GB2176828A - Adjustable spacer - Google Patents

Abstract

An adjustable spacer (1) for use in glazing a door whereby a glazing panel (32) is provided with a U- shaped gasket (34) and fitted into a corresponding U-shaped channel (18) in an aluminum glazing bar. The spacer comprises a lower circular member (2) with an upper surface (6) defining a single turn of a helix. The lower member (2) has a shaft (12) which projects through a pre-drilled hole (20) in the base of the channel (18). The upper member (4) of the spacer is rectangular so that it cannot be rotated in the channel (18) and defines a circular recess the base of which is formed as a single turn of a helix. The two helical surfaces of the members (2, 4) engage so that rotation of the lower member relative to the upper member adjusts the overall height of the spacer and ensures correct setting of the glazing panel after it has been inserted in the channel (18). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Adjustable spacer The present invention relates to adjustable spacers for use in glazed frames to adjust the position of the glass relative to the base of the frame channel.

When glazing panels are fitted in doors, it is essential that the glass be located firmly in the frame so that it does not slip down in use and possibly damage the glazing panel or adversely affect the squareness of the door. In order to fixedly position the glazing panel in the frame it is the normal practice to use setting blocks and shims between the base of the channel defined in the frame and the edge of the glazing panel. The use of such setting blocks and shims is prescribed in British Standard No. 6262.

In conventional glazing where the panel is placed in the frame and the channel is built up by the application of separate beaded members on each side of the panel, it is relatively easy to gain access to the edge of the panel to insert the necessary setting blocks and appropriate number of shims to position the glazing panel securely. However, an alternative form of glazing known as "knock on glazing" has recently become more popular for products such as residential and patio doors. In this method, the glazing panel is provided with a generally U-shaped channel gasket surrounding it. The door frame is built up of a number of bars, for example of aluminium which, where they surround the glazing panel have a U-shaped channel to receive the gasket-covered edge of the panel. The bars can then be secured to the glazing panel by forcing them on to the edges or "knocking on".With this technique, it is impossible to gain access to the base of the glazing channel to insert the necessary shims for secure fixing, since the required number of shims is not known until the frame has been assembled. It is therefore presently not possible for such glazing techniques to meet the necessary standards. The number and position of blocks is specified in BS6262.

The present invention is therefore directed towards solving the technical problem of providing a setting block, the height of which can be adjusted from outside the frame after a glazing panel has been fitted.

Certain adjustable setting blocks have been proposed in the past but these are not suitable for use with "knock on" glazing as they still require access to the glazing channel to set the necessary spacing. One such adjustable block comprises two wedge shapes which slide relative to one another and have serrated faces to ensure that they remain in the set position.

The present invention accordingly provides an adjustable setting block comprising a pair of interengaged members adapted to be disposed one above the other in a glazing channel, one of said members having a portion extending outwardly through an opening in the base of the channel, said members being adapted such that rotation of said projecting portion varies the overall height of the block.

More specifically the present invention provides an adjustable spacer for use in a glazing channel, comprising a first member having a shaft adapted to project through an opening in the base of the channel and an enlarged head with a circular upper surface defining a single turn of a helix, and a second member having an outer profile so that it can be nonrotatably mounted within said frame above said first member, the second member defining a circular recess, the base of which defines a helical surface adapted to co-operate with the upper surface of said first member, such that relative rotation of the members by means of the projecting shaft adjusts the overall height of the spacer.

Preferably the helical surfaces of both members are serrated such that their relative positions are maintained after adjustment.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows the first member of an adjustable spacer where Figure 1A represents a view from below, Figure 1B represents a side view and Figure 1C represents a top plan view, Figure 2 shows a second member of the adjustable spacer, in which Figure 2A shows a section on line A-A in Figure 2B, Figure 2B shows a view from below, Figure 2C shows a side view, Figure 2D shows a section on line B-B in Figure 2E, and Figure 2E shows a top plan view, and Figure 3 shows a section through a glazing channel showing the adjustable spacer in use.

The illustrated adjustable spacer 1 comprises a first or lower member 2 and a second or upper member 4. The members 2 and 4 have co-operating helical surfaces 6 and 8 respectively so that rotation of the lower member relative to the upper member adjusts the overall height of the spacer 1.

The lower member 2 is illustrated in more detail in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings. The member 2 comprises a substantially disk shaped upper part 10 having its upper surface 6 defining a single turn of a helix. The pitch of the helix is chosen so that rotation through 1800 represents the maximum adjustment in the overall height of the spacer. A preferred embodiment may be constructed with the helical surface 6 having a 4.0 mm lead in 3600 allowing a maximum height adjustment of 2.0 mm. The surface 6 is serrated to give a saw tooth type profile. A suitable profile has serrations at 50 intervals with the inclined surface extending at 150 to the horizontal. To give the required helical pitch each serration is stepped up 0.055 mm relative to the adjacent one.In this embodiment there are 72 serrations around the surface of the disk.

The tips of the saw teeth extend radially outwardly. The disc 10 carries a hollow shaft 12 projecting from its lower surface. The base of this shaft is provided with a hexagonal recess 14 and/or a transverse slot 16. The hexagonal recess 14 can be engaged by an Allen key to rotate the first member. Alternatively a screwdriver can be located in the transverse recess 16 for this purpose. The outer profile of the disk is reduced over substantially half its periphery to give two diametrically-opposed steps. One step is positioned at the junction between the lowest and highest portions of the helical surface and the other step is as illustrated one serration shifted from the diametrically opposite position.

As shown in Figure 3, the lower member 2 of the spacer 1 is positioned in the base of a generally Ushaped glazing channel 18, with the shaft 12 projecting through a pre-drilled hole 20 in the base of the channel.

The upper member 4 is illustrated in Figure 2 and comprises a rectangular-shaped part 22 with a circular recess 24 defined in its lower face. The shorter dimension of the rectangle is sized to be received across the width of the channel 18. The base of the recess 24 is shaped to define the helical surface 8 defining one full turn of a helix. The helical surface 8 has the same pitch as the surface 6 of the lower part 2. This surface 8 is serrated with a saw tooth like serration with the tips of the saw teeth extending radially outwardly towards the periphery of the base of the recess.

The dimensions of the helix and saw tooth serrations correspond to those on the other part. The serrations on the two co-operating helical surfaces 6,8 are arranged so as to permit relative rotation between the members in one sense and to block rotation in the opposite sense. At the centre of the base of the recess 24, a short pin 26 extends downwardly and is provided with a semicircularprofile end flange 28. A small downwardly and inwardly projecting stop 30 is formed at the edge of the recess 24 adjacent the junction between the lowest and highest portions of the helical surface and, as shown in Figure 2D, on the side where the surface descends lowest.

In use, the upper member 4 is mounted above the lower member 2 with its pin 26 extending into the hollow projecting shaft 12 to locate the members relative to one another.

The flange 28 enables the lower member to be rotated relative to the upper member and provides a convenient bearing. An inwardly directed flange 36 surrounding the internal bore of the hollow shaft 12 provides for a snap-fit engagement of the upper member in the lower member. This also ensures that the parts can be kept together until required. The upper member has a rectangular section dimensioned so that it seats snugly in the base of the channel 18 in the required orientation and cannot be rotated relative to the channel.

In order to use the device to glaze a "knock on" glazed door, the required number of spacers are placed in the base of the channel 18 defined in the glazing bars which define the top and bottom rails and stiles of the door.

The projecting shaft 12 of each spacer projects through a corresponding bored hole 20 in the base of the channel 18. The upper members of the spacers are placed with their pins 26 seated in the hollow shafts 12. The edge of the glazing panel 32 together with its U-shaped channel gasket 34 which completely surrounds the edge of the glazing panel is then inserted into the channel 18 of the glazing bar. Once all the glazing bars have been placed around the remaining edges of the glazing panel, the spacers located in these glazing bars can be adjusted to the required height by means of a screwdriver or Allen key engaged in the base of the projecting shaft 12 of each spacer. This requires access only to the under surface of the channel and no dismantling of the completed door panel is required.

Rotation of the shaft 12 causes the helical surface 6 of the lower member to rotate relative to the fixed helical surface 8 of the upper member. The serrations are such that as rotation takes place the inclined edges of the serrations move over one another. Counter-rotation is not possible as the vertical edges of the saw tooth serrations then engage one another and prevent further movement in that sense. Thus, once the relative positions of the upper and lower members has been set and the screwdriver or Allen key removed, this setting is maintained.

The provision of the stop 30 on the lower member and the steps on the upper member restrict the amount of relative rotation between the members to 1800. This ensures that at least half of the helical surfaces of the upper and lower members are in contact. The positioning of the -top 30 and steps is such that line contact is always maintained across the width of the channel 18 thereby preventing the glazing panel 30 tilting in the channel in use.

The members of the adjustable spacers may be moulded out of nylon or some other suitable plastics material.

Claims (10)

1. An adjustable setting block comprising a pair of inter-engaged members adapted to be disposed one above the other in a glazing channel, one of said members having a portion extending outwardly through an opening in the base of the channel, said members be ing adapted such that rotation of said projecting member varies the overall height of the block.

2. An adjustable spacer for use in a glazing channel comprising a first member having a shaft adapted to project through an opening in the base of the channel and an enlarged head with a circular upper surface defining a single turn of a helix, and a second member having an outer profile so that it can be non-rotatably mounted with said frame, above said first member, the second member defining a circular recess, the base of which defines a helical surface adapted to co-operate with the upper surface of said first member, such that relative rotation of the members by means of the projecting shaft adjusts the overall height of the spacer.

3. A spacer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the helical surfaces in both members are serrated such that their relative positions are maintained after adjustment.

4. A spacer as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the shaft of the first member is hollow, and the second member has a centrally projecting pin, adapted to be received in said hollow shaft.

5. A spacer as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the base of the shaft of the first member is provided with means whereby it can be engaged by a tool for rotation relative to the second member.

6. A spacer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the engaging means comprises a transverse slot for reception of a screwdriver head.

7. A spacer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the engaging means comprises a polygonal shaped recess, for receiving a correspondingly shaped key.

8. A spacer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising means for limiting the relative rotation of the members to 1800 so that at least half of the co-operating helical surfaces of the members are in engagement.

9. A spacer as claimed in claim 8, wherein said limiting means is such that there is always line contact across the width of the glazing channel in use.

10. An adjustable spacer substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.