US2881483A - Horizontally pivoted window - Google Patents

Description

R; E. GINTHE R HORIZONTALLYPIVOTED WINDOW April 14, 1959 4' Sheets-Sheet I;

,FiIGd June 13,. .1956 g INVENTOR. P064519 5 Q/A/Tf/EI? eiiw w wvi I ATTORNEYS April 14, 1959 'R. E. GINTHER HORIZONTALLY' PIVOTED WINDOW 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 15, 1956 United States Patent 2,881,483 HORIZONTALLY PIVOTED WINDOW Roger E. Ginther, Leonard, Mich., assignor to Tilt-A- Door Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application June 13, 1956, SerialNo. 591,197 6 Claims. (Cl. 20-63) This invention relates in general to a structure for a window having a horizontally pivoted sash, and particularly to a type thereof wherein said sash may include a storm panel and a roll-type shade supported thereon, and the pivotal axis of said sash is disposed exteriorly of its exterior surface.

The use of horizontally pivoted window sash in buildings for industrial and semi-industrial establishments is well established and some offering of them has been made for residential purposes. However, this type of horizontally pivoted window has thus far received only limited consumer acceptance for residential purposes, particularly for dwellings of the single family type. Although the reasons for this lack of general acceptance have been many and varied, there are several which are believed to be paramount". In the first place, the single sash type of horizontally pivoted windows presently known to exist are expensive, both to manufacture and to install. In order to provide a reasonably practical screen for the opening which a horizontally pivoted sash creates when it is in the open position, said sash must be pivoted fairly close to one rail thereof. Where the sash is pivoted near or at the lower rail and it hinges outwardly to permit the use of an inside screen, the sash will act as a scoop for any precipitation that occurs. A sash, which hinges inwardly from near its lower edge, creates an unattractive obstruction within the building. Furthermore, such bottom-pivoted windows must be provided with some type of chain, or similar flexible element, by which the upper, outer rail can be returned to its closed position.

Where the sash is pivoted near its upper rail, it is difficult to open and hold open because of the weight resulting from the canopy produced by the window. Some attempts have been made to counterbalance the relatively large portion of the window below the pivotal axis in the canopy-type window by placing additional weight in the relatively small portion of the window sash above the pivotal axis. However, in order to produce any reasonable effect, so much weight has been required as to seriously impair the utility of the window by increasing its cost due to the need for added strength, both in its fabrication and its installation.

7 Other needs for this type of window have included an adequate sealing mechanism for the space between the sash and the frame structure, adequate mechanismfor adapting or warping the contour of the sash to the contour of the front surface of the sash supporting frame, and adequate means for effecting an automatic locking of the sash with respect to the frame when the sash is in the closed position. The locking problem is of a local nature, which naturally arises from the type of the window. More specifically, a horizontally pivoted, canopy-type window sash has the unique advantage of providing the widest possible aperture for the egress and ingress of air, while at the same time providing a selfcontained protection against precipitation, which is not available with other, conventional t'ypes of windows' 2,881,483 Patented Apr. 14, 19 59 Thus, particularly in southern climates where maximum ventilation is desirable, this type of window is mos advantageous. However, local building regulations in some such areas frequently require the presence of some type of device whereby said windows are substantially automatically locked when in the closed position in order to avoid injury to occupants in the event of high winds.

As to the sealing aspects of the window, certain other areas of the country having warm climates, including the southwest, have the additional problem of continuous and prevailing high winds, which often blow dirt. Such dirt will sift between the sash and sash frame of almost any type of window unless an extremely good seal is provided.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention has been the provision of structure for a window having a horizontally pivoted sash, wherein the pivot of said sash is relatively closer to the upper rail than to the lower rail thereof, thereby providing a canopy-type window' to protect the interior of the building in which it is installed from precipitation while providing maximum ingress and egress of air.

Further objects of this invention have been the pro vision of a window structure, as aforesaid, wherein a screen can be provided for use with said window with a minimum of difficulty; wherein the cost of fabricating and installing such window will be competitive with other styles of windows for the same or similar purposes; wherein the resultant structure will be completely adequate in all respects for use with the single family dwelling; wherein the sash can be easily opened and held open; wherein the sash is easily locked with respect to the sash frame, automatically and securely, when the sash is moved into its closed position; wherein the con tour of the sash can be adjusted or warped so that its exterior surface will be flush with the exterior surface of the sash supporting frame, thereby improving the seal between said sash and said sash frame; and wherein an improved sealing device is provided to reduce to an absolute minimum the possibility of any type of leakage between the sash and sash frame in the form of either inclement weather conditions or heat transfer.

Still further objects of this invention have been the provision of a structure, as aforesaid, wherein a shade and a storm panel may be mounted easily and removably upon the sash; wherein the sash maintains a'balanced position about its pivotal axis when it is in a partially opened position; wherein the window structure can be easily and quickly installed by any person capable of constructing the building wherein it is used; and wherein. said sash can be very easily and quickly opened, closed and locked by a single lever operable by any person capable of operating any type of window for similar purposes.

Other objects and purposes of this invention will become apparent to persons familiar with this type of structure upon reading the following specification and examining the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a front elevation view of said window structure, as appearing from the exterior of a building" or Weather side thereof.

Figure 2 is a side elevation view of said window struc*-- ture, as viewed from the leftward side thereof as appearing in Figure 1, and including adjacent Wall structure.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of Figure 1, with the sash in the open position, and including adjacent wall structure.-

Figure 4 is anenlarged fragment of the upper end of Figure 3, with the sash in the closed position.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragment of the central por tiofif of Figure 3, with the sash in the closed position.

Figure 6 is a sectional view, substantially as taken along the line VI-VI of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of Figure 5.

' Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIIIVIII of Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line IXIX of Figure 6.

Figure 10 is a broken, sectional view taken along the line XX of Figure l and including adjacent wall structure.

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken along the line XI XI of Figure 10 and rotated 90 counterclockwise.

Figure 12 is a sectional view about as taken along the line XIIXII of Figure 11, showing the sash in a partially opened position.

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken along the line XIII-XIII of'Figure 11, and rotated 90 clockwise.

For the purpose of convenience in description, the terms upper, lower, left, right, and derivatives thereof, shall have reference to the Window structure and parts thereof as appearing in Figure 1. The terms interior, exterior, and derivatives thereof, shall have reference to the leftward and rightward sides, respectively, of the structure as appearing in Figures 2 and 3. The terms inner, outer, and derivatives thereof, shall have reference to the geometric center of said structure and parts thereof.

General description In, order to meet the objects and purposes set forth above, aswell as others related thereto, a Window structure-10 has been provided, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3,;which is comprised of a window frame'll, which is supportable within the wall structure 12 of any conventional building, such as a family dwelling. Asingle sash l3 is.-pivotally supported upon, and within, the frame 11 formovement about a horizontal axis 14 which is usually disposed externally of the external surface 15 of said sash. The sash 13 is arranged to support a conventional closure panel 16, a storm panel 17 and a shade 18, said storm panel and shade being movable with the sash 13 about its pivotal axis 14. Sash control mechanism 19, including the manually operable control lever 21. mounted upon the interior surface of the frame 11, is provided for moving said sash 13 between its open and closed positions. Said control lever and said frame 11 are provided with a locking device 22 (Figures and 7) whereby said sash is automatically locked with respect to the frame 11 when said sash is in the fully closed position.

Detailed construction :The frame 11 of the window structure (Figures 1 and 2) is comprised of a header 25, left and right jambs 26 and 27, and a sill 28, all of which elements may be secured, as by screws 29 (Figure 10), to suitable framing members 31, which define the aperture 32 in the Wall structure 12, into which the Window structure 10 is mounted. The interior surfaces of the header, the jambs, and the sill are preferably substantially flush with the interior surfaces of the framing members 31. The header 25 is substantially wider, as shown in Figure 3, than the sill 28 and the exterior and interior edges of the jambs 26 and 27 converge downwardly toward each other. Thus, the exterior surface 33 of the frame 11 is disposed at a downwardly converging angle with respect to the exterior surface of the wall 12. This arrangement provides increased protection from the weather, reduces the adverse reflections and glare from the transparent panels in the sash 13, and permits a greater movement of the upper portion of the sash 13 toward the interior of the building with a minimum of distortion in the screen 34 which is disposed adjacent to the interior surface of the frame 11.

