GB2474644A

GB2474644A - Frame member with bolt receiving channel

Info

Publication number: GB2474644A
Application number: GB0918334A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Giovanni Maria Laporta
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-10-20
Filing date: 2009-10-20
Publication date: 2011-04-27
Also published as: GB0918334D0

Abstract

A frame member of a frame for mounting in a window or door aperture, a leaf 44 being mountable in the frame and moveable between closed and open positions and having at least one locking mechanism comprising a bolt 48 moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the frame member having a first elongate longitudinal channel 40 in which the bolt is engageable when the bolt is in the locked position, the first elongate longitudinal channel being recessed in a face of the frame member. Preferably a second channel 42 is provided parallel to the first for receiving the locking bolt wherein the leaf is partially open. The channel may run the length of the frame member and at least two locking mechanisms may be provided engaging channels on two separate frame members. A frame having at least one of the frame members is also claimed.

Description

Frame Member

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a frame member of a frame, the frame being for mounting in a window or door aperture, an openable window or door leaf being mountable in the frame. The invention also relates to a frame incorporating such a frame member and a window system incorporating such a frame member.

Background to the Invention

Extruded window frame sections of materials such as unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (U PVC) are used widely to form fixed rectangular frames in which openable window or door leaves can be mounted. A typical window will have a fixed frame made up of four extruded frame members, which are fixed together to form a rectangular frame in which a leaf can be mounted. Typically the rectangular window leaf for mounting in the fixed frame will have a rectangular glazing unit bordered by four extruded edge members.

Window and door systems generally include locks for locking the window or door leaf to the fixed frame in which the leaf is mounted. One type of locking system used commonly in window systems is the shoot bolt system. Referring to figure 1, showing a prior art shoot bolt system, the shoot bolt system includes two oppositely extending locking bolts 22 and 24 located at the corners of a window leaf carrying a handle 26.

The bolts 22 and 24 are moveable to engage with a respective keep 20, only one of which is shown in figure 1 for clarity. A handle gearbox mechanism 30 includes two integral arms 28 and drives the arms in opposite directions from movement of the handle 26. The arms 28 are coupled to the bolts 22 and 24, to drive the bolts in opposite directions, between a locking position in which the bolts 22 and 24 project from the opposite edges of the leaf, and a non-locking position in which the bolts are retracted into the leaf. The bolts 22 and 24 engage with the smooth bore of respective keeps 20 when the window is in the closed position. The keeps include mounting apertures 18 for fixing the keeps to the window frame using screws.

Figure 2 shows a prior art hollow extruded profile comprising a lower horizontal frame member 10 of a fixed frame in which a lower horizontal leaf edge member 12 of a window leaf is mounted. A shoot bolt (not shown) extends from the corner of the lower leaf edge member 12 and is moveable to engage in the keep 20 mounted to the lower frame member 10 of the fixed frame. It can be seen that the clearance between the bottom edge of the lower leaf edge member 12 that faces the lower frame member 10 and the top surface of the keep 20 is very small (typically of the order of only about 2 to 3 mm. A common problem with side-hung windows and doors (i.e. having leaves that are hinged to pivot about a side edge) is that, the leaf will tend to drop on the handle side, away from the hinge, due to the weight of the leaf. If this occurs, the leaf will clash against the keep or keeps mounted to the bottom frame member, preventing the leaf from closing. Dropping of the leaf can be prevented in glazed windows/doors by toeing and healing' the window/door, wherein the glass is braced diagonally corner to corner by the insertion of plastic packers slipped in the gap between the glass and frame. However, many installers do not perform toeing and healing properly when installing window/door systems, therefore the dropping of windows/doors is a very common problem after a window/door system has been installed.

There is therefore a need for an alternative system in which leaf will not tend to clash against the mounted keep(s) if the leaf drops slightly.

Summary of Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a frame member of a frame for mounting in a window or door aperture, an openable window or door leaf being mountable in the frame and moveable between closed and open positions, the leaf having at least one locking mechanism for preventing movement of the leaf away from a closed position, said at least one locking mechanism comprising a bolt moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the frame member having a first elongate longitudinal channel in which the bolt is engageable when the bolt is in the locked position, the first elongate longitudinal channel being recessed in a face of the frame member.

