GB2142366A

GB2142366A - Secondary glazing system

Info

Publication number: GB2142366A
Application number: GB08313267A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frank James Tough
Original assignee: Montrose Ltd
Current assignee: Montrose Ltd
Priority date: 1983-05-13
Filing date: 1983-05-13
Publication date: 1985-01-16
Also published as: GB8313267D0

Abstract

A secondary glazing system for a window comprises a flexible sheet of transparent plastics material 12 which is maintained in place by elongate clamping means 16, 18 which are attached to or adjacent the window frame for releasably clamping the margins of the sheet. In a preferred embodiment, the sheet is drawn from a roller 14 which is attached to the top of the window. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Secondary glazing system This invention relates to a secondary glazing system for windows.

Many forms of secondary glazing systems are known, the most common of which comprise glass panels adapted to be mounted adjacent the main window with an air gap of from 10 to 200 mm between the two. Generally the secondary glazing panels are movable in order to facilitate cleaning. For example the secondary glazing panels may be arranged to slide or pivot. Secondary glazing systems are also known in which the secondary member is formed of transparent flexible plastics sheet material. However with such systems it is generally necessary for the plastics sheet material to be permanently attached to the main window frame in order to ensure that plastics material remains taught. This has the disadvantage that it is not possible readily to remove the secondary member for cleaning.

Also unless the secondary member is permanently attached to the window frame it is often difficult to achieve a satisfactory degree of draught proofing.

A serious shortcoming of many of these previous designs of secondary glazing systems is that they can form a major obstacle preventing access to and escape from a building in emergencies. Thus for example there have been reports recently of fire services being unable to free the occupants of burning rooms because of difficulty in breaking through windows fitted with secondary glazing.

The present invention seeks to mitigate these disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a secondary glazing system comprising a flexible sheet of transparent plastics material for locating in spaced parallel relationship with a window, and elongate clamping means for attachment to or adjacent the window frame for releasably clamping a margin of the sheet. Preferably elongate clamping means are provided for clamping respective side margins of the sheet.

In a preferred arrangement, the secondary glazing system according to the invention comprises a flexible sheet of transparent plastics material for locating in spaced parallel relationship with a window, roller means onto which the sheet may be rolled and elongate clamping means for attachment to or adjacent the window frame for releasably clamping the side margins of the sheet.

The clamping means preferably include means for forming a relatively draugh-proof seal with the sheet, for example the clamping means may be provided with opposed elongate clamping surfaces formed of a resilient material, for example foamed rubber or plastics. The clamping means may advantaeously be formed of elongate elements which are hingedly connected together along the length thereof. One of the elongate elements may then be attached to the window frame and the second element, which is pivotally attached to the first may be pivotted to a closed configuration in which the sheet is clamped between the two elements. Means, for example a detente, may be provided to maintain the elements in the closed configuration.

The roller means is preferably mounted in a box which may be located at the top of the window frame. The box is preferably provided at its lower margin with a longitudinally extending slit through which the flexible sheet material may be drawn. The slit is advantageously provided with draught proofing means, for example a foam rubber stip oropposed flexible brushes which contact the sheet.

An embodiment of secondary glazing systems according to the invention will now be described by way of example with particular reference to the accompanying drawing of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view, partially cut away of the secondary glazing system installed against a window, Figure 2 is a cross-section along line A-A, Figure 3 is a cross-section along line B-B, Figure 4 is a cross-section along line C-C, Figure 5 is a further perspective view of the elements of the secondary glazing system of Fig. 1 Referring to the drawings, secondary glazing system 10 comprises a sheet of flexible plastics material 12, a roller 14 and clamping elements 16 and 18.

Each clamping element comprises a pair of channel section plastics extrusions, one of which consists of a female hinge element 20 and the other a male hinge element 22.

Hinge element 22 consists of a web 24 having three upstanding flanges 26, 28 and 30 which are equally spaced from one another and form a pair of parallel channels 32 and 34. Hinge element 20 similarly consists of a web 36 having three upstanding flanges 38, 40 and 42 which are equally spaced from one another and form a pair of parallel channels 44 and 46.

