GB2177442A - Extruded plastics frame elements - Google Patents

Abstract

An extruded plastics frame element 10 for use in forming the side of a sash has an integral co-extruded sealing projection 78 of a softer plastics material than the remainder and forms a seal against surface 28 of the wooden frame 24. The element 10 has a separate glazing strip 44 fitted to it to form with integral glazing strip 46 a recess 51 for receiving the edge of a glazing panel 56. The element 10 defines a recess 49 for locating the glazing strip 44 in which it is held by compression of a resilient sealing strip 58 against the glazing panel 56. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Extruded plastics frame elements This invention relates to extruded plastics frame elements, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to such frame elements for forming sashes for windows or doors.

The invention includes an elongate extruded plastics frame element having an integral sealing projection which is co-extruded with the remainder of the element of a softer plastics material than the remainder of the element.

The invention also includes an elongate extruded plastics sash element for use in forming a side of a sash to be fitted to a wooden frame, each side of which frame includes an inner and an outer forward facing surface in stepped relationship to each other with an inwardly facing surface therebetween, said element comprising a body portion, first and second spaced ribs integral with and extending from the body portion in a first direction for overlapping relationship with said inner and outer forward facing surfaces such that said body portion is spaced from said inwardly facing surface, said first rib including an integral projection co-extruded with the remainder of the sash element but of a softer plastics material than the remainder of the sash elementforforming a seal for sealing against the inner forward facing surface of the frame, and a glazing strip integral with and extending from the body portion in a second direction opposite to said first direction for forming with a separate glazing strip fittable to the body portion a recess for receiving an edge of a glazing panel.

An advantage of forming sashes in plastics rather than wood, which is the conventional material, is that the plastics sashes are more resistant to weathering than wood which is liable to rot. The frame to which the sash is fitted is not subjected to weathering to the same degree as the sash, and the sash element defined in the last preceding paragraph of the present invention enables a sash of extruded elements to be provided which can be fitted to a wooden frame. This enables conventional building methods using wooden frames to be used when the sash is fitted during original construction and also enables the sash to be used as a replacement for wooden sashes.

In order that the invention may be well understood, an embodiment thereof, which is given by way of example only, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary horizontal section of a double glazed window whose sash is fixedly fitted to a wooden window frame; Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the sash shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an enlarged view of another portion of the sash of Figure 1 showing the fitting of a glazing strip to a sash element.

Referring first to Figure 1, it is to be appreciated that the illustrated sash comprises four sides, of which one vertical side only is shown. Each side, the upper and lower sides as well as both vertical sides, is formed using an elongate polyvinylchloride extruded sash element 10. The sash elements 10 are welded together at the corners of the sash. Each sash element 10 comprises a body portion 12 formed as a box-section with forward and rear walls 14,#16, outer and inner walls 18,20, and a strengthening wall 22 extending between the outer and inner walls 18,20 intermediate the walls 14,16.

In this specification terms such as 'inner' and 'outer' and 'forward' and 'rear' are used for walls and surfaces with reference to the actual or intended position of the wall or surface with respect to the wooden frame to which the sash is fitted. The frame illustrated in Figure 1 comprises four sides (only one vertical side of which is illustrated), and whilst the upper and lower sides (not shown) are configured differently from the vertical side 24 and from each other, and each side of the frame includes an inner forward facing surface 28, an outer forward facing surface 30 in stepped relationship therewith, and an inwardly facing surface 32 between the surfaces 28, 30.

Each sash element 10 has first and second spaced ribs 34,36 integral with and extending from the body portion 12 in a first, outwardly direction for overlapping relationship with the inner and outer forwardly facing surfaces 28,30 of the frame side such that the outer wall 20 of the body portion is spaced from the inwardly facing surface 32 of the frame side. The first rib 34 is provided with an integral sealing projection 78 for sealing against the inner forward facing surface 28 of the frame side.

As more clearly shown in Figure 2, the integral projection 78 (shown in a stressed, sealing condition in dotted line in which it would abut the inner forward facing surface 28 of the frame, and in an unstressed condition in solid line) extends from a free end portion 80 of the rib 34 in an inward direction and is spaced from the rib 34 when in an unstressed condition. The projection 78 is coextruded with the remainder of the sash element but is of a softer plastics material than the remainder of the sash elementforforming a seal against the surface 28.

