Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
  • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
  • E06B3/00—Window sashes, door leaves, or like elements for closing wall or like openings; Layout of fixed or moving closures, e.g. windows in wall or like openings; Features of rigidly-mounted outer frames relating to the mounting of wing frames
  • E06B3/02—Wings made completely of glass
  • E06B3/025—Wings made completely of glass consisting of multiple glazing units
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
  • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
  • E06B3/00—Window sashes, door leaves, or like elements for closing wall or like openings; Layout of fixed or moving closures, e.g. windows in wall or like openings; Features of rigidly-mounted outer frames relating to the mounting of wing frames
  • E06B3/66—Units comprising two or more parallel glass or like panes permanently secured together
  • E06B3/6621—Units comprising two or more parallel glass or like panes permanently secured together with special provisions for fitting in window frames or to adjacent units; Separate edge protecting strips

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a frameless glass casement with insulated glazing comprising an asymmetric outwardly open U-shaped profile.
• WWR Window to Wall Ratio
• Modern window frames provide usually better thermal insulation than traditional frame.
• Such insulated frames have larger sections than traditional windows and thus have again negative impact on natural illumination.
• the frame size is even more problematic for openable windows and facade segments, since the frame consists of two parts, a fixed frame and an openable casement or wing.
• One solution to increase the WWR is to reduce the non-transparent part of the frame, by eliminating the openable casement frame and integrating window hardware into the Insulating Glass Unit (IGU).
• IGU Insulating Glass Unit
• This technique of frameless glass casement uses the structural capacity of the glazing to avoid the classical double frame structure of an openable window. Along with the improvement in transparency, it also improves window's aesthetics, by giving the window an appealing glassy look. Since the openable casement frame has been removed or largely reduced, window hardware or fittings (being the metallic parts such as hinges, levers, sliding support, ...) which are, in traditional windows, positioned between the casement frame and fixed frame, and by means of which the casement can be opened or closed, must accordingly be positioned within the frameless glass casement.
• the main challenge is hence to identify the right way to connect the frameless glass casement to the fixed frame to offer a complete frameless aspect or glassy look while keeping reasonable thermal insulation and tightness performances. Therefore, substantial attention has been brought to the development of specific profiles integrated into the frameless glass casements to provide the adequate space for the window hardware and to fulfill its significant mechanical function.
• Such profile is for example disclosed in EP 2 402 540 describing a closure H-shaped profile element with different adhesives associated to different surfaces of the closure element. Caps are arranged between the closure element and the panes in a region in which the adhesives adjoin each other.
• a support and/or edge termination element is described, which has a cross- section outwardly open, bounded by two equal-length legs, and undercut receiving groove for receiving fittings and/or functional parts such as in figure 1.
• such support and/or edge termination element further comprises U-shaped receiving pockets on the sides of the support and/or edge termination element facing the insides of the glass panes, to receive drying material, and a nose on the frontal end, a receiving groove with a sealing lip and wherein the one leg of the profile is shorter than the other.
• the present invention relates to a frameless glass casement with an insulated glass unit extending along a plane, P, defined by a horizontal axis, X, and a vertical axis, Z, wherein the frameless glass casement comprises peripheral edges including first and second lateral edges, extending parallel to the vertical axis, Z, and top and bottom edges extending parallel to the horizontal axis, X, and further comprising: at least a first glass plate and a second glass plate comprising a first and second inner plate faces, respectively, and a first and second outer plate faces, respectively, at least a spacer coupled to the first and second inner plate faces, recessed from the peripheral edges and defining an interspace extending between the first and second glass plates from the spacer to the peripheral edges, wherein the interspace along one or more of the first and second lateral edges, and top and bottom edges comprises an outwardly open U-shaped profile positioned at least partially within the corresponding interspace, extending along a longitudinal axis, L, and having a cross section on a
• Figure 1 shows a cross sectional view of the edge of a frameless glass casement according to one embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 2 shows a cross sectional view of an outwardly open U-shaped profile according to one embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 3 shows a cross sectional view of an outwardly open U-shaped profile according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 4 shows a cross sectional view of an outwardly open U-shaped profile according to yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 5 shows a cross sectional view of an outwardly open U-shaped profile according to a further embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 6 shows a cross sectional view of the edge of a frameless glass casement with triple glazing according to one embodiment of the present invention.
