Abstract:
The glazing panel handling tool has an elongate grab handle bridge connecting spaced suction pad devices. The grab handle bridge is rotatable about a longitudinal axis in order to cause the separation distance between the suction devices to be varied. The adjustability aids in the utility of the tool in glazing panel handling situations.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a glazing panel handling tool and particularly to such a tool enabling fitting of glazing panels accurately. 
         [0003]    2. State of the Art 
         [0004]    Glazing panel handling tools are known for use in aiding of fitting glazing panels in architectural or vehicle glazing openings or frames. An exemplary tool is disclosed in, for example, DE 20103755. In the arrangement disclosed in DE 20103755, a pair of suction devices are separated by a grab handle bridge. The suckers securely affix to a glazing panel enabling the glazing panel to be lifted by means of the grab handle bridge. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    An improved arrangement has now been devised enabling use as with prior art arrangements and also additional functionality to be realised. 
         [0006]    According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a glazing panel handling tool comprising:
       spaced first and second suction pad devices;   an elongate grab handle bridge connecting the first and second suction pad devices; the grab handle bridge being rotatable about a longitudinal axis in order to cause the separation distance between the suction devices to be varied.       
 
         [0009]    Typically in addition to the grab handle bridge adjustment enabling variation of separation between the first and second suction pad devices, one or both of the suction devices may be pivotally or gimbal mounted with respect to the bridge. This enables the variation in curvature for example between different glazing panels to be accommodated. Such a pivoting connection between the suction pad devices and the bridge is shown in, for example, DE20103755. 
         [0010]    The connection between at least one of the suction pad devices and the bridge is adjustable to vary the separation between the first and second suction pad devices. Preferably the connection between both of the suction pad devices and the bridge is adjustable to vary the separation between the first and second suction pad devices. 
         [0011]    Desirably a screw thread connection is provided between one or both of the suction pad devices and the bridge. The screw thread connection is thereby adjustable to vary the separation between the first and second suction pad devices, in response to rotation of the grab handle bridge. 
         [0012]    In certain embodiments the bridge may include receiving means for receiving an actuation tool to effect adjustment. A recess, slot or aperture may for example be provided, for receiving an actuation tool (such as a lever). 
         [0013]    In a preferred embodiment, the bridge adjustment arrangement includes a detent arrangement for holding the bridge arrangement in a home orientation with respect to the suction pads. The detent arrangement beneficially includes biassing means to provide resistance against movement from the home orientation. Desirably, the detent arrangement comprises a projection arranged to locate in a recess in the home orientation. It is preferred that the projection and recess are carried by respective components of the adjustment arranged to threadingly matingly engage with one another. 
         [0014]    It is preferred that the first and second suction pad devices include a flexible sucker membrane and an actuator arranged to act to reconfigure the sucker membrane between a suction enhanced and a suction relieved configuration. The sucker membrane advantageously is of rubber or similar elastomeric material. Beneficially, the actuator comprises a cam lever. 
         [0015]    The flexible sucker membrane preferably includes a peripherally extending flexible sucker skirt. The skirt preferably extends peripherally outwardly beyond a supporting housing of the suction device. 
         [0016]    According to a second aspect, the invention provides a method of adjusting the fixing position of a vehicle glazing panel with respect to an opening, using a tool according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein a first of the suction devices is attached to the glazing panel and a second of the suction devices is attached to a surface adjacent the opening, wherein the bridge adjustment arrangement is operated to vary the separation between the first and second suction pad devices, and so adjust the fixing position of the glazing panel with respect to the opening. 
         [0017]    The invention thus provides a novel and inventive tool for glazing panel fitment and also a novel technique. The tool enables the glazing panel to be lifted and fitted in position and then fine adjustment made to position the panel accurately in the frame or opening. The panel may then be held in position whilst the bonding material (typically resin interposed between the glazing panel and the frame) cures. 
         [0018]    The invention will now be further described in a specific embodiment, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a tool according to the invention; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  are views of parts of the bridge of the tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 3 and 4  are views of the components of the bridge assembled; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the tool of the invention as used in the method of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    Referring to the drawings, and initially to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a glazing panel handling tool, comprising a pair of sucker suction devices  2 , 3  mounted one at either end of a grab handle bridge  4 . The sucker suction devices  2 , 3  comprises a hard plastics mounting shell  5 , to the underside of which is secured a flexible rubber membrane having a body disc (not visible in the figures) and an integral peripherally extending flexible skirt  6  extending outwardly beyond the mounting shell  5 . An actuation cam lever  7  is pivotally mounted at pivot  8 , to the hard plastics mounting shell  5 , the primary purpose of the actuation lever being to energize or de-energize the sucker. Such arrangements are known in the art and an exemplary such lever actuator arrangement is disclosed, for example, in DE 20103755, in which a lever having a cam is movable to urge a cam follower pin to push down the concave dish of the flexible sucker body  3 , so energizing or de-energizing the suction device. The present arrangement is designed to operate in this manner. The sucker suction devices  2 , 3  are pivotally mounted with respect to the grab handle bridge  4  at pivots  10 , in which pivot formations carried by the upstands  11  of the housings  5  are received in bores  12  at opposed ends of the grab handle bridge  4 . The pivotal connection of the sucker suction devices  2 , 3  to the grab handle bridge  4  enable the tool to adapt glazing panels of a variety of differing curvatures, as is common for windscreens for different models of vehicle. Also it enables the tool to be used in alternative ways as will be described later. Other mechanical connections may be used to achieve this functionality, for example a gimbal mount may be used as an alternative. 
         [0024]    The grab handle bridge  4  spanning between the spaced sucker suction devices  2 , 3  comprises a central generally tubular portion  4   a  and end mounting portions  4   b ,  4   c . The end mounting portions  4   b ,  4   c  carry screw threaded shafts  14  arranged to mate in screw threaded bores  15  provided at the opposed ends of the central tubular portion  4   a . The screw threads are of the opposed thread sense at either end of the grab handle bridge  4 . The end mounting portions have distal terminal bosses  16  provided with the pivot receiving bore  12 , and a flange  17  intermediate the boss  16  and the screw threaded shaft  14 . The face of flange  17  is provided with rounded locating recesses  19  extending diametrically. At each end of the grab handle bridge  4  is a facing flange washer  20  which is joined by a bridge  22  to the main body of the grab handle bridge  4 . The bridge connection  22  provides a resilient connection for the facing flange washer  20 . The facing flange washer  20  carries diametrical rounded ribs  24  arranged to mate with the recesses  19 . 
         [0025]    When assembled the end mounting portions  4   b ,  4   c  are threadably mated with the threaded bores  15  and screwed home until the ribs  24  snap into and locate with the recesses  19 . In this position the sucker suction devices are mounted with respect to the grab handle bridge  4  for normal use in lifting and handling glazing panels. The resilient biassing provided by the connection of the facing flange washer  20  is sufficient to ensure that the screw threaded end mountings  4   a ,  4   b  do not unscrew accidentally from the central tubular portion  4   a.    
         [0026]    In certain situations however it has been realised that it may be desirable to conveniently and controllably enable the separation between the sucker suction devices to be changed. In the embodiment described it is possible to change the separation of the sucker suction devices  2 , 3  by means of rotating (by hand or using a lever inserted in to slots or apertures  25 ) the central portion  4   a  of the grab handle bridge  4  about its axis and with respect to the end mounting portions  4   b , 4   c . This causes the ribs  24  to disengage from the home position nested in the recesses  19  and the sucker suction devices to be urged apart. Conversely, the tool may be set up in a start configuration in which the end mounting portions are not screwed fully to their home position in which the ribs  24  are engaged nested in the recesses  19 . The central portion  4   a  of the grab handle bridge  4  may then be rotated (in the opposite sense) about its axis and with respect to the end mounting portions  4   b , 4   c  in order to draw the sucker suction devices  2 , 3  closer together. A practical application of this latter technique is realised as follows. 
         [0027]    A vehicle windscreen  30  is set in position in a generally correctly aligned position in an aperture frame in a vehicle chassis, with bonding resin  32  interposed. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the tool is then set up having the sucker suction device  2  mounted to the vehicle roof surface  35  above the windscreen  30  and the sucker suction device  3  mounted to the surface of the windscreen. In order to accurately fine tune the position of the windscreen vertically in the opening, the central portion of the grab handle bridge  4  can be rotated either clockwise or anticlockwise to move the position of the windscreen upwardly or downwardly. Two or more devices can be utilised in this way and one or more devices arranged to similarly fine tune sideways adjustment of the windscreen position. 
         [0028]    Accordingly, the tool of the present invention can be used both to lift the glazing panel into position and also to fine tune positionally adjust the glazing panel once initially placed.