GB2269844A

GB2269844A - Glazing seal

Info

Publication number: GB2269844A
Application number: GB9217383A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dominic Angelo Rossano
Original assignee: FIOS WINDOW SYSTEMS Ltd
Current assignee: FIOS WINDOW SYSTEMS Ltd
Priority date: 1992-08-14
Filing date: 1992-08-14
Publication date: 1994-02-23
Anticipated expiration: 2012-08-14
Also published as: GB2269844B; GB9217383D0

Abstract

A sealing member is provided for forming a seal between a frame 1 and a panel 2 wherein the sealing member comprises at least a first material 6 of a first composition, and a second material 7 of a second composition. The sealing member can be formed by coextrusion of the first and second materials, the first material being more easily compressible than the second material. This makes it possible for the first material to form the seal between the frame and the panel, the second material forming a covering which can be easily wiped clean and can be colour-coded to match the colouring of the frame. <IMAGE>

Description

SEALS AND GASKETS The invention relates to seals and gaskets and is particularly, although not exclusively, concerned with seals and gaskets for glazing units and solid panels.

Known sealing arrangements for use with modern glazing units typically use one or more black compressible perimeter seals to secure and seal the glazing units into metal frames.

Whilst the known sealing arrangements provides a reasonably effective seal, it is not aesthetically very pleasing, especially when used with white framing units.

A number of attempts have been made at colouring the seals, but none have been able to provide a sufficiently hard wearing seal which would not discolour after a period of usage.

Additionally, the soft compressible nature of known sealing arrangements presents cleaning difficulties in that dirt tends to stick to the surface and the action of wiping with a cleaning cloth can stain the seal.

Furthermore, again due to the soft nature of the seals, the location of glazing units within their frames is often not as positive as it might be, which leads to possible security problems.

Providing a seal which is harder throughout, whilst giving more security, presents installation difficulties.

Accordingly, the invention provides a sealing member for forming a seal between a frame and a panel wherein the sealing member comprises at least a first material of a first composition and a second material of a second composition.

Preferably, the sealing member is formed by a coextrusion of the first and second materials.

Preferably, the first material is more easily compressible than the second material.

Preferably, the second material provides reinforcement, so as to provide a more positive location for the panel within the frame than would be achievable by using the first material alone.

The second material may be colour coded, so as to match the colouring of the frame and, preferably, has a hard "wipe clean" surface.

Preferably, the first material forms the seal between the frame and the panel and the second material forms a covering extending over a first portion of the surface area of the first material.

Preferably, the first portion corresponds substantially to an area of the sealing member which would be visible to an observer of an assembled frame and panel unit.

Alternatively, the first portion may cover any part of the surface area of the first material, whether visible or not to an observer of an assembled frame and panel unit.

Preferably, the sealing member is substantially wedge shaped.

Preferably, the sealing member is for use with glazing unit systems.

The panels may comprise window units or door units.

Preferably, one or more sealing members may be used to secure the panel within the frame.

Preferably, the first material is a flexible polymeric and the second material is a rigid polymeric.

The invention includes a frame and panel fitted with a seal according to the invention.

By way of example, a specific embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of a glazing unit incorporating a preferred embodiment of the sealing member of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a close up view of the sealing member of Figure 1.

In the glazing unit of Figure 1, are shown a frame unit 1, glass panels 2, inner and outer seals 3 and 4, and drainage holes 5.

An inner seal 3 and outer seal 4 provide a positive location for the glass within the frame and help prevent ingress of water into the frame unit 1. Any water which does penetrate the frame is drained off through holes 5 to the exterior, as shown by the arrows.

Referring to Figure 2, it can be seen that the inner seal 3 is made up of two different materials. The first, softer material 6 forms the bulk of the seal and the second, harder material 7 is a colour coded section which reinforces and covers up the visible parts of the first material 6, so as to provide a more aesthetically pleasing, easily cleaned and secure seal.

The colour of the cover section 7 may be chosen to either match or contrast with the colouring of the frame unit 1 according to customer taste.

The material of the cover section 7 is chosen according to various criteria: 1. It must be compatible with the sealing portion 6; 2. It should be easily cleanable by wiping a cloth over its surface; 3. It should be flexible, to aid assembly of the glazing unit; 4. It should be reasonably rigid, so as to provide a more positive location of the glass panels within the frame - thus providing greater security than that of a conventional seal; and 5. It should be capable of being coloured, according to customer taste, without discolouring appreciably through usage.

In order to preserve the integrity of the seal, the two materials 6 and 7 are formed by a single extrusion process.

The preferred embodiment utilises a while or coloured rigid polymeric for the cover section 7 and a black flexible polymeric for the sealing section 6.

Whilst the preferred embodiment relates to an interior window seal, an exterior seal could also be provided in a similar manner.

The seal may also be used in conjunction with solid panels, door units or for any other suitable application.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A sealing member for forming a seal between a frame and a panel wherein the sealing member comprises at least a material of a first composition and a second material of a second composition.

2. A sealing member as claimed in Claim 1, which is formed by a coextrusion of the first and second materials.

3. A sealing member as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the first material is more easily compressible than the second material.

4. A sealing member as claimed in Claim 3, in which the first material is a flexible polymeric and the second material is a rigid polymeric.

5. A sealing member as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, in which the second material provides reinforcement, so as to provide a more positive location for the panel within the frame than would be achievable by using the first material alone.

6. A sealing member as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, in which the second material is colour coded to matching the colouring of the frame.

7. A sealing member as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, in which the second material has a hard wipe clean surface.

8. A sealing member as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, in which the first material forms the seal between the frame and the panel and the second material forms a covering extending over a first portion of the surface area of the first material.

9. A sealing member as claimed in Claim 8, in which the first portion corresponds substantially to an area of the sealing member which would be visible to an observer of an assembled frame and panel unit.

10. A sealing member as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, the sealing member being wedge shaped.

11. A sealing member as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, arranged for use with glazing unit systems.

12. A sealing member as claimed in Claim 11, in which the units comprise window units or door units.

13. A sealing member constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A sealing member as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, in combination with one or more similar sealing members for co-operation in securing the panel with the frame.

15. A frame and panel fitted with at least one sealing member as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims.