Drain for a door or window sash or frame

A water drain for insertion into a mating wall opening in an extruded, hollow door or window sash or frame comprises a round, rectangular or the like housing having at least one peripheral front flange defining a drain opening, a baffle extending downwardly from a housing top portion for partially closing an upper portion of the drain opening, and a flap having a lower planar rear surface and an upper planar front surface for opening and closing lower and upper portions of the drain opening. The planar lower rear surface portion of the flap is joined to the upper front surface portion by a pivot axis, the planar lower surface being disposed forwardly of the upper planar front surface whereby the flap tends to gravitate to an at-rest, closed, substantially vertical position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(i) Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a window or door drain and, more particularly, relates to a water drain at the base of an extruded window or door sash or frame.

(ii) Description of the Related Art

Windows and doors having single or double pane construction typically comprise a sash perimeter surrounding the glass panes which is pivotally or slidably mounted within a frame. The interiors of the sash and frame, typically made from extruded plastics or metal alloys, are essentially hollow. Problems frequently arise from the collection of moisture within the sash and/or the frame and drain holes usually are provided to allow water to escape from the sash as it forms.

Closable drains for extruded plastic windows or sliding patio doors, for example, typically tend to jamb in a closed or an opened position because of the miniature size of the drains, thereby trapping rainwater or condensate within the window or door sash if jammed shut or allowing air to blow through if jammed open. This can result in a substantial decrease in thermal efficiency and, particularly in cold northern climates and hot southern climates, can result in high heating or cooling costs with substantial discomfort to the inhabitants.

It is difficult to manufacture and to install small, air-tight drains without misalignment or malfunction of the component parts due largely to the small size and light weight of the miniature drain closure flap. Also, surface tension caused by a film of moisture can lock the drain flap in a open position, allowing air to blow through the open drain and permitting insects to enter the sash or frame.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,822,934 issued Oct. 20, 1998 discloses a water drain for door or window sashes in which a pivotally-mounted closure flap is mounted at an at-rest closed position of about 45° to the horizontal.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a small, inexpensive and reliable water drain assembly for extruded window or door sash or frame assemblies in which a drain flap is pivotally mounted in a vertically at-rest closed position.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a drain flap which is balanced to remain closed regardless of wind pressure while able to open against wind pressure to drain any water accumulated in a sash.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a small drain assembly having a variety of shapes including a round weeper assembly for ease of installation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In its broad aspect, the water drain of the invention for insertion into a mating wall opening in an extruded, hollow door or window sash or frame comprises a round or rectangular housing having at least one peripheral front flange defining a drain opening for abutment against a wall of the sash or frame, said housing having a top wall portion and a bottom wall portion perpendicular to the front flange, and a pair of opposed side wall portions, a baffle extending downwardly from the housing top wall portion for partially closing an upper portion of the drain opening, means for securing the housing within the wall opening, and a flap having a lower planar rear surface and an upper planar front surface for opening and closing lower and upper portions of the drain opening, said planar lower rear surface portion being joined to the upper front surface portion by a pivot axis, said planar lower surface being disposed forwardly of the upper planar front surface whereby the flap tends to gravitate to an at-rest, closed, substantially vertical position, said flap having a lug extension at each end of the pivot axis for insertion into mating holes in said side wall portions of the housing for pivotal mounting of the flap in the housing drain opening, whereby the flap planar lower surface can pivot from a substantially vertical at-rest position upwardly to an open position. The means for securing the housing top wall in a sash or frame opening preferably comprises an elongated rib parallel to the front flange depending from each of the housing top and bottom wall portions for engaging the said wall opening. The housing may be rectangular, round or elliptical in shape.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference toFIG. 1, a circular embodiment of the water drain10of the invention is shown installed in a window or patio door sash12slidably or pivotally mounted in a frame13. It will be understood that although the description of the invention will proceed with reference to a window or door sash, the water drain of the invention can also be used in the hollow extruded frames for window and door sashes. Water collecting as a result of rain water leaking into the sash or condensate collecting within the sash drains by gravity to the base of the sash and is discharged through the drain.

FIG. 2illustrates drain10preparatory to installation in a round hole14drilled in the thin wall of the sash12. With reference toFIGS. 2-11, drain10has a front cover wall or flange18defining a front drain opening19formed integral with a rear round housing wall20by injection moulding of a plastics material such as nylon. The top22of wall20has an upstanding rib24and the bottom26has a rib28depending downwardly therefrom.

Round housing wall20is cylindrical in shape, preferably with a rain hood30extending forwardly as an extension of upper portion22of housing20.

