Curtain wall system and method

Abstract

A curtain wall system and method facilitates the installation of exterior and interior curtain walls. Brackets are mounted at equally spaced vertical intervals receive and secure curtain wall members installed from the top of the wall down. A kerf formed in the lower end of each wall member is received on a receiving and retaining member located at the distal end of the supporting member of each bracket. A kerf formed in the upper end of the wall member receives a locating and retaining member having a latch secured thereto. The wall member and the latch are then rotated towards the bracket until the latch engages with a locking member of the bracket, thereby securing the wall member in place.

1 . A curtain wall system for mounting wall members having kerfs formed in the lower and upper ends thereof to interior and exterior walls of buildings comprising: 
 a bracket for receiving and securing the lower end of an upper wall member;    the bracket comprising a supporting member, a receiving and retaining member located at the distal end of the supporting member for receiving the kerf formed in the lower end of the upper wall member, and a locking member below the supporting member;    a latching member for securing the upper end of a lower wall member into the locking member of the bracket;    the latching member comprising a horizontally disposed portion which extends parallel to the supporting member, a latch on the distal end of the latching member for latching engagement with the locking member of the bracket, a locating and retaining member at the proximal end of the latching member which is received by the kerf formed in the upper end of the lower wall member, and knobs formed on the horizontally disposed portion for maintaining proper alignment between the horizontally disposed portion and the supporting member.    
   
   
       2 . The curtain wall system according to  claim 1  wherein the bracket further comprises a stop located below the support member for preventing further inward movement of the lower wall member by engaging the distal end of the latch.  
   
   
       3 . The curtain wall system according to  claim 1  further comprising foam tape secured beneath the proximal end of the horizontally disposed member which compresses to allow the latching member to rotate into the locking member and then decompresses to secure the latching member against the support member.  
   
   
       4 . The curtain wall system according to  claim 1  further comprising joint sealant applied between the upper and lower wall members.  
   
   
       5 . The curtain wall system according to  claim 1  further comprising a top bracket for receiving the uppermost wall member, the top bracket comprising a supporting member, a locking member below the supporting member, and a stop.  
   
   
       6 . The curtain wall system according to  claim 1  further comprising a bottom bracket for receiving the lowermost wall member, the bottom bracket comprising a supporting member and a receiving and retaining member located at the distal end of the supporting member.  
   
   
       7 . A method for installing curtain wall members to interior and exterior walls of buildings comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of brackets each comprising a supporting member, a receiving and retaining member located at the distal end of the supporting member, a locking member below the supporting member, and a stop;    mounting the brackets on the wall at equally spaced vertical intervals which are substantially equal in height to the height of the wall members;    cutting kerfs into both the upper and lower ends of wall members;    receiving the kerfs in the lower end of an upper wall member on the receiving and retaining member of the supporting member;    providing a plurality of latching members comprising a horizontally disposed portion which extends parallel to the supporting member, a latch on the distal end of the latching member, a locating and retaining member at the proximal end of the latching member, and knobs formed on the horizontally disposed portion;    providing foam tape;    securing the foam tape beneath the proximal end of the horizontally disposed member;    inserting the locating and retaining member at the proximal end of the latching member receiving into the kerf in the upper end of a lower wall member; and    rotating the latching member into the bracket by moving the latch past the locking member until it engages with the stop.    
   
   
       8 . The method of installing curtain wall members of  claim 7  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing joint sealant;    applying the joint sealant in the kerf in the lower end of the upper wall member before the kerf is received into the receiving and retaining member of the supporting member;    applying the joint sealant into the kerf in upper end of the lower wall member before the kerf receives the locating and retaining member at the proximal end of the latching member;    and applying joint sealant between the upper and lower wall member.    
   
   
       9 . The method of installing curtain wall members of  claim 7  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a top bracket comprising a supporting member, a locking member below the supporting member, and a stop;    receiving the uppermost wall member and latching member into the locking member of the top bracket.    
   
   
       10 . The method of installing curtain wall members of  claim 7  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a bottom bracket comprising a supporting member and a receiving and retaining member located at the distal end of the supporting member; and    receiving the kerf in the lower end of the lowermost wall member on the receiving and retaining member of the supporting member.