IE20060168A1

IE20060168A1 - Frame system

Info

Publication number: IE20060168A1
Application number: IE20060168A
Authority: IE
Inventors: David Rawlings
Original assignee: Architectural & Metal Systems
Priority date: 2006-03-07
Filing date: 2006-03-07
Publication date: 2007-11-14
Also published as: GB2435895A; GB0703959D0; GB2435895B

Abstract

A frame system comprises a first frame component 10, a second frame component 22 secured to the first frame component 10 in an end-to-end manner, and a third frame component 30 secured to the first and second frame components 10, 22 at the intersection therebetween, the third frame component 30 extending substantially perpendicularly to the first and second frame components 10, 22 wherein the first, second and third components 10, 22, 30 have a first side 26 and a second side 28, the first frame component 10 having an upstanding flange 24 located at the first side 26, and the second frame component 22 having an upstanding flange 24 located at the second side 28. <Figure 1>

Description

This invention relates to a frame system, for example for use in window frames and 5 the manufacture thereof, and in particular to a frame system in which a thermal break is incorporated. The invention also relates to frames manufactured using the frame system.

It is becoming increasingly common to require the glazing units of windows to be mounted in the associated window frames from the interior of the building in which the windows are provided. As well as permitting the provision of enhanced security, installation or replacement of the glazing units is simplified, particularly on multi-floor buildings as gaining access to install glazing units from the exterior of the building may require the use of scaffolding or suitable lifting devices.

Where a single window frame manufactured from, for example, extruded aluminium sections is designed to carry several glazing units, the requirement that the glazing units should all be capable of being installed from the interior of the building can be met fairly easily either if all of the window openings are fixed or if they all comprise movable vents. However, where a single window frame is to incorporate both one or more fixed windows and one or more movable vents, difficulties are faced as the aluminium section required for the fixed windows is different to that required where movable vents are required. One technique which can be used to meet the requirement in these circumstances is to provide a window frame in which, for example, the movable vents are intended to be IE 06 0 1 68 glazed from the interior and in which the fixed windows would normally be glazed from the exterior, and to use bead reverser strips to convert the fixed windows to allow glazing thereof from the interior. Although this technique allows the requirement to be met, it has the disadvantages that the bead reverser strip reduces the size of the glazed area of each fixed window, and also increases the overall cost of the frame. Reduction in the size of the glazed area is not only detrimental to the appearance of the window but also typically reduces the thermal insulating properties thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide a frame system whereby the difficulties set out above can be overcome.

According to the present invention there is provided a frame system comprising a 15 first frame component, a second frame component secured to the first frame component in an end-to-end manner, and a third frame component secured to the first and second frame components at the intersection therebetween, the third frame component extending substantially perpendicularly to the first and second frame components, wherein the first, second and third components have a first side and a second side, the first frame component having an upstanding flange located at the first side, and the second frame component having an upstanding flange located at the second side.

Such a design permits operable and fixed windows to be provided, both of which ic 060168 can be glazed from the same side of the frame, for example from the interior of the building.

The second frame component conveniently has a cross-sectional shape which is the mirror image of the cross-sectional shape of the first component.

The first, second and third components preferably each comprise extruded aluminium sections, and preferably each include a thermal break. Conveniently, each of the first, second and third components comprise a pair of extruded aluminium sections secured to one another by a thermally insulating material member. The thermal breaks are conveniently aligned with one another so as to form a thermally insulated plane. Conveniently the thermal breaks are located midway between the first and the second side.

The first and second components are conveniently secured to one another by a connection member. Conveniently, the first and second components are crimped to the connection member. However, other connection techniques could be used. For example they could be bolted to the connection member.

The third component is conveniently secured in position using screws.

The invention also relates to a window or door frame constructed using the frame system described hereinbefore.

The invention is advantageous in that it allows all glazing units to be installed from 5 the interior side of the frame, even where a mixture of movable vents and fixed windows are provided.

The invention will further be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a frame system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 is an exploded view.

The frame system illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a first frame component 10 which comprises a pair of extruded aluminium sections 12, 14 secured to one another by a thermal break region 16. The thermal break region 16 is formed by a bridge member 18 of extruded plastics material which is press-fitted into corresponding channels formed in the sections 12, 14 to secure the sections to one another and to form with the sections 12, 14 channels into which a curable thermo-setting resin, for example of polyurethane form, is provided. Once the resin 20 has cured, the resin 20 serves to form a structural interconnection between the aluminium sections 12, 14, rigidly securing these components IE Ο 6 Ο 1 6 8 to one another whilst providing good thermal insulation therebetween. The bridge component 18, being of a plastics material and being of hollow constructions is also of good insulating properties thereby maintaining the integrity of the thermal break region 16. The frame system further comprises a second component 22. The second component 22 is of structure identical to the first component 10, the first and second components 10, 22 typically being cut from a single length of material, one of the components being rotated through 180° relative to the other. The structure of the second component 22 is apparent from Figure 2.

