Patent Application
20090241610
The inventions within address, amongst other issues, an age-old problem with doors and in particular with security and storm doors; that of fitting a pre-made door to an opening so that it occupies the opening with acceptable working clearances so as to be neither too large and unable to fit within the opening nor too small and having unacceptable “gaps” left around the periphery of the door. The inventions similarly address an age-old problem with screens and in particular with window screens; that of fitting a pre-made screen to a window opening so that it occupies the opening with acceptable clearances.
Some openings are fabricated according to standard dimensions, some are constructed on site of convenient dimensions, some through poor workmanship are non-rectangular and some openings become skewed as a result of house settlement. In spite of this, some DIY retailers sell doors of standard sizes to suit the openings described above often resulting in a poorly fitting door. In other cases, doors are “made-to-measure”; a process where the opening is measured and a door manufactured to suit the particular opening—sometimes even this process results in a poorly fitting door.
One objective of the inventions described herein, is to provide a door that is adjustable to suit openings of different widths and/or different heights and a particular objective is to provide a screen door that suits the different common door openings in a particular countries/territory and a more particular objective is to provide a door that suits the different common openings in Australia which range in width from 806 to 818 MM and in height from 2024 to 2042 MM and a more particular invention embraces the ranges of (800 to 830)×(2010 to 250) MM requiring 30 MM and 40 MM adjustment respectively. Such a door would be manufactured without reference to particular openings (which is time consuming and expensive) and by modern manufacturing techniques and systems resulting in reduced manufacturing costs an improved quality. A further objective is to manufacture the door without any or with minimal welding. Yet another objective is to provide a door that can be configured to fit within a normal sedan vehicle so that it can easily be transported home to be assembled and fitted by a handyman—this type of door overcoming a difficulty experienced by shoppers who purchase doors from retail outlets.
Although the inventions within were prompted by a need for an improved door, they are also relevant to structures in general including other forms of wings.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is a structure including an infill overlapping an outer frame configurable to define the extent of the structure.
In a second aspect of the invention, the outer frame includes at least one outer frame member defined in part by a length that may be changed.
In a third aspect of the invention, the at least one outer frame member comprises a pair of associated outer frame portions connected by a telescopic joint comprising a linear joint.
In a fourth aspect of the invention, each outer frame member comprises a pair of associated outer frame portions connected by a telescopic joint comprising a linear joint.
In a fifth aspect of the invention, at least one outer frame member adjusts in length in response to rotation of a threaded fastener.
In a sixth aspect of the invention, the outer frame member includes at least two outer frame members connected at a corner joint defined in part by an included angle that may be changed.
In a seventh aspect of the invention, there is the means by which to urge the infill towards the centre of area of the outer frame.
In an eighth aspect of the invention, there is the opposed identical springs the length of which is changed in response to configuring of the outer frame.
In a ninth aspect of the invention, the infill supported in relation to the outer frame is adaptable.
In a tenth aspect of the invention, the infill comprises strips of fixed length connected by a telescopic joint.
In an eleventh aspect of the invention, there is an outer frame comprising two pair of opposed outer frame members, each said outer frame member including a pair of associated outer frame portions connected by a linear joint, each said outer frame member being connected to each outer frame member of the other pair by a corner joint each of which is defined in part by an included angle that may be changed.
In a twelfth aspect of the invention, the infill supported in relation to the outer frame is of fixed extent.
In a thirteenth aspect of the invention, the infill is bounded by an inner frame having an outwardly disposed peripheral channel supported in relation to the outer frame that at least in part occupies the channel.
In fourteenth aspect of the invention, the inner frame is rectangular.
In a fifteenth aspect of the invention, the outer frame comprises two pair of opposed outer frame members, each said outer frame member including a pair of associated outer frame portions connected by a linear joint, each said outer frame member being connected to each outer frame member of the other pair by a corner joint defined in part by an included angle that may be changed.
In a sixteenth aspect of the invention, the corner joint comprises an adaptable mortise joint.
In a seventeenth aspect of the invention, the corner joint comprises an adaptable butt joint.
In an eighteenth aspect of the invention, the butt joint is configured as an enhanced butt joint.
In a nineteenth aspect of the invention, the butt joint is configured as an articulated butt joint.
In a twentieth aspect of the invention, the linear joint is configured as a type 1 linear joint.
In a twenty-first aspect of the invention, the linear joint is configured as a type 2 linear joint.
In a twenty-second aspect of the invention, the linear joint is configured as a type 3 linear joint.
In a twenty-third aspect of the invention, the linear joint is configured as a type 4 linear joint.
In a twenty-fourth aspect of the invention, means by which to urge the infill towards the centre of area of the outer frame includes a type 1 orthogonal joint.
In a twenty-fifth aspect of the invention, means by which to urge the infill towards the centre of area of the outer frame includes a type 2 orthogonal joint.
In a twenty-sixth aspect of the invention, means by which to urge the infill towards the centre of area of the outer frame includes a type 3 orthogonal joint.
In a twenty-seventh aspect of the invention, the infill includes multiple sub-infills.
In a twenty-eighth aspect of the invention, there is a structure characterized by having a Type 3 linear joints and a Type 2 orthogonal joint disposed towards the middle of the outer frame members belonging to the first pair and a Type 4 linear joint within the outer frame members of the second pair and Type 3 orthogonal joints disposed towards each ends of each outer frame member within the second pair.
In a twenty-ninth aspect of the invention, there is a structure configured as a structure.
In a thirtieth aspect of the invention, there is a structure configured as a fixable shutter.
In a thirty-first aspect of the invention, there is a structure configured as an angularly displaceable door and having a lock attached to a closing edge of the structure.
In a thirty-second aspect of the invention, there is a structure configured as an angularly displaceable screen door and having a lock attached to a closing edge of the door.
In a thirty-third aspect of the invention, there is a structure configured as a sliding door supported on rollers and having a lock attached to a closing edge of the structure.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is a structure substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
The elements relating to the various aspects of the invention claimed within are identified within the specification as follows; where unless the context requires otherwise,
Patent Specification shall be taken to include: a Body [comprising a Title, a Description of Preferred Embodiment/s, an Abstract and a Summary of the Invention] and Claims.
Unless the context requires otherwise, any prior publications and usage referred to herein, is not an assertion that any of this material forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in any other country at the priority date of any claim herein (or the priority date of any future claimed derived at least in part from this specification).
The integers relating to the various aspects of the invention claimed within and other elements described within may also be employed within other inventions subject of divisional applications.
The inventions described within derive, at least in part, from those described in associated provisional applications and where unless the context requires otherwise, where an integer is attributed with attributes different from those attributed in an earlier provisional application, the integer will be considered to be the same integer in a different form; where there is actual inconsistency between a provisional application and an earlier provisional application, the latter will prevail.
