Sacrificial glazing for a window assembly

Abstract

A window assembly for use in mass transit windows has a frame, a windowpane sized to fit within the frame, a removable sacrificial glazing panel covering or protecting one side of the windowpane, and a self-locking seal assembly biasingly securing the removable glazing panel towards the windowpane without the need for screws, drills or welds. The seal assembly has a first interlocking arm provided with a locking lip, and a second interlocking arm with a receiving groove which is biased from its free position into a locking position in locking engagement with the locking lip of the first arm. Preferably the locking arms are unitary with the seal assembly. The locking arms may be disengaged and the sacrificial glazing removed and a new sacrificial glazing panel installed without removing or disassembling other components of the window assembly. In certain preferred embodiments where it is deskable to be able to remove both the sacrificial glazing and the windowpane, the seal assembly has a channel glazing segment and a wedge seal segment which cooperate to captivate both the windowpane and the sacrificial glazing. Preferably the locking arms are unitary with the wedge seal segment. A retrofitting kit is also provided for retrofitting existing window assemblies to incorporate sacrificial glazing panels.