Frameless viewport
A viewport including substantially aligned openings disposed in inner and outer panels for a door or wall is provided. A pane assembly configured to permit viewing therethrough is provided, the pane assembly being secured into position between the inner and outer panels in alignment with the openings. An injected insulating material is disposed between the inner and outer panels and around the pane assembly to substantially fill an open space between the inner and outer panels, the insulating material being configured and disposed to maintain the secured position of the pane assembly.
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The present invention is directed to a viewport for use with a door or wall, and more particularly, is directed to a frameless viewport for a door of an air handling unit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONViewports for doors are desirable as they provide a means to visually perceive what is otherwise hidden by the door without having to open the door. This capability is especially desirable for access doors for air handling units, wherein operation of a ventilation system must typically be interrupted to safely open the access door. Similarly, viewports can be installed in wall panels of an enclosure. Typically, the viewport includes a frame surrounding one more panes of a transparent material. The panes are typically environmentally sealed to prevent the formation of condensation between the panes, which obscures viewing through the panes. The frame typically is provided in two portions, each portion being assembled to openings formed in opposed door or wall panels, the two portions being drawn together by fasteners. Unfortunately, the frame adds significant expense to the viewport construction.
What is needed is a frameless viewport that can be easily installed between opposed door or wall panels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a viewport for a door or wall including substantially aligned openings disposed in inner and outer panels of a door or wall. A pane assembly is configured to permit viewing therethrough, the pane assembly being secured into position between the inner and outer panels in alignment with the openings. An injected insulating material is disposed between the inner and outer panels and around the pane assembly to substantially fill an open space between the inner and outer panels, the insulating material being configured and disposed to maintain the secured position of the pane assembly.
The present invention further relates to a viewport for an air handling unit including substantially aligned openings disposed in inner and outer panels of a door or wall of an air handling unit. A pane assembly is configured to permit viewing therethrough, the pane assembly being secured into position between the inner and outer panels in alignment with the openings. An injected insulating material is disposed between the inner and outer panels and around the pane assembly to substantially fill an open space between the inner and outer panels, the insulating material being configured and disposed to maintain the secured position of the pane assembly.
The present invention still further relates to a method for installing a viewport. The method includes providing inner and outer panels of a door or wall, and securing a pane assembly into position between the inner and outer panels in alignment with the openings, the pane assembly configured to permit viewing therethrough. The method also includes disposing injected insulating material between the inner and outer panels to substantially fill an open space between the inner and outer panels, the insulating material being configured and disposed to maintain the secured position of the pane assembly.
An advantage of the present invention is that it is inexpensive to fabricate.
A further advantage of the present invention is that it requires fewer parts.
A still further advantage of the present invention is that it has a compact construction.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION One embodiment of a viewport 10 is shown in
Referring to
Referring to
Preferably, gasket 134 does not extend around the periphery of the outer panels 222, as such a construction requires that the gasket 134 abuts surfaces 30 and 40 of respective panels 16, 12. However, such a construction of gasket 134 is contemplated by the present invention, so long as there is substantially no flow of injected insulating material between gasket 134 and panels 12, 16.
One skilled in the art can appreciate that the number of panes can exceed three, and that one or more spacers 24 can be used with panel subassembly 20, 120. Further, while tape 32 can be interposed between the junctures of any combination of panels, panes, gaskets and spacers, such tape may not be required if the junctures are sufficiently fluid tight to substantially prevent the flow of injected insulating material therebetween and the panel subassembly 20, 120 remains in the desired installed position. This combination is intended to include the application of tape on the panes or to a spacer or combination thereof. Any suitable treatment or process to achieve this, such as heat or pressure, can be used, if desired.
It is to be understood that the panel openings and corresponding panes and gaskets can have any closed geometric shape.
While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A viewport for a door or wall comprising:
- substantially aligned openings disposed in inner and outer panels of a door or wall;
- a pane assembly configured to permit viewing therethrough, the pane assembly being secured into position between the inner and outer panels in alignment with the openings; and
- an injected insulating material disposed between the inner and outer panels and around the pane assembly to substantially fill an open space between the inner and outer panels, the insulating material being configured and disposed to maintain the secured position of the pane assembly.
2. The viewport of claim 1 further including a tape having opposed adhesive surfaces to secure the pane assembly to at least one of the inner and outer panels.
3. The viewport of claim 2 wherein the pane assembly includes at least one pane.
4. The viewport of claim 3 wherein the pane assembly further includes at least one spacer disposed adjacent the at least one pane.
5. The viewport of claim 3 further includes at least one gasket separating each adjacent pane of the at least one pane.
6. The viewport of claim 5 wherein each of the at least one gasket incorporates a desiccant.
7. The viewport of claim 1 wherein the injected insulating material is a polyurethane foam.
8. A viewport for an air handling unit comprising:
- substantially aligned openings disposed in inner and outer panels of a door or wall of an air handling unit;
- a pane assembly configured to permit viewing therethrough, the pane assembly being secured into position between the inner and outer panels in alignment with the openings; and
- an injected insulating material disposed between the inner and outer panels and around the pane assembly to substantially fill an open space between the inner and outer panels, the insulating material being configured and disposed to maintain the secured position of the pane assembly.
9. The viewport of claim 8 further including a tape having opposed adhesive surfaces to secure the pane assembly to at least one of the inner and outer panels.
10. The viewport of claim 9 wherein the pane assembly includes at least one pane.
11. The viewport of claim 10 wherein the pane assembly further includes at least one spacer disposed adjacent the at least one pane.
12. The viewport of claim 10 further includes at least one gasket separating each adjacent pane of the at least one pane.
13. The viewport of claim 12 wherein each of the at least one gasket incorporates a desiccant.
14. The viewport of claim 8 wherein the injected insulating material is a polyurethane foam.
15. A method for installing a viewport, comprising the steps of:
- providing inner and outer panels of a door or wall;
- securing a pane assembly into position between the inner and outer panels in alignment with the openings, the pane assembly configured to permit viewing therethrough;
- disposing injected insulating material between the inner and outer panels to substantially fill an open space between the inner and outer panels, the insulating material being configured and disposed to maintain the secured position of the pane assembly.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of securing a pane assembly into position is achieved using a tape having opposed adhesive surfaces.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein the injected insulating material is polyurethane foam.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein the pane assembly includes at least one pane and at least one gasket, the at least one gasket separating each adjacent pane of the at least one pane.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the pane assembly includes at least one spacer disposed adjacent the at least one pane.
20. The method of claim 18 wherein the at least one gasket incorporates a desiccant.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 15, 2005
Publication Date: Dec 21, 2006
Applicant: YORK INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION (York, PA)
Inventor: Christopher Hord (Vancouver, WA)
Application Number: 11/153,687
International Classification: E04C 2/54 (20060101);