Notwithstanding any other forms that may fall within its scope one preferred form of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
The inventions within are generally described in relation to a wing (to which they are particularly relevant) but they are also relevant to other structures (a wing being regarded as a form of structure); the material described in relation to the outer frame (including the description of the corner joints, linear joints, orthogonal joints, the methods of manufacture and adjustment and the outer frame members themselves) are all relevant to structures in general. Further, the inventions within include: a) a structure that includes one or more members taking the form of an outer frame member described within whether associated with, or not associated with an infill, and b) a structure that includes one or more members taking the form of an inner frame member described within whether associated with, or not associated with, an outer frame.
The inventions within include a wing 1 having an infill 2 (
In some forms, the infill includes an elongated inner frame 3 that extends along the periphery of the infill, this inner frame being configured to include a base 8 from which the sides 7 extend outwardly (and to which the sides are connected) to overlap the outer frame 20; and in some forms, this inner frame 3 extends along the entire periphery of the infill 2.
In some forms, the opposed inner surfaces of sides 7 are inclined inwardly from the base 8 (
In some forms, the inner frame is comprised of elongated inner frame members 13 that are connected to extend along the entire periphery of the infill and in some forms, the ends of the inner frame members 13 are connected at corners 16 that in some forms enable the channels 5 [of connected inner frame members] to be connected to form a continuous channel 15 that extends along the entire periphery of the inner frame 3 by extending around each corner 16.
The outer frame 20 and infill 2 overlap each other and in some forms, the outer frame extends along the entire periphery of the infill. In some forms, the outer frame includes one or more straight elongated hollow outer frame members 17 that in one form are characterized by having a substantially rectangular cross section with a longitudinal recess 19 defined between the opposed sides 18 and opposed inner edge 21 and outer edge 22 as shown in
In some wings, at least one outer frame member 17 includes a pair of outer frame portions joined by a linear joint as shown in
In some wings, after the wing has been adjusted to a larger extent the outer frame members are parallel to their respective configurations in the smallest configuration, in which case, the corner joints can be configured as perfect joints as defined below. In some cases, the outer frame members will become not parallel to their respective configurations in the smallest configuration resulting in the corner joints having an included angle that differs from a nominal angle—some of the inventions within providing corner joints that substantially maintain their integrity when adapted to become “imperfect” as defined below.
The outer frame members 17, are connected by corner joints 23. In some forms, each is adjustable to vary the “included angle” [“Alpha”] at which the two outer frame members 17 participating in a joint, are relatively disposed; these joints 23 comprising either a mortise or butt joint as described below. In some forms, the corner joints are configured such that when the wing is in its smallest configuration the corner joints are “perfect” having an included angle equal to a “nominal angle” and where the wing includes an inner frame, each outer frame member abuts (along its entire length) the inner wall of the base 8 of a corresponding inner frame member 13.
In a mortise joint (
In some forms of wings, each corner joint remains adaptable till a corner fastener is tightened to render the corner joint rigid.
A particular form of wing includes an infill bounded by an inner frame on all sides that is bounded by an outer frame on all sides. A more particular form [defined as a “rectangular wing”] is characterized by the inner frame being substantially rectangular and the outer frame having:
a) a smallest configuration where each outer frame member abuts (along its entire length) an inner wall of the base 8 of a corresponding inner frame member 13, and
b) a nominal angle of ninety degrees at each corner,
In a particular form of rectangular wing (that may be included in a window screen or door) it is desirable for the inner and outer frame members 13,17 to have minimum widths: a competing consideration however, requires the widths to be large enough to enable the wing to be adjusted in extent to embrace a pre-determined range of opening sizes A more particular objectives of the inventions within, is for a single door to embrace a range of common openings. In a more particular form again, the wing comprises a security door that is adaptable to embrace common security doors in Australia that have a height “H” between 2010 and 2050 (where the incremental height h=40) and a width “W” between 800 and 830 (where the incremental width w=30).
By way of example, where the minimum acceptable overlap is 5 MM and where half of the increments [h/2 and w/2] derive from opposed sides of the wing, the channel 15 depth (shown in
If such a wing is skewed by 10 MM so that the outer frame member 17 supporting the lock is 10 MM lower after fitting (than it would be if the door remained rectangular), then the widest part of the gap in a mortise joint will be approximately 10×1.414×25/800 MM and the widest part of a simple butt joint (having a straight first channel edge 166) will be approximately 10×25/800 MM—both very small amounts indeed and other wings characterized by similar ratios will have corresponding similar gaps. The corresponding deviation would be 10×180/800×Pi degrees [approx ¾ of a degree]. Although joints could be configured to accommodate larger deviations, it is envisaged that in practice where the inventions are further configured to be doors, the deviations will be within the range −3 degrees to +3 degrees.
Although these gaps are unfortunate, they are preferable to the common solution of fitting a rectangular door into a skewed opening to have gaps through which insects have passage and/or where security is compromised.
It should be said that the smaller is the width of the outer frame, the smaller will any corner gaps be for a give angle of skewing and this is another reason for minimizing the width of the outer and inner frame members.
Where a wing includes a lock, the closing edge outer frame member is configured to receive and support the lock. A particular preparation includes a cover 28 comprising spaced plates 29 (having outer surfaces 30 that substantially lie in the same planes as the surfaces 31 of the sides of the closing edge outer frame 20), that extend inwardly from the inside edge 21 of the outer frame 20 to (together with the closing edge outer frame) provide a surface 32 on which to mount the lock or unlatching-handle back plates 33 of the lock. Once mounted, some lock portions may extend through side apertures 27 in the combined closing edge outer frame 20 and cover 28 described below. In a particular form of lock, a lock body 24 is mounted within an outer edge aperture 25 of the outer frame 20 and it may extend through an opposed aperture 26 in the inside edge 21 of the outer frame 20, as shown in
Where an inner frame is included, the surface 32 extends horizontally and vertically so as to be accessible and un-obscured by the inner frame member (or its associated hump) in all possible configurations of the wing and in all configurations providing an accessible surface on which to mount the lock or unlatching-handle back plates 33 as the lock requires. In some forms, the plates 29 are connected by a return to form a substantially U shaped member [that may be attached by welding] that envelops the opposed aperture 26 and the protruding portion of the look body.
The cover 28 may be rectangular in side view but it may be configured in part, to suit a hump 35 of the inner frame 13 that is configured in that form for ease of manufacture where the hump is made by forming (by conventional means that may comprise rolling and/or drawing) the inner frame to have an upper angled portion 36 and a lower angled portion 37. In this case, the cover 28 includes an upper angled extension 38 that extends inwardly and downwardly and lower angled extension 39 that extends inwardly and upwardly to be overlapped by the “hump” 35. The hump 35 may have curved portions at the ends of the angled portions, in which cases the upper and lower angled portions of the cover 28 would be similarly profiled. The cover 28 however, may be fabricated to be rectangular in form (when viewed from the side) and may comprise an open sided substantially rectangular hollow member and may comprise a metal or plastic casting.
Importantly, where an inner frame is included, the outer frame member 17 and cover 28 together are overlapped along their entire inner edge by the infill 2 and hump 35 together to preclude openings through which insects, breeze or water may pass and into which tools may be inserted during forced entry
In some forms, as shown in
The pins 40 and recesses 41 do not ensure the infill 2 is centrally located and in some cases (and particularly where aesthetics is important) this is a requirement. In these and other cases, where it is a requirement that irrespective of how the outer frame 20 is adjusted (within its range of possible configurations), the infill remain substantially centrally located relative to the outer frame 20, coupling is provided between the inner 3 and outer frames 20.
The coupling in some forms comprises one or more linear joint each including a pair of identical opposed compressed compression springs that act to urge the infill 2 towards the centre of area of the associated outer frame member. In other forms, each end of one or more outer frame members 17 is coupled to the adjacent inner frame member 17 by means including a threaded fastener where rotation in one direction causes the associated outer frame member 17 to displace towards the inner frame 3 and when rotated in the opposite direction, causes the outer frame member 17 to displace away from the inner frame 3 [this mechanism requiring the fitter of the wing to manually adjust each orthogonal joint]. In yet another form, each end of each outer frame member 17 is coupled to the adjacent inner frame member 13 by means including opposed compressed compression springs that act to urge the infill towards the centre of area of the outer frame. These are described in detail below.
The infill may be configured to include a deformable infilling material 45 such as sheet metal, as shown in
In some forms, as shown in
The infill may include other material 57 not easily connected by the means described above such as woven mesh 58 or glass 59 attached to the inner frame 3 by extending into a lateral fixing channel 60 in the inner frame 3 to be secured there by a resilient or elastic grommet 61 that amongst other things, acts to separate the other material 57 from the inner frame to amongst other things, impede galvanic corrosion, as shown in
The infill 2 may be configured to include bars 65 as shown in
Each cap 67 has a shank 77 having an outer surface that substantially conforms to the recess 70 of the bar and preferably having a cupped head 78 having a side wall 79 that extends a short distance up the exterior face of the bar 65 to obscure its end. In application, the cap 67 may be applied to the recess 70 by being forced into it to elastically deform the bar 65 and/or the shank 77 that may have a weakened side portion (not shown) that is driven outwardly by fastener insertion as do many common fixing plugs and/or the shank 77 may include a side recess into which a side portion of the tube 69 is formed. In some wings multiple tubes 65 form a grill 82, and in some forms, some bars include an offset portions 83 configured to straddle other bars.
The infilling material may be mesh 84 as shown in
In some forms, as shown in
In some forms of the wing, the infill 2 is configured to be rectangular and in some forms it includes an inner frame 3 where each corner joint 16 is configured as an orthogonal mortise joint.
The inventions within also provide a wing having an infill that includes multiple spaced bars 480 each having an end that extends freely into an aperture 481 within the inside edge 21 to overlap the outer frame (to provide limited relative displacement between the end of the bar and outer frame member); the bars together being supported relative to the outer frame which is adjustable in length (through linear joints described below) and/or relative angular disposition (through adjustable corners as described below) (
In another form having multiple spaced bars 486 (
In some wings that may be further configured as doors or screens, the infill is configured as multiple smaller sub-infills 100, as shown in
In some forms, an inner frame members 104 (of the first sub-infill) and inner frame members 104 (of the second sub-infills) (
In some orthogonal wings, the longer outer frame members 110 (having a length L1) are configured to fit diagonally in a carton by having lengths l=sq root [(L22+(L1/2)2] and (L1−l). Where the wing comprises a common door having a height H=2010 MM and a width W=820 MM, each longer outer frame members 110 is configured as first outer frame portion 111 having a length equal to the diagonal of a sub-infill, =[sq root (10052+8202)]=1.33 M and a second outer frame portion 112 of (2010−1330)=0.680M; these outer frame members clearly fitting within a carton that will fit with a sedan vehicle.
Manufacturing the infill as similar or differently configured sub-infills also provides the manufacturer with an opportunity to manufacture a variety of wings from common elements and to better rationalize the manufacturing process.
In some wings, some outer frame members 17 are connected by mortise joints as shown in
The first leg 120 is configured to be a tight press fit into the first outer frame member 123 by dent of a tapered leading end 124 (of width a little less than the distance between edge walls 21 of the first outer frame members 123) connected to a portion 125 of greater width requiring the first outer frame member 123 to elastically deform to receive the leg 120.
The second leg 121 has continuously tapered sides 126 connected to a short portion 127 of greater width, the second leg 121 being received into the second outer frame member 128. The second outer frame member may is some forms be required to slightly elastically deform to receive the connector not so as to give rise to forces that significantly affect the action of the spring described below. The second leg 121 is angularly displaceable between the limit set by the tapered sides 126 abutting the internal sidewall 129.
The second leg 121 supports one or more curved fixing members 130 (that may comprise hardened pressed metal parts 131 having sharp edges) each having a projection substantially the same as (or a little greater than) the cross section of recess 129.
The fixing member/s is/are supported about a threaded mortise fastener 132 that extends through elongated apertures 146 in the fixing members 130 to engage in a threaded aperture within a tension plate 134 supported adjacent to the fixing member/s. The apertures in each fixing member are elongated in a direction parallel the face of the wing (as shown in
In usage, the assembled outer frame is displaced to have the desired included angles at each corner, after which the mortise fastener is rotated (by inserting a tool 134 through an edge aperture 135 in the outer frame member 17) to cause the tension plate 134 to be displaced towards the fixing members 130 to cause it/them to deform towards their straightened form and in so doing, to displace their outer edges 136 outwardly into contact with the internal walls 129 of the recess 19 and in some cases to elastically deform the outer frame members; at the same time, the nut tension plate 134 and end spacer 132 are urged relatively towards the fixing member/s 130 to a generate frictional reaction force that resists sideways relative displacement between the longitudinal fastener and fixing members 130. Tightening of the fastener thereby rigidly fixes the end of the mortise fastener relative to the second outer frame member to resistant reconfiguration of the outer frame from the configuration it was at the time of fastener tightening.
In some forms, the abutting face of the fixing member 130 and leading end 138 of the spacer are ramped or otherwise similarly interrupted to better resist relative displacement.
In other forms, a fixing block 139 is fastened to the outer frame member 17 by the fastener 140 that extends through apertures in the side of the outer frame member 17. The fixing block 139 has an inner surface 142 (that is curved to be defined by a constant distance from the centre of the orthogonal that extends between the ends of the angled corners of the outer frame members 19) on which a compressed compression spring 143 acts to urge the fixing block and second outer frame member 128 towards the corner; the spring 143 being retained on the mortise fastener between the end nut 144 (that has a width that precludes rotation relative to the outer frame member 17) and the fixing block 139.
