IE87111B1 - Glazing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a glazing unit comprising a main frame having an internal wooden frame section, an external aluminium frame section and a first thermally insulating member between the internal and external frame sections, wherein the wooden frame section comprises at least two receiving grooves for receiving and retaining the first thermally insulating member; the first thermally insulating member comprises a main body, at least two protrusions extending from one side of the external surface of the main body for insertion into the receiving grooves of the wooden frame section so as to attach the first thermally insulating member to the wooden frame section, and two receivers on the external surface of the opposite side of the main body for receiving and retaining the aluminium frame section; and the aluminium frame section comprises a protrusion and a receiving channel for engagement with the receivers of the first thermally insulating member. <Figure 5>

Description

GLAZING UNIT The present invention relates to the field of glazing units, in particular to aluminium—wood composite windows and doors.

Background to the Invention Aluminium cladding was introduced on wooden windows about twenty years ago to minimise maintenance and extend the lifespan of timber windows. In a typical so-called alu-clad window, a piece of aluminium is generally clipped to the outer face of the timber window frame. However, this creates a gap between the aluminium and timber, allowing air and therefore moisture and dirt to penetrate the timber and does not add any thermal benefits to the design.

It is a therefore an object of the present invention to provide a glazing unit which will overcome or ameliorate problems with known alu-clad windows and doors, or which will at least provide the public with a useful alternative.

Summary of the Invention The present invention relates to a glazing unit, in particular to an insulated aluminium—wood composite window or door. The glazing unit may be double or treble glazed.

Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention is a glazing unit comprising a main frame having an internal wooden frame section, an external aluminium frame section and a first thermally insulating member between the internal and external frame sections, wherein the wooden frame section comprises at least two receiving grooves for receiving and retaining the first thermally insulating member; the first thermally insulating member comprises a main body, at least two protrusions extending from one side of the external surface of the main body for insertion into the receiving grooves of the wooden frame section so as to attach the first thermally insulating member to the wooden frame section, and two receivers on the external surface of the opposite side of the main body for receiving and retaining the aluminium frame section; and the aluminium frame section comprises a protrusion and a receiving channel for engagement with the receivers of the first thermally insulating member.

The first thermally insulating member holds the internal and external frame sections at a predetermined distance from each other.

One advantage of the above arrangement is the provision of an insulated aluminium-wood composite window or door.

It should be noted that the terms ‘‘internal’’ and “external” refer to the location of the glazing unit when mounted on a structure such as a building, wherein the internal frame section generally faces the interior of the building and the external frame section the exterior. In general the internal frame section should be viewed as forming the side of the frame that is not exposed to wind, rain etc. However, cases where the glazing units are mounted internally within a building could be envisaged and hence the terms ‘‘internal’’ and “external” should not be viewed overly restrictively.

In a preferred embodiment, the glazing unit further comprises a sash having an internal wooden sash section, an external aluminium sash section and a second thermally insulating member between the internal and external sash sections.

The second thermally insulating member holds the internal and external sash sections at a predetermined distance from each other.

Preferably, the sash wooden section comprises at least two receiving grooves for receiving and retaining the second thermally insulating member. In this embodiment, the second thermally insulating member comprises a main body and at least two protrusions extending from one side of the external surface of the main body for insertion into the receiving grooves of the wooden sash section so as to attach the second thermally insulating member to the wooden sash section.

Alternatively or additionally, the second thermally insulating member comprises two receivers on the external surface of the opposite side of the main body for receiving and retaining the aluminium sash section. In these embodiments, the aluminium sash section preferably comprises a protrusion and a receiving channel for engagement with the receivers of the second thermally insulating member.

Each thermally insulating member independently may be made of any suitable material, which is robust, relatively rigid and which is a good thermal insulator. Various plastic materials such as polyvinylchloride (PVC), glass-fibre reinforced polyester, phenolic resin, polystyrene and polyamide are preferred.

Each thermally insulating member independently is particularly preferably an extruded or pultruded section of PVC. Aerogels and extruded polystyrene foam Styrofoam ® are also suitable materials for each thermally insulating member.

The main body of each thermally insulating member independently is preferably hollow.

The hollow body may be filled with foam, for example polyurethane foam. Additionally or alternatively, each thermally insulating member independently may comprise a plurality of hollow channels. In this embodiment, one or more of the hollow channels may be filled with foam.

In a preferred embodiment, the receivers on the thermally insulating member may include a hook and a C-shaped channel. Particularly preferably, with reference to the installed location of the glazing unit, the hook for receiving the aluminium section is close to the glazing and the channel for receiving the aluminium section is further away from the glazing.

The glazing units of the present invention are suitable for both double and treble glazing.

Glazing, e.g. glass, is intended to be held within the glazing unit adjacent the thermally insulating member between the wooden section and aluminium section. If a sash is present, the glazing sits adjacent the thermally insulating member between the wooden sash section and aluminium sash section. Alternatively, in a non-opening glazing unit, the glazing sits adjacent the thermally insulating member between the wooden frame section and aluminium frame section.

The internal wooden sections are each independently preferably manufactured from composite wood such as engineered pine. However, this is not considered to be limiting and any type of wood or composite wood may be used.

The or each aluminium section preferably further comprises an aluminium glazing bead for holding glazing, preferably glass, in place within the main frame. In the embodiment wherein there is no sash and the window does not open, the aluminium glazing bead is for attachment to the first external aluminium frame section and interlocks with the top of said first external aluminium frame section. In the embodiment having a sash, the aluminium glazing bead is for attachment to the second external aluminium frame and interlocks with the top of said second external aluminium frame section. Whilst aesthetically less pleasing, it would be possible to use a bead made of another material and the term aluminium bead is not intended to be limiting.

Brief Description of the drawings Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a front view of a window according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2a shows a cross-sectional view along line A-A of the window shown in Figure 1 with double glazing; Figure 2b shows a cross-sectional view along line B-B of the window shown in Figure 1 with double glazing; Figure 2c shows a cross-sectional view along line C-C of the window shown in Figure 1 with double glazing; Figure 3 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the head detail D1 of the window shown in Figures 1 and 2a; Figure 4 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the sill detail D2 of the window shown in Figures 1 and 2a; Figure 5 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the head/sill/jamb detail D3 of the window shown in Figures 1, 2b and 2c; Figure 6 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the jamb detail D5 of the window shown in Figures 1 and 2c; Figure 7 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the transom detail D6 of the window shown in Figures 1 and 2c; Figure 8a shows a cross-sectional view along line A-A of the window shown in Figure 1 with treble glazing; Figure 8b shows a cross-sectional view along line B-B of the window shown in Figure 1 with treble glazing; Figure 8c shows a cross-sectional view along line C-C of the window shown in Figure 1 with treble glazing; Figure 9 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the head detail D1 of the window shown in Figures 1 and 8a; Figure 10 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the sill detail D2 of the window shown in Figures 1 and 8a; Figure 11 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the head/sill/jamb detail D3 of the window shown in Figures 1, 8b and 8c; Figure 12 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the jamb detail D5 of the window shown in Figures 1 and 8c; Figure 13 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the transom detail D6 of the window shown in Figures 1 and 8c; Figure 14a shows a front view of a window according to an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 14b shows a cross-sectional view along line A-A of the window shown in Figure 14a; Figure 14c shows a cross-sectional view along line B-B of the window shown in Figure 14a; Figure 15 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the head detail D1 of the window shown in Figure 14b; Figure 16 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the sill detail D2 of the window shown in Figure 14b; and Figure 17 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the jamb detail D3 of the window shown in Figure 14c.

Detailed Description of the Invention Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, where like reference numeral represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows insulated aluminium-wood composite double glazed window 100 when viewed from the outside of a building in which it is installed.

Window 100 comprises main frame 10 and a side-hung sash 20.

As is shown in Figures 2 to 7, main frame 10 comprises internal wooden frame section 30, external aluminium frame section 40, aluminium frame bead 80 and first thermally insulating Side-hung sash 20 comprises internal wooden sash section 60, external aluminium sash section 70, aluminium member 50 between the internal and external frame sections. sash bead 90 and thermally insulating member 50 between the internal and external sash sections. Side-hung sash may be opened and closed using handle 101 which is connected to lock 102. Lock 102 is located within lock keep 103.

Double glazing 11 is held within window 100 between wooden sections 30, 60 and aluminium sections 40, 70 adjacent thermally insulating members 50, respectively. Glazing packer 13 is present between glazing 11 and thermally insulating member 50. The double glazed glass is preferably 28mm in width, with two 4mm thick glass panels and a 16 mm warm spacer bar with 90% argon gas.

Wooden frame section 30 comprises two receiving grooves 31, 32 for receiving and retaining thermally insulating member 50 and receiving groove 33 for receiving deventer gasket 39.

Aluminium section 70 comprises a groove for receiving pressure sealing gasket 79.

Aluminium glazing bead 80 comprises a groove for receiving flipper gasket 12 to assist in retaining double glazing 11.

Thermally insulating member 50 comprises a hollow main body 51 and two barbed protrusions 52, 53 extending from the external surface of main body 51 for insertion into receiving grooves 31, 32, respectively, so as to attach thermally insulating member 50 to wooden frame section 30. Thermally insulating member 50 further comprises hook 54 and receiver 55 for receiving aluminium frame section 40. Hook 54 and receiver 55 are on the external surface of the opposite side of the main body to barbed protrusions 52, 53. Hook 54 is at the end of thermally insulating member 50 closest to glazing 11 and receiver 55 at the other end.

Aluminium frame section 40 comprises arrowhead protrusion 41 for engagement with receiver 55 of first thermally insulating member 50 and receiving channel 42 for engagement with hook 54 of first thermally insulating member 50.

Foam filling 58 may optionally be provided within main body 51. Thermally insulating member 50 further comprises groove 56 for receiving heat loss barrier gasket 59. Groove 56 is located on the opposite side of main body 51 to the side adjacent glazing 11 when installed.

First thermally insulating member 50 holds internal frame section 30 and external frame section 40 at a predetermined distance from each other. Second thermally insulating member 50 holds internal sash section 60 and external sash section 70 at a predetermined distance from each other. Hinge 38, e.g. a high stack stainless steel hinge, is located between the first and second thermally insulating members 50.

Sash wooden section 60 comprises two receiving grooves 61, 62 for receiving and retaining thermally insulating member 50.

Aluminium frame section 70 comprises protrusion 71 for engagement with receiver 55 of second thermally insulating member 50 and receiving channel 72 for engagement with hook 54 of second thermally insulating member 50.

Figures 8 to 17 show window 200 which is a triple glazed version of window 100. The triple glazed glass is preferably 44mm in width, with three 4mm thick glass panels and two 16 mm warm spacer bars with 90% argon gas. In this embodiment, glazing packer 213 is present between glazing 211 and thermally insulating member 50.

Various modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment to cater for different applications.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein which are given by way of example only and that various modifications and alterations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (8)

CLAIMS:

1. A glazing unit comprising a main frame having an internal wooden frame section, an external aluminium frame section and a first thermally insulating member between the internal and external frame sections such that glazing is intended to be held within the glazing unit adjacent the thermally insulating member between the wooden section and aluminium section, wherein the wooden frame section comprises at least two receiving grooves for receiving and retaining the first thermally insulating member; the first thermally insulating member comprises a main body, at least two protrusions extending from one side of the external surface of the main body for insertion into the receiving grooves of the wooden frame section so as to attach the first thermally insulating member to the wood en frame section, and a hook and a C-shaped channel on the external surface of the opposite side of the main body for receiving and retaining the aluminium frame section; and the aluminium frame section comprises a protrusion for engagement with the C- shaped channel of the first thermally insulating member and a channel for engagement with the hook of the first thermally insulating member.

2. The glazing unit of claim 1, wherein the main body of the thermally insulating member comprises one or more hollow chambers.

3. The glazing unit of claim 2, wherein the or each hollow chamber independently is filled with foam.

4. The glazing unit of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the glazing unit comprises a sash having an internal wooden sash section, an external aluminium sash section and a second thermally insulating member between the internal and external sash sections.

5. The glazing unit of claim 4, wherein the sash wooden section comprises at least two receiving grooves for receiving and retaining the second thermally insulating member and the second thermally insulating member comprises a main body and at least two protrusions extending from one side of the external surface of the main body for insertion into the receiving grooves of the wooden sash section so as to attach the second thermally insulating member to the wooden sash section.

6. The glazing unit of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the second thermally insulating member comprises two receivers on the external surface of the opposite side of the main body for receiving and retaining the aluminium sash section.

7. The glazing unit of claim 6, wherein the aluminium sash section comprises a protrusion and a receiving channel for engagement with the receivers of the second thermally insulating member. 10

8. The glazing unit of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the or each aluminium section further comprises an aluminium glazing bead. MACLACHLAN & DONALDSON 15 Applicants’ Agents Unit 10, 4075 Kingswood Road Citywest Business Campus Dublin D24 C56E