Generally, windows or doors are mounted on open portions so as to block the interiors of buildings from the outside. At this time, window frames against which the windows or doors are supported are classified into wooden window frames and metal window frames in accordance with the materials used. Recently, the doors or window frames are made of plastic or synthetic resin like P.V.C.
In the process where conventional sliding windows are open and closed, if window sashes slide in a closing direction in the state where handles of the window sashes are taken by a user's hand, the rollers mounted on the underside portions of the window sashes are rotated along the rails formed on a window frame, so that the window sashes are moved near the window frame opposite thereto, come into contact with the window frame, and finally stop there, thereby completing the closing operation.
In case of the conventional sliding window having the window frame and the window sashes, however, mohair is abraded due to the repeated use for a long period of time, thereby causing the air tightness performance to be deteriorated. As a result, external cold or hot air may be introduced through the gap between the top and underside portions of the window sashes and the window frame or the gap between the left and right window sashes adjacent to each other, thereby failing to maintain the air tightness state. This causes energy consumption as well as the introduction of foreign materials like dust into indoor from the outside.
So as to solve the above-mentioned problems, accordingly, there is a definite need for the development of a new sliding window capable of removing the decrement of the air tightness performance of the mohair due to the repeated use for a long period of time, preventing external cold or hot air from being introduced through the gap between the top and underside portions of the window sashes and the window frame or the gap between the left and right window sashes adjacent to each other, avoiding unnecessary energy consumption, and preventing foreign materials like dust from being introduced into indoor from the outside.
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a sliding window with improved air tightness that is capable of allowing window sashes to be brought into close contact with a window frame upon closing manipulation of the window sashes, thereby achieving high air tightness effects.
To accomplish the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a sliding window with improved air tightness including: a window frame having a plurality of rails disposed along the longitudinal direction thereof, at least one pair of window sashes slidingly coupled to the rails, and wheel assemblies rotatably mounted on facing surfaces of the window sashes laid on each other when the window sashes are closed, whereby at the moment when the wheel assemblies are rolling-contacted with the facing surfaces of the window sashes upon the closing manipulation of the window sashes, the window sashes are horizontally moved in the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction thereof.
According to the present invention, preferably, each wheel assembly includes: a body fixedly mounted to each window sash; a pair of support stands formed spaced apart from each other on one surface of the body; and a wheel having center shafts rotatably coupled to coupling holes of the pair of support stands.
According to the present invention, preferably, the body has at least one fastening hole formed thereon to allow the wheel assembly to be fixed to the facing surfaces of the window sashes by means of fastening members.
According to the present invention, preferably, the body is coupled to a cover for preventing the fastening members from being exposed to the outside.
According to the present invention, preferably, the wheel assemblies are mounted spaced apart from each other on the upper and lower portions of the facing surfaces of the window sashes, respectively.
According to the present invention, preferably, the wheel assemblies are mounted on at least any one surface of the facing surfaces of the window sashes or mounted to cross each other on the facing surfaces thereof.
According to the present invention, preferably, at least any one surface of the facing surfaces of the window sashes has mohair formed thereon to fill a gap between the facing surfaces of the window sashes laid on each other.
According to the present invention, the wheel assemblies are mounted on the facing surfaces of the window sashes laid upon each other upon the closing manipulation of the window sashes, so that the window sashes are horizontally moved in the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction thereof to fill the gap between the window sashes and the window frame, thereby providing high air tightness effects.
Hereinafter, an explanation on a sliding window according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be in detail given with reference to the attached drawings.
It should be noted that the components of the sliding window according to the present invention are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings even though they are shown in different drawings.
FIG.1 is a perspective view showing an outer appearance of a sliding window according to the present invention, FIG.2 is a perspective view showing one wheel assembly of the sliding window according to the present invention, FIG.3 is an exploded perspective view showing the wheel assembly, and FIG.4 is a perspective view showing the state where the wheel assemblies are mounted on window sashes.
Referring to FIGS.1 and 2, a sliding window 100 with improved air tightness according to the present invention includes a window frame 110 having a plurality of rails 111 disposed along the longitudinal direction thereof, at least one pair of window sashes 120 slidingly coupled to the rails 111, and wheel assemblies 200 rotatably mounted on facing surfaces 123 of the window sashes 120 laid on each other when the window sashes 120 are closed, whereby at the moment when the wheel assemblies 200 are rolling-contacted with the facing surfaces 123 of the window sashes 120 upon the closing manipulation of the window sashes 120, the window sashes 120 are horizontally moved in the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction thereof.
Hereinafter, an explanation on the configuration of the sliding window 100 according to the present invention will be in more detail given.
First, the window frame 110 constitutes a main outer frame of the sliding window 100 by coupling a plurality of profiles in a rectangular shape. One pair of rails 111 is formed on the top and bottom sides of the inner surface of the window frame 110, respectively.
The window sashes 120 are slidingly coupled to the rails 111 by means of rotating rollers (not shown). In this case, the rotating rollers are mounted into the underside sliding groove 121 of sliding grooves 121 formed on the top and underside portions of the window sashes 120, and so as to allow the window sashes 120 to be slidingly moved stably, at least two rotating rollers are spaced apart from each other by a given distance along the longitudinal direction of the window sashes 120.
Referring to FIG.3, the wheel assemblies 200 are mounted on the facing surfaces 123 of the window sashes 120 when the window sashes 120 are closed. In this case, preferably, each wheel assembly 200 includes a body 210 fixedly mounted to each window sash 120, a pair of support stands 220 formed spaced apart from each other on one surface of the body 210, and a wheel 230 having center shafts rotatably coupled to coupling holes 221 of the pair of support stands 220.
In this case, the body 210 may have at least one fastening hole 211 formed thereon to allow the wheel assembly 200 to be fixed to the facing surfaces 123 of the window sashes 120 by means of fastening members (not shown). Preferably, a pair of fastening holes may be formed on both sides of the body 210 so as to achieve the rigid fixation of the wheel assembly 200.
After the body 210 is mounted on the facing surfaces 123 of the window sashes 120 by means of the fastening members, a cover 240 is further provided to prevent the fastening members from being exposed to the outside. In this case, preferably, the cover 240 has coupling protrusions 241 fittedly coupled to coupling slots 223 formed along the outer edges of the body 210.
According to the present invention, the cover 240 is provided with a fitting coupling structure between the coupling slots 223 and the coupling protrusions 241, but only if the cover 240 can be easily mounted on the body 210, it can be provided with a variety of coupling structures like snap-fitting, without any limitation therein.
Referring to FIG.4, at least two wheel assemblies 200 are mounted spaced apart from each other on the upper and lower portions of the facing surfaces 123 of the window sashes 120, respectively. Alternatively, the wheel assemblies 200 may be mounted on at least any one surface of the facing surfaces 123 of the window sashes 120 or mounted to cross each other on the facing surfaces 123 thereof.
Referring to FIG.5, mohair 125 is provided on at least any one surface of the facing surfaces 123 of the window sashes 120 to fill a gap t between the window sashes 120 laid on each other. That is, if the window sashes 120 are horizontally moved and expanded indoors and outdoors by means of the wheel assemblies 200 at the time when the closing manipulation of the window sashes 120, the gap t occurs between the facing surfaces 123 of the window sashes 120, and in this case, the mohair 125, which is located along the longitudinal direction of the facing surfaces 123 of the window sashes 120 laid upon each other, fills the gap t to prevent external air from being introduced indoors. At this time, the mohair 125 is formed larger than the gap t. Accordingly, even though the gap t between the facing surfaces 123 of the window sashes 120 is expanded by means of the wheel assemblies 200, the gap t can be easily filled with the mohair 125.
Under the above-mentioned configuration of the sliding window 100 with improved air tightness according to the present invention, the outer peripheries of the wheels 230 of the wheel assemblies 200 mounted on the facing surfaces 123 of the window sashes 120 laid on each other upon the closing manipulation of the window sashes 120 are rolling-contacted with the facing surfaces 123 opposite thereto. At this time, the size of each wheel assembly 200 is larger than the gap t between the facing surfaces 123 before the window sashes 120 are horizontally moved. Accordingly, the facing surfaces 123 of the window sashes 120 push each other by the difference between the size of each wheel assembly 200 and the gap t. That is, the window sashes 120 are horizontally moved in the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction thereof.
At the same time, the mohair (not shown) formed in the sliding grooves 121 of the window sashes 120 is brought into close contact with one surfaces of the rails 111 so as to fill the gap between the window sashes 120 and the rails 111, thereby maintaining the airtight state.
Moreover, at the moment when the pair of window sashes 120 are horizontally moved indoors and outdoors by means of the wheel assemblies 200, the gap t between the facing surfaces 123 is filled with the mohair 125 formed along the longitudinal direction of the facing surfaces 123, thereby preventing the external door from being introduced indoors.
While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, especially, the wheel assemblies 200 are mounted on the facing surfaces 123 of the window sashes 120 laid on each other upon the closing manipulation of the window sashes 120, but of course, they may be mounted on the coupling surfaces of the window sashes 120 contacted with the window frame 110 upon the closing manipulation of the window sashes 120.