US3636660A

US3636660A - Internal vent for window sash

Info

Publication number: US3636660A
Application number: US2449*[A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gerald D Peterson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-03-09
Filing date: 1970-03-09
Publication date: 1972-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 1989-01-25

Abstract

A window construction having an improved external drainage system. The window construction includes a lower sill having a closed weep chamber formed therein. Suitable passageways and openings extend from the upper surface of the inside sill plate to the weep chamber for permitting flow of water from the sill plate to the weep chamber. The sill also has a small drain opening extending through the forward wall of the weep chamber for permitting collected water to be externally drained. Water passing the window seals and collecting on the sill thus flows into the chamber and creates a pressure head at the drain opening sufficient to oppose high-outside air pressure, as due to wind effects, and thereby to prevent such wind from driving such sill water back into the building. The window construction, in the disclosed embodiment, also includes a stationary sash provided with an air passageway extending from the weep chamber to the interior of the building. The separate air path receives sudden ones of such increases in outside pressure, as due to wind gusts, entering into the weep chamber through the drainage opening and thereby minimizes the spouting of water from the sill openings, which would otherwise be caused by inflow of outside air, until a sufficient water pressure head is created within the weep chamber for opposing such pressure increases.

Description

United States Patent Peterson [451 Jan..25,1972

[54] INTERNAL VENT FOR WINDOW SASH Gerald D. Peterson, 704 East Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. 48013 [22] Filed: Mar. 9, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 2,449

[72] Inventor:

Primary Examiner Kenneth Downey Attorney-Woodhams, Blanchard & Flynn ABSTRACT A window construction having an improved external drainage system. The window construction includes a lower sill having a closed weep chamber formed therein. Suitable passageways and openings extend from the upper surface of the inside sill plate to the weep chamber for permitting flow of water from the sill plate to the weep chamber. The sill also has a small drain opening extending through the forward wall of the weep chamber for permitting collected water to be externally drained. Water passing the window seals and collecting on the sill thus flows into the chamber and creates a pressure head at the drain opening sufficient to oppose high-outside air pressure, as due to wind effects, and thereby to prevent such wind from driving such sill water back into the building.

The window construction, in the disclosed embodiment, also includes a stationary sash provided with an air passageway extending from the weep chamber to the interior of the building. The separate air path receives sudden ones of such increases in outside pressure, as due to wind gusts, entering into the weep chamber through the drainage opening and thereby minimizes the spouting of water from the sill openings, which would otherwise be caused by inflow of outside air, until a sufficient water pressure head is created within the weep chamber for opposing such pressure increases.

14 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures alasQSo INVENTOR INTERNAL VENT FOR WINDOW SASI-I FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a window construction and, more particularly, relates to a window construction having an improved external drainage system inconspicuously built therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION One of the problems which has long been associated with window constructions, particularly window constructions having a horizontally slideable sash, has been the inability to provide effective external drainage, particularly during storm conditions, of the water which collects on the inside sill plate. Water often tends to collect on the inside sill plate due to leakage around or under the movable sash or due to a failure of the sash to fit snugly against the sill and the vertical end member of the frame. Also, the movable sash may inadvertently be not tightly closed, thereby resulting in water leakage past the sash, which water then collects on the inside sill plate.

To overcome the collection of water on the inside sill plate, most prior window constructions have provided a drainage hole in the sill plate, which drainage hole extends outwardly through the external side of the sill for draining the water externally of the building. However, this type of drainage system has often proved ineffective since the drain opening must be of extremely small size in order to be inconspicuous and not destroy the overall appearance of the window construction. Making the drain opening of such small size thus greatly restricts the flow capacity thereof, and thus the drainage of water through the drain openings is relatively slow, is easily obstructed and, in many cases, the openings are unable to effectively and rapidly provide for external drainage of the collected water.

Further, one of the primary problems associated with prior known window constructions has been the inability to provide for effective external drainage of collected water during storm conditions. Under storm conditions, the rain is generally accompanied by winds of substantial velocity, which winds drive the rain past the movable sash so as to cause water to collect on the sill plate. The wind also tends to blow in through the external drainage opening into the interior of the building. Accordingly, with water collected on the inside sill plate the wind blowing in through the drain opening causes such water to be sprayed backwards away from the drain opening, which phenomenon is commonly referred to as spouting." This spouting of the water causes some of the water to be sprayed over the sill plate onto the window stool. This spouting condition is obviously undesirable since it prevents effective external drainage of the water and it creates an unsightly spraying of the water on the window or on the stool adjacent the window.

The above-mentioned spouting of the water collected on the sill plate is overcome only when sufficient water collects on the sill plate so as to create an effective water pressure head adjacent the external drain opening substantially equal to the outside pressure adjacent the drain opening. That is, when the inside pressure adjacent the external drain opening (atmospheric pressure inside the building plus the head of water pressure) is substantially equal to the outside pressure (outside atmospheric pressure plus wind velocity pressure), then spouting is eliminated since further inflow of outside air is prevented. Further, when the inside pressure exceeds the outside pressure, then the water will flow through the drain opening for external discharge.

In the known window constructions, the creation of an inside pressure in excess of the outside pressure under storm conditions often occurs only when the sill is substantially filled with water. Prior to this time substantial undesirable spouting occurs and a substantial quantity of water is permitted to collect in the sill before external drainage begins. These operational features obviously make many of the known window constructions highly undesirable.

At the present time, the Aluminum Window Manufacturers Association has adopted, and has adhered to for a substantial number of years, a minimum standard of requiring that windows be able to develop a water pressure head of 0.550 inches of water before the water flows over the sill onto the stool. This minimum standard corresponds to an external wind velocity of approximately 34 m.p.h., and thus windows designed according to this standard theoretically are able to provide for external drainage of water in storms having winds up to approximately 34 m.p.h. without the water overflowing the sill. However, most of these prior window constructions have provided for development of the above minimum pressure head by permitting the collected water to stand on the visible portion of the sill, with the water so collected to a depth sufficient to create a pressure head of 0.550 inches of water. However, permitting water so to visibly collect on the inside of the sill is undesirable for many obvious reasons.

Further, most of the prior window constructions, while they have provided for the above-mentioned minimum pressure head, have nevertheless been unable to provide for effective external drainage when the wind velocity of the storm substantially exceeds 34 m.p.h., such as under gusting conditions or during East coast hurricanes. Under these conditions, the sill plate does not possess a sufficient depth for enabling creation of a pressure head greater than the external pressure imposed on the drain opening, whereby the water on the sill plate is unable to flow out the drain opening, and thus the water continues to collect on the inside sill plate until it overflows the inside flange of the sill.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a window construction having an improved external drainage system for permitting water to be rapidly and effectively removed from the inside sill plate and drained externally of the building in which the window construction is mounted.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved window construction having a small hidden water collection or weep chamber capable of permitting a desirable water pressure head to be developed therein so as to permit effective external drainage of water, even under moderate storm conditions.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a window construction, as aforesaid, wherein the weep chamber is disposed below the sill to prevent visible spouting of water and is capable of creating therein a substantial water pressure head.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a window construction, as aforesaid, which is able to inconspicuously retain a head of water under storm conditions (wind and rain) such that the outside pressure (outside atmospheric pressure plus wind velocity pressure) is in equilibrium with or at a lower pressure level than the inside pressure (inside atmospheric pressure plus water pressure head) at the drain opening from the weep chamber.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a window construction, as aforesaid, which is able to develop and retain the minimum required water pressure head of 0.550 inches of water without having water visibly standing on the sill plate.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a window construction, as aforesaid, which has sufficient reserve capacity for permitting effective external drainage of water even under extreme storm conditions, such as under East coast hurricane conditions, the window construction permitting water to be collected not only in the weep chamber but also on the sill plate so that collection of water on the sill plate permits the window construction to retain a head of water capable of developing an inside pressure substantially greater than 0.550 inches of water without the water overflowing the inside flange of the sill.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a window construction, as aforesaid, having a separate airflow path providing for communication between the weep chamber and the interior of the window for substantially preventing water spouting on the momentary occurrence of higher external air pressures, such as from wind gusts. v

Another object of the present invention is to provide a window construction, as aforesaid, wherein the separate air path comprises an air passageway extending through the frame elements of the stationary sash, which passageway communicates at its upper end with the interior atmosphere of the building and at its lower end with the weep chamber whereby the inflowing outside air can flow into the building sufficiently to relieve, or dissipate, pressure otherwise developing in the weep chamber as a result of gusts and without interfering with the development of the necessary water pressure head within the weep chamber and without causing undesirable spouting of the water.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved drainage system within a window construction, which drainage system is inconspicuous and can be efficiently and inexpensively provided without requiring major redesign of the window construction.

Other objects and purposes of this invention will be apparent to persons acquainted with apparatus of this general type upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective elevational view of a window construction embodying the invention and as viewed from the interior of a building in which it is installed.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, broken sectional elevational view taken along the line IIII of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken along the line IIIIII of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view as taken substantially along the lines IV-IV of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line VV of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG. 4.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. The terms upper and lower" will have reference to the window construction in its usual position of operation, as shown in FIG. 1. The words rightward and leftward will designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The terms interior and exterior" will have reference to the inside and outside surfaces of the wall structure in which the window is installed. The terms inner and outer will refer to the geometric center of said window constructions and designated parts thereof. Said terminology will include the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general, the objects and purposes of the present invention are met by providing a window construction having, in the preferred embodiment, a fixed sash and a horizontally movable sash disposed adjacent thereto. The window construction includes a frame having a stationary header and a stationary sill, the fixed sash being fixedly connected therebetween. A sill plate is spaced upwardly from the sill by means of an intermediate resilient strip, which sill plate serves as a guide rail for the movable sash. The intermediate resilient strip is interrupted to define an intermediate chamber between the sill and the sill plate. The sill plate is additionally provided with a plurality of openings extending therethrough for permitting water deposited on the upper surface of the sill plate to flow through the openings into the intermediate chamber. The openings in the sill plate also receive therein the locking plunger mounted on the movable sash for permitting the movable sash to be fixedly secured in one of a plurality of selected positions. The in-' terior wall of the lower rail of the fixed sash is provided with slots therethrough for providing communication between the intermediate chamber and the hollow interior of the lower rail. Further, preferably at least two spaced openings are provided in the sill for providing communication between the interior of the lower rail and a closed weep chamber provided below and adjacent the exterior flange of the sill. The exterior flange of the sill has a small inconspicuous drain opening closer to one of said spaced openings than the other and extending therethrough and communicating with the weep chamber for permitting external drainage of water therefrom.

The window construction is further provided with a separate air passageway system for permitting development of a water pressure head within the weep chamber without causing spouting of the water deposited on the sill plate. Particularly, the vertical meeting stile of the fixed sash is provided with slots adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof for permitting continuous communication between the hollow interior of the meeting stile and the hollow interior of the upper and lower rails. The upper rail has a small and inconspicuous vent opening extending through the interior wall thereof for permitting the interior of the upper rail to communicate with the interior of the building. External air flowing into the weep chamber due to the outside pressure being greater than the inside pressure especially in case of wind gusts, will thus flow through the separate air passageway system and will not substantially interfere with the water in the drainage passageway system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The window construction 10 (FIG. 1) which has been selected to illustrate the invention includes a substantially rectangular frame 11 supported within and upon a wall structure 12 fabricated from conventional material, such as masonry or wood. A fixed sash 13 and a horizontally movable sash 14 are disposed within said frame 11, which frame has a header 16, a sill 17 and a pair of

uprightjamb elements

18 and 19. The movable sash 14 has an upper rail 21, a lower rail 22 and a pair of

stiles

23 and 24. The movable sash 14 also has a pair of rollers, such as indicated at 26 in FIG. 2, supported on the lower edge of the sash near its opposite ends in a manner substantially as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 2,889,589. The movable sash 14 also has a conventional sash lock assembly 27 which includes a vertically movable lock plunger 28 disposed within the stile 23 (FIG. 2).