The header 25 (Figure 4) which is channel-shaped and opens downwardly in this particular embodiment, has an exterior flange 35, which extends downwardly and then curves inwardly for reasons appearing hereinafter. The jambs 26 and 27 (Figures 3 and 10), which may be substantially mirror images of each other, are substantially channel-shaped and open outwardly. The free edges of the flanges 36 and 37 on said jambs 26 and 27 may be bent toward each other at 38 in a substantially conventional manner, for mounting said jambs upon said adjacent framing members 31, which, for purposes of illustration, are disclosed as being of masonry construction. The said header, jambs and sill may be secured to each other in any convenient, conventional manner, as by bolting.

The sash 13 (Figure 1) is comprised of upper and lower rails 41 and 42, and left and right stiles 43 and 44, respectively, secured to each other at their adjacent ends in a conventional manner, as by bolts. These elements all have an outwardly extending flange 45 (Figures '10 and 12) adjacent to, and defining, the external surface 15 of said sash 13. Inwardly of said flange 45 on each said sash element there is provided an exteriorly facing surface 46 (Figures 10 and 13), against which the closure panel 16 is placed. The combined surfaces 46 define a plane which is preferably parallel with the plane of the external surface 15. The surface 46 on each said sash element is relatively narrow, thereby providing a minimum of obstruction to the passage of light through the sash 13.

Each of the sash elements is provided with an inner, or opposing, surface 47 (Figures 5 and 13) disposed be} tween the planes defined by the flanges 45 and the surfaces 46. Four substantially identical storm panel support elements 48, which have a W-shaped cross-section, are disposed adjacent to the opposing surfaces 47 and exterior surfaces 46 of the respective sash elements so that the flanges of said storm support elements 48 extend inwardly toward each other. Said closure panel 16 is snugly held between the surfaces 46 and the interior flanges 52 of said storm elements 48. The storm panel 17 is disposed between the intermediate flange 50 and the exterior flange 51 for said support elements. The support elements 48 may be held in position by any convenient means, such as the screws 53. The exterior flange 45 (Figure 4) on the upper rail 41 of the sash 13 bears against the lower inturned edge of the exterior flange 35 on the header 25 when the sash 13 is in the closed position for providing a tight weather seal along the upper edge of the sash 13. The exterior flange 35 is sufliciently resilient to flex slightly when such engagement occurs, thereby ensuring a tight seal.

A pair of pivot plates 54 and 55, which are advantageously identical (Figures 6 and 10), are mounted upon the outer, remote surfaces of the sash stiles 43 and 44, respectively, near the upper ends thereof. The lower ends of said plates 54 and 55 extend exteriorly beyond the exterior surface 15 of the sash 13 at points approximately one-third of the distance from the upper rail 41 toward the lower rail 42. A pair of pivot brackets 56 (Figures 11 and 13) are mounted upon the respective external surfaces of the exterior flanges 36 of the jambs 26 and 27, as by the bolts 56a. The pivot plates 54 and 55 are pivotally secured at their lower ends, as by means of the bolts 58, to said pivot brackets 56, respectively, and pivotally support the sash 13 for movement about its horizontal pivot axis 14. As shown in Figure 10, a spacer, such as the nut 57, may be placed between each bracket56 and its corersponding plate.

