US3060487A - Sashless window pane tensioner - Google Patents

Abstract

918,309. Preventing rattling of windows. CELWOOD INDUSTRIES Ltd. April 21, 1960 [July 6, 1959], No. 13965/60. Classes 44 and 65 (1). A tensioning device for maintaining the upper portions of the overlapped panes 10, 12 of a sashless sliding window tightly pressed against each other comprises a base 34 having a flat mounting surface and mounting a socket 40 with its axis parallel to the mounting surface, the base having elongated slots 36 for freely receiving screws 38 for adjustment purposes, the socket securely containing the base portion of a truncated cone section 44 terminating in a flat friction tip and having a free length such that when the device is secured in position, siding movement of the pane 12 causes radial deflection of the cone section which is sufficiently resistant to the deflection as to creep back to normal position after deflection against the resistance of the pane 12.

Description

Oct. 30, 1962 I BAXTER 3,060,487

SASHLESS WINDOW PANE TENSIONER Filed July 6, 1959 HenryRegl'nald Baxier 42 K INVENTOR 40 y .v A BY 2?} F .1. g. 3. m 7

Patented Oct. 30, 1962 3,050,487 SASHLESS WINDOW PANE TENSIONER Henry Reginald Baxter, Abbotsford, British Columbia,

Canada, assignor to Celwood Industries Limited, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, a corporation of British Columbia Filed July 6, 1959, Ser. No. 825,030 1 Claim. (Cl. 16-1) This invention relates to tensioning devices for maintaining the upper portions of the overlapped panes of sashless windows firmly in contact with each other.

In sashless windows of the class described in Pierson U.S. 2,530,724 and 2,700,801, is is desirable to maintain the upper portions of the overlapped panes tightly pressed against each other to eliminate chatter and drafts.

Devices of various categories heretofore have been devised for accomplishing this purpose. One of these comprises a small strip of spring steel fastenedto the window header and positioned to exert lateral pressure against the pane. The use of this device has resulted, however, in scratching of the glass by the steel strip or by glass chips dislodged thereby. It also has resulted in building up of paint behind the strip, stiffening it to provide a fulcrum point which breaks the glass when the pane is removed from the frame.

A second device comprised a manual lock mounted at the head of the window. This device has been unsatisfactory, however, since a person of average height can not reach the lock to operate it. In addition, there frequently are Venetian blinds, drapes, curtains, or other obstructions which overhang the lock and make its operation difiicult and inconvenient.

Hence it is the general object of this invention to provide a tensioning device for sashless windows which will maintain the panes pressed against each other without scratching or chipping them, without requiring manual adjustment, and without interfering with the normal operation of the windows, or with their removal from or insertion into the guideways in which they work.

The manner in which the foregoing and other objects of the above invention are accomplished will be apparent from the accompanying specification and claim considered together with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of a sashless window installation illustrating the manner of application of the presently described tensioning device;

FIG. 2 is a detail plan View of the tensioning device viewed in the direction of the arrows of line 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a detail view in elevation of the tensioning device viewed in the direction of the arrows of line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

The instant latch assembly is applicable to a sashless window comprising a pair of panes 10, 12 having their meeting edges overlapped. The panes are mounted in a frame comprising a sill 14, a head piece 16 and a pair of side jambs 18, 20. The outside edges of the panes are received in grooves 22, 24 of side jambs 18, 20 respectively. Their upper and lower edges are received in guideways 26, 28 in head piece and sill respectively so that one of the panes, e.g. pane 12, can slide back and forth with respect to the other to open and close the window opening.

A latch 30 locks the sliding pane and maintains its lower portion pressed snugly against the adjacent ver lapped pane. The herein described header tensioner 32 is stationed above the latch, centrally of the panes, and maintains the upper portion of the sliding pane pressed tightly against the corresponding portion of the overlapped pane.

