IE990170A1

IE990170A1 - Improvements in or relating to window or door assemblies

Info

Publication number: IE990170A1
Application number: IE990170A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Martin Althorpe
Original assignee: Heywood Williams Plastics Ltd
Priority date: 1998-03-10
Filing date: 1999-03-03
Publication date: 2000-11-01
Also published as: GB2335223A; GB2335223B; GB9804994D0

Abstract

A profile portion for use in assembling a sub-frame for a door or window comprises a base wall for engagement against the reveal of one leaf of a cavity wall. An engagement formation projects from the base wall and is adapted to engage a corresponding formation in a second profile portion. An abutment for a door or window frame is formed on the opposite side of the base wall to the engagement formation.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO WINDOW OR DOOR ASSEMBLIES The present invention relates to sub-frames to be built into a building for the fitting therein of frames for windows or doors. In particular, the invention relates to sub-frames having parts which act as cavity closers, located in the cavity between inner and outer leaves of a cavity wall, and parts which allow the sub-frame to act as a former about which wall leaves may be built.

Various profiles for sub-frames have been proposed. In one such arrangement, described in GB-A-2306992 the sub-frame has a cavity closer and a base wall which extends over the inner and outer leaves of a planar reveal. An integral upstand is provided on the base wall and the window or door frame is pushed into the sub-frame up to the upstand. A further arrangement is described in GB-A-2295185, in which the sub-frame has a cavity closer with integral flanges which extend on each side of the cavity closer to engage the inner and outer leaves of a planar reveal. A separate backstop is fitted into the cavity closer. In another arrangement described in GB-A-2255124, the sub-frame has a separate cavity closer into which is fitted a trim having an integral plaster guide and flanges which extend over the inner and outer leaves.

However, such sub-frames are designed for use in new buildings in which there is a planar reveal. That is, the end face of the block work of the inner wall leaf and the end face of the brickwork of the outer wall leaf, lie in the same plane. Check reveal building methods are increasingly being used. In these methods the reveal constituted by the end faces of the brickwork and block work is not planar butTiasa^tep—The checks in the reveal are typically _ I OPEN TO PUBLIC INSPECTION - .. ~ 23 gp ''ts JNL - 2 present in the vertical elements of the window or door cavity, the horizontal reveals being planar.

A sub-frame suitable for use in a check reveal is described in co-pending application number 9718436.0. The sub-frame has side profiles having a cavity closer, a base wall which engages the internal leaf of a check reveal, an abutment and an extension wall which engages the external leaf of a check reveal. The bottom profile has a cavity closer, a base wall and an extension wall which each engage respective internal and external leaves of a planar reveal. However, this arrangement is only suitable for use with check reveal cavity walls.

The present invention has been made for a consideration of the disadvantages with known sub-frame profiles and in particular in order to provide a profile portion for use with a universal sub-frame profile so that the sub-frame can be adapted for use with both step and/or planar reveals.

In general, it is desirable to provide an abutment on the sub-frame to facilitate fitting of the door or window frame, that is so that the door or window frame may be pushed into the sub-frame up to the abutment. It is also desirable to have a sub-frame profile which acts as a former about which the wall leaves may be built.

One preferred object of the invention is to provide a profile portion for a subframe which acts as an abutment to facilitate fitting of the door or window frame. A further preferred object of the invention is to provide a profile portion for a sub-frame which acts as a former for a wall leaf to facilitate building of the sub-frame into the wall. - 3 According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a first profile portion for use in assembling a sub-frame for a door or window comprising a base wall for engagement against the reveal of one leaf of a cavity wall, and from which projects an engagement formation adapted to engage a corresponding formation in a second profile portion, and an abutment for a door or window frame on the opposite side of the base wall to the engagement formation.

Preferably, the base wall is adapted to extend over part of the cavity in use.

Preferably, the engagement formation projects from one side of the undersurface of the base wall and the other side of the undersurface engages said leaf in use. The abutment may project transversely from the base wall. Preferably the first profile portion comprises a transverse member which projects transversely from the base wall and preferably the abutment is provided adjacent the remote edge of the said transverse member. Preferably, the abutment comprises a lateral extension of said member and extends on the opposite side of said member to the leaf engaging side of the base wall.

Preferably, the abutment is parallel to or at an acute angle to the base wall.

Preferably, the first profile portion comprises a supporting member joining the base wall and the transverse member. Preferably the transverse member projects from one lateral edge of the base wall. Preferably the supporting member extends between one lateral edge of the base wall and a remote edge of the transverse member. The base wall, the transverse member and the supporting member may be arranged to form a substantially triangular crossIE 990170 - 4 sectional profile. The supporting member may extend at an acute angle to the base wall.

