US3111727A

US3111727A - Sashless window

Info

Publication number: US3111727A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hans G P Gerecke
Original assignee: H G DESIGUS Ltd
Current assignee: H G DESIGUS Ltd; H-G DESIGUS Ltd
Priority date: 1961-08-17
Filing date: 1961-08-17
Publication date: 1963-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 1980-11-26

Description

Nov. 26, 1963 H. G. P; GERECKE SASHLESS WINDOW 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 17, 1961 FIG. I

a @j 2 M m. .Rm /m/ S x ma w m mm m l A wi""" w Nov. 26, 1963 H. G. P. GERECKE sAsHLEss WINDOW s sheets-sheet 2 Filed Aug. 17, 1961 INVENTOR HANS G. I? GERECKE.

Nov. 26, 1963 H. G, P. GERECKE 3,111,727

sAsHLEss wINDow INVENTOR HANS G. P. GERECKE ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,111,727 SASHLESS WINDOW Hans G. P. Gerecke, Dunbar-ton, ntario, Canada, as-

signor to H-G Designs Limited, Pickering, Ontario, Canada Filed Ang. 17, 1961, Ser. No. 141,936 4 Claims. (Si. Ztl-52.)

This invention relates to sashless windows, particularly of the type having two window panes at least one of which moves horizontally relative to the other.

As the name implies a sashless window is one wherein the window panes are supported freely in a window frame without the benet of sash fixed to the edges of the panes. Sashless windows have become increasingly popular in recent years since they are neat in appearance and admit more light through any given window opening due to the absence of the sash. However, the sashless arrangement has a tendency to rattle, it is difficult to lock and to maintain weather tight. There is a further common problem in keeping the two panes spaced from one another so as to avoid abrasive contact between them as the sliding pane is moved relatively to the iixed pane. This latter problem is related to the problem of achieving weather tightness since it is difficult to avoid contact between the panes while still maintaining a seal between them and with the window frame. A further ditliculty of the sashless arrangement is the tendency of rain water to collect in the grooves of the window sills which serve as tracks for the sliding panes.

Not the least of the above mentioned problems is the diiliculty in providing an adequate locking mechanism for the sliding pane. Experience has shown that the majority of the locking devices now available are completely inadequate and can usually be dislodged by working the sliding pane back and forth from outside the window.

There are many known sashless window constructions now available almost all of which sulfer from one or more of the above noted disadvantages. The sashless window in accord with the present invention has a number of novel features and provides a window construction which is far superior to those known heretofore.

ln accord with this invention there is provided a base track for supporting the window panes on the sill of the window frame in such a manner that the panes are spaced from one another as to avoid abrasive contact therebetween while at the same time the lower edges of the window panes are sealed. The base track has two separate track portions one of which extends the full width of the window frame and accommodates the sliding pane. The lower edges of both panes are sealed by means of flexible wiper-like sealing strips which are biased against the window panes. The sealing strip working against the sliding pane extends from the side edge of the iixed pane to the opposite side of the window frame. Both sealing strips are removably fixed to the base track by key-like ridges formed on their bottom edges which engage in keying slots formed in the upper surface of the base track. Also provided is a novel locking mechanism comprising a first arm xed to the sliding window pane and having a projection receiving recess or aperture in its free end, a second arm pivotally attached to the first arm so as to pivot in a plane substantially at right angles to the sliding pane, the second arm carrying a projection at its free end which is adapted to pass through a projection receiving element carried by the base track or the sill itself. By pivoting the second arm so as to pass the projection carried thereby through the projection receiving element and into the recess or aperture at the free end of the irst arm a positive lock is gained. Further improvements over the known sashless window constructions are gained by ICC the provision of a seal at the top of the window panes, novel groove liners in the vertical jambs and a novel means of draining moisture collected on the base track to the outside of the Window.

Further advantages of the window construction in accord with this invention will be appreciated from the following description of an embodiment thereof as read with reference to the accompanying drawings.

ln the drawings:

FIG. l is a front elevation view of a sashless window in accord with this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective View taken at 2*-2 of FIG. l and illustrates the locking mechanism, the base track and the drainage system in accord with this invention.

FIG. 2A is a detailed perspective view of a screening device employed in the drainage system shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a perspective cross-sectional view taken at 3-3 of FIG. 1 and illustrates a side groove liner in accord with this invention.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-section at 4;-4 of FIG. 1 and illustrates the top seal in accord with this invention.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FlG. 4 and shows the man* ner in which the top seal engages the upper edge of the window pane,

FIG. 6 is a horizontal cross-section along the line 6 6 of FlG. l and,

FTG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the window in the open position.

