WO1997018365A1

WO1997018365A1 - Panel sealing structure

Info

Publication number: WO1997018365A1
Application number: PCT/GB1996/002798
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Anthony Boyce; Richard Anthony Whiting
Original assignee: Peter Anthony Boyce; Whiting Richard A
Priority date: 1995-11-15
Filing date: 1996-11-14
Publication date: 1997-05-22
Also published as: GB9523324D0; AU7581096A; GB2307263A

Abstract

A panel sealing structure (10) has first and second seal strips (12, 14). The seal strips (12, 14) are pressed together to seal them against opposite faces (16, 18) of a panel (20). This locates and provides a seal against the panel. A common member (28) in the arrangement is an extruded aluminium profile which incorporates a box section (30) for structural strength.

Description

Panel Sealing Structure

The present invention relates to panel sealing structures, particularly, but not exclusively, for providing seals for glazing panels.

Modern structures such as those of conservatories, are formed from a frame of mullions and roof beams between which there are glazing panels, usually with multiple glazing. These panels must be held securely in position and the whole structure must be adequately weatherproofed. In order to combine adequate strength with suitable weatherproofing, known structures have become increasingly complex and therefore difficult to assemble except by skilled personnel.

The present invention provides a panel sealing structure comprising first and second opposed resilient seal means and attachment means operable, in use, to attach the seal means together and press the seal means against opposite faces of a panel located therebetween, to provide a seal against the faces of the panel.

The attachment means preferably comprises clip together formations which act to hold the seal means together. The clip together formations may provide adjustable attachment by which the seal against a panel may be adjusted. The clip together formations may provide a plurality of settings and be adjustable from at least one setting to another setting providing tighter seal, by pressure applied to the support structure, but not adjustable back to the one setting by pressure applied as aforesaid. The clip together formations may comprise at least one barbed member and a plurality of complementary formations, the barbed member being movable to an alternative complementary formation to provide adjustment as aforesaid. Preferably the barbed member and complementary formations are resiliently biassed into engagement. The complementary formations may comprise a rack engageable with the barbed member. The clip together formations may comprise a channel having complementary formations formed on the walls thereof, and therebeing at least two barbed members biassed away from each other and into engagement with respective channel walls. Preferably the attachment means comprise a common member to which the seal means are attached to be thereby attached together. The common member may provide structural strength for the structure. The common member is preferably elongate and comprises a portion of box section. The common member may be formed wholly or partly of metal, such as aluminium, or of a synthetic plastics material.

Preferably at least one of the seal means is an elongate resilient strip formed along an edge of a relatively rigid member. The resilient strip and rigid member may be co-extruded, for instance from a plastics material. The seal means may, in use, provide a resilient hold on the panel.

The structure may comprise first and second opposed pairs of resilient seal means attached together by a common attachment means and so located as to allow adjacent edges of two neighbouring panels to be supported.

Preferably the sealing structure forms a mullion or other structural member to seal a glazing panel, or adjacent edges of two neighbouring glazing panels.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded horizontal section through a mullion according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an assembled view of the mullion of Fig. 1; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are alternative versions of the mullion of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 1 shows a panel sealing structure indicated generally at 10 and comprising first and second opposed resilient seal means in the form of seal strips 12,14. Attachment means to be described in more detail below are operable, in use, to attach the seal strips 12,14 together and press the seal strips against opposite faces 16, 18 of a panel 20 located therebetween, as can be seen from Fig. 2. This provides a seal against the faces 16,18 of the panel 20.

In more detail, Figs. 1 and 2 show a mullion (i.e. vertical member) for use in sealing two panels 20, shown as double glazed units. These neighbouring panels have adjacent edges 22 supported by the structure 10.

The inner faces 16 of the panels 20 are contacted, in use, by inner seal strips 12 which are pressed against the faces 16, as will be described. The inner strips 12 are relatively soft, but resilient, elongate strips of constant cross- section, co-extruded with a relatively rigid decorative profile 24. The strips 12 and decorative profile 24 meet at 26. The co-extrusion 12,24 is of constant cross-section.

A common member 28 forms part of the attachment means. The common member 28 is an extruded aluminium profile which incorporates a box section at 30 for structural strength. This provides the principal structural strength to the complete structure 10. At the inner side of the member 28, two in-turned flanges 32 overlie the edges of the panels 20 and are complementary in form to the corresponding regions of the inner decorative profile 24, so that the latter can be clipped over the flanges 32 to mount the profile 24 on the common member 28 (see Fig. 2). The common member could be made of other metals, or of synthetic plastics materials, for instance, or of a combination, such as a metal strengthening insert in a plastics extrusion.

At the outer faces 18 of the panels 20, the common member 28 has a channel section 34. The inner walls of the channel 34 are ribbed to form racks 36 for engagement with the heads 38 of barbed members 40 to be described.

