;

The outer sash member 14 is illustrated as being substantially L-shaped, although other shapes can be' used, and including atV its top side a depending flange 38@ the outer surface of which is moved intoengagement with thepanel 16 approximately opposite the flange 24, thereby firmly to secure the panel 16 in` an adjusted position. The flange 38 is made long enough so` that, upon engagingthe outer surface of'the panel 16, the engaged surfaces provide a substantially moisture-tight seal and prevent'theentrance of moisture into the hollowdened by the sashconstruction 10. The lowerend of theV outer sash member 14 is provided with a return bend 40 defining asubstantiallyU-shaped channel 42.

The plurality of spring clips or resilient locking members 18 are adjustably mounted on the outer'sash member 14by means of a pair of legs 44 having downwardly projecting llanges-46 received-within the channel 42 and by-means-ofV an" arcuate arm 48, extending upwardly between'andfromv underneath the legs 44 soV that its upper end engages the inner surface of the depending flange 38; TheV spring clips 18 are slidably mounted within the outer sash member 14, so that they may be easily moved into alignment-with the locking members 26 which are secured in predetermined positions within the inner sash member 12. Y

The spring clip 18, whichis formed ofv spring steel or a similar resilient material, comprises a generally replicated body having oneendthereof bifurcated to provide the two resilient legs 44. The other endv of the clip 18- is folded over tor provide the arcuate slightly hollow arm 48 havi'ng'a central strengthening rib 50. Each ofthe` resilient legs 44isf also provided with a strengthening rib' oppositely formed surface 36 on the locking member 26' when the sash construction is in the assembled position' shown-in Fig. 2 to prevent the outer sash member 14 from being moved away from the inner sash member 1`2'and to` hold the flanges 24 and 33 in resilient engagement with the. panel' 161 The intermediate portion of the clip also includes a substantially horizontal or flat top wall portion 60 integrally connected to legs 44 through wall portion 54 and to arm 48. The wallportion 6ft engages the lower en d of the replicated portion 34 to facilitate assembly of the sash during which the spring clip 18 is deflected. somewhat to permit the locking surfaces 36 and 56 to be. moved into engagement. The wall portion also strengthens the locking element and the resulting arrangement provides an adequate locking with sufficient resilience to permit ready installation.

When it is desired to assemble the panel 16 in the sash constructionv 10,y the panel is placed on the setting blocks.

19 with the inner surface thereof in engagement with the flange 24 on the inner sash member 12. The spring clips 18 are moved into positions on the outer sash member 14 in alignment with the locking members 26 secured to the inner sash member 12. Thereafter, the outer sash member 14 is moved toward the inner sash member 12 Vto move the flange 38 into engagement with the outer surface of the panel 16 and to move the walls 60 into engagement with the lower ends of the replicated portions 34 on the locking members 26, as illustrated in Fig. l.

The continuing application of pressure to the lower extremity of the outer sash member 14 causes the wall portion 6l) to slide in engagement with the end of the replicated portion 34, thereby deflecting a portion of the clip in a counterclockwise direction. This deflection of the arm 48 results in the application of a resilient force against the panel 16 thereby urging this panel into intimate resilient engagement with the flange 24.

Following movement of the wall portions 60 beyond the ends of the replicated portions 34, the clips- 18 are deflected in a counterclockwise direction by the resilient force produced by the deflection of the arms 48 so that the inclined surfaces 36 and 56 move into the effective locking engagement, as shown in Fig. 2. Since these surfaces are inclined away from the direction in which the clips 18 must be moved in order to move these surfaces out of engagement, the interlocking engagement of thereplicated portion 34Y with the Wall 54 maintains the inner' sash member 12 and outer sash member 14 in a position in which the arm 48 resiliently urges the sash member 14 toward the inner sash member 12 to secure the panel 16.

Further, the lower wall portion of the return bend 40- in the outer sash member is pressed into intimate engagement with the upper surface of the base plate 22 by the resilient forces produced by. the distortion of the clip 18 so thatl an effective watertight seal is produced between the outer sash member 14 and the base plateV 22. The resilient engagement of the outer and inner surfaces of the panel 16 by the surfaces of the flanges 24 and 38 also form substantially watertight seals so that the interior of the'sash construction 10 is completely sealed to prevent the entrance of water and water vapor.

