AU2007234570B2

AU2007234570B2 - Mullion fixing

Info

Publication number: AU2007234570B2
Application number: AU2007234570A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Lloyd Ross
Original assignee: CAPRAL Ltd
Current assignee: CAPRAL Ltd
Priority date: 2006-12-13
Filing date: 2007-11-20
Publication date: 2013-07-04
Anticipated expiration: 2027-11-20
Also published as: AU2007234570A1

Abstract

A method of interconnecting a mullion (23) to a window frame, said mullion (23) and said window frame 5 being of extruded or roll formed material is disclosed. The mullion (23) is shaped to fit relative to a head (1), sill (3) or transom (5) of the frame so an outermost weatherside exposed face will appear as a finished joint therewith. The mullion (23) has a peg (45) extending 10 therefrom. An opening (41) is provided in a generally horizontally extending flange part of the head (1) sill (3), or transom (5) to allow the peg (45) to extend into the opening (41), and to hold the mullion (23) in a desired lateral position. H:\Priyanka\Keep\speci\MULLION FIXING - P61260.doc 20/11/07 Lt5 -A,\ Ly\ I

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Standard Patent Applicant (s): Aluminium Extrusion and Distribution Pty Limited Invention Title: MULLION FIXING The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method for performing it known to me/us: - 2 MULLION FIXING Field of the Invention 5 This invention relates to interconnection of a mullion to a window frame or a door frame. Background Art 10 Hitherto, mullions have been interconnected to a window or door frame of extruded or roll formed metal by connecting either with the head and sill, or with the head and a transom, or with the sill, and the transom. The 15 mullion is of extruded or roll formed metal and it is a requirement for aesthetic reasons that the mullion has a finished joint appearance at the interconnection with the head, sill or transom. In other words, from the outermost weatherside exposed face of the window or door frame a 20 finished joint with the mullion should appear neat. Hitherto, it has been common to pop rivet or screw fix the mullion to transversely extending flanges of the respective head, sill or transom. Such fixing 25 involves a time consuming manual operation. Once fixed, the pop rivets or the heads of screws are clearly visible from the outermost weatherside exposed face of the frame and this tends to provide for an unsightly aesthetic appearance. 30 Object and Statement of the Invention The present invention has been devised to attempt to provide alternative fixing which in some cases may 35 result in less labour content and which will provide for an improved aesthetic appearance. H:\Priyanka\Keep\speci\MULLION FIXING - P61260.doc 20/11/07 - 3 According to a first broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of interconnecting one end of a mullion to a window or door frame (hereinafter called window frame), said mullion and said 5 window frame being of extruded or roll formed material, said method comprising shaping the top or bottom end of the mullion to fit relative to a head, sill or a transom of said window frame so an outermost weatherside exposed face of the mullion will appear as a finished joint 10 therewith, said mullion having a peg extending therefrom, providing an opening in a generally horizontally extending flange part of said head, sill or transom to so that the peg can be extended into said opening and move 15 along the horizontally extending flange part thereby to hold said mullion in a desired lateral position. According to a further broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of interconnecting one end of a mullion to a window or door 20 frame (hereinafter called "window frame"), said mullion and said window frame being of extruded or roll formed material, said method comprising shaping the top or bottom end of the mullion to fit relative to a head, sill or a transom of said window frame so an outermost weatherside 25 exposed face of the mullion will appear as a finished joint therewith, said mullion having a longitudinally extending channel behind the outermost weatherside exposed face, providing a peg in said channel said peg being 30 sized to slide in said channel, said head, sill or transom having a longitudinally extending glazing channel therein said glazing channel having a generally horizontally disposed flange extending longitudinally along the head, sill or 35 transom and partly closing said glazing channel, providing an opening in said horizontally disposed flange to allow the peg to be slid along said 4258383_1 (GHMatters) P61260.AU.1 4/06/13 - 4 longitudinally extending channel in the mullion and to extend from an end of the mullion and into said opening, said peg having a laterally extending opening therein that faces said horizontally disposed flange, 5 and after said peg has been slid through said opening, laterally displacing the mullion and peg and allowing the horizontal disposed flange to traverse within said laterally extending opening in the peg, and then subsequently deforming the 10 horizontally disposed flange to hold said mullion and peg in a desired lateral position with a part of the horizontally disposed flange remaining within said opening. 