Title of Invention	AN INSERT ADAPTABLE IN A PLATE, IN PARTICULAR A PLATE MADE OF A BRITTLE MATERIAL
Abstract	The present invention relates to an Insert intended to be received or formed in a glass plate (1) so. as to allow, in cooperation with a connecting element (19), said glass plate (1)to be mounted on a support- Said 10 insert is designed to be received in a hole (2) made in one. Eace of the plate (1), said, hole (2) being bounded by a retaining side wall (5) of curved profile directed toward the inside. It includes fastening means (16) complementary to means (20) carried by said element 15 (19) for connectingj the plate (l) to the support.

Title of Invention

AN INSERT ADAPTABLE IN A PLATE, IN PARTICULAR A PLATE MADE OF A BRITTLE MATERIAL

Abstract

The present invention relates to an Insert intended to be received or formed in a glass plate (1) so. as to allow, in cooperation with a connecting element (19), said glass plate (1)to be mounted on a support- Said 10 insert is designed to be received in a hole (2) made in one. Eace of the plate (1), said, hole (2) being bounded by a retaining side wall (5) of curved profile directed toward the inside. It includes fastening means (16) complementary to means (20) carried by said element 15 (19) for connectingj the plate (l) to the support.

Full Text	PLATES-, FOR THE PURPOSE 0F FASTENING THEM AND THE PIATES THUS EQUIPPED 5 The present invention relates to plates, especially made of a brittle material of the glass type, which are equipped so as to be fastened to supports via connecting elements. 10 Such plates are intended especially to equip heating means, such as radiators, convectors, etc., without, however, the present invention being limited to such an application, Thusr the fastening of double-glazing or laminated-glass plates may be mentioned, and also the 15 production of walls or of furniture made of glass Substrates. These plates must therefore have holes at the fastening points- The plates may be strengthened, especially by 20 thermally or chemically toughening them, in order to obtain the mechanical strength (and where appropriate the thermal resistance) that is required- The holes must then be made before the heat treatment- 25 PCT International Application WO-A1-01/094 5 9 discloses a fastening element for double-glazing plates, said element consisting of a threaded bolt having, at its front end, an' expansion cone onto which a ring-shaped expansion element is slipped for the purpose of 30 expansion in a hole in the rear glass plate, said hole being back—tapered in the region of its bottom. Such a device has the drawback that, while the glass plates provided with holes having such back capers are 35 being heat treated, high stresses are created in the region of the fillet that joins the bottom of these holes to the frustoconieal side wall emerging in the surface of the glass plate and flaring out toward "the -2- Bottom of the holes. These high stresses may result in defective plates that have to be- scrapped after the heat treatment or in which, while they are being mounted or subsequent to tneir use, develop faults such 5 as cracks. Another drawback of this Known arrangement is that, once the plate has been mounted, it is only with very great diffiulty that it can be- demoted, with a high 10 risk of damaging or even breaking it. The present invention remedies these drawbacks and provides a fastening system comprising inserts that are intended to receive fasteninq elements proper, said 15 inserts being designed to be received or formed in situ in holes whose retaining side wall is of curved profile and no longer frustoconieal. Thus, for the same cavity volume as in the prior art of the aforemetioned technique, the contact or bearing area of the mount-ing 20 member, that the insert constitutes, will be larger, and this allows the forces to be better distributed. For this purpose, the subject of the present invention is an insert intended to cooperate in a plate, 25 especially made of a brittle material of the glass type, so as to allow, in cooperation with a connectinq element, said plate to be mounted on a support, characteried in that it is designed to be received or formed in situ in a hole having retaining walls of 30 curved profiler said- hole being made in ohe face of the plate. In preerred embdiments of the invention, one or more of the folloiwing provisions may optionally also be 35 employed: the hole is bounded by a side wall of concave .profile, the concavity being turned toward the inside,- the hole is a blind hols or a. throgh-hole; - 3 - the hole has a circular or obiong cro$$ section; - the insert is obtained from at least one component made of a deforable material; 5 - the' insert is removable; the inserc consists of -a cup-shaped element intended to be introduced into the corresponding hole in the plate, said cup having radial slots made in its side wall, thus forming petals that can bend 10 elastically, or even plastically, inward so as to- allow said element to be fitted into the corresponding hole in the plate, the internal surface of the side wall of the. cupllka element being designed to corporate with the element for connecting it to the support; 15 - the cupiike element ia of circular shape; the cuplike element has three to five slots; the element- has a curved, optionally pierced, bottom; the cooperation between the connecting element 20 and the insert is suit'able for self-locking said insert within the hole? a wetting agent for improving the surface appearance is: interposed at the interface between the side wall of the hole and the insert. The. present invention also reLates to. a plate, especially made of a brittle material of the glass type> having on at least .one of its surfaces a hole intended to receive- at least one irisett as defined 30 above:. It also relates to such a plate equipped with its insert or inserts. It alao relates to a plate which has' been equipped with its insert or inserts and the .or each insert of which has ceceived an element for connecting It. to a support. 