US3246441A - Panel support - Google Patents

Description

April 19, 1966 w, HQRGANLJR 3,246,441

PANEL SUPPORT Original Filed Jan. 13. 1960 2 s s t 1 4@ FIG. 5

FIG. 1 38 435 2a April 19, 1966 w. J. HORGAN, JR

PANEL SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Jan. 13, 1960 FIG. 6

FIG.?

M k 0 R l w m0 mm M I. M

United States Patent which is a division of application Ser. No. 2,284, Jan. 13, 1960. This application July 2, 1964, Ser. No.

3 Claims. or. 52-729 This application is a continuation of application Serial No. 193,263, filed May 8, 1962, and now abandoned, for Panel Support, which application is a division of application Serial No. 2,284, now Patent No. 3,147,518, filed January 18, 1960, for Panel Support.

This invention relates to a Panel Support and more especially relates to vertical and horizontal members which are joined to support glass panels, i.e., windows, and spandrel panels, e.g., in curtain wall construction of buildings and in store front constructions.

It is an object of the present invention to provide vertical and horizontal elongated members which can be united to one another to form with a snapon, panel-retaining cover a frame construction for a window or windows in a store front construction or a curtain wall for a building in which all fastenings uniting the horizontal members can be concealed.

It is another object of this invention to provide horizontal and vertical framing members for glass windows in which the glass is recessed all around so that there are no protruding glass stops that reduce the area of the View through the glass panel.

It is a further object of this invention to provide. a leakproof Wall construction.

These and other objects of the present invention will he apparent to one skilled in the art from the description which follows when taken in conjunction with the drawings, of preferred embodiments of this invention in which similar parts are usually designated by the same numeral and in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view, partly in section .and partly broken away, of a corner of the panel support of the invention showing a glass panel in position of one of the window areas;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevation of a curtain wall for a building showing a number of glass windows and spandrel panels mounted by the panel supports of the in-- vention;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing embodiments of the vertical and horizontal elongated members of the invention and an embodiment of the snap-on cover;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a water-stop member shown in FIG. 1 at the junction of the horizontal and vertical members of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross section similar to that of FIG. 3 but showing a modification of positioning of one of the elongated horizontal members of the invention to provide inside glazing;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross section similar to that of FIG. 3 but showing other embodiments of the elongated horizontal member and another embodiment of the snap-on cover of the panel support;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal cross section of the panel support showing an alternative water-stop member;

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the water-stop member shown in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary horizontal cross section of a curtain wall construction showing the type of vertical mullion construction used as an expansion bar.

As seen in FIG. 2, a Wall curtain for a building comprises horizontal rows of windows 10 and horizontal rows of spandrel panels 11 supported and maintained in position by horizontal framing members generally indicated at 12 and vertical framing members generally indicated at 13.

As seen in FIG. 1, each vertical framing member 13 has an elongated vertical unitary mullion generally indicated at 14. The mullion 14 has as its basic construction a symmetrical I beam having a web 15 and a pair of flanges 16 and 17. Extending in opposite parallel directions normal to and from one distal end. of flange 16 is a pair of longitudinal flanges 18 and 19 and extending similarly in opposite parallel directions at the other distal end of flange 1-6 are flanges 20 and 21. Similarly at the distal ends of flange 17 are oppositely directed pair of flanges 22 and 23 and pair of flanges 24 and 25.

The outer surfaces of flanges 18, 19, 22 and 23' are in the same vertical plane except for longitudinal shoulders 26 and 27 which are in flanges 19 and 2-2, respectively, to provide longitudinal tongues 28 and 29 spaced opposed to each other. Similarly the outer surfaces of flanges 20, 21, 24 .and 25 are in the same vertical plane except for the portion of flanges 21 and 24 having longitudinal shoulders 30 and 31 to provide longitudinal tongues 32 and 33 which oppose eachother in spaced relationship. The tongues 28, 29, 32 and 33 are closer to Web 15 than shoulders 26, 27, 30 and 31, respectively. The surfaces of these tongues that face web 15 and, .as a matter of fact, the entire inner surfaces of flanges 19, 21, 22 and 24 converge with respect to the outer surfaces of those tongues and flanges in a direction toward flanges 16 and 17 to which they are attached so that a longitudinal wedge is provided in each of tongues. 28, 29, 32 and 33.

