GB2291456A

GB2291456A - Adaptors for glazing bars

Info

Publication number: GB2291456A
Application number: GB9414696A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Mcallister
Original assignee: Twinwall Fixings UK Ltd
Current assignee: Twinwall Fixings UK Ltd
Priority date: 1994-07-21
Filing date: 1994-07-21
Publication date: 1996-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 2014-07-21
Also published as: GB9414696D0; GB2291456B

Abstract

An adaptor 11 for a patent glazing bar 1 takes the form of an extruded section and includes a sideways extending channel 14 for receiving one side edge of a sheet or panel 15 of thermoplastic material (e.g. polycarbonate). The adaptor also includes a generally horizontal platform 17 formed with a downwardly extending lip 21 capable of seating over an upstanding section of the glazing bar. <IMAGE>

Description

ADAPTORS FOR PATENT GLAZING BARS This invention relates to adaptors for glazing bars which are principally designed to be used with glass, and more especially, but not exclusively, to adaptors for use with conventional patent glazing bars.to enable the same to receive and locate relatively thick thermoplastic sheets or panels such as multi-wall sheets or panels of polycarbonate.

Conventional patent glazing bars generally comprise an aluminium, steel or PVC extrusion including a generally vertical section from the base of which extend generally horizontal side pieces for supporting side edges of glass sheets or panels. The sheets or panels are conventionally retained in place by spring clips or screwed down pressure caps. Whereas the side pieces of two neighbouring glazing bars are designed to have sufficient width to support a relatively rigid glass sheet or panel, insufficient width is provided to support and retain sheets or panels of a plastics material such as polycarbonate which tend to flex under load.Additionally the coefficient of expansion of thermoplastic materials is relatively high compared to glass and the overlap of the horizontal side pieces of patent glazing bars is generally inadequate to provide the required support in all temperature conditions.

The present invention sets out to provide an adaptor for a conventional patent glazing bar by use of which sheets or panels of a thermoplastic material such as a polycarbonate can be supported and retained by the glazing bar.

In one aspect, the invention provides an adaptor for a patent glazing bar, the adaptor comprising a sideways extending channel of a height sufficient to receive one side edge of a relatively thick thermoplastic sheet or panel and of a depth sufficient to support and retain one side edge of such thermoplastic sheet or panel in use.

In another aspect, the invention provides an adaptor for a patent glazing bar in the form of an extruded section, the adaptor including a sideways extending channel for receiving one side edge of a sheet or panel of thermoplastic material (erg. polycarbonate) and an oppositely sideways extending generally horizontal platform formed with a downwardly extending lip capable of seating over an upstanding section of the glazing bar.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section taken through a conventional patent glazing bar and an adaptor in accordance with the invention and illustrating a first way of holding the adaptor into the glazing bar; and Figure 2 is a cross-section taken through a conventional patent glazing bar and an adaptor in accordance with the invention and illustrating a second way of holding the adaptor into the glazing bar.

The illustrated conventional glazing patent glazing bar is representative of known patent glazing bars and is indicated by reference numeral 1. The bar comprises a vertical section 2 formed at its upper end with a reinforcement 3 and generally horizontal outwardly extending web sections 4 which, in use, conventionally provide support for the side edges of, for example, glass sheets or panels. The web sections 4 are formed with drain channels 5 and are bordered by side pieces 6 formed with grooves 7 for receiving compressible gaskets 8. Protruding outwardly and downwardly from the sides of the vertical section 2 are vertically spaced projections 9 behind which conventional glazing clips 13 can locate. The glazing bar is typically formed as an extended aluminium, steel or PVC section.

Each illustrated adaptor is indicated by reference numeral 11 and includes a vertical section 12 from one side of which protrudes an open sided channel 14. The depth of the channel must be sufficient to receive and retain one side edge of a thermoplastic sheet or panel 15, for example a multi-wall sheet of polycarbonate, the other side edge of the sheet or panel 15 being retained within an adaptor identical to that illustrated and supported by another conventional patent glazing bar. Typically, the depth of the channel 14 approximates to either 10mum or 16mm. The mouth of the channel is shaped for ease of assembly of the respective side edge of the sheet or panel 15. As shown the upper wall 16 of the channel is curved upwardly away from the channel mouth.

The adaptor 11 also includes a sideways extending generally horizontal section 17 formed with a drain channel 18, a screw port 19 and a downwardly extending lip 21. The lip 21 locates behind the adjoining side piece 6 of the glazing bar with the underside of the horizontal section 17 seating on the gasket 8. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the adaptor is retained in place by the conventional spring clips 13 which locate between the projections 9. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, however, the adaptor is retained in place by a cap 20 which extends upwardly over the reinforcement 3 and outwardly over the horizontal sections 17 of the neighbouring adaptors. The cap 20 is secured to the reinforcement 3 by a screw 23 and is formed with channelled feet 24 which retain compressible gaskets 25 which seat on the horizontal sections 17 of neighbouring adaptors.

A slot section 22 is provided on the adaptor to facilitate the location of the edge of a flexible capping 26 used to weather the whole glazing bar assembly including the neighbouring adaptors, if so required.

At the present time, to replace glass sheets with multi-wall sheets or panels of polycarbonate generally requires the replacement also of all glazing bars. This is because the web sections 4 have insufficient width in use to retain the multi-wall sheets. By use of the adaptors 11, it is possible to replace glass sheets with multi-wall thermoplastic sheets without the consequent expense of also replacing the conventional patent glazing bars.

In use, the adaptors are simply fitted to the sides of the respective multi-wall sheets 15 with the lip 21 of each adaptor located behind the respective raised side piece 6 of the glazing bar 1.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely exemplary of adaptors for glazing bars in accordance with the invention and that modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An adaptor for a patent glazing bar, the adaptor comprising a sideways extending channel of a height sufficient to receive one side edge of a relatively thick thermoplastic sheet or panel and of a depth sufficient to support and retain one side edge of such thermoplastic sheet or panel in use.

2. An adaptor as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a generally horizontal section extending sideways in the direction opposite to that of the channel and including a downwardly extending lip which in use locates behind an adjoining side piece of a glazing bar to which the adaptor is connected.

3. An adaptor as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the channel is defined between generally parallel walls, the lip of one of which is curved upwardly away from the channel mouth.

4. An adaptor for a patent glazing bar in the form of an extruded section, the adaptor including a sideways extending channel for receiving one side edge of a sheet or panel of thermoplastic material and an oppositely sideways extending generally horizontal platform formed with a downwardly extending lip capable of seating over an upstanding section of the glazing bar.

5. A patent glazing bar in combination with an adaptor which comprises a sideways extending channel defined between upper and lower walls and dimensioned to received one side edge of a sheet or panel of thermoplastic material, the depth of the channel being sufficient to support and retain one side edge of such sheet or panel in use.

6. An adaptor for a patent glazing bar substantially as herein described and as described with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompany diagrammatic drawings.