GB2268959A

GB2268959A - Panel securing arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2268959A
Application number: GB9304852A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Victor Robert Beaumont
Original assignee: DOOR PANELS PLC
Current assignee: DOOR PANELS PLC
Priority date: 1992-07-07
Filing date: 1993-03-10
Publication date: 1994-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 2013-03-10
Also published as: GB9304852D0; GB2268959B

Abstract

A panel securing arrangement for securing a panel 8 to a surrounding structure 10, such as a door or window frame, comprises first and second securing strips 2, 4, and a connecting device 6 for connecting the two strips together on opposite sides of the panel 8, in such a way that each strip 2, 4 overlaps an edge portion of the panel 8 and also overlaps an adjacent edge portion of the surrounding structure 10, so as to secure the panel 8 to the surrounding structure 10. The connecting device 6 comprises first securing means 20 for attaching the connecting device 6 to the first securing strip 2, and second securing means, comprising an expandible part for attaching the connecting device 6 to the second securing strip 4, by means of engagement means 14 on the strip 4 which engages with the expandible part when the expandible pant 6 is in either its contracted or its expanded configuration. <IMAGE>

Description

"Window Panel Securing Arran#ements." The invention relates to window panel securing arrangements for securing a window panel to a surrounding structure, such as a door or window frame.

The invention seeks to provide a window panel securing arrangement which enables a window panel to be secured to a surrounding structure in a particularly convenient manner.

According to the invention there is provided a window panel securing arrangement for securing a window panel to a surrounding structure, such as a door or window frame, the arrangement comprising first and second securing strips, and a connecting device for connecting the two securing strips together on opposite sides of the window panel, in such a way that each strip overlaps an edge portion of the window panel and also overlaps an adjacent edge portion of the surrounding structure, so as to secure the window panel to the surrounding structure, the connecting device comprising first securing means for attaching the connecting device to the first securing strip, and second securing means, comprising an expandible part which is movable between a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration, for attaching the connecting device to the second securing strip, and the second securing strip comprising engagement means for engaging with the expandible part so as to lock the connecting device to the second strip when the expandible part is in either its contracted or its expanded configuration.

Conveniently, either the first securing means or the first securing strip comprises a first undercut groove, and the other of the first securing means and the first securing strip comprises a head for inserting into, and sliding along, the first undercut groove in order to attach the connecting device to the first securing strip.

The first undercut groove may be of generally Tshaped cross-section.

Additionally or alternatively, the head may be of generally T-shaped cross-section.

Conveniently, a portion of the first undercut groove may be formed with a widened opening for allowing the head to be inserted into the first undercut groove.

Advantageously, the expandible part comprises two strip engaging parts which, in use, are moved apart to place the expandible part in its expanded configuration, and are moved together to place the expandible part in its contracted configuration, each of the strip engaging parts comprising a projecting end part for engaging and interlocking with the engagement means of the second securing strip in order to attach the connection device to the second securing strip.

The two strip engaging parts may be pivotally movable between the expanded and contracted configurations.

Preferably, the second securing strip comprises a second undercut groove, and the expandible part is arranged to be able to pass freely into and out of the second undercut groove when in its contracted configuration, and to interlock with the second undercut groove when in its expanded configuration in order to attach the connecting device to the second securing strip.

The second undercut groove may be of generally T-shaped cross-section.

The connecting device is preferably arranged so as to allow, when the securing arrangement is in use, the expandible part to be moved between its expanded and contracted configurations by means of a tool passed between the second securing strip and the window panel secured by the securing arrangement.

Preferably, the expandible part is movable between its contracted and expanded configurations by means of rotation of a screw threaded member.

Conveniently, the connecting device is formed with an edge part which is proportioned so as to be able to pass freely in and out of the second undercut groove, and adapted to guide and support the second securing strip.

One or both of the securing strips may comprise a subsidiary groove for engaging with a rubber seal for sealing the gap between the window panel and the or each securing strip.

Conveniently, the first and second securing means of the connecting device are integrally formed with each other.

Additionally or alternatively, the two strip engaging parts of the expandible part may be integrally formed with each other.

