WO2009136205A1

WO2009136205A1 - Frame for an opening for a door or window

Info

Publication number: WO2009136205A1
Application number: PCT/GB2009/050483
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Eric Appleford
Original assignee: Acermetric Limited
Priority date: 2008-05-08
Filing date: 2009-05-08
Publication date: 2009-11-12
Also published as: GB0808291D0

Abstract

A frame (4) for an opening (2) for a door or window in a wall (1) has first and second frame portions (5,6). Each frame portion (5,6) has an annular flange (7,8) with a sleeve (13,14) extending from it. The first frame portion (5) has a plurality of over- centre camlock mechanisms (21) and the second frame portion (6) has a corresponding number of pins. Each frame portion (5,6) is placed against an opposite side of the wall (1) so the frame portion sleeve (13,14) fits partially within the opening (2) and the frame portion flange (7,8) engages a wall portion adjacent to the opening (2). Each over-centre camlock mechanism (21) of the first frame portion (5) is rotated by a tool so that it latchingly engages with its corresponding pin in the second frame portion (6) to urge the frame (4) against the wall (1).

Description

FRAME FOR AN OPENING FOR A DOOR OR WINDOW

The present invention relates to a frame for an opening for a door or window especially in a wall of a building. To fix a door or window frame in a building, the frame may be placed in an associated opening in a wall of the building and holes drilled into the wall through the frame. The frame is then removed to enable wall plugs to be installed in the holes. The frame is then replaced in the openings and screws are used to secure the frame to the wall by means of the wall plugs. Sealant is used to fill the gaps between the wall and the frame, the screw heads are covered with filler and the wall is made good about the frame. This is a multi- step process which takes considerable time to perform. If a door or window frame is to be replaced then it needs to be completely removed from the opening and the opening made good before a new door or window is installed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a frame which can be more simply installed.

To this end, the invention consists in a frame for an opening for a door or window in a wall or like partition of a building, comprising: a first frame portion adapted to fit at least partially within the opening and having a flange for engaging a wall portion adjacent to the opening on a first side of the wall; a second frame portion having a flange for engaging a wall portion adjacent to the opening on an opposite second side of the wall; and engaging means to engage both the first and second frame portions to urge the frame against the wall.

The term "wall", as well as taken to mean a substantially vertical partition, is also taken to include alternatively disposed partitions such as a substantially horizontal partition like a ceiling and the "door or window opening" may be taken to include an opening in the ceiling for access to a loft. The term "wall" can also include a sloping roof which may have, say, a window opening or skylight. By the frame having two frame portions and engaging means, the frame can be quickly fitted into a door or window opening. Also, the frame can be easily removed from the opening by simply disengaging the engaging means. Another frame can then be secured to the door or window opening. The first and/or second frame portion may be of any suitable depth in order to suit the thickness of the wall to which the frame is to be secured.

In one embodiment, the engaging means comprise engaging means first portion connected to one of said first and second frame portions, and engaging means second portion connected to the other of said first and second frame portions whereby the engaging means first portion is latchingly engagable with the engaging means second portion to urge the frame against the wall when the engaging means first and second portions are latchingly engaged. The engaging means second portion may have a pin and the engaging means first portion may comprise an over-centre camlock mechanism for latchingly engaging the pin. The over-centre camlock mechanism preferably has a hook and a camming means or mechanism, the hook adapted to latchingly engage the pin. The frame may include access means for providing access for a tool to operate the engaging means first portion. The access means preferably provides access for a tool inserted in a direction substantially parallel to a wall engaging surface of the flange. The frame may include a plurality of said engaging means first and second portions. The first frame portion may have a plurality of the engaging means first portions and the second frame portion may have a plurality of the engaging means second portions.

In an alternative embodiment, the engaging means pass through both the first and second frame portions in order to urge the frame against the wall. The engaging means may comprise bolts or studs.

The first and second frame portions may be adapted to engage each other when the frame is urged against the wall.

At least one frame portion may include an at least substantially continuous seal extending therearound adapted to engage a wall to which the frame is mounted. The second frame portion may also be adapted to fit partially within the opening.

The first frame portion preferably includes a sleeve for fitting at least partially within the opening, the sleeve extending from the first frame portion flange. The

5 second frame portion may include a sleeve for aligning with the first frame portion sleeve, the second frame portion sleeve extending from the second frame portion flange.

