Patent ID: 6421968
Filing Date: 2002-07-23
Classification: A46B,A46D,B32B,E04B,E06B

Abstract:
A fire rated wall for blocking the spread of fire in a building from one space to another space, said wall comprising:at least two wall elements; each wall element comprising a material with the capability to withstand fire for a predetermined time with a predetermined fire temperature on a fire exposed side of said wall element; each wall element comprising: a peripheral portion and a central portion; said peripheral portion comprising an edge portion; a frame; a pair of glass panes supported by said frame; said pair of glass panes comprising a first glass pane with an outer surface and an inner surface, and a second glass pane with an outer surface and an inner surface; said inner surfaces of said first and second glass panes facing towards one another; said outer surfaces of said first and second glass panes facing away from one another; said first and second glass panes forming a space between them; said first and second glass panes each comprising a peripheral portion; each peripheral portion of said first and second glass panes comprising an edge portion; said first and second glass panes being disposed to extend substantially fully to the edge portion of each wall element; said frame comprising a profile structure to hold and retain said first and second glass panes; said profile structure comprising first and second securing portions; said first and second securing portions each being configured to secure said first and second glass panes at the respective edge portion of each glass pane; said first and second securing portions each comprising an outer portion disposed in the same plane as each outer surface of said first and second glass panes; said profile structure further comprising an inner portion extending between said first and second glass panes a predetermined distance towards said central portion of said wall element; an enamel layer being disposed on each glass pane; each enamel layer being disposed substantially solely over each peripheral portion of each glass pane to provide an enamel covered portion on each glass pane and a portion not covered by enamel on each glass pane; the portion not covered by enamel of each glass pane extending over a substantial portion of each glass pane; each other portion of said first and second securing portions being substantially smaller than each enamel covered portion of each glass pane; each enamel layer being disposed on the inner surface of each glass pane; each enamel layer being configured and disposed to conceal just said inner portion of said profile structure from sight; each enamel layer being configured to provide each wall element on both sides thereof with an appearance that each wall element comprises solely glass from said central portion to said peripheral portion of each wall element; a laminate structure; said laminate structure comprising an intumescent material configured to intumesce at a predetermined temperature; said laminate structure being operably connected to said profile structure; and at least one connector structure; said at least one connector structure being configured and disposed to connect said at least two wall elements to one another at adjacent peripheral portions thereof to thus provide a fire rated wall for blocking the spread of a fire in a building from one space to another space.