IL116238A

IL116238A - Connector unit for construction frames and a window frame including the same

Info

Publication number: IL116238A
Application number: IL11623895A
Authority: IL
Original assignee: M T D Ind Ltd
Priority date: 1995-12-03
Filing date: 1995-12-03
Publication date: 1998-07-15
Also published as: IL116238A0

Description

n7 'j2 ίΐπλρη Tiny TIUTI m7n7 nniN 771Dn Π π ηΊλσηι A CONNECTOR UNIT FOR CONSTRUCTION FRAMES AND A WINDOW FRAME INCLUDING THE SAME The present invention relates to a connector unit for constructional frames. More particularly, the invention provides means to firmly connect and align an inner frame, of the type used, e.g., for windows, to an outer frame attached to a building, and especially to connect and align inner and outer metal frames.

A common form of window construction in security rooms involves the preparation of "blind" or outer steel frames around which concrete is poured. After the concrete is set, an inner window frame of steel or aluminum is attached inside the outer steel frame. Both frames are suitably corrosion-protected. Any gaps between the two frames are filled by a sealant. Such sealant is, in most cases, not relied upon to retain the inner frame; screw fasteners are inserted through the inner frame and into the outer frame.

Some form of screw fastening is essential for windows used in security rooms designed to survive the same blast pressure which can be resisted by the wall in which the window is held, typically 500 kg/m2. In such construction, the task of the sealant is the exclusion of dangerous gases, and such sealing encompasses the exclusion of moisture.

The use of standard screws might provide a satisfactory solution if the outer and inner frames fitted each other perfectly and if there were no space left between them. Due to construction and manufacturing inaccuracies, there is a need to leave such a space, part of which is utilized for alignment and adjustment in fitting the inner frame.

In order that the window will be well sealed against the inner frame, it is of particular importance to avoid distortion of said inner frame. Such distortion is certain to result when screws are used to hold the inner frame within an outer frame which was inaccurately made, or which became distorted during construction.

The problem of distortion has been overcome by a known connector unit in commercial use, which comprises a flanged, cylindrical plastic body having an externally screwed shoulder and a hexagonal-section bore. A plastic nut plate screws onto the screwed body. When assembled, the flange rests against the outer, blind steel frame, while the nut plate is retained in rails on the outside of the inner frame, which has smaller dimensions than the inside of the outer frame. The hexagon bore in the flanged cylindrical body is used to revolve said body and thereby to axially adjust the window unit outwards, as needed, to contact the blind frame. A hand-held drill is then inserted through the hexagonal bore and used to drill through the steel flange of the blind outer frame and into the concrete, and then a self-threading fastener is inserted into the drilled hole and tightened.

One of the difficulties inherent in the above-described method is that the type of drill and the drilling speed suitable for drilling steel are different from those suitable for drilling concrete. As is well-known, concrete should be drilled with a carbide-tipped drill, at slow speed, without lubricant. On the other hand, steel should be drilled with a high speed steel drill, driven at medium speed and with the use of a lubricant. A high speed steel drill used on concrete will soon be blunted, making subsequent drilling of steel difficult.

In any case, it is best to avoid drilling on site, as time spent drilling during construction is more costly than factory time. In addition, the need to supply electric power for drilling at every point at a building site where windows are being installed is also a source of potential accidents, due to the need to string long, flexible cables across the building.

Typically, a window frame intended to resist high blast forces is attached to a blind frame at 8 or 12 points. A large building, having 100 or more windows, may require over 1,000 attachments. The time and cost saved by a better method of attaching windows will therefore make a worthwhile contribution to meeting construction time and cost targets.

The above-described prior art system of drilling holes in blind outer frames at the building site and connecting inner frames thereto with standard screws and connectors, provides the necessary sealing connection between frames in a security room. However, this procedure requires precision and skilled workers. Furthermore, it involves difficult physical work, the use of professional tools, and the carrying out thereof is extremely time-consuming. For these reasons, this method of blind outer frames is not used today in conventional construction, since this method is too complicated, expensive and impractical for such conventional use.

The present invention is thus intended to obviate the above-described disadvantages of the prior art window frame attachment method, and to provide a system which eliminates the need for on-site drilling, allows speedy and safer installation of window frames, and reduces the cost of the assembled window.

It is a further object of the present invention to allow space take-up between the outer blind window frame and the inner frame, while ensuring that the inner frame remains undistorted after assembly.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a window attachment system having the necessary strength specified for the construction of security rooms. A central feature of the standard for security rooms is that the window frames be secured to resist the high horizontal forces which result from a nearby explosion.

