GB2326184A

GB2326184A - Improvements in and relating to cavity closers

Info

Publication number: GB2326184A
Application number: GB9811211A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin Stephen Bennett
Original assignee: AURELIA PLASTICS Ltd
Current assignee: AURELIA PLASTICS Ltd
Priority date: 1997-06-13
Filing date: 1998-05-27
Publication date: 1998-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 2018-05-27
Also published as: GB9712314D0; GB9811211D0; GB2326184B

Abstract

A cavity closer (1), comprising a portion to be disposed in the cavity and having on one side flange means (2), adjustable stop means (11) for insertion onto or into the flange means by which planar distortion of the closure member may be adjusted and/or by which different sized window systems can be accommodated, and means (11,12) for securing a window to the cavity closure member after said adjustment is made.

Description

Improvements in and relating to cavity closers This invention relates to apparatus for installing windows and doors into a building structure of the cavity wall type. In this patent specification reference to "window and window frame" also includes corresponding fixtures such as doors and the like.

Modern windows are usually double-glazed and made of extruded plastics material and are conventionally installed from the outside. Prior to installation a rectilinear plastics closure member is built into the cavity wall to thereby close the void which would otherwise be present as a result of the cavity between the inner and outer walls and to provide, effectively, a socket into which the window frame is then inserted after the building work is completed so as to avoid damage to the window. The window is retained in place within the closure member by the use of what are known as snappers, being strips of flexible metal secured to the outer frame of the window which cooperate with saw tooth formations on the exposed surface of the closure member so that when a window is press-fit into the closure member the snappers automatically secure it in place and thereafter it cannot be removed.

There are several disadvantages to this system, one being that in order to gain access to all window openings in a building it is usually necessary to provide scaffolding to gain safe access to each opening and this is relatively expensive and time consuming as compared to the relatively simple steps involved in installing a window into such an opening. Another disadvantage is that the rectilinear closure member can often become distorted during building of the cavity wall unless the opening is built to a very high level of accuracy, therefore making it difficult or sometimes impossible to fit the window into the closure member. Where the distortion is due to twisting of the closure member in its major plane, this results in a situation whereby when the window and window frame to be fitted is installed, force has to be used in order to try to overcome the distortion which can cause damage to the closure member or consequential distortion of the window frame and window leading either to breakage or a poor fitting window in which, for example, not all of the snappers are engaging in their required saw-tooth slots as a result of the gap being too large or too tight.

An alternative system is known in which windows may be fitted from the inside whereby a closure member is provided having an upstanding lip which prevents the window frame from falling out of the building and behind a window frame when so fitted a snap-fit beading is installed to ensure that the window frame cannot fall inwards either.

A separate window sill is then clipped to the outer side in the conventional manner but this has the disadvantage of requiring multiple parts and causing difficulties in ensuring that there is an adequate seal between the window sill and the window frame, and it still does not alter the difficulties encountered if the closure member is distorted since in such circumstances the window frame can still only be installed with the beading in place by the use of force which will inevitably tend to either damage or distort the window frame and window.

The present invention seeks to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages by providing apparatus for installing windows and which allows for inaccuracies in the original building work without making it difficult or impossible to fit the window into the cavity closure frame member.

According to the invention there is provided a cavity closure member for installing windows in an opening in a building wall having a cavity therein, the closure member comprising a portion adapted to be disposed, in use, between opposing inwardly facing wall surfaces at the opening, the closure member having or including on one side thereof flange means which prevent the closure member from entering the cavity beyond the limit imposed by the flange means, and adjustable stop member means for insertion onto or into the flange means by which planar distortion of the closure member relative to the major plane of the window may be adjusted when the window is inserted into the opening and/or by which the position of the adjustable stop member means relative to the closure member may be adjusted; and means for securing the window to the cavity closure member after said adjustment is made.

Conveniently, the adjustable stop member means comprises a stop member having a slotted portion which includes inwardly facing saw-tooth projections, the slotted portion being intended to be insertable onto or into the flange means, which flange means has correspondingly shaped but oppositely disposed saw-toothed locking projections such that the respective slotted portions together act as a ratchet by which the stop member may be adjustably secured upon the flanged portion of the closure member. In this manner, if the or each closure member is found to be twisted or distorted when a window and window frame is presented for fitting therewithin the position of the stop member means on or in the flanged portion of the or each cavity closure member may be adjusted to match the major plane of the window and window frame. In addition, the ability of the cavity closure member to be adjusted on-site by means of stop member enables it to be used with a variety of window systems of different shapes and sizes.

Preferably, the cavity closure member includes two flanged portions, the first being adapted to be received on the outer wall of a building and the second being adapted to be received on the inner wall of the building and including formations cooperable with an inner stop member preventing or inhibiting inward movement of the window or window frame when fitted within the opening in which the or each cavity closure member is installed. The inner stop member may also comprise or include locking formations cooperable with correspondingly shaped locking formations on a window frame to prevent or inhibit outward movement of the window frame when the stop member is secured to the cavity closure member.

