Patent Abstract:
In an operator window including a perimeter frame supporting a sash therein for movement between respective open and closed positions, a plurality of reinforcement members are mounted within the sash to provide reinforcement to a latching mechanism secured thereto. When the latching mechanism comprises a plurality of separate latching points at spaced positions along a latching side of the sash, a separate reinforcement member is associated with each of the latching points which is independent and maintained in separation from the remaining reinforcement members by spacers mounted therebetween. The spacers ensure sufficient space between the reinforcement members to accommodate for differences in thermal expansion and contraction between the different materials of the reinforcement members and the sash.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a reinforcement for insertion into a sash of an operator window formed of plastic hollow members to which a latch or lock mechanism can be secured. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Various types of operator windows are known in which a sash is movable relative to a perimeter frame between respective open and closed positions of the window. Locking or latching the window closed typically requires a plurality of connectors to be mounted along mating edges of the sash and the perimeter frame for engagement with one another. When securing a connector, for example a lock keeper, to a sash formed of hollow plastic members, fasteners are known to come loose from the sash over time. A reinforcement member can be mounted in the hollow plastic member forming the sash to span between an adjacent pair of lock keepers, however in regions where climate fluctuates considerably between different seasonal temperatures, the different rates of expansion and contraction of the reinforcement member and the plastic of the sash can cause the sash to bow and not fit properly within the perimeter frame. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    According to one aspect of the invention there is provided in an operator window comprising: 
         [0004]    a perimeter frame arranged to be mounted about a perimeter of a window opening, the perimeter frame including a latching side; 
         [0005]    a sash supported on the perimeter frame and arranged to be movable relative to the perimeter frame between opened position and closed positions of the window, the sash including a latching side arranged to engage the latching side of the perimeter frame in the closed position of the window, the latching side comprising an elongate hollow member; and 
         [0006]    a latching mechanism including a plurality of first mating connectors supported at spaced positions along the latching side of the perimeter frame and a plurality of second mating connectors supported at spaced positions along the latching side of the sash, the second mating connectors being arranged to mate with respective ones of the first mating connectors so as to latch the sash in relation to the perimeter frame in the closed position of the window; 
         [0007]    an improvement comprising a plurality of reinforcement members received through the elongate hollow member forming the latching side of the sash at spaced positions along the elongate hollow member, each reinforcement member being fastened to a respective one of the second mating connectors such that said reinforcement member is spaced apart from the other reinforcement members. 
         [0008]    According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of reinforcing a sash in an operator window comprising: 
         [0009]    a perimeter frame arranged to be mounted about a perimeter of a window opening, the perimeter frame including a latching side; 
         [0010]    a sash supported on the perimeter frame and arranged to be movable relative to the perimeter frame between opened position and closed positions of the window, the sash including a latching side arranged to engage the latching side of the perimeter frame in the closed position of the window, the latching side comprising an elongate hollow member; 
         [0011]    a latching mechanism including a plurality of first mating connectors supported at spaced positions along the latching side of the perimeter frame and a plurality of second mating connectors supported at spaced positions along the latching side of the sash, the second mating connectors being arranged to mate with respective ones of the first mating connectors so as to latch the sash in relation to the perimeter frame in the closed position of the window; 
         [0012]    the method comprising: 
         [0013]    inserting a plurality of reinforcement members through the elongate hollow member forming the latching side of the sash; 
         [0014]    positioning the reinforcement members spaced apart from one another; and 
         [0015]    fastening each reinforcement member to a respective one of the second mating connectors. 
         [0016]    According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an operator window comprising: 
         [0017]    a perimeter frame arranged to be mounted about a perimeter of a window opening, the perimeter frame including a latching side; 
         [0018]    a sash supported on the perimeter frame and arranged to be movable relative to the perimeter frame between opened position and closed positions of the window, the sash including a latching side arranged to engage the latching side of the perimeter frame in the closed position of the window, the latching side comprising an elongate hollow member; 
         [0019]    a latching mechanism including a plurality of first mating connectors supported at spaced positions along the latching side of the perimeter frame and a plurality of second mating connectors supported at spaced positions along the latching side of the sash, the second mating connectors being arranged to mate with respective ones of the first mating connectors so as to latch the sash in relation to the perimeter frame in the closed position of the window; and 
         [0020]    a plurality of reinforcement members received through the elongate hollow member forming the latching side of the sash at spaced positions along the elongate hollow member, each reinforcement member being fastened to a respective one of the second mating connectors such that said reinforcement member is spaced apart from the other reinforcement members. 
         [0021]    By providing a plurality of independent reinforcement members which are mounted spaced apart from one another within the latching side of a sash, mating connectors of a latching mechanism can be secured to the reinforcement members within the sash without concern for different rates of expansion and contraction between the different materials of the reinforcement members and sash as the space between the reinforcement members accommodates for different amounts of expansion and contraction without forcing the sash to bow. 
         [0022]    There may be provided a spacer mounted between each adjacent pair of reinforcement members to maintain the spacing therebetween during installation with the spacers being small enough that the reinforcement members may be installed with a gap between each spacer and the adjacent reinforcement members. 
         [0023]    Preferably the spacer substantially fully spans a cross section of a hollow channel receiving the reinforcement members in the elongate hollow member forming the latching side of the sash. 
         [0024]    The spacer may be formed of a plastic material which is softer than both the material forming the reinforcement members and the material of the elongate hollow member forming the latching side of the sash. 
         [0025]    The reinforcement members are preferably formed of metal with the elongate hollow member forming the latching side of the sash being formed of plastic material. 
         [0026]    The method of installation of the reinforcement members may include positioning the latching side of the sash to span generally horizontally prior to fastening each reinforcement member to a respective one of the second mating connectors. The method may further include tilting the latching side of the sash to slope downwardly towards a first end and securing second mating connector to the reinforcement member nearest to the first end, and subsequently tilting the latching side of the sash to slope downwardly towards a second end and securing the second mating connector to the reinforcement member nearest to the second end. 
         [0027]    When providing more than two second mating connectors, the method preferably includes fastening intermediate ones of the second mating connectors to the respective reinforcement members prior to fastening outermost ones of the second mating connectors to the respective reinforcement members. 
         [0028]    One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a latching side of both a perimeter frame and a sash of an operator window; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of a member forming the latching side of the sash; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  is an end view of the member forming the latching side of the sash. 
       
