IE20010321A1 - Sill cover - Google Patents

Abstract

A sill cover (24) for use with a sill (12) has a surface (26) adapted to overlie a surface (22) of the sill (12) to hide damage thereto, and retainer means (30,34) for securing the sill cover (24) in position. <Figure 2>

Description

This invention .relates to a cover intended to be secured, in use, to a window sill or similar structure, for example a door step.

The use of windows having frames of extruded plastics materials is becoming increasingly common. One problem with frames of this type is that the sills thereof can easily be damaged, for example by falling masonry. Further repair of damaged sills is very difficult. As a result, where a window sill has been damaged, it is very common for the window frame with which the sill is associated to have to be removed to allow the replacement of the window sill.

This is a relatively expensive and inconvenient process as, upon refitting the window, the plaster work within the building adjacent the window will probably require replacement or repair.

Frame designs are available in which the window sill is secured to the remainder of the frame in such a manner as to permit replacement thereof without requiring removal of the remainder of the window frame. However, designs of this type suffer from the disadvantage that the sill tends to be able to move relative to the window frame on the application of a load thereto, and this lack of rigidity is undesirable.

According to the present invention there is provided a sill cover for use with a sill having an upper surface, the sill cover being adapted to overlie the said OPEN TO PU8UC INSPgOIOW UNDER SECTION 28 ANO RULE 23 upper surface, in use, and including retaining means to secure the sill cover to the sill.

The use of a sill cover of this type is advantageous in that, in the event that a window sill or similar member becomes damaged, a sill cover can be secured to the sill to disguise or hide the damaged sill. Generally, the damage caused to the window sills by falling masonry results only in surface damage rather than in structural damage to the sill, thus simply disguising or hiding the damaged sill rather than replacing the sill does not result in the sill being unduly weakened.

The retaining means conveniently comprises projections provided on the sill cover adapted to engage the sill or part of the associated window frame in a snap-fit manner. If desired, an adhesive material may also be used to secure the sill cover in position, the adhesive material conveniently comprising a doublesided adhesive tape.

The invention also relates to a sill cover of the type described hereinbefore mounted upon a sill.

The invention will further be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of part of a window frame and sill showing the process of securing a sill cover thereto; and Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the sill cover secured in position.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the lower part of a window frame with an associated window sill. The window frame includes a lower frame member 10 of extruded plastics formed and arranged to receive and carry a double-glazed panel. The member 10 rests upon a part of a sill member 12 which in turn rests upon part of an outer skin of a cavity wall of a building. Although not shown, the sill member 12 and the member 10 are conveniently secured to one another, for example by being a snap-fit or using other fasteners. The sill member 12, like the member 10 of the window frame, is of extruded plastics form. The sill member 12 includes a region arranged to project outwardly from the outer skin of the building wall, the projecting region including an upper wall 14 and a lower wall 16 interconnected by ribs 18. The upper and lower walls 14, 16 are further connected at their outermost ends by an end wall 20.

As described above, in use, the window frame and sill are received within an opening of the outer skin of a cavity wall, the sill member 12 resting upon the outer skin of the wall and supporting the window frame. The frame and sill member are secured using appropriate fasteners to the outer skin of the wall. It will be appreciated that the window frame 10 and the sill member 12 are thus rigidly secured to the building and that the sill member 12 will be able to withstand the application of relatively large loadings thereto without significant deflection.

In the event that the projecting part of the sill member 12 becomes damaged for example as a result of the impact of falling masonry thereon, then it is desirable to be able to hide or disguise the damage caused to the sill member provided that the damage is not sufficient to cause the structural integrity of the sill member 12 to be impaired. Typically, the damage caused by the impact of falling masonry results in surface damage to the upper surface 22 of the upper wall 14 in the form of scratches or scuff marks, or possibly in the upper wall 14 being punctured. In order to hide the damage caused to the sill member 12, a sill cover 24 is used. The sill cover 24 comprises an extruded plastics material shaped to define a wall 26 adapted to overlie the upper surface 22 of the upper wall 14 and a wall 28 adapted to overlie the outer wall 20 of the sill member 12.

As the sill cover 24 is of extruded plastics form, the length of the sill cover 24 can be chosen to fit the damaged sill member 12, and it is envisaged that, in practice, sufficiently long lengths of cover member material are stored on site to permit the sill cover 24 to be cut to the same length as the damaged sill 12.

The sill cover 24 is adapted to be secured to the sill member 12 in a snapfit manner. In order to allow the mounting of the sill cover 24 in this manner, the sill cover 24 is provided, at the edge thereof remote from the wall 28, with a lip adapted to be received within a suitably shaped recess 32 provided in the sill member 12. Additionally, a projection 34 is provided at the edge of the wall 28 remote from the wall 26 of the sill cover 24, the projection 34 being adapted to snap over the free edge of the end wall 20 of the sill member 12.

In order to further enhance the manner in which the sill cover 24 is secured to the sill member 12, a length of a suitable adhesive material, for example a double-sided adhesive tape, is preferably secured to the inner surface of the wall 28 of the sill cover 24 and arranged to adhere to the outer surface of the end wall 20 of the sill member 12.

It will be appreciated that the sill cover 24 once positioned upon the sill member 12 as illustrated in Figure 2 completely covers the upper surface 22 of the upper wall 14 of the sill member 12, and also completely covers the end wall of the sill member 12. As a result, any damage to the upper wall 14 or end wall 20 of the sill member 12 will be hidden by the presence of the sill cover 24.

The manner in which the lip 30 engages within the recess 32 of the sill member 12 is conveniently such as to achieve a reasonably water-tight seal therebetween to ensure that rainwater tends to drain over the upper surface of the sill cover 24 rather than between the sill cover 24 and the upper wall 14 of the sill member 12. It will be appreciated that it is not essential for this seal to be completely watertight, but that it is desirable, to achieve good drainage, for the majority of rainwater to drain over the upper surface of the sill cover 24.

Although primarily designed to permit damage to sill members to be hidden or disguised, the sill cover 24 could be manufactured in a range of colours, if desired, to permit the installer to offer a range of sill covers to a customer.

Although described hereinbefore in relation to window sills, it will be appreciated that the sill cover may be used in other applications, for example in relation to door steps.

Claims (7)

1. A sill cover for use with a sill having an upper surface, the sill cover being adapted to overlie the said upper surface, in use, and including retaining means to secure the sill cover to the sill. 5

2. A cover as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the retaining means comprises projections provided on the cover to permit the cover to be secured to the sill in a snap-fit manner.

3. A cover as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the retaining means comprises an adhesive material. 10

4. A cover as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the adhesive material comprises a double-sided adhesive tape.

5. A cover as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sill cover comprises a body of extruded plastics material.

6. A sill cover system comprising a sill and a sill cover according to any one 15 of the preceding claims mounted thereon.

7. A sill cover substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.