GB2239287A

GB2239287A - Retaining glazing sheets

Info

Publication number: GB2239287A
Application number: GB9027893A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas John Wood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-12-21
Filing date: 1990-12-21
Publication date: 1991-06-26
Also published as: GB8928908D0; GB9027893D0

Abstract

A security glazed assembly and a method and components therefor wherein a glazing frame is provided with a second abutment surface 55 located forwardly of the conventional first abutment surface. The glazing sheet is retained by a retention member 70 having a first portion 54 engaged with the front surface of the shoot, a second portion 58 engaged with the second abutment surface, and a third intermediate portion 60 hold by the shoot against movement inwardly of the frame. Preferably the glazed assembly includes a number of retention members, spaced apart around the outer edge of the sheet. Typically, the frame will be rectangular, and there will be two such retention members along each side of the frame i.e. eight for each glazed assembly. The abutment surface 55 may be provided by a flange or groove on the frame, or by a packing piece inserted between glass and frame. <IMAGE>

Description

SECURITY GLAZED ASSEMBLY AND METHOD AND COMPONENTS THEREFOR This invention relates to a security glazed assembly and method and components therefor.

The normal glazed assembly comprises a frame and glazing sheet, typically of transparent glass. Such frame includes a first upstanding, inwardly-directed, rear abutment surface with a dimension less than that of the sheet; however, the frame has a front dimension greater than that of the sheet, whereby the sheet can be fed rearwardly through the frame until stopped by the abutment surface. Such glazed assemblies are widely used as windows in offices and houses, and typically the frame is rectangular and assembled from four side-pieces, each of which carries its own upstanding inwardly-directed rear abutment surface (which can be secured thereto or be integrally formed therewith).

In this specification "front" refers to the (external) face or surface adjacent the building exterior wall into which the frame is secured, whereas "rear" refers to the (interior) face or surface located within the building. The front dimension is thus accessible from outside the building. "Inward" refers to a direction generally towards the frame axis i.e. transverse to the forward and rearward directions.

Since such glazed assemblies are used as external fittings, it is necessary that the front face of the sheet at its junction with the frame be sealed against the elements. Traditionally this has been achieved by the use of a material having plastic properties, such as that known as "glazier's putty"; however, such putty takes an appreciable time to apply, it requires a skilled and experienced operator if both an effective seal and pleasing appearance are to be obtained, and once applied the putty takes some time to "set". It has thus become common practice to seal external windows and the like with sealing strips, typically carrying a resilient e.g. rubber, bead; a strip is located in the frame such that the bead is pressed against the front face of the sheet to provide the sealing function.For better sealing and quicker assembly, the strips are usually sprung into a prepared frame groove, rather than being nailed or screwed to the frame. An advantage of such strip sealing arrangements is that they can simultaneously act to locate the glass sheet against forward movement out of the frame.

Although sealing strips are simple and quick to fit, particularly to the popular factory-made glazed assemblies having a frame of wood, aluminium or of a synthetic resinous material, there is the major problem that the strips are correspondingly easy to remove. Police statistics indicate that removal of the four sealing strips from a standard frame can take less than 15 seconds, and subsequent removal and careful stacking of the glass sheet can be effected in a further 15 seconds. Thus a house breaker or burglar can quietly gain entry from outside the building in about 30 seconds, without needing to break the glass. Furthermore, without the glass, the frame provides a ready-made opening through which selected house contents can be removed.

One known arrangement to provide a security glazed assembly is simply to reverse the frame, so that the abutment surface becomes a "front" surface rather than a "rear" surface, with the glass being fitted from inside the building; this arrangement is not however favoured by users, since replacement sheets have first to be carried inside the building, which can prove difficult for a householder, and dangerous in a crowded office block. Another known arrangement is to secure the sheet against the abutment surface by a flexible tape having an adhesive on both sides, whereby the tape is secured to the abutment surface, and to the rear face of the glass; a disadvantage of this arrangement is that if the sheet needs to be replaced, it is difficult to separate all the (broken) edge pieces of the glass from the adhesive tape.A third known arrangement uses frame corner pieces, with a wedge being driven parallel to the plane of the sheet and between the glass and each corner piece until the glass sheet is locked firmly in position in the frame; disadvantages of this arrangement are that (a) it is only suitable for frames having corners, Ih) it is difficult for one person to hold the four corner pieces of a rectangular frame in position whilst the sheet is being inserted, {c} it is difficult to locate the sheet squarely in position prior to the wedges being secured, (d) it is difficult to hammer the wedges into the locking position without damaging either the glass edge or the frame, and {e} it needs two separate matched pieces for effective securement at each corner.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved security glazed assembly and method and components therefor which avoids or minimises the above disadvantages, whilst continuing to permit sealing by means of conventional sealing strips.