    
    
       [0032]    In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]    Referring to the accompanying figures there is illustrated a reinforcement for a sash  10  of an operator window  12 . More particularly the reinforcement is arranged for reinforcing the attachment of a latching mechanism to an operator window formed of hollow plastic frame members. 
         [0034]    The present invention is generally applicable to an operator window  12  of the type having a perimeter frame  14  arranged to be mounted about a perimeter of a window opening. A latching side  16  of the perimeter frame is shown formed of a hollow plastic frame member joined to similar hollow plastic frame members forming the top and bottom sides of the perimeter frame. 
         [0035]    As in a conventional operator window, the sash  10  is mounted within the perimeter frame  14  for movement relative thereto between an open position in which the window opening surrounded by the perimeter frame is at least partially unobstructed and a closed position in which window panes fully span the window opening. The sash itself thus at least partially obstructs the window opening in the closed position. The sash also includes a latching side  18  formed of an elongate hollow plastic member, for example vinyl. The latching side  18  of the sash is opposite the hinged or otherwise mounted side of the sash which supports the sash on the perimeter frame  14 . The latching sides  16  and  18  of the perimeter frame and sash respectively engage one another in the closed position of the window. 
         [0036]    A latching mechanism is provided for latching or locking the sash relative to the perimeter frame in the closed position. The latching mechanism includes a common multipoint lock tie bar  20  which is mounted along the latching side of the perimeter frame for relative sliding movement in the longitudinal direction of the bar along the frame. The tie bar  20  includes a plurality of first mating connectors  22  mounted at spaced positions therealong. A set of three first mating connectors  22  is shown in the illustrated embodiment. 
         [0037]    The latching mechanism also includes a set of lock keepers comprising second mating connectors  24  mounted at spaced positions along the latching side of the sash. The second mating connectors  24  correspond in number and location to the first mating connectors  22  so as to be similarly spaced for alignment of the first and second connectors in the closed position. The first and second mating connectors are thus arranged to mate with one another respectively to latch or lock the window in the closed position. Slidably displacing the tie bar  20  in the longitudinal direction thereof along the latching side of the frame causes the mating connectors to be selectively engaged with one another in the closed position of the window. 
         [0038]    The reinforcement according to the present invention comprises a plurality of separate reinforcement members  26  which are supported spaced apart from one another along the latching side of the sash for respective alignment with the second mating connectors  24  so that the second mating connectors can be fastened to the sash by fastening to respective ones of the reinforcement members  26  using screws  27  or other suitable threaded fasteners and the like. The reinforcement members  26  are formed of steel or any other suitable material which is stronger than the plastic material forming the sash for better securement of the screws  27  therein when securing the second mating connectors to the sash. 
         [0039]    A hollow channel is formed in the sash to span in the longitudinal direction of the latching side of the sash adjacent the mounting location of the second mating connectors  24 . The reinforcement members  26  are thus slidably received in the channel formed in the frame member of the sash so as to be inserted in series with one another at spaced apart positions therein. 
         [0040]    Each reinforcement member  26  comprises a flat steel bar which is plural times in length that of a corresponding second mating connector  24  which is fastened to it. 
         [0041]    Spacers  28  formed of a dissimilar material, for example PVC plastic, are mounted between each adjacent pair of the reinforcement members  26  to maintain a space therebetween in the mounted position thereof. The spacers are much shorter in the longitudinal direction than the reinforcement members  26 . 
         [0042]    Each spacer  28  is arranged to span the full cross section of the hollow channel receiving the reinforcement members  26  therein to prevent any sliding overlap of the plates within the hollow channel of the sash. Each spacer is thus positioned between the ends of two adjacent reinforcement members. 
         [0043]    The spacers  28  are formed of a soft plastic material which is arranged to be softer than the steel of the reinforcement members  26  as well as being softer than the vinyl forming the frame members of the sash and perimeter frame of the windows. The force required to compress the spacers  28  is arranged to be less that the force in the longitudinal direction of the latching side of the sash which would be required to cause the sash to bow. Accordingly, the spacers are soft enough to allow some deformation thereof rather than allowing bowing of the sash. 
         [0044]    To further ensure that there are no undesirable forces causing the window sash to bow, the combined length of all of the reinforcement members  26  and the spacers in the longitudinal direction of the latching side of the sash is arranged to be shorter than that of the sash so that the spacers and reinforcement members  26 . Accordingly gaps are installed between all of the spacers and the reinforcement members which accommodate for any differences in expansion or contraction between the reinforcement members and the latching side of the sash. 
         [0045]    When more than two second mating connectors  24  are provided, the reinforcement members  26  which are located at opposing ends of the latching side of the sash are arranged to be shorter in the longitudinal direction thereof than any intermediate ones of the reinforcement members  26 . 
         [0046]    The members  26  located adjacent the opposing ends of the sash are also arranged to be longer than the distance between the outermost ones of the second connectors  24  and the respective outer ends of the sash in the longitudinal direction of the latching side to ensure that even when the reinforcement members  26  at the opposing ends are abutted against the respective opposing ends, they still overlap the mounting locations of the two outer second mating connectors  24 . 
         [0047]    Furthermore the intermediate reinforcement members  26  are arranged to have a length which will overlap the respective intermediate ones of the second mating connectors with which they are associated even if all of the reinforcement members are abutted against one another adjacent one end of the latching side of the sash or the other. 
         [0048]    Depending upon the length of the latching side of the sash, a different number of second mating connectors  24  are provided and different lengths of reinforcement members  26  inserted within the hollow interior of the sash frame member are also provided. The following table illustrates the different lengths of reinforcement members  26  which can be used for different lengths of latching sides of the sash. In the illustrated embodiment for example when the tie bar has a length of 34.9 inches, three second mating connectors  24  are provided with three associated reinforcement members  26 . The two outermost members  26  have a length of 8 inches in the longitudinal direction while an intermediate one of the reinforcement members has a length of the 15 inches. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 TIE BAR 
                 REINFORCEMENT MEMBERS 
                   
