GB2312462A - Roof glazing bar or frame member - Google Patents

Abstract

A transom bar 2 comprises an extruded aluminium support member 4 comprising a base flange member 6 of channel cross-section and an upstanding member 8 having spaced apart parallel upwardly extending limbs 10. At their upper ends, limbs 10 are connected to one another by a head member which includes teeth 14 on opposite sides thereof. A lower capping 20 is arranged to slidably engage the base flange member 6 and an upper capping 32 is arranged to be snap-engaged with the head member 12.

Description

BUILDING This invention relates to a building and particularly, although not exclusively, relates to a frame member for a building, for example a conservatory.

Transom or glazing bars for use in constructing conservatory roofs are well known. For example, GB 2 275 958 (Ultraframe) discloses a glazing bar which includes a lower flange member from which an upstanding limb extends.

The limb includes a short open slot at its upper end for receiving resilient flaps of an upper capping in order to secure the capping in position. It is found that it can be difficult to locate long lengths of upper cappings in position, since one part of the capping may inadvertently become disengaged when another part of the capping is being urged into position. Furthermore, during high winds, the upper capping can be dislodged with potentially disastrous consequences. Additionally, the glazing bar described may twist when provided in long lengths. This may be combatted, to some extent, by using a glazing bar having a longer and/or thicker upstanding limb should long lengths of glazing bars be required for a particular roof construction. However, it would be preferred to limit the number of different sizes of glazing bars available.

It is an object of the present invention to address problems associated with known frame members, for example transom or glazing bars for conservatory roofs.

According to the invention, there is provided a frame member for a building, for example a conservatory, the frame member comprising a base and a first connection means spaced from said base by an intermediate means, said first connection means being arranged to cooperate with an upper capping means and said intermediate means comprising first and second intermediate members which extend between said base and said first connection means.

Preferably, said intermediate means includes a fully enclosed opening - that is the opening is defined by an endless boundary wall. Said intermediate means may be arranged to co-operate, preferably via a gap defined between said first and second intermediate members, more preferably via said opening, with another component of the building for securing the other component relative to said intermediate means and/or said frame member. For example, in a conservatory, said frame member may extend to an eaves structure relative to which it may be secured.

Advantageously, said frame member may be fixed relative to said eaves structure by engagement of a connection member with said intermediate means, for example, in said opening thereof. Said connection member is suitably a part of or is fixed to said eaves structure. Other components may be provided for engagement with said intermediate means.

Said first and second intermediate members are preferably rigidly spaced apart, preferably at two regions along their extent. One of said regions may be towards, preferably adjacent, said base. Another of said regions may be towards, preferably adjacent, said first connection means. Said base itself may rigidly space apart the intermediate members. A head member which incorporates said first connection means may also rigidly space apart the intermediate members.

The intermediate members preferably extend substantially parallel to one another. Said members may extend the whole distance between said base and said first connection means in which case said base and said first connection means are suitably connected directly to opposing ends of said intermediate members. Said intermediate members preferably have a length which may be at least one third, preferably at least half, more preferably at least two thirds, of the width of the frame member. Most preferably, said intermediate members have a length which is greater than the width of the frame member.

Said first connection means preferably defines one of either a male or female connection member for engagement with the other one of a male or female connection member provided by the upper capping means. Said first connection means preferably defines a male connection member for engagement with a female connection member provided by said upper capping. Said first connection means preferably includes an engagement element, for example one or a plurality of teeth, suitably on an outer surface thereof, for engagement with a co-operable formation provided on said upper capping means. Said upper capping means preferably includes one or a plurality of teeth. Said upper capping means for example a female element thereof (when provided) is preferably resiliently deformable.

Where a head member is provided, said member may be arranged to cooperate with a second securement means for securing the upper capping means in position. Said head member may be arranged to receive a screw or the like.

Said base preferably includes a first part which may extend substantially transversely to the direction of extent of said intermediate means and a second part which may extend transversely to said base (and suitably, therefore, in the general direction of said intermediate means), preferably from one end of said first part. Said base may include a third part which extends transversely to said base, preferably from an opposing end of said first part to said one end. Said first, second and third parts may define a channel section. Respective ends of said second and/or third parts may be inturned. Said intermediate means preferably extends towards a central region of said first part of said base.

The frame member may include a lower capping means which cooperates with said base. Said lower capping means is preferably arranged to cover said base, preferably, substantially the entire outwardly facing surfaces thereof. Said lower capping means may be of channel crosssection.

Said lower capping means is preferably arranged to be slidably engageable with said base.

Said lower capping means and said upper capping means are preferably arranged together to define a gap for receiving a glazing panel.

Said lower capping means may include means defining a pivot axis by means of which one part, for example one half, of the capping means may be pivoted relative to another part, for example the other half. Said means preferably comprises a weakened region of said lower capping means.

The invention extends to a method of constructing a building for example a conservatory, the method using a frame member as described in any statement herein.

The invention extends to the use of a frame member as described as a component of a building.

The invention extends to an assembly of a part of a building, the assembly comprising a frame member as described in any statement herein and another component, said other component co-operating with said intermediate means.

Preferably, a part of said other component extends into a gap defined between said first and second intermediate members of said intermediate means.

The invention extends to a method of securing a component of a building to a frame member as described herein, the method comprising engaging a part of said component in a gap defined between said first and second intermediate members of said intermediate means.

Any feature of any aspect of any invention or embodiment described herein may be combined with any feature of any other aspect of any invention or embodiment described herein.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section through a first transom bar; Figure 2 is a cross-section through a second transom bar; and Figure 3 is a cross-section through a third transom bar.

In the figures, the same or similar parts are annotated with the same reference numerals.

Referring to figure 1, the transom bar 2 comprises an extruded aluminium support member 4 which comprises a base flange member 6 of channel cross-section and an upstanding member 8 having spaced apart parallel upwardly extending limbs 10. At their upper ends, the limbs 10 are connected to one another by a head member 12. The head member 12 includes teeth 14 on opposing sides thereof and a slot 16 which includes a nipped region 18.

A lower capping 20 is arranged to slidably engage the base flange member 6. The lower capping 20 has a channel cross-section which generally corresponds to the crosssection of the base flange member 6. On internal surfaces of the capping 20 are defined strips 22 which abut the member 6. At each free end, the capping 20 defines a ledge 24 which includes first and second parallel gasket strips 26 and a gasket flap 28. The free ends are rigid and serve to prevent the capping being disengaged from the flange member 6, other than by being slid therealong.

The lower capping includes a weakened region 30 along its extent which is arranged to allow the capping to be pivoted about an axis coincident with said weakened region so that it can be engaged with angled flange members, as described hereinafter.

An upper capping 32 is arranged to be snap engaged with the head member 12. The upper capping includes a central part 34 from which arms 36 depend. At their free ends the arms include a gasket flap 38. Spaced apart legs 40 depend from an internal surface of the central part 34.

The legs include barbs 42.

The barbs 42 are adapted to engage the teeth 14 of the head member 12. To this end, the legs 40 are positioned on opposing sides of the head member and the upper capping 32 is urged downwardly whereupon the legs 40 are resiliently urged apart and the barbs 42 move over the teeth 14. It should be appreciated that the distance between the legs 40 in figure 1 is exaggerated, in the interests of clarity. It is found that the arrangement of barbs 42 and teeth 14 provide an effective means of securing the upper capping in position. In addition, the central part 34 of the upper capping may be drilled at intervals along its extent and screws inserted through each drill hole into the slot 16 where they can be retained by engagement with the nipped region. Thus, this provides further security against disengagement of the upper capping.

The upper and lower cappings 32, 20 are made out of UPVC plastics material by extrusion and the gasket strips 26 and gasket flaps 28, 38 are coextruded using a suitable rubber or plastics material.

