Patent ID: 6694687
Filing Date: 2004-02-24
Classification: E06B,Y10T

Abstract:
A building glass facade of a building comprising a plurality of glass elements covering at least a portion of the building, at least one of said elements comprising a glass pane, said facade comprising:at least one glass pane; said at least one glass pane comprising a first surface, a second surface opposite from said first surface, and a hole connecting said first and second surfaces; and a clamp fitting configured and disposed to secure said glass pane to protect said glass pane from thermal stresses, mechanical loads, and wind pressure; said clamp fitting comprising: a clamp assembly comprising a first clamp element and a second clamp element; said first clamp element comprising a portion passing through said hole of said at least one glass pane; said second clamp element comprising a surface facing away from said glass pane; said first clamp element and said second clamp element being configured to secure said glass pane in a clamped attitude; a bell-shaped structure comprising an interior surface; an elastic element disposed between said bell-shaped structure and said second clamp element; said elastic element comprising a surface of one of: a conical surface or a spherical surface; said interior surface of said bell-shaped structure operatively contacting said surface of said elastic element to permit adjustable biasing of said bell-shaped structure; a pivot arrangement comprising a nut member, a bolt member, a first disc element and a second disc element; said nut member operatively connecting said pivot arrangement to said bell-shaped structure; said nut member comprising a base, and a passage in said base; said bolt member comprising a shaft portion extending through said passage; said first disc element comprising a first, planar, surface and a second, concave, surface opposite said first, planar, surface of said first disc element; said first, planar, surface of said first disc element contacting said bell-shaped structure; said second disc element comprising a first, planar, surface and a second, concave, surface opposite from said first, planar, surface of said second disc element; said concave surface of said first disc element being disposed to face said concave surface of said second disc element; said first, planar, surface of said second disc element contacting said base of said nut member; a structure comprising a first portion having a first, convex surface and a second, planar surface opposite said convex surface, and said structure comprising a second portion having a first, convex surface and a second, planar surface opposite said second portion convex surface; said first portion of said structure being connected to said shaft portion of said bolt member; said first portion planar surface and said second portion planar surface being configured and disposed to permit sliding movement between said first portion and said second portions of said structure; said first portion convex surface being configured to be slidingly disposed against said second, concave, surface of said first disc element to permit pivoting movement of said pivot arrangement in at least two directions; said second portion convex surface being configured to be slidingly disposed against said second, concave, surface of said second disc element to permit pivoting movement of said pivot arrangement in at least two directions; and said clamp fitting comprising: a device configured to connect said clamp fitting to a support arrangement connected to a building.