GB2256222A - Glazing panel retaining clip - Google Patents

Abstract

A glazing panel retaining clip has a stationary part 101 and a slidable part 102. Upper surface 103 contacts the edges of a panel, or pane of glass 124. Part 101 is screwed to the surrounding door or window frame, wherever desired, through holes 105, 106 - slide 102, with a panel-retaining flange 113 pushes into a configured recess 107 within stationary part 101. Slide 102 slides along to the end of the recess 107 and is then pushed outwards to be stopped at 108 as the window or door panel is fully assembled with its internal resilient sealing strips around its margins. At this stage the slide 102 can no longer slide back along the frame to its entry point, being retained by shoulder 112. Thus it provides a positive mechanical security clip only releasable by first removing the internal sealing strip and thus secure against outside interference. <IMAGE>

Description

FRAME AND PANEL ASSEMBLY This invention relates to frame and panel assemblies, more especially to such assemblies where the frame is a window or door frame made from extruded profiles and the panel is a single pane of glass or a spaced double-pane sealed unit of glass. The invention will be predominantly described with reference to such glazing assemblies.

The invention further relates to such assemblies including one more security clips, to designs of clip per se, and to an accumulation of parts including the frame components, panels, and ancillary fixing members including such clips. The invention also encompasses methods of assembly using such parts.

It is well known to produce glazing frames in which the panel is held in the frame peripherally, at its margins, within a surrounding external marginal bead.

With early designs, if the bead were removed, the panel would be exposed for easy removal from the outside.

For security reasons, therefore, bead design of more recent years has been such that on assembly the bead is forced outwards by assembly movement of the panel into an interengaging position with the frame whereby it cannot be moved except by releasing the pane internally and then disengaging the bead in an inward direction.

However, it has become apparent that a determined person can still remove such beads, exercising brute force from the outside of the panel. For that reason various designs of security clip have been proposed for insertion at intervals around the panel, to lie inside the bead and present additional physical retainer flanges to the panel, of a type which cannot be readily forced out of engagement.

These clips in turn need to be anchored to the frame. Some designs propose flanges and recesses in the clips which interengage with various shoulders and recesses of the frame. However, these clips can be somewhat difficult to install, and may need frame modifications, for example cutting away part of the frame, before the clip can be fixed. Other forms of clip are physically attached by screws. However there is then need to allow for the usual small outward assembly movements of the components and its holders and so, typically, such arrangements propose screws held in slots to accommodate such travel. Another form of security clip is immobilized by being arranged in pairs connected by an integral strip extending around the corner of a panel. Still other forms of clip envisage a metal construction with inherent clip resilience.

This invention sets out to rationalise the design of clips by providing easy-to-install two-part clips wherein one part is fixed to the frame and the other slides along relative to the frame into a non-return engagement position, e.g. as urged by the resilience of the internal panel mounting, so that return sliding movement out of engagement can only be effected from the inside of the panel.

In one aspect the invention consists in a frame and panel assembly of the type which the panel is located at its margins in an externally facing rebate about the inner periphery of a surrounding frame portion and in which an external peripheral bead extends over the margins of the panel: wherein, to prevent removal of the panel from the outside when the external peripheral bead is removed, at least one security clip is secured to the frame portion inner periphery, the clip comprising a stationary part attached to the frame to abut the edges of the panel and a movable part, possessing an upstanding panel-containing flange, slidable in a direction along the said inner periphery without frictional engagement with the edge of the panel from an initial position at which it is or can be introduced between the edge of the panel and the frame to a defined end position with the second part engaging with the first part to prevent return sliding manipulation from the outside.

The panel of course usually comprises a sealed glass double-pane unit, and the frame is typically a window or door frame.

Since the operation of the clip in accordance with the invention is dependent upon introducing the second part orthogonally to the frame and then sliding, the rebate is preferably a shelf-like configuration without its own retaining rim. If such a rim is present it should usually be removed to permit the second part of the clip to be assembled. Alternatively, the defined recess behind the rim can be filled by an additional spacer piece.

