IE53757B1 - Improvements in window-frames - Google Patents

Abstract

A window frame construction includes an adaptor having a shaped part, which is adapted to be secured to a glazing bar (11), having a projection (21) which is received in the glazing rebate (18) of the said bar, and coupling means (24) shaped to receive a complementary shaped end part of another glazing bar 14.

Description

The present invention relates to window-frames and more particularly to an improved means and method for securing together glazing bars of wooden window frames.

The term glazing bar is used herein as a generic term to include transoms, rails, stiles and mullions. The term window-frame is used herein to include the frame of a window combined with a door.

A conventional method of securing the ends of a transom to the vertical stiles of a wooden window-frame is by means of mortise and tenon joints. This involves cutting mortises in the stiles and tenons on the transom ends and then slipping the stiles onto the transom before the top and bottom rails are secured to the ends of the stiles to complete the frame. Thereafter the joints are usually dowelled. A similar procedure is adopted for securing the ends of a mullion to the top and bottom rails but, in this case, the rails must he attached to the stiles at the same time as they are secured to the ends of the mullion. These procedures involve many individual steps and the manufacture of window-frames is therefore rendered correspondingly expensive. it is an object cf the invention to provide a means and a method whereby glazing bars can be secured together after the outer frame comprising the stiles and the rails -2has been assembled and without having to cut mortises or the like in the stiles (or rails).

One aspect of the present invention resides in a method of making a wooden window frame in which vertical wooden stiles and wooden top and bottom rails are secured to one another to form a rebated outer frame and adaptors are secured to appropriate portions of the stiles (or rails), and in which a wooden transom (or mullion) having glazing rebates is thereafter attached by its ends to the adaptors so that the glazing rebates of the transom (or mullion) are aligned with the glazing rebate of the outer frame.

A wooden window according to another aspect of the present invention, comprises vertical wooden stiles, wooden top and bottom rails secured to the stiles, and a wooden glazing bar secured at its ends to the stiles or rails by respective adaptors, each of which is attached by screws, nails, dowels or the like fasteners to each respective portion of the stile or rail and to each of which the respective glazing bar end is fastened by a co-operating tongue-and-groove joint with the tongue and groove extending substantially perpendicular to the glazing bar.

Preferably, the tongue and groove are shaped to form a dovetail or similar joint.

It is advantageous for the tongue and groove to 37 5 7 -3extend perpendicularly to the plane of the window almost the full lateral width of the frame but not completely up to the glazing side, i.e. the side of the frame provided with the glazing rebate.

The end of the transom (or mullion) can be protected by forming a shroud on the adaptor such that the transom (or mullion) end is partially received in the shroud. -4Such an adaptor is particularly suitable for fabricating Georgian style window frames having a large number of small cross-section stiles, rails, transoms or mullions.

A wooden window frame, according to another aspect of the invention, comprises vertical wooden stiles, wooden top and bottom rails secured to the stiles and a wooden transom (or mullion) secured at its ends to the stiles (or rails) by respective adaptors, each of which is attached by screws, rails, dowels or the like fasteners to the respective portion of the stile (or rail) and to each of which the respect transom (or mullion) end is fastened by a tongue-and-groove joint with the tongue and groove extending substantially perpendicularly to the transom (oi; mullion). 537.57 -5A wooden window frame, of the Georgian type according to a further aspect of the invention, comprises vertical wooden stiles, wooden top and bottom rails secured to the stiles, and horizontal and vertically disposed wooden glazing bars, secured together by respective adaptors, each of which is attached by screws, nails, dowels or the like fasteners to the respective portion of one of the horizontal and vertical glazing bars, and to each of which adaptors the respective end of the other of the vertical and horizontal glazing bars is fastened, the end of the mid-feather of the glazing bar being received in a groove formed in the adaptor, which groove extends substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the window.

In one embodiment, the transom is attached to the adaptors from the back of the window frame by aligning the ends of the transom with the respective adaptors and the displacing the transom in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the window until 537 57 6. the glazing rebates in the transom are aligned with the glazing rebate in the respective stiles or rails.

In another embodiment^ the transom is attached to the adaptors from the front of the window frame, i.e. from the glazing side, by aligning similarly the ends of the transom with the adaptors and displacing the transom perpendicularly to the plane of the window until the glazing rebates are aligned.

The invention is further described, by way of example with reference to the drawings, in which:Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a window-frame made in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the timber used to make the stiles and rails of the frame; Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the timber used to make the transom and, if required, the mullion of the window; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a joint in accordance with one aspect of the invention, between a1 transom and a stile; Fig. 5 is an elevation of an adaptor used in the joint of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a rear view of the adaptor; Fig. 7 is a plan view of the adaptor; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the adaptor secured to a stile; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view showing one end of a transom prepared for securement to the adaptor, and 537 57 7.

