GB2350639A

GB2350639A - Plastic window frame construction with reinforcement means and tie rod

Info

Publication number: GB2350639A
Application number: GB9912749A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David John Goodman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-06-01
Filing date: 1999-06-01
Publication date: 2000-12-06
Also published as: GB9912749D0

Abstract

A reinforcement member (7) for constructing a plastic window or door frame structure, and in particular joints taking the form of an X-shape or T-shape, comprises a metal length having a profile capable of fitting closely into a hollow chamber of the plastic components of the joint, and an integral sleeve or channel (14) into which a tie rod (Fig.5) can be inserted. The tie rod can be of tubular or channel shape, and may have flat sides which correspond with similar surfaces (16) within the integral sleeve or channel. There is also disclosed a method of producing such a X-shaped joint, comprising drilling holes through both the plastic frame members and reinforcement means of the main frame member where the side arms are to be attached, and then passing a tie rod through the first side arm, main frame member, and second side arm consecutively. The whole structure can then be secured firmly together.

Description

2350639 PLASTICS WINDOW FRAME CONSTRUCTION This invention relates to a

plastics window frame construction. It relates particularly to the making of right angle joints between lengths of extruded plastics frame material which are used in the construction of window frames and plastics doors.

In the construction of window frames, these are assembled from lengths of a plastics frame material which includes longitudinal ly-d irected hollow chambers formed during the extrusion process. The plastics material is given increased strength and rigidity by passing a length of a steel or aluminium reinforcement member along the hollow chamber during a frame assembly process. The reinforcement member then gives the assembled frame construction a substantial stiffness so that window frames of a satisfactorily large size can be constructed. When making an ordinary corner joint for a frame, the reinforcement members are then able to be coupled together in a strong manner by securing L-shaped comer pieces into each end of two adjoining reinforcement members.

The operation of making a mechanically sound joint is made more complicated if a Tshape joint or an X-shape joint is required. This is because it is necessary for the reinforcement members and the frame lengths to be clamped up tightly against one another after the joint has been assembled.

The present invention was devised to enable a good right angle joint to be made in plastics frame members for window and door construction.

According to the invention, there is provided a reinforcement member for connecting hollow structural components for making a plastics window or door frame, the reinforcement member comprising a metal length having a profile capable of fitting closely into a hollow chamber of the plastics component, and the member including an integral sleeve through which a tie rod can be passed. Preferably, the sleeve has an internal bore with a non-circular cross-section.

Conveniently, the sleeve is made with a bore having at least one flat side. There may be -2two flat sides.

The reinforcement member may be an extruded section of aluminium with the sleeve being formed simultaneously in the extrusion process.

The reinforcement member may additionally include one or more longitudinal grooves into which a screw may be driven in a direction along the axis of the member. There may be two such longitudinal grooves.

The invention further comprises a tie rod construction, the tie rod being capable of fitting within the integral sleeve of the reinforcement member. The tie rod may be of a generally circular shape with one or more flat sides. The tie rod may be in the shape of a tube with a bore into which a screw may be driven. Conveniently, the tie rod has a U-shaped crosssection such that a screw may be driven in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the tie rod.

The tie rod may be an extruded section of aluminium.

The invention also comprises a method of constructing an X-shape joint for a plastics window or door frame construction, the method comprising the steps of taking one long length of plastics frame material and inserting a metal reinforcement member along the whole of this length, in the place where it is required for the side arms of the cross to be located a hole is drilled through the plastics and metal material, a first side arm for the cross which includes the reinforcement member of the invention is then positioned at this hole and a second side arm including its reinforcement member is located at the opposite end of the hole. A long tie rod is then passed along the sleeve in the first side arm, through the hole and then along the sleeve in the second side arm. This then forms a basic X-shape joint and when the tie rod is pulled tight by being fitted with suitable end pieces and then fixing screws in the bore of the tie rod a strong, stable and accurately aligned X-shape joint will have been made.

The invention additionally comprises a plastics window frame or door when constructed using the construction means or method as just described.

By way of example, some particular embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure I shows a window frame including a cruciform frame construction, Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the cross centre piece, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a plastics window frame profile with a reinforcement member located in a hollow chamber of the moulding, Figure 4 shows the reinforcement member on its own, and, Figure 5 depicts a tic rod construction which is used in cooperation with the reinforcement member.

As depicted in Figure 1, a plastics window 1 construction is provided with an external rectangular frame 2 which surrounds a cruciform frame part 3. The frame part 3 comprises a vertical member 4 which extends the full height of the frame 2 and two horizontal members 6 which extend from the member 4 respectively to the two sides of the frame 2. For forming a mechanically sound construction, it is necessary that the horizontal members 6 should be rigidly secured to the vertical member 4. This fixing is required to be effected through the reinforcement members enclosed within the plastic frame components to ensure a stable joint. This fixing cannot be properly achieved by using L-shaped brackets since these will not give sufficient rigidity in the joint.

Figure 2 shows the cruciform frame part 3 in greater detail. The vertical member 4 is formed of a length of plastics frame material and this is provided with an internal reinforcement member 7. The horizontal members 6 extend from the member 4 to the left and right;sides of the frame 2. The horizontal members 6 are also provided with internally fitted reinforcement members 7. An object of the present invention is to provide means for securing the two horizontal members 6 so that they will be supported in a straight line which maintains a right angle to the vertical member 4. The plastics frame material for the horizontal frame members 6 will, of course, have been machined in advance to give suitable end profiles so that the horizontal frame members will butt up smoothly against the vertical member 4.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the plastics frame profile 8 showing a reinforcement member 7 located in the hollow chamber 9 of the profile. Figure 4 depicts the reinforcement member 7 on its own. The reinforcement member 7 is seen to be provided with support surfaces 11 which serve to rest against the internal walls of the hollow chamber 9 so that, once inserted, the member 7 will maintain its position within the chamber 9. The reinforcement member 7 also has a central web 12 which supports a sleeve 13 that extends along the full length of the member. The sleeve 13 has an internal bore 14 with a non-circular cross-section. In the embodiment of Figure 4, the internal bore.14 is essentially circular but the circle includes two flat sides 16 which are positioned opposite one another.

The web 1 47 of the reWorcement member 7 also includes two walls 17 which define longitudinal grooves in the member.

The reinforcement member 7 is made from an extruded section of aluminium which material provides the necessary strength and rigidity required when it is inserted in the plastic frame profile 8.

Figure 5 shows a tie rod 18 which is also made of extruded aluminium. The tie rod 18 has a U-shaped cross-section with a central opening 19 and is of a generally circular shape with two flat surfaces 21 that are located opposite one another. The dimensions are such that the tie rod 18 is able to be inserted into the sleeve 13 part of the reinforcement member 7 to allow a free-sliding longitudinal movement within the sleeve 13. However, the flat sides 16 ensure that, once inserted, the tie rod 18 will not be able to be rotated with respect to the sleeve 13.

The central opening 19 in the tie rod 18 serves to act as a socket for a suitable screw which may thus be driven along the longitudinal axis of the tie rod. This allows the tie rod 18 to be -5screwed to a portion of the plastics profile 8 at the end of the rod thereby enabling a T-shape joint to be constructed. Where a portion of the frame material is located at both ends of the tie rod, the two portions of frame material may be drawn together by tightening the screws so that any gaps between the separate pieces of frame material will be closed up.

In using the reinforcement member of the invention to construct a cruciform frame part 3, the first step is to take a long length of the plastics frame material to form the vertical member 4 of the joint. A length of reinforcement material 7 of the same length would then be inserted in the hollow chamber 9 of the frame material 8. Next, the position where the side arms are required to be fitted is marked on the vertical member 4 and a hole of ten millimetres diameter is then drilled through the plastics and metal material at this point. The plastics frame material which is required to form the two side arms 6 of the cruciform frame part is then cut to size and each of the side arms 6 is provided with its own length of reinforcement material 7. The joint is then assembled by fitting both side arms 6 against the hole area made in the vertical member 4 and passing a length of the tie rod 18 through the sleeve part 13 of the first side arm 6, through the hole made in the vertical member 4 and through the sleeve part 13 of the second side arm 6. Figure 2 also depicts how a continuous length of the tie rod 18 passes through both side arms 6 and through the hole made in the plastics and metal parts of the vertical member 4.

If the cruciform frame part is intended to be mounted in a rectangular frame, the vertical member 4 may be secured by two screws at the top and bottom ends of the reinforcement material 7, these screws entering the screw holes defined by the walls 17 that are formed in the web part 12 of the reinforcement member 7. For the side arms 6 of the cruciform frame part, the tie rod length will have been cut for preference a little shorter that the width of the frame in which the centre piece is to be fitted. When the side arms 6 are then positioned between the side members of the frame, a screw may be inserted into each end of the tie rod -6opening 19 and then tightened. This will enable the assembly of the two side arms 6 and the vertical member 4 to be tightened up so that any gaps between the plastics pieces will be 0 eliminated.

If required, it would also be possible to insert further screws into the reinforcement members 7 of the two side arms 6 from the side members of the frame 2 so that a strong and reliable fixing would be achieved.

The reinforcement member and the tie rod of the invention have been found in practice to aliow a good eniciform joint to be made in plastics frame material. The joint can be constructed to accurate dimensions and when completed the joint components form an extremely rigid assembly having great physical strength.

The foregoing description of an embodiment of the invention has been given by way of example only and a number of modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For instance, the reinforcement member of the invention has been designed to fit the hollow chamber of one particular model of plastics frame product. If a different plastics frame product was used it might be necessary to modify the proportions of a new reinforcement member in order to achieve a good fit in the relevant hollow chamber.

Claims

-7CLAIMS 1 A reinforcement member for connecting hollow structural

components for making a plastics window or door frame, the reinforcement member comprising a metal length having a profile capable of fitting closely into a hollow chamber of the plastics component, and the member including an integral sleeve through which a tie-rod can be passed. 2 A reinforcement member as claimed in Claim 1, in which the sleeve has an internal bore with a non-circular cross-section. 3 A reinforcement member as claimed in Claim 2, in which the bore has one or more flat sides. 4 A reinforcement member as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the member is formed as an aluminium section which includes the sleeve part. 5 A reinforcement member as claimed in Claim 4, in which the aluminium section includes one or more longitudinal grooves. 6 A reinforcement member as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the member includes a tie-rod capable of being fitted into the integral sleeve of the member. 7 A reinforcement member as claimed in Claim 6, in which the tie-rod includes one or more flat sides. 8 A reinforcement member as claimed in Claim 6 or 7, in which the tie-rod is formed as a tube or with a U-shaped cross-section. 9 A method of constructing an X-shape joint for a plastics window or door frame structure, the method comprising the steps of taking one long length of plastics frame material and inserting a metal reinforcement member along the whole of this length, drilling a hole through the plastics and metal material in the place where it is required for the side arms of the cross to be located, positioning a first side arm for the cross including a length of the reinforcement -8member at the drilled hole, positioning a second side arm including reinforcement member at the opposite end of the drilled hole, passing a tie-rod through the said first side arm, the drilled hole and through the second side arm, and securing the tie-rod ends to form an Xshape joint. 10 A method as claimed in Claim 9, in which the tie-rod end is secured by inserting a screw fixing into a longitudinal opening in the tie-rod. 11 A method as claimed in Claim 9 or 10, in which the said reinforcement member is additionally secured by inserting a screw fixing into a longitudinal opening in the member. 12 A method of constructing an X- shape joint substantially as hereinbefore described. 13 A reinforcement member for connecting hollow structural components for a plastics window or door frame, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. 14 A plastics window or door frame when including a reinforcement member as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8 and Claim 13. 15 A plastics window or door frame when including a reinforcement member substantially as hereinbefore described.