GB2357798A

GB2357798A - Cover elements for plant-on window bars

Info

Publication number: GB2357798A
Application number: GB9930877A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Hurst; Matthew Cubitt
Original assignee: Anglian Windows Ltd
Current assignee: Anglian Windows Ltd
Priority date: 1999-12-30
Filing date: 1999-12-30
Publication date: 2001-07-04
Anticipated expiration: 2019-12-30
Also published as: GB0108251D0; GB2357798B; GB2358662A; GB2358662B; GB9930877D0

Abstract

A plant-on dividing bar arrangement for the glazing of a Georgian style window or door, wherein profiled cover elements (20, 22) matching the profile of the bars conceal the junctions where profiled dividing bars (10) meet one another and the main frame (18). The cover elements may be cruciform (20) or linear (22) in shape.

Description

2357798 A- Plant-On Dividing Bar Arrangement This invention relates to a

plant-on dividing bar arrangement for the glazing of Georgian style windows or doors.

In the field of UPVC windows and doors, it is often desired to incorporate Georgian style features. As far as the glazing is concerned, it is current practice for this styling to be achieved by means of plant- on dividing bar arrangements, i.e. dividing bar arrangements which are adhered, as by means of double-sided tape, to both faces of the glass.

In order to make the styling more realistic and aesthetically attractive, the dividing bars are usually profiled in cross-section. Ibus, where one dividing bar meets another, or meets the main frame of the window or door, which is also profiled, it has been necessary to cut the end face of the bar with a profile which substantially exactly matches the profiled surface against which it is to abut.

The conventional practice for such dividing bar arrangements is not by any means wholly satisfactory, firstly because profiling the end faces of the dividing bars is an expensive and time consuming process, because tolerances are minimal, and secondly because in use problems can arise due to differential expansion between the glass and the plastics dividing bars.

According to the invention, there is provided a plant-on dividing bar arrangement for the glazing of a Georgian style window or door, wherein the bars are profiled in cross-section and at their ends tereminate in planes at least approximately normal to the lengths of the bars, and where the planar bar end of any one bar meets the profile of another bar at a bar junction, or meets the profile of the main frame at the edge of the glazing, a profiled cover element is provided to conceal 2the gap between the planar bar end and the profiled surface which it meets.

Preferaly, each dividing bar is cut fractionally short of that length required for the bar to abut against any points of the profiled surfaces between which it will extend, the fractionally increased gaps at junctions also being concealed by the cover elements. Moreover, at such junction, it can be arranged that, beneath the cover elements, relative movement can take place between one dividing bar and the bar or frame which it meets, whereby to accommodate differential expansion between the glazing and the dividing bars, At a junction between dividing bars, the cover element is, for a rectilinear dividing bar arrangement, preferably generally of cruciform shape in plan view, one bar passing continuously through and beneath two opposite limbs of the cruciform and the planar ends of the bars meeting said one bar beneath the other two opposite limbs of the cruciform, preferably with freedom for fractional sliding movement. 'Re cruciform shaped cover element is preferably fixed to the first said bar, as by clipping thereto or by means of an interference fit between hidden formations on the bar and cover element.

At a junction where a dividing bar meets the profiled main frame, the cover element may be a simple linear tunnel, possibly adhered to the main frame, into which the dividing bar engages, preferably with clearance for fractional sliding movement.

In both cases, the cover elements preferably have an overall crosssectional profile, through the limbs of the cruci form- shaped cover element and the linear tunnel of the glazing edge element, which matches the profile of the dividing bars, so that in use said cover elements stand only very slightly proud of the bars and have minimal effect on the overall appearance of the dividing bar arrangement.

At the edge of the glazing, whe re the cover elements meet the frame of the window or door, the outer end face of each tunnel shaped element is formed to match and lie flat against the profile of the frame.

The cover elements can be individually moulded to shape, enabling the profiling of the cut end faces of the dividing bars produced by extrusion to be wholly avoided.

The invention is further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 shows one plant-on dividing bar arrangement in exploded view; Figure 2 shows in underplan view, elevational view from any side, and plan view, the cover element for the junction between dividing bars in the arrangement of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows in inner end view, side view and underplan view the cover element for the glazing edge junctions between the dividing bars and the main frame in the arrangement of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows another plant-on dividing bar arrangement in exploded view; Figure 5 shows in two perspective views, underplan view, side view and plan view the cover element for the junction between dividing bars in the arrangement of Figure 4; and Figure 6 shows in two perspective views, side view, plan view, opposite side view and inner end view the cover element for the glazing edge junctions between the dividing bars and the main frame in the arrangement of Figure 4.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a plant-on dividing bar arrangement for a small window. The dividing bars 10 have a very approximately triangular, hollow cross-section, with straight cut end faces 12, i.e. end faces cut in a plane at least approximately normal to the length of the bar, instead of being conventionally cut with end faces to match the profiled surface against which they are to meet. These straight cut end faces would, when the dividing bars are placed on the glazing, as by means of double-sided adhesive tape, leave gaps at the central junction 14 between the dividing bars and the edge junctions 16 and between the dividing bars and the profiled main frame 18 of the window.

Additionally, the dividing bars are cut to a length slightly less than that required for a tight abutting arrangement, thereby slightly to increase the aforesaid gaps. In order to conceal these gaps, cover elements are provided. In Figure 1, there is shown the cover element 20 which covers the junction between dividing bars and the cover element 22 which covers the edge junctions.

Figure 2 shows the cover element 20 and Figure 3 shows the cover element 22.

The cover element 20 is of cruciform shape in plan view (see Figures 2A and 2Q. When the cover element is fitted, one dividing bar 10A extends continuously through and beneath the cover element, i.e. through two opposite limbs thereof, whilst the dividing bars 10B are received into the other two opposite limbs, leaving a very small longitudinal clearance for sliding movement between the bars 10B and the cover element, whereby to accommodate differential expansion of the dividing bars and the glazing, i.e. slight increase and decrease of the aforesaid gap.

The cover element 20 fits to the dividing bar 10A by means of a square peg 24 at the interior centre of the element (see Figure 2B), this square peg being a tight interference fit into a circular hole in the top wall of the bar 10A.

Although not fully apparent from Figure 2, the cover element 20 is thin walled, has the same colour, and has an exterior profile and interior profile closely matching the profile formed by the dividing bars 10A, lOB at the junction between them, whereby in practice the cover element stands only slightly proud of the dividing bars and does not materially affect the aesthetic appearance of the dividing bar arrangement.

The cover element 22 for use at the edge of the glazing is of a linear tunnel shape, also closely matching the profile of the dividing bars 10. It has one end closed by a face 26 shaped to match the exterior profile of the window frame 18 (see Figure 313) and on the interior it has a centre stiffener 28 (see Figure 3A). The end of a dividing bar 10 fits into the cover element 22 around the stiffener 28. A very small longitudinal spacing between the edge of the bar 10 and the window frame, when the dividing bar arrangement has been fitted, accommodates differential expansion between the dividing bar arrangement and the glass.

Cover elements 22 may be pushed over the ends of the dividing bars 10 when the dividing bar arrangement is being planted on to the glazing. When the arrangement has been planted, the cover elements 22 are trapped between the ends of the dividing bars 10 and the window frame 18.

The cover elements 22 are also thin walIed and of the same colour as the dividng bars, and when fitted stand only very slightly proud of the bars, whereby not materially to affect the overall appearance of the dividing bar arrangement.

The alternative dividing bar arrangement shown in Figure 4 is for dividing bars 30 of extruded, hollow trapezoial shape. The arrangement is generally similar to that of Figures 1 to 3 except for the different profile involved, and only differences from the first arrangement will be described in detail. Again, the end faces of the dividing bars 30A, 30B are cut straight, and cover elements 32, 34 are used to conceal the gaps 36 between the dividing bars and between the dividing bars and the window frame 38.

The shape of the cover elements 32, 34 will be clear from Figures 5 and 6, but in the case of the cover element 32 for covering the central junction between the dividing bars 30A and 30B, attention is drawn to the small tangs 40 at the bottom edges of the legs of the limbs of the overall trapezoial shape. These tangs enable the cover element to be clipped into position over the junction at which the dividing bars 30A, 30B meet, and the formations used in the first arrangement to connect the cover element 20 to the dividing bar 10A by means of an interference fit are not required.

However, it is to be noted that just as cover elements could clip into position in the first arrangement, so the interference fit formations of the first arrangement could be used in the arrangement of Figures 4 to 6.

C960/A

Claims

1. A plant-on dividing bar arrangement for the glazing of a Georgian style window or door, wherein the bars are profiles in cross-section and their ends terminate in planes at least approximately normal to the lengths of the bars, and where the planar bar end of any one bar meets the profile of another bar at a junction, or meets the profile of the main frame at the edge of the glazing, a profiled cover element is provided to conceal the gap between the planar bar end and the profiled surface which it meets.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each dividing bar is cut fractionally short of that length required for the bar to abut against any points of the profiled surfaces between which it will extend, the fractionally increased gaps at junctions also being concealed by the cover elements.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein at said junction it is arranged that, beneath the cover elements, relative movement can take place between one dividing bar and the bar or frame which it meets, whereby to accommodate differential expansion between the glazing and the dividing bars.

4. An arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein at a junction between dividing bars, the cover element is, for a rectilinear dividing bar arrangement, generally of cruciform shape in plan view, one bar passing continuously through and beneath two opposite limbs of the cruciform and the planar ends of the bars meeting said one bar beneath the other two opposite limbs of the cruciform.

5. An arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said bars meet with freedom for fractional sliding movement.

2

6. An arrangement according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the cruciform. shaped cover element is fixed to the first said bar, as by clipping thereto or by means of an interference fit between hidden formations on the bar and cover element,

7. An arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein at a junction where a dividing bar meets the profiled main frame, the cover element is a simple linear tunnel.

8. An arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the tunnel is adhered to the main frame into which the dividing bar engages.

9. An arrangement according claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the tunnel covers the dividing C1 bar.

10. An arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the cover elements have: an overall cross-sectional profile, which matches the profile of the dividing bars, so that in use said cover elements stand only very slightly proud of the bars and have minimal effect on the overall appearance of the dividing bar arrangement.

11. A plant-on dividing bar arrangement and cover element. therefor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. An arrangement according to claim 10 in so far as it depends on claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein at the edge of the glazing, where the cover element meets the frame of the window or door, the outer end face of each tunnel shaped element is formed to match and lie flat against the profile of the frame.

12. An arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the cover elements are individually moulded to shape, enabling the profiling of the cut end faces of the dividing bars produced by extrusion to be wholly avoided.

13. A plant-on dividing bar arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

C960/A Claims 1. A plant-on dividing bar arrangement for the glazing of a Georgian style window or door, wherein the bars are profiles in cross-section and their ends terminate in planes at least approximately normal to the lengths of the bars, and where the planar bar end of any one bar meets the profile of another bar at a junction, or meets the profile of the frame at the edge of the glazing, a profiled cover element is provided to conceal the gap between the plaria bar end and the profiled surface which it meets, wherein at a junction between dividing bars, the cover element is generally of cruciform shape in plan view, one bar passing continuously through and beneath two opposite limbs of the cruciform and the plana ends of the bars meeting said one bar beneath the other two opposite limbs of the cruciform, and wherein the cruciform shaped cover element is fixed to the first said bar, which extends continuously below the cover, by means of an interference fit. between hidden formations on the bar and cover element.

2. A plant-on dividing bar arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dividing bar arrangement is rectilinear.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each dividing bar is cut fractionally short of that length required for the bar to abut against any points of the profiled surfaces between which it will extend, the fractionally increased gaps at junctions also being concealed by the cover elements.

4. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein at said junction it is arranged that, beneath the cover elements, relative movement can take place between one dividing bar and the bar or frame which it meets, whereby to accommodate differential expansion between the glazing and the dividing bars.

5. An arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein at a junction where a dividing bar meets the profiled main frame, the cover element is a simple linear tunnel.

6. An arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cover elements have an overall cross-sectional profile, which matches the profile of the dividing bars, so that in use said cover elements stand only very slightly proud of the bars and have mininial effect on the overall appearance of the dividing bar arrangement.

7. An arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the cover elements for covering 1-he junctions of the bars and the profiled surface of the frame are pushed over the ends of the bars before the latter are planted on the glazing and are trapped between the ends of the bars and the frame, when the arrangement has been planted on the glazing.

8. An arrangement according to claim 6 or 7, wherein at the edge of the glazing, where the cover element meets the frame of the window or door, the outer end face of each tunnel shaped element is formed to match and lie flat against the profile of the frame 9. An arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the cover elements are individually moulded to shape, enabling the profiling of the cut end faces of the dividing bars produced by extrusion to be wholly avoided.

10. An arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the bars are secured to the glazing using double-sided adhesive tape.