GB2336386A - Frame unit with fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

A frame unit 10 comprises at least one location 16,17 to receive a fitting for an electrical appliance. The fitting location 16,17 has electrical wiring 18,19 to receive an electricity supply. The fitting may be to mount a security light and/or sensor. The fitting may be fitted when assembled in a factory. A second embodiment has the fittings located on a closure member mounted within a frame.

Description

2336386 PR1DOOR This invention relates to a frame, particularly but not

exclusively to an entrance frame for a door and also to a door for an entrance frame.

It is now well known that it is advantageous to have a light than can be activated automatically when someone approaches an external door. This is useful for safety and for security purposes. However, lights and sensors for this purpose have to be obtained and retro-fitted together with appropriate electrical wiring. The light and sensor may be attached, for example, to a wall adjacent a door and passageways for wiring must be channelled into or externally fixed to the wall, frame and/ or door so as to extend to the light and sensor locations.

It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved means of installing electrical fittings at a frame, e.g. an entrance frame for a door.

Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention provides a frame unit comprising a frame to receive a closure member and a closure member received in the frame, the frame or the closure member having one or more locations for fittings to receive an electrical appliance, the fitting(s) being positioned in the locations and having electrical wiring to be connected into a supply of electricity.

2 In another aspect the invention provides a frame to receive a closure member, the frame having one or more locations for fittings to receive an electrical appliance, the fitting(s) being positioned in the locations and having electrical wiring to be connected into a supply of electricity.

Thus, it will be appreciated that the fittings, ready wired for connection to a supply of electricity can, therefore, be installed in their respective locations in the frame or closure member prior to installation of the frame or closure member into its desired location in a building. Thus the fittings may conveniently be factory fitted, i.e. before the product is sent to the site where it is to be installed.

The invention is also applicable to the provision of lighting in rooms, e. g. conservatories, where the lighting may be pre-located in frames/closure members to extend around the room.

The frame may be an entrance frame for a door and, although the invention will for convenience be described more specifically below with reference to entrance frames, it will be appreciated that it is not so limited and may, equally, be applied to window frames. Thus the closure member may be a door or a window.

Where the fittings for electrical appliances are supplied in the frame, it will be appreciated that the invention has applicability particularly for the installation

3 of frames in new buildings or as replacement frames whereas, when fitted to the door or other closure member, the invention can be retro-fitted as, e.g. a new door, into an existing frame.

The fittings in a preferred embodiment are designed to accommodate one or more electrical lights and a sensor which activates the light(s) when someone approaches the door or other closure member.

In an entrance frame, for example, the fittings to receive a light and a sensor may conveniently be housed in space provided above a transom, i.e. a horizontal cross-member positioned towards the upper end of the frame in use.

If desired, a diffuser for the light(s) may be positioned on the frame to cover the space defiried between the transom and the upper cross-member of the frame or to cover a portion of that space. The diffuser may be colour-co-ordinated with the frame and/or closure member.

However, it is not essential that the frame has a transom and suitable locations, e.g. appropriately shaped recce or housings, may be provided elsewhere in the frame (or door) for the fit The light(s), where used, may be spotlights, ordinary electric light bulbs or fluorescent strip lights, for example. They may be arranged in the frame or door so as to shine inwardly as well as outwardly.

4 The invention also includes the provision of a location and wiring for a bell push in the frame or door.

The electrical supply will normally be a mains supply but the invention is equally applicable to battery operations or to both.

The invention may be applied to frames and doors made of any suitable material, e.g. wood, metal, plastics material and composite materials. However, it may be found particularly advantageous for use in extruded hollow frame members, e.g. of aluminium or plastics material, where the wiring and the locations for the fittings can very conveniently be located within the hollow members.

Considerable advantages accrue from pre-forming the locations and prefitting the fittings and wiring for the electrical appliances into the frame or closure member. It is only necessary to supply and fit the electrical appliance into its location. No drilling may be necessary and no wiring passages have to be channelled into the fitted frames or closure members. Installation is quick and easy. Of course, where a sensor is used, it may be necessary to adjust the range, field of vision and timing for the light (on and off intervals) when triggered.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the top portion of an entrance frame of the invention; Figure 2 is a similar view of the top portion of a door of the invention; and Figure 3 is a similar view of a frame unit of the invention comprising an entrance frame and a door.

