GB2345312A

GB2345312A - Door or window frame with support spacer

Info

Publication number: GB2345312A
Application number: GB9904222A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen William Gwyther
Original assignee: CARADON EVEREST Ltd
Current assignee: CARADON EVEREST Ltd
Priority date: 1998-12-31
Filing date: 1999-02-25
Publication date: 2000-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 2019-02-25
Also published as: GB9828800D0; GB2345312B; GB9904222D0

Abstract

A building assembly 1 comprises a spacer 44 and an at least partly hollow horizontal member 2, preferably a window frame, the member having an aperture 25 in an underside, the spacer having a body adapted to fit within the member so as to support an upper surface 20 of the member from below, the spacer being insertable through the aperture. With this arrangement, the member may be an extruded plastics cill used in a load bearing application supporting a prop 6 resting on the upper surface 20, without compromising a continuous waterproof upper surface. The spacer may be a cylindrical body, with a vertical axis, having a groove 45 on its upper surface for accommodating any internal weld seams (21', figure 1A), and a base plate 42 on which it may be horizontally adjustable.

Description

An improvement to door and window frames The present invention relates to door and window frames made of plastics.

Door and window frames made of plastics extrusions are known. Such frames are used in both new build and replacement applications. The frames commonly comprise a number of different plastics extrusions which are fabricated into the component parts of a window and or door frame. Such component parts comprise cills, sub-frames, fixed lights and panels, and opening lights and doors. The plastics materials commonly used for the extrusions are selected for their resistance to the weather and sunlight, and low cost. However such plastics tend to be relatively soft and flexible and to suffer from plastic deformation over a period of time when subject to a load.

This plastic deformation is known as creep. Since extrusions formed of such plastics have in general poor structural properties, metal reinforcement is added where required to provide rigidity and strength and to prevent creep.

Such metal reinforcement is frequently used where the frame is large or is required to be a load bearing part of a building to which the frame is to be fitted. An example of an instance where a frame is required to be load bearing is where the frame is to form a bay window, in which case at least one or more structural vertical members are required to provide support to a portion of roof or wall above the frame. Ensuring that adequate metal reinforcement is provided is both time consuming and awkward, adding significant cost to the installation. This is particularly the case where an extruded plastics cill is provided. In such a case, a window frame for a bay window will comprise a single piece cill formed from cut lengths of a plastics extrusion welded together and separate sub frames for each segment of the bay window. It is known to provide flat shims which are inserted into a cut end of a cill during manufacture before the cut ends are welded together.

Known flat shims are shown in Fig. 8, however these have disadvantages since it is necessary to carry a large stock of different shapes and thickness to ensure a satisfactory reinforcement is provided in all instances. For example, Fig. 8 shows 5 different shapes, each of which is required in 3 thicknesses, giving a total of 15 shims to stock. When fitted it is also necessary to retain the shims in position in the cill, and this is frequently done by inserting a screw from the underside of the cill through the shims or at an end of the shims. On fitting the frame to an opening in a building, it is frequently the case that there is an inadequate bearing for the cill at the place where the shims are inserted, and an installer will have to mix a small amount of mortar to provide an adequate bearing. A disadvantage of this is that the mortar may be easily displaced by the installer while installing the cill, as this frequently has to be inserted into the opening by sliding horizontally to clear obstructions. A further disadvantage is that the mortar has low strength until a period of time has elapsed to allow the mortar to set sufficiently.

According to the present invention there is provided a building assembly comprising a spacer and an at least partly hollow horizontal member, the member having an aperture in an under-side, the spacer having a body adapted to fit within the member so as to support an upper surface of the member from below, the spacer being insertable through the aperture.

An advantage of a spacer according to the invention is that it is easy and quick to fit. A further benefit is that one size of spacer can be arranged so that it can fit a range of different horizontal members.

Preferably the spacer body is arranged to be inserted into the horizontal member through the aperture.

In an embodiment of the invention the spacer comprises a substantially cylindrical body, the axis of which is vertical when fitted to the member.

Alternatively shaped embodiments include spacers made from hexagonal section bar, and also rectangular section spacers.

A benefit of a substantially cylindrical spacer is ease of manufacture by casting processes, while hexagonal bar may be preferred if the spacer is to be made by machining. Hexagonal or rectangular spacers may provide benefits where it is desired to prevent rotation of the spacer.

