Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Multiroom or level – Curtain-wall; i.e. – panel attached outside floor or beam
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-30
2004-05-18
Yip, Winnie S. (Department: 3637)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Multiroom or level
Curtain-wall; i.e., panel attached outside floor or beam
C052S461000, C052S469000, C052S749100, C052S741400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06735912
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus of weather sealing joints between common adjacently jointed building panels to prevent water intrusion from the exterior into the interior of said joints. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus of applying a resilient joint capping member upon an existing or new jointed building panel structure without the need to first prepare, modify or alter the joint, in order to enhance appearance, integrity and resistance to water permeability such that exterior water is prevented from reaching potentially leak prone joints from which it could subsequently penetrate to the interior of the structure.
The background of the invention, as discussed below, focuses on adjacently joined window panels. However, it should be understood, of course, that the limitations, problems and techniques discussed herein apply to all types of conventional adjacently joined building panel products, such as curtain panel walls, paneled roofing, and the like. As such, the discussion of adjacently joined window panels should not be construed as a limitation, but rather as a simplified explanation of the background of the invention which applies to all conventional adjacently joined building panel products and materials.
Many buildings and architectural designs now incorporate the usage of a plurality of adjacently jointed window panels in order to achieve a desired aesthetic goal while further enhancing the amount of incoming natural light and “openness” appearance of the interior of the building. For example, this technique can be witnessed in the construction and utilization of atrium skylights, glass window walls, and the like, all of which achieve their intended goal by utilizing numerous glass panels adjacently connected together.
Inherent with the usage of numerous adjacently jointed window panels, intersections between such panels are ubiquitous. The construction of these joints, however, must allow some flexibility and resiliency. For example, the joining technique used must allow the adjoined panels to naturally expand and contract due to temperature variations, as well as allow minute flexible movement due to building settlement and the like. Conventionally, multiple windows of such a configuration are connected using window mullions. These mullions interactively allow two adjacently connected window panels to be structurally joined together without the need of requiring connection apertures, such as screw holes, within the window panels, which would subsequently decrease the structural integrity of such window panels, introduce added locations of water permeation, and increase installation and material costs.
As such, conventional window mullions employ a technique that utilizes a bottom plate portion and a top plate portion between two adjacently joined window panels. The top and bottom plate portions are fixedly connected together and subsequently sandwich the windows together, typically with a threaded screwing means, which uses compression mechanics to ensure a structurally sound connection. Typically, where the mullion meets the window glass surface, resilient gaskets or other sealing membranes are utilized to ensure a weather-tight seal. Furthermore, it is also quite frequent that the installation laborers will enhance the weather-sealing performance of the mullion by manually applying, in a liquid form, a resilient elastomeric sealant, such as an RTV silicone polymer, at the window panel joint line and/or where the mullion supports the window panel surface.
However, inherent with such weather-sealing installation techniques, the initial seal integrity and quality is dependent upon field workmanship. Since field quality integrity is almost always impossible to ensure due to lack of adequate supervision and unpredictable installation techniques, the installed seals are generally prone to varying installation errors. These errors may range from inadequate preparation of the surface, improper application of the sealant, incorrect type of sealant, and the like. Furthermore, even if the initial weather-seal and mullion were properly installed, the seal material itself is relentlessly beleaguered by natural elements, such as rain, snow, freezing, ultra-violet radiation from sunlight, minute building movements and settlement, environmental contaminants, and the constant expansion and contraction of the adjacent window panels themselves. Also, the mullion outside surface is subjected to the same weather elements, and, as such, frequently corrodes and requires replacement or frequent maintenance due to drastically decreased structural integrity and unfavorable appearance. As such, it is inevitable that the mullion gaskets and seals, as well as the mullion outside surface, will eventually fail, thus causing water leakage and related problems. The only way to prevent such failures is to implement frequent joint repairs or to address the issue when such a leakage problem arises.
Frequently, such joint repairs require another manual application of liquid elastomeric sealant at the joint line and where the mullion supports the glass panel surface. However, as can be evidenced from above, this solution is short lived and will once again have to be re-done in the near future. Furthermore, the mullions themselves, also needing frequent maintenance, need to be repainted to protect them from environmental and weather elements. As such, especially since this technique of maintenance is labor intensive and quite repetitive, it is often quite expensive and does not solve the problem.
The present invention overcomes these limitations by providing an easily installable mullion and joint resilient protective cap, which negates the need to repaint and/or reseal the mullion and joint. The present invention is also a longer-term solution when compared to the conventional technique of re-sealing all of the window panel joints. Furthermore, the resilient cap, being placed on top of the existing mullion and joint seal structure elements, protects the mullion from further environmental damage.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,524, to Ting, issued on Nov. 18, 1997 ('524), discloses an apparatus for sealing the intersecting panel joints of building surfaces. The '524 patent is a multiple element system which ensures a weather-tight seal around the building panel joints. An inner member must first be fixedly attached to the joint location as well as be weather-sealed to ensure a water-tight seal. As disclosed in the '524 patent, the inner member is bolted to the joint using the existing joint connection device. The inner member further contains a plurality of upwardly protruding vertical legs with inwardly angled edges, which will act as the mating surface to the later applied outer member. An outer member, in the form of the protective joint cap and with a plurality of downwardly protruding vertical legs spaced apart approximately the same distance as the inner member vertical legs, is attached to the inner member by a snapping mechanism. The '524 patent further discloses an optional sealant which may be applied to the portion where the outer member intersects the surface of the building panel. This optional sealant enhances the apparatus' ability to provide a water-tight seal. However, a limitation to the '524 patent is the requirement of a multiple member system. The process of fixedly attaching an inner member to the joint connection is time consuming and within a window panel environment connected by conventional window mullions, is dangerous. The present invention overcomes these limitations by, for example, not requiring a multiple member installation. Furthermore, the present invention does not require any type of fixedly attached anchoring system, which must first be installed prior to the protective cap installation, thus not requiring modification of the existing joint structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,341,999, to Berg, issued on Sep. 19, 1967 ('999), discloses an arrangement for
Bullwinkel Partners Ltd.
Yip Winnie S.
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