Fig. 10 is a Fragmentary perspective view of a joint in accordance with another aspect of the invention; Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the adaptor of Fig. 10 secured to a vertical glazing bar; Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the adaptor of Figures 10 and 11, and Figs. 13 to 17 are respectively a front elevation, side elevation, rear elevation plan and underneath plan of the adaptor of Fig. 12.

IQ Fig. 1 shows a window frame comprising vertical stiles 10 and 11, upper and lower rails 12 and 13 and a transom 14. The upper and lower rails 12 and 13 may be secured to the stiles 10 and 11 by conventional mortise and tenon or tongue and groove joints, possibly locked by means of dowels, but in the illustrated embodiment the corner joints and the outer frame formed by the rails and stiles are mitred joints as described in United Kingdom Pgtent Application No. 81 03401. The mitre joint is formed by mitring the adjoining ends of the rails and stiles, forming one or more dovetail grooves in each mitred face and, after placing the mitred faces together preferably with glue therebetween, forcing doubledovetail inserts 15 into the dovetail grooves. Contrary 3 7 5? 8. to conventional practice, the outer frame formed by the stiles 10, 11 and the rails 12, 13 is completed before the transom 14 is secured in place by means of adaptors 16, as hereinafter described.

Fig. 1 shows the window-frame at its rear side i.e. the side opposite that from which the window is normally glazed. As shown in Fig. 2, the timber 17 from which the stiles and rails are made has a glazing rebate and the body portion of the timber 17 has the face tapered rearwardly of the glazing rebate 18, although this is a matter of design preference and is' not essential to the invention. Fig. 3 shows the timber 20 from which the transom 14 is made. This timber has two glazing rebates 18a and 18b so that the transom 14 will have a narrow front portion 14a between the glazing rebates. The timber 20 has on its body portion opposed tapered rear faces 19a and 19b matching the face 19 of the timber 17.

Whilst the rebates 18a and 18b are called glazing rebates in the present description and claims, it will be appreciated that, in the case of opening windows, the opening frames (not shown) would be received i’n these rebates instead of glass.

Fig. 4 shows the joint between one end of the transom 14 and the stile 11 from the glazing side.

Thus, the glazing rebates 18 and 18a can be clearly 9. seen. The adaptor 16 is shown more fully in Figs. 5, and 7. This adaptor is preferably an injectionmoulded plastics part eg. of nylon. The part is formed as one piece having a forward projection 21 which is of a shape conforming to the shape of the front portion 14a of the transom 14 and in the finished joint is aligned with this front portion as can be seen clearly in Fig. 4. The glazing rebate is thereby uninterrupted in the finished joint. The main portion 22 of the adaptor 16 has an outer profile generally conforming to the outer profile of the body portion of the transom 14. This main portion 22 is formed about three of its sides with a shroud 23 which encloses the end of the body portion of the transom 20, as shown in Fig. 4. The outer face 28 of the main portion 22 is angled to conform to the tapered surface 19 of the- stile 11.

For the purpose of forming a solid joint, the adaptor 16 is formed with a lateral tongue 24 which in the illustrat ted embodiment, is of dovetail shape. Thus,the tongue 24 extends substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the window. The adaptor 16 is advantageously provided with preformed screw holes 25 which, in the illustrated embodiment , are countersunk.

As shown in Fig. 9, the corresponding end of the transom 14 is simply cut off straight and merely has to be formed with a dovetail groove 26 adapted to receive the tongue 24 so that this groove extends perpendicularly to the transom.

It will be seen from Fig. 9 that the...... . dovetail groove 26 is cut from the rear side of the transom 14 and extends over a major part of the lateral dimension of the transom but does not break through into the glazing side. Correspondingly, the tongue 24 of the adaptor 16, as shown in Fig. 5, extends partially into overlapping relationship with the projection 21 but not up lo the extremity of the projection. The tongue and groove connection 24, 26 is thereby concealed from the glazing side in the finished joint, as is clearly apparent from Fig. 4.

After the outer frame has been assembled from the stiles 10, 11 and the rails 12, 13 as described above with reference to Fig. 1, the adaptors 16 are located in position on the stiles 10, 11 and are secured in place by screws 27 as shown in Fig. 8. Glue can be applied to the appropriate face of the adaptor 16 before it is applied to the respective stile and located and screwed in position if a stronger joint is desired. For a cheaper joint, the screws can be replaced by nails and it is even conceivable simply to use dowels if the adapter 16 is glued in position, since then it merely becomes essential to locate the adaptor in the correct position. Holes for the dowels could be formed before the outer frame is assembled to facilitate mass production. Likewise it would be possible to mark screw holes before the outer frame is assembled.

