METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FACILITATING THE MOUNTING OF A FRAME MEMBER IN A WALL OR CEILING OPENING

Abstract: Method and device for facilitating the mounting of a frame member (1) in an opening in a wall or ceiling. According to the invention, at leat on one side of the opening or on the frame (1) at least one member (3) is attached, which projects to rigid abutment to the frame and, respectively, opening, and is resilient in the direction to its attachment side. It is hereby prevented that the frame slides out of the opening while the frame is being mounted permanently.

Description: Method and device for facilitating the mounting of a frame member in a wall or ceiling opening This invention relates to a method and a device to facilitate the mounting of a frame member in an opening in a wall or ceiling, for example an attic stairs or a hatchet in a ceiling or in a wall. At the mounting of a frame for an attic stairs or a hatch in a ceiling it is not possible for a single person both to hold the frame in place in the opening prepared and at the same time to attach the frame in the opening. Normally a second person is required to maintain the frame in place while it is being attached. The present invention, therefore, has the object to provide a method and a device, which facilitate the mounting of such a frame member in an opening in a ceiling. The method and device are also suitable for use when a frame member is to be mounted in an opening in a wall. This object has been realized in that the invention has been given the characterizing features defined in the attached claims. The invention is described in greater detail by way of a non-restrictive embodiment and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a frame with a mounting appliance according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 with a different design of the mounting appliance, Fig. 3 shows the utilization of the mounting appliance in the form of a cross-section through the frame and a girderiWhere the mounting appliance is attached on the frame, and Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3, but where the mounting appliance is attached on the girder. Fig. 1, thus, shows a frame 1, for example for an attic stairs or ceiling hatch. On the lower edge of the frame 1 an edge list 2 is located to cover the gap forming between the outer surface of the frame and the adjacent girders of the opening (not shown in Fig. 1). On one vertical outer surface of the frame two strip members 3 are attached, which preferably are made of spring steel strip, but also another slightly resilient material can be used. The members 3 are nailed or screwn on the outer surface of the frame and at the lower end bent outward from the frame in a downward directed angle. At this outward bent free lower end the members 3 preferably are provided with claws 4, which can engage the adjacent girders of the opening. The member 3 preferably projects slightly upward over the upper edge of the frame 1 and at this projecting portion is provided with a hole 5, through which, for example, a nail easily can be driven into the adjacent girder for securing the frame in the opening during the final mounting. The upward projecting portion of the member 3 preferably also can be bent slightly inward over the frame, so that the inward bent portion acts as a guide when the frame is being inserted into the opening. Fig. 2 shows a different design of the member 3. Here the upper end of the member is free and bent downward to project to the adjacent girder of the opening. Also at this embodiment the free end of the member 3 is provided with claws 4. In Figs. 1 and 2 only one end wall surface of the frame 1 isshown.The opposed end wall surface preferably also is provided with two similar members 3, so that the frame can engage two girders located on opposed sides of the opening. Fig. 3 shows by way of a section the situation when the frame 1 has been inserted into an opening in a ceiling. The resilient member 3 of the frame engages with the vertical surface of the adjacent girder 6. The gap 7 between the frame 1 and girder 6 is covered downwardly by an the edge list 2 of the frame 1. The horizontal extension of the member 3, of course, must-be greater than the gap 7, so that the member with its claws can engage with the girder 6. Fig. 4 also shows by way of a section the situation when the frame 1 has been inserted into an opening in a ceiling. Here, however, the resilient member 3 is attached on the girder 6 and projects with its free outward bent end outward to the frame 1. In this case, besides, a supporting list 8 is attached to the upper portion of the outer surface of the frame 1. It is hereby prevented that the frame can slide downward when the member 3 is not capable sufficiently to maintain the frame in the position intended. The gap 7 between the girder and frame downwardly is covered as in Fig. 3 by an edge list 2. Though not shown in the Figure, a supporting list corresponding to the supporting list 8 in Fig. 4 can be attached to the girder 6 in Fig. 3 in order to prevent the member 3 from sliding downward along the girder. When a frame is to be mounted in an opening, thus, the members 3 are attached to the frame or to girders 6 of the opening, and the frame thereafter is pushed into the opening. The members are thereby slightly compressed and stretched outward to the girders of the opening and prevent the frame from sliding out of the opening while the frame is attached permanently in the opening. When the member 3 as in Fig. 1 is provided with an upward projecting portion provided with a hole, a nail is driven through the hole 5 in the member into the girder so that the frame safely is retained in the opening while being adjusted to its accurate position. Instead of using strip members 3 also other designs of automatically clamping members can be used, for example locking members suspended eccentrically about a joint.

