Abstract:
A drainage system for horizontally sliding closures is disclosed, especially horizontally sliding closures having a solid sill such as is typical with patio doors and the like. The drainage system includes a valve assembly having a top wall, opposed end walls and a side wall that defines a drainage aperture. The drainage aperture is normally closed by a flap which permits water to drain through the valve assembly but inhibits the infiltration of outside air. The valve assembly is mounted over a drainage slot cut through the fixed rail. To ensure most efficient drainage performance, the fixed rail must be vented. This is preferably accomplished by replacing the usual end caps for the fixed rail with slotted end caps which maintain the internal air pressure in the fixed rail at substantially atmospheric pressure. The advantage is a simple, inexpensive very effective drainage system which is suitable for new product and the retrofit of installed doors and/or windows.
Abstract:
A drainage system and method of draining extruded window sill frames (22, 72) is disclosed. The drainage system includes a drain cap (54) which provides two separate drain paths (66, 68) for the sill (22, 72). The drain cap (54) is installed in a drainage orifice in the bottom edge of the outer sill face (34). The drain cap (54) includes a ramp portion (64) for directing water draining from the front of the sill through one of the drain paths (68), water from the rear of the sill being permitted to drain through the other drain path (66). The drain cap (54) is installed using a method whereby a drainage path is formed through any longitudinal partitions in the sill (22, 72) which are intermediate the drainage orifice in the bottom of the outer sill face (34) and drain apertures (46, 48, 50, 52) in the sill surface (38). The drainage path is preferably formed using a horizontal drilling machine equipped with a drill bit (52) having at least two drill diameters for piercing two concentric holes in a single pass. Alternatively, two or more bits (74, 76) are used for drilling two or more holes which are acentric but coextensive.
Abstract:
A single set of extruded profiles is used to construct either type of window. Each window has a main frame including a sill (22), a header (26) and a pair of jambs (24) which are constructed from a single hollow multi-chambered main frame extrusion (21). Each window (20, 90) also includes at least two sashes (28, 30, 98, 100) which are likewise framed by a single multi-chambered sash extrusion profile (31). Other features of the construction kit include snap in glazing profiles (40) which permit the rapid and economical glazing of window panes, snap in guide rails (62) for supporting weather stripping (66) and guiding window sashes (28, 30, 98, 100) to provide extra versatility in the placement of guide rails (62) and weather stripping (66). A unique system for weather stripping at the meeting rails (42) is also provided whereby a slot (80) for holding weather stripping (72) is provided on the rear surface of the meeting rails (42) so that the weather stripping (72) can be wrapped around the end of the meeting rail (42) and secured by frictional engagement between the rear surface of the rail (42) and the window sash (28, 30, 98, 100).
Abstract:
A ventilated sliding closure having a ventilator integral with the frame head (20) is disclosed. The closure includes a frame (4) which consists of a frame head (20), a sill (22) and two vertical jambs (18). The frame (4) supports two or more panels (6, 8), at least one of which is a horizontally sliding panel (6). The frame head (20) includes two parallel spaced apart support rails (24, 26) which engage longitudinal grooves in the top rails (14) of each panel (6, 8). The support rails (24, 26) include apertures (50) which provide an air flow path through the frame head (20). A closure (54) of the hit-and-miss type for selectively closing the apertures (50) is preferably included in the frame head (20) to provide selective control of the ventilation.