WO2012139908A1

WO2012139908A1 - Connector for hollow portions of profile member(s), particularly for double-pane window frames

Info

Publication number: WO2012139908A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/055888
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jérôme PAQUET; Olivier Bizzini
Original assignee: A. Raymond Et Cie
Priority date: 2011-04-14
Filing date: 2012-03-30
Publication date: 2012-10-18
Also published as: CN103492656A; FR2974140A1; RU2013150529A; CA2827970A1; FR2974140B1; EP2697467A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector (1) for hollow portions of profile member(s) (4), comprising two bars (2) connected by a contact pad (3) and intended to be inserted into the free ends of the hollow portions of profile member(s) (4), each bar (2) being provided with anchoring blades (20) arranged so as to engage with the profile member(s) (4) so as to mechanically attach the latter to the connector (1), and sealing blades (21) arranged so as to engage with the profile member(s) (4) in order to form a damp-proof course in the profile member(s) (4). The invention also relates to a double-pane window, the frame of which consists of hollow portions of profile member(s) (4) connected together by such a connector (1).

Description

Connector for hollow portions of profile (s)

especially for double glazing frame

Technical area

The invention generally relates to a connector for hollow portions of profile (s), the connector comprising two longitudinal strips connected by a pad and intended to be inserted respectively in the hollow portions of section (s), each strip being provided with at least a laterally extending transverse anchor wing and arranged to cooperate with the inner face of the corresponding hollow profile portion (s) to mechanically fasten the connector to the profile. The invention also relates to a double-glazing unit comprising at least two substantially parallel glass sheets separated by a frame formed of at least two hollow portions of profile (s) connected by such a connector.

Prior art

In known manner, the double-glazing and triple-glazing are formed of glass sheets, spaced by a frame, metal or synthetic material, bonded to the glass sheets, for example by means of a butyl bead. The glass sheets are separated by a gas strip such as for example air, argon, improving the insulating power of double glazing and triple-glazing. The glazing obtained is integrated in the amounts of a window or a French window. For convenience, the term "double glazing" is used hereinafter to designate any type of glazing unit having a similar structure with several glass sheets, regardless of the number of these glass sheets.

The frame is for example made using a single hollow profile, folded to form the corners and sides of the frame. The hollow portions of profile located at the ends of the profile are placed in alignment with one another and can be connected by a connector engaging respectively in each hollow portion of profile. In this configuration, the connector has a generally rectilinear shape and includes two bars provided in the alignment of one another, separated by an alignment stud section greater than those of the bars and against the bearing surfaces of which the ends of the profile abut. Folding in the corners of the profile is difficult to implement and this embodiment generates a lot of waste.

The frame can also be made using rectilinear section sections, connected in pairs by angular connectors defining the corners of the frame. Each connector has a general V shape whose bars are oriented at right angles to each other and inserted into the hollow portions of the profile. As in the previous embodiment, the two bars are separated by a pad, here an angular pad, of greater section than those of the bars, and against the bearing surfaces of which the ends of the profile abut.

The spacer is intended to delimit a frame of dimensions smaller than those of the outline of the glass sheets. Thus, the glass sheets and the frame define a groove in which putty, for example based on polyurethane, polystyrene or silicone, can be placed. This putty secures between them glass sheets, profiles and connectors. In addition, this sealant seals with water and steam the gas blade trapped between the glass sheets and the spacer. Moreover, a desiccant material, for example in the form of granules, is generally provided in the profiles to absorb the moisture contained in the gas strip at the time of manufacture of the double-glazing. To allow the passage of the moisture of the gas strip to the inside of the profiles, the latter may be provided with aligned perforations, of reduced dimensions, not allowing the granules of desiccant material to pass but allowing the gas to pass.

Examples of connectors are given in particular by publications EP 1 914 373, FR 2 659 108 and FR 2 604 210 which describe angular connectors whose bars are provided with anchoring fins extending laterally away from the the webs of the bars and able to cooperate with the inside of the profiles to secure them to the connectors angular. In the publication EP 1 914 373, the angular connector is coupled to an additional piece in the form of a wedge, slid into the housing separating two successive fins. When the connector is fitted into the end of the profile, the anchoring fins deform elastically and the corner forms a seal. Thus, the wedge prevents the granules of desiccant from leaving the spacer. This solution is unreliable and difficult to implement. Indeed, when inserting the connectors in the profiles, the corners may come out of their homes. The manipulation of the connectors is thus made difficult by the presence of the corners. In addition, the corners are additional pieces that represent an additional cost of manufacture. In addition, the connectors of the publications FR 2 659 108 and FR 2 604 210 are provided with anchoring fins inducing high mechanical stresses at the ends of the profiles which may damage or even break them. These solutions are therefore not satisfactory.

