GB2279687A

GB2279687A - Glazing system

Info

Publication number: GB2279687A
Application number: GB9313342A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Arthur Walsh; Bryn Ellis
Original assignee: FAIRMITRE Ltd
Current assignee: FAIRMITRE Ltd
Priority date: 1993-06-29
Filing date: 1993-06-29
Publication date: 1995-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 2013-06-29
Also published as: GB2279687B; GB9313342D0

Abstract

The frame (11) of a glazing system has a channel (14) whose width is greater than the thickness of the glazing unit (12). Support members (16) are received in the channel (14) and have a support surface (18, Figure 1) for the glazing unit (12). The glazing unit (12) is placed in the frame opening from the interior side, the size of the opening being slightly larger than the size of the glazing unit (12). The latter is secured against tabs (20) on the support member (16) by clips (26) which are wedged into gaps between the ends (22) of the support members (16) and the channel side wall (24). Sealing strips (40) are forced into grooves (42) in the frame and conceal the tabs (20) and the clips (26). <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION GLAZING SYSTEM The present invention relates to glazing systems.

Conventional glazing systems employ a rebate in the frame to receive the glazing unit, which could simply be a pane of glass.

The glazing unit is held in place by putty or by glazing beads secured by nails. Such a system is not ideal from the point of view of security since the putty or glazing beads may be easily removed. Also, for thick double glazing units, it is difficult to obtain sufficient strength for the frame.

The present invention resides in a glazing system comprising a glazing unit, a frame to receive the glazing unit, the frame defining an opening whose peripheral dimensions are larger than the peripheral dimensions of the glazing unit and having a channel about said opening, support members spaced apart along the channel for supporting the glazing unit, and clips for securing the glazing unit in place, wherein each support member has a support surface to receive the peripheral edge of the glazing unit and a tab to engage one side of the glazing unit, a gap being formed between the end of the support member remote from the tab and the adjacent side wall of the channel, and wherein the clips are wedged or force fitted in the said gaps and have tabs to engage the other side of the glazing unit.

Such a glazing system may be glazed from the inside and it is impossible to remove the clips from the outside and it is also impossible to remove the support members without first removing the glazing unit, unless very considerable damage is done to the frame.

The invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a fragmentary and exploded perspective view showing the various parts of a glazing system according to the invention, and Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the glazing system of the present invention as applied to an opening sash.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has a timber frame of which a frame member 10 is shown in Fig. 1 The frame members are cut to length from suitable profiled timber. Advantageously the joints are mitre joints. The timber frame defines an opening to receive a glazing unit 12. As can be appreciated from Fig. 2 the side of the opening is somewhat larger than the size of the glazing unit. Each frame member has a channel 14 which serves to receive support members 16. In the preferred embodiment the width of the channel 14 is slightly greater than the thickness of the glazing unit 12.

Each support member 16 has a support surface 18 and thus support members 16 along the bottom of the frame carry the weight of the glazing unit 12. The number of support members 16 spaced along the bottom of the frame must therefore be sufficient for this purpose. The spacing is typically 300 mm. The spacing of the support members 16 along the sides of the frame and along the top of the frame can be the same. Each support member 16 has an external tab 20 conveniently of triangular section. Again as can be seen in Fig. 2 the support members 16 are so dimensioned as to leave a gap between the end 22 of the support member 16 remote from the tab 20 and the adjacent side wall 24 of the channel 14. A clip 26 is wedged into this gap. The clip 26 defines a tab of triangular profile similar to that of the tab 20.

Each support member 16 has a lip 28 which enables the member 16 to be force-fitted and thereby held in place in the channel 14. The lip 28 digs into the channel sidewall 24 slightly when the support member is being forced into place. The end surface 30 of the member 16 can be ribbed as shown so as to grip the other channel sidewall 32.

Each support member 16 presents a substantial surface area to the base of the channel 14 so as to minimise the likelihood of the weight of the glazing unit causing the members 16 to penetrate into the timber. The support members 16 have longitudinal grooves 34 which serve for ventilation purposes. The end surface 22 of member 16 can also be ribbed as can the side surfaces 36 and 38 of the clips 26 so that the clips 26 once inserted cannot be easily lifted out.

On assembling a glazing system according to the invention the support members 16 are forced into the channel 14 at suitable intervals around the frame so that the tabs 20 lie to the outside of the building to be glazed. The glazing unit 12 is then slid into place from the inside of the building. Next the clips 26 are forced into place. To finish off the glazing, sealing strips 40 are placed around the inside and the outside of the glazing unit 12. For this purpose the frame members 10 have grooves 42 to each side of the channel 14 and the sealing strips 40, having been cut to a length and mitred, are forced into these grooves as can be appreciated from Fig. 2. The sealing strips 40 conceal the tabs 20 and clips 26 and also close off the channel 14.