Referring to FIG. l, the sashless window in accord with this invention essentially consists of a pair of window panes 16 and 11 held in a window frame having a sill 12, a head piece 13, and a pair of vertically extending

jambs

14 and 15. Window pane 11 is capable of .horizontal sliding movement relative to the substantially iixed pane 1t). Reference numeral 16 generally indicates a locking mechanism for holding the sliding pane 1l against movement, 17 indicates a spring device for restraining the sliding pane against rattling by the wind, and 18 indicates a handle device for moving the sliding pane 11 back and forth.

Referring to FIG. 2, sill 12 is preferably made of wood as is usual in this type of window. The other components of the window frame i.e. the

jambs

14 and 15 and the top piece 13 are also made of wood. However, it is understood that this invention is not to be restricted to the use of wood for the window frame. Fixed to the upper surface of sill 12 are a pair o-f

base tracks

20 and 21. Two such base tracks are shown so as to illustrate ythe manner in which the window construction in accord with this invention may be readily adapted to form double windows. Where weather conditions permit, a single window may sufice so that only one base track is used. ln the latter case a narrower sill could be employed if so desired.

Base tracks 2t! and 21 are advantageously formed of a suitable plastic or the like by extrusion, and in the illustrated case a rigid vinyl material is used. Base track 2t) has a lirst track portion 22 `for supporting the sliding pane 11 and a second track portion 23 for accommodating the tixed pane 16. In FIG. 2 the lixed pane 10t is not shown but it will be understood that the iixed pane rests in track portion 23 in the left hand part thereof as viewed in FIG. 1. That part of track portion 23 which does not hold fixed pane 10 i.e. the part shown in FIG. 2 carries a wiperlike strip seal 24. Seal 24 is curved upwardly and towards sliding pane 11 and is therefore normally biased thereagainst as to form a tight seal therewith. Strip seal 24 is preferably formed by extrusion of a resilient material such as lexible vinyl plastic. Along its bottom edge, strip seal 24 carries a key-like locking ridge 25 removably enga-ged in a keying slot 26 formed in the bottom of track portion 23. Track portion 23, therefore, serves to support xed pane l along approximately one half its length and serves to hold the strip seal 2d along the other half of its length. lt will be understood, of course, that keying slot Ze actually extends over the full length of track portion 23 since track 2t) is an extruded member. A second keying slot 28 carries a second strip seal (not illustrated) for sealing the lower edge of iixed pane lil. Keying slot 2S extends over the full width of the window but only that part thereof which is adjacent pane lil will be used to hold a strip seal.

One of the `chief advantages of the base track above described is its adaptability to window frames of any width. The base track may be cut to any length and still be capable of receiving and retaining strip seal for any size panes of glass. As can be seen in FIG. 2 the base tracks are xed to the window sill by screws Sil. The screws are passed through the bottom walls of the hollow rectangular portions 3l and 3llA of the base tracks. The purpose of the latter members is explained hereinafter.

ln the double window arrangement shown in FlG. 2, as in all double window units, there is some danger of water collecting on the outer base track should the outer sliding pane 1.1 be left open during a rainstorrn. To provide means whereby this rain water may be drained from the outer base track, the latter is provided with a number of vertical drainholes 32 in the bottom of track portion 22A. `Beneath track portion 22A, sill l2 is provided with a `groove 33 and a lnumber of sloped drainholes 34 are drilled through the sill from groove 33 to the outside of the window trame. Water collected in track portion 22A will then ydrain through holes 32 into groove 33 and out the sloped drainholes 34. To prevent insects and the like getting into groove 33 through drainholes 34 the latter are provided with screening devices 35, shown in detail in FIG. 2A. These screening devices are preferably rnolded of a suitable plastic or the like and resemble grommets having a transverse wall 36 which is perforated to allow the egress of water from grooves 33` while preventing the ingress of insects.

