GB2329664A

GB2329664A - Window leaves and methods for their formation

Info

Publication number: GB2329664A
Application number: GB9720375A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Charles Alastair Smith
Original assignee: PERMACELL FINESSE Ltd
Current assignee: PERMACELL FINESSE Ltd
Priority date: 1997-09-25
Filing date: 1997-09-25
Publication date: 1999-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 2017-09-25
Also published as: GB2329664B; GB9720375D0

Abstract

A method of forming a window leaf which can be top hung comprising frame member (29). At a corner two members (29) are connected together with one member (29) having a projection and a part chamfer and the other member having a part chamfer co-operating with the part chamfer on the first member to form the corner and a cut-back portion (15). The projection may be shaped so as to simulate a sash window horn. In this way, features provided on the members such as channels and grooves (18) can be continuous round the corner and a closed joint is formed between the members.

Description

WINDOW LEAVES AND METHODS FOR THEIR FORMATION The invention relates to window leaves and methods for their formation.

A window leaf is commonly formed using first and second elongate members having first and second side walls spaced by first and second connecting walls. The members are connected together to form a corner of the leaf. Other members may then complete the leaf.

One form of connection chamfers the ends of the first and second members and then connects the chamfers together. This is not possible, however, where the leaf is to have the second wall of the second member projecting beyond the corner to form, for example, a sash window "horn" such as shown, for example in GB-A-391319 or GB-A-2302123 or GB-A-2165573 or GB A-2282402 or GB-A-2263928.

In this case, it has been customary to cut the first member in a plane normal to the length of the first member and butt this cut end against the second connecting wall of the second member with the first side walls of the first and second members generally co-planar and the second side walls of the first and second members generally co-planar. The second connecting walls are, in this arrangement, inwardly of the first connecting walls relative to the centre of the leaf.

This is not, however, satisfactory where the leaf has to fit into a frame to simulate a sash window frame while being top hung. In this case, at least a portion of the second member extending from the first side wall towards the second side wall cannot extend beyond the plane of the second connecting surface of the first member in order to provide a corner of the leaf that will fit into a corresponding corner of a frame.

In this case, it has been proposed to cut away the first side wall of the second member and at least a portion of the first and second connecting walls in a plane normal to the length of the second member, with the first member butted up to the second member so that the cut-away surface is co-planar with the first (outer) connecting wall of the first member. This is a problem because, for example, where the first connecting walls of the first and second members have corresponding grooves, the grooves are not continuous around the corner. In addition, where the members are hollow and extruded from a plastics material, the hollow open end of the second member is exposed and must be closed with a separately formed end piece.

This is expensive and time consuming.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of forming a window leaf using first and second frame members each having first and second side walls separated by spaced first and second connecting walls, comprising cutting away an end of the first frame member to form an end chamfer in the first side wall and in at least a portion of the first and second connecting walls while leaving the second side wall projecting beyond the chamfer, cutting away an end of the second member to form a chamfer in the first side wall and in at least a portion of the first and second connecting walls with the second side wall being cut back from the chamfer, the ends being such that the chamfers fit together to form a corner between the first and second members with the extending second side wall of the first member projecting beyond the corner and overlying the cut back second side wall of the second member.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a window leaf comprising first and second frame members each having first and second side walls separated by spaced first and second connecting walls, the first member having an end cut away forming an end chamfer in the first side wall and in at least a portion of the first and second connecting walls with the second side wall projecting beyond the chamfer, the second member having an end cut away forming a chamfer in the first side wall and in at least a portion of the first and second connecting walls with the second side wall cut back from the chamfer, the chamfers butting together to form a corner with the extending side wall of the first member projecting beyond the corner and overlying the second side wall of the second member.

The following is a more detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section of an extruded member of UPVC for use in the manufacture of a window leaf having four members with such a cross-section, Figure 2 is a side elevation of a first member of the kind shown in Figure 1 and having at one end a chamfer and a simulation of a horn, Figure 3 is a plan view of the member of Figure 2, Figure 4 is a side elevation of a second member of the kind shown in Figure 1 and having at one end a chamfer and a cutback portion, Figure 5 is a plan view of the member of Figure 4, Figure 6 is a first isometric view of the first member of Figures 2 and 3 and the second member of Figures 4 and 5 positioned prior to forming a corner joint, Figure 7 is a second isometric view of the first and second members in the configuration of Figure 6, Figure 8 is a similar view to Figure 7 but showing the first member and the second member forming a corner joint, and Figure 9 is an isometric view of a complete window leaf showing third and fourth members of the kind shown in Figure 1 connected to the first and second members of Figures 2 to 8 to form the window leaf.

