Low thermal conductivity frame member, especially for windows, doors, facades and the like

Abstract

A composite frame or profile member for windows, doors, facades and the like, has low thermal conductivity between the region separated by the frame member and has two spaced apart profiles connected by conductivity-limiting webs which have cleats engaged in grooves of the structural shapes. The webs are bridged by two or more ribs which can be perpendicular to the webs or inclined to them and the sum of the rib and web thicknesses when the ribs are perpendicular to the web should be not less than 3.8 mm, and when the ribs are inclined to the webs should be not less than 1.6 mm.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A frame member of low thermal conductivity comprising: 
 two spaced apart mutually parallel structural shapes each having a pair of connecting formations along sides of said structural shapes facing one another;    a pair of mutually spaced conductivity limiting webs each formed along respective opposite edges with a connecting formation mating with a respective one of the connecting formations of a respective one of said structural shapes whereby said conductivity limiting webs bridge between and interconnect said structural shapes, said webs being of substantially uniform thickness between the connecting formations thereof; and    a plurality of substantially planar ribs of substantially uniform thickness interconnecting said webs between the connecting formations thereof and running substantially perpendicular to said webs or at an inclination thereto, a sum of the wall thicknesses of said webs and all of said ribs being no less than 3.8 mm where said ribs are perpendicular to said webs and no less than 1.6 mm where said ribs are inclined to said webs.    
     
     
         2 . The frame member defined in  claim 1  wherein the wall thickness of each of said webs is between 0.5 and 1.5 mm.  
     
     
         3 . The frame member defined in  claim 2  wherein the wall thickness of each of said webs is between 0.6 and 1.0 mm.  
     
     
         4 . The frame member defined in  claim 1  which comprises two of said ribs and each of said ribs has a wall thickness between 0.8 and 2.0 mm.  
     
     
         5 . The frame member defined in  claim 4  wherein each of said ribs has a wall thickness between 1.0 and 1.5 mm.  
     
     
         6 . The frame member defined in  claim 1  which comprises three of said ribs and each of said ribs has a wall thickness between 0.3 and 2.0 mm.  
     
     
         7 . The frame member defined in  claim 6  wherein each of said ribs has a wall thickness between 0.8 and 1.5 mm.  
     
     
         8 . The frame member defined in  claim 1  wherein said ribs are perpendicular to said webs.  
     
     
         9 . The frame member defined in  claim 1  wherein said ribs extend in a cruciform pattern between said webs.  
     
     
         10 . The frame member defined in  claim 1  wherein a spacing between each of said formations of a respective one of said webs and a rib proximal thereto is 20% to 40% of a spacing between said structural shapes.  
     
     
         11 . The frame member defined in  claim 10  wherein the spacing between each of said formations of a respective one of said webs and a rib proximal thereto is 25% to 35% of the spacing between said structural shapes.  
     
     
         12 . The frame member defined in  claim 1  wherein said ribs are connected to said webs at transverse segments connected to the respective formations of said ribs.  
     
     
         13 . The frame member defined in  claim 1  wherein said structural shapes are composed of metal, said formations of said webs are cleats received in grooves of said structural shapes and said sum has a maximum of 10 mm.  
     
     
         14 . The frame member defined in  claim 13  wherein said cleats and said grooves are of dovetail cross section and said sum has a maximum of 6 mm.  
     
     
         15 . The frame member defined in  claim 14  wherein the wall thickness of each of said webs is between 0.6 and 1.0 mm.  
     
     
         16 . The frame member defined in  claim 15  which comprises two of said ribs and each of said ribs has a wall thickness between 1.0 and 1.5 nm.  
     
     
         17 . The frame member defined in  claim 15  which comprises three of said ribs and each of said ribs has a wall thickness between 0.8 and 1.5 mm.  
     
     
         18 . The frame member defined in  claim 17  wherein said ribs are perpendicular to said webs.  
     
     
         19 . The frame member defined in  claim 17  wherein said ribs extend in a cruciform pattern between said webs.  
     
     
         20 . The frame member defined in  claim 17  wherein a spacing between each of said formations of a respective one of FEIGN said webs and a rib proximal thereto is 25% to 35% of the spacing between said structural shapes.