WINDOWS,DOORS AND THE LIKE

Abstract: In order to avoid condensation at the inner surface of metal windows the invention proposes that the frame (11, 13) be constructed from frame parts each comprising inner and outer elements (15, 14) connected together to define a rigid structural element, the outer element (14) being metal and the inner element (15) being of a material having a lesser thermal conductivity than such metal. Preferably, both inner and outer elements are extruded sections and the inner such element is a synthetic plastics material such as polyvinyl-chloride.

Description: WINDOWS, DOORS AND THE' LIKE TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention concerns improvements to windows, doors and the like, and has more particular reference 5. to windows and window frames, and doors and door frames. STATE OF THE ART Window structures are known in the art which include inner and outer frame parts fabricated from aluminium extrusions of an appropriate section. Whilst such 10. structures have met with wide acceptance, they do pre¬ sent particular problems, not the least of which concerns the formation of condensation on the inner surface in circumstances of relatively low and high temp¬ eratures at the outer and inner surfaces respectively 15. of the frame parts and in the context of a relatively high humidity in the "environment adjacent the said inner surface. With a view to minimising this problem, it has been proposed to include a heat barrier intermediate the 20. inner and outer surfaces of the frame parts, the heat barrier serving to reduce the rate of flow of heat between the said inner and outer surfaces. In such ' arrangements the frame parts each comprise inner and outer elements of extruded aluminium section 25. joined by an extruded section of synthetic plastics material, there being co-operable connecting members on the aluminium and on the synthetic plastics extrusions. OMPI respectively, whereby the elements are firmly connected - together. Whilst the inclusion of a heat barrier as afore¬ said does reduce the rate of transfer of heat between 5. the inner and outer elements, the location of the heat barrier in a relatively cold environment in relation to the inner element reduces the effectiveness of the heat barrier in reducing condensation. The object of the present invention is to provide 10. an alternative to the heat barrier as aforesaid in reducing the incidence of condensation in window and door frames. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In its broadest aspect the invention contemplates 15. a window or door frame-part comprising outer and inner elements of extruded section connected together in fixed relationship to define a rigid structural element wherein the inner element comprises a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the outer element. 20. According to a preferred feature of the invention the inner element comprises a synthetic plastics material. According to a further preferred feature, the inner and outer elements include integral co-operable male and female parts adapted, upon engagement, to connect the 25. said elements together in fixed relationship. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described further, by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- 30. Fig. 1 shows, in diagrammatic manner, a fragmentary vertical cross-section through a part of a window arrangement embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section through a window arrangement of the kind shown in OMP y v τ/ri-ι p r Fig. 1, and illustrates an openable upper window and a lower fixed light at opposite sides of a central rail; and Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 , and shows 5. a door constructed in accordance with the invention. BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, the frame 11 of a fixed light 12 is 10. mounted in adjacent disposition relative to an exterior frame member 13 by attachment means (not shown) . Frame 11 comprises an outer extruded aluminium section 14 and an inner extruded section 15 of synthetic plastics material, extruded sections 14 and 15 being 15. connected together by co-operating male and female parts 16, 17 provided thereon. Outer extruded section 14 is of generally box ■ form, and the intended outer wall thereof is extended at its longitudinal edges to form a web 18 of inverted 20. J-shape, the end of the lower limb of such web being provided with spaced, lipped ribs 19 to define a channel 20 to receive a sealing strip (not shown) . The intended inner wall of the box form has two spaced ribs 21 extending longitudinally thereof, the ribs 21 being co- 25. extensive with the wall, being perpendicular thereto and being laterally spaced in relation to the longitudinal edges of such wall. An enlargement 22 is provided approximately centrally of each rib. The inner extruded section 15 is a generally hollow 30. trapezium shape when viewed in transverse cross-section, the wall thickness of the extrusion exceeding the wall thickness of the box form of the aluminium extrusion 14. The intended front wall of section 15 is formed with a lipped channel 23 adjacent the thickened outer peripheral edge thereof, to receive a sealing strip (not shown) , whilst two closely spaced transverse strengthening webs 24 extend, between the front and rear walls. Two spaced female connecting elements 25 5. are formed integrally with the section and extend per¬ pendicularly from the rear wall thereof, the elements 25 being spaced to register with and to receive a respective rib 21 of outer extrusion 14 into engagement therewith. The outermost wall of each connecting. 10. element 25, each such element comprising spaced parallel ribs of a height corresponding to the height of ribs 21, is positioned to lie in coplanar relationship with a corresponding wall of the box form of section 14 on interengagement of the co-operating male and female 15. parts 16, 17, the inner walls of each female element being grooved, as at 26, to receive the enlargement 22 provided on rib 21. Exterior frame member 13 similarly comprises an outer extruded section 27 and an inner extended section 20. 28, sections 27 and 28 being of aluminium and poly- vinyl chloride respectively. Section 27 comprises a generally rectangular body part 29 having flanges 30, 31 at the longitudinal edges of its outer face and a respective male connecting member 32 adjacent each long- 25. itudinal edge of its inner face, the male connecting members -each being in the form of a longitudinal rib and having an enlargement 33 in spaced disposition relative to the said inner face. Inner extruded section 28 comprises a box-like 30. body part 34 having two female connecting members 35 integral with and extending from the inner face thereof. The female connecting members 35 are each provided adjacent a respective edge of the body part to receive a respective one o-f the connecting members 32 on the ^UP-^;- OMPI outer section 27, into engagement therewith, the inner ' wall surfaces of each connecting member 35 being grooved, as at 36, to receive the enlargement 33. In contra¬ distinction to the female connecting elements 25, 5. the outermost wall 37 of each female connecting member is of increased height such that the said walls lie adjacen a respective side wall of the body part 29 with the free ends of such walls in abutment with the rear faces of flanges 30, 31. 10. Inner extruded section 28 includes a flange 38 of hollow rectangular transverse section formed inte¬ grally with and extending perpendicularly of a side wall of body part 34, the major axis of the flange being parallel to the inner wall of the body part 34 and 15. the inner face of such flange being coplanar with such inner wall. The flange 38 is so dimensioned that the inner face thereof overlies channel 23 for sealing engage¬ ment with a strip (not shown) located therein. In use, and with a temperature differential existing 20. as between the outside environment A and the interior of a room B, the poor heat conduction characteristic of the inner extruded sections 15 and 28 reduces the incidence of condensation on the inner faces of such • sections, and accordingly avoids the unsightly and 25. inconvenient effects thereof. The construction shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1 is applied in the manner illustrated by Fig. 2, the window arrangement thereof having an openable upper window 40 and a fixed lower light 41 mounted in an 30. exterior frame comprising upper and lower elements 43, vertically extending side elements (not shown) of like cross-section to elements 43 and a central rail 44. In cross-section the frames 45, 46 of the openable window 40 and the fixed light 41, respectively, are of like form and such cross-section differs from that of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 only in minor regards thought not to be of significance, being con¬ cerned as they are with detail changes in the extrusions 5. and the precise form of the male and female co¬ operating parts. The central rail 44 comprises outer and inner extruded sections 47, 48 of aluminium and poly-vinyl- chloride, respectively. The outer section 47 is of 10. rectangular cross-section, and the intended outer wall thereof is lipped at its longitudinal edges to define flanges 49 to receive the relevant edges of the frames 45, 46, into engagement therewith. A weatherstrip 50 extends outwardly from the outer wall of section 47, 15. whilst two male formations 51 extend from the inner wall of such section for co-operation with female formation 52 on the inner section 48. Inner section 48 is of generally T-shape when viewed in cross-section, the female formations 52 extending outwardly from the 20. base thereof, and such section being so dimensioned as to provide abutments for the lower edge of the openable window and the upper end of the fixed light at the imier surfaces thereof. The invention is also of application to doors, 25. and a typical arrangement is shown in Fig. 3, the door comprising an assembly of inner and outer sections 53, 54 respectively, connected together by co-operating " male and female formations 55, 56 thereon, the outer sections 54 being aluminium extrusions and the inner 30. sections 53 being extrusions of poly-vinyl-chloride. The door is hingedly mounted in a frame likewise comprising inner and outer sections 57, 58 respectively of poly-vinyl-chloride and aluminium, the said sections being connected together by co-operating male and OMPI . jh- IPO female formations. Analogous arrangements to those illustrated may be developed for sliding doors, if desired. The invention is not restricted to the exact 5. features of the embodiments described and' illustrated since alternatives will readily present themselves to. one skilled in the art. Thus, for example, whilst it is preferred that the inner and outer extruded sections are connected together by co-operating male and female 10. parts, alternative connecting means may be preferred in some instances, and indeed it may be found suff¬ icient, and indeed convenient, to rely upon an adhesive in some applications. Whilst the preferred materials of choice are 15. aluminium and poly-vinyl-chloride, other materials may be used if desired, and it is thought likely that poly¬ propylene would provide a ready alternative to poly- vinyl-chloride.

Claims: Claims: 1. A window or door frame-part comprising outer and inner elements of extruded section connected together in fixed relationship to define a rigid structural 5. element, characterised in that the inner element comprises a material having a lower thermal conductivity than that of the outer element. 2. A window or door frame-part as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner element is of a synthetic plastics 10. material. 3. A window or door frame-part as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer element comprises an aluminium extrusion. 4. A window or door frame-part as claimed in any one 15. of the preceding claims, wherein the inner element comprises an extrusion. 5. A window or door frame-part as claimed in claim 4, wherein the wall thickness of the inner element exceeds that of the outer element. 20. 6. A window or door frame-part as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein either or both of the inner and outer elements is, or are, of hollow section. 7. A window or door frame-part as claimed in any one 25. of the preceding claims, wherein the inner and outer elements include integral co-operable male and female parts adapted, upon engagement, to connect the said elements together in fixed relationship. 8. A window or door frame-part as claimed in any one 30. of the preceding claims, wherein the material of the inner element is polyvinyl chloride. 9. A window or door arrangement including a frame-part as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

Inventors: BRADBURY J, SMITH J
Applicants: BRADBURY J, RANGE VALLEY ENG LTD, SMITH J, WEATHERSEAL WINDOWS LTD
Application year: 1980
Main classification: E06B3
IPC codes: E06B3