GB2389383A

GB2389383A - A window assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2389383A
Application number: GB0212188A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David John Salisbury; David Michael Churches
Original assignee: DAVID SALISBURY JOINERY Ltd
Current assignee: DAVID SALISBURY JOINERY Ltd
Priority date: 2002-05-28
Filing date: 2002-05-28
Publication date: 2003-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 2022-05-28
Also published as: GB2389383B; GB0212188D0

Abstract

A window assembly for a building, the assembly comprising a frame 1 defining an aperture in the building, a glazing unit comprising a glazing panel 2 for insertion into the aperture, and securing means 18, 24 for securing the glazing unit within said aperture, the securing means comprising a spring 18 attached to the frame 1 defining the aperture and locking means 24 on the glazing unit 2 which engages the spring 18 attached to the frame 1 , the spring 18 being such that it can be moved from a locked position to an unlocked position by inserting a blade 30 between the frame 1 and the glazing unit 2 from only one side of the glazing unit 2.

Description

Glazing This invention concerns glazing and more particularly means for

securing glazing panels to window frames.

The mounting of glass panes in window frames is frequently effected using external glazing beads which maintain the glass in position. However, there are problems associated with this because conventional nailing of the bead to an associated wooden frame produces a hole which can allow water to enter, leading to possible rotting. Furthermore, removal of the glazing beads to replace the glazing panels, or to re-position the frame itself, can be difficult when the beads are secured by nailing them to an associated wooden window frame.

EP0942140-A describes a clip for fastening a glazing bead to a window frame which avoids the driving of a nail or the like through the bead. Whilst these clips do achieve this, they make it impossible to remove the glazing bead without destroying it, this being an intentional security feature of these clips.

Instead of glazing window frames directly with glazing panels, it is known to use a combination of a window frame secured to a building in conventional manner and a wing corralling the glazing unit secured to the window frame. One example of such an arrangement as applied to metal windows is described in FR2606825-A. However, this would not be suitable for wooden window frames and wooden framed wings.

According to the present invention there is provided a window assembly for a building, the assembly comprising a frame defining an aperture in the building, a glazing unit comprising a glazing panel for insertion into the aperture, and securing means for securing the glazing unit within said aperture, the securing means comprising a spring attached to the frame defining the aperture and locking means on the glazing unit which engages the spring attached to the frame, the spring being such that it can be moved from a locked position to an unlocked position by inserting a blade between the frame and the glazing unit from only one side of the glazing unit.

The spring is preferably substantially "V" shaped in cross section and preferably extends along the aperture. It is generally preferred to use a plurality of springs.

Particularly preferred springs include a stepped portion which retains said locking means. However, they can include an aperture for receiving said locking means.

In general/ the springs will be disposed along the length of the uprights of the frame. The can additionally or alternatively be disposed along the lengths of the horizontals of the frame between the uprights.

It is preferred to include a gasket between the glazing unit and the frame to inhibit the ingress of water therebetween, and it is particularly preferred for the gasket to bias the spring into locking engagement with the locking means.

- 3 - In general, spacers will be used between the glazing unit and the frame for positively locating the glazing unit relative to the frame.

Window assemblies in accordance with the present invention can be used in apertures in walls or doors of buildings.

An embodiment of window assembly in accordance with the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a horizontal section through the assembly; Fig. 2 is a view to an enlarged scale of a right-hand portion of Fig. 1 with the assembly prior to locking and with certain parts removed; Fig. 3 corresponds to Fig. 2 with the assembly locked together; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view corresponding to Fig. 3.

The window assembly shown in Fig. 1 consists of a square or rectangular wooden window frame having two vertical side members 1 and a double glazed wooden sash or casement 2, the sash or casement 2 being retained in the window frame by locking mechanisms shown generally at 3. The inner and outer panes of glass 4 and 4' respectively are spaced apart in conventional manner by spacers 5 and retained in the sash or casement by beads 6.

The frame is secured in conventional manner in an aperture in a wall (not shown)of a building, for example using screws or masonry bolts (not shown) through the side members and into the wall. The locking mechanism 3 will be seen in more detail with reference to Figs. 2-3.

4 - Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the side members 1 are of a substantially "L" shaped cross section, each having one edge chamfered along its length. Attached to one arm of the "L" section is plurality of a generally "V" section springs 13 with spaces between adjacent springs, the springs 13 extending along the length of the side members 1. One arm of each of the springs 13 is substantially flat and is attached to the side members l by screws 14, and the other arm of each of the springs 13 includes a step 18. The springs 13 can, for example, be made of spring steel or a suitable plastics material. Typically the springs 13 are about 70mm long.