Each of the inner or opposed faces of flanges 18 and 20 has a vertical elongated rib 34 between the end of the flange and flange 16. Similar ribs. 34 are. provided on the opposed faces of flanges 23 and 25. An elongated snap-on cover member generally indicated at 35 has an elongated plate 36 from which extend normal to it a pair of longitudinal flanges 37'. The width of elongated plate 36 at least is approximately the distance between the outer faces of flanges 18- and 20 and the distance between the outer or unopposed faces of flanges 37 is very slightly less than the distance. between opposed flat faces of flanges 18 and 20. Each flange 37 has a longitudinal groove 38 adjacent the distal end of flanges 37 so that, when plate 36 at least almost abuts. flanges 18 and 20, ribs 34 engage grooves 38 on the outer faces of flanges 37. When bringing flanges 37 towards flange 16, flanges 37 are forced slightly toward each other until ribs 34 engage grooves 38. At this point flanges 37 spring back to their normal position so cover member 35 is, held. in position. Another snap-on cover member 35 is snapped into position in a similar manner between flanges 23 and 25.

As seen in FIG. 3, each of the mullions 14 is secured to the top and bottom concrete portions 39 and 40, respectively, of the basic building structure by top and bottom brackets 41 and 42. The bracket 41 is bolted to concrete portion 39 through one of its angles. The other angle of the bracket is bolted to flange 17 (FIG. 1). Similarly one angle of bracket 42 is bolted to the bottom portion of flange 17 (FIG. 1) and the other angle by a nut and a threaded rod in concrete portion 40 is bolted tothe base of the building structure. A masonry element 43 forming part of each floor of the basic structure of the building has bolted to it an angle bracket 44 which is also bolted to flange 25 with bracket 44 abutting the outer face of flange 25.

In the illustrative preferred. embodiment shown in FIGS. 1,- 3 and 5 the framing member 12 includes an elongated horizontal unitary member generally indicated at 4 5, a snap-on cover 35 and an elongated snap-on and panel-retaining unitary member generally indicated at 46.

The member 45 has, as part of its unitary construction, an elongated Z bar having a web 47 and a pair of oppositely directed parallel flanges 48 and 49, each being normal to web 47. A longitudinal flange 50 extends normal to web 47 at one of its margins in the plane of elongated flange 48. The flange 50 is constructed like any one of flanges 19, 21, 22 and 24 by having a longitudinal shoulder to provide a longitudinal wedge-shaped tongue closer to flange 4 9 than the shoulder.

A longitudinal angle flange has a first portion 51 extending normal to and from flange 49 and a second portion 52. The first portion 51 and web 47 extend in opposite directions from flange 49. The second portion 52 of the angle flange extends normal to the first portion 1 so that it is parallel to flange 49. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 second portion 52 extends towards the plane parallel to and passing through web- 47. The second portion 52 has a longitudinal shoulder to provide a longitudinal tongue which is provided, by the converging surfaces of second portion 5-2, with a longitudinal wedge, as in the case of flanges 19, 21, 22, 24 and 50.

A longitudinal flange 53 extends from the first portion 51 of the angle flange in the plane of second portion 52, but, of course, in the opposite direction. The flange 53 has a thickened longitudinal portion 54 at its free or distal end. The thickened portion 54 has a longitudinal groove 55 facing away from the angle flange.

T he flange 49 has a thickened marginal or end portion 56 to provide a rib which has a longitudinal groove 57 having a recessed surface portion 58 which encompasses a substantial major portion of a cylindrical volume, e.g., at least about 65 percent of the cylindrical volume, so that a self-tapping screw 59 can be inserted into one end of groove 57 for threaded engagement.

The horizontal unitary member 45 further includes a longitudinal flange 60 extending laterally from the longitudinal end of web 47 from which flange 49 extends. From the distal end of flange 60 extends at right angles to flange 60 a pair of parallel flanges 61 and 62 so that flanges 60, 61 and 62 constitute a T-shaped longitudinal bar integral with the Z bar. The flange 61 is similar to other flanges, such as flange 50, by having a longitudinal shoulder to provide a longitudinal wedge-shaped tongue which is closer to flange 49 than the shoulder.

Each of the opposing surfaces of flanges 48 and 62 has a longitudinal rib 63 with a longitudinal groove 64 with a recessed surface portion 65 encompassing a Slllbst-antial major portion of a cylindrical volume so that self-tapping screws 59 can threadedly engage ribs 63 as in the case of the threaded engagement screw 59 with thickened portion 56 of flange 49. The grooves 64 are preferably directly opposite each other.

The elongated snap-on and panel-retaining unitary cover member 46 has a flange 66, a web 67 and a flange 68 to constitute an elongated channel bar. The cover member 46 also has a longitudinal flange 69 extending laterally from web 67 at the junction of flange 68 and web 67. The flange 69 has a thickened end portion 70 which has a longitudinal shoulder to provide a tongue which has its opposite surfaces shaped to provide a longitudinal wedge which is thus like the tongue of flange 50 and which is directly opposite and spaced from the latter when cover member 46 is in the position shown in FIG. l.

