GB2473454A

GB2473454A - A decorative pane

Info

Publication number: GB2473454A
Application number: GB0915837A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jeremy Town
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-09-10
Filing date: 2009-09-10
Publication date: 2011-03-16
Also published as: GB0915837D0

Abstract

A decorative pane having two outer panes 11 11' separated by a spacer 12 12', the outer panes encapsulate a plastic substrate 13 that extends beyond the perimeter of the spacer and is embedded within a silicone sealant 14 that adheres the edges of the glass unit. The substrate may be manufactured from polyethylene terephthalate PETG which may be of UV grade and between 1-2mm in thickness. The decorative sheet may have a 90 degree lip 15 around its edge that lies adjacent to the spacer or located within a preformed channel engineered with the spacer. The decorative panel forms a triple layered window unit arrangement.

Description

DESCRIPTION

DECORATIVE PANE

Field Of Invention

This invention relates to a decorative pane

Background to Invention

Currently decorative glass panels have a number of characteristics relating to their core composition. Most typically decorative elements are applied to one pane of the two panes that form a traditional double glazed unit. It is also known for decorative panels to have a three piy composition where the decorative panel is positioned in the centre between two outer sheets of glass each being equally spaced from one another. In the case of a three ply or triple glazed' insulated unit current techniques mean that the perimeter of the central decorative panel will end flush with the outer edge of the spacer sections provided. The spacer is adhered to the front and back panes of glass but is stepped in from the perimeter to provide a cavity for sealing. Once the decorative panel is assembled a silicone sealant is applied to the cavity that is provided by the assembly of the two outer glass panes with the stepped spacer and bonds these elements together.

Therefore secure positioning of the central decorative pane is reliant solely on the spacers provided. Indeed in many cases a rebate is formed into a single thickness of spacer that is designed to accept the thickness of a third central decorative pane of glass avoiding the need for two separate ply's of spacer.

Summary of Invention

The present invention recognises the significant benefits of extending the perimeter of the encapsulated central panel beyond the perimeter of the spacer provided.

The make up of the insulated decorative unit will therefore be as follows. Firstly a spacer is adhered to the inner face of one of the two outer panes and is stepped in on average between 4 -7 mm from the perimeter of the glass. The decorative central panel is then positioned above the spacer, located and adhered to the top of the spacer. The significance of the central panel is that it is of plastic composition (preferably a very flexible PETG) and will extend 2 to 3 mm beyond the perimeter of the spacer but will still be slightly undersized in relation to the outer glass panes provided. Another spacer is then adhered to the rigid plastic sheet now making the excess lip of the central insert clearly visible beyond the perimeter of the twin ply spacer. On top of this spacer the second of the 2 outer glass panels is located and applied. The final step is to fill the cavity around the perimeter of the unit with a silicone sealant. The inventor is aware that once this cavity is filled the highly adhesive sealant will not only bond with the glass panes but will also bond with the exposed lip of the plastic decorative central pane.

As a second aspect of the invention, within the forming process of the decorative plastic panel a 90 degree return carrying a depth of between 2 and 5 mm is formed to provide an L-shaped edge to the perimeter. The additional surface area supplied by the formed edge provides even greater adhesion to the silicone sealant that completes the insulation of the unit. The use of this return also affords the decorative panel compatibility with existing spacer bar that carries a rebate. Spacer bar that carries a rebate will have a rebated channel of between 4 and 6mm in width. If utilised with these materials the L-shaped 90 degree return is simply formed to the exact same depth as the channel provided within the spacer. This is required as the plastic central decorative pane is typically only 1-2 mm thick and without such a return would not be of sufficent depth to fit securely within the spacer channel. The 2 fundamental advantages of such a method of manufacture are that: 1 -The decorative panel is not only aesthetically pleasing but now also provides a significant barrier from unwanted intruders. The flexible plastic could be difficult to penetrate when held so securely around the entirety of it's perimeter.

2 -Although the plastic decorative panel is rigid such manufacture can protect from twisting, bowing andlor distortion as significant movement of the pane has now been restricted.

Detailed Description

Figure 1A and lB show traditional composition of 3 ply insulated units. Referring to figure 1 A, a section through a decorative, triple glazed pane 10 is shown composed of two outer panes of glass 11, 11' encapsulating an internal decorative substrate 13. The substrate is secured between 2 sections of spacer 12 and 12'. The substrate finishes flush with the edge of the spacers provided 15. 14 shows the area adjacent to the spacer that is filled with silicone sealant.

Figure 1 B illustrates a variation on current manufacturing trends whereby a cavity is preformed within the spacer 12 purpose made for the insertion of the central panel 13 at point 15 and avoiding the need for 2 narrower sections of spacer.

In relation to the current invention Figure 2 shows the decorative substrate 13 extends at beyond the two spacer sections 12 and 12' with a 90 degree return 15. Thus the silicone sealant 14 bonds to the return 15.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A rigid decorative substrate of plastic composition that is secured and embedded within the spacer and sealant of an insulated glass unit.
2. A rigid decorative substrate of PETG composition that is secured and embedded within the spacer and sealant of an insulated glass unit.
3. A decorative substrate as claimed in claim one where the PETG is of UV grade and of 1 - 2 mm in thickness.
4. A decorative substrate as claimed in preceding claims that has no adhesion of leadwork or seperate decorative fmishes to achieve it's effect.
5. A decorative substrate encapsulated between two panes of glass that extends beyond the spacer provided to form the insulated unit.
6. A decorative substrate that is manufactured from plastic encapsulated between two panes of glass that extends beyond the spacer provided to form the insulated unit.
7. A decorative substrate as claimed in preceding claims that has a 90 degree lip engineered to it's perimeter.
8. A decorative substrate as claimed in preceding claims that extends beyond the perimeter of the spacer provided and is embedded within the silicone sealant that adheres the edges of an insulated glass unit.
9. A decorative substrate as claimed in preceding claims whereby a 90 degree lip is inserted into a preformed channel engineered within a spacer.