AU781482B2

AU781482B2 - Smoke and fire seal

Info

Publication number: AU781482B2
Application number: AU17161/01A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Robert Mcgowan Mann
Original assignee: Lorient Polyproducts Ltd
Current assignee: Assa Abloy Ltd
Priority date: 1999-11-30
Filing date: 2000-11-28
Publication date: 2005-05-26
Anticipated expiration: 2020-11-28
Also published as: WO2001040610A1; GB2356885A; GB2356885B; AU1716101A; GB9928155D0

Description

SMOKE AND FIRE SEAL The present invention relates to a combined smoke and fire seal.

In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a combined smoke and fire seal which is intended to be sited in the corner of a rebate of a door frame for co-operation with the side and/or end face of a door.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a combined smoke and fire seal comprising an elongate body formed from an intumescent material to define a fire seal and at least one elongate flange extending along the length of the body and projecting laterally therefrom to define a smoke seal, the elongate body and flange being integrally connected directly face to face to one another.

Preferably the elongate body and flange are co-extruded so as to be integrally connected.

Preferably the exposed surfaces of the body not covered by said flange are Sprovided with a protective covering.

•Preferably the protective covering comprises a co-extruded plastics sheath.

o• Various aspects of the present invention are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a first embodiment according to the present invention; 1 H:\mavism\keep\specis\P46066.doc 30/03/05 WO 01/40610 PCT/GB00/04534 Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the first embodiment located in situ; Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a second embodiment according to the present invention; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the second embodiment located in situ; Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a third embodiment according to the present invention; Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the third embodiment in situ.

Referring initially to Figure 1 there is shown a combined smoke and fire seal 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The combined smoke and fire seal 10 includes a fire seal in the form of an elongate body 12 which is preferably extruded from an intumescent material which provides the desired amount of expansion on intumescence. A suitable intumescent material is a compound consisting of intercalated graphite flakes in a matrix of polyvinyl chloride. The polyvinyl chloride may be flexible or rigid.

The body 12 shown in Figure 1 is of strip-like form which, in crosssection, is cranked to define two arms 14, 15. Typically, this strip-like form has a thickness of about 1 mm.

Each arm 14, 15 has a terminal edge face 16, 17 respectively to which a respective resilient flange, or seal lip 18, 19 is integrally connected. The seal lips 18, 19 define smoke seals.

J II WO 01/40610 PCT/GB00/04534 Preferably each seal lip 18, 19 is extruded from a soft elastomeric material and is co-extruded with the body 12 so as to integrally bond the seal lip 18, 19 to the respective end face 16, 17 of the body 12.

The soft elastomeric material is compatible with the intumescent compound to enable both to be co-extruded and form an integral connection.

The elastomeric material also provides a seal lip having the desired degree to of flexibility relative to the body 12 and resilience to enable the lip to recover to its original shape after being deformed by engagement with a door in use.

As seen in Figures 1 and 2 each seal lip 18, 19 is inclined to the respective arm 14, 15 so as to extend toward one another.

Accordingly, as indicated in Figure 2, when the combined smoke and fire seal 10 is located in the corner of the rebate 30 of a door frame 31, the outer face of each lip seal 18, 19 is positioned at an acute angle 0 relative to the edge face 34 and front face 35 respectively of the door 36.

Thus when engaged by the door 36 the lip seals 18, 19 are deflected inwardly toward the body 12.

Preferably, the base or root portion 37 of each lip seal 18, 19 is relatively thicker than the remainder of the lip seal. This is preferred as it increases the resilient bias of the remainder of the lip seal 18, 19 into contact with the door 36.

:1 1 1 1 :I WO 01/40610 PCT/GB00/04534 Optionally, the exposed surfaces of the body 12 which are not covered by the lip seals 18, 19 are covered by protective coverings 40, 41.

Protective coverings 40, 41 are preferably formed from a suitable thermoplastics material which enables the intumescent to burst through in the event of a fire, such as polyvinylchloride. The coverings 40, 41 are preferably co-extruded with the body 12 so as to be integrally bonded therewith in face to face contact. The thermoplastics material for forming the coverings 40, 41 is preferably compatible with the intumescent to material and the elastomeric material so as to form an integral connection therewith when co-extruded.

