GB2325954A

GB2325954A - Frame gasket which modifies the appearance of the frame

Info

Publication number: GB2325954A
Application number: GB9806569A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gary Hugh Dutton; Masurier Malcolm Le
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-06-06
Filing date: 1998-03-30
Publication date: 1998-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 2018-03-30
Also published as: GB9711658D0; GB9806569D0; GB2325954B

Abstract

A frame comprises a plurality of frame members 10 which together provide a generally rectangular opening 11 for a infill 12, each of the frame members 10 comprising a body part 13 and an upstand 15, and the body part 13 having means to receive a retaining member 18 so as provide a recess 19 to receive an edge of the infill, the upstand 15 having means 24 to retain a gasket 25, 26, 27 which forms a seal between the upstand 15 and the infill 12. The upstand has a surface 30 which faces inwardly of the opening 11 and the part 27 of the gasket overlies a substantial proportion of the surface 30 such that the appearance of the frame is altered. The gasket may be formed in two parts, the second part 26 being more flexible than part 27 and overlying part 25. The two parts 25, 27 and 26 of the gasket are either coextruded or separately extruded and bonded together before fitting, which may be before mounting the infill or by press-fit with the infill in place. Also disclosed is a method of changing the appearance of an existing frame by replacing the conventional gasket with one of the invention having a overlying part 25.

Description

Title: Improvements in or Relating to Frames Description of Invention This invention relates to a frame and more particularly but not exclusively to an extruded frame of a double glazed window or door unit.

Such frames are made with a variety of different frame profiles but each comprises a plurality of frame members joined together to produce a generally rectangular opening to receive an infill such as a double glazed panel, each of the frame members comprising a body part and an upstand, and the body part having means to receive a retaining member so as to provide a recess between the upstand and the retaining member to receive and retain an edge of the infill. Usually the upstand is provided integrally with the body part which means that there is little scope for altering the appearance of the frame and particularly the upstand from the side on which the upstand is provided, although the configuration of the retaining member can be chosen to give the frame a desired appearance from the side of the frame in which the retaining member is provided.

For example, a frame with an upstand which has a surface which faces inwardly of the opening is known, in which the surface is nearly perpendicular to the frame opening. In recent years it has become the fashion for that surface to extend at other angles, or to be rounded.

Hithertofore, it has been necessary to produce a frame profile to the particular desired configuration which is expensive in terms of tooling up for such production. The altering of even a palt of a profile may well have the effect of requiring alterations not only to the tool for the main profile extrusion, but to the tools of other components of the system, thus adding even greater cost.

The upstand may be located on the inside or the outside of the wall on which the frame is mounted.

According to one aspect of the invention we provide a frame comprising a plurality of frame members which together provide an opening for an infill, each of the frame members comprising a body part and an upstand; the body part having means to receive a retaining member so as to provide a recess between the upstand and the retaining member to receive an edge of the infill; the upstand comprising a surface which in use faces the generally inwardly of the opening, characterised in that means are provided to retain an element which overlies a substantial proportion of the inwardly facing surface of the upstand of at least one of the frame members, whereby the overlying element conceals the overlaid part of the surface, and the overlying element having a configuration such that the appearance of the frame is altered.

Thus utilising the present invention, frames with different appearances at least from the upstand side of the frame, can economically be produced, by manufacturing a range of overlying elements.

Preferably the overlying element conceals at least 50% of the inwardly facing surface, more preferably at least 75%. More preferably still, the overlying element conceals at least 90% of the inwardly facing surface.

Preferably the overlying element comprises an overlying part and a sealing part. The overlying element may be formed as extrusions of the overlying and sealing parts which are brought together immediately after extrusion so as to become bonded together. Thus the overlying element may be what is known as a co-extrusion, although if desired, the two part element may be made of separate parts bonded together if desired.

In any event, the sealing part may comprise a flexible plastic material which in use forms a seal with the infill, and the overlying part may comprise a more rigid-plastic material, made of the same or a similar material to that of the frame member.

Preferably the overlying part forms a visually substantially continuous line with the upstand, and may be of any desired configuration to give a desired frame appearance. Typically a hollow will be formed between the inwardly facing surface of the upstand and the overlying element.

Although the invention can be applied dining frame manufacture, and/or upon installation of the frame in a building, because usual one-piece seals, or gaskets, are replaceable in use, the invention may be applied to an existing frame.

Thus according to a second aspect of the invention we provide a method of modifying the appearance of a frame comprising a plurality of frame members which together provide an opening for an infill, each of the frame members comprising a body part and an upstand; the body part having means to receive a retaining member so as to provide a recess between the upstand and the retaining member to receive an edge of the infill; the upstand comprising a surface which in use faces generally inwardly of the opening, means being provided to retain a gasket which forms a seal between the upstand and the infill, the method being characterised in that the gasket is removed and replaced with an element which overlies a substantial proportion of the inwardly facing surface of the upstand of at least one of the frame members, the configuration of the overlying element being such that the appearance of the frame is altered.

Thus even with the frame in situ, the appearance of the frame from the side of the frame on which the upstand is provided may be modified.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of a frame member of a frame in accordance with the invention; FIGURE 2 is a view similar to figure 1 but showing an alternative embodiment; FIGURE 3 is a view similar to figures 1 and 2 but showing another embodiment; FIGURE 4 is a view similar to Figures 1, 2 and 3 but showing yet another embodiment.

Referring to figure 1 of the drawings there is shown a cross sectional view through a frame member 10 of a frame which typically may comprise four such frame members joined together so as to provide a generally rectangular frame opening 11. In this example, the frame is for mounting an infill 12 comprising in this example, a double glazed panel which is shown in outline only, although the invention may be applied to other frames, and/or where the infill 12 comprises some alternative kind of panel.

The frame member 10 conveniently is made as an extrusion in a suitable plastics material such as PVC-U, and comprises a body part 13 which has an integral upstand 15 which may be located at the inside or the outside of a wall or the like in which the frame 10 is mounted, and a formation 16 which is adapted to receive therein a retaining member 18, such that a recess or groove 19 is provided between the upstand 15 and the retaining member 18 in which an edge of the infill 12 is accommodated. The retaining member 18, otherwise known as a bead, is a snap or slide fit (slide fit shown in the drawings) into the retaining formation 16, and cannot easily be non-destructively removed. The bead 18 includes integral sealing elements 20 which engage and form a seal with one side of the infill 12.

The upstand 15 has provided in a surface 22 which faces the bead 18, a receiving formation 24 for an overlying element 25. In a conventional arrangement, the overlying element 25 would be a one-piece gasket, made from moulding or extrusion in a suitable resilient plastic material which forms a seal between the upstand 15 and the infill 12. In accordance with the invention however, the overlying element 25 is a co-extrusion of a sealing part 26 of a more-flexible material similar to conventional one piece gasket material, and an overlying part 27 of a less flexible material made of a material the same as or similar to the material of the body part 13. The two parts 26, 27 are brought together as they are extruded.

The overlying part 27 comprises formations 29 which receive the formation 24 of the upstand 15 and the overlying element 25 thus forms a seal with the upstand 15 and the infill 12.

The overlying part 27 substantially conceals a surface 30 of the upstand 15 which faces inwardly of the opening 11, preferably at least 50% of the surface 30, more preferably 75% and yet more preferably 90% at least, and in the example of figure 1 is of a convex curved configuration producing a hollow 32 between the surface 30 of the upstand 15 and the overlying part 27 of the overlying element 25, and the overlying part 27 and the upstand 15 forming a visually substantially continuous line at the point where they meet. The inwardly facing surface 30 of the upstand 15 of the profile of the frame member 10 is generally perpendicular to the opening 11, but with the overlying element 25 in place, the appearance of the frame member 10 from the side on which the upstand 15 is provided will be modified as a viewer will see the overlying part 27 of the overlying element 25 which will appear to be an integral part of the frame member 10 profile, particularly if the overlying part 27 is made in the same colour as the body part 13.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 show alternative embodiments of the invention, and in each case, similar parts are labelled with the same reference numerals as the embodiment of figure 1. In figure 2, the overlying part 27 of the overlying element 25 is straight rather than curved, but could be concavely curved as indicated in figures 3 and 4, or otherwise configured as desired.

Each of the embodiments of figures 1 to 3 are particularly suited to replace existing one piece gaskets in situ, because of the simplicity of the formations 29 of the overlying part 27 which receive the formation 24 of the upstand 15. In figure 4, the formation 29 of the sealing part 26 of the overlying element 25 is of a more complex shape and the overlying element 25 may be more suited to an application where the overlying element 25 is inserted into the receiving formation 34 before the infill 12 is inserted into the opening 11.

Many alternative overlying element 25 configurations are possible, both with respect to the way in which the overlying element 25 is retained using formations 24 and 34 and in respect of the appearance of the overlying part 27.

Although as described, the overlying element 25 is made as a coextrusion, the overlying element 25 may be made otherwise as desired, for example by producing by moulding, extrusion or otherwise two separate parts 26, 27 and connecting them together e.g. by bonding. Although it is strongly preferred where the overlying element 25 is placed into position prior to the infill 12 being installed for the sealing part 26 to have a formation 29 which is received in the receiving formation 34 of the upstand 15, if desired, the overlying element 25 may be a simple push fit between the upstand 15 and the infill 12.

Although it is preferred for the less-flexible overlying part 27 to be made in the same colour and of the same or similar material to the body part 13, if desired, the less-flexible overlying part 27 may be made in a different material and/or in a different colour to the body part 13 and/or may be decorated if desired.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropliate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A frame comprising a plurality of frame members which together provide an opening for an infill, each of the frame members comprising a body part and an up stand; the body part having means to receive a retaining member so as to provide a recess between the upstand and the retaining member to receive an edge of the infill; the upstand comprising a surface which in use faces generally inwardly of the opening, characterised in that means are provided to retain an element which overlies a substantial proportion of the inwardly facing surface of the upstand of at least one of the frame members, whereby the overlying element conceals the overlaid part of the surface, and the overlying element having a configuration such that the appearance of the frame is altered.

2. A frame according to claim 1 characterised in that the overlying element conceals at least 50% of the inwardly facing surface of the upstand.

3. A frame according to claim 2 characterised in that the overlying element conceals at least 75% of the inwardly facing surface of the upstand.

4. A frame according to claim 3 characterised in that the overlying element seals at least 90% of the inwardly facing surface of the upstand.

5. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that a receiving formation of the overlying element in use receives a formation of a surface of the upstand which faces the retaining member.

6. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the overlying element comprises an overlying part and a sealing part.

7. A frame according to claim 6 characterised in that the overlying element is formed as extrusions of the overlying and sealing parts which are brought together immediately after extrusion so as to become bonded together.

8. A frame according to claim 6 characterised in that the overlying and sealing parts are bonded together by use of an adhesive.

9. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the sealing part comprises a flexible plastic material which in use forms a seal with the infill, and the overlying part comprises a more rigid plastic material, the frame member being made of a material the same as or similar to the material of the overlying part of the overlying element.

10. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the overlying part forms a visually substantially continuous line with the upstand.

11. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that a hollow is formed between the generally inwardly facing surface of the upstand and the overlying element.

12. A frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

13. A method of modifying the appearance of a frame comprising a plurality of frame members which together provide an opening for an infill, each of the frame members comprising a body part and an upstand; the body part having means to receive a retaining member so as to provide a recess between the up stand and the retaining member to receive an edge of the infill; the upstand comprising a surface which in use faces generally inwardly of the opening, means being provided to retain a gasket which forms a seal between the up stand and the infill, the method being characterised in that the gasket is removed and replaced by an element which overlies a substantial proportion of the inwardly facing surface of the up stand of at least one of the frame members, whereby the overlying element conceals the overlaid part of the surface, and the configuration of the overlying element being such that the appearance of the frame is altered.

14. A method of modifying the appearance of a frame as substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.