GB2198467A

GB2198467A - Windows

Info

Publication number: GB2198467A
Application number: GB08724793A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jens Jepsen
Original assignee: ELIT SNICKERIER AB
Current assignee: ELIT SNICKERIER AB
Priority date: 1986-10-22
Filing date: 1987-10-22
Publication date: 1988-06-15
Anticipated expiration: 2007-10-22
Also published as: DK550687A; DK550687D0; NO874380L; SE8604501D0; GB2198467B; NO874380D0; DE3735637A1; SE8704057L; NO166501C; GB8724793D0; SE8704057D0; SE8604501L; NO166501B; SE462723B

Description

A Spacer Element The present invention relates to a device for preventing the unlawful removal of one or more glass panes mounted in a frame, such as a casement, or window frame, primarily a so-called insulating glazed unit, the device including a locking member which fixingly engages with the frame and is provided with a portion located outside the glass pane.

The use of so-called insulating glazed or glass units, in which two or three glass panes are fixedly glued in a frame construction such that the glass panes and the frame construction together form a rigid unit which is then fixedly disposed in a frame, for example a window casernent, or directly in a window frame, have become increasingly more common. In such instance, the insulating glass pane is, as a rule, fixedly retained in the casement or window frame by means of a bead which is nailed in place on the outsde and, by the intermediary of a suitable sealing strip which urges the glass pane unit into sealing abutment against a further sealing strip which abuts against a rebate in the window casement or window frame.When a burglary is attempted, the beads retaining the insulating glass unit are quite simply removed, the entire insulating glass unit is taken out, the crime is committed and the insulating glass unit is then remounted in place, with the result that considerable time may elapse before the burglary is-discovered.

In order to prevent this type of burglary, different types of locking devices or locking plates have been devolved in this art, these being placed in such a manner that the insulating glass unit cannot be Lifted out of the window casement or window frame even though the glazing bead has been removed.

Swedish Patent Specification lio. 8100492-1 discloses a locking plate of the type mentioned by way of introduction. For its anchorngc, this locking plate is dependant on a nail which is driven into the window casement or window frame in the region between the edge of the instilating glass unit and the adjacent surface of the window casement or window frame. In order to permit anchorage of the nails now under consideration, these must be mounted in place while the insulating glass unit is dismounted, which entails that it is hardly possible to carry ont subsequent mounting of the locking plate, r.. with the insulating glass unit already in place.

A similar locking plate is disclosed in Swedish Patent Applieation No. 8501444-7. For its anchorage in toe frenle or casement of the window, this locking plate calle for the drilling of a hole in the narrow space available between the edge of tlie insulating glass unit and adjacent sutfacea of the window casement or window frame.

Since, u@der practical conditions, euch dri@ling can seldom de executed with sufficient precision, i.e. the bor@ has a tendency to throw to the aide, it will readily be pe@ceived that the requisite drilling is a highly risky working operation when the insulating glass unit is in place. Thus, mounting of the locking plate according to the above-noentioned Patent Application Alao requires, in practice, that the insulating glass unit be wholly dismounted.

The employment of locking devices of the above-outlined 4 or or other - types is always fraught with problems, since the edges of the insulating glass unit are extremely wensitive to mechanical damage. Thus, contact with a metallic or sharp object against the edge of the unit on mounting of the locking device is sufficient to des- troy the entire insulating glass unit.Furthermore, such locking devices must be mounted in such a Manner that they cannot come into direct contact with the edge of the insulating glass unit, since damage inay thereby readily be caused.

