GB2600767A

GB2600767A - Drainage cap for a window or door

Info

Publication number: GB2600767A
Application number: GB2017722.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: O'donnell James; Gribben Kieran
Original assignee: Mcmullan & Odonnell Ltd
Current assignee: Mcmullan & Odonnell Ltd
Priority date: 2020-11-10
Filing date: 2020-11-10
Publication date: 2022-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 2040-11-10
Also published as: GB2600767B; GB202017722D0

Abstract

A drainage cap 1 for a window or door frame having at least one drainage chamber 8 having a drainage slot 12 in an outer face. The drainage cap comprises a cover portion 18 to cover the drainage slot, at least one retaining clip 14, at least one drainage opening 16, and at least one water extraction member 20. Preferably the water extraction member is an elongate hollow tube resting on or close to the floor of the drainage chamber in use. The water extraction member may comprise an absorbent sleeve mounted on the elongate member to prevent drips when the frame is opened. Further disclosed is a window or door frame assembly comprising the drainage cap and having a drainage chamber 8 communicating with a glazing channel 3 via a drainage aperture 10.

Description

DRAINAGE CAP FOR A WINDOW OR DOOR FRAME

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a drainage cap for a window or door frame and in particular to a drainage cap for attachment to a drainage slot of an extruded PVCu or Aluminium window or door frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Historically, the two main problems with windows and doors have been ingress of water and/or air, primarily as a result of either weaknesses or design defects within the door or window framework.

In the case of extruded PVCu and Aluminium window or door frames, the use of flexible seals provided around the window or door opening has proven successful to prevent ingress of air. However, in respect of water leakage issues, it has proven more practical to allow water, specifically rain water and condensation, to pass through the outer seals and travel by gravity to the lower portion of the window/door frame before passing into one or more drainage chambers provided in the extruded frame section via suitable drainage apertures, water then exiting to the external window sill via strategically positioned drainage slots formed in an outer surface of the window/door frame in communication with a lower region of at least one of said one or more drainage chambers. For aesthetic purposes, these drainage slots are covered by moulded PVC covers or caps which are designed to clip into each slot and which include an aperture to the underside to facilitate the drainage of water therethrough.

In theory, the above system should ensure that any water collected in the one or more drainage chambers of the lower frame portion can drain out. However, in many instances, this fails to happen and water is retained in the drainage chambers. Where doors open inwards there is often a trail of water on the floor which, apart from being unsightly can pose a health and safety hazard and potentially lead to damage of the floor covering. In the case of windows, water can accumulate in the one or more drainage chambers and, under extreme wind conditions, leak into the building.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a drainage cap for a window or door frame having at least one drainage chamber having a drainage slot in an outer face for draining water collected therein to said outer face of the window or door frame, said drainage cap including a cover portion adapted to cover said drainage slot, in use, at least one retaining clip extending rearwardly from the cover portion adapted to retain the drainage cap to the drainage slot, at least one drainage opening in a lower region of the cover portion for draining water therefrom to the exterior of the window or door frame and at least one water extraction member adapted to extend from the cover portion into the drainage chamber for drawing water out of the drainage chamber.

Preferably said at least one water extraction member comprises an elongate member extending, in use, from the cover portion into the drainage chamber via the drainage slot. Preferably said at least one water extraction member is arranged to be resting on or in close proximity to a floor of the drainage chamber when the drainage cap is fitted to the respective drainage slot.

In one embodiment said at least one water extraction member may comprise a hollow tube adapted to draw water out of the drainage chamber via capillary action.

The at least one water extraction member may include or may be formed from an absorbent material.

In one embodiment the at least one water extraction member may include a sleeve 30 mounted on said elongate member, said sleeve being formed from an absorbent material.

Preferably said elongate member forming said at least one water extraction member is integrally formed with said cover portion.

The at least one retaining clip may be integrally formed with said cover portion.

The drainage cap may comprise a plastic moulding, for example a PVC moulding.

In one embodiment the cover portion includes a front wall, said at least one water extraction member extending from a rear face of said front wall. The at least one water extraction member preferably extends perpendicular to said front wall of the cover portion. The cover portion may include a peripheral wall extending 113 perpendicularly and rearwardly from a peripheral edge of said front wall to define an upper wall and opposed side walls of said cover portion. The at least one drainage opening may extend along a bottom side of the cover portion, opposite said upper wall thereof.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a window or door frame assembly comprising a lower frame section comprising an extruded profile having an upper portion defining a longitudinally extending channel for receiving a window pane or door panel, internal walls within the lower frame section dividing the lower frame section into a number of separate chambers including at least one drainage chamber communicating with said channel for receiving water therefrom, at least one drainage slot being formed in an outer face of the lower frame section communicating with said at least one drainage chamber for draining water collected therein to said outer face of the lower frame section, said at least one drainage slot being covered by a respective drainage cap in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A drainage cap for a drainage slot of an extruded PVCu or aluminium window or 30 door frame will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a sectional view through a lower region of a window frame incorporating a drainage cap in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a detailed rear view of the drainage cap of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a bottom view of the drainage cap of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a side view of the drainage cap of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As illustrated in Figure 1, the present invention relates to a drainage cap 2 fitted to an extruded PVCu or aluminium window frame profile 4 comprising an upper section defining a longitudinally extending channel 3 for receiving a window pane, the side walls of the channel being adapted to receiving resilient sealing strips (not shown). Internal walls within the profile divide the frame into a number of separate chambers. A central chamber 6 may be used to house a steel frame reinforcement member, while an outermost chamber 8 on the side of the frame to be located adjacent the exterior of a building defines a drainage chamber (which could be either side of the central chamber 8 depending upon the orientation of. Drainage apertures 10 extend between the channel 3 and the drainage chamber 8 to allow any water collected in the channel 3 to pass into the drainage chamber 8. Drainage slots 12 are formed in a front wall of the profile, extending into the drainage chamber 8 adjacent a lower wall of the chamber 8, whereby water can exit the drainage chamber 8 via said drainage slots 12. For aesthetic purposes, these drainage slots 12 are covered by respective moulded PVC drainage caps 2 which are adapted to clip into each slot 12 via suitable retaining clips 14 and which include an opening 16 to the underside of each cap 2 to facilitate the drainage of water therethrough.

