GB2487785A

GB2487785A - Two part sill assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2487785A
Application number: GB1101986.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Friedrich Hoellrigl
Original assignee: Bowater Building Products Ltd
Current assignee: Bowater Building Products Ltd
Priority date: 2011-02-04
Filing date: 2011-02-04
Publication date: 2012-08-08
Also published as: GB201101986D0

Abstract

A sill assembly 3 comprising: a primary sill member 5 comprising first parts 9, 12 of first and second twoâ part coupling mechanisms; and a secondary sill (sill nose) member 7 comprising complimentary second parts 11, 13 of said first and second two-part coupling mechanisms; wherein the assembly 3 is configured such when the first and second parts 9, 11 of the first two-part coupling mechanism are brought into engagement with one another the primary and secondary sill members 5, 7 are able to be pivoted relative to one another in order to 15 bring the first and second parts 12, 13 of the second two-part coupling mechanism into engagement with one another so as to fixably couple said secondary sill member 7 to said primary sill member 5. Preferably the connecting portions of the sill members include plug 11 and socket 9 and flexible peg 13 and recess 12 enabling the first and second sill members to snap fit together. The sill assembly may be for a window or door and may include a thermal break.

Description

I

SILL ASSEMBLY

Field

Aspects of the present invention relate to a sill assembly for supporting the frame of a glazing unit. Aspects of the present invention also relate to a method of assembling such a sill assembly.

Background

Windows typically comprise an outer frame member which is fitted in an opening in a wall of a building, and an inner frame member (typically known as a sash) which is mounted in the outer frame member. The inner frame member is typically capable of holding at least one glazing unit. If the window is an opening window, then the inner frame member is mounted to the outer frame member for movement between an open position and a closed position by any of a number of different mechanisms. In cases where the window is non-opening, the glazing unit may be fitted directly into the outer frame member, or more usually the inner frame member may be fixed to the outer frame member so that it cannot be opened.

If a frame is coupled directly to a building when fitted in an opening thereof, the building is likely to experience water damage. This is because as falling water such as rain is likely to come into contact with the interface between the frame and the building.

Coupling a window frame to a building via a sill reduces the likelihood of such water damage occurring. In such an arrangement the sill protrudes away from the building so as to shield the interface between the sill and the building from falling water.

A problem that is likely to occur during the construction of a building however is for sills to become damaged if they are installed prior to completion of the building structure. In particular, as sills protrude from a building to which they are coupled sills are likely to be damaged by falling building components, tools and dripping paint for example. This problem is further amplified if a window frame has also been coupled to the sill prior to the sill becoming damaged because the window frame is required to be removed before the sill can be replaced. Persons skilled in the art will therefore appreciate that it is a complicated and expensive exercise to replace a damaged sill.

An aim of the present invention is to address the foregoing problem.

Summary

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a sill assembly for supporting the frame of a glazing unit, the sill assembly comprising: a primary sill member comprising first parts of first and second two-part coupling mechanisms; and a secondary sill member comprising complimentary second parts of said first and second two-part coupling mechanisms; wherein the assembly is configured such when the first and second parts of the first two-part coupling mechanism are brought into engagement with one another the primary and secondary sill members are able to be pivoted relative to one another in order to bring the first and second parts of the second two-part coupling mechanism into engagement with one another so as to fixably couple said secondary sill member to said primary sill member.

The secondary sill member may be configured to be hung from said primary sill member when the first and second parts of said first coupling mechanism are in engagement.

The first and second parts of said second coupling mechanism may be configured to clip to one another.

The first part of said first two-part coupling mechanism may be a socket comprising part of said primary sill member, and the second part of said first two-part coupling mechanism may be a plug comprising part of said secondary sill member.

The first part of said first two-part coupling mechanism may be a plug comprising part of said primary sill member, and the second part of said first two-part coupling mechanism may be a socket comprising part of said secondary sill member.

The plug may be configured to be received in the socket.

The plug may be configured to pivot relative to the socket when received therein.

The first part of said second two-part coupling mechanism is a recess comprising part of said primary sill member, and the second part of said second two-part coupling mechanism may be a peg extending from said secondary sill member.

The first part of said second two-part coupling mechanism may be a peg extending from said primary sill member, and the second part of said second two-part coupling mechanism may be a recess comprising part of said secondary sill member.

The peg may be able to extend into the recess.

The recess may be defined in part by a step at the end of a slanted surface.