• a frameless glass casement arrangement with an insulating glass unit having an outwardly open U-shaped profile which is especially suitable to accommodate commercially available window or door hardware, ensures a minimal thickness of the combination of the casement and the fixed frame (i.e. minimal thickness of the glass structure, the glass structure being the combination of the casement and the fixed frame) and fulfills its required function of supporting the weight of the frameless glass casement.
• IGU insulating glass unit
• an outwardly open U-shaped profile comprising a base element and two lateral walls protruding out of the base element wherein one lateral wall is thicker than the other lateral wall provides adequacy to commercially available window hardware while maintaining the thickness of the glass structure as small as possible.
• casement it is meant the fixed or openable component which is connected to the fixed frame through hardware means, and fills the opening defined by the static frame.
• the hardware means include all the devices, fittings, or assemblies, necessary to operate the window or door as intended.
• the casement is made of an infill panel, such as glass or glazing in case of a glass window or door arrangement, and generally a mobile frame, which is mounted around the edges of the infill panel.
• frameless glass casement it is meant that the casement of the glass structure has a higher transparent surface than a standard one by elimination of some or all the frame elements of the casement.
• fastening or fixing means are positioned between the casement frame and fixed frame.
• fastening or fixing means are doors or windows hardware.
• fastening or fixing means are positioned between the glass plates allowing to eliminate frame parts of the casement. It means that the casement shape and volume is fully defined by the glass plates of the glazing.
• the present invention is not limited to any specific type of frameless glass casement.
• the frameless glass casement of the invention may be a fixed casement, or an openable frameless glass casement such as a tilt and turn casement, a sliding casement such as the lift-and-slide and tilt-and-slide variants.
• the present invention relates to one frameless casement with an insulated glass unit (100) extending along a plane, P, defined by a horizontal axis, X, and a vertical axis, Z.
• the frameless casement comprises peripheral edges including first and second lateral edges, extending parallel to the vertical axis, Z, and top and bottom edges extending parallel to the horizontal axis, X.
• the frameless glass casement with an insulated glass unit of the present invention comprises at least a first glass plate (10) and a second glass plate (20).
• the first and second glass plates comprise a first (12) and second (22) inner plate faces, respectively, and a first (13) and second (23) outer plate faces, respectively.
• the frameless glass casement at least a spacer (4) coupled to the first and second inner plate faces, recessed from the peripheral edges and defining an interspace (5) extending between the first and second glass plates from the spacer to the peripheral edges.
• the interspace along one or more of the first and second lateral edges, top and bottom edges comprises an outwardly open U-shaped profile (60) positioned at least partially within the corresponding interspace, extending along a longitudinal axis, L, and having a cross section on a plane normal to the longitudinal axis, L.
• the inner faces of the glass plates (12, 22) are meant to be the faces of the glass plates facing the interspace (5).
• the outer faces of the glass plates (13, 23) are meant to be the faces of the glass plates facing the outside of the insulated glass unit.
• the outwardly open U-shaped profile is positioned within a lateral edge, preferably the lateral edge that will be in contact with the corresponding lateral part of the fixed frame that comprises the necessary locking hardware elements.
• an outwardly open U-shaped profile will be further positioned within the top and bottom edges of the frameless glass casement.
• the interspace along the first and second lateral edges, top and bottom edges comprises an outwardly open U-shaped profile.
• the glass plates (10, 20) will be chosen among all flat glass technologies, among them: float clear, extra-clear or colored glass.
• the glass plates can be safety glass of following types: thermally or chemically tempered glass or laminated glass, which are known to the skilled people.
• the glass plates can optionally be edge-ground. Edge grinding renders sharp edges into smooth edges which are much safer for people who could come in contact with the casement, in particular with the edge of the casement.
• Other options such as heat insulation with low-e coatings, solar control coatings, reinforced acoustic insulation with acoustic laminated glass are also compatible with the present concept to improve the performances of the window or door.
• Glass plates with electrochromic, thermochromic, photochromic or photovoltaic elements are also compatible with the present invention.
• the first and second glass plates of the frameless glass casement of the present invention can be of the same or of a different type.
• the glass plates of the frameless glass casement of the present invention can be of the same dimensions or of different dimensions and form thereby a stepped IGU.
• Having a stepped insulating glass is particularly advantageous to have a protection that prevents direct access of building occupants to the window or door hardware and opening/closing mechanisms what can be unsafe, especially for children.
• Step(s) can be on the whole periphery of the insulating glass as well as, on only a part of it. For tilt-and-turn hardware for instance, hardware mechanisms lie all around the casement, and therefore, all round the insulating glass.