The window leaf now to be described is formed from extruded members of UPVC or other suitable plastics material.

Referring first to Figure 1, each member is formed, in broad terms, by first and second side walls 10,11 separated by spaced first and second connecting walls, 12,13.

The first side wall 10 has a main portion 14 leading at one end to an angled portion 15. The end of the angled portion 15 overlies the second connecting wall 13 and is formed with a channel 16 for a purpose to be described below.

The first connecting wall 12 leads from an edge 17 of the main portion 14 remote from the angled portion 15. The first connecting wall 12 then forms a U-shaped groove 18 adjacent the first side wall 10 and this is followed by an intermediate portion 19 lying in a plane generally normal to the plane of the main portion 14 of the first side wall 10. This is followed by a shallow recess 20 leading to an upstand 21 lying in a plane generally normal to the plane of the intermediate portion 19. The connection between the upstand 21 and the second side wall 11 will be described below.

The second connecting wall 13 leads from the first side wall 10 at the join between the main portion 14 and the angled portion 15. The second connecting wall 13 commences with a flat portion 22 that extends across more than half the distance between the first side wall 10 and the second side wall 11. The flat portion 22 lies in a plane generally normal to the main portion 14 of the first side wall 10.

The flat portion 22 carries a flange 23 that lies in a plane normal to the plane of the flat portion 22 and projects towards the channel 16 on the angled portion 15. A web 24 connects the flange 23 to the angled portion 15 so that the angled portion 15, the web 24, the flange 23 and the channel 16 form between them an elongate slot 25 extending along the length of the member. This slot 25 is for the receipt of a base of a seal (not shown) which then projects from the slot.

The end of the flat portion 22 remote from the first side wall 10 overlaps a second flat portion 26 that is spaced from the first mentioned flat portion 22 in a direction parallel to the plane of the main portion 14 of the first side wall 10. The end of the second flat portion 26 is connected to the firstmentioned flat portion by a web 27 so as to form between them a groove 28 extending along the length of the member.

The connection of the second flat member 26 to the second side wall 11 will be described below.

The second side wall 11 has a main portion 29 lying in a plane generally parallel to the main portion 14 of the first side wall 10. An angled portion 30 extends from one edge of this main portion 29 but, whereas the angled portion 15 of the first side wall 10 projects to the side of the member adjacent the second connecting wall 13, the angled portion 29 of the second side wall extends from the opposite side of the member adjacent the first connecting wall 12. The angled portion 30 of the second side wall is provided at its end remote from the main portion 29 with a channel 16.

The edge 31 of the main portion 29 of the second side wall is provided with a lip 32 and the second flat portion 26 is connected to the main portion 29 at a point spaced inwardly from the lip 32 so that these parts form between them a groove 33 that is co-planar with the groove 28 formed between the first and second flat portions 22,26. In this way, the member is provided with a pair of opposed grooves which can receive a glazed window unit (not shown).

The upstand 21 of the first connecting wall 12 is connected to the second side wall 11 by two webs 34,35. One web 34 forms with the upstand 21, the angled portion 30 of the second side wall 11 and the associated'lip 32 a slot 36 for the receipt of a root of a seal (not shown).

Three intermediate support walls 37,38,39 are also provided.

These walls extend parallel to the main portions 14,29 of the first side wall 10 and the second side wall 11 respectively.

The first intermediate support wall 37 extends between the lower end of the upstand 21 and a second flat portion 26, the second intermediate support wall 38 extends between one side of the channel 18 and the first flat portion 22 and the third intermediate support wall 39 extends from the other edge of the channel 18 to the first flat portion 22.

In order to form a corner between the members suitable for use in a window leaf that is top hung but simulates a sliding sash, a first member 40 of the cross-section described above is taken and a 450 chamfer is cut at one end through the first side wall 10, the first connecting wall 12 and the second connecting wall 13 as far as the first intermediate wall 37 and the upstand 21, which are left intact. This is seen in Figures 2 and 3. The chamfer is made at such a point along the length of the member that a significant length of the second side wall 11 and the upstand 21 and the first intermediate wall 37 project beyond the chamfer (again see Figures 2 and 3). As seen in the Figure 2, these parts may be cut so as to simulate the "horn" of a sash window.

Referring next to Figures 4 and 5, a second member 41 of the cross-section described above is cut with a 450 chamfer for co-operation with the chamfer in the first member 40. The chamfer thus extends through the first side wall 10 and the first connecting wall 11 and the second connecting wall 13 to the upstand 12 and the first intermediate wall 37. Unlike the first member 40, in this case the second side wall 11, the upstand 21, the first intermediate wall 37 and the parts between them are cut back. The first intermediate wall 37 and the upstand 21 with the connecting webs 34,35 and the part of the angled portion 30 of the second side wall 11 forming the slot 36 are cut back to lie in a plane normal to the plane of the main portions 14,29 of the first and second side walls 10,11 and intersecting the second flat portion 26 at the chamfer. The main portion 29 of the second side wall 11 and the remainder of the angled portion 30 are cut to a parallel plane spaced from the other cut back plane by the depth of the groove 28.

The two members can thus be offered up to one another at right angles as seen in Figures 6 and 7. They are then mated together as shown in Figure 8 with the chamfers in contact.

This provides a corner in which the grooves 18 are in register, the channels formed by the grooves 28,33 in the members 40,41 are in register and the seal receiving slots 25 formed by the angled portions 15 of the first side walls 10 are in register. This thus provides a continuous groove 18 on the second connecting surfaces 13 that can support items such as espagnolette mechanisms and other locking devices. The slots 16 can support continuous seals and the grooves 33 can provide continuous support for glazed units. The cut-back portions of the second member 41 butt up against the projecting parts of the first member 40 which extend beyond the corner to simulate the horny of a sash window. The open cavity formed in the first member 40 between the second side wall 11 and the upstand 21 of the first intermediate web 37 may be closed by a suitable end cap.

The first and second members 40,41 may be welded together or glued together or secured together in any other suitable way.

In this way, the two members 40,41 form between them a corner that can be received in a corner of a corresponding frame with the upstand 21 of the two members bearing against the outer face of the frame to limit the closing movement of the leaf into the frame.

Referring next to Figure 9, a similarly profiled third member 42 is formed as a mirror image of the first member 40 and be connected by a its chamfer to a chamfer at the other end of the second member to form a second simulated "horn". A fourth member 43 of the same profile interconnects the other ends of the first and third members 40,42 to complete the leaf. The connections between the fourth member 43 and the first and third members 40,42 are by complete 45 welded chamfer joints.

It will be appreciated that the members need not have the profiles described above; they could have any suitable profiles. In addition, the profiles need not be hollow, they could be solid. Where they are solid, they could be made from wood.

Claims

1. A method of forming a window leaf using first and second frame members each having first and second side walls separated by spaced first and second connecting walls, comprising cutting away an end of the first frame member to form an end chamfer in the first side wall and in at least a portion of the first and second connecting walls while leaving the second side wall projecting beyond the chamfer, cutting away an end of the second member to form a chamfer in the first side wall and in at least a portion of the first and second connecting walls with the second side wall being cut back from the chamfer, the ends being such that the chamfers fit together to form a corner between the first and second members with the extending second side wall of the first member projecting beyond the corner and overlying the cut back second side wall of the second member.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the chamfers in both the first member and the second member extend across a major portion of the first and second connecting walls, the remaining minor portion of the first and second connecting walls projecting beyond the chamfer in the first member and being cut back in the second member.

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the projecting parts of the first member are shaped as a sash window "horn".

4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the chamfer angle is 450 so that a 900 corner is formed between the first and second members.

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the first member and the second member have identical crosssectional shapes.

6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the members are extruded hollow members of a plastics material.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the first member and the second member include an intermediate wall extending between the connecting walls at a position closer to the second side wall than the first side wall, the chamfer in both members extending along the connecting walls to the intermediate wall, with the intermediate wall, the portions of the connecting walls between the intermediate walls and the second wall, and the second wall projecting in the first member and being cut back in the second member.

8. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein second and third frame members are provided, the third member having a chamfer and a projecting side wall as the first member, the second member having, at an end thereof opposite the end having said chamfer and said cut back second side wall, a further chamfer and cut-back second side wall forming a corner with the third frame member with the projecting second side wall of the third frame member extending beyond the corner in the same direction as the projecting second side wall of the first member, the fourth member interconnecting ends of the first and third members remote from said corners to form a frame.

9. A method of forming a window leaf substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

10. A window leaf comprising first and second frame members each having first and second side walls separated by spaced first and second connecting walls, the first member having an end cut away forming an end chamfer in the first side wall and in at least a portion of the first and second connecting walls with the second side wall projecting beyond the chamfer, the second member having an end cut away forming a chamfer in the first side wall and in at least a portion of the first and second connecting walls with the second side wall cut back from the chamfer, the chamfers butting together to form a corner with the extending side wall of the first member projecting beyond the corner and overlying the second side wall of the second member.

11. A window leaf substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.