Connecting window structure

Abstract

The connection material has a groove that opens towards the interior, which prevents flames from entering the building through the end of the connection material, thereby improving the fire resistance of the continuous window structure. [Solution] The connected window structure 7 includes a connecting member 20 located between two window frames 3 to connect the two window frames 3, and a fire-resistant material 17 provided on the indoor side of the two window frames 3 and the end 20A of the connecting member 20, surrounding the opening of the building. The connecting member 20 has a groove 50 located at the indoor end 28 of the connecting member 20, extending in the longitudinal direction of the connecting member 20 and opening toward the indoor side, and two connecting walls 26 extending in the longitudinal direction of the connecting member 20 on either side of the groove 50, to connect the two window frames 3. The fire-resistant material 17 is located on the indoor side of a predetermined portion of the groove 50 and covers a predetermined portion of the groove 50. The heat-expandable material 8 is provided in the space surrounded by the predetermined portion of the groove 50 and the fire-resistant material 17, and expands upon heating to seal the space surrounded by the predetermined portion of the groove 50 and the fire-resistant material 17.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a multiple-window structure in which two window frames of a multiple window are connected to a connecting member interposed therebetween.

Background Art

[0002] In a multiple window including window frames and a connecting member, the two window frames are arranged side by side with the connecting member interposed therebetween. The connecting member is located between the two window frames, and the two window frames are each connected to the connecting member. Conventionally, there is known a multiple window in which one vertical frame of a pair of vertical frames (one vertical frame and the other vertical frame) of the window frame is connected to a mullion at the outdoor side end and the indoor side end of the mullion that serves as the connecting member (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] In the conventional multiple window described in Patent Document 1, the mullion has two left and right connecting portions located at the outdoor side end, two left and right connecting walls located at the indoor side end, and a groove portion located between the two connecting walls and opened toward the indoor side. Further, one vertical frame has a fitting portion that is fitted and connected to the connecting portion of the mullion, and a fixing portion that is fixed and connected to the connecting wall of the mullion with a screw. When installing the window frame in the opening of a building, for example, the one vertical frame is moved from the outdoor side toward the mullion, so that the fitting portion of the one vertical frame is fitted to the connecting portion of the mullion. In that state, the other vertical frame is located on the outdoor side of the opening of the building. Subsequently, the window frame is disposed in the opening of the building while being rotated around the fitting portion from the outdoor side toward the opening of the building. At that time, along with the rotation of the window frame, the fixing portion of the one vertical frame is brought into contact with the connecting wall of the mullion, and the fixing portion of the one vertical frame is placed in an overlapping manner on the connecting wall while elastically deforming the connecting wall.

[0004] Thus, when installing window frames, the connecting walls of the mullions may undergo elastic deformation. In contrast, by providing a groove between the two connecting walls, the connecting walls become more elastically deformable. Furthermore, the groove facilitates the extrusion molding of the mullions, which are made of profiled material, and reduces the amount of material used in forming the mullions. For these reasons, conventional connected windows have a groove at the indoor end of the mullion that opens towards the interior. However, in the event of a fire outdoors, if flames penetrate between the building structure and the connected window, there is a concern that the flames may enter the building through the groove from the end of the mullion. Therefore, there is room for improvement in connected window structures, including conventional connected windows, from the perspective of further improving fire resistance. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4405444 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and its purpose is to improve the fire resistance performance of a continuous window structure by suppressing the intrusion of flames into the interior from the end of a connecting member having a groove that is open toward the interior. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention A continuous window structure comprising: two adjacent window frames installed in an opening of a building; a connecting member positioned between the two window frames to connect them; and a fire-resistant material provided on the indoor side of the ends of the two window frames and the connecting member, surrounding the opening of the building. The connecting member has a groove located at the indoor end of the connecting member, extending in the longitudinal direction of the connecting member and open toward the indoor side, and two connecting walls extending in the longitudinal direction of the connecting member on either side of the groove, to which the two window frames are connected. The fire-resistant material is located on the indoor side of a predetermined portion of the groove and covers the predetermined portion of the groove. This is a continuous window structure provided in the space surrounded by a predetermined portion of the groove and the fire-resistant material, and equipped with a heat-expandable material that expands upon heating to seal the space. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the fire resistance of a continuous window structure by suppressing the intrusion of flames into the interior from the end of a connecting member having a groove that is open toward the interior. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a front view showing the series of windows in this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the continuous windows and building of this embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view showing the series of windows and the building in this embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view showing the portion of the connected window in this embodiment that includes the connecting material. [Figure 5] This is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the state when a fire occurs outside the building with the connected windows of this embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view showing a portion of the building that includes one end of the connecting member in the continuous window of this embodiment. [Figure 7] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing a magnified view of the continuous windows and a portion of the building in this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] One embodiment of the continuous window structure of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The connected window structure of this embodiment is a building opening structure that includes connected windows installed in the opening of a building. The connected windows are those in which a connecting member is provided between two adjacent window frames, and are installed on the exterior wall of the building. The connected windows and the connected window structure are installed on the exterior wall of the building, between the exterior (outside) and interior (inside) of the building. In the following, the connected window structure of this embodiment will be described using a connected window with two sashes arranged horizontally as an example.

[0011] Figure 1 is a front view showing the connected window 1 of this embodiment, showing the connected window 1 installed in building 10 as viewed from the outside. Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the connected window 1 and building 10 of this embodiment, showing the connected window 1 and building 10 cut by a plane including the vertical direction R and the indoor / outdoor direction T. Figure 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing the connected window 1 and building 10 of this embodiment, showing the connected window 1 and building 10 cut by a plane including the left / right direction S and the indoor / outdoor direction T.

[0012] When the connected window 1 installed in building 10 is viewed from the front, the vertical direction is R, and the horizontal direction is S. In Figure 1, the vertical direction R is the vertical direction, and the horizontal direction S is the horizontal direction. The indoor / outdoor direction T is the indoor / outdoor direction (indoor / outdoor direction) of the connected window 1 installed in building 10. Also, the indoor / outdoor direction T is the front-to-back direction (depth direction) and the thickness direction of the connected window 1 when the connected window 1 installed in building 10 is viewed from the front, and in Figure 3, it is the horizontal direction perpendicular to the left-to-right direction S. Thus, the directions related to the connected window 1 and the connected window structure are specified by the directions when the connected window 1 and the connected window structure are installed in building 10. Also, the indoor side and outdoor side with respect to the connected window 1 and the connected window structure are the indoor side and outdoor side when they are installed in building 10.

[0013] As shown in the figure, the building 10 comprises a series of windows 1, an exterior wall 11 located between the outdoors and the indoors, an opening 12 formed in the exterior wall 11, an outdoor side wall material 13 facing the outdoors, an indoor side wall material 14 facing the indoors, a structural material 15 located between the outdoor side wall material 13 and the indoor side wall material 14, a decorative molding 16 located between the series of windows 1 and the outdoor side wall material 13, and a fire-resistant material 17 located on the indoor side of the series of windows 1. The opening 12 of the building 10 penetrates the exterior wall 11 of the building 10 in the indoor-outdoor direction T. The series of windows 1 is installed in the opening 12 of the building 10 and closes the opening 12 of the building 10.

[0014] The exterior wall material 13 and the interior wall material 14 are fire-resistant materials (fire-resistant covering materials) that cover the exterior and interior surfaces of the exterior wall 11, respectively, and are made of, for example, gypsum board. The exterior wall material 13 is located on the exterior side of the structural material 15 and covers the structural material 15 on the exterior side. The interior wall material 14 is located on the interior side of the structural material 15 and covers the structural material 15 on the interior side. The structural material 15 is installed inside the exterior wall 11, and the continuous window 1 is attached to the structural material 15. The decorative molding 16 is made of a metal (for example, made of aluminum alloy) profile formed by extrusion molding, and is located on the exterior side of the structural material 15 and attached to the structural material 15. The decorative molding 16 is arranged around the continuous window 1 and covers the part where the continuous window 1 is attached to the structural material 15 on the exterior side.

[0015] The fire-resistant material 17 is a fire-resistant covering material that covers the inner perimeter of the opening 12 of the building 10, and is made of, for example, gypsum board. The fire-resistant material 17 is installed in the opening 12 of the building 10 and is arranged to surround the opening 12 of the building 10. The fire-resistant material 17 is also located on the side of the opening 12 of the building 10 relative to the structural material 15 and covers the structural material 15 on the side of the opening 12 of the building 10. The indoor wall material 14 is arranged continuously with the fire-resistant material 17. The continuous window 1 is installed on the outdoor side of the fire-resistant material 17 and is located between the fire-resistant material 17 and the outdoors.

[0016] The continuous window 1 includes two sashes 2 arranged side by side in the opening 12 of the building 10, and a connecting member 20 positioned between the two sashes 2. Each sash 2 is attached to the structural member 15 of the building 10, and installed at the opening 12 and the outer wall 11 of the building 10. The sash 2 is a fitting (sash window) constituting the window portion of the continuous window 1, and is, for example, an opening / closing window or a fixed window. The connecting member 20 is a partition member that partitions the opening 12 of the building 10, and the two sashes 2 on both sides are connected thereto.