The cover member 46 has a longitudinal tongue 71 extending normal to and from flange 66 in the same direction generally that web 67 extends from flange 66. When the cover 46 is in the position shown in FIG. 1, tongue 71 is in groove 55 of flange 53. The flange 68 has a thickened longitudinal end having a longitudinal, at least semi-cylindrical, surface portion facing tongue 71 so that, when cover member 46 is in the position indicated in FIG. 1, the semi-cylindrical surface portion of flange 68 is in a longitudinal groove 72 at the longitudinal thickened marginal portion 56 of flange 49. The groove 72 which faces web 47 has a cylindrical curvature.

The flange 4-9 has a number of longitudinally spaced apertures 73 between the first portion 51 of the angle flange and the thickened marginal portion 56. The flange 53 also has longitudinally spaced apertures 74 which are preferably staggered with respect to apertures 73 so that any wind passing up through one of apertures 74- must move longitudinally of framing member 12 before it can move through one of apertures 73. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 in which apertures 74 are .present, apertures 74, which serve with apertures 73 as weep holes, are farther from first portion 511 of the angle flange than is the thickened marginal portion 56 of flange 49 so that a tool, such as a screw driver, can be partially inserted through one of apertures 74 to engage flange 66. The tool is then moved to disengage tongue 71 from groove 55 to remove cover member 46.

The Viewing panel 10, such as a glass sheet, is supported on setting blocks 77 resting on flange 49. The panel 11 is resiliently held in place at its vertical margins between an elongated resilient glazing strip or member 78 and an elongated resilient glazing strip or member 79. Each of the top and bottom horizontal margins of panel 10 is resiliently held in place by horizontal elongated glazing members or strips 78 and 79. The vertical glazing members '78 and 79 are mounted on flanges 19 and 22, respectively, or flanges 21 and 24, respectively. The horizontal glazing members 78 and 79 are mounted on the tongues of flanges 69 and 50, respectively. The glazing members are made of a resilient material, such as neoprene or rubber. Each glazing member 79 has a longitudinal groove in one face. The vertical members 79 engage the tongue of flanges 22 or 24. The bottom margin of panel 1% is between glazing strips 78 and 79 and strip 79 engages the tongue of flange 50. Similarly the top margin of panel 10 is resiliently held between horizontal glazing members 78 and 79 which would be mounted on the tongues of flanges 52 and 61, respectively, of the upper framing member 12.

The glazing member 78 has a pair of major longitudinal faces, which are the front and rear faces as seen in FIG. 1, and top and bottom minor longitudinal faces. The front longitudinal major face has a longitudinal bevelled marginal surface portion which extends from the bottom minor surface in the case of the horizontal glazing member 78 shown in FIG. 1. As a result, the bevelled portion of glazing member 78 constitutes a longitudinal marginal wedge. Adjacent the bevelled portion the glazing member 78 has a longitudinal groove in the front major face and the side wall of this groove that is farther from the longitudinal wedge portion is higher than the side wall adjacent the longitudinal wedge portion. The higher side wall provides a stop when inserting member 78 between a panel, e.g., panel 10, and the appropriate flange, e.g., flange 69.

The longitudinal groove of member 79 is in the rear major face. The member is basically a channel member with two longitudinal flanges of different widths. The narrower flanges of horizontal glazing members 79 preferably abut the shoulders of flanges 59 and 61 and the narrower flanges of vertical glazing members 79 preferably abut the shoulders of flanges 22 and 24. The longitudinal grooves of members 79 are tightly fitting on the tongues of flanges 22, 24, 50 and 61.

A water-stop member generally indicated at 80 in FIGS. 1 and 4 is essentially a short channel member having a web 81, a short flange 82 and a longer flange 83. A strip 84 of a sealing compound which is preferably a tacky, moisture-impervious, pressure-sensitive, adhesive material such as disclosed and claimed in patent application Serial No. 798,524, filed on March 10, 1959, by Gerald E. Kunkle, now US. Patent 2,974,377, is placed between flanges 82 and 83. The strip 84 is longer than flanges 82 and83 and is wider than short flange 82. The strip 84 fits tightly between flanges 82 and 83. The water-stop member 80 is placed at an end of horizontal unitary member 45, and, with the free end of flange 82 forced down onto flange 49 and with flange 83 abutting the edge of flange 49, strip 84 is forced into intimate adhesive engagement with the top surface of flange 49 at its end. The strip 84 extends beyond flanges 82 and 83. The end portions of strip 84 are in adhesive abutment with flanges 21. and 24, in the case of the corner of a panel construction as shownin FIG. 1.

