U.S. patent number 3,889,434 [Application Number 05/460,277] was granted by the patent office on 1975-06-17 for thermal glass structural device.
Invention is credited to Lyle N. Shelver.
United States Patent |
3,889,434 |
Shelver |
June 17, 1975 |
Thermal glass structural device
Abstract
This invention is a method and apparatus for performing such
method, wherein ordinary single glass building elements, such as
windows, doors and the like are converted to double walled,
partially evacuated elements by the use of special adaptive
elements in combination with sealant and desicant materials.
Inventors: |
Shelver; Lyle N. (Reno,
NV) |
Family
ID: |
23828056 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/460,277 |
Filed: |
April 12, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/172;
52/204.62; 52/786.1; 52/204.593 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E06B
3/645 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E06B
3/64 (20060101); E06b 003/28 () |
Field of
Search: |
;52/172,202,203,304,308,398,399,475,616,741 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Faw, Jr.; Price C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Schulze; Herbert C.
Claims
I claim:
1. The combination with a frame for holding a single pane of glass
of: An adaptive element comprising an elongated base member having
an elongated rail depending from one side thereof and perpendicular
to the plane thereof, said rail being inserted in said frame in
lieu of glass, a pair of elongated guides -- one adjacent each edge
of said base -- depending from said base in the opposite direction
from said rail and at a perpendicular relationship to the base,
said guides being provided with serrations on their surfaces facing
one another, and a pair of L-shaped projections depending from said
base in the same direction as said side members, with the bases of
said L-shaped members facing one another in a mirror image of such
manner as to form a T-shaped cavity intermediate said members;
mastic material partially filling the space between said side
members; two panes of glass within said side members, one side of
each pane of glass being adjacent the said serrations, the other
sides of said panes of glass being at a spaced relationship from
one another; an elongated hollow member containing a desicant
extending the length of said panes of glass and adjacent their
edges in contact with said mastic.
2. The device of claim 1 in which there are four of said adaptive
elements, one extending the length of each edge of a rectangular
single glass frame, with the rail of each adaptive member inserted
within such single glass frame member, and in which an angular
shaped bracket is inserted a distance in to the T-shaped cavity of
adjoining adaptive elements, which adaptive elements are mitered at
their corners in such manner that the said brackets hold the
corners together.
3. The device of claim 2 in which the rail of each adaptive element
is adjacent one edge of said base with the remainder of said base
over-hanging from said rail, in such manner that when mounted
within the single pane glass frame, one side of said single pane
glass frame will be flush with one side of said adaptive
elements.
4. The device of claim 2 in which each of said rails is located in
the center of said base member.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
There are no related patent applications filed by me.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention is in the general field of insulated, or reduced
thermally conductive, building elements, and more particularly
building elements of glass, such as windows, doors, and the like.
It is further more particularly directed to double walled glass
elements having a space between them to reduce conductivity through
the glass elements of energy waves, most particularly, sound, and
heat waves.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to manufacture building elements with double walled,
and insulated chacteristics for purpose of reducing transfer of
heat and sound. It is also known to construct such elements wherein
the walls of the insulated item are formed of glass such as for
windows, doors, and the like. Such items are constructed in
manufacturing locations; and control, proper fitting, relationship
of the elements to one another, and the like, are accomplished
under proper factory conditions with appropriate tooling and the
like all of which is confining. Heretofore, it has not been
possible to mount such elements in an existing door frame, window
frames, and the like, which were previously constructed for single
thickness glass elements. For the first time I have provided a
method and apparatus for economical conversion of such old building
elements to appropriately constructed elements which reduce the
passage of thermal and sonic waves. In this sense, there is no
prior art relating to this unique method and combination.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In all buildings and the like, the transfer of heat and sound
through windows, doors, or other glass elements, is of major
concern, and is particularly of great concern under the present
conditions of restricted supplies of energy.
