US2850773A - Louver type window construction - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 9, 1958 .w. B. Brumm-:R` l y 2,850,773 I LOUVER TYPE WINDOW CONSTRUCTION .I

' Filed Feb. 19, 1955 4 sheets-sheet 1 3 Jaa l Y j/ ///x INVENTOR I BY ATTORNEYS w. B. BRIMMR Louvnn 'ma wnmow cons'raucnou Sept. 9, 1958 4 usneetssneer 2 Filed Feb. 10, 1955 I VENTOR ATTO R N EY5 Spt.` 9, 1958 w..B. BRlMMER v2,850,773

y l LOWER' TYPE WINDOW' CONSTRUCTION Filedreb. 1o, 1955 4 sheets-sheet s d BY CWMZEJCLW/ ab ATTORNEYS w. B. -BRIMMER l mum 'ma mmow consrnucrrou sept. 9, ,1958

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l Filed Feb. 10. 1955,

l g l a l a f r 1 l 5 l lll/1111111lll/110011111111111 INVENTOR hm/3.6'

ATTORNEYS Unite States Patent O LOUVER TYPE WINDOW CONSTRUCTIUN William B. Brimmer, Huntingdon Valley, Pa.

Application February 10, 1955, Serial No. 487,377

S Claims. (Cl. 2li-42) This invention relates to louver type closures for window or similar openings and more particularly to closures of this type wherein a plurality of elongated Sash members are pivoted between the jambs of the window upon horizontal axes, the sashes being provided with suitable operating mechanism whereby the lower edges of all of them can be swung outwardly and upwardly in unison in order to open the window and downwardly and inwardly in order to close the window. The bottom edge of each sash is customarily arranged to slightly overlap the upper edge of the immediately subjacent sash when the Window is closed. In the present disclosure, the invention is illustrated in forms which are primarily designed for use in window openings and, generally, it will be referred to as a window although I wish it to be understood that it is in no sense to bel limited to window openings because, as will be obvious, it can be used equally well in other openings of similar type.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a window construction the parts of which, and especially the sash members, are mounted in such a manner as to main substantial balance during opening or closing movement so that the opening or closing operation can be performed with a minimum of effort and so that no more power is required to open the window than to close it and so that the sashes will remain set at any desired degree of opening without the necessity of some special provision for holding them in their chosen position of adjustment.

Another object of this invention is to provide a window of the type described in which there are no arms, braces or stays extending from the jambs to the stiles of the sashes.

A further object is to provide a window of the type described in which the sashes will assume a position within the jambs, when the window is open, such as to afford a maximum of protection against ingress of rain regardless of the direction from which the rain may come.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a window of the character described in which all of the operating mechanism may be contained within or arranged adjacent to one of the jambs only, with the actuating connections being made to the adjacent stile of each sash, the construction being such that the sashes will quickly and easily follow the movements of the operating mechanism without causing undue twisting or strain on the sashes.

An additional object is to provide a window of the character already described which may be readily equipped with an insect screen or a storm sash on the interior without in any way interfering with the operation of the window.

lice

2 horizontally by means of a plastic or other suitable weather strip attached to the upper pane and overlapping the lower pane.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a Window of the character described which will be satisvfactory for use in colder climates 'than has heretofore been possible.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of 'a louver type window which can be easily and inexpensively manufactured, installed and maintained and one which is substantially fool-proof in operation regardless of weather conditions.

How the foregoing objects, together with such other objects as may appear hereinafter or are incident to my invention, are attained, is illustrated in two Ypreferred embodiments in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a face view of a window embodyingfmy invention, looking outwardly from the inside of the window;

Figure 2 is an enlarged end elevational view looking toward the left of Figure l, with the sashes in closed position; l y

Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2 but show- -ing the sashes in open position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged plan section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially, as indicated, on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken approximately as indicated by the line 6--6 of Figure 1, with the sashes in closed position;

Figure 7 is a view Similar to that of Figure v6 but with the sashes in open position;

Figure 8 is an enlarged plan section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 6 Figure 9 is a lface view similar to that of Figure 1 but illustrating a modification in the operating mechanism;

Figure `10 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Figure V9, looking 'toward the left 'with the sashes closed;

Figure 1l is a View similar to that of Figure 10 but 'with the sashes open;

Figure -12 is a fragmentary, greatly enlarged vertical elevation similar to that of Figure 10, with the sashes closed;

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure l2 but with the sashes open;

Figure 14 is an enlarged plan section on the line it-14 of Figure 13;

Figure l5 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially as indicated by the line 15-15 on Figure 9, with the sashes closed;

Figure 1'6 is similar to Figure 15 but with the sashes open; and

Figure 17 is a plan section on the line 1'7-17 of Figure l5.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 8 inclusive, it will be seen that I .have illustrated a louver type window having a sill member 20, a pair of upright side or jamb mem- - bers 21 and 22, and a top or header member 23. A

plurality of glass sash members 24 are mounted between the jambs, each end of each glass being provided with a supporting stile 25. A spring metal glazing strip 26 in each stile holds the glass 24 in position in the stile, there being a rubber or other suitable resilient strip 27 along the end of each glass at the inside of the window. A plastic or other suitable weather strip 28 having a U-shaped portion which tits over the edge of the glass is sprung over the bottom of each sash glass, as shown in Figure 7, said Weather strip also having a depending portion which overlaps the yupper yedge of the subjacent glass in order to provide for tightness when the window is closed.

The stiles for each glass are provided with an undercut mounting slot 29, facing the adjacent jamb, and projecting from the jambs into these slots are mounting studs 30, one for each end of each glass. Weather stripping 31 closes the gap between the face of the jamb and the adjacent face of the stile.

It will be seen from the foregoing that each sash member is supported for both swinging motion and transverse sliding movement on the mounting studs, the latter in a direction which is perpendicular to the axis established by the studs.

At the top of each stile, at one end only of the glass, I provide a guiding pin 32 which is rigidly secured to the stile and projects toward the adjacent face of the jamb 21. Each of these pins 32 cooperates with a guiding slot 33 formed in the jamb. These slots 33 constitute tracks or guideways for the pins.

It will be noted that the slots 33 are of a generally arcuate form although they are not arcs of a true circle. They are laid out geometrically so that, as the stiles slide on the studs 30, the center of gravity 34 of each glass will move in a substantially horizontal direction during opening or closing movement of the window, as indicated by the dot and dash lines 35 in Figure 7. In other words, as the lower edges of the sash members are swung outwardly and upwardly, as indicated by the dot and dash lines 36, the pins 32 will ride in the slots 33 and guide the motion of the sashes in such manner as to provide for this substantially horizontal motion of the center of gravity of each sash. It will be apparent, therefore, that when the window is being opened the .upper edges of the sash members will move inwardly and downwardly between the jambs while the lower edges will move upwardly and outwardly and, at the same time, the sashes will slide on the studs 30 in order to permit the bodily or in-and-out translational movement thereof which occurs as the pins 32 follow the arc of the guiding slots 33.

The sashes are actuated by means of an operating lever 37 housed within the jamb member 21, as shown to best advantage in Figure 4. The inner end of this lever is pivotally connected to one of the mounting studs which is made slightly longer for this purpose, as indicated at 30a in Figure 4. The opposite end of the lever projects through a slot in the jamb member 21 and at a point between its ends the lever is pivotally connected to a vertically extending operating rod 38 by means of a pen 39 carried by the rod, there being a slot 39a in the lever 37 in order to permit the non-radial motion of the pin 39 which occurs during operation of the window. When the window is closed the lever 37 occupies the position shown in Figure 2 and when the window is fully open it occupies the position shown in Figure 3, from a comparison of which figures it will be seen that the lever swings upon the stud 30a.

The vertical operating rod 38 is of sufficient length to be pivotally connected to the upper edge portion of the stile of each glass-such pivotal connections being made upon the pins 32. Therefore, as the window is opened, this rod 38 remains vertical but moves inwardly and downwardly from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 3 and, as it does so, it serves to move the upper edge of each of the sashes inwardly and downwardly in vthe manner already described.

In order to properly position the several members of the operating mechanism, a spacing washer 40 is introduced between the rod 38 and the operating lever 37 (see Figure 4), and another spacer 41 is introduced between the vertical rod 38 and the inner face of the jamb (see Figure 5).

The modification illustrated in Figures 9 to 17 inclusive, accomplishes the same general result as the modication of Figures 1 to 8 inclusive but the details of the operating mechanism are somewhat dilerent as will now appear. Instead of a series of pins 32 operating in geometrically laid out slots 33, as in Figures l to 8, I guide the movement of the sashes in Figures 9 to 17 by means of a series of pivoted arms 42-one for each sash. Each of these arms is pivoted at one end to the jamb 21a by means of a construction illustrated to best advantage in Figure 14. In this ligure the pin 43 fits within a bushing 44, the outside of which is square or some other shape which will prevent it from turning in the arm 42 and the operating lever 37a. Surrounding the outside of the bushing 44 is a circular sleeve bearing member 45, the interior of which is made to conform with the exterior of the sleeve 44 so that the two parts move in unison with the bearing member 45 rotating or turning in the face wall of the jamb. Suitable spacing washers are introduced at each side of the bearing member 45, as clearly shown in Figure 14.

The other end of each of the operating arms 42 is pinned to the adjacent stile 25 by means of a pin 32a, there being a suitable spacing washer 46 between the arm 42 and the face of the stile.

It will also be noticed that the face of the jamb 21a is provided with a vertically extending extruded portion 47, which is adapted to close the gap between the jamb and the stile, which gap is made necessary by virtue of the fact that the arms 42 must lie between the jamb 21a and the plane of the stiles. A suitable weather strip 48 may be incorporated at the point of contact between the extruded portion 47 and the faces of the Stiles. In the region of the adjacent end of each arm 42, the side wall of the extruded portion 47 is cut away or slotted to the extent necessary to accommodate the movement of the arm 42.

As in the case of Figures 1 to 8 inclusive, a vertically extending rod 38a is provided for constraining all of the sashes to move in unison. The operating lever 37a is pivoted to this vertical rod 38a by means of a pin 39h corresponding to the pin 39 of Figures l to 8.

As in the case of Figures 1 to 8, the stiles 25 of Figures 9 to 17 are provided with the under-cut slots 29, into which the jamb studs 30b are adapted to extend, these studs performing exactly the same function in Figures 9 to 17 as do the studs 30 in Figures l to 8, the only difference being that the studs 30b must be made slightly longer because of the necessity of spanning the space occupied -by the extruded portion 47.

It should be noted in Figures 9 to 17 that the operating handle 37a is connected to an arm 42 through the intermediation of the pin 43 in the manner already described. This takes care of one sash member only, namely, the middle one shown in Figures 10 and 11. The lever 37a could, of course, be applied to any one of the sash members if some other location would be more convenient. For the other sashes a small connecting lever 37b is provided between the vertical rod 38a and the pin 43 upon which the arm 42 is carried.

Operation of the modification of Figures 9 to 17 is accomplished in essentially the same way, namely, by

movement of the operating handle or lever 37a from the position indicated in Figure 10 to the position indicated in Figure 11. This, of course, moves the operating rod 38a downwardly from the position shown in Figure 10 to the position shown in Figure 11, thereby swinging all of the arms 42 inwardly and downwardly because of the square bushing 44 and simultaneously moving the upper edges of the several sash members inwardly and downwardly during opening movement of the window. The action is such as to move the center of gravity 34aof each sash substantially horizontally except for the fact that there is a slight dip downward during the transition from fully closed to fully open position, and vice versa, as indicated by the dot and dash lines 35a in Figure 16. In other words, the motion of the center of gravity in this modification is not quite horizontal throughout the entire length of travel of the center of gravity but it is substantially horizontal and, for all practical purposes,

accomplishes the same thing as is accomplished by the geometrically laid out slots 33 in Figures 1 to 8. The reason for the dilerence is to be found in the fact that the arms 42, of course, cannot vary their motion but must swing in a true arc around the pins 43. However, all of the advantages incident to my invention are obtained to a substantially equal degree by means of the mechanism of either embodiment.

I should like to emphasize the fact that my invention provides for a very nice balance of the parts of the Window construction which move during opening and closing movements so that the window can be actuated with a minimum of effort and, further, that the sashes can be left in any desired position of adjustment without the necessity of providing for any braces, stays or other holding mechanism which is a matter of very great convenience. Furthermore, the fact that my window is so nicely balanced makes it possible to apply all of the operating mechanism at one end of the sashes only, the motion imparted to the sashes being carried throughout their length without undue twisting or strain. lnsofar as I am aware, this has never been possible with any previous construction known to the art and it constitutes an outstanding advantage of my invention.

My improved window construction also provides a maximum of protection against the weather, especially against any driving rain regardless of the direction from which the rain may come. This is made possible because, with my construction, the sashes are arranged to swing and slide simultaneously in such a way as to move their upper edges well inward into the opening between the jambs but without leaving too large a gap at the top. This result is achieved by virtue of the fact that the axes on which my sashes swing are located well above the mid points of their sides and that the downward sliding movement of each sash is relatively slight. In other words, only small gaps are opened up at the tops of my sashes with an overhang on the outside which is correspondingly large.

I claim:

1. A window or like construction comprising a frame having jambs, header and sill defining an opening for sashes; a plurality of sashes each of which is mounted between the jambs upon a pair of opposed studs projecting inwardly from the jambs towards the sash to provide a longitudinal axis; said mounting permitting the sash to swing about said axis and, simultaneously, to slide bodily and perpendicularly with respect thereto transversely of the plane of the window opening; means correlating said simultaneous sash movements so as to cause the center of gravity of each sash to move in a substantially horizontal plane during opening and closing movements thereof; and operating means adapted to move all of said sashes in unison.

2. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein the horizontal movement of the center of gravity is provided for by a pin on an end of each sash projecting into a cooperating guiding slot on the adjacent jamb.

3. A construction in accordance with claim l wherein the horizontal movement of the center of gravity is provided for by a link for each sash pivoted at one end to a jamb and at the other end to the sash.

4. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein the opposed studs project into cooperating slots on the adjacent end of each sash.

5. A construction in accordance with claim l wherein the opposed studs project into cooperating slots on the adjacent end of each sash and, further, wherein the horizontal movement or" the center of gravity is provided for by a pin on an end of each sash projecting into a cooperating guiding slot on the adjacent jamb.

6. A construction in accordance with claim l wherein the opposed studs project into cooperating slots on the adjacent end of each sash and, further, wherein the horizontal movement of the center of gravity is provided for by a link for each sash pivoted at one end to a jamb and at the other end to the sash.

7. ln a window or like construction comprising a frame having jambs, header' and sill defining an opening; a sash mounted between the jambs upon a pair of opposed studs projecting inwardly from the jambs toward the sash to provide a longitudinal axis; said mounting permitting the sash to swing about said axis, and simultaneously, to slide bodily and perpendicularly with respect thereto transversely of the plane of the window opening; a pin fixed to an end of the sash and projecting toward the adjacent jamb; and sash operating means connected to said pin; said operating means being adapted to swing and slide the sash on the jamb studs as aforesaid and to correlate said movements of the sash so as to cause the center of gravity to move in a substantially horizontal plane.

8. In a window or like construction comprising a frame having jambs, header and sill defining an opening; a plurality of sashes having a slot on eac-h end facing the adjacent jamb; a stud projecting from each jamb into the adjacent slot on each sash at a point between the ends of the slot; the sashes being swingable about said studs and, simultaneously, slidable bodily and perpendicularly with respect thereto transversely of the plane of the window opening; a pin at the upper corner of the same end of each sash projecting toward the adjacent jamb; a slot in the jamb opposite each pin; an operating rod connecting said pins and constraining them to move in unison; and a lever device for moving the rod to open or close the sashes; said pins being arranged to project into and slide lin said slots and said slots being formed to correlate said sash movements so as to cause the center of gravity to move in a substantially horizontal plane.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,858,289 Tracy May 17, 1932 2,565,447 Andresen et al Aug. 2l, l95l 2,607,962 Baumann Aug. 26, 1952 2,622,672 Thomas Dec. 23, 1952 2,658,750 Soule Nov. 10, 1953 2,684,735 Markley July 27, 1954 2,743,796 Focht et al. May l, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 583,577 Great Britain Dec. 20, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Pateni'l Noo 2,850,773 September 9g 1958 William B; Brimmer Ib is hereby certified that error appears in the printed epeeifieetion.

of 'the above numbered patent requiring eorreotion and that me said Letters Pefernil should read as corrected belowo Column l, line 369 for "main" read m maintain ==f= Signed and sealed this 2nd day of December l958 KARL H., AXLINE ROBERT C WATSON Attestng Officer Conmissioner of Patents

Images