Abstract:
Apparatus are provided for a curtain wall anchor system. The curtain wall anchor assembly may include various anchor assemblies. Each possible anchor assembly is intended to reduce labor time and costs and eliminate extraneous steps in the construction process involving curtain walls. Each possible anchor assembly also features an optional component of attaching a concrete anchor for optimizing load paths and solving issues of bending in traditional edge angle pour stops.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and system for some adjustability for an edge of slab curtain wall anchor and for transferring the loads associated with the outer cladding of a building, commonly known as the curtain wall, to the structural elements of a building through anchors with specific points of attachment. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Curtain walls are the outer covering of a building in which the outer walls are non-structural, and merely keep the weather out and occupants of the building in the building. A curtain wall does not carry any dead load weight from the building other than its own dead load. In this context a dead load, or also commonly referred to as a static load, include loads that are relatively constant over time, including the weight of the structure itself, and immovable features such as walls, plasterboard or carpet. Curtain walls are designed to resist air and water infiltration, sway induced by wind and seismic forces acting on the building and its own static load weight forces. Exterior wind loads combined with the curtain wall&#39;s own weight are transferred to the building through, for example, anchors at specific points of attachment. Curtain walls may be attached to anchors via different methods. Typical curtain wall assemblies include structural members called mullions which separate and secure the curtain wall panels. The mullions are secured to the building via curtain wall anchors. Curtain wall anchors are the connection means between the curtain wall mullions to the building structure. 
     Typical building construction techniques with steel supported concrete floor slabs employ a bent steel plate fixed to spandrel beams as pour stops for concrete. The bent plate pour stops may also be referred to as edge angles. Considerable time is required at a steel fabricator to bend all of the plate to install as pour stops. The bent plate pour stops are then taken to the job site, positioned, and welded on top of the spandrel beams. Bent plates often provide a wavy edge of the slab with significant deviation of the actual edge from planed location. The deviation creates difficulties in attachment of a curtain wall while trying to maintain a controlled planar surface in the outer surface of the curtain wall. Additionally, the curtain wall is typically attached to the bent plate pour stop via clip angles welded to the pour stop or supporting beam. This requires considerable time and labor to position the curtain wall anchors and weld them in place. The welding also requires costly skilled laborers and adds significantly to the overall construction schedule. 
     Occasionally embedded anchor channels are specified for a building slab edge to allow for curtain wall attachment. These typically require cutting the steel pour stop and welding sections of anchor channel or block-outs for top mounted anchor channels in the concrete slab. Although these options allow for some adjustability for the curtain wall installation they still do not account for the wavy bent plate slab edge and they require significant coordination between construction trades in addition to being costly to install. 
     One of the concerns in using current art anchor channels welded to steel edge angles is that excessive loads can cause the edge angle to bend. Structural engineers are regularly confronted with this issue by contractors who want easier and faster construction techniques. The proposed curtain wall anchor system and embodiments include options for providing a direct or indirect load path into the concrete slab or steel beam to prevent edge angle bending. 
     SUMMARY 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key factors or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     In various embodiments, methods and systems for curtain wall anchors are provided. In particular, various curtain wall anchor systems are described herein to streamline the process of placing curtain walls and to reduce labor time and cost associated with installation of curtain walls. 
     In a first embodiment, an anchor assembly is provided. The anchor assembly comprises a first vertical wall member and second vertical wall member connected by an arcuate web member and separated by a slot designed to engage a slab edge angle and an anchor channel configured for engagement with at least a portion of a curtain wall assembly, wherein the anchor channel is disposed opposite the first vertical wall member. 
     A second embodiment of an anchor assembly comprises a first vertical wall member and second vertical wall member connected by an arcuate web member and separated by a slot designed to engage a slab edge angle and a first vertically flange extending from the first vertical wall member and configured for engagement with at least a portion of a curtain wall assembly. Further embodiments and aspects will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached figures, which are incorporated by reference herein and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a curtain wall anchor system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a curtain wall anchor system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  a perspective view of an embodiment of a curtain wall anchor system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  depicts an elevation view of an embodiment of a curtain wall anchor system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a curtain wall anchor system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  depicts an elevation view of an embodiment of a curtain wall anchor system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof and illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention. In the drawings, reference numerals describe substantially similar components throughout the several views. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the inventions, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and that structural, logical, and procedural changes may be made. 
     Various embodiments of a curtain wall anchor are illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6 .  FIG. 1  an embodiment of a curtain wall anchor  501  that overhangs a concrete slab edge angle  509 , as seen in  FIG. 2 . The curtain wall anchor utilizes an edge angle slot  502  terminating at a slot web member  503  to positively engage the edge angle hangar  501  with the edge angle  509 . The web member  503  which is preferably arcuate in configuration but may also be of an orthogonal configuration, joins a first wall member  601  and a second wall member  602 . As with the previous embodiment, the edge angle hangar  501  incorporates an anchor channel  504  with a first locking flange  507  and a second locking flange  508  positioned between a first face  505  and a second face  506 . 