35 As indicated above, the brittle material of which these plates are made is in general toughened glass, or mora generally, a glass substrate that is capable of under going a heat trearment, especially a toughening, - 4 - tempering or annealing treatment, or else, a glaas that is mechanically reinforced, after the holes have been produced. .5 The present invention also relates to a mounted assembly or an assembly to be mounted which comprises at least ane plate made of brittle material .of the glass type, .as defined above. 10 In particular, such an assembly is a heating means comprising a glass plate as defined above, it being' possible for said plate to. be provided with conducting elements, for example screen-printed: elements, and with current leads. 15 Finally, the present invention relates to a process for manufaeturing a plate suitable for being mounted on a support so as to constitute a mounted assembly, such as a heating means, characterized in that the surface of. 20 the plate, especially one made of a brittle material of the glass type that has not, undergone a heat treatment, is machined so as to make at least one hole at. the place of the fastening points, each forementioned hole being shaped so as to allow an insert as defined above '25 to be introduced and retained, in that a heat treatment is then carried .out on said plate, and In that an insert of Comp1 ementary shape as defined above is placed Or formed in &itu in each of the holes. 30 To better illustrate the subject of the present invention, one particular embodiment thereof will be described below, by way of indication but implying no limitation, with reference to the appended drawing in Which: 35 figure 1 is a partial view in perspective of a toughened GlaSS plate into which devices for fastienig said plate to a support have been fitted, only one of these. devices appearing in figure 1; - 5 - figure 2 Is an exploded oross-sectional View through the toughened glass plats of figure 1 in 3 diametral plane of the fastening device shown in this figure; and 5 - figure 3 is, on a larger scale, a perspective view of the insert of the fastening device £hown in figures 1 and 2; figure 4 is a perspective view of a piece of furniture mounted, by means of fastening devices that 10 form the subject of the invention; figure 5 is a perspective view of a partition or of a wall provided with a hinge-, which is mounted on the wall by means of a fastening device forming the subject of the invention , 15 Referring firstly to figures 1 and 2, these show a toughened glass plate 1 that is intended, for example; to constitute the external plate of a heating means, such as a wall convector, a plinth heater, a band 20 heater or a radiant panel. According to other embodiments, one example of which, specific to furniture, is shown in figure 4, this plate, especially made of a- brittle material of the 25 glass cype, may constitute a wall cladding element, an interior furnishing, a wall or partition, a piece of furniture or any other wall. Connecting elements 22, 23, 24 (hinge, spacer, junction or the like, accessory support, etc.) which can be seen in figure 4 comprise, 30 at One of their free ends 24, 251 26, at least One insert 8 according to the invention designed to be mounted within a hole made in said plate, the assembly for mounting the furniture being immobilized by means of the connecting elements 22, 23, 24 and the inserts 8 35 that connect the components together. Of course, these connecting components may be mounted on the inside and/or on the outside of the furniture. AccordiIng to another eubodiment example shown in figure - 6 - 5r the insert 8. forming the subject of the invention allows a hinge 21 to be mounted' on a support 1 (a (door, partition or the. like). 5 Depending on the. case, the toughened glass plate - which is therefore thermally resistant and mechanically strong - is: a hotplate, for example a plate covered with a transparent electrically conductive Coating, which acts 10 as a resistant element in which electricity flowing through it is converted in to heat. by the Jcuie effect, thin conductive strips placed along the vertical and/or horizontal borders constituting current lead buses for said electrically conductive coating; this coaring is, 15 for example, a low-emissivity infrared-reflecive coating, such as a coating of antimony- or fluoirine- doped tin, or of tin-doped indium oxide, deposited with a thickness of a few hundred nanometers; or a plate having a. costing that reflects infred 20 radiation, said coating being of the type of low- emissivity coatings mentioned dbove, or a thin metal Coating; or. else a protective plate. 25 It is desired that for this external plate have fastening devices that are carried by its face turned toward ths inside in the mounted position of the apparatus, said fastening device^ therefor© being concealed from view. 3O The plate 1; of rectangular (or square) shape shown in the- drawing, has a face la. which will be the face presented for view in the final assembly. Made in the corner regions of the face Ib on the opposite side from 35 the face la ars identical blind holes- 2, only ons of which may be seen in Figure 2. Of course, depending on the intended applications, the holes may be tnrough- holS and circular or oblong. -7- Each of these holes 2 is bounded by a. flat. circuLac bottom 3 parallel to the faces la, lb of the glass plate 1 .and by a- side wall 4 joined to the bottom 3 by a retaining region 5 of curved, especially concave, 5 profile, the