Abstract:
A sealing joint for a window assembly is including a screen and a window pane covering the screen is provided. The sealing joint includes an actuator for positioning the window pane between the open and closed positions, a plate mounted to the window assembly, the plate lying substantially in the plane of the screen, the plate comprising an opening. The sealing member also includes a sealing member being sized and shaped so as to cover the opening, the sealing member being adapted to slide over the plate while maintaining contact therewith and continuing to cover the opening. The sealing member includes an aperture being shaped and sized so as to receive the actuator therewithin. The actuator extends through the opening and the aperture. A window assembly comprising the sealing joint and a kit for a sealing joint are also provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 (e) of the U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/960,582 filed on Oct. 4, 2007. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a joint for a window assembly, and more particularly, and in its preferred intended use, the present invention relates to a joint for a window assembly for preventing entry of insects into a structure. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Window assemblies comprising insect screens and the like are very well known in the art. 
         [0004]    Indeed, a conventional window assembly normally consists of a transparent window pane provided within a window frame. In cases where it is desirable to open the window in order to, for example, allow air to enter or exit through the window, it is also desirable to block entry of large airborne debris, insects and other contaminants. This blocking is accomplished by placing a screen across the opening within the window frame. 
         [0005]    In large structures, for example greenhouses, it can be desirable to provide the ability to vent the interior of the structure by opening the roof or wall panels. These panels may be window panels comprising a transparent pane, or may also be opaque wall panels. These panels are typically hinged along a first side and pushed outwards along an opposite second side. In the case of an angled roof, these panels are pushed upwards and away from the remaining roof by vertically extending actuators. Such an arrangement permits the natural ventilation of the environment within the structure, which is important for the growth of plants and other organisms. 
         [0006]    Conventional window assemblies for such applications typically comprise blade or brush-like weather-stripping and the like to create deformable seals between the window frame and the actuators as they pass through the plane of the screen in order to lift the window panel. 
         [0007]    In modern biological and genetic experimentation, for example in the bio-pharma fields experimenting on the growth of transgenic plant proteins and the like, preventing the contamination of the air, equipment and specimens within the structure is paramount. Moreover, many such structures must pass a certification process which requires them to show to a regulating body that their structures are impervious to certain categories of contaminants. An example of such certification is the biohazard levels 1, 2, 3, etc. However, it remains desirable in experimental greenhouses, for example to naturally ventilate the interior thereof via roof or wall panels. A major drawback associated with conventional sealing joints and window assemblies is that they do not provide an adequately close-fitting seal and cannot prevent the entry of a sufficient proportion of contaminants. Moreover, conventional sealing joints degrade with time, thereby further compromising their sealing ability, which is unacceptable in a strict experimenting environment. 
         [0008]    Hence, in light of the aforementioned, there is a need to provide an improved sealing joint for a window assembly, which by virtue of its design and components, would be able to overcome some of the above-discussed prior art problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    It is therefore aspect of the present invention is to provide a sealing joint for a window assembly which, by virtue of its design and components, satisfies some of the above-mentioned needs and is thus an improvement over other related devices known in the prior art. 
         [0010]    An aspect of the present invention to provide a joint for a window assembly with an increased sealing ability which is operable to allow the natural venting of a structure while remaining impervious to insect entry. 
         [0011]    In accordance with the present invention, the above aspect is achieved, as will be easily understood, with a sealing joint such as the one briefly described herein and such as the one exemplified in the accompanying drawings. 
         [0012]    More specifically, there is provided a sealing joint for a window assembly including a screen and a window pane covering the screen, the screen lying in a plane and the window pane being positionable between an open and a closed position. The sealing joint includes an actuator for positioning the window pane between the open and closed positions, a plate mounted to the window assembly, the plate lying substantially in the plane of the screen, the plate comprising an opening. The sealing member also includes a sealing member being sized and shaped so as to cover the opening, the sealing member being adapted to slide over the plate while maintaining contact therewith and continuing to cover the opening. The sealing member includes an aperture being shaped and sized so as to receive the actuator therewithin. The actuator extends through the opening and the aperture. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the sealing member includes a first block and a second block, the first and second blocks being aligned so as to sandwich the plate on either side of the opening. More preferably, the first and second blocks are fixed to one another by a connector, the connector passing through the opening. More preferably still, the first and second blocks include corresponding apertures through which the actuator extends. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the actuator has a U-shaped cross-section and the aperture has a corresponding U-shape. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the actuator includes a rack having a plurality of teeth. More preferably, the sealing member has a dimension substantially perpendicular to the plane which is greater or equal to the pitch of the teeth. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the screen is mounted to the window assembly along a peripheral slot and wherein the plate is received in the peripheral slot. 
         [0017]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a window assembly including a screen lying in a plane, a window pan covering the screen and being positionable between an open and a closed position; and a sealing joint. The sealing joint includes an actuator for positioning the window pane between the open and closed position, a plate mounted to the window assembly, the plate lying substantially in the plane of the screen, the plate comprising an opening, and a sealing member being sized and shaped so as to cover the opening, the sealing member being adapted to slide over the plate while maintaining contact therewith and continuing to cover the opening. The sealing member includes an aperture being shaped and sized so as to receive the actuator therewithin. The actuator extends through the opening and the aperture. 
         [0018]    In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit for a sealing joint for a window assembly including a screen and a window pane covering the screen, the screen lying in a plane, the window pane being positionable between an open and a closed position. The kit includes an actuator for positioning the window pane between the open and closed positions, a plate for mounting to the window assembly, the plate operable to lie substantially in the plane of the screen, the plate comprising an opening, and a sealing member being sized and shaped so as to cover the opening, the sealing member operable to slide over the plate while maintaining contact therewith and continuing to cover the opening. The sealing member includes an aperture being shaped and sized so as to receive the actuator therewithin. The actuator is operable to extend through the opening and the aperture. 
         [0019]    The invention and its advantages will be better understood by reading the following non-restrictive description of a preferred embodiment thereof, made with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    The invention will be better understood upon reading the following non-restrictive description of the preferred embodiment thereof, made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a portion of a structure comprising the sealing joint according a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 1   a  is a close-up of a portion of the structure illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIGS. 2 and 3  are side views of a structure comprising the sealing joint according a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  are close-ups of a portion of the structure illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0025]      FIGS. 4 ,  4   a ,  4   b  and  4   c  are perspective, side and exploded views of a sealing joint  30  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0026]    While the invention will be described in conjunction with example embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to such embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included as defined by the appended claims. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    In the following description, the same numerical references refer to similar elements. The embodiments shown in the figures are preferred, for exemplification purposes only. 
         [0028]    In addition, although the preferred embodiments of the present invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprise various components, etc., and although the preferred embodiments of the sealing joint, greenhouse and corresponding parts of the present invention as shown consist of certain geometrical configurations as explained and illustrated herein, not all of these components and geometries are essential to the invention and thus should not be taken in their restrictive sense, i.e. should not be taken as to limit the scope of the present invention. It is to be understood, as also apparent to a person skilled in the art, that other suitable components and cooperations therebetween, as well as other suitable geometrical configurations may be used for the sealing joint according to the present invention, as will be briefly explained herein and as can be easily inferred herefrom by a person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention. 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  illustrates a portion of a roof  12  of a structure  10 . The roof  12  comprises a plurality of roof panels  14  which are supported by a frame  16  comprised of struts  18 . In the illustrated embodiment, the roof panels  14  are part of a greenhouse  10  and, as such, are transparent window panes  14  and will be referred to as such. It will be appreciated, however, that this should not be interpreted in a limiting manner and that an embodiment wherein the window panes  14  are replaced with opaque or otherwise non-transparent panels  14  is well within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0030]    The window panes  14  are arranged to form a sloping roof  12  with an apex  20  where the angled panes  14  meet along a longitudinal central axis. The uppermost panes  14  on either side of the apex  20  are operable to be opened. The greenhouse  10  comprises hinges  22  between the apex  20  and the openable panes  14  such that they may be opened by pushing their lower edges upwards. 
         [0031]    In order to prevent entry of insects and other large debris into the interior of the greenhouse  10 , screens  24  have been provided beneath each openable pane  14 . These screens  24  are fixed to the frame  16  so as to remain in place while the openable panes are opened and closed. 
