Abstract: A window assembly, comprises a frame and a sash. The frame has a jamb on at least a first side of the frame. The jamb has an inwardly extending flange. The sash is disposed within the frame. The sash has a stile with an outwardly extending flange along at least one portion of the stile adjacent the jamb. The outwardly extending flange is fixed relative to the sash. The outwardly extending flange is slidably movable adjacent to the inwardly extending flange. The sash has a first position in which the stile is substantially prevented from deflecting by the inwardly extending flange. The sash as a second position in which an end of the outwardly extending flange is positioned beyond an end of the inwardly extending flange, allowing the sash to pivot relative to the frame.

Abstract: A door assembly which includes a door frame defining an opening and a door. The door includes a first rectangular panel which is rotatably mounted to the door frame and moveable between an open and a closed position. A second panel is connected to and rotatable with the first panel and is disposed generally parallel to, or co-planar with the first panel and moveable thereto in plane of the panels so as to be moveable between a retracted position where the second panel is generally laterally adjacent to the first panel, to an extended position where the second panel is spaced from the first panel in the direction of the plane of the panels. The door assembly is operative to cover the opening defined by the door frame by movement of the first panel from its open to its closed position and movement of the second panel from its retracted to its extended position.

Abstract: A hybrid sliding-pivoting door or window structure comprises one or more pairs of cooperative panels each including a first swinging panel and a second sliding panel. The sliding panel can be moved from a fully closed position in which it is end-to-end with the swinging panel to a semi-open position of the structure in which it is juxtaposed face-to-face with the swinging panel and both panels can then be swung as a unit to fully open the structure and provide substantially unimpeded access across the width of an opening in which the structure is located. The sliding panel is received in a fixed track section when in the fully closed position and moves into a swinging track section associated with the swinging panel.

Abstract: The emergency-opening sliding door comprises at least one door-leaf constituted by a panel which is stationarily fixed with respect to a panel frame attached to the door casing and at least one movable panel coupled to the frame by means of a roller track which permits displacement of the movable panel in sliding motion in a direction parallel to the fixed panel. The door is provided with an articulation system for permitting a movement of rotation of at least one of the panels about a vertical axis. The driving means for displacement in sliding motion are secured to the panel frame so as to be driven together with the frame in its movement of rotation.