GB1589197A

GB1589197A - Frame with ventilation arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB1589197A
Application number: GB676878A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: COVENTRY E
Current assignee: COVENTRY E
Priority date: 1978-05-17
Filing date: 1978-05-17
Publication date: 1981-05-07

Description

(54) FRAME WITH VENTILATION ARRANGEMENT (71) We, LESLIE GEORGE BRIGGS, a British subject of 18 Great Wheatley Road, Rayleigh, Essex, and EDWARD KENNETH COVENTRY, a British subject of Little Bassetts Farm, Magpie Lane, Little Warley, Brentwood, Essex, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a frame for supporting at least one sliding or hinged member in an open position which allows a person to walk through the frame and in a closed position which prevents a person from walking through the frame. Usually the sliding or hinged member will be a door such for example as a patio door which can be single or double glazed as desired. The sliding or hinged member can also be an interior door or panel for use as a room divider and the interior door or panel can be glazed, solid or louvred as desired.

Frames for supporting sliding or hinged members such as patio doors are well known.

Some of these known frames employ a ventilation arrangement which is usually used at night when ventilation of a room is required and it is not safe to leave a window open in case a burglar should gain entry. The ventilation arrangement is usually located at the top of the frame and it includes a slidable ventilation member which can be slid from a first position in which it blocks a plurality of vents to a second position in which it does not block the vents. The ventilation member is flat and it is difficult to insert in its frame. If during on-site assembly, the ventilation member should become damaged or should be found to be too short, it is usually necessary for fairly extensive dismantling, for example of the sliding or hinged member, to be done before the ventilation member can be removed from the frame and replaced.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a frame having a ventilation member which can be slid from a first position to a second position for ventilation purposes as aforesaid and which can easily be removed from and replaced into the frame.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a frame for supporting at least one sliding or hinged member in an open position which allows a person to walk through the frame and in a closed position which prevents a person from walking through the frame, the frame comprising a ventilation arrangement having a slidable ventilation member which slides in a channel in the frame from a first position in which the slidable member blocks a plurality of vents in the frame to a second position in which it does not block the vents, the ventilation member having a ventblocking wall for blocking the vents in the frame when the ventilation member is in the first position, and the channel in the frame having a channel opening which is on the inside of the frame when the frame is in use and which is defined by a pair of longitudinal lip members, the longitudinal lip members being such that they retain the ventilation member in position whilst allowing the ventilation member to slide in the channel, to be removed from the channel through the channel opening, and to be a replaceable push fit in the channel.

The present invention also provides the combination of the frame and the sliding or hinged member.

The ventilation member may have a pair of longitudinal edge beads which engage with the pair of longitudinal lip members defining the channel. Preferably, the longitudinal edge beads are each substantially circular in cross section but other cross sectional shapes can be employed if desired.

Usually, the vent-blocking wall will be substantially flat and it will be provided with apertures that are the same shape as the vents in the frame.

The ventilation member is advantageously slightly flexible so that it more easily clips into place in the frame. Although the ventilation member can be made of a metal, it is preferably made of a stiff rubber or a plastics material. Thus, for example, the ventilation member may be made of neoprene, polyvinyl chloride or nylon.

The ventilation member will usually be positioned in that part of the frame that will be the top part of the frame when it is in use.

Obviously, if desired, the ventilation member can be provided at other parts of the frame.

The vents in the frame can be of any shape such for example as square, rectangular or circular.

Advantageously, the external part of the frame adjacent the channel is provided with external decoration. The external decoration gives a pleasing aesthetic appearance and it may take the form of outwardly projecting elongate flanges.

The frame of the present invention may comprise a metallic inner frame fitting within a wooden outer frame. Preferably, the inner frame is made of aluminium but other metals can be employed if desired.

The frame may be produced in various sizes and may hold, for example, one, two or three of the sliding or hinged members. As indicated above, the sliding or hinged members will usually be patio doors or interior doors or panels but it is to be appreciated that the frame can support other members.

The frame may be provided with a head infill piece. The head infill piece is preferably a push fit in position and it may be curved.

Preferably, the frame has a plurality of mesh-covered apertures which are spaced apart from the said plurality of vents and which are adapted to allow air to pass to the said plurality of vents.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows part of a slidable ventilation member; and Figure 2 shows part of the top part of a frame in accordance with the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown part of a black rigid polyvinyl chloride slidable ventilation member 2 having a flat ventblocking wall 4 and a pair of flanges 6, 8 which extend away from the wall 4 and in a direction which is to be into a room when a frame having the member 2 is installed in a house. The ends of the flanges 6, 8 remote from the wall 4 are provided with longitudinal edge beads 10, 12 respectively. As shown, the beads 10, 12 are of circular cross section.

Figure 2 shows part of a top frame member 16 and the member 2 clips into a channel 14 in the top frame member 16. The top frame member 16 is the top frame member of a patio door frame (not shown). The channel 14 has a channel opening 18 which is defined by lip members 20, 22. The member 2 is slightly flexible and the beads 10, 12 can be forced into and out of the channel 14 by clipping behind the lip members 20, 22. The resilience of the material from which the member 2 is made causes the flanges 6, 8 to tend to spring outwardly if they are inwardly deformed. This enables the member 2 to be retained in the channel 14 whilst still being a sliding fit in the channel 14.

