GB2474490A

GB2474490A - Window glazing mounting clip

Info

Publication number: GB2474490A
Application number: GB0918167A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Thomson; Christopher Bateman
Original assignee: Ultraframe UK Ltd
Current assignee: Ultraframe UK Ltd
Priority date: 2009-10-16
Filing date: 2009-10-16
Publication date: 2011-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 2029-10-16
Also published as: GB2474490B; GB0918167D0

Abstract

A clip (30 Fig 2) for releasably connecting a first building component to a second building component, preferably a glazing bar 20 and capping 50, the clip comprising a locating portion 31, for locating on the glazing bar 20, and a connecting portion 32, which is (i) attachable to the locating portion 31 in a primed position, (ii) engageable in an actuated position with the glazing bar 20 when the glazing bar 20 is to be connected to the capping 50, and (iii) subsequently separable from the locating portion 31 when the two portions are to be disconnected. The locating portion may comprise at least two retaining portions (34a/b Fig 3) which engage with a narrowed section (36) of the connecting portion 32 to retain it in its primed position. The locating portion may have an elastically deformable portion, for example a button (35 Fig 4) which actuates the connecting portion and enable engagement.

Description

I

CLIP

The present invention relates to a clip for releasably connecting a first building component to a second building component. The first and second building components may especially be used for mounting one or more glazing panels in a building structure.

There are numerous ways of mounting glazing panels in a building structure. One way involves incorporation of frame sections into the structure into which framed glazing panels may be fitted. Alternatively one or more glazing panels may be located against a building component, for example a glazing bar, and retained in this location by a further building component, for example a capping. In addition to its structural function of retaining a glazing panel in place against the glazing bar, the capping may serve an aesthetic function by covering the underlying glazing bar from view and by hiding the joints between adjacent glazing panels. Such "frameless" glazing may be seen in particular when one or more glazing panels are mounted in conservatories, especially ::::. conservatory roofs, and/or mounted to form a curtain wall or glass façade of a building. I..

Figure 1 shows a section of a prior art glazing bar 10 and capping 15 that may currently S.....

* 20 be found in a conservatory structure. The glazing bar 10, for use in the construction of *...

: a conservatory roof, is of inverted T-section to provide flanges 11 extending to either side of a stem 12. The flanges 11 provide shelves for supporting glazing panels (not shown) on strips of a gasket material 18. The stem 12 has a longitudinal channel 13 that receives formations 14 depending from the underside of the capping 15. The formations 14 cooperate with ridges 16 on the opposed inner faces of the channel 13 to hold the capping 15 in position on the glazing bar 10. The formations 14 diverge to an extent that they are forced towards each other when the capping 15 is pressed onto the glazing bar 10, so that they spring outwardly within the channel 13 to provide grip against removal. The capping 15 has along its lower outer edges gasket material 17 that seals on top of the glazing panels when the capping 15 is pressed into position.

Typically, the glazing bar 10 would be made of a lightweight metallic material, such as aluminium, whilst the capping 15 would be made of a plastics material, such as polyvinyl chloride. The glazing bar 10 would thus have the inherent strength to support the glazing panels, whilst the capping would be strong enough to retain the glazing panels in position, yet be able to elastically deform to follow any curvature which may be present along the length of the glazing bar. Furthermore, the capping could easily be snap-fitted into position on the glazing bar, and subsequently just as easily removed to allow for any adjustments to be made to the glazing panels.

A problem arises when the capping is to be made out of material other than an elastically deformable plastics material. In some circumstances, whether it be for functional or aesthetic reasons, the capping may be made from a metallic material. It is * *** * S * unlikely that such a metallic capping would have the necessary elastic deformation **S.

properties of a plastics capping, and thus whilst it may be simple enough to press-fit a **** metallic capping onto a metallic glazing bar, it would certainly be difficult, if not ****** * 20 impossible, to remove it because of the inherent inflexibility of both the glazing bar and * S..

: the capping. Thus it would not be possible to simply interchange a metallic capping * *..**.

* with the plastics capping shown in Figure 1.

It would therefore be desirable to provide a mechanism by which a metallic capping may be fitted to a metallic glazing bar quickly and simply, and thereafter removable from the glazing bar should that be necessary at a later stage.

Accordingly, the present invention provides in a first aspect a clip for releasably connecting a first building component to a second building component, the clip comprising a locating portion, adapted to be locatable on the second building component, and a connecting portion, adapted to be (i) attachable to the locating portion in a primed position, (ii) engageable in an actuated position with the first building component when the first building component is to be connected to the second building component, and (iii) subsequently separable from the locating portion when the first building component is to be disconnected from the second building component.

Such a clip allows for easy fitment of the first building component to the second building component and also subsequent easy removal.

Preferably the connecting portion is configured to remain engaged with the first building component when the first building component is disconnected and separated from the second building component.

