GB2319555A

GB2319555A - Cavity closer with reversible spacer element

Info

Publication number: GB2319555A
Application number: GB9800715A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Clifford Townse Williams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-11-16
Filing date: 1995-10-13
Publication date: 1998-05-27
Anticipated expiration: 2015-10-13
Also published as: GB2319281B; GB2322399B; GB2319555B; GB9807089D0; GB2319281A; GB2322399A; GB9724744D0; GB9800715D0

Abstract

A cavity closer 106 includes an elongate recess 110 into which spring tang 134 on a window or door frame 132 may engage, and two dove-tailed recesses 136a, 136b, one either side of the elongate recess, together with a spacer strip 146 engageable with the dove-tailed recesses and having a further elongate recess 110', thereby effectively replicating the engagement means further Inset from the wall 100. This allows cavity closers to be employed in situations where the user wishes to apply a render 144 to the wall surface. A backstop 138' limits the outward motion of the frame. The spacer strip, when engaged with the dovetailed recesses covers the engagement means. The spacer strip may be inserted into the dovetailed recesses in one of two mutually reversed positions to permit the fitting of the frame from the opposite direction (fig. 2, not shown).

Description

FRAME ELEMENTS The present invention relates to window acceptors and related frame elements.

It is known to hold window frames in their respective openings by providing an outer frame about the opening which engages with the window frame by means of a resilient catch engaging behind a lip. Thus, the window frame is inserted by offering it up to the outer frame and pushing into place. Possibly the earliest examples of this are in Dutch Application No. 8301027 and US Patent No. 3694985. Since then attempts have been made to refine the basic idea, including GB 2277768 in which a window frame is clipped to a cavity closer by means of an intermediate member.

The present invention seeks to provide a window system which employs this concept yet is simple to manufacture and instal.

The present invention provides a window or door frame system comprising an outer frame fixable to a wall and including an engagement means capable of interengagement with the window or door frame, and at least one dovetailed recess adjacent the engagement means, and a spacer strip engageable with the dove-tailed recess and having a further engagement means, thereby effectively replicating the engagement means further inset from the wall.

This allows very slim outer frames, or cavity closers such as those defined above which act as an outer frame, to be employed in situations where the user wishes to apply a render to the wall surface. This is achieved without having to fit the window frame at an early stage, which would obviate the intended advantages of window acceptor systems.

Preferably, there are two dove-tailed recesses, one either side of an engagement means. More preferably, the spacer strip when engaged with the recess or recesses covers the engagement means. This provides a neat and robust arrangement.

Preferably, the cavity closer is of a non-heat conductive material (e.g.

UPVC). It is also preferred if the cavity closer is hollow to receive a thermally insulating material.

It is also preferred if the cavity closer has a recess or other means for engaging a wall tie in order to fix it in position.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying figures 1 and 2, which show a cavity closer according to the present invention.

The figures show a cavity closer of the type to which the present invention is particularly applicable. As shown, it is inserted between two curtain walls 100, 102, and our application GB 2295185 (from which this application is divided) illustrates how the closer can accommodate cavities of varying dimensions. The closer comprises a body portion 106 which lies within the cavity between the walls 100 and 102. At the front edge of the closer is a front face which has an engagement recess 110 into which window frames may be engaged. Behind the engagement portion 110, ie spaced along the front face, is a ribbed surface 11 2 which serves to secure a covering plaster layer (not shown). This layer would be applied once the installation of the window was complete. The body 106 of the closer is held in place with wall ties 107.

A window frame 132, of generally conventional profile, is fitted in place by a spring tang 134 extending from the outer edge of the frame 132.

Either side of the recess 110 are dove-tailed recesses 1 36a and 136b.

They are dove-tailed in that the opening of the recess is narrower than their interior. Recess 136a is, when the closer 106 is installed, closer to outer wall 100 and recess 136b is correspondingly closer to inner wall 102.

Figures 1 and 2 show how difficulties caused by the very low profile of modern cavity closers/outer frames 106 can be overcome in applications where a render layer 144 is to be provided. Such a render layer 144 might otherwise obscure the recess 110 and hinder insertion of the window frame 132.

According to the embodiment, there is provided a spacer frame 146 which comprises a pair of outwardly directed lugs 1 48a and 148b. These project into the recesses 1 36a and 1 36b to secure the spacer frame 146 in place in front of the recess 11 0. On the inner face of the spacer frame 1 46 is an engagement recess 110' which is located on the spacer strip so as to mimic the location of the engagement recess 110 of the cavity closer 1 06.

Thus, the frame 1 32 and tang 1 34 can engage into this replacement recess 110'.

At a lateral edge of the spacer frame 146 is backstop 138' which serves to limit outward motion of the frame 1 32.

The spacer frame 1 46 is formed so that it can be inserted into the recesses 1 36a and 1 36b in one of two mutually reversed positions, thereby to enable inward or outward fitting of the frame 132. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate each alternative direction of fitting.

The depth of the spacer frame 146 corresponds generally to the normal depth of a render layer 144. Normally, the spacer frame 146 would be fitted to the cavity closer 106 after the walls 100 and 102 have been completed but before the render layer 144 had been applied.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the abovedescribed embodiments are set forth purely as examples of the present invention. Many changes are possible to these examples which remain within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A window or door frame system comprising an outer frame fixable to a wall and including an engagement means capable of interengagement with a window or door frame, and at least one dove tailed recess adjacent the engagement means, and a spacer strip engageable with the dove-tailed recess and having a further engagement means, thereby effectively to replicate the engagement means further inset from the wall.

2. A window or door frame system according to Claim 1, wherein there are two dove-tailed recesses, either side of the engagement means.

3. A window or door frame system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the spacer strip when engaged with the dove-tailed recess or recesses covers the engagement means of the outer frame.

4. A window or door frame system according to any preceding claim wherein the cavity closer is of a non-heat conductive material.

5. A window or door frame according to claim 4 wherein the material is UPVC.

6. A window or door frame according to any preceding claim wherein the outer frame is a cavity closer.

7. A window or door frame according to any preceding claim wherein the outer frame is hollow to receive a thermally insulating material.

8. A window or door frame according to any preceding claim wherein the outer frame has a recess or other means for engaging a wall tie thereby to fix it in position.

9. A window or door frame substantially as herein disclosed with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying figures.