GB2540069A

GB2540069A - Door or Window sash assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2540069A
Application number: GB1616314.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Williams Neal
Original assignee: Duration Windows Ltd
Current assignee: Duration Windows Ltd
Priority date: 2016-09-26
Filing date: 2016-09-26
Publication date: 2017-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 2036-09-26
Also published as: GB201616314D0; GB2540069B

Abstract

A door or window sash assembly 1 comprises at least one pane of glass (15, Fig 1), stiles (13, Fig 1) and rails 11, the stiles and rails arranged to surround the at least one pane of glass. A bead 17 is attached to the stiles and rails so as to secure the at least one pane of glass thereto. An extendable blind 21 is configured to extend over the at least one pane of glass. The extendable blind is contained in one of the rails or one of the stiles and passes through the bead in order to extend over the at least one pane of glass. Preferably the blind is contained in a cavity of said one of the rails or stiles. The assembly may include a cover 19 for covering the cavity and the extendable blind, the cover may contain a weatherproof seal. Preferably the bead comprises a slot 17a for the passage of the blind.

Description

DOOR OR WINDOW SASH ASSEMBLY Backgroorid of the Iriveritlori

The present invention relates to a door or window sash assembly, in particular a door or window sash assembly comprising a blind. A conventional bi-folding door, for example a bi-folding patio door, may include an extendable blind, usually a roller blind, for shielding from the sun. Typically the blind is mounted to the face of the door and projects outwardly from the door when in an unextended condition. Wlien the door is opened the blind may dash or interfere with a similarly ouivi/ardly-projecting blind of a neighbouring door, preventing the doors from opening fully. As a result access through the doors may be impeded. Furthermore the partially-folded doors may appear unseemly.

If the door includes double-glazing then the blind may alternatively be installed between the panes of glass. This avoids the problem of interference when the doors are folded but may mean that the gap between the panes of glass has to be made larger in order to accommodate the unexiended blind. This increase in gap size may have a detrimental effect on the thermal and/or noise insulation performance of the door.

Similar problems may be encountered with other types of doors, and also windows, which include extendable blinds.

The present invention alms to alleviate at least to some extent one or more of the problems of the prior art.

Summary of the Invention

The invention is set out in the accompanying claims.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a door or window sash assembly, comprising: at least one pane of glass; stiles and rails, arranged to surround the at !east one pane of glass; a bead, attached to the stiies and rails so as to secure the at least one pane of glass thereto; and an extendable blind, configured to extend over the at least one pane of glass; wherein the extendable blind is contained in one of the rails or one of the stiles and passes through the bead in order to extend over the at least one pane of glass.

Different from conventional doors, the invention advantageously provides that the blind is extended by passage through the bead, thereby allowing the unextended blind to be stored in one of the rails (or less preferably in one of the stiles). Since the unextended blind is contained in the rail (or stile) It does not protrude from the door and therefore the door may be fully opened without impediment. A further benefit is that the stored blind is concealed from view in normal use of the door, giving the door a tidy and pleasing appearance.

The extendable blind may be contained in one of the rails. The extendable blind may be contained in one of the stiles. The extendable blind may be contained in a cavity of the said one of the rails or one of the stiies.

The door or window sash assembly may comprise a cover for covering the cavity and the extendable blind, the cover optionally including a weatherproof seal. The door or window sash assembly may comprise end caps for closing the ends of the cavity and supporting the extendable blind, each of the end caps optionally including a weatherproof seal.

The bead may comprise a slot for the said passage of the extendable blind. The bead may be removably attached to the stiles and rails, such as to enable removal of the at least one pane of glass from the stiles and rails. The bead may comprise a plurality of separable elements, each of the elements corresponding to one of the stiies or one of the rails. The door or window sash assembly may comprise; two stiles; two rails; and four bead elements.

At least one of the stiles or one of the rails may comprise a ferrous material and an end portion of the extendable blind may comprise at least one magnet, for securing the extendable blind to the said at least one of the stiles or one of the rails when the blind is extended.

The extendable blind may comprise a roller blind.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a door or window, respectively comprising a door or window sash assembly as described herein above.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments will novi/ be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

Figures 1 a and 1 b show respective front and rear views of a door sash assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figures 1c and Id show respective perspective and end views of an upper rail and bead of the door sash assembly of Figures la and 1b; and Figures 2a and 2b show sectional views along the respective lines 2a-2a and 2b~ 2b of Figure 1c.

Detailed Description of Embodiments of the invention

As used herein, a sash is that part of a door or window which moves, relative to the stationary frame, when the door or window is opened.

As used herein, a bead is any moulding, stop, strip, or other member, used to fixedly or removably hold a glass panel in position in a door or window sash assembly.

Referring to Figures 1a~d, a door sash assembly 1 (for example for a bi-foiding door) comprises upper and lower horizontal rails 11 which are connected to left-hand and right-hand vertical stiles 13 so as to surround the edge of a pane of glass 15. In this exemplary embodiment the door sash assembly 1 comprises a single pane of glass but could alternatively comprise a plurality of panes, for example in a doubie-giazed or tripie-giazed configuration. In normai use the door sash assembly 1 is installed in a doorframe (not shown} and can be moved relative to the frame, i.e. opened and closed. In this embodiment the rails 11 and stiles 13 are constructed substantially from aluminium. Alternatively they may be of PVCu (un-plasticised polyvinyl chloride) or timber construction.