The exterior flanges 45 (Figure 10) on said stiles 43 and 44 below the pivot axis 14 and on the lower rail 42 engage and overlap the exterior flanges 36 of the jambs 26 and 27 and the sill 28, respectively. The upper ends of the exterior flanges 45 (Figure 11) are removed in order to permit interior movement of the upper end of the members 60 and 611 are mounted upon the exterior flanges Qf the lambs 26 and 27, respectively, by means, such as the bolts 61a (Figures 4 and 13). Said hood members cooperate with the exterior portions of the plates 54 and .55 to completely cover and enclose the pivot brackets 56 and the space between the respective jambs and stiles above the pivot axis 14 when the sash 13 is in the closed Pos tion.

When the sash 13 is in said closed position, the opposing surfaces of the lower rail and the sill and of the stiles and the jambs, as shown in Figure 10, are spaced at short distance, respectively, from each other. A channel-shaped, resilient sealing element 62 (Figures and 12) has its web 63 secured to the outer surface of the stiles and lower rail of said sash adjacent to the exterior flanges 45 thereof by suitable means, such as the said ,screws 53. The exterior flange 64 is pressed between the exterior flanges 36 of the jambs and sill and the exterior flanges 45 of the stiles and lower rail when the sash 13 is in, closedposition. The interior flange 65 of the sealing element 62 is engaged by, and flexed in a direction parallel with, the inner surface or web 66 of the jambs 26 and 27 and the sill 28. Thus, two sealing contacts are .efiected between each of the stiles and the corresponding jambs below said pivot axis 14, and between the lower rail and the sill, with a dead air space between such contacts. Although the exterior flange 45 on the stiles is removed above said pivot axis, the sealing element 62 may be retained to provide an eflective, double seal (Fig- ,ure 13) between the sash 13 and the opposing, inner surfaces 66 of the jambs 26 and 27. The sealing element 62 may be extruded to shape from a convenient material, as vinyl, or shaped from a piece of flat material, such as rubher impregnated cloth, and placed between a pair of channel-shaped members 67 and 68.

The roller 69 (Figure 4) of the shade 18 is rotatably supported in a substantially horizontal position and in a conventional manner upon the opposing surfaces 72 of the stiles 43 and 44 adjacent to the upper rail 41, said surfaces 72 being inwardly of the opposing surfaces 47 and on the interior side thereof. A pair of channel-shaped, .blind stop strips 73 (Figure 10), which are preferably fabricated from a resilient material, are mounted upon the said opposing surfaces 72, respectively, and open away from each other. Said blind stop strips 73 are con- .veniently snapped over the heads of screws 74 secured to, and extending inwardly from, said opposing surfaces 72. The blind stop strips 73 limit movement of the shade 18 and hold it close to the panel 16 so that said shade may be used as an awning when the sash 13 is in an open position.

, A channel-shaped, torque tube housing 75 (Figure 4) extends the length of, and is mounted upon, the upper surface of the upper rail 41 for cooperation therewith to surround the torque tube 76 (Figure 6), which, in this particular embodiment, is an elongated, cylindrical tube extending lengthwise of the upper end of the sash 13 and being of stiff, 'heavy and resilient material, such as steel. A pair of torque arms 77 and 78 are secured to, and extend downwardly from, the opposite ends of the torque tube 76 between the pivot plates 54 and 55 and the adjacent portions of the stiles 43 and 44, respectively (Figure 10). The upper ends of the torque arms 77 and '78,, adjacent to the torque tube 76, are pivotally secured tothe corresponding upper ends of said pivot plates 54 and 55;, The lower end of each of said torque arms 77 and '18, is adjustably and rigidly securable to the corresponding adjacent pivot plates 54. and 55, respectively, by means of bolts 79 (Figure 6). Said bolts 79 slidably extend through transversely elongated slots 81 (Figure 9) in the pivot plates-5.4 and 55, and threadedly engage the arms 77 and 78, respectively. Thus, by appropriate adjustment of the lower end of either or both of the torque arms 77 78 with respect to, and transversely of, the pivot plates 54 apdSS. bymeans; of the bolts 79 and slots 81, the stiles 6 may be forced into, or out of, a parallel relationship with respect to each other, within reasonable limitations, according to the needs of the particular installation.

