Window assembly having removable sash

In a window assembly of the kind including at least two window sashes having inwardly facing surfaces and outwardly facing surfaces, said sashes being fitted into a perimeter frame formed by spaced apart longitudinal members joined at their ends to the ends of spaced apart transverse members, and means mounting at least one of the sashes for sliding movement in said frame in a longitudinal direction between a closed position and an open position and for inward movement relative to the frame, the improvement comprising a sash retainer mounted on each longitudinal frame member for longitudinal sliding movement relative to the respective frame member, each retainer having a longitudinal dimension about equal to the longitudinal dimensions of said slidable sash and being slidable between a first position coextensive with said slidable sash and a second position in which the retainer is longitudinally offset from said slidable sash, each retainer having a longitudinal fin overlying the inwardly facing surface of the respective longitudinal edge of said slidable sash when said sash and said retainer are coextensive to thereby provide support and sealing said surface; and manually releasable latches for releasably connecting said slidable sash to said retainers.

This invention relates to storm windows having a slidable sash and in 
particular it relates to constructions which reduce infiltration of air 
past the sash. 
The prior art and the present invention are hereinafter discussed in terms 
of windows having one or more vertically slidable sashes but it will be 
understood that the concepts apply equally to horizontally slidable 
sashes. 
BACKGROUND 
A common form of storm window in present day use includes a sash which is 
vertically slidable in a perimeter frame for the purpose of opening the 
window, the frame being mounted to the exterior or interior of the 
building in overlying relationship to a prime window. In one well-known 
type of construction the sash is a removable tilt-type sash, by which is 
meant that the sash can be removed from the frame for cleaning by a manual 
tilting operation. Specifically, each of the vertical side rails of the 
sash is provided near its upper end with a laterally projecting pin which 
rides in a vertical channel formed by the side members of the perimeter 
frame. The lower portion of the sash is releasably latched to the side 
members of the frame by means of manually operable slide bolts or the 
like. Upon retraction of the slide bolts the sash can be manually tilted 
about the axes of the pins; that is, the lower edge of the sash can be 
swung inwardly into the building and upwardly toward the operator. When 
the lower edge of the sash has been elevated a substantial distance it is 
a simple matter to remove the sash from the frame by lowering one side 
rail of the sash relative to the other so that the pins no longer reside 
in the channels in the frame. 
It is inherent in the type of window construction summarized above that the 
perimeter frame does not include a fixed channel which receives the 
vertical side rails of the storm sash when in its closed position, as is 
typical for a slidable sash in a prime window. That is, if the storm sash 
is to be removed by tilting, the conventional frame cannot form a fixed 
vertical flange or web which overlies those surfaces of the sash side 
rails which face inwardly toward the interior of the building. The result 
is that there is considerable leakage of air past the sash even though 
weather stripping is usually provided between the laterally facing 
surfaces of the side rails and the frame and between the outwardly facing 
surfaces of the side rails and the frame. Thus there is no weather 
stripping along the inner faces of the sash side rails, and in addition 
the lack of support for these faces may permit the sash to bow slightly 
toward the interior of the building under the influence of wind, thereby 
decreasing the effectiveness of the existing weather stripping. 
The window of the present invention overcomes the above-summarized 
disadvantages by means of special vertically movable sash retainers which 
provide support and sealing for a movable sash when in its down position. 
The sash retainers are slidable upwardly to permit removal of the sash 
from the retainers and from the perimeter frame. Pivot pins for the sash 
are not required. 
A search of United States patents conducted for the purpose of determining 
the patentability of the present invention identified U.S. Pat. Nos. 
806,105, 875,300, 2,212,221, 3,080,620, 3,105,576, 3,199,154, 3,529,381, 
4,057,936, 4,151,682 and Re. 24,077. Of these, only U.S. Pat. No. 
3,529,381 was regarded as being of interest. That patent discloses a 
single-hung storm window having a fixed upper sash and a vertically 
slidable lower sash which is arranged to swing or tilt inwardly toward the 
interior of the building for cleaning purposes. The arrangement differs 
from the conventional arrangement summarized above in that the slidable 
sash remains pivotally connected to the perimeter frame during cleaning. 
The slidable sash is swingable by being pivoted at its upper extremity to 
two vertically elongated carriages which move with the sash. When the sash 
is in a down position it is prevented from swinging by fixed fins or 
channel flanges formed by the fixed vertical side members of the frame. 
When the sash is moved to its up position the lower end of the sash 
resides above the ends of the fins so that the sash can be swung inwardly. 
There is no provision for removing the other sash. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to a modified perimeter frame and sash 
construction in which a slidable sash retainer is releasably connected to 
each of the two longitudinal side members of the sash, the arrangement 
being such that the retainers can assume either a sash-retaining position 
or a non-retaining position. In their non-retaining position the sash can 
be removed from the perimeter frame for cleaning. In their sash-retaining 
position the retainers prevent bowing of the sash during windy weather. In 
addition, they provide a space between their outwardly facing surfaces and 
the inwardly facing surfaces of the sash side members, into which space 
can be inserted weather stripping material. As a result of these two 
features the leakage of air past the sash is much reduced. 
