GB2471264A

GB2471264A - Snap fit window frame

Info

Publication number: GB2471264A
Application number: GB0909718A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tae-Seung Kim
Original assignee: GUM KWANG HI TECH CO Ltd; KD INTERNAT
Current assignee: KD INTERNATIONAL
Priority date: 2009-06-08
Filing date: 2009-06-08
Publication date: 2010-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 2029-06-08
Also published as: GB0909718D0; GB2471264B

Abstract

A door comprising a door frame or door panel 100, the panel having an aperture 110 for receiving a window pane 200 and two window frames 300. Each window frame 300 includes a frame body 310, the frame body having a coating slot (313, 314 Fig 2) for receiving sealing material and a plurality of snap fits 320 including at least two hooks 321 322 323 provided with protrusion parts that protrude in different directions, and a connection member 324 for connecting each hook to the frame body 310, and a plurality of snap fit housings 330 provided on the inner wall of the frame body symmetrically to the snap fits and formed with a plurality of locking holes 331 332 333 positioned corresponding to the protrusion parts of the hooks of the snap fits. Also claimed is a single window frame having the same features as above. The coating slot may have an inclined angle towards the snap fitting. Each hook 321 322 323 may be of different heights to allow the window frame to be used in doors of varying thicknesses.

Description

WINDOW FRAME OF DOOR

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a door. More particularly, the present invention relates to a window frame structure employed in a door to assemble a window to a door body.

Description of the Related Art

In general, a door includes a body frame having an opening for installing a window therein and a window frame for fixing the window in the opening.

The window frame includes a front window frame, which is coupled to the body frame from a front of the body frame, and a rear window frame, which is coupled to the body frame from a rear of the body frame in such a manner that the window positioned in the opening of the body frame can be interposed between the front window frame and the rear window frame.

The front and rear window frames can be fabricated by using various materials, such as wood, metal or synthetic resin and can be assembled with each other through various fastening tools, such as bolts or hooks.

If the hook is used to assemble the front window frame with the rear window frame, the front and rear window frames may not be precisely assembled with each other due to a thickness error of the body frame.

In addition, the hook is easily broken as impact is applied to a weak point of the hook. If the hook is broken, the front and rear window frames may become delaminated from each other or may mismatch with each other at a region where the hook is installed.

For this reason, conventionally, the bolts are used together with the hook to assemble the front and rear window frames with each other.

However, bolting work may require much time as compared Page 1 with hook work, so productivity may be lowered.

In addition, since rainwater may leak through a gap formed between the front and rear window frames, silicon is coated between the front and rear window frames along the periphery of the front and rear window frames.

Since the silicon having a gel phase is used for the silicon coating work, the silicon is compressed between the front and rear window frames and expanded out of the front and rear window frames, so that the silicon is partially leaked to the window.

Therefore, the silicon leaked to the window must be removed after the silicon coating work has been finished, so the working time is lengthened.

SUMtVIPRY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the foregoing problems occurring in the prior art, and therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a window frame having an improved structure and a door having the window frame, in which an assembling time can be shortened by omitting a bolt coupling structure, two window frames can be precisely assembled with each other even if a body frame has a thickness error within a tolerance, silicon coated between the two window frames can be prevented from leaking out of the two window frames, and the two window frames can be longitudinally and transversely supported.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a door comprising: a door frame having an opening; a window installed in the opening of the door frame; and two window frames coupled to the door frame from a front and a rear of the door frame, respectively, in which outer peripheral portions of the window frames surround a peripheral portion of the opening of the door frame, and inner peripheral portions of the window frames surround a peripheral portion of the window, wherein each window frame comprises: a frame body having a rectangular shape and being Page 2 formed along a periphery of an inner wall thereof with a coating slot for receiving sealing material therein; a plurality of snap fits including at least two hooks provided with protrusion parts that protrude in different directions, and a connection member for connecting a bottom surface of each hook to the inner wall of the frame body; and a plurality of snap fit housings provided on the inner wall of the frame body symmetrically to the snap fits and formed with a plurality of locking holes positioned corresponding to the protrusion parts of the hooks of the snap fits.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a window frame comprising: a frame body having a rectangular shape and being formed along a periphery of an inner wall thereof with a coating slot for receiving sealing material therein; a plurality of snap fits including at least two hooks provided with protrusion parts that protrude in different directions, and a connection member for connecting a bottom surface of each hook to the inner wall of the frame body; and a plurality of snap fit housings provided on the inner wall of the frame body symmetrically to the snap fits and formed with a plurality of locking holes positioned corresponding to the protrusion parts of the hooks of the snap fits.

