US3660937A

US3660937A - Windows, doors or the like

Info

Publication number: US3660937A
Application number: US7084A
Authority: US
Inventors: Werner Frach; Bernhard Janke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-01-31
Filing date: 1970-01-30
Publication date: 1972-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 1989-05-09
Also published as: SE372053B; AT302611B; BE745154A; NL7001479A; DK133708C; JPS4935183B1; FR2030212A1; YU31250B; CA928151A; DK133708B; CH512661A; NO124848B; GB1302559A; DE1904648A1

Abstract

A mounting and sealing system for the closures of openings in building walls, such as doors or, particularly, casement windows wherein the movable closure frame is hinged to its fixed frame by means of a flexible sealing strip permanently attached to one of said frames and releasably attached to the other of said frames by the inflation of a hollow tubular section into effective engagement with said sealing strip or with a separate cooperating support bar; the window or the like being, when closed, preferably sealed around its entire periphery by one or a plurality of hollow sections, and provision being made for selectively varying the location of the hinge.

Description

o ilmted States i atnt m1 3,66,937 Frach et al. [4 1 May 9, 1972 [54] WINDOWS, DOORS 0R TE LIKE 2,792,599 5/1957 Gantschnigg et al ..49/477 x 3,335,538 8/1967 Ganzinotti ..49/477 X [72] 35 :2? ffggz jggg fg g 3,449,864 6/1969 Frost-Dame et al.. ..49/471 8 Y 3,501,868 3/1970 Ganzinotti ..49/477 [73] Assignee: Werner Frach, Bayreuth, Germany Primary Examiner-Kenneth Downey [22] Filed. .Ian. 30, 1970 Attorney-None and NOlte [211 App]. No.: 7,084

[57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priorliy Data A mounting and sealing system for the closures of openings in building walls, such as doors or, particularly, casement win- 3 1969 Germany 19 04 648'! dows wherein the movable closure frame is hinged to its fixed frame by means of a flexible sealing strip permanently attached to one of said frames and releasably attached to the t 58] i l 16/1. other of said frames by the inflation of a hollow tubular sec- 128 tion into efiective engagement with said sealing strip or with a separate cooperating support bar; the window or the like be- 56] References Cited ing, when closed, preferably sealed around its entire periphery by one or a plurality of hollow sections, and provision being UNITED STATES PATENTS made for selectively varying the location of the hinge. 2,757,225 7/1956 Dunn ..49/477 X 15 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures 8 fa aa a 9 6/ 4 64 Q 7 PKTENTEDMAY 9 I972 3 66 O 9 3 7 SHEET u or 4 W INVENTOR ATTORNEY WINDOWS, DOORS OR THE LIKE This invention relates to a device for holding and sealing openings in constructional work, in particular, window casements in window frames or doors in door frames, said windows, doors and frames being called, for convenience, the filling for the opening in the constructional work and having sealing, elastic, tube-like hollow sections, whose cross section can be altered by adjusting the internal pressure.

In known windows, for solving the problem of sealing, there are provided on the windows between the light frame and the fixed frame, seals constructed as pneumatically adjustable tubes of hollow section. The window casement was thus locked in the window frame solely by mechanical means (metal fittings). Even when several locking points are provided between the window easements and the fixed frames, when the seal is put under pressure, it cannot be entirely avoided that the window casement bends between the locking points, so that the contact pressure of the seal and thus its sealing effect on the bent points is jeopardized. Thus the known use of the seal of inflatable tubes in combination with mechanical fittings is unsuitable for solving reliably the problem of sealing normal windows.

It has also already been suggested to operate the mechanical elements (metal fittings) for locking the window frame to the fixed frame by means of a hydraulic system, which is also suitable for operating the hollow sections serving as a seal. This proposal provides a seal between the fixed frame and window, which presses the window frame over its entire periphery against the fixed frame, and thus simultaneously seals and locks them against each other, while requiring, how ever, a relatively complicated mechanism for moving the pivot and other moving parts for operating the window casement, for example, for swinging or tilting the latter.

Accordingly, the object of the invention is to provide a device for opening and closing fillings in openings in construe tional work, i.e., for example, window easements in window frames, doors in door frames or the like, in which both the sealing and the locking, as well as the holding of the filling during the opening, occurs substantially without additional mechanical components and in a particularly easy manner.

This invention fulfills this object in that the region between the frame of the filling and the frame of the opening there is provided a flexible and/or elastic closure member extending parallel to a hollow section, which with one longitudinal edge is attached either to the frame of the filling or to the frame of the opening and which is arranged or constructed to cooperate indirectly or directly with the hollow section in such a way that, on enlarging the cross section of the hollow section by increasing the internal pressure, the closure member is pressed against the frame of the opening and/or the frame of the filling at a region which is at a distance from the longitudinal edge attached to the frame, so as to seal and to be fixed.

In the drawing,

FIG. 1 shows a horizontal section through the new structure in one position thereof.

FIG. 2 shows a similar section in a different position of the structure.

FIG. 3 shows a similar section applied to another embodiment of the device.

FIGS. 4 to I I show partial sections applied to other embodiments, and

FIG. 12 is a diagram of a control means for the invention.

The hollow sections (6 in FIG. 1) can be attached to the frame section 8 of the fixed frame 2 or to the frame section 3 of the light or moveable frames 1. The closure member in this figure), correspondingly can be attached to the light frame section 3 or to the fixed frame section 8, and when the hollow section is inflated, the closure member can be pressed thereby against the fixed frame section or the light frame section.

In this solution, according to the invention, the flexible or elastic closure member 5 co-operating with the hollow section 6 thus takes over both the function of a sealing member as well as the function of a hinge passing between the window frame and the fixed frame, and for both functions the hollow section is under pressure and the closure member presses against the frame section supporting the hollow section and seals it. The light frame and the fixed frame can only be separated from each other at the appropriate places by swinging or tilting when the hollow section is not under pressure; in the case when it is attached to the light frame section, the closure member leaves the interior of the fixed frame section, and when it is attached to the fixed frame section, then it is released from the window light frame without hindrance by the hollow section.

According to a further proposal of the invention, it is provided that the closure member and hollow section are connected to each other in one piece (FIGS. 10 and 11). This proposal brings an additional, quite considerable simplification of the construction since in this case only one flexible part is necessary, which simultaneously carries out the function of sealing, holding, moving and locking. This member can either be anchored in the fixed frame or in the light frame and its hollow portion, after its enlargement, can be arranged to enter either recesses formed from a single part of the frame or a recess formed from both parts of the frame, so as to press together the parts of the frame as a result of the pressure effect of the hollow section. This particularly advantageous solution constitutes an automatic protection.

Thus the device, according to the invention, dispenses with practically all metal fittings; due to this, a considerable simplification and reduction is price of the construction is achieved; moreover, the provision of connecting members for attaching the metal fittings to the parts of the frame is also dispensed with, which is an appreciable advantage particularly with plastic windows. The sealing effect achieved is far beyond requirements; any penetration by dirt or air or water is completely excluded. An absolutely uniform sealing effect over the entire periphery of the light or fixed frame is achieved. For example, it is possible, with a window of approximately l m. X l m. and at a pressure of approximately 2 atmospheres inside the hollow section, if this has a contact width of approximately 1 cm., to produce a holding force of 800 kg. By way of comparison, the wind pressure at a wind force 12 (hurricane) on such a window amounts to approximately kg. Naturally, it is possible to achieve such a sealing effect according to the invention both with a liquid, as well as with a gaseous pressure medium.

According to which sides of the frame are acted upon by pressure and which are not under pressure, it is possible without special technical expenditure to achieve selectively a rotary tilting of the window about a vertical part of the frame or about a horizontal part of the frame. It is of no importance whether the window is pivoted about the left-or right-hand vertical part of the frame or about the upper or the lower horizontal part of the frame.

