GB2214550A

GB2214550A - A frame assembly for steel door

Info

Publication number: GB2214550A
Application number: GB8901646A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Vincent Anthony Dooley
Original assignee: TENERET Ltd
Current assignee: TENERET Ltd
Priority date: 1988-01-26
Filing date: 1989-01-26
Publication date: 1989-09-06
Also published as: IE880186L; GB8901646D0

Abstract

A frame assembly 1, particularly for a steel door comprises a pair of side frame sections, a head frame section, a head frame member 5 and a cill section 6, for fitting in an opening. Each of the frame sections comprises a first frame member 10 for mounting in an opening and a second fixed frame member 11. The frame members 10 are adjustable in position relative to the fixed frame members 11 by operating jacking screws 15 to take up irregularities in the opening. <IMAGE>

Description

A FRAME ASSEMBLY The invention relates to a frame assembly and in particular to a frame assembly for a closure member such as a door, window, panel, grill or the like and especially to a frame assembly for steel doors.

Steel door sets are generally manufactured in a workshop to close tolerances. Due to inaccuracies in building, however, the openings in which the door frame is to be mounted is often off-plumb or too large or too small for the frame. This causes considerably inconvenience and undue delays in fixing on site as major modifications are often required to the door frame and/or ope.

There is therefore a need for an improved construction of frame assembly, particularly for steel door sets which will overcome at least some of these difficulties.

This invention is directed towards providing such a frame assembly.

According to the invention, there is provided a frame assembly for a closure member such as a door or the like comprising: a first frame for mounting in an opening, and a second frame for receiving a closure member, the first frame being adjustably mounted relative to the second frame to take up irregularities in the opening and/or a range of sizes of opening.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first frame is mounted to the second frame for lateral adjustment in the opening.

In a particulary preferred embodiment of the invention, the second frame is a fixed closure member frame and the first frame is a sub-frame which is movable relative to the closure member frame.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the assembly includes adjustment means for adjusting the position of the sub-frame relative to the fixed closure member frame.

Preferably, the adjustment means comprises jacking means provided between the sub-frame and the closure member frame.

In one embodiment of the invention, the jacking means comprises a jacking screw having a threaded shank and a nut which is fixed to the sub-frame, the sub-frame being movable on the shank relative to the fixed closure member frame on rotation of the screw.

Preferably, a plurality of jacking means spaced-apart around the frame assembly are provided.

In one embodiment of the invention, the closure member frame is of substantially channel-shape in transverse cross-section and the sub-frame is movable within the channel defined by the closure member frame.

Preferably, the adjustable sub-frame is also of substantially channel shape in transverse cross-section.

In one embodiment of the invention, the frame assembly comprises a head frame section, a pair of side frame sections and preferably also a cill section.

Preferably, at least the side frame sections and most preferably also the head frame section are formed by a closure member frame and sub-frame assembly according to the invention.

Preferably, the head frame section, the side frame sections and the cill frame section are reversible in position to accommodate closure members of opposite hand.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a door frame assembly according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a side elevational, partially cross sectional view of the door frame assembly of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view on the line III-III in Fig. 2, the hinge side being shown on the left and the lock side on the right, and the frame assembly being in a different position to that of Fig. 2, and Figs. 4a to 4d are diagrammatic elevational views of the door frame assembly according to the invention, in use.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a frame assembly according to the invention which in this case is a steel door frame assembly, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The assembly 1 comprises a pair of spaced-apart side frame sections 2, 3, a head frame section 4, a head frame member 5 and a cill section 6. A door 7 is mounted to the side frame section 3. Each of the side frame sections 2, 3 and the head frame section 4 are adjustable in position to accommodate variations in the opening in which the frame assembly is mounted.

Typical ope variations catered for are illustrated in Figs. 4a to 4d.

Each of the frame sections 2, 3, 4 comprise a first frame member 10 for mounting in an opening and a second frame member 11 carried by the first frame 10. The door 7 is mounted to one of the second frame members 11. In this case, the second frame members 11 define a fixed door frame and the first frame members 10 define a sub-frame which is movable relative to the door frame 11. The subframe 10 is adjustable in position relative to the fixed door frame 11 to accommodate irregularities in the opening.

Adjustment means for adjusting the sub-frame members 10 relative to the fixed door frame members 11 is provided by a plurality of spaced-apart jacking screws 15, each of which has a threaded shank 16 which engages a nut 17 which is welded to the sub-frame 10 at 18. On rotation of the screw 15 the sub-frame 10 is moved on the shank 16 relative to the fixed door frame 11. A bracket 20 is welded to the inner surface of the sub-frame 10 to retain the shank of each jacking screw 15.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be noted that each door frame member 11 is of substantially channel shape in transverse cross-section, the channel having an access hole 25 through which the head of the jacking screw 15 is accessed. The head of the screw 15 is shaped to engage a socket type spanner. The sub-frame member 10 is also substantially channel-shaped in transverse cross-section and moves within the channel defined by the door frame member 11 on turning of the screw 15 from the retracted position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 3 to various expanded positions illustrated by interrupted lines in Fig. 3 and in full lines in Fig. 2.