' The fixed sash 13 is constructed in a manner similar to the movable sash 14 and includes upper and

lower rails

31 and 32, respectively, which rails are respectively fixedly connected to the header 16 and the sill 17 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The

rails

31 and 32 are fixedly interconnected by a pair of

side stiles

33 and 34 so as to define a rectangular frame in which is positioned the glass window pane 36, the pane being secured to the side stiles and the upper and lower rails by means of conventional glazing strips 35.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the sill 17 has an elongated, substantially horizontal portion 37, the exterior edge of which is positioned below and fixedly connected to the lower rail 32 of the fixed sash 13. The sill 17 also includes an upstanding flange 38 fixed to the interior end of the horizontal portion 37, which flange 38 in conjunction with the interior wall of the rail 32 defines a channel in which the lower edge of the movable sash 14 is received. An elongated, substantially flat sill plate 39 is disposed above the horizontal sill portion 37 and extends laterally between the flange 38 and the interior wall of the rail 32. The sill plate 39.has an upstanding rib or rail 41 thereon which engages the rollers 26 of the movable sash 14 for permitting the sash 14 to be freely slideably moved between open and closed positions.

The sill plate 39 is spaced upwardly a small distance from the horizontal sill portion 37 by means of an elongated resilient strip 42 positioned therebetween. The strip 42 is preferably constructed of a resilient material which functions both as a cushion and as a seal, and as illustrated in FIG. 5, may be constructed from a plurality of superimposed thin layers of relatively stiff rubber or rubberlike material. The sill plate 39 and the horizontal sill portion 37 are fixedly interconnected in any conventional manner, such as by a plurality of screws extending therebetween. The resilient strip 42 is, as illustrated in FIG. 5, divided into two portions 42A and 428 which are spaced apart so as to define an intermediate drainage chamber 43 therebetween, which chamber 43 is vertically defined between the horizontal sill portion 37 and the sill plate 39, and is laterally defined by the sill flange 38 and the interior wall of the lower rail member 32.

The sill plate 39 is provided with a recess 44 (FIG. 4) along one edge thereof for enabling the sealing flange 46 to extend therethrough. The sealing flange 46 is fixedly secured to and extends along the meeting stile 34 and cooperates with a further sealing flange 47 fixedly secured to the movable sash 14. The flanges 46 and 47, which are conventionally provided with resilient or felt sealing strips thereon, are disposed in overlapping engagement with one another when the movable sash 14 is in the closed position, as illustrated by the dotted lines in FIG. 4.

The recess 44 also serves a further function in that it communicates with the intermediate drainage chamber 43 for enabling water to flow from the upper surface of the sill plate 39 into the chamber 43. The sill plate 39 is also provided with a further plurality of

openings

51, 52 and 53 therethrough, which openings also communicate with the drainage chamber 43 for permitting water to flow thereinto from the upper surface of the sill plate 39. The

openings

51, 52 and 53 also function as latch openings for receiving therein the lower end of the latch plunger 28. The opening 51 is adapted to have the lower end of the latch plunger 28 extend therein when the movable sash 14 is in the closed position, whereas the openings 52 and 53 permit the movable sash to be opened a small amount for ventilation purposes while the plunger 28 is receivable into either of the openings 52 or 53 for locking the movable sash 14 in a partially opened condition.

The intermediate drainage chamber 43 further communicates with the hollow interior 57 of the lower rail 32 by means of slots 54 and 56 which extend through the interior wall of the rail 32 adjacent the lower edge thereof. The hollow interior 57 of the rail 32 in turn communicates, by means of

openings

58 and 59 formed in the horizontal sill portion 37, with a small weep chamber 61.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the water collection, or weep, chamber 61 is in part defined by the sill 17, which sill has a downwardly extending front flange 62 with a further flange 63 being fixedly connected to the lower edge of the front flange 62 and extending rearwardly therefrom. The

flanges

62 and 63 in conjunction with the horizontal sill portion 37 define a rearwardly opening, channel-shaped sill portion which extends longitudinally throughout the length of the sill, the opposite ends of the channel-shaped sill portion being open.

