Section member assembly for making continuous building glazed walls

Abstract: Said assembly essentially comprises hollow section members (1), of rectangular cross-section, provided with a plurality of lugs which extend orthogonally from one of the small sides of said hollow section members, and adapted to provide uprights and related cross-members which can be coupled in order to form a supporting construction for fixed glass plates (27). The section member assembly comprises moreover one or more further hollow section members (19) each including a contoured lug and which can be coupled to the mentioned uprights in order to support outwardly tiltable plates (21), and members for coupling the cross-members to the uprights, as well as finishing section members and tightness gaskets (28,34).

Description: The present invention relates to a section member assembly for making continuous building glazed walls. As is known, there are at present constructed buildings which have the face wall thereof, or all of the walls thereof, made of glass plates, either of a simple or double construction. This glass plates must be restrained on a supporting construction or framework, which is made by mutually firmly coupling a plurality of uprights and cross-members This requirements, however, must be satisfied by using a very high number of elementary component parts, the assembling of which is rather complex and difficult. Moreover, the supporting frameworks made by commercially available section members frequently require maintenance and repairing operations. The document EP-A-319 484 discloses a section member assembly having substantially the features of the pre-characterizing part of the main claim. The document WO-A-87/06291 discloses a section member assembly including connecting members for connecting non-members and uprights. Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing a cooperating section member assembly, the section members of which are specifically designed for facilitating the building operations of glazed walls. Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the present invention is to provide a cooperating section member assembly, the section members of which can be simply and quickly coupled to one another. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a section member assembly, the section members of which allow to make bearing constructions which are very reliable and safe. According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a cooperating section member assembly, for making building continuous glazed walls, having the features of the characterizing portion of the main claim. Further characteristics and advantages of the cooperating section member assembly according to the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed disclosure of preferred, though not exclusive, embodiments thereof, which are illustrated, by way of an indicative but not limitative example, in the figures of the accompanying drawings, where: Figure 1 shows a combination of section members according to the present invention for restraining fixed adjoining glass plates; Figure 2 shows a combination of section members according to the present invention for restraining different thickness fixed adjoining glass plates; Figure 3 illustrates a further combination of section members according to the present invention for restraining a fixed glass plate and a glass plate which can be outwardly turned or tilted; Figure 4 illustrates a modified embodiment of the above mentioned coupling; Figure 5 illustrates a further combination of section members according to the present invention for restraining two glass plates which can be both outwardly opened; Figure 6 illustrates a further combination of section members according to the present invention for restraining two fixed glass plates on angle uprights; Figure 7 shows further section members and elements for restraining or coupling uprights and cross-members; Figure 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a light weight face wall; Figures 9 and 10 show two possible types of reinforced uprights; Figures 11 to 16 show some of further section members of the section member assembly according to the present invention; Figures 17 to 31 show yet further section members of the section member assembly according to the present invention; and Figures 32 to 38 show corresponding EPR elastomeric material gaskets, made for example of "Dutral (Registered trademark)". With reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, the cooperating section member assembly, for making continuous glazed walls of buildings, according to the present invention, comprises a hollow section member 1, having a substantially elongated rectangular cross-section, provided, at one of the small size thereof, with two parallel lugs 2 and two perimetrical seats or recesses 3. This section member is specifially provided for making an upright and it can also comprise, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, increased thickness walls, the thickness of which is specifically designed based on the characteristics of the bearing framework to be made. The section member assembly further comprises a section member 4 for making angle or corner uprights, which section member includes a substantialli dihedral recessed portion 5 which is also provided with restraining perimetrical seats as well as with a central slot for engaging connecting screws therein. With the above disclosed upright section members, further section members 6 cooperate, which can be used as cross-members and are provided with projecting lugs 7, on a respective side thereof, on this side there being moreover provided further perimetrical seats 8. In this connection it should be pointed out that the anchoring of the cross member to the upright is made by applying on said upright, by means of self-threading screws 9, a contoured plate 10 provided with two horizontally extending slots 11. In said slots there can be slidably engaged corresponding lugs 12 formed on the front portion of a bridging element 13 and restrained to said plate by means of at least a restraining dowel 14. The bridging element is provided for receiving thereon, by a pressure fitting, the cross-member 6, into the projecting lugs 7 thereof, as properly longitudinally sealed by a thermally insulating gasket 15, a plate element 16 is preliminarily inserted, with a sealing plug 17, made of neoprene or the like, applied on said plate 16. On the contoured plate 10 coupled to the upright, there is moreover advantageously applied a finishing plug member 18. The section member assembly according to the present invention further comprises two slightly different section members 19 and 20 for restraining glass plates 21, provided for forming movable wing members; a sleeve 22 for coupling the uprights, a section member 23 which can be alternately used as a coupling bridging element for said uprights; and cross-members comprising a section member 24 including projecting lugs 24'. There are moreover provided two further section members 25 and 26 cooperating to restrain to the upright a fixed wing member 27 and a movable wing member 21, through gasket members indicated respectively at 28 and 29. If the two wing members are both movable (as shown in Figure 5), then said wing members will be restrained to the related upright by means of a substantially U-shape section member 30, having slightly diverging walls and therewith the mentioned sealing gaskets 29 cooperate. In the case of fixed plates or wing members, vice-versa, the latter will be locked to the upright by means of a further section member 31 having a substantially rectilinear extension. Anyhow, the above mentioned restraining section members are anchored to the projecting lugs 2 of the uprights by means of a screw 32, with the interposition of a suitably contoured gasket 33. On the outer surface of the section members restraining the movable wings, in particular, a gasket or seal 34 can be applied. The section member assembly according to the present invention further comprises a complex contour section member 35, which can be applied onto the corner or angle uprights 4, and therewith a further gasket or seal 36 cooperates which restrains, by its end portions, a corresponding pair of fixed wings 27. On the section member 31 restraining pairs of coplanar fixed wings, it is possible to apply, depending on requirements, with a covering function, both the section members 37, horizontally, and 38, vertically, provided with inner lugs, as well as corresponding section members 39 and 40 which, in turn, comprise side inner ridges or rails. On the section member restraining a fixed wing and a movable wing, and on the section member restraining a pair of movable wings, vice-versa, one can apply, as covering elements, respectively, an asymetrical section member 41, in replacement of the above mentioned covering 28, and an U-shape section member 42. It is moreover to be pointed out that, between the uprights and fixed wings there are provided tightness gaskets or seals 43 and that, as one of the wings or plate has a reduced thickness, as indicated at 27', then with the respective uprights, a spacer section member 44 will cooperate. The subject section member assembly comprises moreover a dihedral covering section member 45, a vertical covering section member for the uprights, 46, having a half-round contour, a covering section member 47 provided with rounded corners, as well as a bent gasket or seal 48. More specifically, the movable wing restraining section member 19 and 20 bear an aluminium arm 49 provided for allowing the opening of the wings, and being further provided with one or more abutment gaskets or seals 50. From the above disclosure and the observation of the figures of the accompanying drawings, the great functionality and facility of use characterizing the section member assembly according to the present invention for making continuous walls of buildings according to the present invention will be self evident.