Advantageously, the bolt is engageable in the first longitudinal channel for locking engagement of the bolt in the first longitudinal channel to secure the leaf in a closed position. This avoids the need for mounting of separate, removable keeps to the frame member. As there are no keeps projecting from the surface of the frame member which faces the bolt when the leaf is in a closed position, there are no projecting keeps which the bottom edge of the leaf may clash against during closing of the leaf. The bolt is engaged in a recessed channel; preferably the sides of the channel do not project towards the bolt beyond the surface of the frame member that faces the bolt. Since the clearance between the bottom edge of the leaf and the top surface of the frame member which faces the bottom edge of the leaf is greater than the clearance between the bottom edge of the leaf and the top of a projecting keep of the prior art, mounted to the bottom frame member of the fixed frame, the leaf can drop on its hinge by a greater amount before the leaf clashes with something when moving to the closed position; therefore, it is possible to use the present invention with larger, heavier leaves than with prior art systems that require projecting keeps for engagement with bolts in the locking mechanism.

Since there are no separate keeps to be individually mounted to the frame member, this reduces time required for installation of a window or door assembly. This also saves the cost of the additional keep(s) that are usually required for engagement with the bolt(s). A further problem with prior art removable keeps made of metal, is that the keeps corrode over time; since no removable keeps are required, there is no problem of corrosion of keeps with the present invention.

When using prior art keeps for engaging with a bolt on the leaf, it is common for installers to install the individual keeps in the wrong position, such that the keep is not properly lined up with the bolt when the leaf is in the closed position. With the present invention, as there are no individual keeps to be installed, this overcomes the problem of misplacement of keeps when they are being installed. A bolt aligned along any position along the length of the recessed channel in the frame member of the present invention will engage in the channel, irrespective of the position of the bolt along the longitudinal axis of the frame member. It is also common for installers to use the wrong screws for securing keeps to the frame, so that the keeps are not securely held to the frame. With the present invention, as there are no independent keeps to be installed, this overcomes the problem of keeps not being mounted securely. An advantage of the present invention is that compression of a window can be improved (i.e. drawing in of the leaf, close to the fixed frame, to provide a seal between the leaf and the fixed frame). With the present invention, as there are no individual keeps to be installed, which can be installed in the wrong positions, or not installed securely enough, the bolt will always engage properly in the recessed channel, helping to draw in the leaf tightly against the fixed frame, improving sealing of the leaf with the frame. This improves weatherproofing of a window, in that a strong seal will always be formed between the leaf and the fixed frame when the leaf is in the closed position, such that the window is weatherproof.

A further advantage of the present invention is that the integral recessed channel in the frame member increases the strength of the frame member.

Preferably the frame member comprises an extrusion.

Preferably the frame member has a second elongate longitudinal channel in which the bolt is engageable when the bolt is in the locked position, the second channel being recessed in a face of the frame member, the second channel being substantially parallel with the first channel, the first channel being for receiving the bolt to secure the leaf in a first closed position and the second channel being for receiving the bolt to secure the leaf in a second closed position wherein the leaf is partially open.

Preferably the second channel is spaced away from the first channel. Preferably the first longitudinal channel is closer to the internal edge of the frame member when the frame member is installed in a window or door aperture and the second longitudinal channel being closer to the external edge of the frame member when the frame member is installed in a window or door aperture.

Preferably the width of the first or each channel is pre-determined relative to the width of the bolt, such that the bolt is lockingly engageable in the or each channel.

Preferably the frame member comprises an elongate body, the first or each channel being integrally formed in the elongate body of the frame member. Preferably, the elongate body is a pre-fabricated extrusion having an integral, built-in first channel.

Preferably, the elongate body is a pre-fabricated extrusion having an integral, built-in second channel. Preferably, at least the face of the frame member having the integral recessed first longitudinal channel is formed from a single-piece extrusion. Preferably the frame member is a single-piece extrusion having at least a first recessed integral channel formed therein.

Preferably the first or each channel extends along substantially the full length of the frame member.

