Frame

Abstract

 The invention relates to a frame comprising one or more sealing mats (5), which are manufactured of an essentially flexible material, such as fabric, plastic or paper, and are essentially airtight. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing and using this type of frame.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a frame and a method for manufacturing thereof. Particularly the invention relates to a window and door frame.

[0002] As regards the thermal insulation capability of a building and the structure physical performance of constructions, it is desirable to make the outer and inner surfaces of the insulation layer of the external covering of a building impermeable to air. The purpose is to prevent air flows in the insulation space.

[0003] There is generally an air and vapor barrier in the inner surface of thermally insulated constructions. This can be realized for example with plastic or paper suitable for the purpose. Correspondingly on the outside there is a windscreen layer. This can be for example a wood fiber board, gypsum board or microfiber fabric installed on the insulation plate surface. Both layers should connect tightly to the frames e.g. in the window and door cutouts. When realized in worksite conditions, the joint between the frame and framework is only rarely so airtight as would be necessary for achieving good energy efficiency.

General description of invention

[0004] There is now invented a frame, which can be installed in a cutout extremely airtightly.

[0005] To achieve this object, the invention is characterized by the features specified in the independent claims. Some of the advantageous embodiments of the invention are set forth in the other claims.

[0006] The frame according to the invention comprises one or more sealing mats, which are manufactured of an essentially flexible material, such as fabric, plastic or paper, and which are essentially airtight. This type of sealing mat can advantageously be attached to building constructions, such as vapor barriers, windscreen plates etc. achieving consequently a particularly airtight construction. At the same time, the sealing mat protects the frame during transportation and storing. This type of flexible sealing mat can be, for example, advantageously folded as packing protection for the frame during its processing stages. It can advantageously be folded as protection also for protecting the window casement or doorpost connected to the frame. The sealing mat can be located anywhere at the frame edge; advantageously it is installed to all frame edges. Advantageously the sealing mat is a continuous mat encircling the entire frame.

[0007] According to one object of the invention the sealing mat is essentially vapor permeable. Storing this type of frame is safe, as the constructions are allowed to dry. Consequently, harms due to blue stain and mould are essentially reduced e.g. in difficult storing conditions.

[0008] According to one object of the invention, the sealing mat is essentially vapor-proof. This type of product is easy to store for example outdoors even in varying conditions.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the frame has at least one airtight sealing mat, which is essentially vapor permeable, and at least one airtight sealing mat, which is essentially vapor-proof. Advantageously the vapor resistance of the vapor-proof mat is 4-6X, such as approximately 5X, greater than the vapor resistance of the vapor permeable sealing mat. The vapor-proof sealing mat is advantageously installed at the inner edge of the frame and the airtight mat is installed at the outer edge of the frame. This type of frame is particularly advantageous e.g. as a part of a low-energy window. When using new glazing solutions developed for thermal insulation (including selective films and noble gas filling) the U value of the window is very good (below 1.0 W/m²K). At the same time, the importance of thermal insulation and air impermeability becomes more and more emphasized. According to one object of the invention, the frame comprises one or more grooves for attaching the sealing mat to the frame. The groove has for example the advantage that the sealing mat can be attached to the frame airtightly and firmly and thus it does not detach from the frame during transportation and installation, for example. Advantageously the frame has one or more grooves set at a distance of 10-100 mm from the frame's front surface. The grooves can be advantageously made using the same tool as for the so called "hit grooves".

[0010] According to one object of the invention, the frame additionally comprises a sealing block manufactured of an essentially hard material, such as hardboard or plywood.

[0011] According to one object of the invention, the sealing mat is installed to the frame by help of a sealing block. Attaching the sealing mat to the frame by means of a sealing block is advantageous because in this way the joint becomes airtight and resistant. This is also a technically simple and simultaneously efficient method for attaching the sealing mat to the frame.

[0012] According to one object of the invention, a particularly resistant and economical joint between the sealing mat and the frame is achieved when these are connected together by help of a sealing block installed in the groove, such as hardboard or plywood. The width of the groove is then adapted such that the connection block wedges the sealing mat tightly to the groove. In this case no separate connecting accessories, such as clasps or glue, are needed.

[0013] According to one object of the invention, the outer edge of the sealing block is at a distance of 2-10 mm from the outer surface of the frame. This type of connection block that is elevated from the frame outer surface serves as protection for the frame during the frame's storage, transportation and installation stage. It also protects the sealing mat for example during storage and transportation. Particularly the sealing blocks that are elevated in the lower part of the frame provide extremely good protection for the frame and the sealing mat.

[0014] According to one object of the invention the sealing block is at a distance of 10-100 mm from the front surface of the frame. This type of sealing block serves as a good protection during storage and transportation.

[0015] According to one object of the invention, the sealing mat can be essentially processed using a knife or a carpet knife. Sealing material manufactured of such a material is easy to process and consequently its manufacture and later modification is technically easy.

[0016] According to one object of the invention, the sealing mat has a gripping part for attaching the sealing mat to the frame structures. Advantageously, at the edge of the sealing mat there is tape for attaching the sealing mat to the frame structures during transportation. Such one end of the sealing mat can advantageously be detached from the frame constructions in the installation stage for attaching it to the building structures.

[0017] According to one object of the invention, the frame is installed to the cutout in a wall construction, which has one or more building layers, and the sealing mat is attached to this building layer, such as advantageously to a windscreen plate and/or to an air and vapor barrier film. Advantageously the sealing mat at the frame outer edge is vapor permeable. This type of construction becomes airtight at the same time and yet vapor permeable, in which case the structural properties are very advantageous as regards thermal insulation and moisture ventilation.