The construction of the tensioning device is apparent from a consideration of FIGS. 2 and 3. It is mounted on a flat base 34 provided with means for adjustably securing it on head piece 16. Thus the piece may be provided with slots 36 penetrated by screws 38 which fasten the base to the head piece in a desired position of lateral adjustment.

Mounted on the base is a socket 40 which'preferably is cast as a plastic unit integral with the base. The socket opens out in the direction of the panes, laterally of the base, and is provided with an air vent 42 to facilitate assembly.

Seated in socket 449 is a resilient contact member 44 which may be maintained in position by means of a force fit, a suitable adhesive or otherwise.

The contact member preferably comprises a piece of rubber the base of which is dimensioned to be received in the socket and the outwardly extending portion of which is tapered with a flat outer surface. Thus the resilient contact member may comprise a truncated cone, the flat apex of which bears squarely against the surface of one pane, holding it against the pane which it overlaps. For most satisfactory application, the contact member should be sufficiently stiff to provide substantial resistance to deformation, and its taper should lie within the range of l020, with respect to its longitudinal axis. This will afford the required degree of resiliency to provide fast, positive adjustment of the contact member to window movements.

It is to be observed that the tensioning device supplies sufficient tension to the panes to keep them close together whether they are in closed or open position. Upon opening or closing the panes, the rubber tip is deflected by frictional contact with the pane to allow free movement without undue pressure. However, when this movement ceases, the rubber creeps back into its normal position, providing an effective abutment of the panes against each other and against the side walls of guideway 26 in which they move. This eliminates chatter as well as drafts at the top of the window.

When it is desired to insert the panes in the guideways, or to remove them therefrom, the rubber tip of the tensioning movement deflects either upwardly or downwardly, following the movement of the pane. When such movement stops, the rubber tip automatically resumes its normal position.

Thus it is apparent that by the present invention I have provided a tensioning device for sashless windows which effectively maintains the upper portions of the overlapped panes pressed snugly one against the other. This is accomplished automatically, without the necessity of manual adjustment, and without danger of scratching or chipping the glass. It also is accomplished without requiring the use of a solid mechanical connection which would cause breakage and damage when the panes are deflected by severe wind pressure. Furthermore, removal and insertion of the panes is possible in normal manner, without interference from the tensioning device.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size, arrangement of parts, and manner of application may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

For use on a sashless window including a frame supporting partially overlapped parallel window panes, at least one of which is mounted slidably in its own plane, a tensioning device comprising: a base, socket means on the base having an axis parallel to the base, the base having slots therein elongated in the direction parallel to the socket axis, the slots freely receiving mounting screws therethrough for securing the base on the frame adjacent the overlapped sections of the panes adjustably toward and away from the panes, a contact member having a base section and an elongated truncated cone section tapering outwardly therefrom to smaller diameter and terminating in a substantially flat friction tip, the socket means on the base receiving and firmly supporting the base section only of the contact member, air vent means between the socket means and base section of the contact member, the elongated cone section of the contact member projecting freely from the socket means parallel to the base and toward and substantially perpendicular with respect to the adjacent pane with the friction tip in frictional contact with the pane, the taper of the elongated cone section being within the range of 10 to 20 from its longitudinal axis, and resiliently deflectable in the direction substantially radial with respect to its longitudinal axis, whereby sliding movement of the adjacent pane causes radial deflection of the frictionally engaged cone section, the cone section being sufficiently resistant to said deflection as to creep back to normal position after deflection, against the resistance of the window pane.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 437,847 Kieran Oct. 7, 1890 1,700,013 Abbott Jan. 22, 1929 1,890,275 Wirth Dec. 6, 1932 2,040,986 Gignoux May 19, 1936 2,189,048 Underhill Feb. 6, 1940 2,875,479 Pierson Mar. 3, 1959 2,900,679 Migneault et a1. Aug. 25, 1959 2,949,647 Migneault et al. Aug. 23, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 496,217 Italy July 9, 1954

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