U.S. patent number 3,782,064 [Application Number 05/197,739] was granted by the patent office on 1974-01-01 for moisture deflector for a wall system.
Invention is credited to Lawrence F. Biebuyck, S. Eugene Hubbard.
United States Patent |
3,782,064 |
Hubbard , et al. |
January 1, 1974 |
MOISTURE DEFLECTOR FOR A WALL SYSTEM
Abstract
There is provided an improved wall construction including a
vertical mullion and a horizontal member. A glazing pocket is
provided in the side face of the vertical mullion and a glazing
pocket is provided in the upper surface of the horizontal mullion.
A moisture deflector is provided on the horizontal mullion
protruding into the glazing pocket of the vertical mullion
directing moisture from the glazing pocket of the horizontal
mullion into the glazing pocket of the vertical mullion so that
moisture which enters the glazing pocket in the horizontal mullion
may be directed downwardly through the glazing pocket of the
vertical mullion and thereafter outside of the building.
Inventors: |
Hubbard; S. Eugene (Niles,
MI), Biebuyck; Lawrence F. (Mesquite, TX) |
Family
ID: |
22730568 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/197,739 |
Filed: |
November 11, 1971 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
41951 |
Jun 1, 1970 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/97;
52/775 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E06B
7/14 (20130101); E04B 1/70 (20130101); E06B
3/5454 (20130101); E06B 3/9636 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E06B
3/54 (20060101); E04B 1/70 (20060101); E06B
7/14 (20060101); E06B 3/96 (20060101); E04b
007/4 (); E04b 001/18 () |
Field of
Search: |
;52/234,97,494,498,499-502 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Abbott; Frank L.
Assistant Examiner: Braun; Leslie A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Richard D. Mason et al.
Parent Case Text
This application is a Division of our copending application Ser.
No. 41,951 filed June 1, 1970 now gone abandoned.
Claims
What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent
of the United States is:
1. A wall construction including a vertical mullion having a
glazing pocket in its side face, and a horizontal mullion means
including means defining a glazing pocket in its upper surface,
aligned with the first mentioned glazing pocket, the glazing pocket
of said vertical mullion extending uninterruptedly past the
horizontal mullion, said horizontal mullion having one end butt
fitted against said side face of said vertical mullion, and a
moisture deflector secured to said one end of said horizontal
mullion and including a tongue portion extending beyond the end of
the horizontal mullion protruding downwardly into said first
mentioned glazing pocket between the side walls thereof directing
moisture from the second mentioned glazing pocket into said first
mentioned glazing pocket.
2. A wall construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
horizontal mullion means includes a tubular construction section,
said second mentioned glazing pocket being formed at least in part
by an upper surface of a wall of said tubular construction section,
and rib means integrally formed with and projecting downwardly from
said wall into said tubular construction section, said moisture
deflector, being positioned between said rib means.
3. A wall construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein said tubular
construction section includes a downwardly opening third glazing
pocket opposed to the second mentioned pocket, the bottom walls of
said second and third glazing pockets being spaced apart with said
rib means extending between said spaced apart bottom walls, said
moisture deflector including a generally U-shaped portion of
resilient material positioned by said ribs and held between the
opposed glazing pockets.
Description
The present invention relates to a new and improved wall
construction, and particular, to a new and improved exterior wall
construction for building fronts and the like.
Heretofore, building fronts formed of large glass or other panels
and supported in a framework of vertical and horizontal mullions
fit in distinctly different classes of frame erection. One well
known system of frame erection is that known as a shear block
system made up of vertical mullions which may be tubular in cross
section, to which are secured externally applied shear blocks. The
horizontal members in turn are fastened to the shear blocks.
Another method of frame assembly is the screw spline system wherein
joints are made economically by driving screws into the continuous
extruded screw splines formed integrally with the extruded members.
Such a system generally employs open vertical shapes rather than
tubes and eliminates the cost of the shear blocks.
Both of the above described methods of frame erection, while
possessing certain advantages, also possess certain disadvantages.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a
dimensional-coordinated program of extruded framing members
designed to replace and extend the capabilities of the existing
framing systems. Such a framing program should contain members that
duplicate in appearance, performance, and erection characteristics
that of the existing framing systems. These systems, related to one
another by dimensional compatibility and by a large degree of
component interchangeability, should be readily combined with one
another. Thus, the architect may use whatever method of assembly
best suits any particular building project, and to change from one
method to the other within a single project. Heretofore such change
has not been possible. Moreover, each manufacturer in general has
offered only one erection option. There has been no consistency of
dimensions between the various products on the market, and even if
there were, it would be difficult for an installer to discover and
make use of it.
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a
new and improved wall construction which combines the structural
efficiency of the tube frame system with the economical erection
characteristics of other systems.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new
and improved wall construction.
Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a
new and improved method of erecting wall framing.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of
novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this
specification.
In accordance with these and other objects of the present
invention, there is provided an improved wall construction
including a vertical mullion and a horizontal member or mullion
joined to the vertical mullion. The vertical mullion is first
prepared for the attachment of the horizontal member by providing
one or more holes for receiving suitable shear pins. In accordance
with the present invention, the horizontal member is formed with
integrally attached screw splines, and the horizontal mullion is
prepared by the insertion of shear pins into the ends of the screw
splines. The shear pins in accordance with the present invention
are readily installed into the horizontal members by simply pushing
them into the screw splines in the horizontal member and giving
them a quarter turn. The spiral of the threads draws the shear pins
tight against the ends of the horizontal. The horizontal mullion is
then installed on the vertical by inserting the heads of the shear
pins into the holes previously formed in the vertical mullion, and
then tapping the horizontal member downwardly until the shear pins
bottom in the holes. The heads of the shear pins are shaped so as
both to give firm bearing and to wedge the horizontal members
tightly against the vertical mullions. Clearance required to fit
the horizontal member with its attached shear pin between the
vertical mullions may generally be provided by springing the
vertical mullion sideways.
In accordance with another feature of the present invention, there
is provided a new and improved shear pin of the thread-cutting
type. The shear pin includes a threaded shank portion having
segmented thread sections along opposed sides, having the thread
sections removed along normal sides thereto to provide opposed
flattened side surfaces. The head of the fastener or shear pin
includes an arcuate inner bearing section eccentric with the shank,
and further includes a seating surface facing toward the shank and
tapering outwardly from the shank. The shank may be inserted into a
screw spline having opposed noncircular side walls, and will be
fully engaged with a quarter turn. Because of the eccentricity of
the bearing surface relative to the shank, the shear pin is
self-stabilizing under load and will not rotate to loosen or unlock
after installation.
For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may
be had to the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a store front or wall construction
according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of the wall of FIG. 1,
taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view of the wall of FIG. 1,
taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a sectional detailed view of the wall of FIG. 1, taken
along line 4--4 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detailed view of a section of the wall of
FIG. 1, taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is an exploded isometric view of a typical section of the
wall of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a horizontal cross sectional view of the wall of FIG. 1,
taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional view illustrating water
deflectors in the wall of FIG. 1, taken along line 8--8 of FIG.
7;
FIG. 9 is an exploded end view of a horizontal member assembly
according to the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a cross sectional detailed view illustrating a shear
pin, and taken along line 10-- of FIG. 7;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a typical shear pin according to
the present invention; and
FIGS. 12 and 13 are fragmentary end views through a screw spline
illustrating the action of the shear pin upon insertion and
securement therein.
Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there is
illustrated a typical wall construction formed of a plurality of
spaced vertical mullions 11, 12, 13, and 14, a base assembly 15, a
threshold 16, a plurality of intermediate horizontal members 17,
18, and 19, and a head assembly 20. As illustrated, the vertical
mullions 11, 12, 13, and 14 are through, and the horizontal members
17, 18, and 19 extend therebetween. The interconnecting members
form a plurality of openings including a door opening 22, and
additional openings of frames for supporting suitable panels such
as glass panels 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27.
Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, a typical vertical mullion 12 may
be of tubular form having opposed small and large glass pockets 30
and 31 for receiving the edges of glass or other panels.
The vertical mullions are supported at the bottom from the base
assembly 15 which, in the illustrated embodiment, includes a sill
33, a gutter 34 snapped thereto, and a face or glass stop 35. The
sill 33 serves as the base flashing for the system and is punched
with openings 36, FIG. 2, at suitable intervals for the drainage of
infiltrated water. In installation the sill 33 is laid continuously
and caulked to the building slab 38. The vertical mullions rest on
surfaces 33a, 33b, FIGS. 2 and 6. The gutter 34 is cut to fit
between the vertical mullions and then snapped into place, and,
when in place, serves to prevent the mullions from moving
lengthwise of the sill. The face or glass stop 35 is also cut to
fit between the vertical mullions and is, of course, installed
after glazing. It is retained between suitable detents. The
vertical mullion is prevented from moving in or out with respect to
the sill by a clip or shoe 40 resting on the bottom wall of the
sill 33 and having upstanding leg portions 40a, 40b closely fitting
outside of the glass pockets 30 and 31.
The head assembly 20 used with the present system includes a
receptor 42 and a filler 43 snapped together therewith. As best
illustrated in FIG. 2, the receptor 42 is dimensioned to be a close
fit around the outside of the vertical mullion 12. The filler 43
has the same face dimension as the receptor opening and is provided
with a typical glazing pocket 44. The filler 43 is a snap fit into
the receptor opening and is held in place by the interfitting
portions along its edges. It is prevented from falling through into
the receptor by the leg 43a. In installation the receptor is
secured continuously to the soffit 46 of the building. The vertical
mullions are cut to extend approximately an inch inside the
receptor. The fillers are cut to fit between the vertical mullions
and are snapped into place as the mullions are installed. The
mullions are prevented from moving in or out with respect to the
receptor by interference with the receptor itself; in addition, an
upper setting chair or clip 47 is inserted into suitable
interfitting parts of the receptor 42 and is provided with
downwardly extending legs 47a, 47b fitting around the outside
surface of the glass pockets 30 and 31 of the vertical mullion to
permit dimensional tolerances and to accommodate vertical expansion
and contraction of the mullion.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an
improved arrangement for joining the horizontal members or mullions
to the vertical mullions. The horizontal members, such as member
18, is formed of two pieces including a tubular section 50 and a
face or glass stop 51 which snaps to the tubular section 50 in
interlocking position forming a glass pocket 52. It is appreciated
that the glass stop 51 is assembled after the glazing panel is in
place. The tubular section 50 may suitable be formed of extruded
material, such as aluminum, and has formed therewith one or more
screw splines 55 extruded integrally therewith. Each of the screw
splines 55 is of general U-shape in cross section and includes a
bight portion 56, FIGS. 12 and 13, and side leg portions 57, 58
defining opposed side walls forming a screw receiving channel 60.
The screw receiving channel is noncircular in cross section;
however, in the illustrated embodiment the inner opposed side walls
are formed with longitudinal, concentric, arcuate confronting
recesses adapted for receiving a self-threading screw pin. An
extruded neck portion 62 integrally joins the screw spline 55 to a
wall portion of the tubular section 50.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided an improved screw shear pin 65 best illustrated in
FIGS. 11, 12, and 13. As therein illustrated, the shear pin 65
includes a threaded shank portion 66 having segmented thread
sections 67 along opposed sides, with the thread sections removed
along sides normal thereto to provide parallel flattened sides 68.
Accordingly, a plurality of self-tapping cutting edges are formed
of the leading edge of each of the segmented thread sections at the
flattened sides 68 thereof. Each shear pin 65 additionally includes
a head portion 69 having a pair of opposed arcuate inner bearing
sections 70 for seating on the side wall of a vertical mullion and
eccentrically formed with respect to the shank portion. The head
portion additionally includes an enlarged head 71 having a seating
surface 72 facing toward the shank portion and tapering outwardly
from the shank thereof, best illustrated in FIG. 10.
The shear pin 65 may be readily assembled in a screw spline 55 by
the mere insertion of the shear pin with the flattened sides 68
thereof parallel to the side leg portions 57 and 58 of the screw
splines, as illustrated in FIG. 12, and given a quarter turn to the
position illustrated in FIG. 13. The lead of the threads 67 will
draw the shear pin 65 up tight against the end of the horizontal
member.
To provide for the assembly of the horizontal member with the
vertical mullions, the vertical mullions are first prepared for the
attachment of the horizontal by drilling suitable holes 73 for
receiving the head 71 of the shear pin 65. The holes 73 are
sufficiently large to permit insertion of the head 71, and
desirably have the same radius as the radius of the arcuate bearing
section 70 thereby to provide a good bearing surface after
assembly. The horizontal member is installed on the vertical by
inserting the heads 71 of the shear pins 65 into the holes 73 and
then tapping the horizontal members downwardly until the shear pins
65 bottom in the holes. Thus, the shear pins give firm bearing, and
additionally the tapered seating surface 72 is effective to wedge
the horizontal tightly against the vertical.
To prevent water from flowing along the inner surface of the
horizontal members, and to direct any water which may have
infiltrated into the vertical glazing channels 30 and 31, wherein
they may be directed out of the building through the weep holes 36,
there are provided suitable water deflectors 75. As best shown in
FIGS. 8 and 9, the water deflector 75 has a general U-shaped
portion formed of spring material terminating in a downwardly
extended water deflector portion 75a, and proportioned to snap fit
between the bight portion of a glazing channel 18a and downwardly
projecting ribs 18b, FIG. 9. Thus, the water deflector 75 may
readily be snapped into the end of the horizontal members prior to
their assembly with the verticals. Suitable caulking may be
provided between the water deflector 75 and the horizontal member
18.
It will be seen that the shear pin system herein described in
detail combines the structural efficiency of the tube frame systems
with the speed of erection of other systems. Moreover, the shear
pin system is readily interchangeable with the shear block system
and the screw spline systems previously described. The shear pin
system advantageously uses continuous base and head connector
members, between which the vertical mullions are installed, one at
a time. Moreover, neither the base nor the head receptor requires
special fabrication to accept the mullions.
Although the present invention has been described by reference to
only a single embodiment thereof, it will be apparent that numerous
other modifications and embodiments will be devised by those
skilled in the art which will fall within the true spirit and scope
of the present invention.
* * * * *