GB2109849A

GB2109849A - Bow windows

Info

Publication number: GB2109849A
Application number: GB08232933A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter James Francis Boatman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-11-18
Filing date: 1982-11-18
Publication date: 1983-06-08
Also published as: GB2109849B

Abstract

A sub-frame for a window is constructed from a kit of parts comprising profiled parts (14, 24, 28) e.g. of glass reinforced plastics (GRP). A bow window has an arcuate lower part (14) presenting a lower seat (18) for window frames (32) e.g. of extruded aluminium within PVC coverings and an outer sill (20), and an arcuate upper part (24) defining an upper seat (26) for the frames (32). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to windows This invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to windows, and is particularly concerned with a kit of parts and a method of using the kit of parts to form a window across an opening.

When it is desired to produce a window such as a bow window across an opening in a wall, this is presently a task requiring a skilled tradesman.

Conventionally, parts for framing the glass in wood can be purchased as proprietary items, as can a top wooden or plastic canopy, but it is usually necessary then to employ a skilled tradesman to produce a base to be fixed to the wall, and support the window, with any appropriate damp-proof courses, and to seal the window at the sides and top against the wall, if not to assemble the proprietary items themselves.

After fixing the glass in position, it is also necessary to paint the wood and this is obviously time consuming and laborious.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit of parts for the assembly of a window, the kit comprising a first part arranged to be supported on a lower edge of an opening defined in a wall, a second part arranged to be mounted on the upper edge of the opening defined in the wall, and further parts for mounting along each side edge of the opening defined in a wall, each of the first part, the second part, and said further parts being profiled to receive prefabricated window frames, such that the latter extend substantially vertically between the first and second parts and laterally between said further parts, and the window frames being securable to the first part, the second part and said further parts.

Preferably the first part is shaped to extend outwardly from the wall and define an arcuate base, and the second part is shaped to extend outwardly from the wall and define an arcuate top, said further parts being profiled to receive the window frames with the latter in a bow.

configuration.

Preferably also the first part, the second part, and said other parts are formed of a glass reinforced plastics material (GRP). The window frames are preferably formed of aluminium having outer coverings of uPVC.

The kit of parts may include a canopy adapted to be mounted above the second part and overlie the upper edges of the window frames. The canopy may be formed of GRP.

The present invention also provides a bow window constructed from a kit of parts as described in any of the four preceding paragraphs.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of constructing a window, said method comprising mounting a first part on a lower edge of an opening defined in a wall, mounting a second part on an upper edge of an opening in the wall, mounting a further part along each edge of the opening in the wall, positioning prefabricated window frames so as to extend vertically between the first and second parts and laterally between said further parts, and securing the window frames to the first part, the second part and said further parts.

Preferably the first part extends forwardly of the wall and defines an arcuate base and the second part extends forwardly of the wall and defines an arcuate top, the window frames being positioned to extend in a bow configuration.

Preferably also the window frames are connected together before being positioned between the upper part, the lower part and the side parts. Alternatively the window frames may be individually so positioned and then connected together.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation through a bow window according to the invention; and Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the window of Fig.

1.

Referring to the drawings, a bow window is assembled from a kit of parts and is adapted to be formed across an opening in a cavity wall of a building, the wall having an outer brick layer 10 and an inner brick layer 12.

The kit of parts includes a lower part 14 preferably formed of GRP and moulded as an integral unit. The part 14 has a profiled crosssection defining a first portion 16, an inner straight edge of which overlies the layers 10, 12 at the lower edge of the window opening and has an edge trim when cut to customer size, and an outer arcuate edge of which is recessed to define an arcuate seat 18. The part 14 has a second portion 20 extending outwardly beyond the seat 18, such that, as will hereinafter be described, the first part 16 defines a window shelf accessible to the interior of the building and the second part 20 defines the external window sill.Prior to the mounting of the lower part 14 on the wall, a bracket 22 having a substantially U-shaped mounting 23 is positioned such that the mounting 23 seats over the layer 10 with the bracket 22 extending forwardly of the wall for connecting to the lower face of the lower part 14. The first part 16 overlies the mounting 23 and is connected with the latter to the wall by a fixing bracket 23A.

The kit of parts further comprises an upper part 24 preferably formed of GRP and having a profiled cross-section. The part 24 has an inner straight edge adapted to be fixed by fixing clip means on the layers 10, 12 of the wall at the upper edge of the opening and extend from the wall, having a recess at an outer arcuate edge defining an arcuate seat 26. The extensions of the upper part 24 and the lower part 14 are of similar arcuate form and when mounted in position the seat 26 is located vertically above the seat 18.

