GB2220020A - Window or door frame - Google Patents

Abstract

An aluminium door or window frame has a decorative lamina adhered to it.

Description

WINDOW OR DOOR FRAME MEMBER This invention relates to a frame member for use in the construction of windows, doors, or like architectural features. The term "frame member" is intended to include not only members which perform a structural or load bearing function, but also members whose purpose is solely that of providing a particular appearance as part of or in association with a window or door, e.g. trim members.

The invention is concerned particularly with the application of a decorative and protective surface finish to a frame member which comprises an extrusion of an aluminium alloy. If a frame member of extruded aluminium alloy is not desired to be left in its natural finish, it can be given a required surface finish by the application of paint, or by an anodising process. Such surface finishes are, however, somewhat limited in the effects they can achieve and may deteriorate in appearance over a long period of time if used in a building subject to harsh environmental conditions, e.g. heavy atmospheric pollution, or salt spray in the case of a building near the sea. It has also been proposed to provide a frame member with a clip-on covering of a plastics material to provide a required appearance, and provide the additional benefit of thermally insulating the frame member.

However, this is an expensive addition.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved frame member.

According to one aspect of the invention, we provide a window or door frame member comprising an extrusion of an aluminium alloy and including a thermally insulating portion, characterised by being provided, on a surface thereof which would otherwise be visible when the frame member is installed, with a lamina adhered to and providing a required decorative finish on such surface.

By use of the adhesively secured lamina, a much wider range of surface finishes can be obtained than those possible by use of painting or anodising processes.

For example, a "wood grain" finish can be applied.

Further, the adhesively secured lamina can provide greater protection for the aluminium alloy under hostile environmental conditions than can a painted or anodised finish, so the appearance of the frame member is maintained over a greater period of time.

The aluminium extrusion may be thermally insulated by being provided, on a surface which would otherwise be accessible when the frame member is installed, with a thermally insulating covering of a plastics material, and the lamina may then be provided on a surface of the extrusion which, in an installed window or door, is opposite the side of the frame member at which the covering of thermally insulating material is provided.

Alternatively, the frame member may be thermally broken, comprising two extrusions of aluminium alloy joined by a thermally insulating portion, e.g. of a plastics material, at least one of the aluminium alloy extrusions then being provided with the lamina.

According to a further aspect of the invention, we provide a frame assembly for a window or door, comprising an extrusion of an aluminium alloy having, on a surface which would otherwise be visible in the installed assembly, an adhered lamina providing a required decorative finish on such surface; and a further member assembled to the extrusion, wherein said further member covers an edge of the lamina.

By virtue of covering the edge of the lamina, the further member protects the edge from damage so that there is no tendency for the lamina to lift from the extrusion starting at such edge. A further advantage is that close tolerances do not have to be maintained in application of the lamina, since if its edge is covered the exact position of such edge is not critical. The further member covering the edge of the lamina may be, for example, a seal or a glazing bead. Other examples are described hereafter.

Before the lamina is applied thereto, the extrusion of aluminium alloy may be anodised, etch primed, or otherwise treated to provide a surface to which the lamina will adhere.

The lamina may be applied by a profile wrapping process, which involves passing the extrusion through a machine wherein an adhesive is applied thereto, after which the lamina is introduced to the surface of the extrusion and caused to conform to the surface shape thereof by successive profiled rollers. Such a process is well known. Any other suitable alternative process for applying the lamina may be utilised.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a cross-section through part of a window assembly having frame members according to the invention, Figure 2 is a section through part of another window assembly having frame members according to the invention; Figure 3 is an enlarged view of part of a frame member according to the invention; Figure 4 is a section through part of a further frame assembly embodying the invention; Figure 5 is a section through part of yet a further assembly embodying the invention.

It is to be appreciated that the following description relates to examples only of frame members according to the invention. The principle of the invention is applicable to frame members of other configuration, and for other uses, than those hereinafter described.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, there is shown part of a window assembly which has a fixed frame 10 and an opening light 11. The former comprises a frame member of extruded aluminium alloy, comprising front and rear flange portions 12, 13 respectively, joined by a web portion 14. The rear flange portion 13 is provided with a covering of plastics material 15 which, in known manner, comprises an extruded shell containing a core of foamed plastics material. It is held to the flange portion 13 by a lip 16 engaging behind a part of the flange portion, and a groove 17 in the plastics covering into which a barbed or "fir tree" section protrusion 18 fits.

The opening light 11 comprises a frame member 20 which comprises a web portion 21 and front and rear flange portions 22, 23. The latter has an insulating plastics covering 24 attached in the same way as the covering on the frame member of the fixed frame. A detachable glazing bead 25 engages the front flange of the frame member, to retain a sealed double glazing unit 26. Gaskets 27, 28 engage the double glazing unit in known manner. The front flange 22 of the frame member 20 also carries, at its free end, a flipper seal 29 which engages the front flange 12 of the fixed frame 10 when the light is closed.

According to the present invention, the fixed frame and the frame of the opening light each have their front visible surfaces provided with an adhered lamina presenting a required surface finish. The glazing bead 25 also has such a lamina, so that the entire visible frame at the front of the window has the required surface colour and/or texture, e.g. a simulated wood grain.

This is indicated on the frame members and glazing bead by hatching on such visible surfaces thereof.

The coverings 15, 24 of thermally insulating material may also be provided with laminae presenting a required surface finish.

