GB2440245A

GB2440245A - Window frame having internal connection means

Info

Publication number: GB2440245A
Application number: GB0713575A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stuart Nelson
Original assignee: AUTO PLAS INTERNAT Ltd
Current assignee: AUTO PLAS INTERNAT Ltd
Priority date: 2006-07-19
Filing date: 2007-07-12
Publication date: 2008-01-23
Also published as: GB0713575D0; GB0614291D0

Abstract

A system and method for mounting a first article 8 within an aperture provided in a second article comprises first and second opposing frame members 10 which clamp between them edge regions of the first article 8 and the edge region of the second article which defines the aperture and connector means for interlocking the frame members to each other, the connector means being located entirely within the gap between the two frames. The first article may be a double glazing unit and the second article may be a door. The connector means 22 may comprise a snap-fit connector arranged to interlock with tubular portions of the frame members.

Description

I -*1-

ARTICLE INTERCONNECTION ARRANGEMENTS

This invention relates to the interconnection of articles.

In particular the present invention is concerned with the interconnection of articles comprising relatively large frameworks such as, for example, as is involved in the glazing of doors without the use of adhesives, putties or similar fastening means.

In the production of doors of what ever form it is a common practice to provide windows formed by double glazed units.. Such windows can be of various sizes.

These units a conventionally held in placed by frames usually decorative framing.

This framing usually involves two separate frames which are so connected by screws or the like to opposed faces of the doors as to sandwich between the frames the marginal edges of the glazing unit and the marginal edges of the glass receiving opening provided in the door in such manner that the glazing unit is gripped firmly between the two frames The dimensions of the frames are such that when they are joined together in face to face relationship a peripheral region of each frame bears tightly against the adjacent marginal regions of the door opening and the marginal edges of the glazing.

A known arrangement for connecting such frames to the door involves a series of holes regularly spaced around one of the frames. The other frame is provided with a corresponding number of screw receiving boss like formations that are intended to provide anchorage's for the screws.

Such mode of connecting the two frames to the door frame results in a series of visible unsightly screw heads around the associated frame.

With the intention of removing such unsighiliness the heads can be slightly countersunk and the countersunk regions covered in by appropriately sized discs formed from the same material as that of the frames so as hopefully to render invisible said heads..

Furthermore this known mode of attaching the frameworks to a door or other panel has been found to be a time consuming activity..

It is an object of the invention to avoid the need to use screws or the like in the mounting of an article to another article such as a double glazing unit to a door.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided I. A method of mounting a first article to a second article incorporating an aperture for receiving the first article, including the step of sandwiching the marginal regions of first article and the marginal regions of the aperture between two frames that are secured one to the other by connection means wholly located internally of the Iwo frames and between the marginal regions of the first article and those of the aperture of the aperture.

Preferably a circumscribing space is provided between the marginal regions of the first article and those of the aperture for receiving said connection means.

In practice the two frames are connected together by locking elements that engage with a snap action with locating elements projecting from the surfaces of the two frames that face towards each other when mounted to the articles.

A further aspect of the invention provides a system for mounting a first article within an aperture provided in a second article, wherein the relative dimensions of the first article and the edge regions of the aperture being such as to define a circumscribing space around the first article, and wherein the system includes first and second elongate frame members adapted to abut and overlap and sandwich the edge regions of the first article and of the aperture, and means relative spaced around said frame members for interlocking the frame members one to the other said interlocking means being located in said space..

Preferably the system is concerned with the mounting of a double glazing unit in a door Preferably each said locking means incorporates two tubular member provided one to each frame member, and an locking element adapted to engage with each associated tubular member with a snap action, and the relative dimensions of the tubular members and the associated locking element are such that the frames are so connected one to other by the locking that the frames exerts sandwiching pressure upon the said marginal edges of the first article and of the aperture..

In a preferred construction each said frame incorporates first article contacting means, adapted to co-operate with and bear against the marginal regions of the aperture within which the first article is to be located and a second article 1 5 contacting means adapted to co-operate and bear against the marginal regions of the article to be mounted Preferably the first and second article contacting means includes bars outwardly projecting from a main body region, and wherein said bars serve to define free edge regions that are intended to bear firmly against and sandwich the marginal edges of the first article and the marginal edge regions of the aperture in the second article.

