GB2459080A

GB2459080A - Window Mounting Fixture

Info

Publication number: GB2459080A
Application number: GB0801448A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Richard Batterham
Original assignee: Ibstock Brick Ltd
Current assignee: Ibstock Brick Ltd
Priority date: 2008-01-26
Filing date: 2008-01-26
Publication date: 2009-10-14
Also published as: GB0801448D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a system and method of fixing prefabricated building elements e.g. bay windows and support frames accurately into the structure of a building, such that loading from the window is transmitted through the fabric of the building. The prefabricated building elements may include a goalpost type framework 100 of tubular steel secured to the building at various points about the boundary of the framework with ties. The framework may be pad fixed 103 to the floor by bolts and resin anchors. The bay window (1 figure 8) is preferably prefabricated with lower and upper brick sections 4 and 6, middle window section 5 and supporting elements which extend from the window. The window may be lifted and slid back into position and the supporting elements fixed to the framework such that the weight of the window is taken by the floor slab.

Description

Window Mountin2 Fixture This invention relates to a window mounting fixture and a method of fixing building elements from a building and, in particular, to a method of fixing prefabricated elements from a building.

The present invention is concerned with providing a method of fixing prefabricated building elements, such as bay windows, accurately into the structure of a building.

Further the invention provides means for the construction of such elements.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided a system for supporting a building element in a building which building is provided with an opening for said element and said element is prefabricated prior to location and fixing in said opening in the building wherein adjacent said opening is provided at least one framework structure that is secured to the structure of the building and means is provided so that the building element can be fixed from the framework.

The present invention provides a means by which building elements, for example bay window units, can be fixed, for example, by fixing to the framework. This enables the loading from the supported element to be transmitted through the basic fabric of the building.

In a preferred arrangement of the present invention the framework comprises a metal framework. Preferably the framework comprises a structure having two side posts that support a horizontal member, i.e. a goalpost type arrangement, and said framework is formed from square hollow section tubing of mild steel. The dimensions and quality of the fabric of the framework as well as the support for the framework would be adapted to meet the particular circumstances that are encountered.

The framework is preferably secured to the building at various points about the boundary of the framework. The framework may be fixed to the adjacent blockwork or other structure with ties, for example, stainless steel ties also pad fixed to the floor with bolts and resin anchors.

Preferably the framework or the prefabricated unit is provided with means to attach the unit to the framework. In one arrangement of the present invention the prefabricated unit is fixed to the framework with simple plates and screws.

There are several factors that have to be taken into consideration when using the system of the present invention and the design of the components for use in the system. These factors include the weight of the prefabricated unit; the structural integrity of the building in the vicinity of the opening; and the integrity of the building element itself The invention is suited for the fixing of any type of building unit, which may be prefabricated. The important factor being whether the building is capable of accepting the loading that will be transmitted through it by the provision of the building element and how to distribute this loading so that the integrity of the building is maintained.

The invention is suited to fixing/restraining of a prefabricated unit, and whilst the actual structure of the prefabricated unit is not critical to the use of the invention, it is important for the loadings reasons mentioned above that the loading is as small as possible and therefore the building element is as light as reasonably possible.

In accordance with the present invention there is therefore included a method of prefabricating units wherein the building units are formed from component parts at least one of which component parts has a structure that includes: a thin skin surface; a profiled board for supporting the skin; a cavity; a breather membrane: a waterproofing layer, such as a bitumen board; and an insulating layer; all of which are supported on a galvanised steel framework that can be used for fixing the component to part of a larger unit.

Further, the prefabricated part may also include a cill, or mullion, orjambs.

A building element for supporting in accordance with the present invention can be formed from one or more parts and may include other parts formed in a different manner.

A typical building element made in accordance with the present invention such as a bay window unit may be formed with upper and lower brick section made in accordance with the above method of prefabrication and a separating double glazed window section wherein mullions and jambs are provided between windows.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of fixing prefabricated building units from an opening in a building in which: the building element is fabricated including supporting elements that extend from said building element; a framework in accordance with an earlier aspect of the invention is fixed to a floor slab; the opening in the building is formed around the framework with at least completion of the brickworklblockwork around the framework, for example via a traditional cavity wall technique to locate and secure the framework in the opening; the prefabricated building element is lifted into the opening arid slid back into the opening; and the supporting elements are fixed to the framework.

