GB2322662A - Seal - Google Patents

Abstract

A seal for use between a window pane and a window frame, the seal comprising an elongate strip (11) arranged to be positioned between the pane and the frame, the strip having a first adhesive layer (18) for attachment to the window frame, a second adhesive layer (22) for attachment to the window pane, and a flange (12) secured along one edge of the strip (11) by a neck (13) providing a flexible region overlying the upper surface of the frame in use, and extending to contact the window pane. The flange (12) may be integrally formed from a different colour of material to the strip (11). One of the adhesive layers may be covered with a peelable sheet to allow the rolling of the strip (11) for storage purposes.

Description

SEAL This invention relates to a seal for use in window assemblies, conveniently, but not exclusively, window assemblies wherein a double glazed unit is located within a UPVC frame.

It is known to provide a seal comprising a strip of relatively rigid material which lies parallel to the plane of the window pane, between the window pane and a parallel face of the window frame and which includes an integral formation whereby the strip is engaged as a snap-fit with the window frame. The relatively rigid strip has an inclined, more flexible, flange secured thereto along its upper edge, the flange extending in both directions from the plane of the relatively rigid strip so as to provide a longitudinally extending region which in use overlies an upper surface of the window frame, and a longitudinally extending opposite edge which in use engages the face of the window pane. The face of the relatively rigid strip remote from the window frame carries a longitudinally extending foam strip having an adhesive surface presented outwardly for attachment to the window pane. By virtue of the different requirements of the relatively rigid strip and the relatively flexible flange, and the need to provide a continuous or substantially continuous snap-fit formation as an integral extension of the relatively rigid strip, the known seal is both complex and expensive to produce. It is an object of the present invention to provide a seal which will fulfil the same objectives, but in a more simple and convenient manner.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a seal for use between a window pane and a parallel or substantially parallel face of a window frame, the seal comprising an elongate strip arranged to be positioned between the pane and the frame, the strip having a first adhesive layer carried by one face of the strip for attachment to the window frame, a second adhesive layer carried by the opposite face of the strip for attachment to the window pane, and a flange secured to the strip along one edge so as to provide a region extending in one direction from the strip to overlie an upper surface of the frame in use, and extending from the opposite surface of the strip to contact the window pane.

Preferably the strip and the flange are formed from the same material, being produced as an integral, unitary component.

Desirably the interface of the flange and the strip is in the form of a longitudinally extending neck of reduced dimension to facilitate flexure of the flange relative to the strip.

Conveniently said flange and said strip although an integral unitary component are formed from different colours of material.

Conveniently at least one of said adhesive layers is carried on one surface of a layer of foamed synthetic resin material, the opposite face of which is secured to said strip.

Preferably one of said adhesive layers is covered with a peelable cover sheet, and for storage purposes said strip is rolled so that said cover sheet is engaged on one face by one of said adhesive layers, and is engaged on its other face by the other of said adhesive layers.

One example of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view, partly in section, of a seal; and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view, partly in section, of a window assembly utilising the seal of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the seal comprises an elongate strip 11 of rectangular cross-section having a flange 12 along one edge thereof.

The strip 11 and flange 12 are formed from the same material, and are integral with one another, the strip and flange 12 being moulded or extruded as a unitary component from a rubber, or a thermoplastic elastomer conveniently the elastomer sold by Evode Plastics Limited of Wanlip Road, Syston, Leicester, LE7 1 SPA as "TR087 Black 4286, Product Code T0874286" although it is to be understood that other colours can be used, in combination if desired, for example a white flange 12 on a black strip 11 can be co-extruded as an integral unitary component. The strip and flange will be produced in considerable length, which will subsequently be cut into convenient lengths which are rolled for handling, and then unrolled and cut into smaller lengths in use.

The strip 11 has an outer face 1 lea and an inner face 1 it, and it can be seen that the flange 12 is inclined with respect to the strip 11 such that an angle of approximately 1300 is subtended between the face 1 1h of the strip and the flange.

As will become apparent later it may be necessary for the angle between the flange and the strip to vary in use, and to facilitate this a neck 13 of reduced thickness and therefore increases flexibility is provided at the junction of the strip 11 and the flange 12.

It can be seen that the flange 12 includes a longitudinally extending region 12a projecting downwardly beyond the face 1 la of the strip 11, and a region 12h projecting upwardly beyond the plane of the face 11k of the strip 11. The region 12b projects beyond the strip 11 by an amount greater than the projection of the region 12a.

