GB2457900A

GB2457900A - Glazing arrangement comprising mounting portion having a thermal break

Info

Publication number: GB2457900A
Application number: GB0803569A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Glynn John Hawkins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-02-27
Filing date: 2008-02-27
Publication date: 2009-09-02
Also published as: GB0803569D0

Abstract

A glazing arrangement comprises an elongate support 10 carrying a pair of elongate seals 12, the support 10 having a mounting portion 16 projecting between the seals 12 to which a cap 22 is fitted, in use, wherein the mounting portion 16 incorporates a thermal break 32. The insulating member may be a thermally insulating polyamide material.

Description

I

Glazing Arrangement This invention relates to a glazing arrangement for use in supporting glazing panels in a desired position and securing and sealing the panels in that position. The glazing arrangement is suitable for use in supporting the glazing panels of, for example.

a conservatory roof, overhead glazing systems, patent glazing systems or a curtain walled structure.

A conservatory roof typically includes a series of supports which extend parallel to one another and which carry seals against which glazing panels hear. Each support typically carries the edges of two adjacent glazing panels. Secured to the support is a cap which serves to secure the glazing panels in position. Seals are carried by the cap which bear against the glazing panels. The arrangement securely holds the glazing panels in position and provides a waterproof seal therehetween.

The supports are often of a metallic form, for example they may he of extruded aluminium form. Likewise, the cap may he of metallic form, although other materials may he used.

Curtain wall structures arc often of a similar form, although the shapes of the supports and caps may be different, and the supports are orientated to hold the glazing panels in a substantially vertical orientation. Likewise, overhead and patent glazing systems use components of similar form.

It is desired to incorporate a thermal break into the glazing arrangement in order to enhance the thermal insulating properties of the glazing arrangement, whilst avoiding increasing the complexity of the assembly operation.

According to the present invention there is provided a glazing arrangement comprising an elongate support carrying a pair of elongate seals, the support having a mounting portion projecting between the seals to which a cap is fitted, in use, wherein the mounting portion incorporates a thermal break.

The thermal break preferably comprises a pair of thermal insulating members, for example of a polyamide material.

Preferably the support comprises a first support component and a second support component secured to one another by the thermal insulating members, the first support component carrying the seals whilst the second support component is adapted to have the cap secured thereto, in use.

The thermal insulating members are preferably crimped to the first and second support components.

The cap may he secured directly to the mounting portion of the support, or a mounting component may he positioned therehetween.

The invention will further he described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I is a diagrammatic sectional view illustrating a glazing arrangement in accordance with one embodiment of the inventiom and Figures 2 to 4 arc similar views illustrating three alternative embodiments.

The glazing arrangement illustrated in Figure I comprises a support 10 shaped to define a pair of arms 12, each of which carries a seal member 14. The support 10 is of elongate form and the arms I 2 and seal members 14 extend adjacent to opposite edges of the support 10 and so are generally parallel to one another and spaced apart from one another.

In between the arms 12 and seal member 14, the support 10 includes a mounting portion 16 which is shaped, adjacent its free end, to define a re-entrant recess I 8.

In use, the support 10 forms part of the structure of a roof of a conservatory or the like, the support 10 being orientated such that a pair of adjacent glazing panels 20 can he supported, along their edges, by the arms 12 of the support 10, the seals 14 scaling against the glazing panels 20. A cap 22 is securable to the mounting portion 16 of the support 10, the cap 22 serving to secure the panels 20 to the support 10. The cap 22 is flexible, along its edges, to define sealing regions 24 arranged to seal against the glazing panels 20 to form a substantially weather-tight seal therewith. As illustrated, the cap 22 is provided with a projection 26 arranged to he received within the recess I 8 in a snap-fit like manner, thus assembly is relatively simple in that once the glazing panels 20 have been positioned upon the support I 0, the cap 22 need only he snap-fitted to the mounting portion 16 of the support 10 in order to complete the assembly operation.