The water-stop member 80 has a flange 85 that extends laterally from web, 81. The angle between flanges 83 and 85 is less than 90. The flange 85 has a dimension in the direction of the longitudinal length of web 81 that is less than the latter to provide shoulders 86 that abut tongues 32. and 33 when stopmember 80 is in a position indicated in FIG. 1. The flange 85 fits between longitudinal tongues 32 and 33. The member 80 prevents or at least minimizes flow of water fromflange 49 into the space between flanges 16 and 17 of mullion 14.

An alternative water-stop member generally indicated at 9,0; in FIGS. 7 and 8 can be made from a T-shaped piece of metal, such as galvanized iron. This is done by bending upwardly the top portion of the T-shaped member at its junction with the base 91 of the T and then further bending the topportion of the T-shaped member 90 along lines in alignment with the longitudinal edges of base 91' to produce three side walls 92, 93 and 94. The side walls 93 and 914 are welded to. the longitudinal edges of base 91 to produce a box-like arrangement hav-. ing aswalls portions 92, 93 and 94 of the top portion of the T-shaped. member. The box is opened only at the top and at the one side. The ends of portions 93 and 94 are bent away from base 91 to produce short flanges 9.5; and 96 which abut shoulders 30 and 31 when stop member 90 is used in lieu of stop member 80 in the place indicated in FIG. 1. The abutment of shoulders 30 and 3.1 is at their junction with tongues 32 and. 33. The bottom surface of base 91 rests on flange 49. The distance between the outside surfaces of portions 93 and 94 is slightly less than the distance between opposed tongnes32 and33.

When stop member 90 is placed on flange 49 after horizontal} member. 45 is unitedto mullion 14. by screws 59, a glazing compound is placed on the bottom surface of base 91. The sealing compound on the bottom surface of base 91 prevents water passage between member 90 and flange 49. Between stop member 90 and flanges 21 and 24 or; flanges 19- and 22 of mullion 14 is. fed a flowable, seal ing compound or glazing compound, e.g., of the type disclosed and claimed in patent application Serial No. 842,849, filed by Mario N; Zeo1la, Gerald E. Kunkle and George H. Bowser, on September 28, 1959, now Patent No. 3,076,777. When joining verticalmullions 14. and horizontal members 45 by screws 59, strips 100 of a sealing compound such as disclosed and claimed inthe application Serial No. 798,524, now Patent No. 2,974,377 mentioned above, are placed at the end of member 45 in; the positions as shown in FIG. 6 with the strips overlapping. at the ends of; all of horizontal members 45. The sealing strips thus are on the ends of web 47 and flanges 51,, 60 a I The vertical mullion 14. has a number of sets of holes 101 drilled in flanges '16 and 17-. For each set of holes ltllthere are two holes in flange 16 on opposite sides of web 15. flange 17 there are. for each set two holes 101 on opposite sides of web 15, with each hole 101 in flange 17 inalignment, with a hole 101 in flange 16 so that Wood panel-aligning dowels -2 shown in phantom in; FIG. 1, are horizontally disposed. The dowels 182 are on opposite sides of web 15. The holes 101 are not drilled at the elevation shown in FIG. 1. Instead, they Ofcourse, these strips are positioned are actually drilled at an elevation to receive dowels 102 at the horizontal center line of panel 10 or 11.

The flanges 48 and 62 have longitudinal ribs 34 as in the case of flanges 18, 20, 23 and 25. The ribs 34 of flanges 48 and 62 are between the distal ends of these flanges and ribs 6 3. An elongated snap-on cover member 35 is snapped into position so that longitudinal grooves 38 of flanges 48 and 62 engage ribs 34 of cover member 35. The cover member 35 encloses the space between web 47 and flanges48 and 62. The cover member 35 is preferably snapped into place after .it and member 45 have been cut to the appropriate length. It

conceals ribs 63 and the ends of screws 59 employed to join this port-ion of member 45 to mullion 14.

Each row of spandrel panels 11 is framed and supponted by panel sup-ports of the present invention between the floor of one story of the building and the ceiling of the next story below. Thus panels 11 are in front of masonry 43' as seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. The spandrel panels 11 may be panels of glass having a colored enamel frit fired on their inside surfaces, i.e., the surfaces facing the inside of the building. Of course, panels of other materials that are translucent or nontransparent may be used as panels 11.

FIG. 3 shows a curtain wall construction in which all glazing of panels 10 and 11 is accomplished from the outside of the building. Of course, outside glazing of spandrel panels 11 is necessary because masonry 43 is behind panels 11. In FIG. 3 the horizontal members 45 that support. panels 10 are positioned so that the inside glazing of panels 10 is not possible. To insent or remove panel 10 it is necessary to remove cover member 46.

