GB2352262A

GB2352262A - Deformable glazing seal

Info

Publication number: GB2352262A
Application number: GB0014543A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Lee Hughes; John Lannigan
Original assignee: Epwin Group PLC
Current assignee: Epwin Group PLC
Priority date: 1999-06-15
Filing date: 2000-06-14
Publication date: 2001-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 2020-06-14
Also published as: GB0014543D0; GB2352262B; GB9913959D0

Abstract

A glazing assembly comprises a glazing bar 19, at least one glazing panel 20 and at least one seal mounted between the glazing bar and glazing panel. The seal comprises a resilient hollow elongate sealing portion 3 having a plurality of ribs 11 linked by a web structure 14 partially bounding the hollow portion. The sealing portion 3 is able to deform allowing sealing contact between the ribs 11 and the glazing panel 20. The ribs 11 may extend along the length of the seal and there may be at least four in number. The web linking the ribs may have a concave region 14 which flexes during compression creating a multipoint seal with the glazing panel 20. The seal may also comprise a mounting portion 17 which can be inserted into a recess in the glazing bar 19. The seal may also form a frame seal or be part of a kit for a glazing assembly. A symmetrical frame is also disclosed which comprises a hollow resilient sealing portion and a mounting portion. On one side of the line of symmetry the seal takes a first colour whilst on the other side the seal takes a second colour.

Description

2352262 SEALS I The present invention relates to glazing seals, a kit of

parts including glazing seals, and glazing assemblies including such seals.

Glazing assemblies such as glazed windows and glazed doors are conventionally constructed using frames comprised of a number of elongate glazing bars which support glazing panels made of glass or plastics material such as polycarbonate. The glazing bars are nowadays typically made by extrusion of a plastic material such as PVC-U or a metal such as aluminum. Each glazing bar of the frame usually comprises a base portion to receive and support one or more glazing panels, an upstanding portion which upstands from the base portion and is adapted to receive a seal (frame seal) which seals between an edge of the upstanding portion and a surface of the glazing panel, and a bead portion, which, via a second seal (bead seal) supports the opposite side of the glazing panel and thus holds it in position.

During construction of a glazing assembly, the frame seal is secured to the upstanding portion of the glazing bar and the glazing panel positioned within the frame abutting the seal. The elongate bead, which has the bead seal either co-extruded with it or affixed to it via a receiving portion within the bead, is then affixed to the frame with the bead seal abutting the opposite side of 2 the glazing panel to that abutted by the frame seal.

Both the frame seal and the bead seal are static seals, meaning that they are designed to hold a glazing panel in a fixed position and to prevent ingress of water and or air into the frame of the window or door. Static seals (otherwise known as glazing gaskets) can be distinguished from dynamic seals (otherwise known as weather seals), which are used to seal between e.g. an opening part of a window frame and a fixed part of the window frame when the window is in a closed position. Such dynamic seals in addition to preventing ingress of water and air when the window is closed are also designed to provide a cushioning effect on closure of the opening part of the window.

Typical static seals are shown in Fig. 1, with glazing assemblies incorporating static seals illustrated in Fig. 2. Conventional static seals 16 comprise a mounting portion 17 and a sealing portion 18. The mounting portion 17 is shaped to fit into a receiving portion of the frame or bead to which the seal is to be fixed. Generally, the mounting portion 17 has an arrowlike configuration in cross section allowing easy insertion into a receiving groove 27 of the frame with the wing portions 5a, 5b of the mounting portion 17 securing the seal'in the receiving groove 27 of the frame. The sealing portion of the static seal, typically 3 comprises a body 50 with a number of substantially parallel fins 51 which, on compression against e.g. a glazing panel 20, each flex such that an abutment portion 53 of each fin 51 tightly abuts the glazing panel 20, thus providing a secure multi-point seal. The outermost fin 51a may be adapted at its lower end to form a lip portion 54, which, in use, lips over the edge of the frame 19 on which the seal is mounted in order that water running down a glazing panel 20 flows over the outermost fin 51a and onto the frame 19, without penetrating between the seal 16 and the frame 19. In order to provide the most secure seal, the fins 51 should be angled to provide maximum contact with the glazing panel when the seal is compressed. Therefore, in order to ensure maximum protection against ingress of water, the seal should be fitted in the particular orientation which allows water flowing from the glazing panel 20 to be directed over the outermost sealing fin 51a to the frame 19 and not into a groove formed between the glazing panel 20 and the seal 16 which would occur if the static seal 16 were fitted in the opposite orientation.

In use, with the glazing panel 20 held in position via the seals 16, the outermost fin 51a of the static seal 16 is visible. Seals are traditionally black whereas many frames are white. In order to improve the appearance of the glazing assembly, consumers generally 4 prefer the seal 16 to be of the same colour as the frame. Therefore, static seals are now provided in white so that they may match the colour of white frames to which they are attached.

As described earlier, dynamic seals are also used on window frames. Dynamic seals seal between an opening part of the frame and a fixed part, for example, along the edge of the opening part of a window frame. Dynamic seals (also known as weather seals) function to provide an airtight and watertight seal between the two parts of the frame and, additionally, have a cushioning function to cushion the impact between the movable part of the frame and the fixed part of the frame on closing. The dynamic seal therefore needs a high degree of resilience.

In general, consumer preference favours the use of dynamic seals coloured black, often even in conjunction with white frames. Black dynamic seals are preferred for a number of reasons. Firstly, black seals are less likely than white seals to become marked as a result of repeated opening and closing of the frame surfaces against the seal. Secondly, the use of black seals in this situation enables easy visual inspection to confirm that the seal is present and intact, increasing consumer confidence in the assembly.

Fig. 3 illustrates the structure of a typical dynamic seal with Fig. 4 showing such dynamic seals in use in a window frame. In order to fulfill the dual purpose of sealing against air and water and providing a cushioning effect, dynamic seals 41 typically comprise a resiliently deformable cylindrical portion 42 and a mounting portion 43. The mounting portion 43 attaches to a receiving portion 29 within the frame in the same way as does the mounting portion 17 of the static seal 16. The dynamic seal 41 is mounted on the window frame between a fixed portion of the frame 44 and an opening portion 45 such as an opening part of a window frame. When the window is open, the sealing portion 42 maintains its cylindrical formation with a substantially circular cross section. On closing of the window frame, the sealing portion 42 is compressed. In this way a seal is formed between both parts of the frame, preventing ingress of water and air, with the deformation of the seal providing a cushioning effect. On reopening of the window, the sealing portion 42 regains its original configuration with a circular cross section.

Depending on the speed and angle at which the frame comes into contact with the seal, the sealing portion may compress evenly or unevenly. If the seal portion is compressed unevenly, buckling may occur. This may compromise the seals performance and, in the long term, damage the seal. Furthermore the buckling may occur to a different extent at different points along the length of 6 the seal, further increasing the risk of deterioration of the seal performance.

As described above, in the construction of window frames, at least two types of seal have been traditionally employed - static seals and dynamic seals, each of which have different functions, and as a result, each of which requires different properties. Incorrect fitting of static seals to positions where dynamic seals are required and vice versa may result in deterioration of the performance of the seals and, ultimately, may result in damage to the window frames themselves.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a frame seal comprising a hollow resilient elongate sealing portion having ribs linked together by a web structure, the web structure-at least partially bounding the hollow interior of the sealing portion, and a mounting portion for mounting the seal to a frame, the mounting portion being connected to the sealing portion on the opposite side from the ribs.

on compression of the sealing portion against a surface for example a glass glazing panel, the web structure deforms with further deformation enabled by the presence of the hollow interior of the sealing portion. on deforming, at least one rib is brought into contact with the surface against which the sealing portion is compressed. Preferably several ribs are brought into 7 contact with the surface to form a multipoint seal.

The seal may be mountable on a glazing bar or may be mountable on a glazing panel.

Preferably the seal is symmetrical about an axis passing through the sealing portion and the mounting portion. Also, it is preferable that the ribs extend along the length of the seal.

Preferably, the sealing portion has at least four ribs linked together by the web structure, the innermost two ribs preferably being linked by a web which is outwardly concave. With this structure, deformation of the sealing portion is substantially even about the axis of symmetry passing through the outwardly concave section of the web of the sealing portion and the mounting portion, enabling a balanced compression of the web structure and hollow portion, and preventing kinking of the seal. In a further preferred embodiment, the web structure includes two parallel side walls extending from the outermost ribs and bounding the sides of the hollow portion. The walls are used further to promote balanced deformation of the sealing portion on compression.

The seal may be co-extruded with the frame or bead to which it is to be attached. In such an arrangement, the mounting portion is not necessary and a sealing portion of the seal is directly attached to the frame/bead during extrusion.

8 According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a symmetrical seal comprising a hollow resilient elongate sealing portion and a mounting portion, the sealing portion having a first portion of a first colour on one side of the axis of symmetry and a second portion of a second colour on the opposite side of the axis of symmetry and the seal being adapted to be mountable via the mounting portion in two orientations onto a frame such that in a first orientation, the first portion is adjacent to a surface of the frame and in a second orientation, the second portion is adjacent to that surface.

