Hidden drainage funnel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2026071426-A1
Application number	US-202519208275-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 14, 2025
Priority date	Sep 10, 2024
Publication date	Mar 12, 2026
Grant date	—

Abstract

A transom assembly for a façade assembly of a building includes a transom that defines an interior including a lower glazing pocket, a lower glazing assembly partially received within the lower glazing pocket, and a drainage funnel arranged within the interior. The drainage funnel includes a body having opposing upper and lower ends, the lower end laterally interposing a bottom of the transom and the lower glazing assembly, an upper opening defined at the upper end, a lower opening defined at the lower end, and an inner flow path extending between the upper and lower openings. Water accumulated within the interior drains from the interior to an exterior environment of the building through the inner flow path.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A transom assembly for a façade assembly of a building, comprising:
a transom that defines an interior including a lower glazing pocket;
a lower glazing assembly partially received within the lower glazing pocket; and
a drainage funnel arranged within the interior and comprising:
a body having opposing upper and lower ends, the lower end laterally interposing a bottom of the transom and the lower glazing assembly;
an upper opening defined at the upper end;
a lower opening defined at the lower end; and
an inner flow path extending between the upper and lower openings,

wherein water accumulated within the interior drains from the interior to an exterior environment of the building through the inner flow path.

2 . The transom assembly of claim 1 , wherein the transom is a composite profile that includes:
an exterior portion exposed to the exterior environment of the building; an interior portion exposed to an interior of the building; and a thermal break extending between and interconnecting the exterior and interior portions.

3 . The transom assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a lower exterior gasket interposing the bottom of the transom and the lower glazing assembly, wherein a gap is defined in the lower exterior gasket to accommodate the lower end of the drainage funnel.

4 . The transom assembly of claim 3 , wherein a section of the bottom of the transom is milled and aligned with the gap to accommodate the lower end of the drainage funnel.

5 . The transom assembly of claim 1 , wherein the transom provides a horizontal structural member that separates the interior into a plurality of chambers, and wherein the upper opening is aligned with an aperture defined in the horizontal structural member to thereby facilitate water flow from the interior to the inner flow path.

6 . The transom assembly of claim 5 , wherein the drainage funnel further comprises:
one or more lateral tabs extending laterally outward from the body at the upper end; one or more mechanical fasteners extendable through the one or more lateral tabs and into the horizontal structural member to secure the drainage funnel to the transom; and a seal included with each mechanical fastener to facilitate a sealed interface between the horizontal structural member and the one or more lateral tabs at the location of the one or more mechanical fasteners.

7 . The transom assembly of claim 1 , wherein the transom provides a shoulder within the interior and the drainage funnel further provides a projection engageable with the shoulder to help secure the drainage funnel within the interior.

8 . The transom assembly of claim 1 , wherein the transom provides a shoulder within the interior and the drainage funnel further provides one or more lateral arms extending from the body and engageable with the shoulder to help secure the drainage funnel within the interior.

9 . The transom assembly of claim 1 , wherein the drainage funnel further comprises an adhesive that secures the drainage funnel to the transom within the interior.

10 . The transom assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a sealing member arranged between the drainage funnel and the lower glazing assembly.

11 . A drainage funnel for a façade assembly of a building, the drainage funnel comprising:
a body having opposing upper and lower ends;
an upper opening defined at the upper end;
a lower opening defined at the lower end; and
an inner flow path extending between the upper and lower openings,
wherein the body is arrangeable within an interior of a transom such that the lower end laterally interposes a bottom of the transom and a lower glazing assembly partially received within the interior, and
wherein water accumulated within the interior drains from the interior to an exterior environment of the building through the inner flow path.

12 . The drainage funnel of claim 11 , wherein the drainage funnel further comprises:
one or more lateral tabs extending laterally outward from the body at the upper end; one or more mechanical fasteners extendable through the one or more lateral tabs and into a horizontal structural member of the transom to secure the drainage funnel to the transom; and a seal included with each mechanical fastener to facilitate a sealed interface between the horizontal structural member and the one or more lateral tabs at the location of the one or more mechanical fasteners.

13 . The drainage funnel of claim 12 , wherein the one or more lateral tabs each define a recess sized to receive the seal.

14 . The drainage funnel of claim 11 , wherein the body provides opposing side walls that extend between the upper and lower ends and opposing front and back surfaces that extend between the upper and lower ends, the drainage funnel further comprising at least one of:
a projection defined on the front surface of the body and engageable with a first shoulder provided within the interior of the transom to help secure the drainage funnel within the interior; and lateral arms extending from the opposing side walls and engageable with a second shoulder to help secure the drainage funnel within the interior.

15 . The drainage funnel of claim 11 , wherein the body provides opposing front and back surfaces that extend between the upper and lower ends, the drainage funnel further comprising an adhesive provided on the back surface to secure the drainage funnel to the transom within the interior.

16 . The drainage funnel of claim 15 , wherein the adhesive is arranged within a recess defined in the back surface.

17 . The drainage funnel of claim 11 , wherein the body of the drainage funnel comprises:
an upper body portion that provides the upper end and defines the upper opening; and a lower body portion slidably matable with the upper body portion and providing the lower end, and wherein a height of the body is adjustable by slidably moving the upper and lower body portions relative to each other.

18 . The drainage funnel of claim 17 , wherein the lower body portion defines an inner channel sized to slidably receive a lower end of the upper body portion, the body further comprising one or more mating features provided on one or both of the upper and lower body portions to releasably mate the upper and lower portions and thereby maintain a height adjustment of the body.

19 . The drainage funnel of claim 11 , wherein the drainage funnel further comprises an air vent that includes:
an air column extending vertically upward from the upper end; and an air flow path defined within the body and extending from a top of the air column to the lower end, wherein the air flow path allows air to flow in either direction between the interior of the transom and the exterior environment.

20 . The drainage funnel of claim 19 , wherein the body of the drainage funnel comprises:
a main body portion that provides the upper opening; and a top body portion matable with the main body and defining an aperture alignable with the upper opening when the main and top body portions are mated.

Assignees

• Arconic Tech Llc

Inventors

• Ancelin Philippe

Classifications

• E04B2/965

  Connections of mullions and transoms · CPC title

• E06B7/14

  Measures for draining-off condensed water or water leaking-in {frame members for draining off condensation water, throats at the bottom of a sash} · CPC title

• E04B2/96

  comprising panels attached to the structure through mullions or transoms {(E04B2/885 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• E06B2007/145

  for glass façade, e.g. curtain wall · CPC title

• E04B2/967 Primary

  Details of the cross-section of the mullions or transoms (E04B2/965 takes precedence) · CPC title