The supporting member may comprise two parts, a first part extending substantially parallel to the base wall and a second part extending in a curve between a portion of the base wall and a remote edge of the transverse member. Said portion of the base wall from which the second part extends may be central or near the centre of the base wall.

The transverse member may be provided with a sealing strip. Preferably the sealing strip is in the form of a tongue which extends outwardly from one side of the transverse member. The transverse member may comprise a recess and the sealing strip may be located in said recess. The sealing strip may be coextruded with,said first profile portion.

Preferably the engagement formation comprises tangs adapted to engage in a hook formation of the second profile portion. Preferably the engagement formation comprises locating tabs adapted to abut the second profile portion. Preferably the first profile portion is adapted to be secured to the second profile portion such that respective base walls of the first and second profile portions are substantially co-linear. Preferably the engagement formation overlies a cavity closer of a second profile portion.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a sub-frame profile comprising a first profile portion of the invention and a second profile portion wherein the second profile portion comprises an engagement formation which engages the engagement formation of said first profile portion and a - 5 second base wall for engagement against the reveal of the other leaf of the cavity wall.

Preferably the second base wall is adapted to extend over part of the cavity in use. Preferably the first and second base walls of the profile together substantially span the cavity in use.

Preferably the first and second base walls are substantially co-planar or at least the undersurfaces thereof are substantially co-planar. Thus, preferably the profile is adapted for use in a planar reveal cavity wall.

Preferably the second profile portion comprises a cavity closer projecting transversely from said second base wall. Preferably the engagement formations of said first and second profile portion overlie said cavity closer. Preferably the first profile portion is provided on one lateral edge of the said cavity closer such that the first base wall extends in the opposite direction to the second base wall.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a sub-frame comprising a profile or a profile portion of the invention. Preferably the subframe comprises a rectangular sub-frame having two side profiles, an upper profile and a lower profile wherein at least one of said profiles comprises a profile or a profile portion of the invention.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of securing a window or door within a sub-frame, the method using a sub-frame of the invention. - 6 It will be seen that by using a profile or a sub-frame of the invention, a planar reveal cavity wall may be built up to the first and second base walls of the profile. The first profile portion may be disengaged or removed from the second profile portion and replaced by a step reveal portion such as that described in co-pending application number 9718436.0 so that the second profile portion can universally be used for both planar and step reveals. When the first profile portion is used for a planar reveal, the abutment facilitates the fitting of the door or window frame.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:Figure 1 is a cross-section through a window frame and a sub-frame profile according to one embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 is a cross-section through a window frame and a sub-frame profile according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Referring to figure 1, the sub-frame profile 1, which may form a side, top or bottom of a sub-frame, is formed in two parts, each of which is a UPVC extrusion. The first profile portion 2 comprises a cavity closer 4 projecting transversely from one side of a base wall 6. The base wall 6 extends over part of the cavity closer 4 and a part 7 thereof extends beyond the cavity closer so that in use the base wall extension 7 acts as a former for one leaf of a cavity wall. The cavity closer 4 is provided with a pair of longitudinal hook formations 8 on the side remote from the base wall extension 7. - 7 The second profile portion 10 comprises a pair of resilient longitudinal tangs 12 adapted to engage the hook formations 8 so that the first and second profile portions are a press-fit together.

The second profile portion 10 comprises a base wall 14 from the undersurface of which the tangs 12 project. When the first and second profile portions are fitted together, the base wall 14 extends over the remainder of the cavity closer 4 and a part 15 thereof extends beyond the cavity closer, at the opposite side to the extension wall 7 so that in use the base wall extension 15 acts as a former for the other leaf of a cavity wall. The undersurfaces of the extension walls 7 and 15 are substantially co-planar so that in use the assembled profile acts as a former for a planar reveal cavity wall. Locating tabs 13 are provided on the undersurface of the base wall adjacent the tangs 12 and abut the hook formations 8 of the second profile portion thereby ensuing that, when assembled, the extension wall 15 is co-planar with the extension wall 7.

A transverse member or upstand 16 projects substantially transversely from the base wall 14 at one lateral edge thereof and in a direction opposite to the direction of projection of the cavity closer. A supporting wall 18 joins the outer ends of the upstand 16 and extension wall 15 so that the upstand 16, the base wall 14 and the supporting wall 18 define a substantially triangular crosssectional profile. An abutment 20 is formed as an extension of the supporting wall 18 beyond the upstand 16. The abutment 20 acts as an abutment for a door or window frame 22 when fitted into the sub-frame.