[0017] Here, the two sashes 2 are vertical outward sliding windows which are opening / closing windows, are arranged side by side in the left-right direction S at the opening 12 of the building 10, and open and close on both sides of the connecting member 20 respectively. In addition, the connecting member 20 is installed across the opening 12 of the building 10 in the up-down direction R. The longitudinal direction of the connecting member 20 is the up-down direction R, which is the direction in which the connecting member 20 extends (extending direction), and the opening 12 of the building 10 is partitioned in the left-right direction S by the connecting member 20. The end portions 20A and 20B of the connecting member 20 are an upper end portion which is one end portion 20A in the longitudinal direction of the connecting member 20 and a lower end portion which is the other end portion 20B, and are positioned at the upper portion and the lower portion of the opening 12 of the building 10.

[0018] The sash 2 includes an openable / closable shoji 30 which is a vertical outward sliding shoji, and a window frame 3 surrounding the shoji 30. The shoji 30 is an opening / closing shoji that opens and closes by rotation, is disposed inside the window frame 3 (the opening 3A), and is rotatably (openably and closably) connected to the window frame 3. The shoji 30 rotates about a rotation shaft toward the outdoor side and the window frame 3 side (indoor side). Further, the shoji 30 rotates toward the outdoor side to open, and rotates toward the window frame 3 side to close. The opening 3A of the window frame 3 is opened and closed by the shoji 30.

[0019] The shoji 30 has a rectangular frame body 31 and a panel 32 disposed inside the frame body 31. The frame body 31 has four rails 33 to 35 (an upper rail 33, a lower rail 34, and a pair of vertical rails 35) assembled with each other. The rails 33 to 35 of the frame body 31 are rail members (rail constituting members) constituting the frame body 31, each made of a metal (for example, aluminum alloy) shaped member formed by extrusion molding.

[0020] The upper and lower frames 33 and 34 are upper and lower horizontal frames (upper horizontal frame, lower horizontal frame) located at the top and bottom of the frame body 31, and extend in the horizontal direction (left-right direction S). The pair of vertical frames 35 are a pair of side frames located on the left and right sides of the frame body 31, and extend in the vertical direction (up-down direction R). The upper frame 33, lower frame 34, and the pair of vertical frames 35 are framed by connecting their ends to each other and arranged in a rectangular shape. The panel 32 is made of glass (for example, double-glazed glass, plate glass, or laminated glass) and is fitted into the frame body 31 and held in place by the frame body 31 and frames 33-35.

[0021] The window frame 3 is a rectangular frame (opening frame) installed in the opening 12 of the building 10. The window frame 3 also has four frames 4-6 (upper frame 4, lower frame 5, and a pair of vertical frames 6) that are combined with each other. Frames 4-6 of the window frame 3 are the frame materials (frame components) that make up the window frame 3, and each is made of a metal (for example, made of aluminum alloy) profile formed by extrusion molding. The opening 3A of the window frame 3 is formed in a rectangular shape by frames 4-6 of the window frame 3 and is located inside the window frame 3. The opening 3A of the window frame 3 and the sash 30 are surrounded by frames 4-6 of the window frame 3.

[0022] The upper frame 4 and lower frame 5 are upper and lower horizontal frames (upper horizontal frame, lower horizontal frame) located at the top and bottom of the window frame 3, and extend horizontally. The pair of vertical frames 6 are side frames located on the left and right sides of the window frame 3, and extend vertically. The upper frame 4, lower frame 5, and the pair of vertical frames 6 are connected at their ends to form a frame and are arranged in a rectangular shape. The longitudinal direction of frames 4 to 6 of the window frame 3 is the direction in which each frame 4 to 6 extends (extension direction). The longitudinal direction of the upper frame 4 and lower frame 5 is the left-right direction S, and the longitudinal direction of the vertical frames 6 is the up-down direction R.

[0023] In the left-right direction S, the sash 2 and window frame 3 are installed on both sides of the connecting member 20. The two sashes 2 and window frames 3 on either side of the connecting member 20 are adjacent to each other with the connecting member 20 in between, and are each connected to the connecting member 20. The connecting member 20 is located between the two window frames 3 and is sandwiched between them. On the inner circumference of the opening 12 of the building 10, the fire-resistant material 17 is provided on the indoor side of the ends 20A and 20B (one end 20A and the other end 20B) of the two window frames 3 and the connecting member 20.

[0024] Thus, the continuous window structure 7, including the continuous window 1, comprises two adjacent window frames 3, a connecting member 20, and a fire-resistant material 17, and is installed in the opening 12 of the building 10. The two window frames 3 on either side of the connecting member 20 are left and right window frames 3 adjacent in the left-right direction S in the opening 12 of the building 10, and the connecting member 20 is a mullion extending in the vertical direction R between the two window frames 3. The ends 20A and 20B of the two window frames 3 and the connecting member 20 are located on the outdoor side of the fire-resistant material 17 and are adjacent to the fire-resistant material 17.

