2351313 IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO WINDOW OR DOOR ASSEMBLIES The
present invention relates to sub-frames to be built into a building for the fitting therein of frames for windows or doors. The invention relates particularly, though not exclusively, to sub-frames and sub-frame profile portions having parts which act as cavity closers, located in the cavity between inner and outer leaves of a cavity wall.
It is known to construct rectangular sub-frames from extruded profiles having cavity closers which locate in use in the cavity between the inner and outer leaves of a is cavity wall. However, in general, such sub-frames are only suitable for use in conventional rectangular window openings. By contrast, for bay windows, such sub-frames cannot be used and builders have to resort to traditional methods such as timber frames around the bay opening.
Although the necessary official certification can be obtained for conventional rectangular sub-frames, such as that described in GB 2 306 991, official certification cannot be obtained for traditional bay window frames. Since the bay may be structural, the window must be located over the brickwork rather than the cavity in order to provide sufficient structural support.
Furthermore, in the construction of a building, the scaffolding covers the exterior and work materials or the like can fall through openings. This is particularly problematic for large openings such as are provided for bay windows. Since the cill for a bay window is installed early, it is prone to damage by cement and general on-site work, even more so than conventional cills, since the bay projects outwardly from the main wall. In addition, the use of traditional timber frames which do not have cavity closers means that the cavity of the cavity wall has not 2 been closed off effectively so that water can get in. Consequently, a damp-proof course is needed.
In connection with bay windows, the British Plastics Federation (BPF) have specified that the side walls of a bay window should end as indicated by the bricks 8, 10 in Figure 1. However, in practice, bricklayers tend not to use the BPF recommended method but rather finish the side walls as indicated by bricks 8, 10 in Figure 2, so that the window panels can be inserted more easily. In Figures 1 and 2, a bay cavity wall has a cavity 2, inner and outer wall leaves 4,6 defining the bottom of the cill wall and inner and outer side walls 8,10. Thus, in practice generally there is a step between the inner and outer leaves of the side walls of a bay window, as shown in Figure 2.
The present invention has been made from a consideration of the problems associated with conventional bay window sub-frames and in order to provide a sub-frame and sub-frame profile suitable for use in a bay for receiving a bay window. Preferred aims of the invention are to provide a sub-frame and sub-frame profile which overcomes one or more of the above-mentioned disadvantages.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a profile portion for use in assembling a subframe for a bay window comprising a base wall from one side of which projects a cavity closer and from the same side of which projects a leaf engaging member for engaging in use against the reveal of a leaf of a cavity wall.
Preferably, in use at least part of the cavity closer extends into the cavity of the cavity wall. Preferably, the leaf engaging member comprises an enclosed quadrilateral section. Preferably, the cavity closer and leaf engaging member are conjoined so that one side of the 3 member is defined by a side of the cavity closer. Preferably, another side of the leaf engaging member is def ined by part of the base wall. Preferably, a further side of the leaf engaging member is adapted to engage said leaf of the cavity wall in use. Preferably, said leaf engaging side extends substantially parallel to the base wall. Preferably, said leaf engaging side extends further than the base wall from the cavity closer. Pref erably, a still further side of the leaf engaging member comprises an inwardly extending wall which forms an acute angle with the leaf engaging side of said member and an obtuse angle with the base wall.
Preferably, the cavity closer projects further than the leaf engaging member from the base wall. Preferably, part of the base wall extends beyond the cavity closer on the opposite side of the cavity closer to the leaf engaging member. Preferably, said part is adapted to engage against the reveal of the other leaf of said cavity wall.
Preferably, the inwardly extending wall comprises means to facilitate the securement of a window frame to the profile portion.
Preferably, the profile portion includes an abutment projecting therefrom. Preferably, the abutment projects from the base wall along one lateral edge thereof. Preferably, the abutment projects at an obtuse angle to the base wall.
Preferably, the profile portion is adapted to locate against the inner and outer leaves of a check reveal cavity wall.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a profile portion for use in assembling a subframe comprising a base wall from one side of which projects a cavity closer and from the opposite side of 4 which projects a cill carrier member, said cill carrier member comprising an engagement formation for engaging a cill member.
The profile portion may comprise a releasably engageable cill member. Preferably, the base wall extends on each side of the cavity closer and is adapted to engage in use against the leaves of a cavity wall. The base wall, cavity closer and cill carrier member may be integral.
