Structural glazing systems for skylights

Claim 1

A structural glazing system for mounting at least one skylight panel in the structure comprising a plurality of carrier beams arranged in interconnecting relationship to define a plurality of intersections and a grid having at least one opening for receiving the panel, each of said carrier beams having a pair of spaced shoulders portions, a pair of primary condensate gutters terminating the edges of said shoulder portions in spaced relationship, said primary condensate gutters extending substantially along the entire length of said carrier beams and joining at said intersections, respectively, said carrier beams each having an open chamber extending substantially along the entire length thereof, and further comprising a plurality of carrier beam closures arranged substantially in alignment with said open chamber in interconnecting relationship and adopted to removably engage said carrier beams and close said open chamber, respectively; a pair of side flanges provided on each of said carrier beams and a pair of flange connectors provided on each of said carrier beam closures, said flange connectors adapted to removably engage said side flanges and removably secure said carrier beam closures to said carrier beams, respectively; a first pair of resilient sealing strips provided on said shoulder portions, said first pair of resilient sealing strips extending substantially along the length of the corresponding edge of the skylight panel, respectively; and an outwardly-extending, channel-shaped cap receiver disposed between said shoulder portions and spaced openings provided in said cap receiver; a plurality of exterior glazing caps arranged in interconnecting relationship and adapted to mount on the top of said carrier beams, respectively, each of said exterior glazing caps characterized by a top plate and a second pair of resilient sealing strips engaging the bottom surface of said top plate in spaced relationship, said second pair of resilient sealing strips extending substantially along the length of said corresponding edge of the skylight panel, substantially in alignment with said first pair of resilient sealing strips, respectively; a downwardly-extending screwboss carried by said top plate between said second pair of sealing means in each of said exterior glazing caps, respectively, said screwboss adapted for registration with said cap receiver, respectively; and a plurality of bolts of selected length extending upwardly through said spaced openings in said cap receiver, said bolts engaging said screwboss, whereby corresponding edges of the skylight panel are secured between aligned pairs of said first pair of resilient sealing strips and said second pair of resilient sealing strips, respectively, responsive to tightening said bolts, and said screwboss is secured inside said cap receiver.