[0025] The window frame 3 and the fire-resistant material 17 are adjacent in the indoor-outdoor direction T, and the ends 20A and 20B of the connecting material 20 and the fire-resistant material 17 are adjacent in the indoor-outdoor direction T. The fire-resistant material 17 is arranged along the upper frame 4, lower frame 5, and one of the vertical frames 6 of the two window frames 3. In addition, the fire-resistant material 17 is provided on the indoor side of the upper frame 4, lower frame 5, and one of the vertical frames 6 of the two window frames 3, and on the indoor side of the end of the other vertical frame 6 of the two window frames 3.

[0026] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the portion of the connected window 1 in this embodiment that includes the connecting member 20, and is an enlarged view of a part of Figure 3. As shown in the diagram, the vertical frames 6 located on the side of the connecting member 20 of each of the two window frames 3 on the left and right are adjacent to each other with the connecting member 20 in between. The connecting member 20 is located between the vertical frames 6 of the two adjacent window frames 3, sandwiched between the vertical frames 6 of the two window frames 3, and closes the space between the vertical frames 6 of the two window frames 3 (the space between the two window frames 3).

[0027] The connected window 1 comprises two window frame covers 40 attached to the window frames 3 on both sides of the connecting member 20, and a connecting member cover 41 attached between the two window frame covers 40. The window frame covers 40 and the connecting member cover 41 are each made of extruded synthetic resin profiles. The window frame covers 40 are attached to the vertical frames 6 of the window frame 3 and cover the vertical frames 6 on the indoor side. The connecting member cover 41 closes the space between the two window frame covers 40 and covers the connecting member 20 on the indoor side.

[0028] The connecting member 20 has at least one hollow section (here, three hollow sections 21-23 (first hollow section 21, second hollow section 22, third hollow section 23)) and is formed in a hollow shape. The connecting member 20 also has two opposing sections 24 that face the two window frames 3 that sandwich the connecting member 20, two connecting sections 25, two connecting walls 26, and one groove 50. The connecting sections 25 and connecting walls 26 are provided on each of the two opposing sections 24. The three hollow sections 21-23 and the groove 50 are located between the two opposing sections 24 and are formed in the indoor-outdoor direction T between the outdoor end 27 and the indoor end 28 of the connecting member 20. The outdoor end 27 is the outdoor end of the connecting member 20, and the indoor end 28 is the indoor end of the connecting member 20.

[0029] The first hollow section 21 is the outdoor-side hollow section, located furthest to the outdoors among the three hollow sections 21-23, and is situated at the outdoor end 27 of the connecting member 20. The second hollow section 22 is an intermediate hollow section located between the first hollow section 21 and the third hollow section 23 in the indoor-outdoor direction T. The third hollow section 23 is the indoor-side hollow section, located furthest to the indoors among the three hollow sections 21-23, and is situated between the second hollow section 22 and the groove 50. The groove 50 is located on the indoor side of the third hollow section 23 and is also located at the indoor end 28 of the connecting member 20. The groove 50 extends in the longitudinal direction of the connecting member 20 and is open toward the indoor side. The groove 50 is also open toward the outside (upper side and lower side) at both end faces (upper end face and lower end face) in the longitudinal direction of the connecting member 20.

[0030] The groove 50 has a groove bottom 52 and a pair of groove walls 53 that form an inner space 51 of the groove 50, and an opening 54 that opens toward the indoor side. The inner space 51 is a space located inside the groove 50 and is open toward the indoor side at the opening 54. The groove bottom 52 is the part located at the bottom of the groove 50 and is located on the outdoor side of the inner space 51. The groove walls 53 are the parts located on the walls on both sides of the groove 50 and protrude toward the indoor side from the edges on both sides of the groove bottom 52. The pair of groove walls 53 face each other with the inner space 51 of the groove 50 in between. The opening 54 is the point where the inner space 51 of the groove 50 opens toward the indoor side and is located between the indoor ends of the pair of groove walls 53.

[0031] The two opposing portions 24 are the left and right sides of the connecting member 20 and are provided from the outdoor end 27 to the indoor end 28 of the connecting member 20. The two opposing portions 24 are each positioned toward the left and right sides of the connecting member 20 and face the left and right window frames 3 and vertical frames 6 in the left-right direction S. At each of the opposing portions 24, the connecting portion 25 and the connecting wall 26 are separated from each other in the indoor-outdoor direction T and each protrude toward the window frame 3. The two connecting portions 25 are provided at the outdoor end 27 of the connecting member 20, are formed with a first hollow portion 21 in between them, and extend in the longitudinal direction of the connecting member 20.