The channel 14 has a base wall 24 which lies adjacent the wall 4 of the member 2 when the member 2 is in the channel 14. The wall 24 is provided with a plurality of vents in the form of rectangular apertures 27. The wall 4 is provided with similar apertures 5. The member 2 can thus be slid in the channel 14 from a first position in which the member 2 blocks the apertures 27 in the wall 24 (i.e.

solid parts of the wall 4 are in front of the apertures 27 in the wall 24) to a second position in which the member 2 does not block the apertures 27 in the wall 24 (i.e. tht apertures 5 and 27 in the walls 4 and 24 respectively are in registry). In Figures 1 and 2, no attempt has been made to show appropriate proportional lengths for the apertures 5 and 27 and the solid parts of the walls 4, 24 since the slidable ventilation member 2 and the top frame member 16 have been shown for illustrative purposes only.

The member 2 slides easily in the channel 14 and it can be prised out of the channel 14 through the channel opening 18 if it has to be replaced without having to disassemble the patio doors that are supported by the frame.

The member 2 is preferably inserted in the channel 14 by first placing the lower flange 8 in position and then forcing the upper flange 6 in position.

The external part 26 of the member 16 is provided with three outwardly projecting elongate flanges 28 which give this part of the member 16 a pleasing louvred appearance.

The part 26 of the member 16 is supported on an inclined external wall 30. This wall 30 is provided with a plurality of rectangular apertures which are not shown but which are designed to let air flow therethrough, this air then being able to pass through the apertures 27 and 5 when the said apertures 27 and 5 are in registry. In order to prevent flies and insects from passing through the apertures in the wall 30, for example when the patio door frame is provided with glazed patio doors and is in use, a screen 32, preferably made of fine mesh such as fine wire or plastics mesh, is positioned adjacent the inner face of the wall 30. The longitudinal edges of the screen 32 locate as shown in grooves 34 and 36.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the shape of the channel 14 and the shape of the flanges 28 can be varied. The apertures 5 and 27 and the apertures in the wall 30 can be square instead of rectangular.

Preferably, the apertures 5 are 25 cms. long and the parts of the wall 4 between the apertures 5 are 42 cms. long. Similarly and preferably, the apertures 27 are 36 cms. long and the parts of the wall 24 between these apertures 27 are 31 cms. long. Obviously, these sizes and relative dimensions can be varied if desired.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A frame for supporting at least one sliding or hinged member in an open position which allows a person to walk through the frame and in a closed position which prevents a person from walking through the frame, the frame comprising a ventilation arrangement having a slidable ventilation member which slides in a channel in the frame from a first position in which the slidable member blocks a plurality of vents in the frame to a second position in which it does not block the vents, the ventilation member having a ventblocking wall for blocking the vents in the frame when the ventilation member is in the first position, and the channel in the frame having a channel opening which is on the inside of the frame when the frame is in use and which is defined by a pair of longitudinal lip members, the longitudinal lip members being such that they retain the ventilation member in position whilst allowing the ventilation member to slide in the channel, to be removed from the channel through the channel opening, and to be a replaceable push fit in the channel.

2. A frame according to claim 1 in which the ventilation member has a pair of longitudinal edge beads which engage with the pair of longitudinal lip members defining the channel opening.

3. A frame according to claim 2 in which the longitudinal edge beads are each sub stantially circular in cross section.

4. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims in which the vent-blocking wall is substantially flat.

5. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims in which the ventilation member is flexible.

6. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims in which the ventilation member is made of a stiff rubber or a plastics material.

7. A frame according to claim 6 in which the slidable member is made of neoprene, polyvinyl chloride or nylon.

8. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims in which the ventilation member is positioned in that part of the frame that will be the top part of the frame when it is in use.

9. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims in which the vents are square, rectangular or circular.

10. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims in which the external part of the frame adjacent the channel is provided with external decoration.

11. A frame according to claim 10 in which the external decoration is in the form of outwardly projecting flanges.

12. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims which comprises a metallic inner frame fitting within a wooden outer frame.

13. A frame according to claim 1 in which the inner frame is made of aluminium.

14. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims which is adapted to support one, two or three of the sliding or hinged members.

15. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims including a head infill piece.

16. A frame according to claim 15 in which the head infill piece is a push fit in position.

17. A frame according to claim 15 or claim 16 in which the head infill piece is curved.

18. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims having a plurality of meshcovered apertures which are spaced apart from the said plurality of vents and which are adapted to allow air to pass to the said plurality of vents.

19. A frame substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims when in combination with the sliding or hinged member.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. apertures 27 are 31 cms. long. Obviously, these sizes and relative dimensions can be varied if desired. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A frame for supporting at least one sliding or hinged member in an open position which allows a person to walk through the frame and in a closed position which prevents a person from walking through the frame, the frame comprising a ventilation arrangement having a slidable ventilation member which slides in a channel in the frame from a first position in which the slidable member blocks a plurality of vents in the frame to a second position in which it does not block the vents, the ventilation member having a ventblocking wall for blocking the vents in the frame when the ventilation member is in the first position, and the channel in the frame having a channel opening which is on the inside of the frame when the frame is in use and which is defined by a pair of longitudinal lip members, the longitudinal lip members being such that they retain the ventilation member in position whilst allowing the ventilation member to slide in the channel, to be removed from the channel through the channel opening, and to be a replaceable push fit in the channel.

13. A frame according to claim 1 in which the inner frame is made of aluminium.