The channel-shaped sill portion as defined by

flanges

62 and 63 receive therein a short channel-shaped member 64 which, as illustrated in FIG. 4, extends at an angle of substantially 90 relative to the longitudinally extending direction of the channel-shaped sill portion. The channel member 64 includes opposite, substantially

parallel legs

66 and 67 interconnected by a base portion 68. The base portion 68 is positioned in substantially parallel and spaced relationship relative to the flange 62, and the

legs

66 and 67 extending transversely between the flange 62 and the rear tabs 81 and 82 (FIG. 2). The channel member 64, in conjunction with the

flanges

62 and 63, thus defines a small substantially closed weep chamber 61, which chamber is generally approximately 2 to 6 inches in length. The front flange 62 is also provided with a small and inconspicuous drain opening 69 extending therethrough, which opening 69 communicates with the weep chamber 61 adjacent the lower portion thereof for permitting the water within the weep chamber 61 to be drained externally of the wall 12.

The channel member 64 is preferably also surrounded by a sealing material, such as putty, for preventing leakage around the edges of the channel member 64, thereby insuring that the water all drains externally through the opening 69.

The window construction 10 is also provided with a separate vent passageway system for preventing, especially upon the occurrence of outside gusts, the inflowing outside air from interfering with the development of a water pressure head within the weep chamber and for preventing the inflowing outside air from causing spouting of the water deposited on the sill plate. Specifically, the upper rail 31 is provided with one or more small and inconspicuous vent openings 71 and 72 (FIGS. 1 and 3) adjacent the upper edge thereof, which vent openings extend through the interior wall of the rail for providing communication between the hollow interior 73 of the rail 31 and the interior of the building in which the window construction is mounted. The hollow interior 73 of the upper rail 31 communicates with the hollow interior 77 of the meeting stile 34 by means of a slot or opening 76 (FIG. 2) formed in the wall of the stile 34 adjacent the upper end thereof. The lower end of the stile 34 is provided with a further slot 78 extending through the wall thereof for permitting the hollow interior 77 of the stile 34 to communicate with the hollow interior 57 of the lower rail 32. The interior of the lower rail 32 in turn communicates with the weep chamber 61 by means of

openings

58 and 59 as described above.

OPERATION The operation of the drainage system embodying the invention will be described in detail hereinbelow for a better understanding thereof.

If water accidentally collects or is deposited on the upper surface of the sill plate 39, then the water will flow through either the recess 44 or through one or more of the

openings

51, 52 and 53 into the intermediate drainage chamber 43. Water within the chamber 43 will then flow through the slots 54 and 56 into the hollow interior 57 of the lower rail 32. Water within the hollow rail 32 will then flow through the

drain openings

58 and 59 into the weep chamber 61, with the water in the weep chamber 61 then flowing through the drain opening 69 so as to be discharged exteriorly of the building.

When the external air pressure is greater than the internal air pressure, such as when wind is blowing against the window in question, that is, when the pressure adjacent the exterior side of the drain opening 69 is greater than the air pressure in side the weep chamber 61, then the outside air will flow through the drain opening 69 into the weep chamber 61, thence through

openings

58 and 59 into the interior of the lower rail 32. The air will then flow from lower rail 32 through the hollow interior of the meeting stile 34 into the hollow interior 73 of the upper rail 31, thence through the vent openings 71 and 72 into the interior of the building. Alternately, when no water is standing on the sill plate, the air in the lower rail 31 may also flow through the slots 54 and 56 into the intermediate chamber 43, thence through the

openings

44, 51, 52 or 53 into the interior of the building. However, when water is deposited on the sill plate 39, then the water will flow into the intermediate chamber 43 (FIG. 5) and through the slots 54 and 56, which water will thus prevent the flow of air therethrough. The inflowing outside air will then flow from the lower rail 32 through the meeting stile,34 into the upper rail 31 and through the vent openings 71 and 72 since this passageway is the path of least resistance. Thus, the inflowing outside air will not interfere with the water deposited on the sill plate.

When water is deposited on the sill plate, it will flow into the intermediate chamber 43 and through the slots 54 and 56 into the lower rail 32, with the water then flowing through at least one of the

openings

58 and 59 into the weep chamber 61. However, when the outside pressure is greater than the pressure of the water within the weep chamber, the water will be unable to flow out the opening 69, whereupon the water will tend to collect within the weep chamber 61 while simultaneously therewith outside air will continue to flow through the opening 69 into the weep chamber, with the air then flowing upwardly through one of the

openings

58 and 59 and through the vent passageway formed in the frame of the stationary sash. However, when the depth of water collected within the weep chamber 61 is sufficient to create an inside pressure adjacent the opening 69 in equilibrium with the external air pressure, then the further inflow of outside air will be prevented and the external drainage of water through the opening 69 will commence as soon as the water pressure adjacent the opening 69 exceeds the outside pressure.

The weep chamber 61 is a preferred present embodiment of the invention is designed with a height from the opening 69 to the upper surface of the horizontal sill portion 37 sufficient to create a predetermined water pressure head, when the weep chamber is filled with water, substantially equal to at least 0.550 inches of water. Thus, the weep chamber 61 is able to develop the presently recommended industry minimum standard without having any substantial collection of water on the upper surface of the sill or on the upper surface of the sill plate. Thus, the weep chamber is able to provide for external drainage of water during storm conditions having winds up to approximately 34 mph. without causing any water to stand on the exposed portions of the sill plate. Further, under gusting or extremely severe storm conditions, the window construction according to the present invention will permit water to collect above the sill plate 39 until reaching an elevation even with the upper edge of the inside sill flange 38. Thus, the height between the upper edge of the inside sill flange 38 and the upper surface of the horizontal sill portion 37 provides for reserve capacity for creating a substantially larger water pressure head capable of accommodating and providing for external drainage even under severe storm conditions. in the illustrated embodiment, the elevational difference between the upper edge of the inside sill flange 38 and the weep opening 69 is sufficient to permit development of a water pressure head of L200 inches of water, which water pressure head is able to provide for effective external drainage even with external winds up to approximately 50 mph.

The construction of the weep chamber 61 according to the present invention is also highly desirable since it permits, under storm conditions, the rapid development of the necessary internal water pressure head. This rapid development of the pressure head is made possible by providing the weep chamber over only a small fraction-of the overall length of the window construction. Particularly, the weep chamber as formed by the channel-shaped member 64 is of limited length and thus only a small quantity of water need be supplied to the weep chamber in order to provide a sufficient depth of water within the weep chamber so as to develop a pressure adjacent the weep opening 69 which is in equilibrium with or exceeds the outside pressure. Thus, external drainage of water through the weep opening 69 is possible without requiring that large quantities of water be collected within the weep chamber.

The weep chamber 61 constructed according to the present invention thus substantially functions as a sump or reservoir which permits water to accumulate therein until a sufficient water pressure head is created adjacent the weep opening so as to balance the external wind pressure, whereupon when further water gathers and the water pressure then exceeds the wind pressure, free drainage of water from the sump is per mitted. The horizontal sill portion 37 is preferably provided with the pair of

openings

58 and 59 communicating with the weep chamber 61 so that the one thereof closest to the drain opening 69 will function as an air vent for permitting the escape of inflowing outside air from the chamber 61, whereas the other opening will permit the flow of water from the sill into the weep chamber 61 so that the water within the weep chamber may accumulate to a depth sufficient to balance the external wind pressure. Thus, use of a plurality of weep chamber inlets, such as

slots

58 and 59, in combination with a single weep chamber exit 69, insures that water will accumulate within the weep chamber until a sufficient pressure is developed so as to balance the external wind pressure, with the separate water and air passageways substantially minimizing or preventing spouting or back-splashing of the water.

