GB2550838A

GB2550838A - Improvement to double glazing leaded and stained glass

Info

Publication number: GB2550838A
Application number: GB1605592.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charles John Lloyd-Winder Matthew
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-04-01
Filing date: 2016-04-01
Publication date: 2017-12-06

Abstract

A method of constructing fully laminated leaded, safety glass applique panels, suitable for use as single, double or triple glazed units comprises a stained leaded glass panel 4 attached to a second sheet of glass using transparent adhesive 2. This sheet is used as one side of a double or triple glazed unit. The glazed panel prevents moisture penetration through the leadwork, and where the leaded glass pieces are set at various angles to one another, creates a randomly faceted "broken reflection" from its external surface.

Description

Title

Improvement to stained and leaded glass making panels suitable for use in single glazing and double/triple glazed sealed units.

Background

This invention relates to improving the strength, safety, security, aesthetics and weather proofing of single, double and triple glazed stained and leaded glass panels, whilst maintaining the aesthetics associated with traditional leaded glass.

Traditional stained and leaded glass panels are made of a number of panes of glass cut to size and shape, and held together within a soldered leaded framework. These panels are prone to bend, leak, and crack over time and are unsuitable for use as one side of a double glazed unit as they are impossible to seal effectively.

Statement of invention

To overcome these problems, the present invention proposes that the smaller panes of glass be held in position with shims, and by fully laminating the smaller panes of glass and the shims to a base layer of glass, and applying a non-supportive, decorative leaded framework to both sides, thereby a single laminated applique leaded glass panel will be created. These panels retain the aesthetic characteristics of traditional leaded and stained glass and are suitable for external single glazing, as well as for use as one or more sides of sealed double glazed and triple glazed units.

Advantages

The advantages of this invention, means that it now possible to effectively and radically improve the security, thermal insulation, weatherproofing and acoustic efficiency of a building using these decorative laminated applique leaded glass panels, -without, compromising the aesthetics found in traditional leaded and stained glass. Especially so if the invention is used as one or more of the panes in a double or triple glazed sealed unit. (Also)

This invention will be very useful in its double and triple glazed sealed unit format for the decorative enhancement of new buildings and extensions, as it can be manufactured to meet current building regulations.

This invention will also be of interest to period property owners, -particularly those in conservation areas who are often currently prohibited from upgrading their windows and doors to double or triple glazing, by their local authority (regulations) arguing on aesthetic grounds that modern double glazed stained glass film or resin units look nothing like original leaded glass and will detract from the ambience of the area. Because of this important rational, the invention has been engineered with all or some of the individual smaller panes within the design being deliberately set at slightly different angles (relative to the base glass plane) to produce a naturally "broken" reflection associated with traditionally leaded glass, (and desired by the local planning authorities) this combined with the decorative leaded framework being soldered at each joint, and darkened down to give them a pre-aged look means that the finished panels will be virtually indistinguishable from the original leaded panels they are replacing.

The invention also benefits from extra strength, safety and security compared to traditionally leaded glass as the base layer of glass and the smaller panes are fully laminated to each other making them harder to break safer once broken and more difficult to penetrate.

The extra strength safety and security outlined above can be further enhanced by specifying the base layer of glass as toughened or laminated, prior to assembly.

The thermal and acoustic properties of double and triple glazing are well documented elsewhere, and this invention can be made in various combinations of front and back panels, spacer tubes, and gas filled cavity depths according to industry norms.

This invention benefits from being totally weatherproof, because the base layer of glass is continuous and the top panes and shims are fully laminated to it there is no place for water, moisture or gas to pass through the panel.

This invention is also self- supporting. Unlike traditional stained and leaded glass which tends to sag under its own weight. This means that the opportunity to design larger panels without the need for external reinforcement is available.

Key i -base layer of glass 2~transparent adhesive 3=transparerrt shims 4* top layerof glass pieces Ssself adhesive lead strips CNsoidered joints (options!) 7=spacertube or super spacer 8=desfccant 9=hot meitseai il^haftoto pane of double glazed unit 1l=iead framework (optional) IJNair/gas- gap

Drawings

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings; • Figure 1 shows a cross section of a traditional leaded / stained glass panel affected by bending, leaking and cracking. Key 4= glass panes 5= Leadwork 6= soldered joints 13= leaded light cement you will see in this illustration that the plane of glass has distorted due to the age and weight of the panel and that one pane of glass has been put under enough stress to crack it in two. The leadwork has also distorted and the leaded light cement has become brittle and no longer seals the glass and lead thereby allowing gas and water to pass through the panel. (Please note Fig 1 is to help compare my invention with the existing method and does not form part of my invention in itself) • Figure 2 shows a cross section of a single laminated, applique leaded glass panel according to the invention. Key 1= Base layer of glass 2= transparent adhesive 3= transparent shims 4=top layer of glass pieces 5= self-adhesive lead strips 6 soldered joints (optional) • Figure 3 shows a cross section of a single laminated, applique leaded glass panel according to the invention forming the outer layer of a double glazed sealed unit. Key 1= Base layer of glass 2= transparent adhesive 3= transparent shims 4=top layer of glass pieces 5= self-adhesive lead strips 6= soldered joints (optional) 7spacer tube 8 desiccant 9 hot melt seal 10 bottom pane of double glazed unit 11 Lead frame-work (optional)

