MOUNTING BRACKET WITH IMPROVED ADJUSTMENT MEANS AND METHOD OF MOUNTING A ROOF WINDOW IN A ROOF STRUCTURE

Abstract

 The mounting bracket (1) is provided with adjusting means (9) for adjusting the angular bracket member (3) relative to the base member (5) along at least either axis (11, 13) of the adjusting means or any superposition (15) of the axes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a mounting bracket for installation of a window frame in an inclined roof surface, wherein the mounting bracket comprises an angular bracket member having a first and a second leg connected integrally with each other, and a substantially plate-shaped base member having at least one opening for receiving locking means and being connected with an outer side wall of the window frame, said base member, the angular bracket member being connected to the base member in such a way that, the second leg protrudes outwards in relation to a plane perpendicular to the base member, in which locking means are provided for locking the first leg of the angular bracket member in relation to the base member in a locked condition. The invention furthermore relates to a method of mounting a roof window in a roof structure.

Background Art

[0002] From EP 1 512 806 B1 it is known to mount a window frame in a roof using a mounting bracket comprising an angular bracket member and a base member, wherein the angular bracket member has a first leg that abuts against the base member and a second leg mounted to the roof, and the base member is mounted to the window frame. Where the first leg of the angular bracket member has an elongated slot, which provides the angular bracket member and the base member to be adjustably displaced vertically relative to each other.

[0003] Applicant's patent no US 6,629,391 B1 discloses a mounting bracket comprising an angular bracket member having a first leg and a second leg integrally connected to each other. A substantially plate-shaped base member having an opening for receiving a fastening means and being connected to an outer side of the window frame. Adjusting means is provided for adjusting the position of the angular bracket member in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the window frame.

[0004] When installing a window frame in an inclined roof erroneous installation or irregular surfaces of the roof can cause obliquity between the window frame and window sash. To remove such obliquity, it may be necessary to uninstall and then reinstall the window frame.

[0005] After the window frame has been installed obliquity may occur between the window frame and window sash as a consequence of the roof construction settling. At this point uninstalling and reinstalling of the window frame is not convenient as it would involve removal of roof tiles.

Summary of Invention

[0006] It is an object of the invention to provide a mounting bracket, in which it is possible to remove obliquity between a window frame and window sash without uninstalling and reinstalling the window frame.

[0007] In a first aspect, this and further objects are met by a mounting bracket mentioned in the introduction further characterised in that adjusting means is provided for adjusting the angular bracket member relative to the base member along at least either axis of the adjusting means or any superposition of the axes.

[0008] Such a mounting bracket comprises an angular bracket member, a base member and locking means. The locking means is comprised by a stud member having a head member and a screw thread member and an opening in the base member with screw threads for receiving the screw thread member. By tightening the stud to the base plate, the angular bracket member and the base member are interlocked.

[0009] The adjustment means of the mounting bracket is provided by introducing a slot into the first leg of the angular bracket member. The screw thread member of the stud has dimensions smaller than the slot and is therefore accommodated by the slot, while the head member is dimensionally larger than the slot and cannot pass through the slot. As the dimensions of the screw thread member are smaller than the dimensions of the slot, the angular bracket member can be displaced to alternate positions around the screw thread member. By abutting the head member against the side of the first leg of the angular bracket and tightening the stud in the receiving means of the base member, the displacement of the angular bracket member is prohibited.

[0010] The slot has two axes, a length axis and a height axis, where the angular bracket can be adjusted along either axes or any superposition of the axes. By superposition of the two axes is meant that the position of the base member relative to the angular bracket member can be perceived as some displacement along the length axis and concurrently some displacement along the height axis. By any superposition is meant that any displacement along either the length axis, the height axis or both is attainable, if accommodated by the dimensions of the slot.

[0011] As the base member may be attached to a window frame and the angular bracket member to a window frame, the adjustment of the two relative to each other results in a relative adjustment of window frame and sash.

[0012] The stud may be provided with a pattern, e.g. a hex pattern, in the end of the screw thread member, such that the tightening and untightening of the stud can occur by placing a hex key in the pattern and thereby engaging the stud.