In addition to reducing air leakage the construction of the invention is 
compatible with double-hung sashes in a manner which also permits the 
normally stationary upper sash to be mounted in the frame for removal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
The window illustrated in the drawings is a double-hung storm window 
adapted to be secured to the exterior of a building in overlying 
relationship to a prime window. The basic components of the window are a 
lower sash 10 and an upper sash 12, both mounted in a perimeter frame 14 
for vertical sliding movement. The upper sash 12 includes two-spaced apart 
parallel longitudinal or vertical members 16,18 joined to two transverse 
or horizontal members 20,22 and a transparent light or pane 24. Similarly 
the lower sash 10 includes two longitudinal members 26,28, two transverse 
members 30,32 and a transparent pane 34. The perimeter frame 14 is 
constructed of longitudinal vertical side members 36,38 and upper and 
lower horizontal transverse members 40,42. The sash members and frame 
members, as is conventional, may be made from extruded aluminum sections. 
The edges of the panes 24 and 34 are fitted into their respective sash 
members in any convenient manner, preferably with the use of channel 
shaped gaskets 43 which may be of known construction. 
The upper sash 12 when in its up position is retained in the perimeter 
frame partially by the upper frame member 40 and by the frame side members 
36 and 38. Each of the frame side members 36 and 38 includes a channel 
construction, such as that illustrated by spaced-apart parallel flanges 44 
and 46. The outer flange 44 extends the entire length of the frame side 
member 36. The vertical dimension of the inner flange 46 is no greater 
than the vertical dimension of the upper sash 12, in order to permit 
removal of the upper sash 12 from the perimeter frame 14 as described 
later. The upper frame member 40 includes two depending flanges 48 and 50 
which form a channel for the upper transverse member 20 of the upper sash 
12. 
The inner and outer surfaces of the upper sash member 20 and the inner and 
outer surfaces of the sash side members 16 and 18 are fitted with strips 
of weather stripping material 52, preferably of the pile type which 
includes a resilient fibrous pile 54 protruding from a base 56. The 
various sash members are formed with channels 58 to receive and retain the 
weather stripping in a manner such that the pile 54 extends into contact 
with the flanges 44, 46, 48 and 50. Additional weather stripping 52 is 
provided on the surface of a channel in the lower sash member 22 to 
cooperate with a flange 59 depending from the sash member 30 of the lower 
sash 10. 
When in its up position the upper sash 12 is prevented from moving 
downwardly by a pair of latch assemblies 64 mounted on the lower sash 
member 22. Each latch assembly 64 includes a latch bolt 66 or the like 
which is slidable laterally into and out of a notch 68 or hole formed in 
the respective frame side member 36 or 38. Conveniently the latch bolts 66 
are spring biased laterally outward, and the latch assembly 64 includes 
thumb or finger recesses 70 facing inwardly into the building for 
engagement by the thumbs or fingers of an occupant. 
A screen, not shown, may be mounted in or on the perimeter frame 14, in 
coextensive relationship with the lower sash 10, if desired. 
The present invention relates primarily to the mounting of the lower sash 
10 in a manner to improve air tightness. The mounting of the lower sash 10 
is compatible with, but does not require a slidable or removable upper 
sash. 
The mounting arrangement for the lower sash 10, in accordance with the 
principles of the invention, includes two vertically movable sash 
retainers 72 which provide support and sealing for the inner surface of 
the lower sash 10 when the latter is in its down position. The retainers 
72 are preferably made of rigid synthetic plastics material such as 
polyvinyl chloride. Conveniently the retainers 72 have a shape which 
enables them to be formed by extrusion. One essential feature of the 
retainers is that they each include a vertical fin 74 which lies in the 
plane of the window and which overlies essentially the entire length of 
the inner surface of the adjacent side member 26 or 28 of the lower sash 
10. The fin 74 in cooperation with a parallel wall portion 76 of the 
respective frame side member 36 or 38 forms a channel for receiving the 
sash side member 26 or 28. Alternatively the retainer 72 itself may 
include a wall portion which cooperates with the fin 74 to provide a 
channel for the sash side member 26 or 28. 
The vertical dimensions of the retainers are about equal to the vertical 
dimension of the lower sash 10. This permits the retainers 72 to assume a 
raised position such that the lower sash 10 in a down position can be 
removed from the perimeter frame 14, as described hereinafter. It is 
intended that the retainers 72 be more or less permanently attached to the 
perimeter frame 14 while at the same time being readily slidable in 
vertical directions. This can be achieved by providing vertical 
interlocking complementary surfaces on the retainers 72 and on the 
respective frame side member 36 and 38. In the illustrated assembly each 
side member 36 and 38 is provided with a vertical channel 78 which is 
box-shaped in cross-section. Each retainer 72 is provided with two legs 
80, L-shaped in cross-section, which are retained in the respective 
channel 78 and which are vertically slidable therein. The plastic material 
of which the retainers 72 are made slides easily in contact with the frame 
side members 36 and 38. 
