Title of Invention	METHOD TO ASSEMBLE CURTAIN WALLS AND CURTAIN WALL ADOPTING THE METHOD
Abstract	The present invention relates to a method to assemble a curtain wall comprising a reticular supporting structure, provided with uprights and cross- pieces (12), and covering elements (13) attached to said supporting structure, said uprights and said cross-pieces (12) comprising first attachment means (22) for closure profiles (17) positioned between two adjacent covering elements (13) and provided with mating second attachment means (19), wherein it provides: a first step of positioning said closure profiles (17) frontally with respect to said supporting structure in order to engage said second attachment means (19) with said first attachment means (22); a second step of rotating towards the outside said closure profiles (17) around an axis passing through the point of engagement between said first (22) and said second (19) attachment means, compressing first sealing means (26) associated with a first edge (25) of said closure profile (17) against the first of said covering element (13); and a third step of positioning second sealing means (29) on a second edge (27) of said closure profile (17) in order to stabilize the positioning thereof by resting said second sealing means (29) against the other covering element (13). A curtain wall adopting the above method is also disclosed.

Title of Invention

METHOD TO ASSEMBLE CURTAIN WALLS AND CURTAIN WALL ADOPTING THE METHOD

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method to assemble a curtain wall comprising a reticular supporting structure, provided with uprights and cross- pieces (12), and covering elements (13) attached to said supporting structure, said uprights and said cross-pieces (12) comprising first attachment means (22) for closure profiles (17) positioned between two adjacent covering elements (13) and provided with mating second attachment means (19), wherein it provides: a first step of positioning said closure profiles (17) frontally with respect to said supporting structure in order to engage said second attachment means (19) with said first attachment means (22); a second step of rotating towards the outside said closure profiles (17) around an axis passing through the point of engagement between said first (22) and said second (19) attachment means, compressing first sealing means (26) associated with a first edge (25) of said closure profile (17) against the first of said covering element (13); and a third step of positioning second sealing means (29) on a second edge (27) of said closure profile (17) in order to stabilize the positioning thereof by resting said second sealing means (29) against the other covering element (13). A curtain wall adopting the above method is also disclosed.

