GB2318148A - Double glazed partitioning system with support in the inter-pane gap - Google Patents

Abstract

A partition wall comprises successive panels joined at their edges, each panel comprising a pair of spaced glass sheets 100a, 100b, 102a, 102b thereby forming a double glazed panel, and includes a support strut within the space between the glass sheets adjacent the join, comprising two external profiles 106, 108 which define the external faces of the support strut, and which meet in a recess aligned with the join. There is preferably a central bearing strut 104 to which the profiles attach, providing the necessary strength. The narrow portion of a T-shaped elongate retainer strip 120 is clamped within the recess by tightening screw 110, thus allowing the wide portion of the strip to retain two adjacent glass sheets in place. The wide portion of the T can be formed in a suitably concave fashion so as to mimic a silicone seal. In a preferred version, an additional elongate member fits 118 in the recess between the profiles and the retainer strip for soundproofing purposes. Further panes 124 may be fitted at right angles to wall, being joined to the wall at a glazing joint with silicone sealant 126. The strut may also be used to secure two panes which meet at right angles (Fig. 5 not shown).

Description

PARTITIONING SYSTEM The present invention relates to a partitioning system.

Our earlier patent application number GB-A-2294965 describes elements of a partitioning system which enable the production of a single glazed partitioning system, ie one in which the partition is formed of a single sheet of glass. Such partitions are aesthetically desirable but had previously presented difficulties in storing and retaining the glass panels in place safely.

Our earlier application dealt with those difficulties.

A partition wall is often longer than the largest sheet of glass available, and it is therefore necessary to join the glass sheets at their edges.

In the context of GB 2294965, this is done by forming a silicone seal between panes. Silicone sealants are widely available in an easily extrudable form and can be applied in-situ and left to cure to form a rubbery seal. A typical silicone seal is shown schematically in Figure 1.

In Figure 1, two sheets of glass 10, 1 2 meet at their edges with a small gap therebetween. A plug 14 of silicone seals the gap. The plug is applied by placing the glass panes in position, applying masking tape to the edges of the glass panels, on both sides, and extruding uncured silicone into the gap therebetween. The surface of the uncured silicone is then shaped to the slightly concave "meniscus" effect shown in Figure 1. The glazer then forms a similar meniscus on the reverse side. The masking tape is removed, and the silicone allowed to cure to give the neat seal shown in Figure 1.

Double glazed systems allow greater sound proofing, and greater potential for privacy through the deployment of internal venetian blinds within the air space between the panes. There is therefore a demand for such systems. However, the use of a silicone seal of the style shown in Figure 1 is clearly impossible since there is no access to the rear face of the glass. It is therefore more usual to provide a vertical column at joins in double glazed partitioning, which corresponds to the installations at walls.

This is unsightly and negates the smooth continuous effect provided by a silicone seal.

One proposal for overcoming this difficulty is shown in Figure 2. This entails the provision of a post 18 between the glazing panes 20a, 20b and 22a, 22b. One pair of panes 20b and 22b are fitted and sealed as per Figure 1, following which the post 1 8 is installed. Panes 20a and 22a are then installed and a silicone plug 24 is applied to the space therebetween. The front surface of the plug 24 can be formed with a meniscus as normal, and the back surface is allowed to contact the post 18.

This solution is not entirely satisfactory. The difficulty is that the uncured silicone will tend to spread out into the thin gap between the post 1 8 and the panes 20a, 22a and will then cure to form an irregular flash.

This is aesthetically unappealing.

The present invention therefore seeks to provide a joint suitable for placing between successive panes of a double glazed partition system.

It therefore provides a partition wall comprising successive panels joined at their edges, each panel comprising a pair of spaced glass sheets thereby forming a double glazed panel, including a support strut within the space between the glass sheets adjacent the join, the support strut comprising at least one elongate recess substantially aligned with the join and an elongate retainer strip having a narrow edge and a wide edge, the recess and/or narrow edge being adapted to engage thereby to cause the wide edge to retain two adjacent glass sheets in place.

The support strut can comprise two recesses and retainer strips, thereby to seal both panes. Alternatively, one pair of glass sheets can be sealed in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the remaining pair sealed using a support strut as set out above.

The strip member is preferably substantially T-shaped in cross section.

However, the transverse element of the T can be formed into a suitably concave fashion so as to mimic a silicone seal.

In a preferred version, the recess is defined by an elongate strip adapted to be retained within the support strut and defining an internal recess into which the narrow edge of the strip can engage.

The support strut can comprise two external profiles which substantially define the external faces of the support strut and which meet adjacent the join. In this case, the profiles can retain the elongate strip at their join, when the latter is employed.

There is preferably a central bearing strut to which the profiles attach.

This can provide the necessary physical strength.

The present invention also relates to the support strut per se, and (independently) to a kit of parts which can be assembled into the support strut.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which: Figure 1 shows a plan sectional view of a join between single glazing panels, according to the prior art; Figure 2 shows a sectional plan of a join between two double glazing panel sections, according to the prior art; Figure 3 shows a plan sectional view of a join between two double glazing panel sections according to the present invention, also showing an optional T-branch; Figure 4 shows a plan sectional view of a corner join according to the present invention.

Figures 1 and 2 have been described already and no further elaboration will be given here.

Figure 3 illustrates a join between adjacent double glazing panels according to the present invention.

The join is between a first panel 100 and a second panel 102. Each panel is formed of a rear pane 100a and 102a, and a front pane 100b and 102b.

The upper and lower edges of the panes are supported and retained by frame members as described in GB 2294965. In a variant of these frames, two frame elements can be fixed together by suitable integral spacer means which ensures that the glazing panels are an appropriate distance apart.

