WO1999005382A1

WO1999005382A1 - A system of detachable frames to wall openings for windows and doors

Info

Publication number: WO1999005382A1
Application number: PCT/IL1998/000348
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yaacov Gal; Ilan Cohen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-07-27
Filing date: 1998-07-27
Publication date: 1999-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 2000-01-27
Also published as: AU8459598A; IL121397A0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system of detachable frames with lockable assemblies, useful for the facile installing, holding and replacing of window and door frames in wall openings. This system has at least two lockable assemblies for attachment between each frame and the wall opening, and the locking assemblies are arranged for holding each frame in the wall opening. Furthermore, the system of the present invention relates to the use of a sealing gasket. The system of the present invention also relates to the use of a standard (or modified) shutter storage container (box). The shutter box may have a common member with a frame. The shutter box may also be considered as a frame. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a modified shutter box (storage container) which has distinct usefulness only when used integrally with the system of the present invention.

Description

A SYSTEM OF DETACHABLE FRAMES TO WALL OPENINGS FOR WINDOWS AND DOORS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a system of detachable frames with lockable assemblies. This system is useful for the facile installing, holding, and replacing of window and door frames in wall openings. More specifically, the present invention relates to at least one frame and to at least two mechanically lockable assemblies for each frame; and the assemblies are arranged for holding and locking each frame in the wall opening (prepared to receive the frame). The present invention also relates to a shutter storage container which is distinctly useful only with the system of the present invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Today the general procedure for installing a window frame (or a door frame) requires:

(a) Preparing the interior sides of a wall opening to receive a frame, usually by the construction of a wall opening interior "blind frame".

(b) Placing the window frame (or the door frame) into the prepared wall opening.

(c) Affixing of the window frame (or the door frame) to the blind frame (or wall opening), usually using screws, nails, or pins.

(d) Sealing (gluing) the spaces between the window frame (or the door frame) and the blind frame (or wall opening), usually using a hardening putty, a hardening foam, or a drying masonry material.

All of the variations of this well known procedure suffer from common disadvantages. The procedure requires the installation to be broken in order to remove, repair, or replace the window frame (or the door frame) . Furthermore, the procedure does not allow for any simple and aesthetic method whereby cracking (or other defects) in the sealing can be repaired. In addition, this well known procedure often demands the dexterity of more than one journeyman (of average skill) at the time of window frame (or door frame) installation.

The system of the present invention allows facile installation, and remedies the other aforesaid disadvantages. This results in faster and cheaper installation, removal, repair, and replacement of the window frame (or the door frame).

Furthermore, there are windows (and doors) which use a track sliding interlocking shutter. The shutter is stored in a shutter storage container (box) , which is installed adjacent to the upper member of the frame. Today, the shutter boxes have a maintenance door on their building interior side. This door is not aesthetic, and is a common source of draft and insect entry into buildings. The system of the present invention allows the lower side of the shutter box to be used as the maintenance door, thus eliminating the opening for draft and insect entry; and presenting the option of a shutter box with an unseen (plastered over) interior side.

Installation of shutter boxes suffers from the same aforesaid disadvantages as do the installation of window or door frames. The system of the present invention is also useful for standard (or modified) shutter box installation, removal, repair, and replacement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system of detachable frames with lockable assemblies, useful for the facile installing, holding, and replacing of window and door frames in wall openings. This system has at least two lockable assemblies for attachment between each frame and the wall opening, and the locking assemblies are arranged for holding each frame in the wall opening.

Furthermore, the system of the present invention relates to the use of a sealing gasket.

The system of the present invention also relates to the use of a standard (or modified) shutter storage container (box) . The shutter box may have a common member with a frame. The shutter box may also be considered as a frame. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a modified shutter box (storage container) which has distinct usefulness only when used integrally with the system of the present invention.

Furthermore, the system of the present invention relates to the use of a sealing gasket. The system of the present invention also relates to the use of a standard (or modified) shutter storage container (box) . The shutter box may have a common member with a frame. The shutter box may also be considered as a frame. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a modified shutter box (storage container) which has distinct usefulness only when used integrally with the system of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the context of the present invention, "detachable" relates to the attaching of window frames, door frames, or shutter storage containers to wall openings (prepared to receive these); as is necessary for the installation, holding, and replacing of these. In the context of the present invention, "detachable" also relates to the detaching of window frames, door frames, or shutter storage containers from wall openings (which have already received these using the system of the present invention); as is necessary for the removal, and replacing of these.

In the context of the present invention, "attached" relates (a) to affixing one part to another using nuts, bolts, screws, interlocking joints, glue, welding, or the like (according to the nature of the materials to be affixed, and according to the fitting of the shapes to be affixed) , and (b) to integrating together to form a new part to be used in place of two mutually affixed parts.

Furthermore, in the context of the present invention "a shutter box" and "a shutter storage container" both relate to the box-like storage containers used for the roll-up storage of inter laces slat type shutters; albeit "box" relates more to the shape, while "storage container" relates more to the function.

The present invention relates to a system of detachable frames with lockable assemblies (useful for the facile installing, holding, and replacing of window and door frames in wall openings).

The system of the present invention has at least one window or door frame to be installed in a wall opening, and at least two mechanically lockable assemblies for each frame. The assemblies are attached to each frame and/or to the wall opening; and the lockable assemblies are arranged for holding and locking the frame in the wall opening.

The system of the present invention relates to installation of a single window frame or door frame in a wall opening. The system of the present invention also relates to the installation of multiple frames in a single wall opening, such as a window frame above a door frame, a shutter box above a window frame, two window frames - one above Xhe other, etc.

There are many types of mechanically lockable assemblies (according to the system of the present invention) which allow the requisite holding and locking function to be achieved. These assemblies include many general classes having holding members (e.g. tracks, hinges, etc.), locking members (e.g. (lateral lever actuated) pressing surfaces, latches, pins, etc.), and/or hybrid holding and locking members (e.g. the preferred lockable assembly of the system of the present invention) .

According to the preferred embodiment of the system of the present invention, each lockable assembly is comprised of:

(a) An elongated internal track with an open end and a closed end.

(b) A spring loaded latch mechanism integrated into a side of the track near the closed end of the track.

(c) A pin with a head diameter of about the width of the internal track.

Each lockable assembly (of this track, latch, and pin type) operates such that sliding the pin's head into the internal track from the open end will retract the latch and subsequently Xrap the pin between the latch and the closed end of the track.

Furthermore there are two symmetrically equivalent procedures whereby this lockable assembly is used to accomplish the holding and locking function. According to one of these procedures (more preferred), the pins are placed into the wall with the pins' heads protruding perpendicularly into the opening, and the tracks are attached to the outside circumference of the frame; such that sliding the frame into the opening will simultaneously slide the tracks over the pins ' heads until these heads are locked behind the tracks' latches. According to the other of these procedures (less preferred) , the tracks are affixed to the interior sides of the wall opening, and the pins are affixed so as to protrude perpendicularly out from the exterior circumference of the frame; such that sliding the frame into the opening will simultaneously slide the pins' heads into the tracks until these heads are locked behind the tracks ' latches .

According to the preferred embodiment of this lockable assembly, the open end of the track is flanged to allow facile access by the pin's head.

The system of the present invention may include the use of a blind frame, a lintel, a side post, a ledge, a sill, a threshold, or a shutter box affixed to an interior side of a wall opening, as preparation to receive a window frame (or a door frame) having the lockable assemblies.

Furthermore, the system according to the present invention may in addition have a sealing gasket. This sealing gasket is comprised of at least one flexible compressible strip, The gasket is placed on the outer circumference of a frame or on the inner circumference of the wall opening; and the gasket is for preventing air or water from passing between the frame and the opening after a frame has been held in an opening by the lockable assemblies. These lockable assemblies are arranged for the maintaining of pressure on the sealing gasket after the frame is placed in the wall opening. Furthermore, gasket stripping may also be desirable between adjacent frames, between a frame and a shutter box (storage container), or between a frame and any peripheral (wall opening) member (e.g. a blind frame, a lintel, a side post, a ledge, a sill, or a threshold).

According to the preferred embodiment of the lockable assembly of the present invention, a pin has means for eccentric turning on a frame directed end; such that rotating the pin which is locked behind a track ' s latch results in (a) shifting the position of the frame with respect to the opening and also in (b) adjusting the distribution of pressure on any intervening sealing gasket. In this context, the "frame directed end" of the pin depends on which of the two aforesaid symmetrically equivalent installation procedures is used. According to the first of these procedures (where the pins are placed in the wall), the pin's heads have exposed the means for eccentric turning accessible through holes in the frame; which are aligned with the confined locking space behind the tracks ' latches . According to the second of these procedures (where the pins are placed in the frame), the pins' tails have exposed the means for eccentric turning through holes in the frame; which are aligned with the pins affixed to the frame.