Further, in those cases where air within the building is at a higher pressure than the air exteriorly of the building, then the flow of water from the weep chamber 61 is assisted by the pressure head imposed by the air within the lower rail 32. Such air flows through the upper vent openings 71 and 72 into the hollow interior 73 of the upper rail 31, whereupon the pressurized air then flows through the opening 76 into the upper end of the hollow interior 77 of the meeting stile 34. The air then flows vertically downwardly through the meeting stile 34 and through the opening 78 adjacent the lower end thereof into the hollow interior 57 of the lower rail 32. The presence of the air in the lower rail thus imposes a pressure head on the water trapped within the weep chamber 61, thereby causing the water to be more rapidly and efficiently discharged from the weep chamber.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail above for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which I claim an exclusive property or privilege are defined as follows:

1. In a window construction including a substantially rectangular frame having a sill, a header and a pair of jamb elements, a horizontally movable sash disposed within said frame, said sill including a substantially horizontal sill portion disposed below the sash and extending longitudinally of the frame between the jamb elements, said sill further having a downwardly extending flange fixedly secured to and extending longitudinally along the exterior edge of the horizontal sill portion, a sill plate extending along the upper surface of said sill beneath said movable sash and between said jamb elements, and drain means communicating between the sill plate and the exterior surface of the sill, said drain means comprising a substantially closed water collection chamber disposed below the horizontal portion of the sill, a drain opening extending through the downwardly extending flange of said sill and communicating with said chamber, and drainage passageway means providing communication between and drainage of water from the upper surface of the sill plate to said chamber, an elongated strip disposed between said sill and said sill plate for spacing said sill plate slightly vertically upwardly from the upper surface of said sill, a portion of said elongated strip being removed for defining an intermediate chamber between said sill and said sill plate, said sill plate having opening means extending therethrough for providing communication between the upper surface of said sill plate and said intermediate chamber, and said passageway means further including an intermediate flow passage extending between said intermediate chamber and said water collection chamber, said intermediate passage including an opening extending through said horizontal sill portion for communicating with said water collection chamber.

2. The construction according to claim 1, including also a fixed sash having a substantially hollow, lower stationary frame element, in which the passageway means includes a slot extending through the wall of said lower frame element for providing communication between the intermediate chamber and the hollow interior of the lower frame element, and the hollow interior of the lower frame element communicating with said water collection chamber by means of said opening which extends through said horizontal sill portion.

3. The construction according to claim 2, further including a vent passageway extending internally through the window construction and communicating with the hollow interior of the lower frame member, and a vent opening extending through the interior wall of the window construction adjacent the upper side thereof for providing communication between the vent passageway and the atmosphere adjacent the interior side of the window construction.

4. The construction according to claim 1, further including separate air vent means providing communication between the interior side of the window construction and the water collection chamber.

5. The construction according to claim 4, in which the vent means includes vent passageway means extending internally of the window construction with one end of said vent passageway means being in communication with the water collection chamber and the other end of the vent passageway means being located adjacent the header, said vent means further including a small and inconspicuous vent opening extending through an interior wall of the window construction for providing communication between the atmospheric air adjacent the interior side of the window construction and the other end of the vent passageway means.

6. The construction according to claim 1, further including separate air vent means providing communication between the interior side of the window construction and the water collection chamber.

7. In a window construction including a substantially rectangular frame having a horizontally movable sash disposed therein, the frame having a sill, a header and a pair of jamb elements, said sill including a substantially horizontal sill portion disposed below the movable sash and extending longitudinally of the frame, said sill further having a downwardly extending flange extending longitudinally along the exterior edge thereof, and drain means communicating between the upper surface of the sill and the exterior surface of the extending sill flange, the improvement wherein said drain means includes a substantially closed water collection chamber disposed below the horizontal portion of the sill, a drain opening extending through the downwardly extending flange of said sill and communicating with said water collection chamber adjacent the lower portion thereof, first passageway means providing communication between the upper surface of said sill and said water collection chamber for permitting flow of water from the upper surface of said sill to said water collection chamber, and second passageway means separate from said first passageway means for providing communication between said water collection chamber and the atmosphere adjacent the interior side of the window construction, said second passageway means communicating with the atmosphere adjacent the interior side of the window at a point located above said upper surface of the sill for permitting flow of air between said water collection chamber and said interior atmosphere.

