Abstract:
A window for use in buildings for housing animals, such as barns, that is openable in two generally perpendicular directions, is provided. The window includes an outer frame secured within an opening in the structure, a middle frame that is pivotally secured to the outer frame, and an inner frame pivotally secured to the middle frame. A first pivoting mechanism includes a pair of hinges that enable one of the frames to be pivoted with respect to the outer frame along a generally vertical axis, and the second pivoting mechanism enables the other frame to be pivoted with respect to the outer frame along a generally horizontal axis. The second mechanism pivots and slides one of the frames in order to open the window for ventilation purposes while enabling the remaining frame to remain closed, thereby preventing the entering or exiting of large objects through the window, such as an animal&#39;s head.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to windows in general, and more specifically to windows for use in conjunction with buildings or other structures used for housing animals. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In barns and other structures utilized to house animals of various types, windows are necessary in order allow ventilation of the structure, and in specific situations to enable the animal to access the exterior of the structure. With specific regard to larger animals, such as horses, these windows can provide the horse with the ability to extend its head out of the window. 
     For animals who spend any time in a barn, light and proper ventilation are important factors in keeping those animals healthy. Most animals do best when living as close as possible to their natural outside habitat, as they are not used to being confined. For their mental well-being, the ability to see what is going on outside is important. 
     It is not always practical to keep animals outside, especially in northern climates. In the case of horses, expensive show or race horses must spend quite a lot of time in their stalls. In a situation where each horse is housed in an individual stall within the barn, good ventilation and light becomes paramount. 
     Many modern barns use plastic light panels which run the length of the barn wall just under the roofline. To augment this, skylights are placed in the roof over the center aisle to provide more daylight. Ventilation is provided by using ceiling fans and opening the end doors of the barn. The horse never sees the real world until he is led outside. 
     Other barns have individual windows for each stall which can be opened by various methods, either sliding one panel behind another or pushing out or pulling in. Often, the windows are left shut because they are painted shut, or because the windows have grills or mesh in front of them which necessitates the windows being opened from the outside. 
     Southern horse barns are often designed as a long shed with an outside covered aisle. Each stall opens onto the aisle by means of a dutch door—a door split side to side. By opening the top half, the horse has plenty of light and air. But in bad weather and at night, the top half is closed—the horse has no window and little ventilation. 
     Except for the situation when a horse is recovering from surgery and requires quiet and darkness, it is part of the therapy for recovery that a horse who is confined to his stall has adequate light and ventilation. He will recover sooner if he can see what is going on outside his stall. 
     In northern barns, extreme weather is an important consideration in designing openable windows. Ideally, the window should protect the horse from snow, rain and wind even when opened. Barn windows which slide open or open to the inside cannot protect the horse from the elements and still provide ventilation. 
     No matter what form the individual stall window takes, in too many barns the window design is an afterthought during the design process. Windows become an expensive detail and are often reduced to the least costly size without much thought to the horse&#39;s well-being. 
     However, with the majority of windows used in permanent structures housing animals for this purpose, the windows are openable in only a single direction, i.e., about a generally vertical axis, such that when the window is open, any precipitation, dust or other debris, can be carried by the wind into the structure housing the animal through the open window. Further, when these windows are closed, while precipitation and debris are prevented from entering the structure, ventilation is significantly reduced as the window prevents any movement of air between the interior and exterior of the structure. 
     Other prior art windows have been developed that include mechanisms which allow the window to move along separate axes, such as a horizontal axis and a vertical axis to enable the window to provide ventilation even in inclement weather conditions. Examples of these types of windows are shown in Lalagüe U.S. Pat. No. 3,667,162 and McHeffey U.S. Pat. No. 3,911,621, which are herein incorporated by reference. However, with these types of windows, the pivoting mechanisms necessary to move the window in the various directions involve many interlocking and moving parts, making the mechanism expensive and difficult to service. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to develop a window for an animal-housing structure that provides the ability to prevent precipitation and other debris from entering the structure while simultaneously enabling sufficient ventilation of the interior of the structure. To do so, the window should be independently movable in generally perpendicular directions using separate pivoting mechanisms that are of simple and inexpensive construction. The window constructed to achieve these goals should also be easy to operate and maintain. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a primary aspect of the present invention, a barn window is provided in which the window includes an outer frame secured to the barn or animal housing structure, a middle frame movably secured to the outer frame, and an inner frame movably secured to the middle frame. The inner frame and middle frame are movably secured to the middle frame and outer frame, respectively, utilizing a pair of simple hinge mechanisms which enable the inner frame and middle frame to be pivoted with respect to the outer frame and one another in directions that are generally perpendicular to one another. 
