GB2273123A - Mullion assembly for bay windows - Google Patents

Abstract

A mullion assembly, for example for windows or office partitioning, comprises a bay member (1) which interconnects two adjoining frame members (3). The bay member (3) is provided with a curved portion (5) which presents an external arcuate surface and with two internal frame member receiving portions (19). The frame members (3) are each provided with an outer leg (21) for sliding engagement with the external arcuate surface of the bay member (1 figure) and with an inner leg (23) for pivotal engagement with one of the internal frame member receiving portions (19) of the bay member (1). <IMAGE>

Description

MULLION ASSEMBLY The present invention relates to a mullion assembly for supporting one or more frames. The invention can be used, for example, in constructing bow and bay windows, conservatories or office partitioning and more particularly but not exclusively is concerned with a metallic mullion assembly for use, for example, in double glazing installations.

Conventional mullion assemblies are known for supporting aluminium window frames for receiving double glazing units.

Such mullion assemblies generally comprise a bay pole constructed from an aluminium extrusion which is shaped to provide external and internal arcuate surfaces which together form the major part of a circle, the external arcuate surface comprising that surface of the window assembly external of the building in which the assembly is installed and the internal arcuate surface comprising that surface of the window assembly internal of the building in which the assembly is installed. The aluminium extrusion is subsequently provided with a thermal break by introducing a settable structural material into part of the extrusion and removing part of the extrusion such that the aluminium is discontinuous between the external and internal arcuate surfaces.

The bay pole is joined to the window frame by either a single adapter or a double adapter depending on whether slim or wide sightlines are required, the double adapter also being used for heavy-duty applications. The single adapter comprises an extrusion which connects between the external arcuate surface of the bay pole and an external leg of the window frame with an internal leg of the window frame bearing against the internal arcuate surface of the bay pole, while the double adapter comprises an extrusion which is subsequently provided with a thermal break and which incorporates two legs, one of which extends between the external leg of the window frame and the external arcuate surface of the bay pole and the other of which extends between the internal leg of the window frame and the internal arcuate surface of the bay pole.

Conventional mullion assemblies incorporate a number of disadvantages: There is inevitably a gap, known as a 'bird mouth', on the internal side of the bay pole where the bay pole adjoins the window cill. With a single adapter the bird mouth is relatively small, but nonetheless unsightly, between the internal legs of the adjoining window frames where the legs bear against the bay pole. With a double adapter the bird mouth is somewhat larger and exists between adjoining window frame adapters where the internal legs of the window frame adapters bear against the bay pole.

There is an additional component, either the single or the double adapter, between each window frame and the bay pole. This inevitably incurs a cost penalty due to the additional component and slows installation of the window assembly due to the need to install the additional component. The additional component inevitably increases the width, or sightline, of the window frame and detracts from the aesthetic appearance of the window assembly.

The portion defining the internal arcuate surface of the bay pole consumes considerable quantities of material and thus contributes significantly to the cost of the window assembly.

There is therefore a considerable incentive to reduce both the number of components required for the mullion assembly and the quantity of material consumed. There is also a desire to improve the appearance of such a mullion assembly.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mullion assembly which overcomes one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a mullion assembly comprising a bay member and at least one adjoining frame member, wherein: the bay member is provided with an external arcuate surface and with an internal frame member receiving portion; and the frame member is provided with an outer leg for sliding engagement with the external arcuate surface of the bay member and with an inner leg for pivotal engagement with the internal frame member receiving portion of the bay member.

The external leg of the frame member may be in sliding contact with the external arcuate surface of the bay member and the internal leg of the frame member may be pivotably disposed relative to the internal frame member receiving portion of the bay member, the disposition of the external leg of the frame member relative to the internal leg of the frame member and the disposition of the external arcuate surface of the bay member relative to the internal frame member receiving portion being such that the external leg of the frame member is pivotable about the axis of curvature of the external arcuate surface of the bay member.

The mullion assembly may include two frame members adjoining the bay member.

The bay member may include one or more radially extending webs for example for use in securing the frame member to the bay member.

The internal frame member receiving portion may comprise a laterally extending web, the radially inner face of which is provided with an outwardly curved arcuate surface.