The fixing block has an oval aperture 145 to provide passage for the fastener and to allow the fastener (within the corner connector 113) to displace relative to the fixing block and second frame member 128 by displacing in a plane parallel the face of the wing. The spring 143 is preferably sufficiently strong to retain the outer frame members in constant contact even as the outer frame is adjusted.
In application, the first leg 120 is pressed into the first outer frame member 123 and the second leg 121 is applied to the second outer frame member 128 with the compression spring 143 uncompressed and the nut 134 abutting the fixing block 139. The fixing block is attached to this outer frame member 17 by the application of fastener 140 and the fastener is rotated to draw the end nut 144 to compress the spring 143 and to displace the tension plate 134 till it abuts the fixing member 130; the connector 113 being left in this configuration till after the wing has been adjusted, at which time the fastener 31 is turned to straighten the fixing member 130 as described above.
The springs 143 in each joint also act to urge each joint towards the nominal configuration because when the joint is displaced from the nominal configuration the connected outer frame members start to relatively angularly displace about one or other end of their angled ends to compress the spring 143 further, this action giving rise to a moment (that is proportional to the spring force and to the effective orthogonal distance between the fastener pivotal axis) that acts to urge the joint against displacing from the nominal angle.
In some wings, some outer frame members 17 are connected by butt joints 150 as shown in
As stated previously, in simple “perfect butt joints”, the included angle at which the hollow members abut is the same as the nominal angle at which the first end wall 164 (which is straight) is disposed to the axis of the first member 152 and it abuts the second member 154 at all points along an edge. In all variations of the butt joint described within, the end portion 160 (of the first member) has a reduced edge depth “d1” substantially the same as the internal depth “d2” of the longitudinal recess 19 (
The first end wall 164 may be straight as described above or it may be substantially straight but adapted to include two angled wall portions, as shown in
The second end wall 166 in some forms is spaced from the internal wall 129 of the inner edge 21 of the second outer frame member 154 and in some forms an elastic, resilient or semi-resilient spacer, described below, is inserted to occupy this joint space to hold the first end wall 164 abutting the edge 153; in these forms, the second end wall 166 may be straight or consists of two angled edges 170, as shown in
Where the first end wall includes angled edges 168 and the second end wall 166 includes similar angled edges 170, the angled edge 170 abuts the internal wall 129 to hold the first end wall 164 abutting (or in very close proximity to) the edge 153, as shown in
Part of the butt joint lies in the second outer frame member 154 that includes a longitudinally elongated slotted edge aperture 173 in the inside edge 21 against which the first outer frame member abuts. In one form, the slotted edge aperture 173 commences at the open end 155 of the second member and extends longitudinally for a distance substantially the same as the width of the first outer frame member 152; the second member having a cross-section comprising a U shape with legs 174 of length “d5” protruding towards each other to form a restriction to the recess 19. In the assembled buff joint, the end portion 160 occupies the channel such that outer edge 22 of the first outer frame member 152 is co-planar with the end 175 of the second outer frame member 154 and the side channels 161 act to retain the outer frame members connected s described above.
The end portion 160 would be manufactured by:
1 Pressing or otherwise removing material from the edges 20 and 21 of the first outer frame member to provide opposed edge apertures 172 to selectively weaken the outer frame member to allow the adjacent sides 18 to be easily inwardly deformed.
2 Simultaneously forming the side walls 18 (adjacent to the edge apertures 172) to provide the opposed side channels 161 by placing a die within the first outer frame member to abut the internal wall 129 and pressing forming punches inwardly against external side walls of the first outer frame member 152 to cause the walls to inwardly displace to occupy a recess in each side of the die.
Some butt joints are further configured to include the following enhancing means to resist relative angular displacement between the outer frame members participating in a corner joint. For convenience, we refer to a Type A enhanced butt joint 216 [“TA Butt Joint”] that includes a pair of opposed curved fixing members 190 (that may comprise hardened pressed metal parts 191 having sharp edges) each having a projection substantially the same as the cross section of recess 19 so that once received within the recess 19, the fixing plates are supported by the second outer frame member to be displaced with the second outer frame member. The fixing members are supported about a threaded longitudinal fastener 192 that is angularly fixed relative to the end portion 180 (of the first outer frame member) by extending through spaced apertures 193 (without or with minimal clearance) in the end portion 160. A tubular spacer 194 is supported between the fixing members and portion 160 and a threaded nut 196 is supported adjacent to the other side of the fixing members 190. The apertures 195 in the fixing members through which the longitudinal fastener 192 extends are elongated to enable the fastener and fixing members to relatively displace; these apertures being elongated in a direction parallel the face of the wing as shown in
In usage, the assembled outer frame is displaced to have the desired included angles at each corner, after which the longitudinal fastener 192 is rotated by insertion of a tool into the drive recess to draw the nut towards the screw head to cause the fixing members 190 to be forced towards each other to cause them to deform towards their straightened form and in so doing, to displace their outer edges 197 outwardly into contact with the internal walls 129 of the recess 19 and in some cases to elastically deform the outer frame members; at the same time, the nut 196 and tubular spacer 194 are urged towards the fixing members 190 to a generate frictional reaction force that resists sideways relative displacement between the longitudinal fastener and fixing members 190. Tightening of the nut thereby rigidly fixes the end of the longitudinal fastener relative to the second outer frame member to resistant reconfiguration of the outer frame from the configuration it was at the time of fastener tightening; it should be noted that the nut is restrained against angular rotation by either being restrained against rotation relative to the adjacent fixing member 190 by having a protruding shoulder that overlaps the wall of the aperture 195 or being restrained against rotation relative to the second outer frame member by having a side which abuts to extend along an internal wall of the side of the hollow 19.
Alternatively, some butt joints are further configured as a TB enhanced butt joint 200 [TB Butt Joint”] as shown in
The corner stiffener 201 in one form, includes an elongated substantially cylindrical portion 202 and a head 203 (that may be of reduced diameter that protrudes through aperture 193 in the outer edge 22 to be peened over to effect connection between the corner stiffener 201 and end portion 160 (Not Shown); or the head may have a substantially conventional countersunk head 205 supported in a mating countersunk recess 206 in the outer edge 22.
