US3785106A

US3785106A - Glazing flange attachment system

Info

Publication number: US3785106A
Application number: US00186849A
Authority: US
Inventors: F Fink
Original assignee: CONTINENTAL ALUMINUM PRODUCTS Co
Current assignee: CONTINENTAL ALUMINUM PRODUCTS Co
Priority date: 1971-10-06
Filing date: 1971-10-06
Publication date: 1974-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 1991-01-15

Abstract

A snap-in metal glazing flange for a window or building panel is initially separate from a supporting frame member which is provided with a longitudinal slot for receiving the side margin of the glazing flange. A notch in one of the slot walls receives a locking and locating projection or rib on the glazing flange. A compressible vinyl spline is pressed between the glazing flange and a stepped shoulder in the slot to secure the projection in the notch and lock the glazing flange in the appropriate overlapping position on the window or panel margin. The spline is removable to release the flange for replacement of the window or panel. An inclined or tapered camming abutment at the end of the slot engages the side edge of the glazing flange and moves the projection into the notch as the flange is inserted in the slot and prevents angular displacement of the glazing flange in the slot.

Description

[ Jan. 15, 1974 GLAZING FLANGE ATTACHMENT SYSTEM [75] Inventor: Frederick M. Fink, McHenry, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Continental Aluminum Products Company, McHenry, Ill.

[22] Filed: Oct. 6, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 186,849

Primary ExaminerAlfred C. Perham Att0rney-Wheeler, House & Wheeler [57] ABSTRACT A snap-in metal glazing flange for a window or building panel is initially separate from a supporting frame member which is provided with a longitudinal slot for receiving the side margin of the glazing flange. A notch in one of the slot walls receives a locking and locating projection or rib on the glazing flange. A compressible vinyl spline is pressed between the glazing flange and a stepped shoulder in the slot to secure the projection in the notch and lock the glazing flange in the appropriate overlapping position on the window or panel margin. The spline is removable to release the flange for replacement of the window or panel. An inclined or tapered camming abutment at the end of the slot engages the side edge of the glazing flange and moves the projection into the notch as the flange is inserted in the slot and prevents angular displacement of the glazing flange in the slot.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures \BZ /6 Z 4 48 4/ GLAZING FLANGE ATTACHMENT SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Prior art arrangements for glazing windows and building panels with metal glazing flanges typically include a glazing flange or strip which is integral with a base extrusion frame member. If glazing is not required or desired in some areas, the flange must be removed from the base extrusion or frame by expensive notching dies, resulting in a waste of material. Removal ofa broken window or damaged panel also requires removal of v the frame or base extrusion. Prior art glazing arrangements suitable for both windows and panels with snapin connection of the glazing flange to a frame member typically employ a number of components and are expensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The invention provides a glazing flange and frame construction composed of three pieces, the glazing flange, a frame member, and a compressible spline. The glazing flange is a flat metal strip and is initially separate from and releasably locks in a longitudinal slot in the frame member. The flange has a barbed locating and locking projection or rib which interfits in a transverse notch in a slot wall of the frame to secure the glazing flange against lateral movement and maintain the flange in the desired overlapping relation on the margin of the window or building panel. The glazing flange is securely held against the slot wall and the pro jection secured in the notch by a compressible spline or retainer which is easily pressed between the surface of the glazing flange opposite the projection and a stepped seat in a slot wall. Outward displacement of the glazing flange by pressure on the window or panel is prevented by an inclined camming abutment at the end of the slot which engages and confines a side edge of the glazing flange and also cams the projection into the notch as the glazing flange is moved into the slot during assembly.

Replacement of damaged glass or panels is easily accomplished by removing the spline and disengaging the locating projection.

Further objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following disclosure.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a building wall embodying the glazing flange and attaching frame member of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view along lines 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view with parts broken away of the glazing flange and frame member shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structure. The scope of the invention is defined in the claims appended hereto.

