AU2004203094A1 - Method of Sealing Window Frame - Google Patents

Description

2004 16:06 PIPERS TAKAPSNA No,9236 P, 3 -2- FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a method and/or apparatus for aiding the sealing of frames such as windows and doors and more particularly the sealing of the side sections inclusive of the comer sections of a frame.

BACKGROUND OF TIHE INVENTION The sealing of frames such as windows and doors traditionally occur by wrapping a frame with a sealant tape so when the window or door joinery is placed in position the tendency of water to ingress is substantially reduced or eliminated.

To stop the ingress of water using this traditional method the layers of building wrap and sealant tape generally build up around the frame particularly in the comer sections. This build up of layers causes the frame to not be sealed to the greatest extent possible. Due to the difficulty in sealing the framing material adequately, regions of the frame deteriorate due to the ingress of water.

It is therefore desirable to have a method for sealing each side of a frame from the ingress of water. It is therefore apparent there is a need for an improved method to assist in the easy and successful sealing of all sections of a frame.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of thepresent invention to provide an improved method and/or apparatus of sealing a frame, or one which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION In one aspect the invention consists in a method of sealing a frame against water ingress comprising the steps of; providing a substantially rigid longitudinal and/or horizontal section of sufficient length to be positioned adjacent at least a substantial portion of a frame in use, the section being shaped 130617AUNKs pn.704.doc 2004 16:06 J PIPERS TAKAPUNA No,-92?6 P 4 -3to direct water away from the frame in use, providing a window frame, and positioning the substanially longitudinal and/or horizontal section into and adjacent to the frame.

In a further aspect the invention consists in a frame when sealed by a method according to anyone of the preceding paragraphs.

In a still fhrther aspect the invention consists in a frame section comprising an elongated member of substantially rigid material providing a web able to fit against a window frame in use, and liquid shedding means arranged to shed liquid which becomes positioned on a said web in use to a position away from said web.

Preferably the said web inclines away from the frame, in use.

Preferably the incline is provided across the width of the web and is at a gradient of about 3 degrees from the plane of the frame section.

Alternatively the incline is across part of the width of the web.

Preferably the incline over part of the width of the web is at substantially 7' from substantially the mid-point of the web.

Preferably the liquid shedding means comprises a flange extending from the web along lower incline edge thereof.

Preferably the liquid shedding flange has an upper surface, the upper surface being, in normal use, at an angle of substantially 19" to the horizontal.

Preferably a rib is provided at or adjacent the distal edge of the flange.

Preferably the frame section consists of any material with suitable sealing characteristics, that is the material must be sufficiently water impermeable to allow for no water ingress, it must also be able to mould to the sides of a frame.

Preferably the frame section has-some flexibility and/or resistance.

Preferably the frame section is of a rubber or silicone.

Optionally the frame section is of a plastic, PVC or other similar materials.

130617AUN1K Pec-74.d;ce 2004 16:06 PIPER3 TAKAPUNA No .9236 P. -4- Preferably the frame section further includes locating means.

Preferably the locating means comprises a rib positioned at substantially right angles to the web.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defimed in the appended claims. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, FIGURE I is a diagrammatic prospective view of parts of a section according to one preferred form of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a end elevation of a section of Figure 1, FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative section, FIGUKE 4 is a cross-sectional view of a further alternative construction, FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the construction of Figure 4, and FIGURE 6 shows the construction of Figure 4 in use.

Referring to Figure 1, a frame section is provided which has a web which provides a surface Water shedding means are provided so that in use any water collecting on the web tends to be directed away from the surface In the preferred form the water shedding means comprises a pair of flanges which extend outwardly from one edge of the web The flange is positioned so that when a web, such as the web in Figure 1, is substantially horizontal in use, the flange extends outwardly and downwardly such as can 130617AU NK p-cO,704.doc 2004 16:06 PR TKPH o.26P PIPERS TAKAPUNA N o 9 2 2 6 P 6 be seen in Figure 2. The surface would not normally be horizontal, having a downward, outward incline- towards flange in normal use at the bottom pant of a window frame.

Ingress of liquid such as water, inwardly in use, can be substantially prevented or restricted by providing a rib along the web as substantially shown in Figure 1. The rib also provides a locating means for installation of the section The rib may be provided at the point of intersection between the flange and web The rib also provides a locating means for the installation of the section Ingress of liquid such as water, inwardly in use, is further substantially prevented or restricted by the incline of the web substantially as shown in Figure 1. Thus the web (2) increases in thickness away from the flange The angle betweein surface and the surface of the web may be about 3 degrees.

A flange may also be provided along the distal edge (10) of the flange for additional strengh and for enhanced appearance. The flange also reduces any tendency for water at the outer edge of flange to run back towards the window frame in use.

Fixing means may also be provided which may be in the form of apertures for example, through which fixing nails (not shown), may be positioned in use.

In the construction of Figure 3 the surface does not slope across the whole width, but is provided with a 'Thee" The part of the surface may be such that no incline is provided in use but the pant (14) may be provided at about to the horizontal (or -vertical) in use. The knee (12) may be substantially midway between the rear edge (15) of the section and the rib In this embodiment ribs and have been shortened but still effect the original purpose.

The section is, formed to have some flexibility or resilience being formed, for example, of rubber or silicone. More rigid materials such as PVC can be used, but a degree of' resilience and/or flexibility is preferred.