The coating slot formed in the frame body is downwardly inclined toward the snap fit or the snap fit housing.

Each snap fit includes three hooks having protrusion parts that protrude in different directions.

The hooks of each snap fit have heights different from each other, in which the heights range from the connection member to the protrusion parts of the hooks.

The snap fits have heights equal to heights of the snap fit housings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DPAWINGS

The above objects, and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent after a Page 3 reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a door according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a frame body of a window frame according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a part of a window frame according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of an "A" portion shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a region where a snap fit of a window frame according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is installed; FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a "B" portion shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a region where a snap fit housing of a window frame according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is installed; and FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a snap fit housing assembled with a snap fit of a window frame according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, a door and a window frame employed in the door according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.

FIG. 1 shows a door 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the door 10 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention mainly includes a door frame 100, a window 200, and two window frames 300.

Page 4 The door frame 100 constitutes a body of the door 10.

An opening 110 is formed at the center of the door frame 100 such that the window 200 can be installed in the opening 110.

In addition, the window 200 is fixedly installed in the opening 110 by the two window frames 300.

Hereinafter, the window frames 300 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7.

As shown in FIG. 1, each window frame 300 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a frame body 310, a plurality of snap fits 310, and a plurality of snap fit housings 330.

The frame body 310 is a rectangular frame that forms an external appearance of the window frame 300. As shown in FIG. 2, the frame body 310 includes a door contact part 312, which closely adheres to the door frame 100 of the door 10, and a window contact part 311, which closely adheres to the window 200.

The door contact part 312 is an outer peripheral part of the frame body 310, and the window contact part 311 is an inner peripheral part of the frame body 310.

In addition, coating slots 313 and 314 are formed in the door contact part 312 and the window contact part 311 of the frame body 310, respectively, such that sealant (not shown), such as silicon, can be filled in the coating slots 313 and 314.

Each coating slot 313 or 314 has a sectional shape which is gradually inclined toward the snap fit 320 or the snap fit housing 330. In other words, the coating slots 313 and 314 are gradually inclined or stepped downward in the direction of the snap fit 320 or the snap fit housing 330, so that the silicon filled in the coating slots 313 and 314 can be prevented from leaking to the outside (for example, to the door frame or the window) The snap fits 320 and the snap fit housings 330 are used to assemble the two window frames 300 with each other.

To this end, plural snap fits 320 and plural snap fit Page 5 housings 330 are provided along central portions of inner walls of the window frames 300 between the door contact part 312 and the window contact part 311.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 and 8, each snap fit 320 includes at least two hooks 321, 322 and 323, and a connection member 324 that connects the hooks 321, 322 and 323 to the frame body 310.

The hooks 321, 322 and 323 have protrusion parts, which protrude in different directions.

In particular, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, each snap fit 310 includes three hooks 321, 322 and 323 having protrusion parts, which protrude in different directions.

For instance, if the protrusion part of the hook 321 protrudes in the left direction, the protrusion part of the hook 322 protrudes in the right direction, and the protrusion part of the hook 323 protrudes in the front direction (or rear direction) In addition, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, heights hi, h2 and h3 of the hooks 321, 322 and 323, which range from the connection member 324 to the protrusion parts, are different from each other.

