GB2166792A - Window frames - Google Patents

Abstract

A profiled strip (20) having an angled portion may be positively snap locked into a box-shaped basic section bar (10). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in window frames The invention relates to a profiled strip which may be used for the manufacture of plastics framed windows.

All window frames are made, for reasons of rigidity, of a suitable overall cross section or profile which, depending on the intended use, is provided with at least one angled portion.

Thus the frame, the outer frame, intended for fitting into the brickwork is usually of a generally angled cross sectional shape. This shape serves for the receipt of a corresponding hinged sash frame or a glass pane and a bead for mounting the glass pane. Different shapes are required fro the manufacture of different types of window: angular, T-shaped and Zshaped profiles. In the case of a window whose overall extent is divided into various parts, the design of the profile varies if various parts are provided with different types of opening. For example, if the window is divided into two adjacent sections say the lefthand part can be permanently glazed and the right-hand one can be provided with a movable sash which may be swung outwards for the purpose of opening it.In this case, the region of the left-hand part of the frame must be provided with an angled portion facing outwards (for glazing from the inside) and the right-hand part must be provided with an angled portion facing inwards, (to enable the sash to open outwards). The profile portion of the frame, the mullion, vertically dividing the overall extent of the window must be provided with alternatingly disposed angled pieces; Z-shaped. The sash frame disposed in the right-hand part must be provided with Tshaped profiles. The manufacture of window frames of the above type, especially those made of plastics sections, is technically difficult and all three of the profile shaped are required to be manufactured, that is to say Lshaped, T-shaped and Z-shaped.

It is known to provide box-shaped basic section bars with positively snap fitting profiled strips which thus form the angled portions. The profiled strips, which are positively snap-fittable onto the box-shaped basic section, have previously always been designed in such a way that a rabbet or gap remains in the reigon of one of the angular bend- or rabbet-forming profile zones. A further disadvantage of these positive snap-fitting profiled strips forming only the angled portion was that they could not be safeguarded against removal by force.

An object of the invention is to simplify the manufacture of multi-sectioned windows made of profiles with alterntively required angled portions. Furthermore, variable mounting of the profiled strip with the angled pieced on only one statically effective profile, a boxshaped basic section, replaces the three profiles otherwise required, thus providing greater economy in profile and window manufacture.

Furthermore, a visible rabbet in the region of the angled profile is avoided and a larger contact or adhesion surface is created in the area of connection between the basic section and the profiled strip forming the angled portion.

In addition, forcible removal through the section of the profiled strip forming the angled portion is no longer possible.

An aim of the invention is to enable production of multi-section windows having the lowest possible number of overall section with different opening directions or combinations of glazed sections and different opening directions.

According to the invention, a profiled strip having an angled portion is positively snapfitted into a basic section bar to form an angled overall section, or two identically profiled strips each having an angled portion are positively snap fitted to form a T-shaped or Z-shaped overall section. Furthermore, according to the invention, the part of the profiled strip which faces the basic section bar fills the entire region of the basic section bar between two latching projections required for locking the profiled strip. This results in a large contact area between the profiled strip and the basic section bar, which area ensures secure adhesion by the use of suitable adhesive.

Once the profiled strip has been positively snap locked into the basic section bar, metal fittings can be fastened by screws which penetrate both the wall of the profiled strip and the wall of the basic section bar. The large contact or adhesion area together with the fact that the two profiles are undetachably connected to one another by the screwed metal fittings result in a profile configuration which prevents forcible removal of the angled portion.

An advantage offered by the above is that only one basic section bar is required for the manufacture of different types of window.

This said basic section bar may be combined by means of positive snap locking with a profiled strip having an angled portion to form an angular overall section, or by means of locking with two profiled strips having an angled portion to form a T-shaped or Z-shaped overall section. The profiled strips having the angled portion may be attached either before or after manufacture of the frame. Thus a frame made from the overall section bar and having two individual sections or being vertically divided may, as a result of the positive snap locking of the profiled strip, have one angled portion facing outwards in the region of the first part section and one angled portion facing inwards in the region of the second part section, although the supporting profile section of the basic section bar is continuous.All the profiled strips which are inserted into the frame or positively snap locked into the basic section bar are, as a result of their profile shape, protected against forceable removal by metal fittings or by the window pane received in the angled region of the profiled strip.

The invention is further described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a basic section bar for manufacturing a window frame; Fig. 2 is a cross-section of a profiled strip for use with the basic section bar of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-section of a window frame component made up of the basic section bar of Fig. 1 and the profiled strip of Fig.

2; Fig. 4 is a cross-section of a glazing bead for use with the window frame component of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a cross-section showing the glazing bead fitted, Fig. 6 is a cross-section of a T-shaped window frame component made up of the basic bar of Fig. 1 and two profiled strips of Fig. 2; and Fig. 7 is a cross-section of a Z-shaped window frame component made by assembling the profiled strips with the section bar in a different way.

The basic section bar of Fig. 1 is externally symmetrical with respect to both of its principal axes. The cross-section is substantially a box cross-section for strength and having opposed base walls 12 and opposed side walls 14. An off-centre stiffening web 16 extends internally between the base walls 12. At the four corners of the basic section bar 10 are latching projections 18 which mutually face one another away from the side walls 14.

