Abstract:
Tiltable window construction having metallic sash and frames. There is disclosed a window construction adapted for manufacture from metallic components such as extruded aluminum, arranged for embodiment as a double-hung window, capable of simple and rapid tilting inwardly of the building for washing and/or other treatment. The sash are also capable of quick and easy removal in their entirety from the window frame but are tightly and reliably sealed thereto when in use for the effective prevention of the entry of wind and water. Each sash of the window is held by simple latch mechanism in normal sliding condition and when tilted inwardly automatically becomes locked into the then-existing position. Other features include easy adaptability to placement of a fixed sash within a given frame for use with the movable sash, for relating to an adjacent picture window or other windows, adapted for closing an otherwise relatively large window opening in the building and for quick and easy adjustment to fit and be properly aligned in a window opening whose sides are slightly concave.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to window construction and particularly to a type thereof capable of easy and convenient tilting of the window sash inwardly for washing of both the interior and exterior sides thereof and for easy removal of each sash from the remainder of the window, together with a high degree of sealing when the window sashes are in place. The window construction also has a number of features enabling it to be easily and quickly fitted into a preexisting window opening, thus enabling it to be used as a replacement window in a brick building, as well as numerous features enabling it to be used in a variety of combinations with other desired windows, such as picture windows and the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     While it has been long known to provide windows of the double-hung type which are also capable of tilting inwardly for convenient washing thereof, at least some of such constructions insofar as we are acquainted with them have usually involved the tilting and/or complete removal of portions of the window frame or they have suffered from a lack of acceptably tight sealing. Others of such tilt-type windows have involved excessively complex manipulations to effect the desired tilting and still others of them have not been readily conducive to manufacture from metallic sash and frame components. However, the speed of fabrication and resulting economy of windows made from metallic sash and frame components has long been recognized, together with the minimal maintenance characteristic of such windows, and hence it has long been desirable to provide a commercially acceptable window of the generally double-hung type, using metallic sash and frame components, capable of simple and easy tilting inward for cleaning but which will be sealed firmly against the entry of wind and water when in operating position. 
     Further, in order to adapt such a window to an extremely large market existing in older cities, or older parts of cities, wherein window openings especially for brick buildings already exist, exist in endless varieties of widths and heights, and are not readily modifiable, it is desirable to provide in addition a window construction which can be readily combined with other similar window units or combined with picture window or other related window units in a total window assembly for a single window opening and to do so quickly, reliably and without sacrifice in the speed and convenience by which same may be assembled or in the speed and versatility with which same may be associated with other similar or related units for fitting into building openings as required. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a window embodying the invention as seen from the inside of the building in a normal installation. 
     FIG. 2 is a broken section taken on the line II--II of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3A is a broken section taken on the line IIIA--IIIA of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3B is a broken section taken on the line IIIB--IIIB of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on the line IV--IV of FIG. 3. 
     FIG. 5 is a section taken on the same plane as FIG. 4 but showing a different operational position. 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section taken on the line VI--VI of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section taken on the line VII--VII of FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 8 is an oblique view of the slide means shown removed from its position of operation within the frame. 
     FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the latch means. 
     FIG. 10 is a section taken on the line X--X of FIG. 6. 
     FIG. 11 is a section taken essentially on a line corresponding to FIG. 3A but with the sash removed and showing the connection thereof to an adjacent picture window. 
     FIG. 12 is a fragmentary section taken on the line XII--XII of FIG. 6. 
     FIG. 13 is a fragmentary oblique view of a cap for holding a group of windows together. 
     FIG. 14 illustrates a modification by a section similar to that of FIG. 2. 
