GB2289080A

GB2289080A - Joining frame members

Info

Publication number: GB2289080A
Application number: GB9507149A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bois Edmund Arthur Du
Original assignee: REGENCY INTERNATIONAL PLC
Current assignee: REGENCY INTERNATIONAL PLC
Priority date: 1994-04-06
Filing date: 1995-04-06
Publication date: 1995-11-08
Also published as: GB9507149D0

Abstract

A second frame member 13, 14 is made by joining two elongate sections together end to end so as to provide a fixed upstand at one side of the member and a fixed upstand at the other side of the member. The end of the first frame member 15 is formed to a configuration so as to interface with the second frame member at the join. One or more fasteners 35 are inserted through the second frame member 13, 14 at or adjacent the join and extend into the end of the first member and into engagement with receiving formations 41 thereof. Two brackets (34, Fig. 2c) are attached to the upstands of the first frame member and to the upstands of the second frame member. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Method of securing a transom to a mullion of a frame Description of Invention This invention relates to a method of securing a first frame member such as a transom or mullion to a second frame member such as a jamb or rail/cill and more particularly but not exclusively to a method of securing a first frame member to a second frame member where the members are each made as a hollow section having a fixed upstand.

Recently, it has become preferred practice to so call "internally glaze" window and door frames. This means that the fixed upstand of the frame components is provided at the external side of the frame and glazing or panelling (hereinafter collectively called "infill(s)") is inserted into the frame from the internal side and the infill is retained by beading provided in grooves at the internal side of the frame.

Where the frame comprises a section having an opening casement which opens outwardly of the frame, and a section having a fixed infill, a mullion or transom is required between the ends of the jambs or rail/cill of the frame. It is conventional practice to cut the jamb or rail and cill respectively into two parts, and to "reverse butt weld" the two parts together so that along a first length of each of the jambs or rail and cill, the upstand is at one side of the frame, and along the remainder of the length, the fixed upstand is at the opposite side of the frame. The opening casement can thus close against a fixed upstand at the internal side of a frame and the infill of the remainder of the frame can be inserted against the fixed upstand at the external side of the frame from the internal side of the frame.

The mullion or transom is conventionally secured to each of the jambs or the rail and cill of the frame by welding. A V-shaped notch is provided, conventionally by milling using a specialised "V" milling tool, in the jambs or rail and cill, and the end of the transom or mullion is formed to a corresponding Vshape. The transom or mullion is then welded in position using specialised "V" welding equipment.

However, specialised milling tools to provide such a V-shaped groove is expensive as is "V" welding equipment and accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a new or improved method of securing a transom to a mullion.

According to one aspect of the invention we provide a method of securing a first elongate frame member to a second elongate frame member intermediate the ends of the second frame member, the first frame member being of the kind having a fixed upstand along each of two opposite sides thereof, the upstands extending in generally opposite directions, and the second frame member being of the kind comprising first and second elongate frame member parts which each have a fixed upstand along one side thereof, the first and second frame member parts being joined together end to end so that the second frame member has a fixed upstand at one side of the frame along the first part of the second frame member and a fixed upstand at the other side of the frame along the second part of the second frame member, the first and second frame members being adapted to be secured together with one of the upstands of the first frame member being at one side of the frame and the other of the upstands of the first frame member being at the other side of the frame, the method comprising forming the end of the first frame member to a configuration so as to interface with the second frame member at the join between two parts of the second frame member, such that the end of the first frame member corresponds closely to the configuration of the second frame member at the join, attaching to an upstand of one of the first or second frame member parts of the second frame member, or the first frame member, a bracket, and as the first and second members are brought together, attaching the bracket to an upstand of the other of the first frame member and the first or second frame member parts, and inserting one or more fasteners through the second frame member at or adjacent to the join, the fastener or each of the fasteners extending into the end of the first member and into engagement with a receiving formation thereof.

Thus the necessity to weld the first and second frame members together is avoided.

