Window Glazing Mounting With Adjustable Support Element

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing assembly techniques for frameless windows with complex multiple glazing require pre-assembling and storing windows for 24 hours to allow the adhesive to develop its full adhesive and load-bearing capacity, necessitating time-consuming transportation and installation processes due to thickness variations in the glazing.

Innovation Solution

The use of support elements with adjustable jaws that can be glued to the glass surfaces, allowing for an adjustable internal dimension to accommodate varying glazing thicknesses, enabling immediate adhesion and sealing with adhesive tapes of constant thickness, facilitating on-site assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a liquid adhesive layer is used to bond multiple glazing to the support profile, then thickness variations of the glazing can be compensated, but the adhesive only develops full strength after 24 hours curing period requiring pre-assembly and storage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompensation for thickness variationsVSAvoid24 hours curing period
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

A foam intermediate element is introduced between the support profile and the multiple glazing. This foam element serves as a mediator that compensates for thickness variations while allowing immediate bonding strength. The foam can be compressed to accommodate varying glazing thicknesses and provides sufficient bonding strength without requiring a 24-hour curing period like liquid adhesives.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical state and properties of the bonding material from liquid adhesive to foam material. The foam can be adjusted in density and compressibility to match different glazing thicknesses, providing both immediate structural support and adaptability to thickness variations without the long curing time required by liquid adhesives.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If fixed support profiles with fixed internal dimensions are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but they cannot accommodate thickness variations in multiple glazing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixed internal dimensionsVSAvoidaccommodation of thickness variations
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The support profile is designed with adjustable components that allow the internal dimensions to be modified after manufacturing. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the same support profile to accommodate different glazing thicknesses while maintaining manufacturing efficiency. The adjustability can be achieved through movable elements or adjustable spacing mechanisms within the support profile structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Speed

If adhesive tapes of constant thickness are used, then immediate adhesion and sealing are achieved, but they cannot compensate for thickness variations in multiple glazing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimmediate adhesionVSAvoidcompensation for thickness variations
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The bonding system is segmented into multiple functional elements: the foam intermediate element that handles thickness compensation and the adhesive tape that provides immediate bonding. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specialized function - the foam absorbs thickness variations through compression while the adhesive tape provides immediate adhesion and sealing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The foam element acts as an intermediary between the constant-thickness adhesive tape and the variable-thickness multiple glazing. It translates the constant thickness of the adhesive tape into variable compression to match the varying glazing thickness, enabling immediate adhesion while compensating for thickness variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach allows for direct on-site assembly of windows, eliminating the need for pre-assembling and storing windows, ensuring immediate adhesion and sealing, and providing a reliable and efficient installation process while maintaining thermal insulation and burglary protection.

Implementation Method 1

The multiple glazing is bonded to the support element using adhesive tapes (9) with an adhesive layer of constant thickness

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP4092240A1New gluing technique for mounting windows
Publication Date: 2022.11.23 GPF INNOVATION GMBH
  • EP4092240A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4092240A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4092240A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

To simplify the installation of multiple glazing (2) of a window (1), it is proposed that the window (1), which can be designed in particular as a partially frameless movable sliding door (16), includes a support element (4) that provides an adjustable receptacle (5) whose inner dimension (7) can be precisely adapted to an outer dimension (34) of the multiple glazing (2), so that variations in the thickness of the multiple glazing (2) can be easily compensated for. These features allow the bonding between axially adjustable jaws (6) of the support element (4) and the respective outer glass surfaces (3) of the multiple glazing (2) to be achieved using an (instantly adhesive) adhesive tape (9) with a constant adhesive layer thickness.The bonding of the multiple glazing (2) into the supporting element (4) and the adhesion of the adhesive can thus take place directly at the desired installation location of the window (1), so that a complex pre-assembly and storage in the factory as well as a risky transport of the pre-assembled window (1) can be eliminated (see Figure 3).