IE84967B1 - Apparatus for fixing glazing panels - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT This invention relates to an apparatus, herein referred to as a “glazing bar”, for fixing two glazing panels end to end along an elongate frame member such as a transom in a pre-fabricated roof construction.

Description

APPARATUS FOR FIXING GLAZING PANELS This invention relates to an apparatus, herein referred to as a “glazing bar”, for fixing two glazing panels end to end along an elongate frame member such as a transom in a pre-fabricated roof construction.

A typical pre-fabricated roof assembly has a plurality of substantially parallel dqwnwardly inclined main rafters with glazing panels spanning the gaps between adjacent rafters, the'ends of the panels overlapping the rafters on each side. Irish Patent Specification 75662 describes an inverted channel member which may be used for fixing the glazing panels end to end along these downwardly inclined rafters.

However, in the case of long roof spans there will be a series of glazing panels arranged end to end between each pair of the main rafters, with the abutting ends of the panels extending at right angles to the rafters.

It is therefore also necessary to join these abutting ends, which are arranged to overlie transoms extending at right angles between the main rafters.

According to the present invention there is Apparatus for fixing two glazing panels end to end along an elongate frame member, the apparatus comprising: a lower elongate member of substantially constant cross—section, the lower member having a central portion for locating along the frame member and a pair of wings extending laterally from respective opposite longitudinal sides of the central portion, an upper elongate member of substantially constant cross-section, the upper member having a central portion for locating above and substantially in register with the central portion of the lower member and a pair of wings extending laterally from respective opposite longitudinal sides of the central portion, the central portions of the upper and lower members having co-operating means which engage one another to register the central portion of the upper member with the central portion of the lower portion, and 1 means for fixing the upper and lower members together and to the frame member to clamp the ends of the glazing panels between the wings of the upper and lower members wherein the fixing means comprises a plurality of elongate fixing means which pass from the upper member, through the central portions and through the lower member into the frame member.

In the present specification, including the claims, expressions of orientation or direction such as “upper”, “lower”, “downwardly”, etc., are used for convenience only and refer to the normal orientation of the glazing bar as seen in the accompanying drawing.

However, such expressions are not to be regarded as limiting the orientation of the glazing bar in use.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing whose single figure is an exploded view, in cross-section, of part of a roof assembly including a glazing bar according to the embodiment fixed to a transom extending at right angles between two main rafters (not shown).

Referring to the drawing, the glazing bar comprises upper and lower elongate members 10, 12 respectively, each having a generally T-shaped substantially constant cross-section. It will be understood that in the construction shown in the drawing the members 10, 12 are highly elongated in the direction normal to the plane of the drawing. Each member is preferably an extrusion of aluminium or other lightweight corrosion resistant material.

The upper member 10 has a central portion 14 with a pair of spaced dependant legs 16 and a pair of flanges or wings 13 extending laterally from respective opposite longitudinal sides of the central portion 14.

Similarly, the lower member 12 has a central portion 20 with a pair of spaced upstanding legs 22 and a pair of flanges or wings 24 extending laterally from respective opposite longitudinal sides of the central portion 20.

The distance between the outer surfaces of the legs 22 is just slightly less than the distance apart of the legs 16, so that the legs 22 can be received snugly between the legs 16. The glazing bar will now be further described as it is used to fix two glazing panels 32 end to end over a transom 26. In the present embodiment the panels 32 are double glazed units.

First, the upper and lower members 10, 12 are cut from longer lengths so as to be the same length as the ends 34 of the panels 32. Then, sealant are applied along the outer surface of the beads 23 of an elastomeric wings 24 of the lower member 12, just on either side of the central portion 20. The lower member 12 is then inverted and laid along the upper surface of the transom 26, the central portion 20 of the member 12 being aligned with the centre line of the transom. As shown the transom 26 is made of timber, but it could be boxed steel, PVC, aluminium or other suitable material.

Now, two holes (not shown) are drilled in the member 12, one hole near each end of the member 12 between the legs 22, and the member 12 is fixed to the transom 26 by two screws (also not shown) passing through the respective holes.

