GB2168740A - Anti-bowing device for a window - Google Patents

Abstract

The device overcomes the tendency to bowing in large windows so as to ensure that a window vent makes a good seal in its frame when in the closed position. As the window vent is closed the seals 17 abut against extruded window frame portions. The tightness of the seal can be improved and the bowing action of the upper edge of the window vent surround corrected by means of a pair of wedges 20, 21 which may be made of plastics material and may be adjustable so that the degree of sealing can be varied by adjustment of one of the wedges. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Anti bowing device for a window This invention relates to windows. Windows in which the opening vents have surrounds made of plastics or aluminium or other relatively light material tend to suffer from bowing due to the relatively unsupported lengths of the surrounds.

This is particularly true of windows of fairly large dimensions where there is a long unsupported portion of the surround.

An object of the invention is to provide a device which overcomes the tendency to bowing so asto ensure that a window vent makes a good seal in its frame when in the closed position.

According to the invention an anti-bowing device for a window comprises a pair of wedges adapted to be fitted to the surround of the vent and to the window frame so that when the window is closed wedges force the vent into good sealing relationship with the frame at least one of the wedges being arranged to be adjustable so that the pulling in effect of the wedges can be adjusted to achieve a satisfactory seal.

The device may be applied for instance to a vent which has resilient seals between the vent and the frame and the adjustment of the wedges can be so arranged that the resilient seals make good sealing contact when the window vent is in its closed position: The adjustment may be effected by having at least one of the wedges made in two parts which hinge relatively to each other and by providing an adjustor so as to cause one part of a wedge to hinge about another part of the same wedge so as to alter the angle of inclination of one wedge part relatively to the other.

The means for adjusting the wedge may comprise for example a grub screw screwed into an insert in one part of the wedge and bearing on the other part of the wedge so that as the grub screw is adjusted relatively movement of the two parts of the wedge occurs.

Preferably the anti-bowing wedges are made of moulded plastic.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure lisa thumb-nail sketch of a window vent having an aluminium surround installed in a frame showing the position in which the anti-bowing wedge may be placed; Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the vent in its frame showing the way in which the vent is supported by hinges; Figure 3 is a section through a vent and frame showing the wedges in their non-adjusted position; Figure 4 is a similar section showing the wedges in their adjusted position; Figure 5 is a section through one of the wedges showing the means for adjustment; Figure 6 is a plan of a wedge incorporating another embodiment ofthe invention; Figure 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Figure 6; Figure 8 is an elevation showing the wedge in an adjusted position; and Figure 9 is a section through a window surround and frame showing modified wedges in their operative positions.

In Figure 1 is shown a window vent 10 which has an aluminium surround 11 and is located in a frame 12 which may also be of aluminium, or both the surround and frame may be of plastics material.

The long upper edge of the window frame and vent sometimes results in bowing and in order to avoid this bowing, in accordance with the invention a pair of wedges may be placed at the position shown at 13 in Figure 1 or there may be two pairs of wedges spaced at intervals along this top edge of the window frame illustrated in our UK patent application 2081803A.

In Figure 2 is shown the top edge 14 ofthe window surround 11 and also the double glazed panes of glass 15 and 16 supported in the vent surround. The vent surround 14 has an extruded upper section 17 which carries a brush type seal 18.

The vent is supported from the sides of the frame 12 by parallel type supporting stays 19 which may be of the kind illustrated in our UK patent application 2081 803A.

As the window vent is closed the seals 17 abut against extruded window frame portions 1 2A and 12B as illustrated in Figure 3.

The tightness of the seal can be improved and the bowing action of the upper edge of the window vent surround corrected by means of a pair of wedges 20, 21 which may be made of plastics materia-l. As the window vent is closed to the position shown in Figure 3 the wedges 20 and 21 abut each other and draw the surround and the window frame more closely together improving the seal effected at 18.

In accordance with the present invention at least one of the wedges is made adjustable so that the degree of sealing can be varied by adjustment of one of the wedges.

As shown in Figure 5 the wedge 21 comprises an upper portion 22 and a base portion 23 hinged at 24.

In the upper portion 22 is a vertical bore 25 and located in a recess in the lower portion 23 is a collar 26 which is threaded internally to receive a grub screw 28. The collar 26 may have vertical splines so that it will rise up and down in the recess. As can be seen in Figure 5 a screwdriver can be inserted through the bore 25 into a slot in the grubscrew 28 so as to raise and lower the collar 27 which bears against the underside 29 of the upper portion 22 so as to pivot the upper portion 22 about the point 24.

The effect of adjustment of this wedge is to cause the seals 18 to become tighter or looser according to the direction of adjustment. One or both of the wedges may be adjustable.

With a window of the type illustrated in order to adjust the wedge it is necessary to open the window and then make a small adjustment and then close it again and to repeat this operation until the best seal is obtained.

