GB2148371A - Glazing - Google Patents

Abstract

A double-glazed window assembly comprises a steel frame (10), a plurality of clips (14) supported on a transverse portion (12) of the frame, an L-section beading (40) engaged in a re-entrant channel in each clip and a double glazed unit (48). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Glazed window This invention relates to glazed windows of which the basic window frame is of steel sections.

recent years numerous developments have been made with a view to enabling aluminium framed windows to be integrally double-glazed, but relatively little attention has been given to the problems of providing integral double-glazing for windows built up from steel sections. Problems arise with conventional windows of steel section components if it is intended to fit with integral double-glazing because securing of the doubleglazed units to the window frame frequently involves a total thickness approaching the transverse dimension (i.e. from outside to inside) of tne steel sections themselves. It follows that retention of the glazed units either by putty or other conventional mastic sealing medium allied with embedded clips is difficult because of space limitations.

According to the present invention, there is provided a double-glazed window assembly comprising a steel frame section, a plurality of clips supported on a transverse portion of the frame section, each clip being of channel section with the channel extending parallel to the frame sections and having a re-entrant upstanding member, beading of generally L-section engaged in the clips with a portion thereof complementary to the re-entrant upstanding member of the channel, and a doubleglazing unit with an edge portion thereof lying between the beading and a part of the frame section, the presence of the double-glazing unit serving firmly to engage the re-entrant upstanding member against the complementary portion of the beading.

According to the present invention in another aspect, a double-glazed window assembly comprising a steel frame, a plurality of clips supported on a transverse portion of the frame and having a reentrant part, an L-section beading engaged in the clips and having a re-entrant part complementary to tne re-entrant parts of the clips, and a doubleglazed unit held in the steel frame by the engaged beading and by a mastic filler which acts to force the re-entrant parts of the clips and beading together whereby firmly to retain the unit in the assembly.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a double-glazed window assembly comprising steel section members forming a frame, a plurality of clips secured to a transverse portion of each of the members of the frame at intervals along their lengths, each clip including a channel with a portion of re-entrant form considered longitudinally of the said transverse portion of tne frame members and beading having a section such that a re-entrant portion thereof can engage in the re-entrant portions of the channels of the clips by insertion in a direction generally transverse to tne opening of each channel but which cannot be removed from the clips in a direction substantially transversely of the base of the channel when the re-entrant portions of the beading and clips are engaged whereby, on insertion of a double glazing unit and securing the unit between the beading and the frame members with the aid of a mastic sealant such as putty, the beading and the unit cannot be removed transversely of the channel base.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section of a steel window frame assembly embodying the invention: Figure 2 is a cross-section illustrating a modification of tne assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-section illustrating a portion of the modification illustrated in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a scrap view illustrating a corner portion of tne assembly of Figure 1 or of Figures 2 & BR< 3; Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 3; and Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Figure 3.

A steel frame 10 is of conventional section and includes a transverse portion 12 having apertures to receive securing means of glazing clips 14, an upwardly-extending (as illustrated) flange 16 and a downwardly-extending flange 18. The upwardly extending flange 16 is prolonged at the edge junction with the transverse member 12 by a ridge 20 of approximately triangular section. The upstanding flange 16 may have a rather greater extent than is conventional for frames intended for single glazing. It must, however, be emphasised that the section illustrated can be used for double-glazing units in accordance with the invention and also for conventional single glazing. It will be apparent that all the edges of the section are radiussed.

The clips 14 are short sections of extrusions, and may be made of aluminium, or plastics such as "Nylon" or "Delrin" (Registered Trade Marks) each clip having the following detailed sectional form as shown in the Figure.

A platform 22 lies at the upper edge of an upstanding (as shown) portion 24 so that tne upstanding portion and platform form a T-section and the bottom of the portion 24 is integral with a base 26 of the clip which lies, when assembled, on the transverse portion 12 of the steel section. At the edge remote from the upstanding portion 24 of the clip, the base 26 of the channel section has an upstanding flange member 28 with one upstanding edge vertical but the other inclined so as to form one half of a dovetail joint. Tne upstanding portion 24 and the flange member 28 together form an irregular channel section for a purpose to be described hereinafter, and the upstanding member of half-dovetail form can be considered as a specific shape which is more generally, re-entrant.

The clips will be distributed along the length of the steel section frame at approximately the spacing conventional for retaining steel clips use with single glazing. The clips are secured by, for example, rivets (not shown) which pass through apertures 30 (broken lines).

The glazed window frame assembly has in addition a beading 40 which is a continuous extrusion and, in general terms, is of L-section. The upright member 42 of the L is chamfered at its upper edge and at the lower edge defining the junction with the horizontal portion of the L, an inverted channel 44 is formed with one edge thereof having an angular inclination to the vertical corresponding to that of the re-entrant flanges 28 of the clips 14. It will be apparent from Figure 1 that in the assembled condition the two edges are in contact and provide a very effective locking for the beading in the direction required in practice.The horizontal portion of the L section terminates in a bead or other enlargment 46 having a depth substantially corresponding to the distance between the lower face of the platform 22 of each clip, and the upper surface of the base 12 thereof, which effectively defines a groove.

The assembly as a whole is completed by the double glazing unit 48, a plurality of spacers 50 and conventional non-setting glazing compound 52 as used for steel windows. The spacers 50 may be of plastics material such as PVC and will be sized so that the double-glazing units are firmly held when assembled.