Flange 26 is formed at its extremity with a longitudinally extending cylindrical bead 48 which is received in a corresponding recess formed in a part-cylindrical bearing 50 located at the extremity of flange 38. The lips of bearing 50 subtend an angle of 203 at the centre of bead 48 thus preventing separation of the two hinge elements, but allowing the hinge elements to pivot relative to one another. Flanges 28 and 40 are provided with inter-engaging ribs 52, 54 which snap together when the clamping means are pivotted to the closed configuration shown in Fig. 2 and maintain the clamping means in the closed configuration.

The channels 46 and 34 are each filled with respective strips of foam rubber which stand slightly proud of the channels when the clamping element is open.

Roller 14 is mounted on a plate 56 which may be attached at the top of the window frame. The lower margin 58 of the plate is spaced forwardly from the reminder of the plate and is covered with a strip of foam rubber 60. A box section front cover 62 is attached to the plate so as to conceal the roller 14.

The roller 14 can be any conventional spring loaded roller having a ratchet mechanism enabling the sheet to be withdrawn to a predetermined extent and to remain in the withdrawn state, and then retracted by exerting a transient pull on the sheet to release the ratchet and enable the sheet to be rewound on the roller under the control of the spring.

Referring to Fig. 3, the lower margin of the sheet 12 is sealed between a pair of plastics strips 64 and 66 to form a thickened and reinforced lower edge to the sheet. This thickened edge is itself received in a box-section extrusion 68 which is provided on its rear edge with an upstanding L-shape flange 70.

This flange is intended in use to be hooked under the over-turned lip 72 of a further extrusion 74 which is attached to the bottom of the window frame.

In use of the secondary glazing system of the invention the roller 14 with its associated plate 56 and cover 62 is attached to the top of the window frame and clamping elements 16 and 18 are attached to sides of the window frame. The clamping elements may be readily assembled before fitting by sliding bead 48 into channel 50. Hinge element 22 may then be screwed or otherwise attached to the window frame. Extrusion 68 may then be attached to the bottom of the window.

With the clamping elements 16 and 18 open, the sheet may then be withdrawn from the roller, pulled down the window and flange 70 of box-section extrusion 68 engaged under lip 72 of extrusion 74. The sheet 12 will thus be stretched taughtly between the roller and extrusion 74.

The clamping elements 16 and 18 may then be closed by pivotting hinge elements 20 until the ribs 52 and 54 snap together thus holding the clamping elements closed.

The side margins of the sheet will then be clamped tightly between the foam rubber strips 34 and 46, thus maintaining the sheet flat and providing a draught-proof seal down the sides of the sheet. Foam rubber strip 60 similarly provides a draught-proof seal at the top of the sheet.

When it is desired to remove the secondary glazing, for example for cleaning purposes, for summer use or in an emergency, it is a simple matter to open the clamping elements 16 and 1 8 by pressing on rib 76 formed on the extremity of web 36, thus freeing sheet 12 and allowing it to be unhooked and rolled back onto the roller 14.

Claims

1. A secondary glazing system comprising a flexible sheet of transparent plastics material for locating in spaced parallel relationship with a window and elongate clamping means for attachment at or adjacent the window frame for releasably clamping a margin of the sheet.

2. A secondary glazing system according to Claim 1, wherein elongate clamping means are provided for clamping respective side margins of the sheet.

3. A secondary glazing system comprising a flexible sheet of transparent plastics material for locating in spaced parallel relationship with a window, roller means onto which the sheet may be rolled and elongate clamping means for attachment to or adjacent the frame for clamping the side margins of the sheet.

4. A secondary glazing system according to any preceding claim wherein the clamping means are adapted to form a relatively draught-proof seal with the sheet.

5. A secondary glazing system according to Claim 4, in which the clamping means are provided with opposed elongate clamping surfaces formed of a resilient material.

6. A secondary glazing system according to any preceding claim in which the clamping means comprise elongate elements which are hingedly connected together along the length thereof.

7. A secondary glazing system according to Claim 6, wherein one of the elongate elements is adapted to be attached to or adjacent the window frame and the second element is pivotally attached to the first.

8. A secondary glazing system according to Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the elongate elements of the clamping means comprise channel-section extrusions.

9. A secondary glazing system according to any preceding claim wherein the clamping means includes a detente to maintain the clamping means in a closed configuration.