Reinforced frame member of elastomeric material

Claim 2

A bend resistant frame member for a flat panel comprising a strip of elastomeric material having a longitudinally extending panel-receiving groove therein, the bottom of said groove being trough shape cross sectionally considered; an inwardly extending flap forming one side of said panel receiving groove, the outer edge of said flap being integrally connected with said strip and the inner side of said flap being spaced from an adjacent wall of said strip and the inner edge of said flap being spaced from the trough-shaped bottom of said panel-receiving groove; a longitudinally extending rigid reinforcing member of generally L-shaped cross section having one flat flange positioned under said flap and alongside of said panel-receiving groove and another flange of V-shaped cross section resting in the trough-shaped bottom of said panel-receiving groove, said flange of V-shaped cross section having perforations therein adapted to receive securing means capable of attaching said bend resistant frame member to an external support with heads of the securing means seated in the concave V-shaped part of said flange; a longitudinally extending spline-receiving groove in a side of said elastomeric strip opposite to the side thereof with which said flap is connected; and a spline insertable into and removable from said spline-receiving groove.

Claim 3

The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which a panel supporting and cushioning strip of generally triangular cross-sectional shape is disposed within the groove in said flange of V-shaped cross section to provide a cushioning support for the edge of a panel in the adjacent panel-receiving groove.

Claim 4

The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which two opposed narrow lock ribs are provided along the spaced-apart edges of the troughlike part of said flange of V-shaped cross section and extend toward each other and in which a glass supporting and cushioning strip of generally triangular cross-sectional shape having two longitudinally extending grooves in corner portions thereof adapted to fit over said narrow lock ribs is disposed within the trough like part of said flange of V-shaped cross section to receive and cushion the edge portions of an adjacent panel.

Claim 5

Elastomeric frame means to receive an edge of a flat panel comprising a reinforcing bar of approximately H-shape in cross section having two spaced-apart flanges connected by a medially positioned integral web thereby forming a longitudinal anchor rib receiving groove between the two flanges at each side of the web, each anchor rib receiving groove, cross sectionally considered, having a narrower mouth portion and a part of greater width inwardly from the mouth; a strip of elastomeric material of generally rectangular cross section having at least one longitudinally extending panel receiving groove in a side thereof and having a longitudinally extending reinforcement receiving groove in a side thereof remote from the side in which said panel-receiving groove is disposed, said reinforcement receiving groove receiving said reinforcing bar and said groove having within it two longitudinally extending anchor ribs protruding from its sidewalls inwardly toward each other and fitting within said anchor rib receiving grooves, the inner portions of said anchor ribs being of a width greater than the width of the mouths of the anchor rib receiving grooves of said reinforcing bar, whereby said anchor ribs firmly bind the elastomeric strip to the reinforcing bar; and a third flange integral with an edge part of the narrower flange of the reinforcing bar and extending approximately perpendicularly outward from the outer face of said narrower flange, said third flange being approximately parallel to and transversely offset from the web portion of said reinforcing bar and said third flange having a terminal edge portion of V-shaped cross section provided with perforations and extending longitudinally along the panel-receiving groove in spaced relation from the bottom of said panel-receiving groove when the reinforcing bar and elastomeric strip and in assembled relation.

Claim 6

Elastomeric frame means to receive an edge of a flat panel comprising a reinforcing bar of approximately H-shape in cross section having two spaced-apart flanges connected by a medially positioned integral web thereby forming a longitudinal anchor rib receiving groove between the two flanges at each side of the web, each anchor rib receiving groove, cross sectionally considered, having a narrower mouth portion and a part of greater width inwardly from the mouth; a strip of elastomeric material of generally rectangular cross section having at least one longitudinally extending panel receiving groove in a side thereof and having a longitudinally extending reinforcement receiving groove in a side thereof remote from the side in which said panel-receiving groove is disposed, said reinforcement receiving groove receiving said reinforcing bar and said groove having within it two longitudinally extending anchor ribs protruding from its sidewalls inwardly toward each other and fitting within said anchor rib receiving grooves, the inner portions of said anchor ribs being of a width greater than the width of the mouths of the anchor rib receiving grooves of said reinforcing bar, whereby said anchor ribs firmly bind the elastomeric strip to the reinforcing bar; and a third flange integral with an edge part of the narrower flange of the reinforcing bar and extending approximately perpendicularly outward from the outer face of said narrower flange, said third flange being approximately parallel to and transversely offset from the web portion of said reinforcing bar and said third flange having a terminal edge portion of V-shaped cross section provided with perforations and extending longitudinally along the panel-receiving groove in spaced relation from the bottom of said panel-receiving groove when the reinforcing bar and elastomeric strip and in assembled relation.