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a window frame having sealing and sliding surfaces built both parallel to the plane of the window opening and perpendicular thereto. The window is pivotally mounted near the bottom thereof in a vertically sliding unit, such mounting being through pivotal means including cam means whereby when the window is in its normal position it is free for vertical sliding movement but when same is tilted to approximately 90° with respect to the plane of the window opening the cam operates to move the sliding members tightly against the adjacent frame surfaces for holding same firmly in place. This permits the window to be tilted out of the plane of the frame structure and positioned firmly in a predetermined location for convenient washing or other treatment. Simple spring-loaded latch means hold same in normal operating position and are arranged to facilitate vertical sliding thereof. Easily removable pin structure connects the lower portion of each window sash to said cam means whereby upon retraction of said pins and the latch means the window may be removed in its entirety from the frame structure for repair or other attention as desired. 
     Subsidiary but important features include easily manipulated means for effecting appropriate alignment of the window frame with respect to the surrounding window opening, for connecting a window unit with other similar units by easily inserted and fixed connecting members and for relating the vertically movable double-hung sash with fixed sash units if and when desired to meet a given building situation. These and other features providing the window construction with a high level of reliability together with versatility and adaptability will be further developed below. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, there is provided a window frame 1 (FIG. 1) comprising stiles 2 and 3 together with a sill 4 and header 6. The stiles 2 and 3 are made in any convenient manner and of any convenient material but in this embodiment are preferably made from extruded aluminum. As shown, same comprise a stepped side plate comprising sections 7 and 8 with an inside flange 9, a middle flange 10 and an outside flange 11 (FIGS. 3A and 3B, also FIG. 11, wherein for clarity the frame is shown without associated sash or slide components). Said inside flange 9 has a contact flange 12 at its free end extending perpendicularly to the plane of the window, said middle flange 10 has a similar contact flange 13 extending perpendicularly to the plane of the window at its free end while the outside flange 11 has a contact portion 14 extending parallel to the plane of the window. A flange 15 extends from a projection of section 7 and is parallel with outside flange 11. 
     The stile 3 is constructed in mirror image to the stile 2 and hence needs no further or detailed description. 
     The sill 4 (FIG. 2) comprises a horizontal portion 16 and a sloped portion 17 together with an inside upstanding vertical flange 18 and a downwardly extending outside vertical flange 19. Suitable conventional means such as the inside flange 21 and the angle member 22 are provided for appropriately associating said sill with the building construction such as a brick wall. 
     The header 6 (FIG. 2) comprises a horizontal portion 23 together with appropriate upstanding flanges 24 and 25 for associating same with the building wall and downwardly extending flanges 26-30. The flange 26 aligns with and completes the surface defined by the inside flanges 9 of the stiles, and the flange 29 aligns with and completes the surface defined by the flanges 15 of the stiles. The flange 27 is positioned somewhat outside of the middle flange 10 of the stile and the flange 28 is aligned with and completes the surface defined by the outside flange 11 of the stile. The flange 27 in this embodiment is provided with a sealing strip 31 received into a suitable recess therein. 
     The corners of the frame members are fixed together in any convenient manner, such as by the inclusion of screw receiving means as indicated at 32 in FIG. 2 for the reception of screws passing through the stiles, as shown in more detail in application Ser. No. 364,372 assigned to the same assignee as the present application. 
     Turning now to the sash members and giving attention first to the lower sash member (FIGS. 2 and 3A), same includes vertical members 33 which are generally H-shaped having outer legs 34 and 36 for engagement with the frame and inner legs 37 and 38 for holding the sash panel. The inner legs are spaced appropriately for holding single or double glazing as desired, the mounting of which may be conventional and forms no part of the present invention. The outwardly facing leg 36 preferably has an offset portion 39 having a recess for holding a sealing strip facing outwardly to bear against the inwardly facing sealing surface of the middle flange 10 and the inwardly facing leg 34 likewise has an offset portion 41 carrying a laterally facing recess for holding a sealing strip 42 bearing against the opposed sealing surface of the flange 12. The opposite side of the lower sash is provided with a similar vertical member having similarly arranged sealing strips which are mirror images of those just described and hence need no further or detailed description. 