Claims: Claims 1. A method of facilitating the mounting of a frame member in an opening in a wall or ceiling, c h a r a c te r i z e d i n that on at least one side of the frame (1) or of the opening at least one member (3) is attached, which projects to rigid abutment to the opening and, respectively, frame (1) and is resilient to its attachment side. 2. A method as defined in claim 1, c h a r a c t e ri z e d i n that at least one member (3) is attached on two opposed sides of the frame (1) or opening. 3. A method as defined in claim 2, c h a r a c t e ri z e d i n that two members (3) are attached on each one of the two opposed sides of the frame (1) or opening. 4. A method as defined in any one of the claims 1 to 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that a supporting list (8) is attached on that portion of the opening or frame (1), on which the member (3) is not attached, against which supporting list (8) the member (3) can abut (Fig. 4). 5. A device for facilitating the mounting of a frame member (1) in an opening in a wall or ceiling, c h a ra c t e r i z e d i n that it comprises a member (3), which is attached at least on one side of the opening or frame (l), and which projects outward to the frame (1) or opening and is resilient to its attachment side. 6. A device as defined in claim 5, c h a r a c t e ri z e d i n that at least one member (3) is attached on two opposed sides of the frame (1) or opening. 7. A device as defined in claim 5 or 6, c h a r a c te r i z e d i n that the member (3) has a portion projecting upward over the frame (1), which portion is provided with a hole (5). 8. A device as defined in any one of the claims 5 to 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the member (3) consists of a strip member bent outward angularly to that. portion of the opening or frame (1), on which the member is not attached. 9. A device as defined in claim 8, c h a r a c t e ri z e d i n that the projecting free end of the member (3) is provided with claws (4). 10. A device as defined in any one of the claims 5 to 9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the member (3) consists of resilient material, preferably spring steel strip. AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 26 June 1984 (26.06.84); original claims 1 to 10 replace by amended claims 1 to 8] 1. A method at the mounting of a frame for an attic stairs in an opening in a ceiling, c h a r a c t er i z e d i n that for temporary retaining the frame in the opening during the fastening of permanent fastening means is mounted on each of two opposed sides of the frame (1) or the opening at least one for locking against the essentially vertical side of the opening and, respectively, the frame (1) projecting member, which is resilient to its attachment side. 2. A method as defined in claim 1, c h a r a c t er i z e d i n that two members (3) are attached on each one of the two opposed sides of the frame (1) or opening. 3. A method as defined in claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t er i z e d i n that the member (3) is attached on the frame (1) and is secured during the final mounting by driving a nail into the essentially vertical side wall of the opening through a hole (5) or a slot in an upwardly over the frame (1) projecting portion of the member (3). 4. A device at the mounting of a frame for an attic stairs in an opening in a ceiling, for temporary retaining the frame in the opening during the fastening of permanent fastening means, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that it comprises at least one on each of two opposed sides of the frame (1) or opening attached member (3) which is projecting for abutment against the opening or, respectively, frame (1) and which at pushing up the frame (1) into the opening is resilient to its attachment side. 5. A device as defined in claim 4, c h a r a c t er i z e d in that the member (3) has a portion projecting upward over the frame (1), which portion is provided with a hole (5) or a slot. 6. A device as defined in claim 4 or 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the member (3) consists of a strip member bent outward angularly to that portion of the opening or frame (1), on which the member is not attached. 7. A device as defined in claim 6, c h a r a c t er i z e d i n that the projecting free end of-the member (3) is provided with claws (4). 8. A device as defined in any one of the claims 4 to 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the member (3) consists of resilient material, preferably spring steel strip.

Inventors: LUNDH JOERAN, LUNDH, JOERAN
Applicants: STIFTELSEN ERRESS, ERRESS, STIFTELSEN
Application year: 1984
Main classification: E06B1
IPC codes: E06B1, E06B5