U.S. patent application number 10/499366 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-30 for frame and panel assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to Pensher Security Doors Limited. Invention is credited to Thomas, Steven W..
Application Number | 20050138883 10/499366 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 9928097 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050138883 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Thomas, Steven W. |
June 30, 2005 |
Frame and panel assembly
Abstract
A frame and panel assembly comprises a frame (2, 4, 6, 8, 10)
opposed inner extents of the frame (2, 4, 6, 8, 10) being recessed
(16, 18) with the base portions (22) of opposed recesses (16, 18)
being spaced apart a distance greater than the width of the panel
(12), the free ends of the front portions (24) of opposed recesses
(16, 18) being spaced apart by a distance less than the width of
the panel (12), and a gasket (26, 28) within each recess (16, 18).
One edge extent of a panel (12) can be located into the recess (18)
against the resilience of the associated gasket (28), and the
opposed edge extent of the panel (12) can then be manoeuvred into a
second recess (16), the gaskets locating the panel (12) centrally
within the frame to close the aperture and to urge the panel (12)
towards the front portions (24) of the recesses (16, 18).
Inventors: |
Thomas, Steven W.; (Tyne and
Wear, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STITES & HARBISON PLLC
1199 NORTH FAIRFAX STREET
SUITE 900
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
Pensher Security Doors
Limited
Felling Works, William Street, Gateshead
Tyne and Wear
GB
NE10 OJP
|
Family ID: |
9928097 |
Appl. No.: |
10/499366 |
Filed: |
January 27, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
December 13, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB02/05668 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/633 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E06B 2003/5463 20130101;
E06B 3/62 20130101; E06B 3/5454 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/633 |
International
Class: |
E04B 001/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 21, 2001 |
GB |
0130564.8 |
Claims
1. A frame and panel assembly comprising a frame (2,4,6,8,10)
defining an aperture therein, opposed inner extents of the frame
(2,4,6,8,10) being recessed (16,18) to receive therein associated
edge extents of a panel (12), characterised in that the recesses
(16,18) are each of channel section with the base portions (22) of
opposed recesses (16,18) being spaced apart a distance greater than
the width of the panel. (12), the free ends of the front portions
(24) of opposed recesses (16,18) being spaced apart by a distance
less than the width of the panel (12), and a gasket (26,28) within
each recess (16,18) lining the rear and base portions (20,22) of
the associated recess (16,18) whereby one edge extent of a panel
(12) can be located into the recess (18) in one inner extent of the
frame against the resilience of the associated gasket (28), and the
opposed edge extent of the panel (12) can then be manoeuvred into
the recess (16) in the opposed inner extent of the frame, the
gaskets (26,28) reacting between the panel (12) and the recesses
(16,18) to locate the panel (12) centrally within the frame to
close the aperture and to urge the panel (12) towards the front
portions (24) of the recesses (16,18).
2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising, for
each recess (16,18), a second gasket (30) reacting between the
front portion (24) of the recess (16,18) and the panel (12) to seal
the panel (12) in the aperture.
3. A method of assembling a frame and panel assembly, the frame
(2,4,6,8,10) defining an aperture therein to receive a panel (12),
characterised by providing channel section recesses (16,18) in
opposed inner extents of the frame (2,4,6,8,10) with the base
portions (22) of opposed recesses (16,18) being spaced apart a
distance greater than the width of the panel (12), and the free
ends of the front portions (24) of the opposed recesses (16,18)
being spaced apart by a distance less than the width of the panel
(12), locating a gasket (26,28) in each recess (16,18) to line the
rear and base portions (20,22) thereof, locating one edge extent of
the panel (12) into the recess (18) in one inner extent of the
frame (2,4,6,8,10) and compressing the associated gasket (28)
therewith, manoeuvring the other edge extent of the panel (12) into
the recess (16) in the opposed inner extent of the frame, and
centralising the panel (12) within the frame (2,4,6,8,10).
