US3866369A

US3866369A - Reversible sill assembly with a positive fluid drain

Info

Publication number: US3866369A
Application number: US343550A
Authority: US
Inventors: David Paull
Original assignee: Alusuisse Holdings AG
Current assignee: Alcan Holdings Switzerland AG
Priority date: 1973-03-21
Filing date: 1973-03-21
Publication date: 1975-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 1992-02-18
Also published as: CA996820A

Abstract

A reversible sill structure operable in a first position to receive closure panels from the exterior of a building wall and operable from a second position to receive closure panels from the interior of said wall selectively having a fluid drain structure which operates to direct a fluid to the exterior of the building in either position.

Description

United States Patent [191 Paull Feb. 18, 1975 1 REVERSIBLE SILL ASSEMBLY WITH A POSITIVE FLUID DRAIN [75] Inventor: David Paull, Big Rapids, Mich.

[73] Assignee: Swiss Aluminium Ltd., Chippis,

Switzerland [22] Filed: Mar. 21, 1973 21 Appl. No.2 343,550

[52] US. Cl. 52/209, 52/309 [51] Int. Cl. H E04b l/343, EO6b 7/14 [58] Field of Search 52/302, 209, 498-502,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 426,558 4/1890 Dithridge 52/729 2,018,115 10/1935 Barringer 49/476 2,963,126 12/1960 Cudini 52/302 3,410,027 11/1968 Bates 52/209 3,503,169 3/1970 Johnson et al..... 52/209 3,570,182 3/1971 Bakke 52/209 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 6/1968 Great Britain 52/397 Primary ExaminerErnest R. Purser Assistant Examiner-James L. Ridgill, Jr.

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-David A. Jackson; Robert H. Bachman I [57] ABSTRACT A reversible sill structure operable in a first position to receive closure panels from the exterior of a building wall and operable from a second position to receive closure panels from the interior of said wall selectively having a fluid drain structure which operates to direct a fluid to the exterior of the building in either position.

1 Claim, 1 Drawing Figure INTER/OR REVERSIBLE SILL ASSEMBLY WITH A POSITIVE FLUID DRAIN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to sill structures used to support closure panels forming an integral part of an exterior wall of a building.

Typical prior art sill structures are disclosed and described in US. Pat. No. 3,579,943, issued to Wayne C. Tam.

More particularly, the invention relates to an improvement in sill structures.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a reversible sill structure or assembly operable selectively to receive panels from an exterior or interior station as desired.

A further feature is the provision of a fluid drain structure which operates universally to direct fluids to the exterior of a building.

A further feature is the provision of a manually separable sill structure which facilitates introduction of closure panels into the sill.

A further feature is the provision of a fluid drain system cooperating with said improved sill structure.

A representative embodiment of the improved sill structure embracing the principles of the invention may include a reversible sill assembly operable selectively in a first position to receive closure panels from an interior station and operable in a second position to receive closure panels from an exterior station comprising a pair of spaced tubular members, an inclined web joining said tubular members operable to direct fluid in a predetermined direction, one of said tubular members being manually separable to facilitate insertion (recep tion) of panels, said sill being reversible or rotatable through 180 about a horizontal axis to permit panel installation from said interior or exterior stations, as desired, said inclined web remaining operable to direct fluid in said predetermined direction in either of said positions.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from an examination of the LII specification when read in conjunction with the appended drawing in which:

The single FIGURE is a perspective view of a sill and panel arrangement illustrating a representative embodiment of the invention;

The reference numerals l0 and 11 denote closure panels of glass or other suitable closure material supported vertically on setting blocks 12 and 13 and sealed to weather by gaskets 14, 16, 17 and 18;

The sill assembly, indicated generally by the

reference numerals

19, 21, and 22, includes a pair of spaced

tubular members

23 and 24 joined by a generally transverse inclined web 26.

Snapon element 27 which is detachably mounted on tubular member 24 is separable longitudinally and manually to provide access or clearance to facilitate panel installation.

Thus, manually separable snap-on element 27 is movable from an operable or closed position shown in solid lines to an open or separated position shown in dotted lines (sill assembly 21) in that lateral pressure exerted upon the web 28 in the direction shown by the arrow 29 releases friction clip 25 to permit the snap-on element to rotate from the solid line position to the dotted line position.

In fact, snap-on element 27 is entirely removable and separable from tubular member 24 after the friction clip 25 is released.

In the closed position, snap-on element 27 is retained frictionally by the cooperation of lips 15 and 20 and the corresponding interlock of

mating ribs

32 and 33.

Note that setting blocks 12 and 13 are short segmental blocks and do not extend along the full length of the inclined web 26. This is so because web 26 provides a conduit for directing fluid and communicates with apertures or weep

holes

36, 37 and 38 to define a fluid drain system which flows to the exterior of the building.

In the bottom sill assembly 19 of the single figure, the snap-on member 27 is disposed on the interior of the panel 10 thereby facilitating insertion of the panel from within the building and the inclined web 26 provides a fluid drain to the exterior of the building via

weep holes

36 and 38.

Observing sill assembly 21 in the center of the drawing, it is apparent that the assembly 21 has been rotated about its horizontal axis to permit introduction of closure panels from the exterior.

In this position of the sill assembly 21, as well as the sill assembly 22, the inclined web 26 remains disposed in a direction which sheds fluid to the exterior of the building through

weep holes

36, 37 and 38.

As stated previously, the drain system includes the inclined web and the weep holes; it is preferred that the web 26 subtend an included angle A with respect to the horizontal ranging from 3 to 15.

A limiting factor governing the maximum included angle subtended by the web 26 is a function of the panel to provide necessary clearance or head space in a vertical direction at the time of panel installation. The clearance dimension is indicated by the letter D in sill assembly 22.

It is anticipated that a variety of modifications and design changes may be devised in the disclosed embodiment of the improved sill assembly without departing from the spirit and scope of the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A reversible sill assembly'operable selectively in a first position to receive closure panels from an interior station and in a second position to receive closure panels from an exterior station which comprising:

A. a pair of spaced-apart tubular members;

B. an inclined web joining said tubular members operable to direct fluid in a predetermined direction which subtends an included angle with respect to the horizontal ranging from 3to 15;

C. a snap-on element detachably mounted on one of said tubular members and manually separable therefrom to facilitate insertion (reception) of panels; and

D. a drain system consists essentially of a plurality of fluid drain holes located in both of said tubular members communicating with said web operable to direct fluid distally away from said web, through said tubular members and out of said assembly; wherein said sill is reversible or rotatable through 180 about a horizontal axis to permit panel installation from said interior or exterior stations, as desired, and said inclined web remains operable to direct fluid in said predetermined direction in either of said positions.

Claims

1. A reversible sill assembly operable selectively in a first position to receive closure panels from an interior station and in a second position to receive closure panels from an exterior station which comprising: A. a pair of spaced-apart tubular members; B. an inclined web joining said tubular members operable to direct fluid in a predetermined direction which subtends an included angle with respect to the horizontal ranging from 3*to 15*; C. a snap-on element detachably mounted on one of said tubular members and manually separable therefrom to facilitate insertion (reception) of panels; and D. a drain system consists essentially of a plurality of fluid drain holes located in both of said tubular members communicating with said web operable to direct fluid distally away from said web, through said tubular members and out of said assembly; wherein said sill is reversible or rotatable through 180* about a horizontal axis to permit panel installation from said interior or exterior stations, as desired, and said inclined web remains operable to direct fluid in said predetermined direction in either of said positions.