A glazing assembly

Abstract

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Description

Field

[0001] The present invention relates to glazing assemblies and more particularly but not exclusively to glazing assemblies for doors, such as sliding doors. Background

[0002] Sliding door assemblies available include a frame to be fixed to a supporting structure. Slidingly attached to the frame so as to be movable between an open position and a closed position is a panel (door). Typically, the panel would include a glass sheet.

[0003] Sliding door assemblies that face externally include a bottom frame member (sill) that is generally flush with respect to adjacent external floor surfaces.

[0004] The floor surfaces are supported on a lower floor structure, together with the bottom frame member.

[0005] A disadvantage of the above discussed construction is that flooring materials, such as tiles, that provides the external floor surface, are not removable. This prevent removal of the door. Object

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more of the above disadvantages. Summary of Invention

[0007] There is disclosed herein a glazing assembly including: a frame to be fixed to a supporting structure and surrounding an opening, the frame having a frame member providing a sill; and a closure panel attached to the frame for movement between a closed position and an open position with respect to the opening, and 2020257121  22 Oct 2020 wherein the sill includes a threshold portion extending away from an exterior surface of the panel, with the threshold portion having a major surface to be generally coplanar with a surrounding floor surface, and the threshold portion is removable to provide for removal of the panel.

[0008] Preferably, the threshold portion includes a removable portion having a support base and a cover secured to the support base, with the cover providing the major surface.

[0009] Preferably, the sill provides a rail that engages the closure panel to provide for sliding movement of the closure panel with respect to the frame, with the sill including a projecting portion, projecting laterally outward relative to the panel, with the removable portion being removably attached to the projecting portion.

[0010] Preferably, the sill includes a removable retaining member that engages the closure panel to guide and secure the closure panel with respect to the sill.

[0011] Preferably, the retaining member at least partly defines a track within which the closure panel moves. Brief Description of Drawings

[0012] Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying description and drawings in which:

[0013] Figure 1 is a sectioned side view of a glazing assembly taken longitudinally of the assembly, shown with a removable portion of a sill of the assembly fitted;

[0014] Figure 2 is a further sectioned side view of the assembly of Figure 1, shown with the removable portion removed from the sill;

[0015] Figure 3 is a further sectioned side view of the assembly of Figure 2, shown with a panel of the assembly partly removed;

[0016] Figure 4 is a further sectioned side view of the assembly of Figure 2; and 2020257121  22 Oct 2020

[0017] Figure 5 is a further sectioned side view, shown with the panel removed from the assembly. Description of Embodiments

[0018] In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a glazing assembly 10. The glazing assembly 10 may be a sliding window assembly 10 or a sliding door assembly 10. However, in the following description, the glazing assembly 10 will be considered to be a sliding door assembly.

[0019] The door assembly 10 includes a door frame 12 that is to be fixed to a supporting structure. The frame 12 includes a sill 14, a head 16 and upwardly oriented jambs 18 extending between the sill 14 and head 16 so that the frame 12 is of a generally square or rectangular configuration. The frame 12 surrounds a door opening 20 (FIG. 3) that is closed by means of a panel 22.

[0020] Preferably, the panel 22 is slidingly mounted on the frame 12 for movement between a closed position and an open position with respect to the opening 20. Preferably, the panel 22 is of a square or rectangular configuration and includes a panel frame 24 including a bottom member 26 and a top member 28. The members 26 and 28 surround an opening that receives a glass sheet 30 to be supported by the panel frame 22. As shown in FIG. 2, the bottom member 26 includes a locating recess 32 to receive a guiding rail projection 33 of the sill 14 so as to locate and guide the panel 22 with respect to the sill 14.

[0021] The sill 14 has an external threshold portion 34 which extends away from the exterior surface 36 of the glass sheet 30.

[0022] The threshold portion 34 includes a removable portion 38 positioned adjacent to the bottom rail 26.

[0023] The removable portion 38 has a support base 40 and a cover 42. The support base 40 is releasably secured to a mounting bracket 55 of the threshold 34 by way of fasteners in the form of screws 44. The support base 40 includes a pair of transverse engaging parts 41 that are in the form of a ridge. 2020257121  22 Oct 2020

[0024] The cover 42 includes a pair of retaining clips 45 that engage the parts 41 to releasably secure the cover 42 to the support base 40. In particular, the clips 45 are resiliently deformable so as to snap engage the parts 41.

[0025] The cover 42 has a major surface 46 adapted to be generally coplanar with a surrounding floor surface 48. The surface 48 may be provided by tiles, support on a below floor structure.

[0026] With the portion 38 secured to the bracket 42, the portion 38 prevents the panel 22 from being removed from the frame 12.

[0027] To remove the panel 22 from the frame 12, the cover 42 is removed from the support base 40 and the screws 44 unscrewed to release the support base 40 from the mounting bracket 42. As shown in FIG. 2, the panel 22 is then lifted toward the head 16 so as to clear the recess 32 from the projection 33. As shown in FIGs. 3 and 4, the panel 22 is then moved angularly toward the threshold 34 into a cavity 50 formed by removal of the portion 38 from the bracket 42 so as to clear the head 16. As shown in FIG. 5, the panel 22 can then be removed from the assembly 10. A removable securing portion 51 is releasably secured to the main base 53 of the sill 14. The main base 53 has secured to it an upper portion 52 that has an upper surface 53 those intendedly generally flush with the interior surface 54, and provides a laterally projecting portion to which the portion 38 is attached.

[0028] The bracket 55 is fixed to the main base 53, and is not continuous, so as to provide gaps for drainage.

[0029] It will be appreciated that the panel 22 can be fitted to the frame 12 in a reverse manner, that is, by lowering the panel 22 into the cavity 50, moving the panel 22 angularly toward the opening 20, lifting the panel 22 toward the head 16, lowering the panel 22 so as to locate the projection 33 in the recess 32, and securing the support base 40 and the cover 42 to the threshold 34.

[0030] An advantage of the above described preferred embodiment is that the removable portion 38 may be removed from the bracket 42, together with the securing portion 51, to permit removal of the panel 22 from the frame 12 for maintenance, for example.

Claims

1. A glazing assembly including:a frame to be fixed to a supporting structure and surrounding an opening, the frame having a frame member providing a sill; anda closure panel attached to the frame for movement between a closed position and an open position with respect to the opening, andwherein the sill includes a threshold portion extending away from an exterior surface of the closure panel, with the threshold portion having a major surface to be generally coplanar with a surrounding floor surface, and the threshold portion is removable to provide for removal of the closure panel.

2. The glazing assembly of claim 1, wherein the threshold portion includes a removable portion having a support base and a cover secured to the support base, with the cover providing the major surface.

3. The glazing assembly of claim 2, wherein the sill provides a rail that engages the closure panel to provide for sliding movement of the closure panel with respect to the frame, with the sill including a projecting portion, projecting laterally outward relative to the closure panel, with the removable portion being removably attached to the projecting portion.

4. The glazing assembly of claim 3, wherein the sill includes a removable retaining member that engages the closure panel to guide and secure the closure panel with respect to the sill.

5. The glazing assembly of claim 4, wherein the removable retaining member at least partly defines a track within which the closure panel moves.Architectural Window Systems Pty LtdPatent Attorneys for the Applicant / Nominated PersonSPRUSON & FERGUSON

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