Fenestration unit and screening assembly

Abstract

A fenestration unit and screening assembly are provided. The fenestration unit may be a window assembly for supporting a variety of windows such as a single-hung, a double hung or a bi-pass window. The window assembly may include a window screen assembly either manufactured with the window or as an after-market product. The screen assembly may include a spring-loaded screen roller for winding and unwinding a screen about the roller. The upper and lower windows may pivot into a residence when opened a certain amount. The windows may pivot about the same axis that the screen roller rotates, which minimizes the change in position and tension of the screen while the windows are tilted. A seal may be provided to seal space between windows when the windows are in any position. Also, a screen engaging member may be provided to inhibit undesirable unwinding of the screen from the roller.

1 . A seal for sealing a space between a first member and a second member of a fenestration unit, the seal comprising: 
 a base connectable to the first member of the fenestration unit;    an arm supported by and movable relative to the base; and    an engaging member supported by and movable with the arm, the engaging member being engageable with the second member of the fenestration unit to seal the space between the first member and the second member.    
     
     
         2 . The seal of  claim 1 , wherein the base and the arm are formed as a unit.  
     
     
         3 . The seal of  claim 1 , wherein the arm pivots relative to the base.  
     
     
         4 . The seal of  claim 1 , further comprising a hinge between the base and the arm for facilitating movement of the arm relative to the base, and wherein the arm pivots relative to the base about the hinge.  
     
     
         5 . The seal of  claim 4 , wherein the hinge is a living hinge.  
     
     
         6 . The seal of  claim 1 , wherein the engaging member is a brush.  
     
     
         7 . The seal of  claim 1 , wherein the seal is made of a polymer.  
     
     
         8 . The seal of  claim 1 , wherein the seal is made of polypropylene homopolymer with a melt index of twelve.  
     
     
         9 . The seal of  claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member at least partially supported by the base, the biasing member operable to bias the arm away from the base.  
     
     
         10 . The seal of  claim 9 , wherein the base, the arm, and the biasing member are formed as a unit.  
     
     
         11 . The seal of  claim 10 , wherein the base, the arm, and the biasing member are made of polypropylene homopolymer with a melt index of twelve.  
     
     
         12 . The seal of  claim 9 , further comprising a seal member connected to the second member of the fenestration unit and being engageable with at least one of the engaging member and the arm to move the arm and the engaging member toward the base against the force of the biasing member.  
     
     
         13 . The seal of  claim 1 , further comprising a seal member connected to the second member of the fenestration unit and being engageable with at least one of the engaging member and the arm to move the arm and the engaging member toward the base.  
     
     
         14 . The seal of  claim 13 , wherein the seal member, the base, and the arm are made of polypropylene homopolymer with a melt index of twelve.  
     
     
         15 . The seal of  claim 1 , wherein the fenestration unit is a window assembly, the first member is a first window, and the second member is a second window.  
     
     
         16 . A window assembly comprising: 
 a window frame defining an opening;    a window supported by the window frame in the opening and being movable relative to the window frame;    a screen roller assembly supported by one of the window frame and the window and including a roller and a screen wound around the roller, a first end of the screen being connected to the roller and a second end of the screen being connected to the other one of the window frame and the window, wherein the screen unwinds from the roller when the window is moved in a first direction and winds around the roller when the window is moved in a second direction different than the first direction; and    a screen engaging member supported by one of the window frame and the window and is selectively engageable with the screen such that the screen engaging member does not engage the screen when the window is moved in the first and second directions and is engageable with the screen when a force is applied to the screen in a direction toward the screen engaging member.    
     
     
         17 . The window assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the first direction and the second direction are substantially planar and opposite to each other, and wherein the direction of the force is non-parallel to the first and second directions.  
     
     
         18 . The window assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the direction of the force is substantially perpendicular to the first and second directions.  
     
     
         19 . The window assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the screen engaging member is metal.  
     
     
         20 . The window assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the screen engaging member is aluminum.  
     
     
         21 . The window assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the screen engaging member includes a plurality of projections sufficiently sized to insert into apertures defined in the screen, insertion of the plurality of projections into the apertures defined in the screen inhibits further unwinding of the screen from the roller when a force is applied to the screen in the direction toward the screen engaging member.  
     
     
         22 . The window assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the screen engaging member includes a connecting member engageable with the one of the window frame and the window to connect the screen engaging member to the one of the window frame and the window.  
     
     
         23 . The window assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the connecting member is engageable with the window frame to connect the screen engaging member to the window frame.  
     
     
         24 . The window assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the screen engaging member is longitudinally vertically oriented to extend at least a portion of the height of the opening.  
     
     
         25 . The window assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the screen engaging member extends the entire height of the opening.  
     
     
         26 . The window assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the screen engaging member is a first screen engaging member, the window assembly including a second screen engaging member supported by one of the window frame and the window and is selectively engageable with the screen such that the second screen engaging member does not engage the screen when the window is moved in the first and second directions and is engageable with the screen when a force is applied to the screen in a direction toward the second screen engaging member.  
     