In practice, it has proved that the spacers which are normally employed between the edge of an insulating glass unit and the proximal surface of the window casement or window frame for taking up the weight of the insulating glass unit by no means solve the above outlined problem of the risk of damage to the insulating glass unit.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device of the type described in the introduction, it being possible in a simple and rational manner to mount the device in, place without any risk whatever tElaX the insulating glass unit be destroyed even though the insulating glass unit is mounted in place in the window casement or window frame A further object of the present invention is to provide a device which reliably and efficiently retains the insulating glass unit in place in the window casement or window frame. Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a device which is designed so as reliably to protect the insulating glass unit from damage.Finally, the present invention also has for its object to provide a device which is designed such that conventional spacers may be wholly dispensed with.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for preventing the unlawful removal of one or more panes of glass mounted in a frame, such as a window casement or a window frame, primarily in the form of a so-called insulating glass unit, the device including a locking member engaging with the frame in a positionally-fixing manner, and provided with a portion located outside the outer face of the pane in which there is disposed, between the edge portion of the pane and a proximal surface of the frame, a spacer member for forming a space between the pane and the frame, the locking device extending with one portion into said space and is provided, on this portion, with engagement means for engagement with the frame, auxiliary spacers being provided between the locking device and proxilna 1 surfaces on the pane.

According to one practical enbod iinent of tIe present invention, the locking device is suitably angular in configuration and is manufactured preferably fron a resilient sheet inateria 1. Furtherinore, the portion of the locking device located on the outside of the glass pane consists of a shorter shank, while its portion located at the proximal surface of the frame consists of a longer shank, this longer shank being provided with a number of barbs or projections serving as engagement members, these being directed towards the outside of the glass pane and towards the proximal surface of the frame in order to permit the insertion of the longer shank in the space but to prevent its withdrawal, by the engagement of the barbs in the material of the frame. As a result of this design, the mounting operation will be very simple and the protective effect of the protective locking device will be particularly efficient.

In the first alternative embodiment of the present invention it suitably applies that the space element and the auxiliary spacers are continuous in order together to form a single spacer member. As a result of these particular features, the mounting operation is rendered extremely simple, in most cases also in an after-mounting procedure.

In a second altet-native embodiment of the present invention, it suitably applies that the auxiliary spacers are disposed on the locking device, one on each shank, and that the spacer element is disposed in spaced apart relationship from the auxiliary spacers. Hereby, particular advantages may be gained on after-mounting, in such situations when any possible spacers existing between the insulating glass unit and the adjacent surface of the frame are too small.

The invention will now be decribed further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the device according to the present invention, mounted together with an insulating glass unit in a window casement; Fig. 2 shows a locking device in position for insertion in the free area of the spacer element on mounting of the device of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention, mounted together with an insulating glass unit in. a window casement.

Referring to the Drawings, Fig. 1 is a croos-section through a part of a window casement or window frame 1 which is intended for the mounting cf a triple-pane 2 insulating glass unit. Naturally, the insulating glass unit may consist of a different number of panes, but this has no bearing on the present invention. The inou- lating glass unit is tensioned into the window casement by means of sealing atrips 3 and 4 and a glazing bead 5 which is nailed, screwed or anchored by other suitable means in the window casement. In the description thus fsr, tie construction is wholly conventional.

To prevent the unlawful removal of the insulating glass unit.

use is made of a locking device or lockinq plate 6 which is short in pe@spective in a first embodiment in Fig. 2. The locking plate is provided with a shorter shank 7 and a longer shank 8 which make np proximately a right angle with each ocher.Preferably, the locking plate is manufactured of resilient material such as sheet spring stee@ or the @@ke. @ne @ocking piate 6 is proviaco wi@n a@ least one, but preferably two or more, engagement members 9 in the form of barbs punchod out from the larger shank 8 and projecting obliquely the@efrom. On mounting of the locking plate 6, this is @rged into the slit-shaped or narow spacc 19 which is f@@@@ed between the edge of the insulating glass unit and a proxima@ sutface 7 un the window casement or frame.In this instance, the locking plate is dimensioned and designed in auch a manner as to abot with its shorter shank 7 against the outside of: title insulating lass unit, while the longer shank 8 extends into the above-mentioned narrow space 19 so that the barbs 9 are urged against and penetrate into the material of the window casement 1. As a result of tiLLS mounting of the Locking plate 6, unlawful removal of the insulating glass unit will be prevented, since the barbs 9 will effectively grip into the window casement and prevent any outward movement of both the locking plate and the insulating glass unit.If, nevertheless, any attempt is made to remove the insulating glass unit, it is highly probable that the locking plate would cause severe and readily noticeable markings in the window casement 1. Alternatively, the entire insulating glass unit may be destroyed. In both cases, it is a simple matter to as- certain tat a burglary has been attempted.