The inner leg of the frame member may engage pivotally with the internal frame member receiving portion of the bay member by way of a generally outwardly extending arcuate portion provided substantially at the free end of the inner leg of the frame member. The arcuate portion may be in the form of a quadrant protruding from the inner leg of the frame member substantially in the direction of the outer leg. The arcuate surface of the quadrant may be at the free end of the inner leg of the frame member.

The inner leg of the frame member may be provided with a substantially plane portion.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view through one embodiment of a mullion assembly according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view, on a larger scale, of part of the mullion assembly of Figure 1, in slightly modified form; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the mullion assembly of Figures 1 and 2 configured to provide a relatively small included angle between adjacent window frames; and Figure 4 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the mullion assembly of Figures 1 and 2 configured to provide a relatively large included angle between adjacent window frames.

The mullion assembly shown in Figure 1 comprises a bay member 1 and two window frame members 3 which bear against and engage with the bay member 1. For convenience, the bay member 1 and the window frame members 3 are illustrated prior to the incorporation of thermal breaks as will be explained in more detail hereinafter.

The bay member 1 is in the form of an aluminium extrusion having a curved portion 5 which presents an external arcuate surface and two generally radial webs 7 extending inwardly from the curved portion part way towards the axis of curvature of the curved portion 5. The radial webs 7 are interconnected by a lateral web 9 so as to form a closed hollow section between the curved portion 5, the radial webs 7 and the lateral web 9. The external surface of each of the radial webs 7 is ribbed as will be explained in more detail hereinafter. Extending radially inwardly from the lateral web 9 is a thermal break assembly 11 which, in the illustrated embodiment is inclined to the radial direction.The thermal break is manufactured by introducing, for example, a settable structural material into the interior 13 of the thermal break assembly and, after the settable structural material has set, milling away part of the continuous web 15 of the thermal break assembly so as to render the aluminium discontinuous.

Extending generally radially inwardly from the thermal break assembly 11 is web 17, the web 17 terminating at its radially inward end in two laterally extending arcuate webs 19. The webs 19 each define on its radially inward face an outwardly curved arcuate face, the purpose of which will be described in more detail hereinafter.

A window frame member 3 is positioned laterally to each side of the bay member 1, each window frame member comprising an outer leg 21 which bears against the external arcuate surface of the curved portion 5 of the bay member and an inner leg 23 which bears against the arcuate face of one of the arcuate webs 19 of the bay member. The inner and outer legs 21, 23 are interconnected by a connecting web 25 which incorporates a thermal break assembly 27.

Thermal break assembly 27 is formed in the same way as thermal break assembly 11 and therefore does not require to be described in greater detail. Window frame member 3 is conventional except for the configuration of the free end of the inner leg 23 which is illustrated in more detail, in slightly modified form, in Figure 2.

Window frame member 3 is designed to be interchangeable with existing conventional window frame members in normal use such as the installation of straightforward flat window assemblies, but is modified to co-operate with the bay member 1 in accordance with the present invention in the installation of mullion assemblies for bay and bow window assemblies. Where, in conventional window frame members, the extremity of the inner leg 23 would mirror the extremity of the outer leg 21 with a rectilinear return element 29, according to the inner leg 23 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 the extremity of the inner leg terminates in a convex arcuate portion 31 generally facing the outer leg 21. In order for the window frame member 3 to be interchangeable with conventional window frame members the configuration of the convex arcuate portion 31 is shown in more detail in Figure 2.In external appearance the inner leg 23 mirrors the outer leg 21, that is to say the visible surface of the inner leg 23 is substantially planar and terminates in a small radiused portion 33 at the free end thereof. Internally the inner leg terminates in a protrusion 35 which is radiused at the free end of the inner leg 23 such as to form a quadrant 37 extending to the extreme free end of the inner leg 23 with the arcuate surface generally facing the outer leg 21. Between the end of the arcuate surface at the extreme free end of the inner leg 23 and the radiused portion 33 there is a substantially planar surface 39 as found on conventional window frame members, but possibly of lesser extent in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2.

