GB2427642A - Window frame attachment means - Google Patents

Abstract

A frame member 1 for a sash window, the frame has a pair of slideaways 8 9 along which an upper 2 or lower sash may slide and a pair of chambers 10 11 for housing a balance mechanism for each of the sashes 2, between the chambers 10 11 is located means for fitting an attachment mechanism 18 to attaching the frame 1 to the window reveal. Preferably, the fitting means includes an insert 30 located within a formation in the profile, the insert being drilled to provide holes for fitting to the attachment mechanism.

Description

WINDOW FRAMES

This invention relates to window frames, in particular to sash window frames.

Sash window frames are one form of traditional wooden window frame and incorporate upper and lower sash window units, usually referred to simply as upper and lower sashes, which are moveable vertically within the window frame. In recent years, more modern extruded materials have been used to make up the frames and, indeed, the sashes themselves.

The present invention is concerned with sash window frames made from extruded material, such as plastics material or lightweight metal such as aluminium, and is particularly concerned with the manner in which such frames are affixed within the window reveal of the building.

Figure 1 illustrates a typical known sash window frame construction. The drawing shows one of the two vertical frame member profiles 1, made of extruded plastics material or aluminium, the upper sash profile 2, also of extruded plastics material or aluminium, and the edge of the upper sash double glazed unit 3. The lower sash is not shown, Inner and outer seals 4,5 seal and retain the double glazed unit 3 with respect to the upper sash 2. As is well known, the upper and lower sashes move up and down with respect to the vertical frame members. For this purpose, the profile I is provided with a pair of slideways 8,9 along which slide, respectively, the upper sash profile 2 and the lower sash profile. The two slideways are not at the same level and are separated by a step 25 situated between the slideways. Sliding of the sashes along the slideways takes place via the intermediary of a pair of seals, attached in respective grooves forming part of the sash profile. In the case of the upper sash profile 2, these seals have been given the references 6 and 7.

Conventionally, these seals are formed as brushes which bear against the corresponding slideway 8,9.

The vertical frame member profile 2 is formed with a pair of chambers 10, 11, each of which are aligned with a respective upper or lower sash and open into the centre of the corresponding slideway 8,9; each slideway 8,9 is thus formed in two co-planar parts, separated by an opening into the corresponding chamber 10,11. Because of the extruded nature of the vertical frame member 1, the chambers 10,11 extend vertically for substantially the full height of the window frame, and are each intended to house a respective balance mechanism (not shown) which helps to support the weight of a respective sash and its glazing unit.

Various types of balance mechanism are employed for the purpose of supporting the sash. The particular construction of balance mechanism does not concern the present invention and will therefore not be described in detail. Located behind each of the balance chambers 10,11 is a further chamber which houses a reinforcing member 12,13. These reinforcing members are typically made of a hollow rectangular steel section.

A complete window frame is fabricated from four lengths of extruded material, left and right vertical, and top and bottom horizontal.

The vertical members have a profile as shown in Figure 1, and the horizontal profiles may be identical to the vertical profiles, for convenience, or they may be different. For example, the bottom profile may incorporate a sill.

To affix the frame within the window reveal, a plurality of spaced metal clips 14 are used. Each of these clips comprises a short length of rectangular metal bar, typically 25mm x 2mm, with a hole formed towards each and for a fixing screw or bolt. The clips are positioned at right angles to the frame member and are screwed through the back surface of the frame member into the outermost reinforcing member 22 by means of a self-tapping screw 15. A second screw (not shown) may be directed into the innermost reinforcing member 13. The clips are usually fitted on site by the installer who drills holes at suitable intervals through the back wall of the frame member into the reinforcing member. These holes are sized for the screw 15 which thus firmly attaches the clip 14 to the back surface of the frame member. Usually the installer will attach clips at spaced intervals all round the frame, including on the top and bottom frame members.

As clearly illustrated in Figure 1, the clip 14 protrudes beyond the frame member 1 on the inner side of the frame member. The inner end of each clip is then screwed into the material of the reveal using conventional methods such as a screw 16 or bolt. The exact nature of this fixing will depend upon the building construction. Following fixing, plastering of the wall, including the reveal up to the inside edge of the profile 1, hides the protruding parts of clip 14 from view.

