Curtain wall system with anti-rolling shear block

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9567746-B1
Application number	US-201514884319-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 15, 2015
Priority date	Oct 15, 2015
Publication date	Feb 14, 2017
Grant date	Feb 14, 2017

Abstract

A curtain wall has a plurality of hollow, extruded vertical and horizontal members. The members have a pair of spaced retainer walls which engage a shear block with a pair of tabs that twist locks onto the retainer walls before fastening the block to the member. A second member slips over the block and is fastened by screws. The abutment of the tabs limits rotation of the block and attached member, providing support for a glazing panel attached to the members. The members have longitudinal recesses accommodating wiring that may be covered with a cover. A bracket interacting with the retainer walls like a shear block may also be used.

First claim

We claim:

1. A structure, comprising:
a first member having a portion with a C-shaped cross-sectional shape and a pair of retainer walls, a first of the pair of retainer walls attached at a first end of the C-shaped portion and extending at an angle relative thereto, a second of the pair of retainer walls attached at a second end of the C-shaped portion and extending at an angle relative thereto, the pair of retainer walls extending in a direction toward one another;
a shear block with a base portion having a pair of tabs extending therefrom in opposite directions, the tabs separated from a remainder of the base portion by reliefs, a connector portion extending from the base portion distal to the pair of tabs in a direction perpendicular to the tabs, each relief accommodating a corresponding retainer wall of the pair of retainer walls, capturing the corresponding retainer wall between the tab and the remainder of the base portion with the tabs extending in a direction parallel to an intermediate portion of the C-shaped portion between the first end and the second end thereof and positioned between the intermediate portion and the retainer wall, coupling the shear block to the first member;
a second member having a hollow therein, the connector portion of the shear block matingly received in the hollow.

2. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the second member has a glazing support tongue extending from an exterior surface of the second member, the structure supporting at least one glazing panel.

3. The structure of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of first members, a plurality of second members and a plurality of shear blocks, the first members and second members being mullions for a window system.

4. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the shear block is fastened to the first member by fasteners.

5. The structure of claim 4 , wherein the shear block is fastened to the second member by fasteners extending through the second member into the shear block.

6. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the shear block has a first rotational position with the shear block inserted into the C-shape of the first member with the tabs proximate the intermediate portion and with the retainer walls outside the recesses and a second rotational position rotationally offset relative to the first rotational position with the retainer walls inserted into the reliefs, and wherein at least one of the tabs abuts against a portion of the C cross-sectional shape in the second rotational position, preventing further rotation.

7. The structure of claim 6 , wherein each of the tabs is relieved on at least one leading edge thereof, as defined by the direction of rotation in going from the first rotational position to the second rotational position.

8. The structure of claim 6 , wherein the first member has a length, a width and a thickness, the length dimension having a vertical component, the shear block having a width, a thickness and a length, the length direction of the shear block extending away from the first member, the width of the shear block having a horizontal component and the second rotational position is with the width dimension of the shear block at about 90 degrees relative to the length of the first member.

9. The structure of claim 8 , wherein the first member is approximately vertical and the second member is approximately horizontal.

10. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the base portion of the shear block abuts against the first member at an intermediate portion of the C-shape, the base portion having a channel between the tabs defining a passage between the shear block and the intermediate portion.

11. The structure of claim 10 , further comprising a wire extending through the channel.

12. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the connector portion is hollow having a pair of side walls extending from the base portion to a top wall distal to the base portion.

13. The structure of claim 12 , wherein the connector portion has at least one intermediate wall positioned between the side walls and extending the full length between the base portion and the top wall.

14. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the first member has a pair of oppositely directed C-shaped portions.

15. The structure of claim 14 , wherein the oppositely directed C-shaped portions of the first member are spaced apart and further comprising a first cap connected to a first end of each C-shape, bridging the spaced C-shapes and a second cap connected to a second end of each C-shape, bridging the spaced C-shapes, forming a fully enclosed hollow I-shaped structure in cross-section.

16. The structure of claim 15 , wherein the hollow I-shaped structure has at least one internal strengthening rib positioned within the hollow thereof.

17. The structure of claim 15 , wherein the cross-sectional shape of the second member is the same as the cross-sectional shape of the first member.

18. The structure of claim 17 , wherein the I-shaped structure has at least two internal strengthening ribs defining the shape of the hollow that matingly receives the connector portion of the shear block.

19. The structure of claim 17 , further comprising an electrical conductor element extending through at least one of the C-shapes in at least one of the first or second members.

20. The structure of claim 19 , wherein the electrical conductor element extends through the C-shapes of both the first and second members without passing through an aperture in either the first member or the second member.

21. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional shape of the second member approximates the cross-sectional shape of the first member and further comprising a cover bridging the corresponding C-shape and removably attached to at least one of the first or second members.

22. The structure of claim 21 , wherein the cover has at least one resilient leg that grips the first or second member to establish a snap fit.

23. A structure, comprising:
a first member having a portion with a C-shaped cross-sectional shape and a pair of retainer walls, a first of the pair of retainer walls attached at a first end of the C-shaped portion and extending at an angle relative thereto, a second of the pair of retainer walls attached at a second end of the C-shaped portion and extending at an angle relative thereto;
a shear block with a base portion having a pair of opposed tabs extending therefrom, the tabs separated from a remainder of the base portion by reliefs, a connector portion extending from the base portion, each relief accommodating a corresponding retainer wall of the pair of retainer walls, capturing the corresponding retainer wall between the tab and the remainder of the base portion, coupling the shear block to the first member;
a second member having a hollow therein, the connector portion of the shear block matingly received in the hollow;
a mounting bracket with a base portion having a pair of opposed tabs extending therefrom, the tabs separated from a remainder of the base portion by reliefs, and a bracket portion extending from the base portion, each relief of the mounting bracket accommodating a corresponding retainer wall of the pair of retainer walls, capturing the corresponding retainer wall between the tab thereof and the remainder of the base portion thereof, coupling the mounting bracket to the first member.

24. The structure of claim 23 , wherein the retainer walls of the first member extend toward one another

Assignees

• Alcoa Inc
• Arconic Inc

Inventors

• Barbulescu Ion-Horatiu
• Hooper William J
• Hartwell Christopher R

Classifications

• H02G3/388

  in modular walls, e.g. wall panels · CPC title

• E04B2/965 Primary

  Connections of mullions and transoms · CPC title

• E04B2/967

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

• H02G3/386

  in walls · CPC title