The present invention achieves the above objectives by providing an aligning connector unit for attaching an inner frame inside an outer frame, said unit comprising a hollow body attachable to an inner frame, said hollow body having a first extremity and an opposite, second extremity, at least a portion of the outer surface of said hollow body, including said first extremity, being externally screw-threaded; said hollow body being provided, in proximity to said first extremity, with means for engagement by a tool whereby a torque may be applied to said hollow body; a nut plate engageable with said inner frame and having an internal screw thread matching said externally screw-threaded portion of said hollow body, whereby said second extremity of said hollow body may be inserted into said nut plate and into an aperture in said inner frame and adjusted to project a desired distance outwards from said inner frame towards the outer frame to which said inner frame is to be attached; and an internal rotatable member, insertable in a hollow of said hollow body at said second extremity and projecting therefrom, provided with engagement means for a tool insertable through said first extremity of said hollow body, whereby a torque may be applied to turn said internal rotatable member relative to said hollow body, and whereby an outer extremity of said internal rotatable member may thereby be brought into engagement with said outer frame.

Said connector units can be made of any suitable material, such as metal, plastic, or combinations thereof, although steel metal units are preferred.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a connector unit wherein said internal rotatable member is provided with an external screw thread and a matching, internal axial screw thread is provided in said hollow body, extending axially inwards from said second extremity, whereby a torque applied to turn said rotatable member relative to said hollow body effects an axial displacement of said rotatable member and the engagement of an outer extremity thereof with the outer frame.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a connector unit wherein the internal rotatable member has an eccentric head configured to engage the wall of an aperture provided in the outer frame.

In a most preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a window frame construction system comprising a plurality of connector units as described above; an inner frame configured to hold a plurality of said hollow bodies and said nut plates at spaced-apart positions, and an outer frame connected to the building under construction, said outer frame being provided with apertures located to be engageable by the internal rotatable members of said connector units.

Still further embodiments of the invention will be described below.

It will be realized that the novel device of the present invention enables construction workers on site to quickly assemble inner frames within outer frames without distortion even when the outer frames are inaccurate and/or distorted, eliminates on-site drilling with all its attendant costs and dangers, and, through use of connector units which engage pre-pierced apertures in the outer frame, obtains a finished frame which resists high pressures, as specified for security rooms and for tall buildings wherein provision is made for exceptional wind pressures.

The present factory prepared window frame construction system is also applicable to standard building construction and enables the ready use of blind frames therein according to the present invention.

The invention will now be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments with reference to the following illustrative figures so that it may be more fully understood.

With specific reference now to the figures in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a preferred embodiment of the connector unit of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an internal rotatable member screwed into a hollow body; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a connector unit provided with an outer flange; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an internal rotatable member provided with an eccentric head; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a connector unit and a tool for adjusting same; Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view of a window frame construction system using said connector unit; and Fig. 7 is a perspective, fragmented, detailed view of a similar system provided with aperture enclosure panels .

There is illustrated in Fig. 1 an aligning connector unit 10 for attaching inner frame 12 inside outer frame 14. Both frames will be described below with reference to Fig. 6.

The main component of connector unit 10 is a hollow body 16, which is attachable to inner frame 12. Hollow body 16 has a first extremity 18 and an opposite, second extremity 20. At least a portion of the outer surface of hollow body 16, including first extremity 18, is threaded with external screw threads 22. Calculations and tests have indicated that a 14 mm diameter, standard metric thread is suitable.

In proximity to first extremity 18 are provided means 24 for engagement by a first tool (not shown) whereby a torque may be applied to adjust the position of hollow body 16. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the engagement means comprises a screwdriver slot 26. A nut plate 28 has outer edges 30 engageable with inner frame 12, and has an internal screw thread 32 matching the external screw thread 22 on hollow body 16. Hollow body 16 is shown screwed onto the nut plate 28. Hollow body 16 and nut plate 28 are suitably made of a low carbon steel such as SAE 1020 or SAE 1035.

An internal rotatable member 34 is inserted into hollow 36 of hollow body 16 at the second extremity 20, and can be adjusted to project therefrom. Engagement means for a second tool (not shown) are provided; such a second tool, in this embodiment being a standard Allen wrench, is insertable into a hexagonal bore 37 through the first extremity 18 of hollow body 16. The adjustment made by the second tool is utilized to lock, the connector unit 10 against an aperture 50 in outer frame 14, as will be described below with reference to Fig. 6. Member 34 is suitably made of SAE 4340 steel, and is heat-treated.

