Abstract:
A window has an elongate frame member and a bead member both of which have mutually-engaging elements, for example holes or slots, at spaced locations along their length, the engagement elements of the frame being integrally formed therewith. The bead member may be attached to clip members incorporating elements for engagement with the frame. Alternatively, the (engagement elements of the bead member are constituted by projections integrally formed with the rest of the bead member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to beading and in particular to beads for double glazed windows.  
           [0002]    Window frames made from hollow extruded material can be formed in shaped sections. In GB 2264740A, the window frame has single longitudinal grooves and clips running the whole length of the frame for mounting a window unit. However, for reasons of structural integrity, a frame with a single thickness of material cannot include a continuous groove.  
           [0003]    Beading for windows is at present attached to the frame by means of studs. Attachment of the studs is time-consuming and is normally undertaken on-site where working conditions may not be favourable and where components can easily be lost.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INTENTION  
         [0004]    The present invention seeks to overcome or reduce at least one of the above problems and to provide an arrangement requiring a lower total number of components.  
           [0005]    According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a window having an elongate frame member and a bed member both having mutually-engaging elements at spaced locations along their lengths, the engagement elements of the elongate frame member being integrally-formed therewith.  
           [0006]    The engagement elements of the frame member are preferably openings such as holes or slots machined in the frame member during manufacture thereof.  
           [0007]    The bead member is attached to a plurality of clip members, said clip members incorporating the engagement elements for engagement with the frame member.  
           [0008]    Alternatively, the engagement elements of the bead member may be integrally formed therewith. The engagement elements are preferably readily engageable.  
           [0009]    According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a window having an elongate frame member and a bead member both having mutually-engaging elements at spaced locations along their lengths, the engagement elements of the bead member being constituted by projections therefrom. The projections are preferably formed on a plurality of clip members attached to the bead member. Alternatively, the projections are integrally formed with the rest of the bead member.  
           [0010]    According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit of parts for making a window comprising elongate frame members having apertures there through at spaced locations, bead members incorporating engagement formations, and a plurality of clip members having first portions for engaging with the formations on the bead members and second portions for engagement with the apertures through the frame members. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 shows a prior art window;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 shows a window in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIGS. 3, 4 and  5  respectively show side, top and front views of a clip member for use in the assembly of the window of FIG. 2 and showing preferred dimensions in mm;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 shows a window in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 shows a front view on an enlarged scale of a bead of the window of FIG. 6; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is a section on the line A of FIG. 7. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]    Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a prior art window  10  in which a double-glazed unit  11  is secured in a frame  12 . At the exterior face of the window a sealing gasket  14  is held in position by an extruded aluminium bead  15 , with mastic tape  16  being provided at the interior face of the window.  
         [0019]    Bead  15  comprises an inverted substantially U-shaped channel member the arms of which clip over the heads of studs  17  provided at spaced locations along the window frame. The lower ends of the studs  17  are threaded and are screwed into spaced threaded holes  18  in the frame. The provision of threaded holes  18  increases manufacturing time. Moreover, screwing in the studs  17  is a laborious process yet it cannot be performed in the factory but needs to be undertaken on site after the glazed unit  11  has been put into position.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 shows a window  20  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention comprising a double glazed unit  21  in a frame  22 . Unit  21  typically has a thickness of 20 mm. A gasket or vision strip  24  and a length of mastic tape  26  are provided. The mastic tape typically has cross-sectional dimensions of 12 mm×3 mm.  
         [0021]    During manufacture of frame  22  it has substantially square holes  27  punched therein at spaced locations along its length. The holes  27  are located in a central position in limb  30  of the frame. The holes typically have 8 mm sides.  
         [0022]    Bead  25  is formed as a member of extruded aluminium having a cross-sectional shape similar to that of a high-backed chair, but with an angled front leg portion and a foot portion extending forwardly from the bottom of the leg portion. At spacings along its length, corresponding to the distance between holes  27  in the frame, the bead is engaged by clip members  40 , see FIGS.  3  to  5 . The clip members  40  are of spring quality stainless steel and typically have a thickness of 0.25 mm. Other preferred dimensions in mm are indicated in FIGS.  3  to  5 . Each clip member comprises a generally rectangular base plate portion  41  having a front edge  42 , the whole of which is raised at an inclination of 15° to the vertical. Stamped out upward is from the portion  41  is an L-shaped tab  43  which extends part of the way towards front edge  42 . Stamped out downwardly from the portion  41  at a location just behind tab  43  are two tang portions  44 ,  45 , which extend perpendicularly to tab  43 , i.e. await from the front edge. Tang portions  44 ,  45  extend inwardly towards each other and terminate in inclined feet  46 ,  47 .  
         [0023]    During assembly of the window  20 , tang portions  44 ,  45  of clip members  40  are sprung into respective holes  27  along the frame  22 . Tape  26  and unit  21  are then inserted. Bead  25  is then attached to the clip members  40  with its front leg portion being held in the space  50  formed between front edge  42  and tab  43 . Assembly is completed by inserting gasket  24 .  
         [0024]    Preferably, the frame is of rolled material, e.g. steel. In this case, it is possible only to form frames having a relatively simple cross-sectional shape and of single thickness. Window mounting arrangements described in the prior art, for example GB 2264740A, are not suitable.  
         [0025]    An advantage of the above arrangement is that it is stable and yet requires fewer components than prior windows. The need for separate components in the form of studs is avoided which saves manufacturing expenditure and leads to a quick and simple method of assembly.  
         [0026]    In view of the reduced dimensions of bead  25  as compared with the prior bead  15 , a very compact arrangement can be achieved which provides windows with a substantially reduced total thickness.  
         [0027]    The holes  27  can be simply produced in frame  22  since they are spaced well away from the edges. Moreover, the provision of a relatively large single hole for each pair of tangs  44 ,  45  also contributes to ease of manufacture in addition to ease of galvanising.  
         [0028]    In a modification, each hole  27  may be replaced by a pair of parallel slots in the frame, one for each of a pair of tangs  44 ,  15 . The clip members  40  do not need to be resilient, but this means that the arrangement is not as stable during assembly.  
         [0029]    In other modifications, the bead may be arranged to fit directly into the frame. For example, FIG. 6 shows a windows  120  in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention comprising a double-glazed unit  121  in a frame  122 . Unit  121  also has a typical thickness of 20 mm. A gasket  124  and a length of mastic tape  126  are provided.  
         [0030]    During manufacture of the frame  122 , it has slots  127  machined therein at spaced locations along its length. The slots are positioned under the lower edge of the front face of the unit  121 , and extend parallel thereto.  
         [0031]    Bead  125  is formed as a member of extruded aluminium having a substantially L-shaped cross-section. At spacings along its length equal to the spacings between slots  127 , the bead is provided with projections in the form of tangs  129  each having a lip  128 . Tangs  129  preferably have a length ‘d’ of 12 mm and their centre-to-centre spacing is 300 mm. Slots  127  have a length of 12 mm or slightly greater.  
         [0032]    During assembly of the window  120 , tangs  129  are inserted in respective slots  127  and the gasket  114  serves to hold the bead in position with the upper surface of the lip  128  engaging the lower surface  133  of the frame and with surface  131  of the bead engaging upper surface  132  of the frame.  
         [0033]    A further advantage of the above-described embodiment is that even fewer components are required than for the first embodiment.  
         [0034]    Various modifications may be made to the above-described arrangement. For example the size and spacing of the tangs  129  can be selected as desired. The tangs may be replaced with projections of any other convenient shape, with corresponding openings being provided in the frame. However, substantially planar projections are preferred for ease of manufacture of both the bead and the frame. The projections may be resilient and may be arranged to be securely held in the openings in the frame even before the insertion of gasket  124 .  
         [0035]    In another modification, the frame  122  is formed with integral projections which are received by corresponding openings in the bead  125 ; however such an arrangement increases the manufacturing costs of both the bead and the frame.  
         [0036]    The frames  22 ,  122  may be part of a fixed window or an opening window.  
         [0037]    It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptions.