GB1599284A

GB1599284A - Frame members for double glazing units

Info

Publication number: GB1599284A
Application number: GB1055677A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Pryce Jones A & Holt J B
Current assignee: Pryce Jones A & Holt J B
Priority date: 1978-05-31
Filing date: 1978-05-31
Publication date: 1981-09-30

Description

(54) FRAME MEMBERS FOR DOUBLE GLAZING UNITS (71) We, ALAN PRYCE-JONES, of 6, Deep Street, Prestbury, Cheltenham, and JEREMY BRUCE HOLT, of "Amberley", Harnham Lane, Withington, Cheltenham, both British Subjects, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to frame members for double glazing units or other insulating panels for windows, doors, patio doors and the like for the building industry.

There is an increasing requirement for the incorporation of a "thermal break", particularly in double' glazing constructions, such "thermal break" involving the provision of an insulating material between metal parts (normally aluminium extrusions) of the frame, and it is an object of the invention to provide an improved method of obtaining such a "thermal break".

According to the present invention, we provide a method of making a frame member for a double glazing unit or other insulating panel which includes providing two elongate channel-section elements, positioning said elements parallel to and spaced from one another with the open mouths of the channels facing each other, positioning further elements to extend across the space between each side wall of a channel-section element and the opposed side wall of the other channel-section element, introducing a foamed plastics material into the space defined by said channel-section elements and further elements so as to fill said channels, and causing or allowing the plastics material to set' so that it becomes bonded to the side walls of the channel-section elements.

Preferably the side walls of the channels formed by the channel-section elements are provided with keying formations to ensure that a positive mechanical interlocking engagement is obtained between the plastics material and said channel-section elements.

The channel-section elements are preferably aluminium extrusions and the preferred foamed plastics material is foamed polyurethane which has the required mechanical strength and thermal insulating characteristics.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a mould comprising two mould elements and a rigid framework between the mould elements, and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a double-glazed frame member made using the mould shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows apparatus comprising upper and lower mould elements 10 and 12 to each of which is attached a respective facing block 14, 16. Two channel-section elements 18 and 20, formed as aluminium extrusions, are placed in contact with the spacing blocks 14 and 16 and held in position by dowels or like retaining pegs 20 and 22 which engage in holes (not shown) in the lower mould element 12.

When a frame member is to be made, the two channel-section elements 18 and 20 are positioned as shown in Figure 1 so that, together with the confronting surfaces of the spacing blocks 14 and 16, they form a mould cavity and the ends thereof are closed by caps, venting being allowed either through the caps only or along the length of the mould cavity, whichever is considered to be the more advantageous. When the polyurethane has set, the mould is dismantled and the two channel-section elements 18 and 20 are held together by the polyurethane, sawtooth formations 24 on the elements 18 and 20 being embedded in and mechanically interlock with the polyurethane so as to improve the bond with the extruded alumin ium.

Figure 2 shows how the resulting frame member may be used with a double-glazing unit. The frame member, comprising the two-channel section elements 18 and 20 and interconnecting polyurethane 26, serves to receive a glazing unit comprising two layers of glass 28 and 30 held spaced apart by a spacer 32. A limb 34 on the channel-section element 18 serves as a glazing upstand and a glazing clip 36 is inserted between the other side of the double-glazing unit and a step 38 on the other channel-section element 20.

A frame member made by the method according to present invention also constitutes a structural element made by the method claimed in our Patent No. 1,442,622.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A method of making a frame member for a double glazing unit or other insulating panel which includes providing two elongate channel-section elements, positioning said elements parallel to and spaced from one another with the open mouths of the channels facing each other, positioning further elements to extend across the space between each side wall of a channel-section element and the opposed side wall of the other channel-section element, introducing a foamed plastics material into the space defined by said channel-section elements and further elements so as to fill said channels, and causing or allowing the plastics material to set so that it becomes bonded to the side walls of the channel-section elements.

2. A method of making a frame member according to claim 1, wherein the foamed plastics material is polyurethane.

3. A method of making a frame member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the channel-section elements are aluminium extrusions.

4. A method of making a frame member according to any preceding claim, wherein the side walls of the channels formed by the channel-section elements are provided with keying formations.

5. A method of making a frame member for a double glazing unit or other insulating panel, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

6. A frame member for a double glazing unit or other insulating panel made by a method according to any preceding claim.

7. A frame member for a double glazing unit or other insulating panel, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. ium. Figure 2 shows how the resulting frame member may be used with a double-glazing unit. The frame member, comprising the two-channel section elements 18 and 20 and interconnecting polyurethane 26, serves to receive a glazing unit comprising two layers of glass 28 and 30 held spaced apart by a spacer 32. A limb 34 on the channel-section element 18 serves as a glazing upstand and a glazing clip 36 is inserted between the other side of the double-glazing unit and a step 38 on the other channel-section element 20. A frame member made by the method according to present invention also constitutes a structural element made by the method claimed in our Patent No. 1,442,622. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A method of making a frame member for a double glazing unit or other insulating panel which includes providing two elongate channel-section elements, positioning said elements parallel to and spaced from one another with the open mouths of the channels facing each other, positioning further elements to extend across the space between each side wall of a channel-section element and the opposed side wall of the other channel-section element, introducing a foamed plastics material into the space defined by said channel-section elements and further elements so as to fill said channels, and causing or allowing the plastics material to set so that it becomes bonded to the side walls of the channel-section elements.