GB2257739A

GB2257739A - A glazing panel assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2257739A
Application number: GB9115353A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Mark Hanley
Original assignee: GLAZPART Ltd
Current assignee: GLAZPART Ltd
Priority date: 1991-07-16
Filing date: 1991-07-16
Publication date: 1993-01-20
Also published as: GB9115353D0

Abstract

To prevent removal of a panel 1, 11 (e.g. a glazing panel) from a frame, a retaining bead 6 having an upstanding flange 2 is placed in the frame section 12. The glazing bead 5 cooperates with the section 12 to form a panel-receiving channel. The panel is secured in position by a gasket 3 which forces it against upstand 2 on bead 6. A record gasket 13 is positioned between the glazing bead 5 and the panel member 11 on the "outside" of the assembly. An elongate projection 4 on bead 6 prevents the bead 5 from being levered up should an instrument be applied at point 7. <IMAGE>

Description

A PANEL ASSEMBLY The present invention relates to a panel assembly and, in particular, to a panel assembly in which the unlawful removal of one or more panels mounted in a frame, such as a casement or a window frame, is presented.

Various proposals have been made for fixing panels, such as glazing panels, into an outwardly facing rebate of a frame. In the insulation of such systems an external glazing bead, which is typically formed from a relatively rigid material, is fitted to the frame outwardly of the panel after the panel has been fitted, in order to hold the panel in place. It has been found that such an arrangement has severe drawbacks in that it is relatively easy for a burgular to remove the glazing bead, and hence the glazing panel from the outside in order to gain access through a window or other glazed opening.

Various proposals for secure glazing systems have been made and these include those decsribed in GB-A-2067641, GB-A-2198467, GB-A-22l2545, and GB-A-2235008.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a panel assembly in which removal of the panel is made more difficult and time consuming to a potential burgular.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a panel assembly comprising a) å panel having an inner face and an outer face; b) a frame which is adapted to receive the panel comprising i) an elongate section defining one side of a channel which is adapted to receive the panel; ii) a glazing bead defining the other side of the channel which is adapted to receive the panel; c) an elongate retaining bead having an upstanding portion which faces the outer face of the panel and having an elongate projection which is adapted to engage the glazing bead (ii), and d) a longitudinal sealing means which engages the elongate section (i) of the frame.

The panel which is incorporated into the panel assemblies of the present invention may be a single pane of glass or a sealed double- or triple-glazed unit, or a panel of wood, plastics or metal.

The glazing bead (ii) may be provided with a channel to receive the projection formed on the elongate retaining bead. Alternatively, the glazing bead (ii) may be defined in such a manner that the projection formed on the elongate retaining bead is located beneath a shoulder on the glazing bead (ii) and between the shoulder and the base of the elongate section (i) of the frame.

The upstanding portion of the elongate retaining bead will generally be in the form of a flange.

The longitudinal sealing means, which engages the elongate section (i) of the frame and the panel, preferably comprises a removable gasket.

A second gasket is generally positioned between the glazing bead and the outer face of the panel in order to hold the assembly in position.

-The elongate retaining bead (c) is preferably provided with a plurality of teeth which are adapted to engage the panel during the removal of the panel or demounting of the assembly.

The present invention also includes with its scope a frame assembly which comprises a frame which is adapted to receive a panel having an inner and an outer frame comprising i) an elongate section defining one side of a channel which is adapted to receive the panel; ii) a glazing bead defining the other side of the channel which is adapted to receive the panel; an elongate retaining bead having an upstanding portion which faces the outer face of the panel and having an elongate projection which is adapted to engage the glazing bead (ii), and a longitudinal sealing means which engages the elongate section (ii) of the frame.

The present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 illustrates a panel assembly according to the invention; and Figure 2 illustrates the elongate retaining bead which is used in the panel assembly of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, in Figure 1 the inside of the room or house is depicted on the right hand side of the drawing and the exterior of the room or house on the left hand side of the drawing.

A glass panel (1) has an inner face (10) which faces to the inside of the room and an outer face (11) which faces to the exterior of the room.

The frame into which the glass panel (1) fits comprises two main elements. The first element is an elongate section (12) which comprises the main portion of the window profile and defines one side of a channel which is adapated to receive the glass panel. The second element of the frame comprises a glazing bead (5).

