Apparatus for supporting glass in a window assembly
A support apparatus for supporting a glass unit in a window assembly including a support surface for holding and supporting the glass unit and a leg extending downwardly from the support surface for being received by the sash of the window assembly. Also, a window assembly including a sash, a glass unit, and a support apparatus. The glass unit of the window assembly rests on the support surface of the support apparatus and is attached to the corresponding hinge hardware, including the sash arm. By attaching the support apparatus to the sash arm, the sash does not have to act as a structural support and is less affected by deformation forces over time. The support apparatus may be made of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion similar to that of glass, which helps to eliminate the problem of sash sag caused by deformation forces.
1 . An apparatus for supporting a glass unit in a window assembly having a sash, comprising:
a support surface for receiving and supporting said glass unit; and
a leg extending downwardly from said support surface for insertion into said sash.
2 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , said window assembly further comprising a frame and hardware for attaching said sash to said frame, said leg being supported by said hardware.
3 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a first side wall extending upwardly from said support surface.
4 . An apparatus according to claim 3 , said support surface and said leg comprising a first assembly of said apparatus, said apparatus further comprising a second assembly selectively attachable to said first assembly, said second assembly comprising a wall portion.
5 . An apparatus according to claim 4 , said first assembly and second assembly being selectively affixed by a tongue and groove joint.
6 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , said support surface and said leg comprising a first assembly of said apparatus, said apparatus further comprising a second assembly selectively attachable to said first assembly, said second assembly comprising a wall portion.
7 . An apparatus according to claim 7 , said first assembly and second assembly being selectively affixed by a tongue and groove joint.
8 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , said glass unit having glass having a first coefficient of thermal expansion, said support surface and said leg being constructed of a material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion similar to said first coefficient of thermal expansion.
9 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , said support surface and said leg being constructed of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion similar to that of glass.
10 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , said support surface and leg being constructed of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion less than 16 X 10 - 6 .
11 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , said support surface and leg being constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, die cast zinc, stainless steel, nylon and plastic.
12 . A window assembly, comprising:
a sash;
a glass unit mounted within said sash; and
a support apparatus selectively received by said sash, said support apparatus having a support surface, said glass unit being supported within said sash by said support surface.
13 . A window assembly according to claim 12 , said support apparatus further comprising a leg extending downwardly from said support surface to selectively engage said sash.
14 . A window assembly according to claim 13 , said leg being selectively inserted into a bottom surface of said sash.
15 . A window assembly according to claim 12 , further comprising a frame and hardware for attaching said sash to said frame, said support apparatus being supported by said hardware.
16 . A window assembly according to claim 15 , said support apparatus further comprising a leg extending downwardly from said support surface for insertion into said sash.
17 . A window assembly according to claim 16 , said leg being supported by said hardware.
18 . A window assembly according to claim 17 , said hardware comprising a sash arm.
19 . A window assembly according to claim 15 , said hardware comprising a sash arm.
20 . A window assembly according to claim 12 , said glass unit including a base and one or more sheets of glass.
21 . A window assembly according to claim 12 , said support apparatus further comprising a first side wall extending upwardly from said support surface.
22 . A window assembly according to claim 21 , said support apparatus comprising a first assembly including said support surface and a second assembly selectively attachable to said first assembly, said second assembly comprising a wall portion.
23 . A window assembly according to claim 22 , said first assembly and said second assembly being selectively affixed by a tongue and groove joint.
24 . A window assembly according to claim 12 , said support apparatus comprising a first assembly including said support surface and a second assembly selectively attachable to said first assembly, said second assembly comprising a wall portion.
25 . A window assembly according to claim 24 , further comprising a frame and hardware for attaching said sash to said frame, said support apparatus being supported by said hardware.
26 . A window assembly according to claim 25 , said support apparatus further comprising a leg extending downwardly from said support surface for insertion into said sash.
27 . A window assembly according to claim 26 , said leg being supported by said hardware.
28 . A window assembly according to claim 27 , said hardware comprising a sash arm.
29 . A window assembly according to claim 24 , said first assembly and said second assembly being selectively affixed by a tongue and groove joint.
30 . A window assembly according to claim 13 , said support apparatus further comprising a side wall and a wall portion extending upwardly from said support surface.
31 . A window assembly according to claim 12 , said glass unit having glass having a first coefficient of thermal expansion, said support apparatus being made of a material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion similar to said first coefficient of thermal expansion.
32 . A window assembly according to claim 12 , said support apparatus being made of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion similar to that of glass.
33 . A window assembly according to claim 12 , said support surface and leg being constructed of a material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion less than 16 X 1 I 0 -=b
34 . A window assembly according to claim 12 , said support surface and leg being constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, die cast zinc, stainless steel, steel, nylon and plastic.
35 . A window assembly according to claim 31 , said sash being made of vinyl.
36 . A window assembly according to claim 32 , said sash being made of vinyl.
37 . A window assembly according to claim 12 , further comprising a setting pad located between said glass unit and said support surface.
38 . A window assembly according to claim 12 , further comprising an additional support apparatus received by said sash, said additional support apparatus having a support surface, said glass unit being supported by the support surface of said additional support apparatus.
39 . A window assembly according to claim 12 , said sash having a top frame member, a bottom frame member, and first and second side frame members, said support apparatus being received by said bottom frame member.
40 . A window assembly according to claim 3 8 , said sash having a top frame member, a bottom frame member, and first and second side frame members, said support apparatus being received by said bottom frame member and said additional support apparatus being received by said top frame member.
41 . A window assembly according to claim 12 , said window assembly being selected from the group consisting of casement, single or double hung, awning, basement, tilt and turn and slider style window assemblies.