The external bead itself is not necessarily readily removable. Typically, a "shuffle" bead construction, i.e. one in which the bead is first generally positioned and then the panel is then emplaced to push the bead outwards into interengagement with part of the frame, is used. Such a bead construction will typically be finished by a sealing weather strip at the edge of the bead nearest the panel, and is well known per se.

Although such a bead structure is not readily removable it is nonetheless possible to prise out the strip and bead in certain circumstances. The present invention thus provides another line of security thereafter.

The clips can be provided in the frame assembly as a single clip, two clips (for example as an opposed pair) or a larger number, for example a plurality of clips extending around the top and bottom and side edges of the panel at e.g 50 cm intervals. The stationary part of the clip is typically screwed to the frame and at its upper surface provides an accurate abutment for the panel, for example a support abutment if the lower edge of the pane is involved. The slidable part of the clip does not substantively abut the panel edge so that the clip part can slide freely. In some embodiments the slidable part can slide from a spaced position on the frame, that is to say the clip can start as two overlapping or even non-contacting parts which are slid together to an interengaging end position.In other embodiments the clip can present itself as a two part assembly, the second part of which is inserted at right angles into the other part and then slid along internally to an interengaging end position as before.

Various types of interengagement may be used in accordance with the invention. Preferably they all involve minor relative transverse displacement of the two parts into a mutual configuration which is not disengageable for reverse sliding from outside the panel.

Thus the invention further consists in a security clip for a panel located at its margins within an externally facing rebate of a frame assembly and possessing an internal peripheral bead extending over the said margins, said clip comprising: a first part adapted for fixing at the said rebate and exhibiting (a) a support or abutment surface for the panel (b) a parallel guide surface spaced therefrom (c) a transversely extending stop surface and (d) a non-return shoulder spaced from and opposed to the transversely extending stop surface; and a second part adapted for sliding in relation to the first part and comprising (a) a slide configuration for sliding on said guide surface, the slide configuration possessing an upstanding panel-retaining longitudinal flange and having a transverse interengaging edge spaced from its forward abutting edge by a distance no greater than the distance between the respective stop surface and non return shoulder of the first part, so that it can be slid along the frame to abut against the stop surface and be urged to locate so as to interengage this transverse interengaging edge with the non-return shoulder to resist external manipulation in the reverse direction.

One particular embodiment of clip provides a parallel guide surface in the form of a leaf over which the slide passes and in respect of which it is urged forwardly to engage in a recess in the rear edge of the leaf.

More specifically, this embodiment of clip consists of (I) an integral generally rectangular first part having a thicker abutment region at one end providing a support surface for a mounted panel; a step down to define a transversely extending stop surface; and a thinner guide region extending from the stop with an upper guide surface spaced beneath and parallel to the support surface; the thinner guide region having undercut lower longitudinal edges and, at a rearward longitudinal margin, an elongate recess extending from the stop surface to a terminating transverse shoulder; and (II) an integral second part, of a length not exceeding that of the recess and of a thickness less than that of the spaced difference between the slide and the support surfaces of the first part, with along one longitudinal edge an upstanding flange and along both longitudinal edges a downwardly extending wall with inwardly turned lips to fit beneath the undercut edges of the guide region of the first part; whereby the second part can be slid along the guide portion to the recess but when then urged forwardly is held against reverse sliding by the recess transverse shoulder.

Another particular embodiment of slide again possesses an upper abutment surface with a leaf extending from it, with a rearward edge of the leaf being formed with a longitudinal resilient tongue having a barbed end, and the slide having a rear wall with a recess to pass behind and be trapped by the said barb to prevent reverse sliding. In practice such a clip will necessitate the use of a bladed tool from the inside of the frame to press back the barb and allow reverse sliding to be manipulated. The barb is of course inaccessible to the outside of the frame.