Accordingly, a separate pivot for left or right-hand closing windows and for windows with or without the ability to tilt can be dispensed with. One single basic type of control (FIG. 12) can be provided in the most simple manner simply by appropriate reversal of tube couplings to the desired conditions (positions of the tilting and/or axis of rotation In FIG. I there is shown a section through the window frame of a pivoting and tilting window. The glazing 1a is mounted in the light frame 1; on its side adjacent the fixed frame 2 the light frame has a frame section 3, which co-operates with the frame section 8 of the fixed frame. The

frame sections

3 and 8 can consist of any rigid material; normally, they are of metal, preferably steel or aluminum. In the interior region of the frame section there is provided a flexible and, if desired, elastic closure member 5, which according to FIG. I is securely attached in the light frame section 3, namely at 5a, and whose free end in the region 5b co-operates with the hollow section 6 attached in the fixed frame section 8, as indicated at 6a. In FIG. I the hollow section 6 is shown in the inflated position, i.e., by means of the pressure prevailing in the hollow section 6, the closure member 5 is pressed against another part of the fixed frame section (e.g., the corrugated part 8a) and forms a seal. In the position of the closure member and hollow section shown in FIG. 1, the window casement can be rotated in the direction of the arrow a about the rod 4 connected to the light frame section 3, the rod 4 moving along the slide bar 7, which is supported on the fixed frame section. It is advisable to make the slide bar 7 independent of the fixed frame section, because in this way an accurate adjustment of the window casement in the fixed frame is facilitated. In certain circumstances, it is sufficient to provide such a slide bar 7 solely on the side of the window chosen as the axis of rotation; in this case the window can move out more easily during rotation of the opposite side. Provided the hollow section has the inflatable position according to FIG. 1, the side of the window shown here is tightly sealed and the closure member 5 is retained in the fixed frame section. Since it is attached at its other edge, namely at 5a in the light frame section, it serves simultaneously as a hinge during rotation of the window casement about the rod 4, the thinner region 5 of the closure member 5 partially winding around the rod 4, according to FIG. 2. The pivoted window, in the position shown in FIG. 2, and also in all the preceding intermediate positions, is held by the closure member 5 extending along the entire side of the window. An additional support can be achieved by a suitable construction of the rod 4 in that the ends of latter can abut both the upper as well as the lower cross piece of the window frame.

If the hollow section 6 is not under pressure and due to this releases the closure member, then the window casement 1, 1a can be swung out of the position shown in FIG. 1 about an upper or lower swinging axis in the direction of arrow b out of the fixed frame. On swinging back, in order that the correct mounting of the closure member 5 in the interior space in the fixed frame section 8 is achieved there is provided on the fixed frame section a sloping projection 9 directed towards the light frame section, on which the front part 5b of the closure member can slide, without disturbing the rear, pressureless hollow section 6 or locking with it in doing so. Finally, when the window is open this projection 9 serves as a protection against damage to the hollow section 6.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the device according to the invention, with the window closed. Here the rod 14 and the closure member 15 are connected to the fixed frame section 18. The hollow section 16, constructed in the form of a tube, is attached to the light frame section 13. Thus each of the said parts, in contradistinction to FIG. 1, is arranged in the respective other part of the frame. The light frame section 13 can have a recess 17 corresponding to the shape of the closure member 15, into which the closure member is tightly pressed after extension of the hollow section 16.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the device according to the invention, which is very similar to that shown in FIG. 1. In contrast to FIG. 1, the fixed frame section 18 near to the region 5b of the closure member 5 has no corrugation 8a, but is constructed to be perfectly smooth, as shown at 180. The hollow section 16 is shown in the pressureless state, in which it disappears completely behind the projection 19, so that when the window swings it is guaranteed that the closure member 5 can enter and leave without friction.

In FIG. 5 the region 2511 of the closure member 25 is constructed as a symmetrical bulge, one side ofwhich engages in a correspondingly shaped recess 17 in the fixed frame section 28, so that when the hollow section 16 presses against it a tight connection occurs. In contrast to FIG. 4, the fixed frame section shown in FIG. 5 has no outer sealing strip 27.

FIG. 6 shows a variation of the device according to the invention on a fixed frame section 28 and a light frame section 3, which is constructed in a similar manner, to that shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5. However, by way of contrast to the said Figures between the hollow section 26 and the closure member 35 (with enlarged edge region 35a) a support bar 12 is displaceably arranged, such that after the hollow section 26 has been acted upon by the pressure medium the support bar 12 moves in the direction of the closure member 25 and presses the latter in an air-tight manner against another part of the frame section, for example forming a form-locking connection. Thus the hollow section 26 can, as shown in FIG. 6, be anchored both in the fixed frame section, as well as in the support bar, as shown at 26a and 26b; however, it is sufficient to anchor the hollow section in only one of those parts or to completely dispense with one anchorage.

