NZ264289A - Assembling a fixed wing to an edge member and then to a surround frame - Google Patents

Description

2642 8 Priority Date(s): Compter Specification Filed: &.h.:G8L:.fty '!ae»: .£.0 r*-i ;V«/i'v ;Pufc-licatior. D«tt:JLSJWlJHZ. P.O. Journal No: ;N.2. PATKMT OVHCS ;23 W61394 ;Patents Form No. 5 Our Ref: DT203631 ;NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION ;IMPROVEMENTS TO WINDOWS AND DOORS ;We, BRADNAM'S WINDOWS & DOORS PTY LTD, an Australian Company incorporated in the State of Queensland, Australia of 874 Kingsford Smith Drive, Eagle Farm, Queensland 4009, Australia hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performedr to be particularly described in and by the following statement; ;PT0515503 ;- 1 - ;(followed by page la) ;R A o n w ;Id ;THIS INVENTION relates to Improvements to windows and doors and particularly to an Improved method for assembling windows and doors having a fixed-wing (I.e., a fixed window or door pane). ;5 A sliding window or door assembly normally consists of two or more panes of glass. One of the panes can move in a sliding manner between an open and closed position while the other pane is usually fixed. For window assemblies, it is common to have two panes of 10 glass, one fixed and one moving. For larger windows, there may be a central fixed pane of glass and two sliding windows, one to each side of the fixed pane. ;There are two main known methods to secure the fixed wing. In one method, a bead of non-hardening 15 sealant or spacing foam tape is applied to one face of the window surround frame. A pane of glass is inserted into the frame and is pressed against the sealant or tape. A flexible continuous wedge is then inserted between the other face of the window frame and the other 20 side of the glass to hold the glass in position by friction. The bottom edge of the glass sits on rubber blocks to protect it. ;In another known method, the glass pane has a flexible channel loosely positioned around the perimeter. 25 A rigid frame is then secured around the flexible channel. The framed piece of glass is then inserted into the window or door surround frame and is secured thereto with screws or flexible wedges. ;Each of these known techniques is cumbersome in 30 assembly. Also, once the window is attached to the surround frame, adjustment is required to ensure that the adjacent sliding window or door opens and closes properly. This is again a finicky operation, and often the final adjustment is incorrectly carried out resulting 35 in the sliding door or window sticking, or being too loose. ;The present invention has been developed to facilitate assembly of windows and doors and it is ;(followed by page 2) ;V ;10 ;therefore an object of the invention to provide such a method, and a window or door assembly made by such a method which can overcome the abovementloned disadvantages or provide the public with a useful or commercial choice. ;In one form, the invention resides in a method for assembling a fixed wing to a surround frame, the method comprising the steps of securing an edge member to at least one upstanding edge of the wing, the surround frame being provided with a longitudinal channel to receive the edge member, the edge member and the longitudinal channel being profiled such that they lock together upon insertion of the edge member into the longitudinal channel and at least part of the upstanding edge of the wing is accommodated within the longitudinal channel. ;15 ;20 ;25 ;30 ;o ;5—. ;UJ ;o ;CO ;O ;en cr> ;Q ;S ;,CD ;>— 4- - ;I ^ ;UJ ;r > ;•T;' ;< ;i xr> ;; it ;CL ;! 05 ;K : ;! ;\ ;The method is suitable for assembling windows and doors and particularly those having a fixed window or door panel and a sliding window or door panel. The term "wing" includes windows and doors. ;The surround frame may include a window or door surround frame which usually comprises upper and lower horizontal frame members having tracks to guide a sliding wing, and a pair of side frame members having longitudinal channels to accommodate a side edge of the fixed or sliding wing. ;The edge member may be secured to all four edges of the' fixed wing and thus may be secured to horizontal upper and lower edges and opposed vertical side edges. The edge member is fixed to the wing and this may be achieved by adhesives. ;The wing, including the edge member, can be locked into a respective side frame member of the surround frame, and this can be achieved t>y a two-part snap-locking action. In this arrangement, the edge member, or the side frame member, or both, can be provided with a profile which may include a resilient member which can deform and spring back to lock the wing to the side frame member. ;The surround frame may include a mullion. The ;3 ;mull ion is -typically positioned intermediate the side edges of the surround frame and is fixed to the upper and lower horizontal surround frame members. Typically, a siding wing is catched to the mullion by a catch member. ;5 Conventionally, the mullion is fastened to the upper and lower horizontal members by screws or rivets. ;The mullion may include a longitudinal channel which can accept em opposed side edge of the fixed wing. It is preferred that this side edge also includes an edge 10 member and that the longitudinal channel in the mullion is profiled such that they can lock together upon insertion of the edge member into the longitudinal channel. This can be achieved in a manner similar to that described above. ;15 Thus, assembly of the window is straight forward and can be achieved by securing the edge member to the periphery of the wing and locking the wing to a side frame member by pushing the two together, locking the opposed edge of the wing to the mullion again by 20 press-locking the two together and thereafter attaching the upper and lower horizontal frame members. ;In another form of the invention, the mullion can be improved such that it can be fixed to the upper and lower frame members without the use of fasteners. 25 Thus, the mullion may comprise an elongate main body having longitudinal end projections which can extend into tracks formed In the upper and lower horizontal frame members. Each end projection may include a locking member which can pass into a respective track when the 30 mullion is in a first orientation, but will prevent the mullion from being lifted out of the track when the mullion is rotated to a second orientation. The locking member may comprise an extending lug which can be rotated from a free position to a locking position upon rotation 35 of the mullion. Typically, the mullion can be rotated by 90° to twist-lock it into the track. ;Preferably, when the mullion is locked into the track, it can still exhibit sliding movement along the ;f ;O ;^ L* U C? track (but cannot be lifted out of the track). It is also preferred that when the mullion is in its locked position, it includes a longitudinal channel which is positioned such that it can accept a side edge of the 5 fixed wing.