When it is desired to disassemble thesash construction 1t), the thin flexible blade of an instrument, such as a putty knife, isinserted between the inner surface of the panel 16'and the'outer surface of the flange 24 and moved downwardly, until theA end of the blade engages the upper surface of'a substantially horizontalwall 62 ofthe clip 18. Thereafter, the application ofv force tol the instrument displaces the clip 18'so that the wall 54 moves out of engagement with the replicated'portion 34, thereby disengaging the` removable sash member 14 from the fixed sash member 12.

Referring nowto Fig; 4 of the drawingsthere is shown a secondembodiment of the invention forming a double face sash construction indicated generally as 70 which includes a fixed or inner sash member 72 and a movable or outer sash member 75. The two sash members 72 and; 75 are detachably secured together in engagement with apanel of glass 74 by means ofa plurality of spring clips 76. The sash construction 70 is adapted to be mounted* on a flat supportingY surface 78 rather than an angular supporting surface, such as the supporting frame 19, and, accordingly, it is necessary to lnodify the structure of the fixed sash member 72 so as to provide a pleasing, appearance when the construction 70 is viewed from either side ofthe panel 74.

Moreparticularly, the.sashconstructionsltl and 70 Vare identical with the exception of the structure of the fixed saslimernber 72. One feature. characterizing the sash member. 72 is` the. provision of integraldetent or locking means .formed by a downwardly and inwardly inclined wall, 80 which formsv a locking surface 82.'. similar in function to the surface 36 in the sash construction 10. The wall 80 is joined to the fixed sash member 72 by a depending flange 84 which engages the panel of glass 74 in the same manner as the depending ange 24 in the construction 10. The use of the integral locking portion 80 reduces the cost of the sash construction 70 by obviating the need for a plurality of separately formed locking members, similar to the members 26, and also the need for accurately locating these locking members in predetermined positions relative to the fixed sash member 72.

Since the construction 70 is adapted to be mounted on a ush supporting frame 78 rather than the angular supporting structure 20, means should be provided for preventing moisture from passing between the sash construction 70 and the frame 78. In order to prevent this passage of moisture, a lower leg 86 of the fixed sash member 72 is provided with a rib 87 defining a groove which is lled with a weathering strip 88 preferably formed of a vinyl plastic. When the fixed sash member 72 is secured to the supporting structure 78 by a plurality of screws 90, the material forming the strip 88 is compressed and held in intimate engagement with the upper surface of the supporting structure 78, thereby preventing the passage of moisture between the sash member 72 and the supporting structure 78.

The sash construction 70 is assembled in the same manner as the sash construction 10 by placing the glass panel 74 on a plurality of spaced setting blocks 92 and then moving the sash member 75 inwardly toward the member 72, the clips 76 being deflected by the ends of the walls 80 and subsequently snapping back into interlocking engagement with the inclined surfaces 82. The construction 70 is also completely sealed to prevent the entrance of moisture and is disassembled by inserting a thin blade between the panel 74 and the flange 80 to engage and depress a flat wall portion 94 on the clips 76.

A third embodiment of the invention providing a double face sash construction indicated generally as 100 (Fig. includes a fixed sash member 102 and a movable or outer sash member 104 which are detachably secured together and held in resilient engagement with an interposed panel of glass 106 by a plurality of spring clips 108. The construction 100 is similar to the detachable sash construction but is adapted to be mounted on a fiat supporting frame 110 to provide a pleasing appearance when viewed from either side of the panel 106. Also, the construction 100 is of greater width than the constructions 10 and 70 for use in applications where it is necessary to provide an appearance of greater depth in order to maintain a uniformity of appearance consistent with surrounding structures.