Full Text	"METHOD TO ASSEMBLE CURTAIN WALLS AND CURTAIN WALL ADOPTING THE METHOD" * * * * * FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerns a method to assemble curtain walls for buildings, and a curtain wall assembled with this method. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Curtain walls for buildings generally comprise a reticular supporting structure, consisting of uprights and cross-pieces, on which the covering elements are assembled, for example glass panels or sheets, or other suitable material. The uprights and cross-pieces consist of metal profiles, generally made of aluminum, with which supporting means are associated in order to position and attach the covering elements. On the visible side of the wall, in order to close the horizontal and vertical gaps that form between adjacent sheets, closure profiles or stoppers are generally assembled. To apply a closure profile of a known type, however, it is necessary to screw in a relative' first element, known as presser, to the uprights and cross- pieces, with a screw about every 20 cm, and then apply in snap-in manner a second covering element to hide the heads of the screws and the anti-aesthetic parts of the first element. This entails both the need for prior holes on the presser elements and also a double operation during the assembly step, with a consequent extension of the execution times. Another disadvantage is that the condensation that forms and the water that filters, especially in the cross- pieces, tends to stagnate between the cross-piece and the closure profile, creating problems connected to infiltrations of water and humidity inside the wall, and the consequent formation of mold or otherwise. Curtain walls, and methods to assemble such curtain walls, which have the features of, respectively, the preamble of independent claims 3 and 1, are disclosed in US-A-5,839,236, US-A-4,672,784 and EP-A-644.311. One purpose of the present invention is to perfect an assembly method which allows to assemble rapidly and without needing prior holes a closure profile onto uprights and cross-pieces of a curtain wall. Another purpose is to achieve a curtain wall provided with constraining means that allow a rapid and simple attachment of the closure profile with the relative cross-piece and/or upright and, at the same time, an effective discharge of the filtered water and the condensation that has formed inside the elements of the reticule of the curtain wall. The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention in order to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a method to assemble a curtain wall comprising a reticular supporting structure, provided with uprights and cross-pieces, and covering elements attached to said supporting structure, said uprights and said cross-pieces comprising first attachment means for closure profiles positioned between two adjacent covering elements and provided with mating second attachment means, wherein itprovides: a first step of positioning said closure profiles frontally with respect to said supporting structure in order to engage said second attachment means with said first attachment means; a second step of rotating towards the outside said closure profiles around an axis passing through the point of engagement between said first and said second attachment means, compressing first sealing means associated with a first edge of said closure profile against the first of said covering element; and a third step of positioning second sealing means on a second edge of said closure profile in order to stabilize the positioning thereof by resting said second sealing means against the other covering element. The present invention also provides a curtain wall comprising a reticular supporting structure, provided with uprights and cross-pieces, and covering elements attached to said supporting structure, said curtain wall comprising a longitudinal element arranged substantially parallel to the upright or cross-piece and having on at least part of its inner side a shaping able to couple in snap-in manner with a mating seating made in the upright or cross-piece, and on at least part of its outer side a first attachment means able to engage with a mating second attachment means of a closure profile able to be positioned, in snap-in manner and by means of rotation, between two adjacent covering elements, said longitudinal element, in an intermediate position between said shaping and said first attachment means, having a longitudinal hollow able to perform a function of conveying and channeling water and condensation, characterized in that, in correspondence with the ends of each of said cross-pieces, it comprises a stopper provided with at least a drainage hole and a discharge platelet arranged as an extension of said longitudinal element and below said drainage hole. Other features of the invention or variants of the main embodiment are described hereinafter. According to the invention, the cross-piece and/or uprights of the curtain wall include first attachment means with which second attachment means cooperate, said second attachment means being provided in the closure profiles in order to obtain a rapid reciprocal snap-in attachment. The first attachment means face towards the outer side of the curtain wall and are arranged in the gap that forms between two adjacent covering sheets. Here, and in the following description, with the term "inner" we mean the side of the curtain wall, or of parts thereof, which faces the bearing structure of the building, while with the term "outer" we mean the opposite side. To be more exact, the method to assemble the closure profiles provides, after having assembled the relative covering sheet, a first step wherein the closure profile is coupled frontally with the relative segment of curtain wall, engaging its second attachment means with the first attachment means of the relative cross-piece or upright. A first sealing means, or packing, is associated with a first edge of the closure profile, and is taken into contact with a relative covering sheet. Then, the closure profile is rotated, in a direction from the inside towards the outside with respect to the curtain' wall, around an axis that passes substantially through the point of engagement of the first and second attachment means, exploiting the partial elastic deformation of the first sealing means that is pressed against the sheet. Finally, a second sealing means is positioned in correspondence with the second edge of the closure profile opposite the first, and rests upon another covering sheet, thus defining the stable assembly position of the profile. In one form of embodiment, the first attachment means associated with the cross-piece or upright consist of a strip, or bar, arranged longitudinally parallel to the relative cross-piece or upright; the strip is provided, along at least part of its inner edge, with a shaped profile that is configured to be inserted in snap-in manner into a mating seating, partly hollow, made on the relative upright or cross-piece. At least part of the outer edge of the strip comprises said first attachment means which, in a preferential embodiment, are shaped substantially like a hook extending outwardly, and are able to cooperate with said second hook-shaped attachment means provided on the inner side of the closure profile. The strip is preferentially made of plastic material and, apart from its function as an attachment element for the closure profiles, it also has the function of a thermal bridge in order to limit the transmission of hot or cold between the inside and outside of the curtain wall. According to another characteristic of the present invention, on the ends of each cross-piece there is a stopper element on which at least a drainage hole is made, from which the water that accumulates and/or filters inside the cross-piece can drain. The cross-piece, in correspondence with this drainage hole, has a shaped part along which the inner condensation collects, in order to be discharged through the