GB2118233A

GB2118233A - Glazing

Info

Publication number: GB2118233A
Application number: GB08308051A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward George Bull
Original assignee: DURAFLEX HOUSECRAFTS Ltd
Current assignee: DURAFLEX HOUSECRAFTS Ltd
Priority date: 1982-04-01
Filing date: 1983-03-24
Publication date: 1983-10-26
Also published as: GB8308051D0; GB2118233B

Abstract

A frame for a glazed window panel 17 comprises a first elongated section 1 incorporating an arm 3 and a second elongated section 2 incorporating an arm 9. The first section 1 carries a box shaped boss 5 formed with projections 14 which will interconnect with the projections 13 on the ends of arms 11 and 12 extending from a locking part 10 carried by the second section 2. The two sections can be snapped together without causing distortion of either of the arms 3 and 9, which define mounting points for carrying flexible strips 15 and 16 which hold the window panel 17. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to sectional frame members for retaining a sheet of material This invention relates to a frame member to be used to retain a sheet of material to form a door, window or the like. In most instances the sheet of material will be a sheet of glass or a pair of glass sheets as used for double glazing purposes. The frame member could equally however, be used for retaining metal or wooden panels of a door for example.

Normally such frame members comprise two elongated sections which are linked together so that, between them, they form a groove which will receive the sheet of material and grip it.

It is an object of this invention to provide sections of a suitable shape such that they may readily be fitted together to enclose a sheet of material so that they will not then tend to become detached from one another, and to achieve other advantages.

Accordingly this invention provides a frame member for retaining a sheet of material to form a door, window or the like and comprising a first elongated section defining a first arm providing for support of one side of the sheet of material and having a connection part extending generally perpendicular to the first arm and formed with a projecting boss which, with the first arm, defines a groove, and a second elongated section defining a second arm providing for support of the other side of the sheet of material and overlying the free end of the connection part of the first arm and having a locking part extending over the projecting boss and terminating in a projecting arm which extends into the groove defined in the first section and overlies the boss, overlying parts of the two sections incorporating mutually interlocking elements.

In the preferred embodiment the projecting boss is of box section. The projecting boss may terminate short of the free end of the connection part of the first section. In this case the free end of the connection part of the first section may be of L-shape in cross-section providing an extended surface in contact with the second arm of the second section. A further projecting arm on the locking part of the second section can then be provided to extend into the groove defined by the projecting boss and the extended surface of the connection part of the first arm.

The mutually interlocking elements are ideally formed on contacting parts of the projecting boss and the projecting arm at the end of the locking part of the second section and on contacting parts of the connection part of the first section and the second arm of the second section. Where an additional groove is provided on the connection part to receive a further projecting arm on the second section, the mutually interconnecting elements may be formed on contacting parts of the projecting boss and the two projecting arms of the locking part of the second section. Ideally the mutually interlocking elements will comprise tongue and groove formations.

A particularly advantageous method of interconnecting the two sections is to provide that the free end of the or each projecting arm incorporates a hinged arm extension portion which doubles back onto the projecting arm but is biased away to press the projecting arm and arm extension portion into contact with the two sides of the groove. Ideally such an arm extension portion is connected to the other part of the projecting arm by an integral flexible hinge portion.

Drainage holes may be drilled through the wall of the groove defined by the projecting boss and the first arm of the first section to the outside of the first section, so as to allow any moisture which might become trapped within the frame member to be drained away.

The frame member of this invention is ideally suited to a construction wherein the second section is formed from a plastics material which can snap into engagement with the first section (which will probably be formed from metal). A particular advantage of this form of frame member is that mitred ends of the sections can be interconnected in the usual way by an L-shaped connecting piece fitted into the box section projecting boss and fixed there by crimping the material defining the boss without distorting the first arm of the first section (which is spaced away from the boss by the groove).

The invention may be performed in various ways and preferred embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section through a frame member of this invention effectively gripping a window panel; Figure 2 is a similar cross-section through a modified form of frame member; and Figures 3 and 4 are sections through interconnecting parts of modified forms of frame member of this invention.

The frame member illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a first elongated section 1 formed from aluminium interconnected with a second elongated section 2 formed from a plastics material. The section 1 is formed by an arm 3 perpendicular to a connection part 4 which carries a box shaped projecting boss 5. The boss 5 and the arm 3 together define a first groove 6 and a second groove 7 is defined by the boss 5 and an L-shaped extension .8 of the connection part 4. The second section 2 comprises an arm 9 from which extends a locking part 10 provided with a pair of projecting arms 11 and 12 provided with locking projections 13 which interengage with mating projections 14 on the boss 5. Thus the two sections 1 and 2 may be interconnected by sliding the projecting arms 11 and 12 down the sides of the box shaped box 5 until the mutually engaging locking parts 13 and 14 interengage.The arms 3 and 9 provide mountings for flexible strips 1 5 and 16 which between them grip a double-glazed window panel 17 by means of conventional support formations 18. 19 and 20. Grooved formations 21, 22 are provided for standard purposes such as to receive draught excluding strips.