In the devices according to the invention, shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, support bars are also provided, which however, are different from those in FIG. 6, and are pivotally mounted at one edge in a part of the frame. According to FIG. 7, the closure member 55 is anchored in the light frame section 43 and the hollow section 46 in the fixed frame section 48. As a result of the enlargement of the cross section of the hollow section 46 the support bar 55 pivots about its axis 48a in the fixed frame section in the direction of the closure member 45 and presses its downwardly projecting front end against a complementary shaped inner part 47 of the fixed frame section, whose outer surface 44 serves simultaneously as an abutment for the web 43 of the light frame section 43 sliding thereon. The enlarged edge 45a of the member 45 is securely held between the end ofthe bar 55 and the part 47.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 8, the operation is similar; in contrast to FIG. 7 the hollow section 56 is anchored in the fixed frame section 58 and in the inflated state presses the support bar 53 against the closure member 45 anchored in the light frame section 3. The support bar 53 has at its end opposite the pivot a projection, with which it engages behind the front bulge 45a of closure member 45.

The embodiment of the device according to the invention shown in FIG. 9 corresponds, regarding the arrangement of the parts 65 and 66, to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3; in contrast to FIG. 3, according to FIG. 9 the hollow section 66 acts only indirectly, namely by means of the support bar 63, on the closure member 65. The fixed frame is designated 68. The arrows provided in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 indicate the direction of movement of the window casement during its rotation about the pivot illustrated in the drawings. In all the embodiments shown in the drawings, it should be taken into consideration that the axis of rotation does not come to lie exactly at the center point of the rod 4, but that the latter during the movement of the rod along its abutment with the increasing rotation of the light frame according to the embodiment moves outwards or inwards.

In FIGS. 10 and 11, similar embodiments of the invention are illustrated, the closure member 5 and the hollow section 6 (e.g., of FIGS. 1 and 2) being combined here as a single member 75. This member can be anchored either in the light frame section 3 (FIG. 10) or in the fixed frame section 88 (FIG. 11), corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 3. At its front, free end it is constructed as a hollow section, whose interior is connected to a pressure medium. When the hollow section 75c of the member 75 is under pressure, then it rests against the inner wall of the

recess

79 or 80 provided in the fixed frame section 78 or in the light frame section 83, respectively, and thus seals the light frame section with respect to the fixed frame section. Finally, one more such embodiment is conceivable within the scope of the invention, in which the recess 19 or 20 is partly formed by the light frame section and partly by the fixed frame section.

FIG. 12 is a diagram of the tube system for the pressure medium. This tube system, connected to the device according to the invention, is suitable for operating and controlling a rotary, tilting window, the tilting axis lying selectively in the lower or upper cross piece of the frame and the axis of rota tion lying either in the right-hand or left-hand side piece of the frame. In this case, it is appropriate to arrange the control members for putting the hollow sections under pressure or exhausting them, which are provided in a certain side or cross piece of the frame, in or on the fixed frame; naturally however, it is also possible to arrange these members, at least partially, in the light frame or entirely outside the window. The illustration according to FIG. 12, includes the hollow sections 6 (16, 26, 46, 56, 66, 75c) running in the individual parts of the window section, and the tube connections 92 to 94, by means of which the hollow sections 6 (etc.) can be connected by the valve 95 to a pump, which is not shown, according to the switch positions I, ll and ill. The tube connection 91 produces the connection to a double acting piston-cylinder system 96, whose piston can be used, for example, for operating a device for rotating or tilting the unlocked window casement. The ends of the tubes 91 to 94 connected to the hollow sections 6 or to the piston cylinder system 96 are connected to the valve 95 and can be selectively put under pressure or exhausted by a pump in the switch positions I, II and Ill.

The method of operation of the device according to the invention controlled according to the circuit diagram shown in FIG. 12 is a follows:

If the axis of rotation lies in the right-hand side-member of the frame and the tilting axis lies in the lower cross member of the frame, then the hollow sections are connected to each other in the left-hand upper corner of the frame, i.e., at 90 and in the opposite corner are separated from each other and separately sealed. With a closed window all the hollow sections 6 are filled with pressure medium. Now if the switch lever of the valve 95 is brought into switch position I, then the left-hand and the upper sections of the hollow section and the right-hand section of the hollow section are connected to the pump. In this position, the said sections of the hollow section can be made pressure-less, so that only the lower section remains under pressure. The light frame can now be tilted about the lower cross member of the frame section. Due to subsequent switching to the switch position Ill, the cylinder 96 is connected to the pump and the rotating or tilting device can be actuated. For the purpose of closing the window casement is drawn back, still in the same switch position, by the reversed action of the cylinder 96. Then it is switched back to position I, so that all the hollow sections extend and seal the window uniformly on all sides. By switching to Position ll, the lefthand and upper section of the hollow section and independently thereof the lower section of hollow section are connected to the pump and can accordingly be exhausted. After the exhausting is completed, only the right-hand section of hollow section is filled with pressure medium and the window can be pivoted with its axis of rotation in the right-hand sidemember of the frame. If the window is equipped so that the rotation takes place about the left-hand side-member of the frame, then the ends of the pipes are not connected to each other as they are according to the drawings, but two tube ends are connected to each other according to the crossed line shown in a broken line. Moreover, for this purpose, the connection at the point 90 is broken and instead of it, connection is made at the point 99. The window can now be pivoted about the left-hand vertical axis in Position II.

What is claimed is:

1. Window, door or the like, having fixed and movable frames; elastic tube-like hollow structure expandable by internal fluid pressure, said hollow structure being secured to one of said frames; a flexible strip, parallel and coextensive with said hollow structure and having one longitudinal edge thereof attached to one of the frames, while allowing the hollow structure to lock the other longitudinal edge to the other frame, for flexibly interconnecting the two frames; and a rigid bearing strip having one longitudinal edge secured to one part of one frame and having a free longitudinal edge contacting the other frame, to provide further interconnection between the frames, whereby the hollow structure, flexible closure strip and rigid bearing strip provide sealing, locking and bearing means between the frames.

2. Window, door or the like according to claim 1 addi tionally including on one of the frames, opposite the free edge of the rigid bearing strip, a slide bar releasably attached to the frame for engagement with said free edge.

3. A window, door or the like having fixed and movable frames; elastic, tube-like hollow structure whose cross section can be altered by pneumatic or hydraulic control of inside pressure, said structure being arranged in one of said frames; a flexible closure member parallel and co-extensive with said structure and having one longitudinal edge thereof attached to one of the frames, the free longitudinal edge in closed position of the window, door or the like penetrating the other frame and being fixed in it by mechanical pressure received from the hollow structure, whereby said hollow structure can be used as part of the closure means or as a pivot between any of said comers.

4. A window, door or the like according to claim 3, wherein said hollow structure is arranged in one of said frames so as to thrust the free longitudinal edge of the flexible closure member against the part of the frame wherein the hollow structure is arranged.

5. A window, door or the like according to claim 3, wherein the frame in which the hollow structure is provided has a projection covering the hollow structure, said projection being secured to such frame opposite a slot for entry of the flexible closure member.

6. A window, door or the like, having fixed and movable frames; elastic, tubedike hollow structure whose cross section can be altered by pneumatic or hydraulic control of internal pressure, said hollow structure being secured to one of said frames; a flexible closure member parallel and coextensive with said structure and having one longitudinal edge thereof attached to one of the frames while having the other longitudinal edge positioned to be held or released, with respect to the other frame, by the hollow structure; and means disposed in the region of the corners of the frames for variably dividing said hollow structure into at least two sections, for independent control of said pressure, whereby said hollow structure and flexible closure member can be used as a sealing and locking structure or, between said comers, as a pivot structure.

7. A window, door or the like according to claim 6, additionally including a support bar movably arranged between the hollow structure and the flexible closure member.

8. A window, door or the like according to claim 6, wherein the flexible closure member has a bulge on its edge remote from the edge attached to the frame and the other frame has a corresponding recess which partially engages the flexible closure member and against which the flexible closure member can be pushed by the hollow structure in an air tight manner.

9. Window, door or the like according to claim 7, characterized in that the support bar is displaceably arranged in one of the frames, the hollow section being attached between the support bar and the frame wherein the support bar is arranged.

10. Window, door or the like according to claim 7 characterized in that the support bar is pivoted in one of the frames about one longitudinal edge, the hollow section being arranged to be supported between the support bar and the corresponding frame.

lll. Window, door or the like according to claim 8 characterized in that the hollow section is constructed and arranged to engage behind the bulge of the closure member in its sealing position.

12. Window or the like, according to claim 3, characterized in that the closure member and the hollow section are integral.

13. Window or the like, according to claim 3, characterized in that the part of the frame in contact with the region of the closure member is constructed to be uneven, for example, corrugated.

14. A window, door or the like according to claim 6 additionally including a rigid bearing strip having one longitudinal edge secured to said one longitudinal edge of said flexible closure member which is attached to one of the frames, said bearing strip having a free longitudinal edge contacting the hollow structure in the other frame.

15. Window, door or the like, having fixed and moveable frames; elastic tube-like hollow structure expandable by other frame, fluid pressure, said hollow structure being secured to flexible strip which is attached to one of the frames; said bearing strip having a free longitudinal edge contacting the other frame, to provide further interconnection between the frames, whereby the hollow structure, flexible closure strip and rigid bearing strip provide sealing locking and bearing means between the frames.

I i i i Patent No. Dated It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 15, lines 2 and3 after "by should read "internal fluid pressure", not "by other frame, fluid pressure Signed and sealed this 25th day of July 1972.

(SEAL) Attest: I

EDWARD M.FLETCHER, JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents wiiwwwi r'ORM FED-1050 (10-69) LsCOMM-DC GOING-P6 us. GOVERNMENT murmur, OFFICE: 1969 0-366-3:

Claims

2. Window, door or the like according to claim 1 additionally including on one of the frames, opposite the free edge of the rigid bearing strip, a slide bar releasably attached to the frame for engagement with said free edge.

3. A window, door or the like having fixed and movable frames; elastic, tube-like hollow structure whose cross section can be altered by pneumatic or hydraulic control of inside pressure, said structure being arranged in one of said frames; a flexible closure member parallel and co-extensive with said structure and having one longitudinal edge thereof attached to one of the frames, the free longitudinal edge in closed position of the window, door or the like penetrating the other frame and being fixed in it by mechanical pressure received from the hollow structure, whereby said hollow structure can be used as part of the closure means or as a pivot between any of said corners.

6. A window, door or the like, having fixed and movable frames; elastic, tube-like hollow structure whose cross section can be altered by pneumatic or hydraulic control of internal pressure, said hollow structure being secured to one of said frames; a flexible closure member parallel and co-extensive with said structure and having one longitudinal edge thereof attached to one of the frames while having the other longitudinal edge positioned to be held or released, with respect to the other frame, by the hollow structure; and means disposed in the region of the corners of the frames for variably dividing said hollow structure into at least two sections, for independent control of said pressure, whereby said hollow structure and flexible closure member can be used as a sealing and locking structure or, between said corners, as a pivot structure.

11. Window, door or the like according to claim 8 characterized in that the hollow section is constructed and arranged to engage behind the bulge of the closure member in its sealing position.

15. Window, door or the like, having fixed and moveable frames; elastic tube-like hollow structure expandable by other frame, fluid pressure, said hollow structure being secured to and extending along at least one side of one of said frames; a flexible strip, parallel and co-extensive with said hollow structure and having one longitudinal edge thereof attached to one of the frames while allowing the hollow structure to lock the other longitudinal edge to the other frame for flexibly interconnecting the two frames; and a rigid bearing strip having one longitudinal edge secured to said longitudinal edge of said flexible strip which is attached to one of the frames; said bearing strip having a free longitudinal edge contacting the other frame, to provide further interconnection between the frames, whereby the hollow structure, flexible closure strip and rigid bearing strip provide sealing locking and bearing means between the frames.