False Window Muntin Bar Structure

Abstract

False window muntin bar structure including unique muntin bar member interlock structure and retaining clip structure is disclosed. The interlock structure is operable in conjunction with hollow false muntin bars and includes an interlock member in the form of a cross adapted to fit within intersecting false muntin bar members with one end of the cross extending in each direction of extent of the intersecting false muntin bar members. The retainer clip for the false muntin bar structure includes a central abutment portion against which an end of the muntin bar member is abutted, a retaining portion extending from one side of the abutment portion for securing the end of the muntin bar member thereto, and a barbed portion extending from the other side of the abutment portion of the retainer clip for securing the retainer clip to the frame of a window in which the false muntin bar structure is installed. Modifications of the false muntin bar interlock member and the retainer clip are disclosed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to window structure and refers more specifically to false muntin structure for windows including unique muntin bar member interlock structure and retainer clip structure for securing the ends of the bars of the false muntin bar structure within a window frame against a window glazing panel.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the past, large windows were constructed with small panes by providing intermediate muntin bars framing each of the small panes. More recently, false muntin bars have been applied over large window panes to give the effect of a plurality of small panes connected by muntin bars without the expense of the prior window structure. Such structure also permits easier cleaning of the windows if the false muntin bar structure is removable. The provision of false muntin structure requires that linear muntin members be connected at intersections thereof so as to give the appearance of being in substantially the same plane and requires that the ends of the false muntin structures be secured to the frame of the window in which the false muntin structure is to be positioned or that other suitable means be found to secure the false muntin structure in place.

In the past, the interlocking structure for false muntin members and the retaining clips therefor have been deficient in that they have not permitted rapid assembly of the muntin structure itself or the ready installation of the muntin structure in a window and the periodic removal of the muntin structure from the window. In addition, some of the proposed interlocking structure and retaining clips have been complicated and/or expensive while being inefficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

False window muntin structure is provided in which hollow muntin bar members are connected at intersections by means of a cross-shaped interlocking member, one end of which extends in each direction within the intersecting false muntin members. The false muntin bar structure is then secured within a window frame adjacent a window glazing panel by means of retainer clips at the ends of the false muntin bar members.

The interlocking members include cylindrical portions at the ends of the cross arms, the axis of generation of which extends perpendicularly to the cross shape thereof, which cylindrical members are complementary to the inner profile of a portion of the hollow false muntin bar members. The retainer clips include an abutment portion for abutting the ends of the false muntin bar members, a portion extending on one side of the abutment portion thereof for receiving the ends of the false muntin bar members, and a portion extending from the other side of the abutment portion for securing the clips to the frame of a window structure in which the false muntin structure is installed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of window structure including false muntin structure constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an interlocking member for use in the false muntin structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross section view of a false muntin member as illustrated in FIG. 1 taken substantially on the line 3--3 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a length of false muntin bar taken at the intersection thereof with another section of false muntin bar not shown, and illustrating an interlocking member positioned therein.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are partial section views of two false muntin members taken at the intersection thereof and illustrating the connection of the false muntin bar members by means of an interlocking member such as illustrated in FIG. 2, in progressive stages.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial section view of the false muntin structure of FIG. 1 taken substantially on the line 8--8 and showing the two false muntin bar members of FIG. 1 secured together at their intersection by means of an interlocking member such as illustrated in FIG. 2, following the procedure illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show modifications of the interlocking member illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a universal retaining clip securing the false window muntin structure illustrated in FIG. 1 to the frame of the window illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged plan view of the universal retaining clip illustrated in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is an elevation view of the retainer clip illustrated in FIG. 12 taken substantially in the direction of arrow 13 in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is an elevation view of the universal retaining clip illustrated in FIG. 12 taken in the direction of the arrow 14 in FIG. 12.

FIGS. 15, 16 and 17 are perspective views of modifications of the retaining clip illustrated in FIGS. 11 through 14.

FIGS. 18, 19 and 20 are a plan and two elevation views respectively of another modification of the universal retaining clip illustrated in FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The window 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes an exterior frame 12 in which a glazing panel 14 is secured by convenient means such as vinyl glazing strips or the like as, for example, shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,480,623. A false muntin bar structure 16 constructed in accordance with the invention is secured within the frame 12 by retaining clips 20. The separate false muntin bars 22 and 24 are connected together at their intersection by interlocking structure 26.

