GB2131860A

GB2131860A - Window frame glazing

Info

Publication number: GB2131860A
Application number: GB08332748A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence Hardy
Original assignee: LB
Current assignee: LB
Priority date: 1982-12-10
Filing date: 1983-12-08
Publication date: 1984-06-27
Also published as: GB8332748D0

Abstract

A retaining member 25 for use in resisting removal of a glazing bead from a window frame construction comprises a metal plate having a projecting tang or barb 27 formed by punching and deforming material from the body of the plate, the plate being engageable between the glazing bead 20 and the associated component of the window frame such that the tang or barb bites into the material of the bead and resists its disengagement from the frame. The retaining member is preferably inserted in a track formed in the window frame component in a first position and rotated into a position extending across the track in which it is restrained against withdrawal from the track. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Window frame glazing This invention relates to the glazing of window frames.

Window frames traditionally comprise a fixed outer frame serving in the case of fixed lights to locate glass panes or double glazing units and in the case of opening lights to locate movable subframes which may open outwardly or inwardly dependent on the construction of the window.

With the advent of window consturctions utilising extruded plastics frame components the glass panes or glazing units are generally secured in position by glazing beads attached to the frame which urge the glass into contact with fixed abutment portions forming part of the frame. The construction requires to be such that the glazing beads can be removed to facilitate re-glazing of the window when required, for example in the event of its being inadvertently broken, and while it is acceptable for the beads to be readily removable if they are located at the inside of the window, a security problem is presented if the beads are external.

In the United Kingdom windows have traditionally been constructed such that the opening lights open outwardly and are glazed from the outside by the use of glazier's putty or similar glazing compounds. In other European countries windows conventionally open inwards and are glazed from the inside which provides greater security against anauthorised removal of the glazing beads but is less acceptable in the United Kingdom market where users prefer the opening lights to open outwardly. However the construction of a window which is internally glazed and contains one or more opening lights designed to open outwardly presents a number of problems. With such a construction the fixed abutments on the main frame require to be on the outside of the frame at the fixed window sections and on the inside of the frame at the opening lights.Production of such an outer frame by plastics moulding or extrusion would be complex and involve greatly increased tooling costs and hitherto it has been the practice when constructing frames of this kind to fabricate the frame from a single extrusion having the fixed abutment on the outside but to cut through the frame and reverse the portion which is to accommodate the outwardly opening light. Not only does this produce a joint line which is visible on the frame where the two sections have been reconnected, but considerable labour is involved in cutting, reversing and rejoining the frame which increases both production time and cost.

It is possible to avoid reversal and reconnection by use of an outwardly-opening window which is externally glazed but mere reversal of an existing outwardly-opening, internally-glazed window would normally be unsatisfactory since internal glazing systems tend to be relatively easy to detach as there is no security problem with internal glazing and easy detachment is an advantage if the glass unit requires to be replaced. There is also a tendancy to modify inwardly-opening window constructions originating in European countries by converting them to the more traditional outwardly-opening mode, but this presents similar problems in that the internal glazing systems of existing window constructions tend to be insufficiently secure against unauthorised removal when positioned at the outside of the window construction.

While it would be possible in some instances to modify the detachable glazing beads to render them more secure, this generally requires alteration, not only to the beads themselves, but also to the components of the window frame. This requires the production of new tooling for the production of the modified frame components which is extremely expensive and in many cases uneconomic.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate this disadvantage by providing a means of adapting removable internal glazing systems for external use.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a retaining member for use in association with a removable glazing bead of a window frame construction, the retaining member being adapted for location between the glazing bead and the associated component of the window frame and having a projection adapted in use to engage with and resist removal of the glazing bead from the frame component.

Preferably the projection is adapted to bite into the material of the glazing bead. The retaining member may comprise a metal plate having a projecting tang or barb formed by punching and deforming material from the body of the plate and engageable with the glazing bead.

The metal plate is preferably of rectangular form with rounded corners enabling it to be inserted in a track in the frame component with which the glazing bead engages, the retaining member being inserted in a position extending longitudinally of the track and being rotatable into a position extending transversely thereof in which position it extends across the full width of and is restrained against movement relative to the track.

The retaining member or plate is preferably formed from stainless steel.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided an externally glazed window comprising a main frame, a glazing unit located in the main frame and retained in position by removable glazing beads, and retaining means engaged between said beads and associated surface portions of the frame to resist disengagement of the beads from the frame.

