Patent attributes
A panel-sealing and securing system for securing a panel to a mullion coupled with weather seal pressure gaskets for sealing exterior joints under high wind velocity. The mullion is formed in one piece or in two halves of a split mullion which occurs at the joint between multiple pre-fabricated units of a unitized grid system. The mullion has a concealed front corner cavity adjacent to panel for installing the panel-sealing and securing system. For weather sealing, elastic pressure gaskets and expansion joints comprising panel gasket seals at a joint between the panel and the mullion and mullion gasket seals at a joint between the two halves of split mullion where a unitized split mullion system is used. To securing the panel to the mullion and allow for thermal expansion movement of the panel, two segments formed in one piece or in two hinge connected pieces include a gasket holder segment and a spacer plate segment. A retainer may be in the form of a screw fastener, channel or angle clamp with an aperture through which a screw fastener or snap interlocking wedge secures the gasket holder to the mullion. The retainer may be a retainer-cover of the front corner cavity combined in one element. Installation of the retainer secures the gasket holder to the mullion and applies pressure on an end of the panel gasket or the overlapping aligned ends of the panel gasket and the mullion gasket.
