GB2317918A

GB2317918A - Cavity Closer/Window Frame Fixing Clip

Info

Publication number: GB2317918A
Application number: GB9719852A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Matthew Cubitt; Jeffrey Lee Crowder
Original assignee: Anglian Windows Ltd
Current assignee: Anglian Windows Ltd
Priority date: 1996-10-05
Filing date: 1997-09-19
Publication date: 1998-04-08
Anticipated expiration: 2017-09-19
Also published as: GB2351766B; GB2351766A; GB2317918B; GB9719852D0; GB0025968D0

Abstract

A fixing clip for fixing a window or door frame into a cavity closer at a window or door opening in a wall, said clip having a elongate base plate (10) from which are bent out shorter legs (12) for retaining the clips in a undercut channel in the periphery of the frame and a longer leg (14) which can be released from a position in which it is retained by a apertured leg (16) to engage into a channel in the periphery of the cavity closer. The invention also provides a method of fixing a window or door frame into a cavity closer and a cavity closer/window or door frame combination.

Description

Cavity Closer/Wmdow Frame Fixing Chp This invention relates to a clip for use in securing a window or door frame to a cavity closer, to a method of fitting a window or door frame into a cavity closer and to a cavity closer/window or door frame combination.

Various methods and systems are known for securing a window frame within a sub-frame which in some cases constitutes a cavity closer. In a few instances, the use of fixing clips has been proposed, but these all have disadvantages in one way or another.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clip for use in securing a window or door frame to a cavity closer closing the end of a wall cavity at a window or door opening, said clip comprising an elongate flat base plate from which upstand:a) inclined legs of relatively short length in use for retaining the base plate in a channel around the outer peripheral face of the window or door frame; b) an inclined leg of relatively longer length for location into a channel in the exposed face of the cavity closer; and c) a retainer for the relatively longer leg, for enabling the said leg to spring from a retained position away from the base plate in order to engage into the said channel in the cavity closer.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of fitting a window or door frame into a cavity closer closing the end of a wall cavity at a window or door opening, according to which elongate base plates of a plurality of clips are located and retained in channels in the outer faces of at least the vertical limbs of a window or door frame, the window or door frame is positioned within the cavity closer, and legs carried by the base plates of the clips are released from retained positions to spring away from the base plates and engage into channels in the exposed faces of the cavity closer on both sides of the window or door opening.

According to still another aspect of the invention, there is provided a cavity closer/window or door frame combination comprising:a) a window or door frame having a channel in its outer peripheral face; b) a cavity closer having a channel in the face thereof facing the window or door opening when the closer is located to close the end of a wall cavity at said window or door opening; and c) a plurality of clips for fixing the window frame in the cavity closer, each said clip comprising a base plate slidable into the channel in the window frame and having means for retaining it in a located position along the channel, together with an inclined leg projecting from the base plate for engagement in the channel in the closer and a retainer for said leg from which the leg can be released to spring away from the base plate in order to engage said channel in the closer when the window frame is positioned within the cavity closer.

The invention is further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures la, ib, ic and id respectively show one embodiment of the fixing clip in plan view, isometric view, side elevation and front elevation; Figure 2 is a horizontal cross section through a cavity closertwindow frame installation utilising the fixing clips of Figure 1, Figures 3a to 3e show a preferred embodiment of the fixing clip; and Figure 4 is an isometric, cut-away view of a cavity closer/window frame installation utilising the fixing clips of Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 1, the illustrated clip comprises an elongate metal base plate 10 from one face of which are pressed out four short inclined legs 12 from near the corners of the base plate, an inclined long leg 14 from a central region of the base plate towards one end thereof and an upstanding apertured retainer 16 from a central region of the base plate adjacent the free end of the long leg press-out.

The long leg 14 has an end portion 18 of reduced width for engaging into the aperture 20 of the retainer 16 so as to be able to retain this leg in a position retracted towards the base plate, as indicated in dashed line at 14A in Figure ic.

Thus, if the retainer 16 is pressed back away from the long leg 14, this leg will be released to spring away from the base plate 10 into a more inclined position, as shown in Figure ib and in full line in Figure lc. The short legs 12 and the long leg 14 in its released condition are all inclined to the base plate at an angle of about 30 degrees, while the retainer is inclined at an angle of about 60 to 65 degrees to the base plate.

Figure 2 shows a window frame 30 held in place within a cavity closer 32 by clips 34, as above-described, a plurality of which are spaced apart along at least the vertical sides of the window opening 36. As drawn, the interior side of the window opening is at the bottom, and optional plaster trims 38 are shown in place adjacent the undercut window frame channel 40 in which the clips are retained.

The long legs 14 of the clips are engaged into the channel 42 in the face of the closer 32 facing the window opening.