     The anchor channel  504  extends outwardly from the first wall member  601  of the edge angle hangar  501 . The anchor channel is further comprised of outwardly extending upper and lower segments  515 ,  517 . Extending downwardly from the upper segment  515  is the upper locking flange  507  and extending upwardly from the lower segment  517  is the lower locking flange  508 . These two locking flanges  507 ,  508  serve to facilitate only longitudinal translation of the bolt (not shown). This embodiment of the edge angle hangar  501  preferably utilizes a through hole  607  in the first wall member  601  to facilitate the passage of a connector through to the second wall member  602 . 
     While the edge angle hangar  501  provides for horizontal adjustable anchor attachment it does not replace the edge angle concrete pour stop. Rather, the edge angle hangar  501  is configured to hang onto, or more precisely over, the commonly used edge angle pour stops, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The edge angle hangar  501  is “hanging over” or attached to an edge angle  509 . 
       FIG. 3  details a perspective view of the curtain wall anchor system  600  in position. Here, the edge angle hangar  501  is illustrated as attached to the edge angle  509 . The edge angle  509  overlays the structural steel support member  510  and is secured beneath the concrete slab  515 .  FIG. 3  illustrates a curtain wall attachment bracket  514  secured to the anchor channel  504  of the edge angle hangar  501  via an anchor bolt  512 . An additional bolt  513  secures the curtain wall bracket  514  to a curtain wall assembly  511 . 
       FIG. 4  details a side elevation view of the curtain wall anchor system  600 . The elevation view details the edge angle hangar  501  positioned on the edge angle  509  such that the edge angle  509  is inserted into the edge angle slot  502  and secured in position on each side via the first and second wall members  601 ,  602 . Metal decking  516  disposed beneath the concrete floor system is also detailed in  FIG. 4 . This same  FIG. 4  further details the optional utilization of a headed-stud concrete anchor  523  or a reinforcing bar  149  embedded within the concrete slab  521  as needed to transfer loads from the anchor system into the concrete slab. 
     Another embodiment of an anchor attachment is detailed in  FIGS. 5-6 .  FIG. 5  details a J-hook hangar  801  configured to slide over an edge angle, as seen in  FIG. 6  at reference number  804 , using a full length slot  803  bounded by a forward leg  810  and a rear leg  812 . The forward leg  810  transitions into the J-flange  802  following an arcuate bend of 180 degrees. The J-flange  802  and the full length slot  803  may be adjusted to accommodate any size of edge angle  804  (to engage with the full length slot  803 ) and curtain wall attachment fittings (to engage with the J-flange  802 ).  FIG. 5  further reveals a hole  901  that extends through forward leg  810  and also through rear leg  812  (not shown). These aligned holes are utilized to receive a screw anchor (not shown) that passes through the forward leg, through a hole in the edge angle  804  that is inserted into the full length slot  803 , and finally into the hole of the rear leg  812 . The use of a screw anchor is well known in the industry and in this instance serves to create a direct load path between the legs of the hangar  810 ,  812  and the edge angle  804  to provide structural rigidity in instances where for example, wind loads, are substantial. 
       FIG. 6  details an elevation view of the same embodiment detailed in  FIG. 5 . As in previous embodiments, the J-hook hangar  801  full length slot  803  is illustrated receiving an edge  813  of the angle member  804 . The edge angle member  804  may be adjacent to a structural steel support member  805 , such as an I-beam, and disposed beneath the concrete slab  807 . Metal decking  806  is also shown disposed adjacent the edge angle member  804 . The J-flange  802  is shown as attached to a curtain wall bracket  809  that is in turn attached to a curtain wall assembly  808  with at least one bolt  810 . 
       FIG. 6  further details the optional use of headed stud anchor  825  or reinforcing bar anchor  149  embedded within the concrete slab  807  and with a second end  830  engaged to the inside face of rear leg  812 . The reinforcing bar/anchor  149  or headed stud anchor  825  facilitates the appropriate transfer of loads into the concrete floor. 
     In each embodiment of the designated embodiments, installation of the curtain wall will be quicker and less costly by eliminating positioning and welding of curtain wall anchors to the traditionally used steel edge angle pour stops. The disclosed embodiments make horizontal adjustment of anchors quicker and simpler than with previous installation techniques. These designs thereby reduce the need for thicker steel edge angles required by structural designers for supporting eccentric curtain wall loads. Lastly, this design eliminates the need for studs or reinforcing welds to the edge angle to transfer eccentric loads from the curtain wall into the concrete slab. 
     In each of the described embodiments, where applicable, anchor channels may be customized to accommodate a variety of curtain wall attachment fittings and/or bolts. Additionally, each anchor assembly described herein may be made of steel or any other material that can sufficiently sustain the load associated with the particular situation. For example, a load for a construction project of a 15-story building will certainly differ from the load to withstand in a construction project of a 2-story building. 
     While the preferred form of the present invention has been shown and described above, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the subject invention is not limited by the figures and that the scope of the invention includes modifications, variations, and equivalents which fall within the scope of the attached claims. Moreover, it should be understood that the individual components of the invention include equivalent embodiments without departing from the spirit of this invention. 
     It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the order of the steps recited herein is not meant to limit the scope of the present invention in any way and, in fact, the steps may occur in a variety of different sequences within embodiments hereof. Any and all such variations, and any combinations thereof, are contemplated to be within the scope of embodiments of the present invention.