Frame for in situ assembly

Abstract: A frame for in situ assembly, comprising two jambs and a head extending perpendicularly to the jambs, the jambs and the head consisting substantially of metal section strips forming a channel, the section strips having their opening facing outwards for gripping the edges of a wall, while means are provided for fastening the head to the jambs, wherein at least the sides of the jambs gripping the wall extend upwards substantially throughout the height of the sides of the head, so that the head is as it were disposed between the two jambs, while the width of the head is smaller than the width of each of the jambs and the fastening of the narrower head between the jambs is such that the head recedes relative to the jambs at the front and at the back.

Description: The invention relates to a frame for in situ assembly, comprising two jambs and a head extending perpendicularly to the jambs, the jambs and the head consisting substantially of metal section strips forming a channel, the section strips having their opening facing outwards for gripping the edges of a wall, while means are provided for fastening the head to the jambs. Such a frame, which is intended to be transported in parts to a building site and to be mounted in a recess provided in a more or less finished wall, is known from Belgian patent specification 890.707. In the known frame, the section strips of the jambs and the head are secured to each other by means of a mitre joint. The construction is such that jambs and head are hooked together by their ends. The known frame presents a problem in that it is incapable of taking up tolerances in the thickness of the wall against which the frame is to be positioned. If the wall is only slightly thicker than the internal width of the channel of the section strips, the sidewalls of the channels of the section strips of the frame will be bent outwards to some extent when the frame is being fitted, so that the seam of the angle joint yields and opens out. A solution to this problem has been sought in using plastics elements which are fitted in the section strips against the sides thereof at the mitre joint between jambs and head. These plastics elements were formed so as to provide a measure of hooking action and thereby to provide for a drawing together of the section strips of head and jambs, but this solution proved not to be satisfactory in all cases. A further circumstance was that it is required in some countries that metal frames are grounded entirely. With the above-mentioned solution of plastics elements, that requirement cannot be satisfied unconditionally, particularly not where the head is concerned. The object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a frame for in situ assembly that is better capable of taking up deviations in the thickness of the wall against which the frame is to be positioned, without giving rise to yielding seams in the joint between jambs and head. The object contemplated is achieved according to the invention with a door- or window-frame in which the jambs extend upwards substantially throughout the height of the sides of the head, so that the head is in fact disposed between the two jambs, while the width of the head is smaller than the width of each of the jambs and the fastening of the narrower head between the jambs is such that the head recedes relative to the jambs at the front and at the back. In the frame according to the invention, the more conventional mitre joint has been omitted and the head is positioned between the jambs extending to the top of the frame. If the wall gripped by the channels of the jambs and the head is slightly thicker than the width of the inside of the head and the jambs, the sidewall of the head will bend outwards to some extent. Owing to the head being narrower than the contiguous jambs, it will continue to rest against the bottom of the channel of the contiguous jambs, even if the sidewall of the head bends outwards to some extent, without giving rise to a yielding seam. Thus, in accordance with the invention, tolerances in the wall thickness are taken up. It is observed that U.S. Patent No. 3,141,533 discloses a frame wherein the bearing head consists of two parts that fit into each other. The jambs, which are equally wide as the lower part of that head, extend up to the top of the lower part. The upper part of the head has flanged side edges that grip about the upright sidewalls of the lower part and about the upper end of the jambs. Such a construction is more complicated than the structure of the frame according to the invention. Further, this patent specification does not seem to relate to a frame for in situ assembly inasmuch as in any event the head must be fitted first before the construction of the building in question can be continued. Indeed, the publication referred to relates to load bearing door frames. It is further observed that British patent specification 556,752 discloses a frame having a head that is wider than the jambs. According to this publication, the frame in question is capable of being assembled by unskilled labour on the site from simple and easily transportable elements. This British patent specification, however, does not seem to relate to a frame that is assembled on the site with jambs and head being fitted to walls that are already present. As far as is known, at the time of publication of this British specification, on the site the frames were set up first and then the walls were built up against them. This is also evidenced by the manner in which the head is joined to the jambs, which requires access from outside. This is possible only when the walls are erected (built up) after the frame has been set. The problem that is solved by the present invention therefore does not occur with the known frame. In a suitable embodiment of the frame according to the invention having section strips forming a channel, with the outer edges of the sides of the strips being inwardly flanged for gripping the wall, each of the fastening means for fastening the head to the jambs consists of a slide arranged in the channel forming the head, at one end thereof, the slide being provided, on opposite sides thereof, on the sides of the channel, with fingers pointing in the direction of the contiguous jamb, and of openings in the wall of the channel forming the jamb, the fingers of the slide being hooked in the openings, the head further comprising means for retaining the slide in position. Preferably, the metal slide is plate-shaped, having upright sides, the fingers being provided on the upright sides which, after the slide has been arranged in the channel of the head, practically rest against the side of the head on the inside thereof, while a recess is provided in the upper edge of the upright sides, in the middle thereof, and inward depressions are provided in the inwardly flanged edges of the sides of the channel of the head, the inward depressions engaging in the recess, so that the slide is retained in position. Inasmuch as the connection between head and jambs has thus been rendered firm and will remain so, and only comprises metal parts and no plastics elements, the requirement of a good grounding possibility for the entire frame is satisfied at all times. The invention will be explained with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the abutting ends of a jamb and a head of an embodiment of the frame for in situ assembly according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the head and of the jamb shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a slide for joining the jamb and the head shown in Fig. 1. In the figures, similar or corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference numerals. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the abutting ends of a jamb and a head of an embodiment of the frame for in situ assembly according to the invention. For the sake of clarity, the slide which effects the engagement of the head with the jamb is not shown. Such a slide is shown in perspective in Fig. 3. The jamb consists of a section strip having a bottom part 1 provided with a recessed portion 2. On one side, the recessed portion 2 is bounded by the first sidewall 3; on the opposite side, the recessed portion 2 is bounded by an upright edge 4 which, in the finished frame, forms a stop for the door or window to be suspended in the frame. The non-recessed portion of the bottom 1 is bounded at the end by the second sidewall 5 of the jamb. The sidewalls 3 and 5 are flanged inwardly at their outer edges. The flanged edges form channels 6 and 7, respectively, in that they have been bent over twice. The outer edges 8 and 9, respectively, form the stop for the wall to be gripped by the section strip of the jamb. It is not a requirement that the edges of the sidewalls be bent over twice. If the edges are bent over once, they engage the wall at right angles. Since this may lead to damage to the wall, it is to be preferred that the edges be bent over twice so that the outer edges thereof extend parallel to the wall to be clamped. The jamb of the frame according to the invention extends approximately to the top of the frame. The head is disposed between the jambs so that the ends of the head abut the upper ends of the respective jambs. The head consists of a section strip having a bottom part 11, provided with a recessed portion 12. On one side, the recessed portion 12 is bounded by the first sidewall 13; on the opposite side, the recessed portion 12 is bounded by an upright edge 14, which, in the finished frame, forms a stop for the door or window to be suspended in the frame. The non-recessed portion of the bottom 11 is bounded at the end by the second sidewall 15 of the head. The sidewalls 13 and 15 are inwardly flanged at their outer edges. The flanged edges form channels 16 and 17, respectively, in that they have been bent over twice. The outer edges 18 and 19, respectively, form the stop for the wall to be gripped by the section strip of the head. As with the jambs, it is not a requirement that the edges of the sidewalls be bent over twice. Since the edges, when they are bent over once, engage the wall at right angles and this may give rise to damage to the wall, it is to be preferred that the edges are bent over twice so that the outer edges extend parallel to the wall to be clamped. The width of the head, i.e., the distance between the sidewalls 13 and 15, is smaller than the width of the jamb (the distance between the sidewalls 3 and 5), as is clearly apparent from Fig. 2. Further, inasmuch as the head is secured between the jambs in such a manner that the head recedes at the front and the back relative to the jambs, the ends of the sidewalls 13 and 15 remain in abutment with the bottom 1 of the contiguous jamb, even in the case where the wall to be clamped is somewhat thicker than is conventional and the sidewalls 13 and 15 bend laterally. As a result, the seam between head and jamb remains closed at all times. As appears from Fig. 1, a stretch of the part of the bottom 1 of the jamb that projects above the bottom 11 of the head has been cut away. The same applies to a stretch of the corresponding part of the recessed portion 2 of the bottom. In the residual stretch of the recessed portion 2, adjacent the sidewall 13 of the head, a rectangular opening 10 is provided. Similarly, in the residual portion of the bottom 1 adjacent the sidewall 15 of the head, a rectangular opening 20 is provided. Openings 10 and 20 can receive the fingers of a slide mounted in the head, so that a firm connection between head and jamb is effected. A suitable embodiment of the slide (not shown in Fig. 1) will now be discussed with reference to Fig. 3. In the flanged edge 16 of the sidewall 13 of the head, depressions 21 are provided near the end of the sidewall 13. Similarly, in the flanged edge 17 of the sidewall 15, depressions 22 are provided. The depressions 21 and 22 extend into recesses in the respective edge of the slide, so that the slide is retained in position. The embodiment of the slide shown in Fig. 3 consists of a plate-shaped bottom part 23 having upright sides 24 and 25 on opposite sides. During flanging of the side 24, a lug 26 has been forced from the bottom 23, this lug extending downwards in the plane of the side 24. The height of side 24 and lug 26 equals the height of the sidewall 13 of the head on the inside thereof, i.e., the distance between the recessed portion 12 of the bottom 11 and the flanged edge 16. Similarly, the height of the side 25 is practically equal to the height of the sidewall 15 of the head on the inside thereof, and, accordingly, the distance between the bottom 11 and flanged edge 17. Provided in the upper edge of the side 24 is a recess 27 in which fit the depressions 21 in the flanged edge 16 of the sidewall 13 of the head. Provided similarly in the upper edge of side 25 is a recess 28 in which fit the depressions 22 in the flanged edge 17 of the sidewall 15 of the head. The sides 24 and 25 are provided on opposite sides with finger-shaped projections 29 and 30, respectively. In operation, the finger 29 on the side of the jamb is hooked into the opening 10 behind the residual stretch of the recessed bottom part 2. The finger 30 on the side of the jamb is hooked into the opening 20 behind the residual part of the bottom 1. The slide is provided on opposite sides with fingers (the slide is mirror-symmetrical), so that a single type of slide can be used for the head to engage both the jamb on the right-hand side and the jamb on the left-hand side. However, this is not a requirement.

Claims: A door-or window-frame for in situ assembly, comprising two jambs and a head extending perpendicularly to the jambs, said jambs and said head consisting substantially of metal section strips forming a channel, said section strips having their opening facing outwards for gripping the edges of a wall, while means are provided for fastening the head to the jambs, characterized in that the jambs extend upwards substantially throught the height of the sides of the head, so that the head is in fact disposed between the two jambs, while the width of the head is smaller than the width of each of the jambs and the fastening of the narrower head between the jambs is such that the head recedes relative to the jambs at the front and at the back. A frame for in situ assembly according to claim 1, having section strips forming a channel, with the outer edges of the sides of said strips being inwardly flanged for gripping the wall, characterized in that each of the fastening means for fastening the head to the jambs consists of a slide arranged in the channel forming the head, at one end thereof, said slide being provided, on opposite sides thereof, on the sides of the channel, with fingers (29,30) pointing in the direction of the contiguous jamb, and of openings(10,20) in the wall of the channel forming the jamb, said fingers of said slide being hooked in said openings, the head further comprising means (21,22) for retaining the slide in position. A frame for in situ assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the metal slide is plate-shaped, having upright sides (24,25), the fingers (29,30) being provided on said upright sides which, after the slide has been arranged in the channel of the head, practically rest against the side of the head on the inside thereof, while a recess (27,28) is provided in the upper edge of the upright sides, in the middle thereof, and inward depressions (21,22) are provided in the inwardly flanged edges of the sides of the channel of the head, said inward depressions engaging in said recess, so that the slide is retained in position.

Inventors: HOUBEN THEODORUS CORNELIS JOSE, HOUBEN, THEODORUS CORNELIS JOSEPHUS
Applicants: BERKVENS HOUTIND NL BEHEER BV, BERKVENS HOUTINDUSTRIE NEDERLAND BEHEER B.V.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: E06B3
IPC codes: E06B3