Preferably the first or each channel extends along a longitudinal axis parallel with the longitudinal axis of the frame member. Preferably the first longitudinal channel extends along a longitudinal axis parallel with an axis in the plane of the leaf. Preferably the first longitudinal channel extends along a longitudinal axis parallel with a longitudinal axis of the edge of the leaf that faces the frame member when the leaf is in a closed position.

Preferably the frame member comprises an elongate body having a first face which faces an edge face of the leaf when the leaf is in a closed position, the first or each channel being formed in the first face.

Preferably the bolt comprises a shoot bolt. Suitably, the shoot bolt moves rectilinearly between a locked and unlocked position. Suitably, said at least one locking mechanism is a shoot bolt mechanism having at least one shoot bolt Preferably the bolt comprises a dead bolt. Alternatively, the bolt comprises a spring bolt. Suitably, the locking mechanism may have more than one bolt of different types.

The term dead bolt as used herein refers to any type of lock bolt that can be moved into a locked position by actuation of a locking actuation mechanism (such as turning of a key) rather than by spring action. The term dead bolt as used herein may cover hookbolts, which include a hook member on the end of the bolt.

Preferably the frame member has a generally L-shaped cross-sectional profile which defines a longitudinally extending rebate having first and second outwardly facing diverging faces, the first face comprising a base which faces an edge face of the leaf when the leaf is in a closed position and the second face comprising an upstand, the first or each channel being formed in the first face.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a frame for mounting in a window or door aperture, an openable window or door leaf being mountable in the frame, the frame comprising at least one frame member according to any preceding claim.

Preferably the frame is rectangular, each side of the rectangular frame comprising a frame member according to the first aspect of the invention. The four frame members of the frame may be of equal length, such that the frame is a regular polygon (i.e. a square shaped frame).

Preferably the leaf has first and second locking mechanisms, each locking mechanism comprising a bolt moveable between a locked and an unlocked position, the bolt of the first locking mechanism being engageable in the first channel of a first frame member and the bolt of the second locking mechanism being engageable in the first channel of a second frame member.

Preferably the locking mechanism has first and second bolts, each bolt being moveable between a locked and an unlocked position, the first bolt being engageable in the first channel of a first frame member and second bolt being engageable in the first channel of a second frame member. The locking mechanism may be a shoot bolt mechanism having have two shoot bolts, each shoot bolt receivable in a different frame member.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a window or door system comprising: a frame for mounting in a window or door aperture, an openable window or door leaf being mountable in the frame and moveable between closed and open positions, the frame comprising at least one frame member; at least one locking mechanism for preventing movement of the leaf away from a closed position, said at least one locking mechanism comprising a bolt moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position; the at least one frame member having a first elongate longitudinal channel in which the bolt is engageable when the bolt is in the locked position, the first elongate longitudinal channel being recessed in a face of the at least one frame member.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a window or door system comprising: a frame for mounting in a window or door aperture, an openable window or door leaf being mountable in the frame and moveable between closed and open positions, the frame comprising at least one frame member according to the first aspect of the invention; at least one locking mechanism for preventing movement of the leaf away from a closed position, said at least one locking mechanism comprising a bolt moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position; the at least one frame member having a first elongate longitudinal channel in which the bolt is engageable when the bolt is in the locked position, the first elongate longitudinal channel being recessed in a face of the at least one frame member.

Preferably the bolt has a distal portion, the bolt being of sufficient length such that the distal portion of the bolt is receivable in the first channel when the bolt is in the locked position.

