Panel Mounting System

Abstract

Means are provided to increase the structural rigidity for a panel mounting system of the type wherein elastomeric members, including panel receiving channels therein, are mounted to rigid structural members about a building opening to sealingly receive construction panels. The structural members include longitudinally disposed outwardly extending integral protrusions which are closely received by protrusion receiving channels in the gasket members themselves in order to provide added overall structural rigidity for the system. The gaskets each include a pair of spaced apart mounting tongues closely received in tongue receiving channels disposed on each side of the protrusion in the rigid structural elements for maintaining the gaskets in a desired position.

Description

This appplication pertains to the art of panel mounting systems and more particularly to mounting systems for large construction panels which are of a substantial weight.

The present invention is particularly applicable to window mounting systems wherein an elastomeric gasket member surrounds a window opening and has continuous grooves therein for receiving the edges of adjacent coplanar window panels and wherein the gasket member is affixed to rigid structural members on the building itself. Although the invention will be described with particular reference to such a system, it will be appreciated that the invention has broader applications and may be employed whenever it is desirous of mounting construction panels using narrow elastomeric gaskets, including the horizontal and vertical perimeter of a bay as well as the horizontal and vertical muntins. The invention may be used with strip gaskets, ladder gaskets or grid gaskets. Ladder gaskets include a continuous periphery of rectangular or other shapes, and integral muntin cross members extending in only one direction, either horizontal or vertical, in parallel relationship. Grid gaskets include a continuous periphery of rectangular or other shapes, and integral muntin cross members extending both horizontally and vertically, and integrally intersecting one another. The present invention may be used anywhere with strip gaskets, or on the periphery or muntin cross members of ladder or grid gaskets.

Fairly recent developments in materials and designs for the building construction industry have substantially revolutionized building constructions. That is, and with particular reference to multi-story commercial buildings, the focus has been to simplify and beautify the buildings by, for example, using wall panels of on-site poured or prefabricated concrete or of a variety of other materials. These wall panels are affixed to the structural skeleton of the building in any of several ways and subsequently, window panels are mounted relative to the window openings in the wall panels by elastomeric gasket members mounted about the openings. In certain building designs, it has been desired to have the window areas span substantially all of the outer wall area. To accomplish this type of construction, extremely large window panels are employed and disposed in adjacent coplanar relationships relative to each other. Oftentimes, these panels are of a height sufficient to extend vertically between one or more stories of the building and are many feet in width so that there is a substantial amount of weight involved. In this type of desired construction, rigid mullion structural members and associated elastomeric gaskets, which are most advantageously of a narrow width, are employed to join and seal the adjacent panel edges. The mullion structural members and gaskets have been employed, including those in which the gaskets have spaced lips defining oppositely facing channels which receive adjacent edges of two coplanar panels.

One difficulty which has heretofore been encountered with these previous designs has been that the elastomeric gaskets have not provided sufficient overall structural strength or rigidity in combination with the rigid structural members to which they are affixed in order to effectively support any substantial amount of weight. This difficulty has been particularly encountered with those gaskets extending in a generally horizontal direction and supporting the weight of coplanar panels extending in a generally vertical direction. When only one or two generally vertically disposed panels are involved, this problem has not been overly troublesome. However, when, in a multi-story building where it is desired to employ the extremely thin gasket mounting systems, the weight problem has caused substantial difficulty by way of breakdown of the mounting systems with resultant inefficient window seals as well as broken or out of position panels. These conditions, obviously, are undesirable in any building structure because of the possible personal or property damage as well as the substantial repair and replacement costs involved. Of course, with the above described type of problem, the areas of the building structure which are most likely to encounter this mounting system breakdown are the lowermost portions where weight buildup due to the vertically disposed coplanar panels is the greatest. Although the remainder of the panel mounting system aids in reducing this weight to a certain degree, it has been found that it is not at all sufficient to entirely eliminate the breakdown problem.

Another problem incurred with previous narrow mullion strip areas has been in those strip areas which extend generally vertically of the building and, although not being required to support the substantial vertical weight, are subjected to certain horizontal forces to which building structures are normally subjected.

The present invention contemplates means for increasing the structural rigidity in a building wall structure which means overcomes all of the above referred problems and others, and is simple to manufacture, easy to use, and readily adaptable to any building design wherein it is desired to employ thin elongated elastomeric gasket members for mounting construction panels.

