GB2367581A

GB2367581A - A clip cover for a window or door frame

Info

Publication number: GB2367581A
Application number: GB0115883A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Lee Hughes
Original assignee: Epwin Group PLC
Current assignee: Epwin Group PLC
Priority date: 2000-06-29
Filing date: 2001-06-28
Publication date: 2002-04-10
Anticipated expiration: 2021-06-28
Also published as: GB0015987D0; GB2367581B; GB0115883D0

Abstract

In order to prevent a safety hazard, a clip (5) on a window or door frame (3 in fig 1) has a cover (23). The cover (23) has two arms (20,27), connected together by a frangible joint (28), and one of the arms (20) has an upper portion (24) which projects from the clip (5). When the frame (3 in fig 1) is inserted in an aperture, the upper portion (24) of the cover contact the edge of the aperture and this causes one arm (20) to pivot away from the other (27) breaking the cover at the frangible joint (28). The broken cover falls free from the clip (5) thus the cover is removed as part of the operation of inserting the frame in the aperture. The clip (5) then holds the frame (3 in fig 1) in the aperture.

Description

FRAME ASSEMBLY The present invention relates to frame assemblies, including covers for protecting the clips which are used to retain frames in the opening of a building. Such assemblies can be used for windows or doors.

It is well known for windows, including those which are surrounded by UPVC or timber frames, to be retained in place in the opening in the building into which they are inserted by the use of metal clips (frame-clips) fixed (e. g. screwed or clipped) to the frame at suitable positions e. g. around the periphery of the frame.

Such frame-clips are standard, and are typically made of resilient metal, usually in a one-or two-pronged arrangement, which project from the frame at an inclined angle. These frame-clips retain the frame securely in place against either the brickwork or the serrated faces of cavity closures, and are manufactured from thin-gauge metal, typically l. Omm. The inclination of the clip permits the frame to move into the opening in one direction, but resist movement in the opposite direction.

It is usual for the frame-clips to have a sharp, serrated edge to assist retention.

Such frame-clips represent a safety hazard because of their thinness and sharpness. The frame is generally supplied to the site with the clips attached, so the clips present a hazard on site, during manufacture and during transportation.

To protect against these hazards, the present invention concerns a frame assembly in which a cover is provided to protect the clip at the various stages until the frame assembly is installed. The cover sits on the frame clip, and protects the sharp edges of the clip. In general terms the cover comprises two arms which fit over the clip. The two arms are joined by a frangible joint so that pressure on the cover causes the two arms to separate and the cover to fall free from the clip. Such a frame assembly comprises, in general terms, a frame to which a frame-clip is attached, and such a cover mounted on said clip. Often such assemblies also include a pane within the frame.

On insertion of the frame assembly into the opening in the building the cover breaks from the frame-clip, exposing the clip, so that the clip can act to retain the frame in place e. g. against the brickwork or cavity closure.

Accordingly, in a first aspect the present invention may provide a frame assembly for a window or door comprising : a window or door frame to which is attached a frame clip for retention of the frame in an opening, the frame clip being mounted on and projecting outwardly from, the outer periphery of the frame, and a cover attached to said clip for covering an edge of the clip, wherein said cover comprises first and second arms, the second arm being joined to the first arm at a point intermediate along the length of the first arm by a frangible joint, thereby defining first and second portions of said first arm either side of said joint, the edge of the frame clip being received between the first portion of said first arm and said second arm, and whereby pressure acting on said second portion of said first arm is arranged to cause the first arm to pivot and break from the second arm at the frangible joint.

This enables the cover to fall free from the clip when pressure is applied to the second portion of the first arm, thereby releasing the clip from the cover and permitting it to engage the edge of the opening into which the frame is to be received.

Normally, the cover covers an outward edge of the clip, since it is that outward edge that offers the most likely safety hazard.

Preferably, the first arm is located on the outer side of the clip, away from the frame; whereas the second arm is located on the inner side of the clip, nearest the frame. It is desirable that one of the arms, e. g. the second arm, is attached to the clip to prevent accidental removal of the cover prior to the breaking of the frangible joint.