According to the preferred embodiment of the lockable assembly of the present invention, there is an accessible (through an opening in the frame) lateral protrusion or notch on the latch; for use in retracting the latch into a lockable assembly open position. This is a facile feature when the frame is replaced, or when gasket maintenance is performed.

Another novel feature of the system of the present invention relates to use for or with shutter boxes . These shutter boxes are used for the roll up storage of inter laced slats which slide on parallel lateral (vertical) tracks.

According to one embodiment of the present system, an upper horizontal member of a frame is simultaneously the lower detachable member of a shutter box (storage container). Here, the shutter box is opened by detaching the frame from below the box, and the shutter box is closed by holding and locking the frame below the box.

According to another embodiment of the system of the present invention, the window or door frame is a shutter box. The shutter box is not intrinsically different (with regard to its installation) to window frames or door frames. Use of the system of the present invention also allows the shutter box to be installed, held, or replaced with the same facile ease as any window frame or door frame .

The present invention also relates to a shutter storage container (box) ; for integral use with the system of the present invention. This shutter storage container is comprised of hollow elongated box (for placement above a pair of vertical tracks within which the inter-laced shutter slats are slid up or down). The elongated sides of the box are oriented horizontally. The two opposite ends of the box are square, and the bottom side of the box is open along both elongated edges. (Leaving the entire bottom side open is also considered as open along both elongated edges . )

One elongated edge opening of the shutter box (storage container) is for allowing the inter-laced shutter slats to slide up from (or down into) the vertical tracks, while the other elongated edge opening is for an elongated maintenance door (such as the upper frame section of a frame installed using the system of the present invention) .

The present invention enables the quick installation of a window (or door or shutter box) without using glue-like sealing materials. The present invention further enables the quick changing of a window frame (or a door frame or a shutter box) with another frame (without the need to remove the old glue sealing materials glued to the blind frame, the re-gluing with new sealing materials, etc.). Likewise, the present invention enables full sealing from wind penetration through the shutter box - because the box is built within the wall and the window frame closes the opening from outside. To maintain the shutter, the window frame is pulled out and the bottom of the shutter box opened.

The present invention will be further described and clarified in detail by Figures 1-5. These figures are solely intended to illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner.

Figure 1 illustrates a frontal view of the general structure of an installed window.

Figure 2 illustrates a lateral cross section of an installed window with a shutter box. Figure 3 illustrates an over head cross section of an installed window.

Figure 4a illustrates a lateral cross section of a pin being entrapped in a lockable assembly's track. Figure 4b illustrates a perspective view of the pin being entrapped in the lockable assembly's track.

Figure 5 illustrates a lateral cross section of an installed window having an eccentric turning pin entrapped in a lockable assembly's track.

Figure 1 illustrates a frontal view of the general structure of an installed window. The blind frame (1) is installed in the wall at the time of its construction and as needed it includes a shutter box (2) of the inter linked sliding slat type; hidden within the wall. The window frame (3) includes a number of lockable assemblies (4).

At the time of installation the window frame is pushed into the blind frame when the window frame is inserted by means of the insertion the pins into the lockable assembly's tracks; until the pins are locked in place behind the track's latches On this window it is also possible to install flaps (e.g. hinged louvers, or track sliding inter-linked slats that move within the frame, or hinged shutters ) .

Figure 2 illustrates a lateral cross section of an installed window with a shutter box. The blind frame (1) also includes the shutter box (2) which is opened from below and installed in the wall (8) at the time of construction; together with the window sill (7). On the blind frame, over the length of the window sill there is flexible sealing gasket stripping (5a).

Before the window is installed, the shutter (6) is installed from below within the shutter box (2). Afterwards the window frame (3) is pressed into the blind frame so that another (one or more) flexible sealing gasket strip (5) is pressed on the margin of the blind frame. The window frame is pressed inside until the pins (4) lock behind the corresponding tracks' latches (not shown); thereby holding the window frame together with the blind frame.

By means of an eccentric turn of the locking pins (4), it is possible to move the window frame to the two sides in relation to the blind frame and by such means to control the distance between the window frame and the blind frame; and simultaneously pressing on the sealing gasket (5). Note that the shutter box (2) is comprised of a hollow elongated box for placement above a pair of vertical tracks (not shown) with the elongated sides of the box oriented horizontally, wherein the two opposite ends of the box are square, and wherein the bottom side of the box is open. This open bottom side is partially closed by the upper edge of the window frame.

