IE910659A1

IE910659A1 - Improvements in door and window frames

Info

Publication number: IE910659A1
Application number: IE65991A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Leslie Mccormick
Original assignee: Gerald Mccormick
Priority date: 1991-02-26
Filing date: 1991-02-26
Publication date: 1992-08-26
Also published as: GB2256450A; GB9204127D0

Abstract

A door or window frame, for example a replacement frame, is assembled in position in an opening in a wall without disturbing the finish of the reveals around the opening. The frame is assembled from two side frame members bridged by a top frame member and, in the case of a window frame, a bottom frame member 24. Each frame member is assembled from a first member 30, normally at the inner face of the frame, a second member 31, normally at the outer face of the frame and a bridging member 32 secured to the first and second members by screws and/or gluing. A glazing strip 33 may be pinned to the bridging member 32 to define a recess 34 between the glazing strip and a projecting part of the first member 30 to receive the edge of a pane of glass 42. Mullions and transoms may be similarly constructed, and a metal sub-frame may be interposed between the brickwork and frame, the sub-frame having flanges which co-operate with grooves in the frame for location/securing.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN DOOR AND WINDOW FRAMES GERALD McCORMICK, a British Subject of 17 Kildoag Road, Goshaden, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

The present invention relates to improvements in door and window frames.

In the construction of door and window frames, the frame is normally manufactured as a single unit and has to be fixed in the door or window opening, from the inside of a building. In fixing the door or window frame in place, the frame is located in the opening from the inside and abuts the exterior brickwork or plaster which projects outwardly slightly into the opening. When the frame is in place, the inside surfaces of the door or window opening are finished by an additional interior construction of further plaster, tiling or a sill, referred to in the trade as reveals, so that the frame is secured in place between the exterior brickwork on the outside of the opening and the reveals on the inside of the opening.

While this type of construction is very secure, it is disadvantageous if it is desirable or necessary to replace the door or window frames. In replacing such frames it is necessary to remove the reveals on the inside of the window opening before a new frame can be fixed in place. The removal of the reveals is tedious, time consuming and causes a substantial amount of dirt inside a building which of course it is necessary to clean up. In addition, it is essential for the person or persons engaged in replacing the frame to work almost entirely from inside the building which is undesirable.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a construction of door or window frame which overcomes the above-mentioned problems.

In the following text, the term window frame will be understood to include both door and window frames.

According to the present invention there is provided a window frame comprising two side members, bridged by top and bottom members, each of these window frame members being formed by the assembly of an L-shaped first member the short leg of which abuts a second member, a clamping strip being provided which bridges the abutting faces of the first member and the second member and is secured to both of said members and which forms with the first member a recess, which may in use accommodate the edge portion of a sheet of window glass, a glazing strip being provided secured atop the clamping strip.

The present invention also provides a construction of mullion/transom which may be used in conjunction with the basic window frame of the present invention to provide window divisions and hinged opening and closing sashes, the said mullion/transom comprising a cover member with a slot adapted to accommodate the head of a T-shaped spine member the body of said spine member having secured on each side thereof a clamping strip which forms a recess with the head of the spine member or with the cover member, each of said recesses in use accommodating the edge portion of a sheet of window glass.

Preferably all the glass receiving and accommodating recesses are provided with conventional sealing strips of rubber or the like material.

The invention further provides a method of constructing a modular window frame comprising the steps of: - erecting first and second members in a window opening; - securing together the first and second members by means of a clamping strip; and - providing glazing strips for attachment atop the clamping strips when the window glass is installed in the frame.

Further, the invention provides a kit of parts for constructing a modular window frame, the parts including first and second members, clamping strips, glazing strips and mullion cover members, mullion spine members and mullion clamping strips.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a part of a building showing a window opening from which a conventional window frame has been removed for the insertion of a new frame according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view from the outside of a building of the window opening with a window frame according to the invention in place; Figure 3 is a perspective view from the inside of part of a window frame according to the present invention; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a crosssection taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of a crosssection taken along the line V-V of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings wherein similar numerals have been used to indicate like parts there is shown in Figure 1 a window opening 10 in a building 11.

In Figure 1, the normally existing window frame has been removed without removing the interior reveals 12. As shown, the interior reveals 12 in this example are illustrated as tiles 13, and it is necessary in existing methods of window replacement for a builder to remove these reveals 12 to enable a conventional replacement window frame (not shown) to be fixed in place in the window opening 10. It will be noted that the exterior brickwork 14 of the building 11 extends slightly into the window opening 10 and therefore it is impossible to locate a conventional window frame in the I -v/ opening 10 from the outside of the building 11. It will also be noted in Figure 1 that the cavity wall of the building 11 is turned in on itself at 15 around the region of the window opening 10. During the fixing of a conventional window frame, the window frame is usually fixed in conventional manner to the cavity wall at 15 before the interior reveals 12 are fixed in place. The periphery of the conventional window frame is then usually sealed at the interior side to the interior reveals 12 and at the exterior side to the brickwork 14 and the upper and lower sills 16, 16' respectively.

In Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings a window frame according to the present invention as hereinafter described in relation to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings is fixed in position in region 15 of the cavity wall. If the cavity wall of the building 11 is not turned in on itself at 15 suitable bridging pieces (not shown) may be used to close the cavity and provide support for the window frame. The frame when fixed in the region 15 of the cavity wall may be sealed to the region 15 in conventional manner - for example with mastic.

Referring to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings the window frame comprises two side frame members 21 and 22 bridged by a top frame member 23 and by a bottom frame member 24 (side frame member 22 not shown in Figure 3). Intermediate their length the top and bottom frame members 23 and 24 are bridged by a mullion 25. The opening defined by the side frame member 21, the top frame member 23, the mullion 25 and the bottom frame member 24 is adapted to accommodate a conventional sash 26 provided with a pair of hinges 27. The window frame components, namely, the side frame members 21 and 22, the top and bottom frame members 23 -910^59 and 24 and the mullion 25 are as appropriate connected together by conventional tongue and groove joints.

The side frame members 21 and 22, the top frame member 23 and the bottom frame member 24 are all of the same construction comprising a first member 30, a second member 31, a clamping strip 32 and a glazing strip 33 arranged as illustrated in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings. The first and second members 30 and 31 are on the inside and outside, respectively, of the window frame according to the invention, when in place in the window opening of the building 11. The first member 30, the second member 31 and the clamping strip 32 are secured together by two rows of screws (not shown) - one row of screws securing the clamping strip 32 to the first member 30 and the second row of screws securing the clamping strip 32 to the second member 31. The clamping strip 32 forms with the first member 30 a recess 34 to accommodate in use an edge portion of a win dow glass 42 to be fixed in the frame. The glazing strip 33 is secured to the clamping strip 32 by a series of pins (not shown) when the window glass 42 has been placed in position in the frame.

Referring to Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings the component parts assembled together to form a mullion 25 comprise a mullion cover member 35, a mullion spine member 36 and clamping strips 37 and 38. The head 36a of the spine member 36 is located and secured in the slot 39 of the cover member 35. The body 36b of the spine member 36 has screwed thereto on each side thereof clamping strips 37 and 38, the strips 37 and 38 when in position forming with the head 36a of the spine member 36 and the portion of the cover member 35 adjacent thereto, recesses 40 and 41 which in use accommodate edge portions of window glass 42. A glazing strip (not shown) may be secured to each of the clamping strips 37 and 38 by, for example, a series of pins.

In order to draught-proof the window, sealing strips of rubber or the like material may be located on the window frame around the opening defined by the side frame member 21 , the top and bottom frame members 23 and 24 and the mullion 25 where the opening sash 26 abuts the window frame when closed.

The window frame may be manufactured as a kit of parts for construction of selected door or window sizes. In addition, the kit of parts may include suitable frame members for construction by the user into appropriate sashes.

It will be appreciated that the mullion 25 and a side member 21 or 22 may be bridged by a transom (not shown). Such a transom would have the same construction as that of the mullion 25 illustrated in Figure 5. It will be understood that the same assembly would carried out for a transom, with the configuration of the component parts in a horizontal position as distinct from the vertical position of Figure 5. Such a transom, the side member 21 or 22 and the mullion 25 would be connected together as appropriate by conventional tongue and groove joints. Alternatively, the side members 21 and 22 may be bridged by a transom.

It will also be appreciated that the main advantage of the invention is that a window frame may be replaced without the removal or damage to the existing reveals with the consequent savings of time, cost and disruption or damage to the interior of a building in particular, interior decoration. In addition, in the construction of new buildings, the interior of a building can be completed prior to the fixing of the window frame, whereas with conventional constructions it is necessary for the window frame to be in place before the reveals around a window opening are fixed in place.

A further advantage of the invention is that if the window frame is constructed of wood, the first and second members may be of different quality woods, for example, the first members may be of a softwood and the second members may be of a hardwood. Further, it is normally the second members of a window frame which suffer deterioration due to the effects of weather, and in the present construction it is possible simply to remove a deteriorated part of the frame and replace it with a new member. It will be appreciated that the modular window frame of the invention may be constructed of any suitable materials for example, wood, metal or plastics. In addition, the window frame may incorporate conventional glazing components such as glazing strips incorporating condensation drainage channels.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above which may be modified and/or varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

Dated this the 26th day of February, 1991 F. ft. KELLY & CU.

