GB2306991A - Cavity closer profiles for window and door frames - Google Patents

Abstract

A UPVC cavity closer profile 1 has a base wall 2 and a cavity closer 4. The cavity closer has screw ports 10, 14, 18 and 24 at its corners. A rectangular sub-frame about which wall leaves may be built comprises three such profiles 1 and a top rail 54, which has no cavity closer and so may fit beneath any lintel. Some or all of the screw ports 10, 14, 18 and 24 are used for screw fixing of the top rail to the side profiles Wedge-shaped space 16 can receive an end portion of a brick tie.

Description

XKpROVDMENT8 IN OR RELATING TO WINDOW OR DOOR ASISEMBLIES This invention relates to sub-frames to be built into a building, for the fitting therein of frames for windows or doors. The invention relates in particular to subframes having parts which act as cavity closers, located in the cavity between inner and outer leaves of a cavity wall.

It is known to construct a rectangular sub-frame made up of extruded profiles each having a cavity closer which is to be located, in the finished building, in the cavity between the inner and outer leaves of a cavity wall. The sub-frame may be used as a former to aid the building of the leaves. Examples are given in WO 91/14066.

When profiles having such cavity closers make up all four sides of the sub-frame there is a limitation placed on the types of lintel which can be used directly above the window or door. A special lintel with a cavity to receive the cavity closer is required. In other respects, however, such lintels may not be suitable, or they may not be readily available. Builders therefore often resort to using a length of wood, or some other item not having a part which projects in the manner of a cavity closer, as the top profile of such a sub-frame, simply nailing it to the side profiles. Amongst the problems resulting from this practice, is that the side profiles of the sub-frame are not adapted to have a top profile secured to them in this manner. This leads to unsatisfactory results.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided a cavity closer profile for use in assembling a sub-frame, the profile having a base wall and a cavity closer carried on one side of the base wall, such that the cavity closer nay be received in the cavity between two wall leaves, with the base wall extending from one leaf to the other, characterised in that the cavity closer has an axial screw-receiving formation.

Such an axial screw-receiving formation could be provided in a metallic reinforcing bar within the profile but is preferably provided directly into the profile material (typically UPVC).

Suitably there are at least two, and preferably three, axial screw-receiving formations. Most preferably, there are four.

When there is a plurality of axial screw-receiving formations, they are preferably located at corners of the cavity closer. The cavity closer is preferably provided, at each corner, with an axial chamber of relatively small cross-section, to receive a screw.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is defined a former, about which the leaves of a cavity wall may be built, the former being an assembly of three cavity closer profiles in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, as the side profiles and bottom profile of the former and, as the top profile, a part having a base wall analogous to the base wall of the cavity closer profiles, but with no cavity closer projecting therefrom. Preferably, the base wall of the top profile is substantially flat. The top profile is secured at each of its ends to a respective side profile by means of one or more screws passing into said screwreceiving formation(s) of the side profile.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which figure 1 is a perspective view of a cavity closer profile and of a top profile about to be secured to the cavity closer profile.

The cavity closer profile 1, which is a UPVC extrusion, comprises a base wall 2 which carries, on one side, a cavity closer 4.

The cavity closer 4 has an enclosed, generally rectangular, core 6 which may be filled with an insulating material. To one side of the core there is side formation 8 comprising, next to the base member, a smaller enclosed chamber 10 and, then, a larger enclosed chamber 12. The smaller chamber has opposed small ridges 11, extending perpendicularly to the plane of the base wall 2. On this same side of the core, at the corner thereof, there is a further, small, chamber 14, not fully enclosed, but communicating with the core. There is a space 16 between the formation 8 and the chamber 14. This space 16 is generally wedge-shaped, being wider towards the core and narrower away from it. The purpose of this space 16 is to receive an end portion of a brick tie (not shown).

