US2892220A - Rotating window weather seal - Google Patents

Description

June 30, 1959 R. A. GILLESPIE ROTATING WINDOW WEATHER SEAL P055622 ,4. 64:55 m- 1 y M Q m Arraeway Filed Feb. 24, 1958 United States Patent ROTATING WINDOW WEATHER SEAL Russell A. Gillespie, Indianapolis, Ind, assignor to Engineering Metal Products Corporation, Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application February 24, 1958, Serial No. 716,908

Claims. (CI. 20-53) This invention relates to means for providing a weather seal on windows which are mounted to rotate on a vertical axis, such as on a central vertical axis, whereby the seal may be removed or broken from engagement for the purpose of rotating the window primarily to wash it on the outside and then return the window to its normal position, all in such manner that the seal may be used over and over again without any substantial deterioration for many years at least.

This invention primarily comprises a flexible strip of sealing material which is normally anchored by a foot in the window frame and will extend across the gap between the window sash and the frame and interlock by an end portion with the sash, and be removable from .its interlocking connection with the sash while the other end remains fixed all in a manner such that the strip will not interfere with the opening and closing of the window.

In modern buildings, air conditioning is employed which means the windows are not intended to be open to let in outside air either in winter or in summertime. However in tall buildings, such as in ofiice buildings, it is necessary to wash the outersides of the windows as well as the insides from time to time, and therefore it is not practical to fix the window sash in position, but to provide means for rotating that window sothat the outside may be turned to come on the inside of the building for cleaning purposes, following which the window may be returned to have that side again presented outwardly of the building.

Such a window 'sash mounting presents a problem in sealing against the entrance of air and dust to the end that the inside air will not be contaminated by the outside air and the material which may be carried by it. The air conditioning system will of course provide the necessary interchange of air within the space inside of the window, and heating of course will be had all in the usual and well known manner.

Therefore the solution of the problem of sealing the window against the entrance of outside air and contaminations has to be made by a separable member releasable from the window or the window frame as the window may be rotated. The invention involves the solution of that problem, having for its primary purpose the provision of a tape of flexible material which will carry a foot to be held by either the sash or the frame, herein described as being held by the frame, and to carry what may be termed a head which is releasably engaged around the perimeter of the sash.

Further advantages of the invention reside in the fact that tools are not required to release the sealing tape from the sash, nor are tools required to restore it to its sealing condition in engagement with the sash.

Of course the tape'will have that purpose of'eifecting a complete and tight seal at all times when the window is not in the rotated position but is in its normal position of usage.

The invention is described in reference to the accompartying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a fragmentary tion is applied;

Fig. 2 is a muchenlarged view in section on the line 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail in further enlarged scale of the sealing means, shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a view in transverse section of a modified form of the sealing tape;

Fig. 5 is a detail in transverse section through the sash and frame members showing the modified form of tape mounted in sealing position;

Fig. 6 is a detail in section of a further modified form of the sealing tape in mounted, sealing position; and

Fig. 7 is a detail in section of a still further modified form of the sealing tape inmounted, sealing position.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, a frame generally designated by the numeral 10 carries a window sash generally designated by the numeral 11 carrying a window glass '12. The frame and sash members are commonly made out of extruded metal forms as indicated in Fig. 2.

The sash 11 is mounted in most instances to be carried by the frame 10 on trunnions extending vertically both upwardly and downwardly from the sash 11 (not shown). It is suflicient to point out that the sash 11 moves past the frame 10 in theopening therethrough. This means that there will be a gap 13 between the perimeter of the sash 11 and the opposing wall 14 of the frame. It is this gap 13 which needs to be closed and sealed off to prevent thetransmission of air therethrough.

A flexible sealing strip generally designated by the numeral 15 is formed to have a foot 16 engageable within a T-slot 17 of the frame it). The foot .16 is preferably made to be somewhat smaller in its dimensions than are the dimensions of the slot 17 so that the foot 16 may be inserted therein, and to this end, the foot 16 has a portion 17a longer on the one side than on the other side, this other side 17b having an under rounded surface.

The strip 15 extends by a neck 18 from the slot 17, and is formed to have a major length 19 of a thickness reduced from that of the neck 18, the neck thickness 18 being continued around through the portion 20 to merge into the length 19 immediately at one side of the slot 17.

The tape 15 is thus initially formed to have the length 19 extending approximately in parallelism with the foot 16, and preferably inclined somewhat downwardly toward the plane of the underside thereof.

On the side of the tape 15 and toward the outer end portion of the length 19, there is turned therefrom a tongue 21 on the outer end of which there .is a head 22, in cross-section "shaped somewhat as an arrowhead. There are two projecting shoulders fromthe underside of the head 22, namely 23 and 24 extending respectively from opposite sides of the tongue 21. Preferably the member 21 is provided with a hollow interior such as by the slot 25 extending lengthwiseof that member.