8. The construction according to claim 7, including also a fixed sash defined by substantially rectangular framing having stationary upper and lower rails interconnected by stationary side stiles, said upper and lower rails and at least one of said side stiles being substantially hollow, and said second passageway means including a vent opening extending through the interior wall of the upper rail for permitting the atmosphere adjacent the interior side of the window construction to communicate with the hollow interior of the upper rail, said second passageway means further including openings providing communication between the interior of said one side stile and the hollow interiors of the upper and lower rails, and at least a portion of the first passageway means being defined by the hollow interior of the lower rail.

9. The construction according to claim 7, in which the horizontal sill portion is disposed vertically above the water collection chamber drain opening by a distance sufficient to permit development of a water pressure head within the water collection chamber of at least approximately 0.550 inches of water.

10. The construction according to claim 7, in which the second passageway means includes a vent opening extending through an interior wall of the window construction near an upper side thereof.

11, The construction according to claim 7, in which the water collection chamber extends longitudinally of the flange for only a small fraction of the length thereof.

12. In a window construction including a substantially rectangular frame having a sill, a header and a pair of jamb elements, a horizontally movable sash disposed within said frame, said sill including a substantially horizontal sill portion disposed below the sash and extending longitudinally of the frame between the amb elements, said sill further having a downwardly extending flange fixedly secured to and extending longitudinally along the exterior edge of the horizontal sill portion, and drain means communicating between the upper surface of the sill and the exterior surface of the sill flange, the improvement wherein said drain means includes wall means disposed rearwardly of said flange and beneath said sill portion and coacting with said flange and said sill portion for defining a substantially closed water collection chamber which extends longitudinally of said flange for only a small fraction of the length thereof, said water collection chamber having a bottom wall disposed vertically below said horizontal sill portion by a substantial distance, a drain opening extending through said downwardly extending flange and communicating with said chamber adjacent the lowermost portion thereof, and drainage passageway means providing communication between and drainage of water from the upper surface of the sill to said chamber, said drainage passageway means including a flow opening communicating with said chamber substantially adjacent the upper portion thereof, said flow opening being vertically spaced a substantial distance above said drain opening to enable development of a water pressure head within said chamber of at least approximately 0.550 inch of water.

13. A construction according to claim 12, wherein said drain passageway means includes at least two flow openings communicating with said collection chamber adjacent the upper portion thereof, said flow openings extending vertically through said horizontal sill portion.

14. The construction according to claim 12, wherein said wall means in cooperation with said front flange and said horizontal sill portion define a substantially boxlike configuration having a hollow interior defining said small substantially closed chamber, said chamber having a substantially rectangular horizontal cross section and having a maximum length in the longitudinal direction of said sill of approximately 6 inches.

Claims

11. The construction according to claim 7, in which the water collection chamber extends longitudinally of the flange for only a small fraction of the length thereof.

12. In a window construction including a substantially rectangular frame having a sill, a header and a pair of jamb elements, a horizontally movable sash disposed within said frame, said sill including a substantially horizontal sill portion disposed below the sash and extending longitudinally of the frame between the jamb elements, said sill further having a downwardly extending flange fixedly secured to and extending longitudinally along the exterior edge of the horizontal sill portion, and drain means communicating between the upper surface of the sill and the exterior surface of the sill flange, the improvement wherein said drain means includes wall means disposed rearwardlY of said flange and beneath said sill portion and coacting with said flange and said sill portion for defining a substantially closed water collection chamber which extends longitudinally of said flange for only a small fraction of the length thereof, said water collection chamber having a bottom wall disposed vertically below said horizontal sill portion by a substantial distance, a drain opening extending through said downwardly extending flange and communicating with said chamber adjacent the lowermost portion thereof, and drainage passageway means providing communication between and drainage of water from the upper surface of the sill to said chamber, said drainage passageway means including a flow opening communicating with said chamber substantially adjacent the upper portion thereof, said flow opening being vertically spaced a substantial distance above said drain opening to enable development of a water pressure head within said chamber of at least approximately 0.550 inch of water.