1. Field
The current disclosure relates to a unique and compact self-lock glazing system composed of two aluminum extrusion profiles—a male profile and a female profile—designed in such a way to self-lock glass panels using beadings. The mechanism functions when a glass panel is positioned on setting blocks over the flat surface of the upper leg of the said female profile—with spacers between the vertical leg of the said female profile and the said glass panel (as illustrated in
The introduction of the said rubber beadings lends a unique dynamism to the mechanism. The inherent resilience of rubber beadings causes a mating action in the locking chamber and the resulting equal and opposite reactions keeps the glass panel in equilibrium between the vertical tips of both the said male and female profiles by means of the built-in fulcrum. This balancing act of forces remains in the locking system throughout the life of the beadings.
2. General Background
U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,221 entitled “snap-in glazing pocket filler” disclosed a snap-in pocket filler for use with a structural frame member having an unused glazing pocket, or for use as gap filler on aluminum profiles to cover the unused area for aesthetic reason.
It was noticed that a proper glazing system was lacking in the market to meet the increasing demand for thicker glazing (e. g. shop fronts and partitions) and it has become a necessity for those skilled in the art to develop a system which must be simple, technically safe and aesthetically impressive.
The following U.S. Patents are incorporated herein by reference:
Aluminum glazing profiles generally available in the market are intended for standard window glazing only. These profiles are used by many people for bigger partition walls with thicker glazing, compromising safety, quality and aesthetic appeal as no other options are available for glazing big partition walls with thicker glass panel than window pane glasses. For maximum visibility of the showrooms, designers insist on frameless glazing with thin frames around the glass panel. Technicians use U channels, in which glass panels are allowed to stand free but these tend to move horizontally due to loose fixing with silicone at the ends.
Some professional pioneers like Dorma (Germany) developed heavy profiles for thicker glass application which require fastening by screws that further should be covered for aesthetic reasons and consequently the work becomes complicated, laborious and eventually expensive. In view of the above factors and considering the demand for faster glazing, the current disclosure emphasizes the issue of safety while addressing the importance of aesthetic appeal, allowing enough clearance for glazing (so that one could decide the glass size before installing frames at site) and making site installation easy.
For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present disclosure, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein:
The self-lock glazing system consists of two extruded aluminum profiles, a male profile 11,
The self-lock glazing system comprising:
a) A female profile 12,
The vertical leg 68 originates from the horizontal lower leg 69 at the base and has a vertical face 35 which ends at about three-fourth the height of the vertical leg 68 to join an inclined surface 34 which terminates at the horizontal tip 33 with adjoining vertical face 67. The vertical face 67 acts as the link for transfer of forces between the glass panel 99,
The said groove 60 comprises an upper projection 63, an upper recess 62, followed by the vertical wall 61 which is parallel to the exterior wall 35, a lower recess 59 and a bottom projection 58. The bottom projection 58 is followed by another vertical face 57 that curves down to join the upper face 56 of the upper leg 70.
The upper leg 70 which is the horizontal cantilever extension from the lower half portion of the vertical leg 68, has an upper flat surface formed by 56 and 54 and a groove 55 in between, and this leg 70 terminates approximately at two-thirds of the length of the lower leg 69 at tip 53 and its bottom has a downwardly sloping protrusion 52 with a female locking tip 71 with a mating face 51 followed by an upper horizontal surface 50 that curves down to the vertical wall 49 to form the locking chamber facing downward to the gap formed by the remaining portion of the inside wall 49 and the adjacent upper surface 48 up to 42 of the lower leg 69; this gap provides access to the said locking chamber.
The said vertical faces 67, 64, 57 and 49 are all in a same straight line and defines the inside wall of the said female profile 12. The recess formed by the sloped face 65 is for accommodating the allowances provided in the grooved rubber beadings.