Detailed description With Reference to Figure 2

Each laminated applique leaded panel is comprised of a base layer of glass (1) a middle layer of transparent adhesive (2) and transparent shims (3) and a top layer of glass pieces (4) the panel also has applied lead strips to the top and bottom faces (5) and these lead strips have the option to be soldered at the joints (6) once the leadwork has been applied and soldered the metalwork may then be painted, patinated or electroplated to change its colour, and or to protect it from the weather.

With Reference to Figure 3

The laminated applique leaded panel can then be made into an insulated sealed double glazed unit by means of a spacer tube (7) filled with desiccants (8) placed at a convenient distance from the edge of the panel and bonded to the bottom pane (10) with hot melt seal (9) this double glazed unit may also then be triple glazed by adding a further spacer tube (7) desiccants (8) hot melt seal (9) and additional bottom pane (13) (not illustrated) the sealed unit cavities may then be filled with an inert gas (12) to further enhance its thermal and acoustic properties. if desired, the whole assembly may then have an optional self-adhesive leaded framework (11) applied around the perimeter, to act as a cushion

Notes; a) The Base layer of glass (1) may be any convenient thickness shape colour and texture, and may also be toughened, or laminated prior to use.

b) The transparent adhesive (2) may comprise of a two part resin or a thermosetting film. E.g. EVA/ PVB/ EVM c) The transparent shims (3) can be made to any desired size thickness and shape and be positioned at the manufacturer's discretion, and can be made of sheet material e.g. acrylic, or be applied in liquid form and hardened off as in a two part acrylic resin. d) The top layer of glass pieces (4) can be made to any desired size thickness and shape, colour and texture, and be positioned at the manufacturer’s discretion. e) The self-adhesive lead strips (5) can be made to any desired size thickness and shape and be positioned anywhere on the front and back surface of the applique panel at the manufacturer's discretion. f) The spacer tube (7) can be made to any size and shape and thickness, and can be any colour, or can be substituted for a flexible pre desiccated foam spacer at the manufacturer's discretion. g) The hot melt seal (9) can be made any size shape or thickness by discretion of the manufacturer. h) The bottom pane of the double glazed unit (10) may be any convenient thickness shape colour and texture, including mirror, or otherwise painted or coated glass and may also be toughened, or laminated prior to use. i) The bottom pane of the double glazed unit (10) may also be of a different size or shape to the top pane to allow for the manufacture of a stepped unit. j) The leaded frame-work (11) may be made from any desired size thickness and shape, colour and texture, and be made from one or more pieces of lead by the discretion of the manufacturer. k) The uses to which the single double or triple glazed panels can be put are not confined to architectural glazing but can also be used as decorative artwork applications, including cladding, sculpture and lighting, to name but a few.

The laminated applique leaded panels and double/ triple glazed units can also include the following variations; l) The Glass panes (1, 4,11, and 12) may each be further modified with surface decoration techniques including; sandblasting, acid etching, painting, staining, bevelling, brilliant cutting, engraving metal leaf, plastic film, drilling, glue chipping, scratching, printing, and kiln forming at the discretion of the manufacturer. m) The self-adhesive lead strips (5) can be dispensed with and replaced with other metalwork, resins or materials at the discretion of the manufacturer. n) The self-adhesive lead strips (5) can be dispensed with and replaced with grout in order to enable the applique panel to resemble a tiled or mosaic finish. o) A double glazed sealed unit can be manufactured with an applique panel on both the front and rear. p) A triple glazed sealed unit can be manufactured with an applique panel as both the front and rear panes (and if desired the internal panel may also be an applique panel). q) There is no limit to the number of panels that may be bonded together to form a sealed unit r] The cavity between the panels of glass may be filled or contain with an object or a variety of objects for example, grains of rice, small plastic beads, liquids, gels, strips if paper or other decorative elements, at the discretion of the manufacturer.

Claims

Claim 1 A method of constructing fully laminated leaded safety glass applique panels suitable for external use as single double or triple glazed insulated sealed units. (Dependent) claim 2 A fully laminated safely glass leaded applique panel according to claim 1, that will successfully prevent the ingress of water moisture and gases through the leadwork and therefore will prevent condensation forming between the first and second layers of glass, (whilst simultaneously preventing water moisture and gases into the building). (Dependent) claim 3 A fully laminated safety glass leaded applique panel according to claim 1 Whereby the leaded glass pieces are set at various angles to one another in order to create an authentic, randomly faceted "broken reflection” from its external surface that gives the viewer the appearance of an authentic traditionally leaded glass panel.