Referring now to Figures 4 to 6 again a section is provided. The section also provides the web with an upper surface indicated generally at The ribs and are again 130617AU NK spec.704.dc

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2004 16:07 PPR AAUAN.26

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PIPERS TAKAPUNA N o 9 2 2 6 P 7 -6provided on the outwardly, downwardly depending flange although the material at between the ribs and has been incr-eased a little in thickness to give increased stregtht In this embodiment the knee at (12) and Figure 3 has been replaced by a small step at (21) to divide the upper surface into parts (3a) and When in use on the lower part of a window frame the surface (3Ja) will be substantially horizontal in use. By way of example the step at (2 1) may be ab out 1 mm in height and the angle in horizontal -use of the web part (3 b) about 7V from the horizontal. The width of web part (3a) may be about 31mm and the overall width about 85.5mm. It is envisaged that the overall thickness of the material as measured for example at the edge face (22) of the section is about 9mm and the length of the rib (7) about 5mnm. The downward length of the rib may be about a millimetre and the thickness of the flange at its edge (23) about 4mm. *The downward angle of the web from the horizontal may in the form of the invention described in Figure 4 be about 19' from the horizontal that is to say about 1,09' from the vertical. The thickness of thie ribs anad (9) may in this embodiment may be about 1mm thick.

In use a window fr-ame is formed from studs and nogs for example, or the framie may be a frame for an alterniative construction and a secton is positioned around the inside of the fr-ame with the surface adjacent the frame. A length of section may be placed around the whole frame or the section can be positioned in length along each inwardly facing surface of the frame. In a preferred form the section may be used together with the corner sections described in miy New Zealand Patent Specification No. 525 6184 The section preferably is then positioned as firly into the frame as possible and can be fixed, for example, by use of the fixing nails.

The intersections of the web may then be secured by a tape, such as sealant tape positioned at each intersection end of the web The window joinery may then be placed over the constuction.

in the use as shown of the construction as shown in Figures 4 to 6 a timber window frame is shown and over this may be positioned building paper Again the section is positioned so that the rib is closely adjacent to the timber (30) with the building paper 130617AU N4K spec.704.doG 2604 16:07 PPR AAUAN.26

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FIPERS TAKAPUNA N o 9 2 3 6 P. 8 -7between the timber and the section. A small gap may be left between the rib and the building paper tormini mise the effects of capillary action.

In use any liquid, such as water, tending to collect on, in particular, the web will be prevented from moving inwardly in respect of the building by the ribs and the incline of the web, for example, and will tend to be shed by the shedding means formed by the flange Thus it can be seen that at least in the preferred form of the invention a method of sealing a window frame is provided which has said advantages that water, in particular, can be readily shed from the construction but has the advantage that it is quickly and readily positioned and contains a minimum of sealant and other obstructions to the positioning of the ,joinery to be fitted into the fr-ame.

1306[L7ATJ NK sp.-704,dvc

Claims (16)

1. A method of sealing a frame against water ingress comprising the steps ot providing a substantially rigid longitudinal and/or horizontal section of sufficient length to be positioned adjacent at least a substantial portion of a frame in use, the section being shaped to direct water away from the frame in use, providing a window frame, and positioning the substantially longitudinal and/or horizontal section into and adjacent to the frame.

2. A method as claimed in claim I and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3. A frame when sealed by a method according to either claim I or claim 2. A frame section comprising an elongated member of substantially rigid material providing a web able to fit against a window frame in use, and liquid shedding means arranged to shed liquid which becomes positioned on a said web in use to a position away from said web.

5. A frame section-as claimed in claim 4 wherein the said web inclines away from the frame, in use.

6. A frame section as claimed. in claim 5 wherein the incline is provided across the width of the web and is at a gradient of about 3 degrees from the plane of the frame section.

7. A frame section as claimed in claim 6 wherein the incline is across part of the width of the web.

8. A frame section as claimed in claim 6 wherein the incline over part of the width of the web is at substantially 70 from substantially the mid-point of the web.

9. A frame section as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 8 wherein the liquid shedding means comprises a flange extending from the web along lower incline edge thereof. 130517AU NK 2p.7O4doc 2004 16:07 PPR AAUAH93 .I PIPERS TAKAPUNA No 9 236 P -9- A frame section as claimed in claim 9 wherein the liquid shedding flange has an upper surface, the upper surface being, in normal use, at an angle of substantially 190 to the horizontal.

11. A frame section as claimed in either claim 9 to 10 wherein a rib is provided at or adjacent the distal edge of the flange.

12. A frame section as -claimned in any one of claims 4 to 11 wherein the frame section consists of any material -with suitable sealing characteristics, that is the material must be sufficiently water impermeable to allow for no water ingress, it must also be able to mould to the sides of a frame.

13. A frame section as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 12 wherein the frame section has some flexibility and/or resistance.

14. A fr-ame section as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 13 wherein the frame section is of a rubber or silicone. A frame section as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 13 wherein the frame section is of a plastic, PVC or other similar materials.

16- A frame section as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 14 wherein the frame section further includes locating means.

17. A f-rme section as claimed in claim 16 wherein the locating means comprises a rib positioned at substantially right angles to the web.

18. A fr-ame section substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A window fr-ame having thereon a frame section according to any one of claims 4 to 13II617AUNK specJ0i4c