GB2344845A

GB2344845A - Hinged sliding sash window

Info

Publication number: GB2344845A
Application number: GB9827590A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Boardman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-12-15
Filing date: 1998-12-15
Publication date: 2000-06-21
Also published as: GB9827590D0

Abstract

A sliding sash window unit having an outer frame (1), the inner wall of which has an inwardly facing channel (5), so that at least one sash (A,B) may move in a vertical manner due to being hingedly connected at one side to a mounting member (7a) which travels in the channel. The mounting member incorporates a bearing element (14a) intended to counter the turning moment of the sash due to it being supported on one side only, and therefore reduce the friction incurred by the moving sash. The bearing element may take various forms such as, a rotatable wheel, ball, roller shim, or the like.

Description

SASH WINDOWS The invention relates to a vertically sliding window which is particularly easy to clean and gain egress through in the event of an emergency evacuation.

It is also particularly applicable to sash type window frame units.

In my earlier GB 2261459B there is described and claimed a sliding window unit comprising a vertical sliding window with a guide frame having two side vertical guide rails, a top sash window and a bottom sash window, 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, and including a moving guide plate, the sash being hinged to the adjacent guide rail via the moving guide plate by hinge means arranged to pivot the sash outwardly of the frame about the respective rail, whereby the hinge means is connected to its respective sash so as to move up and down therewith, the opposite side of each sash being releasably engaged with the adjacent guide rail and the top sash being hinged to the opposite guide rail to the bottom sash.

The present invention relates to an improvement in the sliding window unit disclosed in GB 2261459 by providing a more freely sliding moving means than the guide plate described therein capable of operating with a simpler sash pulley system or the like on one side of the frame only. Accordingly, the present invention provides a window unit comprising an outer frame and containing at least one vertical sliding sash; the inner wall of the frame having an inwardly facing channel for vertical reciprocal movement of the sash within the frame ; each sash being hingedly connected at one side to a mounting member which travels in the channel; the mounting member incorporating at least one bearing element arranged to counter the turning moment of the sash whereby the sash moves substantially friction-free within the frame.

The bearing element may comprise a rotary member.

Preferably each sash has two hinges, one near each end of the adjacent stile, an upper bearing element being connected to the upper hinge and a lower bearing element to the lower hinge.

Most preferably the bearing element comprises a wheel or the like mounted for rotation on an axle and to bear on a bearing surface. The bearing element may instead comprise at least one ball mounted so that it can rotate about any axis.

The channel will typically house a sash spring incorporating a balance. Instead the channel may house a rope and pulley system so that the sash frame may be moved in co-operation with a second sash frame, both sash frames being moved within a single outer frame.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagramatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a vertically sliding window unit having an upper and lower sash; Figure 2 is a partial vertical sectional view of one side of the guide frame and sash; Figure 3 is a partial transverse sectional view through part of the vertical stile and upper slideable hinge of Figure 2 along the lines II- II; and Figure 4 is a partial transverse sectional view through part of the vertical stile and lower slideable hinge of Figure 2 along the lines III III.

The window includes an outer frame 1 comprising a cill 2, a head 3, a left hand frame stile or pulley stile 4a and a right hand guide frame stile 4b. The frame contains a lower inner sash A, comprising a bottom rail A1, a top rail A2, a left hand stile A3 and a right hand stile A4, together with an upper or outer sash B comprising a bottom rail B l (not shown), a top rail B2 and left and right hand stiles B3, B4 respectively. The sashes A and B each 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. Both sashes are hinged on the same pulley stile so that they may be opened inwardly into a room, thus allowing both sides of the sash to be easily cleaned without the need for the cleaner to lean over or otherwise reach outside the building.

The left hand stile 4a of the frame is of generally rectangular cross section and provides an inner and outer sliding channel 5, i. e. one for each sash. The channel is an extrusion, e. g. of aluminium. The mouth of the channel faces the sashes. Upper and lower mounting members 7a, 7b, are present in the mouth of the channel, each mounting member sliding up and down as the sash windows are moved likewise. The mounting members 7 have opposite shoulders 8 and 9 which engage the mouth of the channels and act as guides during their vertical movement.

The channel houses one spring balance mechanism 11 for each sash (Figure 3,4), and the inner face of the members 7a, 7b is contoured at 10 to allow these to slide in contact with the balances. Each sash frame is connected by hinges 20 located near the upper and lower ends of their left hand or pulley stiles A3, B3, to the mounting member 7a and 7b, there being one such pair for each sash window. An outer side extension area 19 on each mounting member 7 defines the first plate of a hinge that pivots about a common hinge-pin 18, the second plate of the hinge being fixed to the left hand stile of a sash window (A3 or B3).

Each mounting member 7a, 7b has a side extension 12a, 12b respectively projecting into and across the channel 5. A wheel bearing 14a, 14b respectively is mounted on an axle 13 projecting outwardly from the extension. The wheel 14a bears on the inner surface of the wall 15 of the channel 5 defining one side of the mouth; whereas the wheel 14b bears against the adjacent inner surface 16 of the channel.

When a sash is raised or lowered there will be a clockwise bending or turning moment because the weight of the sash is supported at one side only. As a result the upper wheel 14a (see Figure 3) rotates and bears inwardly against an inner surface 15 of the channel 5. Likewise the lower wheel 14B also rotates but bears outwardly against the adjacent inner surface 16. This arrangement ensures that each sash can be moved up and down the frame 1 without undue frictional resistance or jamming. It is thus not necessary to have the dual pulley systems frequently used for sash windows. The arrangement also allows a single sash spring and balance member instead of a pair. It also allows each window to be turned inwardly by means of hinges 17a and 17b.

The sashes engage frame stile 5 by means such as described in GB 2261459. For example, the sashes may be released to allow inward pivotal movement by hinges by means of a moveable catch mechanism.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. For example, the hinges and moving means, including mounting members 7 and wheels 14 may be housed in the right hand guide frame stile 4b. Single hinges extending the entire length of stiles A3, B3 may replace the pair of hinges, a rotatable wheel being attached by mounting means as described above to locations near each end of the hinge. The wheels 14 may be replaced by a ball, roller shim or the like. The rotary members may bear against opposite sides of a single extra elongate member located within channel 5. The inner surface 15 of the channel may be coated with a friction material or have ramp surfaces.

One bearing of each set may be different from the other; the mounting member and the hinge may be integrally formed or made separately and then assembled together. The sashes may be hinged at the same or opposite sides of the window.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A window unit comprising an outer frame and containing at least one vertical sliding sash; the inner wall of the frame having an inwardly facing channel for vertical reciprocal movement of the sash within the frame; each sash being hingedly connected at one side to a mounting member which travels in the channel ; the mounting member incorporating at least one bearing element arranged to counter the turning moment of the sash whereby the sash moves substantially friction-free within the frame.
2. A window unit according to Claim 1, wherein the bearing element comprises a rotary member.
3. A window unit according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the hinged connection comprises two hinges, one connected near each end of the adjacent stile, there being at least two bearing elements, one being connected to the upper hinge and the other to the lower hinge.
4. A window unit according to Claims 1,2 or 3, wherein the bearing element comprises a wheel mounted for rotation on an axle and in contact with a surface of the channel.
5. A window unit according to any preceding Claim, wherein the bearing element comprises at least one ball mounted so that it can rotate about any axis.
6. A window unit according to any preceding Claim, wherein the channel houses a sash spring incorporating a balance.
7. A window unit according to any preceding Claim, wherein the channel houses a rope and pulley system joined to both sashes and arranged so that one sash frame may be moved in co-operation with a second sash frame, both sash frames being moved within a single outer frame.