Ventilated window/door structure

Abstract: A window structure comprises a frame (110) having upper and lower frame portions (110 a , 110 c ) spaced by opposed side portions and defining an opening for receiving a window pane. The frame is at least partially secured to a building by mortar (24). In order to provide ventilation through the window structure at least part of the mortar either above and/or below and/or to the sides of the frame is replaced with a ventilator (101, 106).

Description: This invention relates to a ventilated window structure and to a ventilated door structure. A typical window structure comprises a substantially rectangular frame which defines an opening within which a window pane is disposed; the window pane is usually glass. The frame is made up of an upper frame member and a lower frame member, which are spaced by two opposed side frame members. The frame is generally secured to the surrounding building structure by mortar. The surrounding building structure will generally comprise a plurality of building elements such as bricks. A lintel is often provided between the building structure and the upper frame portion. It is known to provide a ventilator and/or a condensation drain in the region of a window structure. The purpose of the condensation drain is to collect condensed moisture running down the face of the window on the inside of the building. The drain typically drains the moisture to the exterior of the building; the drain will usually also provide a certain amount of ventilation. An example of one such condensation drain is disclosed in GB-A-2128666. The condensation drain is disposed between the window pane and the frame; usually this arrangement entails cutting away part of the window pane. In GB-A-2063460 there is disclosed a window ventilator which is disposed at the top of the window pane; the ventilator is disposed between the window pane and the frame. A similar type of ventilator is disclosed in GB-A-2062842 and GB-A-2113825. The ventilators and condensation drains described in all the above specifications (except GB-A-2113825) have the disadvantage that either the size of the frame and window frame must be selected to take into account the space occupied by the drain or ventilator, or the window pane must be cut to size on site. In GB-A-2113825 a complicated frame arrangement is required. GB 2194038 discloses a window and a door structure in accordance with the classifying portions of Claims 1 and 2. GB 1177473 discloses a window structure and a door structure including a frame wherein facing members for the frame are provided on opposing sides of the wall and are each provided with at least one aperture adapted to cummunicate with a ventilation gap defined by confronting surfaces of the wall opening and frame. In one aspect the present invention provides a window structure comprising a frame having upper and lower frame portions spaced by opposed side portions and defining an opening for receiving a window pane, the window frame further comprising a ventilator capable of being installed between a building structure and one of the frame portions and serving to appropriately space the building structure from the said one frame portion and thereby define a ventilation path between opposite sides of the window structure, the window structure including adhesive disposed between the building structure and the said one frame portion and being characterised in that the ventilator comprises two discrete ventilation means disposed at opposite sides of the window structure and movable one relative to the other whereby to adjust the size of the ventilator at least prior to its installation. In a second aspect, the present invention provides a door structure comprising a frame having upper and lower frame portions spaced by opposed side portions and defining an opening for a door, the frame further comprising a ventilator capable of being installed between a building structure and one of the frame portions and serving to appropriately space the said one frame portion from the building structure and thereby define a ventilation path between opposite sides of the door structure, the door structure including adhesive disposed between the building structure and the said one frame portion and being characterised in that the ventilator comprises two discrete ventilation means disposed at opposite sides of the door structure and moveable one relative to the other whereby to adjust the size of the ventilator at least prior to its installation As used herein the term building adhesive is intended to include such compounds as building mortar or mastic. Preferably control means provided for controlling the amount of air flow permitted through the ventilator; operating means can be provided for operating the control means. In a preferred construction the control means comprises a first elongate apertured member disposed in close engagement with a second elongate apertured member. The first member can be rigid with the rest of the window structure. The first and second members can be relatively slidable between an open position in which the apertures on the first and second members are in alignment and air flow through the ventilator is at a maximum, and a second position in which the apertures on the first and second members are out of alignment and air flow through the ventilator is at a minimum. In one embodiment the operating means comprises an operating knob rigid with the second apertured member. In another embodiment the operating means comprises cord means secured to the second apertured member, and having two ends, the arrangement being such that pulling one end of the cord means causes movement of the control means to the open position, and pulling the other end of the cord means causes movement of the control means to the closed position. The cord means would typically comprise a single length of cord secured to the second member about midway along its length, or two lengths of cord each secured at one end to the second member. Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a window structure according to the invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a window structure according to the invention; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of a window or door structure according to the invention; Figures 4 to 6 are perspective views of part of a ventilator for the window or door structure shown in Figure 3; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of an operating means for use with a window structure according to the invention; and Figures 8 and 9 are perspective views of elements of the operating means shown in Figure 7. Figure 1 shows one embodiment of a window structure according to the invention. A lower portion 10c of a window frame 10 is disposed between an external sill 16 and an internal sill 18: the external sill 16 is disposed on the exterior of the building, and the internal sill 18 is disposed on the interior of the building. The lower frame portion 10 c is disposed above a building structure in the form of a cavity wall structure which comprises an outer leaf 20 and an inner leaf 22. Building adhesive in the form of mortar 24 is provided between the leaves 20 and 22, and extends partially over the upper surface thereof. Plaster 26 is provided on an internal face 22 a of the internal leaf 22. It will be appreciated that the cavity wall structure defines an aperture which receives the frame 10. The frame 10 itself defines an opening which receives a window pane (not shown). A ventilator 6 defines a ventilation channel between the interior and the exterior of the building. This channel extends principally between the lower frame portion 10c and the leaves 20 and 22. The ventilator 6 comprises a plurality of elongate plastics extrusions. The extrusions can be assembled and supplied as a complete unit, or can be assembled on site by the person installing the ventilator 6. The latter assembly technique has the advantage that the installer can select the sizes of extrusion appropriate to the particular window. The ventilator 6 comprises ventilation means 32 including an inlet portion 28 and an outlet portion 30. The inlet portion 28 comprises two elongate members 34 and 36 separat.ed by spacing means in the form of an elongate spacer 38 thereby defining a ventilation channel between the members 34 and 36. The member 34 is provided with formations 34 a which are adapted to cooperate with formations 38 a on the spacer 38, to secure the spacer 38 to the member 34. The member 36 is provided with formations 36 a which are adapted to cooperate with formations 38 b on the spacer 38, to secure the spacer 38 to the member 36. Fixing means in the form of nails or screws (not shown) can be passed through the members 34 and 36, and the spacer 38, to secure the inlet portion 28 to the frame portion 10 c . For this purpose, preformed apertures (not shown) can be provided in the members 34 and 36, and in the spacer 38. The outlet portion 30 comprises two elongate members 40 and 42 which are separated by spacing means in the form of an elongate spacer 44, thereby defining a ventilation channel between the members 40 and 42. The member 40 is provided with formations 40 a which are adapted to cooperate with formations 44 a on the spacer 44, to secure the spacer 44 to the member 40. The member 42 is provided with formations 42 a which are adapted to cooperate with formations 44 b on the spacer 44, to secure the spacer 44 to the member 42. Fixing means in the form of nails or screws (not shown) can be passed through the members 40 and 42, and the spacer 44, to secure the outlet portion 30 to the frame portion 10 c . For this purpose, preformed apertures (not shown) can be provided in the members 40 and 42, and in the spacer 44. The outlet portion 30 is provided with a weathering member 40 b , which comprises a downwardly extending extension of the member 40. The weathering member 40 b serves to inhibit the flow of rain into the ventilator and to act as a baffle against high wind velocities. Also, the member 42 is provided with an upwardly extending weathering member 42 c which, together with the member 40 b , defines an air inlet channel 43. The members 34 and 42 are provided with overlapping ventilating members 34 b and 42 b respectively. The portions 34 b and 42 b engage the mortar 24 to define a ventilation channel 46 between the ventilating members 34 b and 42 b and the frame portion 10 c . The amount of overlap between the portions 34 b and 42 b can be adjusted to suit the size of the window structure. If desired portions similar to the portions 34 b and 42 b can be provided on the members 36 and 40 to provide a further ventilating member, which abuts against the frame portion 10 c : however the omission of these portions results in savings in materials and does not significantly affect the effectiveness of the ventilator. The inlet portion 28 is provided with control means generally designated 48. The control means 48 includes an elongate fixed member 50, and an elongate movable member 52. There is also provided operating means in the form of an operating knob 54 which is secured to the movable member 52 for movement therewith. The fixed member 50 is provided with formations 50 a and 50 b adapted to cooperate respectively with formations 34 c on the member 34 and formations 36 b on the member 36: this enables the fixed member 50 to be secured to the members 34 and 36. The fixed member 50 is provided with a plurality of apertures 56 which are disposed in a row extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fixed member 50 (i.e. the axis normal to the plane of the drawing). The apertures 56 are preferably elongate