Glazing Assembly

Abstract

A glazing assembly is disclosed, the assembly comprising first and second toughened glass members. Each member comprises a sheet with first and second flanges projecting from opposite ends of the sheet in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet, and the first and second flanges of the first member are joined respectively to the first and second flanges of the second member by first and second connector portions such that the first and second flanges of the first member are substantially coplanar with the first and second flanges of the second member, respectively. A modular glazing array is also disclosed. The array comprises a plurality of glazing assemblies arranged side by side, such that at least one pair of joined, coplanar flanges of each of the plurality of glazing assemblies faces a pair of joined, coplanar flanges of another of the plurality of glazing assemblies.

1 . A glazing assembly comprising:
 first and second toughened glass members,   each member comprising a sheet with first and second flanges projecting from opposite ends of the sheet in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet,   wherein the first and second flanges of the first member are joined respectively to the first and second flanges of the second member by first and second connector portions such that the first and second flanges of the first member are substantially coplanar with the first and second flanges of the second member, respectively.   
     
     
         2 . The glazing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each connector portion comprises first and second channels, and is disposed between two opposing flanges such that an edge of a flange of each of the first and second members is held within each of the first and second channels, respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The glazing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each connector portion is disposed along two opposing flange edges of the first and second members. 
     
     
         4 . The glazing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each connector portion comprises a thermal insulator. 
     
     
         5 . The glazing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each connector portion is bonded to an edge of a flange of each of the first and second members by an adhesive. 
     
     
         6 . The glazing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the dimensions of the first member are substantially the same as those of the second member. 
     
     
         7 . The glazing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein for each member the depth of each flange is between approximately 8% and 30% of the width of the sheet. 
     
     
         8 . The glazing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein for each member the height of the sheet is greater than 3.3 m, and the width of the sheet is approximately 10% of the height of the sheet. 
     
     
         9 . The glazing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the members are attached together so as to define a tube having a substantially rectangular cross section, with sides defined by the flanges and sheets of the first and second members. 
     
     
         10 . The glazing assembly according to  claim 9 , further comprising a closure sealing an end of the tube. 
     
     
         11 . The glazing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the volume between the first and second members comprises a thermal insulator. 
     
     
         12 . The glazing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the volume between the first and second members comprises an acoustically insulating material. 
     
     
         13 . The glazing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the volume between the first and second members comprises a material through which light is diffusely transmitted. 
     
     
         14 . The glazing assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the material comprises glass fibre. 
     
     
         15 . The glazing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of a sheet of the assembly comprises a plurality of grooves aligned substantially parallel to the flanges of the assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The glazing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of a sheet of the assembly has a rough profile which scatters light transmitted through the surface. 
     
     
         17 . The glazing assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising an internal protective element. 
     
     
         18 . The glazing assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the internal protective element is formed from a polycarbonate material. 
     
     
         19 . The glazing assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the internal protective element comprises a sheet portion that is substantially coplanar with the sheet of the first and second members and spans the interior volume defined by the first and second members. 
     
     
         20 . A method of producing a glazing assembly, the method comprising:
 providing first and second toughened glass members, each member comprising a sheet with first and second flanges projecting from opposite ends of the sheet in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet, and   joining the first and second flanges of the first member respectively to the first and second flanges of the second member using first and second connector portions such that the first and second flanges of the first member are substantially coplanar with the first and second flanges of the second member, respectively.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein each connector portion comprises first and second channels, and the method further comprises disposing each connector portion between two opposing flanges such that an edge of a flange of each of the first and second members is inserted into and held within each of the first and second channels, respectively. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising disposing each connector portion along two opposing flange edges of the first and second members. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising bonding each connector portion to an edge of a flange of each of the first and second members using an adhesive. 
     
     
         24 . the method according to  claim 20 , comprising attaching the members together so as to define a tube having a substantially rectangular cross section, with sides defined by the flanges and sheets of the first and second members, and further comprising sealing an end of the tube with a closure. 
     
     
         25 . A modular glazing array comprising:
 a plurality of glazing assemblies according to  claim 1  arranged side by side, such that at least one pair of joined, coplanar flanges of each of the plurality of glazing assemblies faces a pair of joined, coplanar flanges of another of the plurality of glazing assemblies.   
     
     
         26 . The modular glazing array according to  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of glazing assemblies comprises three or four glazing assemblies, and wherein the modular glazing array comprises a window within the module. 
     
     
         27 . The modular glazing array according to  claim 25 , wherein a sealant is disposed between adjacent assemblies. 
     
     
         28 . The modular glazing array according to  claim 25  wherein the normal vectors of the sheets of adjacent assemblies differ by no more than 10°. 
     
     
         29 . The modular glazing array according to  claim 25 , wherein the sheets of each of the plurality of assemblies are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         30 . A method of installing a glazing assembly according to  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 providing a front-loading carrier for receiving the glazing assembly, the carrier comprising a frame having a height corresponding to that of the assembly, a surrounding lip on a rear side of the carrier, and a removably mounted lip on the front side of the carrier,   inserting the glazing assembly into the frame from the front side when the removable lip is removed, and   mounting the lip on the carrier such that the assembly is prevented from being removed from the frame.   
     
     
         31 . A method of installing a modular glazing array according to  claim 25 , the method comprising:
 providing a front-loading carrier for receiving the modular glazing array, the carrier comprising a frame having a size and shape corresponding to the height of the array, a surrounding lip on a rear side of the carrier, and a removably mounted lip on the front side of the carrier,   inserting the array into the frame from the front side when the removable lip is removed, and   mounting the lip on the carrier such that the array is prevented from being removed from the frame.