A fixing block 104 extends upward from a fixing point (not shown) on the floor. The fixing point is positioned so as to be midway between the panels, in the space therebetween, and adjacent the join. Two profiles 106, 108 are placed either side of the fixing block 104 and held in place by a pair of interlocking bolts 110, 11 2. The bolts 110, 11 2 pass through holes formed in the facing members and through horizontal holes at corresponding positions in the support strut. For decorative reasons, the holes in the facing members are formed in longitudinal channels which are then covered with a trim strip 11 4, 11 6 respectively.

The external shape of the profiles is such as to form an oval crosssection. The profiles are of aluminium, and this combination results in an aesthetically pleasant combination.

At either tip of the oval, a rectangular recess is formed to accommodate the fastenings described below. The two joins between the facing members are made at the foot of this recess and are therefore hidden from view. Within the recess, an extruded PVC elongate strip is provided which is gripped on either side by the facing members. The elongate strip 11 8 comprises a U-profile adapted to replicate the recess in which it sits, and extending from the ends of the U transversely outwardly, a pair of sealing legs which end in a softer cylindrical bulge. Once in place, the glass panes contact the sealing legs and a satisfactory audio seal is formed between the panes and the facing members.

A retainer strip 1 20 extends from the exterior of the glass panes between the gap therebetween and into the recess of the elongate strip 118.

The outer corners of the panes 1 ova, b and 1 02a, b are bevelled at 122 (for example) to accept the extended head of the retainer strip 1 20. Hence, the panes are unable to move transversely away from the direct position.

The retainer strip 1 20 is held in place by virtue of being compressed on either side within the elongate strip 11 8, which is itself compressed by the bolts 1 10, 1 12 holding together the profiles 106, 108. Alternatively, the exterior of the retainer strip 1 20 or the interior of the elongate strip 1 18, or both, could be formed with suitable ribbing to increase the retention force.

The head of the retainer strip 120 is formed with a meniscus to mimic a silicone seal.

Figure 3 also shows an optional T-branching pane 1 24 which has been sealed by silicone 126 to the outer face of the retainer strip 120. This provides an easy and simple branch-off for a single glazed partition.

The join is assembled by fixing the floor and ceiling frame elements in place, fixing the bearing strut 104 into place, and then attaching the profiles 106, 108 to fixing block 104. The elongate strips 118 are then pressed into place, and the panes 1 0a, b and 1 02a, b are installed and fixed at their top and bottom edges. The retainer strip 120 is then pressed into place to fix the panes.

If desired, a small amount of silicone sealant can be applied to either side of the retainer strip 1 20. This allows it to be glued to the elongate strip 118 and to the edges of the panes.

Figure 4 shows the application of the present invention to a corner.

The system is assembled as above, but before the panes 1 O0a, b, and 1 02a, b are fitted, a small blanking strip 128 is fitted instead of the elongate strip 1 18, on the outer corner. The panes on the outer corner 1 OOa and 1 02a are then installed and sealed at their corner in the manner described with reference to Figure 1. The panes meeting at the inner corner 100b and 102b are then fitted and retained using a retainer strip 120 as described in the reference to Figure 3.

This slightly different method of installation allows the same parts to be used at all joints.

For ease of access to the interior corner when sealing, the outer panes 100a, 102a could be erected and sealed prior to installation of the fixing block 104 and profiles 106, 108.

The above described embodiment has been given by way of example only, and the skilled reader will naturally appreciate that many variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (12)

1. A partition wall comprising successive panels joined at their edges, each panel comprising a pair of spaced glass sheets thereby forming a double glazed panel, including a support strut within the space between the glass sheets adjacent the join, the support strut comprising at least one elongate recess substantially aligned with the join and an elongate retainer strip having a narrow edge and a wide edge, the recess and/or narrow edge being adapted to engage thereby to cause the wide edge to retain two adjacent glass sheets in place.

2. A partition wall according to claim 1 wherein the support strut comprises two recesses and retainer strips, thereby to seal both panes.

3. A partition wall wherein one pair of glass sheets are sealed by way of a silicone bead.

4. A partition wall according to any one of the preceeding claims wherein the strip member is substantially T-shaped in cross section.

5. A partition wall according to claim 4 wherein the outer face of the transverse element of the T is concave.

6. A partition wall according to any one of the preceeding claims wherein the recess is defined by an elongate strip adapted to be retained within the support strut and defining an internal recess into which the narrow edge of the strip can engage.

7. A partition wall according to any preceeding claim wherein the support strut comprises two external profiles which substantially define the external faces of the support strut and which meet adjacent the join.

8. A partition wail according to claim 7 as dependent on claim 6 wherein the profiles retain the elongate strip at their join.

9. A partition wall according to claim 7 or claim 8 including a central bearing strut to which the profiles attach.

10 A support strut for a partition wall comprising successive panels joined at their edges, each panel comprising a pair of spaced glass sheets thereby forming a double glazed panel, the strut comprising at least one elongate recess and an elongate retainer strip having a narrow edge and a wide edge, the recess and/or narrow edge being adapted to engage thereby to cause the wide edge to retain two adjacent glass sheets in place.

11. A kit of parts for use in assembling a partition wall comprising successive panels joined at their edges, each panel comprising a pair of spaced glass sheets thereby forming a double glazed panel, the kit comprising a support strut having at least one elongate recess and an elongate retainer strip having a narrow edge and a wide edge, the recess and/or narrow edge being adapted to engage thereby to cause the wide edge to retain two adjacent glass sheets in place.

12. A partition wall substantially as any one herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying figures 3, 4 and 5.