It will be appreciated that, once the outer frame 537 57 11. has been assembled and the adaptors 16 have been secured in position, it is a simple matter to cut the transom 14 to the correct length and to cut the grooves 26 in the ends of the transom by means of a conventional dovetailing machine. Glue can then be applied to the ends of the transom and/or to the adaptors and the transom is simply pushed into position laterally from the glazing side to complete the frame. It is possible to make the tongues 24 with a slight taper in their longitudinal direction so that they become wedged in the dovetail grooves 26 to make a firm joint. Thus, it is preferable for the transom to be lightly hammered home. As can be seen by inspection of Figs. 4 and 8, the body portion of the transom will simply slide into the shroud 23.

Whilst’ the invention has been described above in relation to the fitting of a transom to a simple frame, the invention is equally applicable to the fitting of a vertical mullion, the mullion being formed from the same timber 20 as the transom and the joints between the mullion and the rails being of identical construction to the joint shown in Fig. 4. The window may, of course, have several mullions and/or transoms and where both a mullion and a transom are provided the joint between the mullion and the transom would again be constructed identically to the joint of Fig. 4.

Although the invention has been described with 3 7 5? - 12 reference to the construction of a complete window-frame the joint of the invention is also particularly useful when fitting an existing frame with a transom and/or mullion, it being only necessary to ensure that the adaptor 16 is designed to conform to the profile of the existing frame.

The drawings of Figs. 10 to 17 illustrate another embodiment of the adaptor. This adaptor 50, is particularly suitable for fabricating Georgian type windows in which the vertical and horizontal glazing bars 52, 54 are of small section. The outer frame within which these glazing bars are located may be similar in construction to the frame illustrated in Fig. 1. The term glazing bars has been used in place of the terms transoms, mullions, stiles and rails to avoid excessive use of alternatives and it is to be understood that the use of the term glazing bar is to include these alternatives. The adaptor 50 is shown connecting two Georgian glazing bars 52, 54 having the same cross-section. Each glazing bar 52, 54, has two glazing rebates 56a, 56b, 5Sa, 58b. A mid-feather 56, 58 is defined between the respective rebates and defines the front or glazing side of the window frame. Each bar has a pair of sides 60 disposed between the respective glazing rebates and a back face 62 of the bar.

In the illustrated embodiment these sides slope inwardly towards the back face. 13.

The adaptor 50 comprises a shaped part having a projection 64 which is adapted to be received in a glazing rebate. The projection co-operates with the rebate 56a and with a side of the mid-feather 56. A groove 66 is disposed adjacent the projection and comprises longitudinal channel having two side walls 70 and a base 72 and provided with an end wall 68.

The groove 66 is adapted to receive an end of the mid-feather of a glazing bar. The end of the mid10 feather 56 thereby constitutes a tongue so that a tongueand-groove joint is formed. The end 69 of the channel opposite to the end wall 68 is open. In cross-section the channel is wedge shaped with the side walls 70 converging from the base to an opening of the channel.

The adaptor further comprises spacer means 74 integrally formed with the projection and coupling means.

One face 76 of the spacer means is in the same plane as the base 72 and forms an extension thereof. An opposite face 78 of the spacer means is adapted to fit the side 60 of a glazing bar. In the illustrated embodiments, the face 78 is inclined with respect to the face 76, this latter face being perpendicular to the plane of-the window. Two through bores 80 are formed in the spacer means. The adaptor is formed by moulding as one piece and is made of a plastics material. The size of the projection is determined by the size of the glazing rebate to which the adaptor is to be fitted. Thus, bars of different cross-section may be;secured* 14. together by providing appropriately dimensioned adaptors.

As with the first embodiment^ the outer frame comprising vertical stiles and horizontal top and bottom rails is assembled either by conventional methods or 5 as described with reference to Fig. 1. In the case of a Georgian type window frame, several transoms and mullions are disposed in a lattice work to split the frame into smaller square or rectangular glazing units.

For example7where the window is to be divided into nine units, two transoms and six mullions or two mullions and six transoms may be required. The adaptors may be used to secure the respective ends of the transoms to the vertical stiles and the respective ends of the mullions to the rails and transoms or between the trans15 oms as the case may be. For simplicity, the use of the adaptor will be described with reference to the connection of a transom to a mullion. Thus^when it is required to fit a glazing bar in the form of a transom between, for example, glazing bars in the form of a vertical stile and a mullion, a respective adaptor is attached to the stile and mullion in the desired position. Only a part of the vertical mullion and an end of the transom is shown in the illustration. The adaptors are secured in position by means of small nails or pins 82 which pass through the holes 80 in the spacer means. It will be seen . that a lip 84 carried by the adaptor engages around the mid-feather. The respective ends of the transom is then offered up to the respective adaptors from the direction of the back faces 62 of the bars. The mid5 feather is introduced into the channel 66 by way of the open end 69. The glazing bar (transom) is displaced in a direction perpendicular to the window until the glazing rebates (56a and 58a in the illustration) are aligned. In this manner, a window frame can be fabricated quickly without the need to rebate the ends of the bar to fit into the rebates of the other bars to which it is to be secured.

