U.S. patent application number 11/074086 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-10 for curtain wall system and method.
Invention is credited to Loyd, Stephen N..
Application Number | 20050246983 11/074086 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35238160 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050246983 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Loyd, Stephen N. |
November 10, 2005 |
Curtain wall system and method
Abstract
A curtain wall system and method facilitates the installation of
exterior and interior curtain walls. Brackets are mounted at
equally spaced vertical intervals receive and secure curtain wall
members installed from the top of the wall down. A kerf formed in
the lower end of each wall member is received on a receiving and
retaining member located at the distal end of the supporting member
of each bracket. A kerf formed in the upper end of the wall member
receives a locating and retaining member having a latch secured
thereto. The wall member and the latch are then rotated towards the
bracket until the latch engages with a locking member of the
bracket, thereby securing the wall member in place.
Inventors: |
Loyd, Stephen N.; (Dallas,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Michael A. O'Neil
Michael A. O'Neil, P.C.
Suite 820
5949 Sherry Lane
Dallas
TX
75225
US
|
Family ID: |
35238160 |
Appl. No.: |
11/074086 |
Filed: |
March 7, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60565445 |
Apr 26, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/235 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 13/0826 20130101;
E04F 13/0803 20130101; E04F 13/144 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/235 |
International
Class: |
E04H 001/00 |
Claims
1. A curtain wall system for mounting wall members having kerfs
formed in the lower and upper ends thereof to interior and exterior
walls of buildings comprising: a bracket for receiving and securing
the lower end of an upper wall member; the bracket comprising a
supporting member, a receiving and retaining member located at the
distal end of the supporting member for receiving the kerf formed
in the lower end of the upper wall member, and a locking member
below the supporting member; a latching member for securing the
upper end of a lower wall member into the locking member of the
bracket; the latching member comprising a horizontally disposed
portion which extends parallel to the supporting member, a latch on
the distal end of the latching member for latching engagement with
the locking member of the bracket, a locating and retaining member
at the proximal end of the latching member which is received by the
kerf formed in the upper end of the lower wall member, and knobs
formed on the horizontally disposed portion for maintaining proper
alignment between the horizontally disposed portion and the
supporting member.
2. The curtain wall system according to claim 1 wherein the bracket
further comprises a stop located below the support member for
preventing further inward movement of the lower wall member by
engaging the distal end of the latch.
3. The curtain wall system according to claim 1 further comprising
foam tape secured beneath the proximal end of the horizontally
disposed member which compresses to allow the latching member to
rotate into the locking member and then decompresses to secure the
latching member against the support member.
4. The curtain wall system according to claim 1 further comprising
joint sealant applied between the upper and lower wall members.
5. The curtain wall system according to claim 1 further comprising
a top bracket for receiving the uppermost wall member, the top
bracket comprising a supporting member, a locking member below the
supporting member, and a stop.
6. The curtain wall system according to claim 1 further comprising
a bottom bracket for receiving the lowermost wall member, the
bottom bracket comprising a supporting member and a receiving and
retaining member located at the distal end of the supporting
member.
7. A method for installing curtain wall members to interior and
exterior walls of buildings comprising the steps of: providing a
plurality of brackets each comprising a supporting member, a
receiving and retaining member located at the distal end of the
supporting member, a locking member below the supporting member,
and a stop; mounting the brackets on the wall at equally spaced
vertical intervals which are substantially equal in height to the
height of the wall members; cutting kerfs into both the upper and
lower ends of wall members; receiving the kerfs in the lower end of
an upper wall member on the receiving and retaining member of the
supporting member; providing a plurality of latching members
comprising a horizontally disposed portion which extends parallel
to the supporting member, a latch on the distal end of the latching
member, a locating and retaining member at the proximal end of the
latching member, and knobs formed on the horizontally disposed
portion; providing foam tape; securing the foam tape beneath the
proximal end of the horizontally disposed member; inserting the
locating and retaining member at the proximal end of the latching
member receiving into the kerf in the upper end of a lower wall
member; and rotating the latching member into the bracket by moving
the latch past the locking member until it engages with the
stop.
8. The method of installing curtain wall members of claim 7 further
comprising the steps of: providing joint sealant; applying the
joint sealant in the kerf in the lower end of the upper wall member
before the kerf is received into the receiving and retaining member
of the supporting member; applying the joint sealant into the kerf
in upper end of the lower wall member before the kerf receives the
locating and retaining member at the proximal end of the latching
member; and applying joint sealant between the upper and lower wall
member.
9. The method of installing curtain wall members of claim 7 further
comprising the steps of: providing a top bracket comprising a
supporting member, a locking member below the supporting member,
and a stop; receiving the uppermost wall member and latching member
into the locking member of the top bracket.
10. The method of installing curtain wall members of claim 7
further comprising the steps of: providing a bottom bracket
comprising a supporting member and a receiving and retaining member
located at the distal end of the supporting member; and receiving
the kerf in the lower end of the lowermost wall member on the
receiving and retaining member of the supporting member.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims priority of prior provisional
Application Ser. No. 60/565,445 filed Apr. 26, 2004.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates generally to curtain walls and
methods of installing the same, and more particularly to an
improved system for facilitating the installation of curtain walls
formed from limestone and similar materials.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,851 discloses a method of installing
curtain walls formed from limestone and similar materials on
exterior and interior building walls. The present invention
comprises a curtain wall installation system and method which
improves upon the curtain wall system of the '851 patent and other
prior art curtain wall systems and methods.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] A more complete understanding of the present invention may
be had by reference to the following Detailed Description when
taken in connection with the accompanying Drawings, wherein:
[0005] FIG. 1 is an environmental view illustrating a curtain wall
system installed in accordance with the method of the present
invention;
[0006] FIG. 2 is an illustration of a curtain wall constructed in
accordance with the present invention; and
[0007] FIG. 3 is an illustration of the curtain wall installation
method of the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an initial step in
the utilization of the curtain wall installation method of the
present invention;
[0009] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a later step in
the utilization of the curtain wall installation method of the
present invention;
[0010] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a somewhat later
step in the utilization of the curtain wall installation method of
the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a still later step
in the utilization of the curtain wall installation method of the
present invention; and
[0012] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an even later step
in the utilization of the curtain wall installation method of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a curtain wall 10
constructed in accordance with the present invention. The curtain
wall 10 is supported on a wall 12 which may be comprised of one or
more layers of plywood 14. Other construction techniques may be
utilized in the fabrication of the wall 12 depending upon the
requirements of particular applications of the invention. The wall
12 may comprise an exterior wall of a building or other structure.
In such instances the wall 12 is preferably provided with a weather
proof exterior layer 16 which is fabricated in accordance with
conventional techniques.
[0014] In accordance with the present invention a plurality of
brackets 18 are secured to the wall 12 by suitable fasteners 20.
The brackets 18 may be fabricated from aluminum, however, other
materials may be utilized in the fabrication of the brackets 18
depending upon the requirements of particular applications of the
invention. A plurality of brackets 18 may be positioned adjacent to
one another to define a curtain wall support structure which
extends substantially the entire width of the wall 12.
Alternatively, brackets 18 may be positioned at spaced apart
locations along the width of the wall 12.
[0015] Each bracket 18 includes a curtain wall supporting member 22
which extends perpendicularly outwardly from the wall 12. A curtain
wall receiving and retaining member 24 is located at the distal end
of the curtain wall support member 22 and extends perpendicularly
upwardly therefrom. The bracket 18 is further provided with a
locking member 26 and a stop 28.
[0016] A plurality of curtain wall members 30 are formed from
limestone or similar materials. For example, the curtain wall
members may be formed from granite, marble, terrazzo, etc. Each
curtain wall member 30 has a kerf 32 formed in the lower end
thereof and a kerf 34 formed in the upper end thereof.
[0017] Following installation, each curtain wall member 30 is
supported by the supporting member 22 of the associated bracket 18
which is in turn secured to the wall 12 by the fasteners 20. The
receiving and retaining member 24 of the bracket 18 is received in
the kerf 32 of the curtain wall member 30 which is supported on the
bracket 18. In this manner the wall member 30 is located and
positioned relative to the wall 12 by the bracket 18.
[0018] In accordance with the present invention a latching member
36 is utilized in conjunction with the bracket 18. The latching
member 36 includes a horizontally disposed portion 38 which extends
parallel to the supporting member 22 of the bracket 18. Knobs 40
formed on the horizontally disposed portion 38 maintain proper
alignment between the horizontally disposed portion 38 and the
supporting member 22.
[0019] The horizontally disposed portion 38 of the latching member
36 extends to an arrow-shaped latch 42 positioned for latching
engagement with the locking member 26 of the bracket 18. The distal
end of the latch 42 is positioned closely adjacent to and in
alignment with the stop 28 of the bracket 18. A locating and
retaining member 44 is located at the opposite end of the
horizontally disposed portion 38 of the latching member 36 and
extends perpendicularly with respect thereto. The locating and
retaining member 44 is received in the kerf 34 situated at the
upper end of the corresponding curtain wall member 30. Once two
adjoining wall members 30 are secured in place, joint sealant 46 is
applied between the wall members 30 to provide additional strength
and stability to the wall members and to provide a cushion allowing
some movement by the wall members 30 due to foundation settlement,
earthquakes, hurricanes and the like.
[0020] The method of curtain wall installation of the present
invention is illustrated in FIG. 3. An upper curtain wall member 30
is first supported on a bracket 18 constructed in accordance with
the present invention with the receiving and retaining member 24
received in the kerf 32 thereof and with the upper curtain wall
member supported on the curtain wall supporting member 22. The
latching member 36 is engaged with a lower curtain wall member 30
by positioning the locating and retaining member 44 thereof in the
kerf 34 of the lower curtain wall member 30. The lower wall member
30 is then pivoted inwardly toward the bracket 18 in the direction
of the arrow. As the lower curtain wall member 30 moves into
position, the arrow-shaped latch 42 of the latching member 36 moves
past the locking member 26 of the bracket 18 thereby securing the
lower curtain wall member 30 in place. Further inward movement of
the lower curtain wall member 30 is prevented by engagement of the
distal end of the latch 32 with the stop 28 of the bracket 18.
[0021] Foam tape 48 secured beneath the proximal end of the
horizontally disposed member 38 compresses to allow the latching
member 36 and the arrow-shaped latch 42 to rotate into the locking
member 26 of the bracket 18. Once the latching member 36 is locked
in place in the locking member 26, the foam tape 48 decompresses
thereby holding the latching member 36 snugly against the support
member 22 until the joint sealant 48 sets to permanently hold the
latching member 36 in place.
[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates the preliminary step of the curtain wall
installation method of the present invention. Brackets 18 are
secured to the wall 12 by suitable fasteners at spaced intervals
substantially equal to the height of each wall member 30. At the
base of the wall, a bottom bracket 50 is mounted to receive the a
lower-most wall member 30 to be mounted on the wall 12. The bottom
bracket 50 is substantially similar in construction to the bracket
18 but comprises only a support member 22 and a receiving and
retaining member 24 on the distal end thereof. A top bracket 52 is
mounted to receive the uppermost wall member 30 to be mounted on
the wall 12. The top bracket is similar in construction to the
bracket 18 but comprises only a support member 22, a stop 28, and a
locking member 26.
[0023] Referring now to FIGS. 5 through 7, there is shown the next
steps in the curtain wall installation method of the present
invention preparing the wall member 30 for mounting. As best shown
in FIG. 5, the kerfs 32 are 34 are formed in the lower and upper
ends of the wall member 30. A silicon sealant 54 is applied into
the kerfs 32 and 34 as shown in FIG. 6. As best shown in FIG. 7,
once the sealant 54 is applied, foam tape 48 is secured below the
distal end of the horizontally disposed portion 38 of the latching
member 36 after which the locating and retaining member 44 is
inserted into the kerf 32 in the upper end of the wall member
30.
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 8, the wall members 30 are installed
beginning at the top of the wall 12 and proceeding downward
therefrom. Once the wall member 30 is prepared, the kerf 34 in the
lower end of a wall member 30 is received in the receiving and
retaining member 24 of the support member 22 located near the lower
end of the wall member 30. The wall member 30 is then pivoted
inwardly toward the bracket 18 in the direction of the arrow. As
the lower curtain wall member 30 moves into position, the
arrow-shaped latch 42 of the latching member 36 moves past the
locking member 26 of the bracket 18 thereby securing the lower
curtain wall member 30 in place. Once the curtain wall members 30
are in place the silicon sealant 46 is placed between the wall
members 30.
[0025] The present invention is illustrated in conjunction with the
construction of curtain walls wherein the wall members 30 are
formed of limestone, stone, and other like materials. However, the
present invention is equally applicable to constructing walls
comprising tile, porcelain, wood and various other materials used
for wall curtains both on interior and exterior walls.
[0026] Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the
foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the
invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is
capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and
substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the
spirit of the invention.
* * * * *