Snap-on mullion cover with scored breakaway flange portions

Abstract

The window mullions of a transportation type vehicle are provided with snap-on, channel shape mullion covers, the side flanges of which normally extend over, and conceal, a pair of grooves which are provided one along each side of each mullion. Each such side flange is scored lengthwise along its inner face to facilitate the breaking or cutting away of the side flange along the scored line. Removal of such side flange portion beyond the scored line exposes the mullion side groove therebeneath sufficiently to permit an edge portion of a side wall panel of known thickness to be inserted for support in the groove thus exposed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is not broadly new to provide a snap-on, channel shape cover for a joint or other structure, for example, as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,855,871 and 3,111,205. So far as is known however, no prior cover of this nature is either structurally similar to the present invention, nor does it provide the simplicity, ease of operation, and adaptability of the present invention, whereby a single type of extruded channel material can be used to make a mullion cover which will either cover and conceal both sides of a mullion to which it is applied, or will expose a selected portion of either or both sides of the mullion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a mullion cover for each of the mullions which are mounted in upright, spaced relation between adjacent windows along each side wall of a transit type vehicle. The windows are mounted between the upper portions of the mullions, while wall panels are mounted below the windows. Each of the millions has a pair of grooves lengthwise along opposite sides thereof for the dual purpose of engaging latch elements provided on its respective mullion cover, and, where required, to receive edge portions of wall panels in supported relation therein.

Each mullion cover is extruded and of channel shape, and of a size to fit snugly over the inward side of its respective mullion.

The side flanges of each mullion cover are normally of a width to cover the entire sides of a mullion to which the cover is applied, which is desirable in the window area of the mullion. For the panel area below the windows, however, a scored, breakaway line is provide along the inside face of each mullion cover side flange of a depth to weaken the side flange along the score line and thereby facilitate the breaking or cutting away of the side flange along this line. when such portion of a side flange is removed, the groove in the side of the mullion therebeneath is exposed to a width to receive a panel edge portion of known thickness therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objectives and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a portion of a mullion cover made in accordance with the present invention showing the breakaway portion along one side flange intact, and the other broken away.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary, horizontal, sectional view taken through a side wall of a vehicle in the mullion zone between adjacent side windows with a mullion cover of the type shown in FIG. 1 mounted thereon, both side flanges of the cover being intact.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 taken in the vehicle side wall zone below the windows, and shows the portions of the mullion cover side flanges beyond the scored lines removed, and the edge portions of two wall panels inserted one in each of the mullion side grooves exposed by such removal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the illustrative form of the invention, a plurality of mullions A are provided between adjacent window B and B' in a vehicle in which the invention is embodied. As used herein the terms "outer" and "inner" are used generally to mean "toward the outer side of the vehicle" , and vice versa. Each mullion is of channel shape of suitable material such as extruded aluminum, and comprises an outer plate portion 10, and similar, but reversed, side flanges 11 and 12. The side flanges have thickened base portions and grooves 13 and 14 along their laterally outward sides. The inner side 15 of each channel side groove is disposed at a slight inclination as shown so as to have latch engagement with a mullion cover side flange 17 or 18 to be described later herein. Inturned flange portions 19 and 20 are provided on the inner ends of the mullion side flanges 11 and 12, respectively.

A pair of integrally extruded, parallel ribs 21 and 22 of the same height as the mullion side flanges extend inwardly from the mullion outer plate protion 10, and have similar, inturned, short flanges 23 and 24 along their respective free edges. A pair of latch beads 27 and 28 are formed integrally along the laterally outward sides of the ribs 21 and 22, respectively, each latch bead having a sloping outer cam face and a slightly inclined inner latching face. A T-shape rib 32, which may be of extruded aluminum, is mounted lengthwise centrally of the outer side of each mullion A for supporting a rubber window sealing strip 33 for vehicle side windows B and B'.

A mullion cover C embodying the present invention is of internally ribbed channel shape and is extruded of polyvinyl chloride or other suitable material, preferably of relatively low thermal conductivity. The mullion cover C comprises an inner plate portion 34 with side flanges 17 and 18 spaced apart to fit snugly over a mullion A for which it is designed. The free edges of the cover side flanges are tapered and curved so as to fit snugly to their respective mullion and thus discourage the insertion of prying fingers or other things therebeneath. The cover side flnages 17 and 18 are provided with latch beads 38 and 40, respectively, shaped and positioned to enter and engage the mullion side grooves 13 and 14, respectively.