[0032] The two connecting walls 26 are provided at the indoor end 28 of the connecting member 20 and are connected to the indoor ends of the pair of grooved walls 53, respectively. The two connecting walls 26 are formed with a groove 50 and an indoor opening 54 of the groove 50 in between them and extend in the longitudinal direction of the connecting member 20. The groove 50 and the opening 54 are formed between the two connecting walls 26 and are located between the two connecting walls 26. The two connecting walls 26 protrude from the groove 50 and the opening 54 toward the window frame 3 on both sides of the groove 50 and the opening 54 and are arranged along the left-right direction S.

[0033] The two window frames 3 on either side of the connecting member 20 are connected to the connecting portion 25 and connecting wall 26 of the connecting member 20 and are attached to the connecting member 20. Here, the vertical frame 6 of the window frame 3 is connected to the connecting portion 25 and connecting wall 26, and the vertical frame 6 and the window frame 3 are connected to the connecting member 20. The vertical frame 6 of the two window frames 3, the two window frames 3, and the two sashes 2 are connected to each other by the connecting member 20. The connecting portion 25 and the connecting wall 26 protrude laterally toward the connecting member 20 where the vertical frame 6 is located. The vertical frame 6 and the window frame 3 are connected to the connecting portion 25 by fitting and are fixed and connected to the connecting wall 26 by screws 42.

[0034] The vertical frame 6 of the window frame 3 has a fitting portion 6B provided at the outdoor end 6A of the vertical frame 6 and a fixing portion 6D provided at the indoor end 6C of the vertical frame 6. The outdoor end 6A is the outdoor end of the vertical frame 6, and the indoor end 6C is the indoor end of the vertical frame 6. The fitting portion 6B and the fixing portion 6D are spaced apart from each other in the indoor-outdoor direction T and each protrudes toward the connecting member 20. In addition, the fitting portion 6B and the fixing portion 6D extend in the longitudinal direction of the vertical frame 6 and each protrudes toward the side of the window frame 3.

[0035] The connecting portion 25 of the connecting member 20 is the fitted portion into which the fitting portion 6B of the vertical frame 6 fits. The fitting portion 6B of the vertical frame 6 fits into the connecting portion 25 and connects them. The connecting portion 25 is a hook portion that bends toward the outside, and the fitting portion 6B is a hook portion that bends toward the inside. The fitting portion 6B is hooked onto the connecting portion 25 and fitted into the connecting portion 25. At that time, the fitting portion 6B is hooked onto the connecting portion 25 from the outside and fitted into the connecting portion 25 from the outside. The vertical frame 6 and the window frame 3 are connected and held by the fitting portion 6B to the connecting portion 25 and the connecting member 20. The connecting member 20 restricts the movement of the fitting portion 6B, the vertical frame 6, and the window frame 3 in the left-right direction S by the connecting portion 25.

[0036] The connecting wall 26 of the connecting member 20 is a connecting piece located on the indoor side of the fixing part 6D of the vertical frame 6. The fixing part 6D of the vertical frame 6 is a fixing piece located on the outdoor side of the connecting wall 26 and is positioned overlapping the connecting wall 26. The screw 42 is inserted from the indoor side through an insertion hole (not shown) formed in the connecting wall 26 and screwed into a screw hole (not shown) formed in the fixing part 6D, thereby attaching it to the fixing part 6D. The fixing part 6D is fixed to the connecting wall 26 by the screw 42 and connected to the connecting wall 26. The vertical frame 6 and the window frame 3 are connected to and held by the connecting wall 26 and the connecting member 20 by the fixing part 6D.

[0037] The connected windows 1 and the connected window structure 7 are equipped with a heat-expandable material 8 provided in the inner space 51 of the groove 50. The heat-expandable material 8 is a heat-expandable fire-resistant material (for example, expanded graphite) that expands and foams when heated to a predetermined temperature by heat such as a fire. The heat-expandable material 8 is placed inside the groove 50 and is attached to the groove 50 (the inner surface of the groove 50) and installed in the groove 50. The inner surface of the groove 50 is the part that faces the inner space 51 of the groove 50 and is composed of a groove bottom 52 and a pair of groove walls 53, and is located inside the groove 50.

[0038] Figure 5 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the state when a fire occurs outside the building 10 and the connecting window 1 of this embodiment. Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the portion of the connecting member 20 of the connecting window 1 of this embodiment, including one end 20A (upper end), and a part of the building 10, showing the connecting window 1 and the connecting window structure 7 through the structural material 15 and fire-resistant material 17 of the building 10.

[0039] As shown in the diagram, at the location of the decorative molding 16, the structural material 15 of the building 10 is not covered by the exterior wall material 13 on the exterior side. Therefore, if the decorative molding 16 is destroyed by fire outdoors, there is a concern that the flames will pass through the area between the connected window 1 and the exterior wall material 13 and reach the area between the connected window 1 and the structural material 15. In that case, at the location of the window frame 3 of the connected window 1, the flames will be blocked by the window frame 3 and the fire-resistant material 17, preventing the flames from entering the building.

[0040] At the ends 20A and 20B of the connecting member 20 (one end 20A and the other end 20B), there is a risk that flames may enter the space between the connecting member 20 and the window frame 3 (vertical frame 6), the hollow sections 21-23 of the connecting member 20 (in this case, the third hollow section 23), and the groove 50. Of these, the space between the connecting member 20 and the window frame 3 and the third hollow section 23 are not continuous with the interior, so flames that enter the space between the connecting member 20 and the window frame 3 and the third hollow section 23 will not penetrate into the interior. In addition, flames that enter the space between the connecting member 20 and the window frame 3 are blocked by the connecting wall 26 of the connecting member 20 at the interior side of the space between the connecting member 20 and the window frame 3. However, the groove 50 is open towards the interior. In contrast, the heat-expanding material 8 blocks flames heading towards the space between the groove 50 and the fire-resistant material 17, preventing flames from passing through the groove 50.

[0041] At each of the two ends 20A and 20B of the connecting member 20, the fire-resistant material 17 is located on the indoor side of the connecting member 20's indoor end 28, the two connecting walls 26, the groove 50, and the opening 54 of the groove 50. The two connecting walls 26 of the connecting member 20 are positioned along the fire-resistant material 17 on both sides of the groove 50. The fire-resistant material 17 is also located on the indoor side of a predetermined portion of the groove 50 in the longitudinal direction of the groove 50 (the longitudinal direction of the connecting member 20). The predetermined portion of the groove 50 is the portion of the groove 50 located at the ends 20A and 20B of the connecting member 20. The fire-resistant material 17 is in contact with the indoor end 28 and the two connecting walls 26 of the connecting member 20, and covers the predetermined portion of the groove 50 on the indoor side of the ends 20A and 20B of the connecting member 20. The fire-resistant material 17 is positioned along the opening 54 of the groove 50, blocking a predetermined portion of the groove 50 on the indoor side.

[0042] Figure 7 is a perspective view showing an enlarged view of the continuous window 1 and a portion of the building 10 in this embodiment shown in Figure 6. As shown in the figure, the bottom 52 of the groove 50 is located on the outdoor side of the fire-resistant material 17. The pair of groove walls 53 of the groove 50 protrude toward the fire-resistant material 17 from both sides of the groove bottom 52 (left and right edges) and are located between the groove bottom 52 and the fire-resistant material 17. The heat-expanding material 8 is attached to the bottom 52 of the groove 50 and is positioned between the pair of groove walls 53, facing the inner space 51 of the groove 50. In the indoor-outdoor direction T, the groove bottom 52 faces the fire-resistant material 17 with the inner space 51 and the heat-expanding material 8 in between. The pair of groove walls 53 protrude toward the fire-resistant material 17 from both sides of the groove bottom 52 with the heat-expanding material 8 in between them.

[0043] The heat-expanding material 8 is provided in the space surrounded by at least a predetermined portion of the groove 50 and the fire-resistant material 17 (the portion covered by the fire-resistant material 17 in the inner space 51 of the groove 50), and is provided at least at the ends (one end and the other end) of the groove 50 located at the ends 20A and 20B of the connecting member 20. For example, the heat-expanding material 8 is provided throughout the entire longitudinal direction of the groove 50 in the inner space 51 of the groove 50, including the space surrounded by the predetermined portion of the groove 50 and the fire-resistant material 17, and extends in the longitudinal direction of the groove 50 from one end to the other. Alternatively, the heat-expanding material 8 is provided only in the space surrounded by the predetermined portion of the groove 50 and the fire-resistant material 17, and is provided only at the ends of the groove 50.

[0044] The heat-expandable material 8 is located on the outdoor side of the fire-resistant material 17 and is positioned between the fire-resistant material 17 and the groove bottom 52 of the groove 50 in the indoor-outdoor direction T, facing the fire-resistant material 17. When the heat-expandable material 8 is exposed to the heat of a flame, it expands and foams up due to the heating, sealing the space (inner space 51 of the groove 50) surrounded by a predetermined portion of the groove 50 and the fire-resistant material 17. At that time, the heat-expandable material 8 foams up between the pair of groove walls 53 of the groove 50 and expands from the groove bottom 52 of the groove 50 towards the fire-resistant material 17. The expanded heat-expandable material 8 fills and seals the space (inner space 51 of the groove 50) surrounded by a predetermined portion of the groove 50 and the fire-resistant material 17.