The locating portion may comprise at least two retaining portions for retaining the S...

connecting portion in its primed position. Additionally or alternatively, the locating *..

portion may further comprise an elastically deformable portion which, when so *.S..S * 20 deformed, actuates the connecting portion and enables engagement of the connecting portion to the second building component. Advantageously, the deformable portion * * ....* * may include a protruding depressible button.

Preferably the connecting portion is elastically deformable between its primed position and its actuated position.

The connecting portion may be substantially U-shaped, having two legs which are engageable with the first building component when the connecting portion is in its actuated position. Advantageously, the connecting portion may include an increased-width hip section to aid attachment of said connecting portion to the locating portion.

Furthermore, the connecting portion may include a reduced-width waist section to aid disconnection of the first building component from the second building component.

The legs of the connecting portion may comprise mutually divergent portions, mutually convergent portions and substantially parallel portions thereby forming the waist and hip sections.

Preferably the connecting portion may be in the form of a bent wire spring.

As described above, the locating portion may comprise at least two retaining portions for retaining the connecting portion, which may be U-shaped and comprise at least two legs, in its primed position. Preferably the retaining portions are lugs which cooperably *.S.

retain the legs of the connecting portion in its primed position. I...

Beneficially, a clip according to the invention may further comprise a cover portion S.....

* 20 which is configured to aid attachment of the connecting portion to the locating portion S...

and subsequently to aid disconnection of the first building component from the second

S *.S**

* building component. Moreover, such a cover portion may prevent over-deformation (i.e. plastic deformation) of the connecting portion. In this way, the clip is able to tolerate deflection in the second building component caused by the weight of, for example glazing panels, supported by it. The clip is also ale to tolerate deflection caused as pressure is applied to press-fit and connect the second building component to the first building component.

Preferably the cover portion comprises a flat plate having a reduced-width waist section cooperable with the reduced-width waist section of the connecting portion, to thereby aid disconnection of the first building component from the second building component.

Furthermore, the waist section of the cover portion may additionally aid manual attachment of the connecting portion to the locating portion to achieve the primed position.

In terms of functioning of the clip, the end of the legs of the connecting portion may be hidden by the cover when the connecting portion is in its primed position, and outwardly protrude from the cover when the connecting portion is in its actuated position.

From an aesthetic point of view, a clip according to the invention is preferably hidden from view when the first building component is releasably connected to the second building component. Thus the clip provides a secret or hidden connection mechanism. S... * , S *5 S S... * S S...

As intimated earlier, a clip according to the invention may be used to releasably aSS connect a first building component of any type to a second building component of any **S...

* 20 type, but especially where the components are used to fit glazing panels. In particular, *55S a clip according to the invention may be used to releasably connect a first building S.....

* S component in the form of a capping to a second building component in the form of a glazing bar. Such components may be use in the construction of a conservatory.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is also provided a method of releasably connecting a first building component to a second building component using a clip as hereinbefore described, the method comprising locating the locating portion of the clip on the second building component, attaching the connecting portion to the locating portion so as to prime the connecting portion, and contacting the first building component with the locating portion, thereby actuating the connecting portion such that it engages with the first building component.

The locating portion may comprise an elastically deformable portion which is deformable when the first building component is urged into contact with the locating portion, thereby actuating the connecting portion.

Furthermore the first building component is preferably subsequently disconnectable from the second building component by sliding the second building component relative to the first, such that the connecting portion of the clip is shifted relative to the locating portion of the clip so as to be separable from the locating portion, whilst remaining in engagement with the first building component.

Moreover, the first building component may be separable from the second building * *** component by subsequently bringing the first component out of contact with the second **.* * S S...

component, for example by lifting it. * * *SSS

S

*****S * 20 Advantageously, sliding of the second building component relative to the first may be a S...

: unidirectional action so as to provide control over the connection and disconnection of * 55555 * * the components.

For a better understanding, the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to and as shown in the accompanying schematic drawings (not to scale) in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of part of a prior art conservatory structure; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a clip according to the invention mounted on a second building component; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a clip according to the invention; Figures 4a, 4b and 4c are plan views of a clip according to the invention in its different positions; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a first building component connected to a second building component using a clip according to the invention; Figure 6 is a cross section taken along line A-A in Figure 5; Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of an alternative clip according to the * * * invention; and * * S... *SI

Figures 8a, 8b and 8c are plan views of the alternative clip in its different positions.

*..S.. * 20 * 15

: Figure 2 shows a second building component, in the form of an aluminium glazing bar *5**SS * 20, to which a clip 30 is mounted. Glazing bar 20 is of inverted T-section and comprises flanges 21 extending to either side of a stem 22. The flanges 21 are configured to support a cladding 23, which itself provide shelves 24 for supporting glazing panels (not shown) on strips of a gasket material 25. The stem 22 has a longitudinal channel 26 into which clip 30 is fitted, as will be described in more detail below.

