Claims
- 1. A window wall or curtain wall system comprising:a panel of substantially rigid material having a pair of substantially parallel first edges and a pair of substantially parallel second edges, said pairs of substantially parallel first and second edges being substantially perpendicular one to another; a non-orthogonal first mullion constructed and arranged for supporting said panel of substantially rigid material along at least one of said first edges; a substantially hollow second mullion constructed and arranged for supporting said panel of substantially rigid material along at least one of said second edges; a non-rectangular shear block for connecting said non-orthogonal first mullion to said substantially hollow second mullion; said non-rectangular shear block being cut from a section of extruded material along angled, substantially parallel lines; said section of extruded material having a perimeter constructed and arranged to fit within a hollow portion of said substantially hollow second mullion; said non-rectangular shear block further including a solid central portion through which a plurality of fastener holes may be formed wherein said plurality of fastener holes are oriented along an axis substantially perpendicular to an exterior surface of said non-orthogonal first mullion; and whereby said non-rectangular shear block may be used to connect said substantially hollow second mullion to said first non-orthogonal mullion by attaching said shear block to said non-orthogonal first mullion by passing fasteners through said plurality of fastener holes in the solid central portion of said shear block and into said first non-orthogonal mullion and passing the hollow portion of said second mullion over said non-rectangular shear block.
- 2. A method for connecting a non-orthogonal first mullion to a second substantially hollow mullion to mount a panel in a window wall or curtain wall system for a structure, said method comprising the steps of:positioning the non-orthogonal first mullion in a predetermined position with respect to the structure; attaching a non-rectangular shear block to the non-orthogonal first mullion with fasteners so that said fasteners enter said non-orthogonal first mullion at a substantially ninety degree angle; said non-rectangular shear block being cut from a section of extruded material along substantially parallel lines and further including a solid central portion including at least one fastener hole, said fastener hole being oriented at an angle which is substantially ninety degrees to the surface of the non-orthogonal first mullion; said non-rectangular shear block being further constructed and arranged to fit within a substantially hollow portion of the second substantially hollow mullion; and attaching said second substantially hollow mullion to said non-orthogonal first mullion by passing the hollow portion of the second mullion over said non-rectangular shear block.
- 3. A building, said building comprising:a foundation; at least one floor; at least one inner wall; at least one outer wall; a plurality of window wall or curtain wall systems included within said at least one inner wall or said at least one outer wall, said plurality of window wall or curtain wall systems including; a panel of substantially rigid material having a pair of substantially rigid material having a pair of substantially parallel first edges and a pair of substantially parallel second edges, said pairs of substantially parallel first and second edges being substantially perpendicular one to another; a non-orthogonal first mullion constructed and arranged for supporting said panel of substantially rigid material along at least one of said first edges; a substantially hollow second mullion constructed and arranged for supporting said panel of substantially rigid material along at least one of said second edges; a non-rectangular shear block for connecting said first non-orthogonal mullion to said substantially hollow second mullion; said non-rectangular shear block being cut from a section of extruded material along angled, substantially parallel lines; said section of extruded material having a perimeter constructed and arranged to fit within a hollow portion of said substantially hollow second mullion; said non-rectangular shear block further including a solid central portion through which a plurality of fastener holes may be formed wherein said plurality of fastener holes are oriented along an axis substantially perpendicular to an exterior surface of said non-orthogonal first mullion; and whereby said non-rectangular shear block may be used to connect said substantially hollow second mullion to said first non-orthogonal mullion by attaching said non-rectangular shear block to said non-orthogonal first mullion by passing fasteners at substantially ninety degree angle to said cut through said plurality of fastener holes in the solid central portion of said shear block and into said first non-orthogonal mullion and passing the hollow portion of said second mullion over said non-rectangular shear block.
- 4. A vehicle, said vehicle comprising:a frame; an outer body; at least one floor; at least one curtain wall or window wall system, said window wall or curtain wall system including; a plurality of window wall or curtain wall systems included in said outer body or inside said outer body, said plurality of window wall or curtain wall systems including; a panel of substantially rigid material having a pair of substantially parallel first edges and a pair of substantially parallel second edges, said pairs of substantially parallel first and second edges being substantially perpendicular one to another; a non-orthogonal first mullion constructed and arranged for supporting said panel of substantially rigid material along at least one of said first edges; a substantially hollow second mullion constructed and arranged for supporting said panel of substantially rigid material along at least one of said second edges; a non-rectangular shear block for connecting said non-orthogonal first mullion to said substantially hollow second mullion; said non-rectangular shear block being cut from a section of extruded material along angled, substantially parallel lines; said section of extruded material having a perimeter constructed and arranged to fit within a hollow portion of said substantially hollow second mullion; said non-rectangular shear block further including a solid central portion through which a plurality of fastener holes may be formed wherein said plurality of fastener holes are oriented along an axis substantially perpendicular to an exterior surface of said non-orthogonal first mullion; and whereby said non-rectangular shear block may be used to connect said substantially hollow second mullion to said non-orthogonal first mullion by attaching said non-rectangular shear block to said non-orthogonal first mullion by passing fasteners through said plurality of fastener holes in the solid central portion of said non-rectangular shear block and into said first mullion and passing the hollow portion of said second mullion over said non-rectangular shear block.
Parent Case Info
This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/116,887 filed Jan. 22, 1999.
US Referenced Citations (17)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2234992 |
Feb 1991 |
GB |
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/116887 |
Jan 1999 |
US |