Preferably, the profile portion comprises two engageable parts. Preferably, a first such part comprises a first base wall part adapted to engage one leaf of a cavity wall and said cavity closer. Preferably, the other such part comprises a second base wall part adapted to engage the other leaf of the cavity wall and said cill carrier member. The cill carrier member may overlie a portion of the cavity closer. Preferably, the cill carrier member is spaced from the cavity closer transversely along the base wall. Preferably, the carrier member comprises an enclosed rectangular section, the base of which may comprise part of said base wall. Preferably, a side of the carrier member adjacent one lateral edge of the base wall comprises said engagement formation. Preferably, said engagement formation comprises a channel extending along said side.
Preferably, said cill member comprises engagement formations such as one or more projections adapted to be received in said channel.
Preferably, said carrier member comprises a second engagement formation on a side thereof opposite to the side having said first engagement formation, said second formation being adapted to receive part of a cill. The second engagement formation may comprise a channel extending along said opposite side. Preferably, an abutment is formed on the cavity closer side of the cill carrier member and extends from an upper wall of the cill carrier member.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a profile portion for use in assembling a subframe comprising an elongate member having a substantially wedge-shaped cross-section, said member being adapted to extend in use between an upper profile and a lower profile of a sub-frame.
Preferably, the member comprises an enclosed, hollow section. Preferably, the opposing external sides of the member comprise means to facilitate the securement of a window frame to the profile portion. Preferably, the narrow edge of the member faces the interior of the building in use. Preferably, the narrow edge of the member comprises an engagement formation, such as a groove, for receiving a corresponding engagement formation, such as a projecting rib, of a trim. The profile portion may include a releasably engageable internal trim.
Preferably, the member comprises abutment means which act as a stop for a window frame in use. Pref erably, said abutment means comprises projecting ribs extending outwardly on each side of the narrow edge of said member.
Preferably, said ribs extend substantially transversely to the side walls of the member.
Preferably, the wide edge of the member faces the exterior of the building in use. Preferably, the wide edge comprises an engagement formation, such as one or more grooves, for receiving a corresponding engagement formation, such as one or more projecting ribs, of a trim. The profile portion may include a releasably engageable external trim.
Preferably, the profile portion comprises a pole extending longitudinally through the elongate member.
Preferably, the profile portion comprises upper and lower 6 angled sections for supporting said pole. Preferably, said angled sections comprise an angled base wall and means for receiving an end of said pole. The lower angled section may include a cavity extension adapted to be received in the cavity of a cavity wall. The angled sections may be mechanically secured to elongate member.
Preferably, one or more internal walls of the elongate member comprise lugs or ribs adapted to retain said pole in position in use.
The invention further provides a subframe having a profile portion according to any one of the above described aspects of the invention.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a subframe for a bay window comprising two side profiles according to the first aspect of the invention, an upper profile and a lower profile according to the second aspect of the invention. Preferably, the sub-frame also comprises two internal profiles according to the third aspect of the invention. Preferably, the upper profile comprises an external hood having a ventilation opening in an underwall thereof.
The invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view showing one method of locating the side wall bricks on the bay of a cavity wall; Figure 2 is a plan view showing an alternative method of locating the side wall bricks on the bay of a cavity wall; Figure 3 is a horizontal section through a side profile 7 of the invention in a bay cavity wall; Figure 4 (a) is a vertical section through a top rail of a sub-frame of the invention; Figure 4(b) is a vertical section through a bottom rail of a sub-frame of the invention; Figure 5 is a section through a cill adapted to be secured to the bottom rail of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a section through an alternative bottom rail profile of the invention; is Figure 7 is a perspective front view showingan internal profile section and component parts; Figure 8 is an overall partially cut away perspective view (with detailed inserts) of the bay window sub-frame shown with window frame fitted; Figure 9 and 9A are plan and side sectional views of the sub-frame and window frame installation of figure 8; Figures 1O(A) through lo(G) illustrate the cross sectional profiles of various components of the sub-frame; and Figures ll(A) through ll(H) illustrate the cross- sectional profiles of various further components of the sub-frame.
Referring to Figure 3, the inner and outer leaves 8,10 of a cavity wall with cavity 2 define the side walls of a bay and the lower edge of the bay is def ined by the inner and outer leaves 4, 6 of the cavity wall. A sub-frame of the invention comprises a side rail 12 and a bottom rail 8 having a cavity closer 42 which locates in the cavity between the bottom wall leaves 4, 6. The side rail on the other side of the sub-frame corresponds to the side rail 12.