The provision of a symmetrical dual coloured seal enables the fitter to choose the colour of seal to be visible when the seal is fitted in a glazing assembly. For example, if the seal is being used as a static seal in a wide frame, it will generally be preferred to have the visible portion of the seal white to match the adjacent frame colour. If, on the other hand, the frame is dark coloured, the seal can be reversed such that a black portion is visible. If for example the seal is being used as a dynamic seal against which a window frame will be repeatedly closed, it may be preferred to have a dark coloured seal portion visible, enabling visual confirmation that the seal is present and intact and providing a surface which is less likely to become marked 9 due to the repeated impact of the frame against it.

Preferably, the seal is made of extruded plastics material such as curable synthetic rubber such as EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer), the rubber being cured in a salt bath or by microwave treatment. Alternatively, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE)/ thermoplastic rubber (TPR) may be used. This type of material does not require curing. However, any suitable resiliently flexible plastics material may be used.

Where a dual coloured seal is being provided, the two different coloured portions are co-extruded using any suitable conventional co-extrusion method.

Preferably the seal has a shore A hardness of between 30 and 80. More preferably the shore A hardness is between 50 and 70.

Preferably the web of the sealing portion has a thickness in the range of 0.2 mm to 2 mm and more preferably in the range of 0.5 mm to 1 mm.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit for a glazing assembly including at least one glazing bar and at least one seal wherein the seal comprises a hollow resilient elongate sealing portion having ribs linked together by a web structure, the web structure at least partially bounding the hollow interior of the sealing portion, and a mounting portion connected to the sealing portion on the opposite side from the ribs, and the glazing bar having a recess to receive the mounting portion of the seal for mounting the seal onto the glazing bar.

Alternatively, the kit may include at least one glazing panel and at least one seal, the seal being as described above, wherein the glazing panel is arranged to receive the mounting portion of the seal for mounting seal into the glazing panel.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a glazing assembly comprising at least one glazing bar, at least one glazing panel and at least one seal, the seal being mounted between the glazing bar and the glazing panel so as to form a seal there-between, wherein the seal comprises a hollow resilient elongate sealing portion having ribs linked together by a web structure, the web structure at least partially bounding the hollow interior of the sealing portion, the sealing portion being deformed when forming the seal with the ribs contacting the glazing bar or glazing panel.

The seal may be mounted on the glazing bar by coextrusion with the glazing bar, or by co-extrusion with a bead which is attached to the glazing bar, the ribs contacting the glazing panel when forming a seal. Alternatively, the seal may further comprise a mounting portion for mounting the seal to the glazing bar, the I I mounting portion being connected to the sealing portion on the opposite side from the ribs, wherein the seal is mountable on the glazing bar by insertion of the mounting portion into a recess in the glazing bar, to form a seal between the glazing bar and the glazing panel with the ribs contacting the glazing panel.

The invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a cross sectional view of a conventional static seal; Fig. 2 shows a cross sectional view of a glazing arrangement in which the conventional static seal of Fig. 1 is fitted; Fig. 3 shows a cross sectional view of a dynamic seal; Fig. 4 shows cross sectional view of a glazing arrangement in which the dynamic seal of Fig. 3 is fitted; Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the seal of the present invention; Fig. 6 shows a cross sectional view of a glazing arrangement in which the seal of Fig. 5 is used as a static seal; Fig. 7 shows a cross sectional view of a glazing arrangement in which the seal of Fig. 5 is employed as a 12 dynamic seal.

Fig. 5 shows a cross sectional view of the frame seal of the invention in a non-compressed (Fig. 5A) and a compressed (Fig. 5B) state. The seal comprises a mounting portion 17 and a sealing portion 3. The mounting portion 17 is of conventional design with, in cross section, an arrow shaped portion to enable easy insertion into a supporting groove of a frame or bead and with wing portions 5a, 5b to enable secure fitting. In this embodiment, the mounting portion 17 has a hollow portion 17a to allow easy deformation of the mounting portion 17 during insertion. The sealing portion 3 is comprised of a ring-like web structure 11 surrounding a cavity 12. The web structure 11 is shaped such that it has a number of ribs 11al 11b, 11c, 11d and an outwardly concave section 14 between ridges 11b and 11c. The interior surface 14a of this concave section 14 is opposite a base surface 15 which divides the mounting portion cavity 17a from the sealing portion cavity 12. The web structure 11 has two side walls 32, 33, which in this embodiment, are of different colours. The web structure may be of different colours, as in this embodiment, or may be of uniform colour.

Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 show the seal of Fig. 5a being used as a static seal and a dynamic seal respectively and shows the seal in a compressed state in both Figures.

