Bevelled glass assembly

A bevelled glass assembly and method of making is disclosed. A sheet of annealed glass has at least one groove ground on one surface. At least one other groove intersects the first groove. Both grooves define an array of parallel striations. The sheet of glass is then tempered. The sheet of glass is normally surrounded by a frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Decorative glass assemblies are utilized in many situations including as 
door lights and as door side glass units. Leaded glass assemblies using 
multiple pieces of bevelled glass have been used in the past and are very 
beautiful but very expensive. Many prior art alternative assemblies use a 
flat glass sheet with bevelled glass bonded to it or wood or wood-like 
grilles, which are normally positioned on the surface of the glass sheet 
and secured to the perimeter. These grilles damage easily, are difficult 
to clean and lack appeal. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to a bevelled glass assembly which is 
tempered. It provides a lightweight and attractive alternative to both 
leaded glass and prior art grille assemblies. 
The bevelled glass assembly, according to the present invention, includes a 
sheet of annealed glass which has at least one first longitudinally 
extending groove ground into one surface. The groove comprises an array of 
parallel surface striations which enhance optical reflections. At least 
one longitudinally extending second groove intersects the first groove. 
The second intersecting groove also includes an array of parallel surface 
striations. The sheet of annealed glass containing the ground grooves is 
tempered. 
In making the bevelled glass assembly, a sheet of flat glass is annealed 
and the intersecting grooves are ground within one surface of the glass 
sheet, the grooves including the arrays of parallel surface striations. 
The glass is then polished. The tempering is performed after the grinding 
of the intersecting grooves and the polishing of the glass sheet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
A bevelled glass assembly, according to the present invention, is generally 
indicated in FIG. 1 by the reference number 10. The bevelled glass 
assembly 10 comprises a sheet of annealed glass 11. Preferably the glass 
sheet 11 is flat plate glass manufactured by a float glass process. The 
glass sheet 11 preferably has a relatively low lead content of less than 
15% lead, by weight. After its initial manufacture, the flat plate glass 
is annealed. It is found that a glass thickness of between 0.125 inch and 
0.250 inch is preferable for the bevelled glass assemblies 10, when they 
are utilized in connection with residential or commercial door or window 
applications. 
A first set of longitudinally extending grooves 12 are ground into a 
surface 13. Referring to FIG. 3, the grooves 12 comprise an array of 
parallel surface striations 14. The parallel surface striations 14 enhance 
optical reflections giving pleasing aesthetics to the assembly 10. 
In the FIG. 1 embodiment, the grooves 12 are ground to a depth of 0.062 
inches on a glass sheet having a thickness of 0.188 inch. The width of the 
groove 12 is 0.375 inch. The grooves can be V-shaped, curved, trapezoidal 
or some other cross sectional shape. Referring to FIG. 5, a groove 15 has 
a trapezoid cross section. 
Referring to FIG. 1, at least one second longitudinal groove 16 intersects 
the first set of grooves 12. In the FIG. 1 embodiment, the grooves 12 and 
16 are perpendicular, however, intersections forming nonperpendicular 
relationships or diamond shape relationships are also within the scope of 
the present invention. 
The second intersecting longitudinally extending groove 16 also is 
comprised of an array of parallel surface striations and has a depth and 
width complementary with the depth and width of the grooves 12, recited 
above. 
After the longitudinally extending grooves 12 and 16 are ground, the glass 
sheet 11 is polished and tempered. 
Referring to FIG. 1, the glass sheet 11 has a peripheral edge 18. The edge 
corners may be radiused or ground to aid the tempering process. Ends 19 of 
the grooves 12 and 16 are spaced from the peripheral edge 18. In the FIG. 
1 embodiment, the ends 19 are 0.50 inch from the peripheral edge 18. 
A second embodiment of a bevelled glass assembly, according to the present 
invention, is indicated in FIG. 4 by the reference number 30. The bevelled 
glass assembly 30 includes a sheet of annealed glass 31 having a surface 
32. A first set of longitudinally extending grooves 33 are ground in the 
surface 32 of the sheet of annealed glass 31. Each of the longitudinally 
extending grooves 33 comprises an array of parallel surface striations. An 
intersecting second set of grooves 35 are ground in the surface 32 in a 
perpendicular relationship to the first set of grooves 33. The grooves 33 
and 35 include ends 36 which are located adjacent a peripheral edge 37 of 
the glass sheet 31. 
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the bevelled glass assembly 30 includes 
a peripheral frame 39 which surrounds the peripheral edge 37 of the glass 
sheet 31. Preferably, the peripheral frame 39 extends inwardly past the 
ends 36 of the grooves 33 and 35. The frame 39 may be constructed of 
several materials, including woods, plastic resins having a wood-like 
appearance and metals. 
After the grooves 33 and 35 are ground into the surface 32 of the glass 
sheet 31, the sheet 31 is polished and the glass tempered prior to 
installation of the peripheral frame 39. 
Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 6. A bevelled glass 
sheet 46, similar to the bevelled glass sheet 11, shown in FIG. 1, is 
spaced from an unbevelled sheet of flat glass 47 forming an air space 48. 
The sheets 46 and 47 are held apart by a spacer 50. Sealing material 51 is 
placed between the sheets 46 and 47, adjacent the spacer 50. The sheets 46 
and 47 are received by a peripheral frame 52 to form an insulated glass 
assembly 53. 
It has been found that an observer looking through the bevel on a first 
surface 55 of the assembly 53 perceived an unexpected enhanced image 
through the second surface 56 onto the third surface 57. Therefore, the 
assembly 53 has excellent optical appeal. The placement of the bevel 
grooves on the inside or second surface 56 of the sheet 47 does not 
substantially change the visual effect. However, it has been found that 
the feel of the groove when touched enhances the appeal of the assembly 
53. 
It has been found that the bevelled glass assemblies 10, 30 and 53 
constructed according to the present invention, provide a lightweight and 
lower cost alternative to, for example, prior art leaded glass assemblies.