In this case, the expandible part and the first and second securing means may all be formed as a single integral unit.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view through a window panel and a door which are connected together by means of a window panel securing arrangement; Figure 2 is a sectional view through the connecting device of the securing arrangement shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the connecting device of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an end view of the expandible part of the connecting device shown in Figures 2 and 3; Figure 5 is a view, on a reduced scale to that of the preceding figures, of two securing strips connected together at right angles; Figure 6 is a sectional view through an alternative connecting device of the window panel securing arrangement; and Figure 7 is a plan view of the connecting device -of Figure 6.

The window panel securing arrangement 1 comprises first and second securing strips 2 and 4 connected together by means of a connecting device 6, and is used to secure a window panel 8 to a door 10. The door 10 is constructed from a layer of polystyrene foam 9 sandwiched between two outer aluminium or steel panels 11.

Although not shown in the figures, the window panel 8 is actually secured to the door 10 by means of a number of first and second securing strips 2 and 4 which extend around, and overlap, the edges of the window panel 8. The securing strips on one side of the window panel 8 are connected to those on the other side of the window panel 8 by means of a number of connecting devices 6, which are spaced along the edges of the window panel 8. The securing strips on each side of the window panel 8 are joined together at right angles at the corners of the window panel 8, as shown in Figure 5.

As shown in Figure 1, first and second Tshaped undercut grooves 12 and 14 extend along the inner faces 16 and 18 of the first and second securing strips 2 and 4 respectively. The connecting device 6 is formed with a T-shaped head 20, which extends along one of its edges and engages within the first undercut groove 12 in order to attach the connecting device 6 to the first securing strip 2. The connecting device 6 is attached to the second securing strip 4 by means of an expandible part 22, shown in Figures 3 and 4, which engages with the second undercut groove 14 as will be described below.

Referring to Figures 2 to 4, the connecting device 6 comprises a generally U-shaped body portion 24, and an expandible part 22 mounted within the central recess 26 of the body portion 24 by means of a pin 28 which passes through the body portion 24 and the expandible part 22. The body portion 24 is integrally formed from a metal, such as aluminium, or a plastics material. Two flanges 30 extend along the opposite edge of the body portion 24 to that of the T-shaped head 20, on each side of the expandible part 22.

The expandible part 22 comprises two strip engaging parts 32, each of which is formed with a projecting end part 34 at one of its ends, and a generally C-shaped portion 36 at its other end. The two C-shaped portions 36 are firmly gripped together by means of a resilient C-shaped clip 38, thus pivotally connecting the two strip engaging parts 32 together. The pin 28 passes through the opening 40 formed between the two Cshaped portions 36 in order to attach the expandible part 22 to the body portion 24.

One of the strip engaging parts 32 is formed with a screw threaded bore 42 for receiving a grub screw 44 having a hexagonal recess 46 for receiving an Allen key. The bottom 48 of the grub screw 44 abuts against the other strip engaging part 32 so that the spacing between the two projecting end parts 34 of the two strip engaging parts 32 may be adjusted by means of rotation of the grub screw 44.

As shown in Figure 5, each undercut groove 12, 14 is formed with a widened opening 50 through which the head 20 of a connecting device 6 may be inserted before being slid along the respective undercut groove. For simplicity of manufacture and use, the widened openings 50 are provided on both the first and second undercut grooves 12 and 14, even though they are only actually required to be provided on the first undercut groove. In addition, the widened openings 50 may be formed at any position along the undercut grooves 12, 14, and are shown in Figure 5 at the ends of the grooves only for convenience.

The operation of the securing arrangement will now be described. The first securing strip 2 is glued to the outside edge 52 of the door 10, and a rubber weather seal 54 is pressed into a subsidiary groove 56 formed along an edge of the first securing strip 2. The head 20 of the connecting device 6 is then inserted through a widened opening 50 of the first undercut groove 12, and slid along the first undercut groove 12 to a position in which it interlocks with the first undercut groove 12 in order to attach the connecting device 6 to the first securing strip 2. The window panel 8 is then placed in position against the rubber weather seal 54 so that the edge 55 of the window panel 8 abuts against one side of the connecting device 6.With the expandible part 22 in a contracted configuration, the second securing strip 4 is placed against the inside edge 57 of the door 10 so that the projecting end parts 34 of the expandible part 22 pass into the second undercut groove 14. In this position the second securing strip 4 is conveniently supported and positioned by the two flanges 30 of the body portion 24 of the connecting device 6. An Allen key, or other suitable tool, can then be passed between the second securing strip 4 and the window panel 8 in order to rotate the grub screw 44 so as to move the expandible part 22 to an expanded configuration in which it becomes locked firmly within the second undercut groove 14 by means of the two projecting end parts 34.Finally, a rubber weather wedge seal 58 is pressed between the window panel 8 and the second securing strip 4 until it engages firmly within a subsidiary groove 60 formed along an edge of the second securing strip. The window panel 8 may be removed from the door 10 by reversing the above procedure. Since the grub screw 44 is located on the internal side of the door 10, the window panel 8 can only be removed by a person who is on the internal side of the door 10, which is advantageous from a security point of view.

