GB2136486A - Sealing strips for windows - Google Patents

Abstract

A sealing strip of rubber or thermoplastics material has a base 10, a root 12 projecting at an angle from the base to allow the root to be inserted in an angled groove of a wooden window frame and a sealing flange 11. The base may have a depression 16 to accommodate the flange 11 and an abutment 13 to act as a window stop. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sealing strips for windows The invention relates to sealing strips for casement windows.

The provision of draught-excluding sealing strip between the casement and frame of a wooden window has long proved difficult.

One of the problems is the limited amount of space available on the frame where such a strip can be located and another problem is the thinness of the window frame at such locations which can lead to splintering of the frame by various means used to secure the strips to the window.

For example, it has previously been proposed to fix a flexible strip to the frame by means of nails driven through a base portion of the strip into the wooden frame. Because of the thinness of the frame, however, these nails can cause the wood to split.

According to the invention, there is provided a sealing strip for mounting on a fixed frame of a wooden window and for sealing between the frame a casement hinged on the frame and co-operating therewith, the sealing strip comprising a generally flat base portion, a sealing flange extending from one surface of the base and a root for insertion in a groove provided in the frame, the root extending from a surface of the base opposite said one surface and being inclined relatively to the base at an angle of less than 90 .

Such a sealing strip has the advantage that it can be mounted in a window frame in such a way that the sealing flange is urged against the casement by air trying to pass between the casement and the frame. This tends to improve the seal and thus provides a storm proofed window.

The sealing strip is preferably formed from a flexible plastics material.

The root may be inclined relatively to the base by an angle of 1 30'.

The root may be provided with one or more elongate fins locking the root in the groove.

It is also a disadvantage of previously proposed sealing strips that the strip must be accommodated between the existing frame and the closed casement. This means that the gap between the closed casement and the window must be adapted to the dimensions of the seal. This can be time consuming and difficult. If the dimensions are not so adapted, either the casement will not close properly, if the gap is too small, or the seal will not be effective when the casement is closed, if the gap is too large. In addition, it can be difficult to ensure that the gap is the same all round the window and casement and so, even if adequate sealing is obtained in one part of the window, the seal may not be adequate elsewhere.

Accordingly, it is preferred that that surface of the base portion of the strip which carries the sealing flange is formed with a depression sufficient to accommodate the sealing flange when the sealing flange is pressed towards the base.

In this way, the base can be mounted in a recess cut on the frame and the flange fold into the recess on the base when the window is closed.

The sealing strip is preferably also formed with an abutment for engagement by the casement as the casement is closed to limit the closing movement of the casement.

The abutment may be formed adjacent the point at which the flange is connected to the base.

The following is a more detailed description of one embodiment of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section of a sealing strip, Figure 2 is a cross-section of a wooden window for receiving the sealing strip of Figure 1, Figures 3, 4 and 5 show a cross-sectional view of a part of a casement and a frame of the wooden window of Figure 1, at a hinge side of the casement, with the frame carrying the sealing strip of Figure 1 and the casement being shown in successive stages of closure, Figure 6 is a similar view to Figure 3 but showing a side of the casement opposite the hinge closing into the associated frame.

Referring first to Figure 1, the sealing strip is extruded from a suitable plastics, rubber or thermoplastic material. The sealing strip is formed from four main parts; a base 10, a sealing flange 11, a root 12 and an abutment 1 3.

The base 10 is generally flat and has an upper surface 14 and a lower surface 15. The central portion 16 of the base is connected to an outwardly and upwardly extending end portion 18. The root 12 is formed on the undersurface of the base at the connection between the central portion 16 of the base and the end portion 18. The end of the base opposite the end 18 is connected to the sealing flange 11 and the abutment 13. The sealing flange 11 extends from the base at an angle of approximately 45 so that the sealing flange 11 overlies the base 10. The length of the flange 11 from the base to the free end is approximately equal to the length of the central portion 16 of the base 10. The free end of the flange 11 is rounded.

The root 12 is of generally rectangular cross-section and is provided with groove engaging fins 22: two on each side of the root 12. It will be appreciated, however, that the root may be formed in any convenient way for gripping in a groove. The root makes an angle of approximately 1 30' with the base 10.

The abutment 13 is formed at the end of the base 10 adjacent the flange 11. It com prises a portion depending from the lower surface of the base to form a rebate 19 having an angle of approximately 80 . The outer surface of this portion is rounded and leads to a projection 20 extending from the upper surface of the strip at the outermost edge thereof.

Referring next to Figure 2, the sealing strip is for use with a wooden window comprising a frame 23 and a glazed casement 29 received in a corrsponding rebate 24 provided around the frame 23. The casement 29 is hinged on the frame and has a hinge side 29A and a side 29B remote from the hinge.