with a longitudinal axis extending substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the fixed member 50. The fixed member 50 is provided with opposing formations in the form of grooves 58: the movable member 52 is slidably received in the grooves 58. The movable member 52 is provided with a plurality of apertures 60 which are disposed in a row which extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the movable member 52. The apertures 60 are preferably elongate with a longitudinal axis extending substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the movable member 52. The distance between the apertures 56 is substantially equal to the width of the apertures 56 measured along the longitudinal axis of the fixed member 50. The distance between the apertures 60 is substantially equal to the width of the apertures 60 measured along the longitudinal axis of the movable member 52. The movable member 52 can be moved relative to the fixed member 50 by pushing the operating member 54 in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the members 50 and 52. Thus, when the apertures 56 and 60 are aligned maximum air flow through the ventilation channel 46 is permitted; when the apertures 56 and 60 are completely unaligned then substantially no air flow will be permitted. Intermediate positions will allow an inter-mediate amount of air flow. Figure 2 shows another embodiment of window structure according to the invention. An upper portion 10a of the window frame 10 is disposed below a building structure which includes a cavity wall structure. The cavity wall structure has inner and outer leaves 120 and 122 defining a cavity 162 therebetween. A lintel 164 is provided under the leaves 120 and 122 and extends into the cavity 162. Mortar 102 is provided between the building structure and the upper frame portion 10a. Part of the mortar 102 is replaced with a ventilator 101 which provides a ventilation channel 146 from the interior to the exterior of the building structure. The channel 146 extends between the upper frame portion 10a of the window frame and the leaves 120 and 122. The ventilator 101 comprises a plurality of elongate plastics extrusions. The extrusions can be assembled and supplied as a complete unit, or can be assembled on site by the person installing the ventilator. The latter assembly technique has the advantage that the installer can select the size of extrusion appropriate to the particular window. The ventilator 101 comprises ventilation means 132 which includes an inlet portion 128 and an outlet portion 130. The inlet portion 128 comprises two elongate members 134 and 136 separated by a spacing means in the form of an elongate spacer 138, thereby defining a ventilation channel between the members 134 and 136. The member 134 is provided with formations 134a which are adapted to cooperate with formations 138a on the spacer 138, to secure the spacer 138 to the member 134. The member 136 is provided with formations 136a which are adapted to cooperate with formations 138b on the spacer 138, to secure the spacer 138 to the member 136. Fixing means in the form of nails or screws (not shown) can be passed through the members 134 and 136, and the spacer 138, to secure the inlet portion 128 to the frame portion 10a. For this purpose, preformed apertures (not shown) can be provided in the members 134 and 136, and in the spacer 138. The outlet portion 130 comprises two elongate members 140 and 142 which are separated by a spacing means in the form of an elongate spacer 144, thereby defining a ventilation channel between the members 140 and 142. The member 140 is provided with formations 140a which are adapted to cooperate with formations 144a on the spacer 144, to secure the spacer 144 to the member 140. The member 142 is provided with formations 142a which are adapted to cooperate with formations 144b on the spacer 144, to secure the spacer 144 to the member 142. Fixing means in the form of nails or screws (not shown) can be passed through the members 140 and 142, and the spacer 144, to secure the outlet portion 130 to the frame portion 10a. For this purpose, preformed apertures (not shown) can be provided in the members 140 and 142, and in the spacer 144. The outlet portion 130 is provided with a weathering member 140b, which comprises an upwardly extending extension of the member 140. The weathering member 140b serves to inhibit the flow of rain into the ventilator and to act as a baffle against high wind velocities. Also, the member 142 is provided with an upwardly extending weathering member 142c which, together with the member 140b, defines an air inlet channel 143. The members 134 and 142 are provided with overlapping ventilation members 134 b and 142 b respectively. The portions 134 b and 142 b abut the lintel 164 to define a ventilation channel 146 between the ventilating member 132 b and 142 b and the frame portion 10 a . As explained above, this space would normally be occupied by the mortar 102. If desired, similar portions can be provided on the members 136 and 140, which abut against the frame portion 10 a ; however the omission of these portions results in saving in material and does not significantly affect the effectiveness of the ventilator. The inlet portion 128 is provided with control means generally designated 148. The control means 148 includes an elongate fixed member 150 and an elongate movable member 152. There is also provided operating means in the form of an operating member 154 which is secured to the movable member 152 for movement therewith. The fixed member 150 is provided with formations 150 a and 150 b adapted to cooperate respectively with formations 134 c on the member 134 and formations 136 b on the member 136; this enables the fixed member 150 to be secured to the members 134 and 136. The fixed member 150 is provided with a plurality of