The term frame member as used herein may refer to a fixed member of a window or door system that mounts to the side of a window or door aperture, or it may refer to a floating, horizontal or vertical, member that subdivides a window or door aperture.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a shoot bolt system according to the prior art; Figure 2 is an end view of a prior art hollow extruded profile comprising a lower horizontal frame member of a fixed frame, also showing a lower horizontal leaf edge member of a window leaf mounted in the closed position and a removable keep for receiving a shoot bolt; Figure 3 is an end view of a hollow extruded profile according to an embodiment of the invention, the hollow extruded profile comprising a lower horizontal frame member of a fixed frame in which a lower horizontal leaf edge member of a window leaf is mounted; Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the hollow extruded profile of the lower horizontal frame member of figure 3, showing one bevelled end of the lower horizontal frame member for forming a mitre joint with a vertical frame member; Figure 5 shows a sectional view along line A-A in figure 8 of a window leaf mounted in a closed position relative to the lower horizontal frame member of figure 3, with a shoot bolt engaged in a first channel in the lower horizontal frame member; Figure 6 shows the assembly of figure 5, but with the shoot bolt engaged in a second channel in the lower horizontal frame member; Figure 7 shows the assembly of figure 5, but with an additional keep mounted over the first channel; Figure 8 shows a front view of the window system of assembly of figures 5 to 7, the assembly having a lower horizontal frame member of a fixed frame, a lower horizontal leaf edge member of a leaf and two side vertical leaf edge members of a leaf; Figure 9 shows a side view of a locking mechanism of the embodiment of figures 3 to 8; Figure 10 shows a rear perspective view of a window assembly of the embodiment of figures 2 to 9; Figure 11 shows a top view of a keep of figure 7.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The present embodiments represent currently the best ways known to the applicant of putting the invention into practice. But they are not the only ways in which this can be achieved. They are illustrated, and they will now be described, by way of example only.

Referring to figure 3, an extrusion forming a lower horizontal frame member 30 of a fixed window frame is shown, with a sash or leaf of a window mounted in the fixed window frame. The frame member 30 is shown in use, with an extrusion forming a lower horizontal leaf edge member 32 of a window leaf mounted in the closed position relative to the lower horizontal frame member 30. The frame member 30 has a longitudinally extending rebate 33, having first and second perpendicular faces 34, 35.

A longitudinally extending gasket (not shown) extends through a longitudinal channel 36 at the top end of the second face 35 in use. The window is mounted such that when closed, the inner face 37 of the lower horizontal leaf edge member 32 of the leaf abuts the gasket received in channel 36. The leaf is mounted to the fixed frame by a hinge (not shown), the hinge having an arm mounted to the lower horizontal frame member and an arm mounted to the leaf, such that the leaf is moveable between a closed position in which the leaf is parallel with the lower horizontal frame member 30 and an open position in which the leaf is at an angle relative to the lower horizontal frame member 30. The hinge is a concealed hinge, mounted in the rebate between the leaf and the lower horizontal frame member 30.

The first face 34 of the lower horizontal frame member 30 has first and second elongate longitudinal grooves or channels 40, 42 recessed in the first face of the frame member 30. The first and second channels 40, 42 are integrally formed in the lower horizontal frame member 30, the channels 40, 42 having been formed during extrusion of the lower horizontal frame member 30. Each channel 40, 42 has a base 40a, 42a and two side walls 40b, 42b. The top edge of each side wall 40b, 42b of each channel 40, 42 is substantially flush with the first face 34 of the frame member 30. Referring to figure 4, the channels 40, 42 extend along the full length of the lower horizontal frame member 30.

Referring to figure 5, the lower horizontal frame member 30 and a side vertical leaf edge member 44 can be seen, with a shoot bolt assembly 46 mounted thereto. The shoot bolt assembly 46 comprises a lower shoot bolt 48 and an upper shoot bolt (not visible in figure 5), one at each end of the shoot bolt assembly 46. Each shoot bolt is driveable by the shoot bolt mechanism to move between a locked position in which the bolts project from the opposite edges of the leaf, and an unlocked position in which the bolts are retracted within the shoot bolt assembly 46, and within the outer profile of the leaf. Figure 5 shows lower shoot bolt 48 in the locked position.

Referring to figure 5, when the leaf is in the closed position relative to the fixed frame and the lower shoot bolt 48 is in the locked position, the distal portion of the lower shoot bolt 48 engages in the first channel 40. The distal end of the lower shoot bolt 48 contacts or comes very close to the base 40a of channel 40 when the lower shoot bolt 48 is in the locked position and is received in channel 40. The sides of channel 40 must be of sufficient depth and the shoot bolt must extend into the channel far enough such that shoot bolt 48 cannot easily be moved out of the channel 40 by intruders tampering with the window. Comparing the lower horizontal frame member 30 of the figure 5 embodiment with the prior art lower horizontal frame member 10 of figure 2, it will be noted that a shoot bolt for engagement in channel 40 of the lower horizontal frame member 30 of the figure 5 embodiment must be longer than a shoot bolt for engagement in keep 20 shown in the prior art assembly of figure 2. If a shoot bolt assembly of the type for use with the prior art assembly of figure 2 were installed in the figure 5 assembly, the shoot bolt would not extend as far as even the mouth of channel when in the locked position, and therefore would not engage in channel 40, and would not secure the leaf to the fixed frame. The shoot bolt 48 is longer than standard prior art shoot bolts, such that the shoot bolt extends to the base 40a of the recessed channel 40 when the shoot bolt 48 is in the locked position.

