GB2158495A

GB2158495A - Weatherproof seal

Info

Publication number: GB2158495A
Application number: GB08501724A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dr Paul S Gibson
Original assignee: Turnbull Ltd M & K
Current assignee: Turnbull Ltd M & K
Priority date: 1984-05-02
Filing date: 1985-01-23
Publication date: 1985-11-13
Also published as: IE56270B1; GB8501724D0; GB2158495B; IE850215L

Abstract

A weatherproof seal arranged to be located on the sides and/or top of the frame of a door window or like structure, or combined with a sill arranged for location beneath a door, window or like structure is disclosed. The sill comprises an elongate extrusion (1) having a single upwardly facing channel (7) extending longitudinally throughout the extrusion (1), the channel (7) having a flexible sealing member (9) including at least two upwardly extending ribs (10, 11, 12) angled to lean towards the direction of opening of the structure, the ribs may be of the same or different lengths and are arranged to form a series of labyrinth seals to form a weatherproof seal between the frame of the structure and the base. The extrusion (1) is held in position on the base by a pair of retaining plates (13) undercut (14) to allow depending legs (3, 4) of the extrusion (1) to snap over the retaining plates (13). Where the seal is used for the sides or top of a door or like structure, the ribs (10, 11, 12) are preferably of the same length. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Weatherproof seal This invention relates to weatherproof seals. One embodiment of the invention relates to a weatherproof seal arranged to be located on the sides and/or top ofthe frame of a door, window or like structure.

A second embodiment relates to sills incorporating therein a sealing member and arranged to be located beneath a door, window orthe like to provide a substantially weatherproof seal between the base of the door or window frame and the foot ofthe door.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a weatherproof seal including a flexible sealing memberand a mounting therefor, said mounting comprising an extrusion arranged to be secured to the frame of a door, window or like structure and having a single inwardlyfacing channel extending longitudinallythroughoutthe extrusion, said channel having located therein the flexible sealing memberwhich comprises at leasttwo inwardly extending ribs arranged to be flexed and depressed during closure ofthe door, window orthe like to form a weatherproof seal between the fixed and movable members of the structure.

Preferably the ribs are all ofthe same length and in a preferred embodiment of the invention, three identical ribs are provided such astoform a labyrinth seal.

According to another aspect ofthe invention there is provided a sill arranged for location beneath a door, window or like structureto provideasubstantially weatherproof seal between the base of the frame of the structure and the base ofthe structure when the latter is closed, the sill comprosing an elongate extrusion having a single upwardly facing channel extending longitudinallythroughoutthe extrusion, said channel having located therein a flexible sealing member including at leasttwo upwardly extending ribs arranged to be depressed during closure of the structure such as to form a weatherproof seal between the frame of the structure and the base thereof.

Preferably at least one of the ribs extends beyond the height of at least anotherofthe ribs and in a preferred embodiment of the invention, three such ribs are provided such as to form a labyrinth seal.

The seal is secu rely fixed in position by providing a pair of retaining plates either secured to a wooden threshold or otherwise secured to a concrete base, the retaining plates being shaped such that depending resilient legs of the sill extrusion snap on to the retaining plates such as to retain the sill in position on the base of the frame of the structure.Thus, according to a still further aspect of the invention there is provided a sill arranged for location beneath a door, window or like structure to provide a substantially weatherproof seal between the base of the frame of the structure and the base of the structure when the latter is closed, the sill comprising an elongate extrusion having spaced downwardly depending legs and a single upwardlyfacing channel extending longitudinallythroughoutthe extrusion, said channel having located therein a flexible sealing member projecting upwardly from said channel and arranged to be depressed during closure of the structure and said sill being secured to said frame of the structure by means of at least one retaining memberfixed to said frame and arranged to be engaged by said legs which snap on to said at least one retaining memberto firmly locate the sill in position on said frame of the structure.

The invention will now be described by way of exampleonlywith particular referencetotheaccom- panying drawings wherein: Figure 7 is a sectional side elevation of the sill and seal of one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is an end view of the sealing strip of a second embodiment of the invention; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the extrusion in which the sealing strip of Figure 2 is mounted.

Referring to Figure 1 the sill comprises an elongate extrusion 1, preferably of aluminium, having depending leg portions 2, 3, 4, 5, arranged to engagethe planartop surface of a wooden threshold 6. The extrusion 1 is formed throughout its length with a channel 7 whose base 8 is ofgreaterwidth than the mouth such as to accommodatetherewithin a flexible sealing strip 9 preferably of rubber. The strip 9 has three blades or ribs 10,11, ,1 2 formed integrally therewith and extending throughout the length of the strip and angled to lean towardsthe front ofthe extrusion. As shown, the rearmost rib 12 has a height in excess of the two ribs 10,11 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The seal extrusion 1 is securely located in position on the surface ofthethreshold 6 by means of a pair of retaining plates 13, preferably of aluminium, one of which is shown in the figure. The retaining plates 13 each having an undercut portion 14 extending along each longitudinal edge and the legs 3, 4 ofthe extrusion 1 are widened at their base edges as shown at 1 5to allowthe legs 3, 4, which are resilient, to snap overthe retaining plates 13, such thatthe widened portion 15 of the legs 3, 4, engage beneath the undercut portions 14 of the retaining plate 13. Each retaining plate 13 is secured to the threshold 6 by means of one or more screws 16. Where the threshold 6 is replaced by a concrete base, the retaining plates 13 are provided with one or moretangs (not shown) arranged to be embedded in the concrete base.