4. A method as claimed in claim 3 and further including the step of
locating a second gasket (30) to react between the front portion
(24) of each recess (16,18) and the panel (12) thereby to seal the
panel (12) in the aperture.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to a frame and panel assembly, and
has particular though not exclusive application to glazed window
and door frames as well as curtain walling, rooflights, skylights
and screens.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] When glazing frames such as door frames and window frames,
it is conventional practice to locate the glass in position in the
frame and then to retain the glass in the frame using glazing
beads. Such a procedure is appropriate regardless of the material
of the frame, which may be aluminium, stainless steel, mild steel,
pvc, grp, timber or the like.
[0003] The use of such beads has a number of disadvantages not the
least of which is the cost associated with their manufacture and
installation. Furthermore, glazing beads are prone to vandalism,
their forcible removal enabling illegal access to buildings and the
like.
[0004] Attempts have been made to overcome this latter problem by
modifying the beads to make them more secure and more difficult to
remove. However such modifications add further to the overall cost
of the assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It would be desirable to be able to provide a frame and
panel assembly that is relatively economic to manufacture and is
less prone to vandalism than heretofore.
[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a frame and panel assembly comprising a frame defining
an aperture therein, opposed inner extents of the frame being
recessed to receive therein associated edge extents of a panel,
characterised in that the recesses are each of channel section with
the base portions of opposed recesses being spaced apart a distance
greater than the width of the panel, the free ends of the front
portions of opposed recesses being spaced apart by a distance less
than the width of the panel, and a gasket within each recess lining
the rear and base portions of the associated recess whereby one
edge extent of a panel can be located into the recess in one inner
extent of the frame against the resilience of the associated
gasket, and the opposed edge extent of the panel can then be
manoeuvred into the recess in the opposed inner extent of the
frame, the gaskets reacting between the panel and the recesses to
locate the panel centrally within the frame to close the aperture
and to urge the panel towards the front portions of the
recesses.
[0007] With such an arrangement it will be appreciated that the
rear portions of the recesses within the opposed inner extents of
the frame provide support for the rear of the edge extents of the
panel, by way of the gaskets therebetween, and the front portions
of the recesses within the opposed inner extents of the frame serve
to retain the panel within the frame without the requirement for
additional beads to be applied subsequently.
[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the invention the assembly
further comprises, for each recess, a second gasket reacting
between the front portion of the recess and the panel to seal the
panel in the aperture.
[0009] According to a second aspect of the invention there is
provided a method of assembling a frame and panel assembly, the
frame defining an aperture therein to receive a panel,
characterised by providing channel section recesses in opposed
inner extents of the frame with the base portions of opposed
recesses being spaced apart a distance greater than the width of
the panel, and the free ends of the front portions of the opposed
recesses being spaced apart by a distance less than the width of
the panel, locating a gasket in each recess to line the rear and
base portions thereof, locating one edge extent of the panel into
the recess in one inner extent of the frame and compressing the
associated gasket therewith, manoeuvring the other edge extent of
the panel into the recess in the opposed inner extent of the frame,
and centralising the panel within the frame.
[0010] In such a method, it will be appreciated that the resilience
of the gaskets enables shuffling of the panel into the frame and
subsequently serves to locate the panel centrally within the
frame.
[0011] The method may further include the step of locating a second
gasket to react between the front portion of each recess and the
panel thereby to seal the panel in the aperture.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIGS. 1 to 4 are horizontal sections through opposed side
members of a frame and panel assembly according to the invention at
various stages during the assembly process, and FIGS. 5 to 7 are
vertical sections through the upper and lower members of a frame
and panel assembly according to the invention at various stages
during the assembly process.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] Referring to the drawings, there is shown a main window
frame to be glazed which includes opposed side members 2,4 (FIGS. 1
to 4), a top member 6 and a bottom member 8 (FIGS. 5 to 7). A
mullion 10 divides the window frame into two sub-frames each of
which is to receive an associated glass panel 12,14.
[0014] The resultant assemblies and the method of assembly are the
same for both sub-frames, and only one will be described in detail
hereinafter.
[0015] The side member 2 and the opposed side of the mullion 10 are
formed with recesses 16,18 respectively along the full lengths
thereof, each recess 16,18 being of generally channel shape in
transverse section and including a rear defining wall 20, a base
wall 22 and a front wall 24.
[0016] The distance between the opposed base walls 22 is greater
than the width of the panel 12, the distance between the free ends
of the front walls 24 is less than the width of the panel 12, and
the spacing between the front and rear walls 24,20 is greater than
the thickness of the panel 12.
[0017] Located in each recess 16,18 is an associated gasket 26,28
respectively, each gasket being of generally L-shape in transverse
section, with the arms of the gaskets 26,28 lining the rear walls
20 and the base walls 22 of the recesses 16,18 as clearly seen in
FIGS. 2 to 4. The spacing between opposed faces of those parts of
the gaskets 26,28 lining the base walls 22 of the recesses 16,18 is
less than the width of the panel 12.
[0018] The panel 12 is located in the sub-frame as follows. One
edge extent of the panel 12 is inserted at an angle into the recess
18 in the mullion 10 as indicated by arrow `A` in FIG. 2 and is
urged against, to compress, the gasket 28 until the other edge
extent of the panel 12 can be manoeuvred past the free end of the
front wall defining the recess 16 in the side member 2. The panel
12 is then moved in the direction of arrow `B` in FIG. 2 until it
is centrally located in the sub-frame gripped between the opposed,
partially compressed arms of the gaskets 26,28 as shown in FIG.
3.
[0019] The resilience of the gaskets 26,28 may be such as to urge
the front face of the panel 12 against the front walls 24 of the
recesses 16,18. In the illustrated embodiment, however, further
gaskets 30,32 are inserted between the panel 12 and the front walls
24 of the recesses 16,18 to provide a weatherproof seal to the
installation as shown in FIG. 4.
[0020] The top and bottom members 6,8 of the frame are provided
with recesses 34,36 therein of similar shape to those in the side
member 2 and in the mullion 10, as best seen in FIG. 5, gaskets
38,40 being located in the recesses 34,36 as shown in FIG. 6.
However the outer, opposed faces of those parts of the gaskets
38,40 lining the base walls of the recesses 34,36 are substantially
aligned with the free ends of the front walls of said recesses
34,36 the spacing between said faces, and between the free ends of
the front walls of the recesses in the top and bottom members being
substantially equal to the length of the panel 12.
[0021] Thus, as the panel 12 is located between the side member 2
and the mullion 10, the upper and lower ends thereof are received
in the gaskets 38,40 as shown in FIG. 7. Further gaskets 42,44
provide weatherproof/seals at the top and the bottom of the panel
12.
[0022] It will be appreciated that, with the panel 12 closing the
aperture in the sub-frame, the rear side edge extents of the panel
12 are supported, through the gaskets 26,28, by the rear walls 20
of the recesses 16,18, while the front side edge extents of the
panel are retained in the recesses 16,18 by the front walls 24 of
the recesses 16,18. These walls 20,24 are integrally formed with
the sub-frame whereby the panel 12 is located and retained without
the requirement for separate beads either internally or externally
of the panel.
[0023] The frames to be panelled may be of any suitable material
dependent upon the particular application, location, degree of
security required and the like, and may be of, for example,
aluminium, stainless steel, mild steel, pvc, grp, timber and the
like.
[0024] The panels may be glass, wood, steel, plastic or other rigid
material.
[0025] The gaskets are of any conventional material such as rubber,
silicone, neoprene and the like.
[0026] The frame to be panelled may be a single frame or may
include a plurality of sub-frames therein, and may be a window
frame, a door frame, curtain walling, a rooflight, a skylight, a
screen or the like.
* * * * *