TITLE
DEVICE AND METHOD FOR GLAZING A DOOR
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a door, comprising a glazed unit fitted into an opening in the door and fixed in the door by means of an outer strip located on one side of the glazed unit and an inner strip located on the other side of the glazed unit. The invention also relates to a glazing method for a door.
BACKGROUND ART
Doors are composed of a number of layers, which from the outside of a building in general structure terms comprise: a surface layer which constitutes an outside intended to face away from the building, a reinforcing layer against the surface layer; an insulating layer against the reinforcing layer; a reinforcing layer against the insulating layer; and a surface layer which constitutes an inside of the door intended to face into the building.
The glazing of doors means that a glazed unit is fitted into a through- opening made in the door. The opening may be made during manufacture of the door, a piece of the insulation being replaced by a peripheral wooden strip which defines the opening. In glazing, the glazed unit is fitted into the opening defined by the wooden strip and is thereafter held in place between an outer strip and an inner strip. The outer strip is fixed to the wooden strip from the outside and the inner strip is fixed to the wooden strip from the inside.
One problem with the method of manufacture and the device described is that the peripheral wooden strip and the insulation must be adjusted, which results in complex production methods.
In cases where an unglazed door is to be converted into a glazed door, a through-opening is made in the door. The glazed unit is then put in place
and the outer strip is applied to the outside of the door and the inner strip to the inside of the door. The inner strip is then fixed to the outer strip by means of self-tapping through-screws, that is to say screws which cut their own thread and tighten automatically in the surrounding material. Such an arrangement places demands on all constituent materials in the arrangement. For example, the outer strip must be of a material which is soft enough to allow the self-tapping screws to cut a thread and to receive the tightening force. Examples of such materials are the common types of wooden used in furniture manufacture and building.
One problem with said method and device is that the outer strip is too soft to withstand prolonged exposure to wind and weather.
Even though the methods and the devices according to the prior art work satisfactorily as such, there is a desire for less expensive, simplified and improved manufacture together with a longer service life of glazed doors.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The present invention is intended to solve the problems described above by means of simplified and improved manufacture together with a longer service life of glazed doors.
This is achieved by a door comprising a glazed unit fitted into an opening in the door and fixed in the door by means of an outer strip located on one side of the glazed unit and an inner strip located on the other side of the glazed unit. The invention is characterized in that the inner strip and the outer strip form a joint together with a joining device. The outer strip comprises holes, each provided with a funnel-shaped orifice intended to guide the joining device towards the opening. The holes are not through-holes but are made on the inside of the outer strip and a suitable distance into the outer strip towards the outside of the outer strip. The inside of the outer strip faces the door. The holes may be made by drilling or some other suitable technique.
One advantage of the invention is that the funnel-shaped orifice allows the outer strip and inner strip to form a joint despite the fact that the centreline of the joining device does not need to coincide with the centreline of the corresponding holes in the outer strip when the joining device is brought towards the hole. The funnel-shaped orifice guides the joining device correctly in such a way that the joining device is introduced into the hole, thereby forming the joint.
The inner strip advantageously comprises inner holes or channels located basically opposite the holes in the outer strip, each inner hole or channel being designed to receive the joining device in such a way that the joining device is guided towards the funnel-shaped orifice when the inner strip and the outer strip are brought towards one another. The inner holes are not through-holes but are made on the inside of the inner strip and a suitable distance into the inner strip towards the outside of the inner strip. The inside of the inner strip faces the door. The holes may be made by drilling or some other suitable technique. The channels on the other hand are through- channels passing through the inner strip and may be made by drilling or some other suitable technique.