According to one feature of my invention I propose a security glazed assembly comprising a frame and a glazing sheet, the sheet having a rear face and. a front face and an outer edge joining said rear face and said front face, the frame having a first abutment surface with at least one dimension smaller than that of the sheet, the frame having a front dimension greater than that of the sheet, part of said sheet rear face being engaged with the first abutment surface of the frame characterised in that the frame has a second abutment surface located forwardly of the first abutment surface and in that a retention member for the sheet has a first portion engaged with the front surface of the sheet, a second portion engaged with the second abutment surface, and third portion held by the sheet against removal inwardly of the frame.

Conveniently the third portion of the retention member is held against movement inwardly of the frame, by direct engagement with the sheet periphery or outer edge.

Preferably the glazed assembly includes a number of retention members, spaced apart around the outer edge of the sheet.

Typically, the frame will be rectangular, and there will be two such retention members along each side of the frame i.e. eight for each glazed assembly.

I also propose a method of security glazing a frame with a glazing sheet, the sheet having a rear face and a front face and an outer edge joining said rear face and said front face, the frame having a first abutment surface with at least one dimension less than that of the sheet, and a second abutment surface forwardly of the first abutment surface and having a first dimension greater than that of the sheet, which includes the steps of feeding the sheet through an opening defined by said first dimension until it engages the first abutment surface, fitting at least one retention member to extend between the sheet and a part of the frame, the retention member having a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, said fitting continuing until said first portion engages with the said front face of the sheet, said second portion engages with the second abutment surface, and said third portion is held against movement inwardly of the frame. Preferably the retention member is fully concealed by fitting a sealing strip with a part thereof engaging the said front face of the sheet.

Conveniently said method includes the step of positioning said sheet so that the sheet restrains movement of said third portion of the retention member against movement inwards of the frame.

The sealing strip will engage the front face inwardly of the engagement position of the first portion of the retention member.

The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the schematic accompanying drawings (not to scale) in which: Fig.1 is an exploded perspective view of a glazed assembly; Fig.2 is a schematic part-side sectional view of a known glazed assembly; Fig.3 is a view corresponding to the circled portion of Fig.2 but with a retention member fitted according to the invention, between the sheet and the frame; Fig.# is a side view of another embodiment of retention member according to the invention; Fig.5 is a view on the line v-V of Fig.4; Fig. is a plan view of a further embodiment of retention member; Fig.7 is a side view of the retention member of Fig.6;; Fig.8 is a front elevation of the retention member of Fig.6, Fig.9 is an underneath plan view of another embodiment of retention member; Fig.10 is a side view of the retention member of Fig.9; Fig.11 is a plan view of an accessory, to be fixed to a flat frame surface, to form the second abutment surface; Fig.12 is a side view of the accessory of Fig. 11; Fig.13 is a plan view of one embodiment of packer accessory, in which the second abutment surface is provided by a recess in a glass packer; Fig.14 is a front view of another embodiment of glass packer, with a sheet schematically shown in outline; Fig.15 is a plan view of a further glass packer; and Fig.16 is a view of the packer of Fig.15, with a double-glazed sheet secured against forward movement by a retention means.

The glazed assembly comprises a frame 10, of rectangular shape, having four side members 12,14,1#,1R. A glazing sheet 20, having a front face 22 and a rear face 24 joined by outer edge 25, is of a size to be inserted into and fed through the frame until a peripheral part of rear face 24 engages rear first abutment surfaces 2G, which are formed integrally with the respective side members and which extend inwardly of the frame, generally towards the hypothetical central axis of the frame. Sheet 20 is sealed by sealing strips 28, which in this known embodiment also locate the sheet 20 against forward movement relative to frame 10.

As more clearly seen in Fig.2, which is of a U-DRtC frame of a profile selected from one of a number of such profiles available from proprietary manufacturers, the rear face 24 of sheet 20 engages first abutment surface 126 by way of an intermediate spacer 30 carring a resilient shock absorbing and sealing bead 32, in this embodiment of rubber; bead 32 also accommodates thermal expansion of sheet 20. The outer edge 25 of sheet 29 is supported by frame lip 34. Frame lip 3t and a forward frame lip 36 define a groove in which can be spring-fitted respective bosses 38,40 of sealing strip 125.

Sealing strip 128 carries a rubber bead 42, which seals against the front face 22 of glazing sheet 20. Thus with the glazing sheet vertically disposed as seen in Fig.2, rain water from face 22 is diverted along sealing strip surface 44 over flange 46, to run away down frame surface 48.

Between flange 46 and lip 36 is a gap 50, into which a housebreaker or burglar can insert a blade to spring out sealing strip 12R, permitting unauthorised removal of sheet 20.

As seen in Fig.3, I propose a retention member 52 to prevent glass sheet 20 being removed from frame 10, even if sealing strip 128 is removed as above described. The retention member 52 includes (a) a first portion 54 engaged with the front face 22 of the sheet 20, (b) a second portion 58 engaged with a second abutment surface 55 of the frame 10, in this embodiment the second abutment surface being provided by the rear face of lip 34, said rear face being forward of first abutment surface 126, and (c) a third portion 60 engaged with the outer edge 25 of sheet 20 to resist movement of the retention member 52 inwardly of the frame i.e. upwardly as seen in The second portion 58 of retention member 52 is provided by an angled spear 56, which can be driven between glass edge 25 and lip 34, after the glass has been positioned in the frame, until it fits into the position as seen in Fig.3. Thus the retention member can be fitted both to those existiny windows and the like located by removable sealing strips, and to similarly sealed new windows during factory assembly. tJsefully the retention member 52 is of spring steel, of thickness 32 Thou, inhibiting forward removal of the retention member by straightening spear 56, and rearward removal by straightening first portion 54.Furthermore, the method of retention, as by spear 56, cannot clearly be seen even when sealing strip 128 has been removed, which will deter most housebreakers and burglars from continuing further with seeking to remove that glass sheet.

In one embodiment, the retention member 52 has a front to rear depth of 6.5mm and a transverse width of 1Omm.

An alternative arrangement is shown in Figs.4 and Figs.5. In this embodiment the third portion 160 can be used to centre and locate the glass sheet 20; spear 155 with angled tip 157 can be aligned with the edge 25 of sheet 20, but in this embodiment is forward of front edge 22, so making subsequent removal without breaking sheet 20 even more difficult. It will he understood that this embodiment of retention member 152 is suitable for use with an alternative profile to that of Fig.2, i.e. one with an upstanding rib (not shown) on the frame 10. In another alternative embodiment, the frame 10 may have a re-entrant portion (as more fully described with reference to Figs 13-16) into which fits spear 156. Instead of a flat engagement edge, spear 156 can have one or more pointed tips, as seen in the embodiment of Fig.6-8.

The spacing in this embodiment between third portion 160 and spear 156 is 3.9mm. Tip 157 is angled at 20 degrees to the plane of spear 15#.

A further alternative arrangement is shown in Figs.6, Fig 7 and Fig.8. In this embodiment there are multiple spears 256 on retention member 252, shown as aligned pairs to mate with not only a second abutment surface but also with a third abutment surface for even greater security, or alternatively for dual use of the retention member with first and second frames each having a different disposition of second abutment surface. In yet a further embodiment, the spears can be staggered to suit a staggered second abutment surface, or as a second securement should the forward pair of spears be forcibly deformed during attempted removal. Sheet 20 restrains third portion 260 against inward movement towards the centre of frame 10.

The retention member 252 has a forward to rear dimension of 13mm; a vertical height of 1Omm; and a lateral width of 2Smm.

Third portion 260 has a lateral width of Amm. The spears 256 are of length 2mm.

Yet a further alternative arrangement is shown in Fig. and Fig.10. In this embodiment the third portion 360 of retention member 352 is curved, such that the point of spear 356 is at a similar level to the free end of third portion 360, and to the junction between third portion 360 and first portion 354. Thus this embodiment is particularly suitable for insertion between the glass edge 25 and frames having no pre-existing second abutment surface i.e frames which are planar forwardly of the front face 22 of glass sheet 20. The second abutment 355 is then provided by an accessory 371, such as that of Figs.11 , 12, comprising a fixing plate 372 and a raised section 374.In this embodiment the fixing plate 372 is intended to be affixed to the frame 10 by adhesive; but in an alternative embodiment one or more screw or nail holes can be provided. If the edge 376 of plate 372 is the forward edge (or alternatively the rear edge), spear 356 can fit within raised section 374; but if for example the edge 378 is the forward edge then surface 390 can be the second abutment, so that this accessory is suitable for fitting to and for use with various proprietary frame profiles having differently dimensioned forward planar surfaces. Specifically the second portion of the retention member can engage alternatively with a flank of the hoop or below the crown of the hoop, whereby the component is suited for fixing to different frame profiles.

The retention member 352 has a front to rear dimension of 24mm; and a vertical height of 13mm.

Alternative arrangements are shown in Fig.13, Fig.14 and Fig.15. Frequently the glass sheet 20 is supported in the frame 10 on packing pieces or "packers" 4nun, to minimise the effect of irregularities in edye 25, and to minimise stresses in the glass upon differential thermal expansion between the frame and glass sheet. The packer 400 can have a through-opening 402 (or alternatively a recess, not shown) and be secured to the frame 10; a side wall A04 of the opening 402 provides the second abutment face 455, for a retention member 452, in these embodiments shaped somewhat similarly to retention member 52 of Fig.3.

The glazing sheet shown in Fig.14 is a double-ylazed assembly, with a pair of sheets spaced apart by separator 410 in known fashion; the rear first abutment 426 is an upstanding inwardly directed step engaging rear face 24 directly, but in an alternative embodiment includes a spacer corresponding to intermediate spacer 30 of Fig.2. recesses 401 can be provided in packer 400 aligned with respective openings 402; the third portion of retention member 452 is made of a size to be sunk into recess 401 to inhibit access to retention member 452 from the side. The alternative embodiment of Fig.16 does not have such a recess, nor does it include the integral upstanding step of the Fig.14 embodiment.In yet a further embodiment, the opening 402 can be of the same width as the recess two1, so that the retention member is formed from a rectangular section of spring steel i.e.

of a single width.

In an alternative arrangement, instead of modifying the packers to provide the second abutment by using either an external surface of the packer or an opening 402 or recess, the opening or recess could be formed or drilled directly in the frame.

Packer 400 has legs 403 shaped to locate in a proprietary profile and be located thereby. In alternative embodiments modified legs, or protruberances or recesses can be provided, as by suitably moulding a plastic packer, so that the chosen packer can locate in a selected proprietary profile.

Preferably the first portion 54,15,25fl,354,454, is angled to the plane of the third portion e.g. et 10 degrees, such that only the inner extremity engages the front face 22 of sheet 2D; spear 56,156,256,356,456 or a tip thereof is generally parallel to the respective first portion but preferably at a slightly greater angle to the plane of the third portion. The first portion includes an impact zone 70,170,270,370,470 adapted to sustain impacts from a tool used to drive the retention device in the rearward fitting direction (to the left as seen in Fig.1); this zone includes the area adjacent the junction between the first portion and the third portion.In addition, the embodiment of Figs.4/5 has a second impact zone 172 between the third portion and the second portion; this second impact zone can be impacted by the edge of a screwdriver or the like until the spear 156 sprints behin the second abutment, whilst the glass edge 25 and frame 10 are protected from damage from the screwdriver edge by the said third and second portions, which also help guide the said edge towards and into the impacting position.

Not only have I disclosed a novel security glazing assembly and method, but I have also disclosed packers of novel construction and combined purpose and retention members of novel purpose and construction.

I am also herein disclosing a modified packer, comprising two parts relatively slidable with a "wedging" or ramp action, to alter the resultant height of the packer. The first packer portion can be of a standard design, common to all glazed assemblies, and will include the second abutment surface, conveniently as a recess, but perhaps as a through hole; this first part will engage the edge 25 of the sheet 20. The second part will be made to fit and locate with a particular frame profile, and will thus generally be non-standard. The parts will each have an angled surface with ribs or detents, with which a correspondingly angled and ribbed surface of the other part can mate and lock under compressive loading. The angled surfaces will be opposed to the surfaces engaged with the edge 25 and the frame respectively, and in use will be located between the frame and glass edge, with the parts adjusted axially so that the resultant packer height is suited to the selected dimension of the sheet 20 i.e. its spacing from the frame.

Claims

1. A security glazed assembly comprising a frame and a glazing sheet, the sheet having a rear face and a front face and an outer edge joining said rear face and said front face, the frame having a first abutment surface with at least one dimension smaller than that of the sheet, the frame having a front dimension greater than that of the sheet, part of said sheet rear face being engaged with said first abutment surface of the frame characterised in that the frame has a second abutment surface located forwardly of the first abutment surface, and in that a retention member for the sheet has a first portion engaged with the front surface of the sheet, a second portion engaged with the second abutment surface, and a third portion held by the sheet against removal inwardly of the frame.

2. A security glazed assembly according to claim 1 in which the third portion of the retention member is held against movement inwardly of the frame.

3. A security glazed assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the frame comprises connected frame members, each frame member having an associated first abutment surface formed integrally therewith.

4. A security glazed assembly according to claim 3 in which the associated first abutment surfaces are joined to provide a continuous first abutment surface which extends inwardly from the frame members.

