Glass Decking Mounting System with Concealed Fasteners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fastening systems for structural glass are unsuitable, as they compromise the transparency and seamless appearance of glass surfaces, and existing solutions fail to provide effective mid-span support for large walkable surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A glass decking mounting system using outer and intermediate framing members with hidden fasteners and integrated lighting channels to secure and edge-light structural glass panels, ensuring aesthetic integrity and mid-span support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fastening systems are used to secure glass panels, then the structural support is adequate, but the transparency and seamless appearance of glass surfaces is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening function is extracted from the visible glass surface and relocated to the framing members positioned at the periphery. Concealed fasteners are embedded within the framing structure, removing the visual obstruction from the glass panels themselves while preserving structural support functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Framing members serve as intermediary elements that provide structural support without directly contacting or obscuring the glass panels. These intermediaries carry the fastening hardware and transfer loads away from the glass surfaces, allowing the glass to maintain its transparent, seamless appearance.
2Shape
If glass panels are used to create large walkable surfaces, then the aesthetic appeal and transparency are improved, but the difficulty of providing effective mid-span support increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is segmented into discrete framing members positioned at intervals across the glass surface. These modular framing elements provide distributed mid-span support, breaking down the complex support requirement into manageable, regularly spaced components that collectively uphold large glass panels.
3Strength
If conventional fasteners are used to secure framing members, then the structural connection is strong, but the aesthetic integrity of the glass surface is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening hardware is extracted from the aesthetic field and relocated to the structural framing members. Concealed fasteners are positioned within the framing structure where they perform their structural function without compromising the visual integrity of the glass panels.
4Reliability
If framing members are added to support glass panels, then the structural support is improved, but the complexity of the mounting system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The framing members are designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: providing structural support, concealing fasteners, enabling mid-span support, and facilitating edge lighting. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate components, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining robust structural support.
Data Source
AI summary
A glass decking assembly for securing a pair of adjacent glass panels, each having an outer edge and an inner edge, to a building structure, using a pair of outer framing members and an intermediate framing member that secures to the building structure with fasteners. A pair of outer setting blocks and an inner setting block covers the fasteners, attaches to the outer framing members and the inner framing member, and supports the adjacent glass panels with the outer edges supported by the outer setting blocks on the outer framing members and the inner edges supported by the intermediate setting block on the intermediate framing member. A lighting channel in the outer framing member facilitates edge lighting the glass panels.