concavity- of which is turned toward the inside of the hole 2 and has axis! symmetry, then a short cylindrical region 6 before emerging at the surface lb in an outwardly flaring frustoconical region 7. The region 6 thus constitutes, with the neighboring 10 parts of the regions 5 and 7, a canching or retaining bead, whose- role will be indicated later. The depth of the hole 2, at the bottom 3, corresponds for example to at (most one half of the thickness of the 15 plate 1, The concave region 5 has in fact a first part 5a. having a first radius of curvature B. and constituting the start of the concavity near the bottom 3, and a second 20 part 5b joining the part 5a and the cylindrical region 6, and. having .a second tadlus of curvature F2 that is smaller than the first. In the example shown, the bottom 3 or a hole 2 has a 25 diameter of 7.6 mm? its height is 1.5 mm and the radii of curvature R1 and R2 are 12 mm and 2 mm respectively. To make it easier to machine the hole, aspecially at the bottom of the hole, the bottom well is provided with a radius of curvature R3 of a few tenths of a 30 millimerre. Introduced into each of the holes 2 is an insert 3' molded in a plastic, such as for example PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride), or in a metallic material 35 taluminum for example) . As a variant, this insert may be molded in situ. As may be more clearly seen in Figure 3, each insert 8 has a peripheral wall 3 joined to a curved bottom 10. This insert is either made as one piece or is composed of several elements- It is - 8 - elastically or even plastically defotmable, so as 'to allow it to be Introduced into the hole. The external face of the wall 9 is joined to the bottom 5 10 by a curved region 11, the shape of which allows it to match that of the concave region 5 of the hole- 2. The curved region 11 is extended by a cylindrical wall 12 of small height, which is intended to bear against the cylindrical region 6 defining the hole 2, before 10 terminating, after an inward step 13, in another cylindrical region 14, The internal face of the wall 9 has, near the bottom 10, a peripheral recess at 15, the rest of the internal 15 face of the said wall 9 having an internal thread 16. Moreover, the wall 9 has-, starting from its. flat upper rim 17 - which is intended to lie, in the mounting position, in the plans or the face lb of the plate 1 - 20 foyr regularly spaced and relatively deep radial slots IS extending as far as the vicinity of the bottom 10, which bottom may optionally be pierced. The side wall 9 is thus divided into four "petals* by 25 these slots iS, whicii, in combination with the recess at IS, give the insert 8. flegibility, the "petals" thus being able to bend inward in order to allow, by -elastic or even plastic deformation, the insert 8 to be introduced into a hole 2; once the insert 8 has been, 30 introduced, the: petals teaume that initial position, matching the regions 5 and 6 that define the hole 2. ThuS, the insert 6 is caught under the afatesmentioaned bead. However, a space is formed in this position between the walls 7 and 14, making it easier for the 35 insett B' to bs remc-vwS should this be necessary. Depending on the- applications, and especially in- that intended in this exampler it may be important to make the hole and its insert invisible from the side facing - 9 - the user. For this purpose, a wetting aqent is interposed at the interface between the internal side wall of the hole and the external wall of the hola in order to improve the surface 'appearance* such as for 5 example a silicone wetting agent, or a lubricating agent possessing this property. Once fitted, the insert 8 receives an element 18 for connectirtg the piare i to its support. this connecting 10 element 19 ensures self-locking of the insert. The drawing shows ofly that part of the connecting element 19 which coopereates with the insext 8 and is formed by A rod, the end tegion 20 of which has a screw thread 20 for fastening tha element 19 to the plate 1 by 15 screwing. The opposite' end of the rod 20 (which is therefore not shown) is designed to allow connection to the chosen support. As a variant, the connecting element may consist of any 20 kinematic chain for connecting a plate of brittle [material to a support. Thus, this kinumstic chain, may include a b^ll joint, optionally extencted oy a rod, an articulation, a box, etc. 25 The glass plates 1 that have undergone a heat or chemical treatment (for example a toughening treatment} are. prepared in the following manner: the plates 1 are firstly cut from untoughened glass; the holes 2 are machined at the intended places - in general at least: 30 two, and preferably three or four holes 2 made in each corner of the plate 1, for example in- the case of the application to heating means - and then the heat or chemical treatment (in this example here, a toughening operation) is carried out on the plates 1, The concave 35 region 5 of the side walls defining the holes 2 allows the stresses that develop within .the glass during the toughening treatment ta be distributed, in particular, the profile of This concave region, having the aforementioned part 5a of larger radius of curvature, - 10 - ensures that toughening takes place without causing the glass to fracture in this region, thus avoiding having to scrap the plates 1, 5 ^ext? the insette 8 are iutroduced into the respective .holes 2. (As a variant, the inserts 8 may be molded in situ). As already indicated,. this fitting of the inserts 8 is very easy because of their elasticity or even plasticity. The plates 1 may be delivered although 10 theY are already equipped with their ina&xts 8, which inserts do not project beyond the surface of the plates I. The connecting elements 19 are then fitted. This 15 fitting is