According to one embodiment of the invention the joining device comprises screws. The inner strip here advantageously comprises channels located basically opposite the holes, the holes being designed to receive the screws in such a way that the screws are guided towards the funnel-shaped orifice when they are screwed into the channels. One advantage of this embodiment is that in a manufacturing process the funnel-shaped orifice greatly facilitates the process of screwing the screws into the holes, in such a way that the joint is formed. One reason is that the tolerances for the adjustment of the outer strip in relation to the other strip do not need to be as precise as they would in the absence of a funnel-shaped orifice. The funnel- shaped orifice therefore advantageously guides a screw which from the
channel in the inner strip travels towards and somewhat in front of the hole in the outer strip.
According to one embodiment of the invention the outer strip has a density which exceeds the maximum density that allows the screw to cut a thread and draw in the outer strip in the absence of the holes. One advantage of this embodiment is that the outer strip can be made from a hard, weather- resistant material. The holes in the outer strip allow the screw to grip in the hard material and the funnel-shaped orifice advantageously guides the screw towards the hole.
According to one embodiment of the invention the joining device comprises a plug. The inner strip here advantageously comprises inner holes located basically opposite the holes in the outer strip, each inner hole being designed to receive the plug in such a way that the plug is guided towards the funnel- shaped orifice when the inner strip is brought towards the outer strip.
The invention also relates to a glazing method for a door, in which an opening is made in the door, following which the glazed unit is placed in the opening. The opening can be made during the manufacturing of the door or after the door has been manufactured. The glazed unit is fixed in the door by means of an outer strip located on one side of the glazed unit and an inner strip located on the other side of the glazed unit. The invention is characterized in that the inner strip and the outer strip are joined by means of a joining device in such a way that the outer strip and the inner strip form a joint together with the joining device. The outer strip comprises holes, which are each provided with a funnel-shaped orifice, which guides the joining device towards the hole.
One advantage of the method is that the funnel-shaped opening and the holes mean that the outer strip may be composed of a hard, weather- resistant material, without requiring stringent manufacturing tolerances. The
funnel-shaped orifice guides the joining device to the holes, so that the joining device can enter into engagement with the material surrounding the hole.
According to one embodiment of the invention the joining device comprises screws, the outer strip and the inner strip being joined by means of the screws in such a way that the outer strip and the inner strip form the joint together with the screws.
The inner strip advantageously comprises channels located basically opposite the holes, each channel receiving the screws in such a way that the screws are guided towards the funnel-shaped orifice when they are screwed into the channels. One advantage of the method is that the channels act as marking points for the fitter, that is to say the person who is to undertake the glazing. In the manufacturing process, the fitter offers up the glazed unit to the opening, places an outer strip and an inner strip against the glazed unit, and places screws in the channels, the screws being automatically guided to the holes by the funnel-shaped orifice when the screws engage and draw the outer strip towards the inner strip in such a way that the joint is formed. The tension in the joint can be adjusted by tightening the screws to different degrees.
According to one embodiment of the invention the joining device comprises plugs, the outer strip and the inner strip being joined by means of the plugs in such a way that the outer strip and the inner strip form the joint together with the plugs.
The inner strip here comprises inner holes located basically opposite the holes in the outer strip, each inner hole being designed to receive the plug in such a way that the plug is guided towards the funnel-shaped orifice when the inner strip is brought towards the outer strip. In order to obtain a joint the strips are forced towards one another by means of a suitable pressing
device, for example screw clamps or hydraulic or pneumatic clamps.
One advantage to the use of plugs is that the inner holes in the inner strip are not through-holes, so that the plugs will not be seen from the outside of either of the strips.
The screws are advantageously composed of a metal, such as steel, iron, stainless steel, brass etc.
The plugs preferably comprise a basically cylindrical body, which is suited to engagement in the holes. If the holes do not have a circular cross-section, the plugs are correspondingly shaped, for example with an oval cross- section. The plugs are secured in the respective holes by a press-fit by virtue of the fact that the plug is larger than the hole. The plugs can moreover be secured in the holes by means of adhesive, or by providing the plugs with barbs or grooves, or other suitable structure which will engage in the edge material of the holes. The plugs may be made of metal, wood or plastics.
According to one embodiment of the invention the outer strip has a density at least twice that of the inner strip. One advantage of this embodiment is that the high density gives a durable, weather-resistant door with a longer service life. The use of soft material for the outer strip is known in the art, but such materials have a tendency to start to rot and crack, so that water can get in through the outer strip or between the strip and the glazed unit.
According to one embodiment of the invention the inner strip has a maximum density of 500 kg/m3. The inner strip need not be confined to being softer than the outer strip, however, the inner strip according to another embodiment instead being allowed a maximum density equal to the density of the outer strip.
According to one embodiment of the invention the outer strip has a density in
excess of 750 kg/m3. Examples of such materials are plastics and composite materials. Examples of composite materials are adhesive-laminated wood (wood adhesively bonded together), a so-called high-density fibreboard (HDF). The composite material may also be layers of adhesive-laminated plastics. Other possible materials are types of high-density timber, such as ebony.
The door is preferably composed of a lamellar structure comprising: an outer surface layer; - an outer stabilizing layer against the outer surface layer; an insulating layer against the inner stabilizing layer; an inner stabilizing layer against the insulating layer; and an inner surface layer.
The outer surface layer may be of wood or other suitable material. The material is preferably water-repellent or impregnated with a water-repellent material.
The outer stabilizing layer is preferably composed of a material having a coefficient of expansion which compensates for changes in the outer layer in response to temperature and moisture, for example. Examples of such materials are aluminium and sheet metal. The stabilizing layer may also be composed of a material which is unaffected by temperature and moisture changes. Such a layer counteracts changes in the outer surface layer in the event of said ambient changes. Examples of such materials are rigid plastic laminate such as Kevlar and fibreglass.
The insulating layer is preferably composed of a fibre material which contains a sufficiently large proportion of air to provide suitable insulating characteristics. Examples of such fibres are cellulose fibres or oil-based fibres such as plastic fibres.
The inner stabilizing layer is preferably composed of material having a coefficient of expansion which compensates for changes in the inner surface layer in response to temperature and moisture, for example. Examples of such materials are aluminium and sheet metal. The stabilizing layer may also be composed of a material which is unaffected by temperature and moisture changes. Such a layer counteracts changes in the inner surface layer in the event of said ambient changes. Examples of such materials are rigid plastic laminate such as Kevlar and fibreglass.
The inner surface layer may be of wood or other suitable material. The inner surface layer is normally composed of an aesthetically pleasing material, but may obviously be composed of or treated with a fire-resistant material, for example.
It should be stated, however, that the door and the glazing method according to the invention are not limited to doors of a special structure or special material. On the contrary, one of the advantages of the invention is that the method lends itself to use in any conceivable door structure of any constituent material.
The glazed unit preferably comprises an outer glass pane and an inner glass pane. The outer glass pane is intended to face outwards from a building and the inner glass pane is intended to face into a building. The glazed unit comprises a frame located between the outer glass pane and the inner glass pane. The frame extends along the periphery of the glass panes and is sealed against the glass panes by a suitable sealing means. The glazed unit may naturally comprise a single glass pane or more than two glass panes.
The funnel-shaped orifice in the outer strip advantageously has an angle of 20-70° between two opposing tangents of the sides of the orifice. The invention is not limited to said range, a funnel-shaped orifice having an angle greater than or less than said range being feasible if the funnel-shaped orifice
still affords the desired guidance for guiding the joining device to the holes in the outer strip.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention will be described below with reference to a number of drawings in which:
Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a door having a glazed unit fixed in the door;
Fig. 2, in a cross section along the line B-B in detail A, shows a schematic view of a first embodiment of a lower part of the glazed unit fixed in the door;
Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an outer strip and an inner strip shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 4, in a cross section along the line B-B in detail A, shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of a lower part of the glazed unit fixed in the door; and
Fig. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an outer strip and an inner strip shown in Fig. 4.
MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a door 1 having a glazed unit 2 fixed in the door. The glazed unit 2 is formed with a rectangular geometry and is located relatively centrally in the door. The glazed unit 2 may be located anywhere in the door 1. The glazed unit 2 need not be formed with a rectangular geometry, but may be formed with any desired geometry, for example oval, circular, rhombic, trapezium, etc. The glazed unit 2 is located in an opening 3 in the door 1. The opening 3 may either be made directly during manufacture of the door 1 , or the opening 3 may be made in the door
1 after manufacture.
The glazed unit 2 is fixed in the door 1 by means of an outer strip 4 and an inner strip 5. Both the outer strip 4 and the inner strip 5 extend around the entire periphery of the glazed unit 2 and hence also around the periphery of the opening. A number of screws 6 are screwed into the inner strip 5 and towards the outer strip 4. The screws 6 are screwed in a direction from the inner strip 5 to the outer strip 4.
Fig. 2, in a cross section along the line B-B in detail A, shows a schematic view of a lower part of the glazed unit 2 fixed in the door 1. Fig. 2 shows that the door 1 consists of a lamellar structure comprising: an outer surface layer 7; an outer stabilizing layer 8 against the outer surface layer 7; - an insulating layer 9 against the inner stabilizing layer 8; an inner stabilizing layer 10 against the insulating layer 9; and an inner surface layer 11.
The outer surface layer 7 is intended to face outwards from a building and the inner surface layer 11 is intended to face inwards into a building. The outer strip 4 is located against the outer surface layer 7 and the glazed unit 2. The inner strip 5 is located against the inner surface layer 11 and the glazed unit 2.
Fig. 2 shows that the glazed unit 2 comprises an outer glass pane 12 and an inner glass pane 13. The outer glass pane 12 is intended to face outwards from a building and the inner glass pane 13 is intended to face inwards into a building. The glazed unit 2 comprises a frame 14 located between the outer glass pane 12 and the inner glass pane 13. The frame 14 extends around the periphery of the glass panes and is sealed against the glass panes 12, 13 by a suitable sealing means (not shown).
Fig. 2 shows that the glazed unit 2 stands on a block 15 between the glazed unit 2 and the door 1 in the width direction of the door. The opening 3 in the door is normally made large enough to create a clearance or gap between the glazed unit 2 and the periphery of the opening 3. The block 15 is intended for locating the glazed unit 2 correctly in the opening 3. Multiple blocks 15 may be placed around the opening 3 in order that the glazed unit 2, when it is being offered up to the opening 3, will end up in the desired location, for example concentrically in the opening 3.
The outer strip 4 is formed with a first part 16 and a second part 17. The first part 16 is located against the outer surface layer 7 and the second part 17 is located against the outer glass pane 12. Fig. 2 shows that the glazed unit 2 is sunk in the door 1 in relation to the outer surface layer 7. The outer strip 4 is therefore formed with an angle 18 between the first part 16 and the second part 17. The angle 18 means that the outer strip 4 is capable of exerting pressure against both the outer surface layer 7 and the outer glass pane 12 of the glazed unit 2. Fig. 2 shows that an outer sealing strip 19 is located between the second part 17 of the outer strip 4 and the outer glass pane 12. The outer sealing strip 19 is advantageously made from a pliable material that is deformed under pressure. When the second part 17 of the outer strip
4 presses against the outer sealing strip 19, the outer sealing strip 19 is deformed against the outer glass pane 12 in such a way that a watertight seal is produced between the outer strip 4 and the glazed unit 2.
The inner strip 5 is formed with a third part 20 and a fourth part 21. The third part 20 is located against the inner surface layer 11 and the fourth part 21 is located against the inner glass pane 13. Fig. 2 shows that the glazed unit 2 is sunk in the door 1 in relation to the inner surface layer 11. The inner strip
5 is therefore formed with an angle 22 between the third part 20 and the fourth part 21. The angle 22 means that the inner strip 5 is capable of exerting pressure against both the inner surface layer 11 and the inner glass pane 13 of the glazed unit 2. Fig. 2 shows that an inner sealing strip 23 is
located between the fourth part 21 of the inner strip 5 and the inner glass pane 13. The inner sealing strip 23 is advantageously made from a pliable material that is deformed under pressure. When the fourth part 21 of the inner strip 5 presses against the inner sealing strip 23, the inner sealing strip 23 is deformed against the inner glass pane 13 in such a way that a watertight seal is produced between the inner strip 5 and the glazed unit 2.
Fig. 2 shows that the inner strip 5 has a through-channel 24 into which a screw 26 is screwed. Fig. 2 also shows that the outer strip 4 has a hole 25 into which the screw 26 is screwed. The screw 26 draws the outer strip 4 towards the inner strip 5 in such a way that the outer strip 4 presses against both the outer surface layer 7 and the outer glass pane 12, whilst the inner strip 5 simultaneously presses against both the inner surface layer 11 and the inner glass pane 13. Around the entire outer and inner strips 4, 5 there are a number of screws 26 screwed in in the way as has been described in connection with Fig. 2.
Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the outer strip 4 and the inner strip 5 shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 shows that the outer strip 4 comprises holes 25, which are each provided with a funnel-shaped orifice 27 intended to guide the screw 26 towards the holes 25. The funnel-shaped orifice 27 is intended to guide the screw 26 towards the hole 25 when the screw 26 is screwed in from the inner strip 5.
Fig. 3 shows that the inner strip 5 comprises a channel 24, which basically extends horizontally. The screw 26 is screwed into the channel 24, the screw 26 being guided by the threads of the screw 26 towards the funnel-shaped orifice 27 in the outer strip 4
Fig. 4, in a cross section along the line B-B in detail A, shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of a lower part of the glazed unit fixed in the door. The differences compared to the embodiment shown in Figs 1 to 3 are
that the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 has a joining device in the form of a plug 30 instead of a screw 26, and that the inner strip 45 has inner holes 29 instead of the channels 24 shown in Figs 1 to 3.
Fig. 4 shows that the outer strip 4 comprises holes 25, which are each provided with a funnel-shaped orifice 27 intended to guide the plug 30 towards the holes 25 in the outer strip 4. The funnel-shaped orifice 27 is intended to guide the plug in towards the hole 25 when the plug 26 is brought in the direction from the inner strip 45 towards the outer strip 4.
Fig. 4 shows that the inner strip 45 comprises an inner hole 29, which basically extends horizontally. The inner hole 29 has a funnel-shaped orifice 28 intended to guide the plug in towards the inner hole.
When glazing the door 1 , the plug is suitably first fitted to the inner strip 45, following which the strips 4, 45 are brought towards one another in such a way that the plug engages both with the hole 25 in the outer strip 4 and the inner hole 29 in the inner strip 45, thereby forming the desired joint. In order to form an optimum joint, the plug 30 may be softer than the surrounding material and have a larger diameter than the hole 25 in the outre strip 4 and a larger diameter than the inner hole 29. The plug is then deformed radially in each hole in such a way that the plug forms part of a mechanical joint. In another embodiment the plug may be of a material which is harder than either of the strips, either or both of the holes being widened in such a way that the plug forms part of a mechanical joint with the hole. In both embodiments the joint can be strengthened with adhesive or other suitable means. The plug may furthermore be provided with barbs, grooves or other suitable devices in order to secure the placement of the plug in the respective hole.
Fig. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the outer strip 4 and the inner strip 45 shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 5 shows that the outer strip 4 comprises
holes 25, which are each provided with a funnel shaped orifice 27 intended to guide the plug 30 towards the holes 25.
The inner strip 45 comprises inner holes 29, each provided with a funnel- shaped orifice 28. The funnel-shaped orifice 28 is intended to guide the plug 30 in towards the inner hole when the plug is initially offered up to the hole 25 in the outer strip 4.