The rib 34 defines a hollow 82 adjacent the projection 78 into which the projection can be displaced during the welding of sash elements to form the corners of the sash so that no protruding weld can come on the sealing lip.

It is to be understood that the provision of an integral, co-extruded sealing projection, is applicable to other frame elements as well as to sash elements.

Also integral with the body portion 12, but extending away therefrom in a second, inwardly direction opposite to the first direction, is a glazing strip 42. Glazing strip 42 forms with a separate glazing strip 44 a recess 51 for receiving an edge of a glazing panel.

As better shown in Figure 3, the sash element 10 is provided with location means by which the separate glazing strip 44 can be located on the sash element. These locating means comprise a recess 46 within which a locating portion 48 of the glazing strip can be located. The recess 46 comprises a base 49 from which extend two side walls 50, 52. The side wall 52 which is nearer the glazing panel than the side wall 50 is higher than the latter and turns towards the latter at its free end, as indicated by numeral 53 to define a groove 54 for receiving a tongue 55 provided on the locating portion 48 of the glazing strip 44. The width of the groove 54 is greater than the thickness of the tongue 55 and enables the tongue to be inserted therein (as shown in dotted line in Figure 3) without the locating portion 48 interfering with the side wall 50 of the recess 46.The locating portion 48 is urged against the side wall 50 and base 49 of the recess 46 after insertion thereinto by the forces resulting from the compression of a sealing strip 58 (see Figure 1) accommodated in a recess of the glazing strip 44 against the glazing panel 56. These forces urge the glazing strip outwardly and rearwardly.

It will be appreciated that whilst Figure 1 illustrates a double glazing arrangement with a glazing panel 56 comprising two parallel spaced panes of glass 57, by utilizing a separate glazing strip which defines with the integral strip 42 a recess with a smaller mouth width than that illustrated, the sash element 10 may be used in a single glazing arrangement.

In order to locate the glazing panel in the sash an abutment strip 60 is located in each recess 48 for engagement with the edge of the glazing panel. As shown, the abutment strip 60 snap fits into the recess 48 by means of co-operating projections on legs 62 thereof and on the glazing strip 42 and side walls 52, and has a bridge piece 64 spanning the legs 62 and extending inwardly of projection 52. The bridge piece 64 not only engages the glazing panel edge but also provides a supportforthe separate glazing strip 44 in a single glazing arrangement. The sash shown in Figure 1 is fitted to the frame by the illustrated side being hinged thereto to permit opening of the sash. As illustrated, the sash is hinged at its vertical side to the frame by hinge means 72, which may either comprise a single hinge extending the length of the sash side or more typically a plurality of spaced hinges.One leaf 74 of the hinge means is secured to the outer wali 20 of the body portion of the sash element between the first and second ribs 34,36 thereof by means not shown. The other leaf 76 of the hinge means is secured, for example by screw fixings (not shown), to the inwardly facing surface 32 of the frame side.

It will be appreciated that the sash illustrated in Figure 1 may alternatively be fixedly fitted to the wooden frame so that the sash cannot be opened.

For example, the sash may be fixed to the frame by stepped fixing strips secured between the ribs 34, 36 to the outer wall 20 of each sash element 10 and extending over the first rib 34 and into a recess 68 (shown in dotted line) thereforformed in the inner forward facing surface 28 of the frame side in which it is secured by means of a screw fixing, schematically illustrated at 70.

From the above description it will be appreciated that we have provided an extruded sash element 10 which can be used in the formation of each of the sides of a variety of sashes. The element 10 can be used in a single or double glazing arrangement depending upon the use of the appropriate separate glazing strip and can form a fixed or hinged sash depending upon the means employed to fit the sash to the wooden frame.

By having the integral glazing strip 42 opposite the second rib 36, the sash element can be made not only to have a neat appearance on its forward facing side, but because the separate glazing strip is located on the rear side of the sash element, glazing is carried out from that side, i.e. from within a building when the sash is for an exterior window.

This arrangement greatly simplifies the glazing operation and since removal of the glazing panel can only be carried out from the rear, this arrangement also provides a security measure.

It will also be noted that sealing between the sash and the frame is effected by means of a seal 78 which is integral with the sash elements and abuts the wooden frame. This has the advantage that the frame does not have to be recessed.

Claims (1)

1. An elongate extruded plastics frame element having an integral sealing projection which is coextruded with the remainder of the element of a softer plastics material than the remainder of the element.

