Pivot window construction

Abstract

A horizontal pivot window construction. The window includes a window frame having a sill, a head, and a pair of upright jambs which interconnect the ends of the sill with the ends of the head. The window sash is mounted within the frame and the sash includes upper and lower rails and upright stiles which interconnect the opposite ends of the upper and lower rails. Means are provided for supporting the window sash within the window frame for movement of the sash between a closed and locked position and an open and unlocked position. The supporting means includes means for pivotally mounting the sash within the frame for movement about a substantially horizontal axis so as to make the normal exterior side of the window accessible from the interior of the room in which the window is located. The supporting means also includes a member for vertically moving the sash between an upper position and a lower position when the stiles and the jambs are substantially coextensive with each other. The upper position corresponds to the closed and locked position of the sash within the frame. Cooperating means are mounted on the sash, on the frame, and on the vertical moving member so as to prevent sideways, front, back, upward and downward movement of the sash within the frame only when the sash is in the upper, closed and locked position.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION--FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ARTThis invention relates to a window construction of the type which is pivotable about an axis, such as a horizontal axis, so as to make the normal exterior side of the window accessible for cleaning and maintenance from the interior, and it particularly relates to such a window construction which is principally constructed of wood and which is primarily intended for use in commercial, industrial and apartment buildings.In designing the constructing windows for such industrial or commercial use, considerations are quite different from the design and construction of windows for home use. Although window maintenance is always an important factor, whether for commercial type use or home use, maintenance costs, particularly exterior maintenance, are an extremely important factor in designing windows which are to be used in commercial buildings. Because of the maintenance factor, it has probably been more common to use metallic windows rather than wood windows for commercial use. The basic advantages of a wood window are little or no condensation problems on the frame and sash during cold weather, overall better insulating value than metal windows and a more aesthetically pleasing appearance than metal windows. In commercial buildings, including apartment buildings, these advantages are sacrificed because of greater maintenance problems required on the exterior, such as for painting. Now, however, the exterior of the windows may be constructed of or protected by metal, such as aluminum parts, while the interior can remain as wood. The exterior of the wood window sashes may be covered or clad with aluminum panels, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,815,285. With the metal exterior, maintenance problems are greatly alleviated as exterior painting and maintenance of the windows are almost non-existent, even with windows made principally of wood, but which retain the principal advantages of wood windows.In addition to the maintenance problems of windows used on commercial, industrial or apartment buildings, it is important for the glass and sash to be securely mounted within the frame. In recent times, there have been a number of well-known high rise buildings wherein the window glass has actually fallen out of the structure. In modern architectural designs for commercial buildings, large glass windows are frequently used. Because of high winds, these large glass windows break and/or fall from the buildings. In addition to the security problem, the sash should be as easy as possible to remove from the frame, if removal is desirable or necessary. Also, because of high winds and heavy rains, not only must the glass and sash be securely mounted within the frame, but the weather seal must be designed to assure that the "waterfall" effect of rain water does not cause leaking of water from the exterior into the interior.Many windows, whether metal or wood, have the sash pivot about a horizontal axis or a vertical axis so that the exterior of the window glass can be washed or maintained from the interior. In such a construction, however, it is extremely important that the mounting of the pivoting sash within the frame and/or the mounting of the glass within the sash are to be secured in place without any significant risk that the sash could fall from the frame or the glass from the sash. The weather seals on the windows must be designed so as to prevent water leakage from the exterior into the interior. Also, it is desirable for the operation, that is, the opening and closing, of the window to be simple and, during movement of the window to the open position, there is to be assurance that the sash is to be securely mounted within the window so that there is substantially no danger or risk of the window sash becoming disengaged from the window frame.SUMMARY OF INVENTIONIt is therefore an important object of this invention to provide an improved window construction, particularly for use with commercial, industrial, or apartment buildings, wherein the window is substantially maintenance free, the window glass, on its exterior side, is accessible for cleaning from the interior of a room, and the glass and window sash are securely mounted in place without any significant danger of becoming disconnected from the window frame whether the window is in the closed and locked position or in the open position.It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved window construction, primarily made of wood, with a substantially maintenance free exterior, a wooden interior, a horizontally pivotable window sash, and a uniquely constructed support system for the sash within the frame, both when in the open position and when in the closed position.It is a further object of this invention to provide a uniquely constructed horizontally pivotal window sash mounted within a window frame wherein a single locking member serves not only to lock the window in the locked position, but additionally serves to vertically lift the sash within the frame for movement from the unlocked position to the locked position and which also maintains the window sash in an upper locked position, thereby serving three distinct and important functions.It is yet another object of this invention to provide a unique support mechanism for a sash within a window frame wherein the frame is pivotally supported about a horizontal axis, when in the open position, and, when in the closed position, is locked into a fixed position relative to the frame by cooperating means on the sash, on the frame, and on a unique locking member.It is still another object of this invention to provide a unique mechanism for lifting a window sash within a window frame by the fulcrum action of a locking member, accessible from the interior, the lifting action being assisted by spring members for the sash mounted in the frame.It is yet another object of this invention to provide a support member for supporting a sash for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis wherein the pivotal support is sturdy and which substantially eliminates the possibility of the sash becoming disengaged from the frame as the window sash is being pivoted between the open and closed positions and cooperating means are provided for holding the window sash within the window frame by interengagement at the top and bottom of the sash only after the sash is lifted upwardly, by an operating mechanism, to the upper, closed and locked position.It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved window construction for supporting a window frame for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and for also assuring secure interengagement between the window frame at all times during use.Further purposes and objects of this invention will appear as the specification proceeds.The foregoing objects are accomplished by our window structure which includes a fixed window frame which comprises a sill, a head, and a pair of upright jambs interconnecting the sill with the head, a window sash having upper and lower rails and upright stiles interconnecting the upper and lower rails, means for supporting the sash within the frame for movement between the closed and locked position and an open and unlocked position, the supporting means including means for pivotally mounting the sash within the frame for movement about a substantially horizontal axis for thereby making the normal exterior side of the window accessible from the interior side, the supporting means further including means for vertically moving the sash between an upper position and a lower position when the stiles and the jambs are substantially coextensive with each other, and cooperating means are provided on the sash, on the frame, and on the vertical moving means for preventing sideways, forward, rearward, and up and down movement of the sash within the frame only when the frame is in the upper, closed and locked position.