[0045] In the connected window structure 7 described above, the foamed heat-expanded material 8 at the ends 20A and 20B of the connecting member 20 can block flames from entering the space surrounded by the groove 50 and the fire-resistant material 17. Therefore, it is possible to suppress flames from entering the interior of the building through the groove 50 from the ends 20A and 20B of the connecting member 20, thereby improving the fire-resistant performance of the connected window structure 7. Even if there are areas around the connected window 1 where the outdoor side of the structural material 15 cannot be covered by the outdoor side wall material 13 due to the installation of decorative molding 16, etc., the fire-resistant performance of the connected window structure 7 can be ensured. Furthermore, by providing the heat-expanded material 8 only in the space surrounded by the groove 50 and the fire-resistant material 17, it is possible to reduce the amount of heat-expanded material 8 used while ensuring the fire-resistant performance of the connected window structure 7.

[0046] The heat-expandable material 8 is positioned inside a predetermined portion of the groove 50 and is attached to the groove 50. Therefore, the heat-expandable material 8, which is expanded in the predetermined portion of the groove 50, can efficiently fill the inner space 51 of the groove 50 of the connecting member 20. Furthermore, by attaching the heat-expandable material 8 to the bottom 52 of the groove 50, the expanded heat-expandable material 8 is allowed to expand from the bottom 52 toward the fire-resistant material 17 between the pair of groove walls 53 of the groove 50, and the heat-expandable material 8 can stably seal the space surrounded by the predetermined portion of the groove 50 and the fire-resistant material 17. In this case, the connecting member 20 is a mullion, and it is possible to suppress the intrusion of flames into the room from the end of the mullion of the connected window 1.

[0047] The heat-expanded foaming material 8 may be attached to the fire-resistant material 17 and placed in the space surrounded by the predetermined portion of the groove 50 and the fire-resistant material 17. The connecting material 20 may also be a connecting material that does not have hollow portions 21-23. The window frame 3 may have at least one of a transom and vertical ribs. The transom extends horizontally between the upper frame 4 and the lower frame 5 and is installed on a pair of vertical frames 6. The vertical ribs extend vertically between the pair of vertical frames 6 and are installed on the upper frame 4 and the lower frame 5. In a window frame 3 having both a transom and vertical ribs, for example, the transom is installed on each of the pair of vertical frames 6 and the vertical ribs. The decorative molding 16 may be attached to the upper frame 4, the lower frame 5, and one of the vertical frames 6 of the two window frames 3 without being attached to the structural material 15.

[0048] The connecting member 20 is not limited to a mullion, but may be a connecting member other than a mullion (for example, a transom that is a horizontal member). If the connecting member 20 is a transom, it is installed in the left-right direction S in the opening 12 of the building 10. Also, the two window frames 3 are adjacent to each other in the vertical direction R with the connecting member 20 in between. The ends 20A and 20B of the connecting member 20 are one end 20A and the other end 20B of the connecting member 20 in the left-right direction S, and the fire-resistant material 17 is provided on the indoor side of the ends 20A and 20B of the connecting member 20, respectively.

[0049] The sash 2 is not limited to a vertically sliding window, but may be other types of windows (e.g., sliding windows, casement windows, outward-opening windows, inward-opening windows, double-hung windows, fixed windows). Therefore, the window frame 3 is not limited to a window frame for an opening window, but may be other types of window frames (e.g., a window frame for a fixed window). The connected window 1 is not limited to a connected window comprising two window frames 3 on the left and right and a connecting member 20, but may be other types of connected windows (e.g., a connected window comprising three or more window frames 3 installed side by side in the left-right direction S or the up-down direction R, and a connecting member 20 located between each of two adjacent window frames 3).

[0050] As described above, this embodiment discloses the continuous window structure described in (1) to (5) below.

[0051] (1) A continuous window structure comprising: two adjacent window frames installed in an opening of a building; a connecting member located between the two window frames and connecting them; and a fire-resistant material provided on the indoor side of the ends of the two window frames and the connecting member, surrounding the opening of the building. The connecting member has a groove located at the indoor end of the connecting member, extending in the longitudinal direction of the connecting member and open toward the indoor side, and two connecting walls extending in the longitudinal direction of the connecting member on either side of the groove, to which the two window frames are connected. The fire-resistant material is located on the indoor side of a predetermined portion of the groove and covers the predetermined portion of the groove. A continuous window structure comprising a heat-expandable material that is provided in the space surrounded by a predetermined portion of the groove and the fire-resistant material, and which expands upon heating to seal the space. In the continuous window structure described in (1), the intrusion of flames into the interior from the end of the connecting member having a groove that is open toward the interior can be suppressed, thereby improving the fire resistance performance of the continuous window structure.

[0052] (2) In the continuous window structure described in (1), The heat-foamed material is a continuous window structure positioned inside a predetermined portion of the groove and fitted into the groove. In the continuous window structure described in (2), the foamed heat-blown material can efficiently fill the inner space of the grooves in the connecting material.

[0053] (3) In the continuous window structure described in (2), The groove portion has a groove bottom located on the outdoor side of the fire-resistant material and facing the fire-resistant material, and a pair of groove walls protruding toward the fire-resistant material from the edges on both sides of the groove bottom. The aforementioned heat-expanded material is a continuous window structure attached to the bottom of the groove. In the continuous window structure described in (3), the foamed heat-expanded material is expanded between a pair of groove walls of the groove from the bottom of the groove toward the fire-resistant material, and the heat-expanded material can stably seal the space surrounded by the predetermined portion of the groove and the fire-resistant material.

[0054] (4) In a continuous window structure described in any of (1) to (3), The aforementioned heat-expanded material is a continuous window structure provided only in the space surrounded by a predetermined portion of the groove and the fire-resistant material. In the continuous window structure described in (4), the amount of heat-expanded foaming agent used can be reduced while ensuring the fire-resistant performance of the continuous window structure.

[0055] (5) In a continuous window structure described in any of (1) to (4), The two window frames mentioned above are adjacent to each other in the left-right direction. The connecting member is a mullion that extends vertically between the two window frames, forming a continuous window structure. In the continuous window structure described in (5), it is possible to suppress the entry of flames into the room from the ends of the mullions of the continuous windows. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0056] 1...Continuous window, 2...Sash, 3...Window frame, 3A...Opening, 4...Upper frame, 5...Lower frame, 6...Vertical frame, 6A...Outdoor side end, 6B...Fitting part, 6C...Indoor side end, 6D...Fixing part, 7...Continuous window structure, 8...Heat-expanded foaming material, 10...Building, 11...Exterior wall, 12...Opening, 13...Outdoor side wall material, 14...Indoor side wall material, 15...Structural material, 16...Decorative molding, 17...Fire-resistant material, 20...Connecting material, 20A...One end, 20B...Other end, 21...First hollow Section, 22...Second hollow section, 23...Third hollow section, 24...Opposite section, 25...Connecting section, 26...Connecting wall, 27...Outdoor side end, 28...Indoor side end, 30...Sash, 31...Frame body, 32...Panel, 33...Upper frame, 34...Lower frame, 35...Vertical frame, 40...Window frame cover, 41...Connecting material cover, 42...Screw, 50...Groove section, 51...Inner space, 52...Groove bottom, 53...Groove wall, 54...Opening, R...Up and down direction, S...Left and right direction, T...Indoor and outdoor direction.

Claims

1. A continuous window structure comprising: two adjacent window frames installed in an opening of a building; a connecting member positioned between the two window frames to connect them; and a fire-resistant material provided on the indoor side of the ends of the two window frames and the connecting member, surrounding the opening of the building. The connecting member has a groove located at the indoor end of the connecting member, extending in the longitudinal direction of the connecting member and open toward the indoor side, and two connecting walls extending in the longitudinal direction of the connecting member on either side of the groove, to which the two window frames are connected. The fire-resistant material is located on the indoor side of a predetermined portion of the groove and covers the predetermined portion of the groove. A continuous window structure comprising a heat-expandable material that is provided in the space surrounded by a predetermined portion of the groove and the fire-resistant material, and which expands upon heating to seal the space.

2. In the continuous window structure described in claim 1, The heat-foamed material is a continuous window structure positioned inside a predetermined portion of the groove and fitted into the groove.

3. In the continuous window structure described in claim 2, The groove portion has a groove bottom located on the outdoor side of the fire-resistant material and facing the fire-resistant material, and a pair of groove walls protruding toward the fire-resistant material from the edges on both sides of the groove bottom. The aforementioned heat-expanded material is a continuous window structure attached to the bottom of the groove.

4. In the continuous window structure described in any one of claims 1 to 3, The aforementioned heat-expanded material is a continuous window structure provided only in the space surrounded by a predetermined portion of the groove and the fire-resistant material.

5. In the continuous window structure described in any one of claims 1 to 3, The two window frames mentioned above are adjacent to each other in the left-right direction. The connecting member is a mullion that extends vertically between the two window frames, forming a continuous window structure.

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