GB2300019A

GB2300019A - Template or base frame for mounting a window or door frame in a building aperture

Info

Publication number: GB2300019A
Application number: GB9606669A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Rigby; James William Hay Stafford
Original assignee: Veka PLC
Current assignee: Veka PLC
Priority date: 1995-04-05
Filing date: 1996-03-29
Publication date: 1996-10-23
Also published as: GB9606669D0

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for mounting a window or door frame in an aperture of a wall by providing a template which is built into the wall. A rolled metal mounting frame (1, figure 1) has a profile section 2, 26 with means for attaching it to the building aperture or cavity closer 27 and means 24 for attachment of a window or door frame 25. A plaster stop face (22, figure 2) is also provided.

Description

MOUNTING A RECTANGULAR FRAME IN AN APERTURE IN A WALL OF A BUILDING The invention relates to the mounting of a rectangular window or door frame in an aperture in a wall of a building, and relates both to a novel method, as well as novel components in combination for use in the method.

During construction of a building, it is often necessary to form an aperture in the fabric of the building, so that doors or windows of appropriate dimensions can be positioned accordingly.

It is known to use a template to define the shape of such an aperture in a wall, whilst the wall is being built. The template is positioned at an appropriate position on a partly built wall, and then the fabrication of the wall is completed by building around the template, the wall being built of bricks, stone or other building blocks. After the template has been completely surrounded by building blocks, the template is removed, leaving an aperture in which a window or door frame can be mounted.

The aperture thereby defined is then surveyed, to determine the dimensions of the aperture, prior to fabrication and installation of the frame. The frame is therefore fabricated to dimensions set by the fabrication of the wall aperture, and is then secured in position using usual securing means, such as screws, straps or other fastenings.

Clearly, the dimensions of the aperture have to be determined by surveying, prior to the fabrication and installation of the frame, and this is an additional labour cost in the completion of the building. Furthermore, errors are likely to be made, from time to time, during the surveying of the aperture, which can lead to inaccurate dimensions of the frame which is formed.

The invention therefore seeks to provide an improved method of mounting a rectangular window or door frame in an aperture in an wall of a building, and novel combination of components for use in the method.

Accordingly, the invention provides a method of mounting a rectangular window or door frame in an aperture in a wall of a building, said method comprising mounting a rectangular mounting frame on or in a partly built wall to define said aperture, and completing the formation of the wall so as at least to enclose the mounting frame whereby the latter is built-into the wall, and assembling said window or door frame to said mounting frame so as to be ready to receive at least one glazed unit, in which: the mounting frame is a rigid frame formed by elongate metal sections having profiles which a) permit the sections to become anchored in position in the wall during and / or after completion of fabrication of the wall to enclose the mounting frame; and b) allow the window or door frame to be held captive to the mounting frame upon assembly.

The method of the invention therefore effectively provides a template which is mounted initially on or in a partly built wall, and which becomes enclosed by the components of the wall as the fabrication of the wall continues, and with which the components of the door or window frame can be assembled at any time to suit the requirements of the builder or the installer of the window or door frame.

This allows for mass-production of window or door frames to fit the template which defines predictable size of aperture in which the frame is mounted, and which also assists to defined the required shape of the -wall as it encloses the template.

The elongate profile sections of the mounting frame (template) give rigidity and strength, and also "keys" or otherwise anchors the section in position. The profile also allows for easy and reliable securement of the frame to the template.

The elongate profile sections may comprise rolled metal sections having shaped portions which can form part of the anchorage of the section, and also can hold captive the window frame upon assembly, and preferably with use of additional spring clip or other types of couplings.

The profile sections may include apertures formed therethrough to form thermal barriers, and also may have projecting portions and defining edges up to which plastering or other internal completion of the building can be carried out.

Therefore, the present invention avoids the need for a window fabricator to visit site, as is the case with the existing templates, since it is not necessary for the fabricator to have the building surveyed prior to making and fitting any windows. This is because the required dimensions of the window are fixed and known before the building is constructed, because the dimensions of the aperture are accurately controlled through use of the template. This eliminates any on site survey costs, and also permits the fabricator to utilise his production capacity in the most efficient manner, and can fabricate windows in advance of the time that they are needed on site. This is in contrast to the current position in which the window fabricator can be called upon at short notice to survey, fabricate and then install windows.

The profile sections of the mounting frame or template may be formed from substantially straight elongate members, having predetermined cross-sectional shapes which are nonlinear. This reduces the metal content of the template, whilst retaining the stiffness of the template. It may also be formed by rolling and bending.

The profile sections of the mounting frame may include securing means for securing the frame to the template, and which may include e.g. spring clips.

Each profile section may include a flange which provides a back stop, against which plastering can be carried out, prior to the mounting of the window or door frame in the template.

The rectangular shape of the mounting frame may be made more rigid by provision of strengthening fillets which enhance the stiffness of the assembly. The fillets may be located against or be built into the fabric of the building, such as the brick work of a wall.