Next, further beads 36 of the elastomeric sealant are applied along the inner surface of the wings 24, and the two glazing panels 32 which are to be fixed end to end at the transom 26 are offered to the member 12 with their ends 34 laid on the wings 24 and respectively abutting upstanding stop members 33 on each side of the legs 22. degree of insertion of the ends 34 between the members , 12 in the final assembly. that the opposite ends of the panels 32, that is to say the remote ends parallel to the ends 34, are similarly supported on transoms parallel to the transom 26, while These stop members 38 define the proper It will be understood the ends of the panels 32 at right angles to the ends 34 are supported along the main rafters.

Now, a further bead 40 of the elastomeric sealant is applied to the upper surface of each panel 32 along the end 34 (the beads 40 may alternatively be applied along the underside of the wings 18), and the upper member 10 is engaged with the lower member 12 by sliding the legs over the legs 22 thereby to automatically register the central portion 14 of the upper member 10 in alignment with the central portion 20 of the lower member 12. The upper member 10 is then pushed down until the wings 18 come to bear on the upper surfaces of the ends 34 of the glazing panels 32.

The central portion 14 of the upper member 10 has a series of countersunk holes 42 distributed along its length, and the central portion 20 of the lower member 12 has a like series oi holes 44 in register with the holes 42. site.

These holes may be pre-formed or drilled on- Screws 46 are now screwed into the transom 26, each screw 46 passing through a respective hole 42, through the gap between the pairs of legs 16 and 22, and through a corresponding hole 44 in the central portion 20 of the lower member 12 into the transom.

The screws 46 are tightened along the length of the members 10, 12 until the ends 34 of the glazing panels 32 are firmly clamped between the wings 18, 24.

The wings 18, 24 have a curved profile, such that they Thus the panels 32 are engaged first by the outer ends of converge slightly towards their free outer ends. the wings, but as the screws 46 are tightened the wings resiliently flatten to engage the panels 32 over most of their lateral width. The sliding engagement of the legs 16 and 22 allows for variations in the thickness of the panels 32.

In the embodiment the two screws (not shown) referred to above which initially fix the lower member 12 to the transom are simply used to hold the lower member 12 in place on the transom 26 while the glazing panels 32 and upper member 10 are assembled thereto, the main fixing of the assembly being effected by the screws 46 which both secure the members 10, 12 together and both of them to the transom. However, it is alternatively possible to initially fix the lower member 12 securely to the transom 26 using more of the first mentioned screws, and to fix the upper member 10 to the lower member 12 using separate fixing means. 9- ; The invention is not limited to the embodiment described herein which may be modified or varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (6)

1. Apparatus for fixing two glazing panels end to end along an elongate frame member, the apparatus comprising: _ a lower elongate member of substantially constant cross-section, the lower member having a central portion for locating along the frame member and a pair of wings extending laterally from respective opposite longitudinal sides of the central portion, an upper elongate member of substantially constant cross-section, the upper member having a central portion for locating above and substantially in register with the central portion of the lower member and a pair of wings extending laterally from respective opposite longitudinal sides of the central portion, the central portions of the upper and lower . members having co-operating means which engage one another to register the central portion of the upper member with the central portion of the lower portion, and means for fixing the upper and lower members together and to the frame member to clamp the ends of the glazing panels between the wings of the upper and lower members wherein the fixing means comprises a plurality of elongate fixing means which pass from the upper member, through the central portions and through the lower member into the frame member.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the upper and lower members includes stop means on each side of the central portion for limiting 20 the degree of insertion of each glazing panel between the wings.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the co-operating means comprises a pair of spaced upstanding legs on the lower member and a pair of spaced dependant legs on the upper member, one of the pairs of legs being received between the other pair of legs. '

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the fixing means comprises a plurality of elongate fixing means which pass from the upper member, through the gap between the pairs of legs, and through the lower member into the frame member.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the upper and lower wings on each side of the central portions converge towards their outer ends.

6. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.