The channel 40 provides a dedicated recessed channel in which the shoot bolt is engageable. The use of a dedicated recessed channel has many advantages over using removable keeps of the prior art, mounted to the fixed frame for engagement with the shoot bolts.

When the shoot bolt 48 is engaged in the channel 40, this engagement resists opening movement of the leaf. If someone tries to move the leaf away from the closed position, the shoot bolt 48 will engage with the front side wall 40b of the channel 40, preventing movement of the leaf. It does not matter that there are no walls perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the channel to constrain movement of the shoot bolt along the axis of the channel, as shoot bolts are present in locking systems to prevent opening movement of the leaf (not to prevent movement of the leaf from side-to-side parallel with the plane of the leaf) and for the purposes of providing compression (i.e. drawing in of the leaf, close to the fixed frame, to provide seal between the leaf and the fixed frame).

Referring to figure 6, the shoot bolt 48 is engageable in the second channel 42 such that the leaf can be secured to the frame in a partially open position (i.e. a night ventilation configuration). The second channel 42 is spaced away from the first channel 40, the second channel 42 being closer to the exterior side of the window aperture when the window system is installed in a window aperture.

The width of each of the first and second channels 40, 42 is slightly greater than the width of the shoot bolt 48 (i.e. the width of the shoot bolt 48 transverse to the longitudinal axis of the channel), such that the shoot bolt can lockingly engage in the first or second channel 40, 42.

Referring to figure 10, the fixed frame comprises four frame members, assembled together to form a rectangular frame shape. Figure 10 shows the lower horizontal frame member 30, the upper horizontal frame member 38, and a side vertical frame member 39 of the fixed frame (figure 10 does not show the side vertical frame member adjacent the handle on the leaf). The end of each of the frame members of the fixed frame is bevelled, to form a mitre joint with an adjacent frame member (i.e. the lower horizontal frame member 30 will have first and second bevelled ends to first and second mitre joints with first and second side vertical frame members). Each of the lower, upper and two side frame members of the fixed frame have the same cross-sectional profile, as shown in figure 4, each frame member having first and second elongate longitudinal channels for receiving one or more bolts from a locking mechanism. The shoot bolt assembly 46 has a lower shoot bolt 48 which is engageable in corresponding first and second channels in the lower horizontal frame member 30 of the frame. The shoot bolt assembly 46 also has an upper shoot bolt 49 (not visible in figures 5, 6 and 10, but visible in figure 9) which is engageable in corresponding first and second channels in an upper horizontal frame member 38 of the frame.

Referring to figure 7, the lower horizontal frame member 30 is shown with an additional keep 50 mounted thereto, the keep mounting over the first channel 40. The keep 50 has a through bore 52, such that the shoot bolt 48 can pass through the bore 52 of the keep 50 and into the channel 40 when the shoot bolt 48 is in locked position. The keep is an optional feature that can be mounted to the frame member 30 if desired, to extend the effective height of the side walls that constrain the shoot bolt in locking engagement therein. The keep 50 has two narrow notches or grooves 54 on its underside that correspond to and are each sized to receive one of two upstanding elongate linear protrusions 56 on the first face 34 of the frame member 30, one on either side of the channel 40. The notches in the keep 50 and linear protrusions 56 on the frame member 30 act to guide placement of the keep 50 into the correct position over the elongate channel, along a line between the front and rear of the window/door aperture. Similarly, the second channel 42 has one upstanding elongate linear protrusion 58 on the first face 34 of the frame member 30, on one side of the channel 42, and a keep (not shown) can optionally be mounted over the second channel 42, to assist in placement of the keep 50 over the second channel 42.

