Patent ID: 6623203
Filing Date: 2003-09-23
Classification: E04F,E06B,Y10T

Abstract:
A kit to mount a glass plate in a glass facade to a building structure, said kit comprising:a plurality of clamping assemblies; each clamping assembly of said plurality of clamping assemblies comprising: a building mounting structure being configured to operatively mount each said clamping assembly to a building structure; said building mounting structure comprising: a clamp bolt being configured to be operatively connectable to a building structure; said clamp bolt having a center longitudinal axis; and a bush arrangement being configured to be operatively connectable to said clamp bolt; a glass plate supporting assembly being configured to be operatively connectable to said building mounting structure, and said glass plate supporting assembly being configured to support a glass plate adjacent to a building structure; said glass plate supporting assembly comprising: a first clamp element configured to be disposed away from a building structure upon installation with a glass plate to a building structure; a second clamp element configured to be disposed between said first clamp element and a building structure upon installation with a glass plate to a building structure; and said second clamp element comprising a cylindrical recess configured to operatively mount therein said clamp bolt and said bush arrangement; an elastic arrangement to provide elasticity between a building structure and a glass plate, said elastic arrangement being configured to be operatively connectable to said bush arrangement of said building mounting structure, and said elastic arrangement comprising an elastic material; said elastic material being configured to minimize stresses on a glass plate due to wind loads and temperature variations; said plurality of clamping assemblies comprising at least a first clamping assembly, a second clamping assembly, and a third clamping assembly; said first clamping assembly being configured to restrict movement of said glass plate supporting assembly of said first clamping assembly in all radial directions with respect to said center longitudinal axis; said second clamping assembly being configured to restrict movement of said glass plate supporting assembly of said second clamping assembly in radial directions with respect to said center longitudinal axis except for a back and forth movement in a radial direction with respect to said center longitudinal axis; said bush arrangement of said second clamping assembly comprising a slot being configured to be disposed to permit a back and forth movement of said glass plate supporting assembly of said second clamping assembly in a radial direction with respect to said center longitudinal axis; said third clamping assembly being configured to permit movement of said glass plate supporting assembly of said third clamping assembly in all radial directions with respect to said center longitudinal axis; said bush arrangement of said third clamping assembly comprising a compensating bush and a spacer bush, both said bushes being configured to be disposed concentrically with radial clearance with respect to one another, and both said bushes being configured to be disposed along said center longitudinal axis about said clamp bolt of said third clamping assembly to permit movement of said glass plate supporting assembly of said third clamping assembly in all radial directions with respect to said center longitudinal axis; said plurality of clamping assemblies, upon assembly and installation with a glass plate to a building structure, together being configured to: hold a glass plate in a glass facade of a building structure; compensate for tolerances of a glass plate, and for tolerances of a building structure on which said clamping assemblies are installed; and compensate for differences in distance in the direction of said center longitudinal axis between a building structure and a glass plate; said clamp bolt comprises a head portion and a shank portion; said bush arrangement of said first clamping assembly comprises: a compensating bush being configured to be operatively disposed about said clamp bolt shank portion along said center longitudinal axis; said compensating bush of said first clamping assembly comprises a first end portion being configured to be disposed towards a glass plate upon installation with a glass plate, and said compensating bush of said first clamping assembly comprises a second end portion being configured to be disposed towards a building structure upon installation with a glass plate; said compensating bush first end portion being configured to operatively contact said clamp bolt head portion; said bush arrangement of said first clamping assembly further comprises: a spacer bush being configured to be disposed about said compensating bush of said first clamping assembly; said elastic material of said first and third clamping assemblies, which is configured to minimize stresses on a glass plate due to wind loads and temperature variations, being operatively disposed about said spacer bush; said bush of said first and third clamping assemblies, respectively arrangement of said first clamping assembly further comprises: a distance washer, and a nut member; said distance washer being configured to be operatively disposed about said compensating bush of said first clamping assembly adjacent said second end portion of said compensating bush of said first clamping assembly; and said nut element being configured to be operatively disposed about said compensating bush of said first clamping assembly adjacent said distance washer, to restrict movement of said glass plate supporting assembly of said first clamping assembly in all radial directions with respect to said center longitudinal axis.