GB2116617A - Frames - Google Patents

Abstract

A hollow plastics frame member 30 for a double-glazed window or door has drain holes X, Y for draining away condensation. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Frames The present invention relates to frames and more particularly to frames for windows and doors.

Conventional metal window and door frames suffer from the problem of condensation which can give rise to the formation of pools of water on the interior, which is unsightly and inconvenient.

In addition, if unchecked, the water can eventually cause corrosion of the metal frame, rotting of a wooden surround, and/or dampness in brickwork and plaster.

The present invention seeks to overcome or reduce the above disadvantage.

According to the present invention there is provided a frame for holding one or more sheets of glass comprising a hollow frame member having a bottom portion with drain holes arranged to drain away condensation.

The hollow frame member may be an outer frame member, the frame also comprising an inner frame member arranged to be received within the outer frame member.

Various methods of reducing condensation have been applied, for example thermally treating metal frames with a barrier of plastic or similar material, or covering the internal frame with a material having low conductivity. Although these measures have been successful to a certain extent, they are not always sufficient to bring about a completely satisfactory reduction of condensation in many installations.

Accordingly in preferred embodiments of the present invention the hollow frame member is of plastics material, preferably of unplasticised polyvinyl chloride (U.P.V.C.). The frame is preferably for a window or for a glazed door. The inner and outer frame members preferably have mutually engaging surfaces having means to locate the frame members relative to each other.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figs. 1 a and 1 b show perspective partially sectional views of the top and bottom respectively of a window having a frame in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view in sketch form of the bottom of the frame shown in Fig. 1 b; Fig. 3 shows a sectional side view of the frame of an inwardly opening door in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 shows a view similar to Fig. 3 of the frame of an outwardly opening door in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and Figs. 5 and 6 show enlarged views of parts of a modification of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 a and 1 b.

Referring now to Figs. 1 a and 1 b a doubleglazed window comprises an upper section 10 which can be opened outwards and a lower section 11 which is not openable. Section 10 has a movable frame member 12, and sections 10 and 11 share a frame 13. Frame 13 comprises an inner frame member 20 of metal and an outer frame member 30 of U.P.V.C. material.

Inner frame member 20 comprises four strips defining a closed rectangular shape. The crosssection of the strip at the bottom of the window shown in Figs. 1 b and 2 comprises a vertical portion 21, arranged to face the inside of a building, and horizontal portions 22 and 23. At each end of portion 23 there is provided an undercut 24 for receiving the ends of an aluminium glazing strip 40 which secures the double glazed unit in position on the outside of the building. On the inside of the building a first portion 42 of a U.P.V.C. cladding strip 41 is arranged to cover the vertical portion 21. The top edge of strip 41 extends around the top of portion 21 and between portion 21 and the inner pane of glass of the double-glazed unit. An integral portion 43 generally in the shape of an inverted J depends from the portion 42 of strip 41.Two projections 44, 45 extend generally perpendicular to the vertical part of the inverted J to receive a projection 46 from a vertical portion 25 of the metal frame member 20. Opposite portion 25 is another portion 26 of the metal frame member which faces the outside of the building in use. A channel 27 is defined between portion 25 and 26.

The cross-section of the inner frame member at the top of the window is generally similar to that at the bottom. However it has a modified portion 26' arranged to face outside the building. The bottom of portion 26' has attached thereto the hinges for the opening window section 10.

The outer frame member 30 comprises four strips defining a closed rectangle which is arranged to surround the inner frame member 20.

As shown in Figs. 1 b and 2 the cross-section of member 30 is hollow. It directly supports frame member 20 at portion 31 and indirectly at a raised portion 32. Portion 32 defines an undercut which faces a similar undercut defined by portion 33 of the frame member 30. The undercuts are arranged to receive the ends of a plastics strip 50 which is preferably of U.P.V.C. and snaps into the undercuts. A top projection 51 of the strip 50 is arranged to face the end of portion 43 of the inner frame member, with a gap therebetween. The strip 50 is arranged to provide a smooth surface interconnecting the frame member 20 and 30 on the side which faces inside the building. In addition the strip 50 conceals the interior constructional details of the frame members.An inside limb of the strip 50 defines a T-shaped channel which houses a draught-excluding strip 53 in the form of a polypropylene pile.