The horizontal member 45 below a glass panel 10 an above a spandrel panel 11 can be positionedin a different manner to provide inside glazing of panel 10 as shown for intermediate horizontal member 45 in FIG. 5. This intermediate member 45 is mounted: between two vertical mullions 14 (one of which is indicated) so that flange 49 instead of flange 48 extends from web 47 toward the inside of the building. In intermediate horizontal mernber 45 of FIG. 5 the apertures 73 and 74 (FIG. 1) are not present. Instead longitudinally spaced apertures 11 2 are in web 47;. The apertures 112 are at the top of the juncture of web 47 and flange. 49 so that water accumulating on flange 49 will flow through apertures 112 and onto flange 62. There are longi- =tndinally spaced apertures 113 in flange 62 betweenfiange 60 and rib 63. The apertures 112 are staggered in longitudinal relationship with apertures 113 in the preferred embodiment to prevent wind from carry ng water through aperture-s 112 without movement longitudinally above flange 6-2. For inside glazing the snap-onv cover member 46 faces inside the building.

The alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 6 shows more clearly the nature of the preferred glazing membars 78 and 79. There it is seen that the faces of members 78- and 79 that abut panels 10 and 11 have a number of closely spaced longitudinal grooves that provide a number of longitudinal flexible ribs for a better gripping action against panel 10 or 11. The glazing member 78 can also be substituted for glazing member 79 wherever the-re is access to the inside portion of the framing members as well as to the outside for glazing installation. The use of glazing members 78 for resiliently retaining glass panel 10 along the horizontal margin on both sides is illustrated in the bottom pontion that the top surface of upper setting blocks 1115 has. a shoulder as in the case of block 77 to prevent any substantial movement of panels .10 or 11 in one di? rection. FIG. 6 has an additional shoulder to prevent substantial The setting block 115 shown at the bottom of movement of panel 11 in the other direction and, of course, this type of block could be used entirely.

The horizontal member 45 shown at the intermediate portion of FIG. 6 is substantially the same as horizontal members 45 shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5. The flange 49 in the intermediate horizontal member 45 of FIG. 6 is wider so that web 47 is displaced to the right. The flanges 50 and 61 are wider. This modified construction is used Where the strength of member 45 is not required to be as great as that of member 45 shown in FIG. 1.

Because web 47 is moved over to ribs 63, these ribs are in a surface of web 47 as well as flanges 48 and 62. In other words, ribs 63 are in the corner provided by the juncture of flange 48 and web 47 and in the corner provided by the juncture of flange 62 and web 47. These corner ribs provide additional strength to member 45 shown in the intermediate portion of FIG. 6. The thick ened end portion 54 of flange 53 is diflerent in this in termedi-ate member 45 of FIG. 6. It has the longitudinal slot 55 which receives an angularly disposed longitudinal tongue 71 on flange 66 adjacent its end.

The longitudinal facing cover members 35 shown in the top and intermediate portions of FIG. 6 are merely a modification of cover member 35 shown in FIG. 1. The flanges 48 and 62 are appropriately modified as shown.

The horizontal member 45 shown in the bottom portion of FIG. 6 is substantially the basic construction of horizontal member 45 shown in FIG. 1. It does not have the T-shaped bar having flanges 60, 6 1 and 62 extending from web 47 of the Z bar construction shown in FIG. 1 because flange 61 is not required' A panel or 11 is not retained at its top margin by this lower member 45 of FIG. 6 because this member 45 is at the base of the building. Accordingly, flange 52 shown in FIG. 1 is also lacking. Instead of cover member 35, an angle bar continuation of flange 48 extends as a first portion 120 downwardly parallel to web 47 and then forwardly as a second portion 121 whereby this angle bar conceals the rib 63 and screws 59 and the manner of supporting member 45 by a support board 122 and shim plates 123 on which rests flange 49.

The board 122 extends between mullions 14 (one of which is indicated). Rods threaded at their upper ends are secured in concrete portion 40 and extend through board 122 and flange 49. Nuts on the rods secure board 122 and member 45 in concrete portion 40. A longitudinal flashing 124 having a downturned front flange and an upturned rear flange is on concrete portion 40 of the basic building structure and is held in place by board 122 secured on top of it. The flashing 124 extends the full length of the wall. The space between flashing 124 and horizontal member 45 has a caulking compound 125 placed, as shown in FIG. 6, to keep water out of the building at this point.

The construction shown in FIG. 3 is similar in the use of supporting shim plates. An additional number of longitudinal shim plates are placed in front of shims supporting the bottom horizontal member 45. Through these front shim plates and a longitudinal Z bar 126 extend rods secured in concrete portion 40. Nuts are threaded on the rods to hold the Z bar in place. The space between flange 53 and Z bar 126 is filled with a caulking compound.

