US 7,644,549 B2 · Hybrid window wall/curtain wall system and method of installation

Abstract

There are currently two major types of exterior building envelope finishing systems: window wall systems, and curtain wall systems. Window wall systems use panels which fit between concrete floor slaps, and hence, are prone to leakage and are not aesthetically appealing. Curtain wall systems are installed proud of the concrete slabs, so have better performance, but are expensive to install. The system of the invention has the high performance of a curtain wall system, with the ease of installation of a window wall system. The invention uses rigid panels which cover the face of a building like a curtain wall system, providing a complete gasketed seal without the need for caulking as in the case of window wall systems. The vertical mullions are notched, so that the mullions can be easily anchored to the upper and lower surfaces of the concrete slabs.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A unitized exterior building envelope system comprising:

individual framed panels comprising vertical mullions on their sides, said vertical mullions interconnecting adjacent ones of said individual framed panels;
each of said vertical mullions being notched to accommodate the thickness of a concrete floor slab;
each of said individual framed panels being attached to the top of a lower floor slab and the underside of an upper floor slab with anchors fastened respectively to said top and underside surface of said concrete floor slabs;
and
one of said anchors being fixed to said vertical mullion, and the other of said anchors slidably engaging within an interior of said vertical mullion.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hybrid window wall/curtain wall system and method of installation

Life of this patent

Hybrid window wall/curtain wall system and method of installation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30