Presentation of the invention

The aim of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a connector for hollow portions of profile (s), in particular for double-glazing frame, of simple manufacture, allowing effective anchoring of the connector in the profile (s) ( s) without risk of deterioration (s), requiring only a small effort of implementation, ensuring that the granules of desiccant housed in the (s) profile (s) do not escape, limiting the impact thermal dispersions and facilitating the assembly of frames for double-glazing

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a connector for hollow portions of profile (s), the connector comprising two longitudinal strips connected by a pad and intended to be inserted respectively into the hollow portions of profile (s), each strip being provided with at least one laterally extending transverse anchoring fin and arranged to cooperate with the inner face of the corresponding hollow profile portion for securing mechanically said connector to said profile, characterized in that each strip is also provided with at least one transverse sealing fin extending laterally and arranged to cooperate with the inner face of hollow profile portion to form a sealing barrier in the profile.

By hollow portion of profile is meant here, when it is a single profile, at least its two ends are hollow, each hollow end being adapted to receive one of the bars. The two free ends of the single profile are thus connected by a single connector. When it comes to several connected sections, here is meant by hollow portion of profiles, each profile has at least one hollow end in which a bar can be inserted. The profiles are thus connected two by two by a connector or several connectors. It is understood that the (or) profile (s) can also be hollow over their entire length.

The connector according to the invention is therefore easy to manufacture and use. It has an effective anchoring thanks to the anchoring vane and a good seal thanks to the sealing vane. It allows to meet the goals.

The device according to the invention may advantageously have the following particularities:

the height of the sealing fin is greater than that of the anchor fin. Any residual space between the bar and the profile can thus be easily filled by the sealing fin.

at least the anchoring fin is made of a first material and the sealing fin is at least partly made of a second material which is more flexible than the first material and arranged so as to face at least one of the faces internal part hollow profile. The anchoring fins and the sealing fins thus have dissociated functions which make it possible to optimize their technical characteristics according to the function to be fulfilled.

the portion of the sealing fin made in the second material has a width of between one to four times the width of the fin anchor. The contact between the sealing fin and the inner face of the profile is thus wide enough to ensure effective sealing.

the sealing fin comprises at least one lateral rib made in the first material and whose edge furthest from the bar is at least partly covered with at least one bead made in the second material. It is thus possible to produce the lateral ribs and the anchoring fins during the same manufacturing step, the lateral rib has a height less than that of the anchoring fin, the bead defines at least two transverse lips substantially. parallel and separated by a groove facilitating the elastic deformation of the transverse lips,

the connector comprises several anchoring fins and several sealing fins, distributed on either side of each bar, the anchoring fins being provided between the sealing fins and the pad, the connector comprises at least one rib longitudinal reinforcement carried by at least one of the bars and connecting the stud to the anchoring fins and the sealing fins, and arranged to stiffen the bar, the anchoring fins and the corresponding sealing fins,

for each bar, the parts of the sealing fins made in the second material are interconnected, on either side of the bar, by threads made in the second material and along each side edge of the bar.

- The stud is traversed by an orifice and the threads are interconnected by a core formed in the second material and filling the orifice, the first / second pair of materials is selected from the group comprising at least the polyamide couples / thermoplastic elastomers, Polypropylene / PP EPDM.

The invention also relates to a double glazing unit comprising at least two substantially parallel glass sheets, separated by a formed frame at least one profile comprising at least two hollow portions interconnected by a connector as described above, the bars are inserted into the hollow portions of profile. At least one of the hollow portions of the profile may comprise granules of desiccant and the sealing fin may be arranged to cooperate with the inner face of the hollow portion of the profile and form a sealing barrier to the granules.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention will be better understood and other advantages will appear on reading the detailed description of an embodiment taken by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a part of a connector according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a connector according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a perspective view partially in section of a connector according to the invention, one of which is housed in a double-glazed frame profile.

Description of the embodiments

The connector according to the invention is generally used to form a standard double glazing frame (not shown). It can however be used for any other suitable application. In known manner, the double glazing comprises at least two substantially parallel sheets of glass separated by a frame. This frame is formed by hollow sections, connected by connectors according to the invention. The profiles can be hollow along their entire length or only at their free ends. To encompass these two cases, we will speak for this purpose of hollow portions of profiles. The frame can also be formed by a single profile, bent in the corners and whose free ends are connected by a connector according to the invention. This single profile can also be hollow along its length or only at its free ends. Whatever the embodiment chosen, granules of desiccant material may be provided inside the hollow portions of the profile to absorb the moisture contained in this gas. To do this, the face of the profile oriented towards the inside of the frame is advantageously provided with perforations of small dimensions, aligned with each other, allowing the gas to pass between the glass sheets towards the inside of the profile. Without limitation, the following description is centered on a frame formed of several profiles connected in the corners of the frame by connectors.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the connector 1 according to the invention comprises two longitudinal bars 2 intended to be housed in the free ends of the hollow portions of sections 4, of which only one is shown in FIG. 3. In this example, the strips 2 are each in the form of a substantially straight plate. They are oriented so as to define between them an angle of about 90 ° (shown schematically in Figure 1) and are connected to one another by an angular pin 3. In this example, the outer face of the stud 3 is curved to form a non-aggressive soft angle. The stud 3 thus has the shape of a quarter circle whose rectilinear sides are of dimensions greater than the thickness of the bars 2. The stud 3 thus delimits bearing surfaces 30 able to receive the support of the ends of the portions. hollow sections 4 when the bars are fitted in these hollow portions of sections 4 (see Figure 3). The bars 2 and the pad 3 are made of a first so-called rigid material, for example a plastic material such as polypropylene or polyamide. They thus advantageously form a single piece.

Each bar 2 comprises transverse anchoring fins 20 extending laterally from each face of the bar 2. These anchoring fins 20 are provided substantially perpendicular to each face of the corresponding bar 2 and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bar 2. each bar 2. These anchoring fins 20 are made of the first material said to be rigid and advantageously form a part monobloc with the bars 2 and the stud 3. The anchoring fins 20 have suitable dimensions inside the hollow portions of sections 4 for which they are intended. These dimensions are provided to allow the insertion of force in the bar 2 in the hollow portions of the profile 4 and block the connector 1 in the section 4, thereby preventing it from coming out inadvertently. In the illustrated example, each bar 2 comprises six anchoring fins 20 distributed in two groups of three anchoring fins 20 aligned in pairs on each side of the bar 2. The bar 2 may of course comprise a greater number of anchoring fins 20 and / or anchoring fins 20 offset from one face of the bar 2 to the other.

Each bar 2 also comprises sealing fins 21. Referring in particular to Figure 1, each sealing fin 21 is formed of a lateral rib 22 extending laterally from each side of the bar 2 and made of a rigid material, for example with the first material. The lateral rib 22 has a profile comparable to that of the anchoring fins 20, with nevertheless a lower height and an upper width. The lateral ribs 22 advantageously form a one-piece piece with the bars 2, the stud 3 and the anchoring fins 20. The lateral ribs 22 are provided substantially perpendicular to each corresponding strip face 2 and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of each 2. They are therefore substantially parallel to the anchoring fins 20 The lateral ribs 22 are provided beyond the anchoring fins 20 relative to the stud 3. The anchoring fins 20 are therefore located between the stud 3 and the In this example, the anchoring ribs 20 and the lateral ribs 22 are provided at regular intervals. The lateral ribs 22 are provided in the number of six divided into two groups of three lateral ribs 22 aligned in pairs on each side of the bar 2 and / or side ribs 22 offset from one side of the bar 2 to the other. The bar 2 may of course comprise a greater number of lateral ribs 22. The bearing surfaces 30 of each pad 3 as well as the sealing fins 21 and the lateral ribs 22 provided on the face corresponding bar 2 are connected by a longitudinal reinforcing rib 5 to stiffen them. This reinforcement rib 5 is for example made in the first material, it also has a height substantially similar to those of the lateral ribs 22.

Referring in particular to Figures 2 and 3, each lateral rib 22 is covered with a bead 23 made of a second material called soft. By soft second material is meant a less rigid material, more flexible than the first material, able to deform elastically during the insertion force of the bar 2 in the free end of the hollow portion of section 4 to fill any residual space between each lateral rib 22 and the inner face of this hollow profile portion 4. To promote this deformation, the height formed by the bead 23 carried by the lateral rib 22 is such that the total height of the sealing fins 23 is greater than those of the anchoring fins 20. Thus, the bead 23 of the sealing vane 21 cooperates with the inner face of the hollow section portion 4 to prevent any granule (not shown) housed in the section 4, especially the desiccant granules, to escape. To ensure a good seal, the bead 23 has for example a width between one to four times the width of the anchor fin 20. Advantageously, the bead 23 defines two transverse lips 24, detailed in FIG. 3, substantially parallel, separated by a groove 25 facilitating the elastic deformation of the transverse lips 24. Each bead 23 completely covers the edge of the lateral rib 22 furthest from the bar 2 and the faces and sides of the lateral ribs 22 which the carry. The tightness is thus achieved over the entire periphery of the sealing fin 21. The flexibility of the second material also limits the impact of thermal dispersions. The beads 23 are further interconnected by threads 26 along the lateral edge of the bars 2. In the example illustrated, the stud 3 is traversed by a hole filled with a core 31 formed of the second material and connected to the threads 26. Thus the threads 26 of a first bar 2 are connected to the threads 26 of the second bar 2. This particular design allows a manufacturing Easy connector 1 which can be obtained by:

injection of the bars 2, the pad 3, the anchoring fins 21 and the lateral ribs 22 into a first material to form the rigid armature of the connector 1,

over molding the second material on the first material to form the bead 23, the soft threads 26 and the core 31, this overmoulding being able to be performed with a rotating mold.

The core 31 and the threads 26 make it possible to supply, during a same overmoulding step, the mold cavities intended to form all the beads 23. The core 31 thus acts as a transfer channel for the second material of a mold. next to the other of the bar 2 during the overmolding step. In the illustrated example, each strip 2 comprises three sealing fins 21.

The first and second materials are chosen for their compatibility in order to promote their chemical grip. Thus, it will be preferred to use a first / second pair of materials among thermoplastic polyamide / elastomer, polypropylene / PP EPDM.

According to an embodiment not shown, the bars may be curved to receive profiles having a complementary curve. The connector may also include a straight bar and a curved bar.

According to yet another embodiment not shown, the angle formed between the bars may be different from the example and vary between 0 to 180 °. Thus, in the case of an angle α of 180 °, the connector is provided with strips provided in the extension of one another to connect two profiles aligned with respect to each other. In this case, the stud separating the bars is not a corner pad but an alignment pad.

Claims

1. Connector (1) for hollow portions of profile (s) (4), said connector (1) comprising two longitudinal bars (2) connected by a stud (3) and intended to be inserted respectively in the hollow portions of profile (s) (4), each bar (2) being provided with at least one laterally extending transverse anchoring fin (20) and arranged to cooperate with the inner face of said corresponding hollow profile portion (4) to mechanically fix said connector (1) to said profile (4), characterized in that each strip (2) is also provided with at least one transverse sealing fin (21) extending laterally and arranged to cooperate with the inner face of said portion hollow profile (4) for forming a sealing barrier in said profile (4).

2. Connector (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the height of said sealing fin (21) is greater than that of said anchor fin (20).

3. Connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least said anchor fin (20) is made of a first material and in that said sealing fin (21) is at less in part made of a second material softer than said first material and arranged to face at least one of the inner faces of said hollow profile portion (4).

4. Connector (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said portion of said sealing fin (21) made in said second material has a width of between one to four times the width of said anchor fin (20). ).

5. Connector (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said sealing fin (21) comprises at least one lateral rib (22). made in said first material and whose edge furthest from said bar (2) is at least partly covered with at least one bead (23) made in said second material.

6. Connector (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that said lateral rib (22) has a height less than that of said anchor fin (20).

7. Connector (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that said bead (23) defines at least two transverse lips (24), substantially parallel separated by a groove (25) facilitating the elastic deformation of said transverse lips (24).

8. Connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of anchoring fins (20) and a plurality of sealing fins (21), distributed on either side of each bar (2), said anchoring fins (20) being provided between said sealing fins (21) and said stud (3).

9. Connector (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises at least one longitudinal reinforcing rib (5) carried by at least one of said bars (2) and connecting said stud (3) to said anchoring fins (20) and said sealing fins (21), and arranged to stiffen said bar (2), said anchoring fins (20) and said corresponding sealing fins (21).

10. Connector (1) according to claims 3 and 8, characterized in that for each bar (2), said portions of said sealing fins (21) made in said second material are connected together, on either side said bar (2), by threads (26) made in said second material and along each side edge of said bar (2).

1 1. Connector (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that said stud (3) is traversed by an orifice and in that said threads (26) are interconnected by a core (31) formed in said second material and filling said orifice.

12. Connector (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 1 1, characterized in that the first pair / second materials is selected from the group comprising at least the polyamide couples / thermoplastic elastomers, polypropylene / PP EPDM.

13. Double-glazing comprising at least two substantially parallel sheets of glass, separated by a frame formed of at least one profile (4) comprising at least two hollow portions, characterized in that said hollow profile portions (4) are connected between them by a connector (1), according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bars (2) are inserted into said hollow profile portions (4).

14. Double glazing according to claim 13, characterized in that at least one of said hollow profile portions (4) comprises desiccant granules and in that said sealing fin (21) is arranged to cooperate with the inner face of said hollow profile portion (4) and form a sealing barrier to said granules.