[0013] The mounting bracket may be provided with a fixation pin to enable mounting of the bracket in a window frame.

[0014] The slot of the adjustment means may be shaped as a rectangle with rounded corners, a rectangle with right angle corners, a circle or any other suitable shape, allowing adjustment in more than one direction at the same time.

[0015] In a second aspect, a method of mounting a window frame in a roof window is provided.

[0016] Other presently preferred embodiments and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0017] The invention will be described in more detail below by means of nonlimiting examples of embodiments and with reference to the schematic drawing, in which

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the mounting bracket in an unlocked condition;

Fig. 2 is a profile view of the mounting bracket in the unlocked condition;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the mounting bracket in the locked condition;

Figs 4a and 4b show adjustment of the mounting bracket;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of an installed mounting bracket in the locked condition;

Figs 6a to 6c show schematic illustrations of an installation procedure; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the mounting bracket.

Description of Embodiments

[0018] A first embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 1. As indicated, each mounting bracket 1 comprises an angular bracket member 3, a base member 5 and locking means. The angular bracket member 3 comprises a first leg 31 integrally connected to a second leg 33 in a 90-degree angle.

[0019] Adjusting means are provided for adjusting the angular bracket member 3 relative to the base member 5. As will be described in further detail below, the adjustment can take place along at least either axis of the adjusting means or any superposition of the axes. In the embodiment shown, the adjusting means comprise a slot 9 formed in the first leg 31 of the angular bracket member 3.

[0020] Said locking means comprises a stud 7 having a head member 71 and screw thread member 73. The base member 5 has an opening 53 with internal screw threads adapted for receiving said screw thread member 73 of the stud 7.

[0021] In Fig. 2 an embodiment of the invention in the unlocked condition is shown. The mounting bracket 1 comprises, the angular bracket member 3, the base member 5 and the stud 7. The stud 7 is aligned with the slot 9 of the first leg 31 on a second side edge 37 opposite a first side edge 35 of the first leg 31. On the first side edge 35 the first leg can engage with the first side edge 55 of the base member 5 through serrations formed on both side edges 35, 55.

[0022] Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the invention in a locked condition, the head member 71 of said stud 7 abuts against the second side edge 37 of the first leg 31 of the angular bracket 3, and said screw thread member 73 of said stud 7 is received in the base member 5.

[0023] The screw thread member 73 of the stud 7 is fully engaged with the screw threads of the opening 53 of the base member 5. In the locked condition the head member 71 of the stud 7 abuts against the second side edge 37 of the first leg 31, and the first side edge is interlocked with a first side edge 55 of the base member 5 through the serrations on both side edges 35, 55.

[0024] Fig. 4 shows adjustment of the mounting bracket 1. The mounting bracket 1 is changed from the locked condition to the unlock condition by untightening the stud 7. By untightening the stud 7, displacement of the angular bracket member 3 relative to the base member 5 through the adjustment means is permitted. Said adjustment means comprises the slot 9 in the first leg 31, where the dimensions of the slot 9 are substantially smaller than the dimensions of the head member 71 of the stud 7 and has dimensions substantially larger than said screw thread member 73. As a consequence of the dimensions of the slot 9, the screw thread member 73 is accommodated by the slot, while the head member cannot pass through the slot 9.

[0025] The slot 9 has a length axis 11 and a height axis 13, where said stud 7 can be displaced along either axis 11, 13 or any superposition 15 of the two axes 11, 13. As the base member 5 is displaced relative to the angular bracket member, the superposition 15 of the two axes are changed and a new position of the angular bracket member relative to the base member is achieved.

[0026] The alternative embodiment of the invention in Fig. 5 shows the mounting bracket 1 mounted on an outer side of a window frame 17. The base member 5 is attached to the outer side of the window frame 17 and the angular bracket member 3 is interlocked with the base member 5 through the locking means comprising the stud 7 and the receiving means of the base member 5.

[0027] An opening in the window frame allows a tool which in the embodiment shown is provided as a hex-key 18 to reach the stud 7 through the window frame. A pattern made in the end of the screw thread member 73 of the stud 7 is intended to cooperate with the tool, here a hexagon aperture, which allows the hex-key to engage with the stud 7 to tighten or untighten the locking means. Adjustment of the angular bracket member 3 relative to the base member 5 is therefore possible without uninstalling either window frame or sash or both.

[0028] The embodiment in Fig. 6 shows a method to enable adjustment of the mounting bracket 1 through the window frame side member 101. By applying a drill 102 to inside of the window frame, as seen in Fig. 6a, a hole 103 is drilled in the window frame side member 101 at the position of the mounting bracket, as seen in Fig. 6b. The mounting bracket can then be adjusted by applying a hex-key 118 to the stud, as seen in Fig. 6c. After adjustment the hole can be closed by inserting a cover plate in the hole 103. The cover plate may be made from a material resembling the window frame side member 101.

[0029] The embodiment in Fig. 7 shows the mounting bracket 1, where the base member 5 has been provided with a fixation pin 105 for attaching the base member 5 to a window frame.

[0030] Finally, it is noted that though the embodiments described here is related to windows in roofs, the present invention can be applied to adjustment of other roof penetrating structures, e.g. roof-top hatch.

List of reference numerals

[0031] 

1

mounting bracket

3

angular bracket member
31 first leg
33 second leg
35 first side edge
37 second side edge

5

base member
53 opening
55 first side edge

7

stud
71 head member
73 screw thread member

9

slot

11

length axis

13

height axis

15

superposition

17

window frame
101 window frame side member
102 drill
103 hole
105 fixation pin

18,118

hex-key

Claims

1. A mounting bracket (1) for installation of a window frame (17) in an inclined roof surface,
wherein the mounting bracket (1) comprises an angular bracket member (3) having a first (31) and a second leg (33) connected integrally with each other, and
a substantially plate-shaped base member (5) having at least one opening (53) for receiving locking means (7) and being connected with an outer side wall of the window frame (17),
the angular bracket member (3) being connected to the base member (5) in such a way that, the second leg (33) protrudes outwards in relation to a plane perpendicular to the base member (5), in which
locking means (7) are provided for locking the first leg (31) of the angular bracket member (3) in relation to the base member (5) in a locked condition,
characterised in that adjusting means (9) are provided for adjusting the angular bracket member (3) relative to the base member (5) along at least either axis (11, 13) of the adjusting means or any superposition (15) of the axes.

2. A mounting bracket (1) according to claim 1, wherein a first side (35) of the first leg (31) and a first side (55) of the base member (5) are provided with serrations.

3. A mounting bracket according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the base member (5) is provided with a fixation pin (105).

4. A mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein said adjustment means comprise a slot (9).

5. A mounting bracket according to claim 4, wherein said slot (9) is shaped as a rectangle with rounded corners, a rectangle with right angle corners or a circle.

6. A mounting bracket according to claim 5, wherein the area of the slot (9) is between 2 cm² and 25 cm².

7. A mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein the locking means comprises a stud (7) having a head member (71) and a screw thread member (73) to cooperate with an opening (53) of the base member (5).

8. A mounting bracket according to claim 7, wherein the head member (71) of the stud (7) is provided with a pattern corresponding to a cooperating tool, preferably a hexagon aperture to cooperate with a hex-key (18; 118).

9. Method of mounting a window frame in a roof window in a roof structure, comprising the steps of:

supplying a roof window comprising a window frame and a window frame;

supplying a mounting bracket (1) according to any one of the preceding claims;

abutting the head member (71) of the stud (7) against the second side (37) of the first leg (31), such that the screw thread member (73) is accommodated by the slot (9);

mounting the base member (5) of the mounting bracket (1) on the window frame and mounting the angular bracket member (3) on the window frame;

screwing the screw thread member (73) into the receiving means (53) of the base member (5);

untighten the stud (7) to perform adjustments of the mounting bracket (1), and

tightening the stud (7) to lock the mounting bracket (1).

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a hole (103) is drilled before the step of screwing the screw thread member (73) into the receiving means and wherein a cover plate is provided to cover the hole (103) after tightening the stud.

Drawing