15 A window having a mullion interconnected by any of the above methods of the invention is also included. Brief Description of the Drawings 20 In order that the invention can be more clearly ascertained examples of preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: 25 Figure la is a perspective view from an outermost weatherside face of the window frame or door frame (hereinafter called "window frame") and showing a close-up view of interconnection of the mullion with the head, sill, and transom, 30 Figure lb is a view similar to that shown in Figure la but from the innermost non-weatherside face of the frame, 35 Figure 2 is a top perspective view of a transom showing an opening in the transom for receipt of a peg that extends from the mullion to enable the mullion to be H:\Priyanka\Keep\speci\MULLION FIXING - P61260.doc 20/11/07 - 5 interconnected therewith, Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view similar to the view shown in Figure 2 showing a mullion, peg, and 5 transom prior to interconnection, Figure 4 is a plan view of a partly assembled interconnection, 10 Figure 5 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 4 but showing a lateral displacement of a mullion along the transom during part of an interconnection process, 15 Figure 6 is an end elevation, showing interconnection of an upper mullion, and a lower mullion to a transom, during part of the interconnection process, Figure 7 is a view similar to that of Figure 6 20 but showing the interconnection during a further part of the interconnection process, Figure 8 is a close-up side elevational view showing interconnection at a head, 25 Figure 9 is a close-up side elevation showing interconnection at a sill, Figure 10 is a top perspective view of one 30 example of peg that can be used, and Figure 11 is a top perspective view of another example of peg that can be used. 35 Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments Referring firstly to Figures la and b it can be H:\Priyanka\Keep\speci\MULLION FIXING - P61260.doc 20/11/02 - 6 seen that a window frame or door frame (hereinafter referred to as "window frame") has a head 1, a sill 3, and a transom 5, all extrusion formed from materials such as metal, and in a particular example from extruded 5 aluminium. The particular cross sectional profile of the head 1, sill 3 and transom 5 may be formed in alternative ways such as by roll forming. In the case of roll forming, the transverse cross sectional profile will be slightly different owing to the roll forming process, but 10 the concepts of the invention applies equally as well and are to be included within the scope of the invention. Each of the head 1, and sill 3 are provided with respective glazing channels 7 and 9 defined by laterally extending flanges 11 and 13. The transom 5 is provided 15 with two glazing channels 15 and 17 formed by laterally extending flanges 19 and 21. Each of the glazing channels 7, 9, 15, and 17 are vertically aligned with one another and have identical transverse cross sectional widths. The channel 7, 9 and 15 have similar depths whereas channel 17 20 has a similar depth but with the uppermost part of the channel 17 angularly inclined downwardly. Figure la shows a view from the outermost weatherside exposed face of the frame, whereas Figure lb 25 shows a view from the innermost non-weatherside exposed face of the frame. Accordingly, when viewing Figure la, it can be seen that an aluminium extrusion formed mullion 23, in the form of an upper mullion 23 and a lower mullion 23, extends between the head 1 and the transom 5, and the 30 transom 5 and the sill 3. The cross sectional profiles of the upper mullion 23 and the lower mullion 23 are identical, except that the upper mullion has a flange extension 24 to locate with a sliding sash window frame that can slide laterally from side to side within the 35 window frame, in an known manner. The sliding sash traverses in a sash channel 26. The top and bottom ends of each of the upper and lower mullions 23 are shaped to H:\Priyanka\Keep\speci\MULLION FIXING - P61260.doc 20/11/07 - 7 fit relative to the respective head 1, sill 3 and transom 5 so an outermost weatherside exposed face will appear as a finished joint therewith. Figure la clearly shows this finished joint arrangement. It is noted that the head 1 5 has a lower shallow step 25, the sill 3 has an upper shallow step 27, and the transom has an upper shallow step 29 and a lower shallow step 31. An outermost weatherside face 33 of the mullions 23 is arranged to align coplanar with a corresponding outermost weather face 35, 39, or 37 10 of the head 1, sill 3, and transom 5. Figure la shows that for the transom 5 there are two outermost weather faces 37, one being at the lower part of the transom, and being an extension of the downwardly inclined top of the glazing channel 17 adjacent a lower glazing channel 17. 