The sash control mechanism 19 (Figures 3 and 5) includes a relatively rigid, elongated connecting link 82, which is pivotally secured at its lower end to the lever 21.

.The upper end of said link 82 is pivotally connected to a bracket 83, which is rigidly secured to one or the other of the stiles of the sash 13 adjacent to the lower end of the corresponding pivot plate 54 or 55. In this particular embodiment, the bracket 83 is mounted upon the right stile 44. The sash control mechanism 19 also includes a semicircular quadrant 84, which is rigidly secured along its non-circular edge to the interior flange 37 of one of the jambs, here the jamb 27, and extends interiorly there-v from. Said quadrant 84 has an inwardly extending flange 85 (Figure 8) in the curved portion of which a plurality of spaced openings 86 are provided.

The lever 21 (Figures 5 and 8) is comprised of a circular disk which is rotatably supported upon the jamb 27 so that it is parallel with said quadrant 84 and adjacent to the flange thereof. Said disk has a flange 88 of relatively small circumferential extent which overlies, and is spaced radially outwardly from, the quadrant flange 85. A cylindrical rod housing 91 is secured at one end thereof upon the radially outer surface of the flange 88 so that its axis is radially disposed with respect to the flanged disk 87. A rod 92 is slidably disposed through, and coaxially with, the rod housing 91 and may have a handle 93 secured to its outer end. The rod 92 slidably extends through an opening 94 in the inner end of the housing 91 for engagement with any one of the openings 86 in the flange 85. Resilient means, such as the spiral spring 95, is sleeved upon the rod 92 within the rod housing 91, between the outer end thereof and the collar 89 on said rod, for continuously urging the rod 92 against the quadrant flange 85. However, the spring 95 may be manually overcome by pulling radially outwardly on the handle 93' to effect disengagement of the rod 92 from said quadrant flange 85.

A pair of openings 96 and 97 (Figures 3 and S) are provided through the disk 87 at points substantially equidistant circumferentially from the rod housing 91, on opposite sides of a diameter through said housing, and remote from said rod housing. The lower end of the connecting link 82 is pivotally secured to the disk 87 by means of a bolt 98 extending through the upper one of said openings in the disk 87, here the opening 96. Means, such as a bolt 99 (Figure 7), which is part of the locking device 22, extends through the other opening 97 and is en gageable with a plate 101 secured to, and extending outwardly from, the interior surface of the right stile 44 when the handle 93 is in its lowermost position and the sash 13 is in its fully closed position, as shown in Figure 5. Since the openings 96 and 97 are equidistant from, and on opposite sides of, the extended axis of the cylindrical rod housing 91, the sash control mechanism 19, including the locking device 22, may be mounted, and used interchangeably, upon either side of the frame 11.

The screen 34 is provided with an interiorly extending bulge 102 near its upper end to receive the upper end of the sash 13 which extends slightly beyond the interior surface of the frame 11, when. said sash is in the open position.

Operation Prior to operation of the window 10 to which this invention relates, the frame 11 is mounted within the aperture 32 provided by the framing members 31 of a wall structure 12, such as by means of the screws 29 (Figure 10). Although the wall structure 12 is disclosed herein as masonry, it will be recognized that the window 10 may be installed with equal ease in a frame structure. The sash 13, which is pivotally mounted upon the pivot brackets 56, is checked for alignment with the frame 11.

