Patent Publication Number: US-6216392-B1

Title: Sliding window seal

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to windows which slide including windows which slide and tilt or swing open and, more particularly, to the provision in a very simple manner of achieving of a greatly improved weather seal on closing the window. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventional window units incorporating a sliding window or sash employ weather stripping which extends around the sash when it is closed to provide a window seal. Such weather stripping can be mounted on the frame of the sash or on the window frame in which the sash slides or on both the sash and window frame and is compressed between the sash and window frame to effect the window seal. 
     Manipulation of the sash on opening and closing the window subjects such weather stripping to frictional wear and tear. As a result, such exposure to frictional abrasion limits the nature of the weather stripping which can be used to solid type strips with limited compressibility or spreadability thereby limiting the effectiveness of the window seal. The effectiveness of this seal in turn decreases with the frictional wear and tear under continued usage. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,821, issued Nov. 10th, 1987, discloses a floating slideable lower sash attached to a complex balance arrangement which is actuated to displace the bottom edge of the sash laterally against weather stripping as it reaches the closed position. However, such special arrangement is expensive and does not provide a uniform seal around the sash by simple closing of the sash. Further, such arrangement does not positively preclude frictional wear of the weather stripping on manipulation of the sash. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention resides in providing a very simple arrangement whereby the slideable sash of a window unit is moved laterally at the point of closure by the act of closing to uniformally compress weather stripping used to seal the window around the sash without subjecting such weather stripping to damaging frictional stress. 
     It will be understood that with this arrangement in which the weather stripping is simply subjected to compressive forces the invention enables the use of softer weather stripping such as bubble type sealing strips and the like which give a wider area of seal on compression. 
     In its broadest aspect the invention resides in providing cooperating means between opposite ends of the slideable sash and the frame in which it slides to move the sash laterally as it is closed to compress the sash window sealing weather stripping between the sash and frame. The invention further contemplates the positive retraction of the sash from its weather stripping compression position on raising of the sash. 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, the lateral movement of the sash is effected by members attached to the sash projecting into recessed trackways with slotted entrances provided in the frame in which the sash slides, such trackways and slots being formed to act on the sash members to simultaneously cam both ends of the sash laterally at the point of sash closing to effect the uniform window seal. 
     Again in this embodiment of the invention, such sash members and recessed trackways with their slotted entrances are arranged for cooperative action to positively retract the sash laterally from its weather stripping compressing position and eliminate frictional wear on the weather stripping as the sash is raised. 
     Again, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided a slideable sash as aforesaid which is also tiltable or swingable. 
     In this connection, according to one embodiment of the invention, the members attached to the sash which ride in the frame trackways comprise shoes to which one end of said sash is pivoted, and tilt or swing locks mounted at the opposite end of said sash and having locking bolts projectable into the slotted entrances of the trackways shaped to provide the required lateral sash movement on closing. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the sash is provided at each end with projecting pins which ride in the frame trackways or slots, the pins at one end of the sash preferably being retractable for sash swinging or tilting and/or removal. 
     Again, in utilizing the interaction between members carried by the slideable sash and the trackways provided in the frame in which the sash slides according to the invention, conventional balances may be employed for vertically slideable and/or vertically slideable and tiltable sashes. 
     These and other features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a single hung window unit having a slideable and tiltable lower sash provided with cooperating means with the recessed window frame trackways and their slotted entrances to effect lateral movement as the window is closed in accordance with the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a view of the window unit of FIG. 1 with the lower sash removed. 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmented enlarged perspective view illustrating one of the trackways formed as a molding to provide a configuration to cooperate with the means carried by the lower sash for effecting lateral sash movement at the point of sash closing and opening. 
     FIG. 3A is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the trackway as a notched extrusion in which cams are mounted for effecting lateral sash movement. 
     FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic elevational view illustrating the lower sash in a partially closed position showing the clearance between the sash and the weather stripping which is mounted on the frame. 
     FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the lower sash in the laterally shifted closed weather stripping compressing position. 
     FIG. 6 is an elevational diagram to illustrate the clearance between the lower sash and the upper sash when the lower sash is in the raised position and showing the weather stripping mounted on the frame in the uncompressed state. 
     FIG. 6A is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the lateral displacement of the lower sash on being closed to compress the weather stripping. 
     FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the weather stripping mounted on the sash. 
     FIG. 7A is a view similar to FIG. 6A but showing the weather stripping mounted on the sash. 
     FIG. 8 is a part diagrammatic perspective view illustrating the application of the invention to a horizontally slideable sash. 
     FIG. 9 is a part diagrammatic top plan view illustrating the sash shown in FIG. 8 in the latterly shifted closed weather stripping compressing position. 
     FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 but showing the sash open with the weather stripping in the uncompressed state. 
     FIG. 11 is a broken away perspective view showing one of the retractable pins at one end of the sash. 
     FIG. 12 is a broken away sectional view showing the retractable pin of FIG. 11 locked in its projecting position. 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the horizontally slideable sash. 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a preferred bubble type weather stripping. 
     FIG. 15 is a cross section on line  15 — 15  of FIG. 13 showing the bubble weather stripping attached to the sash. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION ACCORDING TO THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, the window unit generally designated at  1  comprises a rectangular frame  2  having a fixed upper sash  3  mounted therein and a slideable and tiltable lower sash  4  slideable therein. The frame  2  and the frames of the sashes  3  and  4  are preferably plastic but may also, for example, be formed of aluminum as will be appreciated. 
     The sides or jambs  5  of the frame which are identical, one only being shown, are provided with recessed trackways  6  (see FIG. 3) behind a planar slotted bearing surface  7  on which the lower sash  4  slides. 
     The slot  8  in each of the bearing surfaces  7  providing entrance to the respective recessed trackway  6  has a particular configuration as shown in FIGS. 3,  3 A,  4  and  5  for a purpose as hereinafter explained. 
     As shown particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower sash  4  is pivotally connected to shoes  9  which are adapted to slide in the recessed trackways  6  with the pivotal connections  10  projecting through the slots  8  in the frame bearing surfaces  7 . 
     Mounted on the top or header  11  of the lower sash at each side thereof are tilt locks  12  whose bolts  13  can be projected or retracted by a finger operator  14 . 
     When extended the bolts  13  extend into the trackways  6  through the slots  8  with their engagement with the slot  8  guiding the upper end of the lower sash  4  while the shoes  9  operating in the trackways  6  guide the lower end of the lower sash during its sliding movement. 
     On retraction of the bolts  13 , the lower sash is free to tilt on its pivots  10  while its lower end is held in the frame  2  by the shoes  9  retained in the recessed trackways  6 . 
     It will be understood that the window unit will be provided with a conventional balance arrangement (not shown) which may be conveniently attached to the shoes  9  to counterbalance the weight of the lower sash. 
     As shown particularly in FIGS. 3,  4  and  5 , the recessed trackway  6  is sloped inwardly at the bottom thereof as indicated at  15  so that as the shoe  9  reaches the lower sash closed position it is forced laterally inwardly to move the lower end of the sash inwardly. To accommodate this movement the slot  8  is also sloped inwardly as at  16 . The slot  8  is again sloped inwardly as at  17  adjacent the bottom of the upper sash  3  so that the bolt  13  riding in the slot  8  is cammed inwardly by the slot portion  17  as the sash is closed. This action of course takes place at both sides of frame  2 . 
     Thus, as the sash  4  is closed, both the lower and upper ends of the sash are simultaneously cammed or guided inwardly toward the frame  2 . 
     The frame  2  is provided with a peripheral planar stop surface  18  facing the lower sash  4  around the perimeter of its frame when the lower sash is closed. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 to  6 A, the weather stripping or sealing strips  19  employed to seal window while in the closed position are shown mounted on the stop  18 , the arrangement being such that as the lower sash is cammed inwardly both at the bottom and top by the act of closing the sash, the weather stripping  19  is compressed between the frame of the sash and the stop surface  18  to provide a uniform compression seal around the lower sash at the closed position. 
     As the lower sash  4  is raised, the shoes  9  are cammed or guided outwardly away from the weather stripping  19  by virtue of the sloped surface  15  of the trackways  6  and the bolts  13  are simultaneously cammed or guided outwardly by the sloping slot portion  17 . Thus this lower sash  4  is moved outwardly clear of the weather stripping to release it from its compressed state and out of contact with the sash as it moves away from the closed position. 
     Since the weather stripping  19  is not subjected to any destructive frictional stresses under the sliding movement of the sash  4 , softer or more pliable weather stripping such as the bubble type weather stripping illustrated particularly in FIG. 14 can be employed. Such weather stripping when compressed provides a wider area of seal and hence a more effective seal because of its greater deformability or spreadability. 
     While the weather stripping  19  in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 3 to  6  is mounted on the stop surface  18  of the frame, it will be understood that it can equally as well be mounted to extend around the frame of the lower sash  4  itself as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 7A. As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 7A, the weather stripping  19  is again uniformly compressed between the frame stop surface  18  and the frame of the sash  4  by the action of closing the lower sash. 