A gasket 15 serves as a draft excluder and is located along the length of each of the side members 1 in longitudinal slots 16 in each of the side members 1. The gaskets 15 are each held in the slots 16 by a barbed foot 17 extending along the length of the gaskets 15.

The uprights 20 of the sash or casement 2 each have a rebate 21 for receiving a conventional double glazing unit. Both of the uprights 20 also have a rebate 22 opposite to the rebates 21 in which are located parts of the mechanism for locking the sash or casement 2 to the side members 1.

Within the rebate 22 is a groove 23 which extends along the length of the uprights 20, and within the grooves 23 are "L" section stainless steel strips 29 secured to the uprights 20 by screws 25. Spacers 26 are positioned at intervals along the length of the grooves 23 to coincide with spaces between the springs 13 on the side members 1, and they project from the groove 23 and serve to provide positive positioning of the sash or casement 2 relative to the side members 1 of the frame when the sash or casement 2 is locked to the side members 1 when they are locked together by the locking mechanism 3. Typically the spacers are about 4Omm long.

A waterproof gasket 27 is positioned within a longitudinal groove 28 in the rebate 22 and it serves to prevent the ingress of water into the locking mechanism 3.

Locking of the sash or casement 2 to the side members 1 is effected by positioning the sash or casement 2 relative to the side members 1 as shown in Fig. 2 and pushing the sash or casement 2 into the window frame until it takes up the position shown in Fig. 3. In doing so, the "L" shaped strips 24 on each side of the sash or casement 2 at first contact the stepped arms 29 of the springs 13 and then they push them sideways as they slide along the arms 29. Eventually, the strips 24 pass the steps 18 in the springs 13, and the springs 13 then spring back into their original positions, thereby retaining the sash or casement 2 in the window frame. The sash or casement 2 is positively held in the closed position by compression of the gasket 15 during the locking process, and in this position the gasket 27 serves to prevent the ingress of water.

Unlocking of the sash or casement 2 from the frame, and more particularly from the side members 1, can simply be effected by inserting blades 30 between the uprights 20 and the gaskets 15, and pushing as indicated by the arrow A in Fig. 3. In so doing, each blade 30 at first makes contact with one of the stepped arms 29 of the springs 13 and then pushes the stepped portions 18 away from the 'L" shaped strips 24 and eventually clear of the strips 24 so that the sash or casement 2 is free of the springs 13. As will be appreciated, it will be necessary to push all of the springs 13 out of the way of the strip 24 on one side of the frame in order to release the sash or casement 24 from the stepped portions 18 of the springs 13, and it is generally preferred to push all of the springs 13 simultaneously so that both sides of the sash or casement 2 are released at the same time.

Although the sash or casement 2 can be readily removed from the window frame by unlocking it from the interior of the building

- 6 - in which it is installed, it cannot be unlocked from the outside without destroying the sash or casement 2.

Although the present invention has been particularly described using springs 13 along the two opposing uprights 1 of a window frame, it will be appreciated that locking of the sash or casement 2 to the frame could be effected using springs positioned along the top and the bottom of the frame, and indeed springs 13 could be used along all four edges of the sash or casement 2.

As an alternative to using springs 13 with steps 18 and "L" shaped strips 29 to secure the sash or casement 2 to the uprights 1, the springs 13 could have apertures therein into which projections from the sash or casement 2 could locate to retain the sash or casement 2 in the frame.

It should also be appreciated that although the present invention has been particularly described with reference to locking sashes or casements in window frames, the present invention can also be used to secure framed glazing units in, for example, doors.

Claims

1. A window assembly for a building, the assembly comprising a frame defining an aperture in the building, a glazing unit comprising a glazing panel for insertion into the aperture, and securing means for securing the glazing unit within said aperture, the securing means comprising a spring attached to the frame defining the aperture and locking means on the glazing unit which engages the spring attached to the frame, the spring being such that it can be moved from a locked position to an unlocked position by inserting a blade between the frame and the glazing unit from only one side of the glazing unit.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the spring is substantially "V" shaped in cross section and extends along the aperture.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the securing means includes a plurality of springs.

4. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the spring or springs includets) a stepped portion which retains said locking means.

5. An assembly according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the spring or springs include(s) an aperture for receiving said locking means.

6. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, having said spring(s) disposed along the length of the uprights of the frame.

7. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, including a gasket between the glazing unit and the frame to inhibit the ingress of water therebetween.

8. An assembly according to claim 7, wherein the gasket biases the spring into locking engagement with the locking means.

9. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, including spacers for positively locating the glazing unit relative to the frame.

10. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, positioned in an aperture in a wall of a building.

ll. An assembly according to any of claims 1 to 9, positioned in a door of a building.

12. A window assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.