The assembly may be configured such that pivoting the secondary sill member towards the primary sill member causes the peg to ride along the slanted surface.

The primary or the secondary sill member may be able to deform when the peg is caused to ride along the slanted surface.

The peg may be able to clip into the recess when the peg rides off the slanted surface.

The primary sill member may comprise a thermally insulating component.

The primary sill member may comprise at least two components of different thermal conductivities.

The primary sill member may be a sill base and the secondary sill member may be a sill nose.

The assembly may be configured to support a window frame or a door frame.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of assembling a sill assembly, the method comprising: providing a primary sill member, the primary sill member comprising first parts of first and second two-part coupling mechanisms; and providing a secondary sill member, the secondary sill member comprising complimentary second parts of said first and second two-part coupling mechanisms; bringing the first and second parts of the first two-part coupling mechanism into engagement with one another; and pivoting the primary and secondary sill members relative to one another so as to bring the first and second parts of the second two-part coupling mechanism into engagement with one another, thereby fixably coupling said secondary sill member to said primary sill member.

The first and second parts of said first coupling mechanism may be engaged with one another by hanging the secondary sill member from said primary sill member.

The first and second parts of said second coupling mechanism may be engaged with one another by clipping them together.

The secondary sill member may be configured to deform the primary sill member as the first and second parts of said second coupling mechanism are clipped together.

The primary sill member may be configured to deform the secondary sill member as the first and second parts of said second coupling mechanism are clipped together.

Other features, embodiments and advantages thereof will be apparent from the

following detailed description.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Various aspects of the teachings of the present invention, and arrangements embodying those teachings, will hereafter be described by way of illustrative example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs. I and 2 are schematic cross-sectional views of a frame member mounted to a first sill assembly that embodies aspects of the present invention; and Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a frame member mounted to a second sill assembly that embodies aspects of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to a window, in particular an opening window that comprises an inner frame member (typically known as a sash) mounted in an outer frame. However, it should be noted that this particular arrangement is merely illustrative, and that the teachings of the present invention may equally be applied to windows that do not open or to doors with glazed fascia. In the light of this, the following description should not be construed as being a limitation of the scope of the present invention, but should instead be considered to be merely illustrative of the teachings of the invention.

With the above proviso in mind, reference should now be made to Fig. I wherein there is depicted a cross-sectional view of the outer frame I of a window after it has been mounted on a sill assembly 3. Such a view of a frame member and a sill assembly is often referred to as the frame profile (or the sill profile as the case may be) and different manufacturers manufacture frame members and sills with different profiles.

As is known in the art, four such outer frame members I are connected together to form a window frame having a top horizontal member, a lower horizontal member and two side frame members. As such more than one sill assembly 3 may be used to couple the separate frame members I of a frame to a building.

According to an aspect of the present invention the sill 3 assembly comprises at least a primary sill member (such as a sill base 5) and a secondary sill member (such as a sill nose 7). Further aspects of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to a sill base 5 and a sill nose 7. However, use of the term "sill base" is not to be limited to a sill member which sits beneath a window frame and the term "sill bas&' may extend to encompass a sill member that is configured to couple the top horizontal frame member or one of the side frame members of a window frame to a building.

The sill base 5 and the sill nose 7 each comprise a hollow structure.

Furthermore, the sill base 5 and the sill nose 7 each comprise a number of internal walls that define a plurality of internal voids.

In one arrangement the sill base 5 comprises at least three sill base components 15, 17, 19. Two of the sill base components 15, 19 may be made of material having a first rigidity and first thermal conductivity, such material comprising metal for example.

The other sill component 17 may be made of material having a second rigidity (lower than the first rigidity) and a second thermal conductivity (lower than the first thermal conductivity), such material comprising non-metallic material such as PVC-U or wood plastic composite for example. As persons skilled in the art will appreciate, each of the sill base components 15, 17, 19 may be manufactured using an extrusion process. The purpose of such a multi-component sill base arrangement is to provide a sill base with sufficient strength to support a frame, while at the same not unduly increasing the U-value of the window as a whole.

The sill nose 7 may comprise metal (such as aluminium or aluminium alloy) or a non-metallic material (such as PVC-U or wood plastic composite). As with the sill base 5 or the respective components thereof, the sill nose 7 is also able to be manufactured using an extrusion process.

The manner in which the sill nose 7 is coupled to the sill base 5 will now be described. The sill base 5 comprises a socket 9 that is configured to receive a plug 11, the plug comprising part of the sill nose 7. Furthermore, the sill base 5 comprises a recess 12 that is configured to receive a peg 13, the peg comprising part of the sill nose 7. The sill nose 7 is coupled to the sill base 5 by inserting the plug 11 into the socket 9.

In this arrangement the sill nose is able to pivot under gravity relative to the sill base 5 until the peg 13 contacts the sill base 5. In this configuration the sill nose 7 is effectively hung from the sill base 5.

Forcing the sill nose 7 further towards the sill base 5, thereby rotating the plug 11 relative to the socket 9, causes the peg 13 to be clipped into the recess 12. In one arrangement the recess 12 is defined by a step at the end of an inclined surface 21 located on the sill base 5. In this arrangement the peg 13 moves into contact with and slides along the inclined surface 21 when the sill nose 7 is pivoted about the co-operating plug and socket 9, 11. When the peg 13 is caused to slide progressively further along the inclined surface 21, the force exerted by the peg 13 on the inclined surface 21 will increase. Such an increase in force will cause the less rigid of the sill base component 15 comprising the rigid surface 21, and the sill nose 7 to partially deform, thereby allowing the peg 13 to be clipped into the recess 12 (see Fig 2). In this configuration the sill nose 7 is fixably coupled to the sill base 5.

Being able to clip a sill nose 7 to a sill base 5 in the manner previously described provides that during the construction of a building, sill bases 5 may be installed in wall openings without their respective sill noses 7. The sill noses 7 may then be later coupled to the sill bases 5 after the construction process is completed such that the sill noses 7 are not damaged during the construction process.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the outer frame I of a window after it has been mounted on another envisaged sill assembly 23. This sill assembly 23 also comprises a sill nose 25 and a sill base 27. The sill base 27 of this assembly is configured to clip to an outer frame member I and the sill base 27 comprises at least one clipping component 29 for this purpose. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3 the sill base 27 comprises a single body made of metal for example. However, it is also envisaged that the sill base 27 may equally comprise a multi-component arrangement similarly to the previously described sill base 5.

The sill nose 25 may also comprise metal (such as aluminium or aluminium alloy) however the sill nose 25 may equally comprise a non-metallic material (such as PVC-U or wood plastic composite).

The manner in which the sill nose 25 and the sill base 27 of the sill assembly 23 are coupled together will now be described. The sill base 27 comprises a first socket 29 that is configured to receive a first plug 31 the first plug comprising part of the sill nose 25. Furthermore, the sill base 27 comprises a second plug 33 that is configured to extend into a second socket 35, the second socket 35 comprising part of the sill nose 25.

The sill nose 25 is coupled to the sill base 27 arranging the sill nose 25 and sill base 27 relative to one another such that the first plug 21 extends into the first socket 29. The sill nose 25 is then pivoted relative to the sill base 27 such that the second socket 35 receives the second plug 33.

Pivoting the sill nose 25 relative to the sill base 27 about the co-operating first plug 31 and socket 29 causes the second plug 33 to be clipped into the second recess 35. When the second plug 33 is caused to be received into the second plug, the second plug rides along a wall defining the second recess 35. As the second plug 33 is caused to slide progressively further along the wall defining the recess, the force exerted by the second plug 33 on the wall of the recess will increase. Such an increase in force will cause the less rigid of the sill base 27 and the sill nose 25 to partially deform, thereby allowing the second plug 33 to be clipped into the second recess 35. In this configuration the sill nose 25 is fixably coupled to the sill base 27.

It will also be appreciated that whilst various aspects and embodiments of the present invention have heretofore been described, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the particular arrangements set out herein and instead extends to encompass all arrangements, and modifications and alterations thereto, which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed arrangements but rather is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent constructions included within the spirit and scope of the invention.

For example, the herein described plugs, sockets, pegs and recesses need not necessarily extend continuously along the length of a sill base or a sill nose as the case may be. Such components may instead extend into, or protrude from, a sill base or a sill nose as the case may be at different locations along their respective lengths. However, a disadvantage of a sill base or a sill nose embodying such an arrangement is that they will not be able to be manufactured using an extrusion process.

Furthermore, the plug 11 and socket 9 of the first sill assembly 3 may be interchanged with the peg 13 and recess 12. Additionally the first plug 31 and first socket 29 of the second sill assembly 23 may be interchanged with the second plug 33 and second socket 35.

Also, it will also be appreciated that where mention is made herein of a peg on one component that fits within a recess on another, this arrangement may be reversed so that a recess is provided on said one component for coupling to a peg on the other component. This also applies to the herein described plug and socket arrangements. In particular it will be appreciated that where mention is made herein of a plug on one component that fits within a socket on another, this arrangement may be reversed so that a socket is provided on said one component for coupling to a plug on the other component.

Lastly, it should be noted that whilst the accompanying claims set out particular combinations of features described herein, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the particular combinations hereafter claimed, but instead extends to encompass any combination of features herein disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A sill assembly for supporting the frame of a glazing unit, the sill assembly comprising: a primary sill member comprising first parts of first and second two-part coupling mechanisms; and a secondary sill member comprising complimentary second parts of said first and second two-part coupling mechanisms; wherein the assembly is configured such when the first and second parts of the first two-part coupling mechanism are brought into engagement with one another the primary and secondary sill members are able to be pivoted relative to one another in order to bring the first and second parts of the second two-part coupling mechanism into engagement with one another so as to fixably couple said secondary sill member to said primary sill member.
2. The assembly of Claim 1, wherein the secondary sill member is configured to be hung from said primary sill member when the first and second parts of said first coupling mechanism are in engagement.
3. The assembly of Claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second parts of said second coupling mechanism are configured to clip to one another.
4. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the first part of said first two-part coupling mechanism is a socket comprising part of said primary sill member, and the second part of said first two-part coupling mechanism is a plug comprising part of said secondary sill member.
5. The assembly of any of Claims I to 3, wherein the first part of said first two-part coupling mechanism is a plug comprising part of said primary sill member, and the second part of said first two-part coupling mechanism is a socket comprising part of said secondary sill member.
6. The assembly of Claim 4 or 5, wherein the plug configured to be received in the socket.
7. The assembly of Claim 6, wherein the plug is configured pivot relative to the socket when received therein.
8. The assembly of any of Claims 4 to 7, wherein the first part of said second two-part coupling mechanism is a recess comprising part of said primary sill member, and the second part of said second two-part coupling mechanism is a peg extending from said secondary sill member.
9. The assembly of any of Claims 4 to 7, wherein the first part of said second two-part coupling mechanism is a peg extending from said primary sill member, and the second part of said second two-part coupling mechanism is a recess comprising part of said secondary sill member.
10. The assembly of Claim 8 or 9, wherein the peg is able to extend into the recess.
11. The assembly of Claim 10, wherein said recess is defined in part by a step at the end of a slanted surface.
12. The assembly of Claim 11, wherein the assembly is configured such that pivoting the secondary sill member towards the primary sill member causes the peg to ride along the slanted surface.
13. The assembly of Claim 12, wherein the primary or secondary sill member is able to deform when the peg is caused to ride along the slanted surface.
14. The assembly of Claim 13, wherein the peg is able to clip into the recess when the peg rides off the slanted surface.
15. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the primary sill member comprises a thermally insulating component.
16. The assembly of Claim 15, wherein the primary sill member comprises at least two components of different thermal conductivities.
17. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the primary sill member is a sill base and the secondary sill member is a sill nose.
18. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the assembly is configured to support a window frame or a door frame.
19. A sill assembly for supporting the frame of a glazing unit, the sill assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. I to 3.
20. A method of assembling a sill assembly, the method comprising: providing a primary sill member, the primary sill member comprising first parts of first and second two-part coupling mechanisms; and providing a secondary sill member, the secondary sill member comprising complimentary second parts of said first and second two-pad coupling mechanisms; bringing the first and second parts of the first two-part coupling mechanism into engagement with one another; and pivoting the primary and secondary sill members relative to one another so as to bring the first and second parts of the second two-part coupling mechanism into engagement with one another, thereby fixably coupling said secondary sill member to said primary sill member.
21. The method of Claim 20, wherein the first and second parts of said first coupling mechanism are engaged with one another by hanging the secondary sill member from said primary sill member.
22. The method of Claim 20 or 21, wherein the first and second pads of said second coupling mechanism are engaged with one another by clipping them together.
23. The method of Claim 22, wherein the secondary sill member is configured to deform the primary sill member as the first and second parts of said second coupling mechanism are clipped together.
24. The method of Claim 22, wherein the primary sill member is configured to deform the secondary sill member as the first and second pads of said second coupling mechanism are clipped together.