Curtain wall system and method
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- substantially filling first and second kerfs of a curtain wall member with joint sealant, the first and 12 kerfs in upper and lower ends, respectively, of the curtain wall member;
embedding a locating-and-retaining member of a latching member in the joint sealant in the first kerf, the latching member comprising a nominally horizontally-disposed portion having first and second ends, the locating-and-retaining member located at the first end of the horizontally-disposed portion and extending downwardly with respect to the horizontally-disposed portion, the horizontally-disposed portion of the latching member positioned such that foam tape beneath the horizontally-disposed portion is positioned in engagement with the upper end of the curtain wall member;
embedding a receiving-and-retaining member of a first bracket in the joint sealant in the second kerf such that the curtain wall member initially extends upwardly and angularly outwardly relative to the first bracket, a second bracket positioned above and substantially parallel to the first bracket; and
pivoting the curtain wall member inwardly toward the second bracket such that the second end of the horizontally-disposed portion of the latching member slides along a lower surface of a supporting member of the second bracket causing the latching member to rotate downwardly, compressing the foam tape, the second end of the latching member sliding along the lower surface of the second bracket moving past a locking member disposed beneath the lower surface of the supporting member of the second bracket until a latch at the second end of the latching member comes into latching engagement with the locking member, the foam tape beneath the horizontally-disposed portion of the latching member decompressing once the latch comes into latching engagement with the locking member and maintaining the latching member in engagement with the lower surface of the supporting member of the second bracket to facilitate holding the latching member in place.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method includes substantially filling with joint sealant first and second kerfs in upper and lower ends, respectively, of a curtain wall member. A locating-and-retaining member of a latching member is embedded in the first kerf'"'"'s sealant. A receiving-and-retaining member of a first bracket is embedded in the second kerf'"'"'s sealant, the wall member initially extending upwardly and angularly outwardly relative to the first bracket. The wall member is pivoted inwardly such that an end of a nominally horizontally-disposed portion of the latching member slides along a lower surface of a supporting member of a second bracket causing the latching member to rotate downwardly, compressing foam tape beneath the horizontally-disposed portion. The end of the latching member moves past a locking member until a latch comes into latching engagement with the locking member, the foam tape decompressing and maintaining the latching member in engagement with the lower surface.
34 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method, comprising:
-
substantially filling first and second kerfs of a curtain wall member with joint sealant, the first and 12 kerfs in upper and lower ends, respectively, of the curtain wall member; embedding a locating-and-retaining member of a latching member in the joint sealant in the first kerf, the latching member comprising a nominally horizontally-disposed portion having first and second ends, the locating-and-retaining member located at the first end of the horizontally-disposed portion and extending downwardly with respect to the horizontally-disposed portion, the horizontally-disposed portion of the latching member positioned such that foam tape beneath the horizontally-disposed portion is positioned in engagement with the upper end of the curtain wall member; embedding a receiving-and-retaining member of a first bracket in the joint sealant in the second kerf such that the curtain wall member initially extends upwardly and angularly outwardly relative to the first bracket, a second bracket positioned above and substantially parallel to the first bracket; and pivoting the curtain wall member inwardly toward the second bracket such that the second end of the horizontally-disposed portion of the latching member slides along a lower surface of a supporting member of the second bracket causing the latching member to rotate downwardly, compressing the foam tape, the second end of the latching member sliding along the lower surface of the second bracket moving past a locking member disposed beneath the lower surface of the supporting member of the second bracket until a latch at the second end of the latching member comes into latching engagement with the locking member, the foam tape beneath the horizontally-disposed portion of the latching member decompressing once the latch comes into latching engagement with the locking member and maintaining the latching member in engagement with the lower surface of the supporting member of the second bracket to facilitate holding the latching member in place. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A curtain wall system, comprising:
-
a curtain wall member comprising; first and second kerfs in upper and lower ends, respectively, of the curtain wall member; and a latching member comprising a locating-and-retaining member, a nominally horizontally-disposed portion, and a latch, the locating-and-retaining member embedded in joint sealant in the first kerf, the locating-and-retaining member located at a first end of the horizontally disposed portion and extending downwardly with respect to the horizontally-disposed portion the horizontally-disposed portion of the latching member positioned such that foam tape beneath the horizontally-disposed portion is positioned in engagement with the upper end of the curtain wall member, the latch located at a second end of the horizontally-disposed portion; and first and second brackets, the first bracket comprising a receiving-and-retaining member embedded in joint sealant in the second kerf such that during installation of the curtain wall member, the curtain wall member initially extends upwardly and angularly outwardly relative to the first bracket, the second bracket positioned above and substantially parallel to the first bracket; the curtain wall member adapted to be pivoted inwardly, during installation, toward the second bracket such that the second end of the horizontally-disposed portion of the latching member slides along a lower surface of a supporting member of the second bracket causing the latching member to rotate downwardly, compressing the foam tape, the second end of the latching member sliding along the lower surface of the second bracket moving past a locking member disposed beneath the lower surface of the supporting member of the second bracket until a latch at the second end of the latching member comes into latching engagement with the locking member, the foam tape beneath the horizontally-disposed portion of the latching member decompressing once the latch comes into latching engagement with the locking member and maintaining the latching member in engagement with the lower surface of the supporting member of the second bracket to facilitate holding the latching member in place. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification