GB2301381A - Cavity closer - Google Patents

Abstract

A cavity closing device (10) for closing the cavity between a window or door frame (22) and inner and outer wall structures (11, 12) of a building comprises a one-piece plastics body having surfaces (13, 14, 16) projecting therefrom adapted to abut the frame and inner and outer wall structures. Only one or two of the surfaces (13, 14, 16) where it abuts the frame, inner and outer wall structures respectively, is provided with a strip (21) of sealing material, e.g. polystyrene foamed plastics which acts to reduce the heat loss through the closing device and hence from the building.

Description

A CAVITY CLOSING DEVICE This invention relates to a cavity closing device particularly, although not exclusively, for closing off the cavity between external and internal wall structures and a window frame of a building.

Conventionally, when attempting to close a cavity between internal and external wall structures, builders utilise a combination of block work and damp proof course to provide an efficient air seal at the cavity extremes.

Recently, cavity closing devices have been provided which have suitably aligned surfaces which abut respectively the window frame, external and internal wall structures respectively and effectively close off the cavity at its extremities thereby providing an efficient air seal and assisting in conservation of heat.

However, problems have arisen with the known cavity closing devices insofar as, whilst they provide a reasonably efficient seal to air at the extremities of the cavity, air is still able to penetrate the closing device and therefore warm air from the interior of the building is lost through these devices. Thus there is a requirement for the sealing ability of the closing devices to be increased still further to further improve the heat conservation of the building.

It is an object of the above invention to provide a cavity closing device which is able to provide a much more efficient air seal and thereby can minimise the problems associated with the prior art devices.

In our co-pending UK Application No. 9323432.6 there is described a cavity closing device comprising at least three surfaces respectively adapted to abut with one of a window frame, external and internal wall structures, said surfaces being provided with a sealing material thereon which acts to provide an efficient air and damp seal at each said surface.

With this arrangement it is possible to provide a cavity closing device which provides an efficient damp and insulation seal.

It has now been realised that a significant increase in the insulating ability of the closing device can be achieved by providing sealing material on one or two of the surfaces mentioned above, as well as on all three surfaces.

Thus, and in accordance with the present invention therefore, there is provided a cavity closing device comprising at least three surfaces respectively adapted to abut with one of a window frame, external and internal wall structures, only one or two of said surfaces being provided with a sealing material thereon which acts to provide an efficient air and damp seal at said surfaces.

Where only one surface has sealing material thereon, best results are obtained by providing it on the surface which abuts the internal wall structure. Of course, however, provision of sealing material on any one of the surfaces increases the seal produced by the closing device.

Where two surfaces have sealing material thereon, it is preferred that these be respectively the surface which abuts the window frame and the surface which abuts the internal wall structure. Once again, of course, the seal provided by the closing device can be increased by providing sealing material on any two of the surfaces.

Preferably said sealing material comprises a deformable material having adequate sealing properties.

Most preferably the sealing material comprises a deformable plastics material, for example foamed plastics such as polystyrene or polyurethane.

With regard to the cavity closing device, this may be formed from a plastics material and may be formed as a one-piece extrusion.

Preferably the sealing material is applied to said surfaces as strips along substantially the full length thereof.

Preferably at least one of said surfaces extends substantially transversely to said two other surfaces.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Fig. 1 shows a sectional side view of one form of cavity closing device according to the present invention in use where a window is set forward relative to the cavity; Fig. 2 shows a sectional side view of a second form of device according to the present invention in use where a window is set back relative to the cavity; and Fig. 3 shows a sectional side view of a third form of device in use where a window is set forward relative to the cavity and insulation is used to fill the interior of the cavity closer.

Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown a cavity closing device 10 which acts to close off the cavity between external and internal wall structures 11, 1 2 of a building.

The closing device 10 is formed as a one-piece plastics extrusion having external wall and internal wall abutment surfaces 13 and 14 respectively along with a frame abutment surface 16. The abutment surfaces 13, 14, 16 and a rear surface 17 define a hollow body 18 to the device which can be filled with an insulating material, e.g. foamed plastics material (polystyrene, polyurethane). A frame support 19 projects transversely from the frame abutment surface 16 for a purpose to be described hereinafter. An insulating strip 21 of a foamed plastics material, e.g. polyurethane extends along one or two only of surfaces 13, 14 or 16.

If the insulating strip 21 is provided on one surface, then preferably this is surface 14. If the strip is provided on two surfaces, then preferably these are surfaces 14 and 16.

In use, as shown in Fig. 1, the cavity closer 10 is inserted into position between the external and internal wall structures 11, 1 2 to close off the cavity therebetween. In this position the external wall abutment surface 1 3 abuts the external wall 11 and the internal wall abutment surface 1 4 abuts the internal wall 12 and the insulating strip 21 along the or each surface 14 and 16 provides an efficient air and damp seal.The frame abutment surface 1 6 extends substantially transversely to the wall abutment surfaces 13, 14 and provides a surface against which the window frame 22 can be abutted to ensure a correct position relative to the wall structures 11, 1 2. Thus the frame 22 is positioned such that it abuts the frame abutment surface 16 and its position in the direction from external to internal wall structure is determined by the position of the frame support 1 9 on the frame abutment surface 16. Thus, as is shown in Fig. 1, when it is desired to have a window set forward relative to the internal wall structure 12, the frame support 1 9 can be provided substantially adjacent the external wall abutment surface 13 of the device.If the window frame 22 is desired to be set back relative to the internal wall structure 11 as is shown in Fig. 2, the frame support 1 9 can be provided substantially adjacent to the internal wall abutment surface 1 4. In some cases it will be desired to have the window frame set forward, as in Fig. 1, but the cavity may be of larger dimensions.

Such a cavity is shown in Fig. 3. In this case, insulating material 23 may be provided internally of the body of the closing device to increase the heat conservation further by increasing the air seal provided by the device. Of course, if the window frame 22 is desired to be set back relative to the internal wall structure 1 2 with a cavity of the type shown in Fig. 3, the frame support 19 is provided in the position shown in Fig. 2.

With the arrangement of the present invention, a simple closing device can be provided which is capable of closing cavities with a much improved air and damp seal due to the insulating material on the abutment surfaces than conventional closing devices.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only.

Claims (8)

1. A cavity closing device comprising at least three surfaces respectively adapted to abut with one of a window frame, external and internal wall structures, only one or two of said surfaces being provided with a sealing material thereon which act to provide an efficient air and damp seal at said surfaces.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said sealing material comprises a deformable material having adequate sealing properties.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein the sealing material comprises a deformable plastics material, e.g. a foamed plastics material.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the foamed plastics material comprises one of polystyrene or polyurethane.

5. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 formed as a one-piece plastics extrusion.

6. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said sealing material is applied to said surfaces substantially the full length thereof.

7. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein at least one of said surfaces extends substantially towards to said two other surfaces.

8. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of Figs. 1, 2 or 3.