The casement 29 may be square or rectangular or any other shape and may be top hung or side hung.

Referring next to Figures 3 to 6, the sealing strip is fitted in the casement receiving frame 23 of the wooden window. The rebate 24 has a surface 25 lying in a plane parallel to the plane P of the window and a surface 26 lying in a plane normal to the plane of the window frame. The parallel surface cut so as to provide a groove 27 angled at approximately 1 35' relative to the plane of the surface and is also cut away to a depth below the original surface level (shown in broken line at 28 in Fig.3).

The root 12 of the sealing strip is inserted in the groove 27 and the dimensions of the seal are such that the base 10 of the seal lies on the cut away surface of the frame,as shown in the Figures,with the end portion 18 extending up the join between the cut away portion and the original surface. The fins 22 on the root 12 retain it in the groove 27.

Successive lengths of sealing strip are heat sealed together at the corners of the frame.

The dimensions of the strip are such that the rebate 19 between the lower portion of the abutment and the base fits over the edge between the cut away frame surface and an adjacent frame surface normal thereto.

In use, the sealing strip operates in two different ways; with a wiping and compressive action in relation to the hinge side of the casement (shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5) and with a compressive action only (shown in Figure 6) in relation to the side of the casement opposite the hinge and the top and bottom of the casement (not shown). These two actions are described in turn.

As the hinge side 29A of the casement 29 closes (see Fig.4), the edge of the casement contacts the sealing flange and depresses it downwardly while wiping over its surface.

Because of the angled orientation of the flange 11, the wiping action does not tend to wear the flange 11, but simply depresses it.

Since the base of the sealing strip is sunk below the original surface level of the window frame, the sealing flange 11 can, if the gap between the casement 29 and the frame 23 is very small, be depressed below this original surface level to enter the recess formed on the surface of the base between the flange 11 and the end portion 18. In this way, full closure of the window is not prevented by squashing of the seal between the casement 29 and the frame 23.

Continued closing movement of the casement 29 to a fully closed position (see Fig.5) brings the projection 20 on the abutment 13 into contact with the casement 29. This provides a positive location of the casement 29 in the closed position so preventing rattling.

Referring next to Figure 6, the side 29B of the casement opposite the hinge closes onto the sealing strip in the direction of the arrow 30 so that the casement 29 only compresses the sealing strip. The casement 29 contacts initially the end of the flange 11 and compresses it towards the recess. The remaining movement of the casement 29 and sealing strip are as described above with reference to Figures 4 and 5.

The sealing of the rebate 19 around the edge of the frame 23 prevents the splintering of the edge and generally protects the cutaway frame surface. In addition, if the casement 29 is outwardly opening, as is usual, the passage of air between the casement 29 and the frame 23 will tend to force the flange 11 against the casement 29 to improve the seal.

It will be appreciated that the sealing strip may take many alternative forms. The flange may need not be directly connected to the abutment; they could be formed at spaced locations on the sealing strip. Indeed, the abutment could be omitted.

Claims (12)

1. A sealing strip for mounting on a fixed frame of a wooden window and for sealing between the frame and a casement hinged on the frame and received within the frame, the sealing strip comprising a generally flat base portion, an angled sealing flange extending from one surface of the base and a root extending from a surface of the base opposite said one surface and being inclined relatively to the base at an angle of more than 90 , for insertion in a groove provided in the frame at a corresponding angle to a frame surface.

2. A sealing strip according to claim 1 and formed from a flexible plastics material.

3. A sealing strip according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the root is inclined relatively to the base by an angle of 1 30'.

4. A sealing strip according to any one of claims 1 to 3. wherein the root is provided with one or more elongate fins locking the root in the groove.

5. A sealing strip according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein that surface of the base portion of the strip which carries the sealing flange is formed with a depression sufficient to accommodate the sealing flange when the sealing flange is pressed towards the base.

6. A sealing strip according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and formed with an abutment for engagement by the casement as the casement is closed to limit the closing movement of the casement.

7. A sealing strip according to claim 6, wherein the abutment is formed adjacent the point at which the flange is connected to the base.

8. A sealing strip substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A wooden window comprising a fixed frame and a glazed casement mounted on the frame and received within a rebate formed on the frame by two surfaces respectively normal and parallel to the plane of the frame, one surface being provided with an angled groove in which is received the root of a sealing strip according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the base of the sealing strip overlying the surface and the flange being engaged by the casement when the casement is closed.

10. A wooden window according to claim 9, wherein said surface is cut away to the depth of the flange and the base, when compressed.

11. A wooden window according to claim 9 or claim 10 and further including a rebate for fitting over the edge of said surface.

12. A wooden window and sealing strip combination substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.