GB2279976A

GB2279976A - Wall aperture lining; securing window- or door-frame

Info

Publication number: GB2279976A
Application number: GB9413289A
Authority: GB
Inventors: S Bennett
Original assignee: Home Doors Ltd
Current assignee: Home Doors Ltd
Priority date: 1993-07-06
Filing date: 1994-07-01
Publication date: 1995-01-18
Anticipated expiration: 2014-07-01
Also published as: GB9313938D0; GB2279976B; GB9413289D0

Abstract

An aperture liner for use in constructing a lined aperture in a wall is pre-formed to the outline of the aperture around part of the outline, but is incomplete along the top edge thereof, to accommodate a structural member such as a lintel. A securing arrangement for securing a window or door frame in an aperture in a wall comprises a latch means 50 operable to allow the frame to move in a first direction for installation in the wall but to resist removal in the reverse direction, and wedge means 58 which, in use, urge the frame to move in the reverse direction, thereby causing the latch means to enagage and retain the frame in position. The arrangement may incorporate a liner member 10 which provides a lining around the aperture, the latch means being operable between the frame and the liner. <IMAGE>

Description

Aperture Linir The present invention relates in part to the lining of apertures and in particular to the construction of lined apertures in walls. Lined apertures in walls may be used for the installation of doors, windows and the like. The present invention also relates to a securing arrangement for securing a window frame, door frame or the like in an aperture in a wall.

It has been proposed to line an aperture in a wall with a liner which can engage a window frame, door frame or the like to retain the frame in position. According to this proposal, the liner is used as a former to define the outline of an aperture while the wall is being built, facilitating the construction of brickwork around it.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved aperture liner, and an improved securing arrangement for securing a frame in an aperture in a wall.

According to the invention, there is provided an aperture liner for use in constructing a lined aperture in a wall, the liner being pre-formed to the outline of the aperture around part of the outline, wherein the outline is incomplete along the top edge thereof, whereby to accommodate a structural member such as a lintel.

Brace means are preferably provided to maintain the shape of the liner before installation. The brace means may be removable and may be re-used after removal to form a part of the liner or of a door or window construction or the like to be installed in the aperture. The brace means may be re-used as a sill. The liner may comprise two jamb portions and a connecting sill portion. The portions may be formed of extruded material, such as PVC or another plastics material, and may be attached together for instance by welding at the lower ends of each jamb.

The liner may be adapted to provide a mounting for a door frame, window frame or the like to be installed in the aperture. The liner may be adapted to incorporate at least part of a securing arrangement according to the following aspect of the invention.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a securing arrangement for securing a window frame, door frame or the like in an aperture in a wall, the arrangement comprising a latch means operable to allow the frame to move in a first direction for installation in the wall but to resist removal in the reverse direction, and wedge means which, in use, urge the frame to move in the reverse direction, thereby causing the latch means to enagage and retain the frame in position.

The latch means is preferably disengageable to allow removal of the frame. The latch means may comprise a detent member and a detent formation into which the detent member may enter as the frame moves in the first direction, the detent member and/or the detent formation being sufficiently resilient to retain the detent member thereafter in the detent formation.

The detent member is preferably carried by the frame, and may be provided by a member which is resiliently mounted on the frame. The detent formation may be a recess.

The wedge means is preferably resilient and may be an elongate gasket located between the frame and a surface carried by the wall.

The arrangement may further comprise a liner member which provides a lining around the aperture, the latch means being operable between the frame and the liner member. The liner member may be of substantially constant cross-section along its length, and incorporate a lip over which a detent member may pass when the frame is moving in the first direction, and against or behind which the detent member may locate to resist movement in the reverse direction.

The liner member may be formed according to the first aspect of the invention set out above.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a partial section through an installed window arrangement which embodies the present invention; Fig. 2 is a partial perspective view of a liner profile used in the arrangement of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an aperture liner according to the present invention, during installation.

Fig. 1 shows an aperture liner 10 for use in constructing a lined aperture 12 in a wall 14 having two skins 14A,14B separated by a cavity 16. A securing arrangement shown generally at 18 is employed to secure a window frame 20 in the aperture 12, as will be described.