Preferably, in order to secure the combined smoke and fire seal 10 in position in the rebate 30, layers 46, 47 of a pressure sensitive adhesive are provided. Prior to installation, layers 46, 47 are preferably covered by a release covering.

A second embodiment 50 is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

In the second embodiment 50, the fire seal body 12 is in the form of a strip 52 which in section is planar and which is extruded from the intumescent material referred to above. A single resilient seal lip 55 is provided which is co-extruded with the strip 52 so as to be integrally connected at its opposite sides to opposite edge faces 56, 57 of the strip 52.

Accordingly, the seal lip 55 forms a hollow bulbous seal for contacting the outside face of the door.

1 1 3 WO 01/40610 PCT/GB00/04534 In the second embodiment the seal lip 55 covers the internal face of the strip 52 and so an additional covering is not provided.

The outer face of the strip 52, is in use protected by the surface to which it is attached and so, in the illustrated example, no additional covering is provided. Accordingly a layer 47 of pressure sensitive adhesive is provided in direct contact with the outer face of the strip 52.

In the third embodiment 60, the fire seal body 12 is again in the form of a to planar strip 61 which is extruded from the intumescent material referred to above.

The embodiment 60 includes a smoke seal 62 extruded from a suitable resilient material and is co-extruded with strip 61 so as to be integrally connected to the end face 64 of the strip 61. The seal 62 is preferably of arcuate cross-section as seen in Figure The remaining faces of body 12 are covered by a casing 70 which is preferably co-extruded with the strip 61.

The casing 70 is preferably formed from a suitable plastics material, such as polyvinylchloride which enables the intumescent material to break through in the event of a fire. The casing 70 includes a relatively rigid flange 72 having integrally formed barb-like ridges 73. The flange 72 is intended to be inserted into a groove 75 formed in the door surround in order to secure the combined smoke and fire seal in position.

It will be appreciated that since the body 12 is of strip-like form and of relatively small thickness, the combined smoke and fire seal may be surface mounted in the usual rebate of a door frame without requiring an additional recess to accommodate the main body of the seal.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "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.

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.

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Claims

1. A combined smoke and fire seal comprising an elongate body formed from an intumescent material to define a fire seal and at least one elongate flange extending along the length of the body and projecting laterally therefrom to define a smoke seal, the elongate body and flange being integrally connected directly face to face to one another.

2. A combined smoke and fire seal according to Claim 1 wherein the elongate body and flange are co-extruded so as to be integrally connected.

3. A combined smoke and fire seal according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the exposed surfaces of the body not covered by said flange are provided with a protective covering. 15 4. A combined smoke and fire seal according to Claim 3 wherein the protective covering is an extruded plastics sheath. *o A combined smoke and fire seal according to any preceding claim wherein the elongate body is of strip-like form having first and second edge faces.

6. A combined smoke and fire seal according to Claim 5 wherein the elongate flange is integrally connected along a first location defined by said first edge face of said strip- like body. S 25 7. A combined smoke and fire seal according to Claim 6 wherein said elongate flange is integrally connected along the body at a second location spaced from said first edge face.

8. A combined smoke and fire seal according to Claim 7 wherein said elongate body is of planar cross-section and said second location is defined by said second edge face of the body.

9. A combined smoke and fire seal according to Claim 6 wherein said body, in cross- section, is cranked so as to define a pair of arms. H:\mavism\keep\specis\P46066.doc 30/03/05 A combined smoke and fire seal according to any preceding claim wherein an outer surface of said elongate body is provided with an adhesive covering in order to enable the seal to be fixedly attached to a support surface.

11. A combined smoke and fire seal substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings. Dated this 30 th day of March 2005 LORIENT POLYPRODUCTS LIMITED By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia *8 H:\mavsm\6066.do 30/03/05 *I:\als~epseisP66,dc3/30