AU619121B2 - Channel for double glazing adaptor - Google Patents

Description

5805/2 T WO I 4" FORM COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION S F Ref: 102144

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Priority: Related Art: PJ5304 17 July 1989 Accepted: Published: Name and Address 00 0 0 of Applicant: Nideline Pty Ltd Pacific Highway Wyong New South Wales 2259

AUSTRALIA

Actual Inventor: Edward John Mannile Address for Service: Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys, Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Complete Specification for the invention entitled: Channel for Double Glazing Adaptor The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us S015918 06/07 5815/2 A I 5881/4 k CHANNEL FOR DOUBLE GLAZING ADAPTOR FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention pertains to double glazing and more particularly to an adaptor for converting conventional doors and windows to double glazing.

BACKGROUND ART Double glazing offers better thermal insulation than single pane glass. In addition, it serves as a more effective barrier against unwanted noise. 4 owever, the windows and sliding doors of many homes are adapted to utilize only single pane glass.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to ameliorate the disadvantages of single pane fixtures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 0° A channel is provided with upright side walls. A fin projects from oI050S the underside of the channel and extends the length of the channel.

°o BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 0o°° Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a channel for double glazing o 4 o adaptors according to the teachings of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-section of an alternate embodiment of a channel for double glazing adaptors.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of a ,OO o channel for double glazing adaptors, showing an aligner retained by a nib in the slotted fin.

H 0 o Figure 4 is a perspective view of an aligner used in conjunction with 25 the present invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of two sections of channel, illustrating how an aligner is used to position and secure adjacent channels.

i Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a double glazing adaptor used |i 30 in conjunction with a fixed window frame.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a channel adapted to a movable frame in a double-hung window.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a channel adapted to a sliding door frame.

rhk/0146E -3- BEST MODE AND OTHER EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION A frame for single pane glass generally includes a slot around its inner periphery which is just wide enough to receive the single pane and any gasket or seals which are required. Because the slot is not wide enough to accept double glazing, an adaptor is provided which is made from channel sections 10 as illustrated in Figures 1-3. The channel sections are preferably long extrusions which may be cut to the required size. A channel for a double glazing adaptor includes a generally flat bottom section 11 and upright side walls 12. An upright fin 13 projects from the underside 32. A slot 14 is formed in the fin 13, at least in the terminal ends thereof. A retaining nib 15 is formed near the slot opening 16 on one of the two blades 17, 18 of the fin which defines the slot 14. It will be appreciated that as the channel is a lengthy extrusion, each of the features which are seen in the cross-sections such as Figure 1, are 1 retained along the entire length of the channel. The width N of the interior portion 19 of the channel is wide enough to receive a polymeric gasket which surrounds two sheets of glass having an air space between them, as shown more clearly in Figures 6 8. The tips or edges 20 of the upright sidewalls 12 are inwardly tapered 21 to facilitate assembly.

Depending on the application, particularly with regard to spacing and location with respect to walls or double hung situations, it may be preferable to locate the upright fin 13 at the extreme edge of the channel as shown in Figure 1 wherein one blade 18 of the fin 13 is co-planar with one of the side walls 12. In the alternative, and again depending on the application, it may be more preferable to place the fin 13 half way between the upright side walls 12 as shown in Figure 2. In other applications it may be more desirable to place the fin 13 somewhere between the half way point as shown in Figure 2 and the extreme edge as shown in Figure 1. This intermediate position is shown in Figure 3, whereby the fin 13 is located between the center line 22 of the channel and one of the upright sidewalls 12. In this way, the centrellne 22 of the double glazing need not be coincident with the centerline of the single pane it replaces.

rhk/0146E .i -4- In order to fabricate an adaptor, a sub-frame is constructed from a plurality of channel section, as shown in Figure 5. The adaptor may also include whatever gaskets, seals, foam tape of other accessories necesary to convert the single pane fixture. Lengths of channel 23, 24 are cut to size and preferably include mitered ends 25. Adjacent channels are aligned and secured by a flat aligner 26 which fits snugly in the slot 14 of the fin.