Each of the rails 11 and stiles 13 Includes a front face portion 11a, 13a (see Figure 1a) and a rear face portion 11b, 13b (see Figure 1b) which are laterally separated by an intermediate portion 11c, 13c (the Intermediate portion 11c of the upper rail 11 being visible in Figures 1c and Id). Each of the rails 11 and stiles 13 further includes an integral rear flange portion 111, 131 (the integral rear flange portion 111 of the upper rail 11 being visible in Figures 1c and Id) which is in abutment with a peripheral portion of a rear face 15b of the pane of glass 15 (see Figure 1b). A bead 17 is attached to the rails and stiles 11, 13 and forms a flange which is In abutment with a peripheral portion of a front face 15a of the pane of glass 15 (see Figure 1a). Thus the pane of glass 15 (which is omitted from Figures 1c and Id for the sake of clarity) is held captive (i.e. laterally secured) between the bead 17 and the rear flange portions 111, 131 of the rails 11 and stiles 13, the front and rear faces 15a, 15b of the pane of glass 15 being recessed from the respective front face portions 11a, 13a and rear face portions 11b, 13b of the rails 11 and stiles 13. A weatherproof gasket may be provided, between the peripheral portion of the pane of glass 15 and each of the bead 17 and rear flange portions 111, 131.

In this embodiment the bead 17 comprises four separable elements, each corresponding to one of the rails 11 and one of the stiles 13. Alternatively the bead 17 may comprise a different number of separable elements, or a single continuous piece. Also in this embodiment the bead 17 is removably attached to the rails 11 and stiles 13, in particular by an arrangement of interlocking protrusions and slots, the bead 17 being so attached once the pane of glass 15 has been positioned in abutment with the rear flange portions 111, 131 as has been described. Less preferably the bead may instead be permanently fixed to the rails 11 and stiles 13, once the pane of glass 15 has been so positioned.

Referring now in particuiar to Figures 1c and Id, the front and rear face portions 11a, 11b of the upper rail 11 extend above the intermediate portion 11c thereof such as to form a channel· A cover piate 19 is disposed in the channel and covers a recess or cavity 11d of the intermediate portion 11c. In addition to the cover piate 19 the cavity 11c1 is dosed by end caps 21a, 21b which are located at each end of the cover plate 19. In this embodiment the cover plate 19 and end caps 21a, 21b include a siiicone seal to protect against the ingress of water into the cavity 11 cl. The bead 17 includes an elongate slot 17a (see Figure Id), the purpose of which will now be explained.

Turning to Figures 2a and 2b (the pane of glass 15 being omitted therefrom for the sake of clarity), an elongate, extendabie/retractabie blind 21, in this example a fabric roller blind, is disposed in the cavity 11 cl of the intermediate portion 11c of the upper rail 11. The blind 21 is covered by the cover plate 19 and is rotatably supported at each of its ends by lugs (not shown) which project inwardly from the end caps 21a, 21b. The blind 21 is shown in a partially extended condition, wherein an end 21a of the blind 21 has been passed through the elongate slot 17a of the bead 17. It will be understood that the blind 21 may be extended through the bead any desired amount, by pulling the end 21a of the blind 21 downwardly, away from the upper rail 11 toward the lower rail 11, in order to cover fully or partially the pane of glass 15. Furthermore the blind 21 may be fully or partially retracted, to uncover the pane of glass 15, for example using a conventional automatic retraction device.

When in a retracted or stored position the blind 21 is almost entirely contained in the upper rail 11 and does not project outwardly therefrom. (Only the end 21a of the blind 21 protrudes from the upper rail 11 through the bead 17, so that a user may grab hold of it in a handle-like manner in order to extend the blind 21). Accordingly the blind 21 will not clash or interfere with a similar blind 21 of a neighbouring door sash 1 when the blind(s) 21 is (are) retracted and the door is opened.

In this embodiment the extended blind 21 is disposed on an internal (in this example, the front) side of the door sash 1, this being preferable in order to proieci the blind 21 from weather elements outside. As has already been mentioned, the front face 15a (as well as the rear face 15b) of the pane of glass 15 Is recessed from the front face portions 11a, 13a (as well as from the rear face portions 11b, 13b) of the rails 11 and stiles 13. Furthermore, the extended blind 21 comprises a relatively thin sheet which lies immediately adjacent to the pane of glass 15, such as to be contained within the recess. Therefore, the extended blind does not project outwardly beyond the front face portions 11a, 13a of the rails 11 and stiles 13. Accordingly the blind 21 will not clash or Interfere with a similar blind 21 of a neighbouring door sash 1 when the blind(s) is (are) extended and the door is opened.

The end 21a of the blind 21 may comprise a weight element for preventing the extended blind 21 from drifting away from the pane of glass 15, for example in breezy conditions. Preferably the lower rail 11 comprises a ferrous material and the weight element comprises a magnet, such that the end 21a of the blind 21 may be secured to the lower rail 11 in order to better prevent the blind 21 from drifting away from the pane of glass 15.

Vl'tien in the retracted or stored condition the blind 21 is hidden when viewed from the front or rear of the door sash 1, i.e. the respective views of Figures 1a and 1b. While in the above-described embodiment the concealment is achieved by locating the blind 21 in the cavity 11c1 of the intermediate portion 11c of the upper rail 11, it will be understood by the skilled reader that the same effect may be achieved by a variety of different structural arrangements, provided that the unexiended blind does not project outwardly of the rails 11 (or stiles 13), such that the bulk of the blind is visible in normal use or interferes with the door frame with which the door sash 1 must co-operate. For example the cavity 11 c1 may be omitted, provided that the above-mentioned channel, formed by the upward extension of the front and rear face portions 11a, 11b above the intermediate portion 11c of the upper rail 11, Is sufficiently deep to accommodate the blind 21.

In addition the cover plate 19 conceals the blind 21 when the door sash 1 is viewed from above, i.e, edge-on. However the main purpose of the cover plate 19 is to protect the blind 21 from weather elements and ingress of dust or dirt, the benefit of concealment being secondary since the door will not be viewed from above in normal use.

It will be understood that the invention has been described in relation to its preferred embodiments and may be modified in many different ways without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

In an embodiment the blind 21 is disposed in the lower rail 11, rather than in the upper rail 11 as described above. In this case the blind 21 will of course be pulled upwards, rather than downwards, in order to cover the pane of glass 15. Since gravity will not hold the extended blind 21 in place the above-mentioned magnets may be used, in conjunction with a ferrous construction of the upper rail 11, in order to secure the extended blind 21.

In an embodiment the blind 21 is disposed in one of the left-hand and right-hand stiles 13, rather than in one of the upper and lower rails 11. In this case the blind 21 will of course be pulled sideways (i.e. left to right or right to left), rather than downwards or upwards, in order to cover the pane of glass 15. Of course the blind 21 may be secured using the said magnets and a ferrous construction of the opposite stiie 13.

Although the above-described embodiment comprises a roller blind it will be understood that other types of blind, for example a pleated blind, may be appropriate for use in the door sash assembly and all of these are within the scope of the claimed invention.

Whatever the type of blind, and whether the blind is disposed in one of the rails 11 or one of the stiles 13, the blind is passed through the bead 17 in order to extend the blind over the pane of glass 15. in this way the bulk of the blind can be concealed and prevented from interfering with neighbouring doors, it will be understood by the skiiied reader that the above-mentioned elongate slot 17a of the bead 17 is just one possible structural arrangement and other configurations for the passage of the blind 21 through the bead 17 may be envisaged, aii of these being within the scope of the ciaimed invention.

While the above-described embodiments relate to door sash assemblies, it will be understood that the claimed invention is also applicable to window sash assemblies containing substantially the same components in the same arrangements.

Claims

1. A door or window sash assembiy, comprising: at least one pane of glass; stiles and rails, arranged to surround the at least one pane of glass; a bead, attached to the stiles and rails so as to secure the at least one pane of glass thereto; and an extendable blind, configured to extend over the at least one pane of glass; wherein the extendable blind is contained in one of the rails or one of the stiles and passes through the bead in order to extend over the at least one pane of glass.

2. A door or window sash assembiy according to claim 1, wherein the extendable blind is contained in one of the rails.

3. A door or window sash assembly according to claim 1, wherein the extendable blind is contained in one of the stiles.

4. A door or window sash assembly according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the extendable blind is contained in a cavity of the said one of the rails or one of the stiles.

5. A door or window sash assembly according to claim 4, comprising a cover for covering the cavity and the extendable blind, the cover optionally including a weatherproof seal.

6. A door or window sash assembly according to claim 4 or 5, comprising end caps for closing the ends of the cavity and supporting the extendable blind, each of the end caps optionally including a weatherproof seal,

7. A door or window sash assembiy according to any preceding claim, wherein the bead comprises a slot for the said passage of the extendable blind.

8. A door or window sash assembiy according ίο any preceding claim, wherein the bead is removably attached to the stiles and rails, such as to enable removal of the at least one pane of glass from the stiles and rails.

9. A door or window sash assembiy according to any preceding claim, wherein the bead comprises a plurality of separable elements, each of the elements corresponding to one of the stiles or one of the rails.

10. A door or window sash assembly according to claim 9, comprising: two stiles; two rails; and four bead elements.

11. A door or window sash assembiy according to any preceding claim, wherein: at least one of the stiles or one of the rails comprises a ferrous material; and an end portion of the extendable blind comprises at least one magnet, for securing the extendable blind to the said at least one of the stiles or one of the rails when the blind is extended.

12. A door or window sash assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the extendable blind comprises a roller blind.

13. A door or window, respectively comprising a door or window sash assembly according to any preceding claim.

14. A door or window sash assembly, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.