Each of the first and second frame components 20, 22 includes a region defining an upstanding flange 24. It will be apparent from Figure 1 that the flange 24 of the first frame component 10 is located at a first side of the frame system, the flange 24 of the second frame component 22 being located at a second side 28 of the frame system.

The frame system further comprises a third component 30 which, like the first and second components 10, 22, comprises a pair of extruded aluminium sections 32, 34 interconnected and rigidly secured to one another by a thermal break region 36.

As illustrated most clearly in Figure 2, each of the first and second frame components 10, 22 is cut to be of part-mitred form, the third component 30 also being cut to conform with the part-mitred form of the first and second frame components 10,22.

IE 06 0 1 68 The first and second frame components 10, 22 are secured to one another in an 5 end-to-end configuration by a pair of connection members 38, only one of which is illustrated in Figure 2. The connection members 38 each comprise a block of metallic material of rectangular cross-section adapted to be received in corresponding hollow region 40 formed in the first and second frame components 10, 22. Each connection component 38 is arranged such that approximately 50% of the length thereof is received within one of the hollow regions 40 of the first frame component 10, the remainder thereof being received within a corresponding one of the hollow regions 40 of the second frame component 22. It will be appreciated that such an arrangement ensures that the first and second frame components 10, 22 are held in alignment with one another.

With the first and second frame components 10, 22 held in alignment with one another with the connection component 38 so positioned, the underside of the first and second frame components 10, 22 are deformed to crimp the connection component 38 in position thereby firmly securing the first and second frame components 10, 22 to one another.

Once the first and second frame components 10, 22 have been secured to one another, the third frame component 30 is positioned as illustrated in Figure 1. Drillings are formed in the assembled first and second frame components 10, 22 to form passages Ί IE Ο 6 ο 1 through which screws can be inserted, the screws entering into hollow regions 42 formed in the bridge component of the thermal break 36 provided in the third frame component, securing the third frame component to the first and second frame components 10, 22 such that the third frame component 30 extends substantially perpendicularly to the first and second frame components 10,22.

It is apparent from Figure 1 that the thermal break regions 16, 36 of the first, second 10 and third frame components 10, 22, 36 are aligned with one another and together serve to define a continuous thermal break lying in a plane between the first and second sides 26, 28 of the frame system. As the first and second frame components 10, 22 are mirror images of one another, one being formed by rotating a section of material about 180° relative to the other, it will be appreciated that the thermal break regions 16 must be located mid-way between the first and second sides 26, 28. Although this is preferably the case, arrangements are also possible where the thermal break regions are located closer to one of the sides of the frame system than the other. However, this entails using different sections for the first and second frame components 10,22.

As, in the assembled frame system, the flange 24 of the first frame component 10 lies on the first side 26 of the frame system, the flange 24 of the second component 22 lying on the second side 28 of the frame system, it will be appreciated that if a movable vent is associated with the second frame component 22 and a fixed window is associated with the IE Ο 6 ο 1 e e first frame component 10, both can be glazed from the same side of the frame system. A window frame constructed using the frame system does have the advantage that it can be arranged so as to permit all glazing units thereof to be installed from the interior of the building in which the frame is mounted. As the frame system does not involve using bead reverser strips or the like in order to allow the installation of all of the glazing units from the same side of the window frame, it will be appreciated that the dimensions of the glazing unit can be increased as compared to typical arrangements with the advantages that the thermal insulating properties of the window are enhanced and the visual appearance is also enhanced.

A range of modifications or alterations to the frame system may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1.CLAIMS 5 1. A frame system comprising a first frame component, a second frame component secured to the first frame component in an end-to-end manner, and a third frame component secured to the first and second frame components at the intersection therebetween, the third frame component extending substantially perpendicularly to the first and second frame components, wherein the first, second and third components have 10 a first side and a second side, the first frame component having an upstanding flange located at the first side, and the second frame component having an upstanding flange located at the second side.

2. A system according to Claim 1, wherein the second frame component has a 15 crosssectional shape which is the mirror image of the cross-sectional shape of the first component.

3. A system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the first, second and third components each comprise extruded aluminium sections.

4. A system according to Claim 3, wherein the first, second and third components each include a thermal break. ^ 06 0 1 68

5. A system according to Claim 4, wherein the first second and third components each comprise a pair of extruded aluminium sections secured to one another by a 5 thermally insulating material member.

6. A system according to Claim 5, wherein the thermal breaks are aligned with one another so as to form a thermally insulated plane. 10

7. A system according to Claim 6, wherein the thermal breaks are located midway between the first and second side.

8. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second components are secured to one another by a connection member.

9. A system according to Claim 8, wherein the first and second components are crimped to the connection member.

10. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the third component 20 is secured in position using screws.

11. A frame system substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings. Ο 6 ο 1 6 β

12. A window or door frame constructed using the frame system of any one of the preceding claims.