AU2003266766A1

AU2003266766A1 - A Window Having a Mullion Attached in a Particular Manner

Info

Publication number: AU2003266766A1
Application number: AU2003266766A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Frank Xavier Heads
Original assignee: Bradnam S Window & Doors Pty L
Current assignee: Bradnam's Windows & Doors Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2002-11-08
Filing date: 2003-12-08
Publication date: 2004-05-27

Description

A WINDOW HAVING A MULLION ATTACHED IN A PARTICULAR

MANNER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to a window, and is particularly directed to a sliding window which has a fixed mullion and where the mullion is attached in a particular manner such that fasteners are not visible. Although the invention will be described with reference to a window, it may also be equally applicable to a sliding door, such as a sliding glass door.

BACKGROUND ART A sliding window typically comprises a metal surround frame. The metal surround frame is typically formed of extruded aluminium. The sliding window typically contains one sliding window pane and one fixed window pane. The sliding window pane contains a surround frame. The fixed window pane has three sides which are surrounded by the metal surround frame and the fourth side is protected by an intermediate vertical frame member which is called a mullion. The mullion is attached to the top horizontal frame member (the head) and the bottom horizontal frame member (the sill). This enables the fixed window pane to be completely surrounded by the frame such that an unprotected glass edge is not present.

Of course, some sliding windows do not have a mullion as each window pane slides. Other sliding windows may contain more than one fixed pane and therefore may contain more than one mullion. Some sliding doors also have a mullion type member which is of course larger and stronger.

To date, these mullions have been fixed to the head and the sill using a separate fastener such as a rivet or a screw. This results in the rivet head and screw head being visible on the sliding window. In many cases, this presents an aesthetic problem and there would be an advantage to fix the mullion in such a way that a rivet or screw is not required. Moreover, under harsh environmental conditions, corrosion can occur between the fastener and the window frame.

In our Australian patent 668477 there is described a mechanism whereby a mullion is attached without the use of fasteners. In this mechanism, the mullion is placed in position and can then be twist locked into the head and the sill using a specially designed mullion.

It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to 2 herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a sliding window and components thereof, and is particularly directed to a sliding window where the mullion can be attached without the use of external fasteners which are visible when the mullion is attached.

In one form, the invention resides in a sliding window having a surround frame which comprises a head and a sill, a mullion, a location means to locate the mullion in position in the sill and/or head, and a locking means to lock the mullion into that position.

Suitably, the locking means locks against the location means.

The sliding window can be of any suitable shape and size and may comprise one or more fixed window panes. Therefore, the sliding window may also have one or more mullions. Importantly, it is envisaged that the invention is also applicable to a sliding door and therefore notwithstanding that the invention will be described with reference to a sliding window, it may also extend to a sliding door.

Typically the invention will be suitable in respect of the smaller sliding windows which comprise one fixed window pane and one sliding window pane, the size of the window typically being a length of between 40-200 cm and a height of between 40-150 cm. Of course, no limitation is meant thereby.

The sliding window typically has an aluminium surround frame although it is envisaged that surround frames made of other materials can be used.

For instance, the surround frame may be of a metal other than aluminium, of plastic, wood, composite materials and the like.

The surround frame typically comprises an upper horizontal head, a lower horizontal sill, and a pair of vertical edge members. These are typically connected together by any suitable means. The head typically has a profile which contains at least one channel or recess to accommodate the window pane. Similarly, the sill typically has a profile which contains at least one channel or recess to accommodate the window pane.

The mullion extends between the sill and the head and is typically attached both to the sill and the head. The position of the mullion in the window frame will depend on the size of the fixed glass pane. However, it is important that the mullion is not able to be easily moved or removed once fixed in position. This is the reason why most mullions are fixed using rivets or screws.

A location means is provided to locate the mullion in position. The location means will typically hold the mullion in position in a relatively fixed manner.

Thus, with the location means only, the mullion can be fixed in position but can also be removed by a knock/blow etc.

It is preferred that the location means is formed separately from the mullion and is placed in position in the head and/or sill prior to attachment of the mullion. However, it is envisaged that the location means may also comprise part of the mullion or be attached to the mullion.

It is preferred that the location means comprises a separate member.

The separate member may comprise a block. The block may be slid or otherwise moved in the channel in the head/sill to a particular position. The block may comprise at least one resilient member which is adapted to engage in a particular part of the channel to position the block in that particular part of the channel. The at least one resilient member may comprise a resilient finger and it is preferred that the block contains a pair of such fingers. It is preferred that as the block engages in the channel, the at least one resilient member is deformed.

The channel may be formed with some form of projection or recess, or other means to engage with the location means to position the location means in the desired placed in the channel. Typically, the channel is formed with a recess. The recess may comprise a notch. The notch may contain one or more abutment portions which abut with a portion of the resilient finger on the block to hold the block in place.

The location means may comprise a portion against which the mullion can abut to position the mullion in place in the channel. The portion may comprise a wall, a projection, and the like.

The mullion may have an upper end and a lower end which extend into the channels in the head/sill. The upper end and the lower end may be provided with an aperture.

A locking means is provided to lock the mullion in position, typically against the location means. The locking means may comprise a separate member.

The separate member may be slidable or otherwise movable in the channel towards the mullion. The member may comprise a clip. The clip may be provided with an engagement means to lock the mullion in position. The engagement means may comprise a projection which engages with the mullion. The projection may comprise a deformable finger and preferably comprises a pair of deformable fingers. The projection may be adapted to pass through the aperture in the mullion to lock the mullion in position. Preferably, the locking means also locks against or engages with the location means. Most preferably, the locking means passes through the mullion and locks against the location means to "sandwich" the mullion between the location means and the locking means.

If desired, a locking pin or like member may be provided to reduce the possibility of the locking means becoming inadvertently freed from engagement with the mullion/location means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings is which: Figure 1. Illustrates the various components of the embodiment.

Figure 2. Illustrates an exploded view of a window assembly showing the head, sill, mullion, and the method by which the mullion is locked to the head and the sill without the use of rivets and screws.

Figure 3. Illustrates the location means in position in the sill/head.

Figure 4. Illustrates the mullion pressed up against the location means.

Figure 5. Illustrates, from one side, the locking means locking the mullion against the location means.

Figure 6. Illustrates, from the other side, the locking means locking the mullion against the location means.

BEST MODE Referring to the drawings and initially to figure 1, there is illustrated the various components of the invention. Briefly, there is illustrated a mullion formed from extruded aluminium as is typical. The mullion 10 has an upper end 11 and a lower end 12, each end being formed with a rectangular opening 13. Briefly, the mullion is retained in the lower sill 14 (see figure and in the upper head 15 (see figure 2) by a location means and a locking means. In the particular embodiment, a location means and a locking means is provided in the sill and the head. The location means in the sill is slightly different in shape to the location means in the head but functions in the same manner. Specifically, the sill contains a location means 16 and the head contains a slightly different shaped location means 17. Each location means 16, 17 is provided with two finger portions 18, 19 that extend away from each other.

The finger portions are spaced above a base portion 20 and a small space is present between each finger portion 18, 19 and base portion 20. Above each finger portion 18, 19 is a block like wall portion 21. Wall portion 21 contains a rectangular opening 22 to accommodate the locking means which will be described in greater detail below.

In use, the location means 16, 17 slides into a channel in the sill and the head. Referring to figure 2, location means 16 slides along channel 23 in sill 14, and channel 24 in head 15. Specifically, the base portion 20 of the location means 16 sits entirely within channel 23, while each finger portion 18, 19 rides on the outside and on the edge 25 of the channel. The channel 14 is provided with a cutout portion 26 which contains a pair of shoulders 27. In use, location means 16 can be inserted into one end of channel 23 and pushed along until it passes over cutout portion 26. When this occurs, finger portions 18, 19 abut against shoulders 27 to locate the location means 16 in sill 14. A similar arrangement is found in head 15 to locate location means 17. Thus, the finger portions 18, 19 function to hold the location means in the respective cutout portion 26.

Once the location means have been positioned in the channel, the next step is to position mullion 10. The mullion 10 is positioned such that the lower end 12 sits within channel 28. The mullion is then slid along the channel until lower end 12 abuts against the wall portion 21 on location means 16 (and similarly until the upper end 11 abuts against wall portion 21 on location means 17). The mullion is then in position in the sill 14 and the head 15 but is not yet locked in position.

A locking means 29 is provided to lock the upper end 11 and the lower end 12 of mullion 10 against the respective location means 16, 17. In the particular embodiment, locking means 27 comprises a mullion snap clip. The clip is made of plastics material and is shaped to provide a rear body portion 30, and a pair of forwardly extending fingers 31, 32 which are resilient and therefore can be squeezed together. Each finger 31, 32 terminates in a "arrowhead".

In use, once mullion 10 has been pushed against the respective locating means 16, 17, the locking means 27 is slid along channel 28. The fingers 31, 32 pass through opening 13 in mullion 10 and in doing so will be slightly squeezed together because of the arrowhead tip on each finger. As the lower end 12 of mullion 10 abuts against wall portion 21 of the locating means 16, the fingers will continue to pass through the opening 22 in the locating means 16. During this process, the fingers will be squeezed together. As the arrowhead portion passes out of opening 22, the fingers will extend and the arrowhead portion will abut against the other side of locating means 16 to prevent the locking means from being withdrawn. At this stage, mullion is locked in the channel by being sandwiched between the locking means 29 and the locating means 16 (in the sill) and between locking means 29 and the locating means 17 (in the head). The body portion 30 of locking means 29 when attached to locating means 16 sits above one of the finger portions of locating means 16 to make it almost impossible for the finger portion to move out of the cutout portion 26 which provides another security feature to ensure that locating means 16 cannot be inadvertently pushed out of the cutout portion 26.

