Device for fixation of the spatial interrelationship of upended frames

A device for fixation of the spatial interrelationship of upended and somewhat spaced apart frames is used in e.g. complete windows, including the frame, casement and window-panes. The device consists of a connection member which is arranged to be attached to the outer edge face of the frame. The connection member comprises a cross bar serving as an insert between two juxtaposed frames, and an interconnecting part of the member is arranged to be inserted into a recess formed in an adjacent connection member which is attached to a frame adjacent the first-mentioned frame. The interconnecting part and the recess are designed to matingly engage to interlock the connection members and consequently the frames.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The subject invention concerns a device for fixation of the spatial 
interrelationship of upended and somewhat spaced apart frames, e.g. window 
frames including casement and window-panes. 
After the manufacture of complete windows, that is including the frame, 
casement, window panes, hinges and fasteners, they are assembled in groups 
in the factory in an upended position and spaced somewhat apart, with 
battens positioned between the individual windows to prevent painted 
surfaces from scuffing or rubbing against each other and to accommodate 
projecting hinges and fastening mechanisms. Each group of windows thus 
disposed in an erected position is encircled by straps to form a package 
unit. 
The package units thus formed are then transported in the conventional 
manner to a storage serving as an intermediate station, from which storage 
windows are delivered to the purchaser when ordered. Such purchasing 
orders may be for a specified number of windows of one design and another 
specified number of windows of a different design and/or size, with the 
result that different package units of windows of various designs and/or 
sizes must be opened in order to execute the order. The remaining windows 
of each package unit must then be re-assembled and re-strapped for 
protection of the windows as it would be too expensive to store each 
window in individual stands. Battens cut to size are therefore positioned 
as cross bars alongside two opposite outer sides of a group of windows and 
are secured to the window edge faces with the aid of fastener or stapler 
guns. The windows which are to be delivered to the purchaser are grouped 
together and secured in the same manner. The procedure may have to be 
repeated upon execution of each new order, which means that the battens 
have to be broken away from the window edge faces, the required number of 
ordered windows be withdrawn from the group, and the battens be recut to 
match the smaller unit of remaining windows and again be stapled to the 
window edge faces. 
The execution of an order consequently involves considerable work. In 
addition, the storesman exposes himself to certain risks of being injured 
by the pointed parts of the staples--inserted into the window edges by 
staplers--which often project from the window frames. Furthermore, the 
consumption of battens in times becomes considerable, since the battens 
must be cut to size repeatedly for adjustment to package units of new 
dimensions and for this reason each batten can only be used a couple of 
times. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The subject invention provides a device by means of which grouped-together 
windows may be handled with more ease and convenience while at the same 
time material savings of wood are achieved. The device in accordance with 
the invention is characterized by the provision of a connection member 
which is arranged to be attached to the outer face of a frame, said 
connection member comprising a cross bar serving as an insert between two 
juxtaposed frames, and an interconnecting part which is arranged to be 
inserted in a recess formed in an adjacent connection member attached to a 
frame juxtaposed to the first frame, said interconnecting part and said 
recess designed to matingly engage, thus interlocking the two connection 
members and consequently the two frames.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
To illustrate the use of the connection member in accordance with the 
invention has been chosen its application to form package units of grouped 
together, complete windows comprising a frame 1, a casement 2 and 
window-panes 3, as appears from FIG. 1. Obviously, the inventive object, 
the connection member, may be used also for other types of frames, such as 
door-frames or indeed any type of frames that for some reason need to be 
positioned upended, spaced a short distance apart. 
The connection member 4 essentially consists of a cross bar 5, an 
interconnecting part 6 and an intermediate attachment part 7 by means of 
which the connection member is attached to the frame 1 for instance by 
means of staples or cramps 8. The cross bar 5 is intended to serve as an 
insert between two juxtaposed frames 1 and thus replaces the spacing 
battens mentioned in the aforegoing. The interconnecting part 6, which has 
a dovetail configuration in the embodiment shown in the drawing figures, 
is arranged to nest in and engage with a recess 9 of matching 
configuration which is formed in an adjoining connection member 4. The 
dovetail configuration forms an interlocking joint by means of which the 
individual connecting members 4 in a row of such members are 
interconnected. 
FIG. 3 illustrates a group 10 of window frames 1 disposed in an upended 
position and interconnected in the form of a package unit by means of a 
row 40 of individually interconnected connection members 4 in accordance 
with the invention. Each one of these members may, as illustrated in FIG. 
1, be formed with a longitudinal groove 11. Together, these grooves 11 
serve to guide a strap (not shown) which could be made to encircle the 
entire package unit for added security, particularly when the number of 
frames in the group is large. A thus integral group of frames is then 
transported as a unit on a pallet 12 from the manufacturer to a storage 
or--which is of course also possible--straight to the consumer. 
When a number of windows is to be separated from the group 10 and to be 
delivered to the consumer, the strap, if such is used around the group, is 
removed. As indicated in FIG. 2 by dash-and-dot lines, the portion of the 
connection member 4 positioned adjacent the interconnecting part 6 is 
transversely resilient and so positioned that a gap 13 is formed between 
this transversely resilient connection member portion and the frame 1. By 
inserting a tool into this gap 13 between one of the connection members 4 
in the row 40 and the associated frame 1 and resiliently push the 
connection member outwards, disengaging the interconnecting part 6 thereof 
from the recess 9 in the adjacent connection member, the latter connection 
member is released, allowing the frame associated therewith to be turned 
away somewhat. The same procedure is repeated at the opposite side of the 
group 10, and the desired number of windows is thus separated from the 
group. 
The separated group consists of interconnected windows, and the entire 
group need only be transferred onto another pallet 12 and thereafter be 
conveyed to the purchaser. The remaining windows in the group are also 
interconnected and therefore may be deposited on a storage shelf as one 
integral unit. 
As described in the aforegoing the handling of the windows in this manner 
is very easy and convenient. The battens mentioned initially and inserted 
between neighbouring windows as spacer means become superfluous. There is 
not either any need to use the cross bars to interconnect the windows and 
therefore no need for the batten nailing, breaking up and cutting 
operations that the use of cross bars for interconnecting purposes has 
hitherto involved. Consequently, individual windows need practically never 
be handled separately and grouped together to form new units. Instead, in 
all situations the windows are handled as integral groups. However, orders 
involving only one single window are easily executed, since it is just as 
easy to separate one single window as several windows from a group 10. 
When a group of windows are received by the purchaser the latter separates 
the individual windows in the group in exactly the same manner as 
described above. One or a couple of connection members 4 remain attached 
to opposite edge faces of each window frame 1. As appears above all from 
FIG. 1 the connection member 4 is wedge-shaped, allowing it to be used as 
a securing block or cleat when the individual windows are to be inserted 
into the openings made in the building body for that purpose. The 
connection members thus replace the conventional wedge blocks used in 
building to align a window in its associated opening. 
Owing to its design and arrangement the connection member 4 thus serves an 
important secondary function at the site of use and therefore need not be 
returned or discarded after having been used as a connection means. 
The device in accordance with the invention is not limited to the 
embodiment as shown and described but could be modified in many ways 
within the scope of the appended claims. The connection member 4 could 
have a different appearance and a different configuration. This applies 
for instance to the interconnecting part 6 and the recess 9. Instead of 
the gap 13 the connection member 4 may be formed with a recess in the 
surface facing the frame 1 into which recess a tool may be inserted. 
As indicated in dash-and-dot lines in FIG. 3 a group 10 of frames could be 
provided with several rows 40 of connection members 4, the number of rows 
depending on the height of the frames 1.