It is known that sound and heat are transmitted relatively readily
through glass. It is also known that such transfer is materially
inhibited wherein two thicknesses of glass are used with a space
between containing either an insulating material, air, or some
other gas. And, it is further known that maximum inhibition of the
transmission of such waves is achieved wherein a vacuum is caused
to exist between the thicknesses of glass. An ideal illustration of
this phenomenon is the commonly known and widely used thermos
bottle.
In recent years some effort has been directed towards the
construction of windows, doors, and the like for buildings wherein
two thicknesses of glass are utilized with a space containing air
between them. A dramatic reduction of heat and sound transfer is
achieved when such thicknesses are properly arranged within an
appropriate frame, and properly sealed under controlled
conditions.
Certain deficiencies occur when such installation of two
thicknesses of glass is not perfect, in that admission of moisture
laden air into the space between the glass elements may result in
fogging making it difficult to see through the glass as well as
causing an unsightly condition and staining on the interior of the
glass. Also, such leakage will reduce the effectiveness of the
insulation.
Attempts to insulate windows by adding an additional pane of glass
have been unsuccessful and frustrating because of the numerous
problems incurred, including the foregoing; and, also, the costs
and difficulties of installation in a window sash originally
designed for a single pane of glass or grate.
I have studied the construction of various types of windows
utilizing single thicknesses of glass, and of doors and the like as
well. I have finally conceived and developed a method by which old
existing windows can be converted, at the site of the windows, to
double-walled construction without deficiencies, and with great
economy compared to factory constructed devices. Additionally, I
have conceived and developed a method by which a partial vacuum is
created between the two panes, if desired, in order more
effectively to inhibit the transfer of heat and sound and to
enhance the quality of the installation.
In my method, I insert a special adapter element within the
existing window frame and in lieu of the existing window pane. This
adaptive element is so constructed so as to receive two like pieces
of glass at a spaced distance from one another with provision for a
sealing mastic as well as provision for deformative corner elements
so as to insure permanent maintenance of the glass elements in the
desired location and with appropriate protection against leakage at
the mastic areas.
I have also provided a special method of removing moisture and
causing a partial vacuum in the space between the glass elements
wherein the air in such space is heated prior to final sealing, and
an appropriate desicant material is confined within an element, in
such manner that it will absorb all moisture in the space and
within the heated air, thus insuring against steam and fog within
the space and likewise causing a partial vacuum during the removal
of the mositure from the air.
The desicant material (such as silica gel or the like) is confined
within a decorative element, which decorative element also acts as
an appropriate spacer and locking device to maintain the glass
elements in their desired respective locations.
Of importance, is the cooperative relationship between the adaptive
elements, the corner connectors, and the desicant containment
element. And their overall relationship to appropriate sealant.
It is an object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus
for converting a single pane window and the like to double pane
elements;
Another object of this invention is to provide such a method and
apparatus wherein the space between the panes is appropriately
controlled and sealed from the outside atmosphere;
Another object of this invention is to provide a method and device
as above described wherein moisture is removed from air in the
space between the glass elements;
Another object of this invention is to provide a method and device
as mentioned wherein a partial vacuum may be accomplished in the
space between the glass elements.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention
will become apparant to those skilled in the art upon reading the
following description of a prefered embodiment in conjunction with
the appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a partially broken-away perspective of a window
constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the method
of this invention and showing the elements of preferred apparatus
for performing the method;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the adaptive element in
which the glass is mounted in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a partially broken-away perspective of a glass door which
has been converted by the method and apparatus of this
invention;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the adaptive element in
which the glass is mounted in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a partially broken-away view of one of the mitered
corners of the glass holding element of FIG. 3 with one piece
lifted out of contact and twisted out of the away to illustrate
particularly the utilization of a corner-holding bracket; and
FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective of the corner-holding bracket
shown in FIG. 5.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A preferred embodiment of a combination to practice this invention
is illustrated in FIG. 1. Window panes are normally mounted in a
suitable frame, such as an aluminum frame or the like, for fixed or
movable installation in a wall. The frame illustrated in this case
consists of a frame of customary construction, known in the art,
the details of which are omitted, but which frame consists of four
sides; 10, 11, 12 and 13. These elements may be connected together
by suitable brackets or the like known in the art. In the case
illustrated the sides are suitably fastened by screws or the like
14 adjacent the corners as indicated. Other constructions are known
and this is not deemed in any manner critical.
