GB2247267A

GB2247267A - Sill and frame component assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2247267A
Application number: GB9018076A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ernest Malcolm Heywood Scholes
Original assignee: Scholes Ernest M H
Current assignee: Scholes Ernest M H
Priority date: 1990-08-17
Filing date: 1990-08-17
Publication date: 1992-02-26
Also published as: GB9018076D0

Abstract

A sill and frame component assembly 20 comprises a generally triangular cross-section sill 21 of extruded UPVC on which is mounted a frame component 22 comprising a horizontal base portion 35 in which is formed an outwardly projecting portion 34. The sill 21 has a platform 23 running along the length of the sill on which the frame component 22 is mounted, and an outer sloping portion 24 which adjoins the outer edge of the platform 23 and which slopes downwardly and outwardly away from the platform 23. The platform 23 has inner and outer upstanding ribs 26 and 27 on which the frame component 22 is mounted. The assembly is shaped such that the projecting portion of the component 22 is located outwardly of the outer supporting roof 27, and therefore water flowing along a drainage path 32 will fall onto the outer sloping portion 24 of the sill to be discharged laterally outwardly away from the wall in which the assembly 20 is mounted. <IMAGE>

Description

SILL AND FRAME COMPONENT ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a sill and frame component assembly (of plastics material) which is intended to form a lower horizontal part of a fixed rectangular outer frame for a door and / or window, and in particular, though not exclusively. concerned with such an assembly made of plastics material.

There is growing use of extruded plastics sections to form fixed outer frames of windows and doors, and also in the formation of the openable frames of windows and doors which are mounted on such outer frames.

It is usual to use UPVC sections to make the components of fixed and openable frames, and this provides a durable and low maintenance product.

It is also known to provide a sill component, onto which a lower horizontal part of a fixed rectangular frame is fixed. and which slopes downwardly away from the fixed frame part in order to discharge rainwater away from the wall of the building in which the outer frame is mounted.

The sill also is made of UPVC, and existing designs have a substantially flat platform running the length of the sill and on which the fixed frame part is mounted, and also having a downwardly sloping portion which merges into the platform and which enables rainwater to be discharged outwardly away from the frame.

In the existing design, the lower horizontal fixed frame component usually has a pair of downwardly facing longitudinal grooves on the underside of the component, and which are arranged one along the inner edge of the platform (with respect to the interior of the building) and the other along the outer edge of the platform. ^sn service, water inevitably builds-up in the glazing rebate of the lower horizontal fixed outer frame member regardless of how well sealed is the assembly of the frame component on the platform of the sill, and this water cannot readily drain away to the outside of the building. and therefore tends to run inwards into the building; for example, the water can pass downwardly through the junction between two adjacent sections. and especially if the joint is a poor joint as can apply in the case of bay window sections.

The present invention is concerned with a sill and frame component assembly of the above general type, and which has improved mounting of the frame component on the sill platform, and also provides satisfactory drainage of any water which falls onto the platform.

According to the invention there is provided a sill and frame component assembly which is intended to form a lower horizontal part of a fixed rectangular outer frame for a door and / or window to be provided in a building, and in which: a platform is provided on the sill. adjacent to an inner side of the sill, and running the length of the sill and on which the frame component is mounted, and an outer sloping portion adjoins the outer edge of the platform and which slopes downwardly and outwardly away from the platform; the platform has inner and outer upstanding ribs on which the frame component is mounted, and arranged at or near to the inner and outer edges of the platform;; the platform slopes downwardly from the inner rib towards the outer.rib, and one or more drainage outlets are provided in the outer rib to enable any water falling onto the platform to be discharged onto the outer sloping portion of the sill; and, the frame component projects laterally outwardly of the outer rib and has a drainage path through the component having an outlet located above the sloping portion of the sill.

The terms "inner" and "outer" are used herein with reference to the interior and exterior of a building in which the assembly is to be mounted.

Preferably, the sill and / or the frame component is / are made of plastics material, such as extruded UPVC.

However, this is not essential to the invention, and for example, the sill may be made of wood and the frame component may be made of metal. Also, the sill may be made mainly of wood, but can be provided with a metal section, such as an aluminium section, which fits on the upper surface of the sill and which forms the platform.

The sill and frame component assembly of the invention can be readily assembled to form the lower horizontal frame member of a fixed rectangular frame in which a door and / or window frame can be mounted. In the case of a window frame, this may be a fixed window frame, a top hinged window frame, a side hinged window frame, or any other existing type of openable window frame.

The upstanding ribs on the sill provide rigid support and location for the frame component, by engaging with a flat underside of the frame component, but by reason of the sloping platform portion and the drainage outlet(s) in the outer rib, any rainwater which may migrate to the platform will be discharged onto the outer sloping portion of the sill.

Preferably, the sill is substantially triangular in cross section, having a horizontal base, a short upright inner side, and an inclined upper side which slopes gently downwardly from the upper edge of the inner side to the outer edge of the base. The inclined upper side therefore comprises a continuous surface which forms the outer sill portion and the sloping portion of the platform.

The sill may be formed as a hollow extrusion, and has internal upright webs which extend between the base and the upper side in order to give strength and rigidity to the sill.

Since the weight of the frame component is borne mainly by the upstanding ribs of the sill, preferably an internal supporting web is arranged immediately below the outer rib. The load of the frame component then can be transferred to the sill via the inner and outer ribs, and then from the inner rib to the outer side of the sill and from the outer rib to the internal supporting web arranged below it.

The inner side of the sill, the internal supporting web below the outer rib, the sloping platform and a portion of the base interconnecting the inner side and the supporting web therefore define a generally trapezoidal section space, and preferably a correspondingly shaped metal reinforcing structure is arranged in this space. The reinforcing structure may comprise a trapezoidal box-type structure of interconnected metal plates, which are preferably of galvanised steel.

The invention will now be described in detail, by way of -example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of one existing design of sill and frame component of extruded plastics material which is intended to form a lower horizontal part of a fixed rectangular outer frame; Figure 2 is a view, similar to Figure 1, illustrating the general construction of an embodiment of sill and frame component assembly according to the invention; and, Figures 3 to 6 are sectional illustrations of examples of profiles of the frame component which may be adopted in an assembly according to the invention.

Referring first to Figure 1 of the drawings, this shows an existing design of sill and frame component assembly of extruded plastics material, and which is designated generally by reference 10. The assembly 10 comprises a hollow extruded sill 11 onto which is mounted a frame component 12, and the assembly 10 therefore can then form a lower horizontal part of a fixed rectangular frame.

The sill 11 has a horizontal platform 13 which runs the length of the sill, and on which the frame component 12 is mounted. and there is also a sloping portion 14 on the upper side of the sill 11 which merges into the platform 13, and which serves to discharge rainwater outwardly away from the wall of a building in which the assembly 10 is mounted.

The frame component 12 has a pair of downwardly facing longitudinal grooves 15 and 16 on the underside of the component 12, and which are arranged along the edges of the platform 13.

The frame component 12 will form part of a fixed outer frame in which a window and / or door frame can be mounted, and it is fixedly mounted on the platform 13 of the sill 11, with inner groove 16 located closely adjacent to but laterally outwardly of a ledge 17 running the length of the sill 11 and arranged along its inner side. However, the groove 15 is in fact spaced laterally outwardly by a very short spacing from the outer side 18 of the platform 13, so as to define a drainage gap 19. Water will accumulate in the glazing rebate of the lower horizontal fixed outer frame member, even although the mounting of the frame component 12 on the platform 13 takes place in such a manner as to be sealed as well as possible.

Water will tend to accumulate through screw fixing points of the lower horizontal fixed outer frame member, and also via joints between adjacent sections. Thus, coupling together.of separate outer frame members, such as occurs in the case of bay windo sections, leave joints through which water can penetrate onto the sill area (13).

If the sill is fitted slightly out of level, so that it slopes inwards, water will drain towards the inside and over the inner lip or ledge 17 (which is normally sealed where it overlaps the groove 16 of frame component 12 and which is not always carried out effectively).

As will become apparent from the description of the preferred embodiments, the need for accurate fixing of the sill assembly is eliminated, in view of the outwardly sloping "platform" on the sill top, and the formation of drainage hole(s).

Further, in the existing design, the major part of the load of the frame component 12 is transmitted to the platform 13 via the ribs which define the inner groove 16, and it should be noted also that the platform 13 is substantially horizontal, so that any water migrating onto the platform 13 will tend to accumulate and lie there.

The embodiment of the invention which will be described below provides a sill and frame component assembly of the same general type as that described above with reference to Figure 1, but which has improved mounting of the frame component on the sill platform, and yet still achieving satisfactory drainage of any water which migrates onto the platform.

Referring now to Figure 2 of the drawings, the embodiment of the invention is designated generally by reference 20, and comprises a generally triangular cross section sill 21 of extruded UPVC, on which is mounted a frame component 22. The assembly of sill 21 and frame component 22 forms a lower horizontal part of a fixed rectangular outer frame for a door and / or window to be provided in a wall of a building.

The sill 21 has a platform 23 running the length of the sill and on which the frame component 22 is mounted, and an outer sloping portion 24 which adjoins the outer edge of the platform 23 and which slopes downwardly and outwardly away from the platform 23. It should be noted particularly that the platform 23 slopes downwardly away from the inner edge 25 of the platform, and in fact the platform 23 and the outer sloping portion 24 form a continuous surface which comprises a straight inclined upper side of the generally triangular cross section of the sill 21.

