GB2381066A

GB2381066A - A ventilator section for a window/door frame having a spacer for providing rigidity

Info

Publication number: GB2381066A
Application number: GB0124051A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Clifford Townse Williams
Original assignee: ABBOTT GROUP Ltd
Current assignee: ABBOTT GROUP Ltd
Priority date: 2001-10-06
Filing date: 2001-10-06
Publication date: 2003-04-23
Anticipated expiration: 2021-10-06
Also published as: GB2381066B; GB0124051D0

Abstract

A vent section for a window or door frame comprises an elongate section with at least four faces, including inner and outer faces each with apertures to allow air flow together with upper 12 and lower 14 faces extending generally from the inner to the outer faces, at least one of the upper 12 and lower 14 faces having an opening through which is inserted a spacer 16 which extends to the other respective face and has an abutment (36, fig 1c) bearing against the interior surface of the at least one face. A corresponding kit of parts is also described. The spacer 16 can be secured in place with a screw 26, typically driven through a central bore 24 of the spacer. In preferred embodiments (fig 1), the spacer includes a flexible member moveable on insertion of the screw from a first retracted position to a second extended position in which state it provides the abutment 36. Alternatively (fig 2), the spacer 16 can comprise a flexible member which is deflectable from an extended position, in which state it provides the abutment, into a retracted state in which the spacer can pass through the opening. In a further arrangement (fig 5), the spacer can be cylindrical in profile and include fixed abutments extending only partly around the circumference. The opening is then preferably shaped to match. The spacer 16 can thus be inserted and subsequently rotated. A spacer 16 can include more than one abutment, which can be of like design or selected from the above or other possibilities. The spacer provides rigidly to a frame which would otherwise be weak as a result of the ventilation apertures therein.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO FRAMES FOR WINDOWS AND DOORS The present invention relates to improvements in or relating to frames for windows and doors. In particular, it relates to spacers for box sections used therein.

Window and door frames (hereinafter,"frames") employ a large number of box section members in their construction. These are typically moulded by extrusion or similar processes. In general, the box sections are of sufficiently small dimensions to offer adequate rigidity in use. However, particular problems can arise in the case of vent sections. These are box sections that are placed (typically) at the top of a frame-hence the term"head vent"-and offer a ventilation path past the frame. These sections must be open to air flow across the entire depth of the frame and can thus be difficult to design with adequate rigidity.

Our earlier application GB 2331319A addressed this problem by providing stiffening ribs which were held in the interior of the section by dovetail engagements on the top and bottom of the interior. These ribs were moulded separately and could thus include apertures to allow air flow. After moulding the section, the ribs can be slid into place thereby combining rigidity with airflow.

The present invention provides a vent section for a window or door frame comprising an elongate section with at least four faces, including inner and outer faces each with apertures to allow air flow together with upper and lower faces extending generally from the inner to the outer faces, at least one of the upper and lower faces having an opening through which is inserted a spacer which extends to the other respective face and has an abutment bearing against the interior surface of the at least one face.

The invention also relates to a kit of parts including a vent section for a window or door frame comprising an elongate section with at least four faces, including inner and outer faces each with apertures to allow air flow together with upper and lower faces extending from the inner to the outer faces, at least one of the upper and lower faces having an opening, and a spacer sized to fit the opening and to extend from the at least one face to the other respective face, the spacer having an abutment adapted to bear against the interior surface of the at least one face.

The spacer can be secured in place with a screw, typically driven through a central bore of the spacer. In preferred embodiments, the spacer includes a flexible member moveable on insertion of the screw from a first retracted position to a second extended position in which state it provides the abutment.

Alternatively, the spacer can comprise a flexible member which is deflectable from an extended position, in which state it provides the abutment, into a retracted state in which the spacer can pass through the opening.

In a further arrangement, the spacer can be cylindrical in profile and include fixed abutments extending only partly around the circumference. The opening is then preferably shaped to match. The spacer can thus be inserted and subsequently rotated.

