U.S. patent application number 09/731265 was filed with the patent office on 2001-09-27 for building glass facade of a building, a clamping arrangement for holding glass panels in a glass facade of a building, a brace to hold safety glass panels in a glass facade of a building, and a brace to hold safety glass panels.
Invention is credited to Blobaum, Ernst Udo, Janutta, Reinhard.
Application Number | 20010023562 09/731265 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7903653 |
Filed Date | 2001-09-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010023562 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Blobaum, Ernst Udo ; et
al. |
September 27, 2001 |
Building glass facade of a building, a clamping arrangement for
holding glass panels in a glass facade of a building, a brace to
hold safety glass panels in a glass facade of a building, and a
brace to hold safety glass panels
Abstract
A building glass facade of a building comprising a plurality of
glass elements covering at least a portion of a building, wherein
at least one of the glass elements comprises a safety glass panel.
The glass elements have a brace to hold the safety glass panels
that comprise at least two glass plates whereby there is an
invisible protection against falling out, which is achieved by a
separating or connecting film that is positively and non-positively
connected with the braces by a film that is in the form of a
separating or connecting film. The brace also has a type of
fastening such that there is a permanently elastic medium for
stress-free installation.
Inventors: |
Blobaum, Ernst Udo;
(Leopoldshohe, DE) ; Janutta, Reinhard; (Verl,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NILS H. LJUNGMAN
NILS H. LJUNGMAN & ASSOCIATES
P.O. BOX 130
GREENSBURG
PA
15601
US
|
Family ID: |
7903653 |
Appl. No.: |
09/731265 |
Filed: |
December 6, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09731265 |
Dec 6, 2000 |
|
|
|
PCT/EP00/03000 |
Apr 5, 2000 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/235 ; 52/212;
52/764 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E06B 3/5436 20130101;
B32B 17/10293 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/235 ; 52/764;
52/212 |
International
Class: |
E04B 002/88 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 7, 1999 |
DE |
199 15 478.3 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A building glass facade of a building comprising a plurality of
glass elements covering at least a portion of a building, at least
one of said elements comprising a glass pane and a brace to hold
said glass pane, said brace being configured to hold safety glass
panels that comprise at least two glass plates (2, 3, 21) that are
positively and non-positively connected to each other by a
separating and connecting film (1), whereby the brace is equipped
on one hand with a mounting device that can be fastened to the
building and on the other hand the glass plates (2, 3, 21) are held
between clamping flanges (4) and (9), wherein to secure the glass
plates (2, 3, 21), there is an invisible protection against falling
out, which is achieved by a separating or connecting film (1) in
connection with the braces, and a permanently elastic medium (6, 8)
is provided between the brace parts and the glass plates for
stress-free installation.
2. The building glass facade as claimed in claim 1, wherein to
fasten the braces, there are borings (30, 31, 32) in the glass
plates (2, 3, 21), whereby the edges of contact surfaces (17, 18)
are overlapped and held by contact surfaces (17, 18) of the brace
parts (4, 19, 20, 26) and the separating or connecting film (1)
extends into the vicinity of the borings (31, 32, 33), whereby the
separating and connecting film (1) has a punched-out portion, the
diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of the borings (30,
31, 32) and the separating and connecting film is clamped directly
or indirectly positively and non-positively in the vicinity of the
punched-out portion by the brace used.
3. The building glass facade as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
separating and connecting film (1) has a reinforcement (34) at
least in the peripheral area of the borings (31, 32, 33).
4. The building glass facade as claimed in claim 3, wherein the
peripheral area of the punched-out portion is covered by a lug (33,
35).
5. The building glass facade as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
reinforcement (34) and the lug (33, 35) are made of Keflar, carbon
or glass fiber.
6. The building glass facade as claimed in claim 5, wherein the
brace comprises at least the brace parts (13, 14) or (20, 26), each
of which has a flat clamping surface (22, 24), in the vicinity of
which the separating or connecting film (1), during assembly, is
clamped directly or indirectly with the insertion of a spacer ring
(23) between the clamping surfaces (22, 24).
7. The building glass facade as claimed in claim 6, wherein the
brace parts (13, 14, 20, 26) are made of stainless steel or light
alloy.
8. The building glass facade as claimed in claim 7, wherein in the
vicinity of the clamping of the glass plates (2, 3, 21) between the
contact surfaces (17, 18) and the external glass surfaces (15, 16),
the permanently elastic medium is introduced in the form of inserts
(6, 8).
9. The building glass facade as claimed in claim 8, wherein the
inserts (6, 8) project into the borings (30, 31).
10. The building glass facade as claimed in claim 9, wherein the
inserts (6, 8) are made of rubber or silicone.
11. Brace to hold safety glass panels that comprise at least two
glass plates (2, 3, 21) that are positively and non-positively
connected to each other by a separating and connecting film (1),
whereby the brace is equipped on one hand with a mounting device
that can be fastened to a building and on the other hand the glass
plates (2, 3, 21) are held between clamping flanges (4) and (9),
characterized by the fact that to secure the glass plates (2, 3,
21), there is an invisible protection against falling out, which is
achieved by a separating or connecting film (1) in connection with
the braces, and a permanently elastic medium (6, 8) is provided
between the brace parts and the glass plates for stress-free
installation.
12. Brace as claimed in claim 11, characterized by the fact that to
fasten the braces, there are borings (30, 31, 32) in the glass
plates (2, 3, 21), whereby the edges of contact surfaces (17, 18)
are overlapped and held by contact surfaces (17, 18) of the brace
parts (4, 19, 20, 26) and the separating or connecting film (1)
extends into the vicinity of the borings (31, 32, 33), whereby the
separating and connecting film (1) has a punched-out portion, the
diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of the borings (30,
31, 32) and the separating and connecting film is clamped directly
or indirectly positively and non-positively in the vicinity of the
punched-out portion by the brace used.
13. Brace as claimed in claim 12, characterized by the fact that
the separating and connecting film (1) has a reinforcement (34) at
least in the peripheral area of the borings (31, 32, 33).
14. Brace as claimed in claim 13, characterized by the fact that
the peripheral area of the punched-out portion is covered by a lug
(33, 35).
15. Brace as claimed in claim 14, characterized by the fact that
the reinforcement (34) and the lug (33, 35) are made of Keflar,
carbon or glass fiber.
16. Brace as claimed in claim 12, characterized by the fact that
the brace comprises at least the brace parts (13, 14) or (20, 26),
each of which has a flat clamping surface (22, 24), in the vicinity
of which the separating or connecting film (1), during assembly, is
clamped directly or indirectly with the insertion of a spacer ring
(23) between the clamping surfaces (22, 24).
17. Brace as claimed in claim 16, characterized by the fact that
the brace parts (13, 14, 20, 26) are made of stainless steel or
light alloy.
18. Brace as claimed in claim 12, characterized by the fact that in
the vicinity of the clamping of the glass plates (2, 3, 21) between
the contact surfaces (17, 18) and the external glass surfaces (15,
16), the permanently elastic medium is introduced in the form of
inserts (6, 8).
19. Brace as claimed in claim 18, characterized by the fact that
the inserts (6, 8) project into the borings (30, 31).
20. Brace as claimed in claim 19, characterized by the fact that
the inserts (6, 8) are made of rubber or silicone.
Description
CONTINUING APPLICATION DATA
[0001] This application is a Continuation-in-Part of International
Application No. PCT/EP00/03000, filed on Apr. 5, 2000, which claims
priority from Federal Republic of Germany Application No. 199 15
478.3, filed on Apr. 7, 1999. International Application No.
PCT/EP00/03000 was pending as of the filing date of this
application. The United States was an elected state in
International Application No. PCT/EP00/03000.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a building glass facade of a
building, which facade comprises a plurality of glass elements or
panels covering at least a portion of the building.
[0004] This invention further relates to a clamping arrangement in
a facade for holding a glass panel on a facade. More particularly,
the invention relates to a glass panel clamping arrangement for
clamping a building glass panel in a facade to a building.
[0005] This invention also relates to a brace to hold safety glass
panels. The safety glass panels thereby consist of at least two
glass plates that are positively and non-positively connected to
each other by a separating or connecting film. The brace is
provided on one hand with a mounting device that can be attached to
a building and on the other hand with a device that runs through
the glass panel with flanges that simultaneously hold the glass
plates.
[0006] 2. Background Information
[0007] German Patent No. 195 19 527 A1 describes a device in which
a beam provided with the building-side mounting is supported on a
building-side clamp element. The support is thereby provided by
means of a bearing head of the beam that is mounted so that it
yields elastically in the axial direction of the beam, whereby the
bearing head is also mounted with lateral play or clearance in a
bearing compartment. Consequently, when wind pressure is applied,
it becomes possible for the beam and/or the bearing head to move
parallel to the plane of the glass panel. The elastic flexibility
of the bearing head is thereby created by spring washers or by a
permanently elastic material. This permanently elastic material or
the spring washers apply a continuous restoring force to the beam
or to the glass panel in the sense of repositioning the beam.