According to a further aspect of the invention a double glazing unit is mountable to a location at which it is required by sandwiching the marginal regions of an aperture into which the unit is to be mounted and the marginal regions of the *, double glazing unit between two frames incorporating connection elements that are lockable together by means a plurality of connection arrangements that allows for relative position adjustment of the frames during said sandwiching in such manner that the connection means are wholly housed between the frames.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how to cany the same into effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is a very schematic view of a door including a glazed region retained in place by retaining means and retaining means in accordance with the proposals of the invention, Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view to an enlarged scale along the line H-li of Figure 1 illustrating a double glazing unit mounted by a mounting incorporating the concepts of the invention; Figure 3, is a detailed enlarged perspective view of the arrangements for retaining the glazing unit in its required position and; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a detail of the retaining means of Figure 3 Referring now to Figure 1 a door 1 schematically shown therein includes a flame 2 incorporating a top rail 3, a bottom rail, 4 a central rail 5 and side rails 6 and 7. An opening is provided in the upper part of the door for receiving a double glazing. unit 8. The lower part of the door frame is provided with a panel 9 Clearly, if desired, this lower part of the door could be apertured to receive a double glazing unit.

The aperture is so dimensioned in relation to the dimensions of the glazing unit that a space is provided around the glazing unit when the lafter is location in the aperture in the door.

The double glazing unit 8 is retained in position by two rectangular frames 10 located one to each face of the door. The formation of the frames 10 and usage of the frames 10 is generally illustrated in the Figures 2. 3 and 4 As will be noted each frame 10 incorporates main body 11 having a first pair of parallel bars 12 having free edges 13 that are intended to co-operate and bear against the marginal regions 14 of the door rails 3,5,6 and 7 surrounding the opening within which the glazing unit 8 is to be located and a second pair of parallel bars 15 having free edges 16 that are intended to bear firmly against the marginal regions 17 of the double glazing unit 8.

In use the frames 10 are connected together by means of a series of tubular connecting elements 19 regularly spaced lengthways of the associated frames 10 The outer surface 20 (shown in the Figures as the upper surface) of each element 19 is provided with a slot 21 the function of which will be discussed hereinafter.

These elements 19 are so positioned that when the frames are mounted to the door the elements are located in the space circumscribing the glazing unit marginal regions.

It is convenient to note that present day common requirement for such double glazed regions as is that double glazing units are conventionally supplied as finished units that merely need to be physically retained in the door with adequate clearances to avoid inducing damaging stresses into the glazing unit during installation and throughout its usage.

For convenience, it will be presumed that the door construction is produced by the moulding of appropriate plastics material having regard to the well known requirements for a door as part of the security and appearance of a building with which it is associated.

As will be seen from the Figures the frames 10 are positioned one opposite the other against the door frame 2 such that the free edges 13 of the bars 12 bear against the marginal edges 14 of the door rails 3,5,6,7 whilst the free edges 16 of the bars 15 bear against the side faces of the marginal regions 17 of the double S glazing unit 8.. ft will be noted that the dimensions of the two sets of bars 12 are such as to accommodate the difference in the thickness of the glazing unit and that of the door.

The frames are so formed that when in the position shown in the Figures I and 2 each connection element 19 of one frame is located immediately in line with an a corresponding connection element 19 of the other frame.

The connection elements are effectively locked together be means of a retaining locking element 22 that is intended slidably to engage with two facing connection elements in such manner as firmly to connect the two connection elements to each other as indicated in the Figure 2.

1 5 The locking element 22 is illustrated in greater detail in Figure 4. As will be seen the element 22 has a rectangularly shaped main body 23 provided on its upper surface 24 with a central upstanding transverse bar 25 and two upstanding latching bars 26 located one adjacent each end region 27 of the main body 23.

The outer longer edges 28 of these outer bars 26 are inclined and so positioned with respect to the adjacent edge 29 of the upstanding central bar 26 as to be able, when the upstanding central bar is closely adjacent to the end 30 of the tubular member 19 to engage with a snap action with the the outer edge 31 of the slot 21 provided in the upper surface 20 of the hollow connection element 19 and thereby to lock the locking element 22 to the hollow connection element 19 in such manner as to prevent easy removal. In practice, the sloping leading surface 28 acts as guide surface that during the insertion of the locking element 22 the outer -7-.

portion of the connection element is slightly distorted during transit of the inclined surface into the slot.

A further bar 32 that is immediately opposite the bar 25 is located on on the upper surface is provided on the under surface 33 of the main body 23. This lower bar 32 is provided near the ends thereof with pips/bosses 34 enterable into the hollow connection element 19, the pips/bosses 34 having inclined leading edges 35 to facilitate their entry into the hollow connection element.

The width of the locking element main body 23 is less than the length of the slot 21 in the hollow connection element so that a degree of sideways displacement is possible.

To install the frames a locking element 22 is tiued to each of the connection elements 19 of one of the frames 10.

The double glazing unit 8 is positioned in the door frame 2 and the two frames 10 are positioned one to each side of the door I with the tubular connection elements 19 of the two frames in alignment. Afier which the two frames are firmly pushed towards each other so that the projecting parts of the locking elements 22 already mounted to one of the frames 10 engage with the connection members 19 of the other frame 10.