Thus, the mullion can be inserted into upper and lower tracks, locked into position and thereafter can still exhibit sliding movement such that it can preferably be press-locked against a side edge of the 10 fixed wing.

The invention will be more clearly described with reference to the following embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying figures in which Figure 1 is an exploded view of a window assembly; Figures 2A - 2C are plan views of a fixed wing being attached to a side surround frame member; Figures 3A - 3C are plan views of a fixed wing being attached to a mullion; Figures 4-6 are views of the attachment of the mullion to a lower horizontal frame member.

Referring to the figures and initially to Figure 1, there is illustrated a typical window frame assembly. The window frame assembly comprises upper and 25 lower longitudinal horizontal surround frame members being an upper head 11 and a lower sill 12, and also a pair of opposed side frame members or jambs 13 - 14. Intermediate jambs 13 - 14 is positioned a mullion 15. Figure 1 also illustrates a fixed wing or window 16 which 30 already has an edge member 17 fixed to the peripheral edge of window 16.

In Figures 2A - 2C there is illustrated, in plan, jamb 13 which is typically formed from extruded aluminium. Jamb 13 includes a pair of longitudinal 35 channels 18, 19 and in the embodiment, channel 18 accommodates fixed window 16. The edge member 17 is more clearly illustrated in Figures 2A - 2C and comprises a semi-rigid frame which is cut and glued around the perimeter of window 16 to form one inseparable unit. Edge member 17 includes a shoulder 20 which when it passes Into channel 18 causes hook 21 formed on channel-dividing wall 22 to slightly deform (see Figure 2B) and 5 then snap back to lock against shoulder 20 (as Illustrated In Figure 2C). Edge member 17 also Includes a longitudinal rib 23 which also passes into channel 18 and functions to prevent the window from being pushed too far Into the channel, by abutment against a ramp 24, and 10 ultimately against a stop 25 (if necessary).

It can therefore be seen that window 16 can be readily fitted to jamb 13 in a simple press-lock arrangement which does away with the requirement to add sealants, spacing foam tape, and flexible continuous 15 wedges.

