Abrami, Philip (Brooklyn, NY)
Abrami, Frank (Seaford, NY)

04/806414

06/15/1971

03/12/1969

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49/5

49/114, 49/65

E06B3/50; E06B7/04; E06B3/32; E06B7/02; E05C7/02

49/65,98,103,337,114

Taylor, Dennis L.

I claim

1. A window construction comprising a support defined by a first wall and a second wall located adjacent each other, said support having a main window opening therethrough respectively providing first and second operative window openings in said first and second walls, a first and second window respectively operatively arranged in said operative window openings for opening and closing movements between a closed and an opened position with respect to said operative window openings which define a tortuous flow path through said main window opening with said windows in their open positions, and a linkage means interconnected between said windows operatively effective to produce prescribed first and second movement sequences during said opening and said closing movements of said windows, said linkage means including a rotatably mounted main linkage member and lost-motion linkage means operatively interconnected between said main linkage member and said first window, said lost-motion linkage means during said first movement sequence permitting opening movement only of said first window to a selected partially opened position with said main linkage member remaining stationary, said main linkage member being effective during a rotatable traverse of imparting movement simultaneously to said first and second windows thereby during said second movement sequence permitting continued opening movement of said first window simultaneously with opening movement of said second window and during said closing movements said movement sequences occurring in reverse order with said second window partaking of closing movement into its fully closed position prior to said first window.

2. A window construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second walls cooperate to define a compartment at least along one side of and located adjacent said main window opening and said linkage means is disposed therein oriented in a plane transverse to said windows and in a clearance position removed from said main window opening.

3. A window construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said linkage means includes a closing-movement spring operatively connected to said main linkage member to yieldingly oppose the simultaneous opening movements of said windows and effective to provide a force urgency during the closing movement of said second window to thereby contribute to the firm seating of said second window within its cooperating window opening in the closed position of said second window.

4. A window construction as defined in claim 3 wherein said closing-movement spring has a prescribed orientation relative to said main linkage member so as to subtend in cooperation therewith an angle of varying extent during rotative movement of said main linkage member, said prescribed orientation being that in which said subtended angle is greatest in the position of movement of said main linkage member providing said closed position of said second window, whereby the effective force urgency of said spring on said window is correspondingly of maximum extent to effectively seat said second window within its cooperating window opening.

5. A window construction as defined in claim 1, wherein said opening and closing movements between said closed and opened position with respect to said operative window opening comprises pivotal opening and closing movements.

6. In combination, at least two superposed window constructions each defined by a first wall and a second wall located adjacent each other, said support having a main window opening therethrough respectively providing first and second operative window openings in said first and second walls, a first and second window respectively operatively arranged in said operative window openings for pivotal opening and closing movements between a closed and an opened position with respect to said operative window openings, and a linkage means interconnected between said window operatively effective to produce prescribed first and second movement sequences during said opening and said closing movements of said windows, said linkage means including a rotatably mounted main linkage member and lost-motion linkage means operatively interconnected between said main linkage member and said first window, said lost-motion linkage means during said first movement sequence permitting opening movement only of said first window to a selected partially opened position with said main linkage member remaining stationary, said main linkage member being effective during a rotatable traverse of imparting movement simultaneously to said first and second windows thereby during said second movement sequence permitting continued opening movement of said first window simultaneously with opening movement of said second window, and during said closing movements said movement sequences occurring in reverse order with said second window partaking of closing movement into its fully closed position prior to said first window, said support for said window constructions further defining a flow passage therebetween in communication at opposite ends with said main window openings and said window constructions being operatively arranged with respect to each other in said support such that said first windows of each are in opposite walls of said support, whereby the window positions after said first movement sequences of said first windows provide a tortuous flow path defined by said one main window opening, said flow passage, and said other main window opening.

The present invention relates generally to improvements in ventilation systems, and more particularly to an improved window construction.

