Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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B_KGROUND OF T~ NVENTION
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is in the general field of in-
sulated~ or reduced thermally conductive, building
ele~ents, and more particularly building elements of
glass, such as windows, doors and the like. It is
- further more particularly directed to double walled
glass elements having a space between them to reduce
conductivity through the glass elements of energy
waves, most particularly, sound, and heat waves.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
It is known to manufacture building elements
with double walled, and insulated characteristics for
purpose of reducing transfer of heat and sound. It
is also known to construct such elements wherein the
walls~of the insulated item are formed of glass such
- as for windows, doors, and the like. Such items are
constructed in manufacturing locations; and control,
proper fitting, relationship of the elements to one
another, and the like,-are accomplished under proper
factory conditions wlth appropriate tooling and the
like all of which Is confining. Heretofore, it has
not been possible to mount such elements in an existing
door frame, window frames, and the like, which were
previously constructed for single thickness glass
elements. For the first time I have provided a ~ethod
and apparatus for economical conversion of such old
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building ele~ents to appropriately constructed elements
which reduce the passa~e of thermal and sonic waves.
In this sense, there is no prior art relating to this
un;que method and combination.
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_UMMARY OF I~E IN~EIIION
In all buildin~s and the like, the transfer of
heat and sound through windo~s, doors, or other glass
elements, is of major concern, and is particularly of
great concern under the present conditions of restricted
supplies of ener~y.
It is known that sound and heat are transmitted
relatively readily through glass. It is also known
that such transfer is materially inhibited wherein two
thicknesses of glass are used with a space between
cont~ining either an insulating material, air, or some
other gas. And, it is further known that maximum in-
hibition of the transmission of such waves is achieved
wherein a vacuum is caused to exist between the thick-
nesses of glass. An ideal illustration of this phenom-
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D enom is the commonly known and widely used ~e~ bottle.
In recent years some effort has been directed
towards the construction of windows, doors, and the like
for buildings wherein two thicknesses of glass are
utilized ~lith a space containing air between them. A
:~ dramatic reduction of heat and sound transfer is achieved
when such thicknesses are properly arranged within an
appropriate frame, and properly sealed under controlled
conditions.
Certain deficiencies occur when such installation of
two thicknesses of glass is not perfect, in that admission
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of moisture laden a;r into the space between the gl~ss
elements may result in fogging ~aking it difficult to see
through the glass as well as causing an unsightly condition
and stain;ng on the interior of the glass. Also, such
leakage ~ill reduce the effectiveness of the insulation.
Attempts to insulate windows by adding an addi-
tional pane of glass have been unsuccessful and
frustrating because of the numerous problems incurred,
including the foregoing, and, also, the costs and
difficulties of installation in a window sash origionally
designed for a single pane of glass or grate.
I have studied the construction of various types
of windows utilizing single thicknesses of glass, and
of doors and the like as well. I have finally con-
ceived and developed a method by wh;ch old existlng
windows can be converted, at the slte of the windows,
to double-walled construction without deficiencies, and
with great economy compared to factory constructed devices.
Additlonally, I have conceived and developed a method by
2~ which a partial vacuum is created between the two panes,
if desired, in order more~effectively to inhibit the
transfer of heat and sound and to enhance the quality of
the installation.
In my method, I insert a special adapter element
within the existing window frame and in l;eu of the
ex;sting window pane. This adaptive element is so con-
structed so as to receive two like pleces of glass at
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a spaced distance from one another with provision for
a sealing mastic as well as provision for deformative
corner elements so as to insure permanent maintenance of the
glass elernents in the desired location and with appropriate
protection against leakage at the mastic areas.
I have also provided a special method of removing
moisture and causing a partial vacuum in the space
between the glass elements wherein the air in such space
is heated prior to final sealing, and an appropriate desicant
material is confined within an element in such manner that it
will absorb all moisture in the space and within the heated
air, thus insuring against steam and fog within the space and
likewise causing a part;al vacuum during the removal of the
moisture from the air.
The desicant material (such as silica gel or
the like) is confined within a decorative element,
which decorative element also acts as an appropriate
spacer and locking device to maintain the glass
elements in their desired respective locations.
Of importance, is the cooperative relationship
between the adaptive elements, the corner connectors,
and the desicant containment element. And their over- `
all relationship to appropriate sealent.
It is an object of this invention to provide a
method and apparatus for converting a single pane
window and the like to double pane elements;
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Another object af this invention is to provide
such a method and apparatus wherein the space between
the panes is appropriately controlled and sealed from
the outside atlnosphere;
Another object of this invention is to provide
a ~ethod and device as above described wherein moisture
is removed from air in the space between the glass
elements;
Another object of this invention is to prov;de
a method and device as mentioned wherein a partial
vacuum may be accomplished in the space between the
glass elements.