accomplished by screwing in the example shown♦ A certain clearance is left between a hole 2 and the insert 8 received therein. This allows, on the one 20 hand, easier fitting when mounting the connecting elements and, on the other hand, greater ease in absorbing the mechanical forces exerted on the plate 1 once it has been mounted, which forces may increase if the plate 1 were to be a plate forming part of a 25 heating means and consequently obliged to undergo expansion during heating. The invention as described above affords many advantages: 30 - the connection between the support and: the plate requires a small number of parts; this connection is relatively insensitive to the manufacturing toletances; and - this connection is removable and can withstand 35 relatively high mechanical forces. It will of course be understood that the embodiment described above is in no way limiting and may give rice^ to any desirable modification without thereby departing - 11 - from the scope. of the invention. - 12- CLAIMS 1. An insert (8} intended to cooperate in a plate (1) especially made of a brittle material of the 5 glass type, so as to allow, in cooperation with a connecting element (19), said plate (1) to be mounted on a support, characterized in. that it is designed to be received or formed in sicu in a hole (2) having retaining walls of curved profile, .10 said hole being made in one face of the plate (l) r said insert (8) being obtained from at least one temovable component made of a deformable material. 2. The insert as claimed in claim 1, characterized in 15 that the hole (2\ Is bounded by a side wall (5) of concave profiler the concavity being turned toward the inside. 3. The insert as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2, 2O characterized in that tne hole (2) is a blind hole or &. through-hole. 4- The insert as claimed in any one of the- preceing claims, characterized in that the hole (2) has a 25 circular or oblong cross section. 5. the insert as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that it is bases on a cup-shaped element intended to be introduced into the 3O corresponding hole (2) in the plate (1), said cup having radial slots (l8) made in its side wall, thus forming petals that can bend elastically, or even plastically,inward so as to allow said element to be fitted into the corresponding- hole 35 (2) in the plate (1}, the internal surface of the side wall of the cuplike; element being designed to- corporate with the element (19) for connecting the glass plate (1) to the support. - 13 - 6. The insert as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the cupllke element is of circular shape. 7. The insert as claimed in either of claims 5 aud. 6, 5 characterized in that the cuplike element has three to five slots (l&), 8. The insert as claimed in one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the element has a .curved, 10 optionally pierced, bottom. 9. The insert as claimed in one or claims 1 to. 8, characterized in that the cooperation between the connecting element (19) and the insert (8) is 15 suitable for self-locking said insert (8) within the hole (2). 10. The insert as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a wetting agent for 20 improving the surface appearance is interposed at the interface between the side wall (5) of the hole (2\ and the iussrt (8) . 11. A plate, especially made of a brittle material of 25 the glass type, having on at least one of its surfaces a hole (2) intended to receive at least one insert (8) as defined in one of claims l to 10. 30. 12 The plate as claimed in claim 11, equipped with its insert or insets (8), 13- The glass plate as claimed in claim 12, the or each insert (8) of which has received a connecting 35 element (19) suitable for cooperating with a support, 14. The place as clamed in one of claims ll to. I3. characterized in that the glass is toughened, - 14 - tempered, annealed or mechanically reinforced glass. 15. A mounted assembly or assembly to be mounted, 5 comprising at least one plate (1) as defined in one of claims 11 to 14. 15. The assembly as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that it consists of a wall cladding element, an 10 interior furnishing, a partition or pice of furniture. 17. A heating means comprising a plate (1) as defined in one of claims 11 to 16, it being possible for 15. said plats (1) to be provided with conducting elements, for example screen-printed elements, and with current leads, 18. A process for manufacturing a plate (1) suirable 20 for being mounted on a support so as to constitute a mounted assembly, such as a heating means, characterized in that the surface of the plate, especially one made of a brittle material of the glass type (1) that has npt undergone a heat 25 treatment, is machined so as to make at least, one hole (2) at the place of the fastening points each fore mentioned hole (2) being shaped so as to allow an insert (8) as defined ir* ooe at claims (1) to 12 to be introduced and retained, in that a 30 heat treatment is then carried out on said plate (1), and in that an insert (8) of complementary shape as defined in one of claims 1 to 10. is placed or for&sd in situ in each of the holes (2) Dated this 17H, day of june 2005 The present invention relates to an Insert intended to be received or formed in a glass plate (1) so. as to allow, in cooperation with a connecting element (19), said glass plate (1)to be mounted on a support- Said 10 insert is designed to be received in a hole (2) made in one. Eace of the plate (1), said, hole (2) being bounded by a retaining side wall (5) of curved profile directed toward the inside. It includes fastening means (16) complementary to means (20) carried by said element 15 (19) for connectingj the plate (l) to the support.

