AU2005202047B2 - Improvements in or relating to Fastening Systems - Google Patents

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO FASTENING SYSTEMS TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to improvements in or relating to fastening 5 s-,sters. The invention may be particularly suitable for use in relation to fastening systems for windows, and more specifically aluminium windows and frames. However, it is to be understood and appreciated that the invention is not to be limited as such. Moreover, because the invention may have many other applications, the prior art and possible applications of the invention as discussed below are given by way of 10 example only. BACKGROUND ART There are many advantages of using aluminium joinery, especially as compared to wooden joinery. For example, aluminium joinery is generally lighter and less expensive, and is also generally easier to manufacture, install and maintain. As a 15 result, aluminium joinery is commonly utilised in the construction or refurbishment of buildings. Conventional fastening systems utilised for opening and/or closing aluminium windows usually include a rotatable handle, with a latch portion, attached to the bottom or side of an openable window. The latch portion is adapted to engage 20 with a complementary retaining means positioned on the window frame, the retaining means generally being in the form of tapered strip of metal or plastic. When closing the window, the handle is rotated so that the latch portion slides progressively along the tapered strip until such time that the pressure or friction between the latch portion and the strip is sufficient to enable the secure closing of the window. This generally 25 requires a 90 degree rotation of the handle. Most manufacturers of aluminium windows and frames produce them in a variety of colours, and it is up to the consumer to choose a particular colour to their liking. For aesthetic reasons the tapered strips, which are generally glued to the window frame, are also manufactured in the same variety of colours so that a 30 particular strip may be attached t a frame of the same colour. A manufacturer must therefore have the same range of colours of strips, as windows and frames. This necessarily requires the manufacturer to have a large inventory of different coloured strips which has disadvantages in cost and procedural simplicity, that is, the manufacturer must always ensure the correct coloured strips (and required

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amount) are sent with the aluminium joinery being supplied. It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or difficulties, or at least provide the public with a useful choice. Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent 5 from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a fastening system for securing a first object to a second object, the arrangement and construction 10 being such that a retaining means, located or locatable on the second object, is substantially clear and/or transparent. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for securing a first object to a second object, utilising the retaining means, substantially as described above. 15 According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a fastening system for securing an aluminium window to an aluminium window frame, the arrangement and construction being such that a retaining means, located or locatable on the aluminium window frame, is substantially clear and/or transparent. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a 20 fastening system for securing an aluminium window to an aluminium window frame, substantially as described above, wherein the retaining means is in the form of a tapered strip. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a fastening system for securing an aluminium window to an aluminium window frame, 25 substantially as described above, wherein the tapered strip is adapted to be adhered to the window frame. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a fastening system for securing an aluminium window to an aluminium window frame, substantially as described above, wherein there is alternatively or additionally 30 provided a double-sided adhesive strip adapted to be adhered to the window frame, and to which the tapered strip is subsequently adhered. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a fastening system for securing an aluminium window to an aluminium window frame, substantially as described above, wherein the double-sided adhesive strip is 2 substantially clear and/or transparent. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a tapered strip for securing an aluminium window to an aluminium window frame, substantially as described above. 5 According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a tapered strip and double-sided adhesive strip for securing an aluminium window to an a: uminium window frame, substantially as described above. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for securing an aluminium window to an aluminium window frame, the 10 method including the step of adhering a tapered strip, substantially as described above, to the window frame. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for securing an aluminium window to an aluminium window frame, the method including the steps of: 15 adhering a double-sided strip, substantially as described above, to the window frame, and adhering a tapered strip, substantially as described above to the double-sided strip. The fastening system may be utilised for securing a first object to a second 20 object, with the arrangement and construction being such that a retaining means, located or locatable on the second object, is substantially clear and/or transparent. The fastening system may be utilised for any two (or more) objects to be secured. For example, a lid to a container or a door or window to a frame. The invention may be particularly suitable for securing an aluminium 25 window to an aluminium window frame. An aluminium window is usually provided with a rotatable handle, with a latch portion, attached to the bottom or side of an openable window. The latch portion is adapted to engage with a complementary retaining means positioned on the window frame, the retaining means generally being in the form of tapered strip of metal or 30 plastic. When closing the window, the handle is rotated so that the latch portion slides progressively along the tapered strip until such time that the pressure or friction between the latch portion and the strip is sufficient to enable the secure closing of the window. This generally requires a 90 degree rotation of the handle. The present invention includes the use of a tapered strip which is 3 substantially clear and/or transparent. Preferably, the tapered strip is wholly transparent. The tapered strip may be comprised of any suitable material, however a plastics material may be particularly suitable. Examples of possible plastics materials 5 include clear ABS plastic or clear CAB plastic. In one embodiment, the tapered strip may be adhered directly to the window frame. In such an embodiment, the tapered strip may be provided with an adhesive backing, protected by an adhesive backing strip which may be peeled off to enable the tapered strip to be adhered to the window frame. Any suitable adhesive and adhesive 10 backing strip may be utilised, as required or as desired. Moreover, such adhesives, and adhesive backing strips are well known to those skilled in the art and it is therefore not intended to recite examples herein. In another embodiment, there may alternatively or additionally be provided a double-sided adhesive strip adapted to be adhered to the window frame, and to which 15 the tapered strip may be subsequently adhered. The double-sided strip may be provided with adhesive backing strips on each side thereof which may be peeled off to enable the double-sided strip to be adhered to ti e window frame, and the tapered strip adhered to it subsequently. Any suitable adhesive and adhesive backing strip may be utilised, as required or as desired. 20 Moreover, such adhesives, and adhesive backing strips are well known to those skilled in the art and it is therefore not intended to recite examples herein. Preferably, the double-sided strip is substantially clear and/or transparent. Preferably, the double-sided strip is wholly transparent. An advantage of utilising a retaining means which is substantially clear 25 and/or transparent is it is are visually non-instrusive and it may therefore be used with objects of differing colours without interfering with or otherwise affecting the visual aesthetics of the objects. Moreover, it is submitted that utlising a retaining means which is substantially clear and/or transparent actually enhances the visual aesthetics of the objects. 30 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing in which; 4 FIG I is a cut-away view of an aluminium window and window frame, secured utilising one possible embodiment of the present invention. FIG 2 is a view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, with an exploded view of the retaining means. 5 BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the figures. Having regard to Figure 1, there is shown a cut-away view of an openable aluminium window 1 secured to an aluminium window frame 2. 10 The window 1 is provided with a rotatable handle 3, with a latch portion 4, attached to the bottom edge 5 of the window 1. The latch portion 4 is adapted to engage with a complementary retaining means positioned on the window frame 2, the retaining means including a tapered strip of plastic 6. When closing the window 1, the handle 3 is rotated so that the latch portion 4 slides progressively along the tapered 15 strip 6 until such time that the pressure or friction between the latch portion 4 and the strip 6 is sufficient to enable the secure closing of the window I to the window frame 2. This requires a 90 degree rotation of the handle 3. The retaining means is better illustrated in the exploded view provided in Figure 2. 20 The retaining means includes the tapered strip 6 and a double-sided adhesive strip 7. The double sided adhesive strip 7 is 3M Scotch brand VHB 4910 double coated acrylic foam tape. It is a clear or wholly transparent tape and is approximately Imm thick. 25 The double sided adhesive strip 7 is first adhered to the window frame 2 and, the tapered strip 6 is then subsequently adhered to the double-sided adhesive strip 7. The tapered strip 6 is made of clear or transparent CAB plastics material. The dimensions of the tapered strip 6 are approximately 44mm in length, 14mm in width and 3mm in depth. 30 The tapered strip 6 is provided with a central non-tapered region 8, upon which the latch portion 4 of the handle 3 is adapted to rest when the window I is properly secured to the window frame 2. We believe the advantages of our invention to be as follows, however it should be appreciated that all such advantages may not be realised on all 5 embodiments of the invention, and the following list is given by way of example only as being indicative of potential advantages of the present invention. Furthermore it is not intended that the advantages of the present invention be restricted to those of the list which follows: 5 1. Because the retaining means is substantially clear or transparent, it may be utilised with windows and frames of differing colours without interfering with or otherwise affecting the visual aesthetics of same. 2. It is submitted that utlising a retaining means which is substantially clear anid/or transparent actually enhances the visual aesthetics of the window and window 10 frame. 3. Because the retaining means may therefore be utilised with any coloured window and/or window frame, manufacturing and/or installation costs are reduced as only one type of retaining means is required. 4. Because the retaining means may be utilised with any coloured window 15 and/or window frame, the number of different components (ie, retaining means) is reduced thus minimising inventory costs. 5. Because the retaining means may therefore be utilised with any coloured window and/or window frame, procedural simplicity is achieved, that is, the manufacturer is not required to ensure correctly coloured retaining strips (and required 20 amount) are sent with the aluminium joinery being supplied. Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 6