Figure 3 illustrates an over head cross section of an installed window. The blind frame (1) is installed in the wall and it has an internal margin (la); as part of it's profile construction. The window frame (3) is pushed within the blind frame over the length of the lockable assemblies' tracks (4) until the corresponding pins lock the window frame with the blind frame. The flexible sealing gasket (5) seals the passage space between the window frame and the blind frame. The pressure on the flexible sealing gasket can be varied by means of eccentric turning of the locking pins (4).

Figure 4a illustrates a lateral cross section of a pin being entrapped in a lockable assembly's track. Figure 4b illustrates a perspective view (of Figure 4a) of the pin being entrapped in the lockable assembly's track. The accessory is installed so that the pin (4) is installed on one of the parts - the window frame or the blind frame and the track opening (groove) with the latch (tongue) on the second part.

When the window frame is pressed into the blind frame the flanging deflectors (10) bring the pin (4) into the track's grove (9) which is blocked (closed) at the end (13). The pin reaches the latch (11) which has an angled wedge by means of which the pin presses against a spring (12); and in turn the vacates the passage. At the moment the pin has passed, the latch returns to its place by the spring's pressure; locking the pin between the closed end of the track and the latch (that returned to its place) . For the purpose of separation, the latch is pulled downward and by means of a handle (14) against the spring and the locking pin can pulled back.

Figure 5 illustrates a lateral cross section of an installed window having an eccentric turning pin entrapped in a lockable assembly's track. The window frame (3) presses on the internal margin of the blind frame (4) and flexible sealing gasket intervening between them (5). The pin (4) is capable of eccentric turning on its base. After the pin (4) and the latch (11) are each located on another body, an eccentric turn of the pin changes the location of one body in relation to the second; and changes the distance between the window frame (3) and the margin of the blind frame (la) - so that the pressures on the flexible sealing gasket (5) is also changed.

Claims

1. A system of detachable frames with lockable assemblies, useful for the facile installing, holding, and replacing of window and door frames in wall openings, comprising at least one window or door frame to be installed in a wall opening, at least two mechanically lockable assemblies for each frame, and said assemblies are attached to each frame and/or to the wall opening, and the lockable assemblies are arranged for holding and locking each frame in said wall opening.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein each lockable assembly is comprising an elongated internal track with an open end and a closed end, a spring loaded latch mechanism integrated into a side of the track near the closed end, and a pin with a head diameter of about the width of the internal track, such that sliding the pin's head into the internal track from the open end will retract the latch and subsequently trap the pin between said latch and the closed end of said track; and wherein the lockable assemblies are arranged for holding a frame in a wall opening; either so that the pins are placed into the wall with the pins ' heads protruding perpendicularly into the opening, and the tracks are attached to the outside circumference of the frame, such that sliding the frame into theXpening will simultaneously slide the tracks over the pins' heads until said heads are locked behind the tracks' latches; or so that the tracks are affixed to the interior sides of the wall opening, and the pins are affixed so as to protrude perpendicularly out from the exterior circumference of the frame, such that sliding the frame into the opening will simultaneously slide the pins ' heads into the tracks until said heads are locked behind the tracks' latches.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein the open end of the track is flanged to allow facile access by the pin's head.

4. A system according to claim 1 having a sealing gasket comprising at least one flexible compressible strip, and said gasket is placed on the outer circumference of a frame or on the inner circumference of the wall opening, wherein said gasket is for preventing air or water from passing between the frame and the opening after a frame has been held and locked in an opening by the lockable assemblies.

5. A system according to claims 2 or 4 wherein a pin has means for eccentric turning on a frame directed end, such that rotating the pin which is locked behind a track's latch results in shifting the position of the frame with respect to the opening and also in adjusting the distribution of pressure on any intervening sealing gasket.

6. A system according to claim 2 having an accessible lateral protrusion or notch on the latch, for use in retracting said latch into a lockable assembly open position.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein an upper horizontal member of a frame is simultaneously the lower detachable member of a shutter box.

8. A system according to claim 1 wherein the window or door frame is a shutter box.

9. A system according to claims 1 through 8 , having in addition a shutter storage container comprising a hollow elongated box for placement above a pair of vertical tracks with the elongated sides of the box oriented horizontally, wherein the two opposite ends of the box are square, and wherein the bottom side of the box is open along both elongated edges.

10. A detachable frame with lockable assemblies system, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.