GB2352757A - Glazing system for securing a window in an opening - Google Patents

Abstract

The glazing system comprises two cooperating frames moulded or fabricated from extruded T-shaped sections 5,6. The sections 5,6 are fitted around the periphery of an aperture in a panel, e.g door 1,4, such that a glazing unit [3, fig 1] and part of the panel are 'sandwiched' between them. The leg of one T-shaped section is provided with barbs along its outer surface and is received in a slot formed in the leg of the other T-shaped section. The slot is profiled to engage the barbs of the other leg, e.g. a ratchet and pawl arrangement. The frames can accommodate panels and glazing units of varying thicknesses and are difficult to separate when fixed together.

Description

1 2352757 SECURE GLAZMG SYSTEM FOR DOOR PANELS Backgound A number of

systems exist for installing a shaped single layer of flat glass or a prepared glass panel in a door panel. The use of two frames one on either side of an opening in the door panel is widely used, The frames are usually clamped together by screwing, nailing or riveting to the door panel thus entrapping the glass or glass panel within the opening. Removal of the glass or glazing panel can usually be effected by reversing the process or by the use of special tools This invention requires no fixing device and is designed to be secure so that the glazing process is irreversible without damage to the components.

Aims of the invention The present invention aims to provide a simple method of securely glazing an opening in a door panel. More specifically it is aimed at securing a single layer of glass or a prepared glazing panel in a composite door panel where the construction is typically as shown in Figure I Section B-- --B In this example plastic sheet of typical thickness 1-3mm is bonded to a rigid foam material with a density of 20-50 gms/litre. The structure so formed is defined by a rigid ftame, which forms the outer edge of the door. A further aim of this invention is to provide a secure system, which will adjust to various door thicknesses It is yet another aim of the invention to provide a secure system of glazing in hostile atmospheres. In this embodiment the frames can be formed from glass filled plastic materials by the pultrution process.

Summga of the main features of the invention This invention is concerned with the secure placement of a single layer of glass or a fabricated glazing panel within an opening created in a panel. The panel is preferably of the composite type where the construction is laminar in it's make-up. Two dissimilar frames are fabricated from moulded or extruded section to suit the size and shape of the opening created in the panel. Both sections are 'T' type configuration and each section is specifically for use as an interior frame or an exterior frame. In both cases the bar of the 'T' will provide interference faces to overlap the panel on the one side and the glass or glazing panel on the other side. The leg of the 'T' provides the means of fixing the two frames together. The outer frame 'T' leg is a multi- ribbed barb fin designed to engage within the ratcheted slot which forms the 'T' leg of the outer profile. When the two frames are assembled, by forcing the barb into the ratcheted slot along the frames entire perimeter, the process becomes irreversible and it is not possible to separate the frames without damaging the components. The barbed fin may enter the ratcheted slot to varying depths so that the interference faces provided by the 'T' bar will vary in their distance apart after assembly. The positive nature of the locating system is particularly suited to glazing systems which will be exposed to hostile environment, e.g. heat or wet conditions. In this embodiment the profile is moulded or extruded from heat resistant and/or moisture resistant materials.

2 Short suMMary of the drawings

Figure I represents the front view of a typical door design where the top half of the door displays two glazing apertures and the bottom half of the door is moulded to form two Georgian panels.

Figure 2 defines the detail when the door is viewed along section A ---- -- A to show the inner and outer frame in the assembled position with the barb in position inside the ratchet slot thus clamping the door and glazing panel which will be related in their relative thickness- Figure 3 views the door in Figure I along the section B-----B. A typical composite door construction is given showing the skin material I bonded to a rigid foam 3 and the door's extremities defined by a rigid frame 7. The section B----B is taken along the Georgian panel showing an example of a formed skin- Figure 4. The inner and outer profiles are shown in this drawing before assembly showing detail of the barb fin and ratchet slot Figure 5 is the detail of the extruded section forming the inner and the outer frame in the assembled position. The barb is shown fully inserted in the ratcheted slot so that the door and glazing panel thicknesses are at the smallest possible dimension.

Figure 6 This cross section of the assembled and engaged frame concentrates on the arrangement of the seals to achieve total resistance to water ingress.

Figure 7 concentrates on the fabrication of the frames with an illustration of the formation of a comer Figure 8 is a complete inner and outer frame assembly.

Complete Mcification of drawings Figure I is an example of a typical door. The invention can be applied to any door of any construction the details of which do not apply to the present invention. The door shown has two glazed apertures 3 in the upper half and two formed Georgian panels 2 in the lower half. The preferred door construction by way of example is the composite door the details off which are illustrated in section B-B and referred to in Figure 2. The composite door used in the example is a sandwich construction consisting of a plastic skin off thickness between 1 mm to 3mm. It may or may not be formable by heat. The plastic skin forms the outside layer 1. Entrapped within the plastic skin is a rigid foam 4 that may be pre cast or it may be foamed within the door. The foam would usually have a density between 20grn/litre and 50 gms/litre. The door extent is defined by a rigid material which is formed into a complete or partial ftame and becomes trapped between the two skin faces. The structure is bonded together using suitable adhesives resulting in a rigid structure. the Georgian panels 2 are formed in the skin material by a suitable moulding process where design possibilities are limitless.

Figure 3 is a cross section through a glazed panel 3 given along the line A---A. An aperture is cut in the door panel and is then surrounded by an opposing outer and an inner frame so that the frame traps the door construction 4 and the double-glazed panel 3. The inner and the outer fame are fabricated from extruded or moulded profile, which are dissimilar in their cross sections. Figure 4 illustrates the two profiles, the inner profile 5 and the outer profile 6 and Figure 3 gives the two profiles assembled and in situ. The basic 'T' section configuration can be seen in Figure 4 on both the inner and outer profile. The 'T' bar in both the inner and outer profiles interferes with the door panel on the one side and the glass or the glazing panel on the other. In this particular embodiment the interference arm on the glazing panel side is a hollow quadrant but it may be of a different shape. The interference arm on the door side is 3 channelled so that the pressure lips 11 and 12 are slightly flexible and able to follow the door skin profile to produce an effective seal. The interference quadrant on the inner profile 5 is coextruded with a flexible flipper seal at the tip and pressure bumps 15 along the face. A wedge extension extruded on the quadrant tip of the outer profile serves to effect a seal on the glass and to hide any packing materiel or sealing tape used on the flat surface of the quadrant adjacent to the glazing panel. This is the outer surface of the construction and as such, is exposed to the elements. The leg of the 'T' in both the inner and the outer profile forms the securing means when the two frames are engaged. A double-sided barbed fin forms the 'T' leg of the inner profile 5. The barbs are saw tooth in their shape and run continuously the length of the profile. -The 'T; leg of the outer profile 6 is in the form of a slot 8 with ratchet teeth formed longitudinally on both sides of the inner walls of the slot. The ratcheted slot is continuos along the length of the profile. Entry of the barb into the ratchet slot is irreversible because the teeth in each member are set in opposing directions. Once they have engaged it is difficult to reverse the process. Figure 5 is a cross section view of the inner and outer profile in the assembled position. The barb 7 is fully inserted in the ratchet slot 8 and the gap between the interference faces is at a minimum. Reducing the length of the ratchet shoulder 16 can further decrease the gap between the interference faces. This can be done by sawing or routing the profile ratchet slot to the required length. Thus by adjusting the depth of penetration of the barb into the ratchet slot, the distance between the interference faces can be varied. The thickness of the door is directly proportional to the thickness of the glazing panel but in certain circumstances, it is possible to use spacers between the interference face and the glass face to reduce the glass panel thickness without affecting the door thickness. When a single thickness of glass is used, spacers are usually required to maintain a workable door dimension.