Claims (8)

1. A fastening system for securing an openable aluminium framed window to an aluminium window frame comprising: 5 a rotatable handle with a latch portion, attached to an edge of said openable aluminium framed window; and a tapered strip adapted to be adhered to said aluminium window frame for engagement with said latch portion when said handle is turned to a fastened position, wherein said tapered strip is substantially clear and/or transparent. 10

2. A fastening system according to claim 1, wherein there is provided a double-sided adhesive strip adapted to be adhered to said aluminium window frame, and to which said tapered strip is subsequently adhered. 15

3. A fastening system according to claim 2, wherein said double-sided adhesive strip is substantially clear and/or transparent.

4. A method for securing an openable aluminium framed window to an aluminium window frame using a fastening system comprising: a rotatable handle with 20 a latch portion, attached to an edge of said openable aluminium framed window; and a tapered strip adapted to be adhered to said aluminium window frame for engagement with said latch portion when said handle is turned to a fastened position, said method including the step of adhering a tapered strip which is substantially clear and/or transparent, to said aluminium window frame. 25

5. A method for securing an openable aluminium framed window to an aluminium window frame using a fastening system comprising: a rotatable handle with a latch portion, attached to an edge of said openable aluminium framed window; and a tapered strip adapted to be adhered to said aluminium window frame for engagement 30 with said latch portion when said handle is turned to a fastened position, said method including the steps of: adhering a double-sided strip, which is substantially clear and/or transparent, to said aluminium window frame, and adhering a tapered strip which is substantially clear and/or transparent, to said 7 double-sided strip.

6. A tapered strip for securing an openable aluminium framed window to an aluminium window frame, substantially as described herein and with reference to the 5 drawings.

7. A tapered strip and double-sided adhesive strip for securing an openable aluminium framed window to an aluminium window frame, substantially as described herein and with reference to the drawings. 10

8. A method for securing an openable aluminium framed window to an aluminium window frame substantially as described herein and with reference to the drawings. 15 M. J. SERVICE & ASSOCIATES Attorneys for: Aluminium Systems NZ Limited 20 8