JP7650212B2 - Lower frame member for synthetic resin opening frame - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a lower frame member in a synthetic resin opening frame that is fixed to an opening in a building where a window or door is installed.

As disclosed in the following Patent Documents 1 and 2, an opening in which a window or door is fitted is provided in a building, an opening frame is fixed to the opening, and the window or door is attached to the opening frame. From the viewpoint of heat insulation, it is convenient for the opening frame to be formed from an appropriate synthetic resin such as polyvinyl chloride. A synthetic resin opening frame is usually manufactured as follows. A long and thin member having a required cross-sectional shape is formed by extruding a synthetic resin material, and the long and thin member is cut to the required length to form the frame members, i.e., the upper frame member, the lower frame member, and a pair of side frame members. Both ends of the frame members are inclined surfaces that are inclined at an angle of, for example, 45 degrees. Both ends of the upper frame member are welded to the upper ends of the pair of side frame members, and both ends of the lower frame member are welded to the lower ends of the pair of side frame members, thus forming an opening frame that is rectangular overall.

In order to improve the thermal insulation properties, it is desirable to provide the frame members that make up the opening frame with an insulating wall section that extends between the outer wall sections in addition to the outer wall section that defines the outer shape. Normally, based on the installation position in the lower frame member, a vertical insulating wall section that extends vertically between the bottom wall section and the upper wall section, and a transverse insulating wall section that extends horizontally between the outer wall section and the vertical partition wall section are additionally provided. As disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 below, the bottom wall section usually extends in a single plane over its entirety, but in recent years, in response to the structural requirements of the building frame, opening frames with steps in the bottom wall section, that is, a lower bottom wall section, a lower inner wall section that extends upward from the inner edge of the lower bottom wall section, and an upper bottom wall section that extends inward from the upper edge of the lower inner wall section, have also been put to practical use.

JP 2016-160620 A JP 2019-2235 A

In the lower frame member that constitutes the opening frame, it is necessary to form appropriate drainage holes to drain rainwater that enters the opening frame, but in the case of a lower frame member that has a step in the bottom wall, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to form the required drainage holes in the vertical insulation wall portion.

The present invention was made in light of the above facts, and its main technical objective is to provide a new and improved lower frame member that has an insulating wall portion for achieving the required insulating properties, even when the bottom wall portion has a step, and in which the required drainage holes are easily formed.

After extensive research, the inventors have discovered that the above-mentioned main technical objective can be achieved by providing at least two insulating wall sections between the upper outer wall section and the partition wall section, spaced apart in the vertical direction to connect the two, and by forming drainage holes in each of these insulating wall sections that are aligned in the vertical direction.

That is, according to the present invention, the lower frame member that achieves the above-mentioned main technical object is:
A lower frame member for a synthetic resin opening frame to be fixed to an opening of a building, the lower frame member comprising a lower bottom wall portion, a lower inner wall portion extending upward from the inner edge of the lower bottom wall portion, an upper bottom wall portion extending inward from the upper end edge of the lower inner wall portion, a vertical partition wall portion extending upward from the upper bottom wall portion, a lower outer wall portion extending upward from the outer edge of the lower bottom wall portion beyond the upper end of the lower inner wall portion, a lower upper wall portion extending inward from the upper end edge of the lower outer wall portion, and an upper outer wall portion extending upward from the inner edge of the lower upper wall portion,
At least two heat insulating wall portions are disposed between the upper outer wall portion and the vertical partition wall portion located inward of the upper outer wall portion and connected therebetween at a distance in the vertical direction,
At least one drain hole is formed in the lower end of the lower outer wall portion,
Each of the insulating walls is formed with at least one drain hole positioned in vertical alignment.
A lower frame member is provided.

Preferably, the drain hole formed in the lower outer wall and the drain hole formed in each of the insulating walls are aligned in the longitudinal direction. It is preferable that an opening extending continuously in the longitudinal direction is present between the upper end edge of the upper outer wall and the upper end edge of the vertical partition wall. It is convenient that the lower bottom wall and the upper bottom wall extend substantially horizontally, the upper outer wall and the vertical partition wall extend substantially vertically, and each of the insulating walls extend substantially horizontally. It is preferable that one of the insulating walls extends substantially horizontally between the vertical intermediate portions of the upper outer wall and the vertical partition wall , and the other of the insulating walls extends substantially horizontally from a connection region between the inner edge of the lower upper wall and the lower end edge of the upper outer wall to the vertical partition wall.

In the lower frame member of the present invention, the drainage holes in the lower end of the lower outer wall can be formed sufficiently easily by applying a drilling tool from the outside of the lower outer wall, as in the case of conventional lower frame members, and the drainage holes in at least two insulating wall sections arranged between the upper outer wall section and the vertical partition wall section can be formed sufficiently easily by applying a drilling tool to the at least two insulating wall sections through the openings between the upper edge of the upper outer wall section and the upper edge of the vertical partition wall section. Therefore, even though there is a step in the bottom wall section, insulating wall sections are arranged to achieve the required insulating properties, and the required drainage holes are formed sufficiently easily.

