GB2308612A

GB2308612A - Installing window in new building

Info

Publication number: GB2308612A
Application number: GB9526515A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Duncombe
Original assignee: PLUS PLAN
Current assignee: PLUS PLAN
Priority date: 1995-12-23
Filing date: 1995-12-23
Publication date: 1997-07-02
Also published as: GB9526515D0

Description

Title: Method for Installation of windows or the like in New Buildings This invention relates to the installation of windows or the like in new buildings, and in particular to a collapsible, removable frame used as a template for windows during the construction of a wall.

In the construction of new buildings, two methods for the installation of windows are currently used. The first method, applying to wooden window frames only, is to situate the window frame on the wall, and then build around it. Frequently, minor damage of the window frame occurs during the building process. Scratches and dents inflicted in the frame are filled using a proprietary filler before the window frame is painted, repairing the damage.

When fitting windows with frames constructed from plastic or metal, it is not possible to repair any damage that may occur. Accordingly, a metal inner frame, known as a former, is situated in the wall to allow construction of a correctly sized opening. When the building work is finished, a prefabricated window assembly is fitted to the former, eg by means of a clip fitting.

This second method of installation is costly, forcing many constructors to use wooden window frames. Also, it may be difficult to remove the window assembly, should this be necessary for any reason There has now been devised a method and device for the installation of windows, which overcomes or substantially mitigates the above disadvantages.

According to the invention there is provided a frame to be used as a template for openings in walls under construction, said frame being reducible in size and thus removable from the completed construction.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of installing a window or the like in a wall under construction, which method comprises a) building said wall up to a level corresponding to the lower edge of said window or the like; b) positioning on said wall a frame having a first configuration corresponding in size to said window or the like, said frame being reducible in size to a second configuration; c) building said wall around said frame to form an opening for said window or the like; d) reducing said frame in size to said second configuration; e) removing said frame from said opening; and f) securing said window or the like within said opening.

The frame according to the invention is advantageous primarily in that it allows a window to be installed in a wall after the construction of the wall has been completed, removing the risk of damage to the window.

Preferably, the frame comprises a pair of rigid L-shaped members which together define a square or rectangle. The L-shaped members are preferably fastened together releasably such that they may be moved relative to each other to reduce the overall dimensions of the frame. The L shaped members are preferably releasably fastened together by means of fasteners such as pins.

Preferably, the frame is constructed so as to be rigid when the fasteners are in place.

Suitably, adjacent ends ofthe L-shaped members are connected by chains or other flexible means such that the members are prevented from separating completely when the fasteners are released.

The frame of the invention may be manufactured from any suitable material, steel being particularly suitable for use in the building trade.

To facilitate securing of the window or the like within the opening, the window or the like is preferably provided with fixing brackets.

The fixing brackets are preferably flexible to allow installation from either side of a suitable opening.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a partially constructed wall of a new building, with a window former in place, Figure 2 shows the former of Figure 1 with the wall built up further around it, Figure 3 is a cutaway perspective view of one corner of the former, situated in the wall, Figure 4 is a cutaway perspective view of the corner of the former in collapsed configuration, Figure 5 is a sectional view from above ofthe wall, showing a cavity between an outer brick wall and an inner block wall, Figure 6 is a side sectional view of the wall cavity, at the level of the sill of the window, Figure 7 is a perspective view of a window frame fitted with fixing brackets, Figure 8 is a sectional view from above of one end of the window frame of Figure 6, showing a fixing bracket and a plasterboard holder, Figure 9 is a sectional view from above of the window frame situated in a wall, Figure 10 is a perspective view of part of a fixing bracket and fixing screw.

Referring first to Figure 1, a steel former (1) is held in position by a prop of some form, eg a plank (2), on a section of partially-constructed brick wall (3). The former (1) is separable into two pieces, each piece constituting two sides of a rectangular frame. Each of the two pieces of the former are constructed from square box-section steel tubes with a rigid (welded) join at the corner. As shown in Figure 3, the pieces are joined together to form a rectangle by inserting securing pins (4) into the comer of the frame where the ends of the two pieces overlap, thus providing a strong, inflexible former (1).

The brick wall (3) is built around the former (1), which is designed to be the same dimensions as a standard sized window frame, as shown in Figure 2. When the wall (3) around the former (1) is completed (incorporating a lintel across the top of the former (1)), the securing pins (4) are removed from the former (1) and it is collapsed and removed from the wall (3), leaving an opening suitable for the installation of a window.

The construction of one corner of the former (1) is shown in detail in Figure 3. A horizontal limb (5) of one piece of the former terminates approximately 10mm from a vertical member (6) of the other piece. Two flanges (7) are fitted on the sides of the horizontal limb (5) and overlap the sides ofthe vertical limb (6). Holes in the flanges (7) align with holes in the vertical limb (6), for the insertion of a securing pin (4) to hold the pieces together. The flanges (7) stop approximately 10mum short of the vertical edge of the opening in the brick wall. The vertical limb (6) terminates approximately 10mm above the sill of the opening.

