GB2194273A - Windows - Google Patents

Abstract

In a method of installing a window assembly onto on external sill 14 of larger dimension than inner sill 16, a lightweight surround unit 10 is prefabricated, inserted through the opening to outside the building, drawn back into sill 14 and secured in position. Thereafter the heavier window assembly 11 is inserted, from within the building into the surround unit 10 and releasably secured by retaining means 12. Unit 10 has a width at least three times its depth and includes a stepped recess 32 and a wall 23. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Window installations This invention concerns window installations, and methods and means for installing window assemblies.

It is known to manufacture prefabricated, substantially complete, window assemblies as units for fitting into window openings in buildings or like structures; and such assemblies usually comprise one or more window frames fixedly or movably located in an outer or fixed frame, together with the usual window furniture such as hinges, stays, seals, locks and catches. The window frames may be glazed during manufacture of the units.

It is accepted practice to install such units from the exterior of the building, and such practice is usually most convenient except where the window openings are so high as to necessitate the use of a hoist or like lifting apparatus.

In some instances, especially where the elevated openings are in buildings under construction, the window units can be installed from within the buildings, but in many other instances it is either inconvenient or impossible to do so.

Particularly difficult problems arise where the opening is elevated, is stepped so as to have an inner part smaller than an outer part into which the window unit is to be fitted, and where external access for lifting apparatus is restricted. In such instances it may be possible to manipulate and lift the window unit out through the opening and to hold the unit up from within the building as the unit is reorientated and lifted back into the outer part of the opening. However, such units vary considerably in size and weight, so that such lifting and manipulation thereof may be so difficult and hazardous as to make it preferable to enlarge the inner part of the opening, e.g. by removal of plasterwork, tiles, masonry and interior sills at considerable extra cost.

An object of the invention is to enable such problems, difficulties and hazards to be avoided without incurring said expense of enlarging the opening.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of installing a prefabricated window or window frame assembly in a stepped opening in a building, the opening having an outer part larger than an inner part, comprising the steps of: (a) prefabricating a surround unit in which the cross-section of each run is thinner than in outside to inside width; and which is stepped to provide a seating and a wall at the outside end of said seating; (b) passing the surround unit outwards through the opening, drawing the unit back into the outer part and locating the unit in said outer part; and (c) inserting the frame assembly into the seating from within the building and securing the frame assembly to the surround unit.

A receiving formation is preferably provided alongside the inside end of the seating of the surround unit, to receive means to retain the periphery of the frame assembly in the surround unit.

The height of the wall is preferably at least 50% of the thickness of the run from the seating to the periphery of the surround unit.

Packing may be inserted between the seating and said periphery of the frame assembly.

Drainage means may be provided in the bottom run of the surround unit to receive liquid from the frame assembly.

The surround unit may be provided with a resilient head to assist initial location of the unit in said outer part by engating the latter, and said head may be arranged to serve as a seal between the surround unit and said outer part.

As a preliminary to fitting the surround unit, the outer part may be provided with packings or a sill or covering on which the surround unit may rest, and the surround unit may be installed with such packings.

The frame assembly may be releasably secured to the surround unit so as to be bodily removable therefrom, from within the building.

The invention includes a surround unit constructed and arranged for use in said method, and a window installation incorporating said surround unit or installed by said method of the invention.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a vertical cross-section through parts of a bottom run of a first embodiment of window installation of the invention; Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a second embodiment of the invention; and Figure 3 shows a sectional detent of a modification applicable to both embodiments.

The installation comprises a rectangular prefabricated surround unit, of which a lower run 10 is shown, a prefabricated window frame assembly, of which a lower run 11 is partially shown and retaining means 12 to retain the assembly in the surround, the surround being located in an outer part of a stepped opening 13 in a building.

The bottom of the opening 13 is defined by an external sill portion 14, an outwardly directed step 15 and a raised internal sill portion 16.

In all embodiments, the portion 14 may be provided with an optional sill piece of covering 20, and suitable packings 21 may be placed on the covering 20 or the portion 14.

The surround unit is constructed from appropriate lengths of a single extrusion, which comprises a hollow body 22 and a hollow wall 23 upstanding from the outside of the body. A base wall 24 of the body 22 is flanged to provide outside, intermediate and inside flanges 25, 26 and 27 at the periphery of the unit. The body has an outside to inside width which is at least three times the thickness of the body, and provides outside, intermediate and inside chambers 28, 29 and 30.

