Window, Shutter Or Door With Adjustable Mounting Frame

Abstract

A window, shutter or door assembly including a window, shutter or door including a rigid surround frame with a number of peripheral sides and an adjustable mounting frame including at least one frame member relative to each peripheral side of the rigid surround frame of the window, shutter or door and movable relative thereto to abut part of a periphery of an opening into which the window, shutter or door assembly is to be fitted to adjust the size of the adjustable mounting frame in one or more dimensions to fit the opening.

Claims

1. An adjustable mounting frame for mounting a window, door or shutter into an opening, the window, door or shutter including a rigid surround frame with a number of peripheral sides, the adjustable mounting frame including at least one frame member relative to each peripheral side of the rigid surround frame of the window, door or shutter and movable relative thereto to abut part of a periphery of the opening to adjust the size of the adjustable mounting frame in one or more dimensions wherein a cover member or assembly is provided between adjacent frame members of the adjustable mounting frame in order to cover any gaps created between the frame members caused by the expansion of the adjustable mounting frame.

2. The adjustable mounting frame as claimed in claim 1 wherein the frame members are movable independently of one another in order to take up any inconsistency within the opening and to position and mount the window, door or shutter or other building construction, in the opening.

3. The adjustable mounting frame as claimed in claim 1 provided in a full reveal, semi-reveal or face fit configuration.

4. The adjustable mounting frame as claimed in claim 1 wherein more than one frame member is provided relative to each peripheral side of the rigid surround frame.

5. The adjustable mounting frame as claimed in claim 1 further including an adjustment mechanism for movement of the adjustable mounting frame members relative to the rigid surround frame.

6. The adjustable mounting frame as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of the at least one frame members is at least partially U-shaped with a pair of spaced apart walls between which the respective frame member of the rigid surround frame of the window, shutter or door is received and a transverse wall extending therebetween.

7. The adjustable mounting frame as claimed in claim 6 further including an adjustment mechanism for movement of the adjustable mounting frame members relative to the rigid surround frame, the adjustment mechanism provided between the spaced apart walls of the at least one frame member

8. The adjustable mounting frame as claimed in claim 7 wherein the adjustment mechanism is provided relative to the transverse wall of the at least one frame member.

9. The adjustable mounting frame as claimed in claim 7 wherein two adjustment mechanisms are provided on any one adjustable mounting frame member.

10. The adjustable mounting frame as claimed in claim 9 wherein the adjustment mechanisms are provided towards opposite ends of each adjustable mounting frame member to allow an installer to move an end of each adjustable mounting frame member independently of one another to adjust the separation distance of the adjustable mounting frame member relative to the rigid surround frame and/or the angle of the adjustable mounting frame member relative thereto.

11. The adjustable mounting frame as claimed in claim 7 wherein the adjustment mechanism is a threaded mechanism allowing an installer to rotate a threaded member in order to adjust the effective external dimension and/or shape of the adjustable mounting frame through adjustment of each of the adjustable mounting frame members.

12. The adjustable mounting frame as claimed in claim 7 wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a threaded rod and a pair of internally threaded tubular portions, one tubular portion provided in the rigid surround frame member and a corresponding tubular portion is provided in the adjustable mounting frame member, the tubular portions being coaxial in order for the threaded rod to engage both.

13. The adjustable mounting frame as claimed in claim 12 wherein opposite ends of the threaded rod have opposite threads or threads extending in different directions, opposite to one another.

14. The adjustable mounting frame as claimed in claim 13 wherein the opposite threads on the threaded rod extend over approximately half of the length of the threaded rod each.

15. The adjustable mounting frame as claimed in claim 12 wherein a first tubular portion is provided in a transverse wall of the at least one frame member and a second tubular portion is provided in the rigid surround frame, the tubular portions recessed within the thickness of the respective member.

16. The adjustable mounting frame as claimed in claim 12 wherein the threaded rod is accessible through an opening provided in a surface of the rigid surround frame member.

17. (canceled)

18. The adjustable mounting frame as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cover members are corner members mounted relative to the adjustable mounting frame members.

19. The adjustable mounting frame as claimed in claim 18 wherein the cover members clip onto the adjustable mounting frame members and allow the adjustable mounting frame members to slide relative thereto.

20. The adjustable mounting frame as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one frame member abuts the periphery of the opening into which the window, shutter or door is fixed and some expansion of the adjustable mounting frame is required in order to achieve this.

21. The adjustable mounting frame as claimed in claim 20 wherein one or more fixtures is used in order to permanently fix the adjustable mounting frame members in place and thereby fix the window, shutter or door in place, these fixtures provided through the adjustable mounting frame members once the adjustable mounting frame has been fitted in place and expanded.

22. The adjustable mounting frame as claimed in claim 19 wherein permanent fixtures are provided through the transverse wall of each adjustable mounting frame member once the mounting frame member has been properly fitted into the opening.