13 In Fig. 6, although the static seal used as a bead seal is of conventional design, the seal of the invention can of course also be used here.

Fig. 5b shows the seal of Fig. 5a in a compressed state. On applying pressure to the seal by, for example, bringing it into contact with a planar surface such as a glazing panel 20 or a portion of a window frame 45, the flexible web structure 11 deforms such that the interior surface 14a of the outwardly concave portion 14 is pushed towards the base surface 15 thus relatively flattenin g the ring-like web structure 11 and the cavity 12 which it bounds. The deformation of the web structure causes abutment of the sealing ridges lla, llb, 11c, lld against the planar surface against which the seal is being pressed. The seal thus forms a multipoint seal suitable for gripping for example a glazing panel securely and thus has the desired characteristics of a static seal.

Furthermore, the resilient compressibility of the ring-like web structure provides a cushioning effect enabling the seal to be used to cushion the closure of a movable part of a frame against a fixed part when, for example, a window is being closed. The seal structure regains its shape on reopening of the window and can thus be repeatedly used as an effective cushioning seal on repeated closing and openings of the window.

The particular arrangement of this embodiment with 14 four ribs arranged on the sealing portion with a outwardly concave portion between the middle ribs facilitates a substantially even collapsing of the ring structure and prevents uneven buckling which might compromise the performance of the seal. Side walls 32 and 33 further aid even collapse of the ring structure.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A glazing assembly comprising at least one glazing bar, at least one glazing panel, and at least one seal, the seal being mounted between the glazing bar and the glazing panel so as to form a seal there-between, wherein the seal comprises a hollow resilient elongate sealing portion having a plurality of ribs, the ribs being linked by a web structure, the web structure at least partially bounding the hollow interior of the sealing portion, the sealing portion being deformed when forming the seal with the ribs contacting the glazing bar or glazing panel.

2. A glazing assembly according to claim 1 wherein the seal is mounted on the glazing bar by co-extrusion with the glazing bar, or by co-extrusion with a bead which is attached to the glazing bar and the ribs contact the glazing panel when forming a seal.

3. A glazing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the seal further comprises a mounting portion for mounting the seal to the glazing bar, the mounting portion being connected to the sealing portion on the opposite side from the ribs, and wherein the seal is mounted on the glazing bar 16 by insertion of the mounting portion into a recess in the glazing bar, to form a seal between the glazing bar and the glazing panel with the ribs contacting the glazing panel.

4. A glazing assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the ribs extend along the length of the sealing portion.

5. A glazing assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the seal has at least four ribs.

6. A glazing assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the web structure includes two parallel walls extending from the outermost ribs.

7. A glazing assembly according to claim 5 wherein the innermost two ribs are linked by a web which is outwardly concave.

8. A glazing assembly according to claim 3 wherein the seal is symmetrical about an axis passing through the sealing portion and the mounting portion.

9. A kit for a glazing assembly including at least one glazing bar and at least one seal mountable on the 17 glazing bar, wherein the seal comprises a hollow resilient elongate sealing portion having a plurality of ribs, the ribs being linked by a web structure, the web structure at least partially bounding the hollow interior of the sealing portion, and a mounting portion, the mounting portion being connected to the sealing portion on the opposite side from the ribs, the glazing bar having a recess to receive the mounting portion. for mounting the seal to the bar.

10. A kit according to claim 9 further including a glazing panel, the seal sealing between the glazing bar and the glazing panel.

11. A frame seal comprising a hollow resilient elongate sealing portion having a plurality of ribs, the ribs being linked by a web structure, the web structure at least partially bounding the hollow interior of the sealing portion, and a mounting portion for mounting the seal to a frame, the mounting portion being connected to the sealing portion on the opposite side from the ribs, whereby on compression of the sealing portion against a surface, the web structure is such as to bring at least one rib into contact with the surface against which the seal portion is compressed by deformation of 18 the web structure.

12. A symmetrical frame seal comprising a hollow resilient sealing portion and a mounting portion, the sealing portion having a first portion of a first colour on one side of the axis of symmetry and a second portion of a second colour on the opposite side of the axis of symmetry and the seal being adapted to be mountable via the mounting portion in two orientations onto a frame such that in the first orientation the first portion is adjacent the surface of the frame, and in a second orientation the second portion is adjacent that surface.

13. A frame seal according to claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the seal is made of extruded plastics material.

14. A frame seal according to claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the seal has a shore A hardness of 30 to 80.

15. A frame seal according to claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the web of the sealing portion is 0.2 to 1 mm thick.

16. A glazing assembly substantially as herein described reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.

19

17. A frame seal substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. SA and 5B of the accompanying drawings.