[0018] According to one object of the invention the thickness of the flexible sealing mat is 0.2-0.4 mm, such as 0.26 or 0.30 mm when using for example Tyvek fabric. This provides a sufficient protection being simultaneously still easy to handle and process.

[0019] According to one object of the invention, the sealing mat can be so installed that, before installation, it protects the parts of the window or door which remain visible after the frame installation. Such parts include for example outer and inner sides of the frame and outer and inner surfaces of the casement. The parts that remain visible may get damaged for example during transportation. The sealing mat protects for example varnished wooden parts from moisture, dirt and sunlight during transportation and worksite storage. Due to varying frame sizes, an individual protective package cannot generally be used in windows or doors. Several units can be packaged together using e.g. heat-shrinkable plastic, but the protective plastic must be removed to allow moving the window or door unit to its installation place. The invention provides a means for individual packaging of a window or a door.

[0020] According to one object of the invention, the frame is a part of a window and/or a door. These applications are extremely important for example in house building in which good processability and efficient insulation is required. Advantageously the sealing mat is so installable that it essentially covers before installation the opening part of the window and/or door. Such applications can be for example particularly sensitive window/door structures or for example untreated wooden parts of wooden windows that are delivered wood ready.

[0021] The invention facilitates the installation work required by the thermal insulation between the frame and framework. For example urethane or other extruded thermal insulation material can be installed in an insulation space, the other edge of which is closed by the sealing mat. After installation, it is not necessary to cut off the part of the urethane foam that has extruded out of this space, which is the normal procedure. Construction components remain unstained and working time is saved. During winter conditions, the sealing mat can be used to close the external side of the installation space in advance and then carry out the thermal insulation installation from the warm side in the installation space protected by the sealing mat.

[0022] According to one object of the invention, the sealing block, the sealing mat and/or the gripping part of the sealing mat includes one or more installation information labels, product data labels, warning labels and/or attention labels. In this case no separate labels are needed, which saves costs and the labels can be made technically economically and in a simple way.

Detailed description of invention

[0023] Some of the embodiments of the invention are described below in detail by making reference to the enclosed drawings.

Figure 1 shows a window frame with a flexible sealing mat and a hard sealing block attached thereto.

Figure 2 shows a window frame according to Figure 1 installed in a cutout.

[0024] Figure 1 shows a window frame 3 with an inner casement 1 and an outer casement 2 attached thereto. Attached to the frame there is a flexible sealing mat 5, which is installed in the grooves 4 in the frame 3 by means of sealing blocks 6. The sealing mat 5 can be composed of one or more parts. In the lower frame the sealing blocks extend outside the frame surface, in the other parts they are at the same level as the frame outer surface. The flexible sealing mat 5 is folded as protection for the inner casement 1 and the outer casement 2. The sealing block 6 correspondingly protects the frame 3 itself.

[0025] In Figure 2 a window frame 3 according to Figure 1 is installed in a window cutout AA of a building R. The outer sealing mats 5 are attached to the windscreen plates 7 of the building and the inner sealing mats 5 are attached to the air and vapor barrier film 8 of the building R. Insulation material 9 has been installed in the cutout AA between the sealing mats 5.

Claims

1. A frame, characterized in that the frame (3) comprises one or more sealing mats (5) manufactured of an essentially flexible material, such as fabric, plastic or paper, which are essentially airtight.

2. A frame according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealing mat (5) is processable with a knife or a carpet knife.

3. A frame according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sealing mat (5) is essentially vapor permeable.

4. A frame according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sealing mat (5) is essentially vapor-proof.

5. A frame according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the frame (3) has at least one airtight sealing mat (5), which is essentially vapor permeable, and at least one airtight sealing mat (5), which is essentially vapor-proof.

6. A frame according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (3) comprises one or more grooves (4) for attaching the sealing mat (5) to the frame (3).

7. A frame according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (3) additionally comprises a sealing block (6) manufactured of an essentially hard material, such as hardboard or plywood.

8. A frame according to claim 7, characterized in that the sealing mat (5) is installed to the frame (3) by means of the sealing block (6).

9. A frame according to claim 7, characterized in that the sealing mat (5) is installed to the groove (4) in the frame (3) by means of the sealing block (6).

10. A frame according to claims 7-9, characterized in that the sealing block (6) is manufactured of a plate having a thickness of 2-10 mm.

11. A frame according to claims 7-10, characterized in that the outer surface of the sealing block (6) is at a distance of 2-10 mm from the frame (6) outer surface.

12. A frame according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (3) is installed to a cutout (AA) in a wall construction, which has one or more building layers (7, 8), and that the sealing mat (5) is attached airtightly to the building layer (7, 8).

13. A frame according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing mat (5) has a gripping part, such as tape, for attaching the sealing mat to the frame (3) structures.

14. A frame according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (3) is a part of a window or a door.

15. A frame according to claim 14, characterized in that the width of the sealing mat (5) is such that it covers essentially the opening parts of a window or a door.

16. A frame according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the width of the sealing mat (5) is such that it covers essentially the front surface of the frame (3).

17. A frame according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing block (6), the sealing mat (5) and/or the gripping part of the sealing mat (5) includes one or more installation information labels, product data labels, warning labels and/or attention labels.

18. A method for manufacturing a frame, characterized in that one or more sealing mats (5), which are manufactured of an essentially flexible material, such as fabric, plastic or paper, and which are essentially airtight, are connected to the frame (3).

19. A method for using a frame, characterized in that a frame according to claims 1-17 is used as a window and/or door frame.

Drawing