The spacer means 74 corresponds in shape to crosssectional shape of the end part of the bar against which it abuts in use, thus bar 54 has no apparent discontinuities when viewed from the back face of the bar/frame.

Thus it will be seen that, in the first embodiment, the adaptor provides an uninterrupted glazing rebate, the projection portion 21 being flush finished with the mid20 feather of the transom 20, whilst, in the secohd embodiment, the adaptor provides an uninterrupted back face and sides and a channel which surrounds the mid-feather.

Claims (20)

1. A method of making a wooden frame in which vertical wooden stiles and wooden top and bottom rails are secured to one another to form a rebated outer frame and adaptors are secured to appropriate portions of the stiles (or rails), and in which a wooden transom (or mullion) having glazing rebates is thereafter attached by its ends to the adaptors so that the glazing rebates of the transom (or mullion) are aligned with the glazing rebate of the outer frame.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the transom is attached to the adaptors from the back of the window frame by aligning the ends of the transom with the respective adaptors and then displacing the transom in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the window until the glazing rebates in the transom are aligned with the glazing rebate in the respective stiles or rails.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the transom is attached to the adaptors from the front of the window frame, i.e. from the glazing side, by aligning similarly the ends of the transom with the adaptors: and displacing the transom perpendicularly to the plane of the window until the glazing rebates are aligned.

4. A wooden window frame comprising vertical wooden stiles, wooden top and bottom rails secured to the stiles, and a wooden glazing bar secured at its ends to the stiles -17or rails by respective adaptors, each of which is attached by screws, nails, dowels or the like fasteners to each respective portion of the stile or rail and to each of which the respective glazing bar end is fastened by a 5. In its longitudinal direction.

5. A window frame as claimed in claim 4, in which the tongue is carried by the adaptor and the groove is formed 5 co-operating tongue-and-groove joint with the tongue and groove extending substantially perpendicularly to the glazing bar.

6. A window frame as claimed in claim 5, in which the tongue and groove are shaped to form a dovetail joint.

7. A window frame as claimed in claim 4, 5 or 6, in which the tongue and groove extend substantially

8. A window frame as claimed in claim 4, in which the tongue comprises the end of the mid-feather of the glazing bar and the groove is formed in the adaptor. 9. , 10, 13 or 14, in which the tongue has a slight taper

' 9. A wooden window frame comprising vertical wooden 20 stiles, wooden top and bottom rails secured to the stiles and a wooden transom (or mullion) secured at its ends'to the stiles (or rails) by respective adaptors, each of which is attached by screws, rails, dowels or the like fasteners, to the respective portion of the stile (or 25 rail) and to each of which the respective transom (or mullion) end is fastened by a tongue-and-groove joint with the tongue and groove extending substantially perpendicular -18to the transom (ormullion). 10. Means corresponding in shape to a back portion of said glazing bar, transom or mullion remote from said midfeather portion.

10. A window frame as claimed in claim 9, in which the tongue and groove are shaped to form a dovetail. 10 in the end of the glazing bar.

11. A wooden window frame,, of the Georgian type comprising vertical wooden stiles, wooden top and bottom rails secured to the stiles, and horizontal and vertically disposed wooden glazing bars, secured together by respective adaptors, each of which is attached by screws, nails, dowels or the like fasteners to the respective portion of one of the horizontal and vertical glazing bars, and to each of which adaptors the respective end of the other of the vertical and horizontal glazing bars is fastened, the end of the mid-feather of the glazing bar being received in a groove formed in the adaptor, which groove extends substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the window.

12. A window frame as claimed in any of claims 4 to 11, in which each adaptor comprises a shaped part having a projection shaped to be received in the glazing rebate and having coupling means shaped to define one part of the tongue-and-groove joint. 13. In which a shroud is formed on said shaped part and -19an end of said glazing bar, transom or mullion is partially received in the shroud to protect same.

13. A window frame as claimed in claim 12, when appendant to claim 7, 9 or 10, in which the tongue and groove extend almost the full lateral width of the frame, but not completely up to the glazing side.

14. A window frame as claimed in Claim 15. Channel disposed adjacent the projection and having an open end adjacent the spacer means.

15. A window frame as claimed in claim 4, 5, 6, 7, 15 perpendicularly to the plane of the window.

16. A window frame as claimed in claim 12, in which said shaped part includes spacer means interposed between a side part of a rail or stile and an end part of said glazing bar, transom or mullion, the spacer

17. A window frame as claimed in claim 16 in which the groove of the tongue-and-groove joint comprises a

18. A window frame as claimed in claim 16 or 17, in which the groove cross-section is dovetail shaped.

19. A method of making a wooden window frame 20 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20. A wooden window frame constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.