More specifically, such a clip comprises: (I) An integral generally rectangular first part; a thicker abutment region at one end providing a support surface for a mounted panel; a step down to define a transversely extending stop surface; and a thinner guide region extending from the step, with an upper guide surface spaced beneath and parallel to the support surface; the thinner guide region having a forward lower longitudinal edge undercut and a rearward longitudinal margin provided with elongate slot parallel to the rearward edge and communicating with the said edge by an outlet slot at the end remote from the abutment region, to define a transverse shoulder and thus leave a flexible marginal tongue configuration, a barb shape being formed at the end of the tongue; and (II) an integral second part of a thickness less than that of the spaced difference between the slide and the support surface of the first part with along the forward longitudinal edge an upstanding flange and a downward extending wall with an inwardly turned lip to fit in the undercut lower longitudinal edge of the first part, and along the rearward longitudinal edge a downwardly extending wall with a gap formed therein of a length to contain the said barb, a barb-engaging end face of the gap being of a distance from the stop engaging end of the said second part not greater than the distance between the stop surface and the retaining surface of the barb; whereby the second part can be slid along the frame to abut against the stop surface and interengage with the barb to resist external manipulation in a reverse direction.

A third embodiment of clip provides a uniform upper support surface and a recess in the clip into which a slide can be introduced at right angles and along which it can be slid to engage in an internal retention configuration upon being urged forward by assembly of the panel.

More specifically the third embodiment comprises: (I) an integral generally rectangular first part defining at its upper surface a support surface for a mounted panel; said first part having a recess extending inwards at the lower forward longitudinal edge, of uniform height in the thickness dimension of the first part and of uniform depth in the transverse direction of the first part, excepting for an integral L-shaped structure extending down from the roof of the recess with the shank of the L extending along the recess from one end to decrease the recess height and with the bar of the L extending inwards towards but not meeting the back of the recess, the length of the shank of the L when measured inside the shank being not less than the distance from the L to the other end of the recess; and (II) an integral second part of a length not greater than that of the length of said shank of the L measured inside the shank, with an upstanding panel retaining flange along a forward edge and an upstanding low wall along a rearward edge, of total height less than that of the recess, the thickness of the second part being less than that gap left at the floor of the recess by the shank of the L and the thickness of the upstanding low wall being less than that below the end of the bar of the L and the back of the recess;; whereby the second part can be pushed into the recess of the first part at one end, slid along with its upstanding wall behind the bar of the L, and thereafter caused to move forward so that the wall interengages with the shank of the L-shaped structure and interengages with the bar of the L to prevent movement in the returned section from external manipulation.

The invention also consists in a method of erecting an assembly as defined above which comprises erecting a frame member; supporting an abutting panel therein upon the first part of a clip as defined above; positioning the same part of the clip at a location where it can be slide along the first part; assembling the external bead structure; sliding together the two parts of the clip; forcing the panel outwardly (for example by fitting peripheral resilient internal weather strip between the frame and the internal rear surface of the panel) whereby the bead becomes interengaged to the frame and the clip parts become interengaged to prevent unauthorized subsequent sliding movement by external manipulation.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the clip in accordance with the invention with its two parts disassembled in an exploded view prior to assembly by sliding, and with the assembled position as shown in chain-dotted lines.

Figure 2 shows a partial cross section of the assembly of Figure 1 with some parts of the environment of the clip omitted; Figure 3 shows in similar view to that of Figure 1 of another embodiment of two-part clip; Figure 4 shows in a similar view to that of Figure 2 a section through the embodiment of Figure 3, further demonstrating the positioning of a disassembly tool; Figure 5 shows in similar view to that of Figure 1 a third embodiment of two-part clip which can be assembled by initial transverse positioning and then longitudinal sliding; Figure 6 shows a view of the other side of the first part of the clip shown in Figure 5 (but of opposite hand); and Figure 7 shows a similar view to Figures 2 and 4 of the third embodiment of clip.