Along each side edge of the opening defined by the outer layer 10 there is mounted a side part 28 formed of a unitary GRP profiled section, the latter including a vertically extending face 30 angled in use relative to the edge of the layer 10 so as to face inwardly and forwardly of the wall opening.

Each side part 28 is secured to the wall by any suitable securing means.

The kit of parts further comprises a plurality of window frames 32, shown only diagrammatically.

Each frame 32 is prefabricated preferably of aluminium with the external faces of the aluminium having a covering, for example of uPVC. The aluminium frames are manufactured as extrusions and the profile is such as to enable panes of glass to be located therein and secured by conventional beading. The profiles of the frames 32 are also such that adjacent frames 32 can be connected together, for example by vertically extending profiled strips complementary to the profiles of the frames. The frames 32 are so connected together and are then located in the seats 18 and 26 so as to extend vertically between the top part 24 and the lower part 14, and also laterally between the side parts 28, with the outermost frames 32 abutting the angled faces 30.Suitable connections may be provided for securing the frames 32 to the parts 14, 24 and 28, for example bolts extending through the frames 32 into internally threaded arrangements.

Once the frames 32 are fixed and sealed in position, the glass panes can be located in the frames 32. A canopy 34, preferably formed from GRP, is then fixed to the outer face of the wall above the upper part 24 by any suitable securing means. The canopy 34 has a horizontal section 36 spaced from the upper part 24, with a spacing member 38 being provided.

Such a bow window can be readily assembled by a non-expert and a much superior finish can be obtained relative to the bow window kits presently available, because it is not necessary to fill gaps between the window and the wall with a filling material such as mastic. Also manufacture in GRP prevents deterioration due to weathering and as GRP can be produced for example in white, no painting of the assembled window then becomes necessary.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the lower part need not be a one-piece component, and the GRP parts may have profiles other than those shown. The number of window frames provided may of course vary depending on the size of the bow window to be constructed, and the frames may be made of other than aluminium.

The GRP may be formed with a sandwich construction to give some thermal insulation. Also the brackets for supporting the window may of course vary from that described and shown.

Claims

1. A kit of parts for the assembly of a window, the kit comprising a first part arranged to be supported on a lower edge of an opening defined in a wall, a second part arranged to be mounted on the upper edge of the opening defined in the wall, and further parts for mounting along each side edge of the opening defined in a wall, each of the first part, the second part and said further parts being profiled to receive prefrabricated window frames, such that the latter extend substantially vertically between the first and second parts and laterally between said further parts, and the window frames being securable to the first part, the second part and said further parts.

2. A kit of parts according to claim 1, wherein the first part is shaped to extend outwardly from the wall and define an arcuate base, and the second part is shaped to extend outwardly from the wall and define an arcuate top, said further parts being profiled to receive the window frames with the latter in a bow configuration.

3. A kit of parts according to claim 2, wherein the first part has an inner portion for overlying the lower edge of the wall opening and having an outer edge defining a seat for lower edges of the window frames, and an outer portion outwardly of the seat to define an external window sill.

4. A kit of parts according to claim 3, wherein a bracket has a mounting adapted to locate on the lower edge of the wall opening below the inner portion of the first part, the bracket being arranged to be fixedly secured to each of the outer face of the wall and a lower face of the inner portion of the first part outwardly of the wall.

5. A kit of parts according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the second part has an inner portion adapted to be fixedly secured to the upper edge of the wall opening, and an outer portion having a recess defining a seat for upper edges of the window frames.

6. A kit of parts according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein each of said further parts has a vertically extending face so angled as to face inwardly and forwardly of the wall opening in use.

7. A kit of parts according to any of claims 2 to 6, including a canopy adapted to be mounted above the second part and overlie the upper edges of the window frames.

8. A kit of parts according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first part, the second part and said other parts are formed of a glass reinforced plastics material.

9. A kit of parts according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the window frames are formed of aluminium having outer coverings of uPVC.

10. A method of constructing a window, said method comprising mounting a first part on a lower edge of an opening defined in a wall, mounting a second part on an upper edge of an opening in the wall, mounting a further part along each edge of the opening in the wall, positioning prefabricated window frames so as to extend vertically between the first and second parts and laterally between said further parts, and securing the window frames to the first part, the second part and said further parts.

1 A method according to claim 10, wherein the first part extends forwardly of the wall and defines an arcuate base and the second part extends forwardly of the wall and defines an arcuate top, the window frames being positioned to extend in a bow configuration.

12. A method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the window frames are connected together before being positioned.

13. A method according to claim 10 or 1 1, wherein the window frames are individually positioned before being connected together.

14. A window constructed from a kit of parts according to any of claims 1 to 9.

15. A kit of parts substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A method of constructing a window substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.