A ROOF WINDOW WITH A VENTILATING FRAME TOP MEMBER

Abstract: In roof window with a frame structure and an openable pane supporting sash structure, the top, bottom and side members (1-8) of the frame and sash structures are substantially made of wood profiles, which on the exterior sides are covered by covering members of the weather-shielding material. In respect of the top members (1, 5) the covering members comprise a hood-like covering cap (11) which is secured to the frame structure and covers the frame and sash top members (1, 5), and a ventilation passage (12) between an exterior opening (13) at a downwards facing edge member of said covering cap (12) and an interior opening (14) positioned at the interior side of the sash top member (5), said opening being in the closed position of the window closable by means of a ventilation flap (15) pivotally connected with the sash top member (5). To prevent convection current in the ventilation passage (12) and to obtain a ventilation with reduced loss of heat, the air flow area of the ventilation passage (12) is reduced to a substantially slit-shaped passage by means of an insert member (17). In this manner also an improved protection against intrusion is obtained. An additional insert member (18) may be connected with the interior side of the covering cap (12) to reduce the risk of condensation, when the ventilation flap is open.

Description: 1 A ROOF WINDOW WITH A VENTILATING FRAME TOP MEMBER The present invention relates to a roof window with a pane supporting sash structure consisting of horizontal top and bottom members which are connected by parallel side members, said top, bottom and side members being composed substantially of wood profiles, which on the exterior sides are covered by covering members of weather-shielding material which in respect of the top member comprise a hood-like covering cap covering at least partially the sash top member, and a ventilation passage provided therein to extend between an exterior opening at a downwards facing edge member of said covering cap and an interior opening positioned at the interior side of the sash top member, said opening being in the closed position of the window closable by means of a ventilation flap pivotally connected with the sash top member. Roof windows of this type are well known and are widely used for ensuring an improved admittance of light when converting ceilings of buildings into rooms for accommodation and business purposes. The purpose of using weather-shielding covering members, which may consist of comparatively thin metal sheet profiles, for instance aluminium, or plastic profiles, is to establish, as far as possible, a total exterior enclosure of the wood profiles in the top, bottom and side members of the sash structure and, if the window is openable, also of the frame structure. In designing such roof windows with a closable ventilation passage above the sash top member, an advantageous possibility for ventilation is obtained by opening of a ventilation flap connected with the interior side of the sash top member, said flap serving in case of openable windows also as a control flap for a closing mechanism for the window and being designed for operation in two steps, where, in a first operation step solely an opening of the ventilation passage takes place, whereas the release of the closing mechanism for opening of the window does not take place until a further pivoting of the ventilation and control flap has taken place in a second operation step. In conventional embodiments of roof windows of the type stated, the ventilation passage for openable windows is solely defined by the wood profiles of the frame and sash top members and the exterior covering cap, which is normally made from a comparatively thin metal sheet, for instance aluminium, whereas in case of not openable windows it is made as a through opening in the sash top member. This has the effect that a comparatively big air chamber is formed, which i.a. as a result of convection current may cause a heat loss at ventilation with closed window. In the roof window according to the invention this problem is solved in that the air flow area of the ventilation passage is reduced to a substantially slit- shaped passage by means of an insert member. In this manner a ventilation is obtained which reduces the possibility of convection current and thereby the heat loss. By producing the insert member from insulating material, preferably a foam plastic material, a marked reduction of the heat loss is obtained, and this effect may further be improved by providing an additional insert member in connection with the interior side of the covering cap opposite said insert member. In openable roof windows the provision of said insert member in the ventilation passage also entails an improved protection against intrusion in that accessibility from the outside to the ventilation flap and the locking means connected therewith is substantially prevented or to a considerable degree made difficult . A further improved protection against intrusion is obtained in that a stop member, which may be selectively activated, has been secured to the frame structure to prevent or limit the