A chain (21) is connected to both the vertical limb (6) and the horizontal limb (5) of the former (1) to prevent the former (1) from separating completely when the securing pins (4) are removed.

In the vertical limb (6) the chain (21) is attached to a tube (22) that is used to accommodate a securing pin (4). The other end of the chain (21) is attached to a bar (23) inside the horizontal limb (5).

Upon removal of the securing pin (4) the vertical member (6) may be moved downwards until its base rests upon the brick wall (3). Similarly, the horizontal member (5) may be pushed towards the vertical member (6) until the ends of the horizontal flanges (7) are in contact with the wall (3). A comer of the former (1) that has been collapsed in this way is shown in Figure 4.

A similar arrangement at the opposite comer of the former (1) allows the reduction of both its horizontal and vertical dimensions by 1 Omm upon the removal of the securing pins. Once the former (1) has been reduced in size it may be easily removed from the brickwork (3), leaving an opening with the correct dimensions for the installation of a window.

A second internal wall (8) is constructed parallel to the brick (extemal) wall, as is the customary practice, leaving a cavity (9) 75mm wide between them, as shown in Figure 5. The internal wall (8) has an opening identical in size and directly behind the opening in the external wall (3). The cavity (9) between the intemal (8) and external (3) walls is filled around the opening using a proprietary cavity closer (10). The cavity closer (10) is chosen to be of the correct thickness to fit the cavity (9).

To prevent the cavity closer (10) situated below the sill ofthe opening from slipping downwards inside the cavity (9), a proprietary clip (11) is inserted at the sill as shown in Figure 6. The clip (11) is folded so as to be the correct width for the cavity (9), and the correct depth to accommodate the cavity closer (10) below the line of the window sill.

Figure 7 depicts a window frame (12) prior to installation, with fixing brackets (13) attached.

The brackets (13) are attached to the sides of the window frames (12) and extending perpendicularly to the plane of the window. The ends of the fixing brackets (13) are cranked through 90" to be parallel to the plane of the window.

A detailed illustration ofthe manner in which the fixing brackets (13) are attached to the window frame (12) is shown in Figure 8. Two grooves (14) in the window frame (12) accept projections (15) on the side of the brackets (13), with a clip fit. The brackets (13) may be further secured by fixing screws (16) as shown in Figure 8. Proprietary plasterboard holders (21) are also clipped to the window frame (12) using further location grooves (17).

The window (12) may be installed in the opening provided for it in the wall (3) by pushing it through from the inside until the fixing brackets (13) locate against the edges of the inside wall (8). Alternatively, the window (12) may be pushed through from the outside, temporarily bending the fixing brackets (13) until they have passed through the opening. Once the window (12) has been situated in the opening, its correct position is determined by moving it until all of the fixing brackets (13) are located against the edges of the inside wall (8). A correctly positioned window (12) is shown in Figure 9.

Figure 10 depicts in detail the means by which the fixing brackets (13) may be secured in place against the inside wall (8). Each bracket (13) has a slot (18) to accommodate a plated screw (19), a wall plug having been fitted to the wall to accept the screw (19). Screwing the fixing brackets (13) to the inside wall (8) through the slots (18) allows final small adjustments to be made to the alignment ofthe window (12). When the window (12) is in its final position, each bracket (13) is screwed to the inside wall through a single hole (20), fixing the window (12) in place.

Claims

1. A method of installing a window or the like in a wall under construction, which method comprises a) building said wall up to a level corresponding to the lower edge of said window or the like; b) positioning on said wall a frame having a first configuration corresponding in size to said window or the like, said frame being reducible in size to a second configuration; c) building said wall around said frame to form an opening for said window or the like; d) reducing said frame in size to said second configuration; e) removing said frame from said opening; and f) securing said window or the like within said opening.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a pair of rigid L-shaped members which together define a square or rectangle.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the L-shaped members are fastened together releasably such that they may be moved relative to each other to reduce the overall dimensions of the frame.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein adjacent ends of the L-shaped members are connected by chains or other flexible means such that the members are prevented from separating completely.

5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim ,wherein the frame is manufactured from steel.

6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the window is secured by means of fixing brackets.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the fixing brackets are flexible.

8. A frame to be used as a template for openings in walls under construction, said frame being reducible in size and thus removable from the completed construction.

9. A frame as claimed in claim 8, which comprises a pair of rigid L-shaped members which together define a square or rectangle.

10. A frame as claimed in claim 9, which comprises L-shaped members which are fastened together releasably such that they may be moved relative to each other to reduce the overall dimensions of the frame.

11. A frame as claimed in claim 10, wherein adjacent ends of the L-shaped members are connected by chains or other flexible means such that the members are prevented from separating completely.

12. A frame as claimed in claim 11, wherein the frame is manufactured from steel.

13. A method of installing a window or the like in a wall under construction, substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4.