The alternative connecting device 60 shown in Figures 6 and 7 is used in the same way as the connecting device 6, and similar parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. However, the whole of connecting device 60, except the grub screw 44, is integrally formed from aluminium or other suitable material. This removes the need for the pin 28 and the resilient C-shaped clip 38, since the two strip engaging parts 32 are integrally formed with the head 20. In use, the two strip engaging parts 32 are forced apart into an expanded configuration by rotating the grub screw 44. The strip engaging parts 32 are sufficiently resilient to return to a contracted configuration when the grub screw 44 is loosened.

It will be appreciated that the undercut grooves 12 and 14 need not be T-shaped, and could for example be dovetail shaped. Furthermore, the securing strips 2 and 4 could be provided with T-shaped flanges, rather than grooves. In this case, the connecting device 6 or 60 would be provided with a T-shaped undercut groove along one of its edges adapted to interlock with one of the Tshaped flanges, and, on its opposite edge, with an expandible part having inwardly projecting portions for gripping the other of the T-shaped flanges.

Claims

1. A window panel securing arrangement for securing a window panel to a surrounding structure, such as a door or window frame, the arrangement comprising first and second securing strips, and a connecting device for connecting the two securing strips together on opposite sides of the window panel, in such a way that each strip overlaps an edge portion of the window panel and also overlaps an adjacent edge portion of the surrounding structure, so as to secure the window panel to the surrounding structure, the connecting device comprising first securing means for attaching the connecting device to the first securing strip, and second securing means, comprising an expandible part which is movable between a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration, for attaching the connecting device to the second securing strip, and the second securing strip comprising engagement means for engaging with the expandible part so as to lock the connecting device to the second strip when the expandible part is in either its contracted or its expanded configuration.

2. A window panel securing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein either the first securing means or the first securing strip comprises a- first undercut groove, and the other of the first securing means and the first securing strip comprises a head for inserting into, and sliding along, the first undercut groove in order to attach the connecting device to the first securing strip.

3. A window panel securing arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first undercut groove is of generally T-shaped cross-section.

4. A window panel securing arrangement as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the head is of generally Tshaped cross-section.

5. A window panel securing arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a portion of the first undercut groove is formed with a widened opening for allowing the head to be inserted into the first undercut groove.

6. A window panel securing arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the expandible part comprises two strip engaging parts which, in use, are moved apart to place the expandible part in its expanded configuration, and are moved together to place the expandible part in its contracted configuration, each of the strip engaging parts comprising a projecting end part for engaging and interlocking with the engagement means of the second securing strip in order to attach the connection device to the second securing strip.

7. A window panel securing device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the two strip engaging parts of the expandible part are integrally formed with each other.

8. A window panel securing arrangement as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the two strip engaging parts are pivotally movable between the expanded and contracted configurations.

9. A window panel securing arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second securing strip comprises a second undercut groove, and the expandible part is arranged to be able to pass freely into and out of the second undercut groove when in its contracted configuration, and to interlock with the second undercut groove when in its expanded configuration in order to attach the connecting device to the second securing strip.

10. A window panel securing arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second undercut groove is of generally T-shaped cross-section.

11. A window panel securing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting device is arranged so as to allow, when the securing arrangement is in use, the expandible part to be moved between its expanded and contracted configurations by means of a tool passed between the second securing strip and the window panel secured by the securing arrangement.

12. A window panel securing device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the expandible part is movable between its contracted and expanded configurations by means of rotation of a screw threaded member.

13. A window panel securing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or both of the securing strips comprises a subsidiary groove for engaging with a rubber seal for sealing the gap between the window panel and the or each securing strip.

14. A window panel securing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second securing means are integrally formed with each other.

15. A window panel securing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 5, or 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A door having a window panel secured thereto by a securing device according to any one of the preceding claims.