A spacer can include more than one abutment, which can be of like design or selected from the above or other possibilities.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which; Figures 1 a to 1 d show sequential steps in the manufacture of a section according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figures 2a to 2d show sequential steps in the manufacture of a section according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figures 3a to 3c show sequential steps in the manufacture of a section according to a third embodiment of the present invention ; Figures 4a to 4c show sequential steps in the manufacture of a section according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and Figures 5a to 5d show sequential steps in the manufacture of a section according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 1 a to 1 d show a first embodiment of the invention. The vent section 10 comprises an upper wall 12 and a lower wall 14. These extend in and out of the page to inner and outer walls (not shown) which, when the vent section is fitted, are accessible from the inner and outer faces of the window frame concerned. The inner and outer walls include perforated or apertured (or the like) areas so as to allow air to flow through the vent section along the passage defined by the upper and lower walls 12,14. It is thus important that this flow passage is not obstructed.

To provide the necessary rigidity to the vent section, a spacer 16 is fitted.

An aperture 18 is formed in the upper wall 12, together with a corresponding aperture 20 in the lower wall 14. These correspond in profile to the circular section of the spacer 16 which can thus be passed through both holes. In this embodiment, the spacer 1 6 is sufficiently long to project through the vent section 10 and extend beyond the lower wall 14 to contact an adjacent surface 22 which may, for example, be a surface of the window frame to which the vent is to be attached. In this way, as will become clear, the vent section can also be attached to the adjacent frame section through the spacer which thus serves a combined function.

As shown in figure 1 b, the spacer 16 has an internal bore 24 through which a screw 26 can be driven. As shown in figure 1 c, screw 26 is slightly longer than the spacer 16 and thus once fully home will engage with the further surface 22 and thereby fixing the vent section 10 in place.

The interior of the bore includes a tapered section 28 which is formed by a local thickening of the walls across part of the circumferential section. Typically, two 900 sections of the circumference are thickened in this way, and a small slit 30 is formed above and down the side thereof for the length of the taper, for each of these to allow them to bend outwards. As shown in figure 1 c, when the screw 26 is fully home, the slits 32 allow the thickened section 34 to splay outwards thereby forming an abutment 36 facing the interior of the upper wall 12. This hinders subsequent removal of the spacer 1 6 and the slots sit in place.

Figure 1 d shows a slightly altered embodiment in which the spacer 16'is sized to extend from the upper wall 12 to the lower wall 14. In this case, the lower aperture 20 need not be provided and the screw 26'passes through the spacer 16'and then engages with the lower wall 14. In other respects, the spacer is the same.

Figures 2a to 2d show the same vent section 10 together with a different spacer 40. In this case, instead of a tapered portion within the bore 42 of the spacer, 2 small lips 44 are formed, each extending across (typically) 900 of the circumference of the spacer 40. These have a rest position which is slightly splayed outwards, but are of themselves resilient and thus (as shown in figure 2b) can be deflected inward in order to pass through the aperture 18 of the upper wall 12.

Once in place, as shown in figure 2c, the lips 44 spring back outward to

define abutments 46 immediately beneath the upper wall 12. A screw 26 can then y be inserted through the spacer 40 and into the adjacent surface 22 to fix the vent section 10 in place.

Figures 3a to 3c show a spacer 50 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. This is somewhat shorter and will reach only from the upper wall 12 to the lower wall 14, meaning that the only aperture that is necessary is the aperture 18 of the upper wall 12. The spacer 50 is of a generally resilient material and includes a through bore 52 which has a first and upper section 54 and a second and lower section 56 of a narrower dimension. The upper section 54 is sized to accept the screw 26 comfortably whereas the lower section 56 will be insufficiently wide to accept it. Thus, as shown in figure 3c, once the spacer 50 is in place, and the screw 26 is driven home, the lower part of the spacer 50 around the narrower bore 56 will be splayed outward as shown. Given that the spacer is dimensioned to reach from the upper wall 1 2 to the lower wall 14 (only), the use of a long screw 26 as shown will mean that it passes through the spacer, through the lower wall 14 and (if desired) engages with the adjacent wall 22. As a result of engaging with the lower wall 14, the splayed section 58 of the spacer 50 will be pressed against the lower wall 14.

As is most apparent in figure 3a, the resilient spacer 50 is formed with a notch 60 corresponding to the lower wall 12. The notch is in essence defined by

abutments 62,64 above and below. Thus, the spacer 50 can be forced into position through the aperture 18 in the upper wall 12, after which the upper wall 12 will occupy the notch 60 and will have the abutment 64 below to retain the spacer 50 in place.

