GB2245924A

GB2245924A - Extruded section for window or door frame

Info

Publication number: GB2245924A
Application number: GB9015249A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ernest Malcolm Heywood Scholes
Original assignee: Scholes Ernest M H
Current assignee: Scholes Ernest M H
Priority date: 1990-07-11
Filing date: 1990-07-11
Publication date: 1992-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 2010-07-11
Also published as: GB2245924B; GB9015249D0

Abstract

A hollow extruded plastics frame member (10) to form a transom in a rectangular window frame and separate an upper glazed unit (12) and a lower glazed unit (11) is generally T-shaped in cross section and comprises a hollow stem portion (14) which extends substantially horizontally and which co-operates with the upper glazed unit (12), and the lower glazed unit (11), and a cross piece (19) arranged at one end of the stem (14) which forms an abuttment for the upper glazed unit (12) and also for the lower glazed unit (11). The stem (14) has first and second seating surfaces (17) and (18) which cooperate with the ends of the glazed units, and the first surface (17) has a longitudinally extending groove (21) formed at or near to the free end of the stem. The second surface (18) has a longitudinally extending groove (22) at or near the free end of the stem and merges into the cross piece via a connecting portion (23) which defines a longitudinally extending recess (24). The frame member (10) has a first mode of installation in which the first and second surfaces (17) and (18) face upwards and downwards respectively, and a second mode of installation in which the first and second surfaces face downwards and upwards respectively, and the groove (21) in the first surface (17) can form a drainage channel in the first mode and can serve to mount a glazing bead (25) in the second mode. <IMAGE>

Description

EXTRUDED SECTION FOR WINDOW OR DOOR FRAME This invention relates to a hollow extruded plastics section for assembly into a rectangular frame for a window or door.

Hollow extruded sections of UPVC are now used widely in this country and abroad to form rectangular frames in which windows and doors can be mounted. A typical window frame may comprise horizontal frame members to form a sill and top frame member, and often also a horizontal intermediate member or "transom". The frame also includes vertical side frame members and may also include intermediate frame members or "mullions" which separate adjacent window units.

Rectangular frames built-up from extruded hollow sections may be installed as original equipment in newly constructed buildings and may also be used as replacement units in existing buildings. Single and double glazed units can then be mounted in the frames, and these units may be fixed frames, tiltable frames, open-out or open-in framed units.

Transoms are usually used to separate top and bottom framed window units, one of which units may be a fixed unit and the other of which may be an openable unit (open in or open out).

One existing form of transom comprises a generally T-shaped arrangement, lying on its side, and symmetrical about the stem of the T-shape. The cross piece of the Tshape therefore usually extends vertically in use, and the upper side of the stem forms a lower base surface on which an upper window unit can be seated, and the lower side of the stem forms an upper support surface on which the upper side of a lower window unit can be seated.

The upper portion of the cross piece extends upwardly of the stem and forms a lower abutment for the upper window unit and the lower portion of the cross piece extends downwardly of the stem and forms an upper abutment for the lower window unit.

Each of the window units can be a fixed unit, an openin or an open-out window. Evidently, in the case of a fixed window unit. the seating of the unit on the respective side of the stem will be a permanent fixture, in which case one side of the unit (at its upper or lower edge depending upon whether it is a lower or upper window unit respectively) is held against the respective portion of the cross piece and the opposite side of the unit is engaged by a glazing bead which is slidably or snap-fitted into a mounting groove provided at the free end of the stem remote from the cross piece.

As mentioned above, existing designs of T-shaped transom are symmetrical about the axis of the stem. In one known design, each side of the stem is substantially flat and extends horizontally away from the cross piece, and at its free end is provided with a longitudinally running groove into which a glazing bead can be snap or slidably fitted in order to retain a fixed window unit between itself and the cross piece.

In another known symmetrical form, each side of the stem is flat and extends generally horizontally from the free end of the stem and towards the cross piece. However, the side of the stem merges into a downwardly curved loop by which it is connected to the respective portion of the cross piece.

The invention therefore seeks to provide an asymmetrical design of extruded section to function as a transom, and which is capable of being installed in either of two different modes.