It will be readily apparent that assembly, whether on site or in a factory, is a straightforward matter, the clips 14 being secured initially by rivets followed by the insertion of the double-glazed units 48, the location of the beading 40 outwardly of the units together with the spacers 40 and finally the non-setting glazing compound is applied as for single glazing. If the clips 14 and/or beading 40 are of a metal different from the window frame sections, for example aluminium then, of course, precautions must be taken to avoid electrolytic corrosion.

The action of the spacers 50 is to induce forces acting to space further the upright 42 of the beading and the upright 16 of the basic window section and the greater the force applied by the spacers the greater tne retaining forces acting between the beading 40 and the clips 14.

The beading and the clips are so arranged relative to one another that lateral expansion can easily take place without adverse effect on the sealing compound. The platform 22 in conjunction with the spacers 50 ensures that the double-glazing unit is very accurately located in the frame.

Referring now to the modification illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the clips 14, instead of being secured by rivets passing through apertures 30, are secured by a ratchet rivet 60, for example as sold under the trade name "FASTEX'. Such rivets take the form of two-part mouldings, a bush 62 integral with the undersurface (as shown) of the base 26 of each clip, the internal surface of the bush having barb-like serrations 64, a rivet member having a shank 66 with complementary serrations 64, a spacer 68 and an enlarged square-shaped head 70.

The spacer and the head together define a groove 72 when applied to the steel section.

This groove enables the conventional plastics weatherstrip 74 shown in broken lines in Figure 2 to be slid along the heads 70 with inwardly directed flanges 76 of the weatherstrip engaged in the grooves 72. The weatherstrip also includes flexible lips 78, 80.

Referring now to Figures 3, 4 and 5, the parts illustrated have been given the same reference numerals as in Figures 1 and 2. The face view of the assembly illustrated in Figure 3 shows that the frame 12, 16, 18 is conventionally mitred at 72 with the base 12 and flange 16 similarly mitred. The jamb beading 40' is cut at 45 degrees to the length direction so that the outer, visible, member 42' terminates in a chamfer 74 and lies closely adjacent the member 42 of the lower, horizontal beading.

The parts of the beading which are cut-away serve no useful purpose and because of the presence of the clips 14, the beading will be adequately secured without the need for the use of a mitred corner.

Figure 5 illustrates a similar junction arrangement for the heads and for the sill beadings. Again similar parts will be given the same reference numerals.

It will be apparent from the drawings, that each steel frame section 12, 18, 20 is mitred at the junction with a similar section whereas the lengths of beading 40 at the corresponding junction are cut one perpendicularly to the length direction and the other chamfered so that the exposed limb of the Lsection substantially abuts the free edge of the corresponding limb of the said one beading length.

It will apparent that assembly, even on site, is straightforward, the only tool necessary being a conventional putty knife and the windows will be fully equipped to include draft proofing with the use of a small number of parts.

Claims (14)

1. A double-glazed window assembly comprising a steel frame section, a plurality of clips supported on a transverse portion of the frame section, each clip being of channel section with the channel extending parallel to the frame sections and having a re-entrant upstanding member, beading of generally L-section engaged in the clips with a portion thereof complementary to the re-entrant upstanding member of the channel, and a doubleglazing unit with an edge portion thereof lying between the beading and a part of the frame section, the presence of the double glazing unit serving firmly to engage the re-entrant upstanding member against the complementary portion of the beading.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein each clip includes an upstanding member opposite the first-mentioned upstanding member and carrying at its upper edge a platform which assists in supporting packing a members mounting the double-glazing unit.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first-mentioned upstanding member of each clip has the form of one half of a dovetail.

4. An assembly according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the platform and the base of the channel of each clip together form an internal groove which is engaged by the horizontal limb of the beading.

5. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein said horizontal limb of the beading has an enlargement along its free edge which substantially spans the groove.

6. An assembly according to claim 5, wherein the enlargement of the free edge is of rounded section.

7. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the clips are secured to the frame section by rivets.

8. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein each clip is rigid with a bush having internal serrations, the bush extending through an aperture in tne frame section, to which the clip is held by a member having a shank with complementary serrations engaged in the bush and a grooved head, whereby a weatherstrip can be secured to the frame section on a face therof outwardly of the double glazing unit.

9. An assembly according to claim 8, wherein the head of said member is square.

10. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the vertical limb of the beading is chamfered at its free edge.

11. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each steel frame section is mitred at each junction with a similar section and the lengths of beading at the corresponding junction are cut one perpendicularly to the length direction and the other chamfered so that the exposed limb of the L-section substantially abuts the free edge of the corresponding limb of the said one beading length.

12. A double-glazed window assembly comprising a steel frame, a plurality of clips supported on a transverse portion of the frame and having a reentrant part, an L-section beading engaged in the clips and having a re-entrant part complementary to the re-entrant parts of the clips, and a doubleglazed unit held in the steel frame by the engaged beading and by a mastic filler which acts to force the re-entrant parts of tne clips and beading together whereby firmly to retain the unit in the assembly.

13. A double-glazed window assembly comprising steel section members forming a frame, a plurality of clips secured to a transverse portion of each of the members of the frame at intervals along their lengths, each clip including a channel with a portion of re-entrant form considered longitudinally of the said transverse portion of the frame members and beading having a section such that a re-entrant portion thereof can engage in the re-entrant portions of the channels of the clips by insertion in a direction generally transverse to tne opening of each channel but which cannot be removed from the clips in a direction substantially transversely of the base of tne channel when the re-entrant portions of the beading and clips are engaged whereby, on insertion of a double glazing unit and securing the unit between the beading and the frame members with the aid of a mastic sealant such as putty, the beading and the unit cannot be removed transversely of the channel base.

14. A window assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.