Such frames as illustrated are normally constructed in such manner
as to accommodate a pane of glass with suitable insulating strips
about the edges of the glass, or the like. Such frames, therefore,
have a relatively narrow opening therein, and are not in themselves
susceptible of adaption to the mounting of double-walled insulating
panes of glass therein.
I have invented a unique combination of two panes of glass, 38 and
39, mastic, sealing and installation material 31, moisture
eliminating arrangement 32, and an adapter 20 to hold said two
panes of glass, the mastic, and moisture eliminating materials. The
adapter 20 fits within the ordinary window frames 10, 11, 12, and
13 configured so as to basically maintain the interior
configuration of the window and yet to accommodate the extra width
required in an unusual manner.
With attention directed to FIGS. 1 and 2, the unique adapter I
provided is illustrated by the numeral 20 generally. The adapter 20
has an appropriate tongue or the like 30 running its length, such
tongue being suitable to become engaged in the channel section 15
of each portion of the window frame, as shown in connection with
portion 12 on FIG. 1.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the two panes of glass 38 and 39 are
secured within the adapter 20 by appropriate mastic, such as
silicone or the like 31. As a combination spreader 4, (to maintain
separation between the panes of glass) and as a moisture removal
means (to remove moisture from between the two panes), a strip 32
essentially in the shape indicated (although this is not critical)
is provided, which strip may be extruded of plastic, aluminum, or
the like and is filled in its interior with a desicant such as
silica gel or the like and will be appropriately perforated on the
top so as to allow it to accept moisture from the space from
between the panes of glass. Such a strip, containing desicant, is
known in the art, and is utilized in some existing thermal
double-walled installations. Details of such a desicant strip are
known in the art and are not given here.
Turning attention now to FIG. 2, which is an enlarged sectional
view of the adapter 20 without the silicone or the like 31, nor the
panes of glass, nor the desicant strip, the unique combination will
be particularly understood.
The adapter 20 is seen to consist of an essentially U-shaped strip
of rigid material such as aluminum, or the like, comprising a
bottom segment 23 and two sides 21 and 22. The tongue 30 extends
essentially as indicated from the bottom segment and is of
appropriate size to fit the interior channel of the window frame.
It is off-set to one side as indicated in such manner that when
installed, the edge 22 will essentially conform to the interior of
the window casing and will not substantially over-hang so as to
create an unsightly or hazardous condition. The unusual shape of
the tab 24 and the tab 25, creating the two pockets 28 and 29,
allows for proper application of mastic sealing material so as to
not only provide for the appropriate holding of the panes of glass,
but, so as to provide appropriate expansion and contraction
possibilities depending upon temperature conditions of the
environment.
The scored edges 26 and 27 on the upper interior portions of edges
21 and 22 provide for the mastic to be held appropriately in that
area and thus provide excellent wedging and holding action in the
combination with the desicant strips 32.
In actually assembling the unit, and making the conversion from a
single pane of glass, it is desirable, in the best form of the
practice of this invention, to assemble in a reasonably heated
area, or to provide sufficient heat to the materials as they are
applied, so that the air space between the panes of glass 38 and 39
is as warm as reasonably possible. It is desirable that this air
space is warmer than normal temperatures to be expected in the
environment in which the window is installed. By this means, a
vacuum condition is created within the space between the panes,
depending upon the exact amount of applied heat, which vacuum
condition results from the cooling and contraction of the air
within the space as formed, together with the removal of moisture
from said air, by the desicant strip 32. Thus, an improved
insulating barrier is created due to the inhibition of the travel
of heat through the partially evacuated space.
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate an alternate embodiment of a device to
practice the method of this invention, which has been more
particularly designed for use in doors or the like. This is not
necessarily limited to doors, but is particularly desirable in that
application.