drainage hole provided on the, stopper element and from here through a relative upright. At least a discharge platelet is also provided, arranged as an extension of the strip defining the attachment means for the closure profile and below the drainage hole; the platelet is shaped so that the water and condensation that drain both from the strip and also from the channel of the cross-piece through the drainage hole are conveyed towards the adjacent upright, which therefore performs a substantial function as a gutter and downspout, and through this are discharged downwards. According to the invention, in an intermediate position between the outer edge and the inner edge, the strip defines a longitudinal hollow that functions as a conveyor and channel for the water and condensation. The assembly method described above allows a rapid and simple snap-in assembly of the closure profile with front coupling, in a single operation and without needing previously made holes. Moreover, the conformation of the attachment means provided in the uprights and/or cross- pieces of the curtain wall encourages a rapid outflow of the filtered water, thus preventing the formation of mold or infiltrations into the curtain wall itself. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example, with reference to the attached drawing wherein: ~ fig. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a curtain wall according to the invention; - figs. 2a and 2b show respectively in transverse and longitudinal section part of the curtain wall in fig. 1; - figs. 3a-3d show four steps of the method to assemble the closure profile in the wall according to the invention; - fig. 4 shows a step to assemble a stopper element to a cross-piece of the curtain wall in fig. 1; - fig. 5 is a three-dimensional view of a cross-piece of the curtain wall in fig. 1; - fig. 6 is a perspective view of a coupling segment between an upright and a cross-piece functioning as a condensation collector in the wall according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTI0N OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS With reference to fig. 1, a curtain wall 10 consists of a reticular supporting structure comprising a plurality of uprights 11, arranged in use substantially vertical, and a plurality of cross-pieces 12 arranged in use substantially horizontal. In the quadrangular spaces defined between the uprights ll and the cross-pieces 12, covering panels, for example glass sheets 13, are assembled. To be more exact, as shown in fig. 2a, in correspondence with a relative cross-piece' 12 every glass sheet 13 has a lower edge resting on a supporting blade 15, while the upper edge of the adjacent 'sheet 13 is elastically clamped by a retaining blade 16. The blades 15 and 16, which normally consist of aluminum profiles at least partly covered by plastic material, are assembled opposite each other inside the front part of each cross-piece 12; they are only shown in fig. 2a, whereas they have been omitted from the other figures to facilitate understanding. On the front side of the curtain wall 10 closure profiles 17 are assembled, arranged horizontal and vertical to cover the gaps that form between two adjacent glass sheets 13. In this case, each closure profile 17 has a substantially T-shaped transverse section with the leg of the T-shape facing towards the inside, and its central leg ends in a hook 19 facing downwards. The closure profile 17 also has a first edge 25 on which a first packing 26 is able to be assembled in snap-in manner, and a second edge 27, opposite the first, on which a second packing 29 is able to be mounted also in snap-in manner. The two packings 26 and 29 are advantageously of the lip type and are normally kept in contact with the relative glass sheets 13, so as to prevent water from filtering inside the uprights 11 and/or cross-pieces 12. On every upright 11 and on every cross-piece 12, for the whole of their length, a strip 2 0 is assembled on whose inner edge a shaping 21 is provided for a snap-in attachment; on the outer edge of the strip 2 0 there is a hook 22 facing upwards and mating in shape with the hook 19 provided on the closure profile 17. The strip 20, advantageously made of plastic material or in any case partly elastic, is inserted in snap-in manner inside a mating housing seating 23, at least partly hollow and open towards the outside, made in a central zone of every upright 11 and/or cross-piece 12. Between the shaping 21 and the hook 22 the strip 2 0 has a longitudinal hollow 3 0 functioning as a channel to discharge the filtered water and the condensation that has formed. The longitudinal hollow 30 is located in a substantially intermediate zone between the blades 15 and 16, and occupies substantially the entire length of the relative strip 20. Each upright 11 and each cross-piece 12 also include, located in a known manner in hollows provided in the relative front edges, two packings 31 associated with the inner side of the sheet 13. At the lateral ends of each cross-piece 12 there are two stoppers 32 (figs. 2b, 4 and 5), attached by means of assembly plates 3 3 and including a through drainage hole 35, and a discharge platelet 36 arranged as an extension of the strip 20 and below the drainage hole 35. The assembly plates 33 include threaded holes 42 into which respective grub screws 43 are inserted (figs. 2b and 4) that press against a vertical wall of the relative cross-piece 12. The assembly plates 33 also include an attachment tooth 40 that anchors on a mating tooth-like profile of the relative upright 11 and that ends frontally in a wedge- shaped segment 34, arranged outside the respective stopper 32; the segment 34, by inserting a grub screw 41 in a threaded hole 44 provided in a position adjacent to the attachment tooth 40, takes the stopper 32 mounted on the cross-piece 12 to press against the upright 11. The sequence to assemble the cross-pieces 12 to the uprights 11 provides firstly to insert the stopper 32 at one end of the cross-piece 12, inserting the plates 33 into the respective seatings and clamping them in contrast with the pre-assembled grub screws 43; then, the cross-piece 12 is inserted on the upright 11, attaching the tooth 40 and completing the coupling by means of pressure tightening the pre-assembled grub screw 41. In this case too it can be seen that the assembly of the components of the wall 10 does not require any prior operation to make holes, and is carried out with extremely simple and rapid operations. The drainage hole 35 (fig. 5) is located in correspondence with a collection and discharge channel 37, defined by a shaping provided in the upper part of the cross-piece 12 on which the stopper 32 is assembled. The platelet 3 6 has a raised edge 39 and has its base surface horizontal or, according to a variant, slightly inclined towards the inside, so as to convey inside a relative upright 11 both the water that flows on the base surface of the strip 20, and also that which collects in the channel 37 and which drains through the hole 3 5 of the stopper 32. With this solution, the water and condensation do not stagnate inside the cross-pieces 12 but are quickly and constantly discharged. Figs. 