     
         27 . The window assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the first screen engaging member is engageable with the screen near a first edge of the screen and the second screen engaging member is engageable with the screen near a second edge of the screen.  
     
     
         28 . The window assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the first screen engaging member engages a first side of the screen and the second screen engaging member engages a second side of the screen opposite the first side.  
     
     
         29 . A window assembly comprising: 
 a window frame including a top, a bottom, and two sides together defining an opening, each side of the window frame having an interior surface and a first track defined in the interior surface, a second track being defined in the interior surface of one of the sides and intersecting the respective one of the first tracks;    a first bracket and a second bracket, the first bracket including a first portion positionable in and slideable within one of the first tracks and the second bracket including a second portion positionable in and slideable within the other one of the first tracks, one of the first and second brackets including a bracket member; and    a window connected to and supported by the first and second brackets in the opening, the window being slideable within the opening relative to the window frame via the first and second brackets;    wherein the window is pivotable away from the window frame to a pivoted position, and wherein during pivoting of the window, the first portion of the first bracket and the second portion of the second bracket remain in the respective first tracks and the bracket member interacts with the second track to secure the window in the pivoted position.    
     
     
         30 . The window assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the first portion of the first bracket and the second portion of the second bracket are cylindrical rods.  
     
     
         31 . The window assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the bracket member is a projection and the second track is a slot, the projection inserting into the slot upon pivoting of the window toward the pivoted position.  
     
     
         32 . The window assembly of  claim 29 , wherein a second track is defined in the interior surfaces of both sides and both second tracks intersect with a respective one of the first tracks, and wherein each of the first and second brackets include a bracket member.  
     
     
         33 . The window assembly of  claim 32 , wherein during pivoting of the window, the bracket members interact with respective second tracks to secure the window in the pivoted position.  
     
     
         34 . The window assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the bracket members are projections and the second tracks are slots, the projections inserting into the respective slots during pivoting of the window toward the pivoted position.  
     
     
         35 . The window assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the first track is substantially vertical and the second track includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion intersecting the first track at a first end of the first portion and the first portion angling downward and away from the first track, the second portion extending substantially vertically upward from a second end of the first portion.  
     
     
         36 . A fenestration unit comprising: 
 a frame defining an opening;    a fenestration member supported in the opening of the frame, the fenestration member being slideable in the opening relative to the frame; and    a screen roller assembly supported by one of the frame and the fenestration member, the screen roller assembly including a roller rotatable about an axis and a screen wound around the roller, the screen having a first end connected to the roller and having a second end connected to the other one of the frame and the fenestration member;    wherein the screen unwinds from the roller when the fenestration member moves in a first direction and winds around the roller when the fenestration member moves in a second direction different than the first direction; and    wherein the fenestration member also pivots relative to the frame, the fenestration member pivoting about the axis.    
     
     
         37 . The fenestration unit of  claim 36 , wherein the frame is a window frame and the fenestration member is a window.  
     
     
         38 . A window assembly comprising: 
 a window frame including a top, a bottom, and two sides together defining an opening, each side of the window frame having an interior surface and a track defined in the interior surface;    a first bracket and a second bracket, the first bracket including a portion positionable in and slideable within one of the first tracks and the second bracket including a portion positionable in and slideable within the other of the first tracks; and    a window connected to and supported by the first bracket and the second bracket in the opening, the window being slideable within the opening relative to the window frame via the first bracket and the second bracket, and wherein the window is pivotable about the first and second brackets away from the window frame to a pivoted position, the portions of the first and second brackets remaining in the respective tracks during pivoting of the window.    
     
     
         39 . The window assembly of  claim 38 , wherein the first bracket and the second bracket are connected to the window with fasteners.  
     
     
         40 . The window assembly of  claim 38 , wherein the portions of the first bracket and the second bracket positionable in and slideable within the first tracks are cylindrical rods, and wherein the first bracket and the second bracket each include a body connectable to the window.  
     
     
         41 . The window assembly of  claim 38 , wherein the window is removable from the first and second brackets, and wherein the portions of the first and second brackets remain in the tracks after removal of the window.  
     
     
         42 . The window assembly of  claim 38 , further comprising a screen roller assembly including a roller and a screen wound around the roller, the screen having a first end connected to the roller and a second end connected to the window frame, the roller having a first end supported by the first bracket and a second end supported by the second bracket, the screen roller assembly movable relative to the window frame with the first bracket and the second bracket.  
     
     
         43 . The window assembly of  claim 42 , wherein the first bracket and the second bracket each include a bracket member at least partially surrounding the roller, the portions of the first and second brackets positionable in and slideable within the tracks extending from the bracket member, the first and second brackets each further including a body extending from the bracket member and being connected to the window.  
     
     
         44 . The window assembly of  claim 43 , wherein the window is removable from the first and second brackets, and wherein the portions of the first and second brackets remain in the tracks after removal of the window.  
     
     
         45 . The window assembly of  claim 42 , wherein the first end of the roller is substantially round and the second end of the roller is polygonal, and wherein the first bracket has a first hole that is substantially round to receive the substantially round shaped end of the roller and the second bracket has a second hole that is polygonal to receive the polygonal shaped end of the roller.