• step will preferably go all around the insulating glass: the insulating glass unit is a four- sides stepped unit (for rectangular or square shape). Double glazing units will be single- stepped, while triple glazing can be single- or double- stepped. Double-stepped means that the three glass plates are shifted compared to each other.
• Paint parts of the surface of insulating glass unit is a well-known technique to hide unaesthetical elements located behind the glass.
• the opaque layer can be used to hide hardware or other window/door parts like tightness joints.
• Opaquer is the paint, less the window hardware and tightness elements are visible to the building occupants.
• the paint will be located on an inner surface of the glazing, so that it is protected from direct external ageing and wear factors (rain, sun, abrasion). More preferably it will extend from the edge of the glass to the level of the spacer.
• the paint can be of various types, organic or inorganic.
• the glass plates of the insulated glass unit of the frameless glass casement are tempered for users' safety.
• the use of tempered glass plates in the insulated glass unit of the frameless glass casement of the present invention is indeed advantageous since the glass casement is frameless and therefore has no peripheral protection, it is more likely prone to contacts and shocks linked to human activities inside or outside the building.
• the insulated glass unit of the frameless glass casement of the present invention further at least a spacer (4) coupled to the first and second inner plate faces, recessed from the peripheral edges and defining an interspace (5) extending between the first and second glass plates from the spacer to the peripheral edges.
• the spacer has consequently a surrounding shape which spaces apart the glass plates on their periphery. It can be made of one piece or can alternatively comprise a plurality of elements having their extremities abutted to form the surrounding shape.
• the spacer can be metallic, polymeric, a composite material reinforced by glass fibres or a mix of several of these materials.
• the spacer can be hollow in order to be able to receive for example some drying material.
• spacer is then perforated to allow the drying material to trap water vapor that is coming in the cavity of the IGU.
• the spacer is inserted between the glass plates generally by means of butyl or silicone adhesive strips.
• an encompassing surrounding edge joint such as is usual for insulated glazing, which is provided with a cordon of sealant.
• the cavity between the glass plates is sealed with respect to the exterior in a gas and moisture-sealed type manner.
• the cavity as is known per se, can be filled with dry air or an insulating gas such as argon, krypton or mixtures thereof or it can be (partially) evacuated.
• Figure 2 shows the cross section on a plane normal to the longitudinal axis, L, of the outwardly open U-shaped profile (60) of the present invention.
• This cross section has a width, W, and a height, H and comprises:
• the thickness, Tw2, of the second lateral wall is at least 25% larger, preferably at least 50% larger, more preferably at least 75% larger than the thickness, Twl, of the first lateral wall.
• the first and second lateral walls have a height, Hwl, and Hw2, respectively, measured normal to the thickness Twl and Tw2, from a closed end of the inner volume, V, to the corresponding first and second top edges.
• the closed end of the inner volume is the one being part of the base element.
• the height, H, and the width, W, of the outwardly open U-shaped profile of the present invention are defined as the height and the width of the rectangle in which the profile is inscribed.
• the thickness of a lateral wall is defined as the value of the thickness measured at half the height, Hwl, Hw2, respectively.
• the outwardly open U-shaped profile of the present invention having a cross section comprising a first and second lateral walls with the thickness, Tw2, of the second lateral wall being at least 25% larger than the thickness, Twl, of the first lateral wall; is hereinafter referred to as the "asymmetric U-shaped profile".
• the window or door hardware is therefore encompassed within the outwardly open U-shaped profile positioned within the interspace.
• the closing, opening and/or tilting of the frameless glass casement occurs via the interaction of hardware of the frameless glass casement to the hardware of the fixed frame.
• the specific design of the outwardly open U-shaped profile according to the invention allows to use commercially available window or door hardware rather than developing dedicated door or window hardware.
• the asymmetric outwardly open U-shaped profile within the frameless glass casement of the present invention ensures support for the weight of the frameless glass casement while minimizing the total thickness of the glass structure.
• the U-shaped profile has a cavity suitable to accommodate the part of the hardware dedicated to the openable casement and to have it properly aligned with the part of the hardware dedicated to the fixed frame. It ensures to have a minimal casement-fixed frame thickness, i.e. minimal glass structure thickness, the glass structure being hence the combination of the casement and fixed frame.
• a minimal casement-fixed frame thickness advantageously reduces the space constraints in the building.