The support members 16 may be of a strong plastics material but in the preferred embodiment they are of diecast or extruded aluminium or aluminium alloy to give adequate strength. The clips 26 are preferably cut from extruded hard plastics strip.

Advantageously the sealing strips 40 are extruded composite strips, the body of the strips being of a relatively rigid plastics material whilst sealing lips 44 are of a relatively soft synthetic rubber-like material pressed into sealing engagement with the surface of the glazing unit 12.

To allow for tolerances, the spacing between the tab 20 and the clip 26 is made slightly larger than the thickness of the glazing unit 12. Before glazing, a layer of silicone sealant is applied to the inner faces of the tabs 20 to prevent rattling and silicone sealant may also be applied to the gap into which the clips 26 are inserted. Silicone sealant is also preferably used to seal the mitred joints between the sealing strips 40.

Fig. 1 shows a frame member 10 suitable for use as a transom. It thus has a lower channel 15 to receive support members for a further glazing unit as well as grooves 43 to receive corresponding sealing strips. Fig. 2 shows a frame member 11 of an opening sash. The opening sash is received in a further frame 13 having a channel 14 as well as grooves 42.

Other parts of the frame 13 can thereby serve to receive glazing units of non-opening windows,. A sealing strip 41 at the inside of the frame 13 is received in the inner groove 42 and co-operates with the opening sash. An inwardly facing gasket 44 is provided at the outside of the opening sash to seal against the outside of the outer frame 13.

To enable a high security friction hinge 46 to be used with the opening sash, an adaptor 48 is secured in the groove 14 of the outer frame 13 to receive corresponding parts of the hinge. The friction hinge, being a commercially available item, is not illustrated in full.

The channel 14 is preferably vented to the exterior of the building to prevent any moisture build-up should there be any leakage at the seals.

For this purpose, holes can be drilled into at least the bottom frame member so as to break into the channel 14 and vent fittings having a suitable through hole can be forced into such holes.

Claims

1. A glazing system comprising a glazing unit, a frame to receive the glazing unit, the frame defining an opening whose peripheral dimensions are larger than the peripheral dimensions of the glazing unit and having a channel about said opening, support members spaced apart along the channel for supporting the glazing unit, and clips for securing the glazing unit in place, wherein each support member has a support surface to receive the peripheral edge of the glazing unit and a tab to engage one side of the glazing unit, a gap being formed between the end of the support member remote from the tab and the adjacent side wall of the channel, and wherein the clips are wedged or force-fitted in the said gaps and have tabs to engage the otherside of the glazing unit.

2. A glazing system as claimed in claim 1, in which the frame is a timber frame.

3. A glazing system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the frame has mitred joints.

4. A glazing system as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the support members are spaced along the bottom of the frame substantially 300 mm apart.

5. A glazing system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, in which the support members are spaced along the bottom of the fame, the sides of the frame and the top of the frame.

6. A glazing system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the tabs on the support members are of triangular section.

7. A glazing system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the tabs on the clips are of triangular section.

8. A glazing system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each support member has a lip which enables the support member to be force-fitted in the channel.

9. A glazing system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the end surface of each support member is ribbed so as to grip the channel sidewall remote from the clips.

10. A glazing system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the support members have longitudinal ventilation grooves.

11. A glazing system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the side surfaces of the clips and the adjacent end surface of the support members are ribbed.

12. A glazing system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the frame members have grooves to each side of the channel and sealing strips are forced into said grooves at the inside and the outside of the glazing unit to conceal the clips and the tabs on the support members and to close off the channel.

13. A glazing system as claimed in claim 12, in which the sealing strips are mitred at the corners.

14. A glazing system as claimed in claim 13, in which the mitred joints of the sealing strips are sealed by a silicone sealant.

15. A glazing system as claimed in claim 12, 13 or 14, in which the sealing strips are extruded composite strips having a body of relatively rigid plastics material and sealing lips of a relatively soft synthetic rubber-like material.

16. A glazing system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the support members are of diecast or extruded aluminium or aluminium alloy.

17. -A glazing system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the clips are of hard -plastics material.

18. A glazing system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a layer of silicone sealant is applied to the inner faces of the tabs on the support members to prevent rattling.

19. A glazing system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which silicone sealant is applied to the gaps into which the clips are inserted.

20. A glazing systems as claimed in any of claims 1 to 19, in which the frame is suitable for use as a transom and for this purpose has a lower channel to receive support members for a further glazing unit.

21. A glazing system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 19, in which the frame is suitable for use as an opening sash and is received in a further frame having a like channel, other parts of the further frame thereby serving to receive glazing units of nonopening windows.

22. A glazing system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the channel is vented to the exterior of the building.

23. A glazing system as claimed in claim 22, in which vent fittings are received in holes drilled at least into the bottom frame member so as to break into the channel.

24. A glazing system constructed and arranged substantially as herein described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.