False muntin structure 16 is positioned on one side of the glazing panel 14 only. However, due to its position in contact with the glazing panel 14, the false muntin structure 16 gives the impression of a plurality of small glazing panels supported by intermediate frame members. The false muntin structure 16 may be readily removed to facilitate cleaning of the windowpane 14 and may subsequently be replaced in the retaining clips 20 of the invention.

Frame 12 may be either wood or metal. Plastic may also be used if in a particular installation this material is desired. Only the ability to insert a very thin barbed edge of the retaining clips 20 of the invention between the edge of the glazing panel 14 and frame 12 of the window 10 is required to permit use of the retaining clips 20. The false muntin bar members 22 and 24 may be hollow plastic members, as illustrated best in FIGS. 3 through 8, or they may be solid wood false muntin bar members, not shown.

When the false muntin bar members 22 and 24 are solid wood, they may be secured together at the intersection thereof by being rabbeted to provide only a half thickness at the intersection thereof and connected by means of screws, nails or a suitable adhesive or the like. When the false muntin bar members 22 and 24 are hollow plastic members as shown, the interlocking structure 26 is provided in accordance with the invention.

Interlocking structure 26 requires first rabbeting the false muntin bar members 22 and 24 at their intersection as shown in FIGS. 4 through 8 to expose the interior of the members 22 and 24 having the cross section illustrated in FIG. 3 to substantially half the depth of the members. An interlocking member 28 such as shown in FIG. 2 is then positioned within one of the false muntin bar members 22 or 24 as, for example, member 24 as shown in FIG. 4.

The interlocking member 28 includes a pair of relatively flat arms 30 and 32 centrally connected at right angles to each other in the form of a cross. Cylindrical portions 34, 36, 38 and 40 are provided at both ends of each of the cross arms having their axis of generation extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of the cross formed by the arms, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

With the interlocking member 28 positioned in the muntin bar member 24, as shown in FIG. 4, the cylindrical portions 36 and 40 are received within the complementary portion 42 of the cross section of the false muntin bar member 24 at each side of the rabbeted section 44. The false muntin bar member 22 is then secured to member 24 by the interlocking member 28, as shown in FIGS. 5 through 7, to provide the assembled structure 16, as illustrated in the section view of FIG. 8.

In assembly, the false muntin bar 24 having the interlocking member 28 therein, as shown in FIG. 4, is positioned over the false muntin bar member 22 with the rabbeted sections adjacent to each other, and the cylindrical portion 38 on the arm 32 is inserted into the complementary portion 42 of the false muntin bar member 22 through the rabbeted opening 46 therein. At the same time, the false muntin bar member 24 is rotated clockwise from its position as shown in FIG. 5 to extend over the false muntin bar 22 at the rabbeted portion 46 thereof, while the cylindrical portion 38 is moved into the interior of the false muntin bar member 22 to the position illustrated in FIG. 6 just prior to snapping of the cylindrical portion 34 on the cross arm 32 into the rabbeted portion of the false muntin bar member 22.

Slight further movement of the false muntin bar member 24 to the left from the position illustrated in FIG. 6 will cause the cylindrical portion 34 of the interlocking member 28 to snap into the rabbeted portion of the false muntin bar member 22, after which the interlocked joint is completed by moving the false muntin bar member 24, as illustrated in FIG. 7, to the right so that the false muntin bar member 24 snaps into the rabbeted portion of the false muntin bar member 22 with counterclockwise rotation at the interlocking structure to provide a completely assembled interlocked false muntin structure, as illustrated in section in FIG. 8.

The interlocking joint structure 26 thus formed is particularly rigid. Further, the interlocking joint structure 26 is clean, having no connecting members showing, and may be disassembled by reversing the above recited procedure.

The interlocking member 28 may be modified to increase the facility with which the interlocking of the false muntin bar members 22 and 24 is accomplished. The two modifications of the interlocking member 28 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 increase the ability to insert the cylindrical portions 38 and 34 within the false muntin bar member 22. Thus, with the structure of FIG. 9, the upper part of the cylindrical portions 34 and 38 has been beveled to provide a conical surface 48 at one end of the cylindrical portions 34 and 38 of the interlocking member 28. In the modified structure of FIG. 10, the cylindrical portions 34 and 38 at the opposite ends of the cross arm 32 have been beveled from approximately the axis of generation thereof inwardly toward the cross arm member 30 to provide a cam surface 50.