The corner stiffener 201 may be employed along with a joint spacer 250 but in other forms an associated corner stiffener 201 is employed and the corner stiffener 201 includes a threaded side aperture 207 located between the spaced apertures 193 and preferably equally spaced between these apertures 193; the aperture 207 receives the threaded shank of a joiner 210 that extend axially through an aperture 211 in the outer edge 22 of second outer frame member while its head 212 is retained relative to the outer edge 22 to be accessible to be rotated by a tool. In some forms, the head 212 is configured as a pan head supported within a head recess (not shown but configured to receive and house the head) formed in the external edge 22 and in some forms the head recess and aperture 211 are longitudinally elongated (in a direction parallel to the axis of the second outer frame member) and the floor of the head recess is defined by a radius centred at the centre of the first end wall 164 to better enable the corner stiffener to be incrementally angular displaced about the centre of the first end wall 164. In other forms, the head 212 may have a substantially conventional countersunk head 213 supported in a mating countersunk recess 214 in the outer edge 22 and the threaded engagement between the joiner and stiffener 201 includes sufficient clearance to accommodate the deviation in the included angle.
The corner stiffener 201 also includes an orthogonal open aperture 215 disposed towards its other end that extends to the end of the corner stiffener 201 and that has substantially parallel sides 216 (spaced by a distance “d6”) that include longitudinally elongated blades 217 that extend towards each other from the opposed sides 216 to engage with the profiled shank 218 of an orthogonal locking key 220 that extends through this open aperture 215; it be will be appreciated, that the open end of the aperture enables the end portion 160 to be assembled to the second outer frame member (that includes the locking key 220) by enabling the open aperture 215 to be slid over the locking key 220.
The locking key 220 includes a head 221 that may comprise a substantially conventional countersunk head 222 supported in a mating countersunk recess 223 in the outer edge 22 of the second outer frame member 154 to be accessible to be rotated by a tool. The profiled shank 218 extends to the internal wall 21 and is some wings, it extends through an aperture 224 in an planar offset portion 225 of the internal edge 21; this displaced from the inner edge sufficiently to provide a pocket 226 to receive a control cam 227 and a circlip 228 configured to prevent relative longitudinal displacement of the locking key 220 (
The profiled shank 218 has a cross-sectional profile that is oval-like including opposed sides 235 separated by a minimum width “d7” (less than d6) and opposed side 236 (that may comprise part cylinders) separated by a distance (“d8”) greater than d6, as shown in
The control cam 234 has radially extending arms 233 configured to rotate only 90 degrees and further configured so that one end of the range coincides with an arm abutting a shoulder 234 of the landing 225 and the portion of the profiled shank of minimum width being adjacent to the blades; while the other end of the range coincides with the other arm 233 abutting the other side of the shoulder 334 and the portion of the profiled shank of maximum width being adjacent to the blades or teeth (
In some forms of the butt joints described above, the second end wall 166 is spaced from the internal wall 129 of the inner edge 21 of the second outer frame member 154 and an elastic, resilient or semi-resilient spacer, described below, is inserted to occupy this joint space to hold the first end wall 164 abutting the edge 153; while in other forms, the joiner is included to hold the first end wall 164 abutting the edge 153.
These forms of butt joint may be further configured as articulated butt joints that include a fin 241 of the first outer frame member that engages in a cross slot 240 of the second outer frame member (as described below) to prevent relative displacement). In these forms, an orthogonal rectangular slotted auxiliary aperture 240 intersects the slotted edge aperture 173 and that preferably extends sideways to the sides 18 of the second member 154, as shown in
The elastic, resilient or semi-resilient joint spacer 250 is inserted (in some forms by force) into the joint space 251 while the floor 165 abuts the end of the associated leg 241 while the first end wall 164 abuts the edge portion 153 of the second outer frame member 154. The joint spacer 250 abuts and acts outwardly on the inside wall 129 of the second member 154 while acting inwardly on the second wall 166 to urge the end portion 160 inwardly and it does so by occupying a space 252 beside the fins 241 and within the side channels 161, as shown in
As stated above, butt joints including TA and TB butt joints may be further configured to have the articulated form. In particular forms of butt joints (suitable for orthogonal butt joints in particular), each longitudinal fastener 192 or stiffener 201 has a longitudinal axis that is orthogonal to the axis of the first outer frame member and the
TA and TB Articulated Butt Joints are assembled by:
a) Orientating the first and second outer frame members to have an included angle equal to the nominal angle and with their sides lying in parallel panes,
b) Aligning the end portion 160 substantially axially with the recess 19 but sufficiently offset to allow the fin/s 241 to pass along the outside of the second member, and
c) Displacing the end portion 160 into the recess 19 during which assembly, the legs 174 simultaneously slide relatively within the side channels 161 and adjacent to the second end wall 166 till the first outer frame outer edge 22 becomes aligned with the open end 175.
d) Advancing the first outer frame member towards the second outer frame member so the fin/s 241 enter the auxiliary apertures 240,
e) Inserting the joint spacers 250 or applying the joiners 210 and lightly tightening,
f) Adjusting the size and shape of the wing
g) Tightening the longitudinal fastener 192 in the butt joints or rotating the locking key 220, (dependent on which tightening method is employed) to render the joint rigid.
Articulated butt joints can be manufactured by:
1 Pressing or otherwise removing material from the edges 21 of the first outer frame member to provide substantially rectangular opposed edge apertures 172 to selectively weaken the outer frame member to allow the sides 18 (adjacent to these edge apertures 172) to be easily inwardly deformed. These edge apertures being located adjacently to the walls that will be deformed in step 2 below.
2) Press or mill out profiled substantially U shaped clearance apertures 259 adjacent to where the fins 241 will extend from
3) Forming the side walls inwardly by advancing a stepped forming punch towards an internal two part die—the punch and die being conventionally configured to form the side channels 161 at one level, while forming the fin 241 at another level.
4) Pressing or otherwise removing material to provide the slotted aperture 173 and if include, the auxiliary aperture 240
Some wings include an operable Type-1 linear joint 270 [“L1 joint”] that provides coupling between the inner 3 and outer frames 20 through a pair of identical compressed compression springs 271 separated by fingers 272 that extends from the inner frame 3 as shown in
In some forms, the linear joint 270 includes an operable mechanism within the recess 19 that includes a threaded plug 273 (having a threaded aperture 274) in which the threaded shank 275 of a fastener 276 engages. It is fastened relative to the end of a first outer frame portion 278 and a head plug 280 is fastened relative to the adjacent end of the associated second outer frame portion 279. The head 281 of the fastener 276 is fixed longitudinally relative to the head plug 280 to be accessible through an aperture 282 in the outer edge 22 of the second outer frame portion 279. The linear connector 270 may alternatively be configured to have a side aperture that is coaxial with an aperture in the side 18 of the first outer frame portion and that is accessible through an elongated side aperture in the inner frame.
The threaded plug 273 includes inwardly protruding feet 284 that occupy apertures 285 in the inner walls 21 of the first outer frame portion 278 and in some forms a nut recess 286 is included to accept a standard square or hex nut 287 with only limited clearance such that when engaged with the shank 275, the nut 287 cannot rotate relative to the threaded plug 273. The threaded plug 273 is intersected by an axial side aperture 288 configured to provide passage for the shank 275. The threaded plug 275 is configured to have offset side portions 289 configured to receive a U shaped member 290 such that when the threaded plug 273 is within the second outer frame portion 279, space 291 exists on three side that is occupied by the substantially U shaped member 290 that acts to retain the feet 284 within the apertures 285.
Similarly the head plug has feet 292 that occupy apertures 293 in the inner wall 21 of the second outer frame portion 279 and the U shaped channel 290 acts similarly to maintain the feet 292 within the apertures 293. The head plug 280 includes a head aperture 294 configured to accept the head of the fastener that is configured to have beveled peripheral gear teeth 295 that mesh with beveled gear teeth 296 of a tool 297 that can be inserted through the aperture 282 in the outer edge of the second outer frame portion 279 to be supported in a substantially cylindrical recess 298 having an open side 299 adjacent to the head of the fastener to enable meshing of the teeth 295 and 296; the tool being rotatable to rotate the threaded fastener. The head aperture 294 is intersected by an axial side aperture 301 configured to provide passage for the shank 275 of the fastener. In some forms, the head comprises a standard hex recess head 302 and a drive portion 303 having a hex protrusion 305 within the hex recess connected to a substantially conical portion 306 bearing the peripheral gears 295 retained in the recess by abutting a shoulder 307 of the wall of the head aperture 294.
Each linear joint is intersected by one or two fingers 272 that extends outwardly from the base 8 and which are attached to the inner frame by extending inwardly through rectangular apertures 310 in the base 8 and fin 48 of the inner frame member to be fixed relative to the inner frame: the fingers 272 extend outwardly to occupy the space 311 between the springs 270 (and adjacent to, one on each side if a pair the fastener 276), a space that is enveloped by the U shaped member 290 that acts to retain the fingers 272 so disposed.
The springs extend away from the finger/s 272 one to abut the threaded plug 273, one to abut the head plug 280, to bias the finger/s 272 towards the centre of the space between the plugs 273 and 280 whereby to bias the inner frame member 18 towards the centre of the associated adjacent outer frame member 20. When the wing has linear joints on each side, the effect of the multiple L1 joints is to bias the infill 2 substantially towards the centre of area of the outer frame 20.
Additionally, the wing may include within the linear joints a substantially U shaped cover member 312 having opposed legs 313 and an external form the same as the outer frame members 17, this member being supplied as an extrusion that is cut to length to suit each adjusted L1 joint; the cut length being forced over the U shaped cover member 290 and into the space between the ends of the first and second outer frame portions 278 and 279 to improve the appearance of the wing by giving the appearance of an uninterrupted member. In some form, the inside edge of each leg 313 has an inwardly extruding ramped fin 314 that terminates in an orthogonal shoulder 315 that in application, becomes adjacent to an edge of the U shaped member whereby to be retained attached to that member.
If the head aperture 294 is configured to have a sideways opening and the aperture 282 is a side aperture that extends from the plane of the wing (instead of edge) the tool may be inserted from a side and operated to adjust the length of an outer frame 17; as may occur with shutters; in this case the inner frame member includes an elongated slotted aperture coaxial with the head aperture configured to permit passage of the tool into the head aperture 294.
Some wings include a Type-2 linear joint 320 [“L2”] that comprises a simple telescopic joint that includes a member that extends from a first outer frame portion 322 to within a second outer frame portion 323 and that mates with working clearance within.
In some forms, as shown in
In some forms, the formed end 324 is further configured to include longitudinal channels 326 which support elongated bearing strips 327 (nylon or other such bearing material) that protrude from the side surfaces of the end portion 325 to abut the internal wall of end portion 325 to act as low friction linear joint. The end portion 325 and bearing strip 327 extend longitudinally for a distance greater than the adjustability required by the telescopic joints and preferably for a distance 4 times that.
Additionally, the L2 joint wing may include a substantially U shaped cover member 290 described above. The formed 324 end may be formed by:
1) Forming the sides 18 inwardly by pressing a stepped forming punch 330 inwardly towards an internal two-part die 331 to form the side channels 332,
2) Forming the edges 20 and 21 inwardly by pressing a stepped forming punch 333 inwardly towards an internal two-part die 334 to form the edge channels 336.
In a typical wing employing a L2 joint, a outer frame includes a first outer frame member connected at a first end to a second end of a second outer frame member, the first outer frame member including a L2 joint, the second end of the second outer frame member including an orthogonal joint that includes a fastener, that is operable to displace the second ends away from the first outer frame member to thereby lengthen the first outer frame member.
The L2 joint 320 described above may be adapted to comprise a Type 3 linear joint 340 [“L3 joint”] that includes a compressed compression spring 341 supported about an elongated connector 342 to urge the second outer frame portion 323 towards the first outer frame portion 322—the connector 342 and spring 341 sharing a longitudinal axis parallel the adjacent outer frame member 17. The threaded end of the connector 342 engages in a threaded aperture 293 in a substantially cylindrical barrel nut 294 supported in and fixed relative to the formed end 324 (of the first outer frame member 322) by extending sideways to extend through circular apertures 295 in the sides of the formed portion 324. The connector extends longitudinally to extend through (with working clearance) a cylindrical aperture 296 in a second barrel nut 297 supported in and fixed relative to the second outer frame portion 323 by extending sideways to extend through circular apertures 298 in the sides 18 to support the spring 341 compressed between the second barrel nut 297 and a nut 300 on the end of the fastener 341.
The L3 joint is such that any displacement of the first outer frame member in relation to the second outer frame member causes the spring 341 to become further compressed, to an increased force resisting this relative displacement. The L3 joint may be further configured such that the forces exerted by the compression springs 291, are sufficient to displace the infill relative to the outer frame at all times (and to overcome any forces exerted by compression of springs within O2 joints described below)
Some wings include a Type-4 linear joint 360 [“L3 joint”] as shown in
The fastener 371 is supported at both ends by the first outer frame member; it extends through an aperture 373 within a first landing 374 disposed orthogonally to the axis of the fastener, the first landing 374 being connected to the outer surface 22 from which is formed by a profiled surface 375; the first landing 374 being configured to enable a tool to be inserted into the recess 379 in the head 380 of the fastener which is supported on the landing 374 [i.e. so it can be operated from the side of the wing]; the other end of the fastener extends through an aperture 381 within an orthogonal second landing 382 disposed orthogonally to the axis of the fastener 371, the second landing 382 being connected to the inner surface 21 from which is formed; the fastener 371 including adjacent to the inner end, a circlip groove about which a circlip is located to retain the fastener. The components are configured such that when the first and second outer frame portions are in closest proximity, the barrel nut is adjacent to the underside of the first landing and when the first and second outer frame portions are furthest apart (within the limitations defined herein), the barrel nut is adjacent to the underside of the second landing. It will be appreciated that by turning the fastener, the first and second outer frame portions can be relatively disposed a required.
In some wings, each end of a frame member 17 is coupled to an adjacent inner frame member 13 by a Type-1 orthogonal joint 400 [“O1 joint”] that includes a threaded fastener 401 that can be rotated in one direction to cause the associated outer frame member to displace towards the inner frame 3 and rotated in the opposite direction causes the outer frame member 17 to displace away from the inner frame 3. As an end of the outer frame member displaces towards or away from the inner frame, another outer frame member 17 connected to the same corner is required to become either shorter or longer respectively and for this to occur a L2 joint within its length is required to displace provide for this change in length.
The Type-1 orthogonal joint 400, shown in
The threaded fastener 401 extends through an outer aperture 412 within the outer wall 20, this being configured as an oval shape to enable the outer frame members 17 to displace relative to the infill over their range of relative dispositions. The outer aperture 412 is surrounded by an oval recess 413 having a depth and width sufficient to receive the head 414 of the fastener 401 so that it does not protrude from the general form of the wing.
Adjacent to the internal wall 315 of the oval recess 413, the fastener 401 supports a substantially cylindrical bearing member 416 (such as a flat washer) having an internal aperture through which the fastener extends and/or a fixing member 417 (such as a crescent circlip) having an internal aperture through which the fastener extend; the fixing member 417 restricting relative displacement between the fastener 401 and outer frame member 17; the fixing member 417 being supported within a peripheral groove 418. In usage, the fastener 401 and shank 403 act as a telescopic joint where rotating the fastener in one direction cases the head 414 to displace the associated outer frame member 17 towards the inner frame 3 and rotating the fastener in the opposite direction causes the bearing member 416 to displace the associated outer frame member 17 away from the inner frame 3.
To facilitate assembly of the wing, an outwardly disposed end 420 of the shank 403 includes an additional coaxial cylindrical recess 421 having a circular floor 422. The recess 421 is configured to receive the bearing member 416 and the fixing member 417 and to have a depth that is substantially the same as the sum of their thicknesses—before assembly of the wing, they are retained within the recess 421 by inwardly extending side wall portions 423 that are formed by deforming the end as shown in
During assembly, each O1 connector is assembled by passing a fastener 401 through the aperture 412 to pass through, the bearing member 416 and the fixing member 417 to engage in the threaded portion of the shank. The O1 joint is further configured such that (when the wing is of minimum extent) rotation of the fastener 403 draws the conical portion 425 through the fixing member to cause it to expand to a diameter that enables it to slide along the unthreaded portion 424; further turning of the fastener brings the groove 427 into alignment with the fixing member 417 to enable the fixing member 417 to elastically deform inwardly to occupy the groove 427. By this means, the wall of the outer aperture 412 is captured between the bearing member 416 washer and head 414 of the screw to prevent relative longitudinal displacement between the screw and associated outer frame member 17.
In another forms, the orthogonal joint is configured as a Type-2 orthogonal joint 430 [“O2 joint”] having a compressed compression springs that acts to urge the infill towards the centre of area of the outer frame. The compressed compression spring 431 is supported about a substantially cylindrical joint boss 432 that is supported in the outer edge 22 of the outer frame member 17 to extend towards the inner edge 21 where it is disposed coaxially relative to an aperture 434; the aperture 434 being configured to enable the compression spring 431 to extend through the aperture 434 (while being supported about the joint boss 432) to abut the inner frame 3 to act on the inner frame. The joint boss includes an axially elongated threaded through aperture 435 that supports a threaded fastener 436 (such as a grub screw) that is accessible through a coaxial aperture 437 in the outer frame member to enable a tool (such as an Alan key) to be inserted into the fastener drive recess 440 to rotate the fastener and in some situations, to cause it to protrude from the joint boss 432 to act on the inner frame member 13 to displace the outer frame member 17 away from the inner frame 3. In some forms the joint boss 432 includes a substantially cylindrical end 439 of reduced diameter that extends through an aperture 437 in the outer frame member to be outwardly peened over (to form a ridge 442 that overlaps the outer frame member) to retain it attached to the outer frame member. In some forms, this aperture 441 is surrounded by a saucer shaped recess 443 having a depth sufficient to receive a house the ridge 442. This joint further includes a spring retaining disc 445 having a coaxial aperture 446 through which a substantially cylindrical end 447 of the fastener extends; in some forms, this disc 445 is surrounded by a saucer shaped recess 448 (in the inner edge) having a depth sufficient to accommodate the disc.
The O2 joint is further configured to have a pre-fitting configuration, as shown in
During fitting, the outer frame members would be assembled to the infill to the smallest configuration with O2 joints in the pre-fitting configuration, and then each fasteners 436 is outwardly displaced to either a) force the peened end through the aperture by causing the peened ends to be inwardly deformed or b) align the extensions 450 with the wings 449 to release the disc 445 to release the spring 431 to enable it to exert and inwards force on the infill.
Type-2 orthogonal joints may be further configured to omit the springs to comprise Type-3 orthogonal joint [“O3”] as shown in
Notwithstanding any other forms of wings employing combinations of the integers described above that may fall within the scope of the invention, some preferred forms of the inventions will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. They will be described in particular, with reference to the manner in which they can be adapted to suit a particular opening.
Consider a substantially planar wing (
It will be appreciated that prior to adjustment, wings must be assembled by: configuring the infill 2 as a single substantially planar member if it consists of sub-infills; assembling the required first and second portions to provide the left hand and right hand outer frame members 466 an 467 if they have been configured in KD form that are then assembling them into the side channels of the infill, assembling the upper and lower outer frame members 464 and 465 to the infill by assembling the corner joints, (and if enhanced TB butt joints, by inserting and loosely tightening corner joiners; if adapted butt joints, by driving in wedges 250) and winding out the fasteners 436 in any O2 joints to release the springs 431. When the wing has been adjusted (including skewed as required) the corner are then made rigid as described above by operating fasteners. Particular forms of wing many be configured to have a larger extent as described below:
A) A Wing Having L1 Joints
Consider a wing where the left hand outer frame member 466 is lower than the right hand outer frame member 477, the springs acting on the fingers 272 of the sides will attempt to dispose the infill 2 such that its upper and lower inner frame members are parallel with the upper and lower outer frame members 466 and 467 but the springs acting in the upper and lower 466 and 467 will attempt to retain the infill such that the upper and lower inner frame members remain orthogonal to the left and right hand side outer frame member 466 and 467. The resulting configuration will be partway between these two configurations characterized by the competing spring forces together being in equilibrium. Where both the inner frame 3 and the outer frame 20 are rectangular, the springs act on the fingers to urge the centre of area of the inner frame towards the centre of area of the outer frame (this coinciding with the point of intersection of the diagonals) and the sides of the infill remain parallel the sides of the outer frame.
B) A Wing Having L2 Joints in Each Outer Frame Member and O1 Joints Adjacent to Each End.
