Shimming device for level adjustment and anchoring of window frame in a wall opening

• US 5,655,342 A
• Filed: 12/09/1994
• Issued: 08/12/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Martin Tremblay
• Original Assignee: Idematech International Inc.
• Inventors: Tremblay, Martin, Soucy, Yvon, Guillemet, Guy
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien T.
• Application Number:
  US08/352,370
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 52/126.1, 52/126.3, 52/126.5, 52/126.6, 52/217, 52/213, 52/204.56, 248/188.2, 248/188.3, 49/505
• US Class Current: 52/217
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 1/60 by mechanical means, e.g. anchoring means
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 1/6076 of screw-type

Abstract

A shimming device for installation and level adjustment of a frame in an opening of a wall structure is described. The device comprises a housing securable in a space defined between the opening of the wall structure and an outer surface of the frame. A leaf spring is secured in the housing and a bolt fastener causes the spring to extend out of the housing and retract therein. The spring, when in its extended condition from the housing, engages a surface adjacent the space. The frame is held in securement and is level-adjusted in the opening by opposed shimming devices secured in opposed spaces defined between the opening and the frame. It is pointed out that no screws are inserted through the frame for its securement in the opening. The device may also be comprised of a leaf spring which is actuable by a strapping element which is securable to the surrounding structure.

Claims

1. A shimming device adapted for level adjustment and anchoring of a frame in an opening of a wall structure, said device comprising a housing securable in a space defined by an opening between a wall structure and an outer surface of a frame when disposed in said space, expansion means secured in said housing, adjustable means for causing said expansion means to extend out of said housing and retract therein, said housing being a two-section housing with each section interconnected in sliding fit by said adjustable means, each said section having retention means for engaging a respective one of opposed ends of said expansion means, said retention means of said two housing sections being displaced to and away from one another by said adjustable means to cause said expansion means to extend out of said housing or retract therein, said expansion means when extended from said housing engaging a surface adjacent said space, connector means adapted to connect said housing to an adjacent surface of a wall structure when disposed in said space, said shimming devices when disposed in opposed one of said spaces being engaged in said space by actuating said adjustable means to cause said expansion means to extend out of said housing to provide level adjustment of a frame in said space defined by an opening.

2. A shimming device as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are two or more shimming devices adapted to be secured spaced apart on a respective one of said opposed spaces.

3. A shimming device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said opposed shimming devices are adapted to be secured in opposed vertical spaces defined between said opening and said frame and wherein at least two of said shimming devices are adapted to be secured in a bottom opening thereof, said frame being a rectangular window frame.

4. A shimming device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing is adapted to be secured to a frame disposed in said space by fastener members.

5. A shimming device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing sections each have an end wall and opposed side walls, one of said sections being received in the other sections with said side walls in sliding fit retention, said adjustable means being a threaded bolt fastener retaining said sections together, said sections retaining a leaf spring which biases said sections away from one another, said leaf spring constituting said expansion means.

6. A shimming device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said leaf spring is retained captive between said end walls of said housing sections by said retention means.

7. A shimming device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said leaf spring is an H-shaped steel spring defining a pair of spaced apart legs at opposed ends thereof, a cavity formed at said opposed ends between said legs, said bolt fastener extending through holes formed centrally in said end walls and aligned with said U-shape cavities under said leaf spring, each free end of said opposed ends being received in a retention cavity formed in said end walls of said housing sections and constituting said retention means.

8. A shimming device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said bolt fastener has a tool engaging head at one end thereof and a nut in threaded engagement at another end, one of said end walls of said housing sections having a nut receiving cavity to immovably retain said nut therein.

9. A shimming device as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said housing sections has a rear wall for receiving one or more screw fasteners to secure said housing to an outer surface of a frame disposed in said space.

10. A shimming device as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said housing sections has a cavity therein to receive a clip fastener adapted to secure said housing to an outer surface of a frame disposed in said space.

