GB2170254A

GB2170254A - Weather-proofing elements

Info

Publication number: GB2170254A
Application number: GB08602255A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Cheriton
Original assignee: BUILDING PROFILES Ltd
Current assignee: BUILDING PROFILES Ltd
Priority date: 1985-01-30
Filing date: 1986-01-30
Publication date: 1986-07-30
Also published as: GB8602255D0; GB8502290D0

Abstract

A weather-proofing element (35) particularly suitable for providing a weather-proof seal between a metal casement and its surround comprises a first part (36) for securing to the casement and a second part (38) comprising a sealing lip for engagement with a part (30) of the surround. The weather-proofing element (35) may be formed into a loop and stretched into position on the metal casement, or may alternatively be held in position by adhesive or other suitable fastening means. The two parts of the element are co-extruded of different materials. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Weather-proofing elements The present invention relates to a new or improved weather-proofing element and its application to closure members. It is intended that the weather-proofing element of the present invention will be primarily but not exclusively, for use on doors and casement windows.

The weather-proofing of closable openings particularly in buildings has for many years been a problem and to overcome such problem modern mater ials, for example aluminium, are usually extruded with formations specifically designed to receive weather-proofing strips which may be made from a plastics or rubber like material, such weather-proofing strips engaging with a frame surrounding the closure member when the closure member is in its closed position.

Weather-proofing of steel doors and windows, has always proved a problem difficult to overcome. Steel doors and windows normally have two closure faces with their associated frame. On a casement window, the inner surfaces of the top and bottom rail and inner surfaces of the closing and hanging stiles engage an inner but outwardly facing surface of the frame, and the second sealing surface is provided by an outer flange on the top and bottom rails and stiles abutting an outwardly facing outer surface on the window.

Distortion can occur to such types of casement window during manufacture, fitting or use thereof and thus they are prone to allow draughts and rain to ingress.

It has been proposed to provide foam-like material between the inner surface of the rails and stiles and the inner outwardly facing surface of the window frame. However, such foam-like weather-proofing members render the casement difficult to close while still not providing adequate weather-proofing all around the casement.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new or improved weather-proofing element for closure members.

According to one aspect of the present invention, we provide a weather-proofing element comprising a first part adapted to engage a peripheral surface of a closure member and a second part extending from said first part, said second part being positioned and shaped to engage, at least when said closure member is in a closed position, a surface of a surround defining the opening closed by the closure member.

Preferably said weather-proofing element is adapted to enable it to be positioned on said closure member such that when said closure member is closed, said second part engages a surface of said surround which the closure member abuts or is intended to abut when in its closed position.

Preferably, the weather-proofing element is engaged with a surface of the closure member and is adapted to engage with a surface of the surround, which two surfaces are not intended to abut one another. Conveniently, the weather-praofing element is adapted to be positioned on said closure member so that it does not extend between two surfaces, one on the closure member and one on the surround, that in the absence of said element are intended to abut each other when the closusm member is in a closed position.

Conveniently, the weather-proofing element is adapted for securing to a peripheral surface part of the closure member and is adapted to engage a surface of said surround that extends substantially at right angles to said peripheral surface part.

The positioning of the weather-proofing element is such that when the closure member is in its closed position, the weather-proofing element engages a surface of the surround which is abutted by the closure member and enables satisfactory operation of the closure member since it is not necessary for the weather-proofing element to make contact with any part of the surround other than the surface which it is intended to effect sealing engagement. The opening and closing operation of the closure member will not therefore be adversely affected.

If said closure member is provided with peripheral inner and outer flanges extending outwardly from the peripheral surface to which the weather-proofing element is attached, preferably said weather-proofing element is adapted to be located between said inner and outer flanges.

The weather-proofing element of the present invention may be made from two different materials, the first part being made from a relatively firm material and the second part may be made from a more flexible material.

Conveniently, the weather-proofing element may be made by a coextrusion process whereby two materials are extruded together to form a single element.

The weather-proofing element may be secured to the closure member by any suitable means, for example adhesive and/or fastening members.

Preferably, the weather-proofing element is of a form such that said second part extends from said first part in a direction, such that when said weather-proofing element is secured to a closure member, the second part extends at least in part away from the closure member and then in a direction which may be inclined at a small angle to the plane of the closure member and then in a second direction which may also be away from the closure member but may be in a direction inclined at a large angle to the plane of the closure member.

Preferably said weather-proofing element is formed as a continuous loop or may be formed into a loop and said loop may then be stretched to enable it to be positioned around the peripheral surface of said closure member so as to provide a retaining force to maintain said weather-proofing element in position.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new or improved method of weather-proofing closure members.

According to another aspect of the invention, we provide a method of weatherproofing closure members comprising the steps of: (a) forming a weather-proofing element in a loop; (b) stretching said loop; (c) positioning said stretched loop around a peripheral surface of a closure member in a position such that part of said weatherproofing element extends from said closure member in a direction towards a surface of a frame element defining an opening closed by the closure member, said surface on said frame element being a surface abutted by a surface of said closure member when said closure member is in a closed position.

If the weather-proofing element is not moulded in a continuous loop, it is envisaged that the length of strip may be connected in loop form by any suitable means, for example adhesive or other fastening means and, it is further envisaged that after securing the two ends to form an endless loop, the area of the join may be vulcanised.

The weather-proofing element may be made as an extrusion, and it is envisaged that such extrusion may comprise two different materials. The first part may comprise a first type of material for engagement with the peripheral surface of the closure member and the second part of a more resilient and flexible material to provide an effective sealing lip.

The weather-proofing element, the subject of the present invention, offers considerable advantages over known weather-proofing elements, particularly those of the type to be attached to closure members or their frames after such closure members have been in use for a considerable time since the condition of the surfaces to which the weather-proofing element is to be affixed may not enhance securing by adhesive for example. Furthermore, the presence of dirt, condensation or other undesirable matter may render the securing of weather-proofing elements unsatisfactory.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a casement window; FIGURE 2 is a broken sectional view through the casement frame shown in Figure 1 but in a closed position; and FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the weather-proofing element shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Referring first to Figure 1, the casement window illustrated comprises the casement generally indicated at 10, and a frame 11.

The casement 10 comprises a top rail 12 and a bottom rail 13, a hanging stile 14 and a closing stile 15.

The frame 11 comprises a head 16, sill 17 and jambs 18 and 19. The casement 10 is attached to the frame via hinges 20 and 21 and may be closed relative to the frame by closure member 22.

Referring now in particular to Figure 2, the casement window and frame is shown in cross-section. The closing stile 15 comprises a central part 25, an outer flange 26 and an inner flange 27. The inner flange 27 has an inwardly directed surface 28 which is intended to contact the outwardly directed face 29 of a flange 30 provided on the frame.

The outer flange 26 on the hanging stile 15 has an inwardly directed face 31 which is intended to contact the outwardly directed face 32 of the frame. It is quite common after some use of such casement windows that the casement becomes distorted and contact between surfaces 31 and 32 and 28 and 29 is not continuous around the casement.

One embodiment of a weather-proofing element of the present invention comprises an element generally indicated at 35 and which comprises a first part 36 engaging peripheral surface part 37 and a sealing member 38 which inakes contact with surface 29 on the frame 11.

The weather-proofing element 35 illustrated makes contact not only with peripheral surface part 37 but also with the inner surface of inner flange 27 and the inner surface 31 of outer flange 26. The weather-proofing element 35 is therefore securely held in position by the flanges on the casement and the sealing member 38 makes satisfactory sealing engagement with inner surface 29 of the flange 30 in the frame 11.

Whereas the exact formation of only the closing stile 15 and the corresponding mullion 18 of the frame has been described in detail, it will be appreciated that the cross-section of the hanging stile 14, top rail 12 and bottom rail 13 of the casement window are substantially the same.

The weather-proofing element 35 may be made from any suitable material, e.g. plastics, rubber or synthetic rubber-like materials all of which have some inherent resilience and it may be provided with a ridged formation shown at 40 to enhance securement to the casement, particularly in the case of attachment to windows where the weather-proofing element cannot be located between two flanges such as in the case in the embodiment described.

It is envisaged that the weather-proofing element 35 may be provided with alternative or additional sealing members in the form of a lip or extension from the part 36 to engage further surfaces on the frame, for example the surface 41.

In order to secure the weather-proofing element 35 to the casement 10, the element 35 may be moulded or otherwise formed into an endless loop of a particular size so that it may fit the casement, and ideally the length of the loop will be slightly less than the length of the peripheral surface part 37 to which it is attached so that the element 35 has to be stretched to secure it to its in use position and when in such position, it will be in tension thereby securely holding the element 35 onto the casement 10.

The weather-proofing element 35 may be made as a continuous length, for example by an extrusion process, and then pre-formed into loops, either prior to fitting to a casement or during fitting to a casement, two ends of such a length of material being joined together to form a loop of a size such that when in position it is in tension to firmly secure the weather-proofing element 35 to the casement 10.

It is envisaged that the element 35 may be made by a co-extrusion process whereby the material of the sealing lip 38 is different from the remainder of the element.

When the weather-proofing element is preformed into loops, it may be that further securing means are not necessary. However, in the case where it is not made into a continuous length, or in some cases where it is made into a continuous length but has to be fixed to a casement, the width of which is considerable, some further securing means may be provided to secure at least the lower part of the weather-proofing element, i.e. that part that may fall away from the casement and any suitable adhesive may be used and/or fastening means, such as screws, clips etc., may be used.

When secured to the type of casement window illustrated, and when the casement is closed, the weather-proofing element is completely obscured from view and may therefore be made from materials and of a form to provide the best functional result possible without the necessity to compromise on the design for aesthetic reasons.

Whereas the weather-proofing element of the present invention has been described with particular reference to steel windows and, the element has been found to be particularly suitable for use with steel windows for attachment to the casement either when the window is new or after the casement may have been in service for some time, it is envisaged that it may also be used on windows made from other materials, for example aluminium, which aluminium window may not have been provided with the specific channel or formation to house a specially designed weatherproofing element.

It is further envisaged that the weatherproofing element of the present invention may be used on wooden casement windows and if insufficient room is available for the securing of a loop of weather-proofing elements to the casement, it is envisaged that a peripheral groove may be cut into the casement into which may be positioned the weather-proofing element.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or in the following claims, or in the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A weather-proofing element comprising a first part adapted to engage a peripheral surface of a closure member and a second part extending from said first part, said second part being positioned and shaped to engage, at least when said closure member is in a closed position, a surface of a surround defining the opening closed by the closure member.

2. A weather-proofing element as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said weather-proofing element is adapted to enable it to be positioned on said closure member such that when said closure member is closed, said second part engages a surface of said surround which the closure member abuts or is intended to abut when in its closed position.

3. A weather-proofing element as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said weatherproofing element is engaged with a surface of the closure member and, is adapted to engage with a surface of the surround which two surfaces are not intended to abut one another when said closure member is in its closed position.

4. A weather-proofing element as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein said weather-proofing element is adapted to be positioned on said closure member so that it does not extend between two surfaces, one on the closure member and one on the surround that in the absence of said element are intended to abut each other.

5. A weather-proofing element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said weather-proofing element is adapted for securing to a peripheral surface part and is adapted to engage a surface of said surround that extends, when said closure member is in a closed position, substantially at right angles to said peripheral surface part.

6. A weather-proofing element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said element is adapted to extend between inner and outer flanges provided on said peripheral surface of said closure member.

7. A weather-proofing element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said element is made from two different materials, the first part being made from a relatively firm material and the second part being made from a more flexible material.

8. A weather-proofing element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said weather-proofing element is made by a coextrusion process whereby two materials are extruded together to form a single element.

9. A weather-proofing element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said second part of said weather-proofing element extends from said first part in the direction, such that when said weather-proofing element is secured to a closure member, the second part extends at least in part away from the closure member in a direction inclined at a small angle to the plane of the closure member and then in a second direction away from the closure member but in a direction inclined at a large angle to the plane of the closure member.

10. A weather-proofing element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in combination with a closure member and securing means for securing said weather-proofing element to said closure member.

11. A weather-proofing element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said element is formed as a continuous loop or is formed into a loop and said loop is adapted to be stretched to enable it to be positioned around a peripheral surface of a closure member so as to provide a retaining force to maintain said weather-proofing element in position.

12. A method of weather-proofing closure members comprising the steps of: (a) forming a weather-proofing element in a loop; (b) stretching said loop; (c) positioning said stretched loop around a peripheral surface of a closure member in a position such that part of said weatherproofing element extends from said closure member in a direction towards the surface of a frame element defining an opening closed by the closure member, said surface on said frame element being a surface abutted by a surface of said closure member when said closure member is in a closed position.

13. A method of weather-proofing a closure member as claimed in Claim 12 wherein said weather-proofing element is formed as a length of material, which length has its ends joined to form a loop.

14. A weather-proofing element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

15. A method of weather-proofing a closure member substantially as hereinbef ore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

16. A weather-proofing element having any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.

17. A method of weather-proofing a closure memebr having any novel step or novel combination of steps as disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.