DK180106B1

DK180106B1 - A window having interchangeable interface means and a method of providing a window

Info

Publication number: DK180106B1
Application number: DKPA201270023A
Authority: DK
Inventors: Isaksen Kaj; Nør Nielsen Thomas
Original assignee: Vkr Holding A/S
Priority date: 2012-01-13
Filing date: 2012-01-13
Publication date: 2020-05-05
Also published as: DK201270023A; DK179275B1; EP2615236A3; EP3404191B1; RU2012153576A; EP2615236A2; EP3404191A2; DK201370047A; PL2615236T3; HUE046839T2; ES2761000T3; EP2615236B1; RU2621246C2; DK2615236T3; PL3404191T3; EP3404191C0; EP3404191A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a window, such as a roof window or skylight, comprising interface means (5; 105; 15; 17; 18) for positioning along a circumference of the window. The window comprises a frame (1), and the interface means are adapted to be positioned on an internal face (2a) or an external face (3a, 4a) of the frame. The interface means comprise a climate regulating element, and the climate regulating element of the interface means is immediately interchangeable with other climate regulating elements.

Description

The present invention relates, in a first aspect, to a window and, in a second aspect, to a method of providing a window.

More specifically, the first aspect of the invention relates to a window, such as a roof window or skylight, comprising interface means for positioning along a circumference of the window, the window comprising a frame, and the interface means are adapted to be positioned on an internal face of the frame.

In this specification, an internal frame face is a face facing another frame face, whereas an external frame face is a face opposite the internal frame face of the same frame member, the frame comprising a top frame member, a bottom frame member and two side frame members.

Windows of the kind mentioned in the introduction are well known in the prior art. Such windows are marketed and sold in a variety of markets having immensely different climate challenges. In some markets, there are furthermore substantial seasonal variations in the climate. Factors such as ambient temperature, humidity, wind etc. influence the indoor climate, which should normally be as stable and comfortable as possible. Although some differentiation is possible in existing windows, there is still room for improvement as to flexibility in the choice of optimum properties of the window in regard to the outdoor and indoor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a window of the kind mentioned in the introduction, the window avoiding or mitigating at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art.

This and further objects are met by a window as described in claim 1. According to the first aspect of the invention the interface means is a climate regulating element, and the climate regulating element is immediately interchangeable with other climate regulating elements.

In this specification, a climate regulating element is an element of a window frame that enables the climate, for instance temperature, air humidity etc., in a room, into which the window leads, to be influenced in relation to a surrounding climate.

Easily interchangeable climate regulating elements provide for easy customization of the window. From a manufacturer’s point of view, that is adDK 180106 B1 vantageous since a versatile product range may be obtained with a lean range of product parts. From a user's point of view it is beneficial since the window is able to be adapted to meet his or her needs, and in some cases even after installation.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the frame comprises a top frame member, a bottom frame member and two side frame members, and the climate regulating element is adapted to be positioned on an internal face of the top frame member. A climate regulating element in this position is particularly easy to interchange, since it is easily accessible, even after installation of the window in a surrounding building structure.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the climate regulating element comprises insulating means adapted to be positioned on an internal face of the top frame member. This provides for a window with enhanced insulation properties. The interchangeability of the insulating means enables the insulation properties of the window to be customized to the user's needs. In geographical regions with high contrasts between outdoor temperature and desired indoor temperature insulation means providing excellent insulation properties may be desired, whereas users in geographical regions experiencing smaller contrasts in temperature may be content with insulation means with less excellent insulation properties.

According to the first aspect of the invention, where the climate regulating element is adapted to be positioned on an internal face of the top frame member, the climate regulating element comprises ventilation means. This may particularly be interesting for users often experiencing unpleasantly high levels of humidity indoors or otherwise with a need of ventilation in situations where the window cannot be opened or where an open window is not desirable.

According to the invention the climate regulating element comprises ventilation means, the ventilation means include at least one ventilation passage extending from a first face of the climate regulating element to a second face of the climate regulating element, which first and second faces are adjaDK 180106 B1 cent to a third face of the climate regulating element, which third face abuts the internal face of the top frame member in a mounted position of the climate regulating element, the ventilation passage providing an overall cross sectional flow area of 5-35 cm², preferably 15-25 cm². Flow areas of approximately these dimensions have proven to provide a sufficient amount of air renewal in the room into which the window leads.

According to the invention, the ventilation means comprise mechanical means, such as one or more fans, for generating an air current through the ventilation passage. This may be particularly beneficial in cases where passive ventilation caused by natural convection in the air does not result in an air renewal of a satisfactory extent.

According to the invention the climate regulating element for positioning on an inner face of the top frame member, the top frame member and the climate regulating element comprise mutually mating mounting means for mounting the climate regulating element on the internal face of the top frame member, and other climate regulating elements also comprise mounting means adapted to mate with the mounting means of the top frame member so as to provide immediate interchangeability of climate regulating elements. By keeping certain features, such as the mating mounting means, fixed in relation to each other and varying other features around it, such as ventilation and insulation properties, a high degree of customizability of the window is obtained.

Turning now to another embodiment wherein the frame comprises a top frame member, a bottom frame member and two side frame members, interface means are positioned or are adapted to be positioned on an external face of a side frame member and/or on an external face of the bottom frame member. More specifically, in an embodiment the interface means are markings positioned on an external face of a side frame member and/or on an external face of the bottom frame member indicating at least two installation levels of the window in relation to a surrounding building structure. This enables the window frame to be mounted in a surrounding building structure, such as a roof, in different levels corresponding to the respective markings. A low installation level of the window frame provides for enhanced insulation properties of the installation in relation to a higher installation level.

Turning now to yet another embodiment, the interface means are insulating means, and the insulating means are adapted to be positioned on and preferably substantially cover the external face of the side frame member of the window, or the insulating means are adapted to be positioned on the external face of the bottom frame member, abutting a second face of the bottom frame member, the second face being adjacent to the external face and extending with an angle to the external face, the angle being 50°-130°, preferably substantially right. The extra insulation on the external faces of the bottom and/or side frame members provide for a window with enhanced insulation properties. As to the bottom frame member, the second face prolongs an upper part of the bottom frame member in the form of a projection, which results in increased strength of the frame construction. The resulting recess below the projecting upper part of the bottom frame is able to accommodate the insulation element, resulting in a frame construction with both increased strength and insulating properties.

The second aspect of the invention relates to a method as described in claim 2 of providing a window according to claim 1

Embodiments of the first aspect of the invention will now be discussed by way of example and with reference to the appended figures, where:

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a frame of a window ready for having interface means positioned on it,

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a frame of a window comprising interface means in the form of a climate regulating element positioned on an inner face of the top frame member,

Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a climate regulating element for positioning on an inner face of a top frame member and comprising ventilation means, the climate regulating element being shown in a disassembled state,

Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of the climate regulating element of Fig. 3 shown in an assembled state, and

Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of interface means positioned on an external face of a frame member where the interface means are markings indicating at least two installation levels of the window.

Different embodiments of similar elements will be denoted by similar reference signs with a hundred added to them.

Fig. 1 schematically depicts a frame 1 of a roof window including a top frame member 2, a bottom frame member 3 and two side frame members

4. Embodiments comprising other types of windows are also conceivable. The top frame member 2 has an internal face 2a ready for receiving interface means. The Bottom frame member 3 has an external face 3a, and the side frame members 4 have external faces 4a, all of which are also ready for receiving interface means of different types.

Fig. 2 schematically shows a window frame 1 comprising one embodiment of interface means 5 positioned on the internal face 2a of the top frame member 2. The interface means 5 is a climate regulating element and comprises insulating means 6. The insulating means 6 are made principally of an insulating material, such as expanded polystyrene (EPS).

The insulating means 6 forms the bulk of the climate regulating element 5, which also include ventilation means 7.

The ventilation means 7 include three ventilation passages 8 extending between a first face 5a (not visible in Fig. 2) of the climate regulating element 5 and a second face 5b of the climate regulating element 5, which first and second faces (5a, 5b) are adjacent to a third face 5c (not visible in Fig. 2) of the climate regulating element5, which third face 5c abuts the internal face 2a of the top frame member 2 in a mounted position of the climate regulating element 5. This enables the ventilation passages 8 to allow an air current to flow across the climate regulating element 5. Other shapes of the climate regulating element and the arrangement of ventilation passages are conceivable. Also other numbers of ventilation passages are conceivable, such as one, two, four or more, as is branched ventilation passages. The cross sectional shape of the ventilation passages 8 in Fig. 2 are substantially rectanguDK 180106 B1 lar; however other cross sectional shapes of ventilation passages are conceivable, such as polygonal, rounded or substantially circular.