5. A security glazed assembly according to any of claims 1-4 in which a resilient shock absorbing and sealing bead is located between the first abutment surface and said part of the rear face of the sheet, the said part of said rear face being thereby engaged indirectly with the first abutment surface of the frame.

6. A security glazed assembly according to any of claims 1-5 in which the second abutment surface is an inward projection integral with the frame.

7. A security glazed assembly according to any of the claims 1-5 in which the second abutment surface is formed as a groove in the frame.

8. A security glazed assembly according to any of claims 1-5 in which the second abutment surface is formed on a separate component fixed to the frame.

9. A security glazed assembly according to claim 8 in which the component is a hoop, the second portion of the retention member engaging alternatively with a flank of the hoop or below the crown of the hoop, whereby the component is suited fo fixing to different frame profiles.

10. A security glazed assembly according to any of claims 1-9 in which the second portion of the retention member is a spear having a pointed end.

11. A security glazed assembly according to any of claims 1-10 in which the first portion of the retention member is an angled plate extending from one edge of the third portion of the retention member, and in which the second portion of the retention member extends from an opposed edge of the third portion of the retention member.

12. A security glazed assembly according to any of claims 1-11 in which the first portion includes an impact zone, and in which the second portion is joined to the third portion by a second impact zone.

13. A security glazed assembly according to any of claims 1-10 in which the first portion of the retention member is an angled plate extending from one edge of the third portion of the retention member, and in which the second portion of the retention member extends from an intermediate position of the third portion of the retention member.

14. A security glazed assembly according to claim 11 or claim 13 in which the first portion and the third portion have a greater included angle than that between the second portion and the third portion.

15. A security glazed assembly according to claim 13 in which a retention member has at least one additional second portion.

16. A security glazed assembly according to any of claims 1-15 in which the first portion includes an impact zone, and in which the second portion is joined to the third portion by a second impact zone.

17. A security glazed assembly according to any of claims 1-16 in which the third portion is planar.

18. A security glazed assembly according to any of claims 11-16 when dependent upon Claim 10 in which the third portion is curved, the third portion having a free end with which the point of the spear is aligned, the first and third portions being joined at a junction, the said point of the spear also being aligned with the junction.

19. A security glazed assembly according to any of claims 1-18 in which the sheet is supported by at least one packing piece, the packing piece being secured to the frame and having a recess defined in part by a sidewall, the sidewall providing the said second abutment surface.

20. A security glazed assembly according to claim 19 in which the third portion of the retention member is sunk into the recess.

21. A security glazed assembly according to claim 19 in which the recess includes a through opening of the same width as that of the recess, the retention member being rectangular and thus of a single width.

22. A security glazed assembly according to any preceding claim in which the retention member is of spring steel.

23. A security glazed assembly according to claim 22 in which the spring steel is of a uniform thickness of 32 thou.

24. A security glazed assembly according to claim 22 or Claim 23 in which the retention member has a front to rear dimension of 6.5mm, and a transverse width of 1Omm.

25. A security glazed assembly according to any preceding claim which includes a sealing strip engaged with the front face of the sheet.

26. A frame having a first abutment surface and a second abutment surface and suited for use in a security glazed assembly according to any of claims 1-25.

27. A retention member for a glazing sheet suitable for use in a security glazed assembly according to any of claims 1-25

28. A method of security glazing a frame with a glazing sheet, the sheet having a rear face and a front face and an outer edge joining said rear face and said front face, the frame having a first abutment surface with at least one dimension less than that of the sheet, a second abutment surface forwardly of the first abutment surface and having a first dimension greater than that of the sheet, which includes the steps of feeding the sheet through an opening defined by said first dimension until it engages the first abutment surface, fitting at least one retention member to extend between the sheet and part of the frame, the retention member having a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, said fitting continuing until said first portion engages with the said front face of the sheet, said second portion engages with the second abutment surface, and said third portion is held against movement inwardly of the frame.

29. A method according to claim 28 in which the retention member is fully concealed by fitting a sealing strip with a part thereof engaging the said front face of the sheet.

30. A security glazed assembly constructed and arranged substantially as described with reference to Fig.3, Figs.4-5, Figs.6-9, Figs.9-12, Figs.13-15, and Fig.16.

31. A retention member constructed and arranged substantially as described with reference to Fig.3, Figs.4-5, Figs.6-8, Figs.9-10, and Fig.16.

32. A retention member suitable for use in a security glazed assembly as claimed in any of Claims 1-25 or Claim 30.

33. A packing piece for use in an assembly according to any of claims 1-24 constructed and arranged substantially as described with reference to Figs.13,14 or Figs. 15,16.