This wing is adjusted in extent by:
1) Inserting a tool into the O1 joint in the right hand end of the hand upper outer frame member 464 and turning the tool till the upper end of the right hand side outer frame member 467 has been displaced away from the inner frame 3 by an amount of half the total increase in length required in outer frame member 467; inserting a tool into the O1 joint in the right hand end of the hand lower outer frame member 465 and turning the tool till the lower end of the right hand side outer frame member 467 has been displaced away from the inner frame 3 by an amount of half the total increase in length required in outer frame member 467
2) Inserting a tool into the O1 joint in the left hand end of the hand upper outer frame member 464 and turning the tool till the upper end of the left hand side outer frame member 466 has been displaced away from the inner frame 3 by an amount of half the total increase in length required in outer frame member 466; inserting a tool into the O1 joint in the left hand end of the hand lower outer frame member 465 and turning the tool till the lower end of the left hand side outer frame member 466 has been displaced away from the inner frame 3 by an amount of half the total increase in length required in outer frame member 467
3) Increasing the length of the upper and rower outer frame member 464 by in a similar manner by the turning fasteners in the other O1 joints
4) Skewing the wing to suit a particular opening and tightening the fasteners in all the corners to render the corners rigid.
C) A Wing Having L4 Joints in Each Outer Frame Member and O2 Joints Adjacent to Each End of Each Outer Frame Member.
In this wing, a particular outer frame member may be adjusted in length by operating the fastener within the L4 joint within that particular outer frame member and where the outer frame may be skewed as required after which, the corner fasteners would be tightened to render the corners rigid. This may be better understood by considering the skewing of a wing where the skewing is artificially controlled so that the outer frame is skewed while the infill is held undisplaced and then the infill is released to find an equilibrium configuration.
When the left hand side outer frame member 466 is displaced to be lower than the right hand outer side member 467, the spring acting at the left hand end of the upper frame member 464 is further compressed by the action of skewing to exert an increased force on the left hand side of the infill urging it downwardly while the spring acting on the bottom of the right hand side of the infill will also be further compressed to exert an increased force on the right hand side of the infill upwardly and the spring acting on the right hand end of the upper frame member 467 becomes further extended by the action of skewing to exert a reduced force on the right hand side of the infill while the spring acting on the bottom of the left hand side of the infill will also be further extended to exert a reduced force on the right hand side of the infill. The net result is a torque that acts on the infill to urge it to rotate as urged. The forces derived from the springs acting on the sides of the infill however act in a similar manner so that any rotation of the infill gives rise to a reactionary torque that acts to urge the infill against rotation. The resulting configuration is characterized by the competing torques being equal and the spring forces being in equilibrium. Where the wing of increased extent is also rectangular, the springs act to urge the centre of area of the inner frame towards the centre of area of the outer frame, this coinciding with the point of intersection of the diagonals. In application this wing would be adjusted by:
1) Releasing the compression springs in the orthogonal joints
2) Increasing the length of the right hand outer frame member 467
3) Increasing the length of the left hand outer frame member
4) Increasing the length of the upper and lower outer frame member in a similar manner,
5) Skewing the wing as required and tightening the fasteners in the corners to render the corners rigid.
6) If desired, winding the O2 joint fasteners 436 inwardly till they abut either the inner frame or disc to render the wing more rigid.
D) A Wing (as Shown in
In this wing, the upper outer frame member 464 may be increased in length (against biasing provided by a L3 joints) by operating the fasteners 436 in the upper O3 joints [in the left hand and right hand side outer frame members 466 and 467]; and where lower outer frame member 465 may be increased in length by operating the fasteners in the lower O3 joints [in the left hand and right hand side outer frame members 466 and 467]: and where the left hand outer frame member 466 and right hand side outer frame member 467 many be increased in length by operating the fasteners within the L4 joints within their lengths while the springs within the O2 joints in the upper and lower outer frame members 464 and 465 adjust to exert an adjusted force on the infill; after which the wing would be skewed as required.
The resulting final configuration would be characterized by the competing torques being equal and the spring forces being in equilibrium. If desired, winding the O2 joint fasteners (in the upper and lower frame member) inwardly till they abut either the inner frame or disc to render the wing more rigid. Wings as described in D) above are particularly well disposed for inclusion in oblong wings where the O3 joints are within the shorter of the opposed outer frame members and in the particular forms referenced, in the upper and lower outer frame members which are shorter than the opposed side outer frame members.
Some doors, windows, grills and screens include one of the forms of wings described immediately above; in the case of hinged doors, the wing would be further configured to include a lock in the closing edge outer frame member and hinges would be attached to the opposed outer frame member to enable the wing to be suspended adjacent to an opening.
If we consider a door configured in the (D) format described above and further configured in KD format the door would be assembled by.
The hinged door would be fitted to the opening by:
1) Lengthening the left and right hand side outer frame members by operating the fasteners in the L4 joints within this member.
2) Suspending the wing by the hinges
3) Lengthening the upper frame member 464 by a) rotating the fastener in the upper right hand side O3 joint till the upper outer frame member has lengthened by half the desired amount b) rotating the fastener in the upper left hand side O3 joint till the upper outer frame member has lengthened by half the desired amount
4) Similarly, lengthening the lower outer frame member 467
5) Skewing the wing to suit a particular opening and tightening the corner fasteners by tool
6) Tightening the fasteners in the O2 joints.
One of the features of this form is having access to all the fasteners when the door is suspended because the access apertures are located in the left hand and right edges of the wing (i.e. in the outer edges 22 of the left and right hand outer frame member
Once the wing has been adjusted and if additional rigidity is required, additional fasteners 470 (such as rivets or mushroom head screws) may be applied to simultaneously intersect both an inner frame member 13 and an outer frame member 17 and/or to intersect corner connectors and outer and/or inner frame members by extending through apertures in each and they could be inserted to extend between the U shaped member and outer frame portions.
In rather obvious reductions of the inventions described within (and embraced by the inventions).
a) The outer frame members could be cut to the required length at fitting (to suit a particular opening) to be mounted around an infill of predetermined dimensions and where in some forms, to be connected to each other by mortise corner joints similar to those described within. Although an inferior method, this method still provides an advantage over conventional methods of “making to measure” complete doors to suit particular openings.
b) the infill may be attached relative to an outer frame as described above but only by spaced members that inter-connect the outer frame and infill to suspend the infill. The connectors, infill and outer frame members could also be further connected by the additional fasteners.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006905923 | Oct 2006 | AU | national |
| 2006907010 | Dec 2006 | AU | national |
| 2007901447 | Mar 2007 | AU | national |
| 2007902391 | May 2007 | AU | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/AU2007/000865 | 6/14/2007 | WO | 00 | 12/3/2008 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60816329 | Jun 2006 | US | |
| 60832947 | Jul 2006 | US |