If desired, a locking pin 33 can be pushed through an opening which is between fingers 31, 32 to ensure that the fingers stay in a pushed apart position to ensure that the arrowhead on each finger securely locks against the other side of location means 16 (put differently, the locking pin 33 can prevent fingers 31, 32 from being squeezed together and therefore prevents locking means 29 from being pulled back out of opening 22 in location means 16 and opening 13 in of mullion Figure 3 illustrates locking means 16 in position in sill 14 with the finger portions 18, 19 within cutout portion 26.

Figure 4 illustrates attachment of mullion 10 and shows how the bottom end 12 is slid along channel 28 to abut against location means 16.

Figure 5 illustrates attachment of the locking means and it can be seen that the fingers 31, 32 have pushed through opening 22 to lock the mullion between the location means 16 and the locking means.

Figure 6 illustrates the position of Figure 5 from the other side which now illustrates the rear part of locking means 29. Also illustrated is the optional locking pin 33.

The arrangement allows a sliding window containing a mullion to be assembled without the need for any ugly external rivets or screws.

7 It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications can be made to any embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A sliding window or door having a surround frame which comprises a head and a sill, a mullion, a location means to locate the mullion in position in the sill and/or head, and a locking means to lock the mullion into that position.

2. The sliding window or door as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking means locks against the location means,

3. The sliding window or door as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 which comprises a sliding window which has one fixed window pane and one sliding window pane, the size of the window being a length of between 40-200 cm and a height of between 40-150 cm. The sliding window or door as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the surround frame comprises an upper horizontal head, a lower horizontal sill, and a pair of vertical edge members.

6. The sliding window or door as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mullion extends between the sill and the head and is attached both to the sill and the head.

7. The sliding window or door as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the location means holds the mullion in position in a relatively fixed manner.

8. The sliding window or door as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the location means is formed separately from the mullion and is placed in position in the head and/or sill prior to attachment of the mullion.

9. The sliding window or door as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the location means comprises a separate member which is a block.

10. The sliding window or door as claimed in claim 9, wherein the block has at least one resilient member which is adapted to engage in a particular part of the channel to position the block in that particular part of the channel.

11. The sliding window or door as claimed in claim 10 wherein the at least one resilient member comprises a resilient finger.

12. The sliding window or door as claimed in claim 11, wherein the block contains a pair of such fingers.

13. The sliding window or door as claimed in claim 12, wherein as the block engages in the channel, the at least one resilient member is deformed.

14. The sliding window or door as claimed in claim 13, wherein the channel is formed with a projection or recess, or other means to engage with the location means to position the location means in the desired placed in the channel. The sliding window or door as claimed in claim 14, wherein the channel is provided with a recess which is a notch.

16. The sliding window or door as claimed in claim 15 wherein they notch contains one or more abutment portions which abut with a portion of the resilient finger on the block to hold the block in place.

17. The sliding window or door as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the location means comprises a portion against which the mullion can abut to position the mullion in place in the channel.

18. The sliding window or door as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mullion has an upper end and a lower end which extend into the channels in the head/sill, the upper end and the lower having with an aperture.

19. The sliding window or door as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a locking means is provided to lock the mullion in position. The sliding window or door as claimed in claim 19, wherein the locking means locks the mullion in position against the location means.

21. The sliding window or door as claimed in claim 19 or claim 20 wherein the locking means is a clip.

22. The sliding window or door as claimed in claim 21 wherein the clip is provided with an engagement means to lock the mullion in position.

23. The sliding window or door as claimed in claim 22, wherein the engagement means comprises a projection which engages with the mullion.

24. The sliding window or door as claimed in claim 23, wherein the projection comprises at least one deformable finger. The sliding window or door as claimed in claim 24, wherein the projection is adapted to pass through the aperture in the mullion to lock the mullion in position.

26. The sliding window or door as claimed in claim 19, wherein the locking means passes through the mullion and locks against the location means to "sandwich" the mullion between the location means and the locking means.

27. The sliding window or door as claimed in claim 26, including a locking pin to reduce the possibility of the locking means becoming inadvertently freed from engagement with the mullion/location means.

28. A sliding window or door substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 8 th day of December 2003 Bradnam's Windows Doors Pty Ltd By their Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO.