IE57478B1

IE57478B1 - Window frame coupling assemblies

Info

Publication number: IE57478B1
Application number: IE239886A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Bkl Extrusions Ltd
Priority date: 1985-09-18
Filing date: 1986-09-09
Publication date: 1993-01-27
Also published as: IE862398L; GB8621543D0; GB2180614A; GB2180614B

Abstract

An assembly for coupling two window frames (20, 21) together, e.g. at the vertical post in a bay window, comprising a first portion with two flange portions (22, 23) connected by a web (24) permitting the flanges to be relatively inclined, and a second portion (26) having a plurality of formations (29) each engageable with the free end (30) of one (23) of the flange portions when they are so inclined. The resulting coupling assembly is engageable with the inclined window frame members (20, 21). The first and second portions may be formed integrally from a plastics material whereby the second portion is joined at one of its to edges to the first portion.

Description

This invention relates to an assembly for coupling two window frames together at a selected inclination relative to one another. For example, the assembly may be employed as the vertical coupling between two relatively inclined window frames in a bay window.

The present invention provides an elongate, frame-coupling assembly comprising, viewed in cross-section, a first portion having two flange portions and a web means interconnecting said flange portions to permit them to assume a range of inclinations relative to one another, and a second portion in the form of a further web which, in use, interconnects the free ends of the flange portions to form a closed structure, the further web having a plurality of formations spaced thereof to connect with the free end of one of said flange portions when the flange portions are set at any desired one of a corresponding plurality of predetermined inclinations within the said range, said first and second portions together affording formations engageable „ with two frame elements placed at said desired inclination relative to one another. t The first and second portions may be formed integrally. Alternatively, the second portion is formed separately from the first portion and has a further formation for connecting it with the free end of the other of the flange portions.

Preferably, said flange portions of said first \ portion are integral with the said web means, said web means incorporating a region of reduced cross-sectional area to permit bending to set said flange portions at the desired inclination relative to one another.

Said second portion may, when in its free state, be flat or it may be of arcuate cross-sectional shape to facilitate its engagement with said flange portions when set at a relatively great inclination to one another.

Said first and second portions preferably are formed as either one or two extrusions of a plastics material such as UPVC.

The invention will now be illustrated, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Figure 1 is a cross-section of a frame-coupling assembly formed as an integral extrusion; Figure 2 is a cross-section of the frame-coupling assembly of Figure 1 when used to interconnect two inclined window frames; Figure 3 is a cross-section corresponding to Figure 2 but in which the window frames are parallel; and Figure 4 is a cross-section of an alternative, framecoupling assembly, when used to interconnect two inclined window frames.

In Figures 2 to 4, the frame-coupling assemblies illustrated each form the vertical post at the corner of two window frames in a bay window, the window frames being either inclined relative to one another, as in Figures 2 and 4, or parallel to one another, as in Figure 3. Vertical members of the two adjacent window frames are indicated at 19, 19 in Figure 2, and at 20, 21 in Figure 4. The coupling between the window frames and the frame-coupling assemblies is of a conventional type and will not be described in detail here.

I Referring first to Figure 1, the frame-coupling assembly comprises a first portion 10, 11, 12 formed integrally with a second portion 14. The first portion comprises two flange portions 10, 11 interconnected by a web portion 12 including a region 13 of reduced crosssectional area to permit the flange portions 10, 11 to flex to any required relative inclination to suit the window frames to be coupled. The second portion 14 is a web portion which depends from the free end of one 10 of the flange portions. The first portion has three frame-coupling portions 18.

The free end 17 of the other 11 of the flange portions has a projection 16 for engaging the inner surface of the web portion 14 which is ribbed. Thus engaged, the assembly forms a closed structure in the form of a box section. The projection 16 is locatable between the side walls of any adjacent pair oil· the ribs 15 on the web portion 14, the ribs gripping the projection 16 resiliently. The web portion is flexible to enable it to engage the flange: portion 11 in use. ί The frame-coupling assembly is used as follows, with reference to Figure 2. The first portion is set with the flange portions 10, 11 at the desired angle, equal to the angle of inclination of the window frames 19, 19 to be coupled. This configuration is then fixed by flexing the second web portion 14 and locating the projection 16 between an adjacent pair of ribs 15 thereof. The free end of the web portion 14 is trimmed so that it projects an appropriate amount beyond the box section, no further than the frame-engaging portions 18, and the assembly is . 5 ready for fitting to the window frames. As shown in Figure 2, re-entrant flanges on the window frames 19, 19 9tip the frame-coupling assembly at the frame-engaging portions 18 and the projecting portion of the web portion 14, thus assisting in holding the web portion 14 in engagement with the flange portion 11.

The frame-coupling assembly is capable of accommodating a range of inclinations of window frames, in this example from 0 degrees to about 90 degrees. As shown in use in Figure 3, where the angle of inclination is 0 degrees with parallel window frames, the majority of the web portion 14 is trimmed.

An alternative, preferred form of the invention is shown in Figure 4. As with the assembly of Figures 1 to 3, the window frames 20,. 21 are coupled by a first portion having two flange portions 22, 23 which are integrally joined by a web portion 24 including a region 25 of reduced cross-sectional area to permit the flange portions 22, 23 to be moved to the required relative inclination to suit the frame elements 20, 21. The coupling assembly further comprises a second portion 26 which connects the free ends, of the flange portions 22, 23. However, the first and second portions are formed as separate extrusions. At one. end, as viewed in cross-section, the second portion 26 has a flange 27 with serrations on its opposed surfaces, to be held within a groove 28 defined at the free end of flange portion 22, having serrated side walls.

The second portion 26 has teeth 29 at its surface facing the web portion 24, each one of which teeth is engageable between any adjacent pair of four teeth 30 at the free end of the flange portion 23. The separation between the first and fourth tooth 30 is no greater than the distance between adjacent teeth 29, so by selecting any one of the three gaps between the four teeth 30, a fine adjustment of the inclination of the flange portions is provided.

As shown in Figure 4, the teeth 29, 30 are held in engagement by means of re-entrant flanges on the window frame 21 which is fitted over the coupling assembly in use.

An alternative, preferred arrangement to that shown in Figure 4 for holding the second portion 26 to the toothed free end of the flange portion 23 is as follows (not shown). The teeth 29 are extended outwardly from the web 26 and laterally, parallel to the web portion 26, so as to provide hooks (viewed in cross-section) all facing in the same direction, either towards or away from the window frame 21. At least three of the teeth 30 on the flange portion 23 have corresponding extensions, the hooks all facing in the direction opposite to that of the teeth 29 on the web portion 26, so that the two sets of teeth 29, 30 are capable of interlocking. The slight resilience of the teeth 29, 30 provides a releasable snap fit of each tooth 29 in any of the three gaps between the j teeth 30. Thus, the assembly is held closed, assuming its selected configuration, even before it is fitted to the window frame 21.

The assembly of Figure 4 is used in a similar manner to that described above with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

With all the assemblies described above, all the components of the assembly, and also the frame members 19, 20, 21, are extrusions of a plastics material such as OPVC. The second portion 14, 26 may be flat when in its free state, or may naturally have an arcuate cross-sectional shape as illustrated in Figure 4.

Although in the examples described above the assembly forms a vertically disposed coupling between window frames, it would also be usable in a horizontally extending orientation. For example, a horizontally extending coupling may be required in glazing a conservatory, where one window frame is inclined to the vertical and an adjacent frame is either vertical, or inclined to the vertical at a different angle.

Further, although in the examples described above the first portion of the assembly is an integral extrusion, it is possible for the flange portions to be separate components, with said web means defined by formations which fit together in such a way as to provide a hinge to permit said flange portions to assume the desired relative inclination.

Claims

1. An elongate, frame-coupling assembly comprising, viewed in cross-section, a first portion having two flange portions and a web means interconnecting said flange portions to permit them to assume a range of inclinations relative to one another, and a second portion in the form of a further web which, in use, interconnects the free ends of the flange portions to form a closed structure, the further web having a plurality of formations spaced thereof to connect with the free end of one of said flange portions when the flange portions are set at any desired one of a corresponding plurality of predetermined inclinations within the said range, said first and second portions together affording formations engageable with two frame elements placed at said desired inclination relative to one another.

2. An assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the second portion is formed separately from the first portion and has a further formation for connecting it with the free end of the other of the flange portions.

3. An assembly according to Claim 2, wherein the said further formation is formed at an end of the second portion, when viewed in cross-section.

4. An assembly according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the said other flange portion has means for cooperating with the said further formation to hold the second portion.

5. An assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the first and second portions are formed integrally.

6. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein said flange portions of said first portion are 5 integral with the said web means, said web means 4 incorporating a region of reduced cross-sectional area to permit bending to set said flange portions at the desired inclination relative to one another.

7. An assembly according to any preceding claim, 10 wherein said second portion is of arcuate form, in crosssection, in its free state.

8. An assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein said second portion is of flat form in its free state and is flexible. 15

9. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the said one of the flange portions has means for cooperating with any of the said plurality of formations to hold the second portion connected therewith.

10. An assembly according to Claim 9, wherein the second 20 portion is held with a releasable snap fit by the said one of the flange portions. *

11. A frame coupling assembly according to Claim 9 or Claim 10 wherein the said cooperating means on the said one of the flange portions comprises a plurality of 25 spaced formations, each capable of cooperating with any selected one of the formations on the second portion, thereby allowing the first and second portions to engage at a corresponding plurality of different inclinations of the flange portions for each of the said formations on the second portion.

12. A frame coupling assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 5 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A frame coupling assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.