With this arrangement the weight of the building element is supported and taken by floor slab that may be a concrete floor. The framework may be fixed to the floor slab using resin anchors The supporting elements may be fixed to the framework using fixing plates and screws.

The invention will now be illustrated, by way of description of, an example in accordance with the present invention of installing an element, such as a bay window into a building, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a front view of a building element made in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows a cross sectional view of the construction of the brickwork elements within the building element shown in figure 1 of the drawings; Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view through the height of the bay window: Figure 4 and 5 show a cross-sectional blown up view of the upper and lower sections of the bay window.

Figure 6 of the drawings show a supporting framework 100 for supporting a building element as shown in Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings; Figure 7 shows a suitable fixing for securing a building element to a building; and Figure 8 shows a cross section across the prefabricated building element.

Now referring to Figure 1 of the drawings there is shown a view of a prefabricated bay window unit 1 suitable for fixing in accordance with the present invention. The bay window unit 1 includes a front section 2 and two side sections 3 with the side sections 3 joined to the front section one at each end at an angle of approximately 40 to 50 degrees, and advantageously around 45 degrees. The bay window unit 1 has three sections rising from bottom to top comprising a lower brick section 4, a middle window section 5 and an upper brick section 6.

Mullion and jamb arrangements 7 running between the lower brick section 4 and upper brick section 6 separate the windows in the window section and provide mechanical support between the two sections. Window heads are fitted in the upper brick section 6 above the windows and between the pillars 7. The brick sections may be formed from any other suitable building material, for example cast concrete blocks.

In the example shown the lower brick section 4 also includes three decorative sections 6.

The lower brick section 4 and the upper brick section 6 each have the following layered construction as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings: an outer skin 10 formed from brickwork 11 or other suitable materials are fixed in a standard brick configuration using gun-applied adhesive 12; a profiled board 13 to which the skins 11 are fixed; a 15mm drainage cavity 14; a breather membrane 15, for example "Kiober Perma Frame Breather Membrane"; a 1 5mm bitumen board 16 to which the breather membrane 15 is attached; a 50mm layer 17 of insulation such as "Kingspan K12"; and a light galvanised steel framework 18 on which the above structure is formed.

Now referring to Figures 3 to 5 of the drawings there is shown a cross-section of the bay window unit 1. Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings show in blown up detail cross sections of the lower window cill and the window head. The construction of the lower 4 and upper 6 brick sections are broadly as described above with respect to Figure 2 of the drawings.

Further Figures 3 to 5 also show the detail of the construction of the bay window as a whole as well as the fitting of the sections into the finished prefabricated unit 1.

With regard to Figure 4 of the drawings it can be seen that the overall construction of the upper brick section 6 is broadly as described with reference to Figure 2 of the drawings.

The lower edge 1 Oa of the skin layer 10 differs from the main part of the section 6 in that a preformed L shaped unit 19 is used to provide a finish to the visible underside of the head.

The L head 20 of this unit extends back to contact the insulation layer 17 and the profiled board 13, cavity 14, breather membrane 15 and the bitumen board 16 all end on the head.

The main leg of the L shaped block extends up the face of the upper brick section 6 and its edge forms the base on which the skin layer 10 is formed. The head 20 of the L shaped unit 19 is provided with weepholes 21 in the vicinity of the cavity 14 to provide drainage from the cavity.

Now referring to Figure 5 of the drawings it can be seen that the major part of the lower brick section 4 is as described with respect to Figure 2 of the drawings. The upper section of the lower brick section 4 differs in that the end section of the section 5 has a cill 22 is fitted to the top of the skin section 11 and the profiled board 13 and which ciii 22 extends back to contact the breather membrane 15.

With both the lower brick section 4 and upper brick section 6 a further layer 23 of 100mm of insulation is fitted behind the other insulation layer within the framework 18.

The middle window portion 5 is formed from standard double-glazing units that are fitted between and to the mullion and jamb arrangement 7. The double glazing units are not designed to take any loading and are simply fixed into position using conventional techniques.

The pillars 7 simply extend between the lower brick section 4 and the upper brick section 6.

Referring again to figure 4 of the drawings it can be seen that a L-shaped unit 23 is fitted to the top of the window section 5 into which the double-glazing unit can be simply slid and fixed. Two seals 24 are provided between the upper surface of the L-shaped member 23 and the bottom of the upper brick section 6.

The first of these seals 24 is fitted to act against the base of the framework 18 and the upper surface of the L-shaped member 23. The second of the seals 24 acts between the tongue of the L-shaped block 20 at a point reward of the weepholes 21 and the upper surface of the L-shaped member 23.

Referring to Figure 5 of the drawings the window section is mounted so that the ciii of the double-glazing unit is resting via a seal 25 to the upper surface of the cill 22 and rearward of that rests via a mounting block to the upper part of the framework.

The upper surface of the lower section 4 and the lower surface ofhe upper section 6 may be finished with standard cosmetic finishes Now referring to Figure 6 of the drawings there is shown a supporting framework 100 for fixing the bay window in the building. The framework 100 is formed from hollow box metal of square cross-section that is cut and welded together in a goalpost type construction having two legs 101 and a beam 102. The free end of each leg is provided with a fitting plate 103 so that the framework can be bolted and secured to the floor slab.

The framework 100 specifications will be set by the purpose for which it is to be used including the dimensions. Further additional fittings of the framework to the surrounding building may also be provided to distribute the spread of the loading. This will obviously depend on the exact construction of the building to which the framework is being fitted arid the ability of the construction to accept the loadings applied.

Referring to Figure 3 of the drawings you can see the bay window unit 1 in situ in an opening provided in the building. The framework 100 is located in the opening standing on the floor of the building and bolted into place using resin anchors fitted through the plates 103 on each leg of the framework 100. In addition the framework 100 may be screwed to the sides of the opening using plates 104 which are screwed to the framework and then screwed to the surrounds of the opening.

Further the bay window unit 1 may be bolted directly to the floor via the framework 18 of the lower brick section 5 using the resin bolting technique, see Figure 7 of the drawings.

A ceiling section 110 is provided and comprises a metal member 111 that is bolted to the framework 100 at one and to the back of the bay window unit adjacent to the edge of the constructed bay window element. The ceiling sections 110 are secured to the bay window unit.

The bay window unit with the ceiling section in place is now lifted into position with the lower edge of the lower brick section 4 resting on the general brickwork of the building.

Once in the correct position the ceiling sections 110 are secured to the framework 100 and thereby to the building. The location of the bay window unit 1 in the opening is shown in Figures 2 and 8 of the drawings.

Claims

Claims 1 A system for supporting a building element in a building which building is provided with an opening for said element and said element is prefabricated prior to location and fixing in said opening in the building wherein adjacent said opening is provided at least one framework structure that is secured to the structure of the building and means is provided so that the building element can be fixed from the framework.
2 A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the framework comprises a metal framework.
3 A system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the framework comprises a structure having two side posts that support a horizontal member and said framework is formed from square hollow section tubing of mild steel.
4 A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the framework is secured to the building at various points about the boundary of the framework.
A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the framework is fixed to the building with ties.
6 A system as claimed in claim 4 wherein stainless steel ties are pad fixed to the floor with bolts and resin anchors.
7 A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the framework or the prefabricated unit is provided with means to attach the unit to the framework.
8 A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the prefabricated unit is fixed to the framework with simple plates and screws.
9 A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the prefabricated units are formed from a method wherein the building units are formed from component parts at least one of which component parts has a structure that includes: a thin skin surface; a profiled board for supporting the skin; a cavity; a breather membrane: a waterproofing layer, such as a bitumen board; and an insulating layer; all of which are supported on a galvanised steel framework that can be used for fixing the component to part of a larger unit.
10 A system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the prefabricated unit also includes a cill, or mullion, orjambs.
11 A method of fixing prefabricated building units from an opening in a building in which: the building element is fabricated including supporting elements that extend from said building element; a framework in accordance with an earlier aspect of the invention is fixed to a floor slab; the opening in the building is formed around the framework with at least completion of the brickworkfblockwork around the framework, for example via a traditional cavity wall technique to locate and secure the framework in the opening; the prefabricated building element is lifted into the opening and slid back into the opening; and the supporting elements are fixed to the framework.