US2848762A - Panel mounting structure - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 26, 1958 G. D. PETERSON PANEL MOUNTING STRUCTURE Filed March 11; 1955 INVENTOR. 60%;0 0. P1572750 K m a W W H 7 TORNE Y United States Patent PANEL MOUNTING STRUCTURE Gerald D. Peterson, Detroit, Mich.

Application March 11, 1955, Serial No. 493,691

3 Claims. (Cl. 20-56.4)

This invention relates to an improved panel mounting structure and more particularly to a mounting structure for double glazed windows.

It is known to place a panel retaining strip in a groove formed in a sash frame member to retain the panel in place in the sash. The retaining strip is commonly forced into the groove so that it is snugly engaged thereby and it is frequently made of a suitable shape, such as a U shape, so that it is capable of resiliently supporting the panel. Both the metallic sash frame member and the retaining strip are often formed by extrusion of a suitable material such as aluminum. In such cases it is difficult to maintain tolerances on the extruded metal article because the contours of the extrusion die wear at a rather rapid rate. Thus, wearing of the extrusion dies will cause the retaining strip produced thereby to become thicker than desired and will cause the groove to become narrower than desired. It thus becomes extremely difficult, or impossible, to force such a panel retaining strip into the groove in the frame member. The die must then be renewed even though the parts are otherwise acceptable.

When it is desired to use a double-glazed window with the type of' retaining strip and sash frame described above, the sash frame member is ordinarily provided with two grooves which cooperate with two retaining strips and some additional elements to hold the panels in position. Such a structure involves additional cost in manufacture and is diflicult to assemble.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved structure for the sash frame member and retaining strip.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a structure for a sash frame member and reatining strip in which close manufacturing tolerances are unnecessary.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved structure for mounting double-glazed windows.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a mounting for a double-glazed window using a single retaining strip.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those with experience in this field upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawing which is a sectional view of a sash frame member having closure panels mounted thereon.

In meeting the objects and purposes set forth above as well as those related thereto, there is provided in general, a loose fit between the retaining strip and the groove in the sash frame unit so that the retaining strip can be easily inserted into the groove, to provide the necessary firmness for holding the closure panel in position. An intermediate member is positioned between the panel and the retaining strip. The intermediate member has a relatively highly resilient element contacting the panel, which element supplies the necessary resilient mounting for the panel. The intermediate member is also provided with a groove which is adapted to support a second closure panel to form a double-glazed window.

For convenience in reference, although with no intenice tion to limit or to indicate any particular, necessary operating position of the window parts herein described, the following terminology will sometimes hereinafter be utilized, either in the description and/ or the hereinafter appended claims: the term outward, or derivatives thereof, will be utilized to denote directions appearing as left- Wardly in the drawing; the term inward, or derivatives thereof, will be utilized to denote directions appearing as rightwardly in said drawing; the term upper, or derivatives thereof, will be utilized to denote directions appearing as upwardly in said drawing; and the term downward, or derivaties thereof, will be utilized to denote directions appearing as downwardly in said drawing. It will be understood, however, that these references are for convenience only and that the structure herein disclosed may actually be utilized with the reversal of the inward and outward directions with respect to the building in which the window is mounted.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a sash frame member 10 includes a central web portion 11 and side members 12 and 13 at opposite edges of the web. A longitudinally extending groove 14 is formed in the web 11 adjacent side member 13. The frame member has an upwardly extending flange 15 which contacts and supports one surface of closure panel 16. Other means for supporting said one surface of the closure panel may be employed in place of flange 15 if desired.

A retaining strip 17 is provided with a leg portion 18 which is received within the groove 14. The thickness of the leg portion 18 is sufficiently less than the width of the groove 14 so that the leg portion is normally rather loosely received within the groove. Thus, substantial die wear can be tolerated before the strip 17 will fail to enter the groove 14. The retaining strip 17 has a raised, transversely extending portion 19 formed at the upper end of leg 18. This portion overlies and is spaced above the top edge of side member 13. The spacing between the top edge of member 13 and the portion 19 is suflicient to allow a prying element, such as a screw driver to be inserted therebetween. It is preferable, for appearance purposes, that the outer surface of the raised portion 19 be co-planar with the outer surface of side member 13. Thus, the outer surface of the leg portion 18 is not exactly parallel to the outer surface of the portion 19, as set forth in more detail below. The raised portion 19 is provided with a flange 20 which contacts the intermediate member 21.

The intermediate member 21 is positioned between the retaining strip 17 and closure panel 16 and rests on the upper surface of the web 11. Member 21 has a groove 22 formed therein which receives a flexible and relatively highly resilient element 23. Element 23 supplies the resilient support for panel 16. As shown, this element may be in the form of an elastomeric, as rubber, tube. However, the invention includes elements made in other shapes and of different materials so long as the necessary resiliency of the element is maintained. Member 21 has a groove 24 formed in its upper surface which receives a channel-shaped resilient element 25. A second closure panel 26 is mounted within the groove 24 and the element 25 to form, in combination with closure panel 16, a double-glazed unit.

In assembly, panel 16 is placed in engagement with flange 15 and intermediate member 21 is placed on the upper surface of web 11 with element 23 contacting the other surface of panel 16. Retaining strip 17 is inserted into the groove 14 and its flange 20 contacts the intermediate member 21. As shown, the leg 18 of the retaining strip 17 will lie at an angle to the axis of the groove 14 because of the ather loose fit between leg 18 and groove 14. For this reason portion 19 lies at the same angle to the axis of leg 18 as the groove 14 so that it will be parallel to the axis of the groove and so that the outer surface of portion 19 will be co-planar with the outside surface of side member 13.

When it is desired to dis-assemble the mountingpane'ls, a prying member, such as a screw driver, is inserted in the space between portion 19 and the top edgeof side member 13 and the mounting strip 17 is forced out of the groove thereby. The resilient element 23. will absorb any pressure exerted on the panel 16 or intermediate member 21 during assembly or disassembly or normal use of the unit. a

Although a particular, preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed hereinabove for illustrative purposes, it will be understood that variations or modiflcations thereof which lie within the scope of said invention are fully contemplated herein unless specifically stated to the contrary in the appended claims'.

I claim:

1. In a device formounting a pair of closure panels for a double-glazed window, the combination comprising:

an elongated sash frame member having a central web,

flange means at one end of said web for engaging the outer surface of one of said panels and means defining a groove adjacent the other end of said central web, said groove being substantially parallel with said flange means; a retaining strip receivable within said groove and comprising a pressure member and a leg member, said leg member being appreciably narrower than said groove, and said pressure member having an inner surface arranged substantially parallel with said flange means, said leg member extending from said pressure member at such an angle with respect to said inner surface that, when the lower part of said leg member bears against the side of said groove nearest said flange means and an upper part of said leg member bears against the upper edge of that side of the groove furthest from said flange means, said inner surface will be aligned substantially parallel with the general extent of said flange means; an intermediate member having a sash retaining groove thereinand having also an inner surface arranged substantially parallel with said flange means and arranged for contact with said pressure member, and said intermediatemember also having a compressible, resilient pressure member extending outwardly of the outer face thereof for engaging the inner surface of a closure panel and urging it against said flange means, the relative sizes and arrangement of said parts being such that, in operating position with said resilient member partially compressed and said intermediate member bearing against said pressure member, the lower end of said leg member will bear against the lower edge of the outer wall of said groove and anupper por tion of said leg member will bear against the upper edge of the inner wall of said groove.

2. In a device for mounting a closure panel, the combination comprising: an elongated sash frame member having a central web; flange means at one end of said web for engaging the outer surface of said panel and means defining a groove adjacent the other end of said central web, said groove being substantially parallel with said flange means; a retaining strip receivable within said member at such an angle with respect to said inner surface that, when the lower part of said leg memberbears against the side of said groove nearest said flange means and an upper part of said leg member bears against the upper edge of that side of the groove furthest from said flange means, said inner surface will be aligned'substantially parallel with the general extent of said flange means; means engaging said pressure member and the other side of said panel, said last-named means. including a compressible, resilient member extending outwardly 'of the,

having a central web with a flat upper surface; a flange 8 extending upwardly from one end of said flat upper surface of said web for engaging the outer surface of said;

panel; means defining a downwardly extending groove at the other end of said central web, said groove being substantially parallel with said flange and being spaced therefrom a distance materially greater than the thickness of the closure panel; a retaining strip receivablewithin said groove and comprising a pressure member anda leg member, said leg member being appreciably narrower than said groove, said pressure member having an inner surface arranged substantially parallel with said flange means, said inner surface being positioned above said groove and comprising a pressure member and a leg member, said leg member being appreciably narrower than said groove, said pressure member having an inner surface arranged substantially parallel with said flange means, said leg member extending from said pressure central web at said other end thereof and being spaced thereabove a distance suflicient to permit a tool to 'be inserted therebetween for removing said retaining strip from said groove; said leg member extending from said pressure member at such an angle with respect tosaid inner surface that, when the lower part of said leg member bears against the side of said groove nearest said flange and an upper part of said leg member bears against the upper edge of that side of the groove furthest from said flange said inner surface will be aligned substantially parallel with the general extent of said flange; means extending from said pressuremember towardsaid flange and engaging the inner surface ofsaid panel, said last-named means including a compressible, resilient member extending outwardly of the outer facethereof for engaging the inner surface of said panel and urging it against said flange, the relative sizes and arrangements of said parts being such that, in operating position with said resilient member partially compressed, the lower end of said leg member will bear against the outer wall of said groove and an upper portion of said' leg member will bear against the upper edge of the .inner wall of said,

groove.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS;

919,887 Kohler ,Apr.127, 1909 985,800 Hartbauer -T Mar. 7,1911 2,264,187 Owen Nov. 25, 1941 2,266,973 Horton Dec. 23, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS, I v 7 927,205 France Apr. 28, 1947

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