GB2211927A

GB2211927A - Trim for a fireplace front frame

Info

Publication number: GB2211927A
Application number: GB8725675A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew R Gleadow
Original assignee: JETMASTER FIRES Ltd
Current assignee: JETMASTER FIRES Ltd
Priority date: 1987-11-03
Filing date: 1987-11-03
Publication date: 1989-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 2007-11-03
Also published as: GB8725675D0; GB2211927B; EP0315412A1

Description

-i- 6 2211927 This invention relates to a trim and in particulart though

not exclusively, to a trim for the front frame of a fireplace unit.

Many customers choose to embellish the front frame of their fireplace unit with a decorative trim. Hitherto, this has usually involved unsightly fixing screws or tabs etc. or meant fixing the trim prior to installation of the unit, which meant not being able subsequently to remove the trim.

According to the present invention there is provided a trim for a frame member, comprising an element to fit over the frame member,. which element has a generally channel-shaped cross-section with a web portion, a single return flange portion extending from a first edge of the web portion for engaging a first edge of the frame member, and a double return flange portion extending from the second edge of the web portion. the double return flange portion being shaped to receive a second edge portion of the frame member opposite said first edge, spring biassing means being provided t-o act between the double return flange portion and the second edge of the frame member to urge the double return flange portion away -from said second edge and hence- urge the single return flange portion of the element into engagement with said first edge of the frame member.

The double return flange portion does not necessarily have to extend over the full length of the element. Instead,, for example, one or more tabs could be formed into a double return flange portion, leaving the remainder of the flange portion as a 1 single return.

is The spring biassing means could be provided as an integral part of the element. For example, if the trim was of suitable material, it may be possible to form sections of the double return flange portion itself into spring fingers to act against the edge of the frame member.

By way of example, an embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a typical fireplace unit and a trim assembly according to the invention therefor, Figure 2 is a detail showing a corner of the Figure 1 fireplace unit with the trim assembly fitted, Figure 3 is a section through lines 3-3 in Figure 2, Figure 4 is a side elevation of Figure 2, Figure 5 is a detail showing one form of spring biassing member, and Figure 6 shows a corner plate in more detail.

There is seen in Figure 1 a typical fireplace unit of an open inset convector fire. It is common for units such as -this to have a" mild steel front frame 10, which is usually of SOmm x 6mm flat bar. To embellish the unit and give it a decorative finish, a trim 11 is fitted around the frame 10.

p - 3 9 The trim 11 may be of any suitable material such as brass, copper, stainless steel etc., and may be provided in a variety of finishes. The trim 11 here is provided in three pieces and corner plates 12 are provided to cover the corner joints.

The cross-section of the trim 11 is generally channel-shaped, as seen in Figure 3, and comprises a web portion 13 having flange portions 14, 15 extending from either edge of the web portion. Flange portion 14 is a single return and subtends an angle a of less than 900 with the web portion 13. Flange portion 15 is a double return. Also seen in Figure 3 is the frame section 10 of the fireplace unit and a spring biassing member 16. The spring member 16 here conveniently takes the form of a corrugated strip of spring steel, as is seen in more detail in Figure 5. The spring member 16 is designed to be sandwiched between the double return flange portion 15 of the trim 11 and the respective edge of the frame section 10.

In the fitted jposition, as seen in Figure 3, the spring member 16 acts to urge the double return flange portion 15 of the trim 11 away from the respective edge of, the frame section 10, and thus to urge the single return flange portion 14 of the trim 11 into engagement with its respective edge of the frame section 10. In this way. the trim 11 is satisfactorily retained in position on the frame section 10.

It often happens in practice that the edges of the frame section 10 have a somewhat rounded is profile. The fact that the single return flange portion 14 of the trim 11 is given an angle of less than 900 means that its point of contact with the edge of the frame section 10 is 'lover centre", i.e., it effectively provides a mechanical lock with the edge of the frame section 10.

The trim 11 is fitted after first installing the spring member 16 in the double return flange portion 15. (The spring member 16 has return tabs 17, 18 at either end which locate it with respect to the trim 11, as seen in Figure S.) The double return flange portion 15 of the trim 11 is fitted over the respective edge of the frame section 10. Then, whilst pressing the double return flange portion 15 of the trim 11 towards the respective edge of the frame section 10 to compress the spring member 16, the single return flange portion 14 of the trim 11 is simply snapped into engagement over its respective edge of the frame section 10. The trim 11 can be removed by adopting the reverse procedure.

The corner plates 12, which are seen in more detail in Figure 6, have double return flange portions 20 at their outer edges. These double return flange portions 20 are sized to f it over the frame section 10 while the trim 11 is in place. The angle b enclosed by the corner plates 12 is- made less than 900 so as to leave room to accommodate the return tabs 18 of the spring members 16 when the corner plates are fitted. The corner plates 12 are retained in position by a return tab 21 at their inner corner. The corner plates 12 can be fitted by simply compressing the side and top sections of the 11 5.

1 4 A - 5 is trim 11 inwardly against the biassing force of their respecti-ve spring members 16 and engaging the flange portions 20 and return tab 21 behind the frame section 10; No non-resilient distortion of the corner plates 12 is needed in this fitting. Using these corner plates, sufficient clearance can be left between the top and side sections of the trim to allow for manufacturing tolerances of the frame and for uneven expansion and contraction of the frame and trim while heating and cooling.

As an alternative to using corner plates such as described above, it is possible simply to provide at the junction of the top and side sections of the trim 11 an overlap between their respective mitred edges.

The spring members 16 for the vertical sections of the trim 11 have an additional tab 19. This additional tab 19 rests on the frame section 10 when the trim 11 is fitted and locates the vertical sections of the trim.

One of the main advantages of the trim described is that variations in the size of the frame.section 10 due to manufacturing tolerances can be accomodated, as can differential expansion of the various components in use of the fire without distortion of the trim.

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Claims

1. A trim for a frame member, comprising an element to fit over the frame member, which element has a generally channel-shaped cross-section with a web portion, a single return flange portion extending from a first edge of the web portion for engaging a first edge of the frame member, and a double return flange portion extending from the second edge of the web portion, the double return flange portion being shaped to receive a second edge portion of the frame member opposite said first edge, spring biassing means being provided to act between the double return flange portion and the second edge of the frame member to urge the double return flange portion away from said second edge and hence urge the single return flange portion of the element into engagement with said first edge of the frame member.

2. A trim as claimed in claim 1 wherein the double return flange portion does not extend over the full length of the element.

3. A trim as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the spring biassing means is provided as an -integral part of the element.

4. A trim as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the spring biassing means is provided separately from the element, and means is provided for locating the spring biassing means relative to the element.

h 4 1:

5. A trim as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the single return flange portion subtends an angle of less than 900 to the web portion of the element.

6. A trim substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A trim as claimed in any preceding claim for the front frame of a fireplace unit.

8. A fireplace unit incorporating a trim is as claimed in any preceding claim.