It is already well known, as exemplified by U.S. Pats. No. 1,352,971 and 2,226,274, to provide a window construction employing two adjacently positioned windows which further are operatively arranged, as by an appropriate interconnecting linkage, to partake of cooperating opening and closing movements which enhance ventilation. Thus, for example, the windows of the cited patents are readily placed in selected open positions that define a tortuous flow path through the window opening and, among other advantages, thereby minimizes drafts and the entry of air pollution to the building interior. Despite these noteworthy benefits, however, the windows of the patents and of the known prior art have not gained wide acceptance and use. It is believed that this is due to dissatisfaction with malfunctioning which results from the dependence of the operation of one window on the other and the lack of sufficient synchronization therebetween.

Broadly, it is an object to provide an improved double-window construction overcoming the foregoing and other shortcomings of the prior art. Specifically, it is an object to provide a window construction having the desired cooperating movements of the windows but which nevertheless is devoid of such mechanical interdependence in the operation of the windows as to require complete and accurate synchronization. Thus, the premature seating of one window in its cooperating window opening will not, for example, adversely affect the ability to ease the other window into its fully seated and closed position. One embodiment of a window construction demonstrating objects and advantages of the present invention includes, as already noted, a pair of adjacently located windows operatively arranged to partake of cooperating opening and closing movements by an interconnected linkage mechanism, and which mechanism in turn includes a lost-motion linkage means which so controls the window movements that the windows are eased at different times into their closed position, all to the end of facilitating effective control over the movements of the individual windows.

The present invention pertains to a window construction providing a main window opening having first and second window openings formed in first and second spaced apart walls, first and second windows operatively arranged in the respective window openings for opening and closing movements between a closed and an opened position with respect to said window openings which define a tortuous flow path through the main window opening when said first and second windows are in their open positions, and a linkage means is provided which is interconnected between the windows to produce prescribed opening and closing sequences of the windows; in particular, during the opening movement sequence the first window only is moved to a partially opened positioned, subsequent opening movement of the first window simultaneously produces opening movement of the second window, during closing movement the aforesaid movement sequences occur in reverse order, whereby said second window is moved into its fully closed position prior to that of said first window. Thus, the windows are capable of being independently sealed. Moreover, the feature of providing two separate spaced apart windows provides improved insulation from outside environment when using either the single or double window construction of the present invention.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiments in accordance with the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1--3 illustrate a first embodiment of the window construction according to the present invention, being more particularly illustrations thereof in progressive positions of movement and all in section as if taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 2A. Specifically, FIG. 1 is a partial side elevational view, in section, showing the two windows of the construction in their closed position;

FIG. 2 is similarly a side elevational view, taken as already noted on line 2-2 of FIG. 2A, showing one window in a selected partially opened position;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view projected from FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is similarly a sectioned side elevational view illustrating both windows in their open position; and

FIG. 4 is a sectioned side elevational view of a second embodiment of a window construction according to the present invention, in which positions of movement of the windows are illustrated in full line and also by reference lines in phantom perspective.

Reference is now made to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1, 2, 2A and 3, wherein there is shown a first embodiment of a window construction, generally designated 10, demonstrating features and advantages of the present invention. For clarity sake, many of the structural features not necessary to an understanding of the construction or operation of the present invention have been either omitted, simplified or shown diagrammatically. This is particularly true for the vertical support mounting the window construction 10, which support, generally designated 12, for present purposes may be thought of as an external building wall construction, an interior wall construction or the like. For present purposes, support 12 will be understood to be an exterior building wall construction defined by interior and exterior walls 12a, 12b, respectively, located adjacent and in substantially parallel relationship as illustrated and having connected therebetween transverse walls 12c in an appropriate rectangular shape which bounds a main window opening M through the support 12. Opening M, in turn, provides in each of the planes of the walls 12a, 12b, a pair of operative window openings 14, 16 with which windows 18 and 20 are operatively arranged, in a manner as will be described in greater detail subsequently, to be pivotally movable between open and closed positions.

The overall arrangement of the windows 18, 20 with respect to each other and to the cooperating window openings 14, 16, is such that the horizontally oriented pivot axis for each window is located adjacent opposite ends of the window openings, the pivot axis 18a of window 18 being oriented horizontally across the bottom of window opening 14 and the pivot axis 20a of window 20 being horizontally oriented across the upper end of window opening 16. Consequently, when the windows 18, 20 are in their open positions with respect to the openings 14, 16, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the flow path through the main window opening M is necessarily of a tortuous character or nature which has been found to promote effective ventilation wherein drafts and dust contamination are significantly minimized, to name but a few of the resulting advantages.