In accordance with the present invention, means for increasing structural rigidity for a glazing system of the type employing rigid structural members to span building wall openings with panel mounting gaskets are provided and are comprised of a protrusion extending outwardly of the rigid structural members into the associated gasket in order that the load placed on the gasket by a panel may be partially transmitted to the rigid structural member.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the protrusion extends inwardly into the panel receiving gasket a distance sufficient to intersect the plane of the panel in order that the panel may be substantially supported by the protrusion.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved panel mounting system which increases structural rigidity between building wall panels and the building itself.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved panel mounting system which increases structural rigidity but does not increase the time and effort required in assembling the mounting system.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved panel mounting system which is simple in design.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved panel mounting system which is easy to manufacture.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved panel mounting system which is readily adaptable to use with a variety of different building designs employing elastomeric panel receiving and mounting gaskets.

Yet a further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved panel mounting system which may be used to reduce loading forces in both the vertical and horizontal directions on a building wall.

The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial elevational view of a building having large window panels mounted therein and using the subject invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 2--2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the gasket of the new gasket member employed with the subject invention; and,

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 4--4 in FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only, and not for purposes of limiting same, the FIGURES show a plurality of window panels 10 mounted to form the outside wall 12 of a multi-story building. In FIG. 1, wall 12 includes a corner area 14. A plurality of vertical mullion areas generally designated 16 and a plurality of horizontal mullion areas generally designated 18 extend transversely across the opening between consecutive floors 20,22 and generally parallel with floors 20,22 respectively. Floors 20,22 may be constructed in any known manner and oftentimes include poured concrete panels at least at the extremities thereof and similarly, the members comprising corner area 14 are also oftentimes poured concrete. In the preferred embodiment shown, it will be appreciated that the intention is to present as much window panel area on wall 12 as is possible. It will also be appreciated that the number of mullion areas 16 required is independent of the particular dimensions of the building and window panels. Likewise, horizontally extending mullions 18 need not particularly coincide with floors 20,22 if a particular desired building design dictates otherwise. The mounting systems for the outside edges of panels 10 are generally shown by numerals 24. It is to be understood that these systems may be of the type hereinafter described or of any other type generally associated with mounting window or construction panels in buildings and using elastomeric gasket members. The other mounting systems which may be associated with these edges do not form a part of the present invention and are, therefore, not specifically described herein. The subject invention is adaptable for use with any of the systems as will hereinafter become apparent.

More specifically, and with reference to one of the mullion areas 18, it being understood that the other mullion areas 18 are identical thereto unless otherwise specifically noted, it will be seen from FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 that the mullion area is comprised of an elongated mullion structural member generally designated 30 and an elastomeric muntin gasket generally designated 32. Structural member 30 may be comprised of any relatively rigid material and, in the preferred embodiment, comprises an extruded aluminum element. As shown in the drawings, structural member 30 includes an inner wall 34, parallel spaced apart side walls 36,38 and an outer or top wall 40 connected to side walls 36,38 and disposed generally parallel to inner wall 34. Generally centrally located on wall 40 to extend outwardly therefrom and longitudinally therealong is a gasket support or load bearing protrusion 42 having a generally rounded or radiused outer surface 44. The distance which protrusion 42 extends outwardly of wall 40 will be discussed hereinafter with reference to installation of the subject system on a building. Also extending outwardly of wall 40 are side wall extensions 46,48 which are, in effect, merely extensions of side walls 36,38. For reasons which will hereinafter become apparent, these extensions do not extend outwardly from wall 40 as far as protrusion 42. The inner wall of extension 46 and one side of protrusion 42 define one gasket receiving channel or reglet area 50 and the inner wall of extension 48 and the other side of protrusion 42 define another gasket receiving channel or reglet 52. Channels 50,52 include a plurality of inwardly and downwardly extending protrusions 54 thereon for retaining engagement with gasket 32 as is known in the art. It will, of course, be appreciated that the general configuration of structural member 30 may be varied from that shown in the FIGURES without departing from the intent and scope of the subject invention and that other means besides panel receiving channels or reglets 50,52 may likewise be conveniently employed to retain gasket 32 in a desired position without departing from the intent and scope of the subject invention. Structural member 30 may desirably include fastener chases (not shown) for receiving mechanical fasteners as is also known in order to tie the entire system together.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, muntin gasket member 32 is comprised of a first or body portion 60 interconnected to a second or mounting portion 62 by a neck portion 64. Mounting portion 62, in the preferred embodiment, comprises a pair of spaced apart mounting tongues 66,68, each of which is deemed to be conventional in the art. EXtending outwardly and upwardly from each of these tongues are a plurality of protrusions 70 which conveniently engage protrusions 54 for retaining the gasket member in position relative to the rigid structural element. The first or body portion of the gasket includes a longitudinally extending outer wall 80, spaced apart generally parallel side walls 82,84 and an inner wall 86. Disposed between side walls 82,84 are a pair of panel receiving channels generally designated 88,90 respectively, which channels open oppositely outward from each other. These channels also extend longitudinally along the gasket coextensively therewith. Each of the receiving channels includes side wall portions 92,94 and a bottom wall portion 96. It should be noted, and as best shown in FIG. 3, that side wall portions 92 slightly diverge from the bottom wall toward the open ends thereof which facilitates ease of panel mounting as will hereinafter be more fully described. Each channel also includes an upper sealing lip 98 along the outer edge of side wall 92 and a lower sealing lip 100 along the outer edge of side wall 94. These sealing lips face inwardly into the channels toward each other. Sealing lips 98,100 aid in gripping the window panels when they are disposed in the panel receiving channels as will be hereinafter more fully described.

