AU2002224228A1

AU2002224228A1 - A retainer member for retaining a pane panel within a frame

Info

Publication number: AU2002224228A1
Application number: AU2002224228A
Authority: AU
Inventors: David Crichton; Hugh Mcintyre; Mark Oliver
Original assignee: Kohler New Zealand Ltd
Current assignee: Kohler New Zealand Ltd
Priority date: 2000-10-31
Filing date: 2001-10-31
Publication date: 2002-07-18
Anticipated expiration: 2021-10-31

Description

A RETAINER MEMBER FOR RETAINING A PANE PANEL WITHIN A FRAME

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention comprises a retainer member for retaining a glass pane or a non-glass panel, within a frame of the shower enclosure, a window frame, or similar. Alternatively the pane or panel may be a glass or non-glass pane or panel of a partitioning system for example.

BACKGROUND

Typically where a glass pane is retained in a surrounding frame on one or more sides of the panel, such as a frame formed of extruded aluminium members, the edges of the glass pane or non-glass panel are retained within a recess in the frame by way of one or more flexible rubber or synthetic extruded members which fit between the frame and the edges of the glass pane. Non-glass panels may also be fixed and retained in the same way. Typically the retainer member(s) also form a water or weather proof seal against the pane or panel.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In broad terms in one aspect the invention comprises a flexible retainer member adapted to retain a pane or panel edge within a longitudinally extending frame member along the pane or panel edge, comprising a base portion of the retainer member and two side portions defining an interior of the retainer member adapted to receive the pane or panel edge and one of which side portions is longer than the other, whereby when the pane or panel edge is within the retainer within the frame member with the shorter side portion of the retainer member seated home within the pane or panel edge and the frame member, the position of the panel relative to the frame member may be adjusted until the longer side portion of the retainer member is also pushed in and sealed fully home between the frame member and the pane or panel edge along the length of the retainer member, to fix the position of the panel. Typically the retainer member of the invention will be conventionally formed from rubber or a synthetic material by extrusion. In use the retainer will be cut to length and fitted to the one or more edges of a pane or panel in construction of a shower enclosure, a window or door, a partitioning system for example, and the pane or panel edge with the retainer member thereon and the frame will be assembled together. The position of the pane or panel within the frame can be adjusted until the longer side portion of the rubber or synthetic extruded retainer member has also been pushed home into the frame member around the edges of the pane or panel, to fix the position of the pane or panel.

Preferably the dimensions of the interior of the channel- shaped retainer member are such that it is a neat fit on the edge or edges of the pane or panel so that the retainer member after fitting to the one or more edges of the pane or panel will act to protect the edges of the pane or panel from damage such as chipping during handling or transportation prior to the pane or panel being assembled with the one or more frame components on the edge or edges of the pane or panel. Alternatively the retainer member may be for example secured with tape or temporary adhesive for this purpose.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED FORM

A preferred form of the retainer member of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings to which the following description refers, by way of example.

Reference numeral 1 in the drawings indicates a channel shaped frame member which will typically be an aluminium extrusion and may be part of the frame of a fixed panel or a door of a shower enclosure, a fixed window or a window sash, an office or retail partition, a door or fixed pane or panel of a cabinet, or similar. Reference numeral 2 indicates the edge of a pane or panel which may be a clear or opaque or coloured glass pane or a non-glass panel. For convenience the pane or panel will be referred to as a pane.

The retainer member of the invention which will typically be formed from rubber or a synthetic material by extrusion and is generally indicated at 3. It is of a general channel shape in cross-section as shown, comprising a base portion 4, shorter side portion 5 on one side, and longer side portion 6 on the other side. Along the outer edge of the side portions 5 and 6 are formed longitudinally extending seal portions 7 with nib portions 8 below as shown. Optionally the longer side portion 6 of the retainer member may include a more flexible portion 9 shown in bold.

In use a length of the retainer member extrusion is fitted along the pane edge, as shown in Fig. 1. The pane edge with the retainer thereon and the frame member are brought together as shown in Fig. 2, until the shorter side portion of the retainer extrusion is seated home within the interior of the channel shaped extrusion, with the nib portion 8 on one side seated fully home as shown in Fig. 3. In this position and before the longer side portion 6 of the retainer extrusion is pushed home along its length, the position of the pane may be shifted within the frame to move the panel to "fine adjust" its final position. Once the installer or assembler is satisfied that the pane is properly positioned, the longer side portion 6 of the retainer extrusion is then pushed fully home into the frame member to the position shown in Fig. 4, to fix the position of the pane. The more flexible portion 9 in the longer side member bends to the arcuate shape or similar shown in Fig 4. The seal members 7 seal between the frame and the pane edge as shown.

As stated it is considered that the retainer extrusion of the invention will have broad application wherever a glass or non-glass pane or panel is to be fixed within a frame surrounding the panel or pane on one or more sides of the panel or pane.

The foregoing describes the invention including a preferred form thereof. Alterations and modifications as will be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated within the scope hereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A retainer member adapted to retain a pane or panel edge within a longitudinally extending frame member along the pane or panel edge, comprising a base portion of the retainer member and two side portions defining an interior of the retainer member adapted to receive the pane or panel edge and one of which side portions is longer than the other, whereby when the pane or panel edge is within the retainer within the frame member with the shorter side portion of the retainer member seated home within the pane or panel edge and the frame member, the position of the panel relative to the frame member may be adjusted until the longer side portion of the retainer member is also pushed in and sealed fully home between the frame member and the pane or panel edge along the length of the retainer member, to fix the position of the panel.

2. A retainer member according to claim 1 which is formed from rubber or a synthetic material by extrusion.

3. A retainer member according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the dimensions of the interior of the channel-shaped retainer member are such that it is a neat fit on the edge or edges of the pane or panel so that the retainer member after fitting to the one or more edges of the pane or panel will act to protect the edges of the pane or panel from damage such as chipping during handling or transportation prior to the pane or panel being assembled with the one or more frame components on the edge or edges of the pane or panel.

4. A retainer member according to any one of claims 1-3 wherein said longer side portion includes an intermediate part which is more flexible than the side portion on either side of the intermediate part.