The provision of the bracket ensures that the respective upstands are aligned with one another, despite any inaccuracies which may occur as a result of extrusion, and preventing axial rotation of the first member relative to the second member.

Of course, some milling operation may be performed at the join between the two parts of the second frame member if desired, and even on the end of the first member, but the integrity of the joint is obtained by the fastener or fasteners which engage with the corresponding receiving formation(s) on the end of the first member.

Where the end of the first member is formed to a configuration so as to interface with the second frame member at the join, such forming may be achieved by moulding the end of the first frame member to the desired configuration, or by milling or otherwise cutting the end of the first member to the desired configuration.

In one example, at the join between the two parts of the second frame member, a flat bottomed V-shaped notch may be provided, e.g. by using a relatively inexpensive milling tool, and the end of the first member may be formed to a corresponding truncated prism shape, although other configurations which avoid the need to provide a true V-shaped notch at the join of the two parts of the second member and a corresponding V-shaped end of the first member, may be provided. In each case, no welding is required for the integrity of the joint between the first and second frame member.

Where the first frame member at least comprises a hollow section, made for example of extruded plastic material. metallic reinforcement may be provided within the hollow of the second member.

In accordance with the invention, such reinforcement may provide the receiving formation or formations for the or each fastener. Thus the or each fastener may comprise a threaded shank or a self threading shank, which may cooperate with a respective receiving formation of the reinforcement. The reinforcement may be affixed longitudinally relative to the second member so that as the or each fastener is tightened, the first member is secured rigidly relative to the second member.

According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a window or door frame having a transom or a mullion secured to a jamb or a rail/cill by the method of the first aspect of the invention.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a partially exploded perspective illustration of a window frame during assembly, in which a transom is attached to jambs by a method according to a first aspect of the invention, FIGURES 2 2B, and 2C show steps during performance of a method in accordance with the invention in which a jamb is formed to a configuration corresponding to the configuration of a transom, FIGURE 3 is a sectional view to an enlarged scale of the transom shown in figure 1 or in figures 2B, and 2C.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side view of the frame of Figure 1 subsequent to the first and second frame members being brought together.

Referring first to figure 1, a window frame 10 comprises a top rail 11, a cill 12, and a pair of jambs 13 and 14. The window frame 10 is arranged to be divided horizontally into two sections by a transom indicated at 15, a first section A of the window frame 10 then accommodating a fixed pane of glass or another infill, and the second section B of the window frame 10 accommodating an opening casement shown at l).

In the present example the window frame 10 is arranged so that the second section B is above section A, although in another arrangement, section B which accommodates the opening casement may be provided below section A, or to one side of section A. Alternatively, the window frame 10 may be divided into more than two sections A and B.

The cill 12 in this example, has a fixed upstand indicated at 18 against which a glazing panel (not shown) is in use located, the glazing panel being retained in position by means of a first glazing bead 19 which fits in a groove gl towards the internal side of the frame 10.

The rail 11 at the head of the window frame 10 in this example has a fixed upstand 20 at the internal side of the window frame 10, against which the opening casement 16 locates as the casement 16 is closed in the window frame 10.

It can be seen that each of the jambs 13 and 14 provides, for section A of the window frame 10, a fixed external upstand 21, whereas the jambs 13 and 14 provide for section B of the window frame 10 which accommodates the opening casement 16, fixed internal upstands 22.

The transom 15 is of generally Z shape in cross section, having a depending fixed upstand 23 for the lower section A of the window frame 10 which accommodates the fixed glazing pane, and an upwardly extending fixed upstand 24 against which the casement 16 closes in the upper section B of the window frame 10.

Each of the rail 11, cill 12, and jambs 13 and 14 are made from common section, being a hollow plastics extrusion whereas transom 15 is of a different configuration as described, but again is a hollow plastics extrusion.

Other methods and means of making these sections could alternatively be utilised.

To produce the jambs 13 and 14 to the configurations described, the jambs 13,14, are so called "reverse butt welded". This means that a single length of extrusion is cut into two longitudinal parts, and the parts are reversed and joined together end to end by welding so as to provide fixed upstands 21 and 22 on opposite sides of the window frame 10, either side of a join J between the two parts of the jambs 13 and 14.

Whereas conventionally it is necessary then to provide a V-shaped notch at each of the joins J, and to form each of the ends of the transom to a corresponding configuration, and then to weld the transom into position, in accordance with the present invention, an alternative method is adopted.

Referring now to figures 2A, 2B and 2C, if desired, a formation may be provided at the join J of each of the jambs 13 and 14 (only jamb 13 is shown).

In this example, the formation comprises a truncated V-shaped notch N. This is formed convenientlv by a miller M which has three milling surfaces M1, M2, M3, to provide the three sides of the notch N - as shown in Figure 2A.

The same milling cutter M may then be used to form the ends of the transom 15 to a corresponding configuration, being a truncated prism, as indicated at P in figure 2B. Of course, because the edges of the cut off end P are external for the end of the transom 15, this would require two milling operations, one for each side of the truncated prism P, if a single milling tool M only, is to be used.

With the ends of the transom 15 thus formed, the transom 15 can be secured relative to the jambs 13 and 14 (only jamb 13 is shown in figures 2A to 2C) by means of fasteners 35 which extend through openings 36 in the jambs 13 and into receiving formations 41 provided conveniently, by a metallic reinforcement 40 within a hollow H of the transom 15, which is best seen in figure 3.

The integrity of the connection between the transom 15 and the jambs 13 14, is achieved bv means of the fasteners 35 and no welding operation is required. Furthermore, tooling required to provide a truncated V-shaped notch N in the jambs 13, is not as expensive as a milling cutter to provide a true Vshaped notch as is used conventionally in the art. Furthermore, because no welding apparatus is required for the integrity of the connection between the transom 15, and the jambs l314. specialised V welding equipment is not required.

As will be appreciated best from figure 3, each upstand 23, 24 of the transom 15 has an opening 27 and is hollow along substantially the full length of the transom 15. Also, each upstand 21, 22 of the jambs 13, 14, has an end opening 26 and is hollow along each respective frame member part.

Because during extrusion, manufacturing tolerances allow for some variation in the exact angle of an upstand with respect to the remainder of the associated extruded section, in accordance with the invention, brackets 34 are provided to ensure alignment of adjacent upstands, to improve the integrity of the connection between the transom 15 and the respective jambs 13, 14 and the visual appearance of the connection.

Referring to figure 2C, it can be seen that each such bracket 34 is generally of L-shape. Prior to the transom 15 and the jamb 13 or 14 being brought together as seen in Figure 4, a limb 11 of a bracket 34 is received, preferably as a force fit, in each opening 26 of each of the upstands 21, 22 of the jambs 13, 14. Hence the other limb 12 of the L-shaped bracket 34 projects substantially perpendicularly to the extent of the jamb 13, 14. As the transom 15 is engaged with the jamb 13 or 14, these limbs 12 of the brackets 34 are received in the openings 27 of the upstands 23 and 24 of the transom 15, preferably as a force fit, such that the aligned upstand 23 or 24 of the transom 15 and the respective upstand 21 or 22 of the jamb 13 or 14, are urged into alignment if due to any manufacturing tolerances, this is not otherwise the case.

Also, such brackets 34 will restrain any tendency of the transom 15 (or mullion) to rotate about its own axis once the joint is formed with the jamb 13 or 14.

Various modifications may be required without departing from the scope of the invention. Particularly, whereas the invention has been described with reference to securing a transom 15 to a pair of jambs 13,14, at the joints J between the reverse butt welded parts of the jambs l3,14 the invention may be utilised for securing a mullion to a rail and cill where a casement is provided to one side of a fixed glazing or other infill panel or in other frame situations.