In practice, the arcuate surface of the arcuate portion 31 is formed with the same degree of curvature as the arcuate face of the arcuate webs 19 of the bay member 1. Moreover, the point about which the arcuate surface of the arcuate portion 31 and the arcuate face of the arcuate webs 19 are pivotable substantially coincides with the point about which the free end of the outer leg 21, which bears against the external arcuate surface of the curved portion 5, pivots relative to the said external arcuate surface of the curved portion 5. Thus, as with conventional mullion assemblies, the angles between adjacent window frames of a bow or bay window can be adjusted within wide limits with both the inner and outer legs of the window frame members, or of the adapters in conventional mullion assemblies, remaining in contact with the bay member 1.Figure 3 illustrates a mullion assembly with a relatively small included angle of about 119O between adjacent window frames, while Figure 4 illustrates a mullion assembly with a relatively large included angle of about 153O between adjacent frames, although the precise range of angles can of course be selected by making minor modifications to various components.

During installation of bow or bay window assemblies, the window frames are secured to the bay member 1 by means of screws which pass through the connecting web 25 and one of the radial webs 7. In this respect, the ribbing on the external surface of each of the webs 7 facilitates drilling of the necessary hole through the web without any risk of lateral movement of the drill bit. The glazing units are installed after the window frames in known manner.

It will be appreciated that the mullion assembly according to the present invention can be modified considerably from the embodiment described with reference to the drawings.

For example, the bay member 1 need not be formed from a single extrusion, but can be formed from, say, two separate extrusions joined together by a thermal break material.

Significantly, the mullion assembly according to the present invention eliminates the adapter that is conventionally required between the window frame member and the bay member; this reduces the number of components required thus reducing cost and speeding installation.

Because the window frame member of one window frame substantially abuts the window frame member of the adjoining window frame member, contrary to conventional installations, the bird mouth found in conventional bow and bay window assemblies is eliminated. Because the window frame members pivot against the bay member, rather than sliding against an internal arcuate surface as in conventional mullion assemblies, there is no need to provide such an arcuate surface resulting in a substantial reduction in the amount of material required and a corresponding reduction in cost. Finally, although the window frame member shown in the drawings differs from conventional window frame members, the window frame member shown in the drawings still incorporates all the features necessary for the frame member to be used in flat window installations thus avoiding the need to produce different extrusions for the different applications.

Clearly, the mullion assembly according to the present invention is not restricted to use in double glazing installations such as bow and bay windows, but can also be used, for example, in conservatories for glazing and/or door frames. The mullion assembly can also be used in wider applications, such as office partitioning, where it is necessary to connect a frame to a bay pole.

Claims (10)

1. A mullion assembly comprising a bay member and at least one adjoining frame member, wherein: the bay member is provided with an external arcuate surface and with an internal frame member receiving portion; and the frame member is provided with an outer leg for sliding engagement with the external arcuate surface of the bay member and with an inner leg for pivotal engagement with the internal frame member receiving portion of the bay member.

2. A mullion assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the external leg of the frame member is in sliding contact with the external arcuate surface of the bay member and the internal leg of the frame member is pivotably disposed relative to the internal frame member receiving portion of the bay member, the disposition of the external leg of the frame member relative to the internal leg of the frame member and the disposition of the external arcuate surface of the bay member relative to the internal frame member receiving portion being such that the external leg of the frame member is pivotable about the axis of curvature of the external arcuate surface of the bay member.

3. A mullion assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the mullion assembly includes two frame members adjoining the bay member.

4. A mullion assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the bay member includes one or more radially extending webs for example for use in securing the frame member to the bay member.

5. A mullion assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the internal frame member receiving portion comprises a laterally extending web, the radially inner face of which is provided with an outwardly curved arcuate surface.

6. A mullion assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the inner leg of the frame member engages pivotally with the internal frame member receiving portion of the bay member by way of a generally outwardly extending arcuate portion provided substantially at the free end of the inner leg of the frame member.

7. A mullion assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the arcuate portion is in the form of a quadrant protruding from the inner leg of the frame member substantially in the direction of the outer leg.

8. A mullion assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the arcuate surface of the quadrant is at the free end of the inner leg of the frame member.

9. A mullion assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the inner leg of the frame member is provided with a substantially plane portion.

10. A mullion assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.