Between the undercuts 32, 33, the frame member 30 has a shaped recess 36. As may be seen from Fig. 1 a recess 36 serves as an attachment point for the inner frame member. As shown a metal element 60 has two projections 61 which locate inside the end of channel 27 of frame member 20. At its other end element 60 is screwed to the outer frame member 30, screw 62 passing through recess 36 and a wall of member 30 and engaging in a second recess 38.

At the bottom of the window, a U.P.V.C. sill 70 is attached to frame member 30.

To remove any condensation which does occur on the side of the window inside the building holes are drilled in the upper surface of the bottom strip of frame member 30 in the region of raised portion 32, e.g. at X, and also in the lower surface of the bottom strip of frame member 30, e.g. at Y, where it overhangs the external sill 70. Thus condensation travels down the window into the gap between projection 51 and strip 41, between strip 50 and portion 43, through the draughtexcluding strip 53 through the drilled holes in the top surface of the bottom strip of frame member 30, through the interior of frame member 30 and finally to the outside of the building through the holes in the bottom surface of the frame member.

Thus condensation is prevented from coming into contact with the surrounding decorations, e.g.

wallpaper, and consequently damage thereto is avoided.

In use the plastics frame member 30 is first inserted into an aperture in a wall and attached to the edges thereof by means not shown, e.g.

screws etc. The metal frame member containing the window is then inserted in the plastics frame member. Finally plastics strip 50 is snapped into place. One or more of the edges of the plastics frame member 30 may be arranged to attached to the edge of a further frame adjacent to the first frame.

An advantage of the above arrangement is that the amount of metal in the window frame is reduced, thus reducing condensation problems, whilst stitt retaining the strength and slimness of metal for the parts of the frame directly adjacent the glass.

Numerous modifications may be made to the arrangement described above. For example the frame may be used for single glazed windows.

Although the frame members described are interconnected by means of an intermediate element 60 other connection means may be used and they can be directly interconnected if desired.

The outer frame member may be reinforced with a galvanized steel section. As many drainage holes X.Y as desired may be provided along the bottom strip of the frame member 30.

Fig. 3 shows an inwardly opening doubleglazed door in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention. A metal frame member 120 has a recess 121 for receiving a double glazing unit. The frame member 120 is hinged to open and close the door is within an outer U.P.V.C. frame member 130. Frame member 130 is substantially identical to frame member 30 of the window of the first embodiment. A U.P.V.C.

member 150 has a portion 151 which snaps into a recess 139 of the outer frame member; member 1 50 thus covers the join between the frame members. The door has draught-excluding strips 153.

In a similar manner as in the previous embodiment, condensation running down metal frame 120 passes through drilled holes X in the top surface of the bottom strip of frame member 130. The water leaves frame member 130 via holes Y in the bottom surface of the strip on to external sill 70.

Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of the invention which is similar to Fig. 3 except that it shows an outwardly opening door. Alternatively the door may be a sliding door (not shown) preferably double-glazed.

Figures 5 and 6 show enlarged views of parts similar to Figures 1 a and 1 b of a frame having a modified U.P.V.C. cladding strip 241. Instead of projections 44, 45, the strip has a hook or catch portion 244. The inner frame 20 is correspondingly modified and has a similar hook or catch portion 246. The strip 241 is clipped to the inner frame by means of the interengagement of the portions 244 and 246.

Claims (9)

1. A frame for holding one or more sheets of glass comprising a hollow frame member having a bottom portion with drain holes arranged to drain away condensation.

2. A frame according to claim 1 wherein said hollow frame member is an outerframe member, the frame also comprising an inner frame member arranged to be received within the outer frame member.

3. A frame according to claim 2 wherein the inner frame member is of metal.

4. A frame according to any preceding claim wherein the hollow frame member is of plastics material.

5. A frame according to any of claims 2 to 4 wherein adjacent edges of the inner and outer frames are concealed by a strip member which is attached to the outer frame member.

6. A frame according to claim 5 wherein the strip member has projecting snap-fit attachment means which engage in a recess in the outer frame member.

7. A frame according to any preceding claim wherein said bottom portion of the hollow frame member is located directly above a sill member and the condensation drains on to said sill member.

8. A frame according to any preceding claim for a double-glazed window.

9. A frame according to any of claims 1 to 7 for a door having double-glazing.

1 0. A frame substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 a, 1 b and 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, or Figs. 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.