Referring to figure 11, a top view of keep 50 is shown on its own. The keep 50 has first and second apertures 66,67, one on either side of the through bore 52, for receiving a screw or other fixing for securing the keep 50 to the lower horizontal frame member 30.

The first and second apertures 66,67 overlie channel 40 when the keep 50 is installed.

The screws for securing the keep 50 to the frame member 30 must be long enough to extend beyond the base 40a of channel 40, such that keep 50 can be secured to the frame member.

It will be understood that types of bolt other than shoot bolts can be engaged in the first or second longitudinal channels of the frame members in order to secure the leaf in a closed position, such as dead bolts, hook bolts (a type of dead bolt incorporating a hook on the end), spring bolts, or other types of bolt. It will also be understood that the window/door may have combinations of more than one type of bolt, wherein each bolt is received in the first or second longitudinal channels of the respective frame member.

Referring to figures 9 and 10, the locking mechanism 14 attached to the side vertical leaf edge member 44 on which the handle is located comprises the shoot bolt assembly 46 having upper and lower shoot bolts 48, 49. The locking mechanism 14 also includes a dead bolt 60. Rather than sliding out of the housing in a rectilinear fashion, the dead bolt 60 pivots out from its housing 62 from an unlocked position, wherein the dead bolt is retracted inside housing 62, to a locked position wherein the dead bolt 60 projects from housing 62. Preferably the pivoting dead bolt 60 is of the type described in GB-2439212 (Laporta), which is incorporated herein by reference.

Movement of the dead bolt 60 between the locked and unlocked positions is controlled by movement of a handle (not shown) having a rotary drive member 64, the dead bolt being assembled to the rotary drive member 64 such that the dead bolt 60 can pivot about the drive member 64. When the dead bolt 60 is in the locked position it engages with a vertical side frame member of the fixed frame (not shown) to secure the leaf to the fixed frame. The vertical side frame member has exactly the same cross-sectional profile as the lower horizontal frame member 30, the vertical side frame member having first and second elongate longitudinal channels. When the leaf is in the closed position and the dead bolt 60 is in the locked position, the dead bolt 60 engages in the first longitudinal channel in the vertical side frame member. Similarly, if the leaf is in the night-venting position, the dead bolt 60 is engageable in the second longitudinal channel in the vertical side frame member. Since the dead bolt lockingly engages in a recessed integral channel in the vertical side frame member, a separate dead bolt keep need not be mounted to the vertical side frame member.

It will be noted that a dead bolt for engagement in a recessed channel of the vertical side frame member of the fixed frame must be longer than a standard dead bolt for engagement in a prior art, standard dead bolt keep mounted to the vertical side frame member (as the prior art standard dead bolt keep mounted on the vertical side frame member will project from the surface of the vertical side frame member on which it is mounted, such that the base of the recess in the mounted keep is closer to the leaf edge member than the base of the recessed channel in the vertical side frame member of the present embodiment). By employing a pivoting dead bolt 60 as described above, the length of the dead bolt is not constrained by the width cavity in the vertical side edge member of the leaf for accommodating the dead bolt housing (it is desirable that the edge member extrusions of the leaf are as narrow as possible, to maximise the area of glass in the leaf).

It will be understood that the locking mechanism may be a locking mechanism incorporating both a shoot bolt and an espagnolette mechanism, as described in GB- 2362424 (Laporta) incorporated herein by reference. Such a system has a shoot bolt at each end and which move in opposing directions to each other by their coupling to the espagnolette mechanism, one of the shoot bolts having a coupling with gearing to reverse its direction of movement relative to the movement of the espagnolette slider.

The espagnolette mechanism has mushroom headed cams or locking bobbins which project from the leading edge of the leaf on which the handle is located, and which both slide up or down on operation of the handle. If a locking mechanism incorporating both a shoot bolt and an espagnolette mechanism is used, separate suitably designed keeps are mounted to the vertical side frame member, one for each cam. Each keep has a slot in which the cam can slide, the sides of the slot being flanged such that the keep resists opening movement of the leaf in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the shank cam.