Preferably the spacer body has at least one groove on its upper surface which when fitted to the member extends horizontally.

Preferably the spacer is arranged to engage with the aperture so as to retain the spacer in the member. A benefit of the spacer being arranged so that it is retained in the aperture once inserted is that the building assembly may be handled on a building site or transported to a building site as a single unit complete with the spacer.

In another embodiment the spacer is provided with a base plate.

Preferably the base plate is adjustable horizontally with respect to the spacer body.

In an alternative embodiment the base plate is formed as a part of the spacer body.

A benefit of the spacer being provided with a base plate is that a load being supported by the spacer is spread over a larger area of a building opening to which the building assembly is mounted and point loads are avoided. More preferably the spacer may be provided with an adjustable mounting where preferably the base plate is dimensioned and the adjustable mounting is arranged such that the plate may be positioned so that it does not protrude a rear side of the cill. A benefit of this is that the base plate may be positioned so that it does not foul other parts of the building.

A further advantage of a base plate is that it may provide support to the cill packing spacer. An example of this is when a frame is installed to an opening in a brick wall. Such a wall may have an uneven surface on which the frame is to be rested. Further the wall may comprise bricks comprising frogs, wherein the frogs face upwards and are not filled with mortar to provide a smooth surface on which to stand the frame. Hence the plate dimensions are preferably greater than a dimension across the frogs. An advantage of this is that the plate may provide support to the spacer in such an installation, without the use of mortar being necessary.

Preferably the spacer body is provided with at least a groove longitudinally on the cylindrical surface In a further embodiment the horizontal member may be an extruded plastics cill. The cill may form part of a frame for a window and or a door, the spacer being inserted into a suitable aperture formed in an under-side of the cill.

Preferably the cill is extruded with a hollow portion extending along its length. The hollow portion is bounded by an upper wall, a front wall, a rear wall, and a lower wall. The lower wall forming the under-side of the cill.

The upper wall preferably forming an upper-side of the cill. Preferably the suitable aperture is formed in the under-side of the cill and opens into at least part of the hollow portion.

Preferably the spacer has a height so that a bottom surface of the spacer may protrude the under-side of the sill, when a top surface of the spacer is positioned against an internal surface of the upper wall.

The horizontal member may be formed as an assembly of two similar members, each having a cut end, the similar members being joined at the cut ends. The join may be made by a process such as hot plate welding, or any other suitable method, including adhesives, solvent adhesives and other welding processes. Preferably such a join forms a continuous surface on at least an upper side of the cill, and more preferably the continuous surface is waterproof. A benefit of this is that such a horizontal member may be shaped to conform with a building opening.

The aperture may be formed between the similar members. A benefit of this is that support may be provided to each of the two horizontal members at a join.

The aperture may be formed in one of the similar members. A benefit of this is that support may be provided to the horizontal member other than at an end or a join. This is of benefit in particular installations where there may be a long horizontal member and it is desired to provide support at intermediate locations. An example of such an installation would be a large square bay window.

In another embodiment of the invention, a spacer is provided for the said building assembly, the spacer having a body adapted to fit within the member so as to support an upper surface of the member from below, the spacer having means for locating in the aperture.

In an adjustable embodiment the spacer is adjustable for height with respect to the base plate. A benefit of this is that the horizontal member can be adjusted to be horizontal and levei even when mounted to an aperture that is not.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectioned side view of a frame comprising a spacer mounted to a cill with a prop positioned above the cill according to an aspect of the invention (note that in this view weld flash along the sectional line has been omitted for clarity) ; Figure 1A is a similar view to Figure 1 of a portion of the same frame, but showing the frame mounted on a typical brick wall and showing typical weld flash; Figure 2 is a plan view from underneath the frame shown in Figure 1 viewed in the direction of arrow M1 in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of the same spacer shown in Figure 1 according to an aspect of invention ; Figure 3A is a plan view from above of the spacer shown in Figure 3; Figure 3B is a sectional view of the spacer shown in Figure 3 ; Figure 4 is a side view of a second spacer according to an aspect of invention; Figure 4A is a plan view from above of the second spacer shown in Figure 4; Figure 5 is a plan view of a plate according to an aspect of the invention; Figure 6 is a side view of a third spacer according to an embodiment of invention; Figure 6A is a plan view from above of the third spacer shown in Figure 6; Figure 6B is an underneath plan view of the third spacer shown in Figure 6; Figure 6C is a sectional view of the third spacer shown in Figure 6 viewed in the direction of arrows A6; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a fourth spacer according to the invention ; Figure 8 shows a known shim system used for packing extruded plastics cills ; and Figure 9 is a partly sectioned side view of a frame comprising a spacer with a jacking means mounted to a cill with a prop positioned above the cill according to an aspect of the invention (note that in this view weld flash along the sectional line has been omitted for clarity).

From Figure 1, a frame 1 according to the invention is shown sectioned along a weld line W2 shown in Figure 2, and viewed in the direction of arrow R2. In this view, weld flash along the sectional line of W2 has been omitted for clarity. The frame comprises a cill 2 to which a spacer 4 is mounted.

The cill 2 is an at least partly hollow horizontal member. The frame further comprises a prop 6 which is mounted to an upper-side 20 of the cill 2. The spacer 4 comprises a plate 42 and a spacer body 44, which in Figure 1 are shown retained together by a rivet 56 which is snap fitted into a counterbore 48 in the spacer body 44, through a slot 49 in the plate, so that a rivet head 50 abuts a bottom surface 51 of plate 42. The spacer body 44 has a groove 45 across a top end 46. An aperture 25 made in a lower wall 26 allows the spacer body 44 to be inserted into an enclosed cavity 28. The prop 6 comprises a rigid pole 61, with a plug 70 having a foot 62 which rests on the upper-side 20. From Figure 1 A, the plug 70 can be seen to comprise a spigot 71 which locates in hole 68. The prop 6 further comprises a jacking head 63, which comprises a top plate 64 with fixing holes 65 and 66 through which screws or nails (not shown) may be fixed into timber or brickwork above the frame (not shown). The jacking head 63 also comprises a threaded stud 67 which is rigidly connected to the top plate 64 and is also located in a clearance hole 68 formed in pole 61. The threaded stud 67 is fitted with a nut 69 so that an overall height LI of the prop 6 may be adjusted to suit a vertical dimension of an opening into which the frame is to be inserted. By tightening the nut 69 when the frame is fitted into an opening in a building structure, it is possible to ensure that adequate support is provided for the building structure and any movement of the structure may be minimised.

From Figure 1 A, part of the same frame 1 as shown in Fig. 1 may be seen, however in this view it will be seen that weld flash 21 is shown on all internal surfaces. On external surfaces, such as the upper-side 20, underside 22 and rear profile 24 have had the weld flash removed, and additionally the surfaces which will remain visible after the installation of the frame (such as sloping face 23) have also been polished to give a virtually blemish free surface. Although it is relatively easy to remove the weld flash and to polish the external surfaces, this is difficult or impossible on internal surfaces, and normally not necessary. Hence in the enclosed cavity 28 before aperture 25 has been made it is not possible to remove the weld flash 21 which protrudes into the enclosed cavity, and when aperture 25 is made in the lower wall 26 it is still difficult to remove the weld flash reliably. Hence groove 45 is provided across the top end 46, so that top end 46 may rest firmly against inner surface 30 of the upper-side 20 and any weld flash 21' protruding into the enclosed cavity 28 from inner surface 30 is accommodated within the groove 45.

Where a joining process is used to join two sections of cill together without leaving the weld flash after the aperture has been formed, then the groove 45 may not be required.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same frame as shown in Figures 1 and 1 A viewed in the direction of arrow M1 in Fig. 1. From Figure 2 it may be seen that frame 1 comprises cill 2 (visible in Figures 1 and 1A) and a second cill 3, which are joined at weld line W2. In the lower walls 26 and 26'the aperture 25 has been made, and into this aperture the spacer body 44 has been inserted. An angle C2 between the two cills 2 and 3 is adjusted to suit the particular opening into which a frame is designed to fit. Hence the angle C2 may commonly vary from 90 degrees through 180 degrees to 270 degrees.

A single frame may have one or more welds such as W2 which may have the same or differing angles C2. A benefit of welding two sections of cill together is that a watertight joint is obtained, and this prevents the penetration of rain water from the upper-side 20 and sloping face 23 through to the structure of the building to which the frame is fitted.

A particular embodiment where it is beneficial to exclude water reliably from the inside of a cill member is where a dark wood-grain finish is applied to the external surface of the cill, that is upper side 20. In such an embodiment the effect of solar heating on the dark finish causes a considerable rise in temperature, that may give rise to softening of the plastics material of the cill, hence in such an embodiment steel reinforcement is fitted to the hollow section of the cill adjacent to the spacer. The life of steel reinforcement is reduced if it is subject to water penetration of the hollow part of the cill.

An advantage of the present invention is that this watertight joint between the upper face and sloping face of two adjacent cills is not impaire by the use of a spacer according to the present invention. A reason for this is that the spacer is inserted upwards from below the cills into an aperture made in an under-side of the cills.

It may also be seen from Fig. 2 that the aperture 25 is not necessarily circular, and it may be advantageous to make the aperture before the two cills are welded together using a punch and die that remove a substantially D shaped portion from the lower wall 26 of the end of the cill. Hence as the angle C2 is altered to suit a particular installation, so the shape of aperture 25 will alter.

Figure 9 shows a partly sectioned side view of a frame 900 comprising a spacer 904 with a jacking means 903 mounted to a cill 902 with a prop pole 961 resting on an upper side 920 of the cill 902. The prop pole 961 has a plug 970 with a foot 962, and is similar to the prop 6 in Figure 1. The prop comprising prop pole 961 may be used to provide support to a building structure in the same manner as prop 6. The cill 902 is an at least partly hollow horizontal member. The spacer 904 further comprises a plate 942 and a spacer body 944, which in the jacking embodiment of Figure 9 are located together by a threaded stud 946 which is a clearance fit in bore 948 in the spacer body 944. The spacer body 944 has a groove 945 across a top end 946 so that the top end may rest against inner surface 930 and any weld flash (not shown) is accommodated in the groove 945. An aperture 925 made in a lower wall 926 allows the spacer body 944 to be inserted into an enclosed cavity 928. The jacking means 903 comprises the plate 942 to which the threaded stud 946 is mounted, and a nut 950 which bears against a bottom face 949 of the spacer 944. Preferably a retaining means 951 is provided to retain the threaded stud 946 in the bore 948. The retaining means 951 could be an 0-ring or other insert, that will allow relative movement between the threaded stud and the spacer body 944.

In use, the spacer 944 is assembled to the cill 902 by insertion through the aperture 925, and the jacking means is assemble to the spacer body. The whole assembly 900 is then fitted into an opening in a building structure, and before the prop comprising prop pole 961 is tightened, the cill may be adjusted using the jacking means 903 to adjust a jacking height B9 to ensure that the surface 920 is horizontal. along a length of the cill.

In a similar embodiment (not shown) to that shown in Figure 9, the spacer has a threaded bore corresponding to bore 948 to receive a threaded stud corresponding to stud 946, so that the nut 950 is not required, and an overall un-extended height (corresponding to a minimum height of the jacking height B9 of the spacer can be minimised.

A benefit of this embodiment is that the assembly 900 may be used where the opening in the building structure is not level, without having to first make the opening level.

Figure 3 shows a side view of a spacer 300 which is the same as the spacer body 44 shown in Figs. 1,1A and 2. Figure 3A shows a plan view from above of the spacer 300, and Figure 3B shows a sectional view of the spacer viewed in the direction of arrows 3S in Figure 3A. From these Figs.

3,3A and 3B, it may be seen that the spacer is substantially cylindrical with a top end 346 having a groove 345 across it. The cylindrical shape is tapered slightly towards the top end 346, so that a diameter 3T at the top end is smaller than a diameter 3B at a bottom end 347. The spacer has two flat sides 310 and 312 which extend from the top end to the bottom end 347, and are substantially perpendicular to the groove 345. A dimension 3F across the flat sides is less than the diameter 3T. A retaining groove 330 is provided around the cylindrical shape, and a dimension 3G is the same or less than the dimension 3T. The purpose of the retaining groove 330 is to provide a snap fit feature to retain the spacer 300 in an aperture (such as aperture 25 in Fig. 1) in a cill, so that any weld flash on a weld line remains aligned with groove 345, and an installer may lift a cill fitted with the spacer into an opening in a structure without the spacer becoming detached from the cill The spacer 300 has a counter-bore 380 to receive a rivet (such as a rivet 56 shown in Fig. 1) which is snap fitted into the counter-bore 380 and retained by the step 382 in the counter-bore. The counter-bore 380 may also be tapered to assist in manufacture if the spacer is to be cast.

Figure 4 shows a side view of a second spacer 400. Figure 4A shows a plan view from above of the second spacer 400. From these Figs. 4 and 4A it may be seen that the spacer is substantially hexagonal with a top end 446 having a groove 445 across it. The hexagonal shape is tapered slightly towards the top end 446, so that a dimension 4T at the top end is smaller than a dimension 4B at a bottom end 447. The spacer has two flat sides 410 and 412 which extend from the top end to the bottom end 447, and are substantially perpendicular to the groove 445. A dimension 4F across the flat sides is less than the dimension 4T. A retaining groove 430 is provided around the hexagonal shape, and a dimension 4G is the same or less than the dimension 4T. A purpose of the retaining groove 430 is to provide a snap fit feature to retain the spacer 400 in an aperture (such as aperture 25 in Fig. 1) in a cill, so that any weld flash on a weld fine remains aligned with groove 445, and an installer may lift a cill fitted with the spacer into an opening in a structure without the spacer becoming detached from the cill Spacer 400 is shown without a counter-bore, but may be provided with one similar to counter-bore 380 or an alternative means of locating a load plate similar to load plate 500.

Figure 6 shows a side view of a third spacer 600 which is generally similar to the spacer body 44 shown in Figs. 1,1 A and 2. Figure 6A shows a plan view from above and Figure 6B shows a plan view from below of the third spacer 600, and Figure 6C shows a sectional view of the spacer viewed in the direction of arrows A6 in Figure 6B. From these Figs. 6,6A, 6B and 6C, it may be seen that the spacer is substantially cylindrical with a top end 646 having two grooves 644 and 645 across it. The cylindrical shape is tapered slightly towards the top end 646, so that a diameter 6T at the top end is smaller than a diameter 6M at a middle 649. The spacer has four vertical grooves 610,611,612 and 613 which extend from the top end to a bottom end 647, and are substantially perpendicular to the grooves 644 and 645. A dimension 6F across the bottom of the vertical grooves is less than the diameter 6T. A retaining feature is provided around the cylindrical shape by four protruding wedges 631,632,633 and 634, which each have a retaining face 635,636,637 and 638 respectively. The purpose of the retaining feature is to provide a snap fit feature to retain the spacer 600 in an aperture (such as aperture 25 in Fig. 1) in a cill, so that any weld flash on a weld line remains aligned with groove 645, and an installer may lift a cill fitted with the spacer into an opening in a structure without the spacer becoming detached from the cill.

The spacer 600 has a counter-bore 680 to receive a rivet (such as a rivet 56 shown in Fig. 1) which is snap fitted into the counter-bore 680 and retained by the step 682 in the counter-bore. The counter-bore 680 may also be tapered to assist in manufacture if the spacer is to be cast.

The spacer 600 has a height 6H, such that the height 6H is preferably at least equal to or slightly greater than an internal height H1 as shown in Fig. 1 of the cill 2. An advantage of the spacer having such a height 6H is that the spacer is thus able to prevent deflection of the cill under a load applied through a prop mounted on the cill. Another advantage of the spacer 600 over the prior art described with reference to Fig. 8 below, is that having such a height 6H since the underside 647 protrudes the cill, large variations in manufacturing tolerance on the height H1 may be easily accommodated by one size of spacer 600; further it is possible for one size of spacer to be used with different cill profiles that have different dimensions for the enclosed space 28 shown in Fig. 1, preferably provided that the spacer is retained in the aperture once inserted by the retaining feature (that is 631 to 638).

From Figure 2, it was noted above that the shape of the aperture 25 may not be circular, hence a benefit of the embodiment described above of the spacer 600 is that the snap fit features of this embodiment will retain the spacer in a range of aperture shapes.

The flat sides 310 and 312 ensure that the spacer 300 clears any weld flash (such as 21"in Fig. 1A) that may protrude into an enclosed cavity into which the spacer 300 is to be inserted. Vertical grooves 610,611,612 and 613 of spacer 600 perform the same function. The flat sides and grooves also enable the spacer to be orientated on insertion into an aperture (such as 25 Fig. 1) so that the groove 345,445, and 644 or 645 is aligned with a weld line (such as W2 in Fig. 1A), and any weld flash (such as 21'in Fig. 1 A) will be accommodated in the groove.

