US3023465A

US3023465A - Window frame assembly

Info

Publication number: US3023465A
Application number: US28434A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas G Sconzo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-05-11
Filing date: 1960-05-11
Publication date: 1962-03-06
Anticipated expiration: 1979-03-06

Description

March 6, 1962 T. G. scoNzo 3,023,465

WINDOW FRAME ASSEMBLY Filed May 11, 1960 INVENTOR THOMAS GSCONZO MXMM ATTORNEY 3,023,465 WENDOW FRAME ASSEMBLY Thomas G. Sconzo, Macon St., Sayville, N.Y. Filed May 11, 1960, Ser. No. 28,434 7 Claims. (CI. 20-55) This invention relates to storm windows as used for application to double hung windows in architectural structures, and more particularly to novel means for providing a convenient and simple assembly having readily removable components.

It is customary in applying storm windows to double hung wooden exterior windows, as is done in cold climates to reduce the heat transmission through the window glass, to reduce infiltration of outside air in the form of drafts, and to ameliorate the cold surface effort of exposed glass areas, for the storm window to be constructed and attached in such a manner that at least the sashes thereof are removable. This is done in order that the interior surfaces may be cleaned, and in the case of storm windows constructed with wood frames, so that they may be removed for storage during the summer and replaced with insect screens if desired, during this period when their function of improving indoor comfort and fuel saving is not needed.

Inasmuch as conventional wooden storm windows are heavy and difficult to handle, usually requiring to be applied and removed from the outside of the building, and often requiring the use of a long and heavy ladder for their manipulation, the metal storm Window has gained favor as an improvement thereon, since it does not require this seasonal effort in handling, and avoids the considerable and continuing expense of labor in having it done.

This is accomplished by the use of sashes and frames constructed of relatively thin sections of metal; often aluminum is used because of its light weight, durability and ease of fabrication. When so constructed, the dimensions of the storm window are sufiiciently reduced so that both sashes and screen can be combined into one structure of reasonable size and all the movable elements are so light that they can be handled without difficulty from the inside.

It is, of course, necessary in order to accomplish the full purposes of this type of construction, to make provision for the removal of all movable elements inwardly, to provide for cleaning, repair, and storage when necessary. Storm window construction of the prior art has shown ingenious arrangements of slotted channels and other devices adapted to permit sash removal, but because of the need for switching the sash out of its regular up and-down track and into another path in order to remove it, have always required that extra clearance be provided for the sash in the track, so that it makes a loose fit when used for its ordinary functions. This is usually overcome to some extent by spring loading the sash into contact with the frame, with the result that the sash becomes diflicult to move, requires more frame space than is necessary to its normal function and is expensive to manufacture.

All of these difficulties I have overcome in the present invention by providing a storm window wherein all parts associated with the sliding surfaces engaged by the sash and of the sash itself are manufacturable by the inexpensive process of extrusion. Moreover, this is accomplished without the use of sash springs, and in a compact manner which renders a complete storm window assembly small enough in external dimensions to provide an appearance which is architecturally pleasing.

In addition to this, the unique construction of my Weatherstripping device, as hereinafter described, enables any or all of the sashes to be removed from the inside for EfiZBAfiS Patented Mar. 6, 1962 purposes of cleaning, without intricacy of construction, and without interfering to any degree with the weathertight properties of the window assembly.

A further object of the present invention is to provide means for applying a metal frame storm window to a double hung Window while providing a weathertight seal therebetween without distorting said storm window.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a storm window for external application which provides three-track construction with diminished projection from the building structure.

Another object is to provide inherent means in extruded storm window frame member stock for the convenient removal of storm window sashes without need for the fabrication of said means in the individual storm windows constructed from such stock.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from a detailed description of a preferred illustrative embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein FIG. 1 is a view of a storm window;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of a portion of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a view of a portion of FIG. 2.

Turning now to the drawings, there is seen in FIG. 1 an interior view of a storm window 12, having upper and

lower sashes

13 and 14 respectively, and side frame members such as 15.

The side frame member 15 is shown in cross section, together with the

sashes

13 and 14 and a screen panel 15' not elsewhere shown, in the view of FIG. 2. Member 15 is seen to consist of three cavity portions such as 16 for the several sliding sashes, and a flange portion 17 for attachment to the exterior of a wooden window frame shown dotted at 18 by means of screws such as 19.

It is found that in many cases settling of the building structure or other causes result in windows and especially wood frame windows becoming skewed in their aspect, so that when a storm window fabricated of metal is attempted to be inserted within the window opening, the much greater precision of construction of the metal window and the desirably closer tolerances employed in its fabrication result in sticking, binding or inoperativeness of the window when it is deformed to accommodate the shape of the existing opening. Since the plane of the outer trim surfaces is not appreciably distorted by this settling of the structure, however, it is found that the storm window can be there applied without this disadvantage, if the storm window is expressly adapted for application to the outside facing boards of the existing window.

In the present invention, when the frame 15 is applied by means of fastenings such as the screw 19 to the outer trim, the infiltration of air therebetween is prevented by means of the recess 21 into which is inserted the square spline 22 with extensions protruding beneath the lower surface of the flange 17 of frame 15, and comprising a compressible material capable of being forced into an impermeable wind seal when compressed against member 18 by the screws 19. It is shown in further detail in FIG. 4

Upper and

lower sash members

13 and 14 are shown together with a movable insect screen member 15' in FIG.