A top wall 31 of the body is stepped to provide a well 32 between two platforms 33 and 34 which together constitute a seating extending inwards from the wall 23; and to provide an undercut recess 35 above the inside chamber 30, which recess 35 is configured to receive the retaining means 12.

The bottom run 10 is provided with drainage openings 36 and 37 to allow liquid to drain away from the well 32 to outside the surround unit via the outside chamber 28.

The wall has a height which is at least half of the thickness of the body, and has a formation 38 to receive and locate a seal 39.

The window frame assembly may be of any kind having one or more vent or window frames, such as the frame 40, mounted in a supporting frame 41 in known manner for window assemblies in which the supporting frame is fixed directly to the masonry defining the opening in known manner after being inserted, from outside the building, into the outer part of the opening. In the present case, the frame 41 is instead dimensioned to be fitted into the surround unit from inside the building. The window or vent frame or any thereof may be openable, pre-glazed and provided with furniture prior to being installed in the surround unit.

The retaining means 12 may be of any suitable form. In the first embodiment, a known form of glazing bead 42, having a sealing wedge 43 receiving formation 44, is clipped into the recess 35, and is removable to permit inwards withdrawal of the complete window assembly. In the second embodiment the retaining means comprises a timber bead. In the modification shown in Fig. .2 the frame 41 is provided with a peripheral bracket extrusion 45 which projects inwardly across the recess 35 for engagement by fasteners 46 and a clip or press on trim bead 47 which extends to engage in the recess 35.

The surround unit is constructed so as to weigh less than 25% of the glazed window assembly.

During installation, the surround unit is lifted out of the building via the opening; is orientated to align with and is drawn back into the outer part until the inside face of the body abuts the step 15 and is secured or held in place in the outer part e.g. by fasteners 48 driven through the body into the portion 14 (Fig. 1.), by a resilient sealing bead 49 on the flange 25 (Fig. 2) or by other suitable means.

A sealing fillet 50 of mastic may be applied to seal the unit to the structure, and, if provided, the covering 20.

Thereafter, the complete window assembly is lifted into the surround unit from within the building, centralised in the seating e.g. by means of packings 51, and secured; permanently or releasably, in position by the retaining means 12, and, optionally additional fasteners.

It will be readily appreciated that installation may be performed easily and rapidly from within the building, by virtue of the lightweight surround unit, which need not be of particularly rigid construction. Furthermore, the seating may be provided with packings, e.g. as shown in Fig. 2, so that the frame can be made to pass through the inside part of the opening even if the step height is greater than the thickness of the body as indicated in broken lines at 60 in Fig. 2, without having to employ any, or more than minimal and easily concealed, packings between the unit and the building structure.

Accessories, such as a sill piece 61, may be fitted to the surround unit before or after installation.

Claims (11)

1. A method of installing a prefabricated window or window frame assembly in a stepped opening in a building, the opening having an outer part larger than an inner part, comprising the steps of: (a) prefabricating a surround unit in which the cross-section of each run is thinner than in outside to inside width; and which is stepped to provide a seating and a wall at the outside end of said seating; (b) passing the surround unit outwards through the opening, drawing the unit back into the outer part and locating the unit in said outer part; and (c) inserting the assembly into the seating from within the building and securing the assembly to the surround unit.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein instep (a) a receiving formation is provided alongside the inside end of the seating of the surround unit, to receive means to retain the periphery of the assembly in the surround unit during step (c).

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein in step (a) the surround unit is formed so that the height of the wall is at least 50% of the thickness of the run from the seating to the periphery of the surround unit.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein packing is inserted between the seating and said periphery of the assembly.

5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein drainage means is provided in the bottom run of the surround unit to receive liquid from the assembly.

6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the surround unit is provided with a resilient bead to assist initial location of the unit in said outer part by engaging the latter, and to serve as a seal between the surround unit and said outer part.

7. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein prior to step (b) the outer part is provided with packings or a sill or covering on which the surround unit may rest.

8. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein in step (c) the assembly is releasably secured to the surround unit so as to be bodily removable therefrom, from within the building.

9. A method of installing a prefabricated window or window frame assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1,2 or 3 of the accompanying drawing.

10. A surround unit constructed and arranged for use in the method claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. A window installation incorporating a surround unit as claimed in claim 10 or installed by the method claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.