GB2330168A

GB2330168A - Double-glazed partition

Info

Publication number: GB2330168A
Application number: GB9721508A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel A Rustin
Original assignee: RUSTIN ALLEN Ltd
Current assignee: RUSTIN ALLEN Ltd
Priority date: 1997-10-10
Filing date: 1997-10-10
Publication date: 1999-04-14
Also published as: GB9721508D0

Abstract

A double-glazed partition comprises a pair of glass panes 7 spaced from and parallel to one another, an extruded aluminium frame member 2 along each edge of the glass panes defining a U-shaped channel, and an extruded UPVC glazing adaptor 6 fitted in the U-shaped channel to support the edge portions of the glass panes. The glazing adaptor provides an open recess 30 into which the ends and sides of a blind (not shown) supported between the panes of glass can extend so as to be hidden from view. The panes may be mounted to the adaptor by outer retaining beads which do not extend into the frame channel.

Description

DOUBLE-GLAZED PARTITION The invention relates to double-glazed partitions in which a pair of glass panes are supported in spaced parallel relationship, and in particular to such partitions in which a blind is supported between the glass panes.

In a known partition of this kind, a pair of glass panes are supported on an extended UPVC glazingadaptor which is itself held in the U-shaped channel of an elongate aluminium frame member. A pair of beads are wedged between the adaptor and the legs of the aluminium frame member and act on the outer surfaces of the glass panes to hold them in place. A web of the glazing adaptor extends across the space between the two glass panes to provide stiffness. In this arrangement, the ends and sides of a blind supported between the panes are clearly visible and this gives a slightly untidy appearance to the partition.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a partition in which the ends and sides of a blind are at least partially masked by the partition frame.

Accordingly the invention provides a doubleglazed partition comprising: a pair of glass panes spaced from and parallel to one another; an elongate frame member along each edge of the glass panes and defining a U-shaped channel; and an elongate glazing adaptor fitted in the U-shaped channel of each frame member and adapted to support the edge portions of the glass panes; wherein the glazing adaptor provides an open recess into which the ends and sides of a blind supported between the panes of glass can extend.

A preferred embodiment provides a double-glazed partition comprising: an elongate frame member comprising a web and a pair of legs, one at each side of the web, defining a generally U-shaped channel with the web; an elongate glazing adaptor fitted into the U-shaped channel and including a pair of first flanges providing a pair of first glass pane support surfaces generally parallel to the web of the frame member, one at either side of the Ushaped channel, and spaced further from the web than the ends of the legs, and including a pair of second flanges providing a second pair of oppositely facing glass pane support surfaces extending generally perpendicular to the first flanges from the inner ends thereof in the direction away from the web; and a pair of elongate glass pane retaining beads, one on each side of the partition for clamping a pane of glass, having an edge supported on a first glass pane support surface, against a second glass pane support surface; each bead having a leg which is fixed generally between the outer end of the respective frame member leg and the first flange; wherein the beads are adapted to be moved into their fixed positions by movement only in a direction toward the second support surfaces; the arrangement being that the glazing adaptor defines an open recess into which an end or a side of a blind supported between the two glass panes can extend.

The fact that the beads are moved only by a lateral movement into their fixed position, and have no part which extends into the U-shaped channel, enables the recess provided between the second flanges to have sufficient width to receive the ends or sides of a blind.

In the prior art, no recess is provided because of the stiffening web of the glazing adaptor, but even if this were omitted, the space between the inner supports for the glass panes would not be sufficient to receive the ends or sides of the blind. In a standard partition of this type a recess width of about 29 mm is required to accommodate the ends or sides of a blind.

An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view through an edge portion of a double-glazed partition.

The rectangular partition which is partially shown in Figure 1 comprises an elongate outer frame member 1 which may be formed as an extrusion of aluminium and is a staple component in this field. As shown in Figure 1, the frame member 1 serves as the outer frame component for two adjacent partitions. It is formed with a web 2 and a pair of legs 3 which define a U-shaped channel 4 on each side of the web. The legs 3 may only extend to one side of the web to provide a U-shaped channel 4 on that side only.

An elongate glazing adaptor 6 is fitted into the U-shaped channel 4 to support the edge portions of a pair of glass panes 7. The glazing adaptor 6 may be formed as an extrusion of UPVC. The adaptor 6 comprises two parallel upright posts 8 on either side of a spanning web 9. The posts 8 are provided with dog-legged fitting strips 10 on their outer sides. The strips 10 are slightly flexible and allow the adaptor to be fitted into the U-shaped channel. A first flange 11 is provided at the top end (as viewed in Figure 1) of each post 8 to provide a first pair of glass pane support surfaces 12 generally parallel to the web 2 of frame member 1. The edges 15 of the glass panes are supported on the support surfaces 12. A second flange 13 extends generally perpendicularly to each first flange 11 from the inner end thereof and in the direction generally away from the web 2. The second flanges provide a second pair of oppositely facing glass pane support surfaces 14. Double sided adhesive tapes may be provided on some or all of the pane support surfaces to assist in locating the glass panes.

As can be seen in Figure 1, the first glass pane support surfaces 12 are spaced further from the web 2 than are the ends 31 of the legs 3. Only the edge portions of two glass panes 7 are shown in Figure 1.

A generally E-shaped glass pane retaining bead 16 is provided on each side of the partition for clamping a pane of glass, having its outside edge 15 supported on a first support surface 12, against the associated second support surface 14.

Each bead 16 may be formed as an extrusion of UPVC and is formed with a plain spine 17 and three legs 18,19,20; leg 18 being longer than the other two legs.

The leg 18 of each bead is provided with latching teeth 21,22 which co-operate with a further latching tooth 23 on the underside of each of the first flanges 11. The free ends of the legs 19 and 20 are co-moulded with softer portions 24 which bear on the outer surfaces of the glass panes 7. Retaining clips 25 extending from the posts 8 help to hold the beads in place.

The outer plain surfaces 26 of the beads 16 are flush with the outer surfaces of the legs 3 of the frame member 1 and the portions 24 press against the glass pane 7 through a cantilever action through the spine 17.

Because of the construction of the glazing adaptor 6 and the beads 16, the beads can be moved into their fixed positions by movement only in the plane parallel to the web 2 of the frame member, that is in the direction toward the second support surfaces 14. Thus, no parts of the beads 16 extend into the U-shaped channel 4.

The above construction provides for an open recess 30 to be defined by the glazing adaptor. The open recess 30 provides a space into which the end or side of a blind (not shown) supported between the two glass panes can extend. As shown, the recess 30 extends beyond the edges 15 of the glass panes 7 and into the U-shaped channel 4. Such a large extent of recess may not be required but it is preferred for the recess to extend at least substantially to the edges 15 of the glass panes or outwardly thereof.

It will be understood that the frame construction shown in Figure 1 will be repeated on all four sides of a rectangular partition. The frame member 3, adaptor 6 and beads 16 can all be mitred at the corners.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A double-glazed partition comprising: a pair of glass panes spaced from and parallel to one another; an elongate frame member along each edge of the glass panes and defining a U-shaped channel; and an elongate glazing adaptor fitted in the Ushaped channel of each frame member and adapted to support the edge portions of the glass panes; wherein the glazing adaptor provides an open recess into which the ends and sides of a blind supported between the panes of glass can extend.
2. A double-glazed partition as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the open recess extends into the U-shaped channel.
3. A double-glazed partition as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the open recess extends at least to the edges of the glass panes.
4. A double-glazed partition as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, further comprising a pair of elongate glass pane retaining beads along each edge of the partition outwardly of the glass panes for clamping the glass panes against support surfaces on the glazing adaptor, wherein the retaining beads do not extend into U-shaped channel of the frame member.
5. A double-glazed partition comprising: an elongate frame member comprising a web and a pair of legs, one at each side of the web, defining a generally U-shaped channel with the web; an elongate glazing adaptor fitted into the Ushaped channel and including a pair of first flanges providing a pair of first glass pane support surfaces generally parallel to the web of the frame member, one at either side of the U-shaped channel, and spaced further from the web than the ends of the legs, and including a pair of second flanges providing a second pair of oppositely facing glass pane support surfaces extending generally perpendicular to the first flanges from the inner ends thereof in the direction away from the web; and a pair of elongate glass pane retaining beads, one on each side of the partition for clamping a pane of glass, having an edge supported on a first glass pane support surface, against a second glass pane support surface; each clamp having a leg which is fixed generally between the outer end of the respective frame member leg and the first flange; wherein the beads are adapted to be moved into their fixed positions by movement only in a direction toward the second support surfaces; the arrangement being that the glazing adaptor defines an open recess into which an end or a side of a blind supported between the two glass panes can extend.
6. A double-glazed partition substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.