It will be understood that the present invention can be employed in not only UPVC window frames, but window frames of other materials such as extruded aluminium.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A frame member of a frame for mounting in a window or door aperture, an openable window or door leaf being mountable in the frame and moveable between closed and open positions, the leaf having at least one locking mechanism for preventing movement of the leaf away from a closed position, said at least one locking mechanism comprising a bolt moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the frame member having a first elongate longitudinal channel in which the bolt is engageable when the bolt is in the locked position, the first elongate longitudinal channel being recessed in a face of the frame member.
2. A frame member according to claim 1, wherein the frame member comprises an extrusion.
3. A frame member according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame member has a second elongate longitudinal channel in which the bolt is engageable when the bolt is in the locked position, the second channel being recessed in a face of the frame member, the second channel being substantially parallel with the first channel, the first channel being for receiving the bolt to secure the leaf in a first closed position and the second channel being for receiving the bolt to secure the leaf in a second closed position wherein the leaf is partially open.
4. A frame member according to claim 3, wherein the second channel is spaced away from the first channel.
5. A frame member according to any preceding claim, wherein the width of the first or each channel is pre-determined relative to the width of the bolt, such that the bolt is lockingly engageable in the or each channel.
6. A frame member according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame member comprises an elongate body, the first or each channel being integrally formed in the elongate body of the frame member.
7. A frame member according to any preceding claim, wherein the first or each channel extends along substantially the full length of the frame member.
8. A frame member according to any preceding claim, wherein the first or each channel extends along a longitudinal axis parallel with the longitudinal axis of the frame member.
9. A frame member according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame member comprises an elongate body having a first face which faces an edge face of the leaf when the leaf is in a closed position, the first or each channel being formed in the first face.
10. A frame member according to any preceding claim, wherein the bolt comprises a shoot bolt.
11. A frame member according to any preceding claim, wherein the bolt comprises a dead bolt or the like.
12. A frame member according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame member has a generally L-shaped cross-sectional profile which defines a longitudinally extending rebate having first and second outwardly facing diverging faces, the first face comprising a base which faces an edge face of the leaf when the leaf is in a closed position and the second face comprising an upstand, the first or each channel being formed in the first face.
13. A frame for mounting in a window or door aperture, an openable window or door leaf being mountable in the frame, the frame comprising at least one frame member according to any preceding claim.
14. A frame according to claim 13, wherein the frame is rectangular, each side of the rectangular frame comprising a frame member according to any of claims 1 to 12.
15. A frame according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the leaf has first and second locking mechanisms, each locking mechanism comprising a bolt moveable between a locked and an unlocked position, the bolt of the first locking mechanism being engageable in the first channel of a first frame member and the bolt of the second locking mechanism being engageable in the first channel of a second frame member.
16. A frame according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the locking mechanism has first and second bolts, each bolt being moveable between a locked and an unlocked position, the first bolt being engageable in the first channel of a first frame member and second bolt being engageable in the first channel of a second frame member.
17. A window or door system comprising: a frame for mounting in a window or door aperture, an openable window or door leaf being mountable in the frame and moveable between closed and open positions, the frame comprising at least one frame member; at least one locking mechanism for preventing movement of the leaf away from a closed position, said at least one locking mechanism comprising a bolt moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position; the at least one frame member having a first elongate longitudinal channel in which the bolt is engageable when the bolt is in the locked position, the first elongate longitudinal channel being recessed in a face of the at least one frame member.
18. A window or door system comprising: a frame for mounting in a window or door aperture, an openable window or door leaf being mountable in the frame and moveable between closed and open positions, the frame comprising at least one frame member according to any of claims 1 to 12; at least one locking mechanism for preventing movement of the leaf away from a closed position, said at least one locking mechanism comprising a bolt moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position; the at least one frame member having a first elongate longitudinal channel in which the bolt is engageable when the bolt is in the locked position, the first elongate longitudinal channel being recessed in a face of the at least one frame member.
19. A window or door system according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the bolt has a distal portion, the bolt being of sufficient length such that the distal portion of the bolt is receivable in the first channel when the bolt is in the locked position.
20. A frame member, frame, or window or door system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any suitable combination of the accompanying drawings.