Figure 2 of the drawings shows a further embodiment of window assembly, which again comprises a fixed frame indicated generally at 30 and an opening light indicated generally at 31. The frame member of the fixed frame is of thermally broken type, comprising front and rear portions 32, 33 which are joined by a rigid connecting portion 34 of a plastics material. The plastics material, which has good thermal insulating properties, prevents heat flow between the front and rear parts of the frame member. In known manner, the frame member would be manufactured by extruding a single member which comprises the front and rear portions joined together by a portion which defines a trough into which the plastics material 34 can be poured in flowable condition, such joining portion being machined away after the plastics material has set.Similarly the frame member which forms the opening light 31 comprises a front portion 35, rear portion 36, and thermally insulating plastics connecting element 37. A glazing bead 38 retains a double glazed unit 39 to the frame of the opening light.

According to the invention, the visible surfaces of the front portions 32, 35 of the fixed and opening frame members, and the visible surface of the glazing bead 38, are all provided with respective adhered laminae, as indicated by hatching on the drawing.

Figure 3 shows a detail of a frame member according to the invention. A portion 45 of the frame member defines an undercut groove 40 in which is received a body portion 41 of a sealing member which also comprises a flipper sealing portion 42. The sealing member is an extrusion of a suitable plastics or elastomeric material, possibly with the sealing portion 42 being of a lesser hardness than the body portion 41 thereof. The outer surface of the frame member is provided with an adhesively secured lamina 44, and it will be noted that the lamina extends around the corner of the portion 45 of the frame member which defines the undercut groove 40.

This part of the lamina is engaged by a portion 46 of the sealing member, so that the edge of the lamina is to some extent protected by the sealing member. Such protection of the edge of the lamina has the effect that the lamina is protected against lifting away from the frame member, and the possibility of penetration of contaminants to the adhesive interface between the lamina and frame member is reduced.

Referring now to Figure 4 of the drawings, this is a section through a vertical part of a vertical sliding window assembly. In the illustrated section there is shown a wooden sill member 50 to which is secured an extruded aluminium alloy member 51 of the fixed frame of the window assembly. The frame member 51 has, at the inside of the building in which it is installed, two thermally insulating coverings 52, 53 of plastics material with a foamed core, attached as in the embodiment of Figure 1. According to the invention, the visible surface 55 of the frame member 51 has an adhesively secured lamina providing its required finish, as indicated by the hatching in the drawing. Also visible in Figure 4 is a frame assembly indicated generally at 54 of the sliding window.The frame member 54 is a thermally broken member, comprising two aluminium alloy extrusions 56, 57 joined by a thermally insulating plastics connecting member 58 in known manner. The front visible surface of the extrusion 56 is provided, as indicated by hatching 59, with an adhered lamina.

Referring now to Figure 5 of the drawings, this shows a section through part of the sill structure of a patio door assembly. It comprises a frame member 60 of extruded aluminium alloy provided with a thermally insulating covering 61. The frame member receives, as a snap fit, a plastics insert 62 which defines an upwardly facing undercut groove in which is received a stainless steel track insert 63 which is of inverted U-shape. A sliding door 64 provided with rollers as 65 at its lower edge runs on the track 63. Fixing screws for the frame member are concealed by the insert 62.

A front portion 66 of the frame member 60 has its visible surface provided with an adhered lamina as indicated by hatching at 67. The plastic insert 62 includes a forwardly extending lip 68 which covers the edge of the lamina 67, to protect the latter. Such protection of the lamina is particularly valuable in the case of a door where the lamina may otherwise be vulnerable to damage due to persons stepping on it.

A forwardly presented surface of the frame member 60 behind the door 64 may also be provided with an adhered lamina, as indicated by hatching at 69. This lamina preferably extends, at its upper edge, around a lip formation 70 on the frame member, to an inaccessible position so that it is protected from damage. At its lower edge, the lamina preferably is covered by the plastics insert 62 for the same reason.

In all the embodiments of frame member above described, the lamina may be applied to the required surfaces of the aluminium alloy extrusions by a profile wrapping process. Such a process, which is well known, passes the extrusion through a machine wherein an adhesive is applied thereto, after which the lamina is introduced to the surface of the extrusion and caused to conform to the shape thereof by successive profiled rollers. However, any other suitable alternative process may be employed. if the lamina is of a suitable material, a separate adhesive need not be employed, for example if the lamina will fuse or otherwise adhere to the extrusion when applied thereto at an elevated temperature.

Claims (10)

1. A window or door frame member comprising an extrusion of an aluminium alloy and including a thermally insulating portion, characterised by being provided, on a surface thereof which would otherwise be visible when the frame member is installed in a window or door, with a lamina adhered to and providing a required decorative finish on such surface.

2. A frame member according to Claim 1 wherein the extrusion is provided, on a surface thereof which would otherwise be visible when the frame member is installed, with a thermally insulating covering of a plastics material, and wherein said lamina is provided on a surface of the extrusion which, in an installed window or door, is opposite the side of the frame member at which the covering of thermally insulating material is provided.

3. A frame member according to Claim 1 which is thermally broken comprising two extrusions of aluminium alloy joined by a thermally insulating portion, and wherein at least one of said extrusions is provided with said lamina.

4. A frame member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein an edge portion of the lamina extends to a part of the extrusion inaccessible in use.

5. A frame assembly for a window or door, comprising an extrusion of an aluminium alloy having, on a surface which would otherwise be visible, an adhered lamina providing a required decorative finish on said surface, and further comprising another member assembled to the extrusion, wherein said other member engages an edge of the lamina to protect the latter.

6. A frame assembly according to Claim 5 wherein said other member is a sealing member.

7. A frame assembly according to Claim 5 wherein said other member is a support member for a track for a sliding door.

8. A frame member or assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the lamina is applied by a profile wrapping process.

9. A frame member or assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the extrusion is treated by an anodising process before the lamina is applied thereto.

10. A frame member or assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.