Full Text

PLATES-, FOR THE PURPOSE 0F FASTENING THEM AND THE
PIATES THUS EQUIPPED
5 The present invention relates to plates, especially
made of a brittle material of the glass type, which are
equipped so as to be fastened to supports via
connecting elements.
10 Such plates are intended especially to equip heating
means, such as radiators, convectors, etc., without,
however, the present invention being limited to such an
application, Thusr the fastening of double-glazing or
laminated-glass plates may be mentioned, and also the
15 production of walls or of furniture made of glass
Substrates.
These plates must therefore have holes at the fastening
points- The plates may be strengthened, especially by
20 thermally or chemically toughening them, in order to
obtain the mechanical strength (and where appropriate
the thermal resistance) that is required- The holes
must then be made before the heat treatment-
25 PCT International Application WO-A1-01/094 5 9 discloses
a fastening element for double-glazing plates, said
element consisting of a threaded bolt having, at its
front end, an' expansion cone onto which a ring-shaped
expansion element is slipped for the purpose of
30 expansion in a hole in the rear glass plate, said hole
being back—tapered in the region of its bottom.
Such a device has the drawback that, while the glass
plates provided with holes having such back capers are
35 being heat treated, high stresses are created in the
region of the fillet that joins the bottom of these
holes to the frustoconieal side wall emerging in the
surface of the glass plate and flaring out toward "the

-2-
Bottom of the holes. These high stresses may result in
defective plates that have to be- scrapped after the
heat treatment or in which, while they are being
mounted or subsequent to tneir use, develop faults such
5 as cracks.
Another drawback of this Known arrangement is that,
once the plate has been mounted, it is only with very
great diffiulty that it can be- demoted, with a high
10 risk of damaging or even breaking it.
The present invention remedies these drawbacks and
provides a fastening system comprising inserts that are
intended to receive fasteninq elements proper, said
15 inserts being designed to be received or formed in situ
in holes whose retaining side wall is of curved profile
and no longer frustoconieal. Thus, for the same cavity
volume as in the prior art of the aforemetioned
technique, the contact or bearing area of the mount-ing
20 member, that the insert constitutes, will be larger,
and this allows the forces to be better distributed.
For this purpose, the subject of the present invention
is an insert intended to cooperate in a plate,
25 especially made of a brittle material of the glass
type, so as to allow, in cooperation with a connectinq
element, said plate to be mounted on a support,
characteried in that it is designed to be received or
formed in situ in a hole having retaining walls of
30 curved profiler said- hole being made in ohe face of the
plate.
In preerred embdiments of the invention, one or more
of the folloiwing provisions may optionally also be
35 employed:
the hole is bounded by a side wall of concave
.profile, the concavity being turned toward the inside,-
the hole is a blind hols or a. throgh-hole;

- 3 -
the hole has a circular or obiong cro$$
section;
- the insert is obtained from at least one
component made of a deforable material;
5 - the' insert is removable;
the inserc consists of -a cup-shaped element
intended to be introduced into the corresponding hole
in the plate, said cup having radial slots made in its
side wall, thus forming petals that can bend
10 elastically, or even plastically, inward so as to- allow
said element to be fitted into the corresponding hole
in the plate, the internal surface of the side wall of
the. cupllka element being designed to corporate with
the element for connecting it to the support;
15 - the cupiike element ia of circular shape;
the cuplike element has three to five slots;
the element- has a curved, optionally pierced,
bottom;
the cooperation between the connecting element
20 and the insert is suit'able for self-locking said insert
within the hole?
a wetting agent for improving the surface
appearance is: interposed at the interface between the
side wall of the hole and the insert.
The. present invention also reLates to. a plate,
especially made of a brittle material of the glass
type> having on at least .one of its surfaces a hole
intended to receive- at least one irisett as defined
30 above:. It also relates to such a plate equipped with
its insert or inserts. It alao relates to a plate which
has' been equipped with its insert or inserts and the .or
each insert of which has ceceived an element for
connecting It. to a support.
35
As indicated above, the brittle material of which these
plates are made is in general toughened glass, or mora
generally, a glass substrate that is capable of
under going a heat trearment, especially a toughening,

- 4 -
tempering or annealing treatment, or else, a glaas that
is mechanically reinforced, after the holes have been
produced.
.5 The present invention also relates to a mounted
assembly or an assembly to be mounted which comprises
at least ane plate made of brittle material .of the
glass type, .as defined above.
10 In particular, such an assembly is a heating means
comprising a glass plate as defined above, it being'
possible for said plate to. be provided with conducting
elements, for example screen-printed: elements, and with
current leads.
15
Finally, the present invention relates to a process for
manufaeturing a plate suitable for being mounted on a
support so as to constitute a mounted assembly, such as
a heating means, characterized in that the surface of.
20 the plate, especially one made of a brittle material of
the glass type that has not, undergone a heat treatment,
is machined so as to make at least one hole at. the
place of the fastening points, each forementioned hole
being shaped so as to allow an insert as defined above
'25 to be introduced and retained, in that a heat treatment
is then carried .out on said plate, and In that an
insert of Comp1 ementary shape as defined above is
placed Or formed in &itu in each of the holes.
30 To better illustrate the subject of the present
invention, one particular embodiment thereof will be
described below, by way of indication but implying no
limitation, with reference to the appended drawing in Which:
35
figure 1 is a partial view in perspective of a
toughened GlaSS plate into which devices for fastienig
said plate to a support have been fitted, only one of
these. devices appearing in figure 1;