2 and because of the unique construction of the instantsired, and when those heads associated with screen member 15 are so withdrawn, permit it to be moved inwardly from the frame 15'. When this is done, the spline 27, seen more clearly in FIG. 3 is exposed on both the right and left frames 15. Spline 27 is constructed of any suitable durable and resilient flexible material having a suitably low coefficient of friction and good sealing properties, such as vinyl plastic polymer, or a metal strip which is extruded in the shape shown in FIG. 3 in lengths adequate to be cut into strips the full length of frame 15. Said spline 27 contains a groove 27a in tail 2% for accommodating a felt or like strip 27!) extending through the length of the groove. The splines are then inserted into the appropriate cavities of frame 15 as shown in FIG. 2 by sliding them lengthwise into the respective cavities before assembly of the storm window as shown. Because of the reentrant nature of these cavities, the bulb 28 of spline 27 is locked into place and can not be removed after assembly. Due to the circular cross sectional shape of bulb 28 and its corresponding cavity, however, the spline 27 is freely rotatable within the cavity, and while the tail 29 with felt strip 27b of the spline acts as a low friction sliding raceway and windproof seal against infiltration of outside air in the position shown in FIG. 2, it is nevertheless capable of swinging freely at least ninety degrees inwardly about the axis of the bulb 28 to enable

sashes

13 or 14 to be removed inwardly without hindrance when the conical heads 23 of that sash are withdrawn toward the center of the sash as previously described. The sash 13 is then removable in like manner.

It will be apparent that the sashes 13 and 14- are thereby provided with a smooth and slippery sliding surface upon which to travel up and down with very little lifting eifort, and without adding more to the depth dimension of the window than two thicknesses of the tail 29 of strip 27, which may be made as thin as desired consistent with the requirements of strength and durability. The practicability of using an arrangement having such a low coefiicient of friction is provided, however, by the arrangement of the heads 23 which cause an effective window locking action to take place at any desired height of the sash, without danger of dropping the sash, and while still providing the essential ease of removal of these sashes and the screen panel 15.

While this invention has been described in terms of a specific illustrative embodiment thereof, it is understood that various modifications or elaborations thereof may be undertaken by those skilled in the art, without however, departing from the essential spirit of the invention, and it is therefore intended that the invention be limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a window, side frame members having a uniform cross section and including serrated ledges for sash locking and a flange for application to exterior building surfaces, having a reentrant, gasket retaining recess in the sealing surface of said flange, said cross section having reentrant circular recesses positioned beneath said serrated ledges splines of resilient plastic material in and filling said reentrant circular recesses and having protruding sash sealing surfaces swingable thereabout at least approximately 90 to a sash releasing position.

i 2. In a metal frame storm window having unbroken longitudinal side members and removable sashes, and having sash channels in the side members spline holding fingers comprising reentrant cavity walls throughout the length of said side members and defining a plurality of cavities of circular cross section, and extruded splines of resilient slippery plastic material having in cross section a circular bulb end, inserted in said cavities by axial sliding, and rotatable therein at least ninety degrees, and having a tail end comprising sash contacting and sliding surfaces swingable out of sash engagement for sash removal, said splines extending the length of said side members, and being removable therefrom only by axial sliding therein, and constituting a sash channel sliding surface.

3. In a storm window, the combination comprising frame means having unbroken vertical side members, and having flange means on the side members of said frame means, for application to the exterior surface of a structure, and having a reentrant cavity extending entirely along the face thereof, sealing means in said flange means comprising a resilient strip of gasket material inserted in and substantially filling said cavity, spline holding fingers comprising reentrant cavity walls in the inner side of said side members, resilient splines of slippery material within said cavity walls and retained thereby, the said splines having in cross section one end which is in the shape of a round bulb engaging the cavity and another end in the shape of an elongated tail protruding from the cavity and rotatable thereabout at least degrees for storm window sash removal, and locking means on the side members for sash retention at any level.

4. In a window having removable sashes, sash sealing means comprising vertical frame members having a plurality of reentrant circular channels running the full length of said members, splines of resilient plastic material occupying said channels and protruding therefrom in sash sealing relationship, said splines being rotatable in said channels for sash removal, and sash locks on the sashes located for engaging said frame members in frame wedging sash locking relationship for sash retention at any height of said opening.

5. Storm window sash retaining means comprising as one of a pair of vertical window frame members a grooved frame member and a plurality of vertical splines of a constant cross sectional shape having a circularly bulbous enlargement as one end and a protruding tail portion as the other end thereof, said splines extending substantially the full frame member height and being retained within and adapted for rotation for at least 90 degrees about the axes of reentrant circular spline containing window frame member grooves and located adjacent to the path of sash travel for swingingly engaging and releasing a sash.

6. The article of claim 5 wherein the said splines comprise a resilient and slippery-surfaced thermoplastic compound.

7. In a window having a plurality of removable sashes and a pair of side frame members connected together by a header and a sill, a plurality of spline holding means defining a plurality of mutually parallel recesses in each side frame member and forming together with the walls of the member a cross section haw'ng open circular cavities adjacent the member walls and comprising with each said adjacent Wall a pair of reentrant lips defining the opening of each circular cavity, and a like plurality of splines having each an enlarged portion extending within a pair of said lips throughout the length of a said spline and having a portion extending lateral and external of the said lips acting as a seal intermediate the removable sashes, said splines being rotatable axially in the cavities at least ninety degrees and comprising sash contacting slidable surfaces swingable out of sash engagement for sash re-. moval, M

No references cited.