EP0908595A1

EP0908595A1 - Sliding-type window frame

Info

Publication number: EP0908595A1
Application number: EP97307563A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ching-Chi Li
Original assignee: LI CHING CHI
Current assignee: LI CHING CHI
Priority date: 1997-09-26
Filing date: 1997-09-26
Publication date: 1999-04-14

Abstract

A sliding-type window frame is used to mount a window panel assembly (27, 28 or 29) and includes a jamb frame assembly (2) with a top jamb member (21), and two upright side jamb members (22). The top jamb member (21) has a top channel body (210) with a space (2106), and a sash cap plate (211) which is mounted movably to the top channel body (210) inside the space (2106) and which extends between the side jamb members (22). The sash cap plate (211) has at least one top track member (2110) to engage slidably the top end of the window panel assembly (27, 28) when the sash cap plate (211) is in a first position. The sash cap plate (211) is movable upward from the first position to a second position so as to move the top track member (2110) away from the window panel assembly (27, 28), thereby facilitating loading and unloading of the window panel assembly (27, 28) into and from the jamb frame assembly (2).

Description

This invention relates to a window frame, more particularly to a sliding type window frame assembly having a top jamb assembly with sliding tracks which are disengageable from a window panel.
Referring to Fig. 1, a conventional sliding-type window frame 1 includes top and bottom jamb members 14, 15 for slidable mounting of outer and inner window panels 12, 13, and a window screen 11 therebetween. In order to achieve a waterproofing effect, the bottom jamb member 15 has an inner water baffle 151 which is twice as high as an inner rail 152 that, in turn, which is higher than an outer rail 153. A drawback results in that the outer window panel 13 must be loaded or unloaded before the inner panel 12 due to the higher inner water baffle 151. Thus, the operator has to work from the inside of the window through a limited passage opening of the window frame, due to the presence of the inner window panel 13. This results in inconveniences and can increase the risk of dropping of the window panel from the operator's hands.
The main aim of the present invention is to provide a sliding-type window frame which permits a window panel assembly to be installed conveniently while maintaining a good waterproofing effect.
According to this invention, the sliding-type window frame includes a jamb frame assembly with a top jamb member, a bottom jamb member, and two upright side jamb members. The top jamb member has a top channel body with a space for receiving a top end of a window panel assembly and which has two opposites ends connected respectively to the side jamb members, and a sash cap plate which is mounted movably to the top channel body inside the space and which extends between the side jamb members. The sash cap plate has at least one top track member to slidably engage the top end of the window panel assembly when the sash cap plate is in a first position. The sash cap plate is movable upward from the first position to a second position so as to move the top track member away from the top end of the window panel assembly, thereby facilitating loading and unloading of the window panel assembly into and from the jamb frame assembly.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a side view showing a conventional sliding-type window frame;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a sliding-type window frame according to this invention;
Fig. 3 is an exploded view of a top jamb member of the window frame;
Fig. 4 is an exploded view of a bottom jamb member of the window frame;
Fig. 5 is a partly sectioned view of the window frame; and
Fig. 6 is a side view of the window frame in use.
Referring to Fig. 2, the preferred embodiment of a sliding-type window frame according to this invention includes a jamb frame assembly 2 which is shown to comprise a top jamb member 21, a bottom jamb member 24, and two upright side jamb members 22 that interconnect the top and bottom jamb member 21, 24.
With reference to Fig. 3, the top jamb member 21 includes a top channel body 210 which confines a space 2106 and which has two opposite ends that are connected respectively to the side jamb members 22, and a sash cap plate 211 which is mounted inside the space 2106 and which extends between the side jamb members 22.
The top channel body 210 has a top wall 2101 which extends above the sash cap plate 211, and two opposite guide walls 2102 which extend downwardly from two opposite ends of the top wall 2101. The guide walls 2102 have inwardly projecting end flanges 214 so that the sash cap plate 211 is movable between the end flanges 214 and the top wall 2101 from a lower first position to a higher second position. Two integral anchor seats 213 extend outwardly from the guide walls 2102 respectively, and have a plurality of integral anchor members 219 which extend upwardly from the anchor seats 213 to provide anchorage between concrete and the top jamb member 21, as shown in Fig. 6.
The sash cap plate 211 has three top track members 2110 to adapt for guiding and holding slidably the top ends of the window panels 29, 28 and the window screen 27 (see Fig. 6). The sash cap plate 211 has two latch mounting holes 215 (only one is shown) adjacent to the side jamb members 22. A latch member 25 is housed in a casing 252 and has a handle portion 251 which extends downward through each latch mounting hole 215. By manipulating the handle portion 251, one may slide the latch member 25 horizontally and limitedly for insertion into one of higher and lower latch holes 223, 221 which are provided in each side jamb member 22. As such, the sash cap plate 211 can be positioned in the first position where the latch member 25 extends into the lower latch holes 221, or in the second position where the latch member 25 extends into the higher latch holes 223. When the sash cap plate 211 is in the second position, the top track members 2110 are moved away from the top ends of the window panels 29, 28 and the window screen 27 so that the window panels 29, 28 can be easily attached to and detached from the jamb frame assembly 2. In addition, two vertical guide slots 222 are provided in each side jamb member 22. Two elongated engaging rods 216 project from two opposite ends of the sash cap plate 211 towards the side jamb members 22 for sliding in the guide slots 222, thereby guiding the sash cap plate 211 to move in a vertical direction without tilting.
