GB2303398A

GB2303398A - Two-part frame with foam plastic infill

Info

Publication number: GB2303398A
Application number: GB9514762A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frederick Trenaman
Original assignee: THERMAL PROFILES ACCESSORIES
Current assignee: THERMAL PROFILES ACCESSORIES
Priority date: 1995-07-19
Filing date: 1995-07-19
Publication date: 1997-02-19
Also published as: GB9514762D0

Description

AN ASSEMBLY OF TWO EXTRUDED MEMBERS According to the present invention, there is provided an assembly comprising an extruded first member of aluminium alloy the shape of cross-section of which includes first and second opposite short walls and first and second opposite longer walls which form with the short walls a structure having a generally rectangular hollow within it, and further portions forming opposite sides of a channel the base of which is the second short wall and which has an open mouth remote from and facing away from the first short wall, the assembly further comprising an extruded second member of aluminium alloy having a channel running along it, with its mouth narrower than its base and the mouth of the channel in the first member being within the channel in the second member and expanded and cured foam plastics material within the channel in the first member and rigidly and securely holding that member to the second member whereas before the introduction of the plastics material the assembled first and second members were a loose slide fit to one another, the second member having, unlike the first member, no totally enclosed hollow within it, the external face of the first short wall of the first member being of one colour and the external face of the base of the channel of the second member being of a substantially different colour.

Such an assembly may be used in glazing, for example.

Only one or both of the extruded members may have colouring material applied to it after being extruded, or included in the alloy before extrusion. Five Examples in accordance with the invention are described below with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings, each of which shows the cross-sections of two extruded members secured together.

In each example, two extruded members 1 5 and 20 of aluminium alloy are secured together for use in glazing, the planar face shown on the right side of the member 20 being intended to go on the outside of a building and the planar face shown on the left side of the member 15 being intended to be inside the building. These two faces are of substantially differing colours (which term is intended to cover also differing shades of the same colour, for example light brown and dark brown), so that, for example a strong colour may be seen from outside the building and a pastel shade from inside the building to suit the decor within the building.

The shape of cross-section of each member 15 includes first and second opposite short walls 1 and 2 and two longer walls 3 and 4, these four walls forming a structure having a generally rectangular hollow (5) within it. Further portions 22 and 23 of each member 15 form opposite sides of a channel 6, the base of which is the short wall 2. The channel 6 has an open mouth 7, that is to say it is not closed by any part of the member 15, and this mouth is remote from the short wall 1 and faces away from it.

Each member 20 has a channel 21 running along it with its mouth 42 narrower than its base 43, the channel being defined by the base 43, a projection 37 of substantially T-shaped cross-section and another projection 38 of substantially L-shaped cross-section. Limbs 31 and 32 of the projections 37 and 38 form side walls of the channel 21 and in the examples according to Figures 1,4 and 5 they also form side walls of channels 29 and 30, which are beside the channel 21 and on opposite sides of it whereas in the examples according to Figures 2 and 3 the limb 31 also forms a side wall of a channel 29 beside the channel 21 but there is no channel on the opposite side of the channel 21.

The two members 15 and 20 are fitted together with the mouth 7 of the channel 6 in the member 1 5 being within the channel 21 in the member 20. The members 15 and 20 are a loose side fit to one another so that they are easily adjusted in position relatively to one another. The channel 6 and the part of the channel 21 not occupied by the member 1 5 are filled, by injection through the ends of the channels, with foam plastics material, i.e. polyurethane (not shown).

When this has expanded and been cured it rigidly and securely holds the members 15 and 20 together so that one cannot easily cause one member to slide relatively to the other.

The planar face shown on the left side of the member 15 consists of the outer surface A of the short wall 1 and, co-planar with it and contiguous with it on opposite sides of it, surfaces C and D, all these surfaces being of the same colour. The plan face shown on the right side of the member 20 consists of the outer surface B of the base 43 of the channel 21 and, co-planar with it and contiguous with it, either surfaces E and F on opposite sides of the surface B (Figures 1, 4 and 5) or only the surface E (Figures 2 and 3).