The transom bar 2 may be used in a conventional manner which involves positioning glazing sheets (not shown) in the gaps defined between the upper and lower cappings.

It is found that the bar 2 described can be used in long lengths without twisting (due to the provision of two limbs 10) and, consequently, the number of differentlysized bars that need to be manufactured for differentlysized conservatories can be reduced.

In the event that the bar 2 needs reinforcing, an elongate reinforcing member, for example a rectangular hollow stainless steel member (not shown), may be positioned in the gap defined between members 10. This may provide a simple yet effective means of reinforcing the bar.

The bar 50 shown in figure 2 is similar to the bar 40 except that flange portion 52 is angled relative to flange portion 53 thereof. Advantageously, however, the same lower capping 30 can be used in both the figure 1 and 2 embodiments, since the lower capping can be hinged about the weakened region 30.

The bar 60 shown in figure 3 includes a support member 62 which is similar to the support member 4 of figure 1 except that, in addition, support member 62 includes an L-cross-section member 64 extending from one of the limbs 10. An upstanding limb 66 of member 64 includes inwardly facing barbs 68 and screw openings 70 at intervals along its extent.

The upper capping 80 of the bar is similar to the capping 32 of the figure 1 and 2 embodiments except that one of the arms 36 has been replaced with a ledge 82 which includes an inclined portion 84 at its free end.

The bar 60 is arranged to be secured, by means of screws engaging screw openings 70, to a wall. Lead flashing may then be positioned in channel 86 defined between upstanding limb 66 and head member 12 and the upper capping 80 may be snapped into position to retain a glazing panel (not shown) in position. The barbs 68 serve to restrict disengagement of the flashing from the channel 86.

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 (24)

1. A frame member for a building, the frame member comprising a base and a first connection means spaced from said base by an intermediate means, said first connection means being arranged to co-operate with an upper capping means and said intermediate means comprising first and second intermediate members which extend between said base and said first connection means.

2. A member according to Claim 1, wherein said intermediate means includes a fully enclosed opening.

3. A member according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said intermediate means is arranged to co-operate with another component of the building for securing the other components relative to said intermediate means and/or said frame member.

4. A member according to any preceding claim, wherein said first and second intermediate members are rigidly spaced apart.

5. A member according to any preceding claim, wherein said first and second intermediate members are rigidly spaced apart at two regions along their extent.

6. A member according to Claim 5, wherein one of said regions is towards said base.

7. A member according to Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein one of said regions is towards said first connection means.

8. A member according to any preceding claim, wherein said base itself may rigidly space apart the intermediate members.

9. A member according to any preceding claim, wherein a head member which incorporates said first connection means may rigidly space apart the intermediate members.

10. A member according to any preceding claim, wherein said intermediate members extend substantially parallel to one another.

11. A member according to any preceding claim, wherein said intermediate members have a length which is at least one-third of the width of the frame member.

12. A member according to any preceding claim, wherein said first connection means defines one of either a male or female connection member for engagement with the other one of a male or female connection member provided by the upper capping means.

13. A member according to any preceding claim, wherein said first connection means defines a male connecting member for engagement with a female connection member provided by said upper capping means.

14. A member according to any preceding claim, including a lower capping means which co-operates with said base.

15. A member according to Claim 14, wherein said lower capping means includes means defining a pivot axis by means of which one part of the capping means may be pivoted relative to another part thereof.

16. A member according to Claim 15, wherein said means defining a pivot axis comprises a weakened region of said lower capping means.

17. A method of constructing a building, the method using a frame member according to any of Claims 1 to 16.

18. The use of a frame member according to any of Claims 1 to 16 as a component of a building.

19. An assembly of a part of a building, the assembly comprising a frame member according to any of Claims 1 to 16 and another component, said component co-operating with said intermediate means.

20. A method of securing a component of a building to a frame member as described in any of Claims 1 to 16, the method comprising engaging a part of said component in a gap defined between said first and second intermediate members of said intermediate means.

21. A frame member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

22. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

23. The use of a frame member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

24. An assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.