The construction of the panel assembly in accordance with the invention is as follows. A retaining bead (6) having an upstanding flange (2) is placed on the base portion of elongate section (12).

The glazing bead (5) cooperates with the elongate section (12) in order to form the channel to receive the panel of glass. The glass panel (1) is secured in position by means of a gasket (3) which forces the glass panel against upstand (2) on retaining bead (6). A second gasket (13) is positioned between the glazing bead (5) and the glass panel (13) on the outside of the panel assembly. As will be seen from Figure 1, an elongate projection (4) on the retaining bead (6) prevents the glazing bead (5) from being levered up should an instrument be applied to the glazing bead (5) at point (7).

The retaining bead (6) is provided with a plurality of teeth (9) as best shown in Figure 2.

There is a gap (8) between the outside glass of the glazing panel (1) and the teeth (9). Accordingly, if the glass panel (1) is pushed inwardly from the outside, it will slide over the bead retainer until it meets the teeth (9) using the gap (8).

The retaining bead (6) cannot, however, be forced from the frame assembly since it is maintained in position by the elongate section (4) of retaining bead (6) which is positioned beneath a shoulder formed in the glazing bead (5).

The various features of the retaining bead (6) can be more clearly seen from Figure 2.

If an intruder attempts to demount the glazing panel from the panel assembly by removal of gasket (13) or glazing bead (5) from the outside of the house or room, he will be prevented from moving either the gasket (13) or the glazing bead (5).

The glazing bead (5) and the gasket (13) interlock and cannot be readily seperated one from another. As mentioned above, if an intruder applies force at point (7) the glazing bead (5) will not move because of the manner in which the elongate projection (4) on retaining bead (6) is positioned beneath a shoulder on the glazing bead (5), thus preventing the bead from removal. Thus, even if an intruder attempts to remove glazing bead (5), for example by trying to turn it and remove it, he will be prevented from so doing.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiment which is described above with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings is included by way of illustration only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

It will also be understood by those skilled in the art that if, for any reason, a valid removal of the glazing panel is required, this can be achived readily by accessing the glazing panel from the interior of the room or house. In this manner, the elongitudinal sealing means (3) can be removed from its position adjacent the inner face (10) of glazing panel (1) and the glazing panel slid towards the interior of the room or house. On sliding the glazing panel in this manner, the panel engages teeth (9) on retaining bead (6) and the whole unit can then be moved, thereby pulling the projection (4) of the retaining bead (6) from beneath gasket (5). The glazing bead (5) can then be turned about its axis and removed from the assembly, as required.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A panel assembly comprising a) a panel having an inner face and an outer face; b) a frame which is adapted to receive the panel comprising i) an elongate section defining one side of a channel which is adapted to receive the panel; ii) a glazing bead defining the other side of the channel which is adapted to receive the panel; c) an elongate retaining bead having an upstanding portion which faces the outer face of the panel and having an elongate projection which is adapted to engage the glazing bead (ii), and d) a longitudinal sealing means which engages the elongate section (i) of the frame.

2. A panel assembly as clamed in claim 1 wherein the panel is a single pane of glass or a sealed double- or triple-glazed unit, or a panel of wood, plastics or metal.

3. A panel assembly as clamed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the glazing bead (ii) is provided with a channel to recive the projection formed on the elongate retaining bead (c).

4. A panel assembly as clamed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the projection formed on the elongate retaining bead (c) is located beneath a shoulder on the retaining bead (ii) and between the said shoulder and the base of the elongate section (i) of the frame.

5. A panel assembly as clamed in any of the preceeding claims wherein the longitudinal sealing means comprises a removable gasket.

6. A panel assembly as clamed in any of the preceeding claims wherein the upstanding portion of the elongate retaining bead is in the form of a flange.

7. A panel assembly as clamed in any of the preceeding claims wherein the elongate retaining bead (c) is provided with a plurality of teeth which are adapted to engage the panel during demounting of the assembly.

8. A frame assembly which comprises a frame which is adapted to receive a panel having an inner and an outer frame comprising i) an elongate section defining one side of a channel which is adapted to receive the panel; ii) a glazing bead defining the other side of the channel which is adapted to receive the panel; an elongate retaining bead having an upstanding portion which faces the outer face of the panel and having an elongate projection which is adapted to engage the glazing bead (ii), and a longitudinal sealing means which engages the elongate section (ii) of the frame.

9. A panel assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.