Patent Application
20170183867
The present invention relates to the field of window and curtain wall assemblies; more specifically, concealed window panel and fastener latching mechanisms to connect an arrangement of such window panels.
Unitized window wall systems have been used for skyscrapers and building structural systems. The unitized window wall system provides window panels that come with mullion frames within the panel before being installed to the building façade. The window panels include a glazing, which comes with double or triple glass panes (double glass panes with a thin film between) and is filled with a noble gas. The noble gas, typically argon or xenon, is used for thermal insulation and is installed on an exterior side of the mullion frames. The mullion frames then attach to one another by a series of clips or are fastened with bolts and nuts to the building structural system.
However, the unitized window wall system has limited space, which causes low thermal resistance and does not allow for additional layers of glazing panel. Further, the unitized window wall system is difficult to maintain and clean due to exposed mullion systems. Moreover, the unitized window wall system requires complex installation, typically off-site, leading to additional costs.
Thus, there is a need for a window or curtain wall assembly which addresses the above problems.
The present invention relates to a concealed latching mechanism for a window or curtain wall and assemblies which include a concealed latching mechanism. Each window panel of said assembly includes plural layers of glass or other material separated by one or more spacing mullions, which line the perimeter of the window panel to create a sealed chamber. The depth of the sealed chamber between the layers is variable to accommodate both thermal requirements and vertical and horizontal structural loads. The chamber reduces heat loss due to convection allowing it to outperform current double or triple glazing window walls. The chamber of each window panel is connectable to chambers of adjacent window panels through tubes or ducts to allow for air or gas transfer to enhance thermal performance and enable other functional and aesthetic effects. When the window panels are assembled, the latching mechanism structurally unifies each panel to become a single monolithic surface that also accounts for thermal expansion. Elements of the latching mechanism are arranged to allow the window or curtain wall to be assembled from the interior, leaving only caulking to be performed from the exterior. Concealing all of such elements helps eliminate the exposure of window mullions and minimizes maintenance of the window or curtain wall.
The fastener latching mechanisms disclosed herein structurally engage adjacent panels to structurally support the window or curtain wall as a whole. Embodiments of the present invention provide high thermal resistance that comes with several layers of insulated air chambers, are structurally self-sustained, provide simple on-site installation procedure, maintain flush surfaces to both the interior and exterior for aesthetic and sanitary purposes, provide capability to control and exchange gas inside of the chamber for visual effects and privacy purposes, provide flexibility and non-sequencing in the installation procedure, and provide significantly increased acoustic separation. Moreover, the fastener assemblies provide higher tolerance in absorbing energy in a seismic event, and provide a wide concealed space inside the chamber to house mechanical louvers or shading devices that can be remotely controlled while being protected from outside factors that may cause damage or degradation.
Additional merits of the present invention include aesthetically pleasing design, providing flexibility in design, and facilitating mechanical cleaning. Design flexibility allows the window panels to be any shape, as the mullions can be structured to accommodate angled window panels, including but not limited to 15 degrees, 45 degrees, 90 degrees, and 135 degrees. This allows the window panels to be shaped as triangles, parallelograms, rhombuses, or other design choices.
In accordance with one or more embodiments, a window panel fastening assembly includes a first and second mullion, each mullion having opposing mounting surfaces configured to be mounted to sheets of material, an air chamber-facing surface and an open side opposite the air chamber-facing surface, and opposing grooves disposed therein, wherein the first and second mullions are positioned with open sides facing each other mullions, locking brackets coupled to the grooves of the first and second mullions, and a rod positioned between the locking brackets, wherein the window panel fastening assembly is operable to fasten adjacent panels to each other. The locking brackets may have a generally U-shaped cross section. At least one of the locking brackets may include bore for receiving the rod. The rod may be positioned in a space formed between the first and second mullions. The window panel fastening assembly may further include a brace positioned between the first and second mullions wherein the brace is operable to guide and secure the rod and the structural integrity between the first and second mullions. In some embodiments at least one of the locking brackets includes a threaded bore for receiving the rod, wherein the rod includes a threaded region complementary to the threaded bore, wherein advancement of the rod through the locking bracket is operable to urge the first and second locking brackets in the grooves. A backer rod may be positioned opposite the brace in a space between the two opposing mullions.
In some embodiments, at least one of the first and second locking brackets are pivotably coupled to an interior surface of one of the first and second mullions. In other embodiments both the first and second locking brackets are pivotably coupled to the first mullion.
In at least one embodiment, the window panel fastening assembly further includes a gear box positioned within the first mullion, a cable fixed at one end to one of the locking brackets, a first and second gear bar pivotably mounted to a central region of each locking bracket and coupled with a gear bar support mounted to a gear plate, wherein application of a pulling force on the cable is operable to engage the locking brackets with the grooves of the first and second mullions.
In accordance with still a further embodiment, a window panel fastening assembly is disclosed which includes a latching linear gear movably coupled to an interior surface of the first mullion and rotating gear operably coupled to a gear surface of the latching linear gear, wherein the latching linear gear is coupled to a latching bar, which is in turn coupled to a plurality of hinged plates positioned between an interior surface of the first mullion and the locking brackets, wherein the rotating gear is operable to move the latching linear gear along a longitudinal axis of the first mullion, exerting a pulling force on the latching bar, wherein movement of the latching bar is operable to pull and raise the hinged plates, which raising is operable to urge the locking brackets toward engagement with the grooves of the first and second mullion. The hinged plates are operable to fold upon each other to form a unitary latch oriented 90 degrees with respect to the first and second mullions.
In yet a further embodiment, a window panel fastening assembly is disclosed having a locking bracket housing wall including an aperture for a cable, wherein the cable is connected at one end to a first folding plate, wherein the first folding plate is hingedly coupled to a second folding plate, which in turn is hingedly connected to fixed plate coupled to a latch housing base coupled to the first mullion, and further including a block coupled to the second folding plate, wherein the first and second folding plates are positioned between an interior surface of the first mullion and the locking brackets, wherein a pulling force exerted on the cable is operable to lift the first plate to contact the block, which movement is operable to drive the locking brackets in an upward direction. The pulling force exerted on the cable is operable to lift the second folding plate upward and drive the locking brackets toward engagement with the grooves of the first and second mullions.
Window panel fastening assemblies disclosed herein may include a lateral bracing plate positioned between the first and second mullions and extending therefrom to an exterior of the window panel fastening assembly.
In accordance with still further embodiments, a window panel assembly is disclosed having a first and second sheet of material positioned in axial alignment, each sheet having a perimeter and number of sides identical to the other sheet, and a plurality of window panel fastening assemblies as disclosed above coupled along the respective perimeters of the first and second sheets, wherein the first sheet is coupled to the first mounting surface of each of the first mullions of the window fastening assemblies and wherein the second sheet is coupled to the second, opposing mounting surface of each of the first mullions, the first and second sheets and the first mullions of the plurality of window panel fastening assemblies defining an air chamber.
In yet another embodiment, a window panel assembly is disclosed having an air chamber defined by two opposing sheets of material and a plurality of window panel fastening assemblies as described herein disposed along the perimeter and between the two opposing sheets of material. Air chambers may include one or more sheets of insulation film disposed therein. Window panel assemblies disclosed herein may include at least one adjacent window panel assembly. In still further embodiments, a window wall is disclosed having a plurality of window panel assemblies as described herein, each of the plurality of window panel assemblies coupled to an adjoining window panel assembly by a concealed window panel fastening assembly.
Window wall assemblies disclosed herein may include at least one vertical track and/or horizontal track coupled to a window fastening assembly.
So that those having ordinary skill in the art will have a better understanding of how to make and use the disclosed systems and methods, reference is made to the accompanying figures wherein:
The following is a detailed description of the invention provided to aid those skilled in the art in practicing the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art may make modifications and variations in the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is for describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. All publications, patent applications, patents, figures and other references mentioned herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.
It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “coupled” or “connected” to another element, it can be directly coupled or connected to the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly coupled” or “directly connected” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. As used herein the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
In addition, spatially relative terms, such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is inverted, elements described as “under” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “over” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “under” can encompass both an orientation of over and under. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
Concealed window panel fasteners and assemblies disclosed herein employ structural spacing mullions concealed within a panel chamber, with the fasteners operable to couple adjacent panels. This provides a structurally sound, thermally secure window or curtain wall with surfaces flush with both the interior and exterior of the window or curtain wall.
Now referring to
Locking brackets 24a and 24b may have any suitable cross-sectional shape suitable for securement to the mullions 22a, 22b. For purposes for illustration in one embodiment the locking brackets 24a, 24b are generally U-shaped in cross-section and are configured to engage grooves 25 of facing mullions 22a, 22b. One or both of the locking brackets may include a bore 23 for receiving the rod 30. In the embodiment shown, locking bracket 24a includes a bore 23. Locking brackets may be any suitable material that satisfies structural and thermal requirements of a building.
Rod 30 is configured and operable to be inserted between adjacent panel assemblies 10, 10b through a space formed between mullions 22a, 22b and bore 23. A brace 40 may be positioned between mullions 22a, 22b to guide and secure rod 30 and structural integrity between mullions 22a and 22b. In some embodiments bore 23 includes threading complementary to a threaded region of rod 30 so that advancement of the rod through the locking bracket 24a functions to urge the locking brackets 24a and 24b securely in grooves 25. A backer rod or bracket 50 may be positioned opposite brace 40. Upon installation of the rod 30, the adjacent panels 10a and 10b are secured along the perimeter including the panel fastening assembly 20. Caulk 60 may be installed to seal any gaps between the adjacent panels 10a, 10b.
The sheets 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d may be glass or other suitable material such as but not limited to aluminum or plastic. Glass material may be but is not limited to annealed, laminated, or fritted glass.
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Locking brackets 24a, 24b may be pivotably coupled such as at hinge 26 to an interior surface of mullion 22a and operable to rotate into position for installation. Prior to installation the locking brackets 24a, 24b may lay flat between grooves 25 of the mullion 22a. It will be apparent that in such embodiments only one of mullions 22a, 22b includes locking brackets mounted thereto, given that the opposing mullion 22b will be engaged by the locking brackets. Accordingly, the locking brackets can be mounted to either of the opposing mullions 22a, 22b prior to installation. In some embodiments one of each of mullions 22a, 22b may include a single locking bracket pivotably coupled thereto. With reference to
With further reference to
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It will be apparent to the skilled artisan that the latching mechanisms of one or more embodiments of the present invention may be attached to the mullion with a gasket that allows for thermal expansion. The latching mechanism may be housed within a housing coupled to the mullion to maintain clearances during installation.
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The large space in the chamber between window panels provides sufficient room to accommodate a shading device, which can be remotely controlled. Since the shading device is inside the chamber, it is protected from outside factors. Thus, for example, the chamber may include one or more louvers 478 mounted therein, operably connected to a control gear 477 and a motor or magnetic device with a coupling 409 for one or more of a power, control and/or sensor device. One or more photovoltaic cells may be coupled with the louvers 478 to provide power without a connection to an outside power source. The louvers 478 may be operated remotely to provide shade, privacy, decorative appearance, etc.
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In terms of installation, once the fastener assemblies are locked in place, any connecting tubes are secured and tucked away prior to caulking. Both interior and exterior gaps are caulked using a backer rod or similar device.
Although the systems and methods of the present disclosure have been described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, the present disclosure is not limited thereby. Indeed, the exemplary embodiments are implementations of the disclosed systems and methods are provided for illustrative and non-limitative purposes. Changes, modifications, enhancements and/or refinements to the disclosed systems and methods may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, such changes, modifications, enhancements and/or refinements are encompassed within the scope of the present invention.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US15/27658 | 4/24/2015 | WO | 00 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61983826 | Apr 2014 | US |
