GB2546068A

GB2546068A - Perimeter glazing insert

Info

Publication number: GB2546068A
Application number: GB1600016.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clasby Neil
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-01-02
Filing date: 2016-01-02
Publication date: 2017-07-12
Also published as: GB201600016D0

Abstract

A perimeter glazing seal component comprises a rigid base web 1, a perpendicular web 2 and a projecting web 6. Flexible fins 3, 4, 5 control the alignment, position and assembly of a bonded glass door, window, or glass partition in order to manage the dimensional tolerances between the glass pane 9 and sub-frame 7. The strip is inserted into a receiving groove 11. The perimeter glazing seal is preferably made from extruded dual-hardness plastic materials.

Description

Perimeter Glazing Insert

Background

This invention relates to a perimeter glazing insert used in the fabrication of bonded glass doors, windows and glass partition products.

Typically, competitor products offering single and double glazed prefabricated and pre-glazed doors, windows and glass partitions market a choice of cheaper, simpler non-bonded wrap-around glass frame design alongside more expensive and more complex flush bonded glass doors, windows and glass partitions.

Glass doors, windows, or glass partitions can be manufactured in a method whereby the glass pane is bonded to a sub-frame. The sub-frame is typically extruded aluminium or a combination of extruded aluminium profiles or a combination of extruded aluminium and steel profiles. These bonded glass units are pre-manufactured in the factory and must be very accurate in order to fit within the openings created for them in the locations in which they will be finally installed.

The technique and precision of bonding the glass pane onto the prefabricated sub-frame is key to achieving the desired interface and planar alignment between the glass pane and the surrounding sub-frame.

However, whilst machining and fabrication tolerance of the sub-frame is capable of being accurately controlled to tolerances of ±0.25mm, the cut glass pane tolerance are ±2mm and often exceed this. Therefore, the combined tolerance variation potential at the edge of the glass pane to the sub-frame junction necessitates a device that alleviates the tolerance differences and achieves the functional objectives of the fabrication process.

Bonded glass products involve far greater installation and precision specifically when the glass pane is placed onto the sub-frame. The present invention utilising a pre-fitted perimeter glazing insert in a sub-frame provides for a more controlled and accurate bonding alignment interface.

Solution

The perimeter glazing insert is a plastic extrusion that is fitted to the sub-frame.

The perimeter glazing insert controls the alignment and assembly of the glass pane onto the sub-frame immediately prior to the bonding connection of the glass to the sub-frame.

The perimeter glazing insert conceals unavoidable glass dimensional tolerance variation of width, height, shape, and conceals potential misalignment with the sub-frame.

The perimeter glazing insert cushions and sets the location of the glass pane on contact with the sub-frame, thus providing an accurate planar glass pane ensuring a stable, flush, bonded glass product.

The perimeter glazing insert is continuous, which allows for potential breaks in the adhesive bonding process, ensuring the unit is sealed for potential ingress of dirt or machining particles, and to ensure acoustic performance.

The perimeter glazing insert may be positioned on either the supporting face of the sub-frame, or upon or within a sub-frame web that is perpendicular to the supporting face.

Introduction to drawings

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a vertical section through the perimeter glazing insert.

Figure 2 shows a vertical section through the perimeter glazing insert prior to final assembly of the glass to sub-frame. Figure 3 shows a vertical section through the perimeter glazing insert after final assembly of the glass to sub-frame. Detailed description

The perimeter glazing insert is designed to be an extruded plastic profile that can be attached to the sub-frame in a number of ways. One method is that the perimeter glazing insert uses one or more flexible fins of plastic on a rigid plastic base web to hold the perimeter glazing insert to the sub-frame, then a flexible fin either projecting from the base web or from a secondary rigid web.

In Figure 1, the rigid base web 1 has a perpendicular rigid web 2 that is shown with one or more flexible fins 3 and 4. The flexible fin 5 that centralises the glass is shown attached to rigid web 6 that projects from the rigid base 1. Optionally, the flexible fin 5 may be a circular tube shape, which may be attached directly to base web 1 or onto a projecting web 6. The perpendicular rigid web 2 may occur at any point along the base web 1. Optionally, the perpendicular rigid web 2 may be replaced with a totally flexible feature with fins that grip the sub-frame. Optionally, the perpendicular rigid web 2 may be removed to allow the base web 1 to slide into the sub-frame. Optionally, the perpendicular rigid web 2 may be removed to allow adhesive tape to be applied to the base web 1.

In Figure 2, a section of sub-frame 7 is shown as an aluminium extrusion. This diagram shows one section of a frame that glass pane 9 attaches to, not the entire door or window frame. The perimeter glazing insert 10 is fitted to the sub-frame prior to the glass being applied. Adhesive 8 is a typical method for attaching the glass pane 9 to the sub-frame 7. The sub-frame 7 is shown with a groove feature 11 to accept the perimeter glazing insert 10. The perimeter glazing insert 10 may optionally be attached to the sub-frame 7 in other ways, such as being slid into a trapped groove in the sub-frame or by using adhesive.

In Figure 3, the assembly is shown with the glass pane 9 bonded to the sub-frame 7 using adhesive 8. The adhesive is a typical method for attaching the glass 9 to the sub-frame 7, but the bonding method is not the invention here.

Other methods of attaching the glass pane 9 to the sub-frame 7 may be used, such as adhesive tape. The perimeter glazing insert 10 is shown with the flexible fin 5 collapsed as it centralises the glass pane 9 within the sub-frame 7. It is the flexible fin 5 that centralises the glass panel 9, and allows for the tolerance differences between the edge of the glass pane 9 and the sub-frame 7 edge. The perimeter glazing insert 10 seals against the sub-frame 7 and the glass pane 9 to stop any adhesive material 8 escaping around the edges of the glass pane 9.

Perimeter Glazing Insert Key 1 base web 2 perpendicular web 3 flexible fin 4 flexible fin 5 flexible fin 6 projecting web 7 sub-frame 8 adhesive bond 9 glass pane 10 perimeter glazing insert 11 receiving groove feature

Claims

Claims 1 A perimeter glazing insert component, that is fitted into a receiving groove located in the supporting surfaces of a one-part sub-frame, and aligns, controls and centralises the glass within the sub-frame. 2 A component according to claim 1, formed by extrusion of combined plastic materials of differing hardness. 3 A component according to claim 1, formed by extrusion of combined plastic materials of differing types, such as flexible and rigid PVC or Polypropylene or Rubber. 4 A component according to claim 1, formed by extrusion of a single flexible plastic material. 5 A component according to claim 1, which grips into a receiving groove of the sub-frame. 6 A component according to claim 1, which has a receiving groove that is substantially parallel sided. 7 A component according to claim 1, which has a receiving groove that is substantially dovetail in shape. 8 A component according to claim 1, which has a receiving groove that is substantially T shaped. 9 A component according to claim 1, which is optionally slid into the sub-frame. 10 A component according to above claims, which is optionally placed on a web that is substantially perpendicular to the supporting surfaces of the sub-frame. 11 A component according to claim 1, that is optionally adhered using double-sided adhesive tape or an applied adhesive substance to the sub-frame surface or surfaces. 12 A component according to any of the preceding claims, which has one or more flexible guiding fins attached to a projecting web from the base web. 13 A component according to claim 12, which has one or more flexible guiding fins attached to the base web. 14 A component according to any of the preceding claims, which has one or more flexible guiding substantially circular tube shapes attached to a projecting web from the base web. 15 A component according to claim 14, which has one or more flexible guiding substantially circular tube shapes attached to the base web. 16 A component according to any of the preceding claims, in which the wall thickness, web or fin size can be increased or decreased to give a greater or lesser range of pressure and tolerance for different glass thicknesses. 17 A component according to any of the preceding claims, which stops adhesive bond material escaping around the edge of the glass. 18 A component according to any of the preceding claims, in which the perimeter glazing insert is fitted to a multi-part sub-frame assembly that may optionally have a separate perimeter edge capping component. 19 A component according to claim 18, in which the perimeter glazing insert is fitted to a multi-part sub-frame assembly, that may have a separate perimeter edge capping component that is fitted after the bonding process. 20 A perimeter glazing insert component substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying Figures.