GB2539394A

GB2539394A - Double glazed marine window unit

Info

Publication number: GB2539394A
Application number: GB1510194.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ashley Clayton Alastair
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-06-11
Filing date: 2015-06-11
Publication date: 2016-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 2035-06-11
Also published as: GB201510194D0; GB2539394B

Abstract

Double glazed marine window unit 40 comprises a first or outer pane 46 and a second or inner pane 48 each with an inner surface 56, 60 and an outer surface 58, 62. The unit further comprises a frame 44 to which the panes are secured with their inner surfaces confronting each other and a spacer 64 between the inner surfaces. The first pane inner surface 56 is connected to a first confronting face 90 of the frame and the second pane outer surface 62 is connected to a second confronting face 94 of the frame and the first and second confronting faces of the frame face in the same direction.

Description

DOUBLE GLAZED MARINE WINDOW UNIT

[0001] The present invention relates to a double glazed marine window unit of the type typically installed in the superstructure of a yacht.

[0002] Historically yacht window units have been single glazed and include a frame which is secured in an opening in a yacht superstructure by means of fixings which pass through the frame and holes in the superstructure to secure the frame to the superstructure. A cross-section through a frame of a double glazed window unit 2 employing fixings which pass through the superstructure is shown in Fig. 1. One problem with such window units is that the holes 4 in the superstructure 6 for the fixings 8 provide a potential leak path. In order to address this leakage problem, clamp-in frames were developed. A cross-section through a frame of a double glazed window unit 10 including a clamp-in frame 12 is shown in Fig. 2. Such a window unit includes a clamping member 14 which is urged towards the frame 12 by fixings 16 such that the superstructure 18 is clamped between the frame 12 and the clamping member 14. For both of the window unit types shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the frames either have mitred corners which are prone to leak or the frames have to be bent at corners which can be difficult or even impossible for heavy duty frames. Recently, there has been a trend to install window units which do not include a frame which is visible from the exterior of the superstructure. This provides a sleek uncluttered exterior appearance. A cross-section through an edge portion of such a unit 18 is shown in Fig. 3. The window unit 18 is connected to the superstructure 20 by means of adhesive 22 which adheres a -2 -projecting peripheral portion 24 of an outer pane 26 of the unit to the superstructure. The outer pane 26 and the inner pane 28 are glued to opposite sides of a spacer 30. In order to prevent light degrading the ultra-violet sensitive adhesive normally used to secure the spacer 30 and the adhesive 22 connecting the unit to the superstructure, confronting peripheral portions of both panes are provided with obscuring border layers 32 and 34. These layers are sometimes referred to in the trade as frits.

[0003] In addition to providing marine windows that do not have a frame visible from an exterior of the window, there is now a growing demand to increase the heat insulation properties of the window unit. To this end it would be desirable for one of the panes to be made of so-called low-k or thermally insulating glass. Such thermally insulating glass usually has a relatively soft thermally insulating layer on one side which needs to be protected from abrasion. For this reason, if a thermally insulating pane is used in a double glazed unit, it needs to be positioned with its thermally insulating layer facing into a gap between the two panes of the unit so that the thermally insulating layer is protected. When manufacturing glass it passes through a toughening plant on rollers and for this reason it is only possible to coat one side of the glass. Any coating on the other side would be damaged or removed by the rollers during this toughening process. Furthermore, it would not be easy Lo add a border layer, such as border layers 32 and 34 shown in Fig. 3. to the same side of a sheet of glass as that on which a thermally insulating layer have been applied. For this reason, it would not be possible to manufacture a window unit as shown in Fig. 3 with one of the panes having a thermally insulating layer on the side facing the gap 36 between the panes. This is because it would not be possible to produce a pane with a thermally insulating layer on one -3 -side and a border layer on the other side. A further problem associated with glazing units of the type shown in Fig. 3 is that the inner pane (shown on the right in Fig. 3) is only supported by being adhered to the spacer 30. The consequence of this is that the inner pane can become separated from the spacer at certain locations. This tendency can be pronounced in a marine environment in which adverse weather conditions can result in flexing of the superstructure. Such separation will result in moisture being able to enter the gap separating the panes which results in condensation forming on the confronting surfaces of the inner and outer panes.