The construction of clip 30 is shown in detail in Figure 3. Clip 30 comprises a locating portion, in the form of a moulded plastics carriage 31, a connecting portion, in the form of bent wire spring 32, and a cover portion, in the form of a steel washer 33. These parts are fastened together by fastening means, in the form of a nut 40 and a bolt 41.

Nut 40 passes through appropriately located apertures 42, 43 in each of washer 33 and carriage 31 respectively. Once assembled, clip 30 may be slid into the channel 26 in glazing bar 20. Alternatively, rather than using a nut 40 and bolt 41, clip 30 may be assembled and fitted to glazing bar 20 using a conventional screw into a hole in channel 26.

Carriage 31 is provided with three retaining portions, in the form of lugs 34a, 34b, 34c, on its upper surface which act to engage and retain spring 32 in its primed position, shown in Figure 4a. It is also provided with a pair of downwardly projecting feet 44 which are spaced apart so as to engage bolt 41 and to aid with location of clip 30 in the channel 26 of glazing bar 20.

Spring 32 is substantially U-shaped and has legs 36 which are engageable with tugs 34a, 34b on carriage 31. Legs 36 each comprise mutually divergent portions 36a, mutually convergent portions 36b and substantially parallel portions 36c, which S..

* 20 together form an increased-width hip section and a reduced-width waist section of * .*a spring 32. Each leg 36 terminates in a barbed hook portion 36d, which hook into and engage with a first building component (not shown).

Carriage 31 of clip 30 is additionally provided with an elastically deformable portion, in the form of an upwardly protruding depressible button 35. When button 35 is pressed downwardly, spring 32 is actuated, as shown in Figure 4b. To actuate spring 32, pressing of button 35 deforms part of carriage 31 such that lugs 34a, 34b are shifted downwardly out of engagement with legs 36 of spring 32. Because legs 36 are biased outwardly, once they are out of engagement with lugs 34a, 34b, they spring outwardly of clip 30 to their actuated position shown in Figure 4b. Note that in Figure 4b, spring 32 is still held in engagement with carriage 31 by lug 34c and washer 33.

From Figure 4b it can be seen how to re-prime clip 30 -the hip section of spring 32, which is the section where divergent portions 36a and convergent portions 36b of legs 36 meet, can be grasped between a thumb and forefinger and squeezed together.

This action is facilitated by the shape of washer 33 which is provided with a reduced-width waist section 33a, so that the waist section of spring 32, which is effectively formed by substantially parallel portions 36c of legs 36, can be re-engaged with tugs 34a, 34b of carriage 31 to form the primed position shown in Figure 4a.

Figure 4c illustrates the manner in which clip 30 facilitates separation and disconnection of a first building component from a second building component. In addition to its waist section 33a, washer 33 is shaped so as to be complementary to the 0** : shape of spring 32. In particular, when spring 32 is shifted relative to carriage 31 and *1.

washer 33 (in the direction of the arrow by approximately 10 mm), the complementary shapes of spring 32 and washer 33 mean that spring 32 can be separated from the **S.

* 20 remainder of clip 30 by lifting in the direction out of the page. Because hook portions 36d of spring 32 remain engaged with the first building component (not shown), in disconnecting spring 32 from the remainder of clip 30, so the first building component can be disconnected and separated from the second building component (not shown).

Figure 5 shows a first building component, in the form of a metallic (e.g. aluminium) capping 50, connected to a second building component, in the form of a metallic (e.g. aluminium) glazing bar 20. The vertical double-headed arrows show the spaces formed for location of glazing panels (not shown), which may be of glass, polycarbonate, or other suitable glazing material.

Figure 6 shows that capping 50 is connected to glazing bar 20 by a clip 30. In reality, where long lengths of glazing bar and capping are involved, a number of clips would be used to connect the two together, preferably spaced apart by 500 mm. Capping 50 is provided with strips of gasket material 51 which provide a weather-seal when capping is pressed onto glazing panels (not shown). The underside of capping 50 is also provided with longitudinal formations 52 which cooperate with spring 32, in particular hook portions 36d of spring 32, so as to engage the capping when clip 30 has been actuated. Actuation (as per Figure 4b) occurs as capping 50 is pressed down onto glazing bar 20 such that its underside presses down on button 35 of carriage 31.

The clip 70 shown in Figure 7 is similér to clip 30 shown in Figure 3 except that with clip 70, the elastically deformable portion, in the form of an upwardly protruding button is of a different shape to help with alignment of a first building component, e.g. * ,w* ::: capping, as it is press-fitted onto a second building component, e.g. glazing bar. The only other difference between clip 70 and clip 30 is that the cover portion, in the form of a steel washer 73, is now substantially rectangular in shape, to provide extra strength *..** * 20 to the clip 70. Additional strength may be required in certain application when the **.* : capping may be subject to greater forces, e.g. wind strength. *

****** * , Figure 8a, 8b and 8c similarly mirror Figures 4a, 4b and 4c respectively, however it can be seen that because of the different shape of washer 73, spring 32 must be slid over a longer distance in order to disengage and be lifted out of engagement with clip 70.