The top surface of the lower leg 69 is flat in general, and this top surface starts with a horizontal surface 48 adjacent to the inner vertical wall 49 and this horizontal surface 48 defines the general level of the top surface. On the other end of the leg there is another horizontal surface 42 which is of same level as 48. The horizontal surface 42 at the other end plays a vital role in the system since it acts as the base for acting the built-in fulcrum 18 in the said male profile 11. The upper surfaces 48 and 42 of the lower leg 69 have two lower horizontal faces 46 and 44 in between with a ‘v’-shaped groove 45 at its centre. The recessed surface 46 is connected to the surface 48 with an inclined surface 47. The horizontal recessed surface 44 is connected with the surface 42 by an inclined surface 43. The ‘v’-shaped groove 45 at the centre acts as a guidance for drilling holes for countersunk screws 90 for fastening the female profile 12 to the structure. There is another ‘v’-shaped groove 55 on the flat surface on top of the upper leg 70 that facilitates ease of drilling a hole for access to the ‘v’ shaped groove 45 vertically below. The ‘v’-shaped grooves 45 and 55 are required to ensure precision and accuracy of the installation of the glazing system and also to make drilling easier and to the point.
Adjacent to the horizontal surface 42, a vertical face 41 goes down to the bottom surface of the horizontal leg 69 and this vertical surface 41 comes in the same line with the outer surface 15 of the said male profile 11 when the system is engaged. The bottom surface of the lower leg of the said female profile 12 has two symmetrical projections 36 and 40 at the ends with recess 38 at centre for proper seating. The recess 38 is connected to projection 36 and 40 with inclined surfaces 37 and 39 respectively.
b) A male profile 11,
The locking tip 73 comprising an upward sloping surface 20 turns to form another upward sloping surface 21, and an adjoining dropping down face 22 combines to form a unique shape to the locking tip 73. The upper surface 23 of the horizontal leg 72 curves upward to join the inner vertical wall 24 which extends up to a groove 75.
The said groove comprising a lower projection 25, an upper projection 29, a lower recess 26, an upper recess 28 with a vertical wall 27 that is parallel to the exterior wall 15, a top projection 29, joins the interior wall which slopes upward forming an inclined surface 30 which terminates at the horizontal surface 31. The horizontal surface 31 ends to a vertical face 32 that joins the horizontal tip 13.
The horizontal tip 13 together with a vertical surface 32 and a bottom surface 31 helps to retain the rubber beadings.
The mechanism functions when a glass panel 99 is positioned on packing 96 over the upper leg 70 of the said female profile with spacers 94 between the vertical leg 68 of the said female profile 12 and the said glass panel 99, and then inserting the horizontal leg 72 of the said male profile 11 with its locking tip 73 facing upward into the gap between the lower leg 69 and upper legs 70 of the said female profile, then engaging the locking tips of both male and female profiles by tilting the said male profile 11 on its built-in fulcrum 18 by pulling the vertical leg 74 outward and introducing the wedges 95 into the space so created between the said glass panel 99 and the said vertical tip 32 of the said male profile 11 to keep the locks engaged and thus the said glass panel 99 locked in the system; the mechanism further tightens its grip on the edges of the locked glass panel 99 when the spacers 94 and wedges 95 are replaced by rubber beadings 97 and 98 of appropriate resilience which enables the said glass panel 99 to remain in an equilibrium throughout the life of the beading. The vertical plane passing through the centre of the glass panel 99 will intersect both the male profile 11 and female profile 12, and also intersect the gap of the female profile 12 and the leg 72 of the male profile 11. Then the horizontal tip 33 of the vertical leg 68 of the said female profile 12 and the horizontal tip 13 of the vertical leg 74 of the said male profile 11 are located at the same height when the glass panel 99 is positioned and the lock is engaged by tilting the said male profile 11 on its built-in fulcrum 18 by pulling the vertical leg 74 outward and introducing the wedges 95 into the space so created between the said glass panel 99 and the said vertical tip 32 of the said male profile 11 to keep the locks engaged and thus the said glass panel 99 locked in the system.
The scientific principles used are the Newton's Law of Motion, the property of elasticity of the rubber and the transmission of the rotational moments of the moving parts around the fulcrum. The following explanation is read in relation to
F-Outward force (due to the resilience of rubber beading)
P-Inward force (creating the locking)
C-Fulcrum point
Insertion of the rubber between the glass panel and the upper tips of the vertical legs of profiles creates outward forces (F) to the legs of both profiles forcing them apart.
A turning moment at the pivotal fulcrum (C) forces the locking system together (P). The locking system functions due to the combination of a pair of hooking tips and the fulcrum built in the legs of the male and female profiles mating in the locking chamber while retaining the pivotal mating profile (male) firmly in position and the glass panel which is under the grip of the said vertical tips are eventually remain locked.