opening of the sash, as is known per se from DE-C-43 28 330. As another possibility the insert member may comprise a blocking member which prevents access from the outside to the ventilation flap and the locking means connected therewith. Further advantageous embodiments of the roof window according to the invention are described in the dependent claims. The invention will now be explained in detail in the following with reference to the schematic drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a roof window according to the invention designed as an openable pivoting window, Fig. 2 a vertical sectional view of the window shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a similar sectional view of an alternative embodiment as a combined turn/pivot window with additional selective protection against intrusion, Fig. 4 a similar sectional view of a not openable roof window according to the invention, and Fig. 5 a modification of the embodiment in Fig. 2 with additional protection against intrusion, and Figs 6 and 7 a further alternative embodiment of an openable window. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 an openable roof window according to the invention comprises a frame structure with a top member 1, a bottom member 2 and side members 3 and 4 and an openable sash structure with a top member 5, a bottom member 6 and side members 7 and 8. The sash structure is by means of per se known swing fittings between the frame and sash side members 3, 4 and 7, 8 pivotally accommodated in the frame structure with an axis of rotation 10 parallel with the top and bottom members and substantially halfway between them. The top, bottom and side members of the frame and sash structures mainly consist of wood profiles which on all surfaces exposed to the weather are covered by covering members which in the embodiment shown consist of comparatively thin metal sheet profiles, for instance of aluminium, and which as a whole provide a completely weather-shielding enclosure of the window. The more detailed design of these covering members is described in Applicant's Danish patent application no. 1998 00495, not yet published, which relates to a roof window with easily mountable frame and sash caps. At the top members 1 and 5 of the frame and sash structures, the enclosure of the window is finished with a substantially hood-shaped covering cap 11, which in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 is made integral with and connected to the frame top member 1. The covering cap 11 is designed such that it covers the upper parts of the covering members on the frame and sash side members 3, 4 and 7, 8, respectively. As will be more clearly seen from Fig. 2, a ventilation passage is provided between the frame top member 1 and the sash top member 2, said passage extending, as shown by an arrow 12, between an exterior opening 13 between the lower edge of the top cap 11 and the lower edge of the sash top member 5 and an interior opening 14 at the interior side of the sash top member 5. The interior opening 14 is in the shown closed position of the window closed by a ventilation flap 15 pivotally connected with the sash top member, said flap being moreover, in a manner known per se and not shown in detail, connected with a locking mechanism acting on the frame and sash top members 1 and 5, which mechanism may be released for opening of the window by an operating handle connected with the ventilation flap 15. As the swinging of the ventilation flap 15 may take place in two steps, the ventilation flap being in a first step forced to a position shown with a dotted line in which the closing mechanism not shown is not yet released for opening of the window, a possibility is thus created for ventilation through the ventilation passage 12 in the closed position of the window. By continued swinging, the ventilation flap 15 is in a second step brought to a position shown with a dash- dot-line, in which the closing mechanism is released for opening of the window. Whereas the ventilation passage 12 in conventional roof windows has a comparatively big air flow area including the entire space which is defined by the frame and sash top members 1 and 5 and the covering cap 11, the air flow area according to the invention is reduced by means of an insert member 17 connected with the frame top member 1, said insert member being like in the embodiment in Fig. 2 made from a heat insulating material and limits the air flow area to a comparative- ly narrow slit-shaped area 12a. The insert member 17 may advantageously be a moulded body of foam plastic material like for instance polyurethane . In the embodiment shown an additional insert member 18 of the same material as the insert member 17 is connected with the interior side of the covering cap 11. The two insert members 17 and 18 are positioned and adapted to each other in such manner that the exterior opening 13 to the ventilation passage 12 is defined outwards by the additional insert member 18, and in a manner known per se covered by an air filter 19 retaining insects and airborne particles like dust, pollen, etc. To ensure that the ventilation air flow is forced through the exterior opening 13 with the filter 