When a complete oblong frame is being formed four parts each constructed from sections 1 and 2 will be interconnected at mitred corners by means of an L-shaped connecting piece received in the box shaped projecting bosses 5. The metal forming part of the connection part 4 of the first section will then be crimped to grip the L-shaped connector but because the boss 5 is essentially separated from the arm 3 by the groove 6 there is very little possibility that the arm 3 will become distorted which might then distort the mounting for the part 15 holding the panel 17. The groove 6 also acts as a collecting point for any water which might seep in between the part 15 and the channel 17 and holes can be drilled in the wall 3 to allow for drainage of such water.This helps to ensure that the interconnection of the boss 5 with the projecting arms 11 and 12 is not subjected to possible separation caused by freezing of water between these parts. Another advantage of the arrangement shown is that the aluminium section 1 is insulated inside the glazing cavity by the surrounding parts of the plastics section 2.

In the modified construction shown in Fig.

2 of the drawings, only one projecting arm 11 is connected, the other end of the box section boss 5 locating directly with a grooved part 23 in the arm 9 of the plastics section 2. In this instance the only part which will flex as the two sections are pressed together will be the projecting arm 11.

The arrangements illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 show a modified form of projecting arm 11 wherein the free end has an extension 24 which doubles back onto the arm via an integral flexible hinge portion 25. The extension piece doubled onto the arm 11 into a receiving recess 26 can readily be inserted into the groove 6 (or 7 for the arm 12) and will then snap out into the enlarged cavity portion 7A of the groove to hold the section 2 firmly in place onto the boss 5. The arm 11 shown in Fig. 4 also incorporates a tongue 27 which snaps behind a step 28 in the arm 3 when the arm 11 is pushed fully home into the groove 6.

The arrangement shown in Figs. 3 and 4 may be preferable to the type of arm 11 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 since the arm 11 is not bent away during the interconnecting process with the risk that it might become distorted, thus resulting in a loose connection of the two sections. Also it will be virtually impossible to detach the section 2 away from the section 1 once the extension 24 has snapped into place.

Claims

1. A frame member for retaining a sheet of material to form a door, window or the like, and comprising a first elongated section defining a first arm providing for support of one side of the sheet of material and having a connection part extending generally perpendicular to the first arm and formed with a projecting boss which, with the first arm, defines a groove, and a second elongated section defining a second arm providing for support of the other side of the sheet of material and overlying the free end of the connection part of the first arm, and having a locking part extending over the projecting boss and terminating in a projecting arm which extends into the groove defined in the first section and overlies the boss, overlying parts of the two sections incorporating mutually interlocking elements.

2. A frame member according to claim 1, wherein the projecting boss is of box section.

3. A frame member according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the projecting boss terminates short of the free end of the connection part of the first section.

4. A frame member according to claim 3, wherein the free end of the connection part of the first section is of L-shape in cross-section providing an extended surface in contact with the, second arm of the second section.

5. A frame member according to claim 4, wherein a further projecting arm on the locking part of the second section extends into the groove defined by the projecting boss and the extended surface of the connection part of the first arm.

6. A frame member according to claim 5, wherein the mutually interconnecting elements are formed on contacting parts of the projecting boss and the two projecting arms of the locking part of the second section.

7. A frame member according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the mutually interlocking elements are formed on contacting parts of the projecting boss and the projecting arm at the end of the locking part of the second section and on contacting parts of the connection part of the first section and the second arm of the second section.

8. A frame member according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the mutually interlocking elements comprise tongue and groove formations.

9. A frame member according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the free end of the or each projecting arm incorporates a hinged arm extension portion which doubles back onto the projecting arm but is biased away to press the projecting arm and arm extension portion into contact with the two sides of the groove.

10. A frame member according to claim 9, wherein the arm extension portion is connected to the other part of the projecting arm by an integral flexible hinge portion.

11. A frame member according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein drainage holes are drilled through the wall of the groove defined by the projecting boss and first arm of the first section to the outside of the first section.

12. A frame member according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the second section is formed from a plastics material.

13. A frame member according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the first section is formed from metal.

14. A frame member for retaining a sheet of material to form a door, window or the like and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.