The pre-determined variables are the sizing of the glass panel and that of the rubber beading. In this arrangement any external forces applied due to conditions like wind or vibrations caused by physical movements—whose action may act to dislodge the glass from its set position—only acts to further tighten the fastening mechanism of the system to arrest the glass panel in position.
A bead 206 is positioned between tip 106 and panel 202, and a bead 208 is positioned between tip 156 and panel 202. In the illustrated example, bead 208 includes an extension or capture material 210 that is positioned within cavity section 158. As such, bead 208 is captured or coupled to female profile 150, and may be captured thereto even without the presence of panel 202. Bead 206, on the other hand is illustrated as captured between tip 106 and panel 202 but does not extend into cavity section 108, as does material 210 of bead 208. However, it is contemplated that either or both of beads 206, 208 may include a material such as material 210 that is fit into and captured by respective cavity sections 108 and 158.
Beads 206 and 208 are fabricated from an elastically compressible and resilient material such as a rubber-type compound. Accordingly, each is installed into assembly 200 such that an outward force 212 results from compression that is applied against each of beads 206, 208. Force 212 thereby causes tips 106, 156 to force apart from one another. As such, male profile 100 is caused to rock or rotate 214 and about fulcrum 116, which abuts against a point or contact location 216 of female profile 150. Contact location 216, as illustrated, is on upper surface 168 of base structure 166. Accordingly, the rocking 214 about fulcrum 116 causes a locking engagement at engagement location 204 and between locking face 164 of female profile 150, and locking face 114 of male profile 100. That is, panel 202 is positioned between the first and second tips 106, 156, and outward forces 212 cause female and male profiles 150, 100 to engage by tilting leg 104 outward from panel 202 and about fulcrum 116. In one example, panel 202 is positioned on a base material or packing 218, that may provide dampening (to avoid shock to panel 202) to reduce damage to panel 202 during installation and use.
As can be appreciated, typically a window or panel 202 serves not only as a wind break in a structure (such as a residence or other building), but also to reduce an amount of heat transfer between both sides of the assembly. For instance, in one example, assembly 200 may be positioned to reduce the amount of heat transfer between an outside area 220 and an inside area 222. In this example, outside area 220 may be very cold, such as during winter in a cold climate, and may be at a temperature of −10° C., in an example. Inside area 222, on the other hand, may be at room temperature of 22° C., for example. Thus a temperature differential of 33° C. exists, in this example.
In another example, the direction of heat transfer may be reversed, such as may occur in summer months or in a very hot climate. For instance, in one example, assembly 200 may be positioned to reduce the amount of heat transfer between an inside area 222 and an outside area 220. In this example, outside area 220 may be very warm, and may be at a temperature of 42° C., in an example. Inside area 222, on the other hand, may be at room temperature of 22° C., for example. Thus a temperature differential of 20° C. exists, in this example.
As such, heat may transfer in a direction 224 that is generally orthogonal or transverse to a main axis 226 of panel 202, the direction of which is dependent on relative temperatures between one side of the assembly and the other. Thus, heat may transfer orthogonally through panel 202 and also through other components of assembly 200. As can be seen in assembly 200, conduction heat transfer from male profile 100 to female profile 150 occurs through beads 206, 208 (and panel 202), and also through locations or areas of direct contact therebetween. That is, engagement area 204 is one location where conduction occurs, and contact location 216 is another location where conduction occurs. Conduction heat transfer is relatively limited between beads 206, 208 and panel 202 because beads 206, 208 because the resilient material of beads 206, 208 is generally quite low (such as below 2 W/m-K). Thus, contact location 204 and contact location 216 represent at least two locations in assembly 200 that may have an increased propensity to conduction heat transfer.
As such and as described, thermal break material 120 is positioned between female profile 150 and male profile 100, and in one example material 120 covers at least a portion of male profile 100. In such fashion, an amount of conduction heat transfer is reduced between male profile 100 and female profile 150 because thermal break material 120 causes an interruption in the heat transfer path between inside area 222 and outside area 220. To reduce the amount of heat transfer, thermal break material 120 has a thermal conductivity that is lower than materials of male profile 100 and female profile 150. In examples, thermal break material is ABS or polycarbonate, or other material such as plastic. Plastic may include a synthetic material from a wide range of organic polymers such as polyethylene, PVC, nylon, etc., that can be molded into shape while soft and then set into a rigid or slightly elastic form. In general, the thermal break material typically has a low thermal conductivity relative to metals. For instance, profiles 100, 150 may be made of aluminum or other metal that may have a thermal conductivity greater than 100 W/m-K. Plastic, on the other hand, typically is below 2 W/m-K.