11. A shimming device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said clip fastener is an anchor having wings with snap fasteners for snap retention to extrusion rails formed in said outer surface of an extruded frame, and a connector for securement to said cavity of said one of said housing sections.

12. A shimming device as claimed in claim 11 wherein said clip fastener is a connector having wings for receiving fasteners to secure same to said outer surface of a frame, and a connector for securement to said cavity of said one of said housing sections.

13. A shimming device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said connector means is a securing element is adapted to interconnect said expansion means to a surface of said wall structure.

14. A shimming device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said connector means is an arresting connector secured to said expansion means and having a piercing element to engage said surface when said expansion means is extended in compression within said space.

15. A shimming device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said connector means is a strap connector secured to said expansion means for connection of said housing to a surface of a wall structure defining said opening, the wall structure being a wooden frame structure.

16. A shimming device as claimed in claim 15 wherein said expansion means is a leaf spring, said strap connector being secured to said leaf spring by an arresting connector having an outer piercing element for engagement in said wooden frame when said leaf spring is extended out of said housing.

17. A shimming device as claimed in claim 15 wherein said strap connector is a flat rectangular metal strap having a plurality of transverse weakened slots to permit detachment of sections of said strap connector after installation securement of said strap to said surface of a wall structure, and openings in said metal strap to receive fasteners for the securement of said strap to a surface of said wall structure to connect a frame in an opening of said wall structure.

18. A shimming device as claimed in claim 17 wherein said metal strap is pivotally connected to said leaf spring by said arresting connector.

19. A shimming device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the frame is a window or a door frame.

20. A shimming device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said retention means is a bolt fastener secured between a pair of flange connectors, each said flange connectors being formed integrally with a respective one of said sections of said housing and in a common side wall thereof.

21. A shimming device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing is adapted to be secured to said outer surface of said frame by fasteners, said expansion means when extended to an engaging position being secured to a surface of said wall structure defining said opening by an arresting connector.

22. A shimming device as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is further provided lateral adjustment means for displacing said frame laterally within said opening after said frame has been leveled and anchored within said opening.

23. A shimming device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said expansion means is a leaf spring having a securable end and a free end, said leaf spring having a bowed section extending from said free end to said securable end, an aperture in said bowed section adjacent said securable end, said adjustable means being a strap element secured at said leaf spring free end and extending under said bowed section and through said aperture, said strap element having a securable free end, said bowed section being expanded by a pulling force exerted on said strap element from said securable free end, said strap element having arresting means to engage with an abutment means of said spring element to maintain a predetermined pulling force on said strap element.

24. A shimming device as claimed in claim 23 wherein said strap element is a separate element having engaging means at said free end.

25. A shimming device as claimed in claim 24 wherein said engaging means is a hook end formation to engage said free end of said bowed section.

26. A shimming device as claimed in claim 23 wherein said leaf spring is a steel spring, said arresting means of said strap element being a plurality of engaging ribs formed on a surface of said strap element in a section thereof for abutment engagement with an arresting edge of said aperture.

27. A shimming device as claimed in claim 23 wherein said leaf spring is a plastic spring element, said strap element being integrally formed with said leaf spring and extending from said free end thereof, said arresting means of said strap element being a plurality of engaging ribs formed on a surface of said strap element in a section thereof for abutment engagement with an arresting edge of said aperture.

28. A shimming device as claimed in claim 26 or 27 wherein said securable free end is provided with one or more through bores for receiving one or more fasteners therethrough to secure said strap free end to said adjacent surface in said space.

29. A shimming device as claimed in claim 23 wherein said securable end of said leaf spring is an abutment end for abutting engagement with an arresting edge of a formation in a side wall of a window or door frame.

30. A shimming device as claimed in claim 23 wherein said securable end of said leaf spring is provided by one or more through bores for receiving one or more fasteners therethrough to secure said strap free end to a side wall of a window or door frame.