A preferred attachment of the second arm to the clip is via an insertion member of the second arm which is received by a recess or opening in the frame clip.

Similarly an insertion member of the clip could be received by a recess or opening in the cover. However, other suitable methods of attachment could be used, for example the cover could be attached to the clip by virtue of the size and/or shape of the cover, e. g. by virtue of the distance between the two arms.

The cover may be made from any suitable material including plastics material e. g. moulded plastics or metal e. g. die cast metal or a metal pressing.

Preferably the cover is made as a single unit.

The frangible joint may be made by creating a local weakness at the point at which the first arm joins the second arm. For example, this may be achieved by thinning the cover at that point.

It is preferable that the second arm is generally Lshaped, or hook shaped. In this way, the second arm and the first portion of said first arm form a generally"U" shaped mouth that receive the clip.

In a further aspect the invention provides a kit for producing a frame assembly for a window or door comprising: a window or door frame ; a frame-clip, attachable to said frame at the outer periphery of the frame so that it projects outwardly from the periphery; and a cover attachable to said clip for covering an edge of the clip; wherein said cover comprises first and second arms, the second arm being joined to the first arm at a point intermediate along the length of the first arm by a frangible joint, thereby defining first and second portions of said first arm either side of said joint, and wherein said first portion of said first arm and said second arm are arranged to receive said edge of the frame-clip between the two arms.

It is desirable that one of the two arms, e. g. the second arm is provided with means of attachment to the clip.

The cover may be made and sold separately.

Preferably the clip is sold together with and attached to a frame clip, and thus a cover for a frame clip and a clip-cover assembly represent further aspects of the invention.

The invention further provides a method of fitting a frame assembly into a building comprising; slotting the frame assembly described above into an opening in a building, such that said second portion of said first arm contacts part of the building (e. g. , the brickwork) as the frame is slotted into place, whereby contact of said second portion of said first arm with said building causes said first arm to pivot and break from the second arm at the frangible junction, such that the cover falls free from the clip.

It is preferred that the second portion of the first arm is brought into contact with the building at an angle oblique to, or perpendicular to, the edge of the building with which the cover is brought into contact.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Fig. 1. shows a cross-section through a window-frame assembly according to an embodiment of the invention being fitted against a cavity closer of an opening in a wall; Fig. 2. shows a cross-section through a cover attached to a standard frame-clip according to an embodiment of the invention.

Referring first to Fig. 1., a window 1 is part of an assembly 9 which includes a window frame 3, a clip 5 of e. g. metal attached to the frame 3 by a screw 7, and a cover 23 of e. g. plastics material for the clip. The assembly 9 is fitted against the serrated face 11 of cavity closure 13 into an opening in the brickwork 15 by moving the window along the direction of arrow A until the frame 3 contacts the window stop 17. When the window 1 is in its final position against the cavity closure 13, the resilient clip 5 acts against the serrated edge 11 of the cavity closure to hold the window in place.

Turning now to the cover, the cover 23 is made of plastics material, e. g. , moulded plastics material, and is moulded as a single unit. However, the cover may be made of any suitable material. One arm 27 of the cover is attached to a prong 21 of the clip. This holds the cover 23 in place on the clip 5. Fig. 2 shows in detail the attachment of the clip 5 to the cover 23 according to an embodiment of the invention. Here, a pin 25 is provided in the arm 27 of the cover 23, and is received by a recess 29 in a prong 21 of the clip 5.

The cover 23 could be attached to the clip 5, and the clip 5 and cover 23 sold together as an assembly, or could be made and sold separately. Ideally, the cover 23 is attached to the clip 5 within a frame assembly, and the frame assembly is then sold complete with the covered clip. In this situation the cover protects against hazards at all stages of manufacture, transport and on the building site.

When the window assembly 9 is moved into place along arrow A, the upper portion 24 of the leading arm 20 of the cover 23 contacts the edge of the brickwork 15 of the building. This contact causes the leading arm 20 to pivot away from the arm 27, so that the leading arm 20 breaks off from the other arm 27, and the broken cover 23 falls free from clip 5. When the window assembly 9 comes to rest in the building, the clip 5 is free from the cover 23, and therefore can act against the serrated face 11 of cavity closure 13.

