Patent Application
20190078380
The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for sealing joints between adjacent glazing panels of a glazed panel wall construction on the exterior of a building, such as a curtain wall, storefront or the like, and more particularly, to a pre-formed seal.
Various apparatus and methods for establishing a seal between glazing panels are known. Typically, two-sided silicone structural glazing (SSG) is sealed with a wet-type seal, e.g., a silicone seal that is applied in a flowable state and that subsequently cures to a non-flowable state. Preformed gaskets are known that install between adjacent glass panels. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,245,808 discloses a weather seal retainer for structural glazing. A pre-formed gasket is also known that may be inserted between glazing panels, see PG123™ wall system from Kawneer, http://www.kawneer.com. Notwithstanding, alternative apparatus and methods for sealing glazing panels remain desirable.
The disclosed subject matter relates to a weather seal for a gap between adjacent glazing panels held to a structure, having: a first wall along the length of the weather seal; a first coupling disposed along a first side of the first wall, the first coupling attaching to the structure between the gap; a second coupling disposed along a second side of the first wall distal to the first side, the second coupling capable of selectively attaching to a cap covering the joint; at least one seal member extending from the first wall intermediate the first coupling and the second coupling, the seal member at least partially bridging the gap.
In another embodiment, the first coupling is a first receiver and the structure has a tongue that inserts into the first receiver.
In another embodiment, further including a second wall extending next to the first wall along the length of the first wall, the first wall and the second wall joined by a web.
In another embodiment, the at least one seal member includes a first fin and a second fin, the first fin extending from the first wall in a direction perpendicular thereto and distal to the second wall, the second fin extending from the second wall in a direction perpendicular thereto, and distal to the first wall.
In another embodiment, the at least one seal member further includes at least one sealing bulb, the sealing bulb having a hollow therein and capable of deforming when pressed into the gap.
In another embodiment, the at least one sealing bulb includes a first sealing bulb and a second sealing bulb, the first sealing bulb extending from the first wall in a direction perpendicular thereto and distal to the second wall, the second sealing bulb extending from the second wall in a direction perpendicular thereto, and distal to the first wall.
In another embodiment, the first sealing bulb and the second sealing bulb have a cross-section approximating an egg shape, with a first portion having a smaller diameter than a second portion, the first portions leading the first and second sealing bulbs into the gap before the second portions when the weather seal is installed in the gap.
In another embodiment, the second coupling is a second receiver and further including an extension from a wall of each of the sealing bulbs, the extensions extending in a direction toward one another to define a split over the second receiver.
In another embodiment, the weather seal is made from an elastic material, the first receiver capable of deforming to a first position capable of receiving the tongue of the structure and resiliently returning to a second position interlocking with the tongue of the structure.
In another embodiment, further including a first pair of inwardly directed prominences proximate the first receiver, a first prominence of the first pair extending from the first wall toward the second wall and a second of the first pair extending from the second wall toward the first wall, wherein the tongue of the structure has recesses on opposing sides thereof, the pair of prominences extending into the recesses when the tongue of the structure is inserted into first receiver in snap-fit relationship.
In another embodiment, further including an elongated cap capable of covering the gap, the cap having a front wall with a tongue extending therefrom, wherein, the second receiver is capable of deforming to a first position receiving the tongue of the cap and resiliently returning to a second position interlocking with the tongue of the cap and further including a second pair of inwardly directed prominences proximate the second receiver, a first prominence of the second pair extending from the first wall toward the second wall and a second prominence of the second pair extending from the second wall toward the first wall, wherein the tongue of the cap has recesses on opposing sides thereof, the second pair of prominences extending into the recesses in the tongue of the cap when the tongue of the cap is inserted into the second receiver in snap-fit relationship.
In another embodiment, the extensions form a shallow V shape in cross-section, the slit at the nadir of the V shape and disposed over and in alignment with the second receiver.
In another embodiment, further including a pair of inwardly extending guide beads in the first receiver for controlling the frictional interaction of the receiver with the tongue of the structure.