     The bottom cross member 40 of the lower sash comprises a generally box-shaped portion 43 with a recess for a downwardly directed sealing strip 44 and upstanding flanges of conventional form for holding single or double glazing as desired. A sill member 46 is preferably made separate from the bottom cross member 40 in order to accommodate same to specific window designs as required but may be made integrally therewith if preferred. This component is in this embodiment separate and fastened to the bottom cross member 40 by suitable means such as metal screws of which one is shown at 47. The bottom cross member 40 also contains an internal sidewardly opening boxlike portion 51 for purposes appearing further hereinafter. 
     The upper cross member 52 comprises a box section 53 of generally similar size and shape to the box-shaped portion 43 and downwardly extending glazing receiving flanges which likewise receive the glazing, single or double as desired and in any convenient and conventional manner. Conventional interlocking of said upper cross member 53 may be provided at 54 if desired. 
     Turning now to the means by which said lower sash is mounted into the frame, attention is first directed toward the slide, or sash support, unit 60 shown separately for purposes of clarity in FIG. 8. Said unit comprises a cross member 62 backed for purposes of strength if desired by a metal strip 63 and having downwardly extending legs 64 and 66. A rotatable spreader, or cam, member 67 is received into a suitable cavity in the bearing portion 65 of the leg 64 and is provided with a flat side 69 thereon which, when in the position shown in FIG. 5, permits the leg 66 to move into the solid line position also shown in FIG. 5. This enables the sash support unit 60 to move vertically between the flanges 9 and 10 of the side stile 2 but when said cam member 67 is rotated the leg 66 is moved into the dotted line position of FIG. 5, bears brakingly against said flanges 9 and 10 and holds same firmly against vertical movement. A rod 71 enters into a slot 72 in the cross member 62 and is at its upper end received into the cylinder 73 (FIG. 2) of a conventional spring-type balance means for said window. Said balance means are well known and hence need no detailing, it being sufficient to say that same exerts a constant upwardly directed force on the rod 71 by spring means contained within said cylinder and thus tends constantly to balance the weight of the window. 
     A similar sash support unit is provided also on the opposite side of the lower sash. 
     Returning now to the lower bottom cross member 40 of the lower sash, attention is directed again toward the boxlike portion 51 in the bottom thereof. Slidably received within this portion is a U-shaped member 76 which extends sidewardly beyond the sash and projects into the rectangular opening 70 in the cam member 67 shown in FIG. 4. A screw 77 may be turned into the U-shaped member 76 and upon tightening of the latter will fix the U-shaped member in any adjusted position. Said U-shaped member thus comprises the connection between the bottom sash cross member 40 and the cam member 67 and thereby to the sash support unit 60. 
     The upper sash is constructed in essentially the same manner as the lower sash excepting only that the legs corresponding to the legs 34 and 36 of the lower sash are in the upper sash considerably shorter. This permits the upper sash to be inset somewhat at its outer perimeter from the corresponding perimeter of the lower sash but permits the light thereof to be of the same dimensions as that of the lower sash. The bottom of the upper sash fits into a vertically slidable sash support unit 75 identical with the vertically slidable sash support unit 60 above described with respect to the lower sash, is fastened thereto in the same manner and functions therewith in the same manner. 
     Returning now to the lower sash and looking at the upper cross member 52 thereof, there is located slidably therein a latch member 81. Same is preferably made from a molded plastic material, for example a self-lubricating plastic such as nylon. Said latch member 81 is illustrated separately in FIG. 9 for clarity and comprises a latch portion 82 and a slide portion 83. Said slide portion 83 has a handle extension 84 which (returning to FIG. 1) extends through an opening in the upper cross member 52 for engagement thereof by an operator. Resilient means 89 are further provided for constantly urging said latch member 81 laterally outwardly beyond the periphery of said lower sash member. 