Description

Claims

1. A window construction comprising, in combination, a fixed window frame having a sill, a head, and a pair of upright jambs interconnecting said sill with said head, a window sash having upper and lower rails and upright stiles interconnecting said upper and lower rails, means for supporting said sash within said frame for movement between a closed and locked position and an open and an unlocked position, said supporting means including means for pivotally mounting said sash within said frame for movement about a substantially horizontal axis for making the normal exterior side of said window accessible from the interior side when said sash is in said open and unlocked position, said pivotal mounting means including a rigid member projecting laterally from each of said stiles towards each of said jambs, means on each of said jambs for securely receiving said rigid members, said receiving means including a guidably mounted member vertically movable longitudinally of said jambs so that said sash is vertically movable relative to said frame, means interconnecting said receiving means and said frame for normally biasing said sash to said upper position, said supporting means further including means for vertically moving said sash between an upper position and a lower position when said stiles and said jambs are substantially co-extensive with each other, and cooperating means mounted on said sash, on said frame and on said vertical moving means for preventing sidewise, front and back, and upward and downward movement of said sash within said frame when said sash is in said closed and locked position.

2. The window construction of claim 1 wherein said pivotal mounting means includes separate members on each of said stiles in substantial horizontal alignment, said horizontal axis being located slightly above the central portion of said sash so that said sash is normally tilted by gravity to the closed position.

3. The window construction of claim 1 wherein said biasing means cooperate with said vertical moving means for assisting in lifting said sash vertically upwardly relative to said frame when said stiles and said jambs are in substantially co-extensive longitudinal alignment with each other.

4. The window construction of claim 1 wherein said vertical moving means comprises the sole means for holding said sash in said upper position when said sash is in closed and locked position.

5. The window construction of claim 1 wherein said sash has a height which is slightly less than the height of said frame for providing limited relative vertical movement between said sash and said frame.

6. The window construction of claim 1 wherein said vertical moving means is operatively interconnected to both said frame and said sash.

7. The window construction of claim 1 wherein said vertical moving means includes means for selectively interconnecting said sash to said frame, at a first position, and for disconnecting said frame from said sash, at a second position.

8. The window construction of claim 7 wherein said selective means permits movement of said sash to a vent position, at said first position, wherein said lower rail is spaced from said sill, said sash being pivoted laterally outwardly relative to said frame.