19, the filter is inwardly 18 connected with a sealing member 20, which in the closed position of the window establishes an airtight closing against a glazing profile 21 secured to the sash top member 5. The insert members 17 and 18 may also, as shown, advantageously be designed such that between them space for accommodation of an exterior shielding member, for instance a blind, is provided. The insert member 17 has the effect that the convection flows which in known roof windows may cause a heat loss through the ventilation passage are substantially avoided, such that a substantially improved U-value is obtained. At the same time, the additional insert member 18 contributes to obtaining an improved protection against intrusion, the risk of an instrument being introduced from outside for activating the ventilation flap and the locking means connected therewith in the closed position of the window being substantially eliminated or access at least made difficult to a considerable degree. In Fig. 3 an alternative embodiment is shown of the roof window as a combined turn/pivot window, in which the sash structure at normal use is top-hung relative to the frame structure, such that the window 7 functions as a top-hung turning window opened by means of an operating handle on the interior side of the sash bottom member. In Fig. 3 members corresponding to those shown in Fig. 2 are indicated by the same reference numerals but with an apostrophe added. To make it possible to swing the window sash approx. 180° into a comfortable cleaning position, the sash structure 21 is moreover pivotally connected with an intermediate sash 22 with sash arms which in the closed position of the window are placed between the upper members of the frame and sash side members and which during normal use of the window as a top-hung turning window follow the sash side members. The axis of rotation of this swingable connection lies approxi- mately between the top and bottom members, and operation of the window to this pivoting or swinging movement is made in the same way as shown in Fig. 2 by means of a ventilation and operating flap 15' connected with the sash top member 5', said flap releasing a closing mechanism not shown which is positioned between the frame and sash top members . In this embodiment the covering cap for the top members is, in consideration of the fact that the whole sash during normal opening of the window as a top-hung window is to be swingable outwards, made in two pieces and comprises a bottom member 24 connected with the intermediate frame and an upper member 25 connected with the frame top member 1' . The ventilation passage 12' is as a consequence of this provided inside the bottom member 24 of the covering cap, and the insertion member 17' is connected with a top member 26 of the intermediate frame, whereas the additional insert member 18' is connected with the interior side of the bottom member 24 of the covering cap. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 the improved protection against intrusion provided by the insertion member 17' is further improved by the fact that in the frame structure opposite the sash top member 5', a selectively actuatable stop member is secured for preventing or limiting an opening of the sash. As known per se from the above-mentioned DE-C-43 28 330, such a stop member may comprise a mounting bushing secured in a tight-fitting hole in the frame structure, in which a locking ratchet with an accompanying key-operated lock cylinder 31 is received. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the roof window comprises a not openable pane-carrying sash structure with a top member " , in which between a bottom member 26 and an upper member 28 connected therewith by means of side members 27 a ventilation passage 12" is formed which from the interior may be opened and closed by means of a swingable ventilation flap 15". The sash top member 5" is covered by a covering cap 11" . An insulating insert member 17" is connected with the upper member of the sash top member, said insert member reducing the air flow area of the ventilation passage 12", which through a ventilation space 30 under the covering cap 11' is connected with an exterior opening 13" at the lower edge of the cap 11" facing the pane . In Figs 5 and 6 a modification of the embodiment according to Fig. 2 is shown, in which an additional protection against intrusion is provided in that the insert member 32 comprises a blocking member, the insert member 32 being in the embodiment shown designed as a solid shield, which with a downwards facing edge member 33 is placed in tight abutment against the exterior side of the sash top member 34 and moreover .is designed for snap engagement with fitting members 35 which are fastened to the frame top member 36, a longitudinal side edge 37 of the shield 32 being for instance provided with recesses 38 for protruding abutment 39 on the fitting members 35, and the shield has a protruding bead 40 for engagement with snap means 41 on the fitting members 37. In this embodiment the ventilation passage is narrowed to the slit-shaped spaces between the shield 32 and the frame top member 36 between the fitting members 35.