23. A window, door or shutter assembly including a window, door or shutter including a rigid surround frame with a number of peripheral sides and an adjustable mounting frame including at least one frame member relative to each peripheral side of the rigid surround frame of the window, door or shutter and movable relative thereto to abut part of a periphery of an opening into which the window, door or shutter assembly is to be fitted to adjust the size of the adjustable mounting frame in one or more dimensions to fit the opening wherein a cover member or assembly is provided between adjacent frame members of the adjustable mounting frame in order to cover any gaps created between the frame members caused by the expansion of the adjustable mounting frame.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0038] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

[0039] FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a window, shutter or door assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in the collapsed condition with the corner covers removed for clarity.

[0040] FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the window, shutter or door assembly illustrated in FIG. 1 in the expanded condition.

[0041] FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the window, shutter or door assembly of FIG. 2 with the corner covers but the leftmost corner covers being transparent.

[0042] FIG. 4 is a sectional isometric view of the window, shutter or door assembly of FIG. 3 along line A-A.

[0043] FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the portion identified in FIG. 4 using reference letter B.

[0044] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of one corner of the window, shutter or door assembly illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0045] FIG. 7 is a detailed end elevation view of the configuration illustrated in FIG. 5 in the collapsed condition.

[0046] FIG. 8 is a detailed end elevation view of the configuration illustrated in FIG. 5 in the expanded condition.

[0047] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of one possible embodiment of the present invention in which a number of infill panels are provided in a single rigid surround frame.

[0048] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment in which a number of individually adjustable window, shutter or door assemblies are provided in an opening.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0049] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, a window, shutter or door assembly with an adjustable mounting frame is provided.

[0050] The window, shutter or door assembly 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8 includes a window, shutter or door having a rigid surround frame 11 with a number of peripheral surround frame members 12 and an infill portion 13. An adjustable mounting frame is provided including an adjustable mounting frame member 14 relative to each peripheral side of the rigid surround frame 12. Each adjustable mounting frame member 14 is movable relative to the respective member of the rigid surround frame 12 to abut part of a periphery of an opening 50 in a wall 15 into which the window, shutter or door assembly 10 is to be fitted to adjust the size of the adjustable mounting frame in one or more dimensions to fit the opening 50.

[0051] The provision of the adjustable mounting frame of the present invention allows a window, door or shutter for example to be mounted into an opening 50 which is larger than the external dimension of the window, door, shutter or other building construction (as illustrated in FIG. 1) or which is oddly sized or out of square for example. This will provide greater flexibility in installation, the ability to have more standard sized windows and minimise custom or bespoke window sizes and also to account for slightly out of square openings.

[0052] In FIGS. 1 to 3, the adjustable mounting frame members 14 are movable independently of one another in order to take up any inconsistency within the opening and to position and mount the window, door or shutter 10, in the opening.

[0053] The illustrated window, shutter or door assembly 10 has a rigid surround frame with a number of peripheral surround from members 12 and an infill portion 13 configured as a shutter. The shutter infill portion 13 has its own external surround frame located within the rigid surround frame.

[0054] The rigid surround frame 11 of the window, shutter or door is fixed in size and shape. In most window, shutter or door configurations, the rigid surround frame has four sides, each of which is substantially planar to define a rectangular window or shutter.

[0055] The adjustable mounting frame of the present invention can be provided in a full reveal, semi reveal or face fit configuration. In the embodiment, the shutter assembly is a reveal fit configuration.

[0056] Depending upon the size of the window or shutter, more than one adjustable mounting frame member 14 may be provided relative to each peripheral side but, for smaller windows or shutters such as that illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8, a single elongate adjustable mounting frame member 14 per side is provided. Each of the adjustable mounting frame members 14 is elongate.

[0057] The preferred embodiment of adjustable mounting frame members illustrated is H shaped. In this preferred form as best illustrated in FIG. 5, each of the adjustable mounting frame members 14 has a pair of spaced apart walls 16 between which the respective frame member 12 of the rigid surround frame of the shutter is received. In use, when the adjustable mounting frame member 14 is moved away from the rigid surround frame 11 of the shutter in order to fit the opening, the spaced apart walls 16 will hide the adjustment mechanism as well as to cover any separation gap 17 between the adjustable mounting frame member 14 and the rigid surround frame members 12 which may be cause due to their separation. The pair of spaced apart walls 16 has a transverse wall 18 extending therebetween. Smaller spaced apart walls 19 extend from the transverse wall 18 to abut the periphery of the opening.

[0058] As will be explained in more detail below, the mechanism for movement of the adjustable mounting frame member 14 is provided between the spaced apart walls 16 of the adjustable mounting frame member 14 and normally relative to the transverse wall 18 of the adjustable mounting frame members 14.

[0059] The adjustable mounting frame members 14 may be made from any material but normally, the material used will be similar to the rigid surround frame of the window or shutter.

