Retainer and weatherseal for structurally bonded glazing

A building construction for accepting a marginal edge of a glass panel and for retaining said marginal edge, said building construction comprising:

• an elongated frame member, said frame member defining an outwardly facing front surface portion;
• an elongated retainer member comprising a spine and a foot member formed at the outward edge of said spine, said spine and said foot member at least partially defining a retaining channel, said marginal edge of said glass panel being received within said glazing recess such that said front surface portion, said marginal edge of said glass panel, and said foot member all intersect a first axis;
• a spacer portion, separate from said retainer member, also intersecting said first axis for contacting said glass panel and biasing said glass panel against said foot member, such that said glass panel tends to be maintained in place;
• and
• structural adhesive to provide a bond intermediate a substantially flat bonding surface defined by said frame member and a substantially flat bonding surface defined by said glass panel, said substantially flat bonding surface defined by said frame member being substantially parallel to and at least partially facing said substantially flat bonding surface defined by said glass panel.

An apparatus for accepting edges of substantially planar panels and retaining said edges relative to the outside surface of a framing member, comprising:

• an elongate retainer profile having a generally H-shaped transverse cross section, thereby forming a pair of elongate U-shaped retaining channels, the first of said retaining channels configured to accept an edge of a first of said panels, and the second of said retaining channels configured to accept an edge of a second of said panels;
• panel securing means for securing said first and second panel edges within said first and second channels, respectively, said panel securing means comprising first and second elongate resilient spacer portions, said first and second spacer portions each positioned against corresponding said first and second panels and within and against corresponding said first and second U-shaped channels such that said spacer portions each contact a corresponding panel and at least partially maintain said panels within said U-shaped channels by frictional force;
• structural adhesive to provide interconnection intermediate said glass panel and said outside surface of said framing member, said structural adhesive providing a bond intermediate a substantially flat bonding surface at least partially defined by said outside surface of said frame member and a substantially flat bonding surface defined by said glass panel, said substantially flat bonding surface defined by said frame member being substantially parallel to and at least partially facing said substantially flat bonding surface defined by said glass panel;
• and
• profile securing means for securing said profile coextensively along said framing member.

An apparatus for accepting edges of substantially planar glass panels and retaining said edges relative to a framing member defining a substantially planar surface portion and defining a securing channel having a surface portion, said apparatus comprising:

• an elongate retainer profile itself comprising:
• a) a central spine having two opposing ends,
• b) a securing head extending from one end of said spine and defining a surface portion facing generally toward the other end of the spine, said head configured for sliding engagement along and within said securing channel with said surface portion of said securing portion facing said surface portion of said securing head;
• c) a foot member extending from a second end of said spine;
• and
• d) a pair of base flanges extending from said spine in an opposing manner from a position along said spine such that a pair of oppositely disposed retaining channels are at least partially defined by said spine, a corresponding base flange, and said foot member, each retaining channel configured to receive an edge portion of a corresponding one of said planar glass panels;
• and
• first and second spacer portions each positioned between a corresponding glass panel and a corresponding base flange, said spacer portions configured and positioned to urge their corresponding glass panel against said foot member to enhance frictional engagement between said glass panel and said foot member, and said spacer portions configured and positioned such that said foot member transfers force through said spine sufficient to enhance frictional engagement between said surface portion of said securing portion and said surface portion of said securing head.

An elongate retainer member for use in conjunction with an elongated frame member for accepting a marginal edge of a glass panel and for retaining said marginal edge relative to said frame member, said frame member defining a front surface portion and defining a securing channel, said securing channel having an inwardly facing wall portion, said elongate retainer member comprising:

• a spine;
• a transverse base flange;
• a securing head formed at a rearward edge of said spine, said securing head being slidably received within said securing channel of said frame member such that a portion of said securing head faces said inwardly facing wall portion of said securing channel;
• a foot member formed at the forward edge of said spine, said spine and said foot member at least partially defining a retaining channel, said marginal edge of said glass panel being received within said retaining channel such that said front surface portion, said marginal edge of said glass panel, said base flange, and said foot member all intersect a first axis;
• and
• a resilient spacer portion also intersecting said first axis for biasing said foot member outward so as to encourage frictional engagement between said portion of said securing head and said inwardly facing wall of said securing channel, said spacer portion positioned such that said flange is positioned between said spacer portion and said front surface of said frame member.

An elongate retainer member, spacer member, and silicone adhesive for use in conjunction with an elongated frame member for accepting a marginal edge of a glass panel and for retaining said marginal edge relative to said frame member, said frame member defining a front surface portion and defining a securing channel, said securing channel having an inwardly facing wall portion, comprising:

• a) an elongate retainer member itself comprising:
• a spine;
• a securing head formed at a rearward edge of said spine, said securing head being slidably received within said securing channel of said frame member such that a portion of said securing head faces said inwardly facing wall portion of said securing channel;
• and
• a foot member formed at the forward edge of said spine, said spine and said foot member at least partially defining a glazing recess, said marginal edge of said glass panel being received within said glazing recess such that said front surface portion, said marginal edge of said glass panel, and said foot member all intersect a first axis;
• b) a resilient spacer portion contacting said glass panel, separate from said retainer member and also intersecting said first axis for biasing said foot member outward so as to encourage frictional engagement between said portion of said securing head and said inwardly facing wall of said securing channel;
• and
• c) structural adhesive to provide a bond between said frame member and said glazing member, said structural adhesive providing a bond intermediate a substantially flat bonding surface at least partially included in said outside surface of said frame member and a substantially flat bonding surface defined by said glass panel, said substantially flat bonding surface defined by said frame member being substantially parallel to and at least partially facing said substantially flat bonding surface defined by said glass panel.

An elongate retainer member for use in conjunction with an elongated frame member for accepting a marginal edge of a glass panel and for retaining said marginal edge relative to said frame member, said frame member defining a front surface portion and defining a securing channel, said securing channel having an inwardly facing wall portion, said elongate retainer member comprising:

• a spine;
• a securing head formed at a rearward edge of said spine, said securing head being slidably received within said securing channel of said frame member such that a portion of said securing head faces said inwardly facing wall portion of said securing channel;
• a foot member formed at the forward edge of said spine, said spine and said foot member at least partially defining a retaining channel, said marginal edge of said glass panel being received within said retaining channel such that said front surface portion, said marginal edge of said glass panel, and said foot member all intersect a first axis;
• structural adhesive to provide a bond between said frame member and said glass panel;
• and
• a resilient spacer portion also intersecting said first axis for biasing said foot member outward so as to encourage frictional engagement between said portion of said securing head and said inwardly facing wall of said securing channel, said spacer portion defining two oppositely facing, substantially parallel surface portions, which provide opposing forces when in place to provide said biasing.

An apparatus for accepting edges of substantially planar panels and retaining said edges relative to a framing member, comprising:

• a deformable but resilient elongate extruded retainer profile having a generally H-shaped transverse cross section, thereby forming a pair of elongate U-shaped retaining channels, the first of said retaining channels configured to accept an edge of a first of a said panels, and the second of said retaining channels configured to accept an edge of a second of said panels;
• panel securing means for securing said first and second panel edges within said first and second channels, respectively;
• profile securing means for securing said profile coextensively along said framing member, such that one side of said pair of retaining channels is urged against said framing member;
• and
• deformable but resilient cushion pads in said U-shaped retaining channels at the locations of contact between said channels and said panels.