apertures 156 which are disposed in a row extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fixed member 150 (i.e. the axis normal to the plane of the drawing). The apertures 156 are preferably elongate with a longitudinal axis extending substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the fixed member 150. The fixed member 150 is provided with opposing formations in the form of grooves 158; the movable member 152 is slidably received in the grooves 158. The movable member 152 is provided with a plurality of apertures 160 which are disposed in a row which extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the movable member 152. The apertures 160 are preferably elongate with a longitudinal axis extending substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the movable member 152. The distance between the apertures 156 is substantially equal to the width of the apertures 156 measured along the longitudinal axis of the fixed member 150. The distance between the apertures 160 is substantially equal to the width of the apertures 160 measured along the longitudinal axis of the movable member 152. The movable member 152 can be moved relative to the fixed member 150 by pushing the operating member 154 in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the members 150 and 152. Thus, when the apertures 156 and 160 are aligned maximum air flow through the ventilation channel 146 is permitted; when the apertures 156 and 160 are completely unaligned then substantially no air flow will be permitted. Intermediate positions will allow an inter-mediate amount of air flow. Referring to Figures 3 to 6 a building structure comprises a door or window frame generally designated 300, a wall 302 extending around said frame and defining an aperture in which the frame is received. A lintel 304 is disposed between the upper portion of the frame 300 and the wall 302, and a ventilator 306 is disposed in a gap between the lintel 304 and the frame 300: usually this gap would be filled with mortar or mastic. Typically the wall 302 would be a cavity wall structure. Mortar 301 is provided between the lintel 304 and the wall 302. The ventilator 306 comprises an outlet portion 308 and an inlet portion 310. The outlet portion 308 comprises two elongate extrusions 312 and 314 which are separated by a spacer 316. The spacer 316 is provided with air flow channels to permit air to flow therethrough; the spacer 316 is received between securing formations 313 and 315 provided in the extrusions 312 and 314 respectively. The extrusion 312 is provided with an upwardly facing channel 317, whilst the extrusion 314 is provided with a downwardly facing channel 318. The channel 317 is wider than the channel 314. The outer portion 308 is designed to be turned upside down so that it can be selected whether the wider channel 317 faces up or down. Certain types of roof structure (for example where there is no overhang above) are more suited to the structure in which the channel 317 faces down. The channels 317 and 318 help to restrict the ingress of moisture and to act as a baffle against the wind. The outlet portion 308 is shown in perspective in Figure 4. Figures 5 and 6 show the inner portion 310 in exploded perspective views; Figure 5 shows the left hand side and Figure 6 shows the right hand side. The inner portion 310 basically comprises a ventilating unit with control means in the form of a "hit and miss" arrangement for controlling the cross-sectional area available for air flow. It will be appreciated that the control means is similar to the control means shown in Figures 1 and 2. The inner portion 310 comprises an upper member 319 which partly overlies the top of the frame 300, and which defines a channel 320 for receiving plaster 322. The upper member 319 is provided with a plurality of apertures 324 arranged in a row. Grooves 326 are provided on each side of the apertures for receiving slidably an air flow control member 328 with a plurality of apertures 328 a arranged in a row. The member 328 can be slid between a closed position in which the apertures are completely unaligned to block the air flow completely and an open position in which the apertures are completely aligned so that air flow is maximum. The inner portion 310 also has a lower member 321 which incorporates a leg 323 which projects under the apertures 324. The leg 323 serves to act as a baffle to prevent the downward or upward flow of air; this helps to reduce drafts. The leg 323 also conceals the apertures thereby improving the appearance of the ventilator as a whole. A temporary covering member 330 is provided during installation of the ventilator. The member 330 can be temporarily secured to one of the grooves 326 and serves to collect any plaster or other debris which falls during installation. After installation it can be removed. An end member 331 is provided with apertures 332 and 333 respectively through which screws 334 and 335 can pass respectively into formations 336 and 337 on the lower and upper members 321 and 319. The end member 331 is provided with apertures 331 a through which screw 334 a can pass into the upper frame portion. The lower member 321 is provided with a recess 321 a which receives a formation 319 a depending from the upper member 319. Thi provides a connection between the upper and lower members 319 and 321. The lower member 321 can be secured to the window frame by passing fixing means (such as nails or screws) through apertures 339. A right hand end member 338 is provided with control means and operating means for controlling and operating movement of the air flow control member 328. The control means comprises a lever 502 and intermediate member 504 and a control member 506. Operating means comprises an operating knob 508 (which is secured to the end member 338 through aperture 510) and an operating pin 