GB2434611A - Adjustable window frame - Google Patents

Abstract

A door or window frame for an opening 2, the frame having a first 5 and second section 11 which are situated on either side of the opening, the first and second section are connected together, with an inter-engageable latch 7 13. This allows the frame to be mountable in walls of varying thickness. There may be an intumescent strip 22a/b inside a hollow in the frame, the strip may be in a region that engages with the door or window or may be in a position inside the frame structure. The frame may also have a bead 24. The frame may be manufactured from metal, preferably aluminium.

Description

<p>DOOR OR WINDOW FRAME</p>

<p>The invention relates to a door or window frame, particularly a door or window frame which is mountable in walls of varying thickness.</p>

<p>In general, door and window frames are produced in a range of depths to accommodate different wall thicknesses. In any particular building, the thickness of the walls may vary meaning that a number of different frames are required. Moreover, for non-standard wall thicknesses, a frame may need to be specially constructed.</p>

<p>It is an object of the invention to seek to mitigate this disadvantage.</p>

<p>Accordingly, the invention provides a door or window frame for mounting in an opening in a wall, the frame comprising first and second sections, which, in use, are connected together, said first section being attachable to one side of :. said opening, and said second section being attachable to the other side of said opening, said first and second sections comprising inter-engageable latching * I. S means, one or both of said first and second sections being moveable, whereby the frame is mountable in walls of varying thickness.</p>

<p>S *.S</p>

<p>S</p>

<p>Door and window frames must meet certain fire regulations. These fire * S 55 regulations are particularly stringent when door and window frames are to be 5.5..</p>

<p>* used in corridors and stairwells.</p>

<p>The frame may comprise an intumescent material. Intumescent materials act by expanding rapidly under the influence of the extreme heat produced by a fire to create an insulating barrier which protects the door or window frame from the fire.</p>

<p>The frame may be made predominantly from metal, especially aluminium.</p>

<p>Metals are good heat conductors, and it is therefore difficult to achieve satisfactory fire resistance with a door or window frame which is made from metal. This is particularly the case with aluminium which is a very good conductor of heat, and which softens at a relatively low temperature compared to other metals. Frames made of metal such as aluminium are therefore usually expected to have very poor fire resistance. However, the applicant has surprisingly found that the frame of the present invention has good fire resistance meeting the requirements of fire regulation 65476: Part 22: 1987, Method 6 for a period of over one hour in respect of the integrity criterion even when the frame is made of aluminium. It is considered that this excellent fire resistance is a result of the fact that the frame of the present invention comprises at least two sections and latching means to hold the sections together.</p>

<p>The frame may be hollow, and the intumescent material may be located inside the frame. Where intumescent materials are used to provide fire resistance, they are usually located on the outside of the substrate which is to be protected to provide an insulating barrier between the substrate and any fire.</p>

<p>:. However, the applicant has found that intumescent materials provide an effective barrier even when located inside the frame. Locating the intumescent I...</p>

<p>material inside the frame is preferable as it will then not affect the appearance of the frame. 31$</p>

<p>The frame may comprise a portion which, in use, engages with the door or S. window, said intumescent material being applied to said portion. The applicant *lSS.I. . . has found that applying intumescent material to the portions which engage with the door or window increases the fire resistance of the frame.</p>

<p>Said intumescent material may be applied to at least one of said portions on that side of the portion which, in use, engages with the door or window.</p>

<p>Alternatively, or in addition, said intumescent material may be applied to at least one of said portions on the side of the portion, which, in use, does not engage with the door or window.</p>

<p>Any suitable intumescent material may be used.</p>

<p>Said intumescent material may comprise strip intumescent material.</p>

<p>Applying the intumescent material in the form of a strip allows the intumescent material to be applied selectively to those surfaces where it will have the greatest effect in increasing the fire resistance of the frame, thereby facilitating manufacture of the frame and reducing costs.</p>

<p>Dirt may become trapped in door and window frames. This is a particular problem if the door or window frames are to be used in an environment such as a hospital.</p>

<p>The frame may comprise a bead for the junction between the frame and the door or window, the frame and the bead meeting at an angle of 1800 or more. * *</p>

<p>This will help to prevent dirt from accumulating at the point where the S...</p>

<p>frame and the bead meet. SS S* * S S * .</p>

<p>The bead may extend to the edge of the frame. S..</p>

<p>* This will also help to prevent dirt from accumulating in the frame.</p>

<p>S..... * S</p>

<p>The door and window frames of the invention may be supplied in kit form to enable them to be assembled at the desired width to suit a particular wall thickness.</p>

<p>The invention will now be illustrated by way of example with reference to the following drawings of which: -4.-Figure 1 shows a cross sectional plan view of a first embodiment of a window frame according to the invention; Figure 2 shows an exploded view of part of the window frame of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a cross sectional plan view of a first embodiment of a door frame according to the invention; Figure 4 shows an exploded view of part of the door frame of Figure 3; Figure 5 shows a cross sectional plan view of a second embodiment of a window frame according to the second aspect of the invention; and Figure 6 shows a cross sectional plan view of a second embodiment of a door frame according to the invention.</p>

<p>Figures 1 and 2 show an aluminium window frame 1 for mounting in an opening 2 in a wall 3. The wall 3 includes a facing 4. S. * S * SS*</p>

<p>A first section 5 of the frame 1 is attached by screws (not shown) to one S...</p>

<p>side of the wall 3. Each side of the first section 5 comprises two plates 6, 7, which are perpendicular to one another. Plate 6 comprises a plurality of small upstanding projections 8 equally spaced on the surface of the plate, and is positioned opposite the facing 4, with the projections 8 facing outwardly, away from the facing 4. Plate 7 comprises two larger upstanding projections 9, and S.....</p>

