GB2306188A - Hinged and sliding double sash window allowing both sashes to open in adjacent positions due to outer sash having its hinge offset by a L-shaped bracket - Google Patents

Abstract

The vertical sash window comprising a guide frame having two side vertical guide rails 4,5 a top sash U and a bottom sash B, each sash having at one side means for moving that sash vertically in the frame, the moving means 6,7 being present in the adjacent guide rail 4, the sash being attached to the guide rail associated with the moving means therefore by hinge means 12,22 arranged to pivot the sash with respect to the frame 4, the opposite side of each sash being releasably engaged with the adjacent guide rail 5, the hinge means of one sash being offset from its associated rail and comprising an 'L'-shaped hinge or bracket 22 one arm of which is attached to its guide rail 4, and the other of which is attached to the sash U.

Description

SASH The invention relates to a vertically sliding window and in particular to one arranged so that it is particularly simple and safe to clean opposite sides of the sash windows.

In my British patent application GB 2 261 459A I have described a vertical sliding window comprising a guide frame having two side vertical guide rails, a top sash and a bottom sash, each sash having at one side means for moving that sash vertically in the frame, the moving means being present in the adjacent guide rail, the sash being hinged to the guide rail associated with the moving means therefor by hinge means arranged to pivot the sash with respect to the frame about the respective rail, the opposite side of each sash being releasably engaged with the adjacent guide rail.

While providing an improved sash window having the advantage of easy and safe access to opposite sides of the window, it may be difficult to provide hinge means whereby the top and bottom sashes may be hinged to the same guide rail while allowing both sashes to open freely. The present invention is directed to providing a means of overcoming that difficulty.

Accordingly, the invention provides a vertical sliding window comprising a guide frame having two side vertical guide rails, a top sash and a bottom sash, each sash having at one side means for moving that sash vertically in the frame. the moving means being present in the adjacent guide rail, the sash being attached to the guide rail associated with the moving means therefor by hinge means arranged to pivot the sash with respect to the frame, the opposite side of each sash being releasably engaged with the adjacent guide rail, the hinge means of one sash being offset from its associated rail and comprising an 'L'-shaped hinge or bracket one arm of which is attached to its guide rail, and the other of which is attached to the sash.

By this means the pivot axes of the two sashes are moved apart and the two sash windows can be opened without difficulty despite being hinged to the same guide rail.

The offset arrangement may conveniently be achieved by using a hinge having a pair of 'L' shaped leaves. The hinge is then attached to its guide rail by the outermost arm of one of its 'L' shaped leaves, i.e. the arm of the 'L' which is furthest from the hinge pivot and the other 'L' shaped leaf being attached to the face of the sash.

Alternatively, the hinge may be a one-piece L-shaped bracket, i.e. having a single leaf as opposed to two hinged leaves, one arm of the 'L' being attached to its guide rail and the other arm being attached to the top or bottom surface of the sash.

depending on whether the hinge is positioned adjacent the top or bottom of the sash, by means about which the sash can pivot.

As described in GB 2261459A, the hinge means can move up and down with their respective sashes.

In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front inside elevation of the vertically sliding window according to one embodiment, having an upper sash and bottom sash; Figure 2 is a plan view showing a portion of the window of Figure 1 with both sashes in the cleaning position and also shown closed; Figure 3 is a partial transverse sectional view through the vertical stiles of the window frame of Figure 1 with the sashes closed; Figures 4a and 4b are partial vertical sectional views of one of the stiles of Figure 3, showing the upper and lower sashes respectively;; Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 2 in larger scale and showing the left hand stile arrangement only for convenience in closed and open configurations for the adjacent upper sash lower hinge and lower sash upper hinge; and Figure 6 is a similar view to Figure 1 of a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 7 is a plan view of a portion of the window of Figure 6 with both sashes in the cleaning position: and Figure 8 is a view corresponding to Figure 3 but of the second embodiment.

The window of Figure 1 to 5 includes an outer frame 1 comprising a sill 2, a head 3, a left hand guide rail or pulley stile 4 and a right hand guide rail or pulley stile 5. The frame contains a bottom or inner sash B, comprising a bottom rail B1, a top rail B2. a left hand stile B3 and a right hand stile B4, together with an upper or outer sash U comprising a bottom rail (hidden behind B2), a top rail U2, and left and right hand stiles U3, U4 respectively. The sashes B and U contain a glass pane or a sealed glass unit G. together with the usual glazing beads etc.As will be explained below. each sash is arranged for vertical movement within the outer frame 1 in the usual way, but in addition is hinged so that it may be pivoted to extend into a room, and to the condition shown in Figure 2 allowing both sides of the sash to be cleaned without the need for the cleaner to lean over or otherwise reach outside the building. Both sashes are hinged on the same pulley stile. Each pulley stile is of the same structure but of the opposite hand.