In another embodiment, a glazing structure includes: a glazing support member with a coupling member extending there from; a pair of glazing panels attached to the glazing support member with a gap there between; a weather seal inserted into the gap bridging between the pair of glazing panels, the weather seal having a first wall along the length thereof with a first coupling disposed along a first side, the first coupling attaching to the coupling member between the gap, a second coupling disposed along a second side of the first wall distal to the first side and a seal member extending from the first wall to at least one of the glazing panels.
In another embodiment, the first coupling and the second coupling are first and second receivers and the coupling member is a tongue that inserts into the first receiver, the weather seal further including a second wall extending next to the first wall along the length of the first wall, the first wall and the second wall joined by a web forming an H-shape in cross-section, wherein the seal member includes a pair of sealing fins, a first fin extending from the first wall in a direction perpendicular thereto and distal to the second wall, a second fin extending from the second wall in a direction perpendicular thereto, and distal to the first wall, and further comprising a pair of sealing bulbs having a hollow therein and capable of deforming when pressed into the gap, a first of the pair of sealing bulbs extending from the first wall in a direction perpendicular thereto and distal to the second wall, the second sealing bulb extending from the second wall in a direction perpendicular thereto, and distal to the first wall.
In another embodiment, the first sealing bulb and the second sealing bulb have a cross-section approximating an egg shape, with a first portion having a smaller diameter than a second portion, the first portions leading the first and second sealing bulbs into the gap before the second portions when the weather seal is installed in the gap, further including an extension from a wall of each of the sealing bulbs, the extensions extending in a direction toward one another and meeting to define a split over the second receiver.
In another embodiment, further including an elongated cap capable of covering the gap, the cap having a front wall with a tongue extending therefrom, the tongue of the cap being received in snap-fitting relationship into the second receiver.
In another embodiment, a method for sealing a gap between glazing panels, includes the steps of: providing a structure for supporting at least two glazing panels adjacent to each other with a gap between, the structure having a coupling member extending into the gap; providing an elongated weather seal having a first coupling disposed along a first longitudinal side and a second coupling disposed along a second longitudinal side and a seal member extending in a generally perpendicular direction relative the length of the weather seal, the weather seal having a penetrable barrier covering the second coupling; inserting the weather seal into the gap; coupling the first coupling of the weather seal to the coupling member of the structure, weather seal being held in position in the gap with the seal member at least partially bridging a width of the gap.
In another embodiment, further including the steps of providing an elongated cap with a front wall with a tongue extending therefrom; pushing the tongue of the cap into the second receiver; interlocking the tongue of the cap with the second receiver.
In another embodiment, further including the step of penetrating the penetrable barrier of the weather seal prior to the step of pushing and deforming the second receiver prior to the step of interlocking.
For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, reference is made to the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
An aspect of the present disclosure is the recognition that it would be beneficial to have a preformed weather seal for sealing a joint between adjacent glazing units that allows a cap structure to be attached to the joint at a predetermined relative position, e.g., parallel to and centered over the jot and without use of a flowable (liquid) sealant, such as silicone seal to attach the cap.
An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a multi-function rain screen gasket. In one embodiment, the rain screen gasket includes a resiliently flexible front face and resiliently flexible back fins to provide two mechanisms to resist water penetration. In an embodiment, the rain screen gasket includes at least two retainer snaps, an interior retainer snap, which fixes the gasket to the face of a mullion, i.e., between two glass lites (glazing panels), and an exterior retainer snap to fix an exterior cover to the gasket for aesthetic and sealing purposes.
According to aspects of the present disclosure, an assembly is disclosed that allows the window wall glazing system or curtain wall glazing system to perform whether the exterior cover is present or not. According to aspects illustrated herein, in one embodiment, a window wall glazing system or curtain wall glazing system includes at least two insulating glass units, at least two methods for fixing glass lites of the insulating glass units in place on both sides of a mullion (SSG or tape applied), and at least one rain screen gasket for providing a rain screen seal between the glass lites or panels against water/weather penetration.
