U.S. patent application number 11/226778 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-15 for weeping system for window screen corner keys.
Invention is credited to Steven F. Brooker, Edward Heck, Timothy S. Kirk, Julia Stroup.
Application Number | 20070056701 11/226778 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37853879 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070056701 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brooker; Steven F. ; et
al. |
March 15, 2007 |
Weeping system for window screen corner keys
Abstract
A corner key with a first and second leg each with an upper and
lower portion. The corner key including a plurality of openings,
formed in an indent on the upper portion of at least one of the
first and second legs, for weeping water through the corner
key.
Inventors: |
Brooker; Steven F.;
(Marietta, OH) ; Kirk; Timothy S.; (Pennsboro,
WV) ; Heck; Edward; (Belpre, OH) ; Stroup;
Julia; (Parkersburg, WV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CESARI AND MCKENNA, LLP
88 BLACK FALCON AVENUE
BOSTON
MA
02210
US
|
Family ID: |
37853879 |
Appl. No.: |
11/226778 |
Filed: |
September 14, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
160/381 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E06B 9/52 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
160/381 |
International
Class: |
A47G 5/00 20060101
A47G005/00 |
Claims
1. A corner key for use in a screen, the corner key comprising: a
first leg and a second leg each with an upper portion and a lower
portion; and one or more openings on the upper portion of at least
one of the first and second legs for weeping water through the
corner key.
2. The corner key of claim 1, wherein the one or more openings are
placed slightly above a bottom edge of the corner key that sits
flush against a sill when the corner key is incorporated into an
installed screen.
3. The corner key of claim 2, wherein the upper portions of at
least one of the legs includes an indent and the one or more
openings are formed in an inner wall of the indent.
4. The corner key of claim 1, wherein each opening is approximately
0.007 in.sup.2 in size.
5. The corner key of claim 1, wherein the one or more openings
includes approximately six openings.
6. The corner key of claim 1, wherein the corner key is for use in
forming the screen.
7. The corner key of claim 1, wherein the one or more openings are
included in the upper portions of both of the first and second legs
of the corner key.
8. The corner key of claim 1, wherein the lower portions of the
legs are thinner than the upper portions and the legs include,
where the upper and lower portion meet, side edges that act as
stops.
9. The corner key of claim 3, wherein the one or more openings are
on the upper portions of both of the first and second legs of the
corner key.
10. The corner key of claim 9, wherein the lower portions of the
legs are thinner than the upper portions and the legs include,
where the upper and lower portion meet, side edges that act as
stops.
11. The corner key of claim 10 wherein the upper portions of the
legs meet to form a corner section.
12. A screen, comprising: four frame segments forming a top, a
bottom, a first side, and a second side of the frame; corner keys
for interconnecting the frame segments, with at least one of the
corner keys including one or more openings for weeping water
through the corner key.
13. The screen of claim 12, wherein at least one corner key has a
first leg and a second leg each with an upper portion and a lower
portion, and the one or more openings are located on the upper
portion of at least one of first and second legs of at least one
corner keys.
14. The screen in claim 13, wherein the one or more openings are
located on the upper portions of both of the first and second legs
of the corner key.
15. The screen in claim 12, wherein the one or more openings are
placed slightly above a bottom edge of the corner key that sits
flush against a sill when the corner key is incorporated into an
installed screen.
16. The screen in claim 15, wherein the upper portions of at least
one of the legs includes an indent and the one or more openings are
formed in an inner wall of the indent.
17. The screen in claim 8, wherein each opening is approximately
0.007 in.sup.2 in size.
18. A corner key, comprising: a first leg and a second leg each
with an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion of at
least one leg including a bottom edge that sits flush with a sill
when the corner key is incorporated into an installed screen, the
upper portion including an indent with an inner wall in which one
or more openings are formed, the one or more openings sitting
slightly above the bottom edge of the corner key.
19. The corner key of claim 18 wherein the one or more openings
consist of six openings and each opening is approximately 0.007
in.sup.2 in size.
20. The corner key of claim 18 wherein the upper portions of the
legs meet to form a corner section.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates generally to a corner key weeping
system to be used with a window, patio door and sliding door
screens.
[0003] 2. Background Information
[0004] A window or door screen consists of mesh or screening
supported by a lightweight rectangular frame. The frame includes
four essentially straight segments, i.e., the top, the bottom, and
the left and right sides, which are connected at adjacent ends to
form the corners of the frame. The ends are either cut at
forty-five degree angles and connected directly together to form
ninety-degree corners, or the ends are cut to mate with "corner
keys," which are corner shaped connectors. Each corner key
basically consists of two legs with their adjacent ends joined at a
ninety-degree angle to form a corner. The free ends of the legs fit
within or over the adjacent end of the frame segments, to connect
these segments via the corner, at a ninety-degree angle.
[0005] The screen may cover one-half of a double hung window or
sliding door assembly. The screen frame thus slides either
vertically or horizontally along tracks on the outer edges of the
window or door jambs, to provide the desired coverage and, as
appropriate, allow ingress and egress. Alternatively, the screen
may be a full screen, with the screen frame covering the entire
window or door opening. For installation and/or removal, the full
screen frame tilts in or out of tracks on the outer edges of the
window or door jamb. The installed full screen fits into the tracks
by spring loading, such that the frame edges engage the tracks.
[0006] One problem with having a screen on the outside of a window
or door is that water can collect between the screen and the window
or door, and adversely effect the window or door assembly, and/or
the underlying building structure. Prior solutions to this problem
have elevated the bottom screen member above the window or door
sill. This solution yielded an unattractive and unfinished
appearance. In addition, with this solution homeowners could see
daylight under the screen frame from inside the house because of
this solution. Furthermore, when the window is open the elevated
frame provides an opening for insects to enter the home.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The invention is an improved corner key with weeping holes,
or openings, situated on at least one of the legs of the corner
key. The openings are strategically positioned on the leg such
that, when the corner key is included in a screen frame, the water
may pass through the openings while the entire bottom section of
the screen rests flush against the window or door sill. The
openings extend along an inner wall of an indentation in the bottom
leg of the corner key, and thus, the openings are not generally
visible when the assembled screen is in place on the sill. The
openings are also strategically sized, to allow water to drain
sufficiently and yet prevent most insects from passing through.
[0008] The corner key may include openings on both legs, such that
a given corner key can be used on either bottom corner of the
screen frame.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The above and further advantages of the invention may be
understood by referring to the following description in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 depicts a window screen frame constructed in
accordance with this invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 depicts a corner of the screen of FIG. 1 in more
detail;
[0012] FIG. 3 is an exterior view of a corner key utilized in the
frame of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 4 is an interior view of the corner key of FIG. 3;
and
[0014] FIG. 5 is an exterior view of an alternative corner key for
use with an extruded aluminum frame.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT
[0015] FIG. 1 depicts an exterior side of a screen 10 that is
constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention.
The screen 10 includes a frame 14 that consists of four frame
segments 14a-d and interconnecting corner keys 16. The frame 10
supports screening 12 that mounts on the frame in a conventional
manner, utilizing troughs 15 on the various frame segments.
[0016] Referring also to FIG. 2, at least one of the corner keys 16
contains a plurality of weeping holes, or openings 18, to allow
water to drain through the corner key. The openings, which are
formed in an inner wall 21 of an indent 20, are strategically
positioned such that a bottom edge 22 of the corner key remains
intact. Accordingly, the entire bottom edge 36 of the screen 10,
which includes the frame segment 14d and the two associated corner
keys 16, sits flush on a sill 38 when the screen is in place. The
bottom edge 36 of the screen, which includes the bottom edges 22 of
the two corner keys, prevents daylight from being seen between the
screen and the sill, and provides a finished appearance to the
screen. Further, the bottom edge provides rigidity to the corner
key. The sill 38 may be a window or a door sill. As shown the sill
38 includes a weep hole 39.
[0017] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the corner key 16 includes
two legs 24 and 26 that meet at a ninety-degree angle to form a
corner 28. The legs 24 and 26 consist, respectively, of upper
sections 24a, 26a and lower sections 24b, 26b. The upper sections
24a and 26a are thicker then the lower sections 24b and 26b and
meet to form a corner section 29, that has the same thickness as
the screen frame sections 14a-d (FIG. 1). Accordingly, each leg has
a slight discontinuity, or side edge 30 and 31, where the upper and
lower sections 24a-b and 26a-b meet. The thinner lower sections 24b
and 26b slide into the ends of the adjacent frame segments, until
the ends of the segments are flush with the corner section 29, that
is, with the side edges 30 and 31, which operate as stops. The
frame segments and the corner section then form an essentially
continuous section of the frame 14.
[0018] The upper sections 24a and 26a of legs 24 and 26 further
include U-shaped troughs 32 and 34, which align with the troughs 15
on the frame segments 14a-d (FIG. 1), to facilitate the mounting of
the screening 12 to the frame 14. In addition, the lower sections
24b and 26b may include shaped ends 24c and 26c with tabs 25 and
27, respectively. The shaped ends operate to hold the legs within
the frame segments. Fins 29 may also be included to provide a tight
fit within the screen frame, which because of manufacturer
tolerances may be slightly wider or narrower.
[0019] Referring still to FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper sections 24a and
26a of the legs 24 and 26 include the indents 20 that contain the
plurality of openings 18. The openings are formed on and extend the
length of an inner wall 21 of the indent. The inner wall is
parallel to the bottom edge 22 of the corner key, and thus, the
openings are essentially hidden from the view of the homeowner.
[0020] As illustrated, the corner key has the openings 18 on each
leg, and thus, the corner key may be used in either of the bottom
corners of the screen frame. The corner keys may instead be
manufactured with the openings on only one of the legs, such that a
given corner key is appropriate for either a right or left bottom
corner of the screen frame. Further, for convenience, the corner
keys may be used in all of the corners of the screen frame as
illustrated in FIG. 1. Alternatively, conventional corner keys may
be used in the upper corners of the screen frame.
[0021] The corner key of FIGS. 3 and 4 include approximately six
small opening 18. The respective openings are designed to be
approximately 0.06''.times.0.12'' with areas of approximately 0.007
in.sup.2. The approximate total area of the plurality of openings
is thus 0.042 in.sup.2. As is evident to one skilled in the art,
there may be more or fewer openings, and the sizes of the openings
may be larger or smaller.
[0022] The corner key 16 is used in a roll formed screen, that is,
a screen in which the segments 14a-d are made from roll formed
aluminum.
[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative corner key 40 for use in a
screen frame in which the segments 14a-d are made from extruded
aluminum. The screen frame formed with the extruded aluminum frame
segments and the alternative corner keys is a particularly robust
frame. The same reference numerals are used in the drawings for
those features that are common to the corner keys 16 and 40.
[0024] The corner key 40 has legs 24 and 26 with lower portions
24b, 26b (shown in phantom) that are inserted into frame segments
14a, 14d and thicker upper portions 24a, 26a that meet to form a
corner section 49. The corner section is sized to fit between the
extruded frame segments, to give a more finished look to the frame.
As shown, the legs include side edges 30 and 31 that act as stops
for the extruded frame segments.
[0025] The upper portion 24a, 26a of at least one of the legs 24,
26 includes an indent 20 that contains the plurality of openings
18. Each indent 20 in the leg 24 and/or 26 includes an inner wall
21 on which the plurality of openings 18 are formed. The drawing
illustrates an indent 20 on each of the two legs, such that the
corner key may be used on either bottom corner of the screen
frame.
[0026] For a more detailed discussion of the side edges 30, 31 and
shaped ends 24c and 26c of the corner keys 16 and 40, refer to U.S.
Pat. No. 5,547,011, entitled WINDOW SCREEN APPARATUS, which
commonly owned, the teachings of which are expressly incorporated
herein by reference.
[0027] The foregoing description has been limited to specific
embodiments of this invention. It will be apparent, however, that
variations and modifications may be made to the invention, for
example, the openings may extend a partial length of the inner wall
of the indent, there may be a single relatively large opening
formed in the inner wall instead of a plurality of smaller
openings, with the attainment of some or all of the advantages of
the invention. Therefore, it is the object of the appended claim to
cover all such variations and modifications as come within the true
spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *