Wall Structure Having A Window Support Assembly

Abstract

A window support assembly incorporated in a wall construction having a pair of elongated opposed panel connectors maintained in spaced apart relation by spacer clips. Window support clips interlock with the panel connectors at spaced intervals lengthwise thereof. Each support clip has a medial channel portion for receiving portions of window frame trim plates which define a groove for receiving an elastic sealing strip and the marginal edge portions of a window panel.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the construction art, and more particularly to certain new and useful wall panel constructions having novel means for detachably securing window units thereto.

It is known to provide various pre-fabricated modular arrangements for erecting partition and wall structures. When it is desired to incorporate window units in such structures, problems are encountered in providing window frames having the requisite stability and strength to support such window units and still permit easy removal or dismantling of the window units and framing assembly. Also, in some constructions employing detachable window support elements, the elasticity of the sealing strip disposed about the marginal edges of the window panels tends to exert a force against such window support elements urging the same apart.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a window support assembly in wall constructions possessing the requisite strength and stability for supporting window units which can be quickly and easily installed and dismantled.

It is another object of this invention to provide an interlocking support clip for such a window support assembly to maintain the same in proper assembled relation.

In carrying out this invention, a pair of elongated panel connectors are interlocked and disposed in opposed relation with a plurality of window support clips interlocked at spaced intervals lengthwise of the panel connectors. The support clips are each provided with a medial channel portion for receiving flange portions of trim plates which define a groove for receiving a sealing strip and the marginal edge portions of a window panel.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages and characterizing features of the present invention will become clearly apparent from the ensuing detailed description of certain illustrative embodiments thereof, taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like parts throughout the various views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a double wall panel construction incorporating the window support assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a corner post construction showing the window support assembly of this invention supporting vertical edges of window units;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary detail view showing the window support assembly of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken about on line 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken about on line 5--5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a window supporting clip of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view showing a wall structure having a series of window panels supported by vertical posts; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view of a pair of spaced double wall structures having a window panel mounted therebetween.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

Referring now in detail to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a wall structure in which an illustrative embodiment of the present invention is incorporated. The wall structure comprises a double wall panel construction in the form of a partition rail 8 having windows extending upwardly therefrom. Although it is convenient to illustrate a rail construction in which the present invention has utility, it should be understood that the invention is in no manner restricted thereto, but has utility in any construction employing window framing such as where the windows extend upwardly from the floor base to a desired height or from floor to ceiling arrangements. Also, any type of glazing may be employed in lieu of glass, such as transparent or translucent plastic materials for example.

The double wall panel rail construction shown in FIG. 1 comprises opposed panel members 10 defining opposite wall surfaces extending upwardly from the floor to the top of the rail and which terminate at a corner post 12. Panel members 10 are mounted and supported in properly spaced relation by means including panel connectors, generally designated 14, extending in both a vertical and horizontal direction and adapted to receive the side edge portions of the supported panel members 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, panel connectors 14 can comprise a sheet metal fabrication of a unitary, one-piece construction formed to provide a rectangular body portion having front face portions 16 and a rear face 18 joined and spaced apart by opposite side faces 20. Face portions 16 and rear face 18 are generally parallel and a pair of flange portions 22 extend outwardly from face portions 16 in a direction generally normal thereto, away from rear face 18. Face portions 16 and flange portions 22 thereby define a pair of corners adapted to receive the edge portions of adjacent panel members 10, with panel members 10 resting against face portions 16 (FIG. 3). The metal or other sheet material of which connectors 14 are fabricated also is folded over at the outer end of flange portions 22 to provide cam surfaces 24 leading to opposed shoulder portions 26, the opposite edges of the sheet material terminating within the opening provided between flange portions 22, as clearly shown for example in FIG. 2.

Panel connector 14 also is formed to provide an internal channel having inwardly diverging side walls 30 leading to a rear wall 32 and providing a restricted inlet opening 34 through rear face 18. Channel 30-34 extends the full length of panel connector 14 in alignment with the opening between flange portions 22, the channel proper being entirely confined within the rectangular body portion 16-20 of the panel connector as shown. Panel connectors of this type are shown in application Ser. No. 703,955, filed Feb. 8, l968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,537,217.

In a double wall panel construction of the type herein described, spacer clips 36 (FIG. 4) of generally z-shaped configuration in side elevation are provided for maintaining panel connectors 14, whether horizontal of vertical, in properly spaced apart relation. Spacer clips 36 each comprise a web body 38 spanning the space between a pair of opposed panel connectors 14 as shown in FIG. 1 and having at opposite sides thereof locking heads 39 (see FIG. 7 for example) which fit within channels 30-34 to interlockingly engage a pair of panel connectors 14 at opposite sides of spacer clips 36. Oppositely directed legs 42 and 44 (FIG. 4) are provided at opposite ends of body 38 and extend in a direction normal thereto. This spacer clip is disclosed in detail in pending application Ser. No. 777,438, filed Nov. 20, l968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,537,222.

Each panel member 10 includes a body 50 of gypsum, wall board or any other suitable material, covered with a skin 52 of metal or any other thin sheet material which can be painted or decorated to provide any desired effect. Skin 52 extends beyond panel body 50 at its top, bottom and opposite side edge portions and is formed to provide an inturned skirt 54 adapted to be inserted between the flange portions 22 of adjacent panel connectors 14. The skirts are formed to provide inturned shoulders engaging behind connector shoulders 26 with a snap-fit, thereby holding the panel bodies 50 against connector face portions 16 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8.

As shown in FIG. 2, corner port 12 comprises a pair of vertical panel connectors 14 extending side-by-side and disposed in an opposed relation with another pair of vertical panel connectors 14 also extending side-by-side. A U-shaped clip 56 is provided for interlocking the four panel connectors 14 together. Another pair of angularly related vertical panel connectors disposed in an opposed relation and oriented 90.degree. from the other four vertical panel connectors constitute an extension of corner post 12. Spacer clips 36 are provided for interlocking the last mentioned vertical panel connectors 14 together in the proper spaced apart relation. This corner post construction including clip 56 is disclosed in detail in application Ser. No. 777,439, filed Nov. 20, 1968 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,553,916. Clip 56 comprises a body 58 spanning the space between the oppositely facing panel connectors 14. Clip 56 has opposite side walls 60 extending normal to body 58 and provided with extensions 62 at their opposite ends adapted to be inserted in channel openings 34 with a friction fit to provide a snug-fitting interlocking engagement between clip 56 and panel connectors 14. If desired, a plurality of clips 56 can be provided and spaced longitudinally along the lengths of connectors 14 in the corner post construction.

Paneled rail 8 comprises a pair of opposed panel connectors 14 extending horizontally along the upper edge of rail 8 (FIG. 1) for receiving the upper edges of panel members 10. The ends of horizontal panel connectors 14 abut the side faces 20 of vertical connectors 14 which form corner post 12. As shown in FIG. 4, a pair of panel connector clips 64 having right angularly related flanges 66 overlapping each other are provided for joining the vertical and horizontal panel connectors 14 together. Connector clips 64 have serrated edges insertable in channels 30-34 of connectors 14 so as to secure the same with a friction fit.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided for adequately supporting window panels on the double wall panel rail construction. Such means comprise a plurality of clips, generally designated 70, spaced lengthwise of opposed panel connectors 14 and fastened thereto by a snap-fit engagement. Each clip 70 comprises a web body 72 adapted to bridge opposed panel connectors 14 and rest against side faces 20 of the same. Web body 72 is provided with a depressed portion in the form of a channel 74 extending lengthwise of body 72. A pair of side walls 76 are struck out from opposite sides of body 72 and bent in a direction generally normal to the plane of body 72. Side walls 76 are provided with shoulder-forming beads 78 adapted to be received in channels 30-34 of opposed panel connectors 14. Side walls 76 bear against rear faces 18 of opposed connectors 14 with beads 78 snap-fitted into place within channels 30-34 of connectors 14.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 5, a pair of trim plates 82 are connected to opposed horizontal panel connectors 14 to provide support for window panels 84 and to provide a closed finished border adjacent the window panel edges. Each trim plate 82 comprises right angularly related faces 86 and 88, the latter being provided with a shouldered skirt 90 substantially parallel to face 86 for snap-fitted engagement behind connector shoulder 26. Faces 86 have inturned flanges 92 extending in a direction normal thereto and inserted within channel 74. The opposed inturned flanges 92 define a groove for receiving an elastic seal 94 in which a window panel 84 is mounted. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, seal 94 supports window panel 84 and is of a generally U-shaped configuration in transverse cross section, having opposite side walls 96 provided with lip portions 98 which overlap a portion of faces 86 of trim plates 82 and can be adhesively bonded thereto. Similar trim plates 82 extend vertically along corner post 12 (FIG. 1) to secure the vertical edges of window panels 84.

An elongated channel cover plate 100 (FIG. 2) having side walls 102 is provided for bridging the two outer exposed panel connectors 14 located at corner post 12 for closing a portion of the same and presenting a substantially continuous, attractive, outside wall surface. Walls 102 are formed to provide shouldered skirts for snap-fitted engagement behind the shouldered panel connector flange portions 22.

To complete the outside enclosure for corner post 12, an elongated cover 106 having right angularly related faces 108 and 110 is provided as shown in FIG. 2. Faces 108 and 110 have flanges 112 and 114 extending in a direction normal to their respective faces and received between shouldered flange portions 22 of two angularly related panel connectors 14 to close corner post 12, the flange being shouldered for snap-fit engagement with the associated panel connector. A cover (FIG. 1) 116 closes the top end of corner post 12.

It should be understood that the invention has utility in constructions where the glass panel extends from the floor upwardly in which case the glass panel supporting clips 70 are snap-fitted at spaced intervals onto a pair of opposed horizontal panel connectors 14 extending along the floor. Thus window panels can be adequately supported along the bottom and side edges thereof in any construction where glass panels 84 are employed and such glass panels can extend upwardly from adjacent the floor or any other vertical selected position.

FIG. 7 illustrates a construction in which a series of glass panels 84 can be supported between a series of posts 120. As shown in FIG. 7, each post 120 comprises a pair of vertical panel connectors 14 interlocked by spacer clips which maintain connectors 14 in the proper spaced apart relation. Each of the posts 120 are provided with a plurality of vertically spaced clips 70, it being understood that the clips on opposite sides of posts 120 are staggered to enable side walls 76 to be properly inserted. Four trim plates 82 are secured to corner post 120 with shouldered skirts 90 snap-fitted into place behind connector shoulders 26. U-shaped seal 94 is inserted in the grooves defined between opposed flanges 92 of trim plates 82 and receives the side edge portions of glass panels 84. This type of construction is employed where it is desired to form an elongated wall of glass paneling, the posts 120 providing adequate support therefor.

FIG. 8 illustrates still another wall construction in which a glass panel is provided between a double wall panel construction. In this arrangement, a pair of panel members 10 are disposed in an opposed spaced apart relation with the shouldered skirts 54 thereof engaging behind connector shoulders 26 of connector 14 with a snap fit, thereby holding panel bodies 50 against connector face portions 16. The inward opposed sides of the paired panel connectors are provided with clips 70, trim plates 82, and U-shaped seals 94 for receiving opposite side edge portions of panel 84. Thus, it is seen that clips 70 and trim plates 82 can be used along any horizontal or vertical opposed panel connector assembly to form a window frame assembly for firmly holding the edges of a glass panel in position and permitting easy disassembly thereof.

From the foregoing it is seen that the present invention fully accomplishes its intended objects and provides a window support assembly for supporting window units in an improved and more efficient manner. By the provision of window support clips, the window frame assembly including the window units can be easily installed and dismantled.

Illustrative embodiments of this invention having been disclosed, in detail, it is to be understood that this has been done by way of illustration only.

Claims

We claim:

1. Means for supporting a window unit in a double wall construction comprising a pair of opposed elongated panel connectors forming an edge of a wall structure, a clip of unitary, one-piece construction having a web portion bridging said opposed panel connectors and means detachably interlocking with inner portions of said opposed panel connectors, said web portion having a channel for supporting a window unit, and trim means overlying said clip and said opposed panel connectors, said trim means having first end portions detachably interlocked with outer portions of said opposed panel connectors and second end portions disposed in said channel also supporting said window unit.

2. Supporting means according to claim 1 including an elastic seal disposed between said second end portions of said trim means for sealing engagement with said window unit.

3. Supporting means according to claim 2 wherein said seal is provided with a portion resting against said channel and opposite side walls contacting said second end portions of said trim means.

4. Supporting means according to claim 1 wherein said trim means comprises a pair of trim members having faces disposed in an opposed relation defining a groove therebetween and terminating in edges disposed in said channel, and sealing means carried by said channel and having portions engaging said opposed faces of said trim members.

5. A clip for releasably holding a window unit comprising a web portion having co-planar marginal side edges, a pair of side walls extending from said web portion in a direction generally normal thereto and spaced inwardly of said side edges, a medial channel formed in said web portion and interposed between said side walls, said side walls having shoulders intermediate the opposite ends thereof projecting outwardly away from said channel and extending transversely of said side walls.

6. A clip as set forth in claim 5 wherein said shoulders comprise elongated beads extending parallel to said channel.