Figure 2 illustrates an alternative fixing of the same profile I as is shown in Figure 1. The fixing illustrated in Figure 2 is more flexible because, as well as being suitable for new installations, it is also suitable for the refurbishment market where the reveal may already be plastered. In Figure 2, the clips 14 are dispensed with and the frame is instead secured into the reveal using individual spaced attachment members 18 which engage directly with holes formed in the material, typically brick, block or stone, from which the building is made. The attachment members 18 are fitted by drilling a hole through the frame profile from the bottom wall 19 of the inner balance chamber 11, and through the inner reinforcing member 13.

The type of attachment member used will depend upon the nature of the material forming the reveal. That shown is a proprietary type and is intended for fitting in a hole formed in brick, block or stone. It comprises a collapsible tubular body 20 through which passes a bolt 21 having a tapered nut 22 at its distal end. At the proximal end, the body 20 is formed with a small flange 23 which bears against the reinforcement member 13.

The bolt 21 may be turned, using a tool (not shown) passed through the hole in the bottom wall of the chamber 11, to draw the nut towards the bolt head, thus expanding the body 20 into tight engagement with the surrounding material. Further rotation of the bolt draws the frame member against the material of the reveal. When fixing is complete, the hole in the bottom wall of chamber 11 may be plugged by a plug 24.

Fixings of the type illustrated in Figure 2 may be positioned at intervals around the exterior of the frame to thereby securely locate the frame in position in the reveal. This arrangement gives improved flexibility of installation over that shown in Figure 1 but the attachment member 18 is not well placed with respect to the inside-to- outside width of the frame member profile to give a secure seating in the reveal. Worse still, the presence of the lower sash balance mechanism in the chamber 11 makes it difficult to carry out the necessary on-site drilling operation, and subsequent insertion and manipulation of the attachment member 18 without damage to the mechanism.

In the present invention this difficulty is avoided by providing means positioned between the inner and outer balance chambers whereby an attachment member may be fitted for the purpose of attaching the frame member to the window reveal. Thus, because the attachment member is more centrally positioned with respect to the width of the frame member, a more even seating of the frame member against the reveal results. In is addition, fitting and manipulation of the attachment member can be carried out without interfering with the balance mechanism.

Thus, according to the invention there is provided a frame member for a sash window, said member having a profile comprising a pair of slideways along which a respective upper or lower sash may slide and a pair of chambers each intended to house a balance mechanism for a respective upper or lower sash, said frame member being characterised by including, between said chambers, means for fitting an attachment mechanism whereby the frame member may be attached to a window reveal.

Preferably the fitting means includes an insert in the form of a length of hard material housed within a formation within the profile and capable of being drilled to allow the attachment mechanism to pass through and to be retained by a flange, somewhat similar to the arrangement illustrated with reference to flange 23 in Figure 2. Preferably the insert is made of metal, for example steel, but it could also be made of hard plastics material. The insert could be hollow or solid. In the preferred embodiment, the insert takes the form of a rectangular hollow steel section and, provided it is rigid enough, can form the sole reinforcing member for the profile, thus eliminating the requirement for two reinforcing members in the prior art profile described above.

It will be recalled from the description of the prior art profile of Figures 1 and 2 that the slideways against which the upper and lower sashes move are not at the same height, and are separated by a shoulder which necessarily is situated between the slideways. In the frame member of the present invention, it is preferred to extend at least one of the slideways beyond the corresponding chamber to create a planar surface which is sufficiently wide to enable it to be drilled with a hole through which an attachment member may be passed. In an alternative embodiment, the profile of the frame member is formed with a channel, opening into at least one of the slideways, and positioned between the chambers adjacent to the chamber corresponding to said one of the slideways. The holes for the attachment members may be drilled through the bottom of this channel and the channel subsequently filled with an insert to hide the unsightly drilled holes. The bottom of the channel may be shaped to guide the drill, for example by being V-shaped, or by being flat and incorporating a small V-notch into which the drill bit locates. It will be understood that the extended planar surface or the channel discussed above will be positioned to line up with the insert below so as to ensure that the drill bit passes safely through the insert which latter is, of course, invisible to the installer.

In order that the invention may be better understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of a known window frame profile for a sash window; Figure 2 is a view of the same profile as in Figure 1, but showing an alternative fixing method; Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a window frame profile for a sash window, according to the invention; and Figure 4 is a view of the same profile as in Figure 3, but showing an alternative fixing method.

Reference is now made to Figure 3 which illustrates an embodiment of the invention. The profile of Figure 3 shares a number of characteristics with that of Figure 2, and the same reference numerals are used where appropriate.

The profile of Figure 3 has a generally rectangular section and is wider and shallower than that of Figure 2. These changes come about largely because of the replacement of the reinforcing members 12,13 of the known profile with a single reinforcing member 30 situated roughly between the balance chambers 10,11. The reinforcing member 30 is of hollow rectangular section steel and is located against the inside surface of the rear wall 31 of the profile. The reinforcing member 30 could be housed in its own closed chamber but, in the embodiment illustrated, the reinforcing member is located by ribs 32,33 extending from the wall of the chambers 10,11, respectively.

It will also be noted that the distance between the balance chambers 10, 11 is proportionately greater in the embodiment of Figure 3 than in the known profile of Figure 2. This is to provide for proportionately wider slideways 8,9 which in turn enable a channel 34 to be formed in one of these - slideway 8 in the example illustrated - to enable the installation of the attachment member 18, as will be explained.

The channel 34 has a flat bottom wall 35 provided with a shallow V-shaped notch 36 for location of a drill bit during installation. The channel is filled with an elongate clip 37 having outwardly sprung legs which grip the sides of the channel 34 to prevent it falling out. Preferably the clip 37 is such that, when fitted, its outer surface matches that of the rest of the slideway 8.

It will be seen that the seal arrangement as between the sash profile 2 and the frame member profile I is slightly different, but this has no particular significance in relation to the present invention. Firstly, it will be seen that the individual seals 39,40 are mounted in slots in the frame member profile 1, and bear against the sash profile 2, rather than the other way round; likewise the seal 38 is mounted in a slot in the clip 37 and bears against the sash profile 2. Secondly, it will be seen that a third seal 40, located between the outer abutment 41 of the profile I and the sash profile 2 is provided for enhanced weather protection.

An elongate cover member 42 having spring legs 43 is clipped over the lower sash slideway 9 and located in the entrance slot to chamber 11.

The purpose of the strip is twofold: firstly to cover part of the slideway 9 which is unused and secondly to act as a stop for the lower sash. As such, the cover member 42 does not extend along the full length of the slideway 9, but only the upper part thereof, thus limiting the upwards movement of the lower sash. A similar cover member (not shown) may be fitted to the lower part of the slideway 8 to limit the downwards movement of the upper sash 2.

The installation of a window frame made from the frame members having the profile I illustrated in Figure 3 will now be described. The frame comprises two vertical frame members and two horizontal frame members.

At least the two vertical frame members are made from the profile I illustrated in Figure 3; either or both of the top and bottom frame members may also be made from the same-shaped profile, or they may be different as dictated by the circumstances.

The installer makes up the frame, usually off-site, and the completed frame is fixed into a suitably-shaped reveal in the building. Prior to offering the frame up to the reveal, the installer drills holes at suitable intervals around the four frame members to receive an attachment member 18. This latter may not be exactly of the type illustrated but will be chosen according to the conditions, and what is available. It is necessary that the attachment members have a flange 23 or equivalent whereby the reinforcing member may be drawn towards the edge of the reveal during tightening.

Before drilling the holes, the sashes are moved, or removed completely, so that the clips 37 can be removed, thus revealing the channel 34. Using the V-notch 36 as a guide to initial positioning, the installer then drills a hole right through the profile, through the bottom wall 35 of the channel 34, through the reinforcing member 30 and through the rear wall 31. The initial hole size drilled is just sufficient to enable passage of the body 20 of the attachment member 18. A slightly larger drill size is then offered up to the hole and drilled just through the bottom wall 35 of the channel 34 in order to provide clearance for the flange 23 which must, of course, pass through the hole in wall 35, and rest on the reinforcing member 30.

When all the holes are drilled in this manner, and corresponding holes drilled into the material of the reveal, the frame may then be offered up to the reveal for final fitting. Once all the holes are aligned, the installer may then loosely insert the attachment members 18 by pushing them through from the channel 34, through wall 35 and reinforcing member 30 into the aligned hole in the material of the reveal. The attachment member 18 is pushed until the flange 23 prevents further inwards movement as it hits the reinforcing member 30. The attachment member is then tightened by rotating the head 44 of the bolt 21, using a suitable tool passed through the hole in the bottom wall 35 of the channel 34. The process is similar to that described above in relation to Figure 2. Different designs of attachment member 18 may operate in a different manner.

When all the attachment members 18 have been tightened, the clip 37 may be replaced, thus disguising the channel 34. The remainder of the window components may then be installed in the usual manner.

There may be circumstances when it is not possible to use an attachment element of the type shown in Figure 3. Figure 4 shows how the profile of Figure 3 may be secured in the window reveal by an attachment method more like that described in Figure 1. To this end, protruding engagement elements 45 may be provided on the rear wall 31 of the profile of Figure 3 for the purpose of engaging metal clips 46 which serve the same purpose as the clips 14 used to attach the known profile shown in Figure 1. In fact the engagement elements 45 may well be provided as part of the profile I for other purposes not connected with the present invention.

Each metal clip 46 has a hole formed near one end to receive a screw or bolt 47 whereby it may be attached to the material of the reveal.

At the other end the clip 46 is formed with a pair of protruding hook elements 48 which interengage with two of the engagement elements 45 by latching under the barbed head of the engagement elements 45. Because the engagement elements 45 are continuous along the length of profile 1, each clip 46 can be readily positioned at any point along its length. In practice, clips 46 will be provided at spaced intervals around the frame members making up the frame so as to securely attach the frame into the reveal. If circumstances dictate, a mixture of attachment methods can be used.

Claims (13)

1. A frame member for a sash window, said member having a profile comprising a pair of slideways along which a respective upper or lower sash may slide and a pair of chambers each intended to house a balance mechanism for a respective upper or lower sash, said frame member being characterised by including, between said chambers, means for fitting an attachment mechanism whereby the frame member may be attached to a window reveal.

2. A frame member as claimed in claim I wherein the fitting means includes an insert located within a formation in the profile, said insert being arranged so as to be capable of being drilled to provide holes in which the attachment mechanism may fit in order to secure the frame member to a is window reveal.

3. A frame member as claimed in claim 2 wherein the insert comprises a hollow bar of rectangular cross section.

4. A frame member as claimed in either one of claims 2 or 3 wherein the insert is made of metal.

5. A frame member as claimed in either one of claims 2 or 3 wherein the insert is made of hard plastics material.

6. A frame member as claimed in any one of claims I to 5 wherein the frame member further defines a planar surface extending longitudinally along the length of the frame member, said surface being positioned to overly at least a part of said fitting means, and of sufficient width to enable holes to be drilled therethrough, through which respective attachment mechanisms may be passed to enable them to be fitted in the holes in the insert. -Il -

7. A frame member as claimed in claim 6 wherein the width of one of said slideways extends beyond its respective chamber to provide said planar surface.

8. A frame member as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the profile of the frame member is further formed with a channel positioned between the chambers such that the bottom of the channel overlies at least a part of said insert to enable holes to be drilled therethrough, through which respective attachment mechanisms may be passed to enable them to be fitted in the holes of the insert.

9. A frame member as claimed in claim 8 further including a cover means for covering said channel.

is

10. A frame member as claimed in claim 9 wherein the outer surface of said cover member, when fitted, is coplanar with one of the slideways.

11. A frame member as claimed in claim 9 wherein the outer surface of the cover member is fitted with a seal for bearing against a corresponding one of said upper or lower sashes.

12. A frame member as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, made by extrusion.

13. A sash window frame made of four frame members, wherein at least the side frame members are made in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.