The ventilation passages 8 altogether provide an overall cross sectional flow area of approximately 20 cm², which has proven beneficial as to provide a desired amount of air renewal by passive ventilation, i.e. by convection of air, in the room into which, the ventilation passages lead via the window. However, other sizes of cross sectional flow areas are conceivable.

A climate regulating element 105 comprising another embodiment of ventilating means 107 is schematically depicted in Figs 3 and 4. There are provided four substantially cylindrical ventilation passages 108 in Figs. 3 and 4, however, other numbers of ventilation passages are conceivable. The substantially cylindrical design of the ventilation passages 108 is advantageous in relation to forced air renewal, since the cylindrical shape allows for positioning of fans (not shown) in the ventilation passages 108.

Other climate regulating elements comprising ventilation passages of miscellaneous shape and/or for passive or forced ventilation, respectively, are conceivable.

As indicated in Fig. 3, the climate regulating element 105 also comprises a recess 109 for accommodating equipment, such as for instance a power supply and/or control means for powering and/or controlling any fans provided in the ventilation passages 108.

The bulk of the climate regulating element 105 is made from an insulating material 106 resulting in combined insulating and ventilating properties of the climate regulating element 105. However, other embodiments of the climate regulating elements may merely serve as a retainer essentially without insulating properties simply for retaining and positioning the ventilation passages and possibly any fans in relation to the top frame member.

Mounting means 10, 11, 111, 12 for positioning climate regulating element 5, 105 on the internal face 2a of the top frame member 2 are provided. In Figs 1 and 2 the mounting means are embodied by screws 10 and matching screw holes 11, 12 provided in the climate regulating element 5 and top frame member 2, respectively. The screws 10 indicated have rather large heads and slots so as to be operated without the use of a screw driver but simply by the use of an edge of a coin or the like. This enables quick and easy mounting and dismounting of the climate regulating element. The use of screws operable by a screw driver is however envisaged as is the use of other kinds of mounting means, such as for instance velcro or other hook-andloop fasteners, which would also enable quick and easy mounting and dismounting of the climate regulating element.

The climate regulating element for being positioned on an internal face 2a of the top frame member 2 is configured to be immediately interchangeable. This is obtained partly by their mounting means and partly by their overall shape. When comparing the climate regulating elements 5, 105 of Figs 2 and 4 it is seen that the screw holes 11, 111 are positioned so as be aligned with the same set of screw holes 12 in the top frame member 2. Hence, only one set of screw holes 12 in the top frame member 2 is sufficient for mounting any one of a range of climate regulating elements adapted to be mounted in that position. This is beneficial from a manufacturer’s point of view and from a user’s point of view, since the limited number of mounting means simplifies and eases both the manufacturing and mounting process. Also, the overall shape of the climate regulating elements 5, 105 shares similarities, for instance the recess 13, 113 for accommodating the striking plate 14 of the window, which recess 13, 113 also assists in correct positioning of the climate regulating elements correctly. The uniform design of the climate regulating elements 5, 105 notwithstanding their individual differences in insulating and ventilation properties enable the climate regulating elements to be immediately interchangeable.

Another type of interface means 15, 17, 18 are positioned or is adapted to be positioned on an external face 4a of a side frame member 4 and/or on an external face 3a of the bottom frame member 3.

In one embodiment, cf. Fig. 5, these interface means are markings 15 indicating two installation levels of the window 1 in relation to a surrounding building structure. The markings 15 comprise two lines 15a, 15b, which is of different colour, for instance blue and red, to be easily distinguished from each other. Markings in identical colour, other styles of markings such as broken lines, dot-and-dash-lines and combinations thereof are conceivable. Also more than two markings are envisaged corresponding to more than two installation levels. The markings 15 extend across the entire face 4a. However, embodiments comprising markings only extending across part or parts of the face 4a are conceived. Although depicted in Fig. 5 as provided only on the outer face 4a of side frame member 4, the markings may in addition thereto or alternatively be provided on the outer face 3a of the bottom frame member

3. The respective markings 15a, 15b are associated with respective grooves for use with mounting brackets 16 for installation of the frame 1 in a desired level in a surrounding building structure.

