AU778578B2 - External glazing seal - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT, 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT I

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ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for service in Australia: Invention Title: S E SEAN FRANCIS O'SULLIVAN _4u11

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A J PARK, Level 11, 60 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra ACT 2601 External Glazing Seal The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us The present invention relates to external glazing seals.

In the provision of glazed assemblies it is common to locate a glazing panel such as glass against a flexible seal (eg; a backing rubber). A difficulty however has been the unsightliness of such flexible seals from one or other of the sides of the glazed assembly.

The present invention is directed to a means whereby, without detracting from performance, a flexible member to act as both a support and preferably a seal can be largely obscured from view preferably from at least one side (preferably from the exterior). Whilst emphasis will be given hereinafter to building envelope glazing forms (eg; windows and doors) the present invention lends itself to many other applications, eg; glazed balustrading.

"i In a first aspect the invention consists in, in a "glazing panel" support ooooo extrusion, the provision of locating means in the extrusion to locate a flexible support member a backing rubber)and obscuring means to extend as an overshelf ("overshelf') towards or to the plane of contact ("contact plane") that exists or will exist in use between any such flexible support member backing rubber) and the glazing panel (whether glass or not) to obscure at least the locating means from view from that side of the contact plane which supports the flexible member.

"Of course the term "overshelf' includes within its scope shelves for any other orientation including "under shelves" and sideways directed shelves, the orientation being that of the extrusion's longitudinal axis.

Preferably the overshelf in some forms of the present invention is normal to the plane of a said glazing sheet and said contact plane(s) whilst in others it may be inclined thereto.

Preferably said extrusion includes at least one part thereof which will be spaced from a second contact plane of said glazing panel substantially parallel to said first contact plane, said extension being such as to locate a wedge or other glazing member to hold the panel against said flexible member backing rubber).

Preferably the arrangement is substantially as shown hereinafter particularly by reference to the features of such an overshelf in conjunction with a backing rubber.

In a further aspect the present invention consists in a support extrusion as -3previously defined in combination and locating an appropriate flexible support member.

Preferably said extrusion forms part of a mitre joined periphery. In other forms said extrusion may form part of a butt jointed assembly.

In some preferred forms of the present invention said extrusion is a vision rail as hereinafter defined or a sliding interlocker extrusion as hereinafter defined. Other applications (eg; balustrading) abound.

In still a further aspect the present invention consists in, as an assembly, an extrusion having a feature as previously defined, an appropriate said flexible member (eg backing rubber), a glazing panel (eg glass) and appropriate means to hold said glazing panel in a substantially constant position with respect to said extrusion (eg ooo glazing wedge or glazing bead).

.oo.0: In still a further aspect the present invention consists in any of the arrangements assemblies or methods of assembly substantially as hereinafter described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described with reference to aluminium extrusions for use in glazing assemblies such as, for example, a perimeter :i frame for a door, window or the like, nd the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows in transverse sectional view part of an aluminium extrusion locating with its locating means a flexible support and seal member against which is located a glass sheet (thereby defining a contact plane between the flexible member and the glass sheet), both the locating means of the extrusion and preferably all of the flexible member in use being overshelfed by an inclined extension of the extrusion, Figure 2a shows the provision of the features of the extrusion of Figure 1 in two positions in, for example, a symmetric vision rail, Figure 2b shows an alternative arrangement to that of Figure 2a where only one side of rail possess the features of the extrusion of Figure 1, Figure 3 shows an alternative arrangement to that of Figure 1 where the overshelf projection is preferably aligned normal to the said contact plane but still achieves a similar purpose, Figure 4 shows the arrangement of Figure 3 in an extrusion suitable as a sliding interlocker extrusion, Figure 5 shows a glazing bead, and Figure 6 shows the glazing bead of Figure 5 in use as an exterior seal supporting member.

Whilst reference is made to single glazing any double, triple, etc. glazing panel structures can similarly be accommodated.

In the arrangement shown extrusions as depicted in the accompanying drawings are provided so as to provide with the extrusion itself security against blowout of the glazing panel. Appropriate means, (eg; a wedge or other arrangement) is provided to secure the glazing panel in place on the inside of the structure. Nevertheless, where any such backing rubber or other flexible support or seal member is utilised the overshelf feature as depicted provides the necessary aesthetics from the outside and allows appropriate arrangements to be employed on the inside in order to not detract from the attractiveness of the fitting.

In Figure 1, a flexible seal 1 (which is preferably a backing rubber) for the glazing sheet 2 is located in a lipped locating groove formed integrally in the extrusion.

Whilst the lips shown are preferably asymmetric in that which is more distal is preferably longer this is not an essential feature in this particularly application because of the overshelf3. Likewise in the situation shown in Figure 3 where the overshelf4 is not inclined relative to the contact plane.

As can be seen the extrusions which exemplify the present invention are forms easy to extrude yet which by virtue of the overshelf feature have the prospect of obscuring from external view (right around the perimeter of the glazing panel 2) the locating means for the flexible member 1 as well as the flexible member 1 itself.

Whilst appropriate wedging or other means has not been shown in the accompanying drawings to locate the glazing panel 2 persons skilled in the art will appreciate the various options that can be used in order to enhance the internal attractiveness of the single glazed or multiple glazed periphery.

Claims (12)

1. A "glazing panel" support extrusion, the provision of locating means in the extrusion to locate a flexible support member and obscuring means to extend as an overshelf ("overshelf') towards or to the plane of contact ("contact plane") that exists or will exist in use between any such flexible support member and the glazing panel (whether glass or not) to obscure at least the locating means from view from that side of the contact plane which supports the flexible member.

2. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flexible support member is a backing rubber.

3. Apparatus of claim 1 or 2 wherein the overshelf is normal to the plane of said glazing sheet and said contact plane(s).

4. Apparatus of claim 1 or 2 wherein the overshelf is inclined to the plan of said glazing sheet and said contact plane.

Apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein said extrusion includes at least one part thereof which will be spaced from a second contact plane of said glazing panel substantially parallel to said first contact plane, said extension being such as to locate a wedge or other glazing member to hold the panel against said flexible support member.

6. Apparatus of any one of the preceding claims substantially as herein described with reference to the flexible support members and over shelves of the accompanying 20 drawings. .ooo

7. A support extrusion as defined of any one of claims 1 to 6 in combination and locating an appropriate flexible support member.

8. Apparatus of claim 7 wherein said extrusion forms part of a mitre joined periphery.

9. Apparatus of claim 7 wherein said extrusion forms part of a buttjointed assembly. Apparatus of any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein said extrusion is a vision rail as hereinbefore defined or a sliding interlocker extrusion as hereinbefore defined.

Other applications (eg; balustrading) abound.

11. An assembly comprising or including apparatus of claim 7, a glazing panel and appropriate means to hold said glazing panel in a substantially constant position with respect to said extrusion and against said flexible support member.

12. An assembly of claim I11 of a kind substantially as hereinibefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated: 26 April 2000 Rl-C44r Awo'(3-4ktSLA44ed =-TGI 1R AhU14AfMM -7R ED- 7113 A4'7- O AP fk Patent Attorneys for the Applicant