CA2296219A1

CA2296219A1 - Mounting assembly of a window to a surrounding structure

Info

Publication number: CA2296219A1
Application number: CA 2296219
Authority: CA
Inventors: Peter Head
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-01-18
Filing date: 2000-01-18
Publication date: 2001-07-18

Abstract

A windowed construction comprises a window assembly, a surrounding wall or door supporting structure for the window assembly and framing for securing the window assembly to its supporting structure. The window assembly itself comprises a sealed glazing unit formed by exterior shatterproof glass panels and an interior glass filler between the glass panels. The framing, which has a plastic construction, comprises first and second frame members presenting low profile glazing beads to opposite sides of the construction with the glazing unit and the surrounding supporting structure being substantially uniform in thickness thereby providing the construction with a generally flattened transition surface from the glazing unit across the framing to the support structure.

Description

TITLE~ MOUNTING ASSEMBLY OF A WINDOW TO A SURROUNDING
STRUCTURE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a windowed construction in which a window assembly is secured by framing to a surrounding wall or door support for the window assembly.
;BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION , In laboratories, hospitals and similar environments it is necessary to have, what is referred to as clean rooms. These are rooms where it is very important to 15.' eliminate as much as possible dirt and debris that could cause bacteria growth producing contamination of the clean room. , One area of a clean room that is particularly susceptible to cleaning problems is at the windows whether they be in the wall or the door of the room. It is important that there be minimal profile discrepancies between the actual glazing of the widow and the surrounding structure including the frame to simplify cleaning of the window. To date, conventional window constructions do not meet this requirement and therefore are not particularly suitable for use in a clean room environment.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention provides a windowed construction which is well suited to a clean room environment. This windowed construction comprises a window assembly, a surrounding support structure for the window assembly, i.e, the supporting wall or door and plastic framing securing the window assembly to the supporting structure.
The window assembly itself comprises a sealed glazing unit formed by exterior shatterproof glass panels with an interior glass filler.
The glazing unit and the surrounding supporting structure are at least substantially'uniform in thickness and the plastic framing comprises first and second frame members presenting low profile glazing beads to opposite sides of the window assembly thereby giving the construction a generally flattened transition surface from the glazing unit across the framing to the surrounding support structure. ' The generally flattened transition surface of the windowed construction of the present invention makes it easily cleanable and therefore well suited for a clean room environment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above as well as other advantages and features of the present invention will be described in greater detail according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention in which; ' Figure 1 is a perspective view of a windowed construction according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a sectional view through the transition region from the glazing unit across the framing to the supporting structure of the windowed'construction of Figure 1;
Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views through the framing components used in the framing of the windowed construction shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION ACCORDING TO THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
OF THE PRESENT INVENTION IN WHICH:
Figure 1 shows a windowed construction generally indicated at 1. This windowed construction comprises a window assembly generally indicated at 5 held by a surrounding supporting structure 3. The surrounding supporting structure could either be a wall or a door.
The window assembly itself includes glazing 7 which in this case is a sealed glazing unit to be described later in detail and which is secured with the surrounding supporting structure by means of framing 15.
The framing has a plastic construction, e.g. a vinyl material or the like which does not degrade over time with washing as would be the case with, for example, a metallic material.
Glazing unit 7, which is better shown in Figure 2 of the drawings comprises a pair of exterior shatterproof glass panels 9 centered by a glass filler 11 which typically is a panel of standard glass material. Filler 11 is protected by the shatterproof panels 9.
The entire window assembly is held together by a perimeter piece 13 which secures all, of the panels together as a sealed unit.
It is to be noted in Figure 2 that the sealed glazing unit 7 is identical, or at least substantially identical, in thickness to supporting structure 3.
Accordingly, there are no profile variances whatsoever in the construction between these two components.

I i nn ,. ~ SJ-10707CA

The plastic framing 15 used to secure the glazing unit with the surrounding structure has, as also seen in Figure 2, a very low profile which gives the overall construction a generally flattened transition surface from the glazing unit across the framing to the surrounding supporting structure.
The actual componentry of the framing is better described having reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings. In these figures, it will be seen that the framing comprises first and second frame members generally indicated at 17 and 41 respectively.
Framing member 17 consists of an elongated body portion 19 which fits between the glazing unit and the surrounding structure. This body portion terminates with a pair of spaced apart legs 21 which define a cavity 23.
Aligned centrally with that cavity is a screw port 25.
Frame member 17 has a head which provides an exterior glazing bead portion comprising a main center region formed by a flat wall surface 27. A pair of short flat arms 29 slope outwardly at a shallow angle relative to wall surface 27. Preferably, arms 29 are set at a 45' or lower degree angle relative to the flat wall surface 27 which when the construction is completed lies parallel to both the glazing unit and the supporting structure.
Angled arms 29 of the two glazing bead portions lying against the glazing unit and the supporting structure are provided on their interior surfaces with flexible seals 31. These flexible seals are preferably co-extruded with the framing member.
Arms 29 having outer ends 33 which are cut away to leave a small gap 35 between the arms 29 and the glazing unit and the supporting structure to each side of the frame member. The provision of this small gap enables caulking material to be inserted directly beneath the ends 33 of arms 29.
Framing member 41, which is the framing member which would be located to the inside of a room, has a small male projection 43 which locates within the cavity 23 of framing member 17 when the two framipg members are assembled with one another as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. A small cut out 45 is provided in wall 46 of framing member 41 to provide a centering location for a screw used to secure the two frame members to opposite sides of the window construction as is again shown in Figure 2. This screw is centered by,and bites through cut out 45, through the bottom wall of male member 43 and into the screw port 25 of frame member 17. The head of the screw locates against interior wall 46 of frame member 41 to hold the two frame members with one another.
Frame member 41, like frame member 47, has an exterior head presenting glazing beads to its opposite sides. This exterior head comprises a center portion defined by flat walls 49 interrupted by a central opening 47 for the screw insertion into the frame member. A pair of sloped arms 51 are located to the outer sides of flat walls 49 and again these sloped legs, are set at a shallow, e.g. 45 or lower degree angle relative to walls 49.
Each of the legs 51 is provided on its interior surface with a soft flexible seal 53 and the ends 57 of the legs are cut away to provide caulking receiving regions 61 at both the supporting structure 3 arid the glazing unit 7 to opposite sides of frame member 41.
After the two frame members 17 and 41 have been imi . SJ-10707CA

secured by the screw to hold the entire construction together, frame member 41 is completed with a cap 63 covering the center opening 47 of the framing member. This cap, like the glazing bead head portion of the framing member has a low profile to maintain the generally flattened transition surface across the entire construction.
As will be appreciated from the description above, the windowed construction including the features of common thickness, between the supporting structure and glazing unit and low profile framing members; essentially eliminates catch areas for bacteria producing dirt and debris and presents an easily cleanable surface area.
Accordingly, the window construction of the present is particularly well suited for a clean room environment.
Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A windowed construction comprising a window assembly, a surrounding support structure for said window assembly and framing means for securing said window assembly with said surrounding support structure, said window assembly comprising a sealed glazing unit formed by exterior shatterproof glass panels and glass filler therebetween, said framing means having a plastic construction and comprising first and second frame members presenting low profile glazing beads to opposite sides of said construction with said glazing unit and said surrounding support structure being at least substantially uniform in thickness thereby providing said construction with a generally flattened transition surface from said glazing unit across said framing to said surrounding support structure.

2. A window construction comprising a window assembly, a surrounding support structure for said window assembly and framing means for securing said window assembly with said surrounding support structure, said window assembly comprising a sealed glazing unit formed by shatterproof glass panels with glass filler therebetween, said framing means having a plastic construction end comprising first and second frame members presenting low profile glazing beads to opposite sides of said construction, said glazing beads comprising flattened center regions bordered by flat sloped arms set at a shallow angle relative to said center regions and said glazing unit being at least substantially uniform in thickness with said supporting structure to provide a generally flattened transition surface from said glazing unit across said framing to said surrounding support structure.

3. A windowed construction as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said sloped arms are set at a 45° angle relative to said flattened regions of said glazing beads.

4. A windowed construction as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said sloped arms have cut outer ends to provide caulking recesses in said construction.