In the illustrated preferred embodiment, member 34 is provided with external screw thread 38. Satisfactory test results have been made using a 10 mm diameter metric thread. A matching internal axial screw thread 40 is provided in hollow body 16, extending axially inwards from second extremity 20. Thus, a torque may be applied by the second tool to turn rotatable member 34 relative to hollow body 16, thus effecting the axial displacement of member 34.

With reference to the rest of the Figures, similar reference numerals are used for identifying similar parts.

With reference to Fig. 2, internal rotatable member 42 is depicted, having a screwed outer diameter 44 and a conical extremity 46, the point 48 of which faces outwards, away from the hollow body 16 to which it is assembled. The conical shape facilitates alignment of the connector unit, and thus of inner frame 12, to a pre-cut aperture 50 as shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 3 illustrates a connector unit 52, wherein hollow body 54 is provided with external flange 56 at its second extremity 58. In use, flange 56 is seated against a larger area of outer frame 14 than the unflanged embodiment 10 described above with reference to Fig. 1. Flange 56 is also convenient in that it enables the user to assemble hollow body 54 to nut plate 28 without using tools, and to set the hollow body 54 to project to the desired extent before the assembly of frames 12, 14 as shown in Fig. 6.

There is seen in Fig. 4 an internal rotatable member 60, provided with an eccentric head 62 configured to engage the wall 64 of aperture 50 (Fig. 7). Eccentric head 62 has a walled recess 66 for positive gripping of wall 64. An eccentricity of 2.5 mm, thus providing 5 mm total movement, is adequate.

Preferably, member 60 is fitted with flexible element 68, which retains member 60 in a hollow body similar to hollow body 16, except that it has an internal O-ring groove instead of internal screw thread 40. In the embodiment shown, flexible element 68 is an O-ring, and a groove 70 is provided therefor on stem 72 of rotatable member 60.

Referring now to Fig. 5, there is shown a tool 74, selectively usable for revolving either hollow body 54 or internal rotatable member 34. Hollow body 54 is provided with a hexagonal bore segment 80 in proximity to its first extremity 55. A hexagonal bore segment 37, of the same cross-section, is provided in rotatable member 34.

In the preferred embodiment of Fig. 5, tool 74 has a short, hexagonal head 76 adjacent to tool stem 78, which is of a diameter substantially equal to the distance between the flats of head 76. When partially inserted, tool 74 engages only segment 80; when it is fully inserted, it engages only hexagonal bore 37 of the internal rotatable member 34, as the cylindrical stem 78 freely revolves in hexagonal bore 80 of hollow body 54.

It will be appreciated that the use of a single tool for implementing all the needed adjustments is a great convenience, particularly under the conditions prevailing at a building site.

Fig. 6 depicts a window frame construction system 82, utilizing one of a plurality of connector units 52 described above with reference to Fig. 3. Typically, between 8 and 12 connector units 52 are used for each window.

In system 82, hollow body 54 is inserted into nut plate 28 and its first extremity 55 projects inwards through a pre-cut aperture in inner frame 12. The second extremity 58 thus projects outwards, towards outer frame 14 to which inner frame 12 is to be attached. Hollow body 54 is adjusted on-site, to project outwards as needed to contact outer frame 14.

Inner frame 12 is configured to hold hollow bodies 54 and nut plates 28 at spaced-apart positions. Inner frame 12 is typically made of 6063-T5 aluminum alloy extrusions, including a main structural shape, usually a substantially rectangular hollow tube 88, side arms 90 which support or seal against the window frame, and seal elements 94. A pair of rails 96 on the outer-facing side of the extrusion serve to retain the nut plate 28. Apertures 84 allow the insertion of hollow bodies 54 and are located between rails 96.

Outer frame 14 is connected to the building under construction 98, and is usually made of a rolled profile, metallic frame formed as a structural unit and attached to building 98 with cement poured around it. Frame 14 is provided with ready-cut apertures 50, located to be engagable by internal rotatable members 42. Apertures 50 are suitably punched out during manufacture of outer frame 14.