At least one of the first and second frame portion flanges may be annular. The annular frame portion flange may include the at least substantially continuous i o seal.

The wall may have an opening for access to a balcony. One of the first and second frame portions may include the balcony which is adapted to extend away from the wall with the balcony opening. The balcony opening is considered to be a "door or window opening".

15 The frame according to the invention is particularly suitable for use in conjunction with a prefabricated building.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a frame constructed in 20 accordance with one embodiment of the invention in a window opening in a building wall panel;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the frame in the building panel;

Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views taken along lines 3-3 and 4-4, respectively, shown in Figure 2;

25 Figure 5 is a detail of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a detail of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of an over-centre camlock mechanism for the frame;

Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of a frame constructed in

30 accordance with another embodiment of the invention in a doorway opening in a building panel; and

Figure 9 is a schematic sectional view of a frame constructed in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention in a window opening in a building panel. Referring to Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings, a rectangular building panel 1 is used to form part of a wall of a building. The building panel 1 is of similar construction to one described in WO 2007/077448 and has a rectangular window opening 2 with an inside surface 3.

A frame 4 for the window opening 2 has first and second rectangular frame portions 5,6 and each frame portion 5,6 has an annular outwardly projecting flange 7,8. Each of the side 9 and 10 of the first and second frame portion annular flanges 7 and 8, facing the building panel 1 to which the frame 4 is mounted, has an annular groove containing a continuous seal 11 ,12 (see Figure 5) extending therearound adapted to engage the building panel 1. Each seal 11 ,12 forms a part of its respective frame portion 5,6. A sleeve 13,14 extends from each frame portion 5,6 and each sleeve 13,14 has an end surface 15,16 distal from the flange 7,8. The sleeves 13,14 are arranged to fit partially within the window opening 2 and, when fitted, the sleeves 13,14 are aligned with each other.

The first frame portion sleeve 13 has an outer perimeter surface 17 and an inside surface 18 (see Figure 5). The outer perimeter surface 17 contains recesses 19 and each recess 19 extends from distal end surface 15 of the sleeve 13. The bottom 20 (see Figure 6) of each recess 19 stops short of the first frame portion flange 7. Each longer side of the outer perimeter surface 17 has a number of spaced recesses 19 and each shorter side of the outer perimeter surface 17 has at least one recess 19.

Each recess 19 has an over-centre camlock mechanism 21 which has a hook 22 with a locating surface 23 in the inside surface of the hook 22. The mechanism 21 has a mounting 24 mounted at the bottom 20 of the recess 19 and the hook 22 or latch of the mechanism 21 is rotatably mounted in the mounting 24. The bottom 20 of each recess 19 has a slot 25 for receiving part of the camlock mechanism 21. The inside surface 18 of the first frame portion sleeve 13 has a hole 26 (see Figure 5) for each over-centre camlock mechanism 21 to provide access for a suitable tool, such as an Allen key, to rotate the hook 22 about the mounting 24 so that it protrudes from the recess 19 and beyond the distal end surface 15 of the sleeve 13. Final travel of the tool operates an over-centre cam (not shown) within the camlock mechanism 21 to lock the hook 22. The recess 19 is of a sufficient length in order to fully contain the hook 22 when the hook 22 is rotated by the tool so as to be unlocked and fully retracted before being locked in an open position ensuring that personnel and building parts cannot be damaged by protruding hooks. A suitable over- centre camlock mechanism is described in US 6409235.

The inside surface of the first frame portion sleeve 13 has an annular ridge 27 which extends above the distal end surface 15 of the sleeve 13 and protrudes into the space 28 surrounded by the first frame portion 5 just beyond the access holes 26.

A window panel 29 is arranged to fit into the first frame portion 5 and abut the annular ridge 27, covering and sealing the access holes 26. The window panel 29 has an annular flange 30.

The second frame portion sleeve 14 also has an outer perimeter surface 31 and an inside surface 32. The distal end surface 16 of the second frame portion sleeve 14 has slots 33 or recesses extending longitudinally along the surface 16. The slots 33 are all located to align with the corresponding recesses 19 in the first frame portion sleeve 13. Each slot 33 beneath the distal end surface 16 of the sleeve 14 intersects a hole 34 between the outer perimeter surface 31 and the inside surface 32. A pin 35 is inserted into the hole 34 and crosses the slot 33.

In a preferred embodiment, each pin 35 comprises a metal dowel.

To install the frame 4 in the window opening 2 of the building panel 1 , the second frame portion sleeve 14 is inserted into the opening 2 until the second frame portion flange 8 engages the portion of the building panel 1 adjacent the window opening 2 on one side 36 of the building panel 1. The first frame portion 5 initially has its over-centre cam lock mechanisms 21 fully retracted. The first frame portion sleeve 13 is inserted into the window opening 2 until the first frame portion flange 7 engages the portion of the building panel 1 adjacent the window opening 2 on the opposite side 37 of the building panel 1. This causes the annular ridge 27 to cover much of the inside surface 32 of the second frame portion sleeve 14 and the ridge 27 seals the end of the pin hole 34 in the second frame portion inside surface 32, the other end of the pin hole 34 being covered and sealed by the inside surface 3 of the window opening 2. Each hook 22 of the over-centre camlock mechanism 21 of the first frame portion 5 is rotated by a tool (not shown) inserted in a direction parallel to the building panel engaging side 9 of the first frame portion flange 7. The hook 22 is received by the corresponding slot 33 in the distal end surface 16 of the second frame portion sleeve 14 and latchingly engages the pin 35 therein by hooking around the pin 35 (see Figs. 5 and 6). Final travel of the tool operates the over- centre cam within the mechanism 21 , pulling the two frame portions 5,6 together with significant force ensuring that they come together and secure the frame 4 to the building panel 1. This also causes the first and second frame portion flanges 7,8 to compress their seals 11 ,12 against the facing portions of the building panel 1 adjacent the window opening 2 urging the frame 4 against the building panel 1 and effectively sealing the frame 4 against the building panel 1 and around the window opening 2.

The window panel 29 is then moved to fit into the first frame portion 5 until its annular flange 30 engages the rear 38 of the first frame portion 6 which is furthest from the window opening 2, and the window panel 29 abuts the annular ridge 27, covering and sealing the access holes 26.

To remove the frame 4, the window panel 29 is moved or opened exposing the access holes 26 and the tool is used to unlock the over-centre camlock mechanisms 21 so that the frame portions 5,6 can be removed. The window panel 29 may be hinged to the first frame portion 5. In a specific example of a preferred embodiment, each longer side of the perimeter surface 17 of the first frame portion sleeve 13 has a pair of spaced recesses 19 and the middle of each shorter side of the outer perimeter surface 17 has a recess 19. Referring to Figure 8, a modified rectangular building panel 40 is shown having a rectangular opening 41 for a doorway. The building panel 40 is of three times the thickness of the building panel 1 illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 and the frame 42 for the doorway building panel 40 has modified first and second frame portions 43,44. The sleeve 45 of the first frame portion 43 has two longer side parts 46 and two shorter side parts 47,47' with one side part 47' being thinner than the other. Each longer side part 46 has a number of spaced recesses 48 in the outer surface 49, each having an over-centre camlock mechanism 50. The thicker shorter side part 47 has a number of spaced recesses 48 in the outer surface 49, each having an over-centre camlock mechanism 50. The ridge 51 , which extends above the distal end surface 52 of the sleeve 45, runs around the longer side parts 46 and the thicker side part 47 of the sleeve 45 in between. The ridge 51 joins the sleeve thinner side part 47' which extends beyond the ridge 51 to form a tongue 53. The sleeve 54 of the second frame portion 44 has two longer side parts

55 with a shorter side part 56 in between. The slots 57 with the pins 58 are in the two longer side parts 55 and the shorter side part 56 with each slot 57 corresponding with an over-centre camlock mechanism 50 of the first frame portion 43. The second frame portion sleeve 54 has an annular extension 59 between the bottom 60 of the slots 57 and the second frame portion flange 61 , the flange 61 extending parallel to the two longer side parts 55 and the shorter side part 56 in between. The annular extension 59 has its outer surface 62 stepped in from the outer surface 63 of the longer side parts 55 and the shorter side part 56 of the sleeve 54. A recess 64 is formed above the annular extension 59 in the sleeve 54 at the opposite end to the shorter side part 56. When the first and second frame portions 43,44 are fitted to the doorway building panel 40, the tongue 53 of the first frame portion sleeve 45 is received in the recess 64 which is shaped to receive it. A tool is then used to lock the over- centre camlock mechanisms 50 with the pins 58 securing the frame 42 to the doorway building panel 40.

In a specific example of a preferred embodiment, each longer side part 46 of the first frame portion sleeve 45 has three spaced recesses 48 and the thicker shorter side part 47 has a pair of spaced recess 48.

A building panel similar to the doorway building panel 40 may be arranged to have a window. A building panel of any suitable thickness may be provided which can have a frame for a window or a door.

Referring to Figure 9, in another embodiment of the frame 70, bolts or studs 71 pass through both the first and second frame portions 72, 73 instead of the first and second frame portions having over-centre camlock mechanisms and pins. The bolts or studs 71 are substantially perpendicular to the building panel 74 and secure the frame portions 72, 73 to the building panel 74. Tightening screws 75 on the bolts 71 urge the first and second frame portions 72, 73 towards each other and the bolts 71 and screws 75 form engaging means. Whilst particular embodiments have been described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The frames are shown as being rectangular but they may be any other appropriate shape in order to fit the corresponding shape of a wall opening. The number of recesses with camlock mechanisms and slots with pins are dependent on the size of the frame for the window or door.

Claims

1. A frame (4) for an opening (2) for a door or window in a wall (1 ) or like partition of a building, comprising: a first frame portion (5) adapted to fit at least partially within the opening (2) and having a flange (7) for engaging a wall portion adjacent to the opening (2) on a first side (37) of the wall (1 ); a second frame portion (6) having a flange (8) for engaging a wall portion adjacent to the opening (2) on an opposite second side (36) of the wall (1 ); and engaging means (21 ,35) to engage both the first and second frame portions

(5,6) to urge the frame (4) against the wall (1 ).

2. The frame as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the engaging means comprises engaging means first portion (21 ) connected to one of said first and second frame portions, and engaging means second portion (35) connected to the other of said first and second frame portions whereby the engaging means first portion (21 ) is latchingly engagable with the engaging means second portion (35) to urge the frame (4) against the wall (1 ) when the engaging means first and second portions (21 ,35) are latchingly engaged.

3. The frame as claimed in claim 2, wherein the engaging means second portion has a pin (35) and the engaging means first portion comprises an over- centre camlock mechanism (21 ) for latchingly engaging the pin (35).

4. The frame as claimed in claim 3, wherein the over-centre camlock mechanism (21 ) has a hook (22) and camming means, the hook (22) adapted to latchingly engage the pin (35).

5. The frame as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4, including access means (26) for providing access for a tool to operate said engaging means first portion (21 ).

6. The frame as claimed in claim 5, wherein when the frame (4) is secured to the wall (1 ), the access means (26) provides access for a tool inserted in a direction substantially parallel to a wall engaging surface (9) of the flange (7).

7. The frame as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, including a plurality of said engaging means first and second portions (21 ,35).

8. The frame as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first frame portion (5) has a plurality of said engaging means first portions (21 ) and the second frame portion (6) has a plurality of said engaging means second portions (35).

9. The frame as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the engaging means (71 ,75) pass through both the first and second frame portions (72,73) in order to urge the frame (70) against the wall (74).

10. The frame as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first and second frame portions (5,6) are adapted to engage each other when the frame (4) is urged against the wall (1 ).

11. The frame as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one frame portion (5,6) includes an at least substantially continuous seal (11 ,12) extending therearound adapted to engage a wall (1 ) to which the frame (4) is mounted.

12. The frame as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second frame portion (6) is adapted to fit partially within the opening (2).

13. The frame as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first frame portion (5) includes a sleeve (13) for fitting at least partially within the opening (2), the sleeve (13) extending from the first frame portion flange (7).

14. The frame as claimed in claims 12 and 13, wherein the second frame portion (6) includes a sleeve (14) for aligning with the first frame portion sleeve (13), the second frame portion sleeve (14) extending from the second frame portion flange (8).

15. The frame as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the first and second frame portion flanges (7,8) is annular.

16. The frame as claimed in claims 11 and 15, wherein said annular frame portion flange (7,8) includes said at least substantially continuous seal (11 ,12).