<p>* abuts one side of the wall 2 which is to be framed. A main frame member 10 is connected at one end to the two projections 9 on plate 7.</p>

<p>A second section 11 of the frame 1 is mounted on the other side of the wall 3. Each side of the second section 11 comprises two plates 12, 13, which are perpendicular to one another. Plate 12 abuts the other side of the wall 2, and plate 13 is positioned opposite the facing 4, such that the two plates 6, 13 overlap. Plate 13 includes a plurality of serrations 14, which face inwardly, toward the facing 4. Once the second section 11 has been mounted, the projections 8 and serrations 14 are inter-engaged with one another, thereby preventing further relative movement between the two sections 5, 11.</p>

<p>The main frame member 10 comprises two substantially planar sections 15, 16, which are perpendicular to one another. Section 15 comprises a recess 17 which engages with the two upstanding projections 9 to connect the main frame member 10 to the first section 5. Section 16 is positioned opposite the facing 4, such that it overlaps with the two plates 6, 13. Section 16 includes a number of spacers 18a-c on one side for spacing the section from the two plate sections 6, 13, and an upstanding projection 19 on its other side, which includes a planar surface 20, which, in use, engages the window 21.</p>

<p>Two strips 22a,b of intumescent material are positioned adjacent to section 16, one strip 22a being positioned between section 15 and spacer 18a, and the second strip 22b being positioned between spacer 18a and spacer 18b.</p>

<p>The intumescent strips 22a,b, are held in place by a number of flanges 23 positioned on section 15 and on spacers 18a and 18b. S. * S * SS.</p>

<p>Two beads 24 are connected at either end of the mainframe member 10.</p>

<p>Each of the beads 24 comprises a curved section 25 having a hook 26 at one extremity for connecting the bead 24 to the main frame member 10, and a substantially planar section 27 at the other end having a hook 28 for connecting the bead 24 to the projection 19 on the main frame member 10. In use, the two sections 27 on the bead 24 and the surface 20 on the main frame member 10 ***.S.</p>

<p>* engage the window 21.</p>

<p>Two strips 29a,b of intumescent material are positioned on either side of the window 21 adjacent to the sections 27 and a further strip 29c of intumescent material is positioned on the other side of one of the sections 27.</p>

<p>The strips 22a,b and 29a,b,c of intumescent material are sold under the trade mark PYROSTRIP.</p>

<p>Figures 2 and 3 show an aluminium door frame 30 for mounting in an opening 2 in a wall 3. The door frame is similar to the window frame 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2, but it includes only one bead 31; and only one strip 32 of intumescent material positioned inside the bead 31.</p>

<p>Both the window frame of Figures 1 and 2 and the door frame of Figures 3 and 4 have been tested in accordance with BS 476:Part 22:1987, Method 6 and have been found to meet the requirements of this standard for a period of over one hour in respect of the integrity criterion.</p>

<p>Figure 5 shows a window frame 33 for mounting in an opening 2 in a wall 3.</p>

<p>The window frame 33 is similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2, but it can be seen that the frame 33 and the bead 35 meet at an angle A of over 1800, whereas in the window frame 1 of Figures 1 and 2, the frame 1 and the two beads 24 meet at an angle B of just over 90 . This means that dirt will tend to "... accumulate at the point where the frame 1 meets the beads 24 in the window S...</p>

<p>frame 1 of Figures 1 and 2, but not where the frame 33 meets the bead 35 in the window frame 33 of Figure 5. It can also be seen that the bead 35 extends to the edge of the frame 33, unlike the beads 24 of the window frame 1 of Figures 1 and 2, which again will prevent dirt from accumulating at the meeting point of the frame 33 and bead 35. ..e</p>

<p>S S</p>

<p>Figure 6 shows a door frame 36 which is similar to the window frame 33 of Figure 5.</p>

Claims (1)

1. <p>CLAIMS</p>

   <p>1. A door or window frame for mounting in an opening or wall, the frame comprising first and second sections, which, in use, are connected together, said first section being attachable to one side of said opening, and said second section being attachable to the other side of said opening, said first and second sections comprising inter-engageable latching means, one or both of said first and second sections being moveable, whereby the frame is mountable in walls of varying thickness.</p>

   <p>2. A frame according to claim 1, the frame comprising an intumescent material.</p>

   <p>3. A frame according to claim 2, wherein the frame is made predominantly from metal.</p>

   <p>4. A frame according to claim 3, wherein the frame is made predominantly from aluminium.</p>

   <p>5. A frame according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame is hollow and the intumescent material is located inside the frame. * S..</p>

   <p>6. A frame according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the frame comprises a portion which, in use, engages with the door or window, said intumescent material being applied to said portion.</p>

   <p>7. A frame according to claim 6, wherein said intumescent material is applied * to at least one of said portions on that side of the portion which, in use, * engages with the door or window.</p>

   <p>8. A frame according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein said intumescent material is applied to at least one of said portions on a side of the portion, which, in use, does not engage with the door or window.</p>

   <p>9. A frame according to any of claims 2 to 8, wherein said intumescent material comprises strip intumescent material.</p>

   <p>10. A frame according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame further comprises a bead for the junction between the frame and the door or window, the frame and the bead at an angle greater than 180 .</p>

   <p>11. A frame according to Class 10, wherein the bead extends to the edge of the frame.</p>

   <p>12. A kit of parts for assembling a door or window frame according to any of claims 1 to 11.</p>

   <p>13. A door or window frame for mounting in an opening in a wall, substantially as described herein or as shown in the drawings. S. * S * ...</p>

   <p>I. S I * S S. SI</p>

   <p>SI S * S</p>

   <p>S S.. S. S. * S S S. S</p>

   <p>S.....</p>

   <p>S</p>