GB2403233A - An assembly for installation in a building - Google Patents

Abstract

An assembly for installation in a building is described, comprising:- ```a frame adapted for mounting in an aperture in a wall of the building; ```a closure member mounted on the frame, the closure member being moveable relative to the frame to allow access through the frame; and ```a balcony; wherein the balcony is connected to the frame, such that the frame supports the balcony.

Description

PATENTS ACT 1977 A10918GB Title: An Assembly for Installation in a

Building

Description of Invention

This invention relates to assembly for installation in a building, the assembly comprising a frame and a closure member mounted on the frame, the closure member being moveable with respect to the frame to allow access through the frame (such as a window or door). More particularly the invention relates to the provision of a balcony for such an assembly.

A balcony conventionally comprises a platform, which is supported by the structure of a building so as to extend outwardly from a wall thereof. The balcony extends across an opening in the wall, such as a door or window which opens down to or near floor level, and is fixed to the structure of the building adjacent the opening. The balcony allows a person to exit through the door or window and sit or stand on the platform. Such a balcony will hereinafter be referred to as a 'Platform' balcony.

There is also the so called 'Juliet' balcony, which is essentially a decorative feature (i.e. it does not have a platform on which a person can sit or stand) and typically comprises a barrier, e.g. in the form of a balustrade, which is fixed to the outside of the building, across an opening in a wall thereof, in which opening there is a door or window opening down to or near floor level, to prevent a person from falling from the opening. In the case of a door or window having a 'Juliet' balcony, the balcony allows a person to open the door or window and stand or sit adjacent the barrier to, for example, admire a view.

Thus the view can be admired through the entire height of the door or window.

When we refer hereinafter to the term 'balcony', it is to be understood that we mean to include all types and styles of balcony, including 'Platform' and 'Juliet' balconies. l

A known problem with both 'platform' and 'Juliet' balconies is that they are difficult and cumbersome to fix to the exterior wall of the building so as to provide adequate support and strength for the balcony. Typically, a plurality of bolts or the like are used to fix the balcony to the exterior wall of the building, which can give rise to weathering problems, such as ingress of water around each bolt. A further problem with balconies is that the time taken to install each balcony is lengthy; thus reducing efficiency and increasing cost.

Furthermore, the door (or window) and balcony are typically obtained from and installed by different sources, which can give rise to problems such as inconsistencies of workmanship and the fact that the door (or window) and balcony have to be installed at different times. Other problems can occur due to inconsistencies in the quality of finish between the door (or window) and the balcony and ensuring that the fixing of the balcony to the exterior of the building is aesthetically pleasing.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to substantially overcome the above problems.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is an assembly for installation in a building, comprising:- _ a frame adapted for mounting in an aperture in a wall of the building, a closure member mounted on the frame, the closure member being moveable relative to the frame to allow access through the frame; and a balcony, wherein the balcony is connected to the frame, such that the frame supports the balcony.

An assembly in accordance with the present invention, having a balcony connected to the frame of the assembly can be installed as one component, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing installation costs and build time.

Also, the balcony does not have to be fixed directly to the exterior of the building in which the assembly is mounted, thereby eliminating weathering problems associated with fixings such as bolts or the like.

The frame may include means to fix the frame to the building.

The fixing means may extend into the building to provide a support for the balcony, such that if the balcony experiences a load, the frame can support such a load.

The closure member may be a door or window moveable relative to the frame to allow access to the balcony through the frame.

The balcony may be a 'Juliet' balcony, and may comprise a barrier, which barrier extends substantially across the frame.

Alternatively the balcony may be a 'Platform' balcony comprising a platform which extends away from the frame, substantially perpendicularly therefrom, and a barrier fixed to the platform.

If the balcony is a 'Platform' balcony, at least one support member may be provided connecting a lower part of the barrier, or a part of the platform remote from the frame, to the frame to provide further support for the platform.

The barrier may be connected to the frame.

In a 'Juliet' balcony, the barrier may be pivotable about a lower part of the frame by hinge means, thereby allowing the barrier to be tilted towards and away from the frame.

At least one support strut may be provided connecting an upper part of the barrier to the frame. Thus the barrier can be fixed in a tilted position. The at least one support strut may be disconnectable from the barrier, such that the barrier can be tilted towards the frame, thereby facilitating easier transportation.

The assembly may be a prefabricated assembly, such as, for example, a uPVC double glazed door or window.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a front view of a first embodiment of an assembly in accordance with the present invention mounted in an aperture in a wall of a building; Figure 2 shows a side view of the assembly of figure 1; Figure 3 shows an enlarged views of features shown in figure 2; Figure 4 shows a side view of a second embodiment of an assembly in accordance with the present invention installed in an aperture in a wall of a building; and Figure 5 shows an enlarged views of features shown in figure 4.

Referring firstly to figure 1 there is shown a first embodiment of an assembly 10 in accordance with the present invention. The assembly 10 is mounted in an aperture in a wall 11 of a building and includes a frame 12 having an outer part which abuts the periphery of the aperture and is secured thereto by means not shown, a pair of doors 14a, b, which are hinged on the frame 12 so that they can be opened towards the interior of the building, a plurality of windows 15 adjacent each door 14a, b and a balcony shown generally at 16.