Following such engagement the two frames 10 are firmly locked together and at the same time sandwiching/trapping the double glazing unit 8 there between..

In practice the physical dimensions of the frames 10 are so chosen in relation to the dimensions of the door frame 2, and those of the double glazing unit 8 that when the frames are interconnected the free edges of the bars press firmly against the marginal edges of the door frame rails and those of the double glazing unit to

I

such extent that once installed the glazing unit will not easily displace relative to the door frame..

At the same time the outermost ends 30 of the connection elements 19 are in contact with the transverse bars 25 of the locking elements.

In practice the relative dimensions and shaping of the frames 10, the locking elements 22, and the hollow connection elements 19 are such that a degree of relative adjustment is possible during the mounting of the frames to the door so as to be able to accommodate slight departures from precisely set dimensions for the doors, double glazing units and the the frames of the bars, the hollow connection elements and the locking elements.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A method of mounting a first article to a second article incorporating an aperture for receiving the first article, including the step of sandwiching the marginal regions of first article and the marginal regions of the aperture between two frames that are secured one to the other by connection means wholly located internally of the two frames and between the marginal regions of the first article and those of the aperture of the aperture.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, and including the step of providing a circumscribing space between the marginal regions of the first article and those of the aperture for receiving said connection means.

3. A method as claimed in claim I and 2, in which the two frames are connected together by locking elements that engage with a snap action with locating elements projecting from the surfaces of the two frames that face towards each other when mounted to the articles.

1 5 4. A method as claimed in claim 3, in which tubular elements are provided on the faces of the frames that face towards each other when mounted, and the tubular elements are with a snap action by the locking elements to pull the frames into firm contact with the first and second articles 5. A method as claimed in claim 1, 2,3 or 4, in which the first article is a double glazing unit, and the second article is a door.

6. A system for mounting a first article within an aperture provided in a second article, wherein the relative dimensions of the first article and the edge regions of the aperture being such as to define a circumscribing space around the first article, and wherein the system includes first and second elongate frame members adapted to abut and overlap and sandwich the edge regions of the first article and of the aperture, and means relative spaced around said frame members for interlocking the frame members one to the other said interlocking means being located in said space..

7. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first article is a double glazing unit, and the second article is a door.

8. A system as claimed in claim 6 or 7, and wherein each said locking means incorporates two tubular member provided one to each frame member, and an locking element adapted to engage with each associated tubular member with a snap action, and wherein the relative dimensions of the tubular members and the associated locking element are such that the frames are so connected one to other by the locking that the frames exerts sandwiching pressure upon the said marginal edges of the first article and of the aperture..

1 5 9. A system as claimed in claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein each said frame incorporates first article contacting means, adapted to co-operate with and bear against the marginal regions of the aperture within which the first article is to be located and a second article contacting means adapted to co-operate and bear against the marginal regions of t he article to be mounted 10. A system as claimed in claim 5, and wherein the first and second article contacting means includes bars outwardly projecting from a main body region, and wherein said bars serve to define free edge regions that are intended to bear firmly against and sandwich the marginal edges of the first article and the marginal edge regions of the aperture in the second article.

11 A system as claimed in claim 10, and wherein the means for locking the frames one to the other when sandwiching the edge regions of the first article and

S

the aperture includes a plurality of locking elements that serve to clamp the first and second frames in face to face relationship such that the bars are clamped in their sandwiching position.

12 A system as claimed in claim II, and wherein each locking element has a rectangularly shaped main body provided a central upstanding transverse bar and two upstanding latching bars located one adjacent each end region of the main body 13 A system as claimed in claim 12, and wherein the outer longer edges of these latching bars are inclined and so positioned with respect to the adjacent edge of the upstanding central bar as to be able, when the upstanding central bar is closely adjacent to the end of a tubular member to engage with a snap action with the the outer edge of the slot provided the tubular member and thereby to lock the locking element to the tubular member in such manner as to prevent easy removal.

14 A system as claimed in claim 13, and wherein the inclined surface acts as guide surface that during the insertion of the locking element into the tubular member the outer portion of the connection element is slightly distorted during transit of the inclined surface into the slot.

A system as claimed in claim 8, and including a further bar 32 located immediately opposite the bar on the upper surface is provided on the under surface 33 of the main body 23. This lower bar 32 is provided near the ends thereof with pips/bosses 34 enterable into the hollow connection element 19, the pips/bosses 34 having inclined leading edges 35 to facilitate their enuy into the hollow connection element.

16. A system for for mounting a first article within an aperture provided in a second article substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. A system for for mounting a double glazing unit in an aperture provided in a door substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. A method of mounting a double glazing unit in an aperture provided in a door substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.