[0060] The adjustable mounting frame members of the preferred embodiment will preferably abut the periphery of the opening into which the window, shutter or door is fixed and some expansion of the adjustable mounting frame will normally be required in order to achieve this. One or more fixtures may be used in order to permanently fix the adjustable mounting frame member(s) in place and thereby fix the window, shutter or door in place.

[0061] The adjustable mounting frame members may have square cut ends as illustrated in FIG. 6 but will preferably be mitre cut as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0062] The adjustable mounting frame members 14 are movable relative to the rigid surround frame 11 through the provision of one or more adjustment mechanisms.

[0063] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, two adjustment mechanisms are provided on any one adjustable mounting frame member 14. Each of the adjustment mechanisms is provided towards opposite ends of the adjustable mounting frame member which will allow an installer to move the ends of each adjustable mounting frame member independently of one another to adjust the separation distance of the adjustable mounting frame member relative to the rigid surround frame and/or the angle of the adjustable mounting frame member relative thereto. An approximate location is illustrated in FIG. 6. According to this configuration, a rectangular window will preferably have eight adjustment mechanisms, two provided on each side, relative to the adjustable mounting frame member on each side.

[0064] The preferred adjustment mechanism is simple and robust. A threaded mechanism is particularly preferred allowing an installer to rotate a threaded member in order to adjust the effective external dimension and/or shape of the adjustable mounting frame through adjustment of each of the adjustable mounting frame members. This means that an installer can adjust the adjustable mounting frame to the size of the opening and also adjust to account for out of square openings.

[0065] A particularly preferred mechanism illustrated in detail in FIGS. 5 to 8, includes a threaded rod 20 and a pair of internally threaded tubular portions 21. As illustrated, one tubular portion 21 is provided in the rigid surround frame member 12 and a corresponding tubular portion 21 is provided in the adjustable mounting frame member 14. Typically, the tubular portions 21, 21 are coaxial in order for the rod 20 to engage both.

[0066] The rod 20 will preferably be threaded over its entire length in order to give the maximum possible adjustability but opposite ends of the rod have opposite threads or threads extending in different directions, opposite one another. The tubular portions 21, 21 provided correspond to the threaded portions on the opposite ends of the rod 20. This configuration means that smaller rotations of the threaded rod 20 results in larger adjustments of the separation distance between the adjustable mounting frame member 14 and the rigid surround frame 12 meaning that an installer can save time in the adjustment process.

[0067] According to the preferred embodiment, the opposite threads on the rod 20 will preferably extend over approximately half of the length of the rod 20 each.

[0068] Preferably, the tubular portion 21 provided in the rigid surround frame member 12 is recessed within the thickness of the rigid surround frame member 12 as illustrated in FIG. 5. As illustrated in that Figure, the end of the threaded rod 20 is also be recessed below the surface of the rigid surround frame member 12 The threaded rod will typically be accessible through an opening 22 in a surface of the rigid surround frame member 12 as illustrated in FIG. 6 and this opening 22 may be temporarily covered by a cap or cover or similar.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 5, the accessible end of the threaded rod 20 has a shaped slot 23 for receiving a portion of a screwdriver used to rotate the threaded rod 20.

[0070] In use, the window, shutter or door assembly will be placed within the opening and the installer will then use the adjustment mechanisms around the window, shutter or door in order to drive the rods in the different adjustment mechanisms to expand the adjustable frame in order to fit the opening. Following the adjustment, the window, shutter or door assembly will normally be fixed permanently within the opening.

[0071] According to the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, a cover member 24 is provided at the corners of the adjustable mounting frame in order to cover gaps created between the adjustable mounting frame members 14 caused by the expansion of the adjustable mounting frame. In a preferred embodiment, the corner cover members 24 are mounted relative to the adjustable mounting frame members 14, normally, clipping onto the adjustable mounting frame members 14, but allow the adjustable mounting frame members 14 to slide relative thereto.

[0072] As mentioned above, there may be more than one infill portions or an infill portion may be provided within the rigid surround frame which is made up of a number of window, shutter or door assemblies. Two alternative configurations are illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. In FIG. 9, one rigid surround frame 11 is provided with multiple infill panels 13 such that the entire assembly is adjustable as shown by the arrows. In FIG. 10, a plurality of window, shutter or door assemblies 10 are provided within a single opening with each of the window, shutter or door assemblies 10 being adjustable as shown by the arrows. One or more fixed separator members or assemblies can be provided between infill panels or window, shutter or door assemblies in a single opening.

[0073] It is important that the configuration inside the adjustable mounting frame is less important than the adjustable mounting frame itself and its relationship with the rigid surround frame and the mechanism of movement of the adjustable mounting frame relative thereto.

[0074] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word comprising and its derivatives including comprises and comprise include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

[0075] Reference throughout this specification to one embodiment or an embodiment means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases in one embodiment or in an embodiment in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

[0076] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.