     It will be understood that the operation of the sash  4  in the diagrammatic FIGS. 7 and 7A will be the same as shown in FIGS. 3,  4  and  5  and thus the compressive forces on the weather stripping  19  are automatically released by the opening movement of the sash which is retracted outwardly by the interengagement between the shoes  9  operating in the trackways  6  and the release of the bolts  13  from their inward cammed position to which they have been displaced by the sloping slot portions  17 . 
     Away from the closed position, the sash  4  is held spaced from the frame stop surface  18  and the upper sash  3  by the shoes  8  riding in the trackways  6  and the bolts  13  riding in the slots  8  so that the weather stripping  19  is free of any frictional wear or tear. 
     To lock the window unit the lower sash  4  is provided with a conventional window lock  20  for cooperation with a suitable catch (not shown) provided on the upper sash  3 . 
     The sides of the frame  2  presenting the recessed trackways  6  with their entrance slots  7  can conveniently be formed to have the appropriate shapes as compression molded plastic members as shown in FIG.  3 . Corresponding recessed trackway  6 ′ with slotted entrances  8 ′ may also be provided in extruded frame members (i.e. of plastic or aluminum) with the use of cam inserts as shown in FIG.  3 A. 
     With reference to FIG. 3A, the extrusion designated at  2 ′ of the frame  2  is formed with the recessed trackway  6 ′ and the slot  8 ′ providing the entrance thereto. 
     Mounted in the trackway  6 ′ at the bottom thereof is a cam  16 ′ arranged to displace the respective sash shoe  9  laterally as the sash closes. The edge of the slot  8 ′ opposite the cam  16 ′ is cut away at  8 ′ a  and notched at  8 ′ b  opposite the cam  16 ′ as shown to permit lateral shoe and sash movement. Similarly, in place of the slot shaped trackway  6  and slot portion  17  shown in FIG. 3 to cam the upper end of the sash  4  inwardly FIG. 3A shows cam  17 ′ mounted in the trackway  6 ′. The slot  8 ′ is then cut away at  17 ′ a  opposite the cam  17 ′ to accommodate the lateral inward movement and retraction of the sash as the window moves between the closed and positions. 
     It will be understood that the invention is also applicable to horizontally slideable windows as illustrated in FIGS. 8,  9  and  10  where the window unit  21  has a horizontal frame  22 , a fixed sash  23  and a slideable sash  24  which may also be swingable or “tiltable” to swing open to provide access to clean the glass. 
     The slideable sash  24  is provided at each end with projecting pins with the pins being designated at  25  at the inner end  26  and the pins being designated at  27  at the outer end  28 . 
     The pins  25  ride in slots  29  provided in the frame  22  with the inner ends  30  of these slots being turned inwardly towards the frame  22 . 
     Similarly, the pins  27  carried by the outer end  28  of the sash ride in slots  31  provided in the frame  22  with the outer ends  32  of the slots  31  being turned inwardly of the frame  22 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 9,  10  and  13 , the sash  24  is provided around the perimeter of its frame with weather stripping  19  so that when the sash  24  is moved to the closed position it is moved laterally inwardly to compress the weather stripping  19  against a perimeteral stop surface (not shown) which it will be understood will correspond to the stop surface  18  shown particularly in FIG.  3 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 10, as the sash  24  is moved to the open position, the pins  25  and  27  riding in the slots  29  and  31  cam the slideable sash outwardly so that the weather stripping  19  is retracted from its compressed state in FIG. 9 to its uncompressed state in FIG. 10 where it moves clear of frictional contact with the fixed sash  23 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the pins  27  at the outer end  28  of the slideable sash are shown as retractable against the action of a spring  34  urging the pin  27  outwardly where it may be locked by a locking member or pin  35 . With the pins  27  retracted, the sash  24  can then be swung outwardly pivoting on the pins  25 . 
     The weather stripping  19  is particularly illustrated in FIG.  14  and comprises a sleeve or bubble portion  36  of flexible material connected by a leg  37  to a pair of feet  38 . 
     To provide a continuous length of weather stripping around the slideable sash, as illustrated in FIG. 13 a length of the weather stripping  19  is cut at appropriate lengths as indicated at  39  so that it can be folded around the frame members  40  of the sash until opposite ends abut where they can be joined by welding to form a continuous peripheral strip of weather stripping. 
     FIG. 15 which is a cross section along the line  15 — 15  of FIG. 13 shows one of the frame members  40  of the slideable sash  24  as a hollow extrusion provided with an undercut channel  41  to receive the feet  38  of the weather stripping  19  to secure same in position on the sash. 
     The bubble type weather stripping  19  illustrated provides an excellent seal because under compression it collapses to provide a wide sealing area while giving excellent recovery when the compressive forces are removed. It will be understood, however, that other forms of weather stripping may be used so that long as they retain adequate sealing capacity under repeated compressions. 
     Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the appended claims.