GB2275713A - Extruded section connections in frames for glazed panels - Google Patents

Abstract

In a rectangular frame for a glazed panel at least one connection of the rectangular frame is formed by a perpendicular connection between two frame sections by securing a locator strip at the required position on one of the sections; said strip having a portion which is received within the hollow cross section of the other section in order to set a required perpendicular alignment between the two frame sections which are then further secured together. <IMAGE>

Description

EXTRUDED SECTION CONNECTIONS IN FRAMES FOR GLAZED PANELS This invention relates generally to connections between extruded sections in frames for glazed panels, and has been developed particularly, though not exclusively, with a view to providing improved connections between perpendicularly extending extruded sections, such as the connections between mullions and transoms.

Extruded sections of UPVC are now being used widely, both as original window / door frame installations in new buildings, and also as replacement frames for windows and doors which previously have been made with metal or wooden frames.

Typically, transoms and mullions have T-shaped hollow profiles, and are joined together at desired locations to provide rectangular frames of required shape and size. The connections between the transoms and mullions are perpendicular connections, and which are made by interengagement between facing surfaces of the top flange or cross pieces of each T-shaped profile.

A typical perpendicular connection between one end 10 of a cross piece 14 of a T-shaped transom 11 and a side face 15 of the cross piece 16 of a T-shaped mullion 13 is shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.

Each cross piece or flange 14, 16 is mainly hollow, and of thin generally rectangular shape in cross section having one long side 17 which forms the exposed face of the profile and an opposed long side 18 from the middle of which extends the stem 19 of the T-shape of each profile. The opposed short sides 20 of the rectangular section form the narrow exposed side faces 15 which extend throughout the length of the profile and perpendicular to the general plane of the long exposed face of the profile formed by long side 17.

The ends 10 of each T-shaped profile are usually cut perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the profile, and a perpendicular window / door frame connection is usually made between the perpendicular cut end 10 of the rectangular section of one T-shaped profile (transom 11) and the narrow exposed side face 15 of the rectangular section of the other T-shaped profile (mullion 13).

Figure 1 illustrates how misalignment of the connection can occur in practice, using existing techniques, either due to lack of care on the part of the assembler and / or imperfections in manufacture.

The present invention therefore seeks to provide an improved connection between perpendicular sections of extruded material used to form rectangular frames for glazed panels of doors and windows, which permits more accurate perpendicular connections to be made between the sections, while reducing the level of skill and attention required to be given by the assembler.

According to the invention there is provided a rectangular frame for a glazed panel and which comprises hollow extruded plastics frame sections perpendicularly connected together, each frame section being generally T-shaped in cross section and comprising a stem, and a hollow cross piece secured to the stem and having a thin generally rectangular cross section with one longer side of the section forming an exposed face of the section and the opposed longer side having the stem projecting perpendicularly away from a middle thereof, and a pair of opposed end sides; in which at least one connection of the rectangular frame is formed by a perpendicular connection between a first frame section and a second frame section with one end face of the rectangular section of the cross piece of the first section being engaged with one of the opposed end sides of the cross piece of the second section at a desired mounting location along the length of said one opposed end side, and which connection comprises: a locator strip secured to said mounting location on said one opposed end side of the second section, said strip being received within the hollow rectangular shape of the cross piece of the first section in order to set a required perpendicular alignment between the first and second frame sections; and, coupling means to join the first and second frame sections to each other after required perpendicular alignment has been obtained.

In a preferred arrangement, each of the perpendicular connections of the frame is formed by use of a respective locator strip and coupling means as referred to above.

Preferably, the locator strip is snap-fitted into engagement with the respective end side, and conveniently this may be achieved by fitting a portion of the strip into a usual groove provided on most T-shaped extruded profiles to receive a glazing strip or bead.

The locator strip preferably comprises a generally "top hat" type section, having parallel side limbs joined together by a bridge, and with a locator flange projecting from an edge of one of the side limbs. The other of the side limbs is received by said groove referred to above, and also may have a projecting flange, bead or the like to ensure retention or at least an interference fit in the groove.

The locator strip may be firmly anchored in position by use of screw type fasteners taken through one of the side limbs of the locator strip and into the material of the extruded section.

The coupling means used to complete the perpendicular connection may comprise use of existing types of fastener screws.

Figure 1 of the drawings, referred to above, shows the type of misalignment which can occur in a perpendicular connection using existing techniques, and one embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 2 is a perspective illustration of an extruded plastics window frame section having a locator strip mounted thereon, to form part of a perpendicular frame connection in a rectangular frame according to the invention for a glazed panel; Figure 3 is an end view, in schematic form, of the section shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of the connection between a horizontal transom and a pair of vertical mullions, the view being taken on the section C-C in Figure 5; Figure 5 is a section taken on the line A-A in Figure 5; Figure 6 is a section taken on B-B in Figure 4; and, Figures 7a to 7d are schematic illustrations of perpendicular frame connections which can be obtained by employment of the invention.

Referring now to Figures 2 to 7 of the drawings, there will be described a rectangular frame for a glazed panel which comprises hollow extruded plastics frame sections perpendicularly connected together, with at least some of the frame sections being generally T-shaped in cross section. As shown in Figure 2, frame section 30 comprises a stem 31, and a hollow cross piece 32 secured to stem 31 and having a thin generally rectangular cross section with one longer side 33 of the section forming an exposed face of the section and the opposed longer side 34 has the stem 31 projecting perpendicularly away from a middle thereof. The generally rectangular shape also includes a pair of opposed end sides 35.

Figures 7a to 7d show typical perpendicular sections of a rectangular window frame to which the invention may be applied. As referred to in the introduction, Figure 1 shows a typical illustration of misalignment which can occur between a transom and a mullion using existing techniques.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, all of the perpendicular connections illustrated in Figures 7a to 7d are provided by use of a locator strip and coupling means, which will now be described in more detail below, with reference to a typical connection formed by a perpendicular connection between a first frame section and a second frame section with one end face of the rectangular section of the cross piece of the first section (10 in the illustration of Figure 1) being engaged with the opposed end side of the cross piece of the second section (15 in the illustration of Figure 1) at a desired mounting location along the length of this opposed end side.

Referring again to Figure 2, the required alignment of perpendicular connection between the first and second frame sections is obtained by use of a locator strip 36 which is secured to a mounting location 37 along the length of the end side 38, strip 36 having the shape generally of a "top hat" section having parallel side limbs 39 joined together by a bridge 40, and a locator flange 41 projecting from one edge of one of the side limbs 39. The other of the side limbs 39 is received by a usual design of groove 42 provided on the underside of the cross piece to receive a glazing strip or bead. The limb 39 received by the groove 42 may have a projecting flange, bead or the like to ensure retention, or at least an interference fit in groove 42.

The purpose of locator strip 36 is to ensure proper alignment perpendicularly between the first and second frame sections, and strip 36 is received snugly within the hollow rectangular shape of the cross piece of the perpendicularly extending frame section, so as to set the required perpendicular alignment. This is shown in more detail in Figures 4 to 6.

After completion of the alignment process, which is considerably assisted by the presence and inter-fitting of locator strip 36, coupling means is used to join the first and second frame sections to each other, and this may comprise use of coupling screws in known manner, taken through coupling holes 43 shown in Figures 4 to 6.

Accordingly, by use of the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, it is possible to overcome the problems of misalignment which are met with existing techniques. Thus, it is a well known fact that, under certain conditions of loading, a transom or mullion can twist out of line with its adjacent bar. This can be noticeable even with a small misalignment caused by the bars being screwed together improperly during manufacture. Proper alignment basically relies upon the care and attention given to the task by the assembler. The device of the invention means that perpendicular connections can be obtained more reliably, with less skill and attention being required on the part of the assembler. Further, adjacent bars can be kept parallel with each other, free from twist and with flush surfaces.

The side of the locator strip locates against the inner wall of the profile in which it is received, preventing movement of the profile which otherwise might be caused by physically twisting the profile. The primary fixing locations for the profile are central into screw ports 43, and in the absence of the locator strip of the invention, this can give rise to misalignment in use. The locator strip can be slidably adjusted by reason of its snap-fitted engagement into weather strip groove 42, to take-up the position at which the required mounting of the mullion is required. Small adjustment can be achieved by tapping the strip lightly with a mallet.

Claims (8)

1. A rectangular frame for a glazed panel and which comprises hollow extruded plastics frame sections perpendicularly connected together, each frame section being generally T-shaped in cross section and comprising a stem, and a hollow cross piece secured to the stem and having a thin generally rectangular cross section with one longer side of the section forming an exposed face of the section and the opposed longer side having the stem projecting perpendicularly away from a middle thereof, and a pair of opposed end sides; in which at least one connection of the rectangular frame is formed by a perpendicular connection between a first frame section and a second frame section with one end face of the rectangular section of the cross piece of the first section being engaged with one of the opposed end sides of the cross piece of the second section at a desired mounting location along the length of said one opposed end side, and which connection comprises: a locator strip secured to said mounting location on said one opposed end side of the second section, said strip being received within the hollow rectangular shape of the cross piece of the first section in order to set a required perpendicular alignment between the first and second frame sections; and, coupling means to join the first and second frame sections to each other after required perpendicular alignment has been obtained.

2. A rectangular frame according to Claim 1, in which each of the perpendicular connections of the frame is formed by use of a respective locator strip and coupling means.

3. A rectangular frame according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the locator strip is snap-fitted into engagement with the respective end side.

4. A rectangular frame according to Claim 3, in which a portion of the locator strip is fitted into a groove provided on a T-shaped extruded profile, said groove being of a type normally provided to receive a glazing strip or bead.

5. A rectangular frame according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, in which the locator strip comprises a "top hat" section, having parallel side limbs joined together by a bridge, and with a locator flange projecting from an edge of one of the side limbs.

6. A rectangular frame according to Claim 5, when appendant to Claim 4, in which the other of the side limbs is received by said groove, and has a projecting flange, bead or the like to ensure retention or at least an interference fit in said groove.

7. A rectangular frame according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the locator strip is anchored in position by use of screw type fasteners taken through one of the side limbs of the locator strip and into the material of the extruded section.

8. A rectangular frame according to Claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.