15 The other is adjacent the upper glazing channel 15. The outermost weather face 39 at the sill 3 is a bead edge opposite glazing channel 9. The outermost weather face of the head 1, is opposite glazing channel 7. In each case, the outermost weather face 33 of the mullion 23 is fixed 20 flush with the corresponding outermost weather face 35 on the head 1, sill 3 and transom 5. Each end of the mullion 23 is therefore appropriately shaped to enable this finished joint appearance to occur. 25 Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 show that the ends of the mullion 23 are cut square, except that the outermost weather face 33 extends further forwardly so it can overlap in the shallow step provided in the corresponding head 1, sill 3, or transom 5 and so that the outermost 30 weatherside faces 35, 39 and 37 of the head 1, sill 3, and transom 5 are coplanar and flush with each other. In order that a mullion 35 can be interconnected with the head 1, sill 3 or transom 5, an opening 41 is 35 provided in a generally horizontally extending flange part of the head 1, sill 3, or transom 5. The opening 41 is best seen in Figure 2. Here, the opening 41 is provided H:\Priyanka',Keep\speci\MULLION FIXING - P61260.doc 20/11/02 - 8 in a generally horizontally disposed flange 43 that forms part of the glazing channel 15. It is noted that this generally horizontally disposed flange 43 extends longitudinally along the glazing channels of the head 1, 5 sill 3, or transom 5 and partly closes the glazing channels. The opening 41 is sized to receive a peg 45 that extends longitudinally from the mullion 23. In the example shown, the peg 45 is a separate component and independent of the mullion 23. However, the peg 45 may be 10 formed integrally as a unitary part of the mullion 23 by the appropriate shaping of the cut ends of the mullion 23. The peg 45 is shown best in Figures 10 and 11 wherein in this example, the peg 45 is independent and a separate component to the mullion 23. The opening 41 is provided 15 at a position in the head 1, sill 3 or transom 5 where the mullion 23 is to be interconnected therewith. Thus, by locating the peg 45 in the opening 41, the mullion 23 can be interconnected with the window frame. 20 In the example shown, the peg 45 is arranged for sliding longitudinally in a longitudinally extending channel 47 in the mullion 23 behind the outermost weatherside exposed face 33. Thus, in order to locate the mullion 23 with the head 1, sill 3, or transom 5, the peg 25 45 is arranged to extend from the end of the mullion 23 by sliding longitudinally within the channel 47. The channel 47 is sized appropriately together with the size of the peg 45 to enable the sliding movement to occur. It can be seen that the transverse cross sectional profile of the 30 peg 45 is of rectangular shape and that the cross sectional profile of the channel 47 is of a corresponding rectangular shape. In the example shown, the channel 47 is defined by the material of the outermost weather face 33 and two parallel spaced apart laterally extending 35 flanges 49. The channel 47 is closed in this example by the innermost non-weatherside face 51 of the mullion. H:\Priyanka\Keep\speci\MULLION FIXING - P61260.doc 20/11/07 - 9 Figure 2 clearly shows spaced openings 53 in the horizontally extending flange 43 of the transom 5. The openings 53 form at least two spaced tabs 55. In the example shown, there are three spaced tabs 55. The peg 45 5 (see Figures 10 and 11) has a laterally extending opening 57 therein. It can be seen that the laterally extending opening 57 extends in a direction along the longitudinal extent of the transom 5 and therefore the opening 57, in this example, a slot extends transversely across the 10 longitudinal extent of the peg 45. Figure 10 shows one peg which has two laterally extending openings 57 therein. The purpose of this will be described hereinafter. Figure 11 shows an alternative peg 45 that has only one laterally extending opening 57. The purpose of this will be 15 described hereinafter. In use, the peg 45 is inserted within the channel 47 of the mullion 23 and the mullion 23 brought into an interconnecting fitting position with the head 1, sill 3, or transom 5. The peg 45 is then manipulated so that a body part thereof passes through the 20 opening 41 in the horizontally extending flange part 43 of a glazing channel. Accordingly, the width of the opening 41 corresponds to a required width to allow the peg 45 to pass therethrough. Once the peg 45 has passed through the opening 41, the peg 45 is further manipulated so that the 25 laterally extending opening 57 is aligned with the horizontally extending flange 43. The mullion 23 and the peg 45 are then slid laterally in a direction along the length of the head 1, sill 3, or the transom 5 to