One example of a method 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 a schematic representation of a mounting frame which is intended to be used in a method according to the invention of mounting a rectangular window or door frame in an aperture in a wall of a building; Figure 2 illustrates in end view and in perspective an elongate metal profile forming part of the rectangular mounting frame shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional illustration of the mounting of the frame in a wall of a building; and Figure 4 is an exploded view showing in more detail the manner by which the mounting frame can become built-into a wall during its fabrication, to form a pre-determined mounting aperture in which a window or door frame can subsequently be assembled.The window or door frame may serve to mount one or more glazed units, including fixed and / or openable window units, and an openable door.

Referring first to Figure 1 of the drawings, a rectangular mounting frame is shown generally by reference 1, and which is assembled from elongate frame members 2 having strengthening fillets 3 which adds stiffness to the rectangular framework.

As can be seen from Figures 2 and 3, each elongate member 2 comprises a profile section formed from rolled or bent steel, and shaped to have a pre-determined profile. This comprises a first retaining means 21 and a back stop 22. The back stop serves as a locator against which a window frame can be located in order to ensure that the window frame is appropriately positioned within the mounting frame or template. The back stop comprises an upright portion 23 against which an edge 31 of a window frame may be pushed in order to come into contact therewith. This means that a window frame can be accurately positioned within the template, and therefore the window can be pre-fabricated to appropriate dimensions to fit into the template. Problems relating to alignment of the window in an aperture formed in a wall are no longer present, as arises with use of existing templates.

The back stop 22 further comprises a second retaining means 24 which is shaped to fit cladding portion within an inner and outer wall of a building, and further serves to retain the template in position.

When the template is in position in the wall of the building, the back stop 22 allows the wall to be plastered, before a window frame is secured within the template, the wall being plastered up to the back stop 22.

Retaining means 21 may be used to secure the frame to the template e.g. using spring clips as shown schematically by reference 24 in Figure 3, which shows a UPVC frame section 25 held captive therewith.

Figure 3 shows a profile section 26, forming one of the elongate members 2, anchored in position within a wall, and also holding a window frame 25 captive therewith. The inner and outer leafs of a wall are separated by a cavity, which is bridged by bridging section 27, and it can be seen that profile section 26 is securely anchored thereto.

Therefore, there is disclosed herein a method of mounting a rectangular window or door frame in an aperture in a wall of a building, in which a rectangular mounting frame or template is first mounted on or in a partly built wall to define the aperture, and then the formation of the wall is continued so as at least to enclose the mounting frame whereby the latter becomes built into the wall. Thereafter, the window or door frame (25) is assembled to the mounting frame and so as to be ready to receive at least one glazed unit.

The mounting frame or template is a rigid frame formed by elongate metal sections having profiles which permit the sections to become anchored in position in the wall during and / or after completion of fabrication of the wall to enclose the mounting frame, and also allow the window or door frame to be held captive to the mounting frame upon assembly.

The invention is primarily concerned with the novel method defined above, but also includes a novel fabrication of mounting frame as disclosed herein, for use in the method.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method of mounting a rectangular window or door frame in an aperture in a wall of a building, said method comprising mounting a rectangular mounting frame on or in a partly built wall to define said aperture, and completing the formation of the wall so as at least to enclose the mounting frame whereby the latter is built-into the wall, and assembling said window or door frame to said mounting frame so as to be ready to receive at least one glazed unit, in which: the mounting frame is a rigid frame formed by elongate metal sections having profiles which a) permit the sections to become anchored in position in the wall during and / or after completion of fabrication of the wall to enclose the mounting frame; and b) allow the window or door frame to be held captive to the mounting frame upon assembly.

2. A frame for building into a wall of a building so as to define an aperture, said mounting frame comprising a rigid frame formed by elongate metal sections having profiles which permit the sections to be anchored in position in the wall during and / or after completion of the fabrication of the wall to enclose the mounting frame and also so as to allow the window or door frame to be held captive in the mounting frame upon assembly.

3. A frame according to claim 2 in which the elongate profile sections comprise rolled metal sections having shaped portions which can form part of the anchorage of the section, and preferably hold captive the window frame upon assembly.

4. A frame according to claim 2 or claim 3 in which the profile sections have projecting portions and defining edges up to which plastering or other internal completion of the building can be carried out.

5. A frame according to any of claims 2 to 4 in which the profile sections of the mounting frame or template are formed from substantially straight elongate members, having predetermined cross-sectional shapes which are non-linear.

6. A frame according to any of claims 2 to 5 in which the profile sections of the mounting frame include securing means for securing the frame to the template, optionally being spring clips.

7. A frame according to any of claims 2 to 6 in which each profile section includes a flange which provides a back stop, against which plastering can be carried out, prior to the mounting of the window or door frame in the template.

8. A frame according to any of claims 2 to 7 in which the mounting frame is provided with strengthening fillets.

9. A frame according to claim 8 in which the fillets are located against or are built into the fabric of the building.

10. A frame according to any of claims 2 to 9 in which the profiled section comprises a first retaining means and a back stop, the back stop serves as a locator against which a window frame can be located.

11. A frame according to claim 10 in which the back stop comprises an upright portion against which an edge of a window frame may be pushed in order to come into contact therewith.

12. A frame according to claim 11 in which the back stop further comprises a second retaining means which is shaped to fit cladding portion within an inner and outer wall of a building, and further serves to retain the template in position.

13. A frame substantially as described herein, with reference to the drawings.

14. A method of mounting a frame substantially as described herein.