- 5 -
figure 2 Is an exploded oross-sectional View
through the toughened glass plats of figure 1 in 3
diametral plane of the fastening device shown in this
figure; and
5 - figure 3 is, on a larger scale, a perspective
view of the insert of the fastening device £hown in
figures 1 and 2;
figure 4 is a perspective view of a piece of
furniture mounted, by means of fastening devices that
10 form the subject of the invention;
figure 5 is a perspective view of a partition
or of a wall provided with a hinge-, which is mounted on
the wall by means of a fastening device forming the
subject of the invention ,
15
Referring firstly to figures 1 and 2, these show a
toughened glass plate 1 that is intended, for example;
to constitute the external plate of a heating means,
such as a wall convector, a plinth heater, a band
20 heater or a radiant panel.
According to other embodiments, one example of which,
specific to furniture, is shown in figure 4, this
plate, especially made of a- brittle material of the
25 glass cype, may constitute a wall cladding element, an
interior furnishing, a wall or partition, a piece of
furniture or any other wall. Connecting elements 22,
23, 24 (hinge, spacer, junction or the like, accessory
support, etc.) which can be seen in figure 4 comprise,
30 at One of their free ends 24, 251 26, at least One
insert 8 according to the invention designed to be
mounted within a hole made in said plate, the assembly
for mounting the furniture being immobilized by means
of the connecting elements 22, 23, 24 and the inserts 8
35 that connect the components together. Of course, these
connecting components may be mounted on the inside
and/or on the outside of the furniture.
AccordiIng to another eubodiment example shown in figure

- 6 -
5r the insert 8. forming the subject of the invention
allows a hinge 21 to be mounted' on a support 1 (a (door,
partition or the. like).
5 Depending on the. case, the toughened glass plate -
which is therefore thermally resistant and mechanically
strong - is:
a hotplate, for example a plate covered with a
transparent electrically conductive Coating, which acts
10 as a resistant element in which electricity flowing
through it is converted in to heat. by the Jcuie effect,
thin conductive strips placed along the vertical and/or
horizontal borders constituting current lead buses for
said electrically conductive coating; this coaring is,
15 for example, a low-emissivity infrared-reflecive
coating, such as a coating of antimony- or fluoirine-
doped tin, or of tin-doped indium oxide, deposited with
a thickness of a few hundred nanometers; or
a plate having a. costing that reflects infred
20 radiation, said coating being of the type of low-
emissivity coatings mentioned dbove, or a thin metal
Coating; or. else
a protective plate.
25 It is desired that for this external plate have
fastening devices that are carried by its face turned
toward ths inside in the mounted position of the
apparatus, said fastening device^ therefor© being
concealed from view.
3O
The plate 1; of rectangular (or square) shape shown in
the- drawing, has a face la. which will be the face
presented for view in the final assembly. Made in the
corner regions of the face Ib on the opposite side from
35 the face la ars identical blind holes- 2, only ons of
which may be seen in Figure 2. Of course, depending on
the intended applications, the holes may be tnrough-
holS and circular or oblong.

-7-
Each of these holes 2 is bounded by a. flat. circuLac
bottom 3 parallel to the faces la, lb of the glass
plate 1 .and by a- side wall 4 joined to the bottom 3 by
a retaining region 5 of curved, especially concave,
5 profile, the concavity- of which is turned toward the
inside of the hole 2 and has axis! symmetry, then a
short cylindrical region 6 before emerging at the
surface lb in an outwardly flaring frustoconical region
7. The region 6 thus constitutes, with the neighboring
10 parts of the regions 5 and 7, a canching or retaining
bead, whose- role will be indicated later.
The depth of the hole 2, at the bottom 3, corresponds
for example to at (most one half of the thickness of the
15 plate 1,
The concave region 5 has in fact a first part 5a. having
a first radius of curvature B. and constituting the
start of the concavity near the bottom 3, and a second
20 part 5b joining the part 5a and the cylindrical region
6, and. having .a second tadlus of curvature F2 that is
smaller than the first.
In the example shown, the bottom 3 or a hole 2 has a
25 diameter of 7.6 mm? its height is 1.5 mm and the radii
of curvature R1 and R2 are 12 mm and 2 mm respectively.
To make it easier to machine the hole, aspecially at
the bottom of the hole, the bottom well is provided
with a radius of curvature R3 of a few tenths of a
30 millimerre.
Introduced into each of the holes 2 is an insert 3'
molded in a plastic, such as for example PVDF
(polyvinylidene fluoride), or in a metallic material
35 taluminum for example) . As a variant, this insert may
be molded in situ. As may be more clearly seen in
Figure 3, each insert 8 has a peripheral wall 3 joined
to a curved bottom 10. This insert is either made as
one piece or is composed of several elements- It is