FIG. 3 illustrates a sliding glass door utilizing the methods of
this invention and illustrating a preferred embodiment of the
unique combination.
Sliding glass doors are well known in the art, and the particular
construction shown here is in no manner deemed to be limiting in
any respect. Normally, a sliding glass door will consist of a top
and bottom frame, 110 and 112, with two edges, 111 and 113. A door
frame of this nature will normally be fastened at its corners with
screws 114 or the like so as to complete a rectangular unit. Such
unit normally will roll upon rollers 133 and 134 or the like within
a track or the like 136 at its lower edge, and be guided by a top
channel or the like 137. The door will normally have a handle 135
or the like.
Such glass door frame, normally, will have a channel as at 115
which will be of approximately appropriately width to carry a
single panel of glass.
In practicing this invention, the glass normally within the door
frame will be removed, and the tongue 130 of the adapter
combination will be of such width as to appropriately fit within
the customary door frame.
A pair of glass panels 138 and 139 will be held within the adapter
unit, generally 120, by an appropriate silicone mastic material 131
and with the use of a desicant strip 132. It is understood that the
strip 132 will perform a function similar to the strip 32 described
with reference to FIG. 1, and the mastic material 131 will perform
a similar function to the mastic material 31 described with
reference to FIG. 1. For simplicity, the descriptions are not
repeated, but are incorporated by this reference.
For practicing this embodiment, it is more particularly desired to
center the adapter 120 within the door frame, since frequently
there are obstructions such as screens or the like which may not
have sufficient clearance to the door to enable an over-hanging
unit such as was described.
With attention directed particularly to FIG. 4, which is an
enlarged section of the adapter strip 120, it is seen that this
consists of a strip of extruded aluminum or the like having two
edges 122 and 121, together with a bottom element 123, with a
tongue 130 depending from 123 in a direction opposed to the
direction of edges 121 and 122. In this case the tongue 131 is
approximately centered upon the edge 123.
The tabs 124 and 125, which provide pockets 128, 129, and 129a, in
combination with such pockets will provide for the appropriate
holding and expansion qualities of the sealant material 131 in
conjunction with the use of the glass panels 138 and 139 so as to
provide appropriate retention and sealing.
FIG. 5 illustrates a corner bracket which is generally used to
provide additional stability to the corners of the adaptive
elements. At the corner, the adaptive elements will normally be
mitered essentially as indicated in FIG. 5. The pocket, or channel
128 has driven into it one leg of a bracket 116. The other leg
extends at right angles and the mating adaptive element will be
placed down upon it with the other leg of the corner bracket
extending into the channel 128 appropriately, as will be
understood. In the illustration of FIG. 5, the essentially
horizontal adaptive element is seen to have the bracket 116 in
place in its channel 128, and the mating adaptive element, being
the vertical one in the illustration in FIG. 5 will be placed down
upon the upstanding leg of the bracket 116 until it is fully
inserted into the channel of the adaptive element.
FIG. 6 illustrates the typical corner bracket 116 having serrated
edges on its interior 117 and 118 so shaped, as indicated, so as to
grip the inner faces of the elements forming the channel 128.
Normally the thickness of the corner bracket 116 will be such as to
fit very snugly within the channel and thus be held firmly by the
serrated edges 117 and 118.
It should be understood, that while not illustrated, a similar
corner bracket will frequently be used in conjunction with the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It will be utilized in the same
manner, and in the case of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
would be placed so as to grip within the channel pocket 28 in the
adaptive element utilized in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.
The method of assembly, and the like, will be similar for the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6, to that described with
reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, and will achieve essentially the same
results. A complete description of the method is not given here
since it would be repetitive and anyone skilled in the art will
understand that exactly the same process will be followed.
While the embodiments of this invention shown and described are
fully capable of achieving the objects and advantages desired, such
embodiments have been illustrated solely for purposes of
illustration and not for purposes of limitation.
* * * * *