AU2005100635A4 - Improved Method of Secondary Glazing - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT IMPROVED METHOD OF SECONDARY GLAZING The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: IMPROVED METHOD OF SECONDARY GLAZING Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the provision of secondary glazing in residential or commercial premises to improve the thermal and acoustic insulation of the glazing components of the building.

Background to the Invention In cooler climates where winter heating is commonly used, it is desirable to fit double or triple glazing in order to provide better thermal insulation thereby improving comfort and reducing heating energy consumption. In some circumstances where noise penetration from the outside environment causes discomfort to the occupants of the building double glazing can be fitted to improve acoustic insulation.

Double glazing improves thermal and acoustic insulation by creating a formed still air space between the inner facing surfaces of the glass panes.

Double glazing is commonly manufactured in factory environments as Insulating Glass Units (IGU) where two sheets of glass are bonded and sealed to a desiccant filled aluminium spacer bar and further sealed around the edge with a secondary sealant. The spacer bar serves to keep the two pieces of glass apart and the desiccant absorbs any moisture in the formed air space. The IGU is fitted to a purpose made frame.

Flexible synthetic spacer bars impregnated with desiccant have been available for many years as an alternative to aluminium spacer bars. They are advantageous in that they improve the thermal properties of the IGU by avoiding the thermal bridge created by aluminium spacer bars.

While the popularity of double glazing is increasing, the vast majority of existing housing and much of the newly built housing is fitted with single glazed windows and doors. Replacing existing single glazed windows and doors with double glazed units is rarely undertaken due to the very high cost of double glazed units and the cost and disruption of installation.

Secondary glazing is a means of providing an approximation of double glazing by adding a further layer of material to the existing in-situ single glazed windows and doors. Various methods of secondary glazing are known. One such method is to attach a transparent heat shrink plastic film to the inside of the window frame using double sided adhesive tape thereby creating a still air space between the glass and the plastic film. Another method is to attach an optical grade acrylic panel by means of magnetic strips. Yet another method is to install an additional window to the inside of the existing window reveal.

Commonly, secondary glazing solutions are disadvantaged by one or more of the following attributes: poor aesthetics, operational complexity when operating the window, reduced longevity of plastic or acrylic panels when compared with glass panes, poor optical quality and a lack of moisture control within the formed still air space.

This invention is a method of secondary glazing that has been devised to provide many of the desirable attributes of an Insulating Glass Unit whilst minimising the many undesirable attributes of existing secondary glazing solutions.

Summary of the Invention Secondary glazing in accordance with this invention comprises a flexible synthetic spacer bar impregnated with desiccant and pre-coated with adhesive on either side placed around the perimeter of and adhered to the inside surface of an existing framed glass pane, and covered by another closely fitting glass pane and further trimmed around the perimeter of the second glass pane with glazing bead material.

The flexible spacer bar may be placed hard up against the perimeter of the existing glass or may alternatively be spaced off the perimeter a short distance to facilitate a greater edge clearance for the second pane of glass.

The space between the edge of the window frame and the flexible spacer bar may be filled by a substantially rigid filler material of the required size or it may be filled by a vapour barrier sealant.

An advantage of the present invention is that it very closely aesthetically resembles an Insulating Glass Unit, making the present invention far less visually obtrusive than previously known secondary glazing methods.

A further advantage of the present invention is improved thermal performance due to the very low thermal conductivity of the flexible spacer bar when compared with more traditional aluminium spacer bars commonly used in Insulating Glass Units.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the use of glass is more serviceable and longer lasting than other methods using acrylic or plastic films.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is acoustic performance similar to Insulating Glass Units.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the operation of windows so treated is not altered or hindered by any obstructions resulting from the treatment.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will now be described in further detail by reference to the attached drawings illustrating example forms of the invention. It is to be understood that the particularity of the drawings does not supersede the generality of the preceding description of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1A is a cross-sectional elevation view of the lower portion of a typical timber window with fixed glazing showing the original components of the window and glazing as well as the added components according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 1B is a cross-sectional elevation view of the lower portion of a typical timber window with fixed glazing showing the original components of the window and glazing as well as the added components according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 1C is a cross-sectional elevation view of the lower portion of a typical timber window with fixed glazing showing the original components of the window and glazing as well as the added components according to yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2A is a cross-sectional elevation view of the lower portion of a typical operable sash in a timber window showing the original components of the window and glazing as well as the added components according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2B is a cross-sectional elevation view of the lower portion of a typical operable sash in a timber window showing the original components of the window and glazing as well as the added components according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2C is a cross-sectional elevation view of the lower portion of a typical operable sash in a timber window showing the original components of the window and glazing as well as the added components according to yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3A is an isometric view of a typical timber window frame with fixed glazing showing the original components of the window and glazing as well as the added components according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3B is an isometric view of a typical timber window operable sash showing the original components of the window and glazing as well as the added components according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description Referring firstly to Figure 1A, the original components of the window with fixed glazing are shown comprising the window sill 100, the fixed glazing 103 held in place by the glazing bead 101 and sealed with sealant 104 being typically glazing silicone sealant or glazing putty. The present invention is applied to this structure by placing the flexible desiccant impregnated spacer bar 105, around the inside perimeter of the window frame and adhering it to the fixed glazing 103. The inner glazing 106 is positioned and adhered to the spacer bar 105 thereby creating the still air space 110. The space between the edge of the inner glazing 106 and the window frame 100 is filled with a suitable vapour barrier sealant 107. A suitable vapour barrier sealant material includes but is not limited to polyurethane, butyl, urethane, polysulphide and poly isobutylene. A glazing bead 108, of a suitable material and of similar depth to the spacer bar 105, is fixed to the perimeter of the window frame 100 leaving a small gap to be filled with glazing silicone 109 along standard glazing practices. Suitable glazing bead materials include substantially rigid metals, timber or synthetic plastic materials. The height of the glazing bead 108 is chosen so as to be the same height as the surface of the spacer bar 105 for the purpose of aesthetic appeal. The glazing bead 108 also serves as a secondary retention method for glass 106.