A cross-sectional view showing a lower frame member and an upper frame member of an opening frame having a lower frame member constructed according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the lower frame member shown in FIG. 1 .

The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the attached drawings, which show an opening frame with a lower frame member constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the opening frame fixed to the opening of a building is composed of an upper frame member 2, a lower frame member 4, and a pair of side frame members (not shown). As is well known, the upper frame member 2, the lower frame member 4, and the pair of side frame members are formed by extruding a suitable synthetic resin such as polyvinyl chloride to form an elongated member having the required cross-sectional shape, and then cutting the elongated member to the required length, so that the cross-sectional shapes of the upper frame member 2, the lower frame member 4, and the pair of side frame members are the same. Both ends of the upper frame member 2, the lower frame member 4, and the pair of side frame members are inclined surfaces that are inclined at an angle of 45 degrees. Both ends of the upper frame member 2 are welded to the upper ends of the pair of side frame members, and both ends of the lower frame member 4 are welded to the lower ends of the pair of side frame members, thus forming an opening frame that is rectangular overall. For example, when the opening frame is applied to an opening in a building to be fitted with a window, the upper frame member 2 is fixed to a lintel in the building's structure, the lower frame member is fixed to a window sill (not shown) in the structure, and a pair of side frame members are fixed to a mullion or stud (not shown) in the structure. Then, as shown simply by the two-dot chain line in Figure 1, a window 6 of an appropriate shape is attached to the opening frame via an appropriate attachment means (not shown).

Continuing the explanation with reference to FIG. 2 together with FIG. 1, the illustrated lower frame member 4 has a lower bottom wall portion 8 that preferably extends substantially horizontally, a lower inner wall portion 10 that extends upward, preferably substantially vertically, from the inner edge of the lower bottom wall portion 8, an upper bottom wall portion 12 that extends inward (inside the room) preferably substantially horizontally from the upper end edge of the lower inner wall portion 10, a vertical partition wall portion 14 that extends upward, preferably substantially vertically, from the outer widthwise outer (outside the room) portion of the upper bottom wall portion 12, a lower outer wall portion 16 that extends upward, preferably substantially vertically, from the outer edge of the lower bottom wall portion 8 beyond the upper end of the lower inner wall portion 10, a lower upper wall portion 18 that extends upward, preferably substantially vertically, from the upper end edge of the lower outer wall portion 16 toward the inside, at a slight angle, and an upper outer wall portion 20 that extends upward, preferably substantially vertically, from the inner edge of the lower upper wall portion 18. The vertical partition wall portion 14 is located on the inside of the upper outer wall portion 20, and it is preferable that the upper end edge of the upper outer wall portion 20 and the upper end edge of the vertical partition wall portion 14 are substantially at the same height. In the bottom wall portion defined by the lower bottom wall portion 8 and the upper bottom wall portion 12, there is a step X corresponding to the vertical length of the lower inner wall portion 10. The lower frame member 4 further has an upper inner wall portion 22 extending upward, preferably substantially vertically, from the other inner edge of the upper bottom wall portion 12, an intermediate upper wall portion 24 extending preferably substantially horizontally from the inner edge of the vertical partition wall portion 14 to the upper inner wall portion 22, an auxiliary vertical wall portion 26 protruding upward from the intermediate upper wall portion 24 slightly outside the upper inner wall portion 22, and an upper upper wall portion 28 extending preferably substantially horizontally between the upper end of the upper inner wall portion 22 and the upper end of the auxiliary vertical wall portion 26. The upper end of the auxiliary vertical wall 26 is formed in an inverted C-shape in cross section. A protrusion 30 protruding inward is formed at the upper end of the upper outer wall 20, a protrusion 32 protruding outward is formed at the upper end of the vertical partition wall 14, and an opening 34 extending continuously in the longitudinal direction (perpendicular to the drawings in Figures 1 and 2) is conveniently present between the protrusions 30 and 32. A pair of reinforcing ribs 36 extending substantially horizontally are formed on the inner surface of the lower inner wall 10, reinforcing ribs 38 and 40 extending substantially horizontally are formed on the outer and inner surfaces of the vertical partition wall 14, respectively, and a reinforcing rib 42 extending substantially horizontally is formed on the outer surface of the upper inner wall 22.

Continuing the explanation with reference to Figures 1 and 2, it is important that at least two insulating walls are arranged between the upper outer wall 20 and the vertical partition wall 14, with a vertical gap between them. In the illustrated embodiment, an insulating wall 44 is arranged, preferably extending substantially horizontally between the vertical intermediate portions of the upper outer wall 20 and the vertical partition wall 14, and an insulating wall 46 is arranged, preferably extending substantially horizontally from the connection region between the inner edge of the lower upper wall 18 and the lower edge of the upper outer wall 20 to the vertical partition wall 14. If desired, three or more insulating walls may be arranged with a vertical gap between the upper outer wall 20 and the vertical partition wall 14.

