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(11) | EP 0 265 576 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) |
Composite assembly of two metal sections and a non-metallic bridging plug united rigidly to the end of embodying heat-insulated door and window frame members Aus zwei Metallteilen und einem nichtmetallischen Verbindungsstück zusammengestellte Isolierprofile für Türen und Fenster Profilés isolants pour portes et fenêtres constitués par deux parties métalliques liées fermement par un pont non métallique |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0001] The invention relates to a new method of embodying composite metal window and/or door frame members that incorporate two sections, one exposed to the external environment, the other facing indoors, interconnected in a rigid fit by way of one or more plugs fashioned from a heat-insulating material.
[0002] In the composite assembly thus created, one prevents any transfer of heat from taking place between the two component sections separated by the plug.
[0003] Prior art methods adopted hitherto in the attempt to achieve this end-result have consisted in utilizing chemical substances or other means to preas- semble the two component sections prior to their leaving the factory.
[0004] Composite metal frame members have also been made which consist in two or more components united by the insertion of longitudinal jointing sections or lenghts of heat-insulating material, as for example the metal frames disclosed in DE-B 1 955 591 and in DE-A 2 810 630. The assembly of such a composite members often involves additional extruding and bending operation, as for the solution disclosed in DE-A 2 810 630, and at all events, a firm and a durable joint cannot be guaranted for the reason essentially of the flexibility of the lengths of heat-insulating material, as for both the solutions disclosed in DE-B 1 955 591 and DE-A 2 810 630. The consequent drawbacks of such an assembly system are serious, and obvious.
[0005] Accordingly, the main object of the invention is to provide a special method of assembling two component sections, one exposed to the external environment, the other to the internal, which can be performed by hand simply locating one or more special bridging plugs, fashioned from PVC or another heat-insulating material, between the two.
[0006] The method disclosed permits of embodying metal door and window frame members having the same features as those currently manufactured and distributed in a preassembled package with heat-insulation barrier already built in, but at lower cost. Thus, one can obtain the same end-result utilizing commonplace extruded sections in aluminium or other metal, but delaying embodiment of the heat-insulation barrier until the moment that these are joined together by way of the plugs.
[0007] An additional object of the invention is that of providing a method whereby metal component sections and plugs can be fitted together simply by locating and snapping into place, affording a rigid, durable assembly and avoiding further mechanical operations.
[0008] The stated objects are achieved by adoption of a composite metal frame member as characterized in the appended claims, incorporating two metal component sections and a non-metallic bridging plug.
[0009] The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with the aid of the acompanying drawings, in which:
fig 1 is the section through a first metal component according to the invention;
fig.2 is the similar section through a second metal component according to the invention, designed to pair with the first component of fig 1;
fig 3 shows the same section through an alternative embodiment of the second component of fig 2;
fig 4 shows the front elevation and the plan of a bridging plug according to the invention;
fig 5 is a side elevation of the plug in fig 4;
fig 6 is a cross section through the plug of fig 4;
fig 7 is a section through the composite assembly of component sections and bridging plug, according to the invention.
[0010] With reference to fig 1 of the drawings, 1 denotes a metal component exhibiting box section and affording a recess in which a plug of given appropriate shape and dimensions, preferably quadrangular, may be inserted.
[0011] The component 1 exhibits a substantially rectangular cross section, in which the sides of the box profile are denoted 2, 3, 4 and 5; two of the sides 4 and 5 are run out into extensions 41 and 51 terminating at a given point in respective lips 6 and 7 wich are bent inwards and disposed parallel to the transverse side 3 of the box.
[0012] 101 denotes the recess thus encompassed by 6, 7, 41, 51 and 3, which serves to accommodate a bridging plug according to the invention (see figs 4, 5 & 6).
[0013] 8 denotes a second component section (see fig 2) designed to pair with the first section 1, which in the example illustrated appears trapezoidal, having a base 9, and similarly angled sides 10 and 11.
[0014] The one angled side 11 terminates in a iip.12 that is bent back parallel with the base side 9, whereas the corresponding lip 13 at the end of the remaining angled side 10 is extended and bent back further in the direction of the base through a stretch 14 that lies parallel with the self-same side 10.
[0015] 15 denotes a rib issuing from the base side 9, which is disposed parallel with the angled side 10 and in alignment with the stretch 14 bent upward from the relative lip 13.
[0016] A further rib 16 departs from the base side 9 at a point approximately half way along its length, in this instance extending parallel with and through an identical distance to the angled side 10.
[0017] The rib 16 terminates in two lips, one of which, denoted 17, is bent back toward the first mentioned angled side 11 and exhibits identical geometry to the relative lip 12, whereas the other, denoted 18, is bent inward at an angle of 45° in the opposite direction, i.e. toward the remaining angled side 10.
[0018] 19 denotes a further rib which departs from the main central rib 16 and extends toward the angled side 10 and the open side of the trapezium, terminating in a respective lip 20 that is bent back toward the lip denoted 18. It will be observed in fig 2 that these two lips 18 and 20 also exhibit matching geometry. Thus embodied, the second component section 8 offers a substantially three-sided trapezoidal recess 108, encompassed by 9, 11, 12, 16 and 17, that combines with the quandrangular recess 101 of the component 1 described above in accommodating a bridging plug, embodied according to the invention, by means of which the assembly is rendered a stable, composite member.
[0019] In fig 3 of the drawings, 81 denotes an alternative embodiment of the second component section 8 which affords a trapezoidal recess 118 exhibiting the same effective dimensions as that denoted 108, though encompassed laterally only in part; in this instance two short ribs 21 and 22 replace the full- length sides.
[0020] Figs 4, 5 and 6 show elevations and a sectional view of the bridging plug disclosed, which is fashioned from a heat-insulating material such as PVC. It will be observed from the front elevation (fig 4) that the plug exhibits a main centre piece 23 and is of essentially, though not perfectly rectangular shape. The departure from perfect rectangularity consists in the fact that the top side 24 is broken by two slots 25, one at either end, right and left; thus one has two end pieces 26 separated in part from the centre piece 23, but joined thereto by the base 27 which is common to all three.
[0021] It is an essential feature of the end pieces 26 that they appear shorter than the corresponding parallel ends 124 of the centre piece 23.
[0022] Fig 5 shows a side elevation of the bridging plug, which illustrates the proportions of the end piece 26, and the profile of the base and top part. It will be observed from the elevation of fig 5 and the cross section of fig 6 that the plug exhibits a base 28 the shape of which is, if not absolutely rectangular, at all events quadrangular, in order to permit of its being forced lengthwise and fitting snugly into the recess 101 of the first component section 1. Needless to say, the ultimate sectional profile of the recess 101 and the base 28 of the plug is a matter of choice, dependent simply on the fact of the one matching the other.
[0023] Each end piece 26 comprises a pair of identical and symmetrically disposed tongues 29 that are sep- araty a gap 30, exhibiting the outline of a trapezium with the smaller base 31 at bottom, which opens out internally into the relative slot 25.
[0024] The tongues are possessed of outer surfaces which converge upwards from a given point, presenting a tapered profile; more exactly, the tapering stretch 32 of each surface is separated from the base 28 by an undercut 33 the position of which corresponds to that of a similar undercut 133 running the entire length of the centre piece 23, at either side.
[0025] The cross section of fig 6, taken through the A-B cutting plane marked in fig 4, shows the composition of the top part of the plug profile, in which the tapered part of the centre piece 23 is matched to the trapezoidal recess 108 or 118 of the second component section, whilst that of the end pieces 26 shows slightly proud at either side, by reason of the tapering stretches 32 being set at a wider angle, and remains marginally short at the top.
[0026] Fig 7 shows the first component section 1 and the second component section 8 fitted together by way of the bridging plug, with the base 28 accommodated and held fast by the quadrangular recess 101, and the tapered part of the centre piece 23 seated in the trapezoidal recess 108. Rigidity is imparted to the composite assembly by the snap fit between the two tongues 29, which are rendered flexible thanks to the gap 30 provided between them, and the lips 12 and 17 offered by the second component section 8.
[0027] The undercuts 33 and 133 provided in the plug serve to accommodate the two sets of lips 6-7 and 12-17, which hold the plug fast and rigid and are separated by a given distance, denoted 34, which establishes the break in continuity of the composite metallic frame member required in order to create a barrier to the transfer of heat between indoor and outdoor surface areas.
in that the second component section (8) exhibits a substantially trapezoidal cross sectional outline in which two similarly angled sides (10, 11) converge toward a base side (9) from which an intermediate rib (16) of length equal to the angled sides departs and extends symmetrically with one such side (11), terminating in a lip (17) that is disposed parallel to the base (9) and symmetrical with an identical lip (12) issuing from the end of the symmetrically disposed converging side (11), in such a way as to create a substantially three-sided trapezoidal recess (108) the open side of which is bounded by the two lips (12, 17);
in that the interconnecting component consists in a bridging plug fashioned in heat-insulating material and comprising a centre piece (23) the top tapered part of which issues from a discernable base (28), and two end pieces (26) issuing likewise from the base, separated from the centre piece by respective slots (25) and consisting each one in a pair of identical and symmetrically disposed tongues (29), separated by a gap (30), the outermost surfaces of which exhibit symmetrical tapering stretches (32) that converge upward and stand marginally proud of the corresponding tapered frrtcc sectional outline nf tho "øntrø piece (23);
in that the base (28) of the bridging plug exhibits cross sectional shape such as matches that of the recess (101) offered by the first component section (1), and when inserted thereinto, is held in place by the respective pair of lips (6, 7);
in that the top tapered part of the centre piece (23) of the plug exhibits cross sectional shape such as matches that of the recess (108) offered by the second component section (8), and when forced into position therein, is held in place by the snap joint created between the respective pair of lips (12, 17) and the tongues (29) of the end pieces, the tapering stretches (32) of which are rendered flexible by virtue of the gap (30) existing between them.