In one example, thermal break material 120 is attached directly to the male profile 100. That is, thermal break material 120 may be thermally bonded directly to male profile 100 in at least the areas of contact between profiles 100, 150, such as contact location 204 and contact location 216. In another example, thermal break material 120 is an extra item that is not directly bonded to male profile 100, but instead added to male profile 100 during assembly. Regardless, as shown, thermal break material 120 may be included over areas of male profile 100 in addition to contact location 204 and contact location 216, to ensure that any inadvertent contact between profiles 100, 150 will not be direct between the materials of each of profiles 100, 150 once assembled into assembly 200.
For instance, assembly 200 includes a gap 228 between additional leg 118 of male profile 100, and a face 174 of base structure 166. Gap 228 may be generally less than 1 mm in thickness and in one example, is 0.25 mm. As stated, additional leg 118 provides a generally uninterrupted exterior surface for male profile 100 that extends along face 174, for aesthetic purposes. As such and as a few examples, component tolerances, component distortion during assembly (components may be damaged or plastically deformed), and component distortion during use (such as in heavy wind or by pressure being placed by objects placed against assembly 200), may cause additional leg 118 to come into contact with face 174. Thus, thermal break material 120 may be included on additional leg 118, and in other portions of male profile 100 that may come into contact with female profile 150 after the assembly 200 is formed. Accordingly, the total amount of heat transfer between inside area 222 and outside area 220 is reduced, when compared to such an assembly that does not include thermal break material 120.
Self-locking glazing system or assembly 200 is fabricated, in one example, by engaging locking extension 102 of male profile 100 with locking extension 152 of female profile 150, positioning thermal break material 120 between the male and female profiles 100, 150, and positioning panel 202 using beads 206, 208 between tips of the male and female profiles 106, 156 to engage male and female profiles 100, 150 against thermal break material 120.
Referring to
In one example, system 300 includes a common base 318 that forms both female profiles 306. Accordingly, gaps 320 are formed between each male profile 308 and common base 318. As such, thermal break materials 310 may extend on each male profile 308 such that any inadvertent contact in the gaps 320 is first met with a thermally resistive material. Female profiles 306 each further comprises a respective base structure having an upper surface and a lower surface, such that gaps are formed between each of the respective upper surface and the locking extension of the female profiles 306. A fulcrum is formed in each of the male profiles, where each locking extension extends from a respective leg, and each locking extension extends into a respective gap. Each fulcrum forms a contact location with the upper surface of the respective base structure where the respective thermal break material is positioned between the female profile and the male profile.
In operation, assembly 200 thereby tightens a hold on panel 202 when wind or other pressure is placed thereagainst. That is, as wind or pressure is brought to bear against panel 202 (generally orthogonally to main axis 226 but the direction may be in any vector against panel 202), the force causes slight motion against male profile 100, causing rotation about fulcrum 116, thereby causing engagement tip 112 of male profile 100 to further engage against engagement tip 162 of female profile 150. Thus, as external force is applied to the structure, the overall structure increases its grip on panel 202, resulting in the self-locking operation or mechanism.
Further, beads 206, 208 may further reduce an amount of heat transfer in assembly 200 by adding thermal resistance between tips 106, 156 and panel 202. As such, beads 206, 208 may be customized based on desired resiliency and based on mechanical engagement within assembly 200 (providing adequate reaction forces during operation) and/or based on a desired amount of thermal resistance. Further, beads 206, 208 may be modifiable such that other designs may be provided based on conditions of use. For instance, in a hot or dusty environment, it may be desirable for beads 206, 208 to also provide a dust barrier such that dust does not pass through the assembly and indoors.
As such, a self-locking glazing system includes a female profile having a first locking extension and a first leg extending therefrom, the first leg having a first tip. The system includes a male profile having a second locking extension and a second leg extending therefrom, the second leg having a second tip that is approximately opposite the first tip. A thermal break material is positioned between the female and male profiles. When a panel is positioned between the first and second tips using the beads 206, 208, the female profile and the male profile are caused to engage against the thermal break material.
The previously disclosed assemblies were described in applications useful for containing glass panels for applications such as for a window in a building. However, due to the ability of the assembly to grip the panel, and increase the grip when transverse forces are applied to the panel (due to the self-locking nature of the assembly), other uses may be considered as well. For instance, in one example a self-locking handrail assembly includes the disclosed panel as a handrail for, for instance, a stairwell or along an upper portion of a wall.
As will be illustrated,
Referring to
Bar 470 causes a mating action between female locking tip 410 and male locking tip 438, resulting in equal and opposite reactions that keep panel 506 in equilibrium between vertical leg 408 and vertical leg 434. Bar 470 includes hole 476 to provide an access location such that bar 470 may be removed from assembly 500 for disassembly or for replacing panel 506, as examples. That is, bar 470 is positioned between panel 506 and vertical leg 434, bar 470 having first and second surfaces 472, 474 opposite one another that are not parallel with one another, causing the female and male profiles 400, 430 to engage by tilting vertical leg 434 outward from panel 506 and about fulcrum 436. More specifically, because of the taper or non-parallel arrangement of surfaces 472, 474 of bar 470, male profile 430 is forced outward from panel 506 as bar 470 is pressed between panel 506 and vertical leg 434 of male profile 430, which causes male profile 430 to rotate about fulcrum 436 and tilt. Such tilting causes engagement of the profiles 400, 430 at their respective engagement tips 410, 438. Such engagement increases with increased insertion of bar 470, causing a self-locking action. The self-locking action increases yet further if external forces such as wind or other pressure are applied transversely to panel 506.
As such, a self-locking handrail system includes a female profile that includes a lower leg, a first locking extension that is approximately parallel to the lower leg, having a gap formed therebetween, and a first vertical leg extending from the first locking extension approximately orthogonal to the first locking extension. The system also includes a male profile that includes a second vertical leg, and a second locking extension extending from a free end of the second locking extension, forming a fulcrum. A panel is positioned between the first vertical leg and the second vertical leg. A bar is positioned between the panel and the second vertical leg, the bar having first and second surfaces opposite one another that are not parallel with one another, causing the female and male profiles to engage by tilting the second vertical leg outward from the panel and about the fulcrum.
Thus, in general, in the disclosed glass handrail locking systems, the glass panel remains in an equilibrium due to dynamism inherent in the locking system caused by the tensile nature of the metal profiles (aluminum), the cantilever function of the locking extension (of the female profile), and the leverage mechanism provided in the glazing system.
Furthermore, disclosed is a method of fabricating the glazing system. That is, a method of assembling the glazing system includes providing a female profile having a first leg, a first locking extension that is approximately parallel to the first leg, having a gap formed therebetween, the female profile including a first vertical leg that extends orthogonally from the first locking extension, and providing a male profile having a second vertical leg and a second locking extension that extends from a free end of the second vertical leg, forming a fulcrum. The method further includes positioning the second locking extension of the male profile within the gap of the female profile, positioning a panel between the first vertical leg and the second vertical leg, obtaining a bar having first and second surfaces opposite one another that are not parallel with one another, and positioning the first surface of the bar against the panel, and the second surface of the bar against the second vertical leg, causing the female and male profiles to engage by tilting the second vertical leg outward from the panel and about the fulcrum.
When introducing elements of various embodiments, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Furthermore, any numerical examples in the following discussion are intended to be non-limiting, and thus additional numerical values, ranges, and percentages are within the scope of the disclosed embodiments.
While the disclosed subject matter has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the disclosed subject matter is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, that disclosed can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the disclosed subject matter. Additionally, while various embodiments have been described, it is to be understood that disclosed aspects may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, that disclosed is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/148,188, filed on Jan. 6, 2014, which claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/261,891, filed on Oct. 30, 2008, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/566,536, filed Jan. 30, 2006, which claims priority to International Application No. PCT/IB2004/002298, filed Jul. 15, 2004, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20140318050 A1 | Oct 2014 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12261891 | Oct 2008 | US |
Child | 14148188 | US | |
Parent | 10566536 | US | |
Child | 12261891 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 14148188 | Jan 2014 | US |
Child | 14327961 | US |