The fixed sash member 102, which is quite similar to the xed sash member 12, supports a plurality of spaced setting blocks 111 on which the lower edge of the panel 106 rests with one surface of the panel in engagement with a depending flange 112 formed integral with the sash member 102. ln order to provide a moistureproof seal, a lower leg 114 of the member 102 is provided with a raised portion or rib 116 deiining a groove 118 within which is positioned a weathering strip 120 preferably formed of vinyl plastic. When the fixed sash member 102 is secured to the supporting structure 110 by a plurality of screws 122, the plastic material 120 is compressed and forms a watertight seal to prevent moisture from passing between the sash construction 100 and the supporting frame 110.

To provide locking means for engaging the spring clips 108, which are identical to the clips 18, a plurality of locking members 124 similar to the locking members 26 are mounted on the sash member 102 and the frame 110 by the screws 122. A downwardly and inwardly extending replicated portion 126 defines a locking surface 128 which is engaged by oppositely formed locking surfaces on the spring clips 100.

in order to prevent the locking members 124 from being displaced to the right as shown in Fig. 5 when the clips 108 are moved into engagement therewith, a lower rounded portion 132 of the member 124 engages a like formed arcuate portion of the rib 116. Accordingly, the rib 116 not only forms a groove 118 within which the weathering strip 120 is received but also provides a stop engaging the` locking member 124 additionally to prevent` displacement thereof.

The movable sash member 104 includes a depending panel engaging flange 134 which is urged into engagement with one surface of the panel 106 by a resilient arm 136 formed integral with the spring clip 108. The other end of the spring clip 108 is bifurcated to form a pair of resilient legs 138 having anges 140 which are received within a channel formed by a U-shaped end portion 142 on the movable sash member 104. The end portion 142 is joined to a lower leg 144 of the sash member 104 by an angularly formed portion 146.

The double face sash construction achieves all of the advantages provided by the sash constructions 10 and 70 and, in addition, forms a watertight sash construction adapted to be mounted on a ush surface which presents a pleasing appearance when viewed from either side of the panel 106. Also, by the provision of the dual function rib 116, means are provided both for preventing the passage of moisture between the construction 100 and the supporting frame and for improving the rigidity of the fixed sash construction 102 by providing additional securing means for the locking members 124. The construction 100 is assembled in the same manner as the constructions 10 and 70 and is disassembled by engaging and moving a flat wall of the clip 108 with a thin bladed instrument inserted between the panel 106 and the flange 112.

Accordingly, the sash constructions 10, 70l and 100 provide quickly and easily assembled means for securing a panel in a predetermined position without requiring the use of manually operated fastening devices. Assembly is facilitated by the particular construction of the locking means and the latter is also constructed so as to provide a very adequate locking of the outer sash and panel. Further, since they can be disassembled by merely inserting a tool adjacent a surface of the panel, thereby obviating the need for any openings, these sash constructions are substantially moisture-tight to thereby prevent corrosion of the metallic parts thereof and discoloration of both the sash construction and the adjacent supporting structure.

While the present invention has been described in connection with the details of several specific embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that these details are not intended to be a limitation of the invention except insofar as set forth in the accompanying claim.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A sash construction for mounting a panel comprising a irst sash member having a bottom portion, an upstanding rear wall portion, a forwardly extending top portion and a downwardly extending panel engaging ange at the front of said top portion, a locking member xedly mounted in said sash member having bottom and rear wall portions engaging the bottom and rear wall portions of said sash member, said locking member having a portion extending outwardly from the rear Wall portion some distance below the top portion of the sash member, a downwardly and rearwardly inclined reversely bent locking element at the front of the said extending portion of the locking member, said reversely bent locking element having a portion extending upwardly to substantially back of said panel engaging flange, a second sash member having a panel engaging ange thereon and a bottom wall portion formed with a longitudinal channel, said second sash member carrying a plurality of resilient locking means; each of said resilient locking means comprising a replicated element having oppositely extending legsoneN of which is insertedlwithin said-channel and the other of whichwab'uts the. panel engaging flange ofy saiding upwardly from said body portion and-beingvinclinedl forwardly in order toengage said reverselyY bentlocking element, thereby to y-hold saidrst and second sash mem-f bers in assembly.

References VCited in the lile ofi this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Bristow r-- Nov. 31942r Peterson I une 8, 1943 Ketchum, Jr. Oct. 21, 1952v

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