- en ce que la première partie composante (1) présente un profil en coupe transversal sensiblement de forme rectangulaire dont deux côtés parallèles (4, 5) sont solidaires d'extensions (41, 51) se prolongeant au-delà de l'un des côtés transversaux (3) et se termine par des ailes respectives (6, 7) qui sont repliées symétriquement vers l'intérieur de manière à créer une cavité (101) défi- niée sur trois côtés, dont le côté ouvert est limité par les deux ailes (6, 7);
- en ce que la seconde partie composante (8) présente un profil en coupe sensiblement trapézoïdal, dans lequel deux côtés ayant la même inclinaison (10, 11) convergent vers un côté de base (9) duquel s'étend une paroi intermédiaire (16) de la même longueur que les côtés obliques, cette paroi étant disposée symétriquement par rapport à l'un de ces côtés (11) et se terminant par une aile (17) s'étendant parallèle à la base (9) et symétrique avec une autre aile identique (12) se départant de l'extrémité du côté convergeant (11) disposé symétriquement, de manière à créer une cavité trapézoïdale (108) définie sur trois côtés, dont le côté ouvert est limité par les deux ailes (12, 17);
- en ce que l'élément composant de liaison comporte un tasseau faisant fonction de pont fabriqué en matière isolante et comprenant une pièce centrale (23) dont la partie supérieure effilée s'étend d'une base bien définie (28) et deux pièces d'extrémité (26) s'étendant également de la base, séparées de la pièce centrale par des fentes respectives (25) et se composant chacune de languettes (29) disposées symétriquement, séparées par un espace vide (30), dont les surfaces extérieures présentent des portions (32) symétriques qui s'effilent, lesquelles convergent vers le haut et débordent légèrement du profil correspondant effilé de la pièce centrale (23);
- en ce que la base (28) du tasseau faisant fonction de pont présente une forme en coupe transversale qui épouse celle de la cavité (101) présentée par la première partie composante (1) et, quand elle est introduite dans cette cavité, est maintenue en place, par les deux ailes respectives (6, 7);
- en ce que la partie supérieure effilée de la pièce centrale (23) du tasseau a une forme en coupe transversale qui épouse celle de la cavité (108) présentée par la seconde partie composante (8) et, quand elle est introduite à force en position dans celle-ci, est maintenue en place par l'emboîtement à force créé entre les deux ailes respectives (12, 17) et les languettes (29) des pièces d'extrémité, les portion qui s'éffilent (32) desquelles sont rendues flexibles grâce à l'espace vide (30) existant entre elles.
und dadurch, dass der zweite Profilabschnitt (8) eine im wesentlichen trapezförmige Querschnittumrandung aufweist, bei der zwei ähnlich gewinkelte Seiten (10, 11) zu einer Basisseite (9) hin konvergieren, von der sich eine Zwischenrippe (16) von gleicher Länge wie die gewinkelten Seiten aus erstreckt, und zwar symmetrisch zu einer der Seiten (11) und in einem Flügel (17) auslaufend, der parallel zu der Basisseite (9) angeordnet und symmetrisch mit einem gleichen Flügel (12) ist, der von dem Ende der symmetrisch angeordneten konvergierenden Seite (11) ausgeht, und zwar auf solche Weise, dass eine im wesentlichen dreiseitige trapezförmige Vertiefung (108) gebildet wird, deren offene Seite von den beiden Flügeln (12, 17) abgegrenzt ist;
und dadurch, dass das Zwischenelement aus einem Verbindungsstück aus wärmeisolierendem Material besteht und ein Mittelstück (23) enthält, dessen oberer konischer Teil von einer Basis (28) ausgeht, und zwei Endstücke (26), die gleichermassen von der Basis ausgehen und durch entsprechende Schlitze (25) von dem Mittelstück getrennt sind, und die jeweils aus einem Paar von gleichen und symmetrisch angeordneten Zungen (29) bestehen, die durch eine Fuge (30) voneinander getrennt sind, und deren äussere Oberflächen symmetrische keilförmige Abschnitte (32) aufweisen, die nach oben hin konvergieren und sich von den Seiten der entsprechenden keilförmigen Querschnittumrandung des Mittelstückes (23) abheben;
und dadurch dass die Basis (28) des Verbindungsstückes ein solches Querschnittprofil aufweist, dass sie mit dem der Vertiefung (101) zusammenpasst, die sich auf den ersten Profilabschnitt (1) bezieht, und dass, wenn sie in dieses eingesetzt wird, von dem entsprechenden Paar von Flügeln (6, 7) festgehalten wird; und dadurch, dass der obere keilförmige Teil des Mittelstückes (23) des Verbindungsstückes ein solches Querschnittprofil aufweist, dass er mit dem der Vertiefung (108) zusammenpasst, die sich auf den zweiten Profilabschnitt (8) bezieht, und dass, wenn er eingepresst ist, er von der Schnappverbindung gehalten wird, die zwischen dem entsprechenden Paar von Flügeln (12, 17) und den Lippen (29) der Endstücke gebildet ist, deren keilförmige Abschnitte (32) durch die zwischen ihnen vorhandenen Fugen (30) flexibel sind.