Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Window or window sash – sill – mullion – or glazing – Spacing pane from disparate edging
Patent
1998-07-07
2000-08-22
Friedman, Carl D.
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Window or window sash, sill, mullion, or glazing
Spacing pane from disparate edging
52235, 527414, 5278613, E06B 700
Patent
active
061053198
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION
1. Technical Field
The invention relates generally to multiple glazing units of the kind having an outer pane and an inner pane held apart by a spacer frame bounding a sealed space, and in particular to units which are suspended from structures by supporting assemblies extending through respective apertures in at least one of the panes, usually within the spacer frame. Such units are commonly used to glaze the walls or roofs of buildings, where large uninterrupted glass surfaces are specified.
2. Background Art
EP 0192472 discloses sealed multiple glazing units, available from the applicant in the UK and elsewhere under the trade mark PLANAR, which are each provided with a number of supporting assemblies, for example four on a 2m.times.1m rectangular unit, for suspending the unit from a support structure, such as a building framework of aluminium mullions. Each assembly is clamped to one of the inner or outer panes, within the spacer frame, enabling an array of units to be suspended in an edge-to-edge fashion so as to present a continuous exterior surface.
Various different embodiments are shown and described in EP 0192472, but in a preferred configuration the supporting assembly includes a bolt, a boss between the two panes and a clamping nut by which the bolt is fastened to the outer pane. The bolt extends through an aperture in the outer pane, through the boss, through an aperture in the inner pane and protrudes beyond the clamping nut. The protruding bolt may be secured to a bracket, commonly known as a spring plate, or to a rod, attached to the support structure. A flushfronted exterior appearance is maintained by countersinking the bolt head in the outer pane.
The boss, which holds the two panes spaced apart, is generally cylindrical and of a diameter greater than that of the aperture in the inner pane. Consequently, the boss has to be fitted between the panes before they are put together on completion of the unit. The boss is sealed to each of the panes using silicone sealant, applied by the unit assembler by hand after putting the panes together. Subsequently, the unit has to be put on one side in a specialist storage area for in the region of twenty four hours to ensure that the silicone has properly cured. Finally, the boss is inspected by the assembler, and any excess silicone is removed, again, by hand, using an appropriate tool.
The step of sealing the boss is therefore extremely time consuming, contributing a substantial proportion of the overall production time of a unit, in addition to being labour intensive.
The Invention
The invention provides a multiple glazing unit having an outer pane and an inner pane held apart by a spacer frame, a supporting assembly for suspending the unit from a structure, the supporting assembly extending through an aperture in one of the panes, wherein the supporting assembly comprises a boss located between the two panes, and sealing material between the boss and the apertured pane, characterised in that the sealing material is adhesive tape.
Adhesive tape provides a seal of comparable quality to silicone whilst being much quicker and less labour intensive to apply, and requires no curing.
Preferably, the supporting assembly extends through an aperture in the other of the panes and there is further sealing material between the boss and the other pane, characterised in that the further sealing material is adhesive tape.
The aperture may be within the spacer frame.
The adhesive tape is preferably self-adhesive and double-sided, that is, adhesive on each of its opposite sides, although the tape may be adhesive not simply on its sides but throughout. The adhesive tape may be translucent and of plastics material, such as acrylic. Suitable acrylic tapes are available in the UK from the 3M company under the trade mark VBH.
The boss may be generally cylindrical, and have a main body portion which is either solid or at least partially hollow. In the latter case, the body portion preferably comprises end flanges separated by a plurality of webs, for insta
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Friedman Carl D.
Pilkington United Kingdom Limited
Wilkens Kevin D.
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