The outer frame members 10 are typically fixed in position by expansion bolts which are carried by brackets welded to the inner and/or outer frame members 10, 11.

The expansion bolts may be operated by suitable tools inserted through access holes provided in the frame members 11. This fixing method is not illustrated in the drawings.

It will be appreciated that for ease of fitting it is preferable that jacking screw mounting brackets 20 welded to the frame members 11 are provided this may not be an essential feature. Such brackets 20 however are important in limiting vertical movement between the inner and outer frame members 10, 11 and for security protection. Where such brackets are provided they may be in any suitable size, shape or form. For example, instead of a separate bracket associated with each jacking screw a single bracket extending substantially the length of a frame member 11 may be provided.

It will be noted particularly from Figs. 1 and 3 that the jacking screw mounting brackets 20 on the hinge side and lock side of the frame assembly are of different configuration. This is a matter of convenience. In the case of the lock side brackets 20, they extend substantially the width of the frame members 11 and each include an additional hole through which an expansion bolt is passed for fixing the frame members in the ope.

In use, the frame assembly according to the invention is constructed by first welding together the fixed door frame members 11 and the head and cill members 5, 6 to form a welded frame assembly. The door 7 is then hung on the frame assembly in the correct hand for opening and closing. Upper and lower door saddle members 30, 31 are then mechanically fixed to the head and cill members 5, 6 of the frame. With the sub-frame members 10 of the side frame and head frame assemblies 2, 3, 4 loosely attached by the jacking screws 15, the frame is then inserted loosely into the opening in which it is to be sited. Using the jacking screws 15, the frame is wedged in position in the opening and the operation of the door assembly is checked.Each of the jacking screws 15 in turn, is then adjusted relative to the sub-frame until the door 7 is opening and closing correctly and is plumb in the opening.

Referring to Figs. 4a to 4d a typical range of openings which can be accommodated using the frame assembly according to the invention are illustrated. The dimensions F are the fixed width and height dimensions of the door frame. The shaded area represents the gaps left between the door frame and opening which can be taken up using the assembly according to the invention. In Fig. 4a the opening is both too wide and too high, however, this is taken up by the assembly. In Fig. 4b the opening is too high and both sides of the opening are out of plumb.

With the assembly according to the invention, movement of up to 25mm between the main frame and sub-frame is allowed all round so that a corresponding correction of + 25mm is allowed to accommodate variations in actual size of openings against specified sizes of openings.

In cases where the opening is out of plumb, a few extra turns of the adjustment jacking screws at either the top or bottom of the side frames will rake the frame slightly off the perpendicular, while still allowing the door to remain square on all planes.

Another feature of the door frame assembly according to the invention is that the door leaf assembly is both reversible and invertible, which allows the user to change the hand of the door on site if required. This is achieved by dual punching at the fabrication stage combined with the use of reversible head and cill members.

It will be appreciated that to allow for further variation in the width and height of the door frame, more than one sub-frame may be employed.

It will also be appreciated that any suitable adjustment means may be provided. For example, instead of a jacking screw arrangement, the adjustment means may include a ball joint type arrangement.

It will also be appreciated that while the invention has been specifically described with reference to door frames for steel doors, the frame assembly according to the invention may also be used for a wide variety of installations, including windows, grills, panels and the like.

Generally, the frame assembly according to the invention is of rebated, pressed steel construction.

These and many other alternative arrangements will be readily apparent and accordingly the invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described and may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims

1. A frame assembly for a closure member such as a door or the like comprising: a first frame for mounting in an opening, and a second frame for receiving a closure member, the first frame being adjustably mounted relative to the second frame to take up irregularities in the opening and/or a range of sizes of opening.

2. A frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first frame is mounted to the second frame for lateral adjustment in the opening.

3. A frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the second frame is a fixed closure member frame and the first frame is a sub-frame which is movable relative to the closure member frame.

4. A frame assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the assembly includes adjustment means for adjusting the position of the sub-frame relative to the fixed closure member frame.

5. A frame assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the adjustment means comprises jacking means provided between the sub-frame and the closure member frame.

6. A frame assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein the jacking means comprises a jacking screw having a threaded shank and a nut which is fixed to the sub frame, the sub-frame being movable on the shank relative to the fixed frame on rotation of the screw.

7. A frame assembly as claimed in claim 5 or 6 wherein a plurality of jacking means spaced-apart around the fame assembly are provided.

8. A frame assembly as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein each jacking screw extends through a jacking screw mounting bracket mounted to the fixed frame.

9. A frame assembly as claimed in any of claims 3 to 8 wherein the closure member frame is of substantially channel-shape in transverse cross-section and the sub-frame is movable within the channel defined by the closure member frame.

10. A frame assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein the adjustable sub-frame is also of substantially channel shape in transverse cross-section.

11. A frame assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the frame assembly comprises a head frame section and a pair of side frame sections, each frame section comprising a first frame member for mounting in an opening and a second frame member for receiving a closure member.

12. A frame assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein the assembly includes a cill section.

13. A frame assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein the head frame section, the side frame sections and the cill frame section are reversible in position to accommodate closure members of opposite hand.

14. A frame assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.