Figure 1 shows a clip possessing a stationary part 101 and a slidable part 102. Stationary part 101 is configured to present an uppermost support or abutment surface 103, and a lower but parallel guide surface 104. In use the clip is screwed to a rebate or shelf in a glazing frame by means of screws passing through countersunk bores 105 and 106. A recess 109 is defined along the rearward edge of the clip part 101 between the step 107 and the shoulder 108. In addition to this recess 109 the guide portion of the stationary part 101 is undercut along the lower edges where shown at 110 and 111 (see figure 2).

The slidable part 102 has an upper surface 112 which terminates forwardly in an upstanding flange 113 and a downwardly extending wall 114 with inturned lip 115. At the rear edge it terminates in a similar downwardly extending wall 116 with inturned lip 117. The thickness of the top surface 112 is slightly less than the height of the step 107 between the abutment surface 103 and the guide surface 104 on the first part. This portion 112 possesses an inner edge 118 and a following edge 119 for reasons discussed in more detail below.

The assembly of the frame and glazing unit utilizing such clips is formed as follows.

Firstly, the stationary part 101 of the clip is screwed to a suitable ledge of the frame (see figure 2) at a selected position. The slidable part 102 is placed on the frame adjacent the stationary part, if desired slightly overlapping with it.

A shuffle bead shown diagrammatically at 120 is placed with its retaining flanges 120a in a suitable undercut groove of the frame. As is well known, the overall transverse dimension of the base of the bead is less than that of the separation of the opposed undercut grooves in which the flanges 120a fit. The bead is moreover associated with a sealing gasket 121, which is of a conventional nature and is shown purely by way of diagrammatic illustration.

The pane of glass 124 is abutted against the surface 103 of the fixed part of the security clip, with its lower external margin inside the upstanding flange 113.

The movable part 102 of the clip is then slid along the stationary part until its edge 118 abuts the stop surface 107. Then an elongate elastomeric sealing gasket 125 is pressed into position between the rear of the glass unit 124 and a suitable portion of the frame, as shown in Figure 2.

This presses the frame forward and thus presses the slidable portion 102 forwardly within the recess 109.

The forward movement also presses the gasket 121 against the bead 120 so that this bead is pressed forward and so that the forward of the two lips 120a engages under its corresponding groove. It will thus be apparent that the bead, as is conventional in such structures, presents a smooth face to the external area and is lodged underneath the undercut grooves in such a way as to prevent, or greatly hinder, removal. The bead cannot be pressed back readily and manipulated out of its groove because of the impossibility of pressing the window in against the resilient but stiff gasket 125 and weather strip 121. Even if the bead were to be removed, moreover, the clip cannot be readily manipulated to slide in a reverse direction from the assembly direction.To do this it would be necessary to push the clip inwards until its rear edge 119 no longer engages with the shoulder 108 so that the clip can be retrieved from the recess. To do this would again require an impossible deformation of gasket 215.

However, if it is desired to remove the pane of glass, the assembly can be readily reversed, the essential first step being to remove gasket 125 from inside of the unit. When this is done the bead 120 can be freed, and the clip 102 can be pressed inwards in a reverse direction.

Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of clip.

Many of the parts and their functions are similar to those of figure 1, and are similarly numbered. Thus, the clip comprises a stationery part 201 and a slidable part 202, the stationary part having an upper support surface 203 and a lower guide surface 204 and being provided with countersunk bores 205 and 205 respectively. The step between the two surfaces is referenced as 207. However, instead of a recess at the rearward edge of the clip there is provided a barbed tongue 209, defined by slots 209A extending along the clip and outlet slot 209B extending to communicate with the rearward edge. This tongue 209 possesses a detent surface 208. The forward edge of the guide portion 204 is undercut at groove 211.

The slidable part of the clip 202 comprises a flat body 212 which at its forward edge has an upwardly extending flange 213 and a downwardly extending wall 214 within inwardly turned lip 215. The flap body 212, which is of a thickness slightly less than that of the step 207 between the surface 203 and 204 has at its rear edge a downwardly extending wall 216 without in this an inturned lip but with a gap 217 formed in the wall, a forward edge of this gap being defined at 219.

