GB2092213A - Condensation drainage for windows - Google Patents

Abstract

An elongate member of extruded plastics material for the drainage of condensed water from the interior of windows comprises a base portion (6) adapted to be secured to a window frame, an engagement portion extending upwardly with a tip (12) adapted to engage the glazing panel (20), and a drainage channel (18) extending lengthwise of the strip. The drainage member may be secured to the frame by adhesive. Drainage holes are provided by drilling through the drainage member and through the base (19) of the window frame, and a tight fitting sleeve (24) is inserted into the drilled hole. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to windows This invention is concerned with improvements relating to windows, in particular to the drainage of condensing water from the interior of windows.

Considerable difficulty is encountered by house-holders, in water condensing on the interior of windows. Such water collects on the base member of the window frame, often running onto the interior window sill, and requiring to be mopped up. Paricularly at night, when curtains are drawn, such water can be drawn by a wicking action into the curtains causing them to become stained.

Additionally, such water tends to seep between the base member of the window frame and the glazing panel, and may, if freezing occurs, crack the interior sealing strip.

Additionally, whether the window frames are of wood or metal, the continued presence of such water may have deleterious affects on the frame structure.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a window drainage member of elongate form, and comprising a base portion, a base surface of which is adapted to the secured to the base of a window frame on the interior thereof adjacent to the glazing panel of the window, an engagement portion extending upwardly from the base portion and which provides a tip adapted, when the base portion is so secured to the base of the window frame, to engage the glazing panel, and a drainage channel extending lengthwise of the strip.

Preferably, the angle between the outer face of the engagement portion in relation to the base surface is greater than 900, such that when the base portion is so secured to the base of the window frame, engagement between the tip and glazing panel will be lineal, along the length of the extremity of the tip, rather than areal.

The tip is preferably tapered, subtending (in cross-section) an angle of preferably less than 600, preferably at or less than about 450.

Preferably the member is formed from plastics material by a moulding operation, such as by extrusion, but other materials may be used if desired.

in accordance with another aspect of this invention, there is provided a method of affording drainage on the interior of a window, in which an elongate drainage member is secured to the base of the window frame on said interior with an engagement portion engaging the glazing panel of the window along a line spaced from said base, the engagement portion serving to cause water running down the glazing panel to be diverted into an elongate channel provided in the upper surface of the drainage member.

Conveniently, the drainage member is secured to the interior frame by adhesive.

Preferably means is provided to duct water collecting in said channel to the exterior of the building in which the window is provided.

Conveniently, subsequent to so securing the drainage strip to the base of the window frame, ducts are provided in the window frame communicating with the channel, whereby-water collecting in the channel may be ducted to the exterior of said building. Conveniently said ducts are provided by drilling through the drainage member and through the base member of the window frame, and a tight fitting sleeve is inserted in the drilled hole. In this manner, particularly where the window frame is of wood, water may be ducted to the exterior of said building without deleteriously affecting the window frame.

Preferably, in carrying out the method set out above, a window drainage member in accordance with said one aspect of the invention is utilised.

There will now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a drainage strip and a method of affording drainage on the interior of a window, which member and method are embodiments of this invention, and have been selected for the purposes of illustrating the invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings:~ FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating part of the drainage member; and FIGURE 2 is a sectional view illustrating the drainage member in position, in affording drainage on the interior of a window.

The drainage member which is the preferred embodiment of this invention is in the form of an elongate strip formed by extrusion from plastics material, and is of uniform cross-section, comprising a base portion 6 having a flat base surface 8, and an upwardly-extending engagement portion 10. The portion 10 is tapered at an angle of about 450, comprising a tip 12.

The angle a included between the base surface 8 and a side surface 14 is greater than 900, so that the tip 12 overhangs the base portion on the left-hand side (Figure 1).

A sloping surface 16 extends downwardly from the tip 12 towards a trough 18 provided by the member.

In the use of the drainage member, in carrying out the illustrative method, the base surface 8 and/or the upper surface of the base member 1 9 of a window frame, are coated with adhesive, and the base surface 8 is pressed against said base member with the tip in lineal engagement with the glazing panel 20. Advantageously, the drainage member being moulded from a plastics material, and having thereby a limited resilient deformability, such positioning of the drainage member involves limited resilient deformation of the engagement portion 10, ensuring good contact between the drainage member and the glazing strip, across the whole width thereof, notwithstanding irregularities in the base member of the window frame.

A number of elongate holes are then drilled through the drainage member, from the channel 18, through the base member 1 9 of the window frame, and through the window sill 22, to the exterior of the building concerned. A tight fitting sleeve 24 is then inserted into the hole, through which water may be ducted from the channel to said exterior.

Although the present invention may be used with advantage in the provision of window drainage in domestic premises, and has been described in relation to the preferred embodiment in conjunction with a wooden window frame, the invention may be used with similar advantages in commercial or industrial premises, and with metal-framed windows.

Claims (15)

1. A window drainage member of elongate form, and comprising a base portion, a base surface of which is adapted to the secured to the base of a window frame on the interior thereof adjacent to the glazing panel of the window, an engagement portion extending upwardly from the base portion and which provides a tip adapted, when the base portion is so secured to the base of the window frame, to engage the glazing panel, and a drainage channel extending lengthwise of the strip.

2. A window drainage member according to Claim 1 wherein the angle between the outer face of the engagement portion in relation to the base surface is greater than 900, whereby when the base portion is so secured to the base of the window frame, engagement between the tip and the glazing panel is lineal.

3. A window drainage member according to Claim 2 wherein the tip is tapered.

4. A window drainage member according to Claim 3 wherein the tip subtends, in cross-section, an angle of less than 600.

5. A window drainage member according to Claim 4 wherein said angle is no greater than 450.

6. A window drainage member according to any one of the preceding claims, which is formed from plastics material by a moulding operation.

7. A method of affording drainage on the interior of a window, in which an elongate drainage member is secured to the base of the window frame on the interior thereof with an engagement portion engaging the glazing panel of the window along a line spaced from said base, the engagement portion serving to cause water running down the glazing panel to be diverted into an elongate channel provided in the upper surface of the drainage member.

8. A method according to Claim 7 wherein the drainage member is secured to the interior frame by adhesive.

9. A method according to one of Claims 7 and 8 wherein means is provided to duct water collecting in said channel to the exterior of the building in which the window is provided.

10. A method according to Claim 9 wherein subsequent to so securing the drainage strip to the base of the window frame, ducts are provided in the window frame communicating with the channel, whereby water collecting in the channel is ducted to the exterior of said building.

11. A method according to Claim 10 wherein said ducts are provided by drilling through the drainage member and through the base member of the window frame, and inserting a tight-fitting sleeve into the drilled hole.

12. A method according to any one of Claims 7 to 11, involving the use of a window drainage member according to any one of Claims 1 to 6.

13. A window drainage member constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A method of affording drainage on the interior of a window, when carried out substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

15. Any novel feature or novel combination of features hereinbeforesdescribed and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.