GB2284004A - Window structure - Google Patents

Abstract

A timber window structure has a fixed light (2, Figs 1, 2 and 3) an opening light 1 and a common centre mullion (3, Figs 1 and 2). In the opening light, a glazing panel 8 is sandwiched in the glazing aperture of a sub-frame by bead 9 and moulding 10 and the sub-frame is disposed in an aperture between a window lining comprising head 5. The subframe is top-or side-hung by hinges (not shown) received in grooves 19 and 15 of the sub-frame and the window lining. In the fixed light embodiment, a glazing panel (8a, Figs 1, 2 and 3) is fixed directly in the lining aperture also by means of a bead (18a, Figs 2 and 3) and a moulding (10a, Figs 2 and 3). A kit for constructing a conservatory is suggested. <IMAGE>

Description

Window Structure The invention relates to window structures, particularly but not exclusively timber window structures, which may be of fixed light construction or opening light construction or which may, as is common practice, combine both forms of construction in a combined window structure.

Window structures are available in various materials and forms ranging from timber structures to structures utilizing aluminium extrusions and plastics material extrusions such as uPVC. Traditional timber structures have gradually given way to a preference for more modern materials which offer in many circumstances a more acceptable balance between capital cost and maintanance/replace- ment costs over a long perlcd.

Although various methods of timber preservation and finishing have been developed over the past several years which reduce the maintainance/replacemer:t costs of timber windows, these have only achieved marginal improvement in the market viability of timber as a material for building construction use. The initial capital costs remain relatively high in the context due partly to materials costs and partly to the machining costs involved in proaucirlL the traditional timber mculains usec for uilic, stiles and other structural components.

Machining and materials are related factors. In traditional mullion and cill mouldings, for example, the original workpiece is not only shaped to desired general configuration but is also machined to rebate the workpiece to form a front-facing recessed area for receiving, for example, a pane of glass which is sandwiched against the rear of the rebate by a timber bead or much more normally by a combination of putty or similar substance and mechanical fixing elements which penetrate the timber.

The need for rebating requires additional or more complex machining and moreover leads to materials wastage.

According to the invention, a window structure comprises a frame defining an aperture for receiving a glazing panel, a first stop member for securement to the frame to provide a first stop surface extending along a peripheral surface of the frame internally of the aperture. one face of the panel abutting said stop surface when the structure is glazed, and a second stop member for providing a further stop surface to sandwich the glazing panel against said first stop surface.

Preferably, both stop members are non-integral with the frame kie in the case of a timber structure, made seperately rather tan in the same machining operation).

However, when one only of the stop members is non-integral with the frame the non-integral stop member will be that for abutting the interior (ie non-exposed) face of the glazing panel.

The frame will generally be grooved along the aforesaid internal peripheral surface with one stop member, preferably that for abutting the external (ie exposed) glazing face, keyed or otherwise secured therein.

In fixed light window structures embodying the invention, the frame will conveniently be one comprising a head, a cill and a pair of opposed mullions. In opening light structures which embody the present invention, the frame will conveniently be a sub-frame received, in the closed condition of the structure, within an aperture defined between a head, a cill and a pair of mullions. The head (or other frame member from which the frame is hung, for example a mullion in a side-hung arrangement) will normally be grooved on its peripheral surface internally of the aperture, an opposed groove of the frame exterior periphery cooperating therewith for receipt of a hinge or the like.

The frame as a whole will generally be groovec co-extensiv- ely with said internal peripheral surface since this may easily be accomplished, in the case, for example, cf a timber frame, by machining and enables a frame to be constructed which can accomodate an opening light sub -frame hung in any desired attitude.

In opening light structures provided by the invention, a stop surface is normally provided to limit closing movements of the sub-frame, such a stop surface normally being provided by a member which is non-integral with the sub-frame in order to provide adjustability (for example to accomodate a multiple glazed unit) and in the interests of materials economy when compared to the rebating otherwise necessary to provide such a stop surface.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a method of constructing a timber window structure which method comprises machining workpieces to provide frame members and stop members, constructing the frame members and some of the stop members to form a frame having stop members secured thereto to provide a stop surface co-extensive with the peripheral surface of the frame within the aperture defined thereby, disposing a glazing panel within said aperture with eg an external face thereof abutting said stop surface and assembling further stop members to the frame to sandwich the panel between said further stop members and the stop members first assembled to the frame.

In a preferred embodiment of the Invention a timber or other window structure (of opening light or fixed light construction or combination thereof) comprises an aperture-defining frame comprising a pair of opposed mullions, a head and a cill, a first frame stop member secured to a peripheral frame surface internally of tEe aperture to define a first frame stop surface, glazing means disposed in said aperture with a face thereof abutting said first frame stop surface, said glazing means comprising a fixed light glazing panel sandwiched against said first frame stop surface by a further frame stop surface of a further frame stop member or comprising an opening light glazing assembly comprised of a sub-frame having a face which in the closed condition of said assembly abuts said first frame stop surface and defining a sub-frame glazing aperture, a glazing panel received in said sub-frame aperture, a first sub-frame stop member secured to a peripheral sub-frame surface internally of the aperture to define a first sub-frame stop surface, and a second sub-frame stop member similarly secured and defining a second sub-frame stop surface sandwiching the glazing panel against said first sub-frame stop surface in te sub-frame glazing aperture, the opening wight glazing assembly preferably being provided with a subframe surface which seals against said frame of the salo window structure.

The said further frame stop member and sad second sub -frame stop member will normally be similar or identical In configuration so as to provide a system of modular characheristics. The stop members just referred to may secure to the frame/sub-frame by any means but preferred securement is by means of a tongue-and-groove arrangement, the stop members being, for example, grooved to receive a preferably continuous tongue formed on the internal peripheral surface of the frame/sub-frame aperture. Such tongue may conveniently define an extremity of a similarly extending groove formed in the frame/sub-frame, the groove in, for example, a head component of a frame serving to accomodate one or more hinges for top-hanging of an opening light sub-frame; provision of such a groove in the frame moulding does, of course, also lend itself to modularity.

The following description of a preferred window structure according to the invention is intended to illustrate the invention, by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings of a softwood structure, ifl which: - Figure 1 is a schematic line drawing showing the window structure; Figure 2 is a cross-section, partially broken away, taken along the line II - II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-section taken along the line III - III of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a cross-section taken along the lIne IV -IV of Figure 1.

The window structure shown in Figure 1 comprises an opening light section 1 and a fixed light section 2 separated by centre mullion 3. A cill 4 and head 5 extend the length of the structure and are common to both sections 1 and 2. End mullions 6 and 7 are of similar configuration to centre mullion 3 or alternatively to head o.

As shown in Figures 2 and 14, opening light section 1 comprises a glazing panel 8 (a sealed double glazed unit in the embodiment shown) sandwiched in the glazing aperture between rectangular sectioned timber bead 9 and timber moulding strip 10. The latter is formed with a groove 11 which receives a tongue 12 of timber sub-frame moulding 13.

Tongue 12 defines one wall of a groove 14 machined in the aperture-defining surface of the sub-frame moulding 13.

Strip 10 and sub-frame moulding 13 are secured together with the assistance of an adhesive such as a polyvinyl acetate adhesive.

Head 5 is machined with a groove 15 In the surface thereof which defines the main window aperture. A flange 16 of sub-frame moulding 13 has a rubber seal '7 secured thereto for forming a seal with the head., the flange and seal extending around the sub-frame moulding 1 3 to facilitate formation of a similar seal with cill , centre mullion 3 and end mullion 7. Adjustable stop 18 secures to head 5 to form astop surface for sub-frame moulding 13. One or more hinges (not shown) are secured in groove 19 of sub -frame moulding 13 and (in the case of a top-hung opening light, in groove 15 of head 5) or (in the case of a side hung light) in the continuation of groove 15 formed in centre mullion 3 or end mullion 7.

Drip moulding 20 is secured to the outside surface of head 5.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, fixed light section 2 comprises a glazing panel 8a sandwiched in the glazing aperture between adjustable stop 18a and moulding strip 10a, both of which extend around the centre mullion-head -cili-end mullion frame to engage the margins of the glazing panel. The cill 4 and the mullions 3 and 6 are machined with a groove 15a, counterpart to groove 15 of head 3 as part of the modularity of the overall structure.

In both fixed light and opening light sections 1 and 2, moulding strip 10/10a is sealer to the glazing panel 8/8a by mastIc cr dry glaze composition 21.

The invention as described earlier without reference to the drawings may include any one or more features of the invention as described with reference to the drawings.

A further application of the invention described above is the construction of glazed structures such as conservatories. The various components making up the conservatory can be constructed in modular form in the manner described above so a kit of parts for constructing a conservatory can be provided as a "flat pack".