The seals required to render the assembled structure weatherproof and waterproof are illustrated in Figure 6. A number of different sealing media can be used. In this embodimefit, double-sided adhesive tape based on polyurethane foam core at thickness between Imin and 4mm is used. Seal 17and 18 can be 3min double sided tape filling the gap between the interference face and the glass surface. In the case of the inner frame 5, the coextruded flipper seal 9 further enhances the barrier against moisture ingress whilst at the same time protecting the seal 18. In certain circumstances, the seals 18 and 20 used under the inner profile interference faces can be omitted. The two pressure ribs 15 ensure that adequate pressure is applied to the double-sided tape. Seal 17 is always necessary since profile 6 is the external profile and not subject to weather or environmental considerations. The wedge seal 10 forms a contact seal with the glass and protects seal 17. Seals 19 and 20 form a barrier between the interference face and the door skin 1. Various seals can be used. In this embodiment double-sided adhesive tape is used at a thickness of I mm. The inner profile door-sealing edge 11 has a degree of flexibility to enhance the efficiency of the seal. The fin pressure ribs 13 serve to supply extra pressure points to the seal 19 to ensure a seal capable of withstanding environmental extremes.

The frame illustrated in figure 8 can be moulded or fabricated. In the preferred embodiment the frame is fabricated from profiles 5 and 6 to suit any size opening cut in the panel. As an example, the profile is extruded in rigid polyvinyl chloride and the mitred comers are jointed by thermal welding. The comers are n-fitred by sawing and then welded on suitable equipment as shown in figure 7 at 14, Where the profile is formed from thermosetting plastic or any other materials where heat sealing is not possible, the profile can either be glued or mechanically jointed by bracketing and screwing. In the example given, after the mitred comers have been welded, it is necessary to remove the barb from the inner profile 5 in the welded area. This is to enable the slot and the barb to engage on assembly despite the distortion that takes place in the weld area- 4 List of features and components referred to in Fijiures 1 to 8 1. Panel covering skin material 2. Moulded Georgian panel 3. Glazing panel 4. Foam filler 5. inner profile with barbed fin 6. Outer profile with ratchet slot 7. Barbed fin S. Ratchet slot 9. Co-extruded Flipper seal, inner profile 10. Wedge end seal, outer profile 11. Panel interference edge, inner profile 12. Panel interference edge, outer profile 13. Pressure fins 14. Mitred comer weld 15. Pressure strips, inner profile 16 Ratchet shoulder 17, Outer glazing seal 18. Inner glazing seal 19. Outer panel seal 20. Inner panel seal 2

Claims (1)

1. Claims

   I A glazing systemcomprising two different frames fabricated from 'T' shaped profiles where the glazing unit is held between the two opposing frames, the said fi-ames engaging by a longitudinal pawl and ratchet system thus forming a rim around an aperture cut in the panel. The frames are fabricated ftom different profile section of 'T' type configuration, the one profile featuring a continuous internal ratchet slot and the other slot providing a pawl leg. The teeth on both components are designed to allow easy entry but not withdrawal 2 A glazing system defined in claim 1 where the profiles are joined at the comers or elsewhere to form different shapes to suit the aperture cut in the panel 3 A glazing system as defined in claim I where the profile is mitered and joined by adhesive bonding to form the different shapes to suit the aperture cut in the panel 4 A glazing system as defined in claim I where the profile is bent by a heat process to form any part of a circle whilst retaining the features to allow the two frames subsequently fabricated to engage correctly and securely forming a rim around the front and reverse side of the panel A glazing system as defined in claim 1 where the profile is produced from glass filled thermosetting material to enable the glazing system to be used in a hostile environment 6 A glazing system as defined in claim 1 where the seats between the profile and the panel are formed from thermoplastic rubber or similar material coextruded integrally with the glazing profile.

   7 A glazing system as defined in claim I where the seats are formed from non integral rubber seals.

   8 A glazing system as defined in claim I where the seals between the profile and the panel are formed fi-om chemically curing silicone compounds 9 A glazing system as defined in claim I where the profile can be adjusted to accommodate various panel thickness' by shortening the pawl leg and reducing the ratchet slot depth