As is evident from Figure 2 the seal is intended to be interposed between one pane 15 of a sealed double glazing unit 14, and a parallel upstanding surface 1 7 of the corresponding window frame 16. Although the seal will find use primarily in relation to double glazing units installed in UPVC window frames it is to be understood that its use is not limited to such environments, and could, if desired, be used between a single glazing pane and for example a wooden frame.

The face 1 lea of the strip 11 is provided with an adhesive layer 18 defined by one face of a double-sided adhesive tape the opposite side of which is adhering to the face 1 lea of the strip. A convenient doublesided adhesive tape is a polyethylene tape available from Lohmann GmbH & Co KG of P.O.B. 2343, D-56513 Nenwied, Germany as Duplocoll 3720, and when the seal is applied to the window frame 16 the adhesive layer 18 secures the strip 11 to the surface 17. The region 12a of the flange 12 overlies an upper surface 19 of the window frame 16 and acts as a guide during application of the seal to the window frame.

The opposite face 1 1h of the strip has a strip 21 of resilient, foamed synthetic resin material adhesively secured to it, the strip 21 extending through the full length of the strip 11, for example that obtainable from Lohmann as Duplocoll 5011 (or 5001, or 5012, or VP 6619). The outer face of the strip 21 carries an adhesive layer 22 which, as can be seen in Figure 1, is covered by a peelable cover strip 23 of known form.

Convenient lengths of the seal including the adhesive 18 and the covered foam strip 21 are cut to length and then rolled for storage. The rolling is possible by virtue of distortion of the flange 12, which of course causes no difficulties owing to the flexible nature of the material of the strip 11 and flange 12. Furthermore, the rolling brings the adhesive layer 18 into contact with the outer surface of the peelable cover strip 21 and the adhesive layer 18 adheres lightly thereto to hold the strip in its rolled configuration. When it is desired to apply strip to a window frame the strip is unrolled, the adhesive layer 18 parting from the cover layer 23 and leaving the cover layer 23 affixed to the adhesive layer 22. Using engagement of the under surface of the region 12a of the flange 12 with the surface 19 of the window frame, as a guide the seal is appiied to the surface 1 7 and pressed into place so that the adhesive 18 secures the seal to the window frame. The seal is then cut to length and the cover strip 23 is peeled away from the adhesive layer 22. The double glazed unit 14 is then pressed into the window frame so that the pane 15 abuts and adheres to the adhesive layer 22. Lastly, the seal/retaining member 24 of the window frame 16 is snapped into place on the window frame so as to press its seal against the opposite pane of the double glazed unit 14, the foam strip 21 compressing as necessary to accommodate accurate positioning of the seal/retaining component 24.

It will be recognised that as the pane 15 abuts and adheres to the adhesive layer 22 the free edge of the region 12b of the flange 12 abut the outer surface of the pane 15 so that the gap between the pane 15 and the surface 19 of the frame is sealed by the flange 12 which lies at an angle suitable to shed water running down the pane 15, onto the surface 19.

Because the strip 11 is adhesively secured to the surface 1 7 of the window frame it does not matter whether or not the window frame is adapted to receive the prior art type of snap-fit seal or whether the surface 1 7 is plane. The seal can be used with a variety of different window frame configurations.

Claims (7)

1. A seal for use between a window pane and a parallel or substantially parallel face of a window frame, the seal comprising an elongate strip arranged to be positioned between the pane and the frame, the strip having a first adhesive layer carried by one face of the strip for attachment to the window frame, a second adhesive layer carried by the opposite face of the strip for attachment to the window pane, and a flange secured to the strip along one edge of the strip so as to provide a region extending in one direction from the strip to overlie an upper surface of the frame in use, and a region extending from the opposite surface of the strip to contact the window pane.

2. A seal as claimed in claim 1 wherein the strip and the flange are formed from the same material, being produced as an integral, unitary component.

3. A seal as claimed in claim 2 wherein said flange and said strip although an integral unitary component are formed from different colours of material.

4. A seal as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the interface of the flange and the strip is in the form of a longitudinally extending neck of reduced dimension to facilitate flexure of the flange relative to the strip.

5. A seal as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein at least one of said adhesive layers is carried on one surface of a layer of foamed synthetic resin material, the opposite face of which is secured to said strip.

6. A seal as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein one of said adhesive layers is covered with a peelable cover sheet, and for storage purposes said strip is rolled so that said cover sheet is engaged on one face by one of said adhesive layers, and is engaged on its other face by the other of said adhesive layers.

7. A seal substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.