Thermally improved window frame and sash

Claim 2

A thermally-improved window or door comprising, in combination, a frame, a window sash supported in said frame, said frame being of extruded metal and comprising an upper header member, a relatively spaced, parallel lower sill member, and a pair of spaced parallel stile members interjoining the ends of said header and said sill members, said header, sill and stile members each being of uniform cross-sectional shape along their lengths, the cross-sectional shapes of each of said header, sill and stile members being of such sinuous configuration as to define a plurality of projections projecting outwardly to each side, alternately, in accordion-like fashion, whereby the path of conductive heat flowing through the metal of said frame between the inside and outside thereof will be substantially different from the absolute distance between the inside and the outside of said window frame.

Claim 3

A thermally-improved window or door as defined in claim 1, wherein said header, sill and stile members are provided with flat, elongate, interior trim portions having outer surface portions lying in a substantially common plane at the inside of the window frame.

Claim 4

A thermally-improved window or door as defined in claim 2, including a plurality of synthetic plastic barrier strip members, of shallow U-shape in cross-section, one for each of said header, sill and stile members, means for removably attaching said barrier strip members to the interior trim portions of their respective header, sill and stile members to define conduit chambers therebetween for the flow of air, the through flow of air being convected through said conduit chambers from lower end portions to upper end portions of the frame.

Claim 5

A thermally-improved window or door as defined in claim 2, wherein said barrier strip members are formed with opposed, rightangular leg portions the outer ends of which are provided with opposed, co-extensive recesses, said means for removably attaching said barrier strip members to their respective header, sill and stile members being comprised of said recesses, said barrier strips being transversely flexible to permit interhooking engagement within said recesses of opposite marginal edge portions along the respective trim portions.

Claim 6

A thermally-improved window or door as defined in claim 1, wherein said window sash comprises a pair of window panes of equal size, means for retaining said window panes in spaced, parallel relation, and supporting framework peripherally surrounding said spaced parallel window panes, means for hermetically sealing the interior space defined by said spaced, parallel, window panes, said retaining means comprising a plurality of elongated spacer rod assemblies disposed between marginal inner surface portions of said window panes, each of said spacer rods comprising an outer tube and an inner tube telescopingly receiveD within said outer tube, and a quantity of a granular desiccant within each of said inner tubes, whereby said outer tubes can readily be charged with the dry desicant just prior to assembly of the window sash to minimize hygroscopic absorption of said desiccant prior to its being incorporated in the hermetically sealed window sash.

Claim 7

A thermally-improved window or door as defined in claim 5, wherein said outer tubes are of a tough, synthetic plastic material, and wherein said inner tubes are of thin-walled metal.

Claim 8

A thermally-improved window or door as defined in claim 6, wherein said outer tubes are formed along one side so as to afford a secure bond with sealing means, said portions merging into opposed, short, spaced, parallel, side wall portions, the outer ends of said side wall portions merging with a substantially flat, perpendicularly-extending bridging wall portion, said side wall portions at their outer ends and at their outsides being integrally formed with opposed, angularly-outwardly-extending, tapered, resilient fin portions, which inhibit hydro-carbon vapor migration from the sealing agent.

Claim 9

A thermally-improved window or door as defined in claim 1, wherein said sash comprises an assembly of rectangular window panes of equal size, means for retaining said window panes in spaced, parallel aligned relation, a supporting framework peripherally-surrounding said spaced, parallel window panes, said supporting framework comprising a peripheral cap strip of U-shaped cross-sectional configuration fitted over marginal outer edge portions along each edge of said spaced parallel window panes, said cap strips being fabricated of a synthetic plastic material, a framework channel member of U-shaped cross-sectional configuration fitted over and along each of said cap strips in clamping relation with respect thereto, said framework channel members each comprising a web-wall portion extending from side-to-side between said window panes, said web portions each being of sinuous cross-sectional shape.

Claim 10

A thermally-improved window or door as defined in claim 1, comprising a plurality of said window sashes supported in said frame, each of said sashes comprising a single window pane.

Claim 11

A thermally-improved window or door as defined in claim 1, comprising a plurality of said window sashes supported in said frame, each of said sashes comprising a pair of spaced parallel window panes for enhanced thermal insulation.

Claim 12

A thermally-improved window or door comprising, in combination, a frame, a window sash supported in said frame, said window sash comprising a pair of window panes of equal size, means for retaining said window panes in spaced, parallel relation, a supporting framework peripherally surrounding said spaced, parallel window panes, means for hermetically sealing the interior space defined by said spaced, parallel, window panes, a charge of carbon dioxide gas within said space, said frame being of extruded metal and comprising an upper header member, a relatively spaced, parallel lower sill member, and a pair of spaced parallel stile members interjoining the ends of said header and said sill members, said header, sill and stile members each being of uniform cross-sectional shape along their lengths, the cross-sectional shapes of each of said header, sill and stile members being of such sinuous configuration as to define a plurality of projections outwardly to each side, alternately, in accordion-like fashion, whereby the path of conductive heat flowing through the metal of said frame between the inside and outside thereof will be substantially different from the absolute distance between the inside and the outside of said window frame.

Claim 13

A thermally-improved window or door comprising, in combination, a frame, a window sash supported in said frame, said window sash comprising a pair of window panes of equal size, means for retaining said window panes in spaced, parallel relation, a supporting framework peripherally surrounding said spaced, parallel window panes, means for hermetically sealing the interior space defined by said spaced, parallel, window panes, a charge of carbon dioxide gas within said space, said frame being of extruded metal and comprising an upper header member, a relatively spaced, parallel lower sill member, and a pair of spaced parallel stile members interjoining the ends of said header and said sill members, said header, sill and stile members each being of uniform cross-sectional shape along their lengths, the cross-sectional shapes of each of said header, sill and stile members being of such sinuous configuration as to define a plurality of projections outwardly to each side, alternately, in accordion-like fashion, whereby the path of conductive heat flowing through the metal of said frame between the inside and outside thereof will be substantially different from the absolute distance between the inside and the outside of said window frame.