GB2343475A

GB2343475A - An adjustable frame comprising a latching arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2343475A
Application number: GB9824402A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barry John Bates
Original assignee: TOWNES KEVIN JOHN
Current assignee: TOWNES KEVIN JOHN
Priority date: 1998-11-07
Filing date: 1998-11-07
Publication date: 2000-05-10
Anticipated expiration: 2018-11-07
Also published as: GB9824402D0; GB2343475B

Abstract

A door or window frame which may be mounted in walls of different thicknesses without modification comprises at least one plate 5 and elongate frame members 11, 20. The or each plate 5 and the first elongate frame member 11 comprise a latching arrangement, e.g. upstanding projections 7 and serrations 15. Movement of the first frame member 11 towards the or each plate 5 causes the first and second latching components 7, 15, to interengage, enabling the distance between the frame members 11, 20 and therefore the depth of the frame to be varied.

Description

FRAMES FOR DOORS AND WINDOWS This invention relates to door and window frames. More especially, the invention relates to a kit of parts for door and window frames of ajustable width.

Conventionally, door and window frames are constructed from wood or plastics and are secured to the wall edges which border the opening to be closed by a door or window. Each frame length is normally of integral construction, the individual lengths being joined through appropriate joints.

Generally frames are produced in a range of depths to accommodate different wall thicknesses normally to be found in buildings. The wall thicknesses in any given building may vary thus requiring a range of door or window frames of different depths to be employed. This is more likely to occur when replacing a door or window frame in buildings such as hospitals and hotels. For wall thicknesses not normally to be found in buildings, oneoff frames need to be constructed.

In the past, the problem of varying wall thicknesses has been addressed by the use of ajustable frames including two members, one for each side of the frame, the two members inter-engageable by engagement means sited on each member. However, such arrangements are complex and therefore expensive to manufacture.

One object of the present invention is to provide a simplifie assembly system for a frame for an opening whose depth can be selectively and simply adjusted to enable the frame to match a range of wall thicknesses.

According to the present invention there is provided a kit of parts for a door or window frame for a wall having an opening with a facing, comprising: at least one plate attachable to the facing on at least one side of the opening, the or each plate including a first component of latching means; a first elongate member which defines one side of the frame including a second component of the latching means; and a second elongate member which defines the other side of the frame, the arrangement being such that movement of the first frame member towards the or each plate causes the first and second latching components to interengage to enable the distance between the frame members and therefore the depth of the frame to be varied.

Typically, the kit of parts further comprises means to secure the second elongate member to the facing, plate and/or first elongate member.

Preferably, the or each plate includes at least one upstanding longitudinal projection to form the first component of the latching means, and wherein the first frame member is formed with a first section which, in use, lies in contact with one side of a wall which borders the opening to be framed, and a second section which, in use, lies across at least a part of the width of the wall, the second section including serrations which define the second component of the latching mechanism, the or each projection cooperating with the serrations to locate the first frame member with respect to the plate.

Preferably, the plate further comprises a section which, in use, lies in contact with one side of the wall which borders the opening to be framed, the section including engaging means to engage with the second elongate member on a section which, in use, lies in contact with the same side of the wall which borders the opening to be framed.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section taken through one side of a window frame assemble from a kit of parts in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is an exploded view of the complete window frame illustrated in Figure 1.

An assemble window frame 1 is shown in part in Figure 1. A wall 2 has an opening 3 and facing 4. A plate 5 is attached by a screw 6 to the facing 4. The plate has a plurality of upstanding projections 7 equally spaced on the surface of the plate opposite the facing. The plate also has a section 8 which abuts the surface 9 of the wall to be framed. The plate section 8 has upstanding projections 10. A first elongate member 11 has one section 12 lying in contact with one side of the wall 2 which borders the opening 3 to be framed, and a second section 14 which, in use, lies across a part of the width of the wall, the second section including serrations 15.

In position, the first elongate member 11 engages the plate 5 attached to the facing. Relative movement of the first member with the facing is prevented by the interaction between the serrations 15 and the upstanding projections 7.

A second elongate member 20 slides inside the first elongate member and forms the means to attach a window pane through channel 22. The second elongate member 20 has one section 23 lying in contact with one side of the wall 2 which borders the opening 3 to be framed. Section 23 has upstanding projections 24 to engage with the projections 10 on the plate 5.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely exemplary of a frame assemble from a kit of parts in accordance with the invention and that modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A kit of parts for a door or window frame for a wall having an opening with a facing, comprising: at least one plate attachable to the facing on at least one side of the opening, the or each plate including a first component of latching means; a first elongate member which defines one side of the frame including a second component of the latching means; and a second elongate member which defines the other side of the frame, the arrangement being such that movement of the first frame member towards the or each plate causes the first and second latching components to interengage to enable the distance between the frame members and therefore the depth of the frame to be varied.
2. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means to secure the second elongate member to the facing, plate and/or first elongate member.
3. A kit of parts as claimed in Claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the or each plate includes at least one upstanding longitudinal projection to form the first component of the latching means, and wherein the first frame member is formed with a first section which, in use, lies in contact with one side of a wall which borders the opening to be framed, and a second section which, in use, lies across at least a part of the width of the wall, the second section including serrations which define the second component of the latching mechanism, the or each projection co-operating with the serrations to locate the first frame member with respect to the plate.
4. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 3 wherein the plate further comprises a section which, in use, lies in contact with one side of the wall which borders the opening to be framed, the section including engaging means to engage with the second elongate member on a section which, in use, lies in contact with the same side of the wall which borders the opening to be framed.
5. A kit of parts substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.