Each of portions 10A and 10B have a first wall 14A, 14B and a second wall 16A, 16B extending away from the web 12 and forming an H shaped cross-sectional shape. Short, angled flare walls 17A, 17B result in first end walls 18A, 18B being laterally, outwardly offset from first walls 14A, 14B to form a receiver 20. Proximate the flare walls 17A, 17B, inwardly directed prominences 22A, 22B extend. The prominences 22A, 22B have sloped inner surfaces 24A, 24B that serve as guides to introduce a tongue 26 there between. The tongue 26 may be provided with a tip 28 having sloped surfaces 30A, 30B that encounter and slide over the prominences 22A, 22B in wedging fashion when the tongue 26 is inserted into the receiver 20. The weather seal 10 may be formed from an elastic polymer, such as polypropylene, TPV, santoprene, polyamide or PVC, which may be extruded to form the weather seal 10. The elasticity of the weather seal 10 allows the receiver 20 is spread apart when the tip 28 of the tongue 26 is pressed past the prominences 22A, 22B. The tongue 26 has recesses 34A, 34B that receive the prominences 22A, 22B, allowing the receiver 20 to assume a relaxed position with interior flat surfaces 36A, 36B of the prominences 22A, 22B abutting flat surfaces 38A, 38B of the recesses 34A, 34B and locking the tongue 26 in the recess 34A, 34B. Inwardly directed guide beads 42A, 42B provide centering of the tongue 26 as it is introduced into and held in the receiver 20. The guide beads 42A, 42B also provide a frictional interaction of predetermined magnitude between the tongue 26 and the weather seal 10 that aids in holding the weather seal 10 in position on the tongue, but that does not impede installation or repositioning of the weather seal 10.
Each of the portions 10A, 10B have a sealing fin 46A, 46B extending outwardly therefrom at an intermediate position, e.g., proximate web 12. As shown in
Portions 10A, 10B also feature sealing bulbs 80A, 80B that extend from the end walls 54A, 54B. The sealing bulbs 80A, 80B are generally oval in cross section. The oval shapes may be modified by substantially flat portions 82A, 82B that join end walls 54A, 54B at an acute interior angle A and an obtuse exterior angle B. In one embodiment, angles A and B may both be close to 90 degrees. The flat portions 82A, 82B have ends 84A, 84B that approach and optionally touch one another, leaving a split S and covering the receiver 50 when in a relaxed position. The oval shape of the sealing bulbs 80A, 80B may also be modified by narrowed interior portions 86A, 86B that ease entry of the sealing bulbs 80A, 80B into the gap between adjacent glazing panels 98, 100. Bulging portions 88A, 88B insure the sealing bulbs 80A, 80B extend across and seal the gap between glazing panels 98, 100. The sealing bulbs 80A, 80B may be closed, with ends 92A, 92B monolithically extending from the receiver 50 (at or proximate to the flare walls 52A, 52B), increasing the rigidity of the sealing bulbs 80A, 80B. Alternatively, the ends 92A, 92B may be formed independently of and abut against the flare walls 52A, 52B, decreasing the rigidity of the sealing bulbs 80A, 80B.
A weather seal 10 is disclosed herein which incorporates the benefits of a preformed gasket used in SSG conditions along with cap attachment features. The attachment features are concealed behind the exterior surface of the weather seal 10. This dual functionality provides a single seal system that can optionally be used to achieve the aesthetic and functional effects of either a flush SSG system or a captured system. The weather seal 10 allows for positive engagement of the cap 108 by splitting along the face of the weather seal 10 during attachment of the cap 108, which then snaps into place in the receiver 50. The positive engagement of the cap 108 with the weather seal 10 eliminates the structural silicone seal otherwise needed to affix the cap 108 to adjacent glazing panels. The weather seal 10 assures accurate alignment and positioning relative to the glazing panels 98, 100.
It will be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make many variations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. For example, while the receivers 20, 50 are shown as female coupling devices that receive a male tongue 26, 60 extending from the structure 92 and the cap 108, this relationship could be reversed in one or both instances. For example, the tongue 26 could have a slot therein into which a male tongue extending from the weather seal 10 is inserted and snap-locked into place. Similarly, the weather seal could have a second male tongue that inserts into a slot formed in the cap 108 at the position where the male tongue 60 is situated in the illustrated embodiments. All such variations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.