[0004] Weight is another issue to be considered, particularly with the window unit 18 shown in Fig. 3. Due to the fact that the outer pane 26 extends outwardly so as to cover a part of the superstructure 20 and needs to be thick enough to withstand adverse weather conditions, the weight of the window is undesirably high.

[0005] The invention has been made with a view to providing a double glazed marine window unit which addresses one or more of the issues referred to above.

[0006] According to the invention there is provided a double glazed marine window unit comprising a first pane and a second pane each with an inner surface and an outer surface, a frame to which the panes are secured with their inner surfaces confronting each other and a spacer between the inner surfaces wherein the first pane inner surface is connected to a first confronting face of the frame and the second pane outer surface is connected to a second confronting face of the frame and the first and second confronting faces of the frame face in the same direction. -4 -

[0007] Such a window unit has the advantage that the first or outer pane can be arranged to cover the frame thereby providing a window unit, the frame of which is not visible from the outside. Furthermore, since both the first or outer and second or inner panes are both connected to the frame, the tendency for either of the panes to become separated from the spacer will he reduced thereby reducing the chance of moisture entering a gap between the panes which leads to undesirable condensation being deposited on pane surfaces facing the gap. A further advantage of such a window unit is that, because the second confronting face of the frame is connected to the second or inner pane outer surface the frame can easily be arranged to cover the spacer. This has the consequent advantage that a border layer does not have to be applied to the second or inner pane which means that the second or inner pane can be manufactured with a thermally insulating layer on its inner surface (that facing the first or outer pane). Also, due to the fact that the second or inner pane is supported by being connected to the frame, the second or inner pane can be made of relatively thick glass. Since the second or inner pane has a smaller overall area than the first or outer pane and the inner rather than the outer pane can be the pane designed to be thick enough to withstand adverse marine conditions, the overall weight of the window unit can be less than one in which the larger outer pane is so designed.

[0008] In order Lo render Lhe spacer less visually inLrusive when the window unit is viewed from the side of the second or inner pane, preferably an inner peripheral portion of the frame at least partially covers the spacer. More preferably an inner perimeter of the frame is positioned inwardly of an inner perimeter of the spacer in order that the spacer will be completely obscured. -5 -

[0009] So as to permit the frame to be manufactured by simply mitre joining straight frame sections and yet at least largely avoid the problem of allowing water ingress at such joints, preferably the first confronting face of the frame is entirely covered by the first pane.

[0010] Preferably a support medium is positioned between a peripheral edge of the second pane and the frame which supports the peripheral edge of the second pane. Such a support medium will provide additional stability to the second or inner pane. The support medium may act as an adhesive and/or sealant.

[0011] Conveniently the first pane inner surface is adhered to the first confronting face of the frame. Conveniently the second pane outer surface is adhered to the second confronting face of the frame. Using adhesive to connect each pane to the frame avoids the need to employ discreet fasteners which will be costly and time consuming to install and may lead to leak paths being provided. Adhesive can also be used to form an effective seal.

[0012] Preferably the support medium which supports the peripheral edge of the second pane extends over the first and second confronting faces of the frame and respectively adheres the first pane inner surface and the second pane outer surface thereto. With such an arrangement, a single gluing/sealing operation can be carried out to connect a subunit comprising the first and second panes and the spacer to the frame.

[0013] Preferably a peripheral portion of the first pane is covered with a light obscuring layer. Such a light obscuring layer can be arranged to firstly prevent the frame, the spacer and any glue on the first or outer pane from being -6 -visible and secondly prevent ultra-violet degradation of any adhesive used to secure the first or outer pane.

[0014] Preferably the second pane is thicker than the first pane. Since the first pane inner surface is connected to the frame, this is the pane which can extend outwardly beyond the frame and is therefore suited to being the outer pane. From a weight perspective, it is advantageous for this first or outer pane to be thinner than the second or inner pane so as to reduce the overall weight of the window unit.

[0015] Preferably the second pane has a lower thermal conductivity coefficient than the first pane. More preferably the second pane includes a thermal insulation layer on its inner surface. This arrangement exploits the fact that a peripheral border layer does not need to be installed on the second or inner pane to obscure the spacer because an inner peripheral portion of the frame can be arranged to at least partly or more preferably completely cover the spacer. Therefore the second or inner pane only needs to be manufactured with a coating (i.e. the thermal insulation layer or coat) on one side.