position the mullion 23 over the tabs 55. When in this position, 30 the two outermost tabs 55 are then deformed to hold the mullion 23 and the peg in a desired lateral position with a part of the horizontally disposed flange 43 remaining within the opening 53. In this case it is the central tab 55 that remains within the opening. It should be noted 35 that as the mullion 23 and peg 45 are displaced laterally, the horizontally disposed flange 43 traverses within the laterally extending channel 47 in the peg. When the tabs H:\Priyanka\Keep\peci\MULLION FIXING - P61260.doc 20/11/07 - 10 55 are deformed, the mullion is retained fixed relative to the head 1, sill 3, or transom 5 against lateral side to side movement. The mullion 23 is also fixed against up and down movement by being wedged between the head 1, 5 transom 5, or the transom 5, and the sill 3. The peg 45 can then be fastened to the mullion 23 by a pin or like fastening means such as a self tapping screw that will pass through an opening in the flanges 49 of the mullion 23 and into laterally extending bores 59 in the pegs 45. 10 The method of fitting the mullion 23 to the head 1, the sill 3, and the transom 5 is identical and uses similar components. It should be noted that the underneath fitting of the mullion 23 to the transom 5 15 requires use of the peg 45 shown in Figure 11. Here, the peg 45 has an upper inclined head 61 with two laterally extending arms 63. Figures 6 and 7 show how the peg 45 can be extended upwardly into the glazing channel 17 of the transom 5 and how the inclined head 61 locates on the 20 under surface of the inclined surface of the glazing channel 17. Figures 6 and 7 also show how the peg 45 can extend into the upper glazing channel 15 of the transom 5. In this case, it can be seen that the laterally extending opening 57 in the peg 45 that locates with the 25 horizontally extending flange 43 is the second laterally extending opening 57 that is closest to the centre of the longitudinal extent of the peg 45. A similar fitting of the horizontally extending flange 43 in the head 1 occurs by locating in the second of the laterally extending 30 openings 57. Figure 9 shows how the peg 45 locates with the horizontally extending flange 43 of the sill 3. In this case, it is the laterally extending opening 57 that is closest to the head 61 that receives the horizontally extending flange 43. In Figure 10, the head 61 is cut 35 square transversely of the longitudinally extent of the peg 45. In Figure 10, there are shown two similar arms 63 to the arms 63 show in Figure 11 except that they do not H:\Priyanka\Keep\speci\MULLION FIXING - P61260.doc 20/11/07 - 11 have an inclined surface. Figures 6 - 9 show that the width of the arms 63, taken across the glazing channels, is such that the arms 63 can pass past the innermost extent of the horizontally extending flange 43. 5 It should be noted that the arms 63 and the peg 45 inhibit the peg 45 from unintentionally falling or moving wholly within the channel 51 in the mullion 23. In addition, the arms 63 providing an extending surface 10 against which a person can make contact with the peg 45 to manipulate the peg 45 to required positions for the interconnection of the mullion 23 to the head 1, sill 3, or transom 5. 15 Modifications may be made to the examples described above, as would be apparent to persons skilled in the arts of window/door frame construction. For example, the peg 45 may be provided with a pin extending waywardly from the arm end of the peg 45 towards the 20 opposite end. The peg may be spaced from the body part of the pin 45 and arranged to locate within an opening provided in the generally horizontally extending flange 43. In this way, the pin can be used to hold the peg 45 against lateral side to side movement along the head 1, 25 sill 3 or transom 5 and the bending of the tabs 55 need not be provided. In other words, instead of having tabs 55, the horizontally extending flange 43 may merely have an opening to receive the pin. Such opening will be displaced from the opening 41 such that when the mullion 30 23 and the pin 45 are past moved laterally along the glazing channels, the pin can then locate within the aperture to fix the mullion 23 at a desired location. Whilst the head 1, sill 3, transom 5, and mullion 35 23 have been described as being of aluminium material, they may be of other suitable materials such as extruded plastics material or otherwise formed plastics material. H:\Priyanka\Keep\speci\MULLION FIXING - P61260.doc 20/11/07 - 12 These and other modifications may be made without departing from the ambit of the invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description. 5 It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country. 10 In the claims which follow and in the preceding description, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or 15 "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. H:\Priyanka\Keep\speci\MULLION FIXING - P61260.doc 20/11/07