Figures 4a to 4c show a spacer 70 according to a fourth embodiment. As with the third embodiment, the spacer 70 is of a resilient material and includes a notch 72 defined by abutments 74,76 above and below. Thus, once pressed home, the spacer 70 includes an abutment 76 immediately below the upper wall

12 which is thus braced in place. As shown, the abutments 76, 78 are p circumferentially continuous but this is not essential.

In addition, the spacer 70 includes a rib 78 which is positioned to abut against the lower wall 14. Thus, the abutments 76,78 define a spacing for the upper and lower walls 14.

A screw 26 can be driven home through a central bore 79 and thus secure the spacer relative to the adjacent wall 22. This will then secure the vent section 10 in place.

Figures 5a to 5d show a spacer 80 according to a fifth embodiment. Figure 5a includes a view of the spacer from the side and from one end, and it can be seen that lugs 82,84 extend from the exterior cylindrical surfaces of the spacer 80.

The aperture 18 of the upper wall 12 is defined with a corresponding notch to accept the lugs 82,84 as the spacer 80 is inserted. Figure 5b shows the spacer in place between the walls 12,14 after insertion. Figure 5c then shows the situation after the spacer is rotated through 90 degrees, thereby removing the notch and lugs 82,84 from alignment. The plan view of the spacer in figure 5a shows slots 86a, 86b formed to co-operate with a screwdriver and assist in rotation. In this rotated position, the spacer 80 braces the upper and lower walls

12,14. A screw 26 can then be inserted into the position shown in figure 5d, in which the screw 26 extends from the spacer 80 into the adjacent surface 22 and thus fixes the spacer (and hence the vent section 10) in place.

It will be appreciated that many variations can be made to the abovedescribed embodiments, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, where lugs and deflectable parts are shown or described as extending over only part of the circumference of the spacer concerned, their extent and number could of course be varied as required or desired. In addition, spacers that only extend between the upper and lower walls 14 could be designed so as to extend to the adjacent surface 22, and vice versa. Other variations and modifications will be variant of the skilled person.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A vent section for a window or door frame comprising an elongate section with at least four faces, including inner and outer faces each with apertures to allow air flow together with upper and lower faces extending generally from the inner to the outer faces, at least one of the upper and lower faces having an opening through which is inserted a spacer which extends to the other respective face and has an abutment bearing against the interior surface of the at least one face.
2. A vent section according to claim 1 in which the spacer is secured in place with a screw.
3. A vent section according to claim 2 in which the screw is driven through a central bore of the spacer.
4. A vent section according to any one of the preceding claims in which the spacer includes a flexible member moveable on insertion of the screw from a first retracted position to a second extended position, in which state it provides the abutment.
5. A vent section according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the spacer comprises a flexible member which is deflectable from an extended position, in which state it provides the abutment, into a retracted state in which the spacer can pass through the opening.
6. A vent section according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the spacer is cylindrical in profile and includes fixed abutments extending only partly around the circumference.

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7. A vent section according to claim 6 in which the opening is shaped to match the spacer.
8. A vent section according to claim 6 or claim 7 including more than one abutment.
9. A vent section according to claim 8 in which the abutments are of like design.
10. A kit of parts including a vent section for a window or door frame comprising an elongate section with at least four faces, including inner and outer faces each with apertures to allow air flow together with upper and lower faces extending from the inner to the outer faces, at least one of the upper and lower faces having an opening, and a spacer sized to fit the opening and to extend from the at least one face to the other respective face, the spacer having an abutment adapted to bear against the interior surface of the at least one face.
11. A kit of parts according to claim 10 in which the spacer is secured in place with a screw.
12. A kit of parts according to claim 11 in which the screw is driven through a central bore of the spacer.
13. A kit of parts according to any one of claims 10 to 12 in which the spacer includes a flexible member moveable on insertion of the screw from a first retracted position to a second extended position, in which state it provides the abutment.
14. A kit of parts according to any one of claims 10 to 13 in which the spacer comprises a flexible member which is deflectable from an extended position,

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in which state it provides the abutment, into a retracted state in which the spacer can pass through the opening.
15. A kit of parts according to any one of claims 10 to 13 in which the spacer is cylindrical in profile and includes fixed abutments extending only partly around the circumference.
16. A kit of parts according to claim 15 in which the opening is shaped to match the spacer.
17. A kit of parts according to claim 15 or claim 16 including more than one abutment.
18. A kit of parts according to claim 17 in which the abutments are of like design.
19. A vent section or kit of parts substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying figures.