Frameless Window Sash Assembly With Hidden Glazing Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Frameless sashes lack sufficient safety features, particularly for users in the inner environment, as they risk glazing failure and exposure to sharp corners, while maintaining aesthetic appeal and mechanical, thermal, and tightness performance.
Innovation Solution
A handle-free frameless sash design with an inner frame that incorporates retaining safety devices, such as screws and supporting safety devices, to secure the glazing to the inner frame, ensuring flush alignment and maintaining mechanical, thermal, and tightness performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a frameless sash design is used to improve aesthetics and transparent see-through area, then the aesthetic appeal and visual impact are improved, but the safety and mechanical retention of glazings deteriorate due to lack of outer frame and passing-through handle
Solution Approach 1:
The window system is divided into a fixed frame portion and a movable sash portion, with the fixed frame providing structural support and safety retention while the movable sash provides the frameless aesthetic appearance. The fixed frame is positioned inboard from the glazing surfaces, creating a segmented structure that separates aesthetic function from structural function.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner frame is nested within the volume between the inner and outer glazings, positioned inboard from both glazing surfaces. This nested configuration allows the inner frame to provide structural support without interfering with the external frameless aesthetic, effectively hiding the structural element within the glazing assembly.
2Shape
If the inner frame is positioned inboard from glazing surfaces to maintain flush appearance, then the aesthetic continuity is improved, but the mechanical strength and bonding reliability deteriorate under severe stresses
Solution Approach 1:
The inner frame is strategically positioned at specific locations where mechanical support is most needed, such as near the corners and edges of the glazings, while maintaining an overall inboard position. This localized reinforcement provides structural strength at critical points without compromising the general flush appearance across the entire glazing surface.
3Shape
If no passing-through handle is used to achieve complete frameless look, then the aesthetic continuity is improved, but the safety retention and glazing protection deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The handle function is extracted from the glazing assembly by positioning it on the fixed frame structure rather than passing through the glazings. This allows the handle to perform its operational function while being removed from the aesthetic field of the movable sash, maintaining the frameless appearance while preserving safety retention capabilities.
4Shape
If the fixed frame is positioned inboard from glazing surfaces to improve aesthetics, then the visual impact is improved, but the protection against sharp corners and bonding failure consequences worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The fixed frame structure is designed to provide a protective buffer zone between the glazing edges and the external environment. By positioning the fixed frame inboard from the glazing surfaces, it creates a recessed protective structure that cushions against impacts and reduces the exposure of sharp corners, while the overall configuration maintains the aesthetic frameless appearance from the external view.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
The present invention concerns a window extending along a plane, P, defined by a longitudinal axis, X, and a vertical axis, Z. The window comprises an handle free frameless sash (10) and a fixed frame (20). The handle free frameless sash comprises an inner glazing (101) having an inner glazing external surface, IGes, and an inner glazing internal surface, IGis, and an outer glazing (10n) having an outer glazing external surface, OGes, and an outer glazing internal surface, OGis. The inner and outer glazings: • are free of an outer frame and free of a passing-through handle, • are separated by a gap (121) defined within a peripheral spacer (131), • have respectively a bottom edge (BotE) and a top edge (TopE) extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, X, and lateral edges (LatE) extending parallel to the vertical axis, Z, • have respectively inner and outer peripheral bands (141, 142) and inner and outer peripheral corners (151,152), The inner glazing external surface, IGes, is separated from the outer glazing external surface, OGes, by a sash thickness, W10, measured in the direction normal to the plane, P. The inner frame (11) positioned in a volume between the inner and outer glazings and between the peripheral spacer and the edges of the inner and outer glazings respectively. The fixed frame (20) defines a frame opening and has an outer face and an inner face defining a frame thickness, W20, measured in the direction normal to the plane, P. The handle free frameless sash is characterised in that the inner face of the fixed frame is flush with the inner glazing external surface, IGes, when the handle free frameless sash is in closed position, and in that the handle free frameless sash comprises a inner retaining safety device (171) for retaining the inner glazing external surface to the inner frame.