IE66002B1 - Cover for glazing panel support member - Google Patents

Abstract

A condensation cover (33) for a glazing panel support member (31), adapted to be fitted over the internal surface of the support member, comprises an integral seal (34) which, in use, contacts the internal surface of the support member or of a glazing panel (32) supported in the support member. The cover can perform the dual functions of condensation cover and internal glazing seal, thus obviating the need for a separate internal sealing device. The invention also provides a method of manufacture of such a condensation cover, a glazing panel support member to which the cover has been fitted and a glazed window, door or roof unit incorporating such a cover.

Description

COVER FOR GLAZING PANEL SUPPORT MEMBER Field of the Invention This invention relates to a cover, of the type typically known as a condensation cover, for a glazing panel support member such as a glazing bar in a glazed window, door or roof unit. The invention also relates to a method of manufacture of such a cover; a glazing panel support member to which the cover has been fitted; and a glazed window, door or roof unit incorporating the cover.

Background to the Invention In glazed window, door or roof units, panels of glass or 15 an alternative such as polycarbonate are held in support members such as glazing bars, frames and sashes, which together make up the structural frame of the unit.

Other structural support members such as ring beams indirectly support the panels by supporting the glazing bars which hold them.

A glazing panel ,;held in a glazing bar or other support member is typically positioned in a glazing groove in the member, such that the member supports both the internal (i.e. inside the building structure of which the window, door or roof unit forms a part) and external surfaces of the panel around its periphery. Externally, a glazing bead, mounted in - the support member and abutting the panel surface around its periphery, is used to provide a 0 seal between the member and the panel and to improve the external appearance of the overall unit. Internally, a gasket or similar seal is usually used to cushion the panel where it contacts the support member. This seal, which is traditionally an asbestos cord, an EPDM gasket or a PVCu pad, wedge or tape, is usually fitted to the -2support member prior to installation of the glazing panel.

Support members such as glazing bars are typically made from either extruded PVCu or from aluminium. In the latter case, particular problems arise from condensation, which occurs on the. internal aluminium surface due to the high thermal conductivity of the metal. The condensation runs down the inside surface of the support member, possibly dripping onto furnishings beneath, and is unsightly and. generally undesirable. Although thermal breaks are often incorporated into aluminium components in an attempt to reduce the amount of condensation occurring, the problem is never fully overcome.

Accordingly, an internal cover, known as a condensation cover, is often fitted over the support member. In the case of a glazing bar, for instance, the cover would be clipped in place over the internal surface of the bar. Once fitted, the cover is so shaped as to provide a channel underneath the glazing bar, down which condensation from the bar can flow to be discharged, ultimately, outside the door, window or roof unit.

Where a condensation cover is fitted to a glazing panel support member, a seal is still needed where the member contacts a supported glazing panel, and sometimes also at the edges of the cover, where it contacts the member. Conventionally, a PVC glazing pad or similar is used as the seal. The seal is fitted to the support member, prior to insertion of the glazing panel. It may need to be fitted either before or after fitting of the condensation cover, depending on the cover design and on whether the seal is to cushion a panel supported in the member or to seal the point of contact between the member -3and the cover.

In all cases, the fitting of condensation covers therefore involves the use of at least two separate items, each of which must be manufactured and fitted separately. A reduction in the number of parts needed would make the fitting of a condensation cover to a glazing panel support member a much simpler and cheaper operation to effect.

Statement of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a condensation cover for a glazing panel support member, adapted to be fitted over the internal surface of the IS support member, the cover comprising an integral seal which, in use, contacts the internal surface of the support member or of a glazing panel supported in the support member, at the join between the edge of the cover and the support member or panel.