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d show the sequence of assembly of a closure profile 17 with respect to a respective upright 11 and/or cross-piece 12, subsequent to the positioning of the relative sheets 13. The figures describe the assembly with respect to a cross-piece 12, but the assembly of the profile on an upright 11 is substantially identical, wherein the meaning of the terms "up" or "down" and derivatives thereof must be read as "right" or "left" and derivatives thereof. Firstly, after having positioned the relative upper sheet 13 resting it on the blade 15 (see fig. 2a) , the closure profile 17 is inserted frontally, slightly inclined downwards with respect to the cross-piece 12, with the hook 19 arranged in this case above the hook 22 of the strip 20, and with the upper packing 26 assembled on a first upper edge 25 in contact with the respective upper glass sheet 13 (fig. 3a). In the following step (fig. 3b) , the hook 19 of the closure profile 17 is engaged with the hook 22 of the strip 20, and the closure profile 17 is rotated from the inside to the outside, pivoting on the hook 19. The rotation is allowed by the elastic deformation of the upper packing 2 6 when pressed against the relative sheet 13. At the end of this operation (fig. 3c) , a second lower packing 29 is inserted on the second lower edge 27 of the profile 17, in such a manner (fig. 3d) as to stabilize the position of the profile 17 with both packings 26 and 29 pressed against the respective glass sheets 13. It is therefore simple and quick to assemble the profile 17, it requires only a single operation and does not need any previously made holes. If water should filter through the packings 26, 29 and 31, or if condensation should form inside the cross-piece 12, this is discharged flowing through the channel 37, the hole 35, the platelet 36 and/or the hollow 30, and is then conveyed inside the relative upright 11; this considerably reduces the risk of mold forming inside the curtain wall 10. It is clear, however, that modifications and/or additions of parts or steps may be made to the curtain wall 10 and the assembly method as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention. For example, the two hooks 19 and 22 can be replaced by other equivalent snap-in attachment systems. The clamping of the strip 20 to the relative upright 11 or cross-piece 12 can also be achieved with equivalent means to those shown here. The grub screws 41 and 43 could be replaced by pins, blocks or other identical or equivalent clamping means. Although a solution is shown here wherein there are two assembly plates 33 of the stoppers 32, it is clear that a single plate 33 could be provided. It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of curtain wall and its assembly method, all of which shall come within the field and scope of the present invention. WE CLAIM : 1. Method to assemble a curtain wall comprising a reticular supporting structure, provided with uprights (11) and cross- pieces (12), and covering elements (13) attached to said supporting structure, said uprights (11) and said cross-pieces (12) comprising first attachment means (22) for closure profiles (17) positioned between two adjacent covering elements (13) and provided with mating second attachment means (19), characterized in that it provides: - a first step of positioning said closure profiles (17.) frontally with respect to said supporting structure in order to engage said second attachment means (19) with said first attachment means (22); - a second step of rotating towards the outside said closure profiles (17) around an axis passing through the point of engagement between said first (22) and said second (19) attachment means, compressing first sealing means (26) associated with a first edge (25) of said closure profile (17) against the first of said covering element (13); and - a third step of positioning second sealing means (29) on a second edge (27) of said closure profile (17) in order to stabilize the positioning thereof by resting said second sealing means (29) against the other covering element (13). 2. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein it provides a first step of coupling stoppers (32) to the cross-piece (12), by inserting at least one plate (33) solid with the stopper (32) into a mating seating provided in the cross-piece (12), and attaching it under pressure by means of clamping means (43), and a second step of coupling said cross-piece (12) to a relative upright (11) by means of anchoring an attachment element (40) solid with said stopper (32) to a profile provided in said upright (11) and attaching it under pressure by means of clamping means (41). 3. Curtain wall comprising a reticular supporting structure, provided with uprights (11) and cross-pieces (12), and covering elements (13) attached to said supporting structure, said curtain wall comprising a longitudinal element (20) arranged substantially parallel to the upright (11) or cross-piece (12) and. having on at least part of its inner side a shaping (21) able to couple in snap-in manner with a mating seating (23) made in the upright (11) or cross-piece (12), and on at least part of its outer side a first attachment means (22) able to engage with a mating second attachment means (19) of a closure profile (17) able to be positioned, in snap-in manner and by means of rotation, between two adjacent covering elements (13), said longitudinal element (20), in an intermediate position between said shaping (21) and said first attachment means (22), having a longitudinal hollow (30) able to perform a function of conveying and channeling water and condensation, characterized in that, in correspondence with the ends of each of said cross-pieces (12), it comprises a stopper (32) provided with at least a drainage hole (35) and a discharge platelet (36) arranged as an extension of said longitudinal element (20) and below said drainage hole (35) . 4. Curtain wall as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first (22) and said second (19) attachment means have a substantially hook- type conformation. 5. Curtain wall as claimed in claim 3, wherein said drainage hole (35) is located in correspondence with a channel (37) defined by a shaping made in the upper part of a cross-piece (12) . 6. Curtain wall as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said stoppers (32) is attached to a respective cross-piece (12) by means of at least an assembly plate (33) having holes (42) into which respective clamping means (43) are inserted under pressure against a segment of a relative upright (11). 7. Curtain wall as claimed in any claims 3 to 6, wherein each of said stoppers (32) has snap-in attachment means (40) facing towards a upright (11) and at least a hole (44) arranged adjacent to said snap-in attachment means (40) for the insertion of clamping means (41) under pressure against a segment of a upright (11). 8. Curtain wall as claimed in claim 7, wherein said snap-in attachment means (40) have at the front a wedge-shaped segment (34) able during use to compress a relative stopper (32) applied on a cross-piece (12) against the upright (11) with which said cross-piece (12) is coupled. 9. Curtain wall as claimed in claim 3, wherein said platelet (36) has a raised edge (39) and has its base surface able to convey inside the upright (11) both the water that accumulates on the base surface of said longitudinal element (20), and also the water that drains from said drainage hole (35). ABSTRACT METHOD TO ASSEMBLE CURTAIN WALLS AND CURTAIN WALL ADOPTING THE METHOD The present invention relates to a method to assemble a curtain wall comprising a reticular supporting structure, provided with uprights and cross- pieces (12), and covering elements (13) attached to said supporting structure, said uprights and said cross-pieces (12) comprising first attachment means (22) for closure profiles (17) positioned between two adjacent covering elements (13) and provided with mating second attachment means (19), wherein it provides: a first step of positioning said closure profiles (17) frontally with respect to said supporting structure in order to engage said second attachment means (19) with said first attachment means (22); a second step of rotating towards the outside said closure profiles (17) around an axis passing through the point of engagement between said first (22) and said second (19) attachment means, compressing first sealing means (26) associated with a first edge (25) of said closure profile (17) against the first of said covering element (13); and a third step of positioning second sealing means (29) on a second edge (27) of said closure profile (17) in order to stabilize the positioning thereof by resting said second sealing means (29) against the other covering element (13). A curtain wall adopting the above method is also disclosed.

Full Text

"METHOD TO ASSEMBLE CURTAIN WALLS AND CURTAIN WALL ADOPTING
THE METHOD"
* * * * *
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns a method to assemble
curtain walls for buildings, and a curtain wall assembled
with this method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Curtain walls for buildings generally comprise a
reticular supporting structure, consisting of uprights and
cross-pieces, on which the covering elements are assembled,
for example glass panels or sheets, or other suitable
material.
The uprights and cross-pieces consist of metal
profiles, generally made of aluminum, with which supporting
means are associated in order to position and attach the
covering elements.
On the visible side of the wall, in order to close the
horizontal and vertical gaps that form between adjacent
sheets, closure profiles or stoppers are generally
assembled. To apply a closure profile of a known type,
however, it is necessary to screw in a relative' first
element, known as presser, to the uprights and cross-
pieces, with a screw about every 20 cm, and then apply in
snap-in manner a second covering element to hide the heads
of the screws and the anti-aesthetic parts of the first
element. This entails both the need for prior holes on the
presser elements and also a double operation during the
assembly step, with a consequent extension of the execution
times.
Another disadvantage is that the condensation that
forms and the water that filters, especially in the cross-
pieces, tends to stagnate between the cross-piece and the

closure profile, creating problems connected to
infiltrations of water and humidity inside the wall, and
the consequent formation of mold or otherwise.
Curtain walls, and methods to assemble such curtain
walls, which have the features of, respectively, the
preamble of independent claims 3 and 1, are disclosed in
US-A-5,839,236, US-A-4,672,784 and EP-A-644.311.
One purpose of the present invention is to perfect an
assembly method which allows to assemble rapidly and
without needing prior holes a closure profile onto uprights
and cross-pieces of a curtain wall. Another purpose is to
achieve a curtain wall provided with constraining means
that allow a rapid and simple attachment of the closure
profile with the relative cross-piece and/or upright and,
at the same time, an effective discharge of the filtered
water and the condensation that has formed inside the
elements of the reticule of the curtain wall.
The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the
present invention in order to overcome the shortcomings of
the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes
and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method to assemble a
curtain wall comprising a reticular supporting structure,
provided with uprights and cross-pieces, and covering
elements attached to said supporting structure, said
uprights and said cross-pieces comprising first attachment
means for closure profiles positioned between two adjacent
covering elements and provided with mating second attachment
means, wherein itprovides: a first step of positioning said
closure profiles frontally with respect to said supporting
structure in order to engage said second attachment means
with said first attachment means; a second step of rotating
towards the outside said closure profiles around an axis
passing through the point of engagement between said first
and said second attachment means, compressing first sealing
means associated with a first edge of said closure profile
against the first of said covering element; and a third step
of positioning second sealing means on a second edge of said
closure profile in order to stabilize the positioning
thereof by resting said second sealing means against the
other covering element.
The present invention also provides a curtain wall
comprising a reticular supporting structure, provided with
uprights and cross-pieces, and covering elements attached to
said supporting structure, said curtain wall comprising a
longitudinal element arranged substantially parallel to the
upright or cross-piece and having on at least part of its
inner side a shaping able to couple in snap-in manner with a
mating seating made in the upright or cross-piece, and on at

least part of its outer side a first attachment means able
to engage with a mating second attachment means of a closure
profile able to be positioned, in snap-in manner and by
means of rotation, between two adjacent covering elements,
said longitudinal element, in an intermediate position
between said shaping and said first attachment means, having
a longitudinal hollow able to perform a function of
conveying and channeling water and condensation,
characterized in that, in correspondence with the ends of
each of said cross-pieces, it comprises a stopper provided
with at least a drainage hole and a discharge platelet
arranged as an extension of said longitudinal element and
below said drainage hole.
Other features of the invention or variants of the main
embodiment are described hereinafter.
According to the invention, the cross-piece and/or
uprights of the curtain wall include first attachment means
with which second attachment means cooperate, said second
attachment means being provided in the closure profiles in
order to obtain a rapid reciprocal snap-in attachment. The
first attachment means face towards the outer side of the
curtain wall and are arranged in the gap that forms between

two adjacent covering sheets.
Here, and in the following description, with the term
"inner" we mean the side of the curtain wall, or of parts
thereof, which faces the bearing structure of the building,
while with the term "outer" we mean the opposite side.
To be more exact, the method to assemble the closure
profiles provides, after having assembled the relative
covering sheet, a first step wherein the closure profile is
coupled frontally with the relative segment of curtain
wall, engaging its second attachment means with the first
attachment means of the relative cross-piece or upright. A
first sealing means, or packing, is associated with a first
edge of the closure profile, and is taken into contact with
a relative covering sheet. Then, the closure profile is
rotated, in a direction from the inside towards the outside
with respect to the curtain' wall, around an axis that
passes substantially through the point of engagement of the
first and second attachment means, exploiting the partial
elastic deformation of the first sealing means that is
pressed against the sheet. Finally, a second sealing means
is positioned in correspondence with the second edge of the
closure profile opposite the first, and rests upon another
covering sheet, thus defining the stable assembly position
of the profile.
In one form of embodiment, the first attachment means
associated with the cross-piece or upright consist of a
strip, or bar, arranged longitudinally parallel to the
relative cross-piece or upright; the strip is provided,
along at least part of its inner edge, with a shaped
profile that is configured to be inserted in snap-in manner
into a mating seating, partly hollow, made on the relative
upright or cross-piece. At least part of the outer edge of
the strip comprises said first attachment means which, in a

