WO1988000533A1

WO1988000533A1 - A glazing unit

Info

Publication number: WO1988000533A1
Application number: PCT/GB1987/000490
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kenneth Woodcock
Original assignee: Kenneth Woodcock
Priority date: 1986-07-12
Filing date: 1987-07-13
Publication date: 1988-01-28
Also published as: GB8804093D0; GB2199877A; GB8617014D0; GB2199877B

Abstract

A glazing unit (10) which provides an effective simulation of "leaded light" type windows, but at considerably reduced cost. The unit comprises an assembly of a first outer transparent sheet (11) and a second inner transparent sheet (14), in which the inner sheet (14) is a composite sheet built-up from an assembly of a plurality of individual transparent and/or translucent pieces (17, 17a) which adjoin each other along common junction lines (19) and each of which pieces is secured to the inner face (13) of the outer sheet (11). A first set of masking strips (18) is secured to face (16) of the inner sheet (14) and extends along the junction lines (19) between the individual pieces (17, 17a), and a second set of masking strips (20) is secured to the outer face (12) of the outer sheet (11) and arranged so that each strip of the second set (20) is substantially co-linear with a respective strip of the first set (18) when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the general plane of the unit. The masking strips (18, 20) simulate the appearance of conventional lead strip used on leaded lights, but a much less complicated and therefore quicker mode of assembly is provided.

Description

A GLAZING UNIT

This invention relates to a glazing unit which is adapted to be mounted in a window or door frame. So-called "leaded lights" have been installed in private homes for very many years, but have been used much less in recent years in view of the high cost of making and installing them. The manufacture of leaded lights is a time-consuming and exacting task, as compared with conventional glazing, and this is inevitably reflected in the price demanded for the product.

In the manufacture of a leaded light, a glazing unit is usually built-up from a considerable number of small pieces of glass, and each piece has to be mounted individually within channel forms defined by the lead strips which surround the pieces. In addition to the time- consuming nature of this assembly, it is a fact which can be born out by many users that the quality of the liquid seal (provided by the lead strips) around the edge of each piece tends to deteriorate with age, with resultant risk of ingress of moisture from externally of the window, especially in conditions of driving rain. When an existing leaded light window has secondary double glazing applied to its inner face, the ingress of moisture gives rise to unsightly condensation taking place within the interior space defined between the outer (leaded light) pane of the window and the secondary glazing unit.

In view of the considerable expense of manufacture of conventional leaded lights, there have been attempts to reproduce the appearance of a leaded light window, but with a simplified and less skill-requiring mode of assembly. However, the attempts which have been made to date, although less costly, do not have the same customer appeal and are apparent, even to the untrained eye, as being relatively cheap simulations of proper leaded lights. One known method of simulation comprises the adhesion of lead strips, or simulated lead strips, in a desired leaded light pattern, on the external face of a single pane of glass, and the product obtained by this method is quite clearly only a poor simulation of the individual glass pieces assembled together in a framework provided by a matrix of lead strips in a conventional leaded light.

In view of the considerable expense of production of single thickness leaded lights, there has been only limited production of double glazed units which incorporate leaded lights, and mainly for use in the more expensive type of modern housing.

Therefore, to meet the potential demand of customers who like the visual appeal of leaded lights, but who are not prepared to meet the true cost of conventional production of leaded lights, there is a clear need to provide an acceptable but cheaper simulation.

According to the invention there is provided a glazing unit which is adapted to be mounted in a window or door frame, or the like, and which comprises: a first transparent sheet having a pair of opposed faces, one of which is intended to form an outer face of the unit and the other of which is intended to form an inner face of the unit; a second transparent sheet having opposed first and second faces and secured along its first face to the inner face of the first transparent sheet, said second sheet being a composite sheet built-up from an assembly of a plurality of individual transparent and/or translucent pieces which adjoin each other along common junction lines and each of which pieces is secured to the inner face of the first sheet; a first set of masking strips secured to the second face of the second sheet and extending along the junction lines between the individual pieces; and a second set of masking strips secured to said one face of the first sheet and arranged so that each strip of the second set is substantially co-linear with a respective strip of the first set when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the general plane of the unit.

The first and second sets of masking strips may be made- of lead strip which is "thin" (measured in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the unit), though other visually acceptable and sufficiently durable material may be used which can simulate the appearance of a conventional lead strip used on leaded lights, when a leaded light simulation is required.

Thus, a glazing unit according to the invention can be manufactured much more quickly than a conventional leaded light of similar size, and also in a way which is less demanding of the skill of the assembler.

Each of the individual pieces of the composite second sheet may be secured to the inner face of the first sheet in any convenient manner, which will usually be by use of a suitable adhesive along the margins of each piece. In one particularly suitable mode of assembly, so-called "double- sided" adhesive strip may be used, which provides an easy and durable mode of substantially permanent securement. The strips of the first and second sets of masking strips also may be secured in position on the first and second sheets respectively using double-sided adhesive strips, though other means mayh be used if desired.

A glazing unit according to the invention may- be supplied and installed as an effective "single pane" in a window or door frame, though the unit may form a part of a double glazed unit by assembly thereto of a third transparent sheet in spaced and hermetically sealed manner.

The transparent sheets used in a glazing unit according to the invention will preferably be made of glass, though other suitable transparent material may be used, if desired.

Evidently, the particular leaded light pattern simulation which is provided by the individual pieces will be determined according to the design of the manufacturer, to suit customer requirements.