A resilient sealing strip 24 may be provided on the upstand 16 or in a recess 26 formed in the upstand 16 so that when the window or door frame is fitted - 8 the sealing strip engages and is compressed against the frame. The sealing strip 24 may be co-extruded with the profile portion 10. The cavity closer 4 has a screw port 28 at each corner to facilitate screw fitting to an upper profile. The sub-frame profile has an array of longitudinal ratchet teeth 30 extending along the base wall 6 by means of which the window or door frame may be secured by a push-in method as described for example in co-pending application number 9718436.0.

Referring to figure 2, the sub-frame profile is substantially as described with reference to Figure 1 except that the supporting wall of the second profile portion comprises two parts. A first part 32 extends slightly upwardly from the outer end of the extension wall 15 and then substantially parallel to the extension wall 15 to a region part way along the extension wall 15. A second part 34 extends from that region of the extension wall 15 and curves upwardly through the end of the first part 30 and ends in a lateral extension 36 of the upstand 16. Typically said region overlies the cavity closer in use.

The lateral extension 36 forms an abutment for the door or window frame and is substantially parallel to the base wall 14 whereas the abutment 20 of the first embodiment lies at an acute angle to the base wall 14.

It will be appreciated that the external shape of the supporting wall may take any suitable form and as such is not restricted to that shown in the drawings. Similarly, although the abutment is shown as a lateral extension in both described embodiments, it will be appreciated that the upstand 16 or any part thereof may act additionally or alternatively as an abutment for the door or window frame. - 9 Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the cavity closer 4 may be separate to the base wall 6, the two being interengageable by means of suitable hook and tang arrangements as described in co-pending application number 9718436.0.

Typically the profile of the invention will be used as a side and/or bottom subframe profile. The top profile of the sub-frame may not have a cavity closer.

The reader’s attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the - ίο features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A first profile portion for use in assembling a sub-frame for a door or window comprising a base wall for engagement against the reveal of one leaf of a cavity wall, and from which projects an engagement formation adapted to engage a corresponding formation in a second profile portion, and an abutment for a door or window frame on the opposite side of the base wall to the engagement formation.

2. A first profile portion according to claim 1, wherein the engagement formation projects from one side of the undersurface of the base wall and the other side of the undersurface engages said leaf in use.

3. A first profile portion according to any preceding claim, wherein the first profile portion comprises a transverse member which projects transversely from the base wall and the abutment is provided adjacent the remote edge of the said transverse member.

4. A first profile portion to any preceding claim, wherein the abutment comprises a lateral extension of said member and extends on the opposite side of said member to the leaf engaging side of the base wall.

5. A first profile portion according to claim 3, wherein the first profile portion comprises a supporting member joining the base wall and the transverse member. - 12

6. A first profile portion according to any preceding claim, wherein the engagement formation comprises tangs adapted to engage in a hook formation of the second profile portion. 5

7. A first profile portion according to any preceding claim, wherein the first profile portion is adapted to be secured to the second profile portion such that respective base walls of the first and second profile portions are substantially co-linear. 10

8. A first profile portion according to any preceding claim, wherein the engagement formation overlies a cavity closer of a second profile portion.

9. A sub-frame profile comprising a first profile portion according to any preceding claim and a second profile portion wherein the second profile 15 portion comprises an engagement formation which engages the engagement formation of said first profile portion and a second base wall for engagement against the reveal of the other leaf of the cavity wall.

10. A sub-frame profile according to claim 9, wherein the second base wall 20 is adapted to extend over part of the cavity in use.

11. A sub-frame profile according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second base walls are substantially co-planar. 25

12. A sub-frame profile according to any preceding claim, wherein the second profile portion comprises a cavity closer projecting transversely from said second base wall. -

13. 13. A sub-frame profile according to claim 12, wherein the engagement formations of said first and second profile portions overlie said cavity closer.

14. A sub-frame according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the first 5 profile portion is provided on one lateral edge of the said cavity closer such that the first base wall extends in the opposite direction to the second base wall.

15. A sub-frame comprising a profile or a profile portion according to any 10 preceding claim.

16. A method of securing a window or door within a sub-frame, the method using a sub-frame according to claim 15.

17. A profile portion substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying 15 drawi ngs.

18. A sub-frame profile substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A method of securing a window or door within a sub-frame,

20. Substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.