According to the present invention, it is possible1 if desired, to dispense entirely with the conventional spacers which are normally provided between the edge of the insulating glass unit and the proximal surface 17 of the window casement for centering and retaining the insuletiig glass unit in the casement. According to the invention, use is instead made of specially designed spacer elements 10 which, first, retain the insulacing glass unit in place in the window casement 1, secondly, facilitate mounting, and thirdly, pro tec t the edge of the insulating glass unit such that the locking plate does not come into direct contact therewith, peither during the mounting operation not thereafter.

In such cases when the conventional or existing spacers are di @ensioned so that the spacet elements 10 according to the present invention may be mounted in place sub@equently ('a@ter-mounting') on mounting of the subject matter of the present invention into an existing ready-mounted window, the original spacers @eed not, of course, be removed.

The spacer element 10 ha@ a @@bstantially planar and panelshaped base pur@inn 11 constituting a spacer between the locking plate 6 and the proximal edge of the insulating glass unit 21, but which also sarven ether purposes accerding @@ the invention, ss will be appatent below. Thes, the spacer 11 or base portion is of a width which approximately corresponds to the thickness of the insulating glass unit. The spacer 11 is preferably manufaccured from semi-rigid plastic and is of a thickness of the order of magnitude of 0.5-2mm.

From the base portion or spacers a number of spacer members or spacer studs 12 extend to one side, these studs being in one-piece manufacture with the base portion so that they, cunsequently,' con first of the same semi-rigid material. The spacer studs 12 are arranged in such a manner that there is formed, in the spacer element 10, one or more longitudinal channels 15 whose purpose is to improve ventilation in the narrow space between the edge of the insulating glass unlit and the window casement. Furthermore, the spacer studs hay suitably further be designed in suclo a manner, and arranged such that there are also formed transverse channels 18 whose purpose is similarly to improve ventilation in the window casement.

The division of the spacer element 10 into a number of protruding spacer studs 12 is also conditioned by the fact that the spacer element must be able to adapt to minor irregularities in the edge of the insulating glass unit and the proximal window casement 1.

The spacer studs 12 are placed at opposing end portions of the bdse portion 11 such that there is formed, in the central region of the base portion, an open area 13 where the thickness of the spacer corresponds to the thickness of the base portion 11. This open ares 13 is intended to accommodate the locking plate 6 when this, according to Fig. 2, is displaced downwardly following the direction of the arrow A. Since the @pacer element 10 is manufactured of a semi rigid, preferably friction reducing plastic, insertion of the lock- ing plate 6 will also ba facilitated.Furthermore, the spacer or base portion 11 acts, at the open area 13, as a protective device preventing the locking plate 6 from coming into direct contact with the gless pane 2.

In the region of the open area 13, the base portion 11 is provided, along its one longitudinal edge, with a strip-shaped proj(c- tion or ridge 16 which also acts in a capacity as a spacer andis transversely direct@ed, or in certain cases at right angles, in rela @lon to the plane of extent of he spacer portion 11. Title thicknesse of this strip-shaped projection or ridge should be kept as tlight a' possible, for instense of the same order of magnitude as the thick ness of the spacer base portion 11, but preferably less than this thickness.The strip-shaped projection 16 is located, in the mounted stace of the spacer element 10, in direct abutuient against the front face of the insulating glass unit (see Fig. 1) and has for its purpose to prevent direct contact between the snort shank 7 of the locking plate 6 and the front face and corner edge of the insulating glass unit.

The spacer element 10 may suitably be dimensioned in such a manner as to attain a t@tal thicknass of the order of magnitude of between 5 and 6 mm. ff the spacer element 10 io intonded to be mounted subsequently and as a supplement to oxisting spacers, it may be appropriate that the spacer element 10 be of a total thickness which is slightly less than the thickness of the existing spacers, if this thickness is known beforehand. With this dimensioning, the spacer element 10 may readily be inserted into the narrow gap between the base portion and the surface 17 of the window casement, whereafter the locking plate 6 ill disposed in the open area 13.The resilient action realised by the barbs 9 will guarantee that the locking plate 6 6 and tile spacer element 10 are held in the correct position.

If the spacer element 10 is intended to completely replace convencional spacers, its total thickness should, of course, be dimensioned according to the same norms as apply for the conventional spacers. Also in this case, the locking plate 6 may readily be inscrted into the open aren 13.

It will be apparent from Fig. 3 that the spacer studs 12 are disposed in three longitudinal rows much that there are formed two longitudinal chauneis 15 between the rows. The feason for this is that one row of appcer stud@ should @e placed in tegi@le@ with eath pane 2 in the insclating glass unit, so as to ralieve the loeding on the gl@e joints bg means at which we insulating glass unit is held together.The above disclosute entails that, in an embodiment for a two-pane insulating glass unit, there would only be required two raws of spacer stads and, consequently, bat a ningle longit@dinal thannel 15. On the other hand, in an embodiment intended for a four -pane @ns@lating glass unit, a further row of spacer studs would be required, with the reault that the number of lonitudinhal chaonels would be t three.

Fig. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment which, for ex- arr.ple, may be employed when the conventional spacers are retained and when these are placed and dimensioned sucks that the locking plate is given Adequate space for its function, These conventional spacers are not shown on Fig. 3.

In analogy with Fig. 1, this Figure shows a cross-section through a frame 1, in which instance this frame may be s window casement or a window frame, in other words the window may be of the opening or sealed type, respectively. In the frame 1, there is di@- posed, against a shoulder 20 at a sealing strip 3, an insulating glass unit 21 with three glass panes 2 which are held ia spaced apart relationship hy means of spacers, the glass panee and the spacers being glued together so as to form a rigid unit.The insu lating glass unit 21 is fixedly retained in the frame 1 by means of glazing bead 5 which, by the intermediary of a sealing strip 4, urges the insuleiting glass unit 21 against the sealing strip 3 and the shoulder 20. The glazing bead 5 is fixed, in a conventional manner, in the frame 1 by means of anchorage devices such as nails, staples, screws or the Like.

Between the edge of the insulating glass unit and the proximal surface 17 of the frame 1, there is s gap 19 where conventional spacers (not shown in the drawing) are disposed in uniform spacedapart relationship and hold the insulsting glass unit in the correct position in the frame 1 such that the edges of the individual panes 2 do not come into contact with the frarlle proper, but unly with the spacers.This supporting of the insulsting glass unit 21 is necessary to avoid damage to the insulsting glass unit, since, if unsup po-ted or incorrectly Supported, the insulating glass unit would be unable to withataud the forces of gravity for tiny length of tine.

Th@s, because of the supports which are employed between the edge of the insulsting glass unit and the proximal surface 17 of the frame ', there iE always a lore or less tlearly-defined spats which Say be used for mounting the locking plate according to the invention. However, the size of this space flay vary fro:': window type to witilsow type.

In a first embodiment of the locking plate, this is provided with shanks making approximately a right Angle with each other1 namely a first or outer shank 7 and a considerably longer second or inner shank 8. Both of the shanks are manufactured in one piece from resilient steel material and are bent at approximately 900 along a bending region such that the locking plate, seen from the edge, will assume approximately the form of an L.

In the illustrated embodiment, the second shank 8 of the lock- ing plate is provided with two punched-out catches or barbs 9 which, as is apparent from the Drawing Figure, Inay be triangular and are of one-piece construction with the remainder of the locking plate.

Since the entire locking plate i@ preferably man@f@@tured of spring steel, the barbs 9 will, naturally, also be resilient And are, on their manufacture, bent out away from the plane of the second shank 8 to which an extent that at lease the tips 23 are spaced from the plane of the second shank 8 a distance which exceeds, by a generous margin (approx. 2 mm), the thickness of the spacer which is normally placed between the insulating glass unit and the proximal surface 17 of the frame 1. In the embodimant of rigs. 1 and 2 above, this has its counterpart in the thickness of the free area 13, i.e. the height above ti,e spacer studs 12.

In Fig. 3, the locking plate is inserted in the space 19 between the edga of the insulating glass unit and the surface 17 of the frame 1. It will ire be apparent thet the inside of the outer or firse shank 7 lieE on the outside of the insulating glass unit 21.

Furthermore, tile inside of the inner or second shank 8 abuts against he edges of tlie glass panes 2 included in the insulating glass unit. It will further be apparent from the Drawing that both of the catches or barbs 9 are powerfully urged against the frame 1 and its surface 17 and that they hove, to a certain extent, also been urged into the material of the frame 1.The cause of these urging forces is, on the one hand, the dimensionsing of the barba as cescribed above and, on the other hand, this fart that the lockii'g plate ii, as @ mantioned above, manufactured of @@@ing @@eel It is further clearly apparent from the Drawing that insertion of the locking plate into the space 19 may readily be effected as soon es the glazing bead 5 has been removed.On such incortion, the barba 9 will, of course, resiliently yicld in towards the iane@ shank 8 of the locking plate when the tips 23 of the barbs slide along the surface 17 of the frame 1. Moreover, the inside of the innPr shank 8 will, under the action of the spring force, naturally @lide agsinet the ond cdges of the pause 2, In order, in this sltuation, to avoid damage to the glass panes, there are disposed, between the. locking plate and proximal surface of the glass pane, spacers which are suitably anchored to the locking plate. rn this embodiment, these spacers are realised in the the entire locking place is suitably enveloped by a protective sheath or layer which may be applied by suitable lacquering or hot melt plastic coating.

In the first embodiment of the locking plate, both of the barbs 9 are disposed offset in the longitudinal direction of the second shank 8 but also offset in the lateral direction thereof.

In a modified embodiment of the locking plate, =hie is manufactured of spring steel and, in effect, differs from the abovedescribed embodiment only in that the inner or second shank 8 is wider than is the case in tile above-described embodiment. It will hereby be possible for both of the barbs or catches 9 to be placed side-by-side without, for that reason, resulting in excessive weakening of the Liner shank 3. This embodiment is primarily intended for an insulating glass unit which, contains but two glass panes.For this teason, the distance from the bendine region to the rear edge of the inner ',itsnk is, naturally, less than it the case in the above-described embodiment, in which the locking plate is designed for cooperation with an insulating glass unit consisting of three glass panes. In both cases, it applies that be distance between the bending region and the rear edge may approximately coincide with the thickness of the insulating glass unit.

In a furthef embodiment of the locking plate according to the present invention, this embodiment being primarily i@tended for use with insulating glass unite comprising three panes, the barb 9 is not produced by pinching, being instead manufactured in one piece with the inner shank 8 in that this shank is provided, at its rear edge, with a double-bent or recurved portion where, thus, the sheet metal material in the locking plate lies recurved surface-to-surface along a short distance. From this recurved portion, the barb 9 proper is then angled a direction turned to face away from the di rection in which the outer shank 7 extends. In this embodiment, the tip 23 of the barb should be approximately located in the centre of the longitudinal extent of the inner shank 8.

In yet a further embodiment, the Locking plate is provided with two barbs 9 departing tom the secured portion, these barbs being preferably of differing lengths, such that the tips 23 on both of the barbs 9 are located on either side of a transverse centre line of the inner shank 8.

In the embodiment according to Figs. @ 1 and 2 above, the base portion 11 was described as being panel-like, elongate and substan- tially rectangular in configuration. According to the present invention, this is not critically necessary. Instead, the base portion may be foreminated, or may be in the form of a network or lattice system, or the like. Furthermore, the spacer studs 12 need not be of the configuration or disposition as shown on the Drawing, so long as tie spacer studs are located in register with each pane 2 included in the insulating glass unit. Heuce, it is fully possible to dispeuse with both of the outermost vertical rows of spacer studs such that, in Fig. 2, there would only remain those rows which are located adja@ent the cpen ares 13.Correspondingly, it would be possible to dispense entirely with the transverse channels 18 by tendering the spacer studs continuous and of gieater length in the longitudinal direction of the spacer element proper.

As fuyrther @lternstives, @@@ may be made of spacer stude 12 which consist of a large namber of projecting nartow pins or ridges which, t@ @ certain degree, may be bent so as to make for adapation of the spacer element 10 according t@ the available space. Alterna t ively these pins or ridges nay be provided with 1 i:ie of fracture @or sep@ration of certain parts such that thei@ lengths may be va@ied.

The present invention should nor be considened sa restricted to that described above and shown on the Drawings, many modifications being conceivable without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended Clsiir.s.

Claims

1. A device for preventing the unlawful removal of one or more panes of glass mounted in a frame, such as a window casement or a window frame, primarily in the form of a so-called insulating glass unit, the device including a locking member engaging with the frame in a positionally-fixing manner, and provided with a portion located outside the outer face of the pane which there is disposed, between the edge portion of the pane and a proximal surface of the frame, a spacer member for forming a space between the pane and the frame, the locking device extending with one portion into said space and is provided, on this portion, with engagement means for engagement with the frame, auxiliary spacers being provided between the locking device and proximal surfaces on the pane.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the spacer memberand the auxiliary spacers are continuous in order, together, to form a single spacer element.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which two spacer members are provided between which the auxiliary spacers are disposed.

4. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which a first of the auxiliary spacers is panel-like and is disposed substantially parallel with the proximal surface of the frame, the second of the auxiliary spacers also being panel-like and extending from an edge portion of the first auxiliary spacer on the outer face of the pane, at least one spacer member being disposed on the first auxiliary spacer, on each side of the second auxiliary spacer, the spacer member extending out from the first auxiliary spacer in a direction which is opposite to the direction of the second auxiliary spacer; the locking device being disposed in a free area between the spacer members at the second auxiliary spacer.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 in which the first auxiliary spacer is elongate with the free area at a central region, the free area being open towards one longitudinal edge of the first auxiliary spacer, and the first and second auxiliary spacers being of a thickness which is considerably less than the total thickness of the spacer element.

6. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the locking device is of angular configuration and is manufactured of a preferably slightly resilient sheet material, the portion located on the outer side of the pane consisting of a short shank, while the portion located at the proximal surface of the frame consists of a longer shank; the longer shank being provided with a number of barbs or projections, serving as engagement members and being directed towards the outside of the glass pane and towards the proximal surface of the frame, in order to permit the insertion of the longer shank in the space, but prevent its withdrawal, by the engagement of the bars in the frame.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the locking device is of angular configuration and is manufactured of a preferably slightly resilient sheet material; its portion located on the outer side of the pane consisting of a short shank, while the portion located at the proximal surface of the frame consists of a longer shank; the longer shank being provided with a number of barbs or projections, serving as engagement members and being directed towards the outside of the glass pane and towards the proximal surface of the frame, in order to permit the insertion of the longer shank in the space, but prevent its withdrawal, by the engagement of the barbs in the frame.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 in which the auxiliary spacers are disposed on the locking device one on each shank; and the spacer members are disposed in spaced-apart relationship from the auxiliary spacers.

9. A device as claimed in claim 6 or 8 in which the barbs are designed as flaps or tabs punched-out and projecting from the longer shank.

10. A device as claimed in claim 6 or 8 in which the bars are created by the longer shank having, in its end facing away from the shorter shank, a recurved portion, whence the barbs extend.

11. A device for preventing the unlawful removal of one or more panes of glass mounted in a frame substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.