Preferably the retaining means comprise a plurality of metal plates clamped between the beads and the associated portions of the frame and incorporating projecting tangs or barbs serving in use to bite into the material of the beads and resist their disengagement from the frame.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-section through a window frame construction according to the invention showing the main frame components but with other components omitted; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section through a portion of the outwardly opening light of the window frame construction shown in Fig.

1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail cross-section of a portion of the construction shown in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a retaining member shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a window construction comprising an outer or main frame 5 formed from four hollow extruded plastics frame members of identical section interconnected at their corners, the frame being divided into upper and lower openings 6 and 7 by a transverse frame member 8 of hollow extruded plastics construction extending between the side members of the main frame 5. The lower opening 7 is adapted to receive a fixed glass unit (shown in the drawings as a double-glazing unit 11) and the upper opening 6 receives a movable subframe 12 hingedly connected to the main frame at its upper edge and defining an outwardly opening light. The term "glass unit" is used herein to refer either to a single pane of glass or to a double glazing unit comprising a pair of panes spaced part and sealed together around their edges.

Each of the main frame members 5 comprises a hollow body portion 9 provided at its inner edge with a projection 10 extending inwardly of the associated opening 6 or 7 and defining a fixed abutment. At the lower region of the frame the edge regions of the double glazing unit 11 seat against the abutments 10 and the unit is retained in position by removable glazing beads engaged with formations on the outer portions of the frame members 5 as will be described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3. At the upper region of the frame the abutments 10 engage with the edges of the opening light 1 2 at the top and sides of the latter.

The cross-frame member 8 comprises a hollow body member 13 provided at its inner edges with oppositely projecting portions 14 extending respectively into the openings 6 and 7 forming fixed abutments, the lower one of which engages with the upper edge of the double glazing unit 11 and the upper one of which engages with the lower edge of the opening light 12 when the latter is in its closed position shown in Fig. 1. The abutments 10 and 14 are provided with longitudinally extending recesses 15 adapted to receive flexible seals (not shown) which engage with the unit 11 and the frame of the opening light 12 to provide a weather seal.

The opening light comprises a rectangular frame 12 formed from top, bottom and side frame members 16 of hollow extruded plastics construction each comprising a main body portion 17 provided at its outer edge with a fixed abutment member 1 8 projecting outwardly of the opening 6 and provided at its inner edge with a similar fixed abutment member 1 9 projecting inwardly of the opening 6. A glazing unit (not shown in Fig. 1) similar to the unit 11 is located in the frame in contact with the abutments 19 and is retained in position by removable glazing beads engaged with the frame members 16 outwardly of the glazing unit, the glazing members being constructed in a similar fashion to those employed at the lower portion of the frame and being described in greater detail with reference to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

As will be appreciated from a study of Fig. 1, the glazing beads retaining the glazing units in the upper and lower portions of the frame are disposed on the outside of the units so that the window is externally glazed. It is desirable that the glazing beads should be removable in order that new glass units can be inserted in the event of breakage but the beads should not be readily removable by unauthorised persons.

As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, each glazing bead comprises a hollow extruded plastics component 20 having an inner generally vertical face provided with a longitudinal recess 21 adapted to accommodate a seal (shown at 21A in Fig. 3) which engages the outer surface of the glazing unit 11 and urges same into engagement with a similar seal (not shown) carried by the abutment 1 9. The lower surface of the glazing bead is provided with inwardly and outwardly directed longitudinally extending projections 22 and 23 which engage with undercut formations 22A, 23A on the associated frame member. The projection 22 and the complementary formation 22A on the frame are designed to permit a slight degree of inward movement of the bead 20 towards the glazing unit 1 1 in order to disengage the projection 23 and formation 23A.This enables the glazing bead to be disengaged from the frame if required for the purpose of replacing the glazing unit.

In order to prevent unauthorised access to the premises retaining means is provided to resist ready removal of the glazing bead. The retaining means comprise a series of retaining members or clips located at spaced intervals around the opening 7 and frame 12. The clips are engaged between the glazing beads and the adjacent portions of the associated frames and each clip comprises a generally flat plate 25 (Figs. 3 and 4) formed of stainless steel and of generally rectangular shape but provided with rounded corners 26. An upstanding projection or barb 27 is formed towards one end of the plate by punching and deforming part of the metal out of the plane of the plate and this barb bites into the projection 22 of the associated glazing bead as shown in Fig. 3 and resists disengagement of the bead from the associated frame component. The retaining members are located in position prior to fixing of the glazing beads by placing them in the channels 24 formed between the projections 22A, 23A with the body portions 25 extending generally longitudinally of the channels. The plates are then rotated through 900 to a position extending transversely of the channels as shown in Fig. 3, rotation being permitted by virtue of the rounded corners 26. In the transverse position the retaining members extend across the full width of the channel 24 and beneath the overhanging portions of the projections 22A and 23A. After the retaining clips have been located in position, the glazing beads are engaged with the frame members and the barbs 27 bite into the undersurface of the projections 22 of the glazing beads as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

If an attempt is made to remove a glazing bead by pushing it inwardly towards the glazing unit in order to disengage the projection 23 and complementary formation 23A, the projection 22 is pushed further-into engagement with the formation 22A and when an attempt is then made to withdraw the glazing bead the barb 27 bites into the undersurface of the projection 22 and resists withdrawal. Thus although the glazing bead can be disengaged from the frame at its outer edge it cannot readily be completely removed and hence the security of the system is assured.

It is possible to disengage the glazing bead entirely by appropriate manipulation, particularly if the glazing unit has been broken and the broken portions removed from the frame, but disengagement requires some time and care and could not be readily effected by an intruder wishing to remove the glazing beads quickly and quietly without drawing attention to himself.

It should be appreciated that while Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate components of the opening light 12, similar glazing beads and retaining members are utilised to retain the lower glazing unit 1 1 in position in the opening 7. The entire window is therefore externally glazed but removal of the glazing beads is impeded by virtue of the retaining members so that the glazing system is secure against intruders.

It will be appreciated that the glazing beads 20 may be utilised in conjunction with appropriate window frame members to construct internally glazed windows. In this case the beads may be utilised without incorporating the retaining members since there is no security problem when the glazing is internal of the window construction.

By virtue of the provision of the retaining members however the same components may be utilised for external glazing without requiring any modifications to the glazing beads or frame components themselves. Moreover the necessary degree of security is achieved when the system is used for external glazing while still enabling the glazing beads to be removed by authorised operatives for reglazing purposes.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the glazing beads and retaining members may be utilised in association with a wide variety of window constructions incorporating fixed and opening lights and requiring internal or external glazing, the retaining members being required in externally-glazed applications only. The shapes, sizes and dimensions of the window frame components and the glazing beads may be altered substantially and alternative means of engaging the beads with the frames and of retaining them against withdrawal may be employed. Moreover the window openings may be glazed utilising single panes rather than double glazed units, for which purpose alternative glazing beads extending for a greater distance towards the fixed abutment members may be provided.

Claims

1. A retaining member for use in association with a removable glazing bead of a window frame construction, the retaining member being adapted for location between the glazing bead and the associated component of the window frame and having a projection adapted in use to engage with and resist removal of the glazing bead from the frame component.

2. A retaining member according to claim 1 wherein said projection is adapted to bite into the material of the glazing bead.

3. A retaining member according to claim 1 or 2 comprising a metal plate having a projecting tang or barb engageable with the associated glazing bead.

4. A retaining member according to claim 3 wherein said tang or barb is formed by punching and deforming material from the body of the plate.

5. A retaining member according to claim 3 or 4 which is formed from stainless steel.

6. A retaining member according to any preceding claim which is of rectangular form with rounded corners.

7. A retaining member for a glazing bead of a window frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.

8. An externally glazed window comprising a main frame, a glazing unit located in the main frame and retained in position by removable glazing beads, and retaining means engaged between said beads and associated surface portions of the frame to resist disengagement of the beads from the frame.

9. An externally glazed window according to claim 8 wherein said retaining means comprises a plurality of retaining members according to any of claims 1 to 7.

10. An externally glazed window according to claim 9 wherein said glazing beads are provided with projections at their inner and outer longitudinal edges, the projections being engaged with undercut retaining formations on said frame, said retaining members being clamped between the associated glazing beads and adjacent portions of said frame, and the projections on said retaining members engaging the inner ones of the longitudinal projections on said glazing beads.

1 An externally glazed window substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of retaining a glazing bead in position on an externally glazed window according to claim 9, 10 or 1 1 wherein said retaining members is inserted in a position extending longitudinally of a track in the associated portion of the window frame and is rotated into a position extending transvesely of said track in which position it extends across the full width of and is restrained against withdrawal from the track.

13. A method according to claim 12 when dependent from claim 10 wherein said retaining member is restrained against withdrawal in said transversely extending position by engagement beneath said undercut formations on the frame.

14. A method of retaining a glazing bead in position on an externally glazed window substantially as hereinbefore described.

15. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.