The foregoin~ and other objects and advantages
of this invention will become apparent to thos:e skilled
in the art upon reading the following descr;ption of a
preferred embodiment in conjunction with the appended
drawings.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a partially broken away perspective o~ a
wlndow constructed in accordance with a preferred embodlment
Or the method of this lnvention and showlng the elements o~ .-
preferred apparatus ~or per~orming the method;
Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the adaptive
element in which the glass is mounted in the embodiment
shown ln:`Figure l; `~h
Figure 2a ls a sectional view o~ an adaptive element
constructed in accordance wlth an alternative embodiment of .
the present invention;
Figure 3 is a partlally broken away perspectlve of a
glass door which has been converted by the method and
apparatus of ~his inventlon;
Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional siew of the adaptive
element ln which the glass 18 mounted in the embodlment
shown in Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a partially broken away view of one o~ the ~ ~
mitered corners of the~glass~holding element of Flgure 3 with ~ k
one piece lifted out of oontact and twisted out~of theaway to
illustrate particularly the utiliza~on of a corner-holding
bracket; and - :
Flgure 6 ls an enlarged perspective o~ the corner-
holdlng bracket shown in Figure 5.
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C~ESCRIPTION OF A PREFERP~ED EM~ODIMENT
A preferred embodiment of a combination to
practice th;s invention is illustrated in FIGURE l.
Window panes are normally mounted in a suitable frame,
such as an aluminum frame or the like, for fixed or
movable installation in a wall. The frame illustrated
in this case consists of a frame of customary con-
struction, known in ~he art, the details of which are
omitted, but which frame consists of four sides, lO,
ll, 12 and 13. These elements may be connected
together by suitable brackets or the like known in
the art. In the case illustrated the sides are suitably
fastened by screws or the like 14 adjacent the corners
as indicated. O~her constructions are known and this
is not deemed in any manner critical.
Such frames as illustrated are normally constructed
in such manner as to accommodate a pane of glass with
suitab1e insulating strips about the edges of the glass,
or the like. Such frames, therefore, have a relatively
narrow opening therein, and are not in themselves
susceptible of adaption to the mounting of double-
walled insulating panes of glass therein.
I have invented a unique combination of two
panes of glass, 38 and 39, mastic, sealing and
installation material 31, moisture eliminating arrange-
ment 32~ and an adapter 20 to hold said two panes of
glass, the mastic, and moisture eliminating materials.
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The adapter 20 fits within the ordinary window frames
10, 11, 12, and 13 confi~lure~ so a~ to basically
maintain the interior configuration of the window and
yet to accommodate the extra width reguired in an
unusual rnanner.
With attention directed to FIGURES 1 and 2, the
unique adapter 1 provided is illustrated by the numeral
20 generally. The adapter 20 has an appropriate tongue
or the like 30 running the length, such tongue being
lQ suitable to become Pngaged in the channel section 15
of each portion of the window frame, as shown in
connection with portion 12 on FIGURE 1.
As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the two panes of glass
38 and 39 are secured within the adapter 20 by appro-
priate mastic, such as silicone or the like 31. As a
combination spreader 4, (to maintain separation between
the panes of glass) and as a moisture removal means
(to remove moisture from between the two panes), a strip
32 essentially in the shape indicated (although this
is not critical) is provided, which strip may be
extruded of plastic, aluminum, or the like and is filled
in its interior with a desicant such as silica gel or
the like and will be appropriately perforated on the
top so as to allow it to accept moisture from the
space from between the panes of glass. Such a strip,
containing desicant, is known in the art, and is
utilized in some existing thermal double-walled
installations. Details of such a desicant strip are
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known in the art and are not given here.
Turning attention now to FIGURE 2, which is an --
enlarged sectional v;ew of the adapter 20 without the
silicone or the like 31, nor the panes of glass, nor
the desicant strip, the unique combination will be
particularly understood.
The adapter 20 is seen to consist of an essentially
"U" shaped strip of rigid material such as aluminum,
or the like, comprising a bottom segment 23 and t~o
sides 21 and 22. The tongue 30 extends essentially as
indicated from the bottom segment and is of appropriate
size to fi~ the interior channel of the window frame.
It is off-set to one side as indicated in such manner
that when installed, the edge 22 will essentially conform
to the interior of the window casing and will not sub-
stantially over-hang so as to create an unsightly or
hazardous condition. The unusual shape of the tab 24
and the tab 25, creating the two pockets 2~ and Z9,
allows the proper application of mastic sealing material
so as to not only provide for the appropriate holding
of the panes of glass, but, so as to provide appropriate
expansion and contraction possibilities depending upon
temperature conditions of the environment.
The scored edges 26 and 27 on the upper interior
portions of edges 21 and 22 provide for the mastic to
be held appropriately in that area and thus provide
excellent wedging and holding action in the combination
with the desicant strips 32.
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In act~lally assembling the unit, and making the
conversion from a single pane of glass, it is desirable,
in the best form of the practice of this invention, to
assemble in a reasonably heated area, or to provide
sufficient heat to the materials as they are applied,
so tllat the air space bet~leen the panes of glass 38 and
39 is as warm as reasonably poss.ible. It is desirable
that this air space is warmer than normal temperatures
to be expected in the environment in which the window
is installed. By this means, a vacuum condition
is created within the space between the panes,
depending upon the exact amount of applied heat, which
vacuum condition results from the cooling and contraction
of the air within the space is formed, together with the
removal of moisture from said air~ by the desicant strip 32,
thus, and improved insulating barrier is created due to the
inhibition of the travel of`heat through the partially
evacuated space.
FIGURES 3 and 4 i.llustrate an alternate embodiment of
a device to practice the method of this invention, which
has been more particularly designed for use in doors or the
like. This is not necessarily limited to doors, but is
particularly d~sirable in that application.
FIGURE 3 illustrates a sliding glass door utilizing
the methods of thls invention and illustrating a preferred
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ernbodiment of the unique combination.
Sliding glass doors are well known in the art, and
the particular construction shown here is in no manner
deemed to be limiting in any respect. Normally, a sliding
glass door will consist of a top and bottom frame, 110 and
112, with two edges 111 and 113. A door frame of this
nature will normally be fastened at its corners with screws
114 or the like so as to complete a rectangular unit. Such
unit normally will roll upon rollers 133 and 134 or the like
within a track or the like 136 at its lower edge, and be
guided by a top channel or the like 137, The door will
normally have a handle 135 or the like.
Such glass door frame, normally, will have a channel
as at 115 which will be o~ approximately appropriately width
to carry a single panel of glass.
In practicing ~this invention, the ~lass normally within
the door frame will ~be removed, and the tongue 130 of the
adapter combination will be of such width as to appropriately
fit within the customary door frame. ~
A pair of glass panels 138 and~l39 will be~held within
the adapter unit, generally 120, by an appropriate silicone
mastic material 131 and with the use of a desicant strip
132. It is understood that the strip 132 will perform a
function similar to the strip 32 described with reference
to FIGURE 1, and the mastic material 131 will perform a
similar function to the mastic material 31 described with
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reference tD FIGURE 1. For s;mplicity, the descriptions
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are not repeated, but are incorporated by this reference.
For practicing this embodiment, it is more particularly
desired to center the adapter 12~ within the door frame,
since frequently there are obstructions such as screens or
the like which may not have sufficient clearance to the
door to enable an over-hanging unit such as was described.
With attention d;rected particularly to FIGURE 4,
which is an enlarged section of the adapter strip 120, it
is seen that this consists of a strip of extruded alum;num
lo or the like having two edges 122 and 121, together with a
bottom element 123, with a tongue 130 depending from 123 in
a direction opposed to the direction of edges 121 and 122.
In this case the tongue 131 is approximately centered upon
the edge 123.
The tabs 124 and 125, which provide pockets 128, 129,
and 129a, in combination with such pockets will provide for
the appropriate holding and expansion qualities of the
sealant material 131 in conjunction with the use of the
glass panels 138 and 139 so as to provide appropriate
retentlon and sealing.
FIGURE 5 illustrates a corner bracket which is
generally used to provide additional stability to the
corners of the adaptive elements. At the corner, the
adaptive elements will normally be mitered essentially
as indicated in FIGURE 5. The pocket, or channel 128
has driven into it one leg of a bracket 116. The other
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leg extends at right angles and the mating adaptive
element will be placed down upon it with the other leg
of the corner bracket extending into the channel 128
appropriately, as will be understood. In the illustration
of FIGURE 5, the essentially horizontal adaptive element
is seen to have the bracket 11~ in place in its channel
128, and the mating adaptive element, being the vertical
one in the illustration in FIGURE 5 will be placed down
upon the upstanding leg of the bracket 116 until it is
fully inserted into the channel of the adaptive element.
FIGURE 6 illustrates the typlcal corner bracket 116
having serrated edges on its interior 117 and 118 so
shaped, as indicated, so as to grip the inner faces of
the elements forming the channel 128. Normally the
thickness of the corner bracket 116 will be such as to
fit very snugly within the channel and thus be held
firmly by the serrated edges 117 and 118.
It should be understood, that while not illustrated,
a similar corner bracket ~lill fre~uently be llsed in
conjunction with the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 and
2. It will be utilized in the same-manner, and in
the case of the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 and 2,
would be placed so as to grip within the channel pocket
28 in the adaptive element utilized in the embodiment
of FIGURES 1 and 2.
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The method of assembly, and the l;ke, will be
similar for the embodiment shown in FI~,URES 3, 4, 5,
and 6, to that described with reference to FIGURES 1
and 2, and will achieve essentially the same results.
A complete description of the method is not given
here since it would be repetitive and anyone skilled
in the art will understand that exactly the same
process will be followed.
While the embodiments of this invention shown
and described are fully capable of achieving the
objects and advantages desired, such embodiments have
been illustrated solely for purposes of illustration
and not for purposes of limitation.
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