Claims: A cooperating section member assembly for making continuous glazed walls for buildings, said section member assembly generally comprising elongated rectangular hollow section members, each including a plurality of lugs (2,7) which extend orthogonally from one of the small sides of said hollow section members, said hollow section members forming uprights (1) and corresponding cross members (6), which can be mutually coupled to provide a fixed glass plate supporting framework, said section member assembly further comprising one or more further hollow section members (6), each having a contoured lug (7) and adapted for coupling to said uprights (1) in order to support tiltable plates, the assembly further comprises finishing section members (16,17), tightness and/or thermally insulating gaskets (15), said hollow section members each being provided, at one of the small sides, with two parallel lugs (2) and two perimetrical seats (3), further section members (6) cooperating with said upright (1) to provide said cross members (6), said cross members (6) being provided with projection lugs (7) on a side thereof and having formed thereon perimetrical seats (8) characterized in that said uprights (1) are provided with increased thickness walls; in that said assembly further comprises connecting elements (10,13) connecting said cross members to said uprights, the anchoring of a cross-member to an upright being performed by applying on said upright, by means of self threading screws (9), a contoured plate (10) having two horizontal slots (11) therein, in which slots are slidably engaged corresponding projections or lugs formed on the front portion of a bridging member (13), said lugs (7) being restrained to said plate by at least a restraining dowel (14); and in that the bridging element (13) is secured in said cross member (6). A cooperating section member assembly according to Claim 1, characterized in that said section member assembly further comprises a corner upright section member (4) having a substantially dihedral recessed portion (5) including a central slot for engaging screws therein, and restraining perimetrical seats. A cooperating section member assembly according to Claim 1, characterized in that on said bridging member (13) there is pressure fitted said cross-member (6), in the projecting lugs (7) whereof, longitudinally sealed by a sealing insulating gasket (15), there being preliminarly engaged a plate member (16), thereon there is applied a sealing plug member (17) made of neoprene or the like material, on the contoured plate (10) coupled to the upright there being applied a finishing plug member (18). A cooperating section member assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said section member assembly further comprises two slightly different section members (19,20) for restraining glass plates (21) defining movable wings; a sleeve member (22) for coupling the uprights, a section member (23) adapted to be alternatively used as a joining bridging member between said uprights, and cross-members formed by a section member (24) provided with projecting lugs (24'). A cooperating section member assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said section member assembly further comprises two types of section members (25,26) for restraining to the upright a fixed wing (27) and a movable wing (21) simultaneously, by means of different types of gaskets (28,29); in particular, if the two wings are movable wings, then said wings are restrained to their upright by means of a substantially U-shape section member (30), having slightly diverging walls, therewith sealing gaskets (29) cooperate, whereas if the wings are fixed, then the latter are locked to the upright by means of a substantially rectilinear section member (31). A cooperating section member assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said restraining section members are anchored to the projecting lugs (2) of the uprights by a screw (32), through the interposition of a contoured gasket (33), and in that on the outer surface of the movable wing restraining section member a further covering gasket (34) is applied. A cooperating section member assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said section member assembly further comprises a complex contour section member (35) which can be applied onto the corner uprights (4) and therewith a sealing gasket (36) cooperates for restraining, by the end portions thereof, a corresponding pair of fixed wings (27). A cooperating section member assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the section member (31) restraining pairs of coplanar fixed wings, there are applied, as covering members, horizontally or vertically, both section members (37,38) provided with inner lugs and corresponding section members (39,40) in turn provided with side inner rails. A cooperating section member assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the section member restraining a fixed wing and a movable wing and on the section member restraining a pair of movable wings there are applied, as covering elements, respectively an asymmetrical section member (41) in replacement of said covering elements (28) and a U-shaped section member (42). A cooperating section member assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said uprights and fixed wings are provided with tightness gaskets (43) and that, as one of the wings or plates has a reduced thickness (27'), then with the corresponding upright a spacer section member (44) cooperates. A cooperating section member assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said section member assembly further comprises a dihedral covering section member (45), a vertical covering section member (46), four uprights, of half-round contour, a horizontal covering section member (47), having rounded corners, as well as a bent curved gasket (48). A cooperating section member assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said section members (19,20) restraining said movable wings bear an aluminium arm (49), for allowing the wings to be opened, and being provided with one or more abutment gaskets (50).

Inventors: GIACOMELLI MARIO C O METRA MET, GIACOMELLI, MARIO, C/O METRA METALLURGICA
Applicants: METRA METALL TRAFILATI ALLUMIN, METRA METALLURGICA TRAFILATI ALLUMINIO S.P.A.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: E04B2
IPC codes: E04B2