In the embodiment described, the jambs 13, 14, are each made by cutting and reverse butt welding a single extrusion. In another embodiment, particularly where the window or other frame has mullions and transoms, the jambs 13, 14 (or cill 12 or rail 11) may be made by taking two dissimilar profiles, for example a Z and a substantially T-shaped profile, and reverse butt welding them together so that along a first part of the jamb 13,14; 13 14 (or rail 11 or cill) there would be a fixed upstand along one side of the jamb (or rail or cill) at one side of the frame 10, and along a second part of the jamb (or rail or cill) there would be a fixed upstand along the jamb (or rail or cill) at both sides of the frame 10.

Thus the frame 10 might accommodate two opening casements.

In the arrangements described, the metal reinforcing member 40 is restrained from longitudinal movement in the transom 15 (15) by fasteners or the like. Preferably though the member 40 is of the exact length required between the jambs 13,14, so that as the fasteners 35 are tightened, the jambs 13,14, are pulled in in the event that there is any outward bowing, and the member 40 requires no fasteners or the like to prevent it moving longitudinally in the transom 15.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description or the accompanying drawings. expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A method of securing a first elongate frame member to a second elongate frame member intermediate the ends of the second frame member, the first frame member being of the kind having a fixed upstand along each of two opposite sides thereof, the upstands extending in generally opposite directions, and the second frame member being of the kind comprising first and second elongate frame member parts which each have a fixed upstand along one side thereof, the first and second frame member parts being joined together end to end so that the second frame member has a fixed upstand at one side of the frame along the first part of the second frame member and a fixed upstand at the other side of the frame along the second part of the second frame member, the first and second frame members being adapted to be secured together with one of the upstands of the first frame member being at one side of the frame and the other of the upstands of the first frame member being at the other side of the frame, the method comprising forming the end of the first frame member to a configuration so as to interface with the second frame member at the join between two parts of the second frame member, such that the end of the first frame member corresponds closely to the configuration of the second frame member at the join, attaching to an upstand of one of the first or second frame member parts of the second frame member, or the first frame member, a bracket, and as the first and second members are brought together, attaching the bracket to an upstand of the other of the first frame member and the first or second frame member parts, and inserting one or more fasteners through the second frame member at or adjacent to the join, the fastener or each of the fasteners extending into the end of the first member and into engagement with a receiving formation thereof.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein a milling operation is performed at the join between the two parts of the second frame member.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein a milling or other cutting operation is carried out on the end of the first member, to form the end of the first member to a configuration so as to interface with the second frame member at the join.

4. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the end of the first member is formed to a configuration so as to interface with the second member at the join by moulding the end of the first frame member to the desired configuration.

5. A method according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein at the join between the two parts of the second frame member, a flat bottomed V-shaped notch is provided, and the end of the first member is formed to a corresponding truncated prism shape.

6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the bracket is L-shaped with one limb being received in an opening on one of the upstands and the other limb being received in an opening in the other of the upstands.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the limbs of the bracket are each interference fits in the openings in their respective upstands.

8. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein brackets are attached to each of the respective upstands of the first and second parts of the second frame member at the join, and to the first frame member as the first frame member is engaged with the second frame member at the join.

9. A method according to any one of the preceding claims where the first frame member comprises a hollow section of extruded plastic material, metallic reinforcement being provided within the hollow of the second member.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the reinforcement provides the receiving formation or formations for the or each fastener.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the or each fastener comprises a threaded shank or a self threading shank, which co-operates with a respective receiving formation of the reinforcement.

12. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 11 wherein the reinforcement is affixed longitudinally relative to the second member so that as the or each fastener is tightened, the first member is secured rigidly relative to the second member.

13. A method of securing together first and second frame members substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

14. A window or door frame having a transom or a mullion secured to a rail/cill by the method of any one of the preceding claims.

15. A window or door frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

16. Any novel feature or novel combination of features as herein defined and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.