In Figure 1 an entrance frame 10 has two vertical side members 11, 12 and upper horizontal cross-member 13 and a lower horizontal cross-member (not shown). Spaced a short distance below cross-member 13 (e.g. 50 mm. below for a frame in which side members 11 and 12 are from 2100 to 2200 mm long) is a transom 14 extending as an intermediate cross-member between side members 11 and 12.

Positioned in the space 15 defined between side members 11 and 12 and crossmembers 13 and 14 are locations 16 and 17 for an electric light fitting and a sensor respectively. The fittings which are positioned in space 15 may be shaped to conveniently receive their respective electrical appliances.

Thus the fitting at location 16 way be a socket, e.g. of the known bayonet or screw-threaded type, to receive a light bulb, and the socket is pre-wired, e.g. at 6 the factory where the frame is assembled, to have electrical wire connections, shown here at 18, the other end of which may have a conventional electrical connector (not shown), whereby it may be plugged into an electrical supply.

The fitting at location 17 may be a housing adapted to receive a sensor, e.g. an infra-red sensor, and again is wired via wire 19. The other end of wire 19 may also have a conventional electrical connector (not shown) whereby it may be plugged into an electrical supply.

The sensor at location 17 may be connected to the light at location 16 by conventional means whereby triggering of the sensor activates the light either until manually switched off or for a predetermined period.

In Figure 2 a similar arrangement is shown in a door 20 rather than in its surrounding frame.

Door 20 contains a recess 21 extending across the majority of its width and positioned near its upper end 22. In recess 21 are locations 23 and 24 for the desired fittings for electrical appliances. As in Figure 1, these appliances may be, for example, a light and a sensor to activate the light.

As before, the fittings may be provided with a socket and a housing respectively for the light and for the sensor and may be wired in any convenient manner for connection into an electrical supply.

7 In Figure 3 is shown a unit 30 of the invention comprising a frame 31 and a door 32.

Frame 31 has a transom 33 extending between vertical sides 34, 35 of the frame and spaced a little way from its upper cross-member 36. The space 37 between transom 33, sides 34, 35 and cross-member 36 could, if desired, have been fitted with locations for fittings for electrical appliances. However, as shown in this embodiment, these locations 38, 39 have been provided in a recess 40 in the door 32.

Additionally, frame side member 34 has been provided with an electric bell push 41, pre-wired into a location in the side member. It will be appreciated, however, that the frame when manufactured to include a location, and fittings including wiring at the location, for a bell push could be supplied with or without the actual bell push.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown.

Where, as illustrated, the frame or closure member has locations for two or more appliances, they may be positioned in separate recesses or other portions of the frame or closure member.

One sensor may be used to control more than one light.

8 As indicated above, the frame may be a window frame. It may contain an openable or a non-openable window, i.e. in this latter embodiment the closure member may be fixed in the closed position.

JHM/VMS1 14.04.98. P0205OGB.des 9

Claims (7)

1. A frame unit comprising a fi-ame to receive a closure member, the fiame having one or more locations for fittings to receive electrical appliance(s), the fitting(s) being --- 1 positioned in the locations and having electrical wiring to be connected into a supply of electricity.

2. A frame unit comprising a frame, a closure member received in the flame, the closure member having one or more locations for fittings to receive electrical appliance(s) being positioned in the locations and having electrical wiring to be connected into a supply of electricity.

3. A fl-ame unit according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the fittings have been fitted in the fi=e and/or closure member when made in a factory.

4. A fl-ame unit according to any preceding Claim wherein the wiring is located within the fi-ame and/or closure member.

5. A fl-ame unit according to any preceding Claim, wherein the closure member is a door or window.

6. A fl-ame unit according to any preceding Claim, wherein the supply of electricity is a battery.

7. A frame unit according to any preceding Claim wherein fittings are adapted to receive a light or bell push.