The side rail 12 comprises a base wall 14. A cavity closer 16 projects transversely from one side of the base wall and a leaf engaging member 18 projects transversely from the same side of the base wall. The base wall 14 spans the leaf engaging member 18 and the cavity closer 16 and a part 20 thereof extends beyond the cavity closer to engage in use the reveal of the inner leaf 8. Thus, part 20 acts as a former for the inner leaf of the cavity wall.
is The cavity closer 16 has an enclosed, generally rectangular, section which may be filled with an insulating material. In use, the cavity closer locates at least partly in the cavity between the side wall leaves 8,10. A wall-tie engaging channel 22 is provided on the inner side of the cavity closer adjacent the inner leaf.
The leaf engaging member 18 comprises an enclosed, generally quadrilateral, section which may be filled with an insulating material. The inner side of the member is def ined by part of the outer side of the cavity closer 16 and the bay side of the member is def ined by part of the base wall 14. The leaf engaging side 24 of the member extends from the outer side of the cavity closer substantially parallel to, but spaced from, the base wall 14 and extends further than the base wall from the cavity closer. The outer side 26 of the leaf engaging member comprises an inwardly extending wall which forms an acute angle with the leaf engaging side 24 and an obtuse angle with the base wall 14. A wall-tie engaging channel 28 is provided on the leaf engaging side 24 of the member 18 and in use the side 24 engages the reveal of the outer leaf 10. The cavity closer 16 projects further than the leaf- 9 engaging member 18 from the base wall 14 so that in use that further part of the cavity closer locates between the inner and outer leaves 8, 10 of the bay side wall, the remainder of the cavity closer lying in use between the leaf engaging member 18 and the inner leaf 8.
An abutment 30 projects from the base wall, typically at an obtuse angle thereto, at the edge thereof adjacent the outer side 26 of the leaf engaging member 18.
A wall cladding such as a dry liner 32 is provided on the internal side of the inner leaves 4, 8 and on the bay sides of the base wall and inner leaf 8. In use, the frame 34 of a bay window is installed from the outside of the is building by pushing the frame along the inwardly extending wall 26 until it reaches the abutment 30. Suitable clip means or the like may be used to secure the window frame to the sub-frame. The inwardly extending wall 26 typically has an array of longitudinal ratchet teeth extending there along for engaging spring fixings in a known manner to secure the window frame. Typically, the side rail is formed as an integral UPVC extrusion.
Referring to Figures 4(a) and (b), the sub-frame comprises a top rail 36 and a bottom rail 38. The top rail may have any suitable profile but is preferably of the form described in GB 2 311 127 having an external hood 37 over the window frame and providing an effective ventilation pathway from the inside of the building to the outside, the outside ventilation opening being in an under-wall of the hood.
The bottom rail 38 comprises a base wall 40 from one side of which a cavity closer 42 projects transversely.
The base wall extends on each side of the cavity closer 42 to engage in use against the reveals of the inner and outer leaves 8,10 of the cavity wall such that the cavity closer locates in the cavity thereof A cill carrier member 44 extends transversely from the opposite side of the base wall to the cavity closer 42. The base wall, cavity closer and cill carrier member may be formed as an integral UPVC extrusion, as shown in Figure 6. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 4 (b), the bottom rail prof ile may be in two engageable parts, a first part having a f irst base wall part adapted to engage one leaf of the cavity wall and carrying the cavity closer and the second part having a second base wall part adapted to engage the other leaf of the cavity wall and carrying the cill carrier member. Suitable tangs or channels may be provided on the two profile parts to enable interengagement thereof. The carrier member may be spaced from the cavity closer transversely along the base wall as shown in Figure 6 or both may extend from substantially the same transverse region of the base wall as shown in Figure 4 (b) so that in use the carrier member overlies a leaf of the cavity wall. The carrier member comprises an enclosed generally rectangular section having a channel formation 46 extending along a side wall thereof. In use, the channel 46 is open towards the exterior of the building and is adapted to receive engagement formations 48 of a cill member 50 such as shown in Figure 5. The cill member 50 comprises a rectangular section having the engagement formations 48 such as a pair of tangs or hooks extending along a side wall thereof. The prof ile of the cill member 50 may be chosen according to the profile of cill required.
The carrier member 44 has a second channel formation 52 extending along a side wall thereof opposite to the side wall with the channel formation 46. The second channel formation 52 is formed by an overhanging portion of the cill carrier member and the base wall 40 and is adapted to receive a part of an internal cill.