Each stile has two parallel vertical slots 6, 7. The slots 6 and 7 on the left hand rail 4 have a main slot part 8. containing a sash spring 9 incorporating a balance and a front slot or groove 10 (see Figure 5) containing a guide plate 11 which faces the stile of the sash. A conventional hinge 12 is present at the top and bottom of the left hand stile facing the slot of the lower sash, one hinge plate 12a of each hinge being screwed into the stile of the sash and the other hinge plate 12b being screwed into the adjacent wall of the guide plate 11. The slots 6 and 7 on the right hand rail 5 are empty to receive a spring biased guide block or catch 13 in the facing wall of the other sash. Two catches 13 are present, for each sash, one at the top and the other at the bottom of the sash. although one may be found to suffice.It will be clear that once the guide blocks 13 are released from their facing slot 7 the sash is free to pivot about the hinge on the opposite stile to the condition shown in Figure 2.

The upper sash is hinged adjacent slot 6 of the left hand rail in a manner according to the invention, again one hinge 22 being present at the top and bottom of the left hand stile of the upper sash. Each hinge 22 is of Shape having a pair of L shaped leaves 22a and 22b pivoted at 22c. The outer portion of leaf 22b, i.e. that part of the 'L' furthest from the pivot 22c is attached to plate 11. Leaf 22a is attached to the sash. Thus, as can be seen most clearly in Figure 5, the hinge pivots of the upper and lower sashes are distanced transversely. The open position is shown dotted in Figure 5.

The sashes are used in the usual way, i.e. to slide the bottom sash B vertically, the bottom rail is gripped and the sash is moved up or down. The upper sash U is operated in the same way, gripping the top rail U2. To open the bottom sash B for cleaning, the sash is pulled upwards to a position about 150 mm from its lowest point and the lower catch is withdrawn by sliding from the slot 7. The sash is lowered to its lowest point and the same procedure is repeated with the other catch. The sash is then free of the adjacent stile and can be rotated about its hinges mounted on the other stile. The sash can then be cleaned while within the room, and it is easy to gain access to both sides of the glass. The sash is returned to the frame until the catches 13 are engaged with the respective slots 7.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 8. like parts are given like prime numbers. The frame and sash arrangement, the lower sash hinge arrangement and the catch arrangement are as previously described.

In the upper sash U' hinge arrangement. hinge 22' is an L-shaped bracket, one arm 23 of which. in the upper hinge position, is attached to the top rail U2' of the sash via pivot 24 set into rail U2'. The other arm 25 of the L-shaped bracket is attached to plate 11'. In the lower hinge position of sash U', 'L'-shaped hinge 22' has its arm 23 attached to the bottom of rail U2', which is hidden behind rail B2', by arm 23 and pivot 24. Again the other arm 25 of the bracket is attached to plate 11'.

As shown in Figure 7, the offset pivot 24 enables the two sashes to be open in the same direction at the same time.

Claims (8)

1. A vertical sliding window comprising a guide frame having two side vertical guide rails, a top sash and a bottom sash, each sash having at one side means for moving that sash vertically in the frame, the moving means being present in the adjacent guide rail, the sash being attached to the guide rail associated with the moving means therefor by hinge means arranged to pivot the sash with respect to the frame, the opposite side of each sash being releasably engaged with the adjacent guide rail, the hinge means of one sash being offset from its associated rail and comprising an 'L'-shaped hinge or bracket one arm of which is attached to its guide rail, and the other of which is attached to the sash.

2. A vertical sliding window according to Claim 1, in which the hinge means which is offset from its associated rail is a hinge having a pair of 'L'-shaped leaves, the hinge being attached to its guide rail by the outermost arm of one of its 'L'-shaped leaves and its other 'L'-shaped leaf being attached to the face of the sash.

3. A vertical sliding window according to Claim 1, in which the hinge means which is offset from its associated rail is a one-piece 'L'-shaped bracket, one arm of the 'L' being attached to its guide rail and the other arm being attached to the top or bottom surface of the sash by means about which the sash can pivot.

4. A vertical sliding window according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the hinge means can move up and down with their respective sashes.

5. A vertical sliding window according to any preceding Claim, in which both sashes are hinged to the same guide rail.

6. A vertical sliding window, according to any preceding Claim, in which each guide rail has two parallel vertical slots, the slots in the guide rail at one side each containing a sash spring and a balance and, facing the sash, a guide plate, a hinge being present adjacent the top and bottom of said guide rail, one hinge plate of the hinge being attached to the guide rail and the other hinge plate being attached to the guide plate.

7. A vertical sliding window according to Claim 1, substantially as heretofore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A vertical sliding window according to Claim 1, substantially as herebefore disclosed with reference to and as shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.