The retainer clip 20, illustrated best in FIGS. 11 through 14, includes an abutting portion 80 against which one end of the muntin bars 22 or 24 may be abutted in assembly, as shown in FIG. 11, a retaining portion 82 extending from one side of the abutting portion 80 for retaining the end of a false muntin bar in assembly therewith, and a barbed portion 84 extending from the other side of the abutting portion 80 adapted to fit between the frame 12 of the window structure 10 and the glazing panel 14 to retain the false muntin bar structure 16 in the window 10.

The particular retaining clip 20 illustrated in FIGS. 11 through 14 is universal in that it may be used with either plastic or wood false muntin bar structures and in conjunction with either wood or metal window frames. With this in mind, the retaining portion 82 of the clip 20 is provided with a first-stepped surface 86 to receive a flatter, wider wood muntin bar, and a second-stepped surface 88 to receive a thicker, narrower plastic muntin bar. A separate retaining bead 90 is provided at both edges of the clip 20 to secure the plastic muntin bar members in position. The abutment 92 provided between the stepped surfaces 86 and 88 serves to retain the wood muntin bars within the clip 20.

The barbed portion 84 of the clip 20 is particularly thin and the edge 94 is beveled to sharpen it so that the portion 84 of the clip 20 may be slipped between the glazing panel 14 and either metal or wood frame structure 12. The barb 96 of the clip 20 is cut from the barbed portion 84 on three sides and extends upwardly, as shown best in FIG. 13, to prevent ready withdrawal of the clip 20 from a window structure on which it has been installed.

Both the barb and the sharp edge of the barbed portion 84 permit lateral movement of the clip 20 in a window installation to permit adjusting of the window false muntin structure 16 as desired. The particular construction of the barb 96 provides proper barb contact with the window frame in structures having different openings between the frame and glazing panel without providing excessive stress in the glazing panel.

The retaining clip 20 may be modified to provide the retaining clip 98 shown in FIG. 15 if hollow muntin bars are to be used. The modified clip 98 includes the retaining portion 100 adapted to fit within the cross section of the hollow muntin members 22 and 24 in place of the retaining structure 82 of the clip 20. The barbed portion 102 of the clip 98 and the abutment portion 104 are the same as those of the clip 20.

The further modifications 106 and 108 of the clip 20, illustrated in FIG. 16 and 17, have triangular barbed portions 110 and 112, respectively. The clip 106 is best suited for use with wood frames and includes a plurality of small barbs on a relatively thin barbed portion 110, while the clip 108 is best suited for use with metal frames and has a relatively higher single barb 116 on the barb portion 112 suitable for locking behind a bead on a metal window frame. As shown, the clip 106 has a universal mullion bar retaining portion similar to that of clip 20, while clip 108 has a retaining portion adapted specifically to be used with hollow muntin bar members similar to the retaining portion 100 of the clip 98.

The modified retaining clip 130 is again a universal retaining clip and includes the abutting portion 132 against which the end of a muntin bar is positioned in assembly. The retaining portion of the clip 130 is again in two separate parts 134 and 136 which converge toward each other outwardly of the abutting portion 132 and have stepped surfaces 138 and 140 respectively. Thus, muntin bars having both width and breadth of somewhat different dimensions may be retained by the plastic resilient parts 134 and 136 of clip 130 which are sufficiently resilient to assume a parallel relation.

The barbed portion of the retaining clip 130 is also divided into two parts 142 and 144, both of which are generally triangular in plan and are provided with low barbs 146 and 148 to permit use of the clips 130 with wood frames. The parts 142 and 144 of the retaining clip 130 extend beyond the abutting portion 132 of the clip 130 and are provided with an incline on the portions 150 and 152 thereof extending beyond the abutting portion 132 for locking the portions 150 and 152 behind a retaining bead when the clip 130 is used in conjunction with a metal frame including a retaining bead.

In use, one of the clips 20 or the modifications thereof are secured to the free ends of the muntin bar members 22 and 24 which have previously been interlocking with the interlocking structure 26, one of the barbed portions of the clips is inserted between the glazing panel 14 and frame 12, and the muntin bar member retained by the inserted clip is bowed to permit insertion of the clip on the other end thereof between the frame and glazing panel. At this time, the installed muntin bar may be moved transversely in one direction or the other to insert the clip on one end of the other muntin bar member, and again the other muntin bar member is bowed to insert the clip at the other end thereof between the glazing panel and window frame whereby the installation of the false muntin bar structure is complete.

Removal of the false muntin bar structure 16 may require bowing of the muntin bar members to remove them from the retaining clips therefor. Replacing the false muntin bar structure again similarly may require bowing of the false muntin bar members and positioning of them within the retaining clips from which they were removed.

Claims

What I claim as my invention is:

1. False muntin structure for a window including a peripheral frame and a glazing panel comprising a grill, including a plurality of hollow intersecting linear members having sections rabbeted at each intersection to substantially half the depth of the linear members, which rabbeted sections are interfitted to form the intersections, said linear members having ends terminating adjacent the frame of the window structure, means for securing the linear members together at the intersections thereof, including a cross-shaped interlocking member having cylindrical portions at the ends thereof extending perpendicularly of the cross-shaped member, the ends of which interlocking member are received within the separate linear members at the intersection thereof, and retainer clips secured to the window frame and the ends of the linear members.

2. Structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the retaining clips include a central abutting portion adapted to be positioned against an end of a linear member, a portion extending from one side of the abutting portion for securing the end of the linear member thereto against transverse movement and a portion extending from the other side of the abutting portion adapted to extend into the window frame for securing the retaining clip and linear member held thereby to the window frame in contact with the glazing panel.

3. Structure as set forth in claim 2, wherein the portion of the retaining clip extending from one side of the abutting portion of the clip comprises a pair of spaced apart stepped leg portions having beads at the ends thereof which leg portions extend toward each other away from the abutting portion.

4. Structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein the portion of the retaining clip extending from the one side of the abutting portion of the clip comprises a substantially flat portion adapted to fit within a hollow false muntin member.

5. Structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein the portion of the retaining clip extending from the other side of the abutting portion of the clip includes a substantially flat portion having a relatively sharp edge and barb means extending upwardly from the substantially flat portion and toward the abutting portion at the end of the barb means to prevent withdrawal of the clip from the frame after installation thereof.

6. A retainer clip for false window muntins or the like comprising a central abutting portion for abutting the end of a false window muntin member, means extending from one side of the abutting portion for securing an end of a false window muntin member thereto, and means extending from the opposite side of the abutting portion of the retainer clip for securing the retainer clip to a window frame, including a pair of spaced apart triangular parts having grooves in one side thereof extending in a direction parallel to the abutting portion of the retaining clip and portions extending beyond the abutting portion of the retaining clip which extend at an angle with respect to the rest of the triangular parts.

7. Structure as set forth in claim 6 wherein the portion of the retainer clip extending from one side of the abutting portion comprises a pair of spaced apart stepped leg portions having beads at the ends thereof extending toward each other.

8. Structure as set forth in claim 7 wherein the spaced apart stepped leg portions converge toward each other outwardly of the abutting portion of the retaining clip.

9. False muntin structure for a window including a peripheral frame and a glazing panel comprising a grill, including a plurality of hollow intersecting linear members having sections rabbeted at each intersection to substantially half the depth of the linear members, which rabbeted sections are interfitted to form the intersections, said linear members having ends terminating adjacent the frame of the window structure, means for securing the linear members together at the intersections thereof, including a cross-shaped interlocking member having ends received within the separate linear members at the intersection thereof, and retainer clips secured to the window frame and the ends of the linear members.

10. Structure as set forth in claim 9 wherein the means for securing the linear members together at the intersections thereof comprises a pair of substantially flat elongated portions in adjacent planes secured together in side by side relation in the form of a cross and cylindrical portions secured to each end of each elongated portion having the axis of generation thereof extending perpendicular to the cross formed by the flat elongated portions and extending primarily toward the plane of the elongated portion to which they are not attached.

11. Structure as set forth in claim 10 wherein two of the cylindrical portions at the opposite ends of one of the flat elongated portions have a beveled edge on the end thereof extending toward the other flat elongated portion.

12. Structure as set forth in claim 10 wherein two of the cylindrical portions at the opposite ends of one of the flat elongated portions of the interlock are beveled on one end from substantially the center thereof toward the other end of the flat elongated portion.

13. Structure as set forth in claim 10 wherein at least some of the cylindrical portions secured to the ends of the elongated portions are offset from the other cylindrical portions axially thereof.