512. The operating pin extends through a slot 514 in the end member 338; the slot 514 is of circular shape with a centre coincident with the aperture 510. The pin 512 extends into an aperture 516 on the lever 502 so that the lever 502 can pivot about the pin 512. The lever is provided with another aperture 518 at the other end thereof, which receives a cylindrical projection 520 on the intermediate member 504, so that the intermediate member can pivot relative to the lever 502. The other end of the intermediate member 504 is secured to the control member 506. The control member is provided with a recess 522 which can receive a projection 524 on the lower face of the movable air flow control member 328. It will be appreciated that rotation of the knob 508 causes side to side movement of the control member 506, which causes movement of the airflow control member 328. In this way the air flow can be controlled. In Figures 7 to 9 an alternative operating means is shown. The operating means comprises two cords 340 and 341, a guide member 342 and an actuation member 344. The guide member 342 has projections 346 and 348 which are received in correspondingly shaped apertures 350 and 352 in the leg 323; this arrangement serves to hold the guide member 342 in a fixed position relative to the upper member 319. The guide member 342 defines guide channels 354 and 356 which act as guides for the cords 340 and 341 respectively. The guide channel 356 extends laterally away from the guide channel 354, so that the cord 341 extends first away from the cord 340, and then back towards the cord 340. This arrangement enables a vertical movement in ends 340 a or 341 a of the cords 340 and 341 to be translated into a horizontal movement in ends 340 a or 341 b . The ends 340 b and 341 b of the cords 340 and 341 are secured at opposite ends of the actuation member 344. The actuation member has a formation 358 adapted to be received within one of the apertures of the control member 328. This arrangement ensures that movement of the actuation member 344 causes movement of the control member 328. Thus, the ventilation through the ventilator 306 can be controlled by pulling on a selected one of the ends 340 a and 341 a of the cords 340 and 341. It will be appreciated that the cords 340 and 341 can be replaced with a single cord provided that it is suitably secured to the actuation member 344, and that part of its length passes along each of the guide channels 354 and 356. An alternative cord control system is disclosed in our UK patent application no. 8902498.8 entitled "Control Device for a Rotatable Control Knob". In the embodiment shown in Figure 3 the ventilation member can be considered as the parts of the inner and outer portions 308 and 310 which extend into the gap between the wall 302 and the frame 300. It will be appreciated that these parts do not engage or overlap. This is because the presence of the lintel 304 and frame 302 serves to define an adequate ventilation passage, without the provision of any extra parts to the ventilation member. Thus, in the simplest embodiment the ventilator need only comprise inlet and outlet portions with the ventilation path through the body of the gap being defined by the frame 300 and the lintel 304. For this reason (ie the presence of the lintel 304) ventilation over the frame 10 is preferred to ventilation under the frame. The spacer 316 is shown in perspective in Figure 4 and will be seen to comprise an elongate member having a plurality of apertures 360 spaced by baffles 362. The spacer 316 may be similar to the spacers used in the embodiments of Figures 1 and 2.

Claims: A window structure comprising a frame (10) having upper and lower frame portions (10c) spaced by opposed side portions and defining an opening for receiving a window pane, the window frame further comprising a ventilator (6) capable of being installed between a building structure (20,22) and one of the frame portions (10c) and serving to appropriately space the building structure (20,22) from the said one frame portion (10c) and thereby define a ventilation path (46) between opposite sides of the window structure, the window structure including adhesive (24) disposed between the building structure and the said one frame portion (10c) and being characterised in that the ventilator (6) comprises two discrete ventilation means (28,30) disposed at opposite sides of the window structure and movable one relative to the other whereby to adjust the size of the ventilator at least prior to its installation. A door structure comprising a frame (300) having upper and lower frame portions spaced by opposed side portions and defining an opening for a door, the frame further comprising a ventilator (306) capable of being installed between a building structure (302) and one of the frame portions (300) and serving to appropriately space the said one frame portion (300) from the building structure and thereby define a ventilation path between opposite sides of the door structure, the door structure including adhesive (301) disposed between the building structure (302) and the said one frame portion (300) and being characterised in that the ventilator (306) comprises two discrete ventilation means (308,310) disposed at opposite sides of the door structure and moveable one relative to the other whereby to adjust the size of the ventilator at least prior to its installation. The structure as in claims 1 or 2, wherein the ventilator further comprises control means (48) for controlling the amount of air permitted through the ventilator and operating means (54) for operating the control means.

Inventors: BOTTOMORE DAVID, GIBSON COLIN FREDERICK, BOTTOMORE, DAVID, GIBSON, COLIN FREDERICK
Applicants: GLIDEVALE BUILDING PROD, GLIDEVALE BUILDING & PRODUCTS LIMITED
Application year: 1989
Main classification: E06B7
IPC codes: E06B7, E06B1