GB2046820A

GB2046820A - Frames for doors or windows

Info

Publication number: GB2046820A
Application number: GB7913169A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: ARCHITAL LUXFER Ltd
Current assignee: ARCHITAL LUXFER Ltd
Priority date: 1979-04-17
Filing date: 1979-04-17
Publication date: 1980-11-19
Also published as: GB2046820B

Abstract

A combination of fixed frame and movable frame for a door or window has a fixed frame member 20 adjacent a pivoted edge of a movable frame 1 with two inwardly- projecting flanges 23, 24 between which the pivoted edge rotates, the pivoted edge being provided with curved surfaces of 11, 12 two different radii which rotate adjacent to inner surfaces of the flanges. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to door or window frames This invention relates to door or window frames of the type in which a movable frame, with or without glazing, is pivoted adjacent to one edge for rotational movement adjacent to a vertical or horizontal fixed-frame member.

According to common practice doors are frequently made so as to pivot about a vertical axis at or near one side of the movable door frame. One familiar method of achieving this is by means of hinges connecting the movable frame to a jamb member of a fixed surround ing frame. Another well known method is by means of concealed pivots or trunnions and bushes at the top and bottom of the movable frame which is thereby pivotally supported from the head and cill members of the sur rounding fixed frame. As is well known, both these methods have the disadvantage of caus ing working gaps between the door and frame jamb to widen (at the hinged or pivoted side of the door) when the door is opened, and conversely to close again when the door is closing. This has often caused accidents in volving serious injury to fingers and/or hands of children.In consequence, various remedies have been proposed from time-to-time, but in general these prior proposals have necessi tated the application of specially shaped extru sions of hard or soft material at the hinged joint between the door and its adjacent fixed jamb, and thus have tended to be too costly or cumbersome for widespread adoption.

The present invention is concerned with improvements in the design and construction of the pivoted or hinged side of single-action swing doors or windows which are arranged to operate within an outer frame which itself is securely fastened to a doorway formed in, for example, a building. One object of the invention is to incorporate in such a door or window means for preventing the said door or window edge from being displaced horizon tally in relation to or away from a fixed jamb member by wind pressures or other external forces acting on the door or window. A further object of the invention is to arrange the con struction of the "hinged" side of a door or window so that at no time will dangerous gaps open and shut between that side of the door or window and the adjacent jamb of the fixed frame thereof.

This invention consists in a combination of a fixed frame and a movable frame for a door or window, wherein a fixed frame member adjacent to the pivoted edge of the movable frame is provided with a pair of flanges and the extremity of the pivoted edge rotates between said flanges, said pivoted edge being provided with curved surfaces of two different radii which rotate adjacent to inner surfaces of said flanges.

Preferably the curved surfaces of the pivoted edge of the movable frame have a common axis, this being the axis of rotation of the movable frame.

Preferably the curved surfaces of different radii are connected by a substantially-flat "step" area.

Preferably the inner surface of at least one of the flanges is adapted to receive a strip of resilient material to form a weather-seal between fixed and movable frame edges.

Preferably both the pivoted edge of the movable frame and the adjacent fixed frame member are made of extruded aluminium alloy sections.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying single figure (Fig. 1) which shows a partial section through a fixed frame/movable frame combination according to the invention.

With reference to Fig. 1, one vertical frame member (1) of a door is arranged to pivot about a vertical axis (10) in proximity to a fixed outer frame upright (20). The upright (1) conveniently comprises a hollow aluminium alloy extrusion which has formed on it two curved surfaces (11, 12) respectively of radii R1 and R2, such radii being substantially concentric with the pivot axis (10). As shown, the radii R1 and R2 are unequal; the small radius R1 facing in the same general direction as the arrow "A" which represents the direction of movement of the door when being opened. The curved surfaces 11 and 12 do not meet directly, but are joined by a flat stepped portion (13) which, as will be seen later, is used to stabilise the door against horizontal thrusts such as might be caused by high wind pressures.Conveniently the frame member (1) may comprise spaced glazing legs (14, 15) joined at their base by a web member (16), the dimension "d" overall the profile (1) preferably being the sum of the radii (R1 + R2).

The fixed frame member (20) adjacent to the pivotable door frame member (1) comprises a cross web (21) and fixing legs (22, 22a) from which project flanges (23, 24) which together with 21 form a channel. The smaller flange (23) is arranged to engage with or overlap the stepped surface (13) of the rotatable frame member (1) when the door is shut, whilst the longer flange (24) is arranged to cover the radiused surface (12) of the member (1). Flexible weatherstripping material (25) may be used to bridge the small air gap between the flange (24) and the adjacent surface of the movable frame member (1).

It will be seen that, with the door closed as shown in Fig. 1, the door frame member (1) is constrained laterally between the projecting flanges (23, 24) of the fixed frame member (20) and is thus not susceptible to undesirable lateral deflections when subjected to wind buffeting. Accordingly, the door stile does not require any intermediate hinge between head and cill. It will also be apparent that when the profile (1) is being rotated about the axis (10), as when opening the door in the direction of arrow "A", the working gaps between the moving and fixed elements remain small and relatively constant, and therefore do not constitute a trap for hands or fingers.

Claims

1. A combination of a fixed frame and a movable frame for a door or window, wherein a fixed frame member adjacent to the pivoted edge of the movable frame is provided with a pair of flanges and the extremity of the pivoted edge rotates between said flanges, said pivoted edge being provided with curved surfaces of two different radii which rotate adjacent to inner surfaces of said flanges.

2. A frame combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the curved surfaces of the pivoted edge of the movable frame have a common axis, this being the axis of rotation of the movable frame.

3. A frame combination as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the curved surfaces of different radii are connected by means of a substantially-flat step area.

4. A frame combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inner surface of at least one of the flanges is adapted to receive a strip of resilient material, to form a weather-seal between fixed and movable frame edges.

5. A frame combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein both the pivoted edge of the movable frame and the adjacent fixed frame member are fabricated from aluminium alloy extrusions.

6. A combination of fixed frame and movable frame for a door or window substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.