The upper portion of FIG. 6 shows a modified horizontal framing member 12. Its horizontal member 45 diflers from that of member 45 in the intermediate portion of FIG. 6. This modified construction is used when horizontal member 45 is used for support of a sash frame or a glass panel 10 substantially smaller than normally used in the curtain wall construction. In other Words, this modified construction is used when the weight to be supported is substantially less than normal.

The flange 49 of horizontal member 45 shown in the top portion of FIG. 6 does not extend as far from Web 47 as does flange 49 of member 45 in the intermediate portion of FIG. 6. The thickened end portion 56 does not have longitudinal groove 57 at the distal end of flange 49 but is thickened to provide an upwardly turned end which forms a longitudinal groove 72. The first portion 51 of the angle flange extending from flange 49 is present but is closer to flange 66 than in the case of horizontal member 45 shown in the intermediate part of FIG. 6. The second portion 52 of the angle flange is absent and is replaced by a longitudinal wedge-shaped tongue adjacent the end of first portion 51.

The flange 53 is present but is considerably shorter than that shown in member 45 in the intermediate portion of FIG. 6. The flange 53 and the first portion 51 may be construed as an angle bar. The flange 53 and first portion 51 in the members 45 of FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 and the intermediate and bottom members 45 of FIG. 6 can be construed also as an angle bar. Because member 45 is a unitary member having these various flanges, the reference to portion 51 and end portion 52 as constituting the angle flange is purely arbitrary because portion 51 and flange 53 can be similarly construed as constituting an angle flange. The flanges 49 and 53 have apertures '73 and 74, respectively, which are longitudinally spaced and although these are in the same vertical longitudinal plane because of the limited space requirement, they are staggered in relationship with one another. The flange 53 has an up-turned end.

To cover the front of member 45 shown in the top portion of FIG. 6, a cover member generally indicated at 130 is used. It is basically an angle member having a flange 131 and a flange 132 at right angles to each other. The flange 132 is thickened at one end and has a longitudinal shoulder to provide a wedge-shaped tongue in the manner of tongue 70 of cover member 46 (FIG. 1). From flange 131 intermediate the junction of flange 132 and the end of flange 131 is a flange 133 that extends first rearwardly and then downwardly. The downward end 134 of this longitudinal flange has at least a semi-cylindrical curvature facing the distal end of flange 131 so that, when the opposed surface of flange 131 abuts the end of flange 49, the semi-cylindrical surface portion of longitudinal flange 133 engages groove 72, thereby positioning the tongue of flange 132 opposite the tongue of flange 50.

A longitudinal caulking stop 135 as shown in FIG. 3 is mounted above the tops of mullions 14 and extends entirely across the curtain wall or store front construction. Caulking material is placed in front of caulking stop 135 and between the top surface of member 45 of the uppermost horizontal framing member 12 and a longitudinal top flashing 136 mounted to concrete portion 39 of the building.

To provide for an expansion of the curtain wall construction, there may be used vertical expansion mullions of the type shown in FIG. 9 and generally indicated at 140. It is a pair of channel bars each with a web 141 and a pair of flanges 142. At the end of each flange 142 extends a longitudinal flange 143 which has a longitudinal shoulder to provide a longitudinal wedge-shaped tongue. The tongue of flange 143 from one flange 142 opposes the tongue of flange 143 from the other flange 142 of the same channel bar. In the opposite direction from the distal end of each of flanges 142 extends a longitudinal flange 144. At the end of each flange 144 of one channel bar is a pair of opposed spaced flanges 145 normal to flange 144. The other channel bar merely has a flange 146 which is substantially longer than flanges 145. The flange 146 is offset some distance away from flange 144 so that the offset portion slides between flanges 145 when the channel bars in back-to-back relationship are moved toward each other.

As seen in FIG. 1 the assembly of vertical mullion 14 and its cover plate 35 provides basically for longitudinal vertical framing which has flat side surfaces in parrallel planes and front and rear surfaces that'are also in parallel planes. Similarly the horizontal framing members 12 throughthe combination in eachcase of horizontal member-45, snap-on cover 35 and snap-oncover 46 provide for parallel front-and rear flat surfaces and parallel top and bottom flat surfaces. As a result, after cutting members 12 and 13 to l'ength,'framing members 12 or 13 can "be joined with a good junction of the surfaces. This gives 1 a neat appearance.

To assemble the curtain wall construction described above and with particular "reference to FIG. 1, vertical mullion 14, horziontal members 45, cover members 35 and snap-on cover and glass-ret'aining members 46 can be cut '--to length at fthe building sit'e. Using a jig,'holes are drilled in flanges 18, 20,23 and -25 to provide the proper elevation of support for various horizontal members 45. These holes later receive screws 59. The holes 101 are alsodrilled tocorre'spond to the elevation for-the horizontal center lines of the panels 10 and 11.