preferential embodiment, are shaped substantially like a
hook extending outwardly, and are able to cooperate with
said second hook-shaped attachment means provided on the
inner side of the closure profile.
The strip is preferentially made of plastic material
and, apart from its function as an attachment element for
the closure profiles, it also has the function of a thermal
bridge in order to limit the transmission of hot or cold
between the inside and outside of the curtain wall.
According to another characteristic of the present
invention, on the ends of each cross-piece there is a
stopper element on which at least a drainage hole is made,
from which the water that accumulates and/or filters inside
the cross-piece can drain. The cross-piece, in
correspondence with this drainage hole, has a shaped part
along which the inner condensation collects, in order to be
discharged through the drainage hole provided on the,
stopper element and from here through a relative upright.
At least a discharge platelet is also provided,
arranged as an extension of the strip defining the
attachment means for the closure profile and below the
drainage hole; the platelet is shaped so that the water and
condensation that drain both from the strip and also from
the channel of the cross-piece through the drainage hole
are conveyed towards the adjacent upright, which therefore
performs a substantial function as a gutter and downspout,
and through this are discharged downwards.
According to the invention, in an intermediate
position between the outer edge and the inner edge, the
strip defines a longitudinal hollow that functions as a
conveyor and channel for the water and condensation.
The assembly method described above allows a rapid and
simple snap-in assembly of the closure profile with front

coupling, in a single operation and without needing
previously made holes. Moreover, the conformation of the
attachment means provided in the uprights and/or cross-
pieces of the curtain wall encourages a rapid outflow of
the filtered water, thus preventing the formation of mold
or infiltrations into the curtain wall itself.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
These and other characteristics of the present
invention will become apparent from the following
description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as
a non-restrictive example, with reference to the attached
drawing wherein:
~ fig. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a curtain wall
according to the invention;
- figs. 2a and 2b show respectively in transverse and
longitudinal section part of the curtain wall in fig. 1;
- figs. 3a-3d show four steps of the method to assemble the
closure profile in the wall according to the invention;
- fig. 4 shows a step to assemble a stopper element to a
cross-piece of the curtain wall in fig. 1;
- fig. 5 is a three-dimensional view of a cross-piece of
the curtain wall in fig. 1;
- fig. 6 is a perspective view of a coupling segment
between an upright and a cross-piece functioning as a
condensation collector in the wall according to the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTI0N OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
With reference to fig. 1, a curtain wall 10 consists
of a reticular supporting structure comprising a plurality
of uprights 11, arranged in use substantially vertical, and
a plurality of cross-pieces 12 arranged in use
substantially horizontal.
In the quadrangular spaces defined between the

uprights ll and the cross-pieces 12, covering panels, for
example glass sheets 13, are assembled. To be more exact,
as shown in fig. 2a, in correspondence with a relative
cross-piece' 12 every glass sheet 13 has a lower edge
resting on a supporting blade 15, while the upper edge of
the adjacent 'sheet 13 is elastically clamped by a retaining
blade 16. The blades 15 and 16, which normally consist of
aluminum profiles at least partly covered by plastic
material, are assembled opposite each other inside the
front part of each cross-piece 12; they are only shown in
fig. 2a, whereas they have been omitted from the other
figures to facilitate understanding.
On the front side of the curtain wall 10 closure
profiles 17 are assembled, arranged horizontal and vertical
to cover the gaps that form between two adjacent glass
sheets 13.
In this case, each closure profile 17 has a
substantially T-shaped transverse section with the leg of
the T-shape facing towards the inside, and its central leg
ends in a hook 19 facing downwards. The closure profile 17
also has a first edge 25 on which a first packing 26 is
able to be assembled in snap-in manner, and a second edge
27, opposite the first, on which a second packing 29 is
able to be mounted also in snap-in manner. The two packings
26 and 29 are advantageously of the lip type and are
normally kept in contact with the relative glass sheets 13,
so as to prevent water from filtering inside the uprights
11 and/or cross-pieces 12.
On every upright 11 and on every cross-piece 12, for
the whole of their length, a strip 2 0 is assembled on whose
inner edge a shaping 21 is provided for a snap-in
attachment; on the outer edge of the strip 2 0 there is a
hook 22 facing upwards and mating in shape with the hook 19

