GB2143270A

GB2143270A - Window or door frame

Info

Publication number: GB2143270A
Application number: GB08417932A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin Martin White; John Thomas Rogers
Original assignee: BKL Extrusions Ltd
Current assignee: BKL Extrusions Ltd
Priority date: 1983-07-14
Filing date: 1984-07-13
Publication date: 1985-02-06
Also published as: GB8417932D0

Abstract

A frame member for a window or door assembly, comprising first and second metal portions e.g. 15, 16 joined by an element of a thermally insulating material, e.g. a synthetic resin 17, and also having a thermally insulating covering e.g. 21 on a part of one or both of the metal portions, which would otherwise be accessible when installed. Enhanced insulation is obtained by the presence of the covering and the insulating element between the metal portions. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Window or door frame This invention relates to frames for windows or doors. More particularly, the invention relates to a frame member intended to be used in constructing a window or door frame, either fixed to a building or structure in which the window or door is installed or forming an opening window or door panel.

It is known to make window or door frames from metal members, usually of extruded aluminium alloy. One problem which arises with frames of such material is that of conduction of heat through the frame. This can lead to unacceptable heat loss from a building under cold weather conditions, and also a severe condensation problem in the interior of the building. Various ways of overcoming such problems are known, and it is the object of the present invention to provide an improved frame member for this purpose.

According to the invention, we provide a frame member for a window or door, comprising first and second metal portions connected by an element of thermally insulating material arranged when installed to resist heat conduction through the frame member between opposite sides of the window or door, and further comprising a covering of a thermally insulating material on a part, which would otherwise be accessible when installed, of said first and/or second metal portion.

In a frame member according to the invention enhanced thermal insulation is obtained by reason of the presence of both the element of thermally insulating material between the first and second metal portions of the frame member, and the covering of thermally insulating material on at least one of the metal portions. The frame member still, however, retains the strength associated with all-metal frame members.

These and other features of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a section through one embodiment of window having frame members according to the invention; Figure 2 is a section through part of a window according to further embodiment of the invention.

Referring firstly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is shown part of a window which comprises a fixed light 10 and a pivotally opening sash 11. The window is made up of a number of frame members, comprising a fixed peripheral frame member 12, opening sash frame members 13, and a transom or mullion frame member 14. The fixed peripheral frame member 12 would be secured to the structure of the building in which the window is provided.

All the frame members constituting the window are of similar overall construction to one another, although their detailed shapes differ.

Frame member 12 comprises a first metal portion 15 and a second metal portion 16, connected by an element 17 of a thermally insulating material comprising a synthetic resin material hardened so as rigidly to connect the metal parts 15, 16 together. The synthetic resin element 17 interfits with undercut recesses 18, 19 in the metal portions 15, 16.

To manufacture the frame member illustrated, a single metal member would be extruded, having portions 15, 16 integrally joined and defining a trough into which the resin to form the element 17 can be poured while in a flowable condition. After hardening of the resin, the metal portion bridging the portions 15, 16 can be machined away leaving the metal portions held together by the resin element 17.

The metal portion 15 is provided, on a part which would otherwise be accessible when the window is installed, with a covering 21 of thermally insulating material for example an extruded plastics member having a rigid shell or skin and a foamed interior. The covering 21 is held in position on the frame member by a barbed or fir-tree section 20 on the metal member, engaging in a groove 22 in the covering, and a lip 23 extending from the frame member in a direction generally transversely of the barbed formation 20, and engaging in a further groove in the covering 21 defined by a bead portion 24 thereof. The covering is fitted to the metal frame member by engaging the lip 23 in the groove defined by bead 24, and pivoting the covering about the lip 23 until the barbed formation 20 enters the groove 22.

The frame members 13 each comprise first and second metal portions 25, 26 and a thermally insulating element 27 connecting them. The metal portion 25 carries a covering 28 secured in the same manner as for the frame member 12. A double glazed panel 29 is held within the opening sash by a removable glazing bead element 30 and appropriate gaskets, as is conventional for such glazing assemblies.

The transom or mullion member 14 comprises first and second metal parts 31, 32 and a connecting thermally insulating element 33.

Metal portion 31 carries two covering sections 34, 35, again attached in the same manner as that whereby covering 21 is attached to frame member 12. All the frame members have undercut formations for receiving flipper seals, gaskets and the like, as are conventional in glazing installations, and thus are not described in detail herein.

Referring now to Fig. 2 of the drawing, this shows part of a window having a peripheral frame constructed from members each having a first metal portion 36, a second metal portion 37, and a thermally insulating resin element 38 connecting the metal portions. A double glazing panel 39 is held in position by a removable glazing bead element 40. In this case, however, both the first and second metal parts of the frame member have coverings 41, 42, respectively, of thermally insulating material. These coverings are of a material such as U.PVC, and are a snap fit over the metal portions of the frame member. The glazing bead member 40 also has a covering, 42. In this case, the thermal insulating properties provided by the element 38 are enhanced by the coverings 41, 42 on the metal parts of the frame member.

Although one method of manufacturing the frame member is described above, it would be within the scope of the invention for the frame member to be manufactured in some other way. For example, separate extruded elements comprising the first and second metal portions may be secured together by some other form of mechanical interfitting or adhesive connection with a separately manufactured thermally insulating element. It would also be within the scope of the invention for the insulating covering element or elements to be attached in some other manner, eg by use of an adhesive or by another arrangement of mechanically interfitting formations.

Claims

1. A frame member for a window or door, comprising first and second metal portions connected by an element of thermally insulating material arranged when installed to resist heat conduction through the frame member between opposite sides of the window or door, and further comprising a covering of a thermally insulating material, on a part which would otherwise be accessible when installed, of said first and/or said second metal portion.

2. A frame member according to Claim 1 wherein said element of thermally insulating material comprises a hardened synthetic resin, engaging recess formations in said metal portions.

3. A frame member according to Claim 1 of Claim 2 wherein said covering mechanically interfits with its metal portion to secure it thereto.

4. A frame member according to Claim 3 wherein said covering includes a groove within which a barbed or "fir tree" formation on said metal portion engages.

5. A frame member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said covering comprises a plastics member having a rigid shell or skin and a foamed interior.

6. A frame member substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A window or door made from frame members according to any one of the preceding claims.