     In this embodiment, although these details are not an essential part of the invention, the handle extension 84 (FIGS. 6, 9 and 12) is on a portion of a slide member 85 having prongs 86 thereon which latter project through openings such as openings 87 or 88, depending upon the alignment of the parts, for engaging the latch member 81. The resilient means 89 may be of any convenient form constantly urging the latch member 81 laterally outwardly and in this embodiment consists of a spring which bears at its rightward end (as appearing in FIGS. 9 and 12) against a downwardly projecting abutment 95 (FIG. 12 a similar upwardly projecting abutment being shown at 91 in FIG. 9) and is held at its leftward end by the hook 92 of the spring bar 93. The hook 94 of such spring bar is fixed through a suitable opening 96 (FIG. 12) to an edge of the upper cross member 52, thus the latch member 81 is constantly urged laterally outwardly by the spring 89 but can be manually retracted by finger engagement of the handle extension 84. 
     In its outward position, the latch portion 82 engages the flange 12 (FIG. 6) of a frame stile and holds said lower sash against pivoting from its closed position. By retracting said latch members 81 toward each other by appropriate manipulation of the handle extensions 84, said window may be released from its closed position and swung downwardly and inwardly about the pivots provided by the cam members 67 of the slide, or sash support, units 60. Upon so moving same downwardly and inwardly, the legs 64 and 66 of the units 60 are spread for effecting braking of the lower sash member snugly against and with respect to the frame of said window structure. 
     Similar latch members are provided at the upper end of the upper sash but being identical with that shown for the lower sash, it is not necessary to further describe same. 
     Inasmuch as window openings, particularly in old brick buildings, often have slightly concave vertical sides, it is usually necessary to insert small shims between the window frame and the surface defining the window opening, often at a point approximatey midway between the upper and lower end thereof. This is a time consuming process and often requires skill and attention which in many window installing situations is not forthcoming. Therefore, and looking now at FIG. 10, there is provided a means by which the same effect as such shimming can be accomplished quickly and easily and same can be accomplished from the inside of the window frame. In said figure, there is shown a plate 101 held by a screw 102 extending through the step 7 on the outside of the window frame as shown. The screw 102 is threaded into one end of the plate 101 and a fulcrum is provided by the flange 103. Thus, rotation of said screw appropriately will draw the end 104 of said plate inwardly and thrust the other end thereof outwardly. This urges the center of the vertical frame stile inwardly with the same result as shimming thereof. By thus insuring that the vertical stiles are straight, the smooth sliding of the windows therein is enhanced. 
     FIGS. 11, 13 and 14 illustrate the adaptability of the present window construction to some of a variety of installation situations. 
     FIG. 11 shows the use of a mullion 98, having on one side thereof a stile 3 of the double-hung window as above described, and on the other side thereof a generally U-shaped frame member, or stile, 110 as shown which has a pair of flanges 111 and 112 on one side thereof for fitting against said mullion and a pair of flanges 113 and 114 on the other side for holding a closure panel, such as a picture window. 
     FIG. 11 also shows the provision of a simple nailing strip 116 which embraces the window and provides a fin 117 for use in nailing the entire window unit into a wooden frame structure, as a frame structure within a window opening defined by brick walls. 
     FIG. 13 shows the use of the window of the invention with a cap 99 for connecting either a plurality of windows as herein described or such windows together with other units, such as a picture window, by which same are held firmly with respect to each other when several windows are placed side by side to fill a large window opening. 
     FIG. 14 illustrates the double-hung window above described installed into a frame including also a fixed window 97 whose bottom surface 97A acts in effect as the header 6 described in connection with the preceding figures. Flanges 28A and 27A in FIG. 14 correspond to flanges 28 and 27 in FIG. 2. 
     Other combinations, adaptations and installation techniques may be adopted with the window of the invention and it will be found to be an extremely versatile window capable of a wide range of uses. 
     Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed above for illustrative purposes, it will be understood that variations or modifications thereof which lie within the scope of the appended claims are fully contemplated.