• the thickness, Tw2, of the second lateral wall is at least 1.25 mm, preferably at least 2.5 mm and at most 10 mm, preferably at most 5.5 mm.
• the thickness, Twl, of the first lateral wall is at least 1 mm, preferably at least 2 mm and at most 4 mm, preferably at most 3 mm.
• the base element of the cross section of the asymmetric U-shaped profile comprises a bottom edge and a top edge.
• the width of the base element, Wb is measured at half the height of the base element, Hb.
• the width, Wb, of base element is smaller than the width, W, of the asymmetric U-shaped profile, as illustrated in Figure 3. More preferably, the width of the base element, Wb, represents at most 90%, preferably at most 80%, more preferably at most 70% of the width, W, of the outwardly open U-shaped profile.
• width, Wb, of the base element of the outwardly open U-shaped profile is preferably at most 29 mm, more preferably at most 26 mm and even more preferably at most 23 mm.
• Figure 3 further illustrates the preferred embodiment wherein the base element comprises first and second shoulders (61s, 62s) jutting outwardly from the base in the direction of the width, W, each shoulder being adjacent to the corresponding first and second lateral walls.
• each of the first and second lateral walls of the cross section of the outwardly open U-shaped profile comprises a protrusion (61p, 62p) jutting outwardly of the inner profile volume V in the direction of the width, W, and each being adjacent to the corresponding first and second top edges (61e, 62e).
• the protrusion of each of the first and second lateral walls of the cross section of the outwardly open U-shaped profile comprises a recess (61r, 62r) adjacent to the first and second top edges (61e, 62e).
• the recesses are open on the inner profile volume, V, and on the corresponding first and second top edges (61e, 62e), as shown in Figure 5.
• the most preferred asymmetric U-shaped profile of the present invention combines a smaller base element (63) with the protrusions (61p, 62p) and recesses (61r, 62r) at the top edges of the first and second lateral walls as illustrated by Figure 5. It provides surprising adequacy to commercially available window hardware, and support to the weight of the frameless casement, while maintaining the thickness of the glass structure as small as possible.
• the height of the first lateral wall, Hwl is typically larger than 8mm, preferably larger than 10mm.
• the height of the first lateral wall is typically smaller than 20mm, preferably smaller than 15mm.
• the height of the first lateral wall, Hwl is equal to the height of the second lateral wall, Hw2. This embodiment is of particular interest when recesses are present in the protrusions of the lateral walls.
• the base element of the cross section of the outwardly U- shaped profile forms a hollow profile for cost reduction and/or thermal conductivity improvement.
• the asymmetric U-shaped profile is positioned at least partially within the corresponding interspace.
• the asymmetric U-shaped profile is flush with or recessed from the corresponding peripheral edges of the frameless glass casement.
• the frameless glass casement closes an opening in a partition defining an interior space and an exterior space and is positioned such that the second lateral wall of the asymmetric U-shaped profile and therefore the corresponding second glass plate, is facing the interior space.
• the asymmetric U-shaped profile of the present invention runs all along the periphery edges as one single and continuous framing structure or as strongly connected segments forming a continuous framing structure.
• the asymmetric U- shaped profile does not only serve as a receptacle for the window or door hardware; it also has a significant structural function. Having a continuous profile framing around the IGU enables to transfer loads applied on one point or on one profile segment to the whole framing.
• the continuous framing structure enables to transfer the loads applied to the bottom segment to the other segments of the profile, and therefore to the hinges that are usually positioned on a side segment of the profile framing.
• Situation is similar for racking loads, that is the loads applied in a direction parallel to the plan of the casement.
• profile framing can be made of four straight segments connected in the four corners, or even two L segments connected in two corners.
• Profile segments are connected by at least one mean adapted to ensure durable structural connection.
• suitable structural connection means are self-tapping screw or connector pieces, adhesive bonding with structural glue like silicone or structural tape like VHB tape, welding, soldering, brazing, or even a combination of them.
• the asymmetric U-shaped profile is usually made of metal, wood, polymers, composites with a polymer matrix.
• Preferred materials to make the profile are thin walled stainless steel, hardwood, wood polymer composites, stiff polymers, fibres reinforced polymers. More preferred are fibres reinforced polymers.
• Hardwood can be oak.
• wood polymer composites are 60 wood /40 Polypropylene (PP) or 60 wood /40 High Density Polyethylene (HDPE).
• Suitable stiff polymers are PolyEtherEtherKetone (PEEK), Polyamides (PA), Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS), Polybutylene Terephtalate (PBT).
