AU2005201290A1

AU2005201290A1 - Snap-on front cover framing

Info

Publication number: AU2005201290A1
Application number: AU2005201290A
Authority: AU
Inventors: David Mccleary
Original assignee: Architectural Window Systems Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Architectural Window Systems Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2004-06-04
Filing date: 2005-03-24
Publication date: 2005-12-22
Also published as: AU2011201255A1; AU2011201255B2

Description

Regulation 3.2 Revised 2/98

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act, 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

TO BE COMPLETED BY THE APPLICANT NAME OF APPLICANT: ACTUAL INVENTOR: ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: INVENTION

TITLE:

DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION

NO(S):

Architectural Window Systems Pty Limited ACN 067 950 903 David McCleary Peter Maxwell Associates Level 6 Pitt Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 SNAP-ON FRONT COVER

FRAMING

2004 903 022 4 June 2004 Australia The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:m:\docs\20051016\075428.doc The present invention relates to a framing system for glass, such as those used for segmented shopfront windows, and, in particular, to a glass framing system having pocketed perimeter frames and intermediate sub-frames with snap-on front cover beads fitted onto the sub-frames.

Known glass framing systems for segmented shopfront windows include those which use snap-on front cover beads, but these snap-on front cover beads do not fit onto transoms or mullions used as sub-frames for the system, and so create significant installation problems.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a glass framing system that is simple to install and which utilizes snap-on front cover beads that fit onto sub-frames for the system.

According to the invention, there is provided a glass framing system comprising:pocketed perimeter frames defining a perimeter of the system, (ii) at least one intermediate sub-frame defining thereabout frame segments, and (iii) a front cover bead adapted for snap fitting onto the or each subframe.

Preferably, the or each sub-frame is selected from the group consisting of a transom and a mullion.

It is preferred that the or each intermediate sub-frame includes a female portion for receiving a male portion of a respective cover bead.

In a preferred form, the female portion is defined by a first pair of arms projecting from the or each sub-frame in a direction towards a front of the system, and the male portion is defined by a second pair of arms projecting from the respective cover bead in a direction towards a rear of the system, the 23/03/05 second pair of arms being frictionally received in a recess between the first pair of arms.

Each of the first pair of arms may include a lug part projecting into the recess, and each of the second pair of arms may include a crimped part, each crimped part engaging behind a respective lug part when a front cover bead is snap fitted onto a sub-frame.

Preferably, each of the pocketed perimeter frames includes a recessed glazing pocket for sealably receiving an edge of a glass panel.

In one preferred form, the recessed glazing pocket is integrally formed with its respective pocketed perimeter frame.

In another preferred form, each pocketed perimeter frame is formed by connecting together first and second perimeter frame portions, the recessed glazing pocket being defined by at least one wall of a first frame portion and by at least one wall of a second frame portion.

Preferably, each of the pocketed perimeter frames is an aluminium extrusion.

Preferably, the or each sub-frame is an aluminium extrusion.

Preferably, the front cover bead is an aluminium extrusion.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a snapon, front cover sub-framing system for use in defining frame segments of a glass framing system having pocketed perimeter frames, the sub-framing system comprising at least one sub-frame, and a front cover bead adapted for snap fitting onto the or each sub-frame.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:- 23/03/05 Fig 1 is a cross-sectional view of part of a preferred glass framing system according to a first embodiment of the invention, Fig 2 is a cross-sectional view of part of a preferred glass framing system according to a second embodiment of the invention, Fig 3 is a cross-sectional view of part of a preferred glass framing Nsystem according to a third embodiment of the invention, Fig 4 is a cross-sectional view of part of a preferred glass framing system according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, Fig 5 is a bottom perspective view of part of a preferred glass framing system according to a fifth embodiment of the invention, Fig 6 is a bottom perspective view of part of a preferred glass framing system according to a sixth embodiment of the invention, Fig 7 is a bottom perspective view of part of a preferred glass framing system according to a seventh embodiment of the invention, Fig 8 is a top perspective view of part of a preferred glass framing system according to an eighth embodiment of the invention, Fig 9 is a top perspective view of part of a preferred glass framing system according to a ninth embodiment of the invention, Fig 10 is a top perspective view of part of a preferred glass framing system according to a tenth embodiment of the invention, Fig 11 is a cross-sectional view of part of a preferred glass framing system according to an eleventh embodiment of the invention, and Fig 12 is a cross-sectional view of part of a preferred glass framing system according to a twelfth embodiment of the invention.

The glass framing system shown (in part) in Fig 1 has a pocketed perimeter frame 12, which includes a recessed glazing pocket 14 integrally formed therewith, an intermediate sub-frame 16 defining thereabout a first 23/03/05 frame segment 18 and a second frame segment 20, and a "flat" front cover bead 22 which is snap fitted onto the intermediate sub-frame 16. The intermediate sub-frame 16 includes a female portion in the form of a first pair of arms 24, 26 projecting from the intermediate sub-frame 16 in a direction (as shown) towards a front of the system. The front cover bead 22 includes a male portion in the form of a second pair of arms 28, 30 projecting from the front cover bead 22 in a direction (as shown) towards a rear of the system. The arms 24, 26 frictionally receive the arms 28, 30 in a recess between the arms 24, 26.

Each of the arms 24, 26 include a lug part 32 projecting into the recess, and each of the arms 28, 30 include a crimped part 34. Each crimped part 34 engages behind a respective lug part 32 when the front cover bead 22 is snap fitted onto the intermediate sub-frame 16.

A first edge of a first glass panel 36 is sealably received via various rubber support components (not shown in detail) in the recessed glazing pocket 14.

A second edge opposed to the first edge of the glass panel 36 is sealably received via various rubber support components (not shown in detail) in a recessed glazing pocket defined by walls 42, 44 of the sub-frame 16 and by walls 46, 48 of the front cover bead 22 when the sub-frame 16 and front cover bead 22 are connected together.

A first edge of a second glass panel 50 is sealably received via various rubber support components (not shown in detail) in a recessed glazing pocket defined by similar walls as aforementioned.

Fig 2 is identical to Fig 1 except that the "flat" front cover bead 22 is replaced by a "raised square" front cover bead 54. In this embodiment, the 23/03/05 face of the front cover bead 54 does not project beyond, but is in line with, the face of the pocketed perimeter frame 12.

Fig 3 is identical to Fig 1 except that the "flat" front cover bead 22 is replaced by a "raised splayed" front cover bead 56, the face of which is slightly behind the line of the face of the pocketed perimeter frame 12.

The glass framing system shown (in part) in Fig 4 has a pocketed perimeter frame 58, which includes a recessed glazing pocket 60 formed by connecting together first and second perimeter frame portions 62, 64. Fig 4 also shows front and rear rubber pressure seals 66, 68 and rubber mounting strips 70, 72 for the glass panels.

The glass framing system shown (in part) in Fig 5 has four frame segments 74, 76, 78, 80, a pocketed perimeter frame 82, intermediate subframes 84, 86, and front cover beads 88, 90 snap fitted onto each intermediate sub-frame. Intermediate sub-frame 84 is a transom which receives a "flat" front cover bead 88, and intermediate sub-frame 86 is a mullion which also receives a "flat" front cover bead Fig 6 is identical to Fig 5 except that the "flat" front cover bead 90 is replaced by a "raised square" front cover bead 92.

Fig 7 is identical to Fig 6 except that the "flat" front cover bead 88 is replaced by a "raised splayed" front cover bead 94.

The glass framing system shown (in part) in Fig 8 has four frame segments 96, 98, 100, 102, a pocketed perimeter frame 104, intermediate subframes 106, 108, and "flat" front cover beads 110, 112 snap fitted onto each intermediate sub-frame. The pocketed perimeter frame 104 includes a recessed glazing pocket 106 formed by connecting together first and second perimeter frame portions 114,116. There is a sub-sill 118, which provides a 23/03/05 "skirting board" like lower panel, and the glass framing system is fitted to the sub-sill 118.

Fig 9 is identical to Fig 8 except that the intermediate sub-frame 108 (mullion with female portion) is replaced by an intermediate sub-frame 120 lacking a female portion. There is no front cover bead 112 and the edges of the glass panels are structurally secured to the intermediate sub-frame 120.

Fig 10 is identical to Fig 8 except that the intermediate sub-frame 106 (transom with female portion) is replaced by an intermediate sub-frame 122 lacking a female portion. There is no front cover bead 110 and the edge of the glass panels are structurally secured to the intermediate sub-frame 122.

The glass framing system shown (in part) in Fig 11 illustrates a subhead 124 fitted to the pocketed perimeter frame 12 of the system of Fig 1. A third perimeter frame portion 126 is fitted to the pocketed perimeter frame 12.

The glass framing system shown (in part) in Fig 12 illustrates a sub-sill 128 fitted to the pocketed perimeter frame 104 of the system of Fig 8. A fourth perimeter frame portion 130 is fitted to the pocketed perimeter frame 104.

In all of the above embodiments, the perimeter frames, perimeter frame portions, intermediate sub-frames, front cover beads, sub-sill and sub-head are aluminium extrusions, although it is to be understood by persons skilled in the art that other materials and methods may be used in the manufacture of the aforementioned components.

Various modifications may be made in details of design and construction without departing from the scope and ambit of the invention.

23/03/05

Claims

1. A glass framing system comprising:- pocketed perimeter frames defining a perimeter of the system, (ii) at least one intermediate sub-frame defining thereabout frame segments, and (iii) a front cover bead adapted for snap fitting onto the or each sub- frame.

2. The glass framing system of claim 1 wherein the or each sub-frame is selected from the group consisting of a transom and a mullion.

3. The glass framing system of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the or each intermediate sub-frame includes a female portion for receiving a male portion of a respective cover bead.

4. The glass framing system of claim 3 wherein the female portion is defined by a first pair of arms projecting from the or each sub-frame in a direction towards a front of the system, and the male portion is defined by a second pair of arms projecting from the respective cover bead in a direction towards a rear of the system, the second pair of arms being frictionally received in a recess between the first pair of arms.

The glass framing system of claim 4 wherein each of the first pair of arms includes a lug part projecting into the recess, and each of the second pair of arms includes a crimped part, each crimped part engaging behind a respective lug part when a front cover bead is snap fitted onto a sub-frame. 23/03/05

6. The glass framing system of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein each of the pocketed perimeter frames includes a recessed glazing pocket for sealably receiving an edge of a glass panel.

7. The glass framing system of claim 6 wherein the recessed glazing pocket is integrally formed with its respective pocketed perimeter frame.

8. The glass framing system of claim 6 or claim 7 wherein each pocketed perimeter frame is formed by connecting together first and second perimeter frame portions, the recessed glazing pocket being defined by at least one wall of a first frame portion and by at least one wall of a second frame portion.

9. The glass framing system of any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein each of the pocketed perimeter frames is an aluminium extrusion. A snap-on, front cover sub-framing system for use in defining frame segments of a glass framing system having pocketed perimeter frames, the sub-framing system comprising at least one sub-frame, and a front cover bead adapted for snap fitting onto the or each sub-frame. Dated this 23 day of March 2005 Architectural Window Systems Pty Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant PETER MAXWELL ASSOCIATES 23/03/05