Claims
- 1. A closure assembly having two ends comprising a first and second track disposed proximate each end of the assembly respectively, and a slidable and pivotable closure member, the closure member including framing sections therefor and being engaged with the first and second tracks proximate first and second pivots adjacent the pivotable end of the member, the first and second pivots being interconnected by a multiple segment shaft disposed within framing sections of said closure member, the shaft including at least two portions, the shaft providing for accurate installation, retention, removal, adjustment and alignment of the first and second pivots within the first and second tracks in a substantially parallel line with respect to one another and for pivotally supporting the closure member which may be safely and securely pivoted away from the closure assembly, whereby the first and second interconnected pivots are adapted to remain engaged with the first and second tracks while supporting the closure member both when it is pivoted away from the closure assembly and when it is slidable relative to the tracks.
- 2. A pivoting and sliding closure assembly comprising:
- i) an opening extending within a frame
- ii) the frame having two ends and having disposed therein or attached thereto proximate each end track portions extending in a substantially parallel said frame;
- iii) at least one closure member having framing portions and two ends and being slidable within said track portions and pivotable proximate at least one end thereof and latchable in the track portions proximate the other end thereof;
- iv) each of said track portions having disposed therein at least one pivot shoe adjacent the pivoting end of the closure member, each shoe being substantially compatibly shaped with the track portions and having a top and bottom, each shoe having disposed therein adjacent the pivoting end of the at least one closure member an opening extending from the top toward the bottom of the shoe wherein pivot means are disposed, said pivot means provided with said pivot shoe being interconnected by a multiple segment shaft disposed within said framing portions of said at least one closure member, the shaft including at least two portions, the shaft providing for accurate installation, retention, removal, adjustment and alignment of the first and second pivots within the track portions in a substantially parallel line for pivotally supporting the at least one closure member for safe and secure pivoting away from the closure assembly;
- v) the at least one closure member having latching means provided therewith for latching the at least one closure member in relation to the track portions to prevent the at least one closure member from pivoting upon the pivot means when the at least one closure member remains slidable with said track portions;
- vi) the at least one closure member being braced by the multiple segment shaft interconnecting the pivot means disposed with each track portions, the substantially parallel alignment of the pivot means provided by the multiple segment shaft preventing the pivot means from misaligning or disengaging from the relevant track portions when the at least one closure member is rotated to an open position or when it remains slidable within said track.
- 3. A pivoting and sliding closure assembly comprising:
- i) an opening extending within a peripheral frame said peripheral frame including a header portion, a sill portion and two vertically extending jamb portions;
- ii) the sill and header portions or the two jamb portions having disposed therein or attached thereto track portions extending in a substantially parallel direction to said peripheral frame portions;
- iii) at least one closure member having two ends and framing portions and being slidable within said track portions and pivotable proximate at least one end thereof and latchable in the track portions proximate the other end thereof;
- iv) each of the track portions having disposed therein adjacent the pivoting end of the at least one closure member, at least one pivot shoe, each pivot shoe being substantially compatibly shaped with the track portions and having a top and bottom, each pivot shoe having disposed therein adjacent the pivoting end of the at least one closure member an opening extending from the top toward the bottom of the shoe wherein pivot means are disposed, said pivot means being interconnected by a multiple segment shaft disposed within the said framing portions of said at least one closure member, the shaft including at least two portions, the shaft providing for accurate installation, retention, removal, adjustment and alignment of the pivot means in a substantially parallel line for pivotally supporting the at least one closure member for safe and secure pivoting away from the closure assembly;
- v) the at least one closure member having latching means provided therewith for latching the at least one closure member in relation to the track portions to prevent the at least one closure member from pivoting upon its pivot means when the at least one closure member remains slidable with said track portions;
- vi) the at least one closure member being braced by the multiple segment shaft which provides for accurate installation, retention, removal, adjustment and alignment of the interconnected pivot means disposed with each track portion, the substantially parallel line of the pivot means provided by the multiple segment shaft preventing the at least one closure member from misaligning or disengaging from the relevant track portion when rotated to an open position or when the at least one closure member remains slidable within said track portions.
- 4. The assembly of claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the first and second pivot portions further comprise a rotatable pinion disposed therewith for facilitating the movement of the carrier relative to the track.
- 5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the rotatable pinion moves in cooperation with a rack disposed with said track.
- 6. Hardware for a closure assembly, said closure assembly having a track and a slidable and pivotable closure member, the closure member being engaged with the track proximate first and second pivots adjacent the pivotable end of the member,
- the hardware comprising the first and second pivots being interconnected by a multiple segment shaft which provides for accurate installation, retention, removal, adjustment and alignment of the first and second pivots in a substantially parallel line for pivotally supporting the closure member when the hardware is installed in said closure assembly so that it may be safely and securely pivoted away from the closure assembly, whereby the first and second interconnected pivots when the hardware is installed in said closure assembly are adapted to remain engaged with the track while supporting the closure member both when it is pivoted away from the closure assembly and when it is slidable relative to the track.
- 7. The hardware of claim 6 wherein said hardware is embodied in a casement window wherein a link having two ends is fastened at one end proximate the center of the bottom of the window sash and proximate the other end adjacent the end of the sill of the window frame to allow for full operation of the casement window from a fully closed to a fully open position and the movement of the pivoting end of the window towards the opposite end so as to allow full access to the outside of the window and the easy cleaning thereof.
- 8. The hardware of claim 7 wherein the link is removable to allow total reversing of the window for cleaning and/or removal purposes.
- 9. The assembly of claim 1, 2, 3, or 6 wherein a retractable screen is provided disposed within the jamb of the assembly which accumulates on and pays out from a spring biased roll disposed within said jamb, the screen being retractable for egress or cleaning purposes, and available as desired by providing a detent on the opposite jamb engageable with the screen when in its operatable position.
- 10. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the frame portions are formed separately from the track, the track further comprising an integral rack portion proximate one side thereof, said rack portion including a plurality of teeth extending substantially from end to end of said track, and for engagement with the rotatable pinion of said carrier which facilitates the movement of the carrier relative to the track, the track being fixed in position relative to the frame portions by the provision of two supplementary portions, the first supplementary portion being a first block which has two ends, a top and a bottom, the first block having disposed in use proximate the top thereof openings to receive fasteners wherein said openings extend to the bottom of the first block, the fasteners for engagement with the frame portion of the frame and are provided to lock the first block in position in relation to the end of the track remote the pivoting end of the closure member, and thereby fixing the track in position, a second block having disposed therewith an adjuster moveable in relation to said first block in a direction extending towards said track, said adjuster being engageable with a second supplementary portion, for engagement with said track, the second portion having elements provided therewith which are engageable with said adjuster and said track, said adjuster being moveable in position to move the track abutting portions in relation to the rack provided with the track, wherein movement of said adjuster will move said second portion in relation to said track and said rack in a direction toward and away from the first block thereby adjusting the position of said track in relation to said frame portions and thereat fixing said rack in position wherein such an adjustment for the track establishes and allows for the alignment or adjustment of the closure member and maintains the parallelism of the carrier in relation to said tracks so that the pivots remain substantially parallel and square to one another.
- 11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein aluminum is used for the track.
- 12. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the adjuster is a rotatable cap screw preferably having an opening therein for an allen key, and which is contained within an opening proximate one end of the first block remote the track and wherein said cap screw is threaded into a second block or preferred nut, wherein rotation of the screw in relation to the fixed block, for example by an allen key, will cause the second block or preferred nut to move fore and aft in relation to the track and provide for a final adjustment or readjustment of the track in relation to the carrier in both the top and bottom or side tracks of the window system depending on what window system is used.
- 13. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the block is manufactured from aluminum, and the adjuster nut is manufactured from Delrin(.TM.).
- 14. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the block and nut are manufactured from fiber filled nylon.
- 15. The assembly of claim 10 further comprising a second nut wherein both the first block and the second nut include a detent, for example a right angled triangle notch proximate the top thereof for engagement with a lock in use for a pivoting window, the lock being compatible with the detent.
- 16. The assembly of claim 10 wherein a pivot shoe is provided for engagement with said rack and track further comprising a carrier having a top and a bottom, the carrier having disposed proximate the bottom thereof means, and preferably slots, for retaining rollers, and the rollers in use thereof for providing the smooth movement of the carrier within the track, preferably the rollers being engaged with a predetermined channel formed in said track, said carrier also having an opening disposed proximate the top thereof wherein a pivot gear is disposed, said pivot gear having a top and a bottom and having disposed primate the top thereof a pivot engaging portion for engaging the pivot of a closure member such as a window sash, said pivot gear having disposed proximate the bottom thereof an anti-thrusting wheel portion for engagement with a shoulder provided proximate each side of the track channel, for example to engage the shoulder of the channel as a result of thrust which may be caused by the wind load on the closure member and the normal thrust caused by meshing of gears, the anti-thrusting wheel preferably being of a predetermined diameter of a dimension less than the channel of the track so as to minimize drag in the track, said pivot gear having disposed intermediate said pivot engaging portion and said anti-thrust wheel portion a pinion gear portion for engaging the rack, wherein the closure member and specifically the pivots thereof engages with the carrier portion, wherein movement of said carrier portion will affect rotation of said pinion in relation to said track and the smooth movement of the carrier along the track maintaining the parallelism, of said upper and lower pinions for the case of both a tilt and slide and casement window, and said left and right pinions in the case of double hung windows.
- 17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein said carrier portion is made from Delrin(.TM.), and said pivot gear portion is made from nylon.
- 18. The assembly of claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein a profile forming the closure member (for example a sash profile) is provided and further comprises a cover disposed on the side of the profile opposite a glass, which cover extends substantially along the length of the profile and which has disposed proximate the sides thereof two flanges for locking engagement underneath flanges provided with the profile, said profile further including a space defined within said profile enclosed by said cover, said space containing in use a closed cell foam or the like, for example a closed cell caulking foam, which is compressible, said cover having disposed proximate the bottom thereof intermediate said flanges spring-loaded members, for example fingers, engageable with said foam, and preferably when installed slightly loading said foam to create a spring biased resistance of the foam against the cover further locking the cover in position with the profile, the cover is made from flexible material and when installed extends down from said profile toward the space defined within said track portion between the flanges thereof, the cover providing a locking flexible seal throughout the length of the closure member with the exception of the area adjacent the carrier portion located proximate the pivoting end of said closure member; wherein the use of a closed cell foam such as caulking foam or the like in the space within the profile provides resilience and strength to the cover along the length of the profile and therefore allows for the foam and cover together to provide a surface upon which the closure member may travel while the carrier moves in the track, the cover behaving as a seal for the profile and in use indirectly for the track to keep dust and other undesirable elements out of the track and out of the profile, and assists to prevent passing cold air.
- 19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the cover is embodied with a casement window, a tilt and slide window or a double-hung window.
- 20. The assembly of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein there is provided a release mechanism for locking a closure member from pivoting movement in a closure assembly, said closure assembly including opposed detent portions disposed adjacent the track thereof, said release mechanism further comprising operating means disposed with the closure member, said operating means being provided intermediate the lockable ends of the closure member, and accessible to the user, the operating means being disposed in a predetermined plane provided with a sash element so that the operating means when operated will cause the locking and unlocking of the closure member and allow free movement thereof, the operating means being operable by the user to and from a locked and released position to allow movement of the closure member, the locking means provided with the sash profile being moveable by the operation of said operating means to cause locking portions engaged with said locking means to move in and out of engagement with the detent portions disposed proximate at least two opposed locations of said closure assembly, the operation of the operating means in a first direction causing the locking portion to move out of engagement with the detent provided with the track, to therefore allow pivoting movement of the closure member, the movement of the operating means in the second direction causing the locking portions to move into engagement with the detent provided with the track and therefore prevent the pivoting movement of the closure member.
- 21. The assembly of claim 20 wherein the release mechanism for locking a closure, member includes a handle portion which has provided proximate one end thereof a handle and proximate the other end thereof a pinion, said pinion being engageable with a rack portion proximate one side thereof and a second rack portion proximate the other side thereof, said rack portions being engaged with locking portions which extend to the track or detent provided with the track in use to latch and unlatch the closure assembly.
- 22. The assembly of claim 21 wherein a casement window is provided with release mechanism, the pinion portion also engaging one of the rack portions which further engages a second pinion rotatable by the motion of the second rack, the second pinion being engageable with a latch portion including a pinion sector provided therewith, causing the rotation of the latch portion into and out of engagement with a detent portion provided proximate the jamb of a casement window assembly, said single handle therefore operating both the locks proximate the track portion and when a casement window is used the lock proximate the jamb portion.
- 23. The assembly of claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein there is provided a casement window assembly further comprising a jamb portion located proximate the pivoting end of a casement window, preferably said window including a clip in flexible cover for the sash, said jamb portion including a pocket portion extending substantially towards the casement window sash and providing a pocket for the pivoting end of the casement window wherein said carrier is disposed in use, thereby providing a recess or pocket within which the closed casement window proximate the pivoting end thereof is located and when a cover is provided with the sash to snap fit into, to improve the seal and weatherproofing of the casement window, said pinion upon pivoting of the casement window causing the rotation of said gears and the sliding motion of the pivoting end of the window away from the jamb pocket thereof to prevent binding of the pivoting end with the pocket extending with the jamb portion, thereby providing the sealing improvements to the casement window, wherein when the casement window is moved to the closed position, the pivoting end will move back into the pocket provided.
- 24. A conversion kit of components for a frame opening to convert a double-hung window or a tilt and slide window to a casement window assembly, said kit comprising framing portions for containing track portions engageable with the framing portions of the window, said track portion including a rack portion proximate at least one side thereof, a casement window sash having a carrier and interconnecting pivot assembly provided therewith and for insertion and operation with respect to the track portions of the frame, wherein when assembled said casement window fully fills the space occupied by the previously installed double-hung or tilt and slide window.
- 25. The kit of claim 24 wherein the window sash includes a central locking handle and racks and pinions therefore contained in the sash adjacent the opening end of the sash and wherein the window sash contains the interconnecting pivot assembly for the pivots adjacent the pivoting end.
- 26. The assembly of claim 1, 2, or 3 further comprising a straight line window frame and assembly having a center mullion wherein casement windows are disposed on each side of the mullion with the operating portions including the carrier and interconnected pivot assembly and shafts thereof, thereby providing a double-casement window, wherein said casement windows pivot in substantially opposite directions, and provide a straightline window when in the closed position.
- 27. The assembly of claim 1, 2, or 3 further comprising a cover for a tilt and slide window track, the track comprising a first half and a second half interconnected to provide a continuous track for the window, the first half being disposed below the closed window, and the second half being provided as a continuation of the first half, the second half including a track cover portion which clips into position to engage flange portions of a sill of the window and thereby provide support for the window as it glides along the second half of the track.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/281,620 filed Jul. 28, 1994 from which priority is claimed.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
657436 |
Sep 1951 |
GBX |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
281620 |
Jul 1994 |
|