The liner 10 is a PVC plastics extrusion having a main box section 22 which is approximately square and is located in the cavity 16. An extension 24 projects further into the cavity 16 and provides flanged channels 26 for receiving one end of ties 28 to tie the liner 10 to the brickwork of the wall skins 14A,14B. Flanges 30,32 extend from the section 22 to lie against the skins 14A,14B so that the liner 10 lines the aperture 12 at least sufficiently to close the cavity 16. For this reason, the liner may alternatively be known as a cavity closer or closure. The flanges 30,32 extend from the section 22 generally perpendicular to the skins 14A,14B.

A further flange 34 extends generally parallel to the skins, i.e. into the aperture 12.

When the liner 10 is installed as shown, the cavity is closed to the aperture 12 and the liner 10 is secured in position by the ties 28. A layer of plaster 36 can be provided over the flanges 30,34 and over the inner skin 14A. The flanges are preferably roughened for better keying. The liner 10 may contain polystyrene infill or a suitable alternative, for added thermal insulation.

The window frame 20 (which could alternatively be a door frame or the like) is also formed from extruded profiles. The profile 38 incorporates a main section 40 and an upstand 42 which can between them accommodate glazing material (not shown) in conventional manner. The outer edge 44 of the frame 20 carries two flanges 46 which run the length of the extrusion and have enlarged heads 48. These heads allow a detent member 50 to be mounted on the frame 20. The detent member 50 is an extrusion of constant cross-section, having a first portion 52, the edges of which can locate behind the heads 48 to be retained on the frame 20, and a second portion 54 attached along one edge to the portion 52, and having a free edge. The whole detent member 50,52,54 is extruded from a resilient material, preferably plastics, so that the portion 52 is resiliently secured in position behind the heads 48, leaving the second portion 54 resiliently deformable.

A detent formation in the form of a lip 56 is provided along the liner 10, where the flange 30 meets the main box section 22. The small channel formed behind the lip 56 can receive the free edge of the portion 54 as shown in Fig. 1.

A wedge member 58 is located between the flange 34 and the opposed face of the frame 20. The member 58 is preferably in the form of a wedge gasket which is resilient.

The arrangement is completed by a bead 60 of sealing material, such as a silicone material.

It will be apparent from the above description of Fig. 1 that the detent member 50 (particularly the portion 54) cooperates with the lip 56 to form a latch means which allow the frame 20 to move in a first direction towards the flange 34 from outside the outer skin 148. This is the direction in which the frame 20 is moved when being installed. However, once the portion 54 has passed the lip 56 and snapped to the position shown in Fig. 1 (which its inherent resilience will cause it to do) the latching effect resists removal of the window frame in the reverse direction, away from the skin 14A.

The security of this installation is improved by increasing the length of the portion 54, but for many purposes it is expected that it will be unnecessary to extend the portion 54 along the whole periphery of the frame 20.

In the absence of the wedge gasket 58, there would be some play in the arrangement, as a result of the gap between the frame 20 and the flange 34. The effect of wedging the member 58 into this gap is to urge the frame 20 away from the flange 34, thereby causing the latching to engage and retain the frame in position. The wedge member 58 may be appropriately shaped and rigid, but is preferably made of resilient material. There may be a formation on the flange 34 to retain the member 58 in position.

While it is apparent from Fig. 1 that the resilient detent member is carried by the frame, and a detent formation in the form of a recess is formed on the liner 10, it is to be understood that these two formations could be reversed and many alternative latch arrangements or analogous arrangements could be used.

It is conventional to provide damp proofing between the skins of a wall, around a window or door aperture.

It can be seen from Fig. 1 that the position and form of the liner 10 allows it to fulfil this function.

The section shown in Fig. 1 can be continued around all four edges of a square or rectangular aperture. However, a particularly preferred arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 3. The liner 10A in Fig. 3 incorporates three sections each having the same liner cross-section as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Two sections 61A are located vertically to line jambs of the aperture. These are welded at the bottom corners of the aperture to a horizontal sill 61B to form a three sided, open-topped liner. That is, the liner is pre-formed to the outline of the aperture around the sides and lower edge of the outline, but the outline is incomplete along the top edge. A brace 62 is provided, preferably at or near the free ends of the jambs 61A. The brace 62 may be for instance a simple length of timber attached at either end to the jamb 61A.

The braced liner 10A is located at the position of the aperture while the wall is being built, to provide a former around three sides of the aperture to assist in accurate construction of the brickwork 114,114A,114B.

This is illustrated in Fig. 3 at an intermediate stage of construction. Construction continues until the wall 114 has reached the top of the jambs 61A. A structural member such as a steel lintel (not shown) can then be placed across the top of the aperture in a manner which is in itself conventional. However it is to be noticed that the absence of liner along the top edge of the aperture ensures that there is no interference with the lintel, thus allowing complete freedom of choice of lintel.

