Description
Appellation
Prefabricated window casing.
Production application area
This production relates to a prefabricated window casing for interior covering of window lighting or a similar opening in a building's construction. The casing is more precisely of the kind, which usually consists of two vertical side panel plates, a horizontal overlapping panel plate and a number of panel plate lists which gives a finish to the casing in relation to the building construction's (the wall's) interior measurements. The bottom ledge in the window casing is mounted separately and isn't included in this invention.
Known technique
Window casings (and similar panel casings) of this specific kind have so far been produced on the building site as traditional craftsman's work, i.e. manual cutting and adjustment of single panel plates and lists, assembling and fastening of these parts by help of screws, nails, glue etc., and subsequent filling and painting of the casings; which is a laborious, expensive and time-consuming process. The finished result depends extensively upon the craftsman's precision and ability, and often a certain variation in quality must be expected. Especially the final surface treatment (filling, grinding and painting) of the casing causes delays in the building process and increases demands to the planning of the building.
The technical problem to be solved
The purpose for this invention is to assign a more rational solution to the above mentioned assembly work in connection with window casings. More exactly aimed at a solution which consists of an industrial prefabrication of all elements which form part of the window casing including the surface treatment, thus the assemblage at the construction site is reduced to mounting and attaching the parts to the actual building's construction, i.e. windows and masonry.
The new technique.
What is new with this production is that all elements (panel plates and lists) are prefabricated with reciprocal adjustable corner joints -gatherings, and are basically finished to the required measurement of the appropriate window. Furthermore the panel plates are prepared for final assembly by joint comer clips using a number of resilient angle mountings, which are fixed to the outer side of the panel plates, i.e. the invisible sides The panel plates, or at least a part of these, are prepared with a transverse milled groove situated at a distance from the comer. This groove enables an inward direction springy encroachment against the panel plate's hook-like-
projection on the angular mounting. The panel plates are assembled in this way betore they, as an assembled unit, are installed in the window casing, and then the panel plates are inserted in the usual way into the groove on the backside of the window frame. The connexion between frame and panel plates is secured by gluing in the groove or in another suitable way (screw, nails etc.) Angular bending of flat steel, preferably thin spring steel can in their simplest shape, produce the angular mountings.
The technical effect
By using the above-mentioned new technique in combination with the known technique one obtains not only a considerably quicker assembly process on the building site, i.e. a saving in worker's wages, and a quicker completion of the building, because the window casing no longer needs surface treatment and painting after being fitted. Further more one obtains a higher and more uniform quality of the completed work. This, in combination with a total set of lower prices for the window casing, means that the prefabricated casings, according to the invention, could gain a footing in new as well as renovated buildings, i.e. where a large number of uniformed windows occur. Consequently the planning of the building process is simplified because the assembly work in connection with the window casings can be finished in one rational performance. It is no longer necessary to take into consideration the work involvement of the different craftsmen or a time-consuming painting process.
The production and special favourable performance terms and details of this are explained more precisely in the following with regards to the figures on the sketches.
Figure 1 : Shows a window assembled with a casing according to the invention seen from the inside.
Figure 2: The same window shown in horizontal cross section along the line A-A in figure 1.
Figure 3: The window casing, shown separately before assembling in the window lighting, seen diagonally from behind in the extract. Figure 4: An enlarged section of the casing, showing a corner assembly seen from behind. Figure 5: The same corner assembly seen from above. Figure 6: A cross section through a panel plate, with matching list, where the panel plate is equipped with a rabbet like milling, calculated to secure the plates fitting into the casing's matching assembled mount in the actual window sill, see figure 2. Figure 7: A corner mounting in a first version form. Figure 8: A corner mounting in another version form.
Figure 9: A complete assembled set of a window casing, according to the invention, i.e. all prefabricated components that are a part of the casing. In this form the parts are delivered to the building site.
Performance examples
The drawing's figures 1 and 2 indicate (1) a window, (2) mounted in window lighting, (3) in masonry. The window lighting is on the inside of the window, covered by a window casing (4), according to the invention. The window casing is composed of two side panel plates (5), a superjacent panel plate (6), two side lists (7) and a superjacent list (8). At the bottom of the window is as usual mounted a bottom plate (9). The panel plates (5 and 6) are secured in a produced groove (10) on the backside of the window frame (1), see figure 2, besides being fastened in the lighting (2) in the traditional way using nails and/or screws.
On the drawing's (figures 3 - 5) shown performance shape, are the window casings' three-panel plates parts (5 and 6) assembled by a number of angular mountings (11), which are mounted in the comers on the exterior side, i.e. the non-visible side of the panel plates. These are assembled, as shown, including lists (7) and (8), into a portal like unit, then when assembled inserted and mounted into the window casing. The angular mountings (11), which are shown separately in two different performance shapes in figures 7 and 8, consists of angular bended flat steel, preferably thin steel blade or spring steel. Each mounting makes a 90-degree angle, and then the two angular sides (12 and 13) are again bent to a 90- degree angle at the ends. In this way a hook-like-projection appears (14) at each end of the mounting. These projections (14) are designed to give a springy encroachment in the designed cross grooves (15) in the panel plates (5 and 6) whereby the plates lock together in a clip like lock effect. The grooves (15) are to be found in one of the mountings (11), determined set distance from the respective corner gathering, thus the mounting joins the panel plates with a suitable tension after the assembly. It is here that the spring encroachment has its effect. The two panel plates (5 and 6) are rabbeted together in the corner as shown, so that the plates, in combination with the angular mountings' tension, are held in exactly the reciprocal position without the possibility of any displacement or movement.
The angular mounts are expediently remounted onto the one panel plate part by gluing i.e. by help of a double sticking tape. Thereby easing the assembly work even more, see figure 9. In a special simple performance shape the angular mountings are only equipped with a hook projection (14) onto one of the angular sides (14) figure 8. The other "smooth" angular side (13) is so designed that it can be fastened on to the respective panel plate by gluing and /or screwing. Regardless of the chosen mounting type there is a minimum use of two mountings in each corner, figure 5. One of the mountings is placed against the backside of the lists (7 and 8)giving direct support so that the mounting assists to correct the corner in the perpendicular side plan. In figure 6 is shown how the panel plates can be equipped with a rabbet like milling (16) on the invisible exterior. The milling has the purpose of adjusting the panel plates in thickness to the mounting groove (10) in the windowsill. In practise the panel plates (5 and 6) can be delivered wider than the measured width, so that the final adjustment regarding the walls thickness to the
respective window can be done during fitting. Simply simply cutting the width of the panel plate does this. The sawn edge of the plate is hidden in the groove (10).
The invention is not limited to that shown on the drawing and the above described performance shape. Other material combinations, other detailed versions and other constructive solutions for the casing's individual components and accessories are conceivable within the framework of this invention. It is also conceivable that the use of the casings can be extended to areas other than that cited above; e.g. usage as door casing or casing in connection with built-in cupboards.