Title: A method of manufacturing/renovating windows
Technical Field The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing/renovating windows with one or several window units each having an inwardly or outwardly opening casement carrying a glass pane retained by glass cleats or putty, said casement abutting a rabbet of the frame unit.
The inventive method is particularly suitable for windows in old and/or protected buildings, where it is of great importance that the visual impression of the original and/or historical window is not altered due to renovation.
The inventive method is delicate and does require neither scaffolding nor any particular subsequent treatment, such as carpentry or painting. Each casement, each window and each room can be dealt with separately and successively.
Window bars, posts, frames, reveals as well as outer and inner sills do not change their appearance. Incident light and resulting shadows remain unchanged. Summary of the invention
The object of the invention is to provide a method of the above type rendering a renovation more delicate and inexpensive than previously possible, since
1. technical interference with the movable casement is kept at a minimum,
2. the window can be renovated in situ, remaining in the facade and optionally in the hinges,
3. scaffolding is not required thus reducing costs
considerably,
4. no furniture has to be removed from the room with the window to be renovated,
5. subsequent painting is kept at a minimum,
6. in contrast to the prior art no maintenance of the additional pane used in the inventive method is required,
7. the renovation does not only result in an improved weather shielding but also 8. in a reduction of the heat losses of the building.
The method according to the present invention is characterised by increasing the depth of the rabbet in the frame unit, for instance by milling or sawing, and by each movable or fixed casement being provided with a singleor multilayered additional pane of the same height and width as the height and width of the casement, optionally after having removed old holding or locking devices, such as catches or stays, and by the additional pane being movably fastened to the casement partly by a hinge means mounted on the side opposite the hinged side of the casement, partly by means of at least one retainer fitting adapted to keep the additional pane against the casement when the latter is opened or closed, said retainer fitting being releasably fixed opposite the hinge means so that the additional pane is pivotable around the hinge means and away from the casement allowing the cleaning of the glass panes between the additional pane and the casement the additional pane then being returned to abut the casement, whereupon one or more sealing fillets are mounted either in or adjacent the rabbet of the frame unit to form a stopping face for the additional pane. This results
in a more delicate and inexpensive renovation than previously known, and especially in a considerably improved heat insulation as well as a noticeable noise insulation of the window. After renovation the k-value is usually up to 2.5.
One embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterised by the hinge means for attaching the additional pane to the casement being a pivot hinge having a free flap and a fixed flap, the free flap comprising a profiled bar, such as a U-profiled bar, glued to the additional pane, while the fixed flap is fastened to the casement by means of for instance screws or pins. Thus a particularly reliable hold of the additional pane is obtained without the appearance of the window being destroyed.
According to the invention the hinge means may be a piano hinge, optionally a butt hinge, one flap being a U-profiled bar or a simple flap, the piano hinge or butt hinge being of a length corresponding to the height of the additional pane, optionally divided into two or more lesser hinge units, thus resulting in a very reliable hinging. In another embodiment of the invention the other fittings of the hinge means and the additional pane may be of metal or plastics, optionally a combination thereof, thus keeping the additional pane reliably in its position. In a further embodiment of the invention the holding devices, such as casement catches or casement stays or similar holding or locking devices, may be glued to the additional pane during installation of the latter, thus giving the window an elegant appearance seen from the room.
In yet another embodiment of the invention the holding devices are mounted by means of threaded sleeves either
glued to the additional pane or screwed into the casement, said holding devices being guided through small holes in the additional pane. Thus, the holding devices are fastened in a simple manner.
In yet a further embodiment of the invention the sealing fillet(s) may form an even face for the additional pane and preferably be mounted all around the frame unit in or adjacent the rabbet thus constituting a solid and sealing face for the additional pane.
The additional pane can, according to the invention, be of mineral glass or synthetic material, such as plastics, for instance polycarbonate, thus considerably increasing the strength of the additional pane.
Finally, the additional pane may, according to the invention, be provided with a circumferential metal or plastic frame, further increasing the strength of the additional pane.
Short Description of the Drawing
The invention is described in greater detail below by means of examples of embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is an external, perspective view of a window divided by bars, the casement opening outwardly,
Fig. 2 is a view of the window of Fig. 1 after the inventive renovation, the attached additional pane being mounted on the outwardly opening casement, the additional pane and the casement having the same size,
Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line III-III of Fig.2.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
Fig. 1 illustrates a traditional window with vertical post 3. The size of the window may vary, the dimensions of a frame unit 2 and a casement 1 being adapted or having to be adapted to the architecture of the building. Apart from the basic type of window of Fig. 1 the invention may be used in connection with any other type of window, such as a cross-bar or multi-unit window etc, i.e. a window with several casings optionally of varying size. Consequently the present invention covers all types of windows with inwardly or outwardly opening casements abutting a frame unit 2. Fig. 3 illustrates how the casement 1 carries glass panes 18 secured with either glass cleats or putty. The casement 1 abuts a rabbet 2a in the frame unit 2, 3. The frame unit includes upper frame, lower frame, side, frame, vertical post and optionally transverse bar(s). Windows without the vertical and/or transverse posts are also covered by the present invention.
When renovating a window the casement 1 is provided with an additional pane 8 usually hinged at the side la. of the casement carrying the catch, said pane being hinged by a hinge means 13, for instance a pivot, piano or a loosejoint butt hinge, of. Fig. 3. One flap of the hinge means 13 may be a U-profiled bar, wherein the additional pane 8 is held by means of glue. In case of a small casement 1 and thus a light additional pane 8 the U-profiled bar may be replaced by a simple, straight flange also glued to the glass. The pivot of the hinge means 13 is indicated in Fig. 3 in form of a dotted centre mark. As is apparent the hinge means 13 always holds one side edge of the additional pane against the casement 1 in those places where the hinge means is fastened to the casement. The opposite edge of the additional pane is held against the
casement 1 by means of a stay 5, of. Fig. 3. The latter is guided through the additional pane via a sleeve 10 glued to the additional pane 8. A threaded sleeve 11 carrying the stay 5 is screwed into the casing 1.
When the window requires cleaning the casement 1 is opened outwardly, carrying the attached additional pane along. Then the stay 5 is released and the additional pane 8 can now pivot on the hinge means 13 so that the usually enclosed glass surfaces can be cleaned.
A casement catch 4 or a similar locking device is fastened to the additional pane 8 with a sleeve 9 having an inner thread, of. Fig. 3. The sleeve 9 is glued in a hole drilled in the additional pane 8. It is also possible to glue such a device directly onto the additional pane using holders instead of sleeves. In this case, however, the additional pane 8 is held against the casement 1 at the side carrying the stay, a separate angle fitting or screwed-on corner fittings being used. The type of fitting depends on the size of the casing 1 and thus on the weight of the additional pane 8.
The additional pane 8 can be provided with a circumferential frame being U-shape in cross-section and comp r is ing fittings holding the hinge means in place. Said frame may comprise three different parts: the hinge part, the holding fitting and a simple U-shaped guide at the top and bottom. These guides as well as all the other fittings may be made of plastics or metal. Their dimensions are such that they can carry a thermal window, which is, however, held by said frame together with the hinges.
Subsequent to having milled the rabbet 2a In the frame unit 2, 3 and mounted the additional pane 8 the sealing fillets 12 are either mounted inside the rabbet, of bottom of Fig. 3, or adjacent the rabbet on the frame unit. of.
top of Fig. 2