GB2301137A

GB2301137A - Installing windows in cavity walls

Info

Publication number: GB2301137A
Application number: GB9610181A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence Hardy
Original assignee: LB Plastics Ltd
Current assignee: LB Plastics Ltd
Priority date: 1995-05-19
Filing date: 1996-05-15
Publication date: 1996-11-27
Also published as: GB9610181D0; GB9510192D0

Abstract

A method of supporting a window assembly in an opening in a cavity wall of a building comprises restraining the assembly against movement in a direction at right angles to the plane of the opening and supporting the weight of the assembly from the inner wall of the cavity wall construction. The method employs a load-carrying component 15 comprising an elongated member adapted to extend from side to side of the window assembly, and having means (e.g. screws in the channel 16A) for securing one longitudinal edge portion of the member to a lower porton of the window frame such that the other longitudinal edge 15a of the component projects laterally from the frame and is adapted to engage (e.g. by screws) and be supported by the inner wall of the cavity wall construction.

Description

INSTALLATION OF WINDOWS IN BUILDINGS The present invention relates to the installation of windows in buildings and to components for use for such purposes.

Building of domestic dwellings requires the employment of a wide range of skilled tradesmen each trained to perform a particular function. A high degree of coordination is necessary in ensuring appropriate tradesmen are available at different stages of construction of a building and building techniques have evolved to enable work to be completed to clearly defined semi-finished stages at which the work may remain pending arrival of further tradesmen to carry out the next operation.

The installation of windows in buildings involves three principal stages. Firstly an opening of the correct general size and shape is formed in a wall of a building by bricklayers constructing the walls. A window assembly which has been previously fabricated and glazed off site is then positioned in the opening, following which it is necessary in some cases for further tradesmen to carry out finishing operations around the window including building up of the sill and the like. Adequate supporting of the window between the second and third stages can cause problems particularly with modern plastic window constructions which are double glazed and of substantial weight.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of temporarily supporting a window assembly in an opening in a cavity wall of a building, comprising restraining the assembly against movement in a direction at right angles to the plane of the opening and supporting the weight of the assembly from the inner wall of the cavity wall construction.

Preferably the weight of the assembly is supported in cantilever manner from the inner wall.

The window assembly is preferably retained against outward movement relative to the opening in the building by portions of the outer wall which project beyond the inner wall and against which at least the side members of the frame of the window abut.

Inward movement of the window assembly relative to the opening may be prevented by anchoring portions of the window frame to the inner wall construction.

The invention also provides a load-carrying component for use in supporting a window assembly in an opening in a cavity wall construction, the component comprising an elongated member adapted to extend from side to side of the window assembly, and means for securing one longitudinal edge portion of the member to a lower portion of the window frame such that the other longitudinal edge of the component projects laterally from the frame and is adapted to engage and be supported by the inner wall of the cavity wall construction.

Preferably the load supporting member is provided with a longitudinally extending formation adapted for engagement in a complimentary recess in the underside of the window frame.

The load supporting member is preferably formed from steel plate and adapted to extend over substantially the full width of the window frame.

The load supporting member may be provided with means adjacent its projecting longitudinal edge to enable attachment by screws or the like to the upper surface of the inner wall at the foot of said opening.

The invention also provides a window assembly fitted with a load-carrying component as aforesaid.

The invention further provides a method of fitting a window in an opening in a cavity wall of a building or the like comprising providing an opening in the outer wall of the cavity wall construction of greater height than the height of the window, providing an opening in the inner wall of a size corresponding to the size of the window, locating the frame in the opening in the outer wall in alignment with the opening in the inner wall, supporting the weight of the frame from the inner wall while retaining the frame against movement in a direction at right angles to the plane of the outer wall opening, and subsequently closing the gap between the outer wall and the underside of the frame.

Advantageously the frame is retained against lateral movement in an outward direction by abutment of side members of the frame with projecting portions of the opening formed in the outer wall construction.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-section through one form of window construction according to the invention at an intermediate stage of installation; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line II-II in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of part of the installation shown in Fig. 1 at a subsequent stage of construction; and Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the installation completed.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a window 5 positioned in an opening 6 in a cavity wall construction having an outer wall 7 of brick construction and an inner wall 8 constructed from building blocks, between which is a wall cavity 9.

At the upper edge of the opening 6 a lintel 10 of sheet metal construction extends across the opening to support the weight of the wall above it. At the lower edge of the opening, the inner wall 8 is completed to its final height but the outer wall 7 terminates at a lower level leaving a gap 11 to be closed subsequently.

At the sides of the opening (Fig. 2) the outer wall 7 projects beyond the inner wall 6 forming a vertical abutment 7A at each side against which side frame members 12 of the window 5 abut. This defines the correct position of the frame relative to the thickness of the wall and also retains the frame against outward tilting movement.

The frame requires to be supported temporarily in position until the gap 11 beneath it is built up to the underside of the frame. For this purpose, a load-carrying member in the form of a metal plate 15 is fitted to the underside of the frame before the latter is located in the opening 6. The load-carrying member projects from the frame and thus extends between the underside of the frame and the upper surface of the inner wall 8, thus supporting the frame on the inner wall in cantilever fashion. The plate 15 extends across substantially the full width of the window frame and is constructed from one eighth inch steel plate. A longitudinally-extending projection 16 is formed adjacent the outer edge of the plate 15 and is adapted to engage in a central recess 17 in the underside of the window frame. The opposite edge region 15A of the plate 15 is supported on inner wall 8 and may be secured thereto by screws or other fixing means (not shown) inserted at intervals along the length of the edge region 15A. The plate 15 is preferably secured to the underside of the frame by screws or like fastening means, the heads of which are accommodated in the channel 16A formed by the underside of the projection 16.