               
               
                 SIZES 
                 LENGTH AND POSITION 
               
             
          
           
               
                 (INCHES) 
                 1 
                 2 
                 3 
                 4 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 26.9 OR LESS 
                 8″ 
                 8″ 
                   
                   
               
               
                 30.9 
                 8″ 
                 13″ 
                 8″ 
               
               
                 34.9 
                 8″ 
                 15″ 
                 8″ 
               
               
                 38.9 
                 8″ 
                 17″ 
                 8″ 
               
               
                 42.9 
                 8″ 
                 19″ 
                 8″ 
               
               
                 46.9 
                 8″ 
                 21″ 
                 8″ 
               
               
                 50.9 
                 8″ 
                 23″ 
                 8″ 
               
               
                 54.9 
                 8″ 
                 25″ 
                 8″ 
               
               
                 58.9 
                 8″ 
                 27″ 
                 8″ 
               
               
                 62.9 
                 8″ 
                 21″ 
                 21″ 
                 8″ 
               
               
                 66.9 
                 8″ 
                 21″ 
                 21″ 
                 8″ 
               
               
                 70.9 
                 8″ 
                 23″ 
                 23″ 
                 8″ 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0049]    In order to assemble the sash with the steel reinforcement members  26  inserted therein, the correct number and layout of reinforcement members are selected from the above chart and inserted in order with the spacers  28  abutted therebetween. The latching side of the sash is then positioned to span generally horizontally and can be quickly moved side to side to further separate the steel of the reinforcement members from the spacers  28  to maintain a gap therebetween. The central or intermediate one of the lock keepers forming the second mating connectors  24  can then be fastened to its respective reinforcement member  26  using suitable fasteners therebetween. 
         [0050]    The latching side of the sash is then tilted to one end until the reinforcement member  26  at that end abuts the respective end of the sash. At this point the second mating connector  24  at that bottom end of the sash is then applied with fasteners. The process is then repeated by tilting the sash to the other direction so that the other end is located at the bottom and then the corresponding second mating connector  24  adjacent to that bottom end is then secured to the respective reinforcement member  26 . 
         [0051]    The spacers  28  serve primarily to ensure that the reinforcement members  26  cannot slide past or overlap one another when they are slidably inserted into the hollow channel formed in the sash. 
         [0052]    Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4