:7 If the exterior flanges 36 of the frame 11 are not snugly engaged by the exterior flanges 45 on the sash elements, the sash 13 is aligned by means of the torque tube 76 and its torque arms 77 and 78. A wrench can be inserted into the space between the pivot plate 55 and the jamb 27 (Figure 10), and the space between the pivot plate 54 and the jamb 26, to make this adjustment. Specifically, the bolts 79 on the torque arms 77 and 78 are loosened, preferably one at a time. Each arm may then be forced laterally of its adjacent pivot plate 54 or 55, in one direction or the other, as the bolt 79 moves along the corresponding slot 81 in said pivot plate. Such movement of the arm, due to the rigid connection between the arm and torque tube 76, will be against the resistance offered by said torque tube and will impose a torque thereon. When it is believed that the bolt 79 has been moved to the proper position for effecting the desired distortion, the bolt 79 is then tightened onto its associated pivot plate. The torque tube 76 will then exert to force through the torque arms to the pivot plate and thence to the sash frame to urge the exterior flanges 45 into snug engagement with flanges 36 on the frame. Thus, the torque tube 76 in attempting to relieve the stress thereon will urge the pivot plates and thereby the stiles of the sash into snug engagement with the exterior flanges on the frame. Each torque arm 77 and 78 is adjusted in this fashion until the desired amount of distortion is imposed upon the sash 13. It will be recognized that a similar, but less effective, distortion could be obtained by limiting the adjustment to only one of the torque arms 77 and 78. The sash control mechanism 19 is then installed on one side or the other of the frame 11 and the window is ready for operation.

When it becomes desirable to open the window, the handle 93 is pulled lengthwise of the rod 92, thereby compressing the spring 95, until the rod is disengaged from the quadrant flange 85. The handle is then moved in an upward direction until the window sash 13 is in the desired position. The handle 93 is then released and said spring 95 causes the rod 92 to be inserted into an opening 86 in the quadrant flange 85, which is near the position of the rod 92. This holds the sash 13 in the open position. Due to the fact that the pivot axis 14 of the sash 13 is exteriorly disposed with respect to the exterior surface of the sash 13, the center of gravity of the sash, when said sash is in the closed position, will be interiorly of said sash axis 14. Thus, the lower end of the window sash 13 will tend to swing away from the frame 11 as soon as the rod 92 becomes disengaged from the quadrant 84. By appropriate selection of the distance between the upper end of the sash 13 and its pivot axis 14, and appropriate selection of a proper weight for the torque tube 76, the forces, due to gravity acting upon the sash 13 about its pivot axis 14, will be balanced when the sash is in a semi-open position. Thus, the force required to completely close the sash 13 may be approximately equal to the force required to fully open the sash 13 in one preferred embodiment of the structure.

If it becomes desirable to use the open sash 13 as an awning, such can be easily accomplished by moving the shade 18 downwardly between the closure panel 16 and the blind stop strips 73 such distance as is desired or required. The blind stop strips 73 will prevent the shade from dropping downwardly when said sash 13 is in the open position, as shown in Figure 3.

When it is desirable to close the sash 13, the handle 93 is again pulled radially outwardly from the disk 87 and the disk is then rotated downwardly by the handle 93, which, operating through the connecting link 82, causes the window sash 13 to pivot into its closed position (Figures 4 and Just before the sash 13 reaches its closed position, the flanges 64 and 65 of the sealing element 62 will engage the appropriate portions of the jambs and sill of the frame 11, thereby effecting the double seal described hereinabove. Likewise, just before the sash 13 reaches its closed position, the lock bolt 99 will move up adjacent to the exterior surface of the lock plate 101 (Figure 5). When the sash 13 is in closed position, the handle 93 is released and the rod 92 slides into an adjacent opening 86 in the quadrant flange 85, thereby preventing rotation of the flanged disk 87 with respect to said quadrant 84. Thus, the window is held in the closed position by a double lock provided by the engagement of the rod 92 with the quadrant flange and the engagement of the lock bolt 99 with the lock plate 101. A

Although a particular, preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed hereinabove for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications thereof, which lie within the scope of such disclosure, are fully contemplated unless specifically stated to the contrary in the appended claims. 1

I claim:

l. A device for adjusting the relative angular positions of the stiles in a sash frame, comprising: an elongated, relatively rigid torque element substantially equal in length to the distance between the remote surfaces of said stiles; a pair of rigid arms rigidly secured to the opposite ends of said element and extending perpendicularly in substantially the same direction therefrom; means for securing one of said arms rigidly to one of said stiles; means pivotally securing the other of said arms to the other ofsaid stiles at a first point near the extended, lengthwise axis of said element; means for laterally adjustably securing said other arm to said other stile at a second point spaced from said first point, the rigidity of said torque element and said arms being sufficient to overcome the resistance of said sash to limited distortion.