Yet another type of interface means 17 is adapted to be positioned on the external face 4a of the side frame member 4. These interface means 17 (not depicted) are insulating means. In a preferred embodiment, the bulk part of the insulating means 17 are made from an insulating material, such as expanded polystyrene (EPS). The insulating means 17 are essentially rectangular and covers substantially the entire external face 4a of a side frame member 4. It is mounted on the external face 4a of the side frame member 4 by means of glue or the like. Other shapes, extents and ways of mounting the insulating means 17 are conceivable, such as polygonal or partly rounded cross sectional shapes, extents so as to only cover part of the external face 4a, mounting by means of velcro or the like, and/or combinations of any of the above. Also, positioning of the insulating means 17 on an outer face of one or more of the other frame members, in addition or alternatively to the outer face 4a of the side frame member 4, is conceivable.

Yet another type of interface means 18 (not depicted) is adapted to be positioned on an external face 3a of the bottom frame member 3. These interface means are insulating means and are adapted to abut a second face 3b, c.f. Fig. 5, of the bottom frame member 3. The second face 3b is adjacent to the face 3a and extends with a substantially right angle A to the external face 3a. Hence, a projection 19 is formed on the upper part of the bottom frame member 3. The projection 19 projects from the bottom frame member 3 in direction away from the top frame member 2. The projection 19 is integral with the rest of the bottom frame member 3, but may alternatively be envisaged as a separate part attached to the bottom frame member. The projection 19 provides increased strength and stability to the frame construction, and the 5 insulating means 18 (not depicted) positioned below the projection 19 provides the frame construction with enhanced insulation properties. The insulating means 18 preferably covers substantially the entire face 3a and has a thickness (t) essentially identical to that of the projection 19 as this provides for a good insulation effect. However, other embodiments are envisaged, 10 such as a thicker or slimmer interface means extending over just part or parts of the face 3a.

The invention is not delimited to the embodiments described in the above and shown in the drawings but various modifications and combinations may be carried out without departing from the scope of the claims.

Claims

PATENT REQUIREMENTS

A window, such as a skylight or skylight, comprising a boundary means (5; 105) for placement along a circumference of the window, the interface means (5; 105) being a climate regulating element, the window comprising a frame (1) comprising an upper frame part (2), a lower frame part (3) and two side frame parts (4), and wherein the climate regulating element (5; 105) is arranged to be placed on an inner surface (2a) of the upper frame part (2), wherein the climate control element (5; 105) comprises a ventilation means (7; 107), and wherein the ventilation means (7; 107) includes at least one ventilation passage (8; 108) extending from a first surface of the climate control element to a second surface of the climate control element, which first and second surfaces are adjacent to a third surface of the climate control element (5; 105), which third surface abuts the inner surface (2a) of the upper frame part (2) in a mounted position of the climate-regulating element, where ventilation pass the gene / ventilation passages (8; 108) provides a total cross-sectional flow area of 5-35 cm ² , preferably 15-25 cm ² , wherein the ventilation means (7) comprises a mechanical means, such as one or more fans, for generating an air flow through the ventilation passage (108), where the climate regulating element (5; 105) comprises an insulating means (6; 106) adapted to be placed on an inner surface (2a) of the upper frame part (2), the insulating means being mainly made of an insulating material, such as expanded polystyrene (EPS), wherein the upper frame part (2) and the climate control element (5; 105) comprise mutually paired mounting means (10, 11; 111, 12) for mounting the climate control element (5, 105) on the inner surface (2a ) of the upper frame part (2), and wherein the climate control element (5; 105) is immediately replaceable with other climate control elements (5; 105), which also comprise a mounting means (11; 111) arranged to mate together with mounting center light (12) on the upper frame part (2) to provide immediate replaceability of the climate control element (5; 105) due to the uniform design of the climate control elements (5,105), characterized in that the window forms part of a system comprising at least two climate control elements (5; 105), where one or more other climate control elements (5; 105 ) is selected from a group of climate control elements including a climate control element (5; 105) comprising a ventilation means (7; 107), a climate control element (5; 105) comprising an insulating means (6; 106) and a climate control element ( 5; 105) comprising both a venting means and an insulating means.

A method of providing a window according to claim 1 with improved climate control properties comprising the steps of:

providing a frame (1) comprising an upper frame part (2), a lower frame part (3) and two side frame parts (4), providing a climate regulating element (5; 105) with a first set of insulation and ventilation properties, placing it climate control element (5; 105) on an inner surface (2a) of the upper frame part (2), to provide a second climate control element (5; 105) with a second set of insulation and ventilation properties different from the first set of insulation and ventilation properties, where the climate control element (5; 105) can be immediately replaced with the other climate control element (5; 105) due to the uniform design of the climate control elements (5; 105).