The platform 23 has inner and outer upstanding ribs 26 and 27 on which the frame component 22 is mounted, and arranged at or near to the inner edge 25 and outer edge 28 respectively of the platform 23. As mentioned above, platform 23 slopes downwardly from its inner edge 25, and therefore from the inner rib 26, and one or more drainage outlets 29 are provided along the length of the outer rib 27 to enable any water migrating onto the platform 23 to be discharged onto the outer sloping portion 24 of the sill.

In the design of the frame component 22, and indeed of any existing designs of similar outer frame components. it is accepted as inevitable that water ingress will take place past any seals which are provided in the subsequent mounting of door and / or window frames on the fixed outer frame, and therefore a drainage path is provided through the component. Usually. water will tend to migrate onto the horizontal supporting portion 30 of the component 22, and a drainage path is therefore provided through the outer upstand 31 of component 22, as shown schematically by the passage of water along path 32. This path 32 runs downwardly through the upstand 31, and through a drainage hole 33 which is formed in an outwardly projecting portion 34 of a horizontal base portion 35 of component 22.

It should be noted particularly from Figure 2 that the projecting portion 34 is located outwardly of the outer supporting rib 27, and therefore water flowing along drainage path 32 will fall onto the outer sloping portion 24 of the sill to.be discharged laterally outwardly away from the wall in which the assembly 20 is mounted.

The assembly 20 forms part of a rectangular fixed outer frame to be mounted in a wall of a building, to form an opening in which a door and / or window frame can be mounted. In the case of a window frame, this may be a fixed window frame, a top hinged window frame, a side hinged window frame, or any other existing type of openable window frame.

The upstanding ribs 26 and 27 provide rigid support and location for the frame component 22, by engaging with a flat underside (35) of the frame component, but by reason of the sloping platform portion 23 and the drainage outlets 29 in the outer rib 27, any rain water which may migrate onto the platform 23 will be discharged outwardly onto the sloping portion 24 of the sill.

The substantially triangular cross section of the sill 21 is formed by a horizontal base 36. a short upright inner side 37, and an inclined upper side formed by the sloping portion 24 and platform 23. The sill 21 is a hollow extrusion, and has internal upright webs 38, 39 and 40 which extend between the base 36 and the upper side in order to give strength and rigidity to the sill. It should be noted that the internal supporting web 40 is arranged immediately below the outer rib 27, and therefore the load of the frame component 22 can be transferred to the sill 21 via the inner and outer ribs 26 and 27, and then from inner rib 26 to the outer side 37 and from the outer rib 27 to the internal supporting web 40 arranged below it.

The inner side 37, the internal supporting web 40, the sloping platform 23 and a portion 41 of the base interconnecting the inner side 37 and the web 40 define a generally trapezoidal section space 42, and a correspondingly shaped metal reinforcing structure 43 is arranged in this space. The structure 43 comprises a trapezoidal box-type structure of interconnected metal plates which are preferably of galvanised steel.

Figure 2 shows one profiled section which may be adopted for the frame component 22, but it should be understood that this is by way of example only.

Alternative designs of profile are shown in Figures 3 to 6.

Claims

1. A sill and frame component assembly which is intended to form a lower horizontal part of a fixed rectangular outer frame for a door and/or window to be provided in a building, and in which: a platform is provided on the sill, adjacent to an inner side of the sill, and running the length of the sill and on which the frame component is mounted, and an outer sloping portion adjoins the outer edge of the platform and which slopes downwardly and outwardly away from the platform; the platform has inner and outer upstanding ribs on which the frame component is mounted, and arranged at or near the inner and outer edges of the platform; the platform slopes downwardly from the inner rib towards the outer rib, and one or more drainage outlets are provided on the outer rib to enable any water falling onto the platform to be discharged onto the outer sloping portion of the sill; and the frame component projects laterally outwardly of the outer rib and has a drainage path through the component having an outlet located above the sloping portion of the sill.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sill and/or the frame component is/are made of plastics material.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the sill and/or frame component islare made of UPVC.

4. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims wherein the sill is substantially triangular in crosssection, having a horizontal base, a short upright inner side, and an inclined upper side which slopes gently downwardly on the upper edge of the inner side to the outer edge of the base.

5. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims wherein the sill is formed as a hollow extrusion, and has internal upright webs which extend between the base and the upper side in order to give strength and rigidity to the sill.

6. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims wherein an internal supporting web is arranged immediately below the outer rib of the sill.

7. An assembly as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a metal reinforcing structure arranged in the space formed between the inner side of the sill, the internal supporting web below the outer rib, the sloping platform and a portion of the base interconnecting the inner side and the supporting web, which space is generally trapezoidal in shape.

8. An assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the reinforcing structure comprises a trapezoidal box type structure of interconnected metal plates.

9. An assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein the reinforcing structure is made of galvanized steel.

10. An assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.