The manner of use of the clips 34 is as follows. First, the clips 34 are slid into the channel 40 of the window frame 30, the long legs 14 being released at this time. The clips 34 can slide along the channel in one direction only owing to the inclined short legs 12, which bear against the undersides of the clips of the undercut channel 40. This action of the short legs also ensures that the clips remain correctly positioned once they have been pushed or dragged along the channel to provide the appropriate spacings between clips. If plaster trims 38 are fitted, the short legs on the plaster trim side of the channel are appropriately flattened or possibly removed before inserting the clips, if necessary to enable the clips to be correctly positioned.

Using a thin blade such as a putty knife or screwdriver, with a twisting action, the long legs 14 are then locked into engagement with the retainers 16. The window frame is then positioned in the window opening within the closer, preferably by locating the bottom of the frame first and then tilting the frame until it is vertical.

Again using the thin bladed knife or the like, the retainers 16 are then pushed back to release the long legs 14, which then spring into engagement with the channel 42 in the closer. Should the clips not engage properly immediately, gentle father small movements of the frame can be carried out to ensure secure and safe fixing of the frame by all the clips.

Figures 3a to 3e, using similar reference numerals to Figures la to id, show the preferred fixing clip. Figure 3b shows the long leg 14 in its retained position and Figure 3c shows this leg in its released condition. The only significant difference in the embodiment of Figures 3a to 3e is that the short legs 12 are now inclined to the base plate in the same angular sense as the long leg 14, which has been found better for the purpose of retaining the clips in their correct positions when the window frame is fitted into the cavity closer.

Figure 4 shows some additional details concerned with the fixing of the window frame 30. First, reference 42 denotes a fixing lug used to fix the cavity closer 44 in position at the wall opening which is to receive the window frame. An exemplary fixing clip used on one vertical side of the window frame 30 is again referenced 34. At the sill, fixing lugs 46 are screwed to the frame and screwed to the wall opening after fixing the window frame in position by use of the clips.

Similar fixing lugs 46 may be used at the head of the window opening if practicable; if not, the head of the window frame is secured using polyurethane foam. After fining, the window frame 30 is sealed all round with silicone sealant.

Claims

1. A clip for use in securing a window or door frame to a cavity closer closing the end of a wall cavity at a window or door opening, said clip comprising an elongate flat base plate from which upstand:a) inclined legs of relatively short length in use for retaining the base plate in a channel around the outer peripheral face of the window or door frame; b) an inclined leg of relatively longer length for location into a channel in the exposed face of the cavity closer; and c) a retainer for the relatively longer leg, for enabling the said leg to spring from a retained position away from the base plate in order to engage into the said channel in the cavity closer.

2. A clip according to claim 1, wherein the legs all extend from the same face of the base plate.

3. A clip according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the shorter length legs are inclined relatively to the base in the same sense as the longer length legs.

4. A clip according to claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the shorter length legs are positioned adjacent the ends of the base plate and the longer length leg is positioned between the shorter length legs.

5. A clip according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the retainer is constituted by an apertured leg oppositely inclined from the base plate towards the end of the longer length leg.

6. A clip according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the legs are formed as partial cut-outs bent out from the base plate.

7. A clip according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the angles of inclination of the shorter length legs and the longer length leg in its released condition are each about 30 degrees.

8. A clip according to claim 7 when appendant to claim 5, wherein the apertured retaining leg is of approximately the same length as the shorter length legs, is apertured near its outer end for receiving the end of a longer length leg and is inclined relatively to the base plate at an angle of about 60 to 65 degrees.

9. A method of fitting a window or door frame into a cavity closer closing the end of a wall cavity at a window or door opening, according to which elongate base plates of a plurality of clips are located and retained in channels in the outer faces of at least the vertical limbs of a window or door frame, the window or door frame is positioned within the cavity closer, and legs carried by the base plates of the clips are released from retained positions to spring away from the base plates and engage into channels in the exposed faces of the cavity closer on both sides of the window or door opening.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein each base plate is retained in an undercut channel in the window or door frame channel by four inclined legs extending from the base plate adjacent its corners.

11. A method according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein, at each base plate, the retained leg is held at its free end in an aperture in an oppositely inclined leg extending from the base plate and is released therefrom by use of a suitable tool.

12. A cavity closer/window or door frame combination comprising: a) a window or door frame having a channel in its outer peripheral face; b) a cavity closer having a channel in the face thereof facing the window or door opening when the closer is located to close the end of a wall cavity at said window or door opening; and c) a plurality of clips for fixing the window frame in the cavity closer, each said clip comprising a base plate slidable into the channel in the window frame and having means for retaining it in a located position along the channel, together with an inclined leg projecting from the base plate for engagement in the channel in the closer and a retainer for said leg from which the leg can be released to spring away from the base plate in order to engage said channel in the closer when the window frame is positioned within the cavity closer.

13. The combination according to claim 12, wherein the base plate is retained in position in an undercut channel in the window or door frame by means of four inclined legs extending from the base plate adjacent the corners thereof.

14. The combination according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the inclined leg is retained at its free end in an aperture in an oppositely inclined leg extending from the base plate.

15. A clip substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A method of fitting a door or window frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. A cavity closer/window or door frame combination substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.