GB2562696A

GB2562696A - Flexible insert system

Info

Publication number: GB2562696A
Application number: GB1700559.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brown Ken
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-01-12
Filing date: 2017-01-12
Publication date: 2018-11-28

Abstract

False glazing bars comprising an assembly of at least two parts. A first part provides an aesthetic appearance that simulates individual sealed units within a single insulated glass unit. A second part provides structural rigidity in order to maintain a grid of these parts when assembled within the glass sealed unit, which is fitted in a window. The materials used for these elements are flexible to allow grids to be made with curved elements.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Flexible insert system

Abstract Title: Flexible glazing bars (57) False glazing bars comprising an assembly of at least two parts. A first part provides an aesthetic appearance that simulates individual sealed units within a single insulated glass unit. A second part provides structural rigidity in order to maintain a grid of these parts when assembled within the glass sealed unit, which is fitted in a window. The materials used for these elements are flexible to allow grids to be made with curved elements.

Figure 1

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Figure 2

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Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a system for simulating a number of individual insulated glass sealed units in a window, by providing a grid inside a single insulated glass sealed unit, the visible edges of which give the appearance of the edge of an insulated glass sealed unit and which aligns with a fret applied to the outer faces of the glass.

BACKGROUND

Over recent years it has become popular for windows to be divided into a number of smaller panes by sticking a shaped bead to the internal and external faces of the insulated glass sealed unit(s) in the window. This gives the appearance of a traditional window with a number of small panes, but is less expensive to produce and, importantly, allows for a much narrower bead than is possible if a number of individual sealed units are used. In order to reinforce the effect of a number of smaller individual panes, a grid is included within the insulated glass sealed unit, the bars of which have visible faces which normally are similar in appearance to the 'spacer bar' used to form the perimeter of insulated glass sealed units. The bar used for these grids is sometimes known as 'duplex bar' and usually comprises a hollow tube of square or rectangular section (see Figure 5). The grid is normally manufactured using 4 way plastic keys onto which are placed cut lengths of the bar. The same result can also be achieved by placing 2 pieces of spacer bar with their non-visible faces opposing each other (known as 'back to back' spacer, see Figure 6), and again a 4 way plastic key is generally used to effect assembly of the grid.

These duplex bars are difficult to bend without distortion so, as the bar performs primarily an aesthetic function, where the bead to be applied inside/outside the glass includes curved or shaped elements, it is not straightforward to manufacture the grid for use within the insulated glass sealed unit. In these cases it is generally necessary to use 2 pieces of spacer bar 'back to back' to produce the curved elements of the grid. With the growth of plastic 'warm edge' spacer bars, which themselves are generally difficult to bend, the problem of manufacturing such grids has increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a system for constructing the grids explained previously, in which the conventional 'duplex' bar or 'back to back' spacer is replaced by an assembly of 2 or more parts. The primary function of one part, or parts, is to provide the aesthetic, visible appearance required when the grid is assembled into an insulated glass sealed unit which is fitted into a window. The primary function of another part, or parts, is to provide the structural rigidity required to maintain the grid in the required position when it is assembled into an insulated glass sealed unit which is fitted into a window. The use of an assembly permits, if required, different materials to be used for each part, so enabling each part to be produced from a material with characteristics suitable to the particular function of that part.

A preferred form of the invention, an example of which is shown in Figure 1, provides a separation bar (2) to which covers (1) can be assembled on each side. The separation bar (2) may be solid or hollow. In this preferred form the separation bar (2) will be perpendicular to the covers (1) and offset to the centreline of the assembly. Where joints are required within the grid, separation bars (2) can be crossed over each other by orienting one separation bar (2) to the left of the centre line of the separation bar/covers assembly, and the other to the right of the centre line of the separation bar/covers assembly, as shown in Figure 4. The overlapping separation bars (2) can be fixed together at the joint. The structure of the grid can be fabricated using the separation bars (2), without regard for aesthetic appearance. By manufacturing the separation bar (2) from a malleable material where the design of beads in the window requires that the grid inside the insulated glass sealed units has curved elements or a combination of curved and straight elements, separation bars (2) may be formed to the required curves or shapes by bending, notching or other means, and then assembled together, as described above, to produce a rigid structure in the required shape. The covers (1), i.e. the elements of the assembly which will be visible when the grid is assembled into an insulated glass sealed unit and fitted into the window, can then be attached to this rigid structure of separation bars (2). In this preferred form of the invention the cover (1) will have a degree of flexibility allowing it to be readily curved along it's length. The covers (1) will be terminated where the separation bars (2) are overlapped, as shown in Figure 4.

An alternative form of bar in accordance with the invention, shown in Figure 3, would provide for a cover and separation bar to be assembled together prior to curving.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how this invention may be put into practice. In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view of a preferred form of assembly in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a view of an alternative form of assembly in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 3 is a view of an alternative form of assembly in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of a joint made between 2 assemblies in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 5 is a view of a typical 'duplex' bar in an insulated glass sealed unit.

FIGURE 6 is a view of 'back to back' spacer bar in an insulated glass sealed unit.

Claims

A flexible glazing insert system comprising an assembly of 2 or more parts, in which the primary function of one part, or parts, is to provide the aesthetic, visible appearance required and the primary function of another part, or parts, is to provide the structural rigidity required to maintain the grid in the required position when it is assembled into an insulated glass sealed unit which is fitted into a window, so allowing for the different parts to be made if required from different materials which will facilitate the creation of grids with curved elements.

Intellectual

Property Office

Application No: GB1700559.6 Examiner: Mr Ralph Plowman