Further, of particular significance in the operation of the window construction 10 is the movement of the windows 18 and 20, while generally partaking of opening or closing movement with respect to the opening 14, 16, in first and second prescribed movement sequences as will now be described. Specifically, window 18, from its closed position as illustrated in FIG. 1, is movable during a first movement sequence into the selected partially open position as illustrated in FIG. 2 while, during this movement sequence, the other window 20 remains stationary and in its closed position. During a second movement sequence, however, window 18 is actuated through continued opening movement and during this movement sequence the other window 20 simultaneously partakes of opening movement into its open position, all as illustrated in FIG. 3. Also as will be readily apparent as the description proceeds, during closing movement of the windows 18 and 20, the movement sequences are reversed, namely, the windows 18 and 20 first move from their open positions as illustrated in FIG. 3 into the closed positions as illustrated in FIG. 2 wherein window 20 is in its fully closed position and window 18 is yet in a partially open position and then during the remaining movement sequence window 18 moves into its fully closed position as illustrated in FIG. 1. The significance of the movement of the windows 18 and 20 in movement sequences as just generally described is that it provides great flexibility in the use of the windows for ventilation purposes and also contributes to an inherent ability to insure that both of the windows 18 and 20 are firmly seated in their closed position within their respective cooperating window openings 14 and 16. This is in sharp distinction with the prior art wherein cooperating windows are always moving simultaneously through opening and closing movements and in which therefore accurate synchronization is required since the seating of one window in its closed position within a window opening has the disadvantage of rendering ineffective the linkage mechanisms controlling the movements of the windows so that the other window, if not firmly seated, cannot be placed in a fully closed position.

Attention is now directed to an exemplary preferred linkage mechanism, generally designated 22, for achieving window movement in the sequences as described above. The linkage mechanism 22 is advantageously stored in an out-of-the-way compartment located in the support 12 alongside a vertical side of the main window opening M. As illustrated, each of the windows 18, 20, have connecting lugs 22a, 22b, extending into the main window opening M which are pivotally connected to the linkage mechanism 22, as by the pivot pin 24. Specifically, the linkage mechanism 22 includes as a major element a main linkage member 22c rotatably mounted at is center to the support 12, as at 26, and effective upon rotative movement about the axis 26 in a clockwise direction of transmitting opening movement of the window 18 to window 20 during the second movement sequence and, upon rotative movement in a counterclockwise direction, of transmitting closing movement of the window 18 to window 20 also during the second movement sequence. To this end, a link 22d is pivotally connected between the previously noted connecting lug 22b and the upper end of the main linkage member 22c while the operative connection between the window 18 to the main linkage member 22c is achieved by a lost-motion linkage, generally designated 28.

In a preferred form as illustrated herein, the lost-motion linkage 28 includes a pair of links 28a and 28b pivotally connected to each other, as at 30, and at their respective ends to the previously noted window connecting lug 22a and the lower end of the main linkage member 22c. The links 28a, 28b are of a sufficient length relative to the distance between the connecting lug 22a and the lower end of the main linkage member 22c that in the closed position of the windows 18, 20 these links 28a, 28b assume a position as illustrated in FIG. 1 wherein they subtend an angle of approximately 90°. More significant, the links 28a, 28b in their starting position as illustrated in FIG. 1 cooperate to define a supplementary angle of 90° between the cooperating engaging structure 32 consisting of a projection 32a on link 28a and a stop 32b on line 28b which extends into the path of movement of the projection 32a. Thus, as generally understood, pivotal movement of link 28a about the axis 30 is permitted until engaging contact is made between the projection 32a and stop 32b after which the two links 28a, 28b function as a single rigid link connected between the window connecting lug 22a and the main linkage member 22c. Thus, until the aforesaid engaging contact is made between the parts of the engaging structure 32, window 18 partakes of pivotal opening movement about the axis 18a and will thus move from its closed position as illustrated in FIG. 1 into its partially open position as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Once the links 28a, 28b function as a single rigid link, however, continued pivotal opening movement of window 18 is effective in causing clockwise rotation of the main linkage member 22c about the rotative axis 26. This rotative movement in turn produces opening pivotal movement of window 20 about the pivotal axis 20a and provides the open positions of the windows 18, 20, as illustrated in FIG. 3. As already noted, in the open positions of the windows 18, 20 a tortuous flow pattern is required through the main window opening M. Also, during closing movement of the windows 18, 20 as results from counterclockwise rotation of the main linkage member 22c, the outer window 20 and the inner window 18 will move simultaneously in cooperation with this counterclockwise movement until outer window 20 is firmly seated in its window opening 16. Thereafter, continued pivotal movement of inner window 18 is possible and occurs to the extent permitted by pivotal movements of the links 28a, 28b relative to each other about the pivot axis 30 and until the inner window 18, as a consequence, is moved into its closed position within the window opening 14.

