Abstract:
A method of glazing an opening in a wall structure such as an interior wall in an office building, in which a glazing frame is fitted around a glass panel and the panel and frame are inserted into the opening. Clips are installed within the opening and engage the frame so as to prevent displacement of the frame outwardly of the opening. A trim frame is then installed from the opposite side of the opening and is retained by and conceals the clips. The trim frame provides a symmetrical smooth exterior surface.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to a method of glazing a framed opening in a wall structure, for example an interior wall in an office building, and to a wall structure including a glazed opening.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention has been devised in the context of interior wall systems for buildings, an example of which is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,446,396 (Marangoni et al.). This patent discloses a wall system that includes an internal frame made up of vertical posts and horizontal rails extending between the posts. The frame is clad with fascia elements that may take various forms, including glazed panels. For example, in a situation in which, say, one wall of an internal office is required to be transparent, the frame may be clad using a series of glazed panels as the fascia elements.  
         [0003]     Typically, the frame carries fascia elements on both of its inner and outer faces, i.e. the face is clad from both sides so that a finished surface is provided both inside and out. In the case of a glazed fascia, this means that there will be two glazed panels separated, essentially, by the thickness of the frame.  
         [0004]     In many applications, the use of two glazed panels represents an unnecessary cost and increases installation time. However, simply leaving out one glazed panel may not always represent an acceptable solution in terms of aesthetics and/or structural integrity of the wall system. For example, having only one glazed panel at the outer side of the wall represents a significant unbalanced load on the frame of the wall structure.  
         [0005]     An object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of glazing a framed opening in a wall, and a corresponding wall structure which is particularly (though not necessarily) suited to a single glazed application.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     In one aspect, the invention provides a method of glazing an opening in a wall structure which is defined by frame members of the structure, each having inner and outer lateral faces at opposite sides of the structure and a transverse face that extends between the lateral faces generally normal to the plane of the opening, the method comprising the steps of: 
        providing a glazing panel sized to fit within the opening;     installing on said panel a glazing frame;     inserting the frame and panel into said opening in the wall structure from a first side thereof, the glazing frame surrounding the glazing panel and having a general L-shaped configuration in cross-section defined by a major limb that overlies said flat transverse faces of the wall members and a minor limb that abuts said lateral faces at said first side of the wall structure, said major limb including a channel receiving a marginal portion of the glazing panel;     installing a plurality of clips for retaining the glazing panel against displacement out of said opening, said clips engaging said glazing frame at a side of the channel opposite to said minor limb and being received in corresponding openings in said wall members; and,     installing in said opening from a side opposite said first side, a trim frame which is retained in the opening and covers said clips so that they are concealed from view in the assembled wall structure.        
 
         [0012]     The invention also provides a wall structure having at least one opening glazed in accordance with the method of the invention.  
         [0013]     As noted previously, the invention is particularly suited to applications in which only a single glazing panel is used. Preferably, the glazing frame is then designed so that the channel that receives the marginal portion of the glazing panel is disposed generally in the median plane of the opening when the glazing frame has been installed. In other words, the glazing panel will be disposed midway between the inner and outer faces of the wall structure. The load represented by the panel then will be supported in a balanced fashion. Preferably, the channel in the glazing frame receives a glazing bead that provides a seal between the glazing panel and the channel in the glazing frame.  
         [0014]     Even though the invention has been designed primarily in the context of single glazed openings, it is of course possible that two channels might be provided in the glazing frame for receiving a corresponding pair of glazing panels where a double glazed solution is required. Ideally, the two channels will then be disposed symmetrically about the median plane of the opening in order to properly distribute the load represented by the two panels.  
         [0015]     In most applications, the opening in the wall structure will be rectangular, of course requiring that the glazing panel, glazing frame and trim frame will also be rectangular. Typically each of the glazing frame and trim frame will then be formed from four straight frame members mitered at the corners of the panel to form the complete frame. The frame members of each of the glazing frame and trim frame may be aluminum extrusions. It goes without saying that the extrusions will be contoured to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance at both sides of the glazing panel. The extrusions may of course be appropriately coloured and/or textured according to requirements of the application in which the extrusions are to be used. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a particular preferred embodiment of the invention by way of example, and in which:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of part of a wall structure in accordance with the invention, illustrating installation of a glazing panel;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing the components of  FIG. 1  in more detail;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a vertical sectional view illustrating the components of  FIG. 2  assembled;  
         [0020]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are views similar to  FIG. 3  showing steps in the assembly method; and,  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view illustrating assembly of corner regions of the glazing frame and trim frame. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0022]      FIG. 1  shows part of a wall structure of the general type disclosed in the Marangoni et al. &#39;396 patent supra, to which reference may be made for the specifics of the wall structure and its assembly. The disclosure of the &#39;396 patent is incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0023]     For present purposes, it is sufficient to note that the wall structure includes a frame  20  having an opening  22  to be glazed, and that the opening is defined by a pair of horizontally spaced upright posts  24  and a pair of vertically spaced horizontal rails  26  that extend between the posts. The posts  24  and the rails  26  are essentially box section metal fabrications. The lower one of the rails  26  is shown in section in  FIGS. 3, 4  and  5  and has inner and outer lateral faces  28  and  30  at opposite sides of the wall and a transverse face  32  that extends between the lateral faces generally normal to the median plane P of the opening.  
         [0024]     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , a glazing panel is shown at  34  fitted with a glazing frame  36  that is dimensioned to fit within opening  22  and intended to be installed from the far side of the wall as shown in  FIG. 1 . A trim frame intended to be received in the opening from the opposite side of the wall is shown at  38 . Each of the frames  36 ,  38  is assembled from four straight frame members. The frame members for frame  36  are individually denoted  40  while the frame members for trim frame  38  are individually denoted  42 . The respective frame members are shown separately in  FIG. 2 . Each member is an aluminum extrusion that has a special profile shape including a smoothly contoured top surface for providing a “clean” and aesthetically pleasing appearance within the frames in the assembled wall structure. As best seen in  FIG. 3 , extrusion  40  of glazing frame  36  has a smoothly contoured top surface  44 , while the corresponding surface for extrusion  42  is denoted  46 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  illustrates how the members of each frame  36 ,  38  are assembled at the corners of the respective frames. Confronting surfaces of the frame members are mitered where they meet at the corners of the frame and the frame members are joined together by angle brackets which push-fit into specially designed areas of the respective extrusions. Two angle brackets for joining the corners of the frame members  40  to form glazing frame  36  are shown at  48  and  50  in  FIG. 6 , while corresponding angle brackets for joining the corners of the trim frame  42  are shown at  52  and  54  respectively.  
         [0026]     As best seen in  FIGS. 3, 4  and  5 , the glazing frame member  40  has a generally L-shaped configuration in cross-section defined by a major limb  56  and a minor limb  58 . In the assembled wall structure, the major limb  56  overlies the flat transverse face  32  of rail  26  while the minor limb  58  abuts the lateral face  30  of rail  26 , in this case with the intermediary of a strip of acoustical tape  60  intended to reduce noise transmission through the wall.  
         [0027]     Referring to  FIGS. 2, 4  and  5 , the major limb  56  of glazing frame member  40  incorporates a channel  62  that receives the glazing panel  34 . More specifically, the four frame members  40  that make up the glazing frame  36  extend along respective edges of the glazing panel  34  and receive respective marginal portions of that panel. Those marginal portions are sealed within channel  62  by the intermediary of a clear PVC glazing bead  64 .  
         [0028]     To install the glazing panel  34  in opening  22 , the glazing frame  36  is first assembled to the glazing panel with marginal portions of the panel received in respective channels  62  in the frame members  40  as discussed previously. At this stage, the glazing panel and glazing frame assembly appears as shown in  FIG. 1 . That assembly is then inserted into the opening  22  from the far side as shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4  shows the lower frame member  40  at this time. In order to retain the assembly against lateral displacement out of the opening  22 , a series of clips are engaged with the glazing frame at a side of the channel  62  remote from the minor limb  58  of frame member  40 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  shows a typical one of the clips in cross-section at  66 , while  FIG. 2  shows the clip in perspective. In this embodiment, the clip is a moulded nylon component comprising an upper portion  68  having the profile shape shown in  FIG. 4 , and a series of three pins  70  that project downwardly from the upper portion at positions spaced along the length of the clip. These pins are push-fitted into openings in the frame members of the wall structure such as rail  26 . One of the openings for receiving the pins is shown at  72  in  FIG. 4 , but it can be seen from  FIG. 2  that each of the frame members is provided with a series of such openings so that clips can be positioned almost anywhere along the relevant frame member. Similar series of openings are provided in all four of the frame members that define the opening  22 . As best shown in  FIG. 1 , in the case of a typical rectangular glazing panel having a height greater than its width, three clips  66  will typically be used along the upright posts  24 , and two along the horizontal rails  26 .  
         [0030]     The upper portion of clip  66  is shaped to define respective hook-shaped portions  74  and  76  at opposite sides of the clip. The extrusion that forms glazing member  40  is shaped to define a corresponding lip  78  over which the hook-shaped formation  74  engages when the clip is installed as shown in  FIG. 5 . This effectively prevents lateral displacement of the glazing frame  36  and glazing panel  34  leftwards in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0031]     The other formation  76  of clip  66  is shaped to engage with a corresponding rib on a lateral flange  80  of the extrusion that forms the trim frame member  42 . Thus, after the glazing frame  36  and panel  34  have been positioned within the opening  22  and the clips  66  have been installed as shown in  FIG. 5 . The trim frame  42  ( FIG. 1 ) is installed in opening  22  from the opposite side as compared with glazing frame  36 . During this step, the rib  80  within trim frame member  42  moves into engagement with the formation  76  of clips  66 , effectively locking the trim frame in place. As best seen in  FIG. 3 , the trim frame covers the clips  66  so that they are concealed from view in the assembled wall structure.  
         [0032]     It will of course be understood that the preceding description relates to a particular preferred embodiment of the invention only and that many modifications are possible. Of course, the precise shapes of the extrusions shown in the drawings are not critical and may vary. Also, as noted above, it may be required in some applications to provide two similar channels  62  to receive two glazed panels. The glazed panels may be glass or plastic (e.g. laminated), frosted, clear, translucent or finished in any other appropriate style.