Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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OUTWARDLY OPENING HINGED WINDOW ASSEMBLY
The present invention relates to casement windows.
More specifically, the present invention provides a window
assembly having a novel sash frame made of a combination
of metal and plastic.
Casement windows presently available on the market
have the sash hinged vertically. The hinge mechanism often
allows the open windcw sash to separate completely from the
frame and be supported on two bra~kets away from the rame.
This type of hinge mechansim has to have strengthened
supports at top and bottom -to carry the full weight of the
window and to withstand wind buffeting and other external
forces. Casement windows with this type of hinge
mechanism are generally opened by means of a lever mechanism
with a rotatable handle inside the window frame so that the
window can be opened and closed without being touched, thus
a fly screen may be placed on the inside of the window
without interrupting the opening and closing of the window.
In the past, many windaw sashes were made of wood,
however, it is now preferable to make window sashes out of
metal, generally steel o~ aluminum. Extrusions of many
different cross sections can be easily and cheaply made from
aluminum and are light weight and durable. ~lowever, sashes
made from metal must have insulation and therefore it is
preferable to have outside and inside sash sections made from
aluminum extrusions with an insulated central in the form of
a portion of vinyl plastic extrusion which has nesting
sections and grooves so that the aluminum sections are locked
to the vinyl extrugion. The cost of making this type of
sash is competitive with a yood quality wood sash because it
avoids the necessity of finishing the wood surface, *he
extruded sections only have to be cut and assembled. One
problem that occurs with sashes made from aluminum and
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plastic ex-trusions~ is at the corners. When 45 or mitre
corners are used, it is not easy to ensure that adjacent
members are aligned correctly. Sometimes a corner is not
at exac-tly 90 which requires additional labour t~ correct
before a sash can be installed. The present invention
provides a window sash made from aluminum extrusions and
a plastic insula-ting portion which has a combination mitre
joint for thè plastic por-tion and an overlapping lap joint
for the aluminum extrusions thus ensuring a good sealO
The present invention overcomes some of the problems
herein described and provides a window whose sash has strong
corners which are sealed and insulated. In another embodiment
the window has a continuous hinge and an arrangement such that
when the sash is in the fuIl~ open position, the support for
the window sash is provided by the window frame, ;thus avoiding
excessive strain on the hinge. There is also provision for
easily removing the window sash from the hinge without
disassembling the hinge unit.
The present invention provides an outwardly opening
hingèd window assembl~ comprisingo an aluminum and vinyl
sash assembly and a frame s-tructurè to which one edge of the
sash assembl~ is connected b~ means of a continuous hinge.
The sash assembly formed from sections including a central
vin~l insulating section with an outside aluminum extrusion
section attached to one side and an inside aluminum section
attached to the other ~ide of theinsulating section to form
a composite sash structure for supporting at least one glass
pane, each corner of the sash assembly having a 45 mitre
joint for the central insulating section and an overlapping
lap joint for the outisde aluminum extrusion section and the
inside aluminum extrusion section, each cornar having
connection means to hold the outside aluminum extrusion sections
the inside-aluminum extrusion sections ~ogether at the overlapping lap
In other embodiments the connection means are self
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tapping screws ex~ending transversely through the overlapping
lap joint into one end of the inside aluminum extrusion
section and the outside aluminum extrusion section. The
continuous hinge may comprise.two gear portions extending
for the length of the hinge, one portion a-ttached to the
sash assembly and one portion forming part of the frame
structure, a clip e~tendi.ng for the length of the hinge
holding the two gear portions in gear engaging relationship
such that the sash assembly can pivot open and shut, the
10. frame structure having an enyaying member to support the
clip when the sash assembly is pivoted open to transfer forces
applied to the sash assembly directly to the frame structure.
In yet a further embodiment, a gear portion attached to the
sash assembly fits into a groove in the sash assembly extending
for the length of the hinge, and including at least one key
which slides into at least a portion of the groove and locks
the gear portion of the hinge in the groove, removal of the
key allows the sash assembly ta be removed from the frame
structure leaving the hinge attached to the frame structure.