2. The device defined in claim 1 wherein the means for securing one of said arms rigidly to one of said stiles includes means pivotally securing said one arm to said one stile at a point near the extended lengthwise axis of said element and also includes means for laterally adjustably securing said one arm to said one stile at another point spaced from said first point.

3. A structure for a horizontally pivoted window, comprising: a window frame defining a substantially rectangular opening; a sash disposed within said opening, said sash having a pair of rails and a pair of stiles; pivot means secured to said sash and pivotally mounted on said frame and supporting said sash upon said frame for movement about an axis parallel with said rails; a relatively rigid member 'having a stressable central element extending along one rail; a pair of arms rigidly secured to, and extending laterally in the same direction from, said element; adjustable means for fixedly securing said arms to said stiles in a variety of positions, adjustment of saidarms from one position to another with respect to said stiles effecting a distortion in said sash; control mechanism connected to, and between, said frame and said sash for efiect ing pivotal movement of said sash about said axis.

4. A structure for a horizontally pivoted window, com prising: a window frame defining a substantially rectangu lar opening; a sash snugly and removably disposed within said opening, said sash having a pair of rails and a pair of stiles defining an exterior surface; pivot means pivotallysupporting said sash upon said frame for movement about an axis parallel with said rails, said pivot means including a pair of elongated support plates, each of said plate: being rigidly secured to, and extending along, one of said stiles near one rail; a relatively rigid member having a tubular central element extending along one rail and having a pair of arms rigidly secured to, and extending laterally in the same direction from, said element, said central element being mounted at its opposite ends'upon and between said support plates; each of said arms being rigidly secured to one of said support plates at a point spaced from said central element, at least one of said arms being laterally adjustably secured to its support plate.

5. A device for adjusting the positions of the side members of a closure element in a frame, comprising: a closure element having a pair of side members and a pair of upper and lower end members; an elongated, relatively rigid torque element substantially equal in length to the distance between the remote surfaces of said side members and extending along one of said end members; a pair of rigid arms rigidly secured to the opposite ends of said torque element and extending in substantially the same direction therefrom; a pair of pivot elements fixedly secured, respectively, to said side members and pivotally secured on said frame; means mounting said pivot elements for pivotal movement with respect to said torque element; means for laterally adjustably securing the end of each of said arms remote from said torque element to one of said pivot elements.

6. A structure for a horizontally pivoted closure panel, comprising: a frame defining a substantially rectangular opening; a closure panel disposed Within said opening, said closure panel having a pair of rails and a pair of stiles; a pair of pivot plates, said pivot plates being respectively secured to one of said stiles, said pivot plates each including a portion extending forwardly of the exterior surface of said closure panel; brackets mounted on either side of said frame and extending forwardly from the exterior surface thereof; a pivot shaft mounted in each of said brackets, said pivot shafts being aligned and extending toward each other and located forwardly of, and parallel with, the exterior surface of said closure panel, said portions of said pivot plates being respectively pivotally mounted on the respective pivot shafts; a rigid, elongated torque element extending along one rail; a pair of torque arms rigidly secured to, and extending laterally in the same direction from said torque element; adjustable means for fixedly securing said arms to said pivot plates in a variety of positions, said plates being pivotal with respect to said torque element, whereby adjustment of said torque arms from one position to another with respect to said pivot plates efiects distortion of said closure panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 214,715 Scully Apr. 22, 1879 1,148,375 Gallup July 27, 1915 1,360,481 Watson Nov. 30, 1920 1,521,915 Pierre et al. Jan. 6, 1925 1,541,942 Greenwood June 16, 1925 1,612,555 Walker Dec. 28, 1926 2,310,506 Bliss Feb. 9, 1943 2,430,970 Albrecht Nov. 18, 1947 2,551,590 Ferri May 8, 1951 2,712,353 Smith July 5, 1955

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