Glazing bar

Abstract: A glazing bar assembly 10 for supporting adjacent panels of glazing material. The assembly comprises a pair of complementary glazing bars 11 and 12 which are engageable with each other at the first ends 23, 24 thereof and which have open-ended recesses 17 and 21 at the second ends thereof which receive and grip an edge of a panel of glazing material 18 and 22.

Description: This invention relates to a device for supporting and joining adjacent, rectilinear panels and more particularly, but not exclusively, concerns a device for supporting and joining adjacent rectilinear panels of a roof-glazing material. It is known to use glazing bar assemblies for supporting and securing rectilinear roof-panels made of glass or plastics material. Such assemblies are conventionally divided horizontally into two components, namely, a supporting base member and a fastening upper member. In use, a first base member is fastened to the roof structure, to support a first longitudinal edge of a roof panel. A second base member is similarly fastened to support a second longitudinal edge of the roof panel. Having placed the panel in position, a first upper member is fixed into an engaging position with the first base member, sandwiching the roof panel edge in between, and securing the panel edge in position on the roof structure. A second roof panel may then be lifted into an adjacent position and secured to the roof structure. A second upper member is fixed into an engaging position with the second base member sandwiching the second longitudinal edge of the first roof panel and the first longitudinal edge of the second roof panel in between and securing them in position. The procedure is repeated until the roof-covering is complete. Although effective at joining adjacent roof glazing panels together, such horizontally split glazing bar assemblies are laborious to use. They can only be fitted to the glazing panels in situ , allowing no scope for off-site prefabrication. Installation of each bar and panel element requires extensive scaffolding which is time-consuming and labour-intensive to erect and manoeuvre as the roofing progresses. FR-A-2,528,103 discloses a glazing bar assembly of the type defined in the pre-characterising part of Claim 1 wherein the facing sides of the upstanding parts of the glazing bars have been provided with limbs extending perpendicular to said upstanding parts for interengagement with each other. For coupling the glazing bars together, the bars must be moved one with respect to the other in a direction which is substantially parallel to the panels to be supported by the glazing bars. According to the present invention there is provided a glazing bar assembly for supporting first and second adjacent rectilinear panels, the glazing bar assembly comprising a pair of complementary glazing bars each of which has an upstanding part which engages with the respective upstanding part of the other; the assembly being characterised in that limbs are extending to one side laterally of each upstanding part from a lower end thereof to define an open-ended recess to receive and grip an edge of one of the said panels, and in that the upper edge of one of the upstanding parts is defined by a bead and the other has at its upper edge an arcuate crook able to curl over the bead in the assembly disposition and engage with it upon relative rotation to the roofing disposition. The invention has particular application to glazing conservatory roofs. Preferably, the glazing bars are extruded aluminium sections. For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing glazing bars and roof-glazing panels engaged to form a roofing structure; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the glazing bar assembly in an assembly disposition; and Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the glazing bar assembly in a roofing disposition. The glazing bar assembly 10, shown in the drawings comprises a pair of complementary first and second glazing bars 11 and 12. The first glazing bar 11 has an upstanding part 13 which engages with the respective upstanding part 14 of the second glazing bar 12. Limbs 15 and 16 extend to one side laterally of the upstanding part 13 of the first glazing bar 11 from a lower end thereof, to define an open-ended recess 17 which receives and grips an edge of a rectilinear roof-panel 18. Similarly, limbs 19 and 20 extend to one side laterally of the upstanding part 14 of the second glazing bar 12 from a lower end thereof, to define an open-ended recess 21, which receives and grips an edge of a rectilinear roof-panel 22. The lower limbs 16 and 20 are shaped so as to define a drainage channel to dispose of any ingressing water. A bead 23 defines an upper end of upstanding part 13 of the first bar 11 and an arcuate crook 24 defines an upper end of upstanding part 14 of the second bar 12. Limb 25 extends laterally from the lower end of the first upstanding part 13 on the opposite side to limbs 15 and 16 and has a plurality of holes through which fastening means 26 secure the first glazing bar on a roof structure. The arcuate crook 24 is engageable with the bead 23 and this linkage permits relative movement of the glazing bars 11 and 12 between an assembly disposition as shown in Figure 2 and a roofing disposition as shown in Figure 3. It is envisaged that the roof glazing panels would be fitted into the glazing bars off-site, prior to installation of the assembly on a roof-structure. In use, a first glazing bar 11 together with its fitted roof panel 18 is lifted onto a roof structure and secured in position by fastening means 26. A second glazing bar 12 together with its fitted roof panel 22 is then lifted into a position adjacent to glazing bar 11, such that the arcuate crook 24 at the upper end of upstanding part 14 of the second glazing bar 12, engages with the bead 23 at the upper end of upstanding part 13 of a first glazing bar 11 in an assembly disposition. Glazing bar 12 is then rotated relative to glazing bar 11 to bring the respective upper ends into mutual engagement and the respective lower ends into abutment in a roofing disposition. Further panels are installed in like manner across width of the roof structure, the final panel being secured by a final line of fasteners 26 along the final edge of the roof structure. In an alternative embodiment (not illustrated) the upstanding parts can engage in pairs by a mutual sliding engagement in a direction perpendicular to the flat roof panel surface. Those skilled in the art will be aware of means, such as flashings and facia means to finish off the edges of the completed roof structure.

Claims: A glazing bar assembly (10) for supporting first and second adjacent rectilinear panels (18,22), the glazing bar assembly comprising a pair of complementary glazing bars (11,12) each of which has an upstanding part (13) which engages with the respective upstanding part (14) of the other; the assembly being characterised in that limbs (15,16,19,20) are extending to one side laterally of each upstanding part (13,14) from a lower end thereof to define an open-ended recess (17) to receive and grip an edge of one of the said panels (18,22), and in that the upper edge of one of the upstanding parts is defined by a bead (23) and the other has at its upper edge an arcuate crook (24) able to curl over the bead (23) in the assembly disposition and engage with it upon relative rotation to the roofing disposition. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 characterised in that the glazing bars (11,12) are extruded aluminium sections. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterised in that one of a pair of glazing bars has a plurality of holes (26) by which it can be fastened in place on a roof before it is engaged with the other bar of the pair. As assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterized in that one of a pair of glazing bars is prefabricated with a first roof panel and the other of the pair is prefabricated with a second roof panel, prior to the engagement of the pair of glazing bars.

Inventors: MCALLISTER ANDREW, VAN DANZIG BARRY, MCALLISTER, ANDREW, VAN DANZIG, BARRY
Applicants: TWINWALL FIXINGS UK LTD, TWINWALL FIXINGS (UK) LIMITED
Application year: 1991
Main classification: E04D3
IPC codes: E04D3