The lower sash 10, like the upper sash 12 in the illustrated embodiment, is 
provided with a pair of latch assemblies which permit latching of the sash 
against vertical movement. Each assembly 82 for the lower sash 10 is 
mounted on the lower sash member 32 and includes a latch bolt 84 or the 
like which is slidable laterally into and out of a notch 86 or hole formed 
in the respective frame side member 36 or 38 at a location to releasably 
latch the lower sash 10 in its closed position. Other notches, not shown, 
may be provided in the frame side members 36 and 38 at locations which 
permit the lower sash 10 to be releasably latched in intermediate 
positions. The retainers 72 are provided with holes 88 to permit the latch 
bolts 84 to pass through the retainers 72 into the notches 86. In their 
fully retracted positions the latch bolts 84 do not reside in the holes 88 
in the retainers 72; this permits the lower sash 10 to slide independently 
of the retainers 72 when desired, as when removing the lower sash 10 by an 
operation described hereinafter. Conveniently the latch bolts 66 are 
spring-biased laterally outward and thumb or finger recesses 87 are 
provided in the assemblies 82 for engagement by the thumbs or fingers of 
an occupant. 
Weather stripping material 52 is provided on the inner and outer surfaces 
of the lower sash member 32, on the inner and outer surfaces of the sash 
side members 26 and 28 and on the outer surface of the upper sash member 
20. In the closed position of the lower sash 10 a seal is formed between 
the lower sash member 32 and two upstanding flanges 94 on the lower frame 
member 42. Other seals are formed between the opposed sash members 22 and 
30 and between sash members 26, 28 and the wall 76. As in the case of the 
upper sash 12 the weather stripping 52 is of the pile type and is fitted 
into channels 58 in the respective sash members. The weather stripping 
material 52 on the inner surface of the sash side members 26 and 28 is 
effective due to the presence of the fin 74 on each of the sash retainers 
72. As described previously it is not conventional to include weather 
stripping material in this location because conventionally there is no 
flange overlying the inner surfaces of the lower sash side members when 
the lower sash is in a closed position. Thus the fin 74 of the present 
invention serves to support the lower sash 10 against inward bowing and to 
provide a sealing surface to reduce infiltration of air. With respect to 
bowing, as might occur during windy weather, it is apparent that such 
bowing would permit the weather stripping material 52 on the outer surface 
of the sash side members 26 and 28 to move away from the wall 76 thereby 
reducing or destroying the seal. 
The procedure for removing the lower sash 10 is as follows. Beginning with 
the lower sash 10 in a closed and latched position and the prime window 
open, the occupant of the building places thumbs or fingers in the 
recesses 87 of the latch assemblies 82 and retracts the latch bolts 84 
from the notches 86 in the frame side members 36 and 38. The bolts 84 are 
not fully retracted, however, so that their end portions while free of the 
notches 86 still reside in the holes 88 in the sash retainers 72. The 
lower sash 10 is then raised vertically to a full up position in which it 
is generally coextensive with the upper sash 12. The retainers 72 are 
carried upwardly due to engagement of the bolts 84 in the holes 88. To 
ensure that the retainers 72 will remain in the up position when the sash 
10 is subsequently moved downwardly a releasable latch is provided between 
each retainer 72 and its respective frame side member 36 or 38. In the 
illustrated embodiment the latch is a simple spring clip attached to the 
respective frame member 36 or 38 and having a downwardly extending 
resilient arm 90. As the retainers 72 are moved to their up positions a 
wall portion 92 of each retainer 72 slides under the respective arm 90 and 
is thereby releasably clamped to the respective frame member 36 or 38. The 
spring clip or other latch may be unnecessary if there is sufficient 
friction between the retainers 72 and the frame members 36 and 38 to hold 
the retainers up while the sash 10 is moved down. The bolts 84 are then 
further retracted so as to be clear of the holes 88. With the bolts 84 
held in this position the sash 10 is lowered to almost its full down 
position, leaving the sash retainers 72 clamped in an up position by the 
spring arms 90. In this position the sash side members 26 and 28 reside 
below and clear of the fins 74 of the sash retainers 72. The sash 10 can 
therefore be removed from the perimeter frame 14 by pulling it toward the 
interior of the building, provided that the latch bolts 84 remain 
retracted. Removal of the sash 10 is illustrated in FIG. 4. 
To remove the upper sash 12 the building occupant first places thumbs or 
fingers in the recesses 70 of the latch asemblies 64 and retracts the 
bolts 66 from the notches 68 in the frame side members 36 and 38. Next the 
upper sash is slid vertically downwardly to a position such that it 
resides below the lower ends of the flanges 46. The upper sash 12 can then 
be moved inwardly in the manner described above with respect to the lower 
sash 10. The upper sash 12 is thus removable from the perimeter frame 
through the opening left by removal of the lower sash 10. 
To replace the sashes 12 and 10 the above steps are reversed.