On the other side of the core 6, there is a side formation 17, of the same external shape as side formation 12, but made up of three small chambers 18, 19, 20, separated by transverse walls 21, 22. The purpose of this extra structure is to provide purchase for a screw, as described in our patent application co-filed with this patent application. On this same side of the core, at the corner thereof there is a further small chamber 24 which is identical to the chamber 14. There is a space 26 between the formation 18 and the chamber 24, identical to the space 16, to receive an end portion of a brick tie (not shown). The small chambers 10, 18 adjacent to the base wall are identical in shape and size to each other.

On the other side of the base wall 2 from the cavity closer, there is provided an abutment 28. It determines the location of a window or door frame member, as described in our co-filed patent application. It also acts as a plaster guide and key, for subsequent plastering work, after fitting of the window or door frame. To one side of the abutment 28, which side is to be internal, there is a series of small upstands 30, to aid plaster keying. To the other side of the abutment 28, towards the outside after fitment, the base wall is formed with a series of teeth 32, these being present in order to engage spring plates carried by a window or door frame. However, above the side formation 17 there is a shallow V-shaped formation 34 instead of teeth 32.

The top profile 50 is of different form to the cavity closer profile described above. This is so because the lintel (not shown) which is to be fitted above the window or door does not have a cavity into which a cavity closer 4 could fit. The top profile is therefore a simple Lsection part, having a flat base wall 52 and, carried perpendicularly thereto along one edge, a flat flange 54.

The flange 54 of the top profile is cut away adjacent to each of its ends (of which one is shown in the drawing), so that the top profile can be jointed to the cavity closer profile, with the end edge 56 of the flange abutting the top face 29 of the abutment 28 of the cavity closer profile. The top profile 50 is secured to the side profile by means of two screws 58, engaging in the chambers 10, 14 of the cavity closer profile. The location of the holes 60, tapped for the screws 58 in the base wall 52 of the top profile, may be determined with the aid of a simple template, or by measuring, or simply by eye.

A former, about which brickwork and blockwork can be built, is made up of three of the cavity closer profiles, forming the bottom and two side profiles, and a top profile 50. The cavity closer profiles are normally secured together first, by the welding of mitred corners.

The top profile is then secured to the two side profiles, as shown in the drawing. The former is then able to use irrespective of the design of lintel selected for the top of the window or door. Once the former has been built around, it is ready to receive a window or door, for example as described in our co-filed patent application.

In the embodiment described only two of the available screw-receiving formations 10, 14, 18 and 24 (in fact the formations 10 and 14) receive screws 58. The formations 18 and 24 are not used. Nor could the formations 18 and 24 be used, when the flange 54 is to contact the abutment 28, in this embodiment. However in other embodiments the flange 54 can be spaced from the abutment so that the base wall 52 overlies the entire cavity closer 4. All of the four screw-receiving formations can then be used, if wished. In still other embodiments there is a different design of cavity closer profile, having the cavity closer 4 notionally moved towards a more central position on the base wall, with the side formation 17 generally aligned with the abutment 28. In such embodiments the flange 54 may contact the abutment whilst the base wall 52 overlies the entire cavity closer 4. All four screw-receiving formations can then be used, if wished.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims (7)

CLAIMB

1. A cavity closer profile for use in assembling a sub frame, the profile having a base wall and a cavity closer carried on one side of the base wall, such that the cavity closer may be received in the cavity between the two wall leaves, with the base wall extending from one leaf to the other, characterised in that the cavity closer has an axial screw receiving formation.

2. A cavity closer profile as claimed in Claim 1, of UPVC material, wherein the screw-receiving formation is of the UPVC material.

3. A cavity closer profile as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the profile has four axial screw-receiving formations.

4. A cavity closer profile as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the formations are located at corners of the cross-section of the cavity closer.

5. A former, about which the leaves of a cavity wall may be built, the former being an assembly of three cavity closer profiles as claimed in any preceding claim, as the side profiles and bottom profile of the former and, as the top profile, a part having a base wall analogous to the base wall of the cavity closer profiles, but with no cavity closer projecting therefrom.

6. A former as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the top profile is secured at each of its ends to a respective side profile by means of one or more screws passing into said screw-receiving formation(s) of the side profile.

7. A cavity closer profile, or a former comprising a cavity closer profile, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.