As illustrated, the support 10 is of multi-part construction. Specifically, the support 10 comprises a first support component 28 and a second support component 30 which are spaced apart from one another and secured to one another by a thermal break 32 comprising a pair of elongate thermal insulating members 34. The members 34 are conveniently of polyamide form and are conveniently secured to the first and second support components 28, 30, by a crimping operation in which the ends of the memhers34 arc located within channels formed in the first and second support components 28, 30 whercafter arms 36 provided on the first and second support components 28, 30 are deformed to crimp the members 34 into position, thereby securing the first and second support components 28, 30 to one another.

It will he appreciated that the provision of the thennal break 32 in the support 10 is advantageous in that heat loss through the glazing arrangement is reduced, the conduction of heat from the support 10 to the cap 22 being significantly reduced. The thermal break 32 forms part of the structure of the support 10, thus there is no possibility of it being omitted during the assembly operation, and the assembly operation is no more complex than with a typical glazing arrangement.

Figure 2 illustrates an alternative to the arrangement illustrated in Figure I in which the second supporl. component 30 is shaped to define, adjacent its free edge, a region or head of substantially circular cross-section to which a mounting component 38 can he snap-fitted. The mounting component 38 includes arms 40 defining a channel of part-circular cross-sectional shape, thus it will be appreciated that the mounting component 38 can undergo limited articulation relative to the second support component 30.

The mounting component 38 further defines a flange 42 received, in use, in a correspondingly shaped channel formed in the interior of the cap 22 thereby securing the cap 22 and mounting component 38 to one another.

It will he appreciated that, again, assembly of the glazing arrangement is simple in that all is required is for the cap 22 to he snap-fitted to the mounting portion 16 of the support 10, the mounting portion lb already incorporating the thermal break 32.

Figure 3 illustrates an arrangement similar to that of Figure 2 but intended for use in a curtain walling application. The primary difference between the arrangement of Figure 2 and that of Figure 3 is in the shape of the cap 22.

Figure 4 illustrates an alternative curtain walling application of the invention. In the arrangement of Figure 4, the mounting component 38 includes seals 38 arranged to seal against the glazing panels 20. The mounting component 38 is arranged to be secured, at intervals, to the support member 10 by means of bolts or screws (not shown). The bolts or screws may extend through the mounting component 38 and into the second support component 30 or, alternatively, may extend into the first support component 28. It will he appreciated that, in such an arrangement. the screws or bolts may breach the thermal break 32 and hence reduce the effectiveness thereof. However, as the screws or bolts are only provided at intervals along the length of the glazing arrangement, it will he appreciated that the degree by which the thermal insulating properties of the glazing arrangement are reduced is relatively low.

As illustrated in Figure 4, the cap 22 is adapted to he snap-fitted on to the mounting component 38 by means of ribs 22 receivable in correspondingly shaped recesses formed in the mounting component 38.

It will be appreciated that a wide range of modifications and alterations to the arrangements described hereinhefore are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. By way of example. alternatives to the specific design of thermal break illustrated herein are possible. Further, the shapes of the cap 22 and support 10 may he modified within the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A glazing arrangement comprising an elongate support carrying a pair of elongate seals, the support having a mounting portion projecting between the seals to which a cap is fitted, in use, wherein the mounting portion incorporates a thermal break.
2. An arrangement according to Claim I, wherein the thermal break comprises a pair of thermal insulating members.
3. An arrangement according to Claim 2, wherein the thermals insulating members are of a polyamide material.
4. An arrangement according to Claim 2 or Claim 3. wherein the support comprises a first support component and a second support component secured to one another by the thermal insulating members, the first support component carrying the seals whilst the second support component is adapted to have the cap secured thereto, in use.
5. An arrangement according to Claim 4, wherein the thermal insulating members are crimped to the First and second support components.
6. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cap is secured directly to the mounting portion of the support.
7. An arrangement according to any of Claims I to 5, wherein a mounting component is positioned between the cap and the mounting portion.
8. An arrangement according to Claim 7, wherein the mounting portion includes a region of part circular cross-sectional shape, the mounting component being arranged to he snap fitted thereto.
9. A glazing arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.