[0016] The unit preferably further comprises a clamping member and a fastener arranged to urge the clamping member towards the frame. This has been found to be a quick and effective way of connecting the window unit to a vessel superstructure or hull while avoiding the need to bore holes for fixings in the superstructure or hull.

[0017] The invention also provides a window unit as described above in combination with a boat superstructure or hull to which the unit is secured with the first pane facing exteriorly of the superstructure or hull. More preferably -7 -the unit is clamped to a periphery of an aperture in the superstructure or hull.

[0018] The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying Figures in which: [0019] Fig. 1 is a cross-section through a frame portion of a prior-art marine window unit secured by through-hole fixings; [0020] Fig. 2 is a cross-section through a frame portion of a prior-art marine window unit secured by means of a clamping member; [0021] Fig. 3 is a cross-section through a perimeter portion of a prior-art marine window which is directly adhered to a vessel superstructure; [0022] Fig. 4 is a cross-section through a frame portion of a marine window unit according to the invention; [0023] Fig. 5 is an internal view of the window unit shown in Fig. 4 covering an aperture in a vessel superstructure; and [0024] Fig. 6 is an external view of the window unit shown in Fig. 5.

[0025] An overview of the prior-art window units shown in Figs. 1 to 3 is provided in the introduction above.

[0026] A double glazed marine window unit 40 according to the invention is shown in Figs. 4 to 6.

[0027] The double glazed marine window unit 40 is installed in a superstructure 42 of a marine vessel. The outside of

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the superstructure and window are on the side marked A and the inside of the superstructure and window are on the side marked B. [0028] The unit 40 includes a frame 44. The unit also includes a first or outer pane 46 and a second or inner pane 48. Typically these panes will be made of glass. The inner 48 and outer 46 panes are separated by a gap 50. The outer pane 46 has an inner surface 56 facing the gap 50 and an outer surface 58 facing exteriorly of the unit 40. The inner pane 48 has an inner surface 60 facing the gap 50 and an outer surface 62 facing exteriorly of the unit 40. The outer pane 46 is thinner than the inner pane 48. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the inner pane 48 is 8 mm thick and the outer pane 46 is 4 mm thick. Other thicknesses are possible. The inner pane 48 has a lower thermal conductivity coefficient than the outer pane 46. Thermal conductivity coefficients have the units cal cm/cm2s degC. The inner pane 48, which contributes to a greater extent to the thermal insulation properties of the unit 40, includes a layer 52 of thermal insulation material and a main layer 54 of glass. Since thermal insulation materials are typically less hard than glass, and therefore more susceptible to scratching, the thermal insulation layer 52 is on the inner surface 60 of the inner pane 48, i.e. the side facing the gap 50.

[0029] The outer pane 46 and the inner pane 48 are held apart by a spaccr 64. The spaccr 64 extends around the unit 40 at or adjacent to a peripheral edge 66 of the inner pane 48 and a peripheral edge 68 of the outer pane 46.

[0030] A peripheral portion 70 of the outer pane 46 has a border layer 72 on its inner surface 56. This border layer 72 is sometimes referred to in the art as a frit. The border layer 72 is typically formed from a dye and ground glass with -9 -a lower melting point than the glass constituting the outer pane 46. The dye may be a ceramic ink and/or inorganic dye. During the production of the outer pane, the dye and ground glass are applied to the inner surface 56 of the outer pane 46 by a process such as screen-printing. The outer pane is then heated sufficiently to melt the ground glass so that it fuses with the inner surface 56 of the outer pane 46. This border layer 72 at least substantially prevents ultra-violet light falling on the unit 40 from degrading adhesive 74 used to adhere the outer pane 46 to the spacer 64 and adhesive 76 used to adhere the outer pane 46 to the frame 44. The border layer 72 also prevents the spacer 64 and the frame 44 from being visible from the outside side A of the unit 40.

[0031] The frame 44 is substantially Z-shaped. The frame includes connected periphery includes perimeter an outwardly directed leg 78 configured to be to the associated vessel superstructure 42 around a 106 of an aperture 82 therein. The frame 44 also an inner peripheral portion 84 with an inner 86. The inner peripheral portion 84 is configured to be connected to the inner pane 48. The frame 44 also includes an intermediate portion 88 which connects the outwardly directed leg 78 to the inner peripheral portion 84. The frame 44 as a whole is made of linear extruded sections which are joined at corners of the unit 40 with mitred joints.