Ultimately, this system results in the introduction of stresses in
the glass panel, whereby greater tolerances between the borings in
the glass panel and the connection point to the building-side
mounting cannot be compensated.
[0008] German Patent No. 44 00 979 A1 also describes a device in
which the mounting bearing on the inside of the building has a
spherical surface on the external surface that faces the mounting,
and against which a compensating part with a complementary
spherical cap surface is in contact. The clamping element thereby
has a boring that runs all the way through to hold a clamp screw
that connects the clamping elements and a retaining screw that
penetrates a shim part and the compensator part, and is inserted
into the clamping element. With this device, of course,
manufacturing tolerances between the boring in the glass panel and
a substructure can be compensated, but an elastic support of the
glass panels on the mounting is no longer possible after the glass
panels have been installed.
[0009] A similar device is described in German Patent No. 44 45 724
A1, in which a clamping element on the inside of the building has a
spherical surface on its external surface facing the mounting,
against which spherical surface a pivot bearing of a fastening part
of a complementary surface is in contact. The pivot bearing is held
with lateral play in a union nut or swivel nut. Here again, after
installation, no relative movement of the glass panel with respect
to the fastening part is possible.
[0010] In the fastening of glass panels, in particular safety glass
panels, one mistake that is made repeatedly is that the glass
panels are given no ability to successfully neutralize, after
installation, the forces acting on them, such as thermal stresses,
wind pressure, etc. Of course, glass has a certain elasticity, but
the limits of this elasticity are soon reached on account of the
nature of the material glass. To fasten glass panels as disclosed
by the prior art, above a certain degree of loading the inevitable
result is destruction of the glass panels. This destruction results
from the fact that there is a certain rigidity that does not allow
any freedom or room of adjustment. The elasticity of a glass panel
simultaneously means that there is a neutralization of forces.
Consequently, it must be stated that freedom is the ability to
adapt or adjust. This statement is particularly true for safety
glass panels that are installed in areas in which there is no
safety element, for example, when the glass is used in overhead
glazing applications. In these areas, of course, compound glass
panels (VSG) are used, which have separating or connecting films
between the individual plates of glass. Such compound glass panels
are manufactured by first providing the individual plates of glass
with the necessary borings and then, in a single manufacturing
process, introducing the separating or connecting film. In this
case, there are unavoidable manufacturing tolerances that are also
of the type that cause the normally overlapping holes of two
neighboring plates of glass to be misaligned.
[0011] German Patent No. 39 18 158 C1 discloses a fire-protection
glass unit which has a metal frame with an encircling mounting
groove, in which, with the interposition of a compensating adapter,
a glass panel is fastened. The compensating adapter has two
glued-on expanded metal strips, the edges of which are in the
mounting groove, whereby a strip-shaped non-metallic spacer is
located between the edges. The compensating adapter ensures that in
the event of a fire, a destructive temperature gradient will not
occur between the large surface of the glass panel and the edge of
the glass panel, and also prevents any mechanical stresses caused
by differential thermal expansion in the metal frame and in the
glass panel from having negative effects.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0012] An object of the invention resides in a building glass
facade of a building having a fastening assembly to attach and hold
glass panels. The invention permits an installation free of tension
on the fastening assembly during assembly, and permits a sufficient
elasticity between the fastening assembly and the glass panel after
installation.
[0013] An additional object of the invention is to fasten safety
glass panels so that on one hand, no stresses occur in the glass
panels during installation, and on the other hand so that, after
installation, the safety glass panels retain a certain freedom or
room of movement to adapt to their fastening point, and can also be
used, for example, in overhead glazing applications without the
need for additional safety-relevant devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] This object can be achieved in a building glass facade of a
building comprising a plurality of glass elements covering at least
a portion of a building, which at least one of the elements
comprises a glass panel and a brace or fastening device.
[0015] The invention also teaches that this object can be
accomplished in a brace to hold safety glass panels. In order to
secure the glass plates, there is an invisible protection against
falling out, which is achieved by a separating or connecting film
in connection with the braces, and a permanently elastic medium is
provided between the brace parts and the glass plates for
stress-free installation. Additional characteristics of the
invention are disclosed herein below. The invention teaches that to
secure the glass panels, an invisible protection against falling is
provided and is accomplished by the separating or connecting film
in connection with the punctiform braces used. Simultaneously,
there is a permanently elastic medium between the brace and the
glass plates to guarantee stress-free installation and subsequent
mobility, and thus the elasticity of the glass panels being
held.
[0016] Because the separating or connecting film is used as a
load-bearing element, there is simultaneously an invisible
protection of the safety glass panels against destruction and thus
falling out. For this purpose, the punctiform braces are designed
so that in their center clamping area they firmly clamp the
separating or connecting film, and simultaneously, as a result of
the use of the permanently elastic medium, do not reduce the
freedom of movement of the safety glass panel.
[0017] For this purpose, on the highly-sensitive glass sheets in
the vicinity of the borings, a reinforced separating or connecting
film is used. For example, the film can also contain a network of
appropriate materials, such as Keflar or carbon fibers, for
example, which also spread out in a sunburst pattern around a
punctiform brace. To be able to clamp the separating or connecting
film, rather large borings must be introduced inside the safety
glass panels. As noted above, these borings are introduced before
the process of connecting the individual glass sheets by means of
the separating or connecting film. Thus, the separating or
connecting film must project into the area of the boring. This can
be accomplished on one hand by using a continuous film, in which
case a small-diameter boring can be punched out later after the
glass sheets have been connected to each other. It is also possible
to punch borings in the films before the process of connecting the
glass sheets to each other. The above mentioned materials can also
be used to provide reinforcement in the vicinity of the clamping.
It is also possible, in the vicinity of the punched-out portions of
the separating and connecting film, to introduced flat lugs, for
example, that are connected positively and non-positively with the
connecting film. This measure improves the transmission of forces
between the film and the brace.
[0018] Therefore on one hand, the film can be clamped directly by
the brace, and on the other hand, the lug that has been introduced
is clamped by the brace.
[0019] The braces are preferably realized in the form of punctiform
braces, so that they consist at least of two simple rotating parts
that can be screwed into each other. The two rotating parts, after
they have been screwed into each other, have a clamping area that
is formed by clamp surfaces that are flat. Between these clamping
surfaces, the projecting separating or connecting film or lug is
then connected positively and non-positively with the brace.
[0020] This system can also be used, for example, on multiple-plate
or laminated safety glass panels. In such a case, for example on a
safety glass panel that consists of three plates, spacer rings are
used for the center sheet, whereby the height of these spacer rings
is equal to the thickness of the middle glass plate. In this case,
two films project into the area of the boring, which on one hand
are kept apart by the spacer ring and on the other hand, as a
result of the screwing together of the two brace parts, positively
and non-positively clamp the spacer ring on one hand and the
separating and connecting film on the other hand.
[0021] The above mentioned lugs can also be used on multiple-plate
safety glass panels. These lugs would then simultaneously surround
the spacer ring.
[0022] The two brace parts which are screwed into each other each
have flanges which extend beyond the edge of the boring inside the
safety glass panels. In this case, a dimensional coordination
between the brace and the borings inside the safety glass panels is
necessary to guarantee the elastic clamping of the glass panel.
This clamping is achieved because a permanently elastic medium is
introduced between the flanges of the brace parts and the edges of
the glass panels and the boring. This permanently elastic medium
can consist of rubber, silicone, etc., for example. As a result of
this solid yet elastic mounting, a neutralization of forces on the
safety glass panels is achieved, which in particular enormously
reduces the danger of breakage of such safety glass panels, and
simultaneously, when there is a break in these safety glass panels,
provides protection against them falling out, which protection is
invisible from the outside. Such braces can be mounted on any type
of substructure and can also be made without additional effort from
stainless steel or light alloy.
[0023] The above-discussed embodiments of the present invention
will be described further herein below. When the word "invention"
is used in this specification, the word "invention" includes
"inventions", that is, the plural of "invention". By stating
"invention", the Applicants do not in any way admit that the
present application does not include more than one patentably and
non-obviously distinct invention. The Applicants hereby assert that
the disclosure of this application may include more than one
invention, and, in the event that there is more than one invention,
that these inventions may be patentable and non-obvious one with
respect to the other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] The invention is explained in greater detail below with
reference to a number of different exemplary embodiments that are
illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0025] FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of a building with a facade
including glass panel clamping arrangements according to at least
one embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 1B shows an elevation of part of a building face with
glass panels according to at least one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0027] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a portion of a fastening of a
safety glass panel that consists of two plates of glass in an
overhead mounting.
[0028] FIG. 2 shows a safety glass panel that consists of three
individual plates with a punctiform brace.
[0029] FIG. 3 shows a detail of the vicinity of the boring of a
safety glass panel into which a lug has been introduced.
[0030] FIG. 4 is the same as FIG. 3, but with a safety glass panel
that consists of three individual plates.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0031] FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of a building with a facade
including glass panel clamping arrangements according to at least
one embodiment of the present invention. In one possible embodiment
of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 1A, the invention
is shown with a building B having a facade F with glass panels 200.
The glass panels are secured with glass panel clamping arrangements
or fastening assemblies 100 which are placed in any desired pattern
to suit the size of a glass panel 200.
[0032] FIG. 1B shows an elevation of part of a building face with
glass panels according to at least one embodiment of the present
invention. In one possible embodiment of the present invention,
illustrated in FIG. 1B, a facade F of a building is shown in which
glass panels 200 are secured with fastening assemblies 100. The
fastening assemblies 100 are made up of glass panels and
braces.
[0033] The safety glass panel, a portion of which is illustrated in
FIG. 1, consists of glass plates 2 and 3 which have been connected
to each other by a separating or connecting film designated 1. The
separating or connecting film 1 thereby projects into a glass
boring 30.
[0034] The punctiform brace and thus the glass panel are mounted on
a ceiling fastener 11 by means of a fastening screw 5 and a thread
12. The punctiform brace thereby consists of a front brace part 13
and an inside brace part 14. The brace parts 13 and 14 are screwed
to each other by means of a thread 7. The fastening screw 5 runs
all the way through both parts.
[0035] When the brace parts 13 and 14 are screwed together,
clamping surfaces 22, 24, as shown in FIG. 2, come together,
whereby they simultaneously clamp between them the separating or
connecting film 1 that extends in this area. The glass plates 2 and
3 are prevented from falling out by the clamping of the separating
or connecting film 1 between the brace parts 13 and 14.
[0036] The brace parts 13 and 14 thereby have flanges 9 and 4 that
partly overlap the outside surfaces 15 and 16 of the outer glass
plates. The flanges 4 and 9 on one hand overlap the area of the
boring 30 inside the glass plates 2, 3, and on the other hand the
flanges 4, 9 project beyond the glass plates 2, 3. Between the
outer sides 15, 16 of the glass plates and the flanges 4, 9 with
contact surfaces 17, 18, a permanently elastic medium in the form
of an insert 6, 8 is inserted, which thus fills up the open space
inside the boring 30 of the glass plates 2, 3 and the brace parts
13, 14. The size of this space can be designed as a function of the
loads that such safety glass panels are required to withstand. It
is clear, however, that as a result of the clamping of the
separating and connecting film 1, the brace parts 13, 14 have
achieved an invisible protection against the safety glass panel
falling out, and a clamping of the safety glass panel is
simultaneously achieved to a certain degree as a result of the fact
that the safety glass panel can be adjusted as a function of
outside factors, and there is a neutralization of force in the
event of the application of external loads.
[0037] This situation is also explained with reference to the
exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, in which, analogous to
FIG. 1, two brace parts 20, 26 are connected to each other by means
of a thread 25. The brace part 20 thereby has a boring 28 which
runs through the center of the brace part 20. A fastening screw 29
is inserted into the boring 28, whereby the head of the screw
disappears into a blind hole. By means of a connecting surface 19,
in connection with the fastening screw 29, this brace can be
fastened to a substructure after the brace part 26 has been screwed
onto the thread 25. The brace parts 20, 26, analogous to the brace
parts 13, 14, as shown in FIG. 1, have corresponding clamping
surfaces 22 and 24. Because this exemplary embodiment illustrates a
safety glass panel which consists of the glass plates 2, 3 and 21,
in this case there are two separating and connecting films. This
separating and connecting film 1 also projects into the vicinity of
the boring 30 inside the safety glass panel and can thus be clamped
between the clamping surfaces 22, 24. In this case, to bridge the
thickness that equals the distance of the glass plate 3, a spacer
ring 23 is required, which is inserted between the two films. Then
the two brace parts 20, 26 can be connected to each other via the
thread 25, and then the two separating and connecting films 1 with
the spacer ring 26 located between them can be positively and
non-positively connected to each other.
[0038] In this exemplary embodiment, too, the contact surfaces 17,
18 are on the brace parts 20, 26, as a result of which it is
ensured that there is an overhanging part that projects beyond the
outside surfaces of the glass plates 2 and 21. In this region of
the contact surfaces 17, 18 and of the boring 30, a insert 6, 8
made of permanently elastic material is also inserted. Therefore
this type of fastening in a safety glass panel can provide
protection against falling out and can also serve as a device to
guarantee the neutralization of forces when loads are applied.
[0039] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, only the
portion of the glass plates 2, 3 with the separating or connecting
film in between is shown. The separating or connecting film 1
thereby has a reinforcement 34 in its peripheral portion, which
can, for example, be in the form of a network or sunburst pattern,
using a tear-resistant material. This tear-resistant material can
be Keflar, for example, or it can consist of or contain glass
fibers or carbon. The end of the separating and connecting film 1
that projects into this area of the boring 30 and its reinforcement
34 is also provided with a lug 35. This arrangement creates better
adherence and a better seating, and thus better clamping of the
separating and connecting film 1 between the above mentioned brace
parts.
[0040] The exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 is analogous
to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, except that in
this case, there are once again three glass plates 2, 3, 21, which
are connected positively and non-positively by separating and
connecting films 1. Especially with multiple-pane safety glass
panels, it is difficult to guarantee that the borings 30, 31, 32
introduced into the individual glass plates will be properly
aligned after the glass plates have been connected to one another
in the fabrication process. Therefore it is technically necessary,
for reasons related to the fabrication process, to make the borings
30, 31, 32 large enough to ensure a secure bracing and thus
clamping of the separating and connecting films 1 with the brace
parts 13, 14 (as shown in FIG. 1), 20, 26 (as shown in FIG. 2). In
this exemplary embodiment, too, the distance of the thickness of
the glass plate 3 is bridged by a spacer ring 23, whereby
simultaneously a lug 33 bridges the separating and connecting films
1 with the spacer ring 23 between them.
[0041] One feature of the invention resides broadly in the brace to
hold safety glass panels that consist of at least two glass plates
(2, 3, 21) that are positively and non-positively connected to each
other by a separating and connecting film (1), whereby the brace is
equipped on one hand with a mounting or retaining device that can
be fastened to a building and on the other hand the glass plates
(2, 3, 21) are held between clamping flanges (4) and (9), as shown
in FIG. 1, characterized by the fact that to secure the glass
plates (2, 3, 21), there is an invisible protection against falling
out, which is achieved by a separating or connecting film (1) in
connection with the braces, and a permanently elastic medium (6,
8), as shown in FIG. 1, is provided between the brace parts and the
glass plates for stress-free installation.
[0042] Another feature of the invention resides broadly in the
brace, characterized by the fact that the protection against
falling out is located inside the braces which are preferably
realized in the form of punctiform braces.
[0043] Yet another feature of the invention resides broadly in the
brace, characterized by the fact that to fasten the braces, there
are borings (30, 31, 32) in the glass plates (2, 3, 21), whereby
the edges of contact surfaces (17, 18), as shown in FIG. 1, are
overlapped and held by contact surfaces (17, 18) of the brace parts
(4, 19, 20, 26) and the separating or connecting film (1) extends
into the vicinity of the borings (30, 31, 32), whereby the
separating and connecting film (1) has a punched-out portion, the
diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of the borings (30,
31, 32) and the separating and connecting film is clamped directly
or indirectly positively and non-positively in the vicinity of the
punched-out portion by the brace used.
[0044] Still another feature of the invention resides broadly in
the brace, characterized by the fact that the separating and
connecting film (1) has a reinforcement (34) at least in the
peripheral area of the borings (30, 31, 32).
[0045] A further feature of the invention resides broadly in the
brace, characterized by the fact that the peripheral area of the
punched-out portion is covered by a lug (33, 35).
[0046] Another feature of the invention resides broadly in the
brace, characterized by the fact that the reinforcement (34) and
the lug (33, 35) are made of Keflar, carbon or glass fiber.
[0047] Yet another feature of the invention resides broadly in the
brace, characterized by the fact that the brace consists of at
least the brace parts (13, 14) or (20, 26), each of which has a
flat clamping surface (22, 24), in the vicinity of which the
separating or connecting film (1), during assembly, is clamped
directly or indirectly with the insertion of a spacer ring (23)
between the clamping surfaces (22, 24).
[0048] Still another feature of the invention resides broadly in
the brace, characterized by the fact that the brace parts (13, 14,
20, 26) are made of stainless steel or light alloy.
[0049] A further feature of the invention resides broadly in the
brace, characterized by the fact that in the vicinity of the
clamping of the glass plates (2, 3, 21) between the contact
surfaces (17, 18) and the external glass surfaces (15, 16), the
permanently elastic medium is introduced in the form of inserts (6,
8).
[0050] Another feature of the invention resides broadly in the
brace, characterized by the fact that the inserts (6, 8) project
into the borings (30, 31).
[0051] Yet another feature of the invention resides broadly in the
brace, characterized by the fact that the inserts (6, 8) are made
of rubber or silicone.
[0052] The components disclosed in the various publications,
disclosed or incorporated by reference herein, may be used in the
embodiments of the present invention, as well as, equivalents
thereof.
[0053] The appended drawings in their entirety, including all
dimensions, proportions and/or shapes in at least one embodiment of
the invention, are accurate and to scale and are hereby included by
reference into this specification.
[0054] All, or substantially all, of the components and methods of
the various embodiments may be used with at least one embodiment or
all of the embodiments, if more than one embodiment is described
herein.
[0055] All of the patents, patent applications or patent
publications, recited herein, and in the Declaration attached
hereto, are hereby incorporated by references as if set forth in
their entirety herein.
[0056] All of the patents, patent applications or patent
publications, which were cited in the German Office Action dated
Apr. 7, 1999, for Fed. Rep. Of Germany Application, and/or in the
International Search Report for PCT/EP00/03000, and/or cited
elsewhere are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in
their entirety herein as follows: U.S. Pat. No. 5,778,629 issued on
Jul. 14, 1998, European Patent EP0299110, issued on Jan. 18, 1989,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,787,662 issued on Aug. 4, 1998, European Patent EP
0525690 issued on Feb. 3, 1993, and French Patent 2732730 issued on
Oct. 11, 1996, German Patent Application 3918158 C1 filed on Jun.
3, 1989, German Patent Application 19519527 A1 filed on May 27,
1995, German Patent Application 4445724 A1 filed on Dec. 21, 1994,
and German Patent Application 4400979 A1 filed on Jan. 14,
1994.
[0057] The corresponding foreign patent publication applications,
namely Federal Republic of Germany Patent Application No. 199 15
478.3, filed on Apr. 7, 1999, and International Application No.
PCT/EP00/03000, filed Apr. 5, 2000, having inventors Ernst Udo
Blobaum and Reinhard Janutta, as well as their published
equivalents, and other equivalents or corresponding applications,
if any, in corresponding cases in the Federal Republic of Germany
and elsewhere, and the references cited in any of the documents
cited herein, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth
in their entirety herein.
[0058] The details in the patents, patent applications and
publications may be considered to be incorporable, at applicant's
option, into the claims during prosecution as further limitations
in the claims to patentably distinguish any amended claims from any
applied prior art.
[0059] Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention
have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will
readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the
exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel
teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such
modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this
invention as defined in the following claims. In the claims,
means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures
described herein as performing the recited function and not only
structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.
[0060] Some examples of brace and glass panels which may possibly
be utilized or adapted for use in the context of the present
invention may be found in the following U.S. Patents and U.S. Pat.
No. 6,050,036, issued on Apr. 18, 2000 to Frey; U.S. Pat. No.
5,857,298, issued on Jan. 12, 1999 to Fullwood; U.S. Pat. No.
5,675,942, issued on Oct. 14, 1997 to Crawford; U.S. Pat. No.
5,155,958, issued on Oct. 20, 1992 to Huff; U.S. Pat. No.
4,993,204, issued on Feb. 19, 1991 to Kuritsky, et al; U.S. Pat.
No. 4,641,468, issued on Feb. 10, 1987 to Slater; and U.S. Pat. No.
4,352,279, issued on Oct. 5, 1982 to Parlebas, et al.
[0061] Some examples of glass mountings or glass mounting devices
which may possibly be utilized or adapted for use in the context of
the present invention may be found in the following U.S. Patents
and U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,577, issued on Jun. 28, 1994 to Whitmyer;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,978, issued on Feb. 8, 1994 to Horgan, Jr.;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,212,922, issued on May 25, 1993 to Werner; U.S.
Pat. No. 4,841,697, issued on Jun. 27, 1989 to Hogg, et al.; U.S.
Pat. No. 4,097,320, issued on Jun. 27, 1978 to Brauer et al.; U.S.
Pat. No. 4,054,268, issued on Oct. 18, 1977 to Sher; U.S. Pat. No.
4,016,690, issued on Apr. 12, 1977 to Richardson; and Ser. No.
09/200,459, filed on Nov. 25, 1998 by applicant Blobaum.
[0062] Some examples of glass facades and methods of securing glass
panels of a facade which may possibly be utilized or adapted for
use in the context of the present invention may be found in the
following U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,105, issued on Aug. 11, 1998 to
Gangi; U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,404, issued on Jun. 11, 1996 to Lahaye;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,831, issued on Feb. 27, 1996 to Jansson; U.S.
Pat. No. 5,373,672, issued on Dec. 20, 1994 to Schulz; U.S. Pat.
No. 5,301,484, issued on Apr. 12, 1994 to Jansson; U.S. Pat. No.
5,184,440, issued on Feb. 9, 1993 to Felix, et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
5,069,014, issued on Dec. 3, 1991 to Kubbutat; U.S. Pat. No.
4,837,996, issued on Jun. 13, 1989 to Eckelt; and U.S. Pat. No.
4,793,112, issued on Dec. 27, 1988 to Sufke.
[0063] Some examples of facades and structures thereof which may
possibly be used with embodiments of the present invention, may be
found in the following U.S. Pat. No. 3,974,608, issued on Aug. 17,
1976 to Grearson; U.S. Pat. No. 4,070,835, issued on Jan. 31, 1978
to Reverendi et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,089, issued on Sep. 11,
1979 to Camus; U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,122, issued on Nov. 20, 1984 to
Crandell; U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,572, issued on Feb. 19, 1985 to
Francis; U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,849, issued on Jan. 14, 1986 to
Mangal; U.S. Pat. No. 4,581,868, issued on Apr. 15, 1986 to McCann;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,689,928, issued on Sep. 1, 1987 to Dutton et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,112, issued on Dec. 27, 1988 to Sufke; U.S.
Pat. No. 4,837,996, issued on Jun. 13, 1989 to Eckelt; U.S. Pat.
No. 4,998,392, issued on Mar. 12, 1991 to Massarelli et al.; U.S.
Pat. No. 5,014,477, issued on May 14, 1991 to MacDonald; U.S. Pat.
No. 5,027,567, issued on Jul. 2, 1991 to Roberts; U.S. Pat. No.
5,083,405, issued on Jan. 28, 1992 to Miller; U.S. Pat. No.
5,115,612, issued on May 26, 1992 to Newton et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
5,184,440, issued on Feb. 9, 1993 to Felix et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
5,212,922, issued on May 25, 1993 to Werner; U.S. Pat. No.
5,301,484, issued on Apr. 12, 1994 to Jansson; U.S. Pat. No.
5,373,672, issued on Dec. 20, 1994 to Schulz; U.S. Pat. No.
5,791,105, issued on Aug. 11, 1998 to Gangi; U.S. Pat. No.
5,802,799, issued on Sep. 8, 1998 to Thuleskar et al.; U.S. Pat.
No. 6,075,201, issued on Jun. 13, 2000 to Wambach.
[0064] The invention as described hereinabove in the context of the
preferred embodiments is not to be taken as limited to all of the
provided details thereof, since modifications and variations
thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention.
[0065] At Least Partial Nomenclature
[0066] 1 Separating and connecting film
[0067] 2 Glass plate
[0068] 3 Glass plate
[0069] 4 Flange
[0070] 5 Fastening screw
[0071] 6 Insert
[0072] 7 Thread
[0073] 8 Insert
[0074] 9 Flange
[0075] 11 Ceiling fastener
[0076] 12 Thread
[0077] 13 Brace part
[0078] 14 Brace part
[0079] 15 Glass outside, outdoor (outside?)
[0080] 16 Glass outside, indoor (inside?)
[0081] 17 Contact surface
[0082] 18 Contact surface
[0083] 19 Connecting surface
[0084] 20 Brace part
[0085] 21 Glass plate
[0086] 22 Clamping surface
[0087] 23 Spacer ring
[0088] 24 Clamping surface
[0089] 25 Thread
[0090] 26 Brace part
[0091] 27 Blind hole
[0092] 28 Boring
[0093] 29 Fastening screw
[0094] 30 Glass boring
[0095] 31 Glass boring
[0096] 32 Glass boring
[0097] 33 Lug
[0098] 34 Reinforcement
[0099] 35 Lug
* * * * *