Furthermore, to re-prime clip 70, it must be disassembled so that spring 32 may be re-engaged with carriage 31 before washer 73 is repositioned.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A clip for releasably connecting a first building component to a second building component, the clip comprising: a locating portion, adapted to be locatable on the second building component, and a connecting portion, adapted to be (i) attachable to the locating portion in a primed position, (ii) engageable in an actuated position with the first building component when the first building component is to be connected to the second building component, and (iii) subsequently separable from the locating portion when the first building component is to be disconnected from the second building component.
2. A clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein the Ccflting portion is configured to remain engaged with the first building component when the first building component is disconnected and separated from the second building component. * S.* * * * S. S *...
3. A clip as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the locating portion comprises at S....... 20 least two retaining portions for retaining the connecting portion in its primed * I.....* position. *SSS * . * *
4. A clip as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the locating portion further comprises an elastically deformable portion which, when so deformed, actuates the connecting portion and enables engagement of the connecting portion to the second building component.
5. A clip as claimed in claim 4 wherein the deformable portion includes a protruding depressible button.
6. A clip as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the connecting portion is elastically deformable between its primed position and its actuated position.
7. A clip as claimed in claim 6 wherein the connecting portion is substantially U-shaped, having two legs which are engageable with the first building component when the connecting portion is in its actuated position.
8. A clip as claimed in claim 7 wherein the connecting portion includes an increased-width hip section to aid attachment of said connecting portion to the locating portion.
9. A clip as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the connecting portion includes a reduced-width waist section to aid disconnection of the first building component from the second building component. *.. . * * ****
10. A clip as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the legs comprise mutually divergent portions, mutually convergent portions and substantially parallel portions thereby forming the waist and hip sections. * * * * * **..S..

*
11. A clip as claimed in any of claims 6 to 10 wherein the connecting portion is a bent wire spring.
12. A clip as claimed in any of claims 7 to 11, when dependent on claim 3, wherein the retaining portions are lugs which cooperably retain the legs of the connecting portion in its primed position.
13. A clip as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a cover portion configured to aid attachment of the connecting portion to the locating portion and subsequently to aid disconnection of the first building component from the second building component.
14. A clip as claimed in claim 13, when dependent on claim 9, wherein the cover portion comprises a flat plate having a reduced-width waist section cooperable with the reduced-width waist section of the connecting portion, to thereby aid disconnection of the first building component from the second building component.
15. A clip as claimed in claim 12 wherein the waist section of the cover portion additionally aids manual attachment of the connecting portion to the locating portion to achieve the primed position. * S S...
16. A clip as claimed in any of claims 13, 14 or 15, when dependent on claim 7, I..... * Swherein the end of the legs of the connecting portion are hidden by the cover S...S. when the connecting portion is in its primed position, and outwardly protrude S.....* from the cover when the connecting portion is in its actuated position.
17. A clip as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the clip is hidden from view when the first building component is releasably connected to the second building component.
18. Use of a clip as claimed in any preceding claim to releasably connect a first building component in the form of a cap to a second building component in the form of a glazing bar,
19. Use of a clip according to claim 18 in the construction of a conservatory.
20. A method of releasably connecting a first building component to a second building component using a clip as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising: locating the locating portion of the clip on the second building component, attaching the connecting portion to the locating portion so as to prime the connecting portion, and contacting the first building component with the locating portion, thereby actuating the connecting portion such that it engages with the first building component.
21. A method according to claim 20 wherein the locating portion comprises an elastically deformable portion which is deformable when the first building component is urged into contact with the locating portion, thereby actuating the connecting portion. * 20 *.*S* * I23. A method according to claim 20 or claim 21 wherein the first building **** * * * component is subsequently disconnectable from the second building ****** * * component by sliding the second building component relative to the first, such that the connecting portion of the clip is shifted relative to the locating portion of the clip so as to be separable from the locating portion, whilst remaining in engagement with the first building component.24. A method according to claim 23 wherein the first building component is separable from the second building component by subsequently bringing the first component out of contact with the second component.25. A method according to claims 23 or 24 wherein sliding of the second building component relative to the first is a unidirectional action.26. A clip substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 2 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.27. Use of a clip substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 2 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.28. A method of releasably connecting first and second building components substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 2 to 8 of the accompanying drawings. * * * ** * S... * . *.*. * . S...*S*SS* * . *... * . . S. * **..*.* *