It is important that at least one drain hole is formed at the lower end of the lower outer wall 16, and that at least one drain hole is formed in each of the insulating walls 44 and 46, which is aligned in the vertical direction. In the illustrated embodiment, one drain hole 48 is formed at the lower end of the lower outer wall 16. One drain hole 50 and 52 is formed in each of the insulating walls 44 and 46, and it is important that the drain hole 50 and the drain hole 52 are aligned in the vertical direction. It is preferable that the drain hole 48 formed in the lower outer wall 16 and the drain holes 50 and 52 formed in the insulating walls 44 and 46 are aligned in the longitudinal direction (perpendicular to the paper in Figures 1 and 2) (i.e., their longitudinal positions match). Each of the drain holes 48, 50, and 52 may be of any suitable shape, such as a circle or a rectangle. If desired, two or more drain holes may be formed at the lower end of the lower outer wall 16 at suitable intervals in the longitudinal direction. Similarly, two or more drainage holes can be formed in each of the insulating wall portions 44 and 46 at intervals in the longitudinal direction. It is important that the pairs of drainage holes formed in the insulating wall portions 44 and 46 are aligned vertically. For example, rainwater that enters the lower frame member 4 through the opening 34 is discharged to the outside through the drainage holes 50 and 52 and the drainage hole 48.

The drainage holes 48 in the lower outer wall 16 can be formed easily enough by applying a drilling tool 54 from the outside of the lower outer wall 16, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2. The drainage holes 50 and 52 in the insulating walls 44 and 46 can be formed easily enough by applying a drilling tool 56 to the insulating walls 44 and 46 through the opening 34 between the upper edge of the upper outer wall 20 (the ridge 30 formed there in the illustrated case) and the upper edge of the vertical partition wall 14 (the ridge 32 formed there in the illustrated case), as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2.

For example, as shown by the two-dot chain line in Figure 2, if a vertical partition wall 58 is formed extending vertically between the outer edge of the upper bottom wall portion 12 and the inner edge of the lower top wall portion 18, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to form a drainage hole in the vertical partition wall 58.

The above describes in detail a preferred embodiment of the lower frame member constructed in accordance with the present invention with reference to the attached drawings, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and various modifications and alterations are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, in the illustrated embodiment, there is an opening 34 extending continuously in the longitudinal direction (perpendicular to the drawing in Figs. 1 and 2) between the upper end of the upper outer wall 20 and the upper end of the vertical partition wall 14, but the present invention can also be applied to a lower frame member in a form in which an upper wall portion (not shown) is arranged between the upper end of the upper outer wall 20 and the upper end of the vertical partition wall 14 to connect them (even in such a form, as is well known to those skilled in the art, there is a risk of rainwater entering between the upper outer wall 20 and the vertical partition wall 14). In the case of a lower frame member in such a form, when forming the drainage holes 50 and 52 in the insulating wall portions 44 and 46, the drainage holes 50 and 52 can be formed sufficiently easily by applying a drilling tool to the insulating wall portions 44 and 46 through the upper wall portion (thus forming corresponding holes in the upper wall portion).

4: Lower frame member 8: Lower bottom wall portion 10: Lower inner wall portion 12: Upper bottom wall portion 14: Vertical partition wall portion 16: Lower outer wall portion 18: Lower upper wall portion 20: Upper outer wall portion 34: Opening 44: Insulating wall portion 46: Insulating wall portion 48: Drain hole 50: Drain hole 52: Drain hole X: Step

Claims (5)

A lower frame member for a synthetic resin opening frame to be fixed to an opening of a building, the lower frame member comprising a lower bottom wall portion, a lower inner wall portion extending upward from the inner edge of the lower bottom wall portion, an upper bottom wall portion extending inward from the upper end edge of the lower inner wall portion, a vertical partition wall portion extending upward from the upper bottom wall portion, a lower outer wall portion extending upward from the outer edge of the lower bottom wall portion beyond the upper end of the lower inner wall portion, a lower upper wall portion extending inward from the upper end edge of the lower outer wall portion, and an upper outer wall portion extending upward from the inner edge of the lower upper wall portion,
At least two heat insulating wall portions are disposed between the upper outer wall portion and the vertical partition wall portion located inward of the upper outer wall portion and connected therebetween at a distance in the vertical direction,
At least one drain hole is formed in the lower end of the lower outer wall portion,
Each of the insulating walls is formed with at least one drain hole positioned in vertical alignment.
A lower frame member characterized by: The lower frame member according to claim 1, wherein the drainage holes formed in the lower outer wall and the drainage holes formed in each of the insulating walls are aligned in the longitudinal direction. The lower frame member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an opening is present between the upper end edge of the upper outer wall portion and the upper end edge of the vertical partition wall portion, the opening extending continuously in the longitudinal direction. The lower frame member according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lower bottom wall portion and the upper bottom wall portion extend substantially horizontally, the upper outer wall portion and the vertical partition wall portion extend substantially vertically, and each of the insulating walls extends substantially horizontally. A lower frame member as described in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein one of the insulating wall portions extends substantially horizontally between the vertical middle portions of the upper outer wall portion and the vertical partition wall portion, and the other of the insulating wall portions extends substantially horizontally from the connection area between the inner edge of the lower upper wall portion and the lower edge of the upper outer wall portion to the vertical partition wall portion.

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