The invention thus effectively combines a condensation cover and an internal glazing seal. A single cover piece performs dual functions, both as cladding for the glazing panel support member and also as a seal between the member and a glazing panel supported in the member, or between the member and the cover, as appropriate. The cover is therefore cheaper to produce than the two separate items (cover and seal) conventionally used, and easier to fit (the single item can be fitted after the rest of the door, window or roof unit including the support member has been assembled). The cover also provides a clean finish to the unit as a whole, improving the internal appearance of the glazing panel support member, removing problems due to condensation and providing an effective seal to prevent escape of -4condensation at the edges of the cover.

Whilst the cover of the invention is referred to as a condensation cover, it may well perform additional functions, such as cladding the internal surface of a glazing panel support member so as to improve its appearance generally. The member to which it is to be fitted will typically be a glazing bar, frame or sash, or a transom or mullion, supporting one or more glazing panels, but may also be any other component of a glazed window, door or roof unit (for instance, a ring beam) which directly or indirectly supports a glazing panel or panels and which requires cladding to remove condensation or to improve appearance. The support member will typically be made from aluminium, since it is on such components that condensation is most likely to occur.

By '’internal” surface is meant that surface of the support member which faces inside a building structure of which a glazed door, window or roof unit comprising the member forms a part.

The cover is conveniently made from extruded PVCu, and is preferably of a single-piece construction. The integral seal is desirably co-extruded with the body of the cover. Forming the cover from a PVCu extrusion means that it can be produced as a strip having an appropriate crosssectional profile, .which can be cut to length for fitting to any particular length of glazing panel support member.

The integral seal of the cover may be of any suitable shape and size,., but will typically take the form of a PVCu pad or wedge capable of contacting the support member or panel in use. -5In order to function efficiently as a condensation drainage cover, the cover of the invention is preferably shaped so as to provide, in use, one or more channels between the glazing panel support member and the cover, in which condensation can be allowed to collect and by means of which the condensation can be directed to a discharging exit suitably positioned in the cover. This exit will usually be outside the door, window or roof unit of which the support member forms a part, and may take the form, for instance, of a drainage aperture in an end cap fitted to the external end of the support member, or an appropriately positioned aperture in the condensation cover itself.

The cover is preferably capable of clipping onto the glazing panel support member. Conveniently, the cover will have a cross-sectional profile shaped so as to cooperate with that of the support member, such that the cover can be clipped into engagement with appropriately shaped recesses and/or projections provided on the support member.

In one particular embodiment, the present invention provides a condensation cover for a glazing bar carrying one or more glazing panels, the cover being adapted to be fitted over the internal surface of the bar to cover the bar itself and also the join between the bar and one of the glazing panels, the cover comprising an integral seal which, in use, contacts the internal surface of said glazing panel at the join between the edge of the cover and the panel.

In this embodiment, the condensation cover clads not only the glazing bar but also the join or joins between the bar and any glazing panels held in the bar. This is in -6contrast to conventional covers, which are typically fitted around the bar but not so as to overlap the join between the bar and a glazing panel held in it. Thus, the cover of the present invention provides a condensation drainage channel at least as wide as, if not wider than, the glazing bar itself. It also serves the function of internal glazing seal, cushioning the internal surface of the glazing panel and sealing the glazing bar-panel joint without the need to use a separate sealing device.

The cover of this particular embodiment of the invention can be fitted after the glazing panel or panels have been positioned in the glazing bar, fitting being a relatively simple operation and, moreover, easy to reverse. Removal and replacement of the glazing panels is also therefore simplified.

According to the present invention there is additionally provided a method of manufacture of a condensation cover for a glazing panel support member, which cover is adapted to be fitted over the internal surface of the support member, comprising the steps of extruding a length of PVCu having an appropriate cross-sectional profile and co-extruding with the length of PVCu an integral seal which, when the cover is in use, contacts the internal surface of the support member or a glazing panel supported in the support member, at the join between the edge of the cover and the support member or panel.

Additionally, the invention provides a glazing panel support member, over the internal surface of which a condensation cover in accordance with the invention has been fitted. Further, the invention provides a glazed window, door or roof unit including one or more such support members, to which a condensation cover or covers in accordance with the invention have been fitted.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings, of which:- Fig 1 shows in transverse section a conventional aluminium glazing bar; - Figs 2 and 3 show, also in transverse section, aluminium glazing bars to which conventional condensation covers have been fitted; - Fig 4 shows a glazing bar to which a condensation cover in accordance with the invention has been fitted; and - Fig 5 shows a ring beam, fitted with condensation covers in accordance with the invention.

Detailed Description of the Drawings Referring firstly to Fig l, a typical conventional aluminium glazing bar 1, in this case forming part of a panelled roof unit, carries two glazing panels 2 made from glass or polycarbonate. A glazing bead 3, secured to bar 1 by means of screw 4, provides an external cover for the bar, bearing down on panels 2 to assist in holding them in position relative to the bar. Neoprene or similar glazing gaskets 5 cushion the contact between the bead 3 and panels 2.

To cushion the internal surface of panels 2 against contact with the bar 1, glazing gaskets 6 are inserted into suitably shaped recesses in the bar 1, prior to insertion of the panels.

The bar 1 is shown in Fig l without a condensation cover fitted.

Glazing bar 11 in Fig 2, also of aluminium, is of a design different to that shown in Fig 1 but nevertheless fairly typical. The bar carries a single glazing panel, 12, and a glazing bead 15 which bears down on the edges of panel 12 to hold it in position in the bar 11 and to seal the join between the panel and bar. A separate condensation cover 13 has been fitted to the internal surface of bar 11, projections at the edges of cover 13 snap-fitting into cooperating recesses at either side of the bar. A PVCu glazing pad 14 has been fitted to the edge of bar 11, prior to insertion of panel 12, and seals the internal join between the bar and the panel. 16 is a neoprene or similar glazing gasket, to cushion contact between bead 15 and panel 12.

An alternative arrangement to that shown in Fig 2 is the glazing bar 21 and fitted condensation cover 23, shown in Fig 3. 22 is a glazing panel held in bar 21, 25 a glazing bead and 26 a neoprene seal. PVCu glazing pad 24 sits between bar 21 and the internal surface of panel 22, around the periphery of the panel.

Figs 2 and 3 show how conventional condensation covers are used. It can be seen from these figures that not only must two separate components, cover and seal, be fitted to the glazing bar in each case, but also the resulting appearance of the bar-panel join is by no means satisfactory.

In contrast, glazing bar 31 in Fig 4 has fitted to its internal surface the condensation cover 33, constructed in accordance with the present invention. This cover has -9two integral seals, 34, which contact glazing panels 32, held in glazing bar 31, at the edges of cover 33. The cover is made from extruded PVCu, and seals 34 are coextruded with the main body of the cover.

It can be seen that the cover 33 clads the whole of the internal surface of bar 31, and also the joins between bar 31 and panels 32. This gives a secure, clean finish to the bar-panel join, which looks aesthetically pleasing from internally. There is no need for separate internal glazing seals such as those labelled 14 and 24 in Figs 2 and 3 respectively.

Cover 33 is so shaped that, when fitted to bar 31, a number of channels 3 5 are provided between the bar and the cover, down which condensation collecting on bar 31 can flow to an external discharging exit. The full width of the glazing bar 31 is protected by the cover, with no risk of condensation escaping through seals 34 to reach the inside of the building for which glazing bar 31 forms part of a window, door or roof unit.

Glazing beads 36, supported in bar 31 and resting against the external surfaces of panels 32, are made from extruded PVCu with co-extruded seal portions 37. Whilst co-extruded seals such as 37 are known as part of external glazing beads, they have not previously (for reasons unknown) been incorporated into internal condensation covers, despite the advantages to which that could lead.

Fig 5 shows how the present invention can extend to internal condensation covers for other glazing components, in this case a ring beam 41 forming part of a panelled roof unit. The ring beam 41 sits around the top -10edges of structural walls of a building to which a panelled roof is to be secured, and roof glazing bars such as 42, carrying glass or polycarbonate roof panels such as 43, are supported by the ring beam by means of mounting members (conventional) 47 and 48.

Two covers 44, in accordance with the invention, have been fitted to the internal surface (i.e. that inside the building) of ring beam 41. The covers 44 are made from extruded PVCu, and each has at each of its ends a coextruded seal 45 which contacts the internal surface of ring beam 41 at the join between the respective edge of the cover and the ring beam itself. Covers 44 are relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, simple to fit (being suitably shaped as to snap-fit over appropriate regions of beam 41) and give the internal surface of the ring beam a finished appearance which is pleasing to the eye of the customer.

Claims (21)

Claims

1. A condensation cover for a glazing panel support member, adapted to be fitted over the internal surface of the support member, the cover comprising an integral seal 5 which, in use, contacts the internal surface of the support member or of a glazing panel supported in the support member, at the join between the edge of the cover and the support member or panel. 10

2. A cover according to Claim 1, made from extruded PVCu.

3. A cover according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, which is of a single-piece construction. 15

4. A cover according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the integral seal is co-extruded with the body of the cover.

5. A cover according to any one of the preceding claims, 20 wherein the integral seal is in the form of a PVCu pad or wedge capable of contacting the support member or panel in use.

6. A cover according to any one of the preceding claims, 25 which is shaped so as to provide, in use, one or more channels between the glazing panel support member and the cover, in which condensation can be allowed to collect and by means of which the condensation can be directed to a discharging exit suitably positioned in 30 the cover or the support member or in glazing components associated therewith.

7. A cover according to Claim 6, wherein the discharging exit is positioned, in use, outside the door, window or 35 roof unit of which the support member and cover form a part.

8. A cover according to Claim 6 or Claim 7, whereih^the discharging exit comprises a drainage aperture in an end cap fitted to the external end of the covered support member.

9. A cover according to Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the discharging exit comprises an appropriately positioned aperture in the condensation cover itself.

10. A cover according to any one of the preceding claims, which is capable of clipping onto a glazing panel supporting member.

11. A cover according to Claim 10, having a cross-sectional profile shaped so as to cooperate with that of the support member, such that the cover can be clipped into engagement with appropriately shaped recesses and/or projections provided on the support member.

12. A condensation cover for a glazing bar carrying one or more glazing panels, the cover being adapted to be fitted over the internal surface of the bar to cover the bar itself and also the join between the bar and one of the glazing panels, the cover comprising an integral seal which, in use, contacts the internal surface of said glazing panel at the join between the edge of the cover and the panel.

13. A cover according to any one of the preceding claims, capable of functioning, in use, as an internal glazing seal, so as to seal a join between a glazing panel support member on which the cover is used, and a glazing panel supported in the support member, without the need for a separate sealing device.

14. A cover according to any one of the preceding claims, capable of being fitted onto a glazing panel support member after a glazing panel has been installed in the support member.

15. A cover according co any one of the preceding claims, which is wider than che internal surface of the glazing panel support member over which it is adapted to be fitted.

16. A condensation cover for a glazing panel support member, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings. 10

17. A method of manufacture of a condensation cover for a glazing panel support member, which cover is adapted to be fitted over the internal surface of the support member, comprising the steps of extruding a length of PVCu having an appropriate cross-sectional profile and 15 co-extruding with the length of PVCu an integral seal which, when the cover is in use, contacts the internal surface of the support member or of a glazing panel supported in the support member, at the join between the edge of the cover and the support member or panel.

18. A glazing panel support member, over the internal surface of which a condensation cover according to any one of Claims 1-16 has been fitted. 25

19. A glazing panel support member according to Claim 13, made from aluminium.

20. A glazing panel support member substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying 30 illustrative Figures 4 and 5.

21. A glazed window, door or roof unit including one or more glazing panel support members according to any one of