GB2487071A

GB2487071A - An extruded frame segment

Info

Publication number: GB2487071A
Application number: GB201100177A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Lee Hughes
Original assignee: Epwin Group PLC
Current assignee: Epwin Group PLC
Priority date: 2011-01-06
Filing date: 2011-01-06
Publication date: 2012-07-11
Anticipated expiration: 2031-01-06
Also published as: GB201100177D0; GB2487071B

Abstract

An extruded frame segment for a window or door has an external peripheral shell 6 comprising external walls which is supported by a network of interior webs 13a-e that define a plurality of hollow cavities 15a-f. The external peripheral shell wall 9 has an internal structure of a plurality of enclosed air chambers 17 embedded in the shell wall which provide increased thermal insulation for the extruded frame segment. The frame segment has a shape for the acceptance of glazing and various protrusions for aiding in the acceptance of glazing and for enabling fitting of the frame segment. The air chambers 17 may be regularly distributed within the inner and outer side walls and connecting walls. The minor dimension of the air chambers may not exceed 3mm or 2mm.

Description

AN EXTRUDED FRAME SEGMENT

The present invention relates to extruded frames for windows or doors, in particular to extruded frames providing increased thermal insulation.

There is a need to improve the thermal insulation of buildings and building products, and window and door frames can be a significant contributor to heat loss.

Conventional window or door frames often incorporate a number of air cavities aimed at minimizing the amount of heat lost through the frame from the inside to the outside. Low emissivity coatings to the glass are also used to minimize heat loss.

Window and door frames are made from one or more frame segments, which, in the case of multiple frame segments, fit together to form the complete frame. Frame segments may be joined together to form any particular type of framing member, for example an outerframe, sash, transom or mullion. Rectangular windows frames may be made from four extruded frame segments.

Extruded frame segments with multiple air cavities are known in the art. A conventional extruded frame segment has an external peripheral shell formed from external structural walls of a specified width. The external peripheral shell also comprises various projections, which can be used to connect a frame segment to other objects. The frame segment interior has a number of internal supports, and a plurality of hollow cavities between the internal supports and the external peripheral shell.

Mainly this approach is taken to make a product light in weight, and to make the product more cost effective.

The present inventors have identified an opportunity for designing in small thermally insulating benefits to extruded frame segments that, collectively, can make a difference. Specifically, the inventors have found that the thermal insulation provided by an extruded frame can be increased by incorporating multiple enclosed air chambers into the external walls of the frame.

At its most general, the present invention provides an extruded frame segment for a window or door having an external peripheral shell, which comprises external walls of sufficient thickness to give structural rigidity. The external peripheral shell is integral with a network of interior supports within the frame segment, and together they define a plurality of hollow cavities between the external peripheral shell and the interior supports. The external peripheral shell has an internal structure with a plurality of enclosed air chambers embedded within the shell wall.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an extruded frame segment for a window or door, comprising inner and outer side walls and at least two connecting walls each connecting the inner and outer walls, the inner and outer side walls and the connecting walls defining the external peripheral shell of the frame segment, there being a plurality of webs between the walls to define a plurality of hollow cavities bounded by the walls and webs, the inner, outer and connecting walls and the webs being integral, wherein at least one of the inner and outer side walls or at least one of the at least two connecting walls has a plurality of enclosed air chambers therein.

Preferably, the at least two connecting walls have a plurality of enclosed air chambers. Preferably, the inner and outer side walls have a plurality of enclosed air chambers.

Preferably, the enclosed air chambers are regularly distributed within the inner and outer side walls or connecting walls.

Preferably, the enclosed air chambers have a minor dimension not exceeding 3 mm. Preferably, the minor dimension does not exceed 2 mm.

The present invention also provides an extruded frame segment for a window or door, conprising an external peripheral shell having a plurality of enclosed air chambers therein, and a plurality of interior webs integral with the external peripheral shell, defining a plurality of hollow cavities bounded by the external peripheral shell and the interior webs, wherein the enclosed air chambers have a minor dimension not exceeding 3 mm. More preferably, the enclosed air chambers have a minor dimension not exceeding 2 mm.

Preferably, the enclosed air chambers are regularly distributed within the external peripheral shell.

The present invention therefore provides a frame segment having increased thermal insulation. A frame segment of the present invention may be incorporated into existing frame designs.

The shape of the enclosed air chambers may be used to maximize thermal insulation. The shape of the enclosed air chambers may also be used to offer improved rigidity and strength.

Preferably, the enclosed air chambers have a rectangular cross-section.

The present invention also provides a rectangular window frame for receiving glazing, each side of the rectangular frame having a frame segment, wherein at least one frame segment is an extruded frame segment of the invention described herein.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a section through part of a conventional window frame.

Fig. 2 shows a section through part of a window frame of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is illustrated a conventional extruded frame segment 1 for framing a window pane 3.

The frame segment 1 is for an outerframe. Alternatively, the frame segment could be for any particular type of framing member, for example a sash, transom or mullion.