Once the aperture has been fully formed, including the installation of a lintel, the liner 10 will be well supported by the wall 114, by means of ties as shown in Fig. 1, but not in Fig. 3. The brace 62 then ceases to be necessary and can be removed to allow the installation of a window frame, door frame or the like in the manner described above in relation to Fig. 1.

The brace 62 may be thrown away after removal, but in a preferred embodiment can be re-used to assist in finishing the window arrangement. For instance, the brace 62 could be attached to the frame installed in the liner 10A, to form a sill. This minimises waste.

It is expected that it will normally be convenient to install a frame by first offering the lower edge into the aperture and then bringing the frame to the vertical plane while pushing firmly back towards the flange 34.

This pushes the frame into the liner to cause the portions 54 to pass the lips 56. The wedge gasket 58 is then located in position from inside the building.

Additional small wedges could be used to ensure squareness of the frame. The silicone bead 60 is then installed.

Various modifications and variations can be made to the apparatus described above, without departing from the scope of the present invention. In particular, the shapes and forms of profiles can be altered in very many ways according to the intended application, manufacturing techniques and materials used.

While it is not normally expected to be necessary to remove a frame after installation, it will be apparent that this is possible by removing the wedge gasket, moving the frame toward the flange 34 to bring the portion 54 clear of the lip 56, and then reaching the portion 54 with an appropriately shaped tool to raise it clear of the lip 56 against its own resilience, thereby allowing the frame 20 to be removed.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. An aperture liner for use in constructing a lined aperture in a wall, the liner being pre-formed to the outline of the aperture around part of the outline, wherein the outline is incomplete along the top edge thereof, whereby to accommodate a structural member such as a lintel.

2. An aperture liner according to claim 1 including brace means to maintain the shape of the liner before installation.

3. An aperture liner according to claim 2 wherein the brace means are removable and may be re-used after removal to form a part of the liner or of a door or window construction or the like to be installed in the aperture.

4. An aperture liner according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the brace means may be re-used as a sill.

5. An aperture liner according to any of the preceding claims comprising two jamb portions and a connecting sill portion.

6. An aperture liner according to claim 5 wherein the portions are formed of an extruded plastics material and are attached together at the lower ends of each jamb.

7. An aperture liner according to any of the preceding claims adapted to provide a mounting for a door frame, window frame or the like to be installed in the aperture.

8. An aperture liner according to any of the preceding claims adapted to incorporate at least part of a securing arrangement according to any of claims 9 to 19 or 21.

9. A securing arrangement for securing a window frame, door frame or the like in an aperture in a wall, the arrangement comprising a latch means operable to allow the frame to move in a first direction for installation in the wall but to resist removal in the reverse direction, and wedge means which, in use, urge the frame to move in the reverse direction, thereby causing the latch means to enagage and retain the frame in position.

10. A securing arrangement according to claim 9 wherein the latch means is disengageable to allow removal of the frame.

11. A securing arrangement according to either of claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the latch means comprises a detent member and a detent formation into which the detent member may enter as the frame moves in the first direction, the detent member and/or the detent formation being sufficiently resilient to retain the detent member thereafter in the detent formation.

12. A securing arrangement according to claim 11 wherein the detent member is carried by the frame.

13. A securing arrangement according to claim 12 wherein the detent member is provided by a member which is resiliently mounted on the frame.

14. A securing arrangement according to any of claims 11 to 13 wherein the detent formation is a recess.

15. A securing arrangement according to any of claims 9 to 14 wherein the wedge means is resilient.

16. A securing arrangement according to any of claims 9 to 15 wherein the wedge means is an elongate gasket located between the frame and a surface carried by the wall.

17. A securing arrangement according to any of claims 9 to 16 further comprising a liner member which provides a lining around the aperture, the latch means being operable between the frame and the liner member.

18. A securing arrangement according to claim 17 wherein the liner is of substantially constant crosssection along its length, and incorporates a lip over which a detent member may pass when the frame is moving in the first direction, and against or behind which the detent member may locate to resist movement in the reverse direction..

19. A securing arrangement according to either of claims 17 or 18 wherein the liner member is formed according to any of claims 1 to 8 or 20.

20. An aperture liner substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

21. A securing arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding Claims.