Figure 5 shows a plan view of a plate 500 for use with a spacer such as those described herein, and is similar to the plate 42 shown in Figures 1,1A and 2. The plate 500 is rectangular, although other shapes may provide similar benefits, and has a long side 502, a short side 504, a flat face 506 and has a thickness 5T (not visible in this figure). Through the thickness of the plate, approximately centrally positioned in the flat face 506 is a slot 508. The long side 502 preferably has a length that is greater than at least a dimension across a standard frog of a building brick. The plate is made of a strong material, suitable materials being corrosion resistant metals, a suitable such material being an aluminium alloy. The plate has a thickness 5T which is preferably such that the maximum load likely to be applied by a spacer, combined with the maximum dimension across a frog that the spacer is likely to have to span, will not exceed a safe working stress for the material used. For a particular aluminium alloy, a suitable dimension for the thickness 5T has been found to be approximately 6 mm. This has additional benefits of allowing a sufficient gap between the portions of the cill visible in Fig. 2 that are not supported by the spacer to be supported or filled by other gap fillers. Suitable gap fillers include cement mortar or mastics or foaming adhesives. The slot 508 is dimensioned such that a width 5W provides a clearance size for a shank of a rivet such as rivet 56 in Fig. 1. The slot 508 also has a length 5L to allow the plate to be moved relative to a spacer to which it is mounted with a rivet. The length of the long side 502 and the length 5L of the slot 508 should be such that it is possible for an installer to position the plate substantially within the profile of a window cill so that as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 1 a projection P1 can be small. A benefit of this is that the plate may be completely concealed when the installation is completed.

A benefit of using the flat plate together with a spacer is that the flat plate provides a strong bearing surface to take the load transmitted by the spacer and transmit it to a structure on which a cill is installed. This helps prevent the spacer applying a potentially damaging point load to the building structure. The dimensions of the long side 502 and the short side 504 are such that the plate 500 will span any vertical mortar joints, brick frogs or other imperfections in an opening into which the frame is to be installed, so that an installer does not have to do time consuming repair work on an opening, or provide mortar bearing pads which have a high risk of being accidentally displaced while the installer is installing the cill or the frame.

Figure 7 shows an alternative embodiment 700, comprising a spacer body 702 and a base plate 703 which are formed as one item. The spacer body 702 is substantially cylindrical with a top end 746 having a groove 745 across it. The cylindrical shape is tapered slightly towards the top end 746, so that a diameter 7T at the top end is smaller than a diameter 7B at a bottom end 747. A retaining groove 730 is formed around the cylindrical shape. The purpose of the retaining groove 730 is to provide a snap fit feature to retain the spacer 700 in an aperture (such as aperture 25 in Fig. 1) in a cill, so that any weld flash on a weld line remains aligned with groove 745, and an installer may lift a cill fitted with the spacer into an opening in a structure without the spacer becoming detached from the cill. Base plate 703 forms a load plate similar to load plate 500. In use the base plate 703 spreads the load transmitted through the spacer 700 across a sufficiently large area of the building structure to prevent damage to the structure from a point load. Hence the size 7S of the base plate 703 is determined from a maximum loading that may be applied to the structure.

Figure 8 shows a range of five different known profiles of cill packing shims 801 to 805. In use these are used to fill an enclosed cavity such as enclosed cavity 28 in Fig. 1, by inserting them into a cut end of the cill 2 between the lower wall 26 and inner surface 30. To obtain the desired benefit from the shims, it is necessary to select the sizes of shims to ensure that preferably there is less than one millimetre of a gap between the shims and the inner surface 30. In selecting the shims it is necessary to select the correct profile to suit an angle C2 (Fig. 2) between the adjacent cill sections.

It is then necessary to ensure that the shims remain in the correct position after the two cill sections have been welded together, and this is done by inserting a screw upwards through the lower wall 26 adjacent to an end of the shims so that it protrudes into the enclosed cavity and forms a stop to prevent the shims sliding along the enclosed cavity away from the weld line.

The said screw may also be used to retain a shim, normally an 8 mm thick shim against the external underside surface of the lower wall 26 The shims will now prevent the enclosed cavity 28 collapsing under a load transmitted by a prop 6 supporting a building structure. Hence provided an installer has ensured that there is sufficient support under the cill, for example a cement mortar bearing pad, a frame fitted with the shims will adequately support the building structure and ensure that any movement is minimised and resultant damage is avoided. Some disadvantages of using shims, are the complexity of the operation of inserting the shims ; the large range of shims profiles and thicknesses that are required to ensure adequate packing of a cavity ; and the risk that the cement mortar bearing will not provide intimate contact and support to the cill at the location of the shims.

In a typical installation of a cill in a bay window where the cill and frame are required to be load bearing to provide support to portion of roof or wall above the frame, it has been found advantageous to minimise any displacement of the roof or wall above to avoid damage to the roof or wall above. It has been found that it is preferable to limit such displacement to less than 2 mm, as otherwise visible cracks or other damage may become apparent after an installation of a replacement frame. Such cracks or damage are expensive for an installer to rectify, and also cause customer dissatisfaction giving the installer and the product he is using a poor reputation. Hence a benefit of the present invention is that means are provided to easily enable an installer to more reliably minimise the displacement that might otherwise occur during or subsequent to an installation.

Claims

C L A I M S 1. A building assembly comprising a spacer and an at least partly hollow horizontal member, the member having an aperture in an under side, the spacer having a body adapted to fit within the member so as to support an upper surface of the member from below, the spacer being insertable through the aperture.
2. A building assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spacer body is arranged to be inserted into the horizontal member through the aperture.
3. A building assembly as claimed in either claim 1 or 2, wherein the spacer comprises a substantially cylindrical body, the axis of which is vertical when fitted to the member.
4. A building assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the spacer body has at least one groove on its upper surface which when fitted to the member extends horizontal.
5. A building assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the spacer is arranged to engage with the aperture so as to retain the spacer in the member.
6. A building assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the spacer is provided with a base plate.
7. A building assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the base plate is adjustable horizontally with respect to the spacer body.
8. A building assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the base plate is formed as a part of the spacer body.
9. A building assembly as claimed in any of claims 3 to 8, wherein the spacer body is provided with at least a groove longitudinally on the cylindrical surface
10. A building assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the horizontal member is an extruded plastics cill.
11. A building assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the horizontal member comprises two similar members, each having a cut end, the similar members being joined at the cut ends.
12. A building assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein the aperture is formed between the similar members.
13. A building assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein the aperture is formed in one of the similar members.
14. A building assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the spacer is adjustable for height with respect to the base plate.
15. A building assembly substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 7.

15. A spacer for the assembly of any one of the preceding claims having a body adapted to fit within the member so as to support an upper surface of the member from below, the spacer having means for locating in the aperture.

16. A building assembly substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 7.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows C L A I M S 1. A building assembly comprising a spacer and an at least partly hollow horizontal member, the member having an aperture in an under side, the spacer having a body adapted to fit within the member so as to support an upper surface of the member from below, the spacer being insertable through the aperture.

2. A building assembly as claims in ciaim 1, wherein the spacer comprises a substantially cylindrical body, the axis of which is vertica ! when fitted to the member.

3. A building assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the spacer body has at least one groove on its upper surface which when fitted to the member extends horizontally.

4. A building assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the spacer is arranged to engage with the aperture so as to retain the spacer in the member.

5. A building assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the spacer is provided with a base plate.

6. A building assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the base plate is adjustable horizontally with respect to the spacer body.

7. A building assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the base plate is formed as a part of the spacer body.

8. A building assembly as claimed in any of claims 2 to 7, wherein the spacer body is provided with at least a groove longitudinally on the cylindrical surface 9. A building assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the horizontal member is an extruded plastics cill.

10. A building assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the horizontal member comprises two similar members, each having a cut end, the similar members being joined at the cut ends.

11. A building assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein the aperture is formed between the similar members.

12. A building assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein the aperture is formed in one of the similar members.

13. A building assembly as claimed in ciaim 5 wherein the spacer is adjustable for height with respect to the base plate.

14. A spacer for the assembly of any one of the preceding claims having a body adapted to fit within the member so as to support an upper surface of the member from below, the spacer having means for locating in the aperture.