GB2239281A - Door framing means and method - Google Patents

Abstract

Door framing means comprises at least one liner element (18), a plurality of brackets (25) to interconnect neighbouring edges of the liner element (18) and an adjacent "ground" element (16), and at least one architrave member (17) to overlie at least part of said edges and to cover the said brackets (25). After the "ground" (16) is fastened to the wall opening (14), neighbouring edges of the "ground" and liner element (16, 18) are interconnectable on one (preferably, on each) side of the wall by a (respective) bracket (25) such that the bracket (25) extends in a direction to overlie a face of the wall adjacent the opening (14), the bracket (25) and "ground" (16) being thereafter covered by an architrave (17) to provide a concealed fastening of the liner to the "ground". Optionally the door (30) may be wedged within the framing means by temporary spacer means (32) whilst the framing means is fastened to the wall (from outside of the door opening defined by the framing means). <IMAGE>

Description

DOOR FRAMING MEANS This invention relates to door framing means.

Conventionally, to provide a door frame within an opening in either a brick wall or a stud wall, three wood sections of a so-called "ground" are centred on and screw-fastened to the opposite sides and to the top of the wall's opening. Each section of the "ground" is usually of softwood and approximately 2.5 cm wider than the wall thickness such as to extend in each direction beyond the opposite faces of the wall by approximately 1.25 cm. These extending selvedges of the softwood "ground" provide a depth marker or so-called "bead" up to which a plasterer can plaster the opposite faces of the wall where they meet the opening.

If the door is to be mounted directly onto the softwood "ground", i.e. the door frame is to be provided by the "ground", the frame is first braced (temporarily) by crossbraces and/or angled corner-braces to ensure it is fully "square", i.e. its neighbouring sides are at exac#tly 900 to one another and are all in he same vertical plane. The braced frame is then wedged in position within the wall's opening by inserting wooden-wedges at intervals between the wall and the softwood "ground". The wedging action is adjusted until the softwood frame is "squarely" in position in a vertical plane within the opening and with the abovemention selvedges extending as desired.The frame provided by the "ground" is then screw-fastened to the opposite side and the top of the wall's opening as mentioned above by screwing into the frame and the sides of the wall opening, i.e. in a direction coextensive with the central plane of the wall or a plane generally coplanar therewith.

If a hardwood lining is to be provided for the visible surfaces of the frame, the above procedures are followed but a three-section liner is fastened to the "ground", the liner and "ground" being together screw-fastened to the sides of the wall opening (in a direction generally coplanar with the central plane of the wall).

In either case, after plastering, architrave members can be screwed or nailed to the edges of the "ground to overlie the join between those edges and the plaster or rendering.

This can be done either before or after the temporary bracing members are removed and the door mounted in the frame.

In consequence of the above-explained conventional construction methods, visible holes are left in the "ground" and the liner (where provided) upon removal of the temporary bracing, and the fastening screw heads or head-covering buttons therefor remain visible in the "ground" or liner (where provided) and/or in the architrave (where provided).

These "deformities" are not too unsightly where the frame is of a softwood which is to be painted, but are most unsatisfactory for hardwood-lined door frames that are to be stained and varnished (or lacquered) to exhibit the beauty of the hardwood's grain.

According to a first aspect of this invention there is provided a method of fastening, within a wall opening, door framing means comprising a "ground" and a liner therefor, said method comprising the steps of: fastening the "ground" to the wall opening; interconnecting neighbouring edges# of the "ground" and liner on at least one side of the wall (preferably on both sides of the wall) by a (respective) bracket extending in a direction to overlie a face of the wall adjacent the opening; and covering said bracket and the "ground" by an architrave to provide a concealed fastening of the liner to the "ground".

Preferably the architrave is attached to one or more of the ground, the liner or the bracket by concealed fastening means.

Advantageously, the concealed fastening means is formed at least in part by said bracket.

According to a second aspect of this invention there is provided a method of fastening door framing means within a wall opening, said method comprising the steps of: positioning the framing means within the wall opening; positioning a door within the framing means; inserting temporary spacer means between edges of the door and the framing means; urging elements of the framing means towards adjacent door edges to sandwich the temporary spacer means therebetween; and, with said elements of the fastening means in these positions, fastening them to the wall.

Where the framing means comprises a "ground" and the door is to be mounted directly thereon, wedges may be inserted between the sides of the wall's opening and the elements of the "ground" to urge the latter towards their adjacent door edges before the thus-positioned "ground" elements are fastened directly to the wall.

Where the framing means comprises a "ground" and a liner, and the door is to be mounted on the liner, the "ground"'s elements may be fastened to the side of the wall's opening (by a method according to said second aspect of the invention, by the aforesaid conventional method, or by any other suitable method) and wedges may then be inserted between said "ground" elements and the facing elements of the liner to urge the latter towards their adjacent door edges before the thus-positioned elements of the liner are fastened (e.g. in accord with said first aspect of the invention) to the "ground", i.e. indirectly to the wall.

According to a third aspect of this invention there is provided door framing means adapted for use in a method according to said first aspect and/or to said second aspect of this invention.

Preferably said framing means comprises at least one liner element, a plurality of brackets to interconnect neighbouring edges of the liner element and an adjacent "ground" element, and at least one architrave member to overlie at least part of said edges and to cover the said brackets.

Preferably the edges of said liner element are grooved and each of said brackets has a main limb and, projecting laterally in one direction therefrom, a foot-like limb to engage in a said groove.

Advantageously the said brackets are provided with means to provide a concealed fastening for the architrave.

Preferably the brackets' concealed fastening means comprise a further limb projecting laterally of the main limb in the opposite direction to engage in a groove in the architrave member.

Advantageously the edges of said liner element are provided with further grooves (closer to the door edge than the grooves to receive the foot-like limbs of said brackets), and the architrave member is provided with a laterally projecting rib to engage in a said further groove.

Preferably said framing means comprises a plurality of spacer members to be sandwiched between at least one liner element and an adjacent edge of the door or, if no liner is provided, between at least one "ground" element and an adjacent edge of the door.

By way of non-limiting example, one embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a schematic horizontal section through a wall to the left of an opening provided with a door and door framing means according to the invention.

The illustrated wall 10 has opposite faces 11,12 and is provided with an opening 13 having vertical sides 14 opposite one another (only the left-hand side of the opening is shown). Two opposite, vertically upright elements 16 of a softwood "ground" are fastened to the opening's sides 14, and a third horizontal element (not shown) is attached to the underside of the opening in a lintel-like manner. Fastening of these "ground" elements may be by screws screwed into the wall's sides 14 (in a plane generally parallel to the wall's faces 11,12).

Each "ground" element is approximately 2.5 cm wider than the wall thickness and is centred with respect to the wall's faces 11,12 such as to extend outwardly of each face 11,12 by approximately 1.25 cm. The resultant projections or selvedges provide a so-called "bead" or depth marker for the render or plaster 17 to be applied to the wall's faces 11,12.

After such plastering, the three softwood elements of the "ground" are over lain with three hardwood liner elements two sides elements 18 and a top element (not shown) - of generally corresponding width. A pair of longitudinal grooves 19,20 are provided in each of the opposite edges 21,22 of each side element 18. A plurality of generally Z- shaped brackets 25 are spaced apart longitudinally of the upright liner elements 18 and along each of edges 21,22.

Each of these brackets 25 has a main limb 26 and, at one end, a laterally projecting foot 24 that is received fittingly into the groove 20. Towards the opposite end of its main limb 26 each bracket 25 has a further limb 27 projecting laterally in the opposite direction to foot 24.

In a preferred method, the desired correct positioning of the liner's elements is obtained from the door 30 itself (rather than from the position or dimensions of the "ground" elements 16), the door serving somewhat as a jig for the position of the liner. For this the door is positioned within the liner elements 18, the main webs of a plurality of L-section or T-section spacers 32 are inserted temporarily between the door's edges and the adjacent liner elements, and these liner elements are then urged towards the door's edges (to sandwich the spacers 32 between them) by means of wooden wedges driven into the spaces 28 between the adjacent "ground" and liner elements 16,18.Since the door's edges are "square" to one another and the door is initially positioned in a vertical plane, the positions thus obtained for the liner elements are similarly "square" and vertical.

With the liner elements 18 thus in their desired correct positions, they are attached indirectly to the wall 10 by fastening the brackets 25 to elements 16 of the "ground".

Each such bracket 25 is fastened by means of a screw 23 screwed through the bracket's main limb 26 and into the edge of the "ground" element 16 thereby to interconnect the neighbouring edges of the "ground" and liner - it being appreciated that each bracket 25 is attached to an edge 21 or 22 of a liner element 18 by means of the bracket's foot 24 engaged in the liner element's edge groove 20.

Architrave members 33 are then attached to the door frame provided by the "ground" elements and liner elements and such as to cover the brackets 25. In this embodiment the inside face of each architrave member 33 is provided with a shallow elongate recess 34 to accomodate the brackets' main limbs 26. The bight surface of each such recess 34 is provided with a longitudinal groove 37 to receive in tightly fitting engagement the laterally projecting limbs 27 of the brackets 25. Advantageously the side surfaces of each limb 27 may be barbed, e.g. of chevron form, to grip the walls o groove 37 tightly and resist disegagement of the architrave member once it has been fastened thereon.

Furthermore, each architrave member 33 is provided with a laterally projecting longitudinal rib 39 that projects into the groove 19 provided in the edge of the liner element 18.

These groove-engaged ribs 39 not only assist in locating the architrave members 33 but also ensure that the adjacent corner of each of the brackets 25 is fully concealed even if, say, the lateral tolerances would otherwise produce a gap between the architrave and an adjacent surface of the liner or of the plastered wall.

It will be appreciated that attachment of the architrave members can be performed either before or after the door 33 is hinge-mounted to the liner. Similarly, the hardwood liner (and door) can be polished (e.g. stained and either varnished or lacquered) either before erection, e.g. in purchased form, or after erection.

It will also be appreciated that several modifications can be effected to the above-described embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the liner elements 18 need not be formed with a rebate to provide an integral door stop. Either no door stop is provided or a separate stop member is attached to the liner element, e.g. by being screwed thereto from the opposite surface (that in use is adjacent space 28) prior to erection. In another modification the brackets 25 may be attached to the liner 18 by means (e.g. screws) other than the foot-like limbs 24 and/or may be attached to the "ground" elements 16 by means (e.g. laterally directed limbs of the brackets) other than the screws 23.

Furthermore it will be appreciated that the above-described method of using the door 30 as a datum structure for positioning the liner elements correctly can, in accord with an aspect of this invention, be applied as a method of positioning the "ground" elements prior to screwing them to the wall. This can be done not only where no liner is to be provided, but even where (as in the exemplary embodiment described above) a liner is to be provided - it being then only necessary to provide spacer members 32 of width greater than that illustrated. In each such case, urging of the "ground" elements towards the door edges is preferably effected by driving wooden wedges between the sides 14 (and underside) of the wall's opening and the "ground" elements.

Other modifications will be apparent to the skilled reader a all such modifications are to be deemed within the scope of present invention.

Claims (19)

1. A method of fastening, within a wall opening, door framing means comprising a "ground" and a liner therefor, said method including the steps of: fastening the "ground" to the wall opening; interconnecting neighbouring edges of the "ground" and liner on one side of the wall by a bracket extending in a direction to overlie a face of the wall adjacent the opening; and covering said bracket and the "ground" by an architrave to provide a concealed fasteningof the liner to the "ground".

2. A method according to Claim 1, wherein neighbouring edges of the "ground" and liner are interconnected on each side of the wall by a respective bracket extending in 2.

direction to overlie a face of the wall adjacent the opening, each said bracket and the "ground" being covered by an architrave to conceal the liner to "ground" fastening.

3. A method according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein, the architrave is attached to one or more of the ground, the liner or the bracket by concealed fastening means.

4. A method according to Claim 3, wherein the concealed fastening means is formed at least in part by said bracket.

5. A method of fastening door framing means within a wall opening, said method including the steps of: positioning the framing means within the wall opening; positioning a door within the framing means; inserting temporary spacer means between edges of the door and the framing means; urging elements of the framing means towards adjacent door edges to sandwich the temporary spacer means there between; and, with said elements of the fastening means in these positions, fastening them to the wall.

6. A method according to Claim 5 wherein, the framing means comprises a "ground" and the door is to be mounted directly thereon, said method including the insertion of wedges between the sides of the wall's opening and the elements of the "ground" to urge the latter towards their adjacent door edges before the thus-positioned "ground" elements are fastened directly to the wall.

7. A method according to Claim 5 wherein the framing means comprises a "ground" and a liner, and the door is to be mounted on the liner, said method including fastening elements of the "ground" to the side of the wall's opening and inserting wedges between said "ground" elements and the facing elements of the liner to urge the latter towards their adjacent door edges before the thus-positioned elements of the liner are fastened to the "ground" and thereby fastened indirectly to the wall.

8. A method according to Claim 7, wherein said elements of the liner are fastened to the "ground" by a method according to any one of Claims 1 to 4.

9. A method according to Claim 1 or to Claim 5 and substantially as hereinbefore described.

10. Door framing means adapted for use in a method according to any preceding claim.

11. Door framing means comprising at least one liner element, a plurality of brackets to interconnect neighbouring edges of the liner element and an adjacent "ground" element, and at least one architrave member to overlie at least part of said edges and to cover the said brackets.

12. Door framing means according to Claim 11, wherein the edges of said liner element are grooved and each of said brackets has a main limb and, projecting laterally in one direction therefrom, a foot-like limb to engage in a said groove.

13. Door framing means according to Claim 11 or Claim 12, wherein the said brackets are provided with means to provide a concealed fastening for the architrave.

14. Door framing means according to Claim 13 when dependent from Claim 12, wherein the brackets' concealed fastening means comprise a further limb projecting laterally of the main limb in the opposite direction to engage in a groove in the architrave member.

15. Door framing means according to Claim 14, wherein the edges of said liner element are provided with further grooves, and the architrave member is provided with a laterally projecting rib to engage in a said further groove.

16. Door framing means according to Claim 15 wherein said further grooves are closer to the door edge than the grooves to receive the foot-like limbs of said brackets

17. Door framing means according to any one of Claims 11 to 16, wherein said framing means comprises a plurality of spacer members to be sandwiched between at least one liner element and an adjacent edge of the door or, if no liner is provided, between at least one "ground" element and an adjacent edge of the door.

18. Door framing means substantially as herein described and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

19. Such inventive features as may be deduced from the foregoing description and/or the accompanying drawings.