Moreover, the sash cap plate 211 has a plurality of holes 218 as shown in Fig. 5, each of which receives a pressing member 26 therein. The pressing member 26 includes a hollow mounting frame 261 which is mounted to the sash cap plate 211 at the hole 218, a press plate 262 which has a proximal end 2621 that is hinged to the mounting frame 261 by a pivot 260, and a distal bearing end 2622, and a retaining rod 264. The distal bearing end 2622 of the press plate 262 has an arcuate guiding surface 269. The retaining rod 264 is movable in two guiding slots 263 which are formed in two side walls 2612 of the mounting frame 261 (see Fig. 3). A locking part 266 is provided in each guiding slot 263 adjacent to the pivot 260 at a level lower than the pivot 260. As such, when the sash cap plate 211 is in the first position, the press plate 262 is operable manually via an opening 2611 of the mounting frame 261 (see Fig. 3) and can be turned to a pressing position where the press plate 262 turns upright from the mounting frame 261 such that the distal bearing end 2622 and the proximal end 2621 push the top wall 2101 and the sash cap plate 211, respectively. When the retaining rod 264 is moved toward the pivot 260 and is received in the locking part 266, the press plate 262 is prevented from turning downward by the retaining rod 264 and is thus immobilized in the pressing position.
Referring to Fig. 4, the bottom jamb member 24 includes a bottom channel body 240 which extends between the side jamb members 22 and which has inner and outer walls 2401, 2402 and a bottom wall 2403 to cooperatively form a channel. The bottom channel body 240 has two longitudinally extending concaved first rails 241 and a longitudinally extending second concaved rail 246 for receiving bottom ends of the window panels 29, 28 and the window screen 27 (as shown in Fig. 6). The concaved rails 241 are provided between the inner and outer walls 2401, 2402 above the bottom wall 2403. Each concaved rail 241 has a confining wall of an arc-shaped cross-section with a water-draining hole 242 at the lowermost end thereof. An inclined partition member 242 extends from the inner wall 2401 to the outer wall 2402 between the concaved rails 241 and the bottom wall 2403. A plurality of water outlet holes 244 are disposed in the outer wall 2402 at a lever lower than the water draining holes 242. The partition member 243 cooperates with the inner and outer walls 2401, 2402 to confine a water receiving space 2404 which is communicated with the water draining holes 242 and the water outlet holes 244, and is inclined downwardly and outwardly to direct water to flow towards the water outlet holes 244. A plurality of flaps 245 are hinged to the outer wall 2402 in order to shield the water outlet holes 244 respectively. In addition, two integral anchor seats 247 extend outwardly from the inner and outer walls 2401, 2402 respectively, and have a plurality of integral anchor members 248 which extend downwardly therefrom to provide anchorage between concrete and the bottom jamb member 24, as shown in Fig. 6.
Referring to Fig. 6, when the jamb frame assembly 2 is mounted to a wall 5, a concrete material can be applied thereto until the surface of the applied concrete layer is flush with the outer anchor members 219, 248. With reference to Fig. 5, the latch members 25 can be released from the side jamb members 22 by moving the handle portions 251 away from the latch holes 221. Each press plate 262 is normally in a horizontal position by resting on support layers 265 which extend inwardly from the mounting frame 26 , as shown in Fig. 3. In this state, the sash cap plate 211 can be moved upwardly to its second position. The window screen 27, and the window panels 28, 29 can be loaded easily into the jamb frame assembly 2 between the top and bottom jamb members 21, 24. After the window panels 28, 29 are loaded, the sash cap plate 211 is moved downward to the first position, and the press plate 262 is placed in the pressing position via the retaining rod 264. The latch members 25 are inserted into the lower latch holes 221, respectively. A gap of only 1 mm is provided between the sash cap plate 211 and the window panels 28, 29 to permit the window panels 28, 29 to slide smoothly. Moreover, the window panels 28, 29 have rollers 281, 291 at their bottom ends so that the distance between the bottom ends of the window panels 28, 29 and the bottom concaved rails 241 is reduced to 1 mm. As such, sealing can be made easily to prevent intrusion of water and dust, and the height of the inner wall 2401 of the bottom jamb member 24 may be reduced. Water entering the jamb frame assembly 2 can be directed towards the water outlet holes 244 by virtue of the draining holes 242 and the inclined partition member 243.
Since the sash cap plate 211 is movable, it can be moved upward or downward to disengage or engage the tracks 2110 from or into the top ends of the window panels 28, 29. When disengaged from the tracks 2110, the top ends of the window panels 28, 29 are permitted to move easily in the top jamb member 21, thereby facilitating the loading and unloading operations. Since the height of the inner wall 2401 of the bottom jamb member 24 is reduced, and since the top jamb member 21 facilitates the movement of the window panels 28, 29, the inner window panel 29 can be unloaded before detaching the outer window panel 28 and the window screen 27.