- 8 -
elastically or even plastically defotmable, so as 'to
allow it to be Introduced into the hole.
The external face of the wall 9 is joined to the bottom
5 10 by a curved region 11, the shape of which allows it
to match that of the concave region 5 of the hole- 2.
The curved region 11 is extended by a cylindrical wall
12 of small height, which is intended to bear against
the cylindrical region 6 defining the hole 2, before
10 terminating, after an inward step 13, in another
cylindrical region 14,
The internal face of the wall 9 has, near the bottom
10, a peripheral recess at 15, the rest of the internal
15 face of the said wall 9 having an internal thread 16.
Moreover, the wall 9 has-, starting from its. flat upper
rim 17 - which is intended to lie, in the mounting
position, in the plans or the face lb of the plate 1 -
20 foyr regularly spaced and relatively deep radial slots
IS extending as far as the vicinity of the bottom 10,
which bottom may optionally be pierced.
The side wall 9 is thus divided into four "petals* by
25 these slots iS, whicii, in combination with the recess
at IS, give the insert 8. flegibility, the "petals" thus
being able to bend inward in order to allow, by -elastic
or even plastic deformation, the insert 8 to be
introduced into a hole 2; once the insert 8 has been,
30 introduced, the: petals teaume that initial position,
matching the regions 5 and 6 that define the hole 2.
ThuS, the insert 6 is caught under the afatesmentioaned
bead. However, a space is formed in this position
between the walls 7 and 14, making it easier for the
35 insett B' to bs remc-vwS should this be necessary.
Depending on the- applications, and especially in- that
intended in this exampler it may be important to make
the hole and its insert invisible from the side facing

- 9 -
the user. For this purpose, a wetting aqent is
interposed at the interface between the internal side
wall of the hole and the external wall of the hola in
order to improve the surface 'appearance* such as for
5 example a silicone wetting agent, or a lubricating
agent possessing this property.
Once fitted, the insert 8 receives an element 18 for
connectirtg the piare i to its support. this connecting
10 element 19 ensures self-locking of the insert. The
drawing shows ofly that part of the connecting element
19 which coopereates with the insext 8 and is formed by
A rod, the end tegion 20 of which has a screw thread 20
for fastening tha element 19 to the plate 1 by
15 screwing. The opposite' end of the rod 20 (which is
therefore not shown) is designed to allow connection to
the chosen support.
As a variant, the connecting element may consist of any
20 kinematic chain for connecting a plate of brittle
[material to a support. Thus, this kinumstic chain, may
include a b^ll joint, optionally extencted oy a rod, an
articulation, a box, etc.
25 The glass plates 1 that have undergone a heat or
chemical treatment (for example a toughening treatment}
are. prepared in the following manner: the plates 1 are
firstly cut from untoughened glass; the holes 2 are
machined at the intended places - in general at least:
30 two, and preferably three or four holes 2 made in each
corner of the plate 1, for example in- the case of the
application to heating means - and then the heat or
chemical treatment (in this example here, a toughening
operation) is carried out on the plates 1, The concave
35 region 5 of the side walls defining the holes 2 allows
the stresses that develop within .the glass during the
toughening treatment ta be distributed, in particular,
the profile of This concave region, having the
aforementioned part 5a of larger radius of curvature,

- 10 -
ensures that toughening takes place without causing the
glass to fracture in this region, thus avoiding having
to scrap the plates 1,
5 ^ext? the insette 8 are iutroduced into the respective
.holes 2. (As a variant, the inserts 8 may be molded in
situ). As already indicated,. this fitting of the
inserts 8 is very easy because of their elasticity or
even plasticity. The plates 1 may be delivered although
10 theY are already equipped with their ina&xts 8, which
inserts do not project beyond the surface of the plates
I.
The connecting elements 19 are then fitted. This
15 fitting is accomplished by screwing in the example
shown♦
A certain clearance is left between a hole 2 and the
insert 8 received therein. This allows, on the one
20 hand, easier fitting when mounting the connecting
elements and, on the other hand, greater ease in
absorbing the mechanical forces exerted on the plate 1
once it has been mounted, which forces may increase if
the plate 1 were to be a plate forming part of a
25 heating means and consequently obliged to undergo
expansion during heating.
The invention as described above affords many
advantages:
30 - the connection between the support and: the
plate requires a small number of parts;
this connection is relatively insensitive to
the manufacturing toletances; and
- this connection is removable and can withstand
35 relatively high mechanical forces.
It will of course be understood that the embodiment
described above is in no way limiting and may give rice^
to any desirable modification without thereby departing

- 11 -
from the scope. of the invention.