         [0032]    It can be desirable to position the mechanisms required to open and close the panes  14  within the greenhouse  10 , rather than outside it. As such, these mechanisms must pass from inside the greenhouse  10  to outside it in order to push the panes  14  into an open position. 
         [0033]      FIG. 1   a  illustrates a close-up of an actuator  25  passing from inside the greenhouse  10  to outside it. In this manner, the actuator  25  can be said to be passing through the plane of the screen  24 . For clarity, the transparent window pane  14  has been removed from this figure. 
         [0034]    Whereas conventional window assemblies seal against such actuators  25  with blade or brush-type weather-stripping, the present invention provides a sealing joint  30 , which is fixed to the greenhouse  10 . The window pane  14 , which is not illustrated in  FIG. 1   a , would attach to the extremity  32  of the actuator  25 . A sealing joint  30  is preferably positioned in each of the lower corners of the screen  24 . 
         [0035]    The sealing joint  30  lies substantially in the plane of the screen  24 . It is not necessary that the joint  30 , or any particular element thereof, be aligned exactly with the screen  24 . Rather, it will be appreciated that the sealing joint  30  may be provided above or below the plane of the screen  24 , the importance being that the actuator  25  passes through the sealing joint  30  as opposed to through the screen  24 . Moreover, while conventional windows and screens are flat, it will be appreciated that a sealing joint  30  in accordance with the present invention may also be provided for use with a curved panel and screen. In such an embodiment, the plane of the screen may be considered to be curved, the importance again being that the actuator passes through the sealing joint  30  as opposed to through the screen. 
         [0036]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the two opposing openable panes  14  of greenhouse roof  12  without the screens  24  installed. The left and right panes  14 , which are both attached to the apex  20  via the hinges  22 , are in an open and a closed position, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator  25  comprises a curved rack  26  comprising a plurality of teeth  27 , a corresponding pinion (not shown) and an electric motor  36  which drives the displacement of the rack  26  via the pinion. The pinion is housed within a bracket  34 , which is mounted to the frame  16 . The electric motor  36  may be operatively attached to a number of such pinions in order to engage more than one rack  26 . As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, replacing the electric motor  36  with any other type of motor, or indeed a hand driven crank, is within the scope of the invention. It will further be apparent that alternative actuators  25 , such as lead screws, piston cylinders and the like, are similarly within the scope of the invention. 
         [0037]    In operation, the electric motor  36  drives the pinion, which in turn engages the teeth  27  and drives the curved rack  26  either inwards towards the closed position of the right pane  14 , or the open position of the left pane  14 . It will be apparent, however, that other types of racks  26  may be used to open the window panes  14 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 3  illustrates a section of the roof  12  comprising an open pane  14  and a screen  24 . In this position, the air within the greenhouse structure  10  is vented to the outside via the open window pane  14 , but insects and the like are not able to enter. 
         [0039]    As seen in  FIG. 3   a , the rack  26  passes through the plane of the screen  24  by passing through the sealing joint  30 .  FIG. 3   b  illustrates the upper extremities of two screens  24 . These uppermost screens  24  are retained to the greenhouse frame  16  by a screen frame  38  below the apex  20  as is known in the art and will not be discussed further herein. 
         [0040]      FIGS. 4 and 4   a  illustrate perspective views of the sealing joint  26 , while  FIG. 4   b  illustrates a side view thereof.  FIG. 4   c , for its part, illustrates an exploded view of the sealing joint  26 . 
         [0041]    The sealing joint  30  comprises a plate  40 , which is fixed to a strut  18  via a resilient U-shaped bracket  42  and a support bracket  44 . The plate  40  is preferably made of a rigid material, for example ⅛ inch (3.715 mm) aluminum plate. The plate  40  and bracket  42  are preferably retained in the same peripheral slot  46  as is used for the screen  24 , thereby positioning the plate  40  in the plane of the screen  24 . 
         [0042]    The plate  40  comprises an opening  50  through which the rack  26  can pass when assembled. The opening  50  is of sufficient size to allow the rack  26  to extend therethrough despite any change in position of the rack  26  relative to the plate  40  due to, for example, thermal expansion/contraction of the rack  26  or any other elements of the greenhouse  10  which are connected thereto either directly or indirectly, or wind drag which may effect the pane  14  in an open position. 
         [0043]    The opening  50  is covered by a sealing member  52 . The sealing member  52  is sized and shaped so as to continue covering the opening throughout the above-mentioned changes in position of the rack  26  relative to the plate  40 . The sealing member  52  comprises an aperture  58  which is shaped and sized so as to receive the rack  26 . The sealing member  52  is adapted to slide over the plate  40  as it moves with the rack  26 . As the rack  26  and sealing members  52  shift with respect to the plate  40  and the greenhouse  10 , the sealing member  52  is constrained to the plate  40 , that is to say it remains in contact with the plate  40  and continues covering the opening  50 . 
         [0044]    Preferably, the sealing member  52  comprises a pair of blocks  52  which are positioned on either side of the plate  40 . These blocks  52  are clamped together by a bolt  54  and nut  56  which pass through the opening  50 , thereby sandwiching the plate  40 . The blocks  52  each comprise an aperture  58  which is manufactured to fit tightly around the rack  26 . 
         [0045]    In the illustrated embodiment, the rack  26  comprises a U-shaped cross-section, although other types of rack, such as T-shaped or hollow, are also well within the scope of the invention. In this embodiment, the apertures  58  are provided within the sealing blocks  52  in order to accommodate the U-shaped cross-section. Because the sealing blocks  52  sandwich the plate  40 , they are not displaced by the translation of the rack  26  in a direction perpendicular to the plate as the pane  14  is opened and closed. However, because the sealing blocks  52  are not fixed directly to the plate  40  but rather sandwich it from the top and bottom, they are operable to translate in a direction parallel to the plane of the plate  40  while maintaining their sealing contact with the rack  26 . 
         [0046]    It will be appreciated that the degree to which inside of the greenhouse  10  is “sealed” from outside contaminants (or vice-versa), and hence the degree to which the sealing joint  30  must also prevent transmission of matter through and/or between its components, can vary from application to application. Preferably, the apertures  58  are manufactured with dimensional tolerances such that no space greater than the mesh size of the screen  24  is left around the rack  26 . Similarly, it will be appreciated that sealing member  52  must seal against the plate where engage in the area surrounding the opening  50 . 
         [0047]    Because the rack  26  of the illustrated embodiment comprises a series of teeth  27 , it varies in cross-section over its length. As such, the sealing blocks  52  and plate  40  are dimensioned such their total thicknesses is at least as large as the pitch of the teeth  27  of the rack  26 . In this manner, an insect or other contaminant may not pass between a given pair of adjacent teeth  27  on either side of the sealing joint  30  and into the greenhouse  10 . Preferably, the thickness  60  is given an additional 6 to 10 mm as a safety factor. 
         [0048]    Preferably, the blocks  52  are made of an easily workable material, such as a high density thermoplastic. Even more preferably, the blocks  52  are formed from high density polyethylene. 
         [0049]    As being now better appreciated, the present invention is an improvement and presents several advantages over other related devices and/or methods known in the prior art. Indeed, the present invention is particularly advantageous in that the actuator  25  is operable to slide through the sealing joint  30  without sacrificing any of the confinement offered by the screen  24 . The present invention is further able to maintain the required sealing as it accommodates the various thermal expansion and/or other effects which would otherwise cause a misalignment in the system. Moreover, the present invention advantageously enables the proper dimensioning of the joint&#39;s elements in order to enable a close enough fit to satisfy the strict requirements of certification. 
         [0050]    It will be appreciated that the location of panel  14  is not important to the functioning of the sealing joint  30 , merely that it is openable. Moreover, the manner in which the panel  14  opens is also not essential to the functioning of the sealing joint  30 . The panel may open via a hinged side, as in the figures, or may open outwards in one of the many other known ways in which panels may open . . . . 
         [0051]    It will further be appreciated that while the illustrated embodiment comprises roof panes  14 , such openable panes  14  could similarly be provided as part of wall. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the present Of course, numerous modifications could be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, as apparent to a person skilled in the art.