Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SASH REINFORCEMENT FOR AN OPERATOR WINDOW
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
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
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
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided in an operator
window comprising:
a perimeter frame arranged to be mounted about a perimeter of a
window opening, the perimeter frame including a latching side;
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
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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
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;
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.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided
a method of reinforcing a sash in an operator window comprising:
a perimeter frame arranged to be mounted about a perimeter of a
window opening, the perimeter frame including a latching side;
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;
a latching mechanism including a plurality of first mating connectors
supported at spaced positions along the latching side of the perimeter frame
and a
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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;
the method comprising:
inserting a plurality of reinforcement members through the elongate
hollow member forming the latching side of the sash;
positioning the reinforcement members spaced apart from one another;
and
fastening each reinforcement member to a respective one of the second
mating connectors.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided
an operator window comprising:
a perimeter frame arranged to be mounted about a perimeter of a
window opening, the perimeter frame including a latching side;
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;
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
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perimeter frame in the closed position of the window; and
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The reinforcement members are preferably formed of metal with the
elongate hollow member forming the latching side of the sash being formed of
plastic
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material.
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
5 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.
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.
One embodiment nf the invention will now be described in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a latching side of both a perimeter
frame and a sash of an operator window;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a member forming the latching side
of the sash; and
Figure 3 is an end view of the member forming the latching side of the
sash.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in the different figures.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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.
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.
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 frame14. The latching sides 16 and 18 of the perimeter frame and
sash
respectively engage one another in the closed position of the window.
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
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mounted at spaced positions therealong. A set of three first mating connectors
22 is
shown in the illustrated embodiment.
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.
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.
As shown in Figure 3, an enclosed hollow channel is formed integrally 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 enclosed hollow channel formed in
the
frame member of the sash so as to be inserted in series with one another at
spaced
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apart positions therein.
Each reinforcement member 26 comprises a flat steel bar which is plural
times in length in the longitudinal direction shown in Figure 1 than that of a
corresponding second mating connector 24 which is fastened to it so as to be
elongate in the longitudinal direction of the channel.
As shown in Figure 2, spacers 28 formed of a dissimilar material, for
example PVC plastic, are mounted in the hollow channel between each adjacent
pair
of the reinforcement members 26 so as to be in series therewith to maintain a
space
therebetween in the mounted position thereof. The spacers are much shorter in
the
longitudinal direction than the reinforcement members 26.
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.
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 responsive to
thermal
expansion and contraction as noted in the above background.
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
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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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.
5
TIE BAR REINFORCEMENT MEMBERS LENGTH AND POSITION
SIZES
(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" 8õ
58.9 8" 27" 8"
62.9 8" 21" 21" 8õ
66.9 8" 21" 21" 8"
70.9 8" 23" 23" 8"
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
10 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.
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
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point the second mating connector 24 at that bottom end of the sash is then
applied
with fasteners. The process is tnen 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.
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.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein
above described, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying
specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting
sense.
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CLAIMS:
1. An operator window comprising:
a perimeter frame arranged to be mounted about a perimeter of a
window opening, the perimeter frame including a latching side;
a sash supported on the perimeter frame and arranged to be movable
relative to the perimeter frame between opened 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 having an
integral enclosed hollow channel extending in a longitudinal direction of the
elongate
hollow member;
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;
a plurality of separate elongate reinforcement members being fully
received within the enclosed hollow channel of the elongate hollow member
forming
the latching side of the sash;
the reinforcement members being located at spaced positions along the
elongate hollow member;
the reinforcement members being fastened by respective fasteners to
respective ones of the second mating connectors such that each reinforcement
member is spaced apart from the other reinforcement members; and
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each of the fasteners being fastened between the respective
reinforcement member fully received within the enclosed hollow channel of the
elongate hollow member and the respective second mating connector supported
fully
externally of the enclosed hollow channel of the elongate hollow member.
2. The operator window according to Claim 1 wherein there is
provided a spacer mounted in the enclosed hollow channel of the hollow member
between each adjacent pair of reinforcement members.
3. The operator window according to Claim 2 wherein the spacer
substantially fully spans a cross section of the enclosed hollow channel
receiving the
reinforcement members in the elongate hollow member forming the latching side
of
the sash.
4. The operator window according to Claim 2 wherein the spacer is
formed of a material which is softer than the material forming the
reinforcement
members.
