UPWARD FOLDING WINDOW

FENETRE PLIANTE VERS LE HAUT

English Abstract

A double hung window includes upper and lower window sashes in a window frame
including a
header, sill, and a vertical jamb on each side. The upper sash is connected to
the header for inward
pivotal movement on a horizontal axis. The lower sash is connected to the
upper sash for reverse
pivotal movement, on a parallel horizontal axis, whereby to fold the lower
sash up and under the
upper sash. A framed screen, separate from the window sashes, is mounted on
the outer face of
the window frame. A tape balance atop the frame applies a lifting force to the
lower sash. Grasp
and inward pull of a handle pulls lower and upper sashes inward from a dead
centeer condition,
thereby enabling the tape balance to effectively assist in pulling the sashes
upward. The window
sashes are together fully openable inward, with upper and lower sashes folded
to each other in a
horizontal attitude extending inward from the header;

Claims

Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A double hung window including upper and lower window sashes disposed in a
window frame;
said window frame including a header, sill, and left and right jambs; said
sashes each including
top, bottom, and side portions;
said upper sash depending from said header, and pivotally connected thereto
for inward and
upward pivotal movement on a horizontal axis relative to said window frame;
said lower sash depending from said upper sash, and pivotally connected
thereto for pivotal
movement on a horizontal axis relative to said upper sash, whereby to fold
said lower sash up and
under said upper sash;
a framed screen removably mounted on said window frame outward of said upper
and lower
sashes, said screen being independent of, and out of the way of, said
movements of said sashes;
said window sashes being substantially fully openable inward, with said upper
and lower sashes
folded to each other in a horizontal attitude extending inward from said
header;
2. A double hung window as defined in claim 1, further including a handle on
said top portion of
said lower sash with which to manually initiate said inward pivotal movement.
3. A double hung window as defined in claim 2, further including balancing
means extending from
said window frame and connected in tension to said lower sash to urge said
lower sash upward,
thereby to assist said pivotal movements.
4. A double hung window, including upper and lower window sashes disposed in a
window frame
having a horizontal top header, a horizontal bottom sill, and a vertical jamb
on each side;
said upper sash connected to said top header for inward pivotal movement on a
horizontal axis
relative to said frame;
said lower sash connected to said upper sash for reverse pivotal movement on a
horizontal axis
relative to said upper sash, whereby to fold said lower sash up and under said
upper sash;
means to grasp said lower sash to pull said lower and upper sashes inward,
thereby to initiate
said folding movements; and
left and right tape balances disposed atop said frame, each including a tape
extending
therefrom down along respective left and right jambs and operatively connected
to said lower sash
to urge said lower sash upward, thereby to assist said pivotal movements.
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Description