• Examples of fibres reinforced polymers are those reinforced with glass fibres, carbon fibres or aramid fibres and having a matrix selected from PEEK, PPS, PBT, PA, polyesters, thermoset resins.
• Preferred fibres reinforced polymers are those reinforced with glass fibres, more preferred are reinforced with glass fibres and have a matrix polyesters or thermoset resins matrix, most preferred have a glass fibres content of at least 50 wt%.
• the outwardly open U-shaped profile is bonded to both the first and second glass plates.
• Suitable types of bonding means (18) are sealants and/or double side adhesive tapes, preferably those demonstrating good adherence, with or without primer, on both glass and profile surfaces, suitable mechanical properties, and suitable chemical resistance, especially to UVs, water and temperature.
• sealants are silicone, modified silicone, and polyurethane.
• double-sided adhesive tape is VHB ® tape. If a combination of sealant(s) and tape(s) is used, chemical compatibility between the components must be ensured.
• the insulating glass unit (IGU), as a basis of the casement, has a well- known double seal configuration, made of a first seal placed between the spacer and the glass plates, typically butyl strips, and a secondary seal encompassing the spacer, which sustains mechanical loads linked to high and low pressure cycles in the IGU.
• IGU insulating glass unit
• the secondary seal is chosen amongst the sealants described supra as suitable to bond the U-shaped profile to the glass plates. It reduces the risk of chemical incompatibility.
• the secondary sealant can advantageously be avoided along the first and second lateral walls.
• a double-sided adhesive tape may be applied along the lateral walls. Suitable double-sided adhesive tapes are those described supra as suitable to bond the U-shaped profile to the glass plates.
• the frameless glass casement is characterized in that the insulating glass unit is a double glazing. According to another aspect of the invention, the frameless glass casement is characterized in that the insulating glass unit is a triple glazing.
• Triple glazing unit is usually more thermally insulating than a double glazing unit with Ug values (U value of the glazing) that can easily reach 0,6 W/m ⁇ 2>K or even 0,5 W/m ⁇ 2>K.
• the frameless glass casement comprising a triple insulating glass unit comprises a first glass plate (10), a second glass plate (20) and a third glass plate (15).
• the third glass plate can be positioned either in the interspace (5) between the first and second glass plates or externally of the IGU formed by the first and second glass plates, parallely facing the outer face of the first or second glass plate (13, 23).
• the IGU is a stepped triple IGU (single-stepped or double- stepped).
• This variant is of particular interest for fixed and tilt-and-turn frameless glass casements.
• the triple glazing frameless glass casement is characterized in that it comprises two spacers that are positioned at the same level inside the IGU. Resulting aesthetics is much more pleasant to building occupants.
• the frameless door or window casement arrangement is characterized in that the middle glass pane of the triple glazing is a thin glass plate with thickness lower than 2mm.
• the thin glass plate can be a thermally or chemically tempered glass, preferably a chemically tempered glass.
• the peripheral edges of the third glass plate are preferably recessed from the peripheral edges of the first and second glass plates and further recessed from the asymmetric U-shaped profile.
• FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a frameless glass casement with an insulated glass unit having triple glazing.
• the frameless glass casement comprises a first glass plate (10), a second glass plate (20) and an asymmetric U-shaped profile (60) positioned between the inner plates faces (12, 22) of the first and second glass plates (10, 20).
• the third glass plate (15) has a peripheral edge (16) recessed from the top edge of the asymmetric U-shaped profile (60).
• the spacer (4) of the frameless glass casement is formed by a first spacer (4a) positioned between the first glass plate and the third glass plate and a second spacer (4b) positioned between the third glass plate and the second glass plate.
• the interspace (5) extends between the first and second inner plate face plate (12, 22), from the first spacer (4a), the third peripheral edge, the second spacer (4b) to the first and second peripheral edges (11,21).
• the illustrated embodiment further comprises an opaque layer (17) covering a peripheral zone of the first and second inner face plates (12, 22), extending from the first and second bottom edges to above the spacers (4, 4b).
• the interspace (5) is filled with a secondary sealant (18).

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Securing Of Glass Panes Or The Like (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=60997360

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2019
  • 2019-01-15 EP EP19700597.8A patent/EP3740640A1/de active Pending
  • 2019-01-15 EA EA202091680A patent/EA202091680A1/ru unknown
  • 2019-01-15 WO PCT/EP2019/050906 patent/WO2019141670A1/en unknown

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