Claims

A sliding-type window frame for mounting a window panel assembly (27, 28), said window frame including a jamb frame assembly (2), said jamb frame assembly (2) including a top jamb member (21), a bottom jamb member (24), and two upright side jamb members (22)interconnecting said top and bottom jamb members (21, 24) , characterized in that:

said top jamb member (21) has a top channel body (210) which confines a space (2106) for receiving a top end of the window panel assembly (27, 28) and which has two opposites ends respectively connected to said side jamb members (22), and a sash cap plate (211) which is mounted movably to said top channel body (210) inside said space (2106) and which extends between said side jamb members (22), said sash cap plate (211) having at least one top track member (2110) being adapted to engage slidably the top end of the window panel assembly (27, 28) when said sash cap plate (211) is in a first position, said sash cap plate (211) being movable upward from said first position to a second position so as to move said top track member (2110) away from the top end of the window panel assembly (27, 28), thereby facilitating loading and unloading of the window panel assembly (27, 28) into and from said jamb frame assembly (2).
The sliding-type window frame according to Claim 1, further characterized by a mechanism (25, 221, 223) for positioning said sash cap plate (211) in said first or second position.
The sliding-type window frame according to Claim 2, further characterized in that said mechanism (25, 221, 223) comprises a latch member (25) mounted slideably to said sash cap plate (211) adjacent to one of said side jamb members (22) and having an engaging end, and a lower latch hole (221) and a higher latch hole (223) provided in said one of said side jamb members (22) to receive releasably said engaging end of said latch member (25) when said sash cap plate (211) is in said first and second positions, respectively.
The sliding-type window frame according to Claim 1, further characterized by a guide (216, 222) for guiding said sash cap plate (211) to move in a vertical direction without tilting.
The sliding-type window frame according to Claim 4, further characterized in that said guide comprises two vertical guide slots (222) provided respectively in said side jamb members (22), and two engagement members (216) projecting from two opposing ends of said sash cap plate (211) towards said side jamb members (22) so as to slide in said guide slots (222).
The sliding-type window frame according to Claim 2, further characterized by a pressing member (26) which is mounted to said sash cap plate (211) for pressing downward said sash cap plate (211) against the top end of the window panel assembly (27, 28) when said sash cap plate (211) is in said first position.
The sliding-type window frame according to Claim 6, further characterized in that said top channel body (210) has a top wall (2101) extending above said sash cap plate (211), and two opposite guide walls (2102) extending downwardly from two opposite ends of said top wall (2101), said guide walls (2102) having inwardly projecting end flanges (214), said sash cap plate (211) being movable between said end flanges (214) and said top wall (2101).
The sliding-type window frame according to Claim 7, further characterized in that said pressing member (26) includes a mounting frame (261) mounted to said sash cap plate (211), and a press plate (262) having a proximal end (2621) hinged to said mounting frame (261), and a distal bearing end (2622), said sash cap plate (211) being turnable to a pressing position where said press plate (262) turns upright from said mounting frame (261) such that said distal bearing end (2622) and said proximal end (2621) push said top wall (2101) and said sash cap plate (211), respectively.
The sliding type window frame according to Claim 8, further characterized in that said pressing member (26) has a retaining member (264, 266) for retaining said press plate (262) in said pressing position.
The sliding type window frame according to Claim 1, further characterized in that said bottom jamb member (24) has a bottom channel body (240) which extends between said side jamb members (22) and which has at least one longitudinally extending concaved rail (241) for receiving a bottom end of the window panel assembly (27, 28), said concaved rail (241) having a confining wall of an arc-shaped cross-section, and a water draining hole (242) at a lowermost end of said confining wall.
The sliding-type window frame according to Claim 10, further characterized in that said bottom channel body (240) has inner and outer walls (2401, 2402) and a bottom wall (2403) which cooperate to form a channel, said concaved rail (241) being provided between said inner and outer walls (2401, 2402) above said bottom wall (2403), said bottom channel body (240) further having an inclined partition member (243) extending from said inner wall (2401) to said outer wall (2402) between said concaved rail (241) and said bottom wall (2403), said outer wall (2402) having a water outlet hole (244) disposed at a level lower than said water draining hole (242), said partition member (243) cooperating with said inner and outer walls (2401, 2402) to confine a water receiving space (2404) that is communicated with said water draining hole (242) and said water outlet hole (244) and inclining downwardly and outwardly to direct water to flow towards said water outlet hole (244).
The sliding type window frame according to Claim 1, further characterized by integral anchors (213, 219, 247, 248) which project outwardly from said top and bottom channel bodies (210, 240).