     More specifically, one of the hinge mechanisms is formed of a pair of simple hinges which enable one frame part to pivot along a generally vertical axis with respect to the outer frame of the window. The second mechanism includes a guide member secured to one movable frame part and defining a channel therein. A brace is pivotally connected at each end between the guide member and the other movable frame part, and a slide member is pivotally connected to the other frame part and is slidably positioned within the channel defined by the guide member. Thus, when the other frame part is moved with respect to the one frame part using the second mechanism, the brace and other frame part pivot with respect to the one frame part and guide member, as the slide member moves along the channel defined by the guide member. The movement of the other frame part is along a generally horizontal axis that is approximately perpendicular to the vertical axis along which the one frame part can be moved with respect to the outer frame. Thus, the window can be operated in a manner which prevent precipitation from directly entering the window when the other frame part is opened with respect to the one frame part and outer frames, while simultaneously enabling air to circulate through the one frame part and outer frame into the interior of the barn or housing. 
     According to a secondary aspect of the present invention, the inner frame is formed with a safety glass pane to provide a barrier for precipitation and other debris from passing through the window, while the outer frame includes a number of bars designed to allow air to pass through the window but to prevent an animal located within the barn including the window from extending its head through the window. The bars are affixed to the inner frame instead of the fixed frame on the inside of stall for ease of operating both the window and the door. 
     According to still another aspect of the present invention, the window is designed to have a simple construction that is easy to utilize and can be incorporated into existing window structures on barns and other animal-enclosing structures. 
     Numerous additional advantages, features and objects of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description taken together with the drawing figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings illustrate the best mode currently contemplated of practicing the present invention. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a partially broken away, isometric view of a barn including the window constructed according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a partially broken away isometric view of the inner frame of the window of  FIG. 1  in an open position; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a circular cross-sectional view along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a partially broken away isometric view of the middle frame of the window of  FIG. 1  in an open position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With regard to the drawing figures in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the disclosure, an animal-housing structure, such as a barn, is disclosed generally at  10  in  FIG. 1 . The barn includes an outer wall  12  and a roof  14  and can be divided into a number of separate enclosures, such as paddocks (not shown) located within the interior of the barn  10  that are adapted to receive and retain one or more animals therein. In the outer wall  12 , and adjacent each of the interior spaces, the barn  10  includes a window  16  that allows access from the exterior of the barn  10  into the interior spaces. The window  16  is positioned within an opening  18  in the outer wall  12  and includes an outer frame  20 , a middle frame  22  positioned within the outer frame  20 , and an inner frame  24  positioned within the middle frame  22  opposite the outer frame  20 . Each of the outer frame  20 , middle frame  22  and inner frame  24  can be formed of any suitable material utilized for a building construction, such as a metal, for example, aluminum, or a plastic or other rigid material, such as a wood. Further, depending upon the shape of the particular opening  18  in the barn  10 , the shape of the outer frame  20 , middle frame  22  and inner frame  24  can be configured as necessary to conform to the opening  18 . 