Claims

1. A method of interconnecting one end of a mullion to a window or door frame (hereinafter called window 5 frame), said mullion and said window frame being of extruded or roll formed material, said method comprising shaping the top or bottom end of the mullion to fit relative to a head, sill or a transom of said window frame so an outermost weatherside exposed face of the mullion 10 will appear as a finished joint therewith, said mullion having a peg extending therefrom, providing an opening in a generally horizontally extending flange part of said head, sill or transom so that the peg can be extended into said opening and move 15 along the horizontally extending flange part thereby to hold said mullion in a desired lateral position.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said peg is formed integrally with the mullion by profiling the end 20 of the mullion to define said peg.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said peg is independent of the mullion, and fixing said peg to said mullion to interconnect said mullion to said head, sill or 25 transom.

4. A method of interconnecting one end of a mullion to a window or door frame (hereinafter called window frame), said mullion and said window frame being of 30 extruded or roll formed material, said method comprising shaping the top or bottom end of the mullion to fit relative to a head, sill or a transom of said window frame so an outermost weatherside exposed face of the mullion will appear as a finished joint therewith, 35 said mullion having a longitudinally extending channel behind the outermost weatherside exposed face, providing a peg in said channel said peg being 4258383_1 (GHMatters) P61260.AU.1 4/06/13 - 14 sized to slide in said channel, said head, sill or transom having a longitudinally extending glazing channel therein said glazing channel having a generally horizontally disposed 5 flange extending longitudinally along the head, sill or transom and partly closing said glazing channel, providing an opening in said horizontally disposed flange to allow the peg to be slid along said longitudinally extending channel in the mullion and to 10 extend from an end of the mullion and into said opening, said peg having a laterally extending opening therein that faces said horizontally disposed flange, and after said peg has been slid through said opening, laterally displacing the mullion and peg and 15 allowing the horizontal disposed flange to traverse within said laterally extending opening in the peg, and then subsequently deforming the horizontally disposed flange to hold said mullion and peg in a desired lateral position with a part of the horizontally disposed 20 flange remaining within said opening.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, and providing spaced openings in said horizontally disposed flange to form at least two spaced tabs in said horizontally 25 disposed flange, the spacing of the tabs being at least equal to the width of the peg in a direction that extends longitudinally of the glazing channel, and deforming the at least two tabs for the step of deforming the horizontally disposed flange. 30

6. A method as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the transverse cross sectional profile of the peg is rectangular shape and wherein the cross sectional profile of said channel is of a corresponding rectangular 35 shape.

7. A method as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, H:\Priyanka\Keep\speci\MULLION FIXING - P61260.doc 20/11/07 - 15 wherein said peg has two laterally extending openings therein that both face said horizontally disposed flange, one laterally extending opening being at a position to receive a horizontally disposed flange adjacent a bottom 5 of a glazing channel and the other laterally extending opening being at a position adjacent a mouth of the glazing channel, locating an appropriate laterally extending opening with a horizontally disposed flange prior to 10 laterally displacing the mullion and peg, said peg being useable for either a glazing channel that has a horizontally disposed flange adjacent a bottom of the glazing channel or a horizontally disposed flange adjacent a mouth of the glazing channel. 15

8. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein both ends of the mullion are interconnected to the window frame in a similar manner. 20 9. a method as claimed in any one of claims, 4 to 8 including also fixing said peg to the mullion.

10. A method as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein said peg has a head thereon of greater width in a 25 direction along the longitudinal extent of the glazing channel than the corresponding width of the channel in which said peg can slide, whereby to inhibit the peg from sliding wholly into said channel. 30 11. A window frame having a mullion interconnected by the method of any one of claims 1 to 11.

12. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, substantially as herein described with reference to the 35 accompanying drawings.

13. A window frame as claimed in claim 11, H:\Priyanka\Keep\speci\MULLION FIXING - P61260.doc 20/11/07 - 16 substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. H:\Priyanka\Keep\speci\MULLION FIXING - P61260.doc 20/11/07