The profiled strip 20 shown in Fig. 2 has an angular cross-section for the purpose of defining the glazing rebate. It has a base wall 22 terminating in a locking projection 24 and opposite to the locking projection is a perpendicular extension 26 connected by an outer facing 28 to a latching nose 30. A slot 32 is formed in the perpendicular extension 26 for the purpose of receiving a resilient sealing strip.

As shown in Fig. 3, the profiled strip 20 is so dimensioned that it can be received over substnantially the whole depth of the basic section bar 10 with the locking projection 24 received beneath one of the latching projections 18 and with the latching projection 30 snap fitted behind the opposing latching projection 18 of the basic section bar. For added security, adhesive may be placed between the base wall 12 of the basic section bar 10 and the ajoining base wall 22 of the profiled strip 20.

Fig. 4 of the drawings shows a glazing bead 40 which can be snap fitted as shown in Fig.

5 in order to hold a window pane 34 in place.

For this purpose the glazing bead 40 has a out-turned lip 42 which fits beneath a latching projection 36 formed on the base wall 22 of the profiled strip 20. The glazing bead 40 has a similar profile to the profile of the perpendicular portion of the profiled strip 20. Thus it has a slot 44 for receiving a resilient sealing element 46 as shown in Fig. 5. To hold the glazing bead 40 in place, the facing 48 of the latter has a downward projection 50 which can latch behind the latching projection 18 of the basic section bar 10. The projection 50 does not need to latch beneath the projection 18 since the resilience of the sealing strip 46 pressing against the window pane 34 causes the glazing bead 40 to press down on the latching projection 18.

Fig. 3 of the drawings shows an L-shaped section window frame component suitable as part of an outer frame intended to fit in a building wall. In the case of a transom or mullion, two profiled strips 20 can be fitted to opposite sides of the basic section bar 10 as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings so that the window frame component has a T-shaped configuration. Window panes can thereby be secured at both sides of the transom or mullion.

Whilst the window frame components are described above as being suitable for receiving window panes, they are equally suitable to receive an opening sash, which is hinged to the frame in a conventional manner, the glazing bead being omitted in such case.

The window frame made from the components shown in the drawings will of course be mounted in a wall or the like suitably oriented so that they can be glazed from the inside or from the outside of the building, whichever is desired. If the window has one part which is glazed for example, from the inside and another part which is for example, a sash opening to the outside, then a transom or mullion of Z-shaped configuration as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings is required. It will be seen that the transom or mullion of Fig. 7 is made from extactly the same components as Fig. 6 but the profiled strips 20 are fitted to the basic section bar 10 asymmetrically instead of symmetrically as shown in Fig. 6.

By comparison of Figs. 3, 6 and 7 it can be seen that three different window frame components can be made from the same two parts. Furthermore, only three different sections of material in total are required, taking into account the glazing bead.

It can thus be seen that a simplification of the manufacture of window frames and a reduction in the necessary profiled sections are obtained by means of a basic section bar equipped in a form locking manner with an angled profiled strip. A simple angled or Lshaped section as shown in Fig. 3 can then be obtained. If two angular profiled strips are attached symmetrically to opposite sides of the basic section bar, a T-shaped window frame component is obtained as shown in Fig.

6. When the basic section bar is equipped on opposite sides with two angular profiled strips arranged non-symmetrically, a Z-shaped window frame component as shown in Fig. 7 is obtained.

As can be seen from the drawings, the angular profiled strip 20 is gripped by the basic section bar 10 beneath the two opposing latching projections 18 and lies between the depth of the latching projections 18 over the full depth of the basic section bar 10 and in a planar manner against the adjacent base wall 12.

Unauthorised removal of the profiled strip 20 from the basic section bar 10 in the assembled window frame is impossible because the profiled strip extends over the full depth of the basic section bar. Further security is achieved by the use of adhesive between the base wall 12 of the bar 10 and the base wall 22 of the profiled strip 20. Furthermore, the screws by means of which window hinges and window furniture are secured to the frame pass through both the profiled strip and the underlaying basic section bar and thereby achieve even further security.

The section material is advantageously made from UPVC and is preferably extruded.

The window pane 34 will usually be a double glazing unit and the various sections will be suitably dimensioned so that the window frame component will be adapted to receive such a double glazing unit.

Claims (9)

1. A profiled strip having an angled portion which may be positively snap locked into a statically effective box-shaped basic section bar and which is dimensioned such that it is positively snap locked into the depth of the box-shape basic section bar.

2. A profiled strip as claimed in claim 1, which fills the entire depth or depression of the basic section bar between the two latching zones.

3. A profiled strip as claimed in claim 1, in which the profiled strip only abuts against parts of the depth or depression of the basic section bar.

4. A profiled strip as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the profiled strip may be positively snap locked into a symmetrically designed latching region of the basic section bar.

5. A profiled strip as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, in which the wall of the profiled strip facing the basic section bar is to the largest extent possible a planar surface.

6. A profiled strip as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, in which the profiled strip itself is provided with locking regions.

7. A profiled strip as claimed in claim 6, in which glazing beads and the like may be positively snap locked into locking regions of the profiled strip.

8. A profiled strip substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

9. A window frame component comprising a bi-symmetrical basic section bar and at least one profiled strip snap-fitted thereto.