At this point in the description, note should be taken of the helical spring 34 which yieldingly opposes opening movements of the windows 18,20 during the second movement sequence and which has a move significant function in the firm seating of window 20 in its closed position within the window opening 16, all as will now be described in detail. Specifically, the spring 34 is connected at one end 24 to the lower movable end of the main linkage member 22c and, at its other end 34a, is connected to the support 12. By a comparison particularly of FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be readily observed that the orientation of the spring 34 with respect to the main linkage member 22c is such as to cooperate therewith in subtending an angle of varying extent, the subtended angle in the open position of window 20 being at a minimum (as illustrated in FIG. 3) and in the closed position of the window 20 at a maximum (as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2). This, as will be generally understood, produces a force urgency in the spring 34 which together with the subtended angle determines the effective force on member 22c and results in a maximum moment for the main linkage member 22c as the maximum angle is approached and thus as the window 20 eases into its closed position within the window opening 16. Thus, spring 34 contributes a maximum force urgency at an appropriate time to provide a firm seating of the window 20 within its cooperating window opening 16; conversely, spring 34 offers diminishing resistance to window 20 during its opening pivotal traverse.

The present invention contemplates movement of the inner window 18 through its pivotal traverses either by hand or by any one of numerous appropriate mechanical arrangements. In the illustrated embodiment, the mechanical arrangement shown consists of a gear segment 36 affixed in a depending position from the bottom of window 18 and in meshing engagement with a worm gear 38 appropriately journaled for rotation in a combination support and bearing 40 fixed in place on the support 12, and which worm gear has an accessible turning handle 38a which is adapted to be hand rotated and, in a well understood manner, thereby produce pivotal movement of the window 28 about the pivot axis 18a. Naturally, depending upon the direction of rotation of the worm gear 38 window 18 will be moved through corresponding pivotal closing or opening movement with respect to the window opening 14.

Reference is now made to the second window embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 in which similar structural features are designated by the same but primed reference numerals. For brevity sake, structural features of embodiment 10' already referred to in the description of embodiment 10 will not be repeated. This window construction embodiment differs from the embodiment already described mainly in that it consists of two cooperating pairs of windows 18', 20' in which, more particularly, the window 18' which moves during the first movement sequence is located in the upper pair in the interior wall 12a' and, in the lower pair in the exterior wall 12b'. Thus, with all of the windows 18', 20' in their open position, ventilation is possible through both main window openings M'.

An additional significant ventilation condition is possible, however, which is best understood by assuming the windows 18', 20' in their closed positions. From this starting condition, upper window 18' is of course movable from its closed to its partially open position which, as already noted, entails pivotal movement of this window between positions of movement identified in FIG. 4 by the reference lines identified as A and B. At this time of course, upper window 20' is in its closed position which is represented in FIG. 4 by the reference line identified as C, as is also lower windows 18', 20' also represented by the reference lines similarly designated C. It is contemplated, however, that the user will hand manipulate the lower handle 38a' so that lower window 18' is actuated through pivotal opening movement into its partially open position represented by the reference line B. This therefore provides a ventilation flow passage represented by the aligned arrows individually and collectively identified as E for which the partial open position of the lower outer window 18' is the entrance opening, the walls 12a', 12b' define a central flow passage 42, and the partial open position of the upper inner window 18' is the exit opening into the interior of the building construction. Thus, with a double arrangement of window constructions, as exemplified by the embodiment 10', the tortuous flow path through the windows is significantly elongated and the benefits derived therefrom correspondingly increased.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.