- 12-
CLAIMS
1. An insert (8} intended to cooperate in a plate
(1) especially made of a brittle material of the
5 glass type, so as to allow, in cooperation with a
connecting element (19), said plate (1) to be
mounted on a support, characterized in. that it is
designed to be received or formed in sicu in a
hole (2) having retaining walls of curved profile,
.10 said hole being made in one face of the plate (l) r
said insert (8) being obtained from at least one
temovable component made of a deformable material.
2. The insert as claimed in claim 1, characterized in
15 that the hole (2\ Is bounded by a side wall (5) of
concave profiler the concavity being turned toward
the inside.
3. The insert as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2,
2O characterized in that tne hole (2) is a blind hole
or &. through-hole.
4- The insert as claimed in any one of the- preceing
claims, characterized in that the hole (2) has a
25 circular or oblong cross section.
5. the insert as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4,
characterised in that it is bases on a cup-shaped
element intended to be introduced into the
3O corresponding hole (2) in the plate (1), said cup
having radial slots (l8) made in its side wall,
thus forming petals that can bend elastically, or
even plastically,inward so as to allow said
element to be fitted into the corresponding- hole
35 (2) in the plate (1}, the internal surface of the
side wall of the cuplike; element being designed to-
corporate with the element (19) for connecting the
glass plate (1) to the support.

- 13 -
6. The insert as claimed in claim 5, characterized in
that the cupllke element is of circular shape.
7. The insert as claimed in either of claims 5 aud. 6,
5 characterized in that the cuplike element has
three to five slots (l&),
8. The insert as claimed in one of claims 3 to 7,
characterized in that the element has a .curved,
10 optionally pierced, bottom.
9. The insert as claimed in one or claims 1 to. 8,
characterized in that the cooperation between the
connecting element (19) and the insert (8) is
15 suitable for self-locking said insert (8) within
the hole (2).
10. The insert as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9,
characterized in that a wetting agent for
20 improving the surface appearance is interposed at
the interface between the side wall (5) of the
hole (2\ and the iussrt (8) .
11. A plate, especially made of a brittle material of
25 the glass type, having on at least one of its
surfaces a hole (2) intended to receive at least
one insert (8) as defined in one of claims l to
10.
30. 12 The plate as claimed in claim 11, equipped with
its insert or insets (8),
13- The glass plate as claimed in claim 12, the or
each insert (8) of which has received a connecting
35 element (19) suitable for cooperating with a
support,
14. The place as clamed in one of claims ll to. I3.
characterized in that the glass is toughened,

- 14 -
tempered, annealed or mechanically reinforced
glass.
15. A mounted assembly or assembly to be mounted,
5 comprising at least one plate (1) as defined in
one of claims 11 to 14.
15. The assembly as claimed in claim 15, characterized
in that it consists of a wall cladding element, an
10 interior furnishing, a partition or pice of
furniture.
17. A heating means comprising a plate (1) as defined
in one of claims 11 to 16, it being possible for
15. said plats (1) to be provided with conducting
elements, for example screen-printed elements, and
with current leads,
18. A process for manufacturing a plate (1) suirable
20 for being mounted on a support so as to constitute
a mounted assembly, such as a heating means,
characterized in that the surface of the plate,
especially one made of a brittle material of the
glass type (1) that has npt undergone a heat
25 treatment, is machined so as to make at least, one
hole (2) at the place of the fastening points
each fore mentioned hole (2) being shaped so as to
allow an insert (8) as defined ir* ooe at claims
(1) to 12 to be introduced and retained, in that a
30 heat treatment is then carried out on said plate
(1), and in that an insert (8) of complementary
shape as defined in one of claims 1 to 10. is
placed or for&sd in situ in each of the holes (2)
Dated this 17H, day of june 2005

The present invention relates to an Insert intended to
be received or formed in a glass plate (1) so. as to
allow, in cooperation with a connecting element (19),
said glass plate (1)to be mounted on a support- Said
10 insert is designed to be received in a hole (2) made in
one. Eace of the plate (1), said, hole (2) being bounded
by a retaining side wall (5) of curved profile directed
toward the inside. It includes fastening means (16)
complementary to means (20) carried by said element
15 (19) for connectingj the plate (l) to the support.

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Patent Number

218680

Indian Patent Application Number

01165/KOLNP/2005

PG Journal Number

15/2008

Publication Date

11-Apr-2008

Grant Date

09-Apr-2008

Date of Filing

17-Jun-2005

Name of Patentee

SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE

Applicant Address

18, AVENUE D'ALSACE, F-92400 COURBEVOIE, FRANCE

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	LEBOT, PIERRE	RESIDENCE SUD HORIZON APPT B01, 4 RUE ANTOIN DE GARGAS, 31500 TOULOUSE, FRANCE
2	NUGUE JEAN-CLEMENT	55,53 AVENUE DE GOUVIEUX, 60260 LAMORLAYE, FRANCE
3	MENNECHEZ FRANCOISE	15 RUE LOUIS FLAMANT, 02400 CHATEAU THIERRY, FRANCE

PCT International Classification Number

F16B 13/06

PCT International Application Number

PCT/FR2003/003402

PCT International Filing date

2003-11-17

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	02/14517	2002-11-18	France