IES84800Y1 - An architrave - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT A two—pa1’t architravc is described. The architrave is formed from two separate portions, the joining between the portions structured so that the architrave is sturdier and retains the aesthetic qualities of a one-piece architrave.

Description

An Architrave The present invention relates to an architrave.

Background to the Invention Architraves are well-known construction features, being the mouldings present around the frame of a door or window.

Referring to Fig. 1, a cross—sectional view of a portion of known architrave 10 and a door frame 20 is shown. The door frame 20 extends around the edge of an aperture for a door, along the upstanding sides and the top side of the aperture.

The frame 20 acts to give structural support to the door aperture. The frame 20 is provided with a channel 22 extending the length of the frame 20.

The architrave 10 comprises a generally L—shaped body, having an exposed outer portion 12 and a lip portion 14. In general, a decorative detail 16 is provided on the exposed outer portion 12. During construction or installation of a door or door frame, an architrave is provided about the exterior of the door frame 20 for generally aesthetic reasons. For installation of the architrave 10, the lip portion 14 of the architrave 10 is inserted into the channel 22 of the door frame 20. The architrave can then be secured in place through adhesives, nails, etc.

Architraves are usually formed from machine—cut timber.

Turning to Fig. 2(a), a cross—sectional view of the known architrave 24 in Fig. 1 is shown. The architrave 24 is cut from a single piece of timber. However, to accommodate the lip portion 14, the architrave 24 must be cut from a piece of timber having a depth of X, in addition to the appropriate length and height dimensions for the architrave. This results in increased expense and wastage of the portions that are cut away from the timber to create the architrave.

In Fig. 2(b), a known alternative architrave 26 is shown. The architrave 26 comprises two separate sections, an exposed outer section 28 and a lip section 30. The separate sections 28,30 are machine cut from separate sections of timber, and are then joined together using for example adhesives or nails at joining location 32. The use of this method means that only timber with a depth of Y is required, and consequently the wastage and associated costs are reduced.

However, the join of the second architrave 26 design is subjected to forces that may result in a less secure join between the sections 28,30, meaning that the exposed outer section 28 is prone to detaching from the lip section 30.

Also, the joining location 32 can be exposed to view, detracting from the overall aesthetic of the design.

It is an object of the invention to provide an architrave that overcomes these problems.

Summary of the Invention Accordingly, there is provided an architrave for a door frame, the architrave having an exposed surface, an undersurface generally opposed to the exposed surface, and an installation portion for fitting the architrave to a door frame, the architrave comprising: a first body forming the undersurface of the architrave and a first portion of the exposed surface of the architrave; and a second body forming the installation portion of the architrave and a second portion of the exposed surface of the architrave, the architrave formed by joining the first body to the second body along a joint, the joint extending from the undersurface of the architrave to the exposed surface of the architrave, the joint being approximately orthogonal to the plane of the undersurface of the architrave.

An advantageous result of this configuration is that the joint between the first body and the second body is subjected to less force, and is less likely to break.

Preferably, a groove is formed on the exposed surface of the architrave, the location of the joint on the exposed surface of the architrave being approximate to said groove.

Locating the joint near the groove allows for the joint to be concealed by the design of the architrave.

Preferably, the joint is at an angle of between 45° to 135° to the plane of the undersurface of the architrave.

Most preferably, the joint is at an angle of 90° to the plane of the undersurface of the architrave.

Detailed Description of the Invention An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a section of a prior art architrave and door frame; Fig. 2(a) is a cross-sectional View of a known architrave design; Fig. 2(b) is a cross—sectional view of a further known architrave design; Fig. 3 is a perspective View of an architrave according to the invention during assembly; and Fig. 4 is a cross—sectional View of the architrave of Fig. 3 during installation into a known door frame.

With reference to Fig. 3, a two—part architrave is indicated at 50. The architrave 50 comprises a primary exposed section 52 having a generally planar rectangular body having a first surface 53. The primary section 52 has a first end 54 and a second end 56 along the edges of the two relatively longer sides of the body.

A plurality of undulations 58 are defined on the first surface 53 along the length of the primary section 52. The undulations 58 are located towards the first end 54 of the primary section 52, and are formed from variations in the depth of the primary section 52. The undulations 58 are largely decorative, with a depressive undulation 59 of relatively shallow depth being formed at the edge of the first end 54.

The architrave 50 also comprises a lip section 60 having a generally planar rectangular body defined by two major surfaces 62a,62b and four minor surfaces 64a,64b,64c,64d. An undulation 66 is formed on the first minor surface 64a. The undulation 66 is mainly decorative, but is characterised in that a depressive section 68 is formed at the edge of the first minor surface 64a directly adjacent the first major surface 62a. The lip section 60 is generally the same length as the primary section 52.

During assembly, the primary section 52 and the lip section 60 are joined at joint section 70 so that the depressive undulation 59 of the primary section 52 is adjacent and in register with the depressive section 68 of the lip section 60. The lip section 60 forms the lip portion of the architrave 50, with the first minor surface 64a of the lip section 60 and the primary section 52 forming the exposed outer portion of the architrave 50. The joining can be accomplished through use of adhesive, nails, or any other known timber joining method.

Turning to Fig. 4, an assembled two—part architrave 50 is shown. The advantage of this architrave 50 is that the joint 70 is subjected to less force than in previous designs, and is therefore more secure. Also, the joint 70 is concealed within the depression formed by the meeting of depressive undulation 59 and depressive section 68, preserving the overall aesthetic of the design.

The architrave can now be installed in a door frame 20, the lip portion of the architrave 50 inserted into a channel 22 in the door frame 20, as described previously.

It will be understood that the primary section 52 and the lip section 60 of the architrave can be made of varying dimensions to accommodate different sizes of door frames.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described herein but can be amended or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (5)

Claims

1. An architrave for a door frame, the architrave having an exposed surface, an undersurface generally opposed to the exposed surface, and an installation portion for fitting the architrave to a door frame, the architrave comprising: a first body forming the undersurface of the architrave and a first portion of the exposed surface of the architrave; and a second body forming the installation portion of the architrave and a second portion of the exposed surface of the architrave, the architrave formed by joining the first body to the second body along a joint, the joint extending from the undersurface of the architrave to the exposed surface of the architrave, the joint being approximately orthogonal to the plane of the undersurface of the architrave.

2. The architrave of claim 1, wherein a groove is formed on the exposed surface of the architrave, the location of the joint on the exposed surface of the architrave being approximate to said groove.

3. The architrave of claim 1, wherein the joint is at an angle of between 45° to 135° to the plane of the undersurface of the architrave.

4. The architrave of claim 1, wherein the joint is at an angle of 90° to the plane of the undersurface of the architrave.

5. An architrave for a door frame, substantially as described herein, with reference to