These surfaces B and E, or B, E and F, are all of the same colour as one another, being a colour substantially different from that of the surfaces A, C and D. If desired, all exposed surfaces of the member 15 may be of one colour and all those of the member 20 may be of a colour substantially different from it. The colour contrast may be obtained by treating one or both members by a known colouring process, preferably not by painting with a brush or roller (although this is possible within the scope of the invention) but by a powder coating process or anodising.

The hollow 5 in the member 15 is totally enclosed, except at both ends of the member 15, but the member 20 has no such hollow. A line through the centre of the base 43 of the channel 21 in the member 20 intersects only one thickness of that member.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising an extruded first member (15) of aluminium alloy the shape of cross-section of which includes first and second opposite short walls (1,2) and first and second opposite longer walls (3,4) which form with the short walls (1,2) a structure having a generally rectangular hollow (5) within it, and further portions (22,23) forming opposite sides of a channel (6) the base of which is the second short wall (2) and which has an open mouth (7) remote from and facing away from the first short wall (1), the assembly further comprising an extruded second member (20) of aluminium alloy having a channel (21) running along it, with its mouth (42) narrower than its base (43) and the mouth (7) of the channel (6) in the first member (15) being within the channel (21) in the second member (20), and expanded and cured foam plastics material within the channel (6) in the first member (15) and rigidly and securely holding that member to the second member (2) whereas before the introduction of the plastics material the assembled first and second members (15,20) were a loose slide fit to one another, the second member (20) having, unlike the first member (15), no totally enclosed hollow within it, the external face (A) of the first short wall (1) of the first member (15) being of one colour and the external face (B) of the base (43) of the channel (7) of the second member (20) being of a substantially different colour.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the external face (A) of the short wall (1) of the first member (15) is co-planar with, contiguous with and of the same colour as two external surface portions (C,D) of the first member (15).

3. An assembly according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the external face (B) of the base (43) of the channel (21) of the second member (20) is co-planar with, contiguous with and of the same colour as one surface portion (E) of the second member (20 or two surface portions (E,F) on opposite sides of the base (43) of the second member (20).

4. An assembly according to any preceding claim in which beside the channel (21) in the second member (20) there is a second channel (29) the two channels (21,30) having one side wall (31) in common.

5. An assembly according to claim 4 in which beside the channel (21) in the second member (20) there is a third channel (30), these two channels (21,30) having one side wall (32) in common.

6. An assembly of two extruded members substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. An assembly comprising an extruded first member (15) of aluminium alloy the shape of cross-section of which includes first and second opposite short walls (1,2) and first and second opposite longer walls (3,4) which form with the short walls (1 ,2) a structure having a generally rectangular hollow (5) within it, and further portions (22,23) forming opposite sides of a channel (6) the base of which is the second short wail (2) and which has an open mouth (7) remote from and facing away from the first short wall (1), the assembly further comprising an extruded second member (20) of aluminium alloy having a channel (21) running along it, with its mouth (42) narrower than its base (43) and the mouth (7) of the channel (6) in the first member (15) being within the channel (21) in the second member (20), and expanded and cured foam plastics material within the channel (6) in the first member (15) and rigidly and securely holding that member to the second member (20) whereas before the introduction of the plastics material the assembled first and second members (15,20) were a loose slide fit to one another, the second member (20) having, unlike the first member (15), no totally enclosed hollow within it, the external face (A) of the first short wall (1) of the first member (15) being of one colour and the external face (B) of the base (43) of the channel (7) of the second member (20) being of a substantially different colour.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the external face (A) of the short wall (1) of the first member ( 1 5) is co-planar with, contiguous with and of the same colour as two external surface portions (C,D) of the first member (15).

3. An assembly according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the external face (B) of the base (43) of the channel (21) of the second member (20) is co-planar with, contiguous with and of the same colour as one external surface portion (E) of the second mnber (20) or two external surface portions (E,F) on apposite sided of the base (43) of the second member (20).

4. An assembly according to any preceding claim in which beside the channel (21) in the second member (20) there is a second channel (29) the two channels (21,29 ) having one side wall (31) in common.

5. An assembly according to claim 4 in which beside the channel (21) in the second member (20) there is a third channel (29) , these two channels (21, 29) having one side wall (32) in common.