The vertical mullions 14 and horizontal members 45are brought together and connected to one another by selftapping screws 59 after sealing strips l-have been positioned on the ends of members 45. The rear vertical cover members 35 and horizontal cover members 35 are snapped into place with their flanges ,37 between flanges 23 and 25 and between flanges 48 and 62, respectively. The glazing-members 79 areplaced on thetongueof flange 50 of the bottom-portion of the frame, on tongue 33' of flange 24 of the left-hand portion of the frame, on-the tongue of flange 61 of the top portion of the frame and on tongue 29-ofiflange 22-of the 'righthand portion of the frame. The distance between flange 49 of bottom member 45 and flanges 53 and 62 of upper member 45 is greater than the vertical dimension of panel or 11 to be installed.

The panel 10 or 11 is moved so that its left-hand margin is moved between left-hand vertical glazing member 79 on tongue 33 and tongue 32 of flange 21. It is inserted much farther than its final position so that the right-hand end of panel 10 or 11 can be moved into full engagement with horizontal glazing strip 79. Then panel 10 or 11 is moved to the right until its right-hand mar-gin is between glazing strip 79 on tongue 29 and tongue 28 of flange 19 and abutting the righthand end dowel 102 previously inserted through apertures 101 in flanges 16 and 17 on the left side of web 15 of the right-hand vertical mullion 14. The panel 10 or 11 is also lifted vertically until its top margin is inserted between the tongue of flange 52 and horizontal glazing member 79 on the tongue of flange 61. The setting blocks 77 are then placed under panel 10 or 11 and dowel 102 is placed throughthe horizontally aligned holes 101 in flanges 16 and 17 between flanges 21 and 24 and web 15 for the vertical mullion to the left of panel 10 or 11. The front vertical cover members 36 are snapped into place with their flanges 37 between flanges 18 and 20.

The vertical glazing members 79 have a length suflicient to rest on Water- stop member 80 or 90 and the top ends of vertical members 79 extend above flanges 52 and 61 in the upper horizontal member 45. After placing panel 10 or 11 in position as described above, vertical glazing members 78 are forced into position between panel 10 or 11 and flange 21 of the left-hand mullion 14 and flange 19 of the right-hand mullion 14. The lengths of vertical members 78 are the same as vertical members 79 and are similarly positioned on water-stops 80 or 90'.

The snap-on cover member 46 is then placed on the lower horizontal member 45 by first placing the end of longitudinal flange 68 in groove 72. The tongue 71 is above thickened portion 54, which has an inclined top surface. As the front portion of cover member 46 is moved down by pivoting cover member 46 about the longitudinal axis defined by the axis of the semi-cylindrical thickened end portion of flange 68, tongue 71 slides 1 0 along the front surface of thickened portion 54 until it reaches groove 55. Then tongue 71 snaps into groove 55 so that the tongue in thickened portion 70 of flange 69 is disposed opposite the longitudinal tongue of flange 50. There 'is a space between panel 10 or 11 and portion 70.

The bottom horizontal glazing member '78 for each panel is then wedged into the position shown for the bottom'horizontal member 78 in FIG. 1. The length of member 78 is slightly greater than the distance between the left hanid and right-hand vertical members 78. A coating of a "sealing compound such as disclosed and claimed in application Serial No. 842,849, now Patent No. 3,076,-777,'is appliedto the'ends of horizontal member 78. The strips 78 are then wet with water. The end ,portions of'top and bottom horizontal members 78 are then forced into position with the ends having the sealing compound in abutting position with vertical glazingmembers 7 8. Then the balance of members 78 is forced into position WOI'kllng'f-IOm the ends until all of the bottom and top horizontal members 78 are positioned as shown in FIG. 1 for the bottom horizontal member. The top horizontal member is preferably placed after the insertion of bottom horizontal member 78. The construction described above has numerous advantages which will be apparent to one skilled in the art from thedisclosure. For example, any water reaching the top'surface of flange -49 by leakage between panel 10 or 11 and glazing member 78 or between glazing member 78 and flange 69 will not find its way back of the panel below it. The web 47 positively prevents this type of flow.

The unitary construction of member 45 permits the mounting of it at its ends in a very simple manner, no matter to what length it is cut at the site. This is due to the construction of mullions 14 and member 45. A simple drilling of holes in mullion and the insertion of self-tapping screws 59 then unite member 45 to mullion 14. The unitary structure is one that can be provided simply by an extrusion of metal, e.g., aluminum, to the configuration shown. The mullions 14, cover members 35 and snap-on members are also preferably of metal, e.g., extruded aluminum.