As illustrated in more details in Figures 2 to 4, each drainage cap 2 includes a cover portion 18 adapted to cover said drainage slot 12, in use, at least one retaining clip 14 extending rearwardly from the cover portion 18 adapted to retain the drainage cap to the respective drainage slot 12, at least one drainage opening 16 in a lower region of the cover portion 18 for draining water therefrom to the exterior of the window or door frame and at least one water extraction member 20 adapted to extend from the cover portion 18 into the drainage chamber 8 for drawing water out of the drainage chamber 8. The cover portion 18 includes a peripheral wall 22 extending perpendicularly and rearwardly from a peripheral edge of said front wall to define an upper wall and opposed side walls of said cover portion.

The at least one water extraction member 20 may comprise a small diameter hollow tube adapted to draw water out of the drainage chamber via capillary action. Alternatively the at least one water extraction member 20 may comprise a solid cylindrical member. The at least one water extraction member 20 may be integrally formed with the remainder of the drainage cap, for example from a moulded plastic material, such as PVC, more preferably PVCu. Preferably the at least one water extraction member 20 is arranged to be resting on or in close proximity to the floor of the drainage chamber when the drainage cap 2 is fitted to the respective drainage slot 12.

The at least one water extraction member 20 may include an absorbent material to facilitate drainage of water from the drainage chamber 8. In one embodiment the at least one water extraction member 20 may comprise an elongate rod over which is located a sleeve formed from an absorbent material.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein but can be amended or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A drainage cap for a window or door frame having at least one drainage chamber having a drainage slot in an outer face for draining water collected therein 5 to said outer face of the window or door frame, said drainage cap including a cover portion adapted to cover said drainage slot, in use, at least one retaining clip extending rearwardly from the cover portion adapted to retain the drainage cap to the drainage slot, at least one drainage opening in a lower region of the cover portion for draining water therefrom to the exterior of the window or door frame and 10 at least one water extraction member adapted to extend from the cover portion into the drainage chamber for drawing water out of the drainage chamber.
2. A drainage cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one water extraction member comprises an elongate member extending, in use, from the cover portion 15 into the drainage chamber via the drainage slot.
3. A drainage cap as claimed in claim 2, wherein said at least one water extraction member is arranged to be resting on or in close proximity to a floor of the drainage chamber when the drainage cap is fitted to the respective drainage slot.
4. A drainage cap as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said at least one water extraction member comprises a hollow tube adapted to draw water out of the drainage chamber via capillary action.
5. A drainage cap as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said at least one water extraction member includes or is formed from an absorbent material.
6. A drainage cap as claimed in claim 5, wherein said at least one water extraction 30 member includes a sleeve mounted on said elongate member, said sleeve being formed from an absorbent material.
7. A drainage cap as claimed in any of claims 2 to 6, wherein said elongate member forming said at least one water extraction member is integrally formed with said cover portion.
8. A drainage cap as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said at least one retaining clip is integrally formed with said cover portion.
9. A drainage cap as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a plastic moulding.
10. A drainage cap as claimed in claim 9, comprising a PVC moulding.
11. A drainage cap as claimed in any preceding claim, said cover portion having a front wall, said at least one water extraction member extending from a rear face of 15 said front wall.
12. A drainage cap as claimed in claim 11, wherein said at least one water extraction member extends perpendicular to said front wall of the cover portion.
13. A drainage cap as claimed in claim 12, wherein said cover portion includes a peripheral wall extending perpendicularly and rearwardly from a peripheral edge of said front wall to define an upper wall and opposed side walls of said cover portion.
14. A drainage cap as claimed in claim 13, wherein said at least one drainage 25 opening extends along a bottom side of the cover portion, opposite said upper wall thereof.
15. A window or door frame assembly comprising a lower frame section comprising an extruded profile having an upper portion defining a longitudinally extending channel for receiving a window pane or door panel, internal walls within the lower frame section dividing the lower frame section into a number of separate chambers including at least one drainage chamber communicating with said channel for receiving water therefrom, at least one drainage slot being formed in an outer face of the lower frame section communicating with said at least one drainage chamber for draining water collected therein to said outer face of the lower frame section, said at least one drainage slot being covered by a respective drainage cap in accordance with any preceding claim.