The construction of window components in a modular form not only avoids the high proportion of materials wasted in conventional methods of producing timber mouldings but also lends itself to mass-production and the ability to provide the relevant components for making a wide range of structures in kit form. In turn, this enables the costs of manufacturing and assembling such structures to be substantially reduced.

Claims (21)

1. A window structure comprising a frame defining an aperture for receiving a glazing panel, a first stop member for provldlng a fIrst stop surface extending along a peripheral surface of the frame internally of the aperture, a face of the glazing panel abutting said first stop surface when he structure Is glazed, and a second stop member for providing a further stop surface to sandwich the glazing panel against said first stop surface.

2. A window structure as claimed In Clalm 1 wherein at least one of said stop members Is adjustable in Its positioning to allow for different spacing between the first and further stop surfaces to accomodate sandwiched glazing panels of different thicknesses.

3. A window structure as clalmed In Claim 2 wherein the stop member whose stop surface, when the structure is glazed, abuts the Internal non-exposed face of the glazing panel is adJustable in Its positioning.

4. A window structure as claimed in any one of Clalms 1 to 3 whereln the stop member whose stop surface, when the structure Is glazed, abuts the external exposed face of the glazing panel Is non-lntegral wlth the frame.

5. A window structure as clalmed In Clalm 4 wherein the exposed face - abutting stop member secures to the frame by means Includlng structures of the stop member and frame which cooperate to prevent relative dislodgement of the stop member by force applied against the glazing panel of a glazed window structure on Its face remote from Its face abutting the stop surface of the aforesaid external stop member.

6. A window structure as clalmed In Claim 5 wherein the external stop member and frame are formed with grooves, groove-deflning elements of the stop member and frame locating In the groove of the other to secure the frame and stop member against sald relative dislodgement of the stop member.

7. A window structure as clalmed In any proceeding clalm wherein the structure Is a fixed light assembly, the frame comprising a head, a cill and a pair of opposed mull ions.

8. A window structure as clalmed In any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the structure Is an opening light assembly, the frame comprising an assembly which forms a sub-frame receivable within an aperture defined between a head, a cill and a pair of opposed mullions.

9. A window structure as claimed In Clalm 8 wherein the head, ci I I and mull Ions are grooved In the manner of the frame groove referred to In Clalm 6 so as to be serviceable as a frame for use In a fixed light assembly as defined In Clalm 7.

10. A window structure as claimed In Clalm 9 whereln at least one hinge Is recelved In the frame groove of the head, mullion and ci I I assembly and secured to said assembly as well as to the sub-frame assembly to hang the latter pivotally for opening and closing.

11. A window structure comprising a top member, a bottom member and two opposed side members together defining a rectangular glazing aperture, the structure being such that the largest surface area glazing panel receivable within the aperture of the assembled structure has, when so received, at least one (and preferably all) of Its margins adJacent a panel edge unrestrained against displacement In each of two opposed directions.

12. A window structure as clalmed In Clalm 11 wherein the top, bottom and side members are grooved on their internal aperture-defining surfaces to receive a glazing panel stop member.

13. A wlndow structure In kit form and comprising a window structure as clalmed In Clalm 11 or Clalm 12 together with elements for securement to the top, bottom and side members to form stop members for restrainIng an Inserted glazing panel against dislodgement In both of sald two opposed directions.

14. A window structure as clalmed in any one of Clalms 11 to 13 wherein the top, bottom and side members are, respectively, a window head, a window ci 1 I and two opposed mullions.

15. A window structure as clalmed In any one of clalms 11 to 14 whereln the top, bottom and side members are members of a window sub-frame recelvable as a sash or opening light in an aperture defined by a head, clii and two opposed mull ions.

16. A window structure substantial ly as herel nbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated In, the accompanying drawings.

17. A fixed light window structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

18. An opening light window structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A method of constructing a window structure which method comprises producing workpieces to provide frame members and stop members, constructing the frame members and some of the stop members to form a frame having stop members secured thereto to provide a stop surface co-extensive with the peripheral surface of the frame within the aperture defined thereby, disposing a glazing panel within said aperture with an external face thereof abutting said stop surface and assembling further stop members to the frame to sandwich the panel between said further stop members and the stop members first assembled to the frame.

20. A kit of parts for constructing a window structure, such as a conservatory, in modular form.

21. A method of constructing a window structure. such as a conservatory, in modular form using a kit of parts as claimed in claim 20.