The window pane 3 is glazing having two sheets of glass 3a, 3b, separated by a spacer 4, and is rectangular in shape. The window pane could be of any particular type or shape suitable for use with an extruded window frame.

The present invention is also applicable to frame segments for doors.

The frame segment 1 has inner 5 and outer 7 side walls, and upper 9 and lower 11 connecting walls, eaoh connecting the inner 5 and outer 7 side walls. The external peripheral shell 6 of the frame segment 1 therefore comprises the inner 5 and outer 7 side walls, and upper 9 and lower 11 conneoting walls. The external peripheral shell 6 also comprises various projections 14.

The projections 14 may, for example, be used to connect the frame segment 1 to other objects.

The window pane 3 is positioned in a channel 8 formed between the inner 5 and outer 7 side walls, the upper connecting wall 9, and a glazing bead 10. Buffer pads 12a, 12b provide a cushion between the window pane 3 and the glazing bead 10 and external peripheral shell 6. The buffer pads 12a, l2b are made of a sponge material.

Alternatively, other resiliently deformable materials may be used. The glazing bead 10 and buffer pad 12b are lodged within various projections l4a-d of the external peripheral shell 6. Alternatively, the glazing bead 10 and buffer pad 12b may be connected to the frame segment 1 by any connecting means known in the art.

A plurality of webs 13a-e extends between the walls 5, 7, 9, 11 to define a plurality of hollow cavities l5a-f bounded by the webs and the external peripheral shell 6.

The webs 13a-e and hollow cavities iSa-f are not limited to any particular number or configuration.

The webs 13 are integral with the external peripheral shell, and therefore also with the inner 5 and outer 7 side walls, and upper 9 and lower 11 side walls. The extruded frame segment 1 is made of PVC-U, but could be made from any known or suitable frame material.

Referring to Figure 2, there is illustrated an extruded frame segment 1 of the present invention. The upper 9 and lower ii connecting walls have a plurality of enclosed air chambers 17 therein. However, the enclosed air chambers 17 may alternatively or additionally be within the inner 5 and outer 7 side walls. The enclosed air chambers 17 may be embedded anywhere within the external peripheral shell 6. For example, the enclosed air chambers 17 may be embedded within any or all of the side walls 5, 7 or the projections 14 of the external peripheral shell 6.

As shown in Figure 2, the enclosed air chambers 17 may have a rectangular cross-section and be regularly spaced longitudinally along the upper 9 and lower 11 connecting walls. However, the enclosed air chambers 17 may have any particular shape or distribution within the walls 5, 7, 9 and 11. The external peripheral shell 6 has a thickness Y of 3 mm, and the enclosed air chambers have a minor dimension X not exceeding 2 mm. The external peripheral shell 6 may have any particular thickness Y sufficient to give structural rigidity, and the enclosed air chambers 17 will have a minor dimension X smaller than the external peripheral shell thickness Y. For example, the external peripheral shell 6 may be 5 mm thick, and the enclosed air chambers 17 could therefore have a minor dimension not exceeding 3 mm. r.

Claims

SCLAIMS1. An extruded frame segment for a window or door, comprising: inner and outer side walls and at least two connecting walls each connecting s the inner and outer walls, the inner and outer side walls and the connecting walls defining an external peripheral shell of the frame segment, a plurality of webs between the walls to define a plurality of hollow cavities bounded by the walls and webs, the inner, outer and connecting walls and the webs being integral, wherein at least one of the inner and outer side walls or at least one of the at least two connecting walls has a plurality of enclosed air chambers therein.
2. An extruded frame segment according to claim 1, wherein the at least two connecting walls have a plurality of enclosed air chambers.
3. An extruded frame segment according to claim I or 2, wherein the inner and outer side walls have a plurality of enclosed air chambers.
4. An extruded frame segment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the enclosed air chambers are regularly distributed within the inner and outer side walls or connecting walls.
5. An extruded frame segment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the enclosed air chambers have a minor dimension not exceeding 3 mm.
6. An extruded frame segment according to claim 5, wherein the enclosed air chambers have a minor dimension not exceeding 2 mm.
7. An extruded frame segment for a window or door, comprising: an external peripheral shell having a plurality of enclosed air chambers therein, and a plurality of interior webs integral with the external peripheral shell, defining a plurality of hollow cavities bounded by the external peripheral shell and the interior webs, r / wherein the enclosed air chambers have a minor dimension not exceeding 3 mm.
8. An extruded frame segment according to claim 7, wherein the enclosed air chambers have a minor dimension not exceeding 2 mm.
9. An extruded frame segment according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the enclosed air chambers are regularly distributed within the external peripheral shell.
10. An extruded frame segment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the enclosed air chambers have a rectangular cross-section.
11. A rectangular window frame for receiving glazing, each side of the rectangular frame having a frame segment, wherein at least one frame segment is is the extruded frame segment described by any one of claims Ito 10.
12. An extruded frame segment substantially as herein described with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying Figure 2.