The outer seal strips 14 are co-extruded with an outer decorative profile 42 in a manner generally similar to the formation of the inner decorative profile 24. However, the attachment of the outer profile 42 to the common member 28 is by two barbed members 40, also co-extruded as part of the profile 42. These have resilient legs 44 and enlarged heads 38. The spread of the legs 44 when relaxed gives a spacing of the heads 38 corresponding to the separation of the racks 36. It is to be noted that the profile of the racks comprises flat faces 48 generally parallel to the panels 20 and facing toward the inner face of the structure, adjacent faces 48 being connected by sloping faces 50. The heads 38 have the reverse arrangement, i.e. flat faces facing outwardly, and sloping lead- in faces. In consequence of the head and rack profiles and the resilience of the legs 44, the outer profile 42 can be clipped to the common member 28 by pushing the legs 44 into the channel 34. As the profile 42 is pushed further toward the member 28, the heads 38 will click past successive ribs of the racks 36. This brings the seal strips 12,14 closer and closer together until both engage faces 16,18. Further pressure on the profile 42 will increase the seal against the panels by pressing the seal strips 12,14 against the panel faces, until the strips provide a weather seal between the profiles 24,42 and the panels 20. The quality of the seals can be increased by pushing the heads 38 further into the channel 34. However, the seal cannot be released without releasing the heads 38 from the racks 36. It will be apparent from Figs. 1 and 2 that this cannot be done without special tools.

Once installed, the seals also grip the panels 20 and may be instrumental in supporting and holding the panels in position. Alternatively, the panels may be held in other ways, with the strips being required only to provide a seal.

The structure 10 of Figs. 1 and 2 is designed for panels 20 in co-planar relationship. The two arrangements in Figs. 3 and 4 are substantially similar in their structure and function except for modifications which allow panels to be at right angles (Fig. 3) and at 135° (Fig. 4). Consequently, like numerals have been used again in Figs. 3 and 4 to identify features corresponding to features shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A principal difference which can be noted in Figs. 3 and 4 is that the pair of legs 44 are replaced by two pairs each with a corresponding channel, but that the walls of those channels are provided with only one face 48 past which the heads 38 can be pushed. The result is an arrangement in which the profiles 42 are a snap-fit on the common member 28, but not thereafter adjustable.

It will be readily apparent to the skilled reader that the snap-fit of Figs. 3 and 4 could be applied in the structure of Figs. 1 and 2, or the adjustable structure of Figs. 1 and 2 could be applied in Figs. 3 and 4. The snap-fit arrangement, or the adjustable structure could be used at one or both faces of the panels. Many other forms of attachments could be devised. Panels could be arranged at other angles. The structures could be used with vertical orientation as mullions, or as roof supports or in other ways. The structures have been described as sealing glazing panels, particularly multiple glazing, but could alternatively be used to seal other types of panel, such as internal partitioning or panels of garden buildings and the like. It will further be readily apparent that the detailed form of the various extrusion profiles, their dimensions, relative dimensions and decorative appearance can all be widely varied within the scope of the invention, according to the choice of materials, construction techniques and aesthetic requirements, or for other reasons. Consequently, many variations and modifications to the embodiments described above can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A panel sealing structure comprising first and second opposed resilient seal means and attachment means operable, in use, to attach the seal means together and press the seal means against opposite faces of a panel located therebetween, to provide a seal against the faces of the panel.

2. A structure according to claim 1 wherein the attachment means comprise clip together formations which act to hold the seal means together.

3. A structure according to claim 2 wherein the clip together formations provide adjustable attachment by which the seal against a panel can be adjusted.

4. A structure according to claim 3 wherein the clip together formations provide a plurality of settings and are adjustable from at least one setting to another setting providing a tighter seal, by pressure applied to the support structure, but not adjustable back to the one setting by pressure applied as aforesaid.

5. A structure according to any of claims 2 to 4 wherein the clip together formations comprise a channel having complementary formations formed on the walls thereof, and therebeing at least two barbed members biassed away from each other and into engagement with respective channel walls.

6. A structure according to any of claims 2 to 5 wherein the clip together formations comprise at least one barbed member and a plurality of complementary formations, the barbed member being movable to an alternative complementary formation to provide adjustment as aforesaid.

7. A structure according to claim 5 wherein the barbed member and complementary formations are resiliently biassed into engagement.

8. A structure according to claims 6 or 7 wherein the complementary formations comprise a rack engageable with the barbed member.

9. A structure according to any preceding claim wherein the attachment means comprise a common member to which the seal means are attached to be thereby attached together.

10. A structure according to claim 9 wherein the common member provides structural strength for the structure.

11. A structure according to claim 9 or 10 wherein the common member is elongate and comprises a portion of box section.

12. A structure according to any of claims 9 to 11 wherem the common member is formed wholly or partly of metal, such as aluminium, or of a synthetic plastics material.

13. A structure accordmg to any preceding claim wherein at least one of the seal means is an elongate resilient strip formed along an edge of a relatively rigid member.

14. A structure according to claim 13 wherein the resilient strip and rigid member are co-extruded.

15. A structure according to claim 14, wherein the co-extrusion is from a plastics material.

16. A structure according to any preceding claim wherein the seal means, in use, provides a resilient hold on the panel.

17. A structure according to any preceding claim wherein the structure comprises first and second opposed pairs of resilient seal means attached together by a common attachment means and so located as to allow adjacent edges of two neighbouring panels To be supported.

18. A structure according to any preceding claim wherein the sealing structure forms a mullion or other structural member to seal a glazing panel, or adjacent edges of two neighbouring glazing panels.

19. A panel sealing structure substantially as described above, with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, Fig. 3 or Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.

20. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.