It is to be understood that the tape 15 is made in length at least equal to a side of the glass carrying frame 11. Normally the tape 15 will be positioned in reference to the frame 10 as indicated by the solid lines in Fig. 3, and by the dash lines in Fig. 2. Referring to Fig. 2, the length 19 has been bent around as indicated from the dash line position to the solid line, and correspondingly in Fig. 3 from the solid line position to the dash line position. In carrying the tape around to the position shown in Fig. 2, the head 22 has been forcibly pressed into a T-slot 26 through the restricted entry slot 27, the interior of the T-slot 26 being herein shown as rounded from the rear or innermost portion to shoulders 28 and 29 provided on each side of the entry slot 27, Fig. 3. The slot 26 is sufficiently deep, so that the shoulders '23 and 24 of the head '22 may be carried on through the entry slot '27 and expand outwardly one from the other 3 to come behind the shoulders 28 and 29 whereby the tape 15 will then be held into position as indicated in Fig. 2. There is a further sealing effect had by reason of the fact that the tape15 has a short length 30 extending outwardly beyond the member 21 in the plane of the length 19, this portion 30 having a beveled end 31 which is inserted under the overhanging shoulder 32 of the sash 11, Fig. 3.

As will be noted in the drawing, the tape 15 is mounted on that portion of the frame which will permit the tape to be exposed on the inner side of the window sash 11 where it can be manipulated as above indicated. There may be an additional sealing means 33 interposed between the sash 11 toward its outer face and toward the outer face of the frame 10, Fig. 2. However this is in addition, if it be employed, to the sealing tape 15. The primary purpose of using the sealing means 33 would be to prevent water, snow and dirt from accumulating in a channel 34 of the frame 10 where such channel is employed in the extruded metal parts.

Reliance is placed in the form of the strip 15 above described on its formation in the shape shown in Figs. 2 and 3 to position the tape 15 along the edge of the frame 10 as indicated in Fig. 3 when it is released from the sash 11 to permit swinging of the sash as above indicated. In other words it is desirable to have the head 22 well down out of the way so that it will not be damaged nor will it obstruct the rocking of the sash.

In order to release the tape 15 from the sash 11, a tab 35 is provided to be carried by the tape 15, in a fixed manner, to extend across a small area of the sash 11 so that this tab 35 may be grasped as a means for pulling the head 22 out of the T-slot 26 whereupon the tape may be peeled back from the engagement with the sash 11. The intersections of the end and side lengths of tape about the sash 11 may be either in a preformed integral connection, or may be left disengaged and merely one length abutted against the other.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, a modified form of the tape is shown, herein designated in general by the numeral 15a. The distinction between the form 1511 and the form 15 resides simply in the angularity of the length 19a in reference to the foot 16. Here the length 19a extends at right angles to the foot 16, and this is done for a mounting of the foot in an inner side portion of the frame 10a instead of in the inner edge portion as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In this mounting as shown in Fig. 5, the tape 15a will normally extend from the frame 10a in the dash line position, since it is originally formed in that condition, and then is bent around to engage in the T-slot 26 as above indicated to come into the solid line position, Fig. 5. 7

Referring to Fig. 6, there is shown a further modified form of the mounting of the tape herein designated by the numeral 15b. The tape 15b has the foot 16 fitting in the T-slot 17, and extending therefrom, from the inner edge of the frame 10b by a thick neck 18b, but in this form the tape 15b takes off by the length 19b normally in parallel relation to the plane of the under side of the foot 16, the tape length 1% then tending to curve outwardly from the edge of the frame 10b in the plane of and parallel with the sash 11 inner side. This T-slot 17 is mounted near the inside face 10c of the frame 16b and is the T-slot as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In other Words, in this form shown in Fig. 6, the tape 15b tends to bear compressibly against the sash 11, and readily positions itself so that the head 22 may be pushed into the slot 26 to seat the outer end portion of the tape 15b snugly against the sash 11.

When the tape 15b is to be disengaged from the sash 11, the tab 35 may be grasped to pull the head 22 from the slot 26, and after the tape 15b has been peeled out of the slot 26 and is free from the sash 11, it may then be pushed downwardly into the longitudinal cavity 36 which extends entirely around theframe 10b in a posi- .4 tion outwardly from the face 10c in respect to the T- slot 17. This cavity 36 is sufiicient to permit the head 22 to enter therein and the tape 15b to be pushed completely within with the exception of a short length extending over to the neck 18b. Thus the tape 15b is stored in a position completely out of the way and beyond interference with the opening of the sash 11. It may be pulled back out of that cavity 36 by grasping the tab 35 so that the tape 15b may then be restored to its sealing position after the sash 11 has been returned to its closed condition. In the mounting as shown in Fig. 6, the tape 15b will normally extend from the frame 10b in substantially the solid line position since it is originally formed in the condition, and then is bent downwardly to be tucked into the cavity 36 as above indicated to come into the dash line position.