2. An extruded element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projection extends from the free end portion of a rib on said element towards the base of said rib and spaced from said rib.

3. An elongate extruded plastics sash element for use in forming a side of a sash to be fitted to a wooden frame, each side of which frame includes an inner and an outer forward facing surface in stepped relationship to each other with an inwardly facing surface therebetween, said element comprising a body portion, first and second spaced ribs integral with and extending from the body portion in a first direction for overlapping relationship with said inner and outer forward facing surfaces such that said body portion is spaced from said inwardly facing surface, said first rib including an integral projection co-extruded with the remainder of the sash element but of a softer plastics material than the remainder of the sash elementforforming a seal for sealing against the inner forward facing surface of the frame, and a glazing strip integral with and extending from the body portion in a second direction opposite to said first direction for forming with a separate glazing strip fittable to the body portion a recess for receiving an edge of a glazing panel.

4. A sash element as claimed in claim 3, wherein the projection extends from said free end portion of said first rib in said second direction and is spaced from said rib when in an unstressed condition.

5. A sash element as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein said body portion comprises a box section.

6. A sash element as claimed in claim 3,4 or 5, wherein opposite said first rib and spaced from said integral glazing strip, said body portion is provided with location means, by which a said separate glazing strip can be located on said sash element.

7. A sash element as claimed in claim 6, wherein said location means are spaced from said integral glazing strip a distance which allows with the selective use of different separate glazing strips for single or double glazed glazing panels.

8. A sash element as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein said location means comprises recess means within which a said glazing strip can be located.

9. A sash element as claimed in claim 8, wherein the recess means is arranged to define abutment surfaces against which corresponding surfaces of the separate glazing strip are urged, in use, by forces resulting from the compression of a resilient sealing strip of the separate glazing strip against the glazing panel received in the recess defined between the integral and separate glazing strips.

10. A sash, one or each respective side of which comprises a sash element as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 9, and a separate glazing strip fitted to the body portion of the or each respective said sash element.

11. A sash as claimed in claim 10 and fitted to a wooden frame, each side of which frame includes an inner and an outer forward facing surface in stepped relationship to each other with an inwardly facing surface therebetween, wherein the first and second ribs of the or each sash element overlap the inner and outer forward facing surfaces of a respective side of the frame.

12. A sash fitted to a wooden frame as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sash is fixed to the frame by fixing strips secured to the or each sash element between said first and second ribs thereof, extending over said first rib and secured to said frame.

13. A sash fitted to a wooden frame as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sash is hinged to the frame by hinge means secured to one side of the sash between the first and second ribs of a said sash element on said one side.

14. An elongate extruded plastics frame element substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: (a) Claims 1,2, 14 above have been deleted or textually amended.

(b) New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows: 1-8, 20.

(c) Claims 3~13 above have been re-numbered as 9~19 and their appendancies corrected. -

1. An elongate extruded plastics sash element for use in forming a side of a sash to be fitted to a wooden frame said element comprising a body portion and a glazing strip integral with and extending from the body portion for forming with a separate glazing strip fittable to the body portion a recess for receiving an edge of a glazing panel said sash element including an integral projection coextruded with the remainder of the sash element but of a softer plastics material than the remainder of the sash elementforforming a seal for sealing against a forward facing surface of the frame.

2. A sash element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projection extends from the free end portion of a rib integral with said body portion towards the base of said rib and spaced from said rib.

3. An sash element as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said body portion comprises a box section.

4. A sash element as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said body portion is provided with location means, by which a said separate glazing strip can be located on said sash element.

5. A sash element as claimed in claim 4, wherein said location means are spaced from said integral glazing strip a distance which allows with the selective use of different separate glazing strips for single or double glazed glazing panels.

6. A sash element as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein said location means comprises recess means within which a said glazing strip can be located.

7. A sash element as claimed in claim 6, wherein the recess means is arranged to define abutment surfaces against which corresponding surfaces of the separate glazing strips are urged, in use, by forces resulting from the compression of a resilient sealing strip of the separate glazing strip against the glazing panel received in the recess defined between the integral and separate glazing strips.

8. A sash, one or each respective side of which comprises a sash element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, and a separate glazing strip fitted to the body portion of the or each respective said sash element.

20. An elongate extruded plastics sash element for use in forming a side of a sash to be fitted to a wooden frame, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.