The thickness of the door frame 100 of the door 10 employing the window frames 300 may vary within an error tolerance (minus error or plus error) . However, the two window frames 300 can be precisely assembled with each other even if there is a thickness error of the door frame 100 because the hooks 321, 322 and 323 have heights different from each other.

For instance, if the thickness of the door frame 100 is thicker than the normal thickness even though the thickness of the door frame 100 is within the error tolerance, the two window frames 300 can be precisely assembled with each other by the hook 322 having the relatively low height. In addition, if the thickness of the door frame 100 is thinner than the normal thickness even though the thickness of the Page 6 door frame 100 is within the error tolerance, the two window frames 300 can be precisely assembled with each other by the hook 321 having the relatively high height. Further, if the door frame 100 has the normal thickness, the two window frames 300 can be precisely assembled with each other by the hook 323.

Meanwhile, the snap fit housings 330 are assembled with the snap fits 320 provided in the counterpart window frame 300.

As shown in FIG. 1, the snap fit housings 330 are provided on the inner wall of the frame body 310 symmetrically to the snap fits 320. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 and 8, a plurality of locking holes 331, 332 and 333 are formed in each snap fit housing 330 corresponding to the protrusion parts of the hooks 321, 322 and 323 of each snap fit 320.

At this time, the locking holes 331, 332 and 333 are positioned corresponding to the protrusion parts of the hooks 321, 322 and 323. In other words, heights of the locking holes 331, 332 and 333 are also different from each other.

In addition, since the snap fit housings 330 are formed in the frame body 310 symmetrically to the snap fits 320, the two window frames 300, which are provided as a pair, can be fabricated by using a single mold.

For instance, if the snap fits 320 are formed at one long lateral side or one short lateral side of the window frame 300, and the snap fit housings 330 are formed at the other long lateral side or the other short lateral side of the window frame 300. Otherwise, if the snap fits 320 are formed at an upper portion of one long lateral side of the window frame 300, the snap fit housings 330 are formed at a lower portion of one long lateral side of the window frame 300.

Therefore, when the two window frames 300, which are fabricated through the single mold, are arranged such that Page 7 the two window frames 300 face each other, the snap fits 320 formed in one window frame 300 can be positioned corresponding to the snap fit housings 330 formed in the other window frame 300.

Meanwhile, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the height of the snap fits 320 is equal to the height of the snap fit housings 330.

The above structure may allow the window frames 300 to be packaged at a minimum thickness.

If the height of the snap fits 320 is higher than the height of the snap fit housings 330, the thickness of packaged window frames 300 may increase due to the snap fits 320, even if the snap fits 320 are positioned while being offset from the snap fit housings 330 when the window frames 300 are packaged. In particular, the window frames 300 may be unstably packaged due to the snap fits 320. Thus, preferably, the snap fits 320 and the snap fit housings 330 have the same height.

Hereinafter, a method for assembling the window 200 to the door frame 100 by using the two window frames 300 will be described.

First, one window frame 300 is prepared after positioning the window 200 in the opening 110 of the door frame 100.

Then, the silicon is filled in the coating slots 313 and 314 formed in the door contact part 312 and the window contact part 311 of the window frame 300. After that, the window frame 300 is attached to a predetermined region of the door frame 100 where the window 200 is positioned.

In this case, the door contact part 312 of the window frame 300 adheres to the periphery of the opening 110 of the door frame 100, and the window contact part 311 of the window frame 300 adheres to the periphery of the outer wall of the window 200.

At this time, the silicon filled in the coating slots 313 and 314 of the door contact part 312 and the window Page 8 contact part 311 may run out of the coating slots 313 and 314 due to pressing force applied to the window frame 300 when the window frame 300 is assembled with the door frame and the window 200. However, since the coating slots 313 and 314 are downwardly inclined toward the inner side (central portion) of the window frame 300, the silicon may flow along the central portion of the window frame 300 without leaking to the window 200 or the door frame 100.

Then, if assembling work for one window frame 300 has been finished, the other window frame 300 is prepared.