     In a particularly preferred embodiment best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the outer frame  20  is formed to have a generally rectangular shape including an upper member  26  and lower member  28  that are positioned opposite one another within the opening  18  and are joined by a pair of side members  30  in order to retain the window  16  within the opening  18  in any conventional manner. Each of the upper member  26 , lower member  28  and side members  30  are secured to the opening  18  and to one another using any appropriate means, such as by utilizing a suitable adhesive or suitable mechanical fasteners, such as nails or screws. Further, the outer frame  20  has an overall width greater than the width of the middle frame  22  and inner frame  24  such that the outer frame  20  provides an enclosure for each of the middle frame  22  and inner frame  24  when in the closed position. Because of this, the outer frame  20  can include other features, such as a number of bars  37  extending between the opposed side members  30  and spaced inwardly from the middle frame  22  and inner frame  24 . The bars  37  are formed of a rigid material, such as a metal, and prevent large objects from being able to be passed through the interior of the window  16 . In a preferred embodiment, the bars  37  are releasably secured to the outer frame  20  such that the bars  37  can be removed to enable an animal (not shown) to extend its head through the window  16 . 
     Looking now at  FIGS. 1-5 , the middle frame  22  is formed to have a shape complimentary to the interior of the outer frame  20  with a pair of opposed sides  33  adjacent the wide members  30 , and a top  34  and bottom  35  joining opposite ends of the sides  33 . The sides  33  of the middle frame  22  are generally rectangular in shape, but each includes an annular shoulder  36  located adjacent one end of each side  34  and opposite the outer frame  20 . The shoulders  36  are used to properly align the middle frame  22  and inner frame  24  in the closed position in a manner to be described. The top  34  and bottom  35  also preferably have a shoulder  36  formed thereon for reasons to be described. 
     The middle frame  22  is secured to the outer frame  20  by a pair of hinges  32  secured between one side member  30  of the outer frame  20  and the adjacent side  33  of the middle frame  22 . The hinges  32 , which are preferably simple piano hinges, enable the middle frame  22  to pivot along a generally vertically axis defined by the hinges  32  to enable the middle frame  22  to be moved outwardly from the outer frame  20  and the barn  10 . When the middle frame  22  is pivoted about the hinges  32 , the window  16  is opened in a conventional manner which can expose the interior of the window  16  to enable the head of an animal (not shown) to be extended through the window  16 . 
     The middle frame  22  can be maintained in the closed position through the use of a locking mechanism  38  best shown in  FIG. 2 . The locking mechanism  38  includes a catch  40  disposed on a side member  30  of the outer frame  20 , and a latch member  42  disposed on the adjacent side  34  of the middle frame  22 . When the middle frame  22  is in the closed position, the latch member  42  can be moved or rotated utilizing a handle  43  operably connected thereto in order to engage the latch  42  with the catch  40  and lock the middle frame  22  with respect to the outer frame  20  in a manner which is known. The latch member  42  can then be disengaged from the catch  40 , allowing the middle frame  22  to move freely with respect to the outer frame  20 . Further, while the locking mechanism  38  is preferably formed utilizing the catch  40  and latch member  42 , other suitable mechanisms are capable of being utilized in order to releasably secure the middle frame  22  to the outer frame  20 . 
     Looking again at  FIGS. 1-5 , disposed within the middle frame  22  is the inner frame  24  which is shaped similarly to and positioned concentrically with respect to the middle frame  22  and outer frame  20 . The inner frame  24  has a pair of opposed ends  44  joined by a top end  45  and a bottom end  46 . Each end  44  includes an inner shoulder  47  and an outer shoulder  48  located on opposite sides of each end  44 . The outer shoulder  48  is formed to engage the shoulder  36  on the adjacent side  33  of the middle frame  22  when the inner frame  24  is closed with respect to the middle frame  22 . The engagement of the respective shoulders  36  and  48  provides a stop for the movement of the inner frame  24  with respect to the middle frame  22  and operates to prevent any moisture or debris from passing between the inner frame  24  and middle frame  22 . This function can also be enhanced by providing a sealing strip or member (not shown) on one of the shoulders  36  or  48  that is compressed to form a watertight seal when the inner frame  24  is positioned against the middle frame  22 . 
     Between the inner shoulders  47 , the inner frame  24  includes a glass pane  49  secured to and within the inner frame  24  in any suitable manner, such as by an adhesive  100 . The adhesive  100  forms a watertight seal between the pane  49  and the inner frame  24  such that the inner frame  24  prevents any precipitation or other materials from passing through the window  16  from or into the interior of the barn  10 . The shoulders  47  and  48  are also preferably located on the top end  45  and bottom end  46  to engage the middle frame  22  and pane  49  in the member described previously. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2-4 , the inner frame  24  is connected to the middle frame  22  by a second hinge mechanism  50  that enables the inner frame  24  to pivot with respect to the middle frame  22  along a generally horizontal axis that is essentially perpendicular to the vertical axis about which the middle frame  22  pivots with respect to the outer frame  20 . The second mechanism  50  includes a pair of guide members  51  secured to each side  33  of the middle frame  22 . Each guide member  51  is formed of a securing plate  52  fixedly attached to each side  33 , such as by a suitable adhesive or mechanical fastener, including nails or screws, and a rail member  54  extending outwardly from the securing plate  52  and defining a channel  56  therebetween. The securing plate  52  and rail member  54  are preferably integrally formed with one another of a generally rigid material, such as a metal, but can be formed of other materials and as separate components as necessary. 
     The channel  56  receives a slide member  58  having a base  60  positioned within the channel  56  and slidable along the channel  56 . The slide member  58  is formed of a low friction material, that preferably is a plastic, such as polyethylene. Opposite the base  60 , the slide member  58  extends outwardly from the channel  56  and defines an opening  62  in which is held a pivot pin  64 . The pivot pin  64  is received within a corresponding bore (not shown) disposed in the side  44  of the inner frame  24  such that the inner frame  24  can pivot with respect to the pin  64 . 
     Looking specifically at  FIG. 3 , generally opposite the slide member  58 , the securing plate  52  includes a pivot shaft  68  extending inwardly perpendicular to the guide member  50 . The shaft  68  is engaged within a keyhole slot  70  formed in one end of a rigid, preferably metal brace  72  that extends between the pivot shaft  68  and the inner frame  24 . The brace  72  is connected to the inner frame  24  opposite the slot  70  by an attachment plate  74  affixed to the end  44  of the inner frame  24  that includes a pivot pin  76  to which the brace  72  is rotatably secured. The plate  74  and pin  76  are preferably formed of a rigid material and integrally formed with one another, and are affixed to the side blank of the inner frame  24  by any suitable means, such as mechanical fasteners, including screws. 
     The slot  70  formed on the brace  72  is formed within a detachable portion  78  secured to the brace  72  by a fastener  80 . Thus, when it is desired to detach the inner frame  24  from the second mechanism  50 , such as for cleaning purposes, the fastener  80  can be removed from the detachable portion  78  and brace  72 , allowing the pivot shaft  68  to be withdrawn from the keyhole slot  70 , thereby disengaging the inner frame  24  from the second pivot mechanism  50 . 
     In operation, the pivot shaft  68  is attached opposite the brace  72  to an operating mechanism (not shown) as is known in the art that can be utilized to rotate the pivot shaft  68  and brace  72  in order to move the inner frame  24  with respect to the middle frame  22 . As the pivot shaft  68  and brace  72  are rotated, the brace  72  pushes the attachment plate  74  and inner frame  24  outwardly from the middle frame  22 , consequently pivoting the inner frame  24  about the pivot pin  64  and simultaneously sliding the slide member  58  along the channel  56  towards the pivot shaft  68 . When the pivot shaft  68  is rotated in the opposite direction to close the window  16 , the slide member  58  moves away from the pivot shaft  68  along the channel  56 , and the brace  72  becomes partially engaged within the channel  56  opposite the slide member  58  to provide a more secure, locked configuration for the window  16 . 
     Alternatively, the operating mechanism can be omitted and the movement of the inner frame  24  with regard to the middle frame  22  can be controlled by biasing the second hinge mechanism  50 . More specifically, a spring (not shown) having a desired bias or spring rate can be attached between the slide member  58  and the securing plate  52  near the top  34  of the middle frame  22 . The spring is in a relaxed state when the inner frame  24  is closed, and is stretched when the slide member  58  is moved along the securing plate  52  due to the pivoting of the second hinge mechanism  50 . The bias of the spring is sufficient to hold the inner frame  24  in the desired position without urging the inner frame  24  back to the closed position. 
     Various other features, objects and advantages of the present invention are considered to be within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.