[0032] A glazing portion of the unit 40, comprising the outer pane 46 and the inner pane 48 adhered to the spacer 64 is connected to the frame 44 by means of adhesive 76 between the inner surface 56 of the outer pane 46 and a first confronting face 90 of the frame 44. The glazing portion of the unit is also connected to the frame 44 by means of adhesive 92 between the outer surface 62 of the inner pane 48 and a second confronting face 94 of the frame 44. The first -10 -confronting face 90 and the second confronting face 94 of the frame 44 face in the same direction. When the frame is installed in the vessel superstructure 42 these confronting faces will face towards the outside A of the superstructure. A space between the intermediate portion 88 of the frame 44 and firstly the outer peripheral edge 66 of the inner pane 46 and secondly an outer peripheral edge of the spacer 64 is filled with adhesive 96. This adhesive 96 constitutes a support medium which provides additional support to the inner pane 48. The adhesive 76, 92 and 96 will act as a sealant.

[0033] The inner perimeter 86 of the frame 44 is located at the position shown by the dashed line 98 which is situated inwardly of an inner perimeter 100 of the spacer 64 so that the frame 44 covers the spacer 64 and prevents it from being seen from the inside B of the unit 40.

[0034] The vessel superstructure 42 has an aperture 82 with a periphery 106. The aperture 82 is covered by unit 40. The outwardly directed leg 78 of the frame 44 is positioned against the outside of the superstructure 42 around the periphery 106 of the aperture 82. A clamping member 118 is positioned on the inside of the frame 44 and extends outwardly over the superstructure around the periphery 106 of the aperture 82. Fasteners 108 pass through holes 110 in the clamping member 118 and engage screwthreaded holes 112 in the frame 44. Tightening the fasteners 108 will accordingly clamp the periphery 106 of the aperture 82 between the frame 44 and the clamping member 118. Plugs 120 are provided to cover heads of the fasteners 108. Adhesive/sealant 114 is provided between the outwardly directed leg 78 of the frame 44 and the superstructure. Sealant 116 is provided to effect a seal between the peripheral edge 68 of the outer pane 46 and the superstructure 42.

-11 - [0035] Fig. 5 shows an internal view of the window unit shown in Fig. 4 mounted in the superstructure 42 of a vessel and shows that the frame 44 and clamping member 106 each extend around the periphery of the unit 40.

[0036] Fig. 6 shows an external view of the window unit shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Claims

-12 -Claims 1. Double glazed marine window unit comprising a first pane and a second pane each with an inner surface and an outer surface, a frame to which the panes are secured with their inner surfaces confronting each other and a spacer between the inner surfaces wherein the first pane inner surface is connected to a first confronting face of the frame and the second pane outer surface is connected to a second confronting face of the frame and the first and second confronting faces of the frame face in the same direction.
2. The unit of claim 1 wherein an inner peripheral portion of the frame at least partially covers the spacer.
3. The unit of claim 2 wherein an inner perimeter of the frame is positioned inwardly of an inner perimeter of the spacer.
4. The unit of any preceding claim wherein the first confronting face of the frame is entirely covered by the first pane.
5. The unit of any preceding claim wherein a support medium is positioned between a peripheral edge of the second pane and the frame which supports the peripheral edge of the second pane.
6. The unit of any preceding claim wherein the first pane inner surface is adhered to the first confronting face of the frame.

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7. The unit of any preceding claim wherein the second pane outer surface is adhered to the second confronting face of the frame.
8. The unit of claims 5, 6 and 7 wherein the support medium which supports the peripheral edge of the second pane extends over the first and second confronting faces of the frame and respectively adheres the first pane inner surface and the second pane outer surface thereto.
9. The unit of any preceding claim wherein a peripheral portion of the first pane is covered with a light obscuring layer.
10. The unit of any preceding claim wherein the second pane is thicker than the first pane.
11. The unit of any preceding claim wherein the second pane has a lower thermal conductivity coefficient than the first pane.
12. The unit of any preceding claim wherein the second pane includes a thermal insulation layer on its inner surface.
13. The unit of any preceding claim further comprising a clamping member and a fastener arranged to urge the clamping member towards the frame.
14. The unit of any preceding claim in combination with a boat superstructure or hull to which the unit is secured with the first pane facing exteriorly of the superstructure or hull.-14 -
15. The combination of claim 14 wherein the unit is clamped to a periphery of an aperture in the superstructure or hull.