9. A window construction comprising, in combination, a fixed window frame having a sill, a head, and a pair of upright jambs interconnecting said sill with said head, a window sash having upper and lower rails and upright stiles interconnecting said upper and lower rails, means for supporting said sash within said frame for movement between a closed and locked position and an open and an unlocked position, said supporting means including means for pivotally mounting said sash within said frame for movement about a substantially horizontal axis for making the normal exterior side of said window accessible from the interior side when said sash is in said open and unlocked position, said supporting means further including means for vertically moving said sash between an upper position and a lower position when said stiles and said jambs are substantially co-extensive with each other, said vertical moving means including a toggle linkage having a first link operatively and pivotally interconnected to said sill, a second link operatively and pivotally interconnected to said lower rail, and cooperating means mounted on said sash, on said frame and on said vertical moving means for preventing sidewise, front and back, and upward and downward movement of said sash within said frame when said sash is in said closed and locked position.

10. The window construction of claim 9 wherein said pivotal interconnection between said lower rail and said second link includes means for selectively disconnecting and connecting said second link from and to said sash so that said sash may be completely disconnected from said vertical moving means, thereby permitting pivoting of said sash about said substantially horizontal axis for making the normal exterior side of said window accessible from the interior side.

11. The window construction of claim 9 including means for selectively engaging and disengaging said links to and from said sash.

12. The mechanism of claim 11 including means for releasing said selective means, said sash moving downwardly relative to said frame upon operation of said releasing means by the action of gravity.

13. A window construction comprising, in combination, a fixed window frame having a sill, a head, and a pair of upright jambs interconnecting said sill with said head, a window sash having upper and lower rails and upright stiles interconnecting said upper and lower rails, means for supporting said sash within said frame for movement between a closed and locked position and an open and an unlocked position, said supporting means including means for pivotally mounting said sash within said frame for movement about a substantially horizontal axis for making the normal exterior side of said window accessible from the interior side when said sash is in said open and unlocked position, said supporting means further including means for interconnecting said frame jambs to said sash stiles and for normally biasing said sash to said upper position, said biasing means cooperating with said vertical moving means for moving said sash from said lower position to said upper position when said stiles and said jambs are substantially longitudinally co-extensive with each other, said supporting means also including means for vertically moving said sash between an upper position and a lower position when said stiles and said jambs are substantially co-extensive with each other, and cooperating means mounted on said sash, on said frame and on said vertical moving means for preventing sidewise, front and back, and upward and downward movement of said sash within said frame when said sash is in said closed and locked position.

14. In a window construction having a frame with a sill, a head, and a pair of upright jambs interconnecting the sill and the head, a sash within said frame with an upper rail, a lower rail and upright stiles interconnecting the opposite ends of said rails, and means for mounting said sash within said frame for movement between a closed position and an open position, an improvement comprising, in combination, means for pivotally mounting said sash within said frame for movement about a substantially horizontal axis for making the normal exterior side of said window accessible from the interior side, said pivotal mounting means includes a rigid member projecting from each of said stiles towards each of said jambs, means mounted on each of said jambs for receiving each of said rigid members, said receiving means including a guidably mounted movable member on each of said jambs, said movable member being vertically movable longitudinal of said jambs so that said sash is vertically movable relative to said frame between an upper position and a lower position, means interconnecting said receiving means and said frame for normally biasing said sash to said upper position, and a mechanism secured to both said frame and to said sash for opening and closing said sash, and for supporting said sash in said upper position, said mechanism comprising the sole means for maintaining said sash in said upper position.

15. The improvement of claim 14 wherein said pivotal mounting means includes separate members on each of said sash stiles in substantial horizontal alignment, said horizontal axis being located slightly above the central portion of said sash so that said sash is normally tilted by gravity to the closed position.

16. The improvement of claim 14 wherein said biasing means cooperates with said mechanism for assisting in lifting said sash upwardly relative to said frame when said stiles and said jambs are in substantially co-extensive longitudinal alignment with each other.

17. In a window construction having a frame with a sill, a head, and a pair of upright jambs interconnecting the sill and the head, a sash within said frame with an upper rail, a lower rail and upright stiles interconnecting the opposite ends of said rails, and means for mounting the opposite ends of said rails, and means for mounting said sash within said frame for movement between a closed position and an open position, an improvement comprising, in combination, means for pivotally mounting said sash within said frame for movement about a sustantially horizontal axis for making the normal exterior side of said window accessible from the interior side, means for vertically guidably supporting said sash within said frame for movement through a limited vertical distance between an upper position and a lower position, a mechanism secured to both said frame and to said sash for opening and closing, and for supporting said sash in said upper position, said mechanism comprising the sole means for maintaining said sash in said upper portion, said mechanism including a toggle linkage having a first link operatively and pivotally interconnected to said sill and a second link operatively and pivotally interconnected to said lower rail, said pivotal connection between said lower rail and said second link including means for selectively disconnecting and connecting said second link from and to said sash so that said sash may be completely disconnected from said mechanism, to thereby permit pivoting of said sash about said substantially horizontal axis for making the normal exterior side of said window accessible from the interior side.

18. In a window construction having a fixed window frame with a sill, a head, and a pair of upright jambs interconnecting said sill and said head, a sash within said frame and with an upper rail, a lower rail, and upright stiles interconnecting the opposite ends of said rails, means for mounting said sash within said frame for movement between a closed position and an open position, and means for controlling the position of said sash relative to said frame, an improved controlling means comprising, in combination, a fixed member rigidly mounted on said sill, a fixed member rigidly mounted on said lower rail, a first link member pivotally interconnected to said fixed member on said sill, a second link member pivotally interconnected to said first link member and to said fixed member on said lower rail, a latch element on said second link member, a latch element on said fixed member on said sill for interlocking with said latch element on said link member for holding said sash in a closed position relative to said frame, said latch elements being constructed and arranged to be movable to a disengaged position upon selective manual operation for movement of said sash to an open position, a plate member slidably carried by said fixed member on said sill for lateral movement of said entire mechanism, said pivotal interconnection between said first link member and said fixed member on said sill being located on said slidable plate member, said second link member also being laterally slidable along the pivotal interconnection between said second link member and said fixed member on said lower rail, said link members defining first and second positions relative to said fixed members on said sill and on said lower rail.

19. The improvement of claim 18 wherein, at said first position, said second link member and said fixed member on said lower rail are interconnected and, at said second position, said second link member and said fixed member on said lower rail are disconnected from each other so as to release said sash from said interconnection with said controlling means for permitting movement of said sash to the open position.

20. The improvement of claim 18 wherein said sash mounting means includes means for vertically guidably supporting said sash within said frame for movement through a limited vertical distance between an upper position and a lower position, said improved controlling means maintaining said sash in said upper position and defining the sole means for maintaining said sash in said upper position.

21. The improvement of claim 20 including means for latching said second link member to said fixed member on said sill for maintaining said sash in said upper position, said latching means being selectively releasable, so that said sash moves by gravity through said limited vertical distance and pivots said link members about the pivotal interconnection between said fixed member on said sill and said first link member, defining a fulcrum.

22. The improvement of claim 21 wherein said fulcrum provides a mechanical advantage for lifting said sash through said limited vertical distance upon downward pressure being applied to said link members, for raising said sash to said upper position.

23. The improvement of claim 22 including means for normally biasing said sash to said upper position to thereby assist in the movement of said sash to said upper position of said sash relative to said frame.

24. In a window construction having a fixed window frame with a sill, a head, and a pair of upright jambs interconnecting said sill and said head, a sash within said frame and with an upper rail, a lower rail, and upright stiles interconnecting the opposite ends of said rails, means for mounting said sash within said frame for movement between a closed position and an open position, and means for controlling the position of said sash relative to said frame, an improved controlling means comprising, in combination, a fixed member rigidly mounted on said sill, a fixed member rigidly mounted on said lower rail, a first link member pivotally interconnected to said fixed member on said sill, a second link member pivotally interconnected to said first link member and to said fixed member on said lower rail, a latch element on said second link member, a latch element on said fixed member on said sill for interlocking with said latch element on said link member for holding said sash in a closed position relative to said frame, said latch elements being constructed and arranged to be movable to a disengaged position upon selective manual operation for movement of said sash to an open position, said first and second links being laterally slidable relative to both of said fixed members on said lower rail and on said sill, the pivotal interconnection between said second link member and the pivotal interconnection thereof to said fixed member on said lower rail defining a first position at which the parts are interconnected and a second position at which the parts may be disconnected from each other.