Claims: 10 P A T E N T C L A I M S 1. A roof window with a pane supporting sash structure consisting of horizontal top and bottom members (5, 6) which are connected by parallel side members (7, 8) , said top, bottom and side members being composed substantially of wood profiles which on the exterior sides are covered by covering members of weather-shielding material which in respect of the top member (5) comprise a hood-like covering cap (11) covering at least partially the sash top member (5) and a ventilation passage (12) provided therein to extend between an exterior opening (13) at a downwards facing edge member of said covering cap (11) and an interior opening (14) positioned at the interior side of the sash top member (5) , said opening being in the closed position of the window closable by means of a ventilation flap (15) pivotally connected with the sash top member (5), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the air flow area of the ventilation passage (12) is reduced to a substantially slit-shaped passage by means of an insert member (17) . 2. A roof window according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that opposite said insert member (17) in connection with the interior side of said covering cap (11) a further insert member (18) is provided. 3. A roof window according to claim 1 or 2 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that each insert member (17) is made of insulating material. 4. A roof window according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that each insert member (17,18; 17 ',18') is made of a foam plastic material. 5. A roof window according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that at said exterior opening (13) an air filter (19) is arranged in 11 connection with the downward facing edge member of the covering cap (12) and in substantially air-tight connection with said insert member (17) in the ventilation passage (12) . 6. A roof window according to any of the preceding claims, in which the sash structure is accommodated in a frame structure with top, bottom and side members (1 - 4) as a reversible sash with pivot axis (10) approximately halfway between the top and bottom members (1, 2; 5, 6), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the insert member (17) in the ventilation passage (12)) is connected with the frame top member (1) . 7. A roof window according to claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that in order to improve the protection against intrusion a stop member (31) , which may be selectively activated, has been secured to the frame structure to prevent or limit the opening of the sash. 8. A roof window according to claim 7, c h a r- a c t e r i z e d in that said stop member comprises a cylinder lock with a mounting bushing secured in a tight-fitting hole and a locking ratchet accommodated therein with an accompanying, in particular key-operated lock cylinder, by means of which the locking ratchet may be displaced from an interior inactive position in the mounting bushing to an exterior active position. 9. A roof window according to claims 1 and 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said insert member (32) with a view to improving the protection against intrusion comprises a blocking member which prevents access from the outside to the ventilation flap and the locking means connected thereto for opening of the sash structure . 10. A roof window according to claim 9, c h a r- 12 a c t e r i z e d in that said blocking member is designed as a shield (32) connected with the frame structure, said shield having a downwards facing edge member (33) in close abutment on an upper edge member of the top member (34) of the sash structure in the closed position of the window and having slit-shaped ventilation openings between the shield (32) and the top member (36) of the frame structure. 11. A roof window according to claim 10, c h a r- a c t e r i z e d in that said insert member (32) as a whole consists of said shield and is designed for snap connection with fitting members in connection with the frame structure . 12. A roof window according to claim 10 or 11, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said shield (32) is made of a substantially rigid, impact-proof material. 13. A roof window according to claim 2 and one of the claims 6 - 12, in which the sash structure during normal use is pivotally connected as a top-hung window with axis of rotation at the frame and sash top members (1', 5'), whereas said pivot axis (10') approximately halfway between the top and bottom members (1' , 2 ' ; 5' , 6') is established by a pivotal connection of the sash side members (7', 8') with an intermediate sash (22) in view of making a turning of the window into a cleaning position possible, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said covering cap is two-parted with a lower part (24) connected with the intermediate sash (22) and an upper part (25) connected with the frame top member (1'), and in that the insert member (17') in the ventilation passage (12') and said additional insert member (18') are connected with said intermediate sash (22) and said lower part (24) of the covering cap, respectively.

Inventors: FRANSSON JAN, HEIDTMAN NIELS, LARSEN NIELS ADELHOLM, FRANSSON, JAN, HEIDTMAN, NIELS, LARSEN, NIELS, ADELHOLM
Applicants: FRANSSON JAN, HEIDTMAN NIELS, LARSEN NIELS ADELHOLM, VELUX IND AS, FRANSSON, JAN, HEIDTMAN, NIELS, LARSEN, NIELS, ADELHOLM, VELUX INDUSTRI A/S
Application year: 1999
Main classification: E04D13
IPC codes: E04D13, E06B7, F24F13