As shown in Figure 4, the aligner 26 has two legs 27 which describe an angle A which is the same as the angle described by the adjacent panels which are joined by the peg 26. In most applications this will be The thickness t of the aligner peg is approximately the same as the width of the slot 14. In addition, each leg 27 includes a bevelled end 28 which tapers from the interior edge 29 towards the exterior corner 30. As shown in Figure 3, the aligner peg 26 Is retained within the slot 14 by retaining nib 15 near the opening 16 of the slot. In this way sub-frames 0o iS of any size and shape can be constructed from lengths of channel stock. In practice, it is preferred that the dimensions and configuration of the o exterior portion 31 of the fins 13 of the sub-frame conform to the size and o 0o configuration of the single pane glass which is being replaced.

As shown in Figure 6, a sub-frame 40 is easily adapted to an extruded fixed window frame 41 which is retained by a building wall 42. The inner peripheral slot 42 which was previously only wide enough to hold a single 0oo9. glazing is in essence widened by introducing the fin 13 of the sub-frame o0 therein. A thin padded tape 43 on one side of the slot 42 acts as a seal 00 and a cushion for the sub-frame 40. The remainder of the slot 42 is oo 25 plugged with a soft polymeric sealing strip 44. The strip 44 includes inwardly inclined sealing ridges 45 which when wedged between the sub-frame and the fixed window frame 41 help seal and retain the strip 44 in I position. A U-shaped gasket 46 Is Inserted Into the interior portion of the sub-frame 40 and is adapted to snugly receive two sheets of glass 47, 48 which are separated by an air space 49. The spacing between the two sheets of glass are maintained by a soft spacing strip A double hung window or vertical slider utilizes one or more movable window frames which are slidably received by a fixed window box. As shown in Figure 7 a movable frame 51 whose inner peripheral gap 52 Is only wide enough to receive a single sheet of glazing can be adapted to double rhk/0146E 1__1 111__1__1_1_ 1_1 glazing. Accordingly, a sub-frame 40 is fabricated so that the exterior 31 of the rib 13 conforms to the size and shape of a single pane which it replaces. A U-shaped gasket 53 is interposed between the movable frame 51 and the fin 13. Inwardly inclined ridges 54 on the exterior surface of th( gasket retain and seal the assembly.

Similarly, the sliding frame 55 of a sliding door whose inner peripheral gap 56 is only large enough for a single sheet of glass can be adapted to double glazing as shown in Figure 8. The peripheral fin 13 of the sub-frame 40 is inserted into a U-shaped gasket 57 which includes inwardly inclined ridges 58 and enlarged tip portions 59. When assembled, the gasket 57 provides a cushion and a seal between the sliding frame and the sub-frame Three or more channels of the present invention may be joined end to end to form a complete adapter for a polyhedral opening of practically any 415 size.

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01 o.o As can be appreciated from the aforestated description, the invention is adaptable to a wide variety of single glazed doors and windows of %o practically any shape and size. While the preferred embodiments have been described with reference to particular materials and configurations, it should be appreciated that the embodiments are provided by way of example and should not be construed as a limitation to the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed herein.

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rhk/0146E

Claims (11)

1. A double glazing adaptor comprising a channel having upright sides and a bottom, the bottom of the channel having an underside from which projects a fin, the fin having, in at least its terminal end portions, a slot formed therein.

2. The adaptor of claim 1 further comprising a polymeric gasket which conforms to an interior portion of the channel between the upright sides and extends the length of the channel.

3. The adaptor of either of claims 1 or 2 wherein the upright sides have edges which are inwardly tapered toward one another.

4. The adaptor of any one of claims 1-3 wherein the fin is located halfway between the upright sides.

The adaptor of any one of claims 1-3 wherein the fin is located between a halfway point intermediate the upright sides and an extreme lateral edge of the channel. o.

6. The adaptor of any one of claims 1-3 wherein the fin is located alonq an extreme lateral edge of the channel.

7. The adaptor of any one of claims 1-6 further comprising a flat o aligner having two legs, the legs adapted to fit within the slot for o 20 joining adjacent channels. 0

8. The adaptor of claim 7 wherein the slot has formed therein a retaining nib near an opening of the slot and which extends the length of 1} 00* the slot S*

9. The adaptor of any one of claims 1-8 further comprising a U-shaped gasket which surrounds the fin.

An adaptor for double glazing comprising 3 or more channels according to any one of claims 1-9.

11. A double glazing adaptor, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. DATED this TWENTY-SECOND day of OCTOBER 1991 Wideline Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON TMS/0146E