NZ533212A - Adjustable glazing block assembly for glass doors - Google Patents

Abstract

An adjustable glazing block assembly for a glass door having at least one stile (42) having a track (52) which receives an edge of a glass panel and has a glazing block (30) engaged within the track. The glazing block is slidably mounted and movable within the track between a first position where it is located remotely of the glass panel and a second position where it abuts against the glass panel. The assembly advantageously prevents an associated door from dropping and scraping along the floor.

Description

5332 12 Patent Form No 5.

NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION ADJUSTABLE GLAZING BLOCK ASSEMBLY FOR GLASS DOORS We Architectural Window Systems Pty Limited, an incorporated body duly existing under the laws of Australia of 76-78 Jedda Street, Prestons, New South Wales, Australia, 2170 HEREBY declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be described in and by the following statement:- ' INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF M.Z 3 1 MAY 2004 RECEIVED 2 The present invention relates to an adjustable glazing block assembly for glass doors.

The invention has particular application to extruded metal framed glass doors having top and bottom rails and opposed hinge and lock stiles where the 5 stiles are not associated with glazing beads (known commonly as wrap around stiles).

The blocking of the glass panel or glazing to the metal frame of such a door has, typically, met with limited success, as it has been difficult to manipulate the top block on the wrap around lock stile into an effective side 10 blocking position against the glass panel. This difficulty has occasionally led to the door dropping slightly from its desired hinged position and scraping on the floor.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least substantially ameliorate, the disadvantages and shortcomings of the 15 aforementioned prior art.

According to the invention, there is provided an adjustable glazing block assembly for a glass door, comprising at least one stile having a track for receiving an edge of a glass panel, and a glazing block engaged within the track and being slidably movable along the track between a first position where 20 it is located remotely of the glass panel and a second position where it abuts against the glass panel.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig 1 is a front view of an extruded metal framed glass door showing the locations of a pair of glazing blocks, each of which is used in a preferred adjustable glazing block assembly of the invention, 3 Fig 2 is a bottom perspective view of a glazing block which is used in a preferred adjustable glazing block assembly of the invention, Fig 3 is a bottom perspective view of a top portion of a preferred adjustable glazing block assembly of the invention together with an adjoining 5 end portion of a top rail assembly in the glass door of Fig 1, Fig 4 is a bottom perspective view similar to that of Fig 3, but in which the glazing block has been moved to a first position where it is located remotely of a glass panel when an edge thereof is to be received by the adjustable glazing block assembly of Fig 3, Fig 5 is a top perspective view of the top portion of the adjustable glazing block assembly together with the adjoining end portion of the top rail assembly shown in Fig 4, and showing an installed glass panel portion, whereby an assembled top right corner region of the glass door of Fig 1 is shown, and Fig 6 is an end view of the assembled glass door corner region shown in Fig 5, but in which the glazing block has been moved to a second position where it abuts against the installed glass panel.

The glass door 10 shown in Fig 1 has a metal frame 12 supporting a glass panel 14. The interconnected members of the frame 12 comprise a top 20 rail 16, a bottom rail 18, a hinge stile 20 and a lock stile 22. The stiles 20, 22 are wrap around stiles. The members of the frame 12 are interlocked by screws (not shown). The hinge stile 20 has a pair of conventional hinge assemblies 24 secured thereto for pivotally opening the glass door 10.

As more clearly shown in Figs 3 to 5, the interconnected members of the 25 frame 12 predominantly comprise lengths of extruded aluminium having a constant cross-sectional shape therealong, hereinafter referred to as top rail extrusion 36, bottom rail extrusion 38, hinge stile extrusion 40 and lock stile 4 extrusion 42. The frame members also include numerous fastening screws 44 and, for the purpose of sealing the glass panel 14 against the frame 12, rubberised sealing strips 46,48 and sealing strip locating extrusions 50.

Positioned on the hinge stile extrusion 40 about 50 mm from the location 5 where it is interconnected to the bottom rail extrusion 38 is a lower glazing block 26 (see Fig 1). A lower setting block 28 is positioned on the bottom rail extrusion 38 about 150 mm from the location where it is interconnected to the hinge stile extrusion 40.

Positioned on the lock stile extrusion 42 about 50 mm from the location 10 where it is interconnected to the top rail extrusion 36 is an upper glazing block 30 (see Fig 1). An upper setting block 32 is positioned on the top rail extrusion 36 about 150 mm from the location where it is interconnected to the lock stile extrusion 42.

The upper glazing block 30 is shown in isolation in Fig 2, and is shown 15 in its operative position when used in the glass door 10 in Figs 3 to 5.

The upper setting block 32 is shown in its operative position when used in the glass door 10 in Figs 3 to 6.

The hinge and lock stile extrusions 40, 42 include a track 52 for receiving a respective side edge of the glass panel 14 and respective lower 20 and upper glazing blocks 26, 30. In regard to the upper glazing block 30, it is retained or engaged within the track 52 and is slidably movable along the track 52 when in use. The glazing block 30 is fitted into the track 52 through the track top end opening 54 before the lock stile extrusion 42 is screwably connected to the top rail extrusion 36. The glazing block 30 is retained in a 25 track top position immediately adjacent the end opening 54 whilst the side edge of the glass panel 14 is being received in the track 52 during the process of installing the glass panel 14, or being removed from the track 52 during the process of replacement of the glass panel.

The glazing block 30 nests snugly in the track 52 so as to prevent any lateral movement thereof during its sliding movement. Prior to installing the 5 glass panel 14, the glazing block 30 can be moved along the track 52 in both directions with the aid of a small, flat head, screwdriver. Specially cut edges of the glazing block 30 assist with this task.

The glazing block 30 comprises an elongated body having opposed, parallel side members 56, 58 joined by a cross member 60 at one end thereof. 10 The other end of the glazing block 30 defines an open mouth 62 leading to an elongated slot defined by the body, and into which project a plurality of flexible and evenly spaced apart teeth 64, 66 from each of the parallel side members 56, 58. The teeth 64, 66 are adapted to snap tooth or ratchet over the screws that interlock the members of the frame 12. When the glazing block 30 has 15 been moved, when required, to the track top position, it may be held stabily at that position by the capture of the screws between opposed pairs of teeth 64, 66.

When the glass panel 14 has been installed, the glazing block 30 is moved downwardly with the screwdriver from its track top position along the 20 track and down the side of the glass panel 14 until it reaches a position (such as that described in relation to Fig 1) where it abuts against the side edge of the glass panel 14 and provides an effective side blocking position thereagainst. This then allows the upper setting block 32 positioned on the top rail extrusion 36 to be adjustably operated in the conventional manner so as to 25 screwably press downwardly on the top edge of the glass panel 14 in such a way that the glass panel 14 provides a diagonal brace for the door 10.

The lower glazing block 26, although not shown in detail in the Figures, is identical in structure and function to the upper glazing block 30, and cooperates with its respective track, frame interlock screws, and glass panel side edge in an identical manner to that of upper glazing block 30.

Therefore, a preferred adjustable glazing block assembly comprising a lock stile and a glazing block constructed and co-operating in a manner as hereinbefore described provides an effective side blocking position against the glass panel and assists its adjacent adjustable setting block to perform its function as a diagonal brace for such glass doors, thus preventing the door dropping and, eventually, scraping on the floor. Further, the adjustable glazing block assembly allows fabricators to jack up the lock stile by tightening the top rail jacking screw.

Various modifications may be made in details of design and construction without departing from the scope and ambit of the invention.

Claims (8)

WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. An adjustable glazing block assembly for a glass door, comprising at least one stile having a track for receiving an edge of a glass panel, and a glazing block engaged within the track and being slidably movable along the track between a first position where it is located remotely of the glass panel and a second position where it abuts against the glass panel.

2. The adjustable glazing block assembly of claim 1 wherein the glazing block comprises an elongated body having opposed parallel side members joined by at least one cross member.

3. The adjustable glazing block assembly of claim 2 wherein there is one cross member and the cross member is at a first end of the elongated body.

4. The adjustable glazing block assembly of claim 3 wherein the glazing block has an open mouth leading to an elongated slot defined by the body.

5. The adjustable glazing block assembly of claim 4 wherein the open mouth is at a second end of the elongated body opposite the first end.

6. The adjustable glazing block assembly of any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein a plurality of flexible and evenly spaced apart teeth project towards each other from each of the opposed parallel side members.

7. The adjustable glazing block assembly of claim 6 wherein the teeth are adapted to ratchet over one or more screws that interlock the or each stile to an interconnecting member of a frame for the door, whereby the glazing block may 21/05/04 8 be held stably at a desired position by the capture of at least one screw between opposed pairs of teeth.

8. An adjustable glazing block assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. END OF CLAIMS 21/05/04 ABSTRACT An adjustable glazing block assembly for a glass door has at least one stile (42) having a track (52) which receives an edge of a glass panel, and has a glazing block (30) engaged within the track (52). The glazing block (30) is slidably movable along the track (52) between a first position where it is located remotely of the glass panel and a second position where it abuts against the glass panel. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z 3 1 MAY 2004 RECEIVED 21/05/04