GB2140853A - Window frame corner piece - Google Patents

Abstract

To facilitate assembly of window frames, particularly for double glazing, a unitary corner piece 10 has projections 18, 19, 20 extending from two adjacent sides, slotting into the ends of corresponding spaces in frame side memers 30 to form a complete frame. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Window frame corner piece This invention relates to a window frame corner piece.

Nowadays householders commonly have old windows of their houses removed and replaced by double-glazed windows. This also applies, although to a lesser extent, to busi ness premises. Such window replacement usually involves removal of an old fixed pane frame or of an old inner window frame, which holds the pane and is openable relative to a fixed outer frame, and fitment of a new frame for accommodation of the double glazing. In the case of openable windows, the outer frame is often replaced or is supplemented by a new outer frame which is desighed so as to form a snug fit with the new inner frame.

Many houses and other premises built in the last few years and currently being built have appropriate window frames and double-glazed windows installed at the outset.

The installation of double-glazed windows, whether new or as replacements, is a skilled job. Inner window frame members and fixed pane frame members have a special configuration to enable accommodation of the double glazing. Outer window frame members have a special configuration to facilitate fitment into window spaces or to old frames and also reception of inner frames. These frame members are available in certain standard lengths which have to be cut to size to fit each side of each particular window. Each frame side member must then be cut very accurately at a 45 angle at each end and they are subsequently joined one to another by screws or by welding, depending on the material, to form a rectangular frame with mitred corners.The resultant frame can be fitted in place in an outer frame or in an old frame or in a building aperture as appropriate and the double glazed pane or the inner frame inserted, as appropriate.

It will be appreciated that the measurement, cutting and assembly of the frame members is all-important to successful installation of such windows, and that this is a painstaking and time-consuming job which requires considerable skill. Many people nowadays prefer to tackle household jobs themselves and although many of these "do-it-yourself" exponents are quite competent, they are rarely able to tackle double-glazing installation, partly because of the extreme accuracy required in cutting the frame members and partly because they do not have the specialist equipment or expertise to weld together the PVC frame members, which are commonly used.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a window frame corner-piece which facilitates assembly of window frames, parti cularly those for double-glazing, and thereby allows more people to tackle installation of new windows. Of course, such cornerpieces could also be used by skilled workmen to simplify and reduce the time required to com plete the task.

With this object in view, the present invention provided a window frame corner-piece comprising a single unit having a number of projections extending from two adjacent sides, which projections are adapted to slot into corresponding spaces in frame side members.

Preferably three projections extend from each of the two adjacent sides of the cornerpiece.

The corner-piece is advantageously formed in one piece by injection moulding as this method enables accurate reproduction of the required projections thereby ensuring they fit into the frame members. Alternatively, however, the corner piece may be formed from two short sections of frame member which have been cut at 45 and connected together as a mitred corner.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the window frame cornerpiece of the present invention together with respective frame members between which it is to be fitted; Fig. 2 is a cross-section along the line 2-2 through one of the frame members shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side view of the corner-piece shown in Fig. 1 when viewed in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the corner-piece of Figs. 1 and 3 inserted into the frame member; Fig. 5 is a front view, to a much reduced scale, of an assembled window frame consisting of corner-pieces as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 with intervening frame members;; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the window frame cornerpiece of the present invention together with respective frame members between which it is to be fitted; Fig. 7 is a cross-section along the line 7-7 through one of the frame members shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but with the corner-piece of Fig. 6 inserted into the frame member; Fig. 9 is a cross-section of one of the frame members as shown in Figs. 6 to 8 installed in a window space and with double glazing fitted therein; and Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view, partially in cross-section, of a frame formed of corner-pieces and frame members shown in Figs. 6 to 9 interfilled with a frame formed of corner-pieces and frame members shown in Figs. 1 to 5 in which double glazing is fitted.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, a first embodiment of the corner piece 10 of the invention is a single unit in the form of an injection moulding produced in one piece from plastics, preferably PVC. The corner piece 10 may be considered to comprise two parallel end plates 11, 12, one of which (11) is L-shaped, that is to say it is generally square but has a small square portion missing from one corner, and the other of which (12) is substantially square. These end plates 11, 12 are connected by two generally parallel L- shaped walls 1 3, 14, the inner wall 14 having smaller limbs than the outer wall 13 since the ends of the walls only extend to the edges of the plates 11, 12.Thus the corner piece 10 is hollow The limbs of the outer wall 13 lie closely adjacent respective edges of the square plate 12 whereas the L-shaped plate 11 extends some distance beyond the limbs of the outer wall 13 to provide an L-shaped flange 15. A slot 16 with an enlarged base is provided around the inwardly facing edge of the Lshaped flange 15. A similar but much reduced slot 17 is provided in the inwardly facing corner of the plate 12 which is directly opposite the cut out portion of the plate 11.

