Water management system for sill assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11319747-B2
Application number	US-202017100534-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2020
Priority date	Dec 14, 2018
Publication date	May 3, 2022
Grant date	May 3, 2022

Abstract

An assembly for a door or window frame including an elongated sill and a corner key attached to each end of the sill. The corner key includes a water chamber for collecting water therein and a plurality of ports for diverting water from the water chamber outwardly through a drain port. The water chamber and plurality of ports are designed to temper a high-pressure gradient in the sill and effectively promote water egress away from the sill.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A corner key for a sill assembly comprising:
a port formed into and along a first face of the corner key, the first face configured to face and couple to a sill of the sill assembly with the port fluidly connecting a first chamber of the sill and a second chamber of the sill, the port defining a first passage allowing water to flow from the second chamber to the first chamber;
a chimney vent having a first vent opening in communication with the port, the chimney vent operable to divert air and water ingress entering the port, the chimney vent having a second vent opening formed along a second face of the corner key that is configured to face away from the sill; and
a channel formed along the second face of the corner key, the channel in communication with the second vent opening of the chimney vent, the channel including one or more walls arranged for collecting water moving through the chimney vent and channel.

2. The corner key of claim 1 , further comprising a passageway in communication with the channel, the passageway having a first opening for directing water from the channel outwardly of the corner key through the first opening.

3. The corner key of claim 2 , wherein the first opening of the passageway is formed along the first face of the corner key and offset from the port.

4. The corner key of claim 2 , further comprising a rear vent in communication with the passageway, the rear vent operable to divert air ingress away from the passageway.

5. The corner key of claim 1 , wherein the first face and second face of the corner key are arranged orthogonally relative to one another.

6. The corner key of claim 1 , further comprising a second port formed along the first face of the corner key and offset from the port.

7. The corner key of claim 6 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the second port is equal to or larger than a cross-sectional area of the port.

8. The corner key of claim of claim 6 , further comprising an arm extending outwardly from the first face of the corner key, the arm including a first leg and a second leg, wherein the first leg extends above a first portion of the second port, and wherein the second leg of the arm is positioned adjacent a second portion of the second port.

9. The corner key of claim 8 , wherein each of the port and second port has a height measured from a bottommost surface to a topmost surface, and wherein the arm extends outwardly from the first face of the corner key to a length that is greater than the height of a shorter one of the port and the second port.

10. An assembly for a door or window frame comprising:
a sill having a first end and an opposite second end, the sill including a first chamber and a second chamber; and
a corner key having a first face and a second face, the corner key coupled to the sill along the first face, the corner key comprising:
a port formed along the first face of the corner key, the port defining a first passage between the first and second chambers of the sill for allowing water to flow from the second chamber to the first chamber;
a chimney vent having a first vent opening in communication with the port, the chimney vent operable to divert air and water ingress entering the port, the chimney vent having a second vent opening formed along the second face of the corner key; and
a channel formed along the second face of the corner key, the channel in communication with the second vent opening of the chimney vent, the channel including one or more walls arranged for collecting water moving through the chimney vent and channel.

11. The assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a passageway in communication with the channel, the passageway directing water from the channel and outwardly from the corner key.

12. The assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a rear vent in communication with the passageway, the rear vent operable to divert air ingress away from the passageway.

13. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first opening of the passageway is formed along the first face of the corner key and offset from the port.

14. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first face and second face of the corner key are arranged orthogonally relative to one another.

15. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the elongated sill includes a leg separating the first and second chambers, the leg disposed adjacent the port such that water moving from second chamber to the first chamber moves into a first portion of the port in the second chamber, around the leg and into the first passage of the port, and into a second portion of the port in the first chamber.

16. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the sill further includes a third chamber and the corner key further includes a second port formed along the first face and offset from the port, the second port defining a second passage between the third chamber and the second chamber for allowing water to flow from the third chamber to the second chamber.

17. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the second port is equal to or larger than a cross-sectional area of the port such that a flow rate of water through the second passage of the second port is equal to or greater than a flow rate of water through the first passage of the port.

18. The assembly of claim 16 , further comprising an arm extending outwardly from the first face of the corner key and into the third chamber, the arm including a first leg and a second leg, wherein the first leg extends above a first portion of the second port, and wherein the second leg of the arm is positioned adjacent a second portion of the second port.

19. The assembly of claim 18 , wherein the elongated sill includes a leg separating the second and third chambers, the leg disposed adjacent the second port, and wherein the second leg of the arm is offset from a bottom wall of the third chamber by a gap to form a water passageway therebetween, such that water moving from the third chamber to the second chamber passes through the water passageway and moves into a first portion of the second port in the third chamber, around the leg and into the second passage of the second port, and thereafter into a second portion of the second port in the second chamber.

20. A corner key for a sill assembly comprising:
a port having a port opening formed into and along a first face of the corner key, the first face configured to face and couple to a sill of the sill assembly with the port fluidly connecting a first chamber of the sill and a second chamber of the sill, the port defining a first passage allowing water to flow from the second chamber to the first chamber, the port including a first vertical side wall and a first horizontal side wall; and
an arm extending outwardly from the first face of the corner key, the arm including a first leg and a second leg arranged in a generally orthogonal configuration relative to one another, wherein the first leg of the arm extends above the first horizontal side wall of the port, and wherein the second leg of the arm is positioned adjacent the first vertical side wall of the port.

Assignees

• Jeld Wen Inc

Inventors

• Kindt Derek
• Anderson Jacob
• Irvine Travis
• Graetsch Chris
• Yagla David

Classifications

• E06B7/14 Primary

  Measures for draining-off condensed water or water leaking-in {frame members for draining off condensation water, throats at the bottom of a sash} · CPC title

• E06B1/52

  Frames specially adapted for doors · CPC title

• E06B3/9632

  between a jamb and the threshold or sill of window or door frames · CPC title

• E06B7/10

  by special construction of the frame members · CPC title

• E06B1/70

  Sills; Thresholds · CPC title