GB2421045A

GB2421045A - Sill

Info

Publication number: GB2421045A
Application number: GB0427094A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lee Slack; Philip Johnson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-12-10
Filing date: 2004-12-10
Publication date: 2006-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 2024-12-10
Also published as: GB2421045B; GB0427094D0

Abstract

A sill for a window comprises a sill portion 12 and an engagement portion 14. The sill portion 12 provides a ledge 16 and the engagement portion 14 is provided on a wall side of the sill portion 12. The engagement portion 14 has a projection for engagement with a window aperture defined by a wall of a building. The engagement portion also comprises a further projection 36 for engagement with a recess provided in a portion of the wall adjacent to and spaced from the window aperture. The further projection 36 may be a flange configured to engage with a slot in the wall.

Description

The present invention relates to a sill for a window.

In the construction industry, external sills for windows are generally made in the form of a solid stone unit. Commonly, for example, the stone material used is reconstituted stone.

Current sills, however, have a number of problems associated with them and in particular their size and weight.

The weight of the stone material makes handling of the sills difficult and transportation to a building site expensive. The handling issues, for example, include an increased probability damage caused to the sills while they are being unloaded, transported, or installed. This problem of damage is further compounded by the nature of the stone material commonly used, which means that when damage does occur it is often extensive resulting in the sill becoming unusable. The damage thus contributes to a high level of wastage and hence increases building costs.

Furthermore, the weight of the sills and the associated handling issues makes skilled 1 5 installation necessary. This adds further to building costs and can take skilled personnel away from other more important areas of the build resulting in increased build times.

Additionally, the weight of the sills has a number of health and safety issues associated with it. The lifting of heavy weights is subject to strict health and safety restrictions, which mean that even relatively small sills require two people to lift them. Similarly, larger sills require lifting gear, thus adding further to costs. Even when safety guidelines are strictly observed, the weight of the sills means that when accidents do occur they are more severe and can result in serious injury or even death. This is a particular problem when the installation of sills in tall buildings is required.

The size of the sills adds yet further to the cost of transportation and can create practical issues associated with the storage of large numbers of units, for example, on a large building site or at a manufacturing facility.

The present invention provides a sill for a window, which significantly mitigates the above problems.

According to the present invention there is provided, a sill for a window comprising: a sill portion comprising a generally sill shaped ledge; and an engagement portion provided on a wall side of said sill portion, said engagement portion comprising a first projection shaped for mutual engagement with a window aperture defined by a wall of a building; wherein, said engagement portion comprises at least one further projection configured for mutual engagement in a corresponding recess provided in said portion of said wall generally adjacent to and spaced from said window aperture.

Preferably, the or at least one further projection is a flange configured for mutual engagement with a corresponding slot shaped recess.

Preferably, the or at least one flange is configured for mutual engagement with a slot shaped recess located generally parallel to a plane of a base of said window aperture.

Preferably, the or at least one flange is configured for mutual engagement with a slot shaped 1 5 recess located generally perpendicular to a plane of a base of said window aperture.

Preferably, the sill is hollow with the sill portion defining a cavity. The cavity may be open on the wall side of the sill and the cavity, and the sill portion may be shaped for mutual engagement, such that the sill can be partially received into a corresponding cavity of another sill of the same or similar configuration.

Preferably, said sill is made of a lightweight plastics material. The lightweight plastics material may be a glass reinforced plastic.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided, a method of installing a sill for a window, the method comprising: providing a sill comprising sill portion comprising a generally sill shaped ledge, and an engagement portion provided on a wall side of said sill portion, said engagement portion comprising a first projection shaped for mutual engagement with a window aperture defined by a wall of a building, and said engagement portion comprising at least one further projection configured for mutual engagement in a corresponding recess provided in said portion of said wall generally adjacent to and spaced from said window aperture; providing said window aperture for receiving said first projection of said engagement portion; providing the or each corresponding recess in said wall generally adjacent to and spaced from said window aperture, the or each recess being shaped and located to receive a corresponding further projection; and installing the sill with said first and further projections engaging respectively in said window aperture and the or each corresponding recess.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the attached figures in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a lightweight sill according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a section of the sill of figure 1; and Figure 3 shows the sill of figure 1 after installation.

In figures ito 3 a sill is shown generally at 10. The sill comprises a sill portion 12 and an engagement portion 14. The sill 10 is manufactured from any suitable robust lightweight material. A suitable material, for example, would be a robust lightweight plastic such as glass reinforced plastic or the like. The sill 10 has an external finish, which resembles a stone surface, such that when the sill 10 is installed it resembles a heavy weight stone sill. It will be appreciated that although a stone finish is described the sill may have any plain or decorative finish depending on requirements.

The sill portion 12 is in the form of a hollow ledge having an external shape corresponding generally to the shape of conventional sills. The ledge 12 comprises generally planar, elongated, upper and lower surfaces 16, 18, first and second side portions 20, 22, and a front surface 24.

The terms lower and upper and other directional terms are with reference to the orientation of the sill [0, and the directional indicators shown in the figures.

The surfaces 16, 18, 24 and the sides 20, 22, form an internal cavity 26, which opens onto a wall side 28 of the sill 10. The first and second side portions 20, 22, are quadrilateral and planar extending between corresponding ends of the upper and lower surfaces 16, 1 8, generally perpendicular to the lower surface 18, thus defining a generally quadrilateral cross- section to the cavity. Similarly, the front surface 24 is planar extending between corresponding sides of the upper and lower surfaces 16, 18, generally perpendicular to the lower surface 18, to terminate the cavity on a side opposite the wall side 28.

The upper and lower surfaces 16,18 converge towards one another in a Y direction, the lower surface 18 being generally parallel to an XY plane as seen in the figures. Similarly, the side portions converge, towards one another in the Y direction. Thus, the cavity 26 is generally shaped to partially receive the ledge of another sill of the same or a similar configuration.

The lower surface 18 is provided with a drip 30 for helping to prevent water from penetrating a wall of a building, in operation, by drawing water away from the wall by capillary action, and dripping it onto the ground beneath the drip. The drip 30 comprises a groove running externally the full length of the lower surface, in an X direction, generally adjacent to and spaced from the interface between the lower and front surfaces 18, 24.

The engagement portion 14, comprises a plurality of projections 32, 34, 36 in the form of a window engagement section 32, and a plurality of flanges 34, 36.

The window engagement section 32 comprises a planar projection extending from the upper surface 16 on the wall side 28 of the sill 10, in the same plane as the upper surface 16. As best seen in figure 3 the projection 32 is of dimensions suitable for engagement with a window aperture 38 defined by a wall 40 of a building, when installed.

The wall side edges of the upper surface 16, and the window engagement section 32, together form a wall side perimeter of the sill 10. A further flanged section 42 is provided along the wall side penmeter extending upwardly from the sill 10 generally in a Z direction. The flanged section assists, in operation, to prevent water penetration at the interface between the sill 10 and the wall or window.

The flanges 34, 36 are planar including two vertical flanges 34, and a horizontal flange 36.

Each vertical flange 34 lies generally parallel to a YZ plane and extends outwardly from a respective side portion 20, 22, on the wall side 28 of the sill 10. The vertical flanges 34 are located having an upper edge generally flush with a corresponding edge of the flanged section 42. Each horizontal flange 36 lies generally parallel to the XY plane and extends outwardly from the lower surface 18 on the wall side 28 of the sill 10. The flanges, 34, 36, maybe of any suitable dimensions and may be in any suitable position. Typically, however the flanges are of thickness suitable for the flange to be received in an empty mortar gap between bricks, and are positioned for conformity with standard brick sizes such that the sill may be installed 1 0 without unnecessary breakage of bricks.

It will he appreciated that although the sill 10 has been described having a particularly advantageous shape and configuration, the sill 10 may be of any suitable shape or configuration. The ledge, for example, may be formed by one or more non-planar surfaces rather than the planar sides and surfaces described. Similarly, although planar flanges are particularly advantageous, the projections could be in the form of elongated cylindrical or other shaped protrusions. Alternatively, a combination of projections of different types could be used.

Typical operation to install the sill 10 will now be described, by way of example only.

Operation to install the sill 10 generally begins when the wall 40 defining the window aperture 38 is constructed by a builder. Typically, for example, the wall 40 will be a brick wall of the type shown in figure 3. The builder provides the usual aperture, for the window 38 and a plurality of recesses of general shape and configuration to receive the projections 34, 36 of the sill 10. The recesses may be formed using any suitable method, for example by leaving mortar out of a mortar gap between adjacent bricks of a brick wall. Alternatively, or additionally some or all the recesses may be formed using other building techniques such as drilling, routing or the like.

The sill 10 is then positioned with the engagement section 32 engaged in the window aperture 38, and the flanges 34, 36 engaged in corresponding recesses.

When in position, the sill is secured in place and the recesses sealed appropriately. It will be appreciated that this process requires a relatively low skill level thus freeing up skilled builders for other tasks.

Claims

Claims I A sill for a window comprising: a sill portion comprising a

generally sill shaped ledge; and an engagement portion provided on a wall side of said sill portion, said engagement portion comprising a first projection shaped for mutual engagement with a window aperture defined by a wall of a building; wherein, said engagement portion comprises at least one further projection configured for mutual engagement in a corresponding recess provided in said portion of said wall generally adjacent to and spaced from said window aperture.
2 A sill as claimed in claim 1 wherein the or at least one further projection is a flange configured for mutual engagement with a corresponding slot shaped recess.
3 A sill as claimed in claim 2 wherein the or at least one flange is configured for mutual engagement with a slot shaped recess located generally parallel to a plane of a base of said window aperture.
4 A sill as claimed in claim 2 wherein the or at least one flange is configured for mutual engagement with a slot shaped recess located generally perpendicular to a plane of a base of said window aperture.
A sill as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said sill is hollow, said sill portion defining a cavity.
6 A sill as claimed in claim 5 wherein said cavity is open on said wall side of said sill, said cavity, and said sill portion being shaped for mutual engagement, whereby said sill can be partially received into a corresponding cavity of another sill of the same or similar configuration.
7 A sill as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said sill is made of a lightweight plastics material.
8 A sill as claimed in claim 7 wherein said lightweight plastics material is a glass reinforced plastic.
9 A method of installing a sill for a window, the method comprising: providing a sill comprising sill portion comprising a generally sill shaped ledge, and an engagement portion provided on a wall side of said sill portion, said engagement portion comprising a first projection shaped for mutual engagement with a window aperture defined by a wall of a building; said engagement portion comprising at least one further projection configured for mutual engagement in a corresponding recess provided in said portion of said wall generally adjacent to and spaced from said window aperture; providing said window aperture for receiving said first projection of said engagement portion; providing the or each corresponding recess in said wall generally adjacent to and spaced from said window aperture, the or each recess being shaped and located to receive a corresponding further projection; and installing the sill with said first and further projections engaging respectively in said window aperture and the or each corresponding recess.