5. The operator window according to Claim 2 wherein the spacer is
formed of a material which is softer than the material of the elongate hollow
member
forming the latching side of the sash.
6. The operator window according to Claim 2 wherein the spacer is
formed of plastic material.
7. The operator window according to Claim 2 wherein there is
provided a gap between the spacer and each reinforcement member.
8. The operator window according to Claim 1 wherein the
reinforcement members are formed of metal and the elongate hollow member
forming
the latching side of the sash is formed of plastic material.
9. An operator window comprising:
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a perimeter frame arranged to be mounted about a perimeter of a
window opening, the perimeter frame including a latching side;
a sash supported on the perimeter frame and arranged to be movable
relative to the perimeter frame between opened 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 having an integral enclosed hollow channel extending in
a
longitudinal direction of the elongate hollow member;
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
a plurality of separate elongate reinforcement members fully received
within the enclosed hollow channel of the elongate hollow member forming the
latching side of the sash;
the reinforcement members being located at spaced positions along the
elongate hollow member;
the reinforcement members being fastened by respective fasteners to
respective ones of the second mating connectors such that each-reinforcement
member is spaced apart from the other reinforcement members; and
each of the fasteners being fastened between the respective
reinforcement member fully received within the enclosed hollow channel of the
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elongate hollow member and the respective second mating connector supported
fully
externally of the enclosed hollow channel of elongate hollow member; and
a spacer received within the enclosed hollow channel of the elongate
hollow member between each adjacent pair of reinforcement members;
5 each spacer fully spanning a cross section of the enclosed hollow
channel receiving the reinforcement members in the elongate hollow member
forming
the latching side of the sash so as to be arranged to prevent the
reinforcement
members from overlapping one another in the enclosed hollow channel of the
elongate hollow member; and
10 each spacer being formed of a material which is softer than the
material
forming the reinforcement members and the material of the elongate hollow
member
forming the latching side of the sash such that the force required to compress
each
spacer is arranged to be less than the force which would be required to cause
the
sash to bow resulting from any differences in expansion and contraction
between the
15 reinforcement members and the latching side of the sash.
10. The operator window according to Claim 9 wherein there is
provided a gap between the spacer and each reinforcement member.
11. The operator window according to Claim 9 wherein the
reinforcement members are formed of metal and the elongate hollow member
forming
the latching side of the sash is formed of plastic material.
12. In an operator window comprising:
a perimeter frame arranged to be mounted about a perimeter of a
window opening, the perimeter frame including a latching side;
a sash supported on the perimeter frame and arranged to be movable
relative to the perimeter frame between opened and closed positions of the
window,
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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 having an integral enclosed hollow channel extending in
a
longitudinal direction of the elongate hollow member; and
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;
an improvement comprising:
a plurality of separate elongate reinforcement members received within
the enclosed hollow channel of the elongate hollow member forming the latching
side
of the sash;
the reinforcement members being located at spaced positions along the
elongate hollow member;
the reinforcement members being fastened by respective fasteners to
respective ones of the second mating connectors such that each reinforcement
member is spaced apart from the other reinforcement members;
each of the fasteners being fastened between the respective
reinforcement member received within the enclosed hollow channel of the
elongate
hollow member and the respective second mating connector supported externally
of
the enclosed hollow channel of the elongate hollow member; and
a spacer received within the enclosed hollow channel of the elongate
hollow member between each adjacent pair of reinforcement members;
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each spacer fully spanning a cross section of the enclosed hollow
channel receiving the reinforcement members in the elongate hollow member
forming
the latching side of the sash so as to be arranged to prevent the
reinforcement
members from overlapping one another in the enclosed hollow channel of the
elongate hollow member; and
each spacer being formed of a material which is softer than the material
forming the reinforcement members and the material of the elongate hollow
member
forming the latching side of the sash such that the force required to compress
each
spacer is arranged to be less than the force which would be required to cause
the
sash to bow resulting from any differences in expansion and contraction
between the
reinforcement members and the latching side of the sash.
13. The operator window according to Claim 12 wherein there is
provided a gap between each spacer and each reinforcement member.
14. The operator window according to Claim 12 wherein there are
provided gaps in the enclosed hollow channel of the hollow member between the
spacers and the reinforcement members such that a combined length of the
reinforcement members and the spacers therebetween in a longitudinal direction
of
the hollow member is less than a length of the latching side of the sash.
