Panel wall system

Abstract

Several curtain wall system embodiments are described including dry system embodiments, wet system embodiments and a rain screen system embodiment. The dry system embodiments utilize a subframe grid that is comprised of tubular subframe members. The subframe members are interconnected to form a typically rectangular grid that is attached to the substructure of a building using subframe attachment clips that are longitudinally slidably coupled with the subframe members. Panel assemblies are coupled to the subframe grid in a manner that facilitates a water tight seal. In one embodiment, the panel assemblies include perimeter frame members that can be used interchangeably with dry, wet and rain barrier curtain wall systems.

1 . A curtain wall system comprising: 
 a subframe grid including a plurality of interconnected elongated subframe members, the plurality of elongated subframe members being tubular, each elongated subframe member having a first side, the first side having generally flat outwardly-facing mating surface;    a plurality of gaskets comprised of an at least partially elastomeric sheet material, the gaskets adapted to cover at least a significant portion of the mating surfaces of the subframe members; and    a plurality of panel assemblies, each panel assembly including a panel having exterior and interior face surfaces, each panel assembly being adapted to couple with the subframe grid.    
   
   
       2 . The curtain wall system of  claim 1 , wherein the panel assembly further comprises a frame comprising a plurality of coupled frame members, the plurality of frame members being coupled to the interior face surface of the panel proximate the periphery of the panel assembly.  
   
   
       3 . The curtain wall system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of subframe attachment clips, each subframe attachment clip having a first portion; and    wherein each subframe member of the plurality of subframe members further includes a second side opposite and spaced from the first side, the second side including one or more slots formed therein, the one or more slots extending longitudinally along the frame member, each slot adapted to receive the first portions of one or more subframe attachment clips therein and permit slidable longitudinal movement of the one or more subframe attachment clips along the subframe member while hindering the removal of the first portion from the slot laterally.    
   
   
       4 . The curtain wall system of  claim 3 , wherein each subframe attachment clip further includes a second portion, the second portion being integrally formed with the first portion and being adapted to receive one or more fasteners therethrough for securing the subframe attachment to the substructure of an associated building.  
   
   
       5 . The curtain wall system of  claim 3 , wherein the first portion has a T-shaped cross section.  
   
   
       6 . The curtain wall system of  claim 3 , wherein each of the one or more slots has a T-shaped cross section.  
   
   
       7 . The curtain wall system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of subframe members are extruded of an aluminum alloy.  
   
   
       8 . The curtain wall system of  claim 2 , wherein each frame member includes a bottom side having an outside surface with one or more generally pointed ridges extending longitudinally along the outside surface, the one or more pointed ridges being adapted to press into a top surface of a corresponding gasket of the plurality of gaskets to inhibit water penetration there across.  
   
   
       9 . The curtain wall system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of union sleeves, each union sleeve being sized to at least partially fit snuggly within a tubular interior of each subframe member of the plurality of subframe members, the union sleeve being adapted to facilitate the coupling of two subframe members together.  
   
   
       10 . The curtain wall system of  claim 9 , wherein an outside surface of each union sleeve of the plurality of union sleeves is ribbed.  
   
   
       11 . The curtain wall system of  claim 1 , further comprising (i) a plurality of elongated lock bars and (ii) a plurality of threaded fasteners, each lock bar adapted to clamp the interior face surfaces of two adjacent flat panels to a top surface of a gasket of the plurality of gaskets when the lock bar is coupled to a corresponding subframe member of the plurality of subframe members with one or more threaded fasteners of the plurality of threaded fasteners to inhibit water penetration across an interface of the interior face surface and the top surface.  
   
   
       12 . The curtain wall system of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of gasket strips, the gasket strips being comprised of an at least partially elastomeric sheet material, each gasket strip being adapted to be placed between an exterior face surface of a flat panel proximate an edge of the panel and sandwiched between the exterior face surface and an underside surface of a corresponding lock bar when the corresponding lock bar is coupled to the corresponding subframe member to inhibit water penetration across interfaces of (i) the exterior face surface and a bottom surface of the gasket strip, and (ii) the underside surface and a top surface of the gasket strip.  
   
   
       13 . A subframe grid of a curtain wall system, the subframe grid being adapted for coupling to (i) the structure of a building and (ii) a plurality of curtain wall panel assemblies, the subframe grid comprising: 
 a plurality of elongated subframe members, the subframe members being interconnected to form a grid, each of the subframe members being tubular and having (i) a flat outwardly facing surface and (ii) one of one or more longitudinally-extending slots formed therein; and    a plurality of subframe attachment clips, each subframe clip having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion adapted to be received in a slot of the one or more slots of the subframe members permitting slidable movement along the slot while hindering removal from the slot laterally, the second portion adapted to receive a fastener therethough to couple the subframe attachment clip to a substructure of a building.    
   
   
       14 . The subframe grid of  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of union sleeves, each union sleeve being sized to at least partially fit snuggly within a tubular interiors of the plurality of subframe members, the union sleeve being adapted to facilitate the coupling of two subframe members together.  
   
   
       15 . The subframe grid of  claim 13 , wherein (i) each subframe member includes a building-facing surface substantially opposite the outwardly facing surface, the building-facing surface having longitudinally-extending left and right edges, and (ii) the one or more longitudinally-extending slots comprises a first slot and a second slot, the first slot extending inwardly from the building-facing surface generally proximate the left edge and the second slot extending inwardly from the building-facing surface generally proximate the right edge.  
   
   
       16 . The subframe grid of  claim 13 , wherein the first portion and the slots have corresponding T-shaped cross sections.  
   
   
       17 . The subframe grid of  claim 13 , further including a plurality of self tapping threaded fasteners, the threaded fasteners adapted to be received through the second portion of the subframe attachment clips and into the substructure of the building.  
   
   
       18 . A subframe member for use in a subframe grid of a curtain wall system wherein the subframe grid is attached to a substructure of a building using a plurality of clips adapted be slidably received on the subframe member, the subframe member being (i) longitudinally elongated and (ii) tubular in cross section, and having (a) opposing first and second sides and (b) at least one of the group consisting of a longitudinally-extending slot and a longitudinally-extending appendage, the first side being generally flat, the at least one slot or at least one appendage being adapted to receive at least one of the plurality of clips thereon to permit slidable movement along the slot or clip while hindering lateral removal of the clip from the slot or appendage.  
   
   
       19 . The subframe member of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one of the group consisting of the longitudinally-extending slot and the longitudinally-extending appendage comprises the longitudinally extending slot, the slot being located on the second side.  
   
   
       20 . The subframe member of  claim 18 , wherein the subframe member is extruded and is comprised of an aluminum alloy.