BY ΟΥΟίΥλΟλ) EXECUTIVE Clyde Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 AGENTS FOR THE APPLICANT

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A frame for an opening comprising two frame members in substantially parallel spaced apart relationship, connected by a first transverse frame member, at least one of the frame members being formed by the assembly of a first member; a second member; and a bridging member which bridges and is secured to the first member and the second member.

2. A frame according to Claim 1 which comprises a second transverse frame member in substantially parallel spaced apart relationship relative to the first transverse frame member.

3. A frame according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the first member is substantially L-shaped, one leg of which abuts the second member.

4. A frame according to any preceding claim, in which each of the frame members is formed by the assembly of the first member, the second member and the bridging member.

5. A frame according to any one of Claims 1-3, in which the two substantially parallel frame members are formed by the assembly of the first member, the second member and the bridging member.

6. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each of the frame members engages with adjacent frame members by tongue and rebate joints.

7. A frame according to Claim 6 when dependent on any one of Claims 2-5, in which each of the first members of the two parallel frame members is provided with a flange at each end thereof, to form, when assembled, tongue and rebate joints with the respective adjacent transverse frame members. 5 8. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims, in which at least one of the frame members is provided with a groove and the frame additionally comprises a sub-frame having a rim, to accommodate the groove, when the frame is assembled on the sub-frame.

8. 10 9. A frame according to Claim 8 when dependent on any one of Claims 2-7, in which the sub-frame comprises a top elongate member, a bottom elongate member and two side elongate members, adjacent elongate members being bridged by respective corner brackets, each of the 1 5 elongate members being provided with a rim to accommodate the respective groove of each of the frame members . 10. A frame according to Claim 9, in which each elongate member is provided with two tongues and each 20 corner bracket comprises a substantially right angled bracket having two holes therein to accommodate the tongues of the adjacent elongate members.

9. 11. A frame according to Claim 9 or 10, in which each of the elongate members is provided with two substantially 25 parallel lengthwise rims to accommodate corresponding respective grooves of each of the frame members.

10. 12. A mullion/transom for use with a frame according to any one of the preceding claims, the mullion/transom comprising a mullion/transom frame member having an outwardly projecting flange and a clamping strip secured in use on each side of the flange.

11. 13. A mullion/transom according to Claim 12, in which 5 the mullion/transom frame member comprises a mullion/transom inner member with a slot adapted to accommodate the head of a substantially T-shaped mullion/transom spine member, the clamping strips being secured on each side of the body of the mullion/transom 10 spine member.

12. 14. A mullion/transom according to Claim 12 or 13, in which the mullion/transom forms a tongue and rebate joint with the respective adjacent frame members.

13. 15. A mullion/transom according to Claim 14, in which 15 the mullion/transom is provided with a projection at each end thereof, to form the tongue and rebate joints with corresponding slots in the respective adjacent frame members.

14. 16. A method of assembling a modular frame for an 20 opening comprising the steps of: (a) mounting in the opening two frame members in substantially parallel spaced apart relationship; (b) connecting said frame members by a first transverse frame member, wherein at least one of the 25 frame members is formed by the assembly of a first member, a second member, and a bridging member; and (c) securing the bridging member to the first member and the second member.

15. 17. A method of assembling a modular frame for an opening comprising the steps of: (a) mounting in the opening two frame members in substantially parallel spaced apart relationship; (b) connecting said frame members by a first transverse frame member and a second transverse frame member in substantially spaced apart relationship relative to the first transverse frame member, wherein at least one of the frame members is formed by the assembly of a first member, a second member, and a bridging member; and (c) securing the bridging member to the first member and the second member.

16. 18. A method according to Claim 16 or 17, in which a sub-frame is erected in the opening, before the frame members are erected therein.

17. 19. A kit of parts for a modular frame, the parts including first and second members and bridging members.

18. 20. A kit of parts according to Claim 19 which includes mullion/transorn inner members, mullion/transom spine members and mullion/transom clamping strips.

19. 21. A kit of parts according to Claim 19 or 20 which includes elongate members and corner brackets.

20. 22. A frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 2-6, Figures 7_12, Figures 13-15 and Figures 16 and 17 of the accompanying drawings.

21. 23. A mullion/transom substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 2-12 and Figures 13-15 of the accompanying drawings .

22. 24. A method of assembling a modular frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2-6, Figures 7-12, Figures 13-15 and Figures 16 and 17 of the accompanying drawings.

23. 25. A modular frame whenever assembled by a method claimed in a preceding claim.

24. 26. A kit of parts substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2-6, Figures 7-12, Figures 13-15 and Figures 16 and 17 of the accompanying drawings .