Scored breakaway lines 41 and 42 are provided, one along the outer edge of each latch bead 39 and 40, and are of sufficient depth to weaken their respective cover side flanges sufficiently to facilitate the breaking or cutting away of the flange along each scored line. Latching ribs 43 and 44 are extruded integrally with the cover plate portion 34, and are so located as to lie along the straight outer sides of the mullion ribs 21 and 22, respectively. Each of the cover ribs 43 and 44 has a hook shape free edge for latch engagement with respective latching beads 27 and 28 on adjacent mullion ribs 21 and 22 when the cover C is applied to a mullion A as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

A pair of cover support beads 47 and 48 are formed integrally along the outer side of the cover plate portion 34, and are positioned to rest on the mullion rib ends 23 and 24, respectively. These support beads are of a height and are so located, as to necessitate a slight downward flexure of the cover plate portion 34 in order to engage the hooked edges of the cover ribs 43 and 44 with their respective latch beads 27 and 28, and the latch beads 39 and 40 with their respective mullion side grooves, thereby placing the cover ribs and side flanges under slight tension, and urging the mullion cover C into snug engagement with its mullion so as to avoid the possibility of any looseness or rattle.

OPERATION OF THE ILLUSTRATED FORM OF THE INVENTION

In using the present invention, the mullion cover side flanges are left intact in all areas except where side wall panels D and D', see FIG. 3, are to be fitted into either or both of the mullion side grooves 13 and 14. Where a side flange portion of a mullion cover is to be removed, a transverse cut 53, see FIG. 1, is made at an end of a flange portion 54 to be removed. The portion to be removed is then bent outwardly or inwardly as desired and thus is broken away as shwon at 54' in FIG. 1. The mullion cover C is then snapped into position over its respective mullion as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and panels D and D'are inserted in the portions of the mullion grooves 13 and 14 exposed by the removal of the cover side flange portions 54 and 54'.

A mullion cover C, once mounted on a mullion, remains there permanently unless subsequently damaged to an extent requiring its replacement. If it should be necessary to replace a cover it is destroyed, for example, by making a cut with a saw or other tool the full length of its plate portion 34 between the ribs 43 and 44, and a new cover mounted.

In addition to providing a decorative and protective cover for the inner side of each mullion, the cover of the present invention provides thermodynamic insulation for its mullion and thereby protects the interior of the vehicle and its passengers from undue transfer of heat through the mullions. While aluminum is a preferred material for the construction of the mullions, it has an extremely high coefficient of heat conduction, and therefore would be uncomfortable if touched by the hand or arm of a passenger riding the bus in either extremely hot or cold weather. It might even be dangerous if, for example, in subzero weather it should be touched by a child's togue or a wet hand which might freeze to the mullion.

The invention provides a simple, inexpensive, substantially permanent, decorative, insulative cover for the inner side of each of the mullions of a transit type vehicle, wherein a single type of channel extrusion can be used to accommodate both windows and wall panels between adjacent mullions .

Claims

I claim:

1. In combination with one of a plurality of generally similar mullions mounted between adjacent windows of a transit type vehicle, each of the mullions having similar grooves extending lengthwise one along each side thereof, a mullion cover comprising:

a length breakaway channel material, comprising a bottom portion and two side flanges, fitted over the inwardly directed portion of said one mullion, each channel side flange being of a width normally to extend over and conceal the side groove in its respective side of said one mullion,

a scored breadaway line extending lengthwise along each mullion cover side flange to facilitate the removal of a selected portion of side flange material extending from the breakaway line to the free edge of such flange, each breakaway line extending along the mullion side groove therebenath and being so located as to expose a selected portion of such mullion side groove upon removal of such selected portion of side flange material, each portion of mullion side groove so exposed being of a width to receive therein a wall panel edge portion of knonw thickness.

2. A mullion cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein each breakaway line extends along the inner side of its respective cover side flange.

3. A mullion cover as claimed in claim 2 and latch means acting between the mullion cover and said one mullion and latching the mullion cover to said one mullion.

4. A mullion cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein said one mullion is also of channel shape with its open side directed inwardly.

5. A mullion cover as claimed in claim 4 and a pair of ribs extending lengthwise within said one mullion, the free edges of the mullion ribs being in supporting engagement with the interior of the mullion cover.

6. A mullion cover as claimed in claim 5 wherein latch means are provided on the sides of said one mullion and interiorly of the side flanges of the mullion cover, said latch means being in latched inter-engagement with each other.

7. A mullion cover as claimed in claim 5 wherein the mullion cover is of extruded, slightly springy material.

8. A mullion cover as claimed in claim 7 wherein each of the mullions is of extruded material.

9. A mullion cover as claimed in claim 7 wherein the free, cover-supporting edges of the mullion ribs are spaced inwardly from the sides of the mullion cover, and the side portions of the mullion cover laterally beyond the ribs are deformed outwardly to thereby place the latch means under tension and to hold the cover snugly engaged with said one mullion.

10. A mullion cover as claimed in claim 6 wherein a pair of ribs are also provided within the mullion cover, each cover rib being positioned closely adjacent one of the ribs in said one mullion, and the latch means provided on each mullion rib is in latched inter-engagement with latch means provided on an adjacent cover rib.

11. A mullion cover as claimed in claim 9 wherein the latch means provided on the sides of said one mullion comprises a side of the groove in each side of said one mullion, and the latch means provided on each side of the mullion cover comprises a bead extending along the inner side of each cover side flange just inwardly of the scored breakaway line of such each cover side flange, said bead being in latching inter-engagement with such side of the mullion side groove.