Preferably, the adjustable stop member means also includes a flexible seal adapted to, in use, bear against the outer surface of the window frame and seal it against the elements.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view of a cavity closure according to the invention shown installed between a pair of inner and outer walls defining a cavity, Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation of the cavity closure of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a view corresponding to that of Figure 1 showing an alternative embodiment of cavity closure member, and Figure 4 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of cavity closure member.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2 a cavity closure according to the invention comprises a generally box-section portion 1, a front flanged portion 2 and a rear flanged portion 3, the flanged portions 2 and 3 thereby providing a limit by which the portion 1 of the cavity closure may be received within the cavity defined by an inner wall 4 and an outer wall 5. Within and around the box-section portion 1 of the cavity closure member are two elongated strips of insulating foam plastics material 6a, 6b, the latter being held in place in part by means of a detachable web 7. The web 7 optionally provides for the cavity closure member to be fitted within a relatively wide cavity in a manner a shown in the drawing, or by simple removal of the web 7 and hence the insulating material 6b, it can be fitted within a narrower cavity where circumstances require.

On the free end of the front flanged portion 2 there are a series of serrations or saw-tooth ridges 8 which, in use, cooperate to retain thereon corresponding serrations or saw-tooth ridges 9 within a slot 10 of a generally "L" shaped stop member 11. In the drawing the stop member 11 is shown mounted on the flanged portion 2 to its fullest extent but it will be appreciated that by prising the serrated portions 8, 9, apart, the stop member 11 can be moved one or several notches to the left of the position shown so that in the event that the cavity closure member is twisted within its mounting in a wall, planar adjustment of it is still possible. Similarly, the stop member 11 can be adjusted to accommodate different sized window systems and is also conveniently colour coordinated to match the system being installed.

A rear stop member 12 in the form of an elongated channel also includes lower projections 13, 14 so that it can be snap-fitted into a correspondingly shaped flanged channel 15 formed in the outer surface of the box section portion 1, the arrangement being such that when a window frame 16 (only part of which is shown) is placed against the cavity closure and pushed up against the stop member 11, the window frame 16 and hence window can be secured in place by insertion of the rear stop member 12 into the channel 15 once any adjustment to the stop member 11 has been carried out. The stop member 12 can then be secured to the rear of the window frame 16 by screws inserted into the channel 15 in the position shown arrowed in Figures 2 and 3, whereafter the channel 15 conveniently receives a piece of plaster board to provide a neat finish to the installation.

Stop members 11, 12 are each provided with a pair of flexible plastics seals 17, 18 which face inwardly with respect to each other so that when a window frame 16 is in position and sandwiched therebetween they form a seal to prevent or inhibit ingress of dirt, water, etc.

Turning now to Figure 3 there is shown in vertical cross section a cavity closure member in which the stop member 11 of Figure 1 is, in this instance, replaced by a generally flat toothed member 1 lea thereby to permit a sill 19 of the window frame 16 to be placed directly on top of the flanged portion 2. In this instance, the rear stop member 12 and the rear face 20 of the sill 19 may be joined together by the simple expedient of screws driven into the portion shown arrowed so that the sides and top of the window frame are secured to the closure member by virtue of stop members 11 and 12, and the sill 19 is secured by screws to the rear stop member 12 only.

Turning now to Figure 4 there is shown a view corresponding generally to that of Figure 1 but in which an alternative means is used to secure the window frame 16 in position by means of a stop member 12a. In this embodiment a flanged edging strip 21 is inserted within the channel 15 so that its upper face is flush with the flanged portion 2 of the cavity closure member 1. A lug 22 is provided on the stop member 12a and includes a central aperture 23 into which a screw may be inserted to allow the stop member 12a to be secured to the edging strip 21 and into the cavity closure member 1 once the window frame 16 has been placed in position and adjustment made, if necessary, to the stop member 11. The stop member 1 2a also includes an inwardly facing lip 24 at its forward lower edge relative to the outside wall 5 so that it can be snap-fitted over a correspondingly shaped bead 25 on the rearward lower edge of the window frame 16 such that when the window is fitted in place and the stop member 11 adjusted as necessary, the stop member 1 2a can then be screwed to the edging strip 21 to thereby secure the window against movement in either direction. The edging strip 21 also incorporates an upwardly facing flexible seal 26, which prevents or inhibits the ingress of dirt or water etc. into the joint.

Claims

1. A cavity closure member for installing windows in an opening in a building wall having a cavity therein, the closure member comprising a portion adapted to be disposed, in use, between opposing inwardly facing wall surfaces at the opening, the closure member having or including on one side thereof flange means which prevent or inhibit the closure member from entering the cavity beyond the limit imposed by the flange means, and adjustable stop member means for insertion onto or into the flange means by which planar distortion of the closure member relative to the major plane of the window may be adjusted when the window is inserted into the opening and/or by which the position of the adjustable stop member means relative to the closure member may be adjusted; and means for securing the window to the cavity closure member after said adjustment is made.

2. A cavity closure member according to Claim 1 wherein the adjustable stop member means comprises a stop member having a slotted portion which includes inwardly facing saw-tooth projections co-operable with correspondingly shaped projections on the flange means by which the stop member may be adjustably secured upon the flanged portion of the closure member.

3. A cavity closure member according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the flange means includes two flanged portions, the first being adapted to be received on the outer wall of a building and the second being adapted to be received on the inner wall of the building into which the cavity closure member is installed and including formations cooperable with an inner stop member preventing or inhibiting inward movement of the window or window frame when fitted within the opening in which the or each cavity closure member is installed.

4. A cavity closure member according to any preceding claim further comprising or including an inner stop member having locking formations cooperable with correspondingly shaped locking formations on a window frame to prevent or inhibit outward movement of the window frame when the stop member is secured to the cavity closure member.

5. A cavity closure member according to any preceding claim wherein the adjustable stop member means also includes a flexible seal adapted to, in use, bear against the outer surface of the window frame.

6. A cavity closure member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 - 3.

7. A cavity closure member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 4.