provided on the closure profile 17.
The strip 20, advantageously made of plastic material
or in any case partly elastic, is inserted in snap-in
manner inside a mating housing seating 23, at least partly
hollow and open towards the outside, made in a central zone
of every upright 11 and/or cross-piece 12.
Between the shaping 21 and the hook 22 the strip 2 0
has a longitudinal hollow 3 0 functioning as a channel to
discharge the filtered water and the condensation that has
formed. The longitudinal hollow 30 is located in a
substantially intermediate zone between the blades 15 and
16, and occupies substantially the entire length of the
relative strip 20.
Each upright 11 and each cross-piece 12 also include,
located in a known manner in hollows provided in the
relative front edges, two packings 31 associated with the
inner side of the sheet 13.
At the lateral ends of each cross-piece 12 there are
two stoppers 32 (figs. 2b, 4 and 5), attached by means of
assembly plates 3 3 and including a through drainage hole
35, and a discharge platelet 36 arranged as an extension of
the strip 20 and below the drainage hole 35.
The assembly plates 33 include threaded holes 42 into
which respective grub screws 43 are inserted (figs. 2b and
4) that press against a vertical wall of the relative
cross-piece 12.
The assembly plates 33 also include an attachment
tooth 40 that anchors on a mating tooth-like profile of the
relative upright 11 and that ends frontally in a wedge-
shaped segment 34, arranged outside the respective stopper
32; the segment 34, by inserting a grub screw 41 in a
threaded hole 44 provided in a position adjacent to the
attachment tooth 40, takes the stopper 32 mounted on the

cross-piece 12 to press against the upright 11.
The sequence to assemble the cross-pieces 12 to the
uprights 11 provides firstly to insert the stopper 32 at
one end of the cross-piece 12, inserting the plates 33 into
the respective seatings and clamping them in contrast with
the pre-assembled grub screws 43; then, the cross-piece 12
is inserted on the upright 11, attaching the tooth 40 and
completing the coupling by means of pressure tightening the
pre-assembled grub screw 41. In this case too it can be
seen that the assembly of the components of the wall 10
does not require any prior operation to make holes, and is
carried out with extremely simple and rapid operations.
The drainage hole 35 (fig. 5) is located in
correspondence with a collection and discharge channel 37,
defined by a shaping provided in the upper part of the
cross-piece 12 on which the stopper 32 is assembled.
The platelet 3 6 has a raised edge 39 and has its base
surface horizontal or, according to a variant, slightly
inclined towards the inside, so as to convey inside a
relative upright 11 both the water that flows on the base
surface of the strip 20, and also that which collects in
the channel 37 and which drains through the hole 3 5 of the
stopper 32.
With this solution, the water and condensation do not
stagnate inside the cross-pieces 12 but are quickly and
constantly discharged.
Figs. 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d show the sequence of assembly
of a closure profile 17 with respect to a respective
upright 11 and/or cross-piece 12, subsequent to the
positioning of the relative sheets 13.
The figures describe the assembly with respect to a
cross-piece 12, but the assembly of the profile on an
upright 11 is substantially identical, wherein the meaning

of the terms "up" or "down" and derivatives thereof must be
read as "right" or "left" and derivatives thereof.
Firstly, after having positioned the relative upper
sheet 13 resting it on the blade 15 (see fig. 2a) , the
closure profile 17 is inserted frontally, slightly inclined
downwards with respect to the cross-piece 12, with the hook
19 arranged in this case above the hook 22 of the strip 20,
and with the upper packing 26 assembled on a first upper
edge 25 in contact with the respective upper glass sheet 13
(fig. 3a).
In the following step (fig. 3b) , the hook 19 of the
closure profile 17 is engaged with the hook 22 of the strip
20, and the closure profile 17 is rotated from the inside
to the outside, pivoting on the hook 19. The rotation is
allowed by the elastic deformation of the upper packing 2 6
when pressed against the relative sheet 13. At the end of
this operation (fig. 3c) , a second lower packing 29 is
inserted on the second lower edge 27 of the profile 17, in
such a manner (fig. 3d) as to stabilize the position of the
profile 17 with both packings 26 and 29 pressed against the
respective glass sheets 13.
It is therefore simple and quick to assemble the
profile 17, it requires only a single operation and does
not need any previously made holes.
If water should filter through the packings 26, 29 and
31, or if condensation should form inside the cross-piece
12, this is discharged flowing through the channel 37, the
hole 35, the platelet 36 and/or the hollow 30, and is then
conveyed inside the relative upright 11; this considerably
reduces the risk of mold forming inside the curtain wall
10.
It is clear, however, that modifications and/or
additions of parts or steps may be made to the curtain wall

10 and the assembly method as described heretofore, without
departing from the field and scope of the present
invention.
For example, the two hooks 19 and 22 can be replaced
by other equivalent snap-in attachment systems. The
clamping of the strip 20 to the relative upright 11 or
cross-piece 12 can also be achieved with equivalent means
to those shown here. The grub screws 41 and 43 could be
replaced by pins, blocks or other identical or equivalent
clamping means.
Although a solution is shown here wherein there are
two assembly plates 33 of the stoppers 32, it is clear that
a single plate 33 could be provided.
It is also clear that, although the present invention
has been described with reference to specific examples, a
person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to
achieve many other equivalent forms of curtain wall and its
assembly method, all of which shall come within the field
and scope of the present invention.

WE CLAIM :
1. Method to assemble a curtain wall comprising a reticular
supporting structure, provided with uprights (11) and cross-
pieces (12), and covering elements (13) attached to said
supporting structure, said uprights (11) and said cross-pieces
(12) comprising first attachment means (22) for closure profiles
(17) positioned between two adjacent covering elements (13) and
provided with mating second attachment means (19), characterized
in that it provides:
- a first step of positioning said closure profiles (17.)
frontally with respect to said supporting structure in order
to engage said second attachment means (19) with said first
attachment means (22);
- a second step of rotating towards the outside said closure
profiles (17) around an axis passing through the point of
engagement between said first (22) and said second (19)
attachment means, compressing first sealing means (26)
associated with a first edge (25) of said closure profile (17)
against the first of said covering element (13); and
- a third step of positioning second sealing means (29) on a
second edge (27) of said closure profile (17) in order to
stabilize the positioning thereof by resting said second
sealing means (29) against the other covering element (13).
2. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein it provides a first
step of coupling stoppers (32) to the cross-piece (12), by
inserting at least one plate (33) solid with the stopper (32)
into a mating seating provided in the cross-piece (12), and
attaching it under pressure by means of clamping means (43), and
a second step of coupling said cross-piece (12) to a relative
upright (11) by means of anchoring an attachment element (40)
solid with said stopper (32) to a profile provided in said

upright (11) and attaching it under pressure by means of
clamping means (41).
3. Curtain wall comprising a reticular supporting structure,
provided with uprights (11) and cross-pieces (12), and covering
elements (13) attached to said supporting structure, said
curtain wall comprising a longitudinal element (20) arranged
substantially parallel to the upright (11) or cross-piece (12)
and. having on at least part of its inner side a shaping (21)
able to couple in snap-in manner with a mating seating (23) made
in the upright (11) or cross-piece (12), and on at least part of
its outer side a first attachment means (22) able to engage with
a mating second attachment means (19) of a closure profile (17)
able to be positioned, in snap-in manner and by means of
rotation, between two adjacent covering elements (13), said
longitudinal element (20), in an intermediate position between
said shaping (21) and said first attachment means (22), having a
longitudinal hollow (30) able to perform a function of conveying
and channeling water and condensation, characterized in that, in
correspondence with the ends of each of said cross-pieces (12),
it comprises a stopper (32) provided with at least a drainage
hole (35) and a discharge platelet (36) arranged as an extension
of said longitudinal element (20) and below said drainage hole
(35) .
4. Curtain wall as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first (22)
and said second (19) attachment means have a substantially hook-
type conformation.
5. Curtain wall as claimed in claim 3, wherein said drainage
hole (35) is located in correspondence with a channel (37)
defined by a shaping made in the upper part of a cross-piece
(12) .

6. Curtain wall as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said
stoppers (32) is attached to a respective cross-piece (12) by
means of at least an assembly plate (33) having holes (42) into
which respective clamping means (43) are inserted under pressure
against a segment of a relative upright (11).
7. Curtain wall as claimed in any claims 3 to 6, wherein each of
said stoppers (32) has snap-in attachment means (40) facing
towards a upright (11) and at least a hole (44) arranged
adjacent to said snap-in attachment means (40) for the insertion
of clamping means (41) under pressure against a segment of a
upright (11).
8. Curtain wall as claimed in claim 7, wherein said snap-in
attachment means (40) have at the front a wedge-shaped segment
(34) able during use to compress a relative stopper (32) applied
on a cross-piece (12) against the upright (11) with which said
cross-piece (12) is coupled.
9. Curtain wall as claimed in claim 3, wherein said platelet
(36) has a raised edge (39) and has its base surface able to
convey inside the upright (11) both the water that accumulates
on the base surface of said longitudinal element (20), and also
the water that drains from said drainage hole (35).

ABSTRACT

METHOD TO ASSEMBLE CURTAIN WALLS AND CURTAIN WALL
ADOPTING THE METHOD
The present invention relates to a method to assemble a curtain wall
comprising a reticular supporting structure, provided with uprights and cross-
pieces (12), and covering elements (13) attached to said supporting structure,
said uprights and said cross-pieces (12) comprising first attachment means (22)
for closure profiles (17) positioned between two adjacent covering elements (13)
and provided with mating second attachment means (19), wherein it provides: a
first step of positioning said closure profiles (17) frontally with respect to said
supporting structure in order to engage said second attachment means (19) with
said first attachment means (22); a second step of rotating towards the outside
said closure profiles (17) around an axis passing through the point of
engagement between said first (22) and said second (19) attachment means,
compressing first sealing means (26) associated with a first edge (25) of said
closure profile (17) against the first of said covering element (13); and a third step
of positioning second sealing means (29) on a second edge (27) of said closure
profile (17) in order to stabilize the positioning thereof by resting said second
sealing means (29) against the other covering element (13). A curtain wall
adopting the above method is also disclosed.

Documents:

http://ipindiaonline.gov.in/patentsearch/GrantedSearch/viewdoc.aspx?id=OL36RRly6cA1xVmEh1OjLQ==&loc=wDBSZCsAt7zoiVrqcFJsRw==

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Patent Number

269130

Indian Patent Application Number

1869/KOLNP/2005

PG Journal Number

41/2015

Publication Date

09-Oct-2015

Grant Date

30-Sep-2015

Date of Filing

19-Sep-2005

Name of Patentee

ALPROGETTI SRL

Applicant Address

VIA RESSEL, 5, F-34018 SAN DORLIGO DELLA VALLE ITALY

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	FERRO, NICOLO	VIA CAMPO MARZIO, 4, I-34100 TRIESTE, ITALY

PCT International Classification Number

E04B 2/96

PCT International Application Number

PCT/IB2004/000754

PCT International Filing date

2004-03-16

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	UD2003A000058	2003-03-17	Italy