One embodiment of glazing unit according to the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a glazing unit according to the invention in the form of a leaded light simulation;

Figure 2 is a schematic and exploded view illustrating the mode of assembly of a glazing unit according to the invention; and, Figure 3 is a front view of a further design of leaded light simulation which can be obtained by a glazing unit according to the invention.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a glazing unit according to the invention is designated generally by reference 10 and is adapted to be mounted in a window or door frame (not shown). The unit 10 comprises a first transparent sheet 11 which is a single sheet of material, having a pair of opposed faces 12 and 13, in which the face 12 will form an outer face of the unit and the face 13 will form an inner face of the unit. A second transparent sheet 14 having opposed first and second faces 15 and 16 is secured to the inner face 13 of the first sheet 11 along its first face 15. . Unlike the first sheet 11, the second sheet 14 is a composite sheet built-up from an assembly of a plurality of individual transparent pieces, one of which is designated by reference 17. The individual transparent pieces (17) adjoin each other along common junction lines, in similar manner to an assembly of glass pieces which make-up a conventional leaded light assembly of glass pieces. Further, as will be described in more detail below, each individual piece is secured to the inner face 13 of the first sheet 11.

A first set of masking strips 18 is secured to the second face 16 of the second sheet 14 and the strips 18 extend along, and overlie, the junction lines between the individual pieces. A typical junction line is shown by reference 19 in Figure 2, below a lowermost and small piece 17 and an adjoining and larger piece 17a. The strips 18 are made of thin lead strips (thin being measured in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the unit), though other visually acceptable and durable material may be used which can simulate the appearance of a conventional lead strip used on leaded lights.

A second set of masking strips 20 is secured to the outer face 12 of the first sheet 11, the strips 20 being arranged such that each strip of the second set is substantially co-linear with a respective strip 18 of the first set when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the general plane of the unit. Each of the individual pieces (17, 17a) which make-up the second sheet 14 can be secured to the inner face 13 of the first sheet 11 in any convenient manner and, in the illustrated embodiment, this is shown by the use of double- sided adhesive strips 21. Similarly, the masking strips 18 can be secured in position so as to overlie the junction lines between the individual pieces by means of double-sided adhesive strips 22, and similarly the strips 20 of, the second set can be secured in position by means of double sided adhesive strips 23.

The component parts 10 to 23 so far described form a leaded light simulation of a conventional (composite) single sheet type of leaded light. However, if it is desired to form a double glazed unit which is a leaded light simulation, a third transparent sheet 24 can be assembled thereto in spaced and hermetically sealed manner, using spacer pieces, one of which is shown by reference numeral 25.

The transparent sheets used in the glazing unit will preferably be made of glass, though other suitable transparent and durable material may be used, if desired.

Figure 3 of the drawings shows a relatively complicated design of leaded light simulation which may be formed, as one embodiment of a glazing unit according to the invention, though clearly any desired leaded light pattern may be formed according to the wishes of the manufacturer, and to suit customer requirements. Figure 2 is merely a schematic illustration of the assembly of a glazing .unit according to the invention. Evidently, the individual pieces (17, 17a) which make¬ up the composite sheet 14 may be transparent, as referred to above. However, for certain decorative effects, it may be desirable for at least some of the individual pieces to be translucent, or even coloured.

Claims

1. A glazing unit (10) which is adapted to be mounted in a window or door frame and which comprises: a first transparent sheet (11) having a pair of opposed faces (12, 13) one of which is intended to form an outer face (12) of the unit and the other of which is intended to form an inner face (13) of the unit; a second transparent sheet (14) having opposed first and second faces (15, 16) and secured along its first face (15) to the inner face (13) of the first transparent sheet (11), said second sheet being a composite sheet built-up from an assembly of a plurality of individual transparent and/or translucent pieces (17, 17a) which adjoin each other along common junction lines (19) and each of which pieces is secured to the inner face (13) of the first sheet (11) ; a first set of masking strips (18) secured to the second face (16) of the second sheet (14) and extending along ^' the junction lines (19) between the individual pieces (17, 17a); and, a second set of masking strips (20) secured to said one face (12) of the first sheet (11) and arranged so that each strip of the second set (20) is substantially co- linear with a respective strip of the first set (18) when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the general plane of the unit.

2. A glazing unit according to Claim 1, in which at least the masking strips of the second set (20) are made of thin strips which simulate the appearance of lead strips used in "leaded lights" windows.

3. A glazing unit according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the masking strips of the first set (18) are made of thin strips which simulate the appearance of lead strips used in "leaded light" windows.

4. A glazing unit according to Claim 2 or 3, in which the masking strips of the or each set of masking strips (18, 20) are made of thin lead strips.

5. A glazing unit according to any one of Claims 1 to 4,. in which each of the individual pieces (17, 17a) of the second sheet (14) is adhesively secured along its edges to the inner face (13) of the first sheet (11).

6. A glazing unit according to Claim 5, in which each piece (17, 17a) is secured in position by means of a double-sided adhesive strip (21).

7. A glazing unit according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the masking strips of the first and second sets (18, 20) are secured in position by means of double sided adhesive strips (22, 23).

8. A glazing unit according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, in which a third transparent sheet (24) is assembled with the glazing unit to form a double-glazed unit.

9. A glazing unit according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, in which the transparent sheets (11, 14, 24) are made of glass or plastics material.