Referring still to FIG. 2, the locking device 16 will now be described. This unit consists of a rst arm 40 which is pivotally attached to the sliding pane lll by means of any appropriate mechanism. ln the illustrated case, sliding pane lli is `drilled whereby to permit a bolt or screw 41 to be pass-ed therethrough for engagement with the nut and washer unit 42. A washer or spacer 43 and a spring (not shown) are mounted on bolt 41 between the locking unit and the pane ll for a purpose which is explained below. Piovtally attached -to arrn 4i) is a second arm 44 carrying a projection 45 at its r,tree end. At the free end of arm `4t) there is provided an aperture or recess 46 capable of receiving projection 45. The inside vertica-l wall of member 3l of base track 20l is also apertured at 47 whereby to permit projection 45 to be passed therethrough into engagement in the aperture or recess 46. The top wall of member 3l is slotted at 48 to permit aum lil to be swung downwardly therethrough so as to orient projection 4S opposite aperture 47. When it is ydesired to lock sliding pane 1l after it has been moved to the closed position, arm 44 is lifted upwardly so as to permit arm 40 to be swung downwardly through slot 48. Arm 44 is then pushed inwardly as to pass projection 45 through aperture 47 into engagement in the recess or aperture 46 at the :tree end of arm 40'. Sliding pane lll is then solidly locked and is incapable of displacement from the outside of the window. Of course, it ywill be realized that the same locking action can be achieved without employing the member 3l of base track by providing a suitable member xed to the base track or the sill for engaging projection 45 prior to its insertion in aperture or recess 46. However, the illustrated arrangement is preferable since it is not necessary to provide an extra piece of hardware. The aperture 47 and the slot 43 may be cut in the base track at any desired position, it only lbeing necessary to insure that these members are appropriately located to receive the locking element carried by the sliding pane ll. As a further feature, arm itl is provided with a ridge 56 having a sloped surface 5l so that the action orf passing arm 40 through slot 48 will cause a Wedging action between surface 51 and the top edge of slot 48 so as to urge sliding pane 11 tightly against strip seal 24. The spring which is mounted on bolt di emphasizes this wedging action. This wedging feature furti er guarantees a tight seal between the sliding pane and the base track. ln the case wherein member 3l is replaced by a separate locking unit fixed to the sill or the -base track the separate locking unit is also provided with a wedging surface equivalent to the edge of slot 413 whereby to achieve the desired forcing of sliding ypane 1l against strip seal 24. Further, when a separate locking unit is used it may not be necessary to pivotally mount arm 4? to the sliding pane since the eliminat-ion of member 3l will allow arm 4t) to be permanently fixed in a mounted position in which case the wedging action between arm 4d and the wedging surface of the separate locking unit will take place automatically as sliding pane lll is closed. It will, of course, still be necessary to swing arm 44 outwardly before closing pane 1l.

As is usual in sashless window constructions, the vertical side jambs 14 and l5 are provided with vertical grooves for the reception of the side edges of both the xed and sliding panes. Referring now to FIG. 3, the grooves in the vertical jambs in accord with this invention are provided with groove liners 5d. FlG. 3 illustrates only jamb 14 holding the side edge of the fixed pane llt) but it will be understood that jamb l5 which receives the side edge of sliding pane l1 will also be provided with a similar groove liner which will now be described. Groove liner 5d is also preferably formed by extrusion :of a suitable material such as vinyl plastic of moderae hardness. It is shaped in cross-section so as to `line the groove in the vertical jamb, preferably in such a manner that it is locked therein. The groove liner Sil is essentially U-shaped in a cross-section having a pair of spaced walls 51 and 52 connected by a web portion 53. One of the walls 51 is slanted inwardly towards the other wall and is capable of iexing so that the two walls grip the pane of glass l@ between them. By this action the groove liners not only seal tre side edges of the glass panes but also prevent rattling due to outside vibrations and wind. To assist the entry of the sliding pane, in particular, into its groove liner the wall 52 carries a bead-like rim 54 at its free edge. In both groove liners, wall 51 is longer than the other wall and is bent so that the extended wall 5l of the liner holding the ixed pane will project into the path of movement of sliding pane il. The extended portion of wall 5l thus acts as a damper or a fender to catch the side edge of sliding pane lll when the latter is moved to its fully open position. This damping action is particularly important should the sliding pane il be moved rather violently to the open position and insures that neither the sliding pane itself or the vertical jamb 14 will be damaged. The groove liner engaged in the groove in vertical jamb 15 is similar in all respects to the groove liner just described although in this instance the extended portion of wall 5l serves primarily to help guide the sliding pane into the groove liner rather than as a damper means.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 and particularly to the latter two igures, the head piece 313 of the window frame is groovecl to receive the upper edges of both the iixed and sliding panes. The left hand side of the groove 60 (as viewed in FlGURES 6 and 7) is of double width so as to accommodate both the fixed and sliding panes. On the right hand side groove 6i) is of a width to accommodate the sliding pane only. Fixed to one wall of groove 6d and extending along both its double width portion and its single width portion is a top seal 6l.