In the same manner described above, the silicon is filled in the coating slots 313 and 314 of the door contact part 312 and the window contact part 311 of the other window frame 300. If silicon has been filled in the coating slots 313 and 314, the other window frame 300 is assembled with one window frame 300 in opposition to one window frame 300.

In this case, the snap fits 320 and the snap fit housings 330 of the two window frames 300, which are positioned corresponding to each other, are assembled with each other as shown in FIG. 8.

At this time, since the heights hi, h2 and. h3 of three hooks 321, 322 and 323 of the snap fit 320 are different from each other, the window frames 300 can be precisely assembled with the door frame 100 even if there is an error due to the thickness of the door frame 100 or the window 200.

In addition, since the protrusion parts of the three hooks 321, 322 and 323 of the snap fit 320 protrude in different directions, the window frames 300 can be supported from three directions thereof. Thus, even if one hook 321 is broken due to impact applied to the hook 321, the window frames 300 can be securely supported by the remaining hooks 322 and 323.

As mentioned above, the window frames 300 and the door employing the window frames 300 according to the present invention have following advantages.

First, the two window frames 300 can be precisely Page 9 assembled with each other even if the door frame 100 has a thickness error. In addition, since the two window frames 300 are assembled with each other through a fitting, the assembling time can be shortened.

Second, the silicon can be prevented from leaking to the outside, so that additional work to remove the silicon can be omitted, thereby shortening the working time.

Third, the two window frames 300 can be supported from three directions by the hooks 321, 322 and 323 of the snap fit 320 when the two window frames 300 have been assembled with each other, so the window frames 300 can be securely supported even if one hook is broken due to impact applied thereto.

Fourth, the snap fits 320 and the snap fit housings 330 have the same height, so the thickness of the packaged window frames 300 can be reduced. Thus, the logistics cost can be reduced, and the snap fits 320 can be prevented from being broken on delivery.

Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is understood that the present invention should not be limited to these exemplary embodiments but various changes and modifications can be made by one ordinary skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.

Page 10

Claims

What Is Claimed Is: 1. A door comprising: a door frame having an opening; a window installed in the opening of the door frame; and two window frames coupled to the door frame from a front and a rear of the door frame, respectively, in which outer peripheral portions of the window frames surround a peripheral portion of the opening of the door frame, and inner peripheral portions of the window frames surround a peripheral portion of the window, wherein each window frame comprises: a frame body having a rectangular shape and being formed along a periphery of an inner wall thereof with a coating slot for receiving sealing material therein; a plurality of snap fits including at least two hooks provided with protrusion parts that protrude in different directions, and a connection member for connecting a bottom surface of each hook to the inner wall of the frame body; and a plurality of snap fit housings provided on the inner wall of the frame body symmetrically to the snap fits and formed with a plurality of locking holes positioned corresponding to the protrusion parts of the hooks of the snap fits.
2. A window frame comprising: a frame body having a rectangular shape and being formed along a periphery of an inner wall thereof with a coating slot for receiving sealing material therein; a plurality of snap fits including at least two hooks provided with protrusion parts that protrude in different directions, and a connection member for connecting a bottom surface of each hook to the inner wall of the frame body; and Page 11 a plurality of snap fit housings provided on the inner wall of the frame body symmetrically to the snap fits and formed with a plurality of locking holes positioned corresponding to the protrusion parts of the hooks of the snap fits.
3. The window frame as claimed in claim 2, wherein the coating slot formed in the frame body is downwardly inclined toward the snap fit or the snap fit housing.
4. The window frame as claimed in claim 2, wherein each snap fit includes three hooks having protrusion parts that protrude in different directions.
5. The window frame as claimed in claim 2 or 4, wherein the hooks of each snap fit have heights different from each other, in which the heights range from the connection member to the protrusion parts of the hooks.
6. The window frame as claimed in claim 5, wherein the snap fits have heights equal to heights of the snap fit housings.
7. A window frame of door constructed and arranged substantially as described in relation to Figs. 1-8 of the accompanying drawings.Page 12