A baffle chord32is formed in the upper portion of housing20depending downwardly therefrom with V-shaped projections34.

Flap40, preferably also injection molded from nylon, shown most clearly inFIGS. 5 and 6, has a circular lower portion42radially offset forward of transverse pivot axis44formed at the rear thereof diametrically across the center of circular portion42. Circular lower portion42, concentric with cylindrical housing20, has a radius greater than the radius of cylindrical housing20whereby perimeter46of circular lower portion normally abuts the forward circular recessed edge48of housing20, as shown most clearly inFIG. 10, to close the lower half of drain opening19.

Cylindrical lugs50,52formed at each end of pivot axis44are adapted fit into round mating holes54,56formed at opposed sides of housing20for pivotal mounting of flap40therein. The opposite sides58,60of flap40are flattened to permit the upper rectangular portion62of flap40to be inserted through frame opening19, with rectangular portion62extending upwardly from central pivot axis44to abut the rear surface66of baffle32, as shown most clearly inFIG. 10.

FIGS. 10 and 11illustrate installation of drain10in opening14with the rear surface36of front cover wall18abutting sash12. Upper rib24ensures a frictional locking engagement with the wall of the sash opening. Lower rib28abuts the lower edge of the wall of the sash opening for secure engagement therewith.

The round opening14is formed in the front lower face of a window or door sash or frame by drilling. The drain10, having the flap40snap-fitted into housing20, is inserted into the opening to the position as shown most clearly inFIGS. 10 and 11. In operation, in the absence of water in the interior of the sash12, the flap40assumes the closed, substantially air-tight position shown inFIG. 10by gravity, with the perimeter46of circular lower portion42abutting the recessed edge48of housing20and the upper rectangular portion62abutting the rear surface66of baffle32. When pivoted to an open position as depicted inFIGS. 5 and 11, to allow the escape of water, V-shaped protrusions34prevent the ingress of insects. Upon completion of drainage of water, flap40pivots by gravity downwardly to its closed position.

It has been found that the use of a bottom flap portion larger than the top flap portion with a forward, radially-offset bottom portion, in combination with an upper opening baffle, provides a balance to the flap to allow the flap to open to drain water regardless of any wind pressure impressed on the flap. The flap remains closed or to pivot to a closed position when no water is present.

FIGS. 12 and 13illustrate another embodiment of water dram100having a rectangular housing102for installation in a rectangular hole formed by punching or muting in die thin wall of a sash. Drain100has a front cover wall or flange104, formed in one or more sections, defining a drain opening106. Flange104is formed integral with rectangular housing102such as by injection moulding of nylon plastic. Top wall108has an upstanding ribs110and lower wall112has downwardly depending ribs114for mounting the drain in the sash hole.

A baffle116depends downwardly from top wall108across opening106to partially block the upper portion thereof.

Rectangular flap120has a pivot axis121with cylindrical lugs122at opposite ends for pivotally mounting flap120in mating holes formed in opposed sides124,126of housing105. Flap120has a lower portion130mounted forwardly of pivot axis121adapted to close the lower portion of opening106by abutment against recessed edge132, as depicted by numeral130′ inFIG. 13. The upper portion134of flap120, extending radially upwardly from pivot axis121, is adapted to abut the rear surface of baffle116, as depicted by numeral134′.

FIGS. 14-16illustrate a rectangular embodiment of the invention having a hood150extending forwardly from the upper portion of cover flange104to shield flap by diverting water therefrom which may flow down the external surface of the sash.FIG. 15shows the flap120remaining in a vertical closed position notwithstanding the depiction152of a strong wind blowing against the flap.FIG. 16shows opening of the flap against wind152to drain water154collected in the sash.

In operation, drain100mounted in a sash or flame assumes a normally at-rest closed position by gravity with flap120vertically disposed, as shown inFIG. 15and by broken lines inFIG. 13, which the lower portion130′ of flap120′ abuts the forward recessed edge132of housing102and the upper portion134′ of flap120′ abuts the rear surface138of baffle116. When pivoted to an open position as depicted inFIGS. 12,14and16, to allow the escape of water, baffle138prevents the ingress of insects. Upon completion of drainage, flap120pivots by gravity to its closed position.

The drain of the present invention provides a number of important advantages. The drain is small and easy to install while providing a positive and trouble free operation, both in its closed substantially air-tight position and in its open water-drainage position. The drain flap does not stick in an open or closed position because of surface tension, notwithstanding its miniature size, which being able to open and close against the bias of a wind blowing on the drain.

It will be understood, of course that modifications can be made in the embodiment of the invention illustrated and described herein without departing from the scope and purview of the invention as defined by the appended claims.