Figures 3A - 3C show how the opposite edge 16B of window 16 fits into mullion 15. Again, edge 16B is fitted with an edge member 17 which can snap-lock within a longitudinal channel 26 in mullion 15. Channel 26 20 Includes a resilient hook 27 which deforms outwardly and then can snap back into position behind shoulder 28 on edge member 17. Once the window is pressed into channel 26, it is locked therein by engagement of hook 27 with shoulder 28 as illustrated in Figure 3C. 25 Figures 4, 5 and 6 show an arrangement where mullion 15 can be fitted to sill 12 by a twist-lock action. Referring initially to Figure 4, there is illustrated a sill 12 formed with a pair of channels 29, 30. Mullion 15 is provided with an upper and lower 30 extending projection 16 (only lower projection 16 is shown). Projection 16 includes a locking member 31 which in Figure 4 extends from the page. Projection 16 can be inserted into channel 29 as shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5 illustrates the projection 16 within the channel. 35 Initially, locking member 31 is aligned with the longitudinal axis of channel 29 as shown in Figure 5. However, upon twisting of mullion 15 by 90° about its longitudinal axis, locking member 31 is twisted to lie underneath a lip 32 of a side wall in sill 12. This is illustrated in Figure 6, and it can be seen that mullion 15 can no longer be lifted out from channel 29 but can still slide along the channel.

To manufacture a window assembly, edge member 17 is initially glued around the periphery of window 16. Side frame member 13 can then be snap-locked to edge 16A of window 16. Upper and lower members 11 and 12 can be fitted, and mullion 15 can be Inserted, twist-locked and pushed up to snap-lock into edge 16B. Jamb 14 can then be added and the entire window surround frame can be fastened together.

As the glass pane is manufactured with corners cut square and is a rigid unit, it can be used to hold the window square both during initial manufacture and also at the final Installation into the building. The method used in the invention ensures that the need for adjustment of the sliding sash is reduced or eliminated.

It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications may be made to the embodiment described. For instance, the assembly can be used for inclined windows such as sky lights and horizontal windows.

Claims (14)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 10 15 20 25 30 CO O) CD Q2 Q S CP % EC

1. A method for assembling a fixed wing to a surround frame, the method comprising the steps of securing an edge member to at least one upstanding edge of the wing, the surround frame being provided with longitudinal channel to receive the edge member, the edge member and the longitudinal channel being profiled such that they lock together upon insertion of the edge member into the longitudinal channel and at least part of the upstanding edge of the wing is accommodated within the longitudinal channel.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the surround frame comprises an upper head, a lower sill, and a pair of opposed side jambs, the head, sill and at least one of the jambs including the longitudinal channel.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein a mullion is provided intermediate the side jambs, the mullion including the longitudinal channel.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the wing containing the edge member is initially locked to a said side jamb and the mullion, and thereafter the head and sill are locked to the edge member of the wing.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the side jamb and mullion are subsequently fixed to the head and sill.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the wing containing tha edge member is initially locked to a said side jamb, the head and the sill, and the mullion is mounted to the head and sill to allow it to slide within a channel in the head and sill, the mullion being slidable along the channel to lock with the edge member of the wing.

7. The method of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein ^ the edge member and the longitudinal channel include projections, at least one of which is resilient to allow it to deform and spring back to lock the edge member into the longitudinal channel.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the mullion has an elongate main body being provided with longitudinal J 8 end projections which are extendable into tracks formed in the head and sill, each end projection including a locking member which can pass into a respective trade when the mullion is on a first orientation, and will 5 prevent the mullion from being lifted out of the track when the mullion is rotated to a second orientation.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the locking member is an extending lug which can be rotated from a free position where the mullion can be lifted out of the 10 track, and a locking position where the mullion cannot be lifted out of the track but can still slide along the track.

10. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the edge member extends about each edge of the 15 wing.

11. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wing is a window.

12. An assembly formed by the method of any one of the preceding claims. 20

13. The method of any one of the claims 1 to 11 substantially as hereinbefore described.

14. An assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRADNAM'S WINDOWS AND DOORS PTY LTD By Its Attorneys BALDWIN^sON AMD CAREY