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Upward Folding Window
Background of the Invention
Field of the Invention:
This invention relates to window structure, and specifically to a foldable
window structure that
is collapsible upward upon itself to open the window. Its purposes are to
enhance one's view by
removing window structure from the field of view, to open living spaces wide
to the outdoors for air
flow, and when necessary to provide fully-open egress through the window.
With a conventional window, whether it is open or closed, some of its
structure interferes with,
and to some extent impairs, the field of view through the window.
The window of this invention, when closed, has the appearance of a traditional
double hung
window so it blends seamlessly into traditional architecture. Its sashes are
weight-balanced to
maintain their positions at any intermediate open position. When fully open,
the sashes do not
obstruct or interfere with adjacent living space or with the field of view
through the window.
Prior Art:
Traditional prior art double hung windows have upper and lower sashes,
separate from each
other and independently slidable up and down. Inherently, such a window cannot
be more than half
open.
Some double hung windows have upper and lower sashes which are removable for
cleaning and
maintenance. Removal of sashes and stowing them somewhere out of the way is
not a practical
way to clear or enhance the view through such a window.
The most relevant prior art known to us is described in a U.S. Patent
Application of Christian
Guillemette; Pub. No. 2012/0117882; published May 17, 2012. The relevance of
Guillemette is
more clearly seen below, near the end of the Detailed Description.
Summary of the Invention
An object of this invention is to provide a window with the appearance of a
traditional double
hung window when closed, and which is virtually fully openable.
In summary, this invention is a double hung window with upper and lower sashes
in a window
frame. The upper sash is pivotally connected to the frame header for inward
pivotal movement on
a horizontal axis. The lower sash is pivotally connected to the upper sash for
reverse pivotal
movement on a parallel horizontal axis, whereby to fold the lower sash up and
under the upper
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sash. A framed screen, separate from the window sashes, is mounted on the
outer face of the
window frame. A tape balance atop the frame applies an upward force to the
lower sash. Manual
inward pull of the upper rail of the lower sash pulls the sashes inward
together from their vertical
closed condition, thereby enabling manual upward movement of the sashes with
an assist from the
tape balance. The window sashes are together fully openable inward, with upper
and lower sashes
folded to each other in a horizontal attitude extending inward from the
header;
Drawings
In the accompanying drawings:
FIG. 1 is a front view, looking outward, of a window of this invention.
FIG. 2 is a view from the right side FIG. 1, on the plane 2-2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 2A is an enlarged perspective view of the circled portion of FIG. 2.
FIG. 3 is a view, similar to FIG. 2, of the window in a stage of its upward
folding.
FIG. 4 is a view, similar to FIG. 3, of the window in a further stage of its
upward folding.
FIG. 5 is a view, similar to FIG. 4, of the window now fully open.
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the window fully open.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view on the plane 7 at the left end of FIG. 1.
Detailed Description
With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a window 10 includes a lower sash 11 and
upper sash 12,
each sash including muntins 14 dividing the sashes into individual panes or
pane areas 13. Sashes
11, 12 are mounted in a window frame 20 which includes a window sill 21, a top
header 22, and a
vertical jamb 23 on each side. In FIG. 1, the closed window 10 has the
aesthetic appearance of a
traditional double hung window.
Reference is now to FIGS. 2-6 and FIG. 2A. A screen 62, in a frame of top 60,
bottom 61, and
side members 64, is mounted on the outer face of the window 10, the right side
of the drawing
figures. The screen 62 in FIG. 6 is omitted from FIG. 1 only for the sake of
FIG. 1 clarity. The
screen frame 60, 61, 64 is removably mounted and secured in the window frame
20 by fasteners
or other standard devices which are well known in the art.
Reference is now primarily to FIGS. 2-5. The upper sash 12 of the window 10 is
connected to
the frame header 22 by a hinge 30 for inward pivotal movement on a horizontal
axis 31 relative to
the window frame 20. This pivotal movement is clockwise, inward and upward, as
indicated by the
arrow A in FIGS. 3, 4.
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The lower sash 11 is similarly connected to the bottom of sash 12 by a hinge
32 for pivotal
movement on a horizontal axis 33 relative to the upper sash 12. This pivotal
movement is counter-
clockwise, upward toward the upper sash 12, as indicated by the arrow B in
FIGS. 3, 4.
As can be seen in FIGS. 2-6, the screen 62 stays in place independently of,
and unaffected by,
the opening and closing operation of the window sashes 11, 12.
Left and right tape balances 41, 42 are mounted at top left and top right of
the window frame
20. Each tape balance includes an extensible tape 43, wound in tension and
extending from their
housings down along their respective jambs 23, for connection with left and
right bottom ends of
the lower sash 11.
Referring now also to FIG. 7, the tapes are in tension, urging the sash 11
upward. The lower
sash 11 includes left and right pins 50 extending sideways out from respective
bottom corners.
These pins engage guide tracks 51 in their respective jambs, which guide the
pins 50 in their up
and down movements. In short, the pins and guide tracks keep the lower sash in
line between left
and right jambs 23. Left and right tapes 43 are connected to respective left
and right sash pins
50 to move up and down with the pins 50 and lower sash 11.
Hand grips 25 at the top of the lower sash 11 facilitate the start of window
opening action.
The double-hung embodiment of our invention is different from the above-
referenced
application of Guillemette, with several attendant benefits vis-a-vis
Guillemette.
Our window has sashes offset with the proportions, depth, and aesthetics of a
traditional double
hung window. When the window is closed, the bottom rail of the upper sash is
behind, not above,
the upper rail of the lower sash, thereby being less obstructive of the window
aperture.
Our upfolded sashes are not visible from outside, so our window appears as an
open porch.
As a storefront window, whether it is open or closed it does not encroach on
the exterior
sidewalk right-of-way. A passing pedestrian, no matter how tall, cannot bump
into it.
Because our window opens fully, twice the opening of a traditional double hung
window, it can
be an egress window without loss of aesthetics. This is a design problem that
vexes architects who
wish to use double hungs in bedrooms where, generally, at least one egress
window is required.
The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of this invention is
illustrative. The
concept and scope of the invention are not limited by such details but only by
the following claims.
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Representative Drawing