According to the invention there is provided a hollow extruded plastics frame member to form a transom in a rectangular window frame and which can separate upper and lower glazed units and which is generally T-shaped in cross section and comprising: a hollow stem portion intended to extend substantially horizontally and arranged to co-operate with the lower end of an upper glazed unit and with the upper end of a lower glazed unit; and, a cross piece arranged at one end of the stem to form an abutment for the lower end of the upper glazed unit and also for the upper end of the lower glazed unit: in which: the stem has first and second seating surfaces which are co-operable with the ends of the glazed units; the first surface extends substantially horizontally away from the cross piece and has a longitudinally extending groove formed at or near to the free end of the stem remote from the cross piece; and, the second surface has a longitudinally extending groove at or near to the free end of the stem, said second surface extending generally horizontally towards the cross piece and surface merging into the cross piece via a connecting portion which defines a longitudinally extending recess; and in which: the frame member has a first mode of installation in which the first and second surfaces face upwards and downwards respectively and a second mode of intallation in which the first and second surfaces face downwards and upwards respectively; and, the groove in the first surface can form a drainage channel in the first mode and can serve to mount a glazing bead in the second mode.

Thus, the invention provides a construction of extruded plastics frame member which has a dual function, and therefore a single design of component can have two different modes of installation and enables different assemblies of window frame to be achieved using a common component, which is clearly advantageous in reducing stocking costs.

The frame member can therefore be used in its first mode (with the first surface facing upwardly) to co-operate with an upper outwardly opening window frame and with a fixed lower window frame, whereas in its second mode (with the second surface of the stem facing upwardly) the frame member can co-operate with an upper inwardly opening window frame and with a lower fixed window frame.

The frame member can be formed as a single component in a single extrusion process, and can then be used in either mode. When the frame member is intended for use in the first mode, it will generally be desirable to form drainage outlet(s) in the groove of the first surface of the stem, to enable water to be discharged to the outside of the window.

When the frame member is intended for use in the second mode, it will generally be desirable for drainage outlet(s) to be formed in the longitudinal recess of the second surface of the stem.

One embodiment of hollow extruded plastics frame member according to the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an end view of the frame member in a first mode of installation in a rectangular window frame; and, Figure 2 is a similar view of the frame member in a second mode of installation.

Referring now to the drawings, a hollow extruded plastics frame member according to the invention is designated generally by reference 10 and is intended to form a transom in a rectangular window frame in order to separate upper and lower glazed units. As shown in Figure 1, the transom 10 separates a lower fixed double glazed unit 11 and an upper openable double glazed window frame unit 12. In Figure 1, the inside of the building will be on the left hand side of the unit 10, and the outside of the building is on the right hand side of the unit. The particular design of openable window unit 12 shown in Figure 1 comprises an open-out unit.

In Figure 2, the frame member 10 is shown in a second mode of use, in which the frame member 10 is inverted by rotating it about its longitudinal axis through 1800, so that the seating surfaces of the frame member which face upwardly and downwardly in Figure 1 are facing respectively downwardly and upwardly in Figure 2 In addition, the inwardly facing surfaces of the frame member 10 of Figure 1 are now facing outwardly in Figure 2.

Further, the frame member 10 in its second mode of installation shown in Figure 2 co-operates with a fixed lower double glazed unit 11, and with an upper openable-in window frame unit 13.

The frame member 10 is generally T-shaped in cross section, and comprises a hollow stem portion 14 which is intended to extend substantially horizontally and which is arranged to co-operate with the lower end 15 of the upper glazed unit and with the upper end 16 of the lower glazed unit.

The stem 14 has first and second seating surfaces 17 and 18 which co-operate with the ends 15 and 16 of the glazed units, and it will be noted from the drawings that the first seating surface 17 extends substantially horizontally away from a cross piece 19 arranged at one end of the stem, with such cross piece 19 forming an abutment for both the lower end of the upper glazed unit and also for the upper end of the lower glazed unit.

The first seating surface 17 is flat and extends away from cross piece 19 towards the free end 20 of stem 14, and it is provided with a longitudinally extending groove 21 at or near to the free end 20.