A still further modified form of the mounting of the tape is shown in Fig. 7, wherein the tape is generally designated by the numeral 15c. The tape 15c also has the head 22 pushed into the slot 26 of the sash 11 to seat the outer end portion of the tape thereagainst, but here a cylindrical foot member 37 replaces the foot 16 on the opposite end of the major length 190 so that the foot member 37 may pivot within a cylindrical slot 38 in the frame 10d. The slot 38 envelops a major length of the circumference of the foot member 37, thereby retaining the member 37 therewithin and limiting the degree of travel of the tape 15c toward and away from the sash 11. Here the length 190 is not a planar length but is rather formed at an approximate central zone in a position out wardly from the plane of the inner side of the sash 11 to connect with the member 37 therebelow. Preferably the member 37 is provided with a hollow interior such as by the aperture 39 extending lengthwise therethrough.

When the tape 15c is to be disengaged from the sash 11, the tab 35 may be grasped to pull the head 22 from the slot 26, in effect freeing the tape from the sash 11 and permitting the tape 15c to swing downwardly to the dash line position, Fig. 7. In the form of the invention as shown in Fig. 7, the tape 150 does not normally compressibly bear against the sash 11, nor is it ever in a deformed condition, either in the sealing position or in the disengaged position, since the foot member 37 pivots within the slot 38 thus allowing the tape 150 to swing to and from the sash 11.

Thus it is to be seen that by carrying the seal entirely around the gap 13, across the top and bottom sides of the sash 11 and across the vertical sides thereof, a complete closure of that gap is had, and air will not be permitted to enter the room from that gap by reason of the double seal obtained, in fact a triple seal in effect. It is to be seen that the air tending to enter from the outside of the sash 11 through the gap 13, if it escapes past the seal 33 will have to travel against the tape 15, and then spread into directions, first in trying to go around the member 21, around the head 22 past the shoulders 23 and 24 and then out and around between the sash and the extension 30 and finally around through the abutment of the end 31 with the shoulder 32, or at the other edge of the tape 15 the air having to enter along the neck 18 into the T-slot 17 to travel around under the foot 16 and thence upwardly and around the neck again. There will be suflicient flexibility and also elasticity in the tape 15 to cause it to be pulled outwardly slightly to seat the portions 17a and 17b against the shoulders of the T-slot 17.

Therefore it is to be seen that a very effective seal for the purpose indicated has been produced, and while the invention has been shown in the forms described, in more or less detail, it is obvious that structural variations may be employed all without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I therefore do not desire to be limited to those forms beyond the limitations which may be imposed by the following claims.

I claim:

1. For weather sealing between a window sash with a fixed frame, in respect to which frame the sash is rotatable, said sash having a slot around a marginal portion thereof; said frame having a slot around a marginal portion thereof; a flexible sealing tape bridging across from the frame to the sash; a foot along said tape at one edge thereof and entered and held within one of said slots; a head carried by and extending along the tape at the other edge portion and detachably entered in the other of said slots.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said sash slot is approximately T-shaped providing shoulders extending within the slot oppositely from an entry slot, and said head enters the sash slot and has oppositely extending shoulders engaging behind said slot shoulders; and said sash slot enters from the inner side of the sash.

3. The structure of claim 2 in which said sash has an overhanging shoulder along and spaced from its slot, and said tape has an edge portion extending beyond said head and engages under said overhanging shoulder.

4. The structure of claim 2 in which said frame slot is approximately T-shaped and there extends edges of said frame opposing said sash, and said tape normally tends to extend across and against one of said frame edges when said head is disengaged from said sash slot, requiring it to be bent to enter said head in the sash slot.

5. The structure of claim 2 in which said frame slot is along and around an inner side face of the frame, and said tape tends to extend normally from said face.

6. The structure of claim 2 in which said frame slot is approximately T-shaped, and said tape normally tends to extend from said frame across and against said sash inner side.

7. The structure of claim 2 in which said frame slot is approximately cylindrically shaped and said foot is approximately cylindrically shaped pivotally entering within said frame slot; said tape swingably extending from said slot to and from sealing engagement with said sash.

8. For weather sealing between a window sash and a window frame, said sash having a slot entering it from an inner face around a marginal zone thereof; said frame having a slot entering it around its marginal edge portions; a flexible tape extending from the frame to the sash; a foot extending longitudinally along one edge portion of the tape and confined within one of said slots; a head having a shoulder extending along the other edge portion of said tape and entered within the other of said slots.

9. The structure of claim 6 in which there is means for withdrawing said head from said other slot permitting movement of the sash relative to said frame.

10. The structure of claim 6 in which said head is compressible laterally of said other slot for insertion therein and withdrawal therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,507,965 Eichner May 16, 1950 2,572,124 Eichner Oct. 23, 1951 2,797,958 Podolan July 2, 1957 2,805,741 Evans et a1. Sept. 10, 1957

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