GB2344372A

GB2344372A - Retaining device for a glazed unit comprising a bracket and glazing clip

Info

Publication number: GB2344372A
Application number: GB9826726A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Charles Taylor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-12-05
Filing date: 1998-12-05
Publication date: 2000-06-07
Anticipated expiration: 2018-12-05
Also published as: GB2344372B; GB9826726D0

Abstract

A retaining device for a glazed unit comprises a bracket (20) and a glazing clip (21). The bracket comprises two spaced channel-shaped sections (22 and 23), preferably provided with holes (24), which may be secured to the frame of a glazed unit, a raised intermediate portion (25) and two raised side flanges (26 and 27) joined to the outer edges of the two channel-shaped sections. The glazing clip has first and second limbs (34 and 35) arranged in substantially L-shaped configuration. The first limb (34) is divided into three portions, a central portion (36) slidable beneath, and engageable with, the raised intermediate portion of the bracket and two side portions (37 and 38) slidable beneath the raised side flanges of the bracket. Both the intermediate portion (25) of the bracket and the central portion (36) of the clip have mutually cooperable detent means (39 and 40) preferably in the form of tangs which, when interengaged, prevent removal of the clip and hence the glazing panel.

Description

A RETAINING DEVICE FOR A GLAZED UNIT AND A GLAZED UNIT INCLUDING SUCH A RETAINING DEVICE This invention relates to a retaining device for a glazed unit and to a glazed unit incorporating such a retaining device.

Most glazed building units are externally glazed, i. e. the glazed panel is held in place by beads secured to the external surface of the unit. This poses a security risk in that the beads can be prised away to enable the glazed panel to be removed.

Several retaining devices have been proposed to improve security of externally glazed units. The present invention seeks to provide an improved retaining device.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a retaining device for a glazed unit, comprising a bracket and a glazing clip, the bracket comprising two spaced channel-shaped sections which can be secured to a frame of a unit to be glazed, a raised intermediate portion and two raised side flanges joined to the outer edges of the two channel-shaped sections, respectively, and the clip having first and second limbs arranged in L-shaped or substantially L-shaped configuration, the first limb of the clip having a central portion slidable beneath the raised intermediate portion of the bracket and being inter-engageable therewith in order to hold a glazed panel with its second limb and two side portions slidable beneath the raised side flanges of the bracket and the central portion of the first limb of the clip and the raised intermediate portion of the bracket having mutually cooperable detent means which prevent the clip from being withdrawn from the bracket once engaged therewith other than by deforming the bracket to allow disengagement of the detent means.

Preferably, the raised intermediate portion of the bracket has two side portions adjacent to the two channel-shaped sections, respectively, and a central leaf portion which is separated from the side portions by slots extending between the central leaf portion and respective side portions, the detent means of the bracket being on the central leaf portion.

Preferably, the detent means comprise inter-engageable locking tangs on the central portion of the first limb of the clip and the central leaf portion of the bracket.

In this case, preferably, the locking tangs are pressed out of the central leaf portion and the central portion of the first limb of the clip, and the locking tang of the central leaf portion is inclined downwardly in a rearwards direction and the locking tang of the central portion of the first limb of the clip is inclined upwardly and forwardly.

Preferably, the edges of the two raised side flanges of the bracket remote from the channel-shaped sections are provided with downturned lips.

Preferably, the base of each channel-shaped section has two apertures for receiving fastening devices, typically screws.

Preferably, a compressible pad is provided on the inner surface of the second limb of the clip.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a glazed unit including a frame and a glazed panel held in the frame by a plurality of retaining devices according to the first aspect of the invention.

Preferably, the retaining units are concealed by beads attached to the frame.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a retaining device according to the first aspect of the invention, showing the clip and bracket separated, and Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the clip engaged with the bracket.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown therein a retaining device for a glazed unit (not shown) such as a window or door, comprising a uPVC or aluminium frame and a glazed panel which may be single or multi-glazed.

The glazed panel is held in the frame between a flange on the inner side of the frame and beads equipped with seals and attached to the outer side of the frame.

The beads clip into a channel in the frame in conventional manner and once assembled the panel is urged against the beads by one or more wedges forced between the flange and the panel.

In order to prevent easy removal of the glazed panel after prising the beads away from the frame, the panel is held in the frame by a plurality of said retaining devices, each comprising a bracket 20 and a glazing clip 21.

Typically, there are at least two brackets 20 on each vertical side of the frame, although there may be one on each vertical and each horizontal side of the frame, and generally these brackets are provided within the confines of two planes defining the major external surfaces of the glazed panel.

Each bracket 20 comprises two channel-shaped sections 22 and 23, which can be secured to the frame by screws (not shown) passing through holes 24. There are two holes 24 in each channel-shaped section to receive respective screws. This enables the bracket to be more securely fixed to the frame than if provided with only a single hole. Each bracket 20 also comprises a raised intermediate portion 25 and two raised side flanges 26 and 27 joined to the outer edges of the two channel-shaped sections 22 and 23, respectively. The outer edges of the two raised side flanges 26 and 27 are provided with downturned lips 28 and 29, respectively, each having an outwardly projecting flange 41 at its lower end.

The raised intermediate portion 25 of the bracket 20 has two side portions 30 and 31 adjacent to the channel-shaped sections 22 and 23, respectively, and a central leaf portion 32 which is separated from the side portions 30 and 31 by slots 33 extending between the central leaf portion 32 and respective side portions 30 and 31.

The side portions 30 and 31 and the central leaf portion 32 terminate short of the rear edge of the bracket (i. e. that edge of the bracket remote from the edge from which the clip 21 is inserted). The raised intermediate portion 25 is raised further in the centre of its front edge portion adjacent to the non-free end of the central leaf portion 32. The central leaf portion 32 is inclined downwards from its non-free edge and the free end portion of the central leaf portion lies in the plane of the side portions 30 and 31. A hole 33 is provided in the intermediate portion 25 adjacent the non-free end of the central leaf portion 32 to enable the central leaf portion 32 to flex more easily.

Each clip 21 is formed of resilient material, typically high tensile, spring steel, and has first and second limbs 34 and 35, respectively, arranged in L-shaped or substantially L-shaped configuration.

The first limb 34 of the clip has a central portion 36 slidable beneath the raised intermediate portion 25 of the bracket and is inter-engageable therewith in order to hold the glazed panel with its second limb 35. The first limb of the clip 34 also has two side portions 37 and 38 slidable beneath the raised side flanges 26 and 27, respectively. Inter-engagement between the first limb 34 of the clip 21 and the raised intermediate portion 25 of the bracket 20 is by way of mutually co-operable detent means in the form of inter-engageable locking tangs 39 and 40 on the first limb of the clip 21 and on the central leaf portion 32 of the bracket 20, respectively.

The locking tang 39 is pressed out of the central portion 36 of the first limb 34 of the clip 21 and is inclined upwardly and forwardly as viewed in an in-use position as shown in the drawing. The locking tang 40 is pressed out of the central leaf portion 32 of the bracket 20 and is inclined downwardly in a rearwards direction.

The clip 21 is inter-engaged with the bracket 20 by sliding the central portion 36 of the first limb 34 of the clip beneath the raised intermediate portion 25 and the side portions 37 and 38 of the clip beneath the raised side flanges 26 and 27 of the bracket 20. The intermediate portion 25 is raised further in the centre of the front edge portion adjacent to the non-free end of the central leaf portion 32 as aforesaid in order to allow passage of the locking tang 39 below the intermediate position 25. The central leaf portion 32 of the bracket 20 is flexed upwardly as the two locking tangs 39 and 40 engage until the locking tang 39 passes beyond the tang 40 when the cental leaf portion 32 returns and prevents removal of the clip 21 from the bracket 20 without passing a special release tool between the flange on the inner side of the frame and the inner surface of the glazed panel to upwardly deform the free end of the central leaf portion 32.

A compressible foam pad (not shown) may be provided on the inner surface of the limb 35 of the clip 21 to protect the glass of the glazed panel from damage.

The limb 35 of the clip 21 extends along the full length of the clip to make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for a would be intruder to prise up the central leaf portion 32 of the bracket 20 from the outside of the glazed unit.

Once in position, the clips 21 are difficult to remove without the special release tool mentioned hitherto.

Normally, the clips 21 are concealed by the beads and prevent easy removal of the glazed panel after the beads have been prised away from the frame.

The retaining devices comprising the brackets 20 and clips 21 therefore improve security of homes fitted with externally glazed units. They can also be used to improve security of houses fitted with internally glazed units.

The embodiment described above is given by way of example only and various modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A retaining device for a glazed unit, comprising a bracket and a glazing clip, the bracket comprising two spaced channel-shaped sections which can be secured to a frame of a unit to be glazed, a raised intermediate portion and two raised side flanges joined to the outer edges of the two channel-shaped sections, respectively, and the clip having first and second limbs arranged in L-shaped or substantially L-shaped configuration, the first limb of the clip having a central portion slidable beneath the raised intermediate portion of the bracket and being inter-engageable therewith in order to hold a glazed panel with its second limb and two side portions slidable beneath the raised side flanges of the bracket and the central portion of the first limb of the clip and the raised intermediate portion of the bracket having mutually cooperable detent means which prevent the clip from being withdrawn from the bracket once engaged therewith other than by deforming the bracket to allow disengagement of the detent means.
2. A retaining device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the raised intermediate portion of the bracket has two side portions adjacent to the two channel-shaped sections, respectively, and a central leaf portion which is separated from the side portions by slots extending between the central leaf portion and respective side portions, the detent means of the bracket being on the central leaf portion.
3. A retaining device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the detent means comprise inter-engageable locking tangs on the central portion of the first limb of the clip and the central leaf portion of the bracket.
4. A retaining device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the locking tangs are pressed out of the central leaf portion and the central portion of the first limb of the clip, and the locking tang of the central leaf portion is inclined downwardly in a rearwards direction and the locking tang of the central portion of the first limb of the clip is inclined upwardly and forwardly.
5. A retaining device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the edges of the two raised side flanges of the bracket remote from the channelshaped sections are provided with downturned lips.
6. A retaining device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base of each channel-shaped section has two apertures for receiving fastening devices.
7. A retaining device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a compressible pad is provided on the inner surface of the second limb of the clip.
8. A retaining device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
9. A glazed unit including a frame and a glazed panel held in the frame by a plurality of retaining devices according to any one of the preceding claims.
10. A glazed unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the retaining units are concealed by beads attached to the frame.