Referring now to Figure 1 B, which comprises the same components as Figure 1A but shows an alternative embodiment of the invention in that the spacer bar 105 is placed and adhered to the fixed glazing 103 so as to leave a fixed gap between it and the window frame 100 where upon that gap is partially filled with vapour barrier sealant 107, before the inner glazing 106 is placed and adhered to the spacer bar 105. The remainder of the gap is then filled with vapour barrier sealant 107 after which the glazing bead 108 is fixed and the gap between the glazing bead 108 and inner glazing 106 is filled with glazing silicone 109.

Referring now to Figure 1C, in which the original components of the window with fixed glazing are shown comprising the window sill 100, the fixed glazing 103 held in place by the glazing bead 101 and sealed with sealant 104. In this embodiment of the invention suitable filler material 113, is fixed to the perimeter of the window frame 100 along the inside edge of the fixed glazing 103 and the spacer bar 105 is fitted atop the filler material 113. Suitable filler materials include but are not limited to: substantially rigid metals, timber or synthetic plastic materials. The remainder of the secondary glazing process is as described for Figure 1A.

Referring now to Figure 2A which shows a cross sectional view of an operable sash where the original components of the window are the sill 100, the sash frame 102, the sash glazing 103 and the glazing seal 101. The present invention is applied to this structure in the same manner as for Figure 1A. In this embodiment of the invention the glazing bead 108 is of an shape cross section to enhance aesthetic appeal.

Referring now to Figure 2B which comprises the same components as Figure 2A but shows the same alternative embodiment of the invention as described in Figure lB.

Referring now to Figure 2C which comprises the same components as Figure 2A but shows the same alternative embodiment of the invention as described in Figure 1C.

Referring now to Figure 3A, where the original components of the window are the sill 100, the head 111, the stiles 112 and the fixed glazing 103. The spacer bar 105 is adhered to the fixed glazing 103 and the inner glazing 106 is adhered to the spacer bar 105. The glazing bead 108 is fitted around the perimeter of the inner glazing 106. The sealants 107 and 109 are not shown and the glazing 103 and 106 are shown sectioned for the purpose of diagrammatic clarity.

Referring now to Figure 3B, where the original components of the window are the sash frame 102 and the sash glazing 103. The spacer bar 105 is adhered to the fixed glazing 103 and the inner glazing 106 is adhered to the spacer bar 105. The glazing bead 108 is fitted around the perimeter of the inner glazing 106. The sealants 107 and 109 are not shown and the glazing 103 and 106 are shown sectioned for the purpose of diagrammatic clarity.

It is to be understood that while the descriptions and figures detailed above make reference to timber famed windows, this does not preclude the invention being applied to window and door frames fabricated from other materials.

7 It is to be further understood that while the descriptions and figures detailed above make reference to secondary double glazing, this does not preclude the invention being applied to create secondary triple glazing.

It is to be understood that various additions, alterations and/or modifications may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the ambit of the invention.

Claims (5)

1. A secondary glazing method comprising a flexible synthetic spacer bar impregnated with desiccant and pre-coated with adhesive on either side placed around the perimeter of and adhered to the inside surface of an existing framed glass pane and covered by and adhered to a second closely fitting glass pane and further trimmed around the perimeter of the second glass pane with glazing bead material.

2. A secondary glazing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the edge of the second glass pane is sealed with a vapour barrier sealant.

3. A secondary glazing method as claimed in claims 1 and 2, wherein the spacer bar is set to leave a gap between the spacer bar and the window frame and said gap is filled with a vapour barrier sealant.

4. A secondary glazing method as claimed in claims 1 and 2, wherein the spacer bar is set atop a filler material.

5. A secondary glazing method substantially as herein before described with reference to any one of the embodiments shown in the drawings.