As can be seen in Fig 2., a local weakness 28 is provided at the junction between the two arms 20 and 27 of the cover, to assist in the breaking of these arms 20 and 27 from one another.

In this way, the cover 23 is released from the clip 5 during the process of fitting the window, and does not require a separate operation to remove the cover. This avoids hazards which may be associated with a cover which needs to be removed directly by hand. The risk of covers being retained on the clips, and resultant poorly fitting windows, is also minimised by the removal of the clip occurring during fitting of the window, without the need for further action.

Claims

Claims:

1. A frame assembly for a window or door comprising a window or door frame to which is attached a frame clip for retention of the frame in an opening, the frame clip being mounted on and projecting outwardly from, the outer periphery of the frame, and a cover attached to said clip for covering an edge of the clip, wherein said cover comprises first and second arms, the second arm being joined to the first arm at a point intermediate along the length of the first arm by a frangible joint, thereby defining first and second portions of said first arm either side of said joint, said edge of the frame clip being received between the first portion of said first arm and said second arm.

2. A frame assembly according to claim 1 wherein the first arm is located on the outer side of the clip, away from the frame and the second arm is located on the inner side of the clip, nearest the frame.

3. A frame assembly according to claim 1 or 2 wherein one of the arms is attached to the clip.

4. A frame assembly according to claim 3 wherein the second arm is attached to the clip via an insertion member of the second arm which is received by a recess or opening in the frame clip.

5. A frame assembly according to claim 3 wherein the second arm is attached to the clip via an insertion member of the second arm which is received by a recess or opening in the cover.

6. A frame assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the cover is made as a single unit.

7. A frame assembly according to any preceding claim 'wherein the frangible joint is made by creating a local weakness at the point at which the first arm joins the second arm.

8. A frame assembly according to claim 7 wherein the local weakness is achieved by thinning the cover at that point.

9. A frame assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the second arm is generally L-shaped, or hook shaped, such that the second arm and the first portion of said first arm form a generally U-shaped mouth for receiving the clip.

10. A frame assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cover covers an outward edge of the clip.

11. A kit for producing a frame assembly for a window or door comprising: a window or door frame; a frame-clip, attachable to said frame at the outer periphery of the frame so that it projects outwardly from the periphery; and a cover attachable to said clip for covering an edge of the clip; wherein said cover comprises first and second arms, the second arm being joined to the first arm at a point intermediate along the length of the first arm by a frangible joint, thereby defining first and second portions of said first arm either side of said joint, and wherein said first portion of said first arm and said second arm are arranged to receive said edge of the frame-clip between the two arms.

12. A kit of parts according to claim 10 wherein one of the two arms is provided with means of attachment to the clip.

13. A cover for attachment to a frame clip, which frame clip is attachable to the outer periphery of a window or door frame so as to project outwardly therefrom, the cover being attachable to said frame clip for covering an edge of the clip; wherein said cover comprises first and second arms, the second arm being joined to the first arm at a point intermediate along the length of the first arm by a frangible joint, thereby defining first and second portions of said first arm either side of said joint, and wherein said first portion of said first arm and said second arm are arranged to receive said edge of the frame-clip between the two arms.

14. A clip-and-cover assembly comprising a frame clip which is attachable to the outer periphery of a window or door frame so as to project outwardly therefrom, and a cover according to claim 12 for attachment to a frame clip.

15. A method of fitting a frame assembly into a building comprising; slotting the frame assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 10 into an opening in a building, such that said second portion of said first arm contacts part of the building as the frame is slotted into place, whereby contact of said second portion of said first arm with said building causes said first arm to pivot and break from the second arm at the frangible junction, such that the cover falls free from the clip.

16. A method according to claim 13 wherein the second portion of the first arm is brought into contact with the building at an angle oblique to the edge of the building with which the cover is brought into contact.

17. A method according to claim 13 wherein the second portion of the first arm is brought into contact with the building at an angle perpendicular to the edge of the building with which the cover is brought into contact.

18. A method of fitting a frame assembly into a building substantially as described in any one embodiment herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.