The building wall includes a window glass or decorative panel 12. The panel 12 is glazed by one or more glazing flanges 14 which comprise aluminum or like metal strips mounted in superposed overlapping relation against the margins 16 of the panel 12 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and sealed to the panel 12 by bedding material such as self-adhesive tape or a gun applied sealant l5. Panels can be of any usual thickness, typically one-eighth inch to two and one-half inches. The glazing flanges 14 are in the form of flat strips which include a longitudinal continuous or discontinuous locking and locating projection or rib 18 (FIG. 2). The rib 18 has a shoulder surface 19 perpendicular to the flange l4 and a sloping cam surface 21 for purposes hereinafter described.

The glazing flange 14 is initially separate and detachably connects with a frame member or base extrusion 20 which includes a longitudinal slot or recess 22 defined by

opposed slot walls

24 and 26 spaced a distance sufficient to freely receive the flange 14 and rib 18. The slot 22 is offset outwardly of the panel 12 so that the glazing flange can be superposed on the outside surface of the panel 12.

The slot wall 26 is provided with a transverse longitudinal notch or recess 30 which interlocks with the projection or rib 18 when the flange 14 is assembled. The projection 18 is retained in the slot 30 by an elastomeric or compressible spline or retaining means 32 which can be provided with

corrugated surfaces

34 and 36. The

corrugated surfaces

34 and 36 provide frictional engagement and increase the compressibility of the spline 32 which yieldably biases the flange 14 against the slot wall 26. The spline 32 is desirably constructed of a weather resistant plastic material such as vinyl.

In assembly, the panel 12 is positioned against a glazing angle 37 which is secured to the frame member 20 by fasteners 39. The sealant 15 is applied to the side margin of the panel 12 and the glazing flange 14 inserted in the slot 22. The sloping surface 21 of the projection 18 guides the projection past the corner 41. An inclined surface or camming abutment 40 at the inner end of the slot 22 cams the flange 14 against the slot wall 26 as the flange 14 is moved laterally into the slot 22. The incline of the abutment 40 is such that the projection or rib 18 is registered in the notch 30 when the glazing flange is fully seated in the slot (FIG. 2).

An access zone 44 between the frame member 20 and the edge 46 of the panel 12 enables insertion of the spline between the inside surface 48 of the glazing flange and a stepped shoulder 50 on the frame member 20. The spline 32 has a thickness slightly greater than the spacing between the shoulder 50 and the surface 48 and thus the spline 32 is slightly compressed as it is moved against the shoulder 50. When thus assembled, the spline locks the projection 18 in the notch 30 and prevents lateral displacement of the flange. The camming abutment 40 prevents angular displacement of the glazing flange l4 outwardly from the building wall. The panel or window 12 is easily removed when damaged by withdrawing the spline 32 to release the projection 18 from the notch 30.

I claim:

1. In combination, a glazing flange and frame member, said glazing flange comprising a flat strip adapted to overlap the margins of a building panel and having a lateral projection, said frame member having opposed wall portions defining a slot for telescopically receiving said glazing flange endwise, one of said wall portions having surfaces defining a notch for receiving said projection, and compressible retaining means interfitting between the side of said flat strip opposite said projection and said other wall portion to press said flat strip sideways against said one wall portion to maintain said projection in said notch and lock said glazing flange in said frame member, said slot having a camming abutment engageable with the side edge of said glazing flange to cam said projection in said notch as said flange is inserted in said slot.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said projection has first and second surfaces, said first surface being inclined to facilitate entry of said projection into said slot and wherein said notch has a surface perpendicular to said glazing flange and engageable with one of said projection surfaces.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises a length of plastic having opposed corrugated surfaces.

4. A building construction comprising a building panel, a glazing flange having a locking and locating projection, a frame member spaced from the edge of said building panel to provide an access zone, said frame member having opposed wall portions defining a longitudinal slot offset outwardly of said building panel and spaced apart a distance greater than the thickness of said glazing flange and said projection to freely receive said glazing flange, one of said slot wall portions having a notch to receive said glazing flange projection, a shoulder in said other slot wall portion, compressible retaining means receivable in said access zone and engageable with said shoulder to yieldably bias said glazing flange against said slot wall portion having said notch for locking said projection in said notch, an inside glazing member connected to said frame member and overlapping the inside margin of said panel, and said slot having a camming abutment to cam said projection into said notch and confine said flange against angular displacement.