A gasket 17, which may be of rubber may be provided overthe surface engaging portion ofthe front leg 2,to prevent ingress of water front piece of the sill. Alternatively, an application of mastic may be usedto achievethesame purpose. The design ofthe snap fixing may be modified to accommodate a drip barnormallysecurelyfixedtowooden thresholds. The retaining plates 13, may if required, be fixed to the left and right uprights of the door or windowframe instead oftothe base of the frame.

The weather seal of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 operates as follows:-When the door or other structure is closed on to the seal, the three ribs or blades 10,11,12, are folded towards the horizontal to a lesser or greater extent depending on the door alignment. The ribs or blades are forced against the underside surface ofthe door such that door under draughts actually increase the contact pressure ofthe blades or ribs with the door. In addition, the three ribs or blades function as a set of labyrinth seals in that the overall seal efficiency is made up of the pressure drops resulting from the contribution of each blade or rib. This means that whatever draught or moisture succeeds in penetrating the first blade barrier, the chances of penetrating succeeding barriers is progressively reduced.Any moisture retained between the blades will be a minimum because when the door is eventually closed, the height ofthe blades will be gradually reduced to a minimum. The slightly higher rearmost blade will prevent any watertrapped in the crevice between blades, from passing to the interior of the door.

To reduce friction when the underside of the door engages the ribs or blades 10, 11,12, a strip of self-adhesive metal foil, e.g. aluminium may be attached to the underside ofthe door or other structure.

Referring to Figure 3, the mounting comprises an elongate extrusion 21, preferably of aluminium, having holes 22 such thatthe extrusion may be secured to the top and/or sides of the frame of a door, window or like structure, by means such as screws or the like.

The edge of the extrusion intended to face inwardly towards the movable member of the structu re, is provided with a channel 23 having a profile such as to allowthe base 24 ofthe sealing strip of Figure 2 to be located therein.

The sealing strip comprises the base portion 24 having a width equivalenttothe base 25 ofthe channel 23, an intermediate portion 26 having a width equivalentto the mouth 27 of the channel and an upper portion 28 provided with three ribs 27 or blades 29 formed integrally therewith and extending throughoutthe length ofthesealing strip and angled to lean towards the direction of closure of the door or window.

The three blades or ribs 29 function as a set of labyrinth seals in that the overall efficiency is made up ofthe pressure drops resulting from the contribution of each blade or rib. This means that whatever draught or moisture succeeds in penetrating the first blade barrier, the chances of penetrating succeeding barriers is progressively reduced.

Claims

1. Aweatherproof seal including a flexible sealing member and a mounting therefor, said mounting comprising an extrusion arranged to be secured to the frame of a door, window or like structure and having a single inwardlyfacing channel extending longitudinallythroughoutthe extrusion, said channel having located therein the flexible sea ling memberwhich comprises at leasttwo inwardly extending ribs arranged to be flexed and depressed during closure of thedoor,windowortheliketoform aweatherproof seal between the fixed and movable members of the structure.

2. A sill arranged for location beneath a door, window or like structureto provide a substantially weatherproof aeal between the base of the frame of the structure and the base of the structure when the latter is closed, the sill comprising an elongate extrusion having a single upwardlyfacingchannel extending longitudinally throughout the extrusion, said channel having located therein a flexible sealing member including at least two upwardly extending ribs arranged to be depressed during closure of the structure such as to form a weatherproof seal between the frame of the structure and the base thereof.

3. A sill arranged for location beneath a door, window or like structure to provide a substantially weatherproof seal between the base of the frame of the structure and the base ofthe structure when the latter is closed, the sill comprising an elongate extrusion having spaced downwardly depending legs and a single upwardly facing channel extending longitudinally throughout the extrusion, said channel having located therein a flexible sealing member projecting upwardly from said channel and arranged to be depressed during closure ofthe structure and said sill being secured to said frame of the structure by means of at least one retaining member fixed to said frame and arranged to be engaged by said legs which snap on to said at least one retaining memberto firmly locate the sill in position on said frame ofthe structure.

4. Aweatherproof seal as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the ribs are all of the same length.

5. Aweatherproofseal as claimed in Claim 1 or4 whereinthreeidentical ribs are providedandfunction as a set of labyrinth seals.

6. Asill as claimed in Claim 2 wherein at least one of the ribs extends beyond the height of at least another of the ribs.

7. A sill as claimed in Claim 6 wherein three ribs are provided such astoform a labyrinth seal.

8. A sill is claimed in Claim 3 wherein the extrusion isarrangedto be secured in position on athreshold by means of a pair of retaining plates, each having an undercut portion extending along each longitudinal edge, the legs being arranged such as to snap overthe retaining plates and engage beneath the undercut portions to retain the extrusion in position on the plates.

9. Asill as claimed in Claim8whereinthe plates are each provided with a tang to allowthe plates to be secured in position on a concrete base.

10. Asill as claimed in Claims 3, 8 or9 wherein the front leg of said plurality of legs is provided with resilient waterproof means atthe surface engaging portion ofthe leg to prevent ingress of moisture under the front ofthe sill.

11. Aweatherproofseal as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the ribs are angled to lean towards the direction of closure ofthe doororwindow when the seal is located in position.

12. A weatherproof seal substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in Figure 1 or Figures 2 and 3 ofthe accompanying drawings.

13. A sill substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in Figure 1 ofthe accompanying drawings.