During assembly of inner frame 12 to outer frame 14, the construction worker uses a tool 74, such as that described above with reference to Fig. 5, and applies a torque to said hollow body 54 to achieve longitudinal alignment of said inner frame 12 via said positioning nut plate 28. Thereafter, hexagonal head 76 of tool 74 is freed from hexagonal bore segment 80 and is relocated to engage hexagonal bore 37 of rotatable member 34, as described with reference to Fig. 5, whereby there is applied a torque to turn internal rotatable member 42 relative to hollow body 54. Internal rotatable member 42 is thus brought into tight clamping engagement with apertures 50 of outer frame 14, and in area 84 to enable the same to strongly resist any horizontal forces of up to 500 kg/m2 attempting to separate the two frames 12, 14.

Fig. 7 illustrates a detail of a window frame construction system 102, similar to that shown in Fig. 6. Enclosure panels 104 are pre-attached to an outer face 106 of outer frame 14 and are situated to define and enclose a volume opposite apertures 50. Enclosure panels 104 prevent poured cement 108 from reaching and entering apertures 50. In the preferred enibodiment shown, apertures 50 are slots elongated in a direction parallel to the major dimensions of the outer frame 14. Advantageously, enclosure panels 104 are sized to also serve as stop means, delimiting the extent of entry of the outer extremity of the internal rotatable member 42, and can be made from sheet steel, as shown, or from molded plastic.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing illustrated embodiments and that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An aligning connector unit for attaching an inner frame inside an outer frame, said unit comprising: a hollow body attachable to an inner frame, said hollow body having a first extremity and an opposite, second extremity, at least a portion of the outer surface of said hollow body, including said first extremity, being externally screw-threaded; said hollow body being provided, in proximity to said first extremity, with means for engagement by a tool whereby a torque may be applied to said hollow body; a nut plate engageable with said inner frame and having an internal screw thread matching said externally screw-threaded portion of said hollow body, whereby said second extremity of said hollow body may be inserted into said nut plate and into an aperture in said inner frame and adjusted to project a desired distance outwards from said inner frame towards the outer frame to which said inner frame is to be attached; and an internal rotatable member, insertable in a hollow of said hollow body at said second extremity and projecting therefrom, provided with engagement means for a tool insertable through said first extremity of said hollow body, whereby a torque may be applied to turn said internal rotatable member relative to said hollow body, and whereby an outer extremity of said internal rotatable member may thereby be brought into engagement with said outer frame.

2. A connector unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said internal rotatable member is provided with an external screw thread and a matching, internal axial screw thread is provided in said hollow body, extending axially inwards from said second extremity, whereby a torque applied to turn said rotatable member relative to said hollow body effects an axial displacement of said rotatable member and the engagement of an outer extremity thereof with the outer frame.

3. A connector unit as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said internal rotatable member has a conical extremity whose point faces outwards, away from said hollow body.

4. A connector unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hollow body is provided with an external flange at said second extremity.

5. A connector unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said internal rotatable member is provided with an eccentric head configured to engage the wall of an aperture provided in the outer frame.

6. A connector unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein said internal rotatable member is fitted with a flexible element which retains said member in said hollow body.

7. A connector unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein said flexible element is an O-ring.

8. A connector unit as claimed in claim 1, in combination with a tool selectively usable for revolving either said hollow body or said internal rotatable member.

9. A connector unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein said hollow body is provided with a hexagonal bore segment in proximity to said first extremity, and said tool has a short hexagonal head adjacent to a tool stem of a diameter substantially equal to the distance between the flats of said hexagonal head, said tool engaging said hexagonal bore segment of said hollow body when partially inserted, and engaging only a hexagonal bore of said internal rotatable member when fully inserted.

10. A window frame construction system, comprising: a plurality of connector units according to claim 1; an inner frame configured to hold a plurality of said hollow bodies and said nut plates at spaced-apart positions; and an outer frame connected to a building under construction, said outer frame being provided with apertures located to be engageable by the internal rotatable members of said connector units.

11. A window frame construction system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said apertures in said outer frame are slots elongated in the direction parallel to the major dimensions of said frame.

12. A window frame construction system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said outer frame is a metallic frame formed as a structural unit around which cement is poured.

13. A window frame construction system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising enclosure panels attached to said outer frame and situated to define and enclose a volume opposite each of said apertures, said enclosure panels preventing poured cement from reaching and entering said apertures .

14. A window frame construction system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said panels are sized to serve as stop means delimiting the extent of entry through said aperture of said outer extremity of said internal rotatable member. for the Applicant: WOLFF, BREGMA AND GOLLER