The second seating surface 18. which faces upwardly in the second mode shown in Figure 2, extends generally horizontally away from the cross piece 19, but has a longitudinally extending groove 22 at the free end 20 of the stem 14, but merges into the cross piece 19 via a connecting portion 23 which defines a longitudinally extending recess 24.

The disclosed embodiment of the invention comprises an asymmetrical design of extruded section which is able to function as a transom, and which is capable of being installed in either of two different modes. In the first mode of installation, the frame member 10 is arranged as shown in Figure 1. in which the first seating surface 17 faces upwardly and the second seating surface 18 faces downwardly. However, as can be seen from Figure 2, in the second mode of installation. the second surface 18 faces upwardly and the first seating surface 17 faces downwardly.

Furthermore, in the first mode of installation as shown in Figure 1, the groove 21 in the first surface 14 is able to form a drainage channel so that rainwater can be discharged to the outside of the window frame, but when the frame member 10 is inverted to the second mode shown in Figure 2, the groove 21 is able to mount a glazing bead 25 which holds the upper end 16 of the glazed unit 11 against a portion 19a of the cross piece 19.

The cross piece 19 also has a portion 19b which forms an abutment for the upper end 16 of the lower glazed unit 11 in the first mode shown in Figure 1. whereas it forms an upstand against which window unit 13 can abut in the second mode shown in Figure 2.

The frame member 10 comprises a single component formed in a single extrusion process, and when it is intended to be used in the first mode, it will generally be desirable to form drainage outlets 26 in the groove 21 to enable the rainwater to be discharged to the outside.

Figure 1 shows by continuous arrows water drainage routes, and by dotted arrows an alternative drainage route.

When the frame member 10 is intended for use in the second mode, it will generally be desirable for drainage outlets 27 to be formed in the longitudinal recess 24 of the second seating surface 18.

Returning now to the construction of the second seating surface 18, and as mentioned above, this has a longitudinal groove 22 at the free end 20 of the stem 14, and this does not need to have any particular function in the second mode shown in Figure 2, but when the member 10 is inverted to the first mode shown in Figure 1, groove 22 serves to mount a glazing bead 28 which holds the upper end 16 of glazed unit 11 in position with the opposed side being engaged by the portion 19b of the cross piece 19.

Claims

1. A hollow extruded plastics frame member to form a transom in a rectangular window frame and which can separate upper and lower glazed units and which is generally T-shaped in cross section and comprising: a hollow stem portion intended to extend substantially horizontally and arranged to co-operate with the lower end of an upper glazed unit and with the upper end of a lower glazed unit; and, a cross piece arranged at one end of the stem to form an abutment for the lower end of the upper glazed unit and also for the upper end of the lower glazed unit; in which: the stem has first and second seating surfaces which are co-operable with the ends of the glazed units; the first surface extends substantially horizontally away from the cross piece and has a longitudinally extending groove formed at or near to the free end of the stem remote frc.n the cross piece; and, the second surface has a longitudinally extending groove at or near to the free end of the stem, said second surface extending generally horizontally towards the cross piece and surface merging into the cross piece via a connecting portion which defines a longitudinally extending recess; and in which: the frame member has a first mode of installation in which the first and second surfaces face upwards and downwards respectively and a second mode of intallation in which the first and second surfaces face downwards and upwards respectively; and, the groove n the first surface can form a drainage channel in the first mode and can serve to mount a glazing bead in the second mode.

2. A frame member according to Claim 1, in which the frame member is formed as a single component in a single extrusion process.

3. A frame member according to Claim 1 or 2, in which a drainage outlet(s) is formed in the groove of the first surface of the stem, to enable water to be discharged to the outside of the frame member, when the latter is intended for use in the first mode.

4. A frame member according to Claim 1 or 2, in which a drainage outlet(s) is formed in the longitudinal recess of the second surface of the stem, when the frame member is intended for use in the second mode.

5. A transom formed from a frame member according to any one of the preceding claims.

6. A rectangular window frame including a transom according to Claim 5.

7. A rectangular window frame according to Claim 6, and including upper and lower glazed units mounted therein and co-operating with said hollow stem portion and with said cross piece.