The balcony 16 is of the type generally known as a 'Juliet' balcony and comprises a barrier 17 formed of two upwardly extending spaced bars 18 and a plurality of generally horizontally extending bars 20, the uppermost bar 20 being in the form of a hand rail. A wire mesh 22 is also provided between the bars 20, as a safety feature.

Turning now to figures 2 and 3, which show side views of the assembly lO of figure 1, each side of a lower part of frame 12 is provided with a connection part 26. Adjacent lower parts of the bars 18 are each pivotally connected to respective connection parts 26, which permit tilting of the barrier 17 towards and away from the frame 12 about an axis indicated at 27. At each side of an upper part of the barrier 17 there is provided a further connection part 28; corresponding connection parts 29 are provided on each side of the frame 12 opposite the connection parts 28. The connection parts 28, 29 are connected to each other by respective connection struts 32. Thus the connection struts 32 hold the barrier 17 in a tilted position, away from the frame 12 and the wall 11.

During transportation of the assembly l O. the connection struts 32 can be disconnected from either of the connection parts 28, 29, or from both, so that the barrier 17 can be folded towards the frame 12, thus reducing the amount of space taken up by the assembly 10. A suitable transportation position of the strut 32 is represented by a dotted outline (see figure 3) Referring now to figures 4 and 5 there is shown a second embodiment of an assembly 110 in accordance with the present invention. Features of the second embodiment corresponding to those of the first embodiment have been given the same reference number with the addition of 100. In this embodiment the balcony is a 'Platform' balcony 116 (i.e. a balcony having a platform on which a person can sit or stand).

The balcony 116 includes a platform 137 comprising a plurality of decking parts 138. The decking parts 138 are supported by a pair of horizontally spaced struts 139, each of which extends away from the frame 112, substantially perpendicularly therefrom. Each strut 139 is provided with a connection part 126 at its end remote from the frame 112. As the balcony 116 has a platform 137 which is likely to experience high loads, the frame 112 is mounted in an aperture in the wall 111 and held in place by support brackets 150. The support brackets 150 provide additional support for the assembly 110, to counterbalance any load experienced by the platform 137. The support brackets 150 may each extend through the opening in the wall and abut an internal wall of the building, thus providing additional support for the assembly 110.

The balcony 116 also includes a barrier 117 formed of two upwardly extending spaced bars 118 with a plurality of generally horizontally extending bars (not shown), and a handrail 120. Adjacent lower parts of the bars 118 are each connected to an adjacent strut 139 by the connection part 126. At each side of an upper part of the bars 118 there is provided a further connection part 128; corresponding connection parts 129 are provided on each side of the frame 112 opposite the connection parts 128. The connection parts 128, 129 are connected to each other by respective connection struts 132. Thus the connection struts 132 hold the barrier 117 in a position spaced from the frame 112 and tilted away therefrom.

The balcony 116 is also provided with side bars 140. The side bars 140 are provided on opposite sides of the balcony 116. Each side bar 140 is connected at one end to the strut 132 and at its other end to the strut 139, of each side of the balcony 116, and extend substantially vertically therebetween.

The side bars 140 are provided as a safety feature to inhibit a person falling from the balcony 116.

To provide additional support for the platform 137, on each side of the balcony 116 an adjustable support wire 142 is provided. Each support wire 142 extends between, and is connected to, the connection parts 129, 126 of each side of the balcony 116. The length of each support wire 142 can be adjusted by a screw threaded adjustment means 144 (as shown in figure 5).

In the above description the closure member and frame of the assembly are preferably manufactured of a plastics material, such as uPVC, although other suitable materials can be used. The balcony is preferably manufactured of a metal alloy, although other materials could also be used.

The connected between the balcony and the frame may be a permanent connection, although it may be a temporary connection, which can be connected during installation of the assembly.

In the present specification "comprises" means "includes or consists of" and "comprising" means "including or consisting of".

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (13)

1. An assembly for installation in a building, comprising: a frame adapted for mounting in an aperture in a wall of the building; a closure member mounted on the frame, the closure member being moveable relative to the frame to allow access through the frame; and a balcony; wherein the balcony is connected to the frame, such that the frame supports the balcony.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the frame includes means to fix the frame to the building.

3. An assembly according to claim 2 wherein the fixing means extends into the building to provide support for the balcony.

4. An assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the closure member is a door or window moveable relative to the frame to allow access to the balcony through the frame.

5. An assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the balcony is a Juliet' balcony and comprises a barrier, which barrier extends substantially across the frame.

6. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the balcony is a 'Platform' balcony and comprises a platform, which platform extends away from the frame, substantially perpendicularly therefrom, and a barrier fixed to the platform.

7. An assembly according to claim 6 wherein at least one further support is provided connecting a lower part of the barrier, or a part of the platform remote from the frame.

8. An assembly according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the barrier is connected to the frame.

9. An assembly according to any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein the barrier is lO pivotable about a lower part ofthe frame by hinge means.

10. An assembly according to any preceding claim wherein at least one support strut is provided connecting an upper part of the barrier to the frame

1 1. An assembly according to claim 12 wherein the at least one support strut is disconnectable from the barrier.

12. An assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

13. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein andlor in the accompanying drawings.