The frame is thus prevented from tilting outwardly by engagement with the inwardly-projecting portions 7A of the outer wall 7, and the weight of the frame is supported from the inner wall 8 by the load-carrying member 15. In this position it is unlikely the frame would tilt inwardly as such movement would tend to jam it in the opening 6. However as an additional precaution inward tilting may be prevented by cleat members 17 adapted to engage with channels 18 (Fig. 1) formed in the outwardly directed surfaces of the frame components and secured to the inner wall 8 by screws or other fastenirg means, a plurality of such cleat members 17 being provided at spaced intervals along the top and sides of the window frame.

The window may remain stably supported in this condition until steps are taken to close the gap 11 beneath the frame. For this purpose inclined brickwork 19 (Figs. 3 and 4) surmounted by a slate or tile surface 20 is placed in position and sealed to the outer edge of the frame at 21. Once completed this prevents downward movement of the window frame but the load supporting member 15 remains in place within the structure thereby providing additional support. Internally the wall 18 is clad with plasterwork 22 and an internal sill 23 which serve to provide an attractive finish and at the same time conceal the load-supporting member 15, cleats 17 and associated fastening means from view.

The arrangement described provides a simple and effective means of supporting the weight of the window in a temporary manner pending completion of building work around, and particularly beneath, it. The load-supporting member is of extremely simple construction and is easily fitted in place. Since the window is separately retained against lateral movement both inwardly and outwardly, the load-supporting member serves solely to support the weight of the window and acts as a form of lintel positioned at the bottom rather than the top of the window opening. Since the window cannot move laterally relative to the opening, the load-supporting member does not require to be mechanically connected to the inner wall but this may be done if desired.Moreover the load-supporting member remains in position after building work is completed so that it is not necessary for it to be detached and it remains in place to add strength to the construction.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example, the load-supporting member could comprise a flat plate or could be provided with alternative formations to that shown. Although it is preferred to secure the load-supporting member to the underside of the frame by screws or the like, this is not required where there are complimentary formations on the member and the frame as in the illustrated embodiment. Alternative means to prevent lateral movement of the frame may also be provided and the manner in which the outer wall is built up beneath the frame may be altered as desired.

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

Uaims:-

1. A method of supporting a window assembly in an opening in a cavity wall of a building, comprising restraining the assembly against movement in a direction at right angles to the plane of the opening and supporting the weight of the assembly from the inner wall of the cavity wall construction.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the weight of the assembly is supported in cantilever manner from the inner wall.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the window assembly is retained against outward movement relative to the opening in the building by portions of the outer wall which project beyond the inner wall and against which at least the side members of the frame of the window abut.

4. A method according to any preceding claim wherein inward movement of the window assembly is prevented by anchoring portions of the window frame to the inner wall construction.

5. A method of supporting a window assembly in a building substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

6. A load-carrying component for use in supporting a window assembly in an opening in a cavity wall construction, the component comprising an elongated member adapted to extend from side to side of the window assembly, and means for securing one longitudinal edge portion of the member to a lower porton of the window frame such that the other longitudinal edge of the component projects laterally from the frame and is adapted to engage and be supported by the inner wall of the cavity wall construction.

7. A component according to claim 6 which is adapted to extend over substantially the full width of a window frame to which it is adapted to be fitted.

8. A component according to claim 6 or 7 which is provided with a longitudinally extending formation adapted for engagement in a complimentary recess in the underside of the window frame.

9. A component according to claim 8 wherein said formation comprises a projecting ridge.

10. A component according to claim 9 wherein said ridge defines a channel in the undersurface of the component in which the heads of screws or like fastening means may be accommodated.

11. A component according to any of claims 6 to 10 including means adjacent said other longitudinal edge to enable attachment of the component to the upper surface of said inner wall at the foot of said opening.

12. A component according to any of claims 6 to 11 which is formed from steel plate.

13. A load-carrying component for use in supporting a window assembly in an opening in a cavity wall construction substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A window assembly fitted with a load-carrying component according to any of claims 6 to 13.

15. A method of fitting a window in an opening in a cavity wall of a building or the like comprising providing an opening in the outer wall of the cavity wall construction of greater height than the height of the window, providing an opening in the inner wall of a size corresponding to the size of the window, locating the frame in the opening in the outer wall in alignment with the opening in the inner wall, supporting the weight of the frame from the inner wall while retaining the frame against movement in a direction at right angles to the plane of the outer wall opening, and subsequently closing the gap between the outer wall and the underside of the frame.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the frame is retained against lateral movement in an outward direction by abutment of side members of the frame with projecting portions of the opening formed in the outer wall construction.

17. A method according to claim 15 or 16 wherein the weight of the frame is supported by a load-carrying component according to any of claims 6 to 14.

18. A method according to any of claims 15 to 17 wherein said gap is closed by a course of bricks inclined downwardly and outwardly relative to the frame.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein said course of bricks is surmounted by a slate or tile surface sealed at its inner longitudinal edge to the underside of the window frame.

20. A method according to any of claims 15 to 19 wherein said means by which the weight of the frame is supported prior to closing of said gap is left in place subsequently.

21. A method of fitting a window in an opening in a cavity wall of a building or the like 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.