The purpose of the top seal is to permit movement o sliding pane 1,1 while at the same time maintaining a tight seal between both panes and the window ltraine. Top seal 51 is also preferably formed by extrusion of a tlexible material such as soft vinyl plastic. It is essentially tubular in cross-section but it is readily deformable as can be seen in FlG. 5. Formed integrally on one side of the tubular element is an anchoring ridge 62 which is so shaped as to be received and retained in a secondary groove 63 in the side wall of groove 60. In view of the flexibility of top seal 61 it is possible to use a single unit for lining both the double thickness and single thickness parts of groove (i0l by simply passing the top seal around the corner formed at the junction of these two parts.

-I-t will be noted that each and every component of the window in accord with this invention including the base track, the side groove liners and the top seal are adaptable to window frames of any size. These components are all extruded members which are supplied in long lengths which may be cut to -tit the window frame being constructed and will satisfactorily perform their functions without any further special tting or adjustment.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a sashless window halving a pair of window panes, a frame dening a central opening and having a sill, a head-piece and a pair 0f vertically extending jambs, one of said panes being supported in said frame for horizontal sliding movement from a closed position closing said central iopening -to an open position partially opening said central opening; means for locking said sliding pane in said closed position, said locking means comprising a rst lock element carried by said sliding pane and a second lock element carried on said sill, said rst lock element comprising a first arm attached to said sliding pane at one end and having a projection receiving recess adjacent its other end, a second arm pivotally attached at one end to said rst arm for pivotal movement in a plane substantially at right angles to said sliding pane, said second arm carrying a projection adjacent `its other end for engaging in said recess in said rst arm; said second lock element comprising means for engaging said projection whereby said sliding pane may be locked in said closed position by moving said iirst arm into a position between said second lock ele-ment and said sliding pane, and by pivoting said second arm inwardly towards said sliding pane as to pass said projection into engagement with said projection engaging means carried by said second lock element and then into the projection receiving recess in said rst arm.

2. A sashless Window as claimed in claim l in which said rst arm is pivotally attached to said sliding pane for pivotable movement in a plane parallel to said sliding pane.

3. A sashless window as claimed in claim 2 in which said second locking means includes `a tirst wedging surface extending substantially parallel to said sliding pane, said first larm having a second Wedging sunface adapted to abut against said first wedging surface 'when said rst arm is moved into position between said second locking means and said sliding pane whereby said sliding pane is wedged tightly against a strip seal on the opposite side of said sliding pane to said locking means when said sliding pane is moved into its closed position.

`4. A sashless window as claimed in claim 3 including 'a base track means on said sill for supporting said panes, said base track means including a lhorizontal Iwall spaced from the above said sill and a lvertical Wall, both said walls being located on the inner side of said window, an aperture in said |vertical wall providing said means for engaging said projection, and a slot in said horizontal Wall, one edge of said slot providing said rst Wedging surface.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,701,162 Kliger Feb. 1, 1955 2,733,487 Hauck Feb. 7, 1956 2,770,487 AIsbell Nov. 13, 1956 2,787,034 Hauck Apr. 2, 1957 '2,792,246 Sisson May 14, 1957 2,919,748 Sehn et al. lan. 5, 1960 2,933,784 Hooverson Apr. 26, 1960 12,961,266 Alllgren Nov. 22, 1960 3,017,212 Migneault et al. Jan. 16, 1962

Claims

1. IN A SASHLESS WINDOW HAVING A PAIR OF WINDOW PANES, A FRAME DEFINING A CENTRAL OPENING AND HAVING A SILL, A HEAD-PIECE AND A PAIR OF VERTICALLY EXTENDING JAMBS, ONE OF SAID PANES BEING SUPPORTED IN SAID FRAME FOR HORIZONTAL SLIDING MOVEMENT FROM A CLOSED POSITION CLOSING SAID CENTRAL OPENING TO AN OPEN POSITION PARTIALLY OPENING SAID CENTRAL OPENING; MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID SLIDING PANE IN SAID CLOSED POSITION, SAID LOCKING MEANS COMPRISING A FIRST LOCK ELEMENT CARRIED BY SAID SLIDING PANE AND A SECOND LOCK ELEMENT CARRIED ON SAID SILL, SAID FIRST LOCK ELEMENT COMPRISING A FIRST ARM ATTACHED TO SAID SLIDING PANE AT ONE END AND HAVING A PROJECTION RECEIVING RECESS ADJACENT ITS OTHER END, A SECOND ARM PIVOTALLY ATTACHED AT ONE END TO SAID FIRST ARM FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID SLIDING PANE, SAID SECOND ARM CARRYING A PROJECTION ADJACENT ITS OTHER END FOR ENGAGING IN SAID RECESS IN SAID FIRST ARM; SAID SECOND LOCK ELEMENT COMPRISING MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID PROJECTION WHEREBY SAID SLIDING PANE MAY BE LOCKED IN SAID CLOSED