In drawings which illustratè the embodiments of the
invention,
Figure 1 is an elevational view showing one
embodiment of a window assembly according to the present
invention, -
Figure 2 is a cross sectional view ta]cen at iine
2-2 of Figure 1,
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken at line
3-3 of Figure 1,
Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken at line
30. 4-4 of Figure 1,
Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken at line
5-5 of Figure l,-
Figure 6 is a partial exploded longitudinal viewof a corner of a sash assembl~,
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Figure 7 is a cross sectional view taken at line
7-7 of Figure 6,
Figure 8 is a cross sectional view taken at line
8-8 of Figure 6,
Figure 9 is an end view taken at arrow 9 on Figure 6.
An outwardly opening hinged window assembly 10 is
sh~wn in Figure 1 which has an outsi.de frame structure 11
and two window sash assemblies 1~ which open about a
continuous hinge 13 extending for the full height of the
sash 12 at both vertical sides of the window frame 11. As
can be seen in Figures 2 to 5 which represent sections
through the sash ana frame, the top frame as shown in Figure
2, has an outside aluminum extru~ion section 20 which is
keyed to a vinyl insulating section 21 which in turn is
keyed to an inside aluminum extrusion section 22. The inside
aluminum extrusion section 22 has an aperture for an upper
spring roller 23 and a ~lap 24 c~vers the roller 23, which
has a fly screen 25 wrapped around it. The screen 25, which
in some cases may be a blind, extenas through a slot 26 with
seals in the ins.ide aluminum e~trusion section 22.
The sash assembly 12 has an outside aluminum extrusion
section 30-which keys into an insulating section 31, made of
an extruded vin~l section which in turn is keyed to an
inside aluminum extruded section 32. A flange 33 on the
outside section 30 and a further aluminum extrusion 34 keyed
to the inner side of the sash assembly 12 supports twin
glass panes 35 which are sealed together and have seals 36
to hold the glazings 35 in place. The sash assembly 12 has
seals 37 on the inside section 32 and the outside section 30
where they mate with the frame structure 11 when the sash
assembly 12 is closed.
The lower section of the frame assembly 11 like the.
top section incluaes an outside aluminum extrusion section
40 sloped away from the window to permit water to flow
away from the building, a central vinyl insulating section
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41 and an inside alumin~ extrusion section 42 having an
aperture with flap 43 to contain a lower spring roller 44.
The lower roller has a screen or blind wrapped around it
which passes through a slot 45 with seals in the inside
aluminum extrusion section 42. The lower section of the
sash 12 is substantially the same as the upper section.
Triple glass panes 35 are shown rather than the double
gla~ings for the top frame. Whether the number of glazings
is one, two or three, depends on the requirement for the
window assemb].y,. The vertical frame section for the rame
structure 11 and sash assémbly 12 is shown in Figure 4 having
an outside aluminum e~trusion section 50, a central insulating
section 51 made of a vinyl extru~ion and an inside aluminum
extrusion section 52. The insulating section 51 represents
' the same section as used in the top frame structure and the
lower frame structure. The sash assembly 12 has vertical
sections substantially the same as the top and bottom sash
sections. The inside sèction 52 of!the frame structure 11
has a groove 53 for a screen a~ blind 25 to fit in. This
2Q groove 53 holds the edge of the blind or screen 25 and acts
as a guide when the screen or blind 25 is moved up or down.
The hinge assembly 13 extends for the height of the
window sash 12. A first partial geared portion 56 is formed
integral with the outside section 50 of the frame structure
25' 11 and mates with a second partial geared portion 57 which is
substantially the same as the first geared portion 56. The
second geared portion 57, like the first geared portlon 56
is formed of an aluminum extrusian and has one end that fits
in a slot 58 of,the outside section'30 of the ~ash assembly
12. ~ ke~ 59'which is preferably formed of vinyl, holds the
second geared portion 57 firmly to the outside section 30 of
the sash assembly 12. These vinyl keys 59 are fitted at the
top and bottom of the sash sections when the keys 59 are
removed, then the 'second geared portion 57 moves back in
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the slot allowing the sash assembly 12 to ~e disc~nnected
from the hinge assembly 13. A clip 60 formed of an aluminum
extrusion with a U-shaped configuration having rounded
inward facing portions at each end, fit into rounded hollow
sockets on both geared portions 56 and 57, thus holding the
geared portions 56 and 57 in gea~ engaging relationship and
allowing one gear portion to rotat~ about the other gear
portion. The outside section 50 of the frame structure 11
has a flat surface 61 whi.ch is adapted to be contacted by
10. the back of the clip 60 when the sash 12 is in the open
position. This flat surface 61 provides structural relief
for the hinge assembly 13 because foxces on the window applied
by wind and the like when in the open position are trans-
ferred directl~ from the clip ~0 ta the flat surface 61
of the outside section 50 and thus the frame structure 11.
The vertical members of the sash assemblies 12 are
illustrated in Figure S showing the sealing arrangement
between two sashes when closed. A vertical front strip 70
which has a weather strip seal 37, is joined to th~. vert2cal
20. member of the leftl.hand sash 12. The front strip 70 remains
attached to the sash when the window opens thus avoids the
necessity of having a fixed cen-tral post in the window
openingu Similarily a vertical back plate 71 is joined to
the vertical member of the adjacent right hand sash 12 thus
~5 allowing the left hand sash to open first, away from the
right hand sash 1.2. The right hand sash 12 may be opened
after the left hand sash is in the open position.
A handle 72 is provided on the vertical member of
the left hand sash 12 with working mechanisms 73 of a type
avai].able on the market today which extended both upwards
and downwards from the handle 72 to the top and bottom
frame strudture and then extending along on~the top member
of the sash in a space 74 provided in the central insulating
section 31. The mechanism provides a friction locking such
that when the handle 72 is turned, the friction locking
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mechanism 73 is free and the window can be easily opened.
When the handle is then moved upwards again, the friction
locking mechanism 73 in the space 74 in the top member o~
the sash locks the sash 12 in that particular location. A
downward extending probè 75 in a space provided in the
central insulating section 31 of -the vertical member of the
left hand sash, maves downward to lock into a slot provided
in the central section 41 of the lower section of the frame
assembly 11. This gives a positive lock when the sash is in
the closed position~ Another locking mechanism is provided
in the vertical member of thè xight hand sash as shown in
Figure 5 wherein a downwardextendingprobe 76 provided in a
space in the central ins~lating section 31 of the vertical
member of the rlght hand sash, also has a mechanism to move
it into another slot provided in the central section 41 of
the lower section of the frame assembly 11.
In some emb~diments, handles 72 may be provided on
both sashes 12 so that both sashes can be opened independ-
ently and locked in any desired position. Because the handles
72 æ e necessary to move the window, ~he screen or blind
25 can be moved up or down as desired so that the handle
72 can be easily reached. If the window is open, the screen
25 can be unrolled to provide a screen right across the
window opening. If the windaw is closed, the blind can be
unrolled across -the window opening. It is preferred to have
the screen and the blind 25 having ends that can join while
both the screen 25 and blind are held in the side grooves 53
of the ver-tical section in the frame structure 11. However,
thè ends of the screen and blind may be separated so that no
screen or blind is provided in the window opening.
The corner arrangement ~or the sash assembly 12 is
illustrated in Figures 6 to 9~ As seen in Figure 7, the
central insuIating section 31 including the interlocked
elements 80 of the inside al~minum extrusion section 32 and
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the outside aluminum extrusion section 30.are all cut at an
angle of ~5 D representing the shadea port.ion shown in Figure
7 and the dotted line in ~igure 6 for the vertical member,
and the shaded portion shown in Figure 8 and the angle line in
Figure 6 for the horizontal member. The outside aluminum
extrusion section 30 on the horizontal member has the outside
flange 33 cut back to li.ne 78 as shown in outline in Figure 8.
The portion of the outside alwninum extrusion section 3~ and
the inside aluminum extrusion section 32 are cut back to line
79 as shown in Figure 6 and in dark line in Figure 8. The
cut ends of the vertical member and horizontal ~ember are then
joined together and two self tapping screws 81 are inserted
through holes drilled in the vertical outside section 30 which
extend through as shown in Figures 6 and 7 and fit into sockets
82 provided in the hori~ontal outside section 30. The sockets
82 are integrally formed in the section when it is extruded.
Similarily a self tapping screw 81 is inserted through a hole
drilled in the-verticai inside section 32 which extends through
and fits into a socket 82 provided in the horizontal inside
section 32. Thus a 45 mitre joint i5 provided for the oentral
insulating sections 31 which provides an excellent seal, and
overlapping lap joints, which are at right angles are pro-
vided for the inside sections 30 and the outside sections.
~his configuration of lap joint provides excellent strength,
2S avoids misalignment and positively locks the corners.
Whereas one embodiment of the window assembly has
been shown herein, it will be appreciated that var.ious
changes may be made to the embodiment shown without departing
from the scope of the present invention which is lim:ited
only by the followiny claims.