In addition to concealing the various parts for uniting member 45 to mullion 14 and concealing the manner of supporting panel 10 or 11, the cover member 46 provides an additional function, namely, the means of ultimately retaining panel 10 or 11 against backup member 45 which also serves to support the panel. Of course, this retention and backup are provided through the resilient members 78 and 79. The glass-retaining feature of cover member 46 is provided by the specific construction of the end of flange 68 and the utilization of tongue 71 which engages the groove 55 of flange 53 of member 45. When horizontal member 78 is positioned in the bottom member 45, any outward force on panel 10 or 11 merely tends to rotate member 46 about the central axis of the semi-cylindrical surface end portion of flange 68. This rotation is prevented because tongue 71 abuts the bottom surface of groove 55 in the thickened portion 54 of flange 53.

'The open box-like construction of three sides of stop members which rests between flanges 16 and 17 and web 15 will collect any water that might reach the lefthand end or right-hand end vertical margins of panel 10 or 11 and divert it onto the top surface of flange 49 of the lower horizontal member 45 of each panel row.

The framing members 12 and 13 are preferably metal, except for members 78 and 79 and the glazing compound. Extruded aluminum is preferred for members 14, 35, 45 and 46.

The foregoing description has been solely for the purpose of illustration of the invention. Many modifications will be apparent to one skilled in the art. For example, the channel member 141 of the expansion mullion having flanges 145 can -be used as a pair in backto-back relationship with plates between flanges 145 of one of the channel bars and the opposed flanges 145 of the other channel bar both front and back of the construction. This permits the enclosing of columns or downspouts. Similar arrangements can be used for corner construction in which the two channel bars having flanges 145 are in vertical planes normal to each other. A pair of longitudinal angle bars are placed with their longitudinal ends between flanges 145.

The vertical mullion 14 can have one of its sides, for example, its right-hand side, utilized to retain a panel 10 or 11 and its left- hand flanges 19 and 22 can be utilized to hold a weather strip for a door mounted to the left of it. The door is preferably mounted through the use of offset brackets or the like so that all attachments to horizontal or vertical framing members are concealed below cover member 35.

All of these descriptions are solely for the purpose of illustration of the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. An elongated vertical unitary mullion for a panel support comprising a symmetrical I beam having a web and a pair of flanges,

a pair of longitudinal flanges extending in opposite parallel directions and normal to and from the distal ends of each of the flanges of the I beam,

one of the longitudinal flanges of each pair of longitudinalv flanges opposing one of the longitudinal flanges of another pair of longitudinal flanges and having means for supporting an elongated strip of glazing material, and

the other longitudinal flange of each pair of longitudinal flanges extending from the distal ends of one of the flanges of the I beam being spaced from each other at their ends to provide ready access to their inner opposed surfaces for the purpose of securing said mullion to a horizontal panel support member.

2. The rmullion of claim 1 wherein the other longitudinal flange of each pair of longitudinal flanges extending from the distal ends of the other flange of the I beam are spaced apart from each other at their ends to provide ready access to their inner opposed surfaces for the purpose of securing said mullion to a horizontal panel support member.

3. The mullion of claim 2 wherein the outer surfaces of said four other longitudinal flanges are substantially flat and define the outermost vertical surfaces of the mullion at two vertical planesto provide an uninterrupted sight line.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,863,723 6/1932 Levene 189-34 2,867,856 1/1959 Cudini 18975 X 2,971,229 2/1961 May 2056.4

v FOREIGN PATENTS 535,751 2/1955 Belgium.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. AN ELONGATED VERTICAL UNITARY MULLION FOR A PANEL SUPPORT COMPRISING A SYMMETRICAL I BEAM HAVING A WEB AND A PAIR OF FLANGES, A PAIR OF LONGITUDINAL FLANGES EXTENDING IN OPPOSITE PARALLEL DIRECTIONS AND NORMAL TO AND FROM THE DISTAL ENDS OF EACH OF THE FLANGES OF THE I BEAM, ONE OF THE LONGITUDINAL FLANGES OF EACH PAIR OF LONGITUDINAL FLANGES OPPOSING ONE OF THE LONGITUDINAL FLANGES OF ANOTHER PAIR OF LONGITUDINAL FLANGES AND HAVING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AN ELONGATED STRIP OF GLAZING MATERIAL, AND THE OTHER LONGITUDINAL FLANGE OF EACH PAIR OF LONGITUDINAL FLANGES EXTENDING FROM THE DISTAL ENDS OF ONE OF THE FLANGES OF THE I BEAM BEING SPACED FROM EACH OTHER AT THEIR ENDS TO PROVIDE READY ACCESS TO THEIR INNER OPPOSED SURFACES FOR THE PURPOSE OF SECURING SAID MULLION TO A HORIZONTAL PANEL SUPPORT MEMBER.

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