As illustrated in Figure 3 the wedge is not properly adjusted. By adjusting it as described with reference to Figure 5 it can be moved to the position shown in Figure 4 where it can be seen that the seals 18 are much tighter. This is because the upper portion 22 of the wedge 21 has been pivoted about point 24 so as to move more into the path ofthe upper wedge 20.

As the two wedges cometogetherthewedging action causes the bowing ofthe upper edge ofthe vent surround to be overcome and also effects a good seal at point 18.

The two parts of each wedge may be moulded together, out of propylene, for example, in the same mould and the moulding mayincludea bridging portion which may act as the hinge between the two parts. In otherwords the two parts are moulded integrally complete with the hinge portion.

An integrally moulded wedge, of a modified form, is shown in Figure 6. The wedge includes a base portion 30 which in use is folded backunderneaththe wedge as shown in Figure 8. In base portion 30 is formed a recess 31 into which the lower end ofthe grub screw 32 engages so asto pivotthe main body portion ofthe wedge 33 about a pivot line 34 shown in chain dotted line in Figure 6.

The main body ofthe wedge 33 thus pivots about line 34 and relativelyto a lower part 35 of the main body of the wedge. This pivoting movement is effected by screwing the grub screw 32 downwardly in a captive threaded bush 36. The outer ends 35A and B of portion 35 are provided with holes 37 and 38, in alignment with holes 39 and 40 respectively in the base portion 30 th rough which fixing screws may pass.

As shown in Figure 9 the shape ofthewedges may not be strictlytriangular. The lower wedge 41 mounted on a windowventframe 43.The lower wedge 41 has a relieved upper surface as can be seen from the drawing. Preferably the wedge 41 which is cut away is fixed and the wedge 42, mounted on a window frame 44, an adjustable wedge. The relieved wedge 41 can thus slide underthe adjustable wedge as thewindow is opened.

Claims (8)

1. An anti-bowing device for a window comprising a pair of wedges adapted to be fitted to the surround ofthe vent and to the window frame so that when the window is closed the wedgesforcethe vent into good sealing relationship with the frame and in which at least one ofthe wedges is arranged to be adjustable so thatthe "pulling-in" effect ofthe wedges can be adjusted to achieve a satisfactory seal between the vent and the windowframe.

2. A device according to claim 1 applied to a vent which has resilient seals between the vent and the frame whereby the adjustment ofthe wedges can be so arranged that the resilient seals make good sealing contact when the windowvent is in its closed position.

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2 and in which the adjustment is effected by having at least one of the wedges made in two partswhich hinge relatively to each other and by providing an adjustor so as to cause one part of a wedge to hinge about another part ofthe same wedge so as to alterthe angle of inclination of one wedge part relativelyto the other.

4. A device according to claim 3 and in which the rneansforadjusting the wedge comprises a grub screw screwed into an insert in one partofthewedge and bearing on the other part of the wedge so thatthe grub screw is adjusted relatively movement ofthe two parts of the wedge occurs.

5. A device according to any preceding claim and in which the anti-bowing wedges are made of moulded plastic.

6. A device according to any preceding claim and in at least one of the wedges has a curved or relieved su rface over which the other wedge may slide.

7. A device according to any preceding claim and in which each wedge is formed as a single plastic moulding embodying a base member and a hinged wedge body.

8. An anti-bowing device substantially as hereinbefore particularly described and as illustrated in Figures 6 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.

8. An anti-bowing device substantially as hereinbefore particularly described and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 ofthe accompanying drawings.

9. An anti-bowing device substantially as hereinbefore particularly described and as illustrated in Figures 6to 9 ofthe accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: New ortextually amended claims have been filed as follows:-

1. An anti-bowing device for a window comprising a pairofwedges adapted to be fitted to the surround ofthe vent and to the window frame so that when the window is closed the wedges force the vent into good sealing relationshipwiththeframeandin which at least one of the wedges is arranged to be adjustable so thatthe "pulling-in" effect ofthe wedges can be adjusted to achieve a satisfactory seal between the vent and the window frame and in which the adjustment is effected by having at least one of the wedges made in two parts which hinge relatively to each other and by providing an adjustor so as to cause one part of a wedge to hinge about another partofthesame wedge so asto altertheangleof inclination of one wedge part relatively to the other.

2. A device according to claim 1 applied to a vent which has resilient seals between the vent and the frame wherebythe adjustment of the wedges can be so arranged thatthe resilient seals make good sealing contact when the window vent is in its closed position.

3. A device according to claim 2 and in which the means for adjusting the wedge comprises a grub screw screwed into an insert in one part of the wedge and bearing on the other part ofthe wedge so that when the grub screw is adjusted relative movement ofthetwo parts occurs.

4. A device according to any preceding claim and in which the anti-bowing wedges are made of moulded plastic.

5. A device according to any preceding claim and in which at least one ofthewedges has a curved or relieved surface over which the other wedge may slide.

6. A device according to any preceding claim and in which each wedge informed as a single plastic moulding embodying a hose member and a hinged wedge body.

7. An anti-bowing device substantially as hereinbefore particularly described and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 ofthe accompanying drawings.