The clip as shown in Figure 3 is assembled slightly differently from the clip as shown in Figure 1. The main steps of assembly, however, are identical. That is to say, the stationary portion 201 is screwed at a selected location through bores 205 and 206 to a ledge 223 on the frame. The slide is placed either adjacent or slightly overlapping the clip, and the glass panel is placed on top. A bead (not shown in Figure 4) and its associated weather strip are assembled as before. To ensure non-return travel the wall 219 of recess 217 is engaged with the detent surface 208 of the barb 209.

Thus, the slide is moved along the stationery portion until its edge 218 meets the stop 207 and until the wall 219 clicks over the barb. This brings about the same consequence as in figures 1 and 2, namely that the slidable portion cannot be reversed from the outside of the window frame.

It is envisaged that the inside of the pane of glass shall again possess a sealing gasket, although this is not shown in Figure 4. However, figure 4 does show an angled and bladed tool which can be inserted into the gap, after the sealing gasket is removed, and manipulate the barb 209 out of engagement with the wall 219 so that the slide can be reversed and moved to a position remote from the stationary portion 201 to remove the glass.

The embodiment shown in figure 5, 5a and 6 is somewhat different from the previous embodiments, but still depends upon a sliding interengagement. In figures 5, 5a and 6 a two part clip is shown with a stationary portion 301 and a sliding portion 302. The upper part of this clip 303 itself rigidified by walls 304 see (Fig 5a) forms a support or abutment surface for a pane of glass, sealed glass unit or the like, as before. It is furthermore provided with countersunk bores 305 and 306 so that it can be immobilized at any desired region of the frame.

As can be seen more clearly from figure 5a, which represents an inverted stationary portion 301, of opposite hand for clarity of drawing, the underside of the stationary portion is provided with a recess generally indicated at 307. This recess extends between end walls 307a and 307b for the greater part of the length of the clip. Under the ceiling of the recess the clip is configured so as to present a generally L-shaped portion 308, having a shank 309 and foot 310. The foot 310 terminates just short of the back wall of the recess to leave a small gap, and the inner surface of the foot (referenced at 310a) is a detent surface, described in more detail below. Between the shank 309 and the end wall of the recess there is defined space 312.

The slidable part of the clip 302 comprises an upwardly extending detention flange 213, a base portion 214, and an upwardly turned wall or lip 315.

It will be simpler to understand the interaction of the fixed part 301 and slidable part 302 from a consideration of figure 5a, with the slidable part inverted from the form shown in figure 5. The slidable part is pushed into recess 307 with its wall 315 leading, until it contacts the end wall of the recess.

It is then slid along so that wall 315 passes through gap 311 and enters space 312. Then, when it is pushed forward, the wall 315 is detained by the top of the foot of the L-shaped portion, 310a, against rearward sliding.

To assemble the clip, as shown in figure 6, the steps generally described in relation to earlier clips are used. The stationary portion is screwed to the shelf 323 wherever desired, and the slide is pushed into the recess, slid along, and held in a space 312 by the lip 315. The bead, not shown in figure 6, is assembled as described in relation to figure 2. When a sealing gasket 325 is emplaced behind the pane, it forces the pane forwards so that this slide moves forward and brings about engagement of the lip 315 and the detent surface 310a, as described above. Once again, it is not possible from the outside of the panel to reverse the sliding of the security clip and remove it. This can only be done by first removing the internal gasket, allowing the sealed glass unit to move backwards on the shelf, and then manipulating the slide inwards and along before extraction.

Claims (14)

CLAIMS:

1. A frame and panel assembly of the type in which the panel is located at its margins in an externally facing rebate about the inner periphery of a surrounding frame portion and in which an external peripheral bead extends over the margins of the panel: wherein, to prevent removal of the panel from the outside when the external peripheral bead is removed, at least one security clip is secured to the frame portion inner periphery, the clip comprising a stationary part attached to the frame to abut the edges of the panel and a movable part, possessing an upstanding panel-retaining flange, slidable in a direction along the said inner periphery without frictional engagement with the edge of the panel from an initial position at which it is or can be introduced between the edge of the panel and the frame to a defined end position with the second part engaging with the first part to prevent return sliding manipulation from the outside.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the panel is a sealed glass double-pane unit, and the frame is a window or door frame.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the rebate is a shelf-like configuration without a retaining rim.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the external bead has a construction, by which the bead is first generally positioned and then the panel is then emplaced to push the bead outwards into interengagement with part of the frame.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 and comprising two clips as an opposed pair.

6. An assembly asclaimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 comprising a plurality of clips located at intervals around the top and bottom and side edges of the panel.

7. An assembly as claimed in any one preceding claim in which the clip itself comprises a two part assembly, one part of which is inserted at right angles into the other part and then slid along internally to an interengaging end position.

8. A security clip for a panel located at its margins within an externally facing rebate of a frame assembly and possessing an internal peripheral bead extending over the said margins, said clip comprising: a first part adapted for fixing at the said rebate and exhibiting (a) a support or abutment surface for the panel (b) a parallel guide surface spaced therefrom (c) a transversely extending stop surface and (d) a non-return shoulder spaced from and opposed to the transversely extending stop surface; and a second part adapted for sliding in relation to the first part and comprising (a) a slide configuration for sliding on said guide surface, the slide configuration possessing an upstanding panel-retaining longitudinal flange and having a transverse interengaging edge spaced from its forward abutting edge by a distance no greater than the distance between the respective stop surface and non return shoulder of the first part, so that it can be slid along the frame to abut against the stop surface and be urged to locate so as to interengage this transverse interengaging edge with the non-return shoulder to resist external manipulation in the reverse direction.

9. A security clip as claimed in claim 8 having a parallel guide surface in the form of a leaf over which the slide passes and in respect of which it is urged forwardly to engage in a recess in the rear edge of the leaf.

10. A security clip as claimed in claim 8 having an upper abutment surface with a leaf extending from it, with a rearward edge of the leaf being formed with a longitudinal resilient tongue having a barbed end, and the slide having a rear wall with a recess to pass behind and be trapped by the said barb to prevent reverse sliding.

11. A security clip as claimed in claim 8 having a uniform upper support surface and a recess in the clip into which a slide can be introduced at right angles and along which it can be slid to engage in an internal retention configuration upon being urged forward by assembly of the panel.

12. A security clip as claimed in claim 11 which comprises: (I) an integral generally rectangular first part defining at its upper surface a support surface for a mounted panel; said first part having a recess extending inwards at the lower forward longitudinal edge, of uniform height in the thickness dimension of the first part and of uniform depth in the transverse direction of the first part, excepting for an integral L-shaped structure extending down from the roof of the recess with the shank of the L extending along the recess from one end to decrease the recess height and with the bar of the L extending inwards towards but not meeting the back of the recess, the length of the shank of the L when measured inside the shank being not less than the distance from the L to the other end of the recess; and (II) an integral second part of a length not greater than that of the length of said shank of the L measured inside the shank, with an upstanding panel retaining flange along a forward edge and an upstanding low wall along a rearward edge, of total height less than that of the recess, the thickness of the second part being less than that gap left at the floor of the recess by the shank of the L and the thickness of the upstanding low wall being less than that below the end of the bar of the L and the back of the recess;; whereby the second part can be pushed into the recess of the first part at one end, slid along with its upstanding wall behind the bar of the L, and thereafter caused to move forward so that the wall interengages with the shank of the L-shaped structure and interengages with the bar of the L to prevent movement in the returned section from external manipulation.

13. A method of erecting an assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 which comprises erecting a frame member; supporting an abutting panel therein upon the first part of the clip; positioning the second part of the clip at a location where it can be slid along the first part; assembling the external bead structure; sliding together the two parts of the clip; and forcing the panel outwardly, whereby the bead becomes interengaged to the frame and the clip parts become interengaged to prevent unauthorized subsequent sliding movement by external manipulation.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the panel is forced outwardly by fitting peripheral resilient internal weather strip between the frame and the internal rear surface of the panel.