An abutment 56 may be provided on the cavity closer side of the cill carrier member 44, the abutment extending substantially transversely to the base wall 40 from the upper wall of the carrier member, in order to provide a stop for insertion of the window frame. In use, the upper wall of the carrier member 44 supports the window frame and may have suitable means for securing the frame thereto.
In assembling the sub-frame, the base walls 14 of the side rails are fixed at the bottom to the bottom rail 38 and at the top to the top rail 36, typically by suitable mechanical means.
The assembled sub-frame typically comprises two side rails, a top rail and a bottom rail as here indescribed.
Referring to Figure 7, the assembled sub-frame typically also comprises two internal vertical rails for structural support at the corners of the bay.
The internal rails 60 comprise enclosed generally wedge-shaped sections having side walls 62 with means for retaining a window frame 34 such as ratchet teeth for receiving spring fixings. In use, the narrow edge of the section faces the interior of the building and has a suitable formation such as groove 64 for receiving a corresponding formation or projection 66 on an internal cover or trim 68. Abutment means 70 extend outwardly on each side of the narrow edge and act as stops for window frames 34 pushed into the sub-frame from the outside of the building. The wide edge 72 of the section faces the exterior of the building in use and has suitable formations such as grooves 74 for receiving corresponding formations or projections 76 on an external cover or trim 78. The internal and external trims 68,78 may comprise PVC mouldings and are suitably shaped to conceal the internal rail in use. A pole 80, typically of steel extends longitudinally through the wedge section 60 and provides additional structural support. The pole 80 is supported 12 between angled sections typically of aluminium, the lower angled section having a base wall 82, a cavity extension 84 for extending into the cavity of the cavity wall adjacent the angle of the bay and a cylindrical holder 86 for receiving an end of the pole 80, the holder 86 extending from the side of the base wall 82 opposite to the side from which the cavity extension 84 extends. The upper angled section (not shown) corresponds but does not have the cavity extension 84. Typically the internal rails 60 comprise aluminium or PVC sections mechanically fixed to the upper and lower angled sections via screw ports 90. Lugs 88 are provided internally in the rail 60 to hold the pole 80 in place and inhibit bending under compressional load.
In use, the bay sub-frame is typically pre-assembled before taking onsite, and can then be built into the bay of a building, the side rails acting as a former for the side leaves of the cavity wall. Thus, the preassembled sub-frame is positioned in the bay and the walls built up around it. The window frames can then be pushed into the sub-frame from the outside of the building. The sub - f rame and profiles of the invention have the required structural stability and facilitate building of the bay and insertion of the window frames. The ability to subsequently clip on the cill member 50 avoids damage to the cill during building.
A typical bay window installation using a bay sub-frame of the present invention is illustrated in more detail in Figures 8 and 9 (installation) and in Figures 10 and 11 (the components).
A bay window installation 100 includes a sub-frame made up f rom a bottom rail 38, two side rails 12, one or more internal rails 60, and a top rail. The bottom rail 38 comprises a cavity closer 42, a base wall 40 which engages 13 the inner leaf 8 and a cill carrier member 44 to which a cill 50 may be fitted. An abutment 56 provides a stop for window frame 102. Each side rail 12 has a cavity closer 16, a base wall 14 which engages the inner leaf 8, and an 5 outer leaf engaging member 18 which engages the outer leaf 10. The member 18 is of quadrilateral cross section and carries an abutment 30 which serves as a stop for frame 102. Each internal rail 60 comprises a profile of wedgeshaped section with side walls having ratchet teeth 62, a narrow internal facing edge adapted to receive an internal trim 68, and a wider external facing edge adapted to receive an external trim 78. The narrow edge includes abutments 70 at each side thereof which serve as stops for frame 102. As can be seen in Figure 9 (A), a window board is 104 may be placed over the base wall 40 of bottom rail 38 and secured to abutment 56 of cill carrier member 44 by sealant and/or a trim 106. The various different components described hereinbefore are illustrated in detail in Figures 10(A) through 10(G) and 11(A) through 11(H), these figures (namely 10(F), 11(E) and ii(G) showing how respective components fit together. From Figures 11W and 11(G) in particular it can be seen how a universal cavity closer 42 with base wall 40 can be attached to a cill carrier member 44 to form a bottom rail 38, or alternatively to a jamb section 18 (the outer leaf engaging member) to form a side rail 12.
The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.
All of the features disclosed in thisspecification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so 14 disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.
Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.