Three projections 18, 19, 20 extend from each of two adjacent sides of the cornerpiece 10, that is to say they project outwardly of the corner piece in the respective directions of the limbs of the L-shaped walls 13, 14 and the L-shaped plate 11. The first projections 18 are in the form of flat tongues extending outwardly from the ends of the limb of the L- shaped plate 11 substantially in the plane of that plate 11. Widthwise end tongue 18 extends from the wall 14 to the flange 15 beyond the wall 13, terminating adjacent the slot 16. The second projections 19 are in the form of similar flat tongues of equal length to and parallel to the tongues 18. These tongues 19 extend from the plate 12, in the plane of that plate.Width-wise they extend from the wall 14 beyond the wall 13, terminating adjacent the slot 17, so they are staggered relative to the first tongues 18. The tongues 18 and 19 all have three slight ridges 21 on their outer faces and have various well defined ridges 22 on their inner faces.

The third projections 20 are formed by the end portions of an L-shaped rod of dumb-bellshaped cross-section which is supported centrally between the L-shaped walls 13, 14 by lateral walls 23 on the wall 13. The rods 20 do not project as far out of the corner piece 10 as the first and second tongues 18, 19.

The corner piece 10 could alternatively be considered to consist of two symmetrical parts 24, 25 if divided by an imaginary mitre joint, as indicated by a broken line in Fig. 1.

In use the two sets of projections 18, 19, 20 are slotted into spaces of appropriate shape at corresponding positions at the ends of respective PVC frame members 30. Frame members 30 suitable for use with the corner piece 10 are illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. It will be appreciated that the cross section of these frame members 30 (Fig. 4) closely matches the configuration of the corner piece when viewed from one side (Fig. 3) in that there is a central, hollow rectangular region 31 corresponding to the region of the corner piece bounded by the walls 13, 14 and the plates 11, 12, and opposed hollow perpendicular flanges 32, 33 at each side corresponding to the flange 15 of the plate 11 and the corner having the slot 17 of the plate 12 respectively.The hollow flanges 32, 33 also have slots 34 of the same shape and at the same position as the slots 16, 17, which align with same when the frame member 30 is fitted to the corner piece 10. The tongues 18.

19 of the corner pioce 10 fit into tho hollow flanges 32, 33 of respective frame members 30, which are thus held at right angles.to each other. The ridges 21, 22 on the tongues 1 8, 19 ensure a good tight fit. The rods 20 fit into central spaces 35 of the frame members 30 defined by cross-walls 36, which also serve to strengthen the frame members 30.

Again, the shape of the rods 20 ensure a tight fit. When the projections 18, 1 9,20 are fitted into the frame member 30, the end plates 11, 12 of the corner pieces are flush with the sides of the frame member. In other words, the external shapes of the corner piece 10 and the frame members 30 are exactly matching.

In use, when installing a double glazed window, the frame members 30 (which are, in this case, for an openable inner frame which holds the double glazed pane) need only be measured and cut straight across from a suitable longer standard length. The four frame members 30 are then joined together by four corner pieces 10 in the manner described, and as shown in Fig. 5, by slotting the respective projections 18. 1 9, 20 into the ends of the corresponding spaces of the frame members 30. Mitring or welding is not necessary, although adhesive may be used as and when required.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 correspond to Figs. 1, 2 and 4, but illustrate a second embodiment 40 of the corner piece of the invention and frame members 50 for use therewith for provision of a fixed pane frame or of a fixed outer frame for reception of an inner frame formed by corner pieces 10 and frame members 30, as just described.

For the sake of clarity and to avoid repetition, similar parts have been labelled with the same Reference numerals as have been used in relation to Figs. 1 to 4.

The corner piece 40 differs from the corner piece 10 in that the flange 15 of the plate 11' has been omitted, so that the L-shaped plate 11' is altogether smaller than the plate 11 of the corner piece 10. Accordingly the tongues 18' only extend widthwise between the walls 13 and 14 so they are narrower than the tongues 18 of the corner piece 10.

The tongues 19' are wider than the tongues 19 of the corner piece 10 as they extend widthwise substantially the full width of the plate 12. Also both sets of tongues 18', 19' lack ridges 22 on their internal faces. A further difference is the omission of the lateral walls 23 supporting the L-shaped rod 20. In the corner piece 40, the rod 20 is simply attached to the wall 14 at the angle of the L.

There are also other, less important differ ences in the various walls and ridges.

The frame members 50 again have a cross section matching the side view of thc corner piece 40, as clearly seen in Figs.'7 and 8, the main difference compared to the frame mem bers 30 being the lack of one of the hollow flanges 32, as this is not needed, there being no flange 15 to accommodate on the corner piece 40.

The corner pieces 40 and the frame mem bers 50 fit together as previously described with the projections 18', 19' and 20 slotting neatly into the ends of spaces in the frame members.

Fig. 10 shows a corner region of a fully assembled PVC doubled glazed window unit in which an openable inner frame formed from four corner-pieces 10 and four frame members 30 is located in a fixed outer frame formed from four corner-pieces 40 and four frame members 50.

Tufted polypropylene strips 52 are provided in the slots 34 of the lower flange 32 of the frame members 30 and in the slots 34 of the flange 33 of the frame members 50 so as to provide a draft-proof seal therebetween.

Special plastics pieces 53, of triangular cross-section and with a flange, are slotted into the frame members 30, as shown in Fig.

10, to enable holding of the edges of a double-glazing pane 54. The pane 34 is seated on rubber strips 57 and pressed against rubber seals 55 located on the trian gular pieces 53. Further rubber sections or grooves 56 are inserted at the opposite side of the pane 54 to retain same quite firmly in the frame.

Fig. 9 shows an alternative arrangement in which a double glazed pane is fitted into a fixed frame formed by corner pieces 40 and frame members 50 to provide a window which cannot be opened.

The invention is not limited to the exact details of the foregoing embodiments of cor ner piece and variations are possible. For example, the material of the corner-pieces need not be PVC, and could be metal, wood or plastics. Of course, they will usually be the same as the material of the frame members.

Also the configurations of the corner-pieces may vary from those described and the number of projections therefrom may vary. Also the corner pieces could be formed from two short symmetrical sections of frame member which have been cut at 45 and connected together as a mitred corner.

Claims (2)

1. A window frame corner-piece comprising a single unit having a number of projections extending from two adjacent sides, which projections are adapted to slot into corresponding spaces in frame side members.

2. A window frame corner piece as claimed in claim 1 having a third projection extending perpendicularly from each of the same two adjacent sides of the unit, the third projection in each case being located centrally between the respective pair of projections.

2. A corner-piece as claimed in claim 1 wherein three projections extend from each of the two adjacent sides of the corner-piece.

3. A corner-piece as claimed in claim 1 or 2 formed in one piece by injection moulding of plastics material.

4. A window frame corner piece substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5 or in Figs. 6 and 8.

5. A window frame formed from corner pieces as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 together with intervening frame members.

6. A window frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1, 2,4 and 5, or Figs. 6 to 8, or Fig. 9, or Fig.

10 of the accompanying drawings.

1. A window frame corner piece comprising a single hollow unit having a pair of projections extending perpendicularly from each of two adjacent sides of the unit, the two projections of each pair being locatcd adjacent opposing end plates of the corner piece and each projection being in the form of a ridged tongue substantially in alignment with the respective end plate, the projections being adapted to slot into corresponding spaces in hollow frame side members.