A load bearing protrusion receiving channel or groove generally designated 110 extends inwardly into first portion 60 of the gasket from second portion 62 between tongues 66,68. This channel includes spaced apart side walls 112, 114 and a radiused bottom wall 116, channel 110 being dimensioned to be closely received over protrusion 42 as shown in FIG. 2. Disposed in outer wall 80 of first portion 60 are a pair of longitudinally extending locking strip receiving grooves generally designated 120,122. It should be noted that these receiving grooves are disposed on each side of protrusion receiving channel 110 and facilitate selective resilient arcuate deformation on side walls 92 of the panel receiving grooves as is deemed to be conventional. Conventional locking strips 124,126 are adapted to be closely received in locking strip receiving channels 120,122 for effecting positive sealing engagement of side walls 92 of the panel receiving channels with their respective panels 10. Although window panels 10 shown in the drawings are dual pane insulating type panels, the subject invention is readily adaptable to use with single pane window or other construction panels merely by altering the dimensions of receiving channels 88,90.

In accordance with the subject invention, and with reference to FIG. 4 which shows one of the mullion areas 16, there is therein shown what is deemed to be a conventional panel mounting system comprised of a rigid mullion structural member 140 having a panel mounting channel or reglet 142 disposed longitudinally along one side thereof. Disposed so as to receive adjacent window panels 10 is a panel sealing gasket 150 having a pair of spaced apart outwardly opening opposed panel receiving channels 152,154 therein. A tongue 156 extending outwardly from the gasket is tightly received in channel 142. This construction is deemed to be conventional and is merely shown herein in order that a full appreciation and understanding of preferred use of the subject invention may be obtained. It will be appreciated that the structural arrangement shown in FIG. 2 for the horizontally extending components of the gasketing system may also be employed for the vertically extending components in place of the arrangement shown in FIG. 4 if so desired in order to facilitate greater overall structural rigidity for the building wall structure. However, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the arrangement shown in FIG. 2 is intended for use with only generally horizontally extending mullion areas 18 which require additional structural rigidity for supporting a plurality of vertically disposed coplanar construction panels.

In using the above described panel mounting system, reference will only be made relative to mounting two vertically adjacent panels, and being understood that the other mountings are identical thereto unless otherwise noted. It is first necessary to make arrangements for sealing outside edges 24 of window panels 10 as hereinabove previously mentioned. Mullion structural members 30 may then be disposed to extend along floors one of 20,22 in a generally horizontal direction. The mounting of rigid structural member 30 to the building structure itself is deemed to be conventional and is therefore not discussed in further detail. Channel areas or reglets 50,52 in member 30 are disposed to open outwardly transverse of the plane of wall 12. Once the structural member is in position, a strip gasket or a ladder or grid gasket, including muntin 32 may be positioned with the gasket extending longitudinally along the entire length of the structural member.

The gaskets are located relative to the reglet by inserting tongues 66,68 into reglets 50,52 so that protrusions 70 on the tongues engage protrusions 54 in the reglets as is known. This engagement is best shown in FIG. 2 and, as may be seen therein, the upward directional protrusions 70 and the downward direction of protrusions 54 further enhance the relative gripping relationship between them. When the gasket is fully inserted into the channel area, inner wall 86 of the gasket member engages the outermost edge of side wall extensions 46,48 to provide a positive locating relationship therebetween. Of course, during this installation, load bearing protrusion 42 is closely received in protrusion receiving groove 110 with radiused end portion 44 of the protrusion being closely received in radiused end wall 116 of the receiving groove. As will be particularly noted from FIG. 2, it is most desirable that protrusion 42 extend outwardly from structural member 30 and into gasket member 32 a distance sufficient so that the protrusion extends between panel receiving grooves 88,90 such that a plane extending between channels 88,90 longitudinally therealong will intersect groove 110. In this manner, there is provided a rigid structural member beneath the panel receiving channels to assure that the additional desired structural rigidity is obtained for the glazing system. Thus, the weight forces generated by panels 10 may be transmitted to rigid structural member 30 through projection 42.

Once the gasket is properly located on structural member 30 as hereinabove described, the adjacent vertical window panels 10 may be inserted into opposed receiving channels 88,90 of the two gaskets by merely temporarily deforming the gasket by bending side wall portions 92 in an outwardly direction until the panels are received therein. Once the panels are properly located in the receiving channels, it is necessary to place side wall portions 92,94 in a tight fitting relationship with the panels in order to secure them in the desired position. For this purpose, locking strips 124,126 are inserted into locking strip receiving grooves 120,122 in a known fashion such as, for example, by the use of a locking strip inserting tool designed for and generally associated for use with this type of gasket. The insertion of a locking strip causes side walls 92 to be arcuately forced toward side walls 94 and upper and lower sealing lips 98,100 to be outwardly biased in a sealing relationship against the panels.

From the above disclosure and description of the use of the present invention, it will be appreciated that in a building wherein it is desired to employ thin elastomeric panel mounting gaskets in order to obtain the desirable asthetic effect that substantially all of wall 12 is comprised of glass panels 10, the subject arrangement provides for additional desired mounting structure rigidity than has heretofore been accomplished in other arrangements. Thus, in a multi-story building having a plurality of coplanar vertically disposed construction panels, the substantial weight imposed by these panels on the horizontally disposed gasket members is transmitted in part to a rigid building construction member. Thus, the tendency for the panel mounting systems at the lower levels of the building to deform or break down is substantially eliminated in order that the desired panel mounting effect with thin elastomeric gaskets may be effectively employed in a safe, inexpensive manner.

The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others on the reading and understanding of this specification. It is my intention to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the intended claims or equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A glazing system for providing structural rigidity between adjacent construction panels of a building wall structure wherein a pair of said panels are disposed above one another in a generally coplanar relationship, the adjacent horizontal edges of said pair of panels being closely spaced to each other, said glazing system comprising:

an elongated rigid structural member affixible to said building structure to extend generally coextensively with said adjacent horizontal panel edges, said structural member including a rigid horizontally extending load bearing protrusion projecting outwardly therefrom generally normally to the plane of said panels and having an outer end spaced from said structural member, and a horizontally extending gasket receiving channel on each side of said protrusion, both of said channels opening outwardly toward said plane of said panels and extending generally coextensively with said protrusion,

an elongated elastomeric panel mounting and sealing gasket including first and second portions, said first portion comprising a body portion having horizontally extending panel receiving channels opening vertically therein, said second portion including means received in each of said gasket receiving channels for releasably affixing said gasket to said structural member, and a groove to receive said load-bearing protrusion, said groove extending from said second portion into said first portion and between said panel receiving channels, said panels in said panel receiving channels having coplanar outermost faces with respect to said structural member, and said outer end of said protrusion being spaced from said structural member for said protrusion to extend between said panel edges

2. The glazing system as defined in claim 1, wherein said means received in said gasket receiving channels are first and second gasket mounting tongues on said gasket portion dimensioned to be closely received in a corresponding one of said gasket receiving channels, said protrusion receiving groove being disposed between said tongues to extend inwardly

3. The glazing system as defined in claim 2, wherein said tongues are horizontally coextensive with said gasket receiving channels, and said tongues and gasket receiving channels include corresponding cooperatively

4. The glazing system as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said panel receiving channels includes a resiliently deformable side wall portion adjacent the plane of said outermost faces, said first portion of said gasket having horizontally extending groove means therein, and locking strip means releasably receivable in said groove means to deform said side wall portions in a panel gripping relationship with a panel in the

5. The glazing system as defined in claim 4, wherein said groove means includes first and second grooves in said first gasket portion vertically spaced apart and on opposite sides of a horizontal plane through said protrusion receiving groove, and said locking strip means includes first and second locking strips for said first and second grooves, said first locking strip being cooperable with said first groove to deform one of said side wall portions, and said second locking strip being cooperable with said second groove to deform the other of said side wall portions.