U.S. patent number RE32,509 [Application Number 06/792,913] was granted by the patent office on 1987-09-29 for insulating storm window attachment.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Nu Lease Corporation. Invention is credited to David G. Werner.
United States Patent |
RE32,509 |
Werner |
September 29, 1987 |
Insulating storm window attachment
Abstract
A storm window assembly for attachment to an existing window,
either on the inside or the outside, for improving overall
insulation ability of the window. Included is an extruded female
frame retainer which is permanently attached to the existing window
casing. An extruded storm window frame has a male member which
snaps into this female retainer which pivots as needed to provide a
good air seal. The storm window glazing is inserted into a slot in
the frame. In this slot are soft gripping fingers preferably three
pairs, which hold the glazing in the frame by friction alone,
obviating any glue or other adhesive. These fingers are
sufficiently soft and slanted inward that they guide inwardly
during insertion of the glazing into the slot, but are also
sufficiently firm and slanted that enough opposite gripping
pressure is exerted to prevent the glazing from sliding sideways or
out of the frame. A fourth pair of fingers, at the back of the
slot, are not slanted and offer resistance during insertion of the
glazing, and act as a stop in the insertion operation. They do
bend, however, on expansion of the glazing due to temperature
changes. A retainer cap is provided to keep dirt or contaminants
out of the retainer when the frame is removed, as for storage.
Separate double-glazing and double-window H-channels are provided
to join glazings in the one case or to join whole window-frame
assemblies in the other, as needed by the installer or desired by
the building owner.
Inventors: |
Werner; David G. (Oshkosh,
WI) |
Assignee: |
Nu Lease Corporation (Oshkosh,
WI)
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Family
ID: |
27005727 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/792,913 |
Filed: |
October 30, 1985 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
372336 |
Apr 27, 1982 |
04452020 |
Jun 5, 1984 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/202;
52/204.597 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E06B
3/28 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E06B
3/28 (20060101); E06B 3/04 (20060101); E06B
003/26 () |
Field of
Search: |
;52/202,203,400
;49/61,62 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1559954 |
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Jan 1972 |
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DE |
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2719374 |
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Nov 1978 |
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DE |
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2313536 |
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Dec 1976 |
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FR |
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Primary Examiner: Friedman; Carl D.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wilhelm; Thomas D.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An insulating storm window assembly for attachment to an
existing window casing, for providing enhanced insulation
characteristics for the window comprising:
a storm window frame, having a slot;
a storm window glazing fastened into the slot of said frame;
said storm window frame also having a ridge;
.Iadd.as a separate component, .Iaddend.a frame retainer, having
channel means for snap-accepting the ridge of said frame such that
.Iadd.said ridge is received into said channel means and
.Iaddend.said frame is allowed to pivot with respect to said
retainer, .Iadd.and about said channel means, .Iaddend.and thus
providing an airtight seal; and
means for permanently attaching said retainer to the existing
window casing.
2. A storm window assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising
means for joining a plurality of said glazings within a single said
frame.
3. A storm window as recited in claim 2 further comprising a
plurality of gripping fingers located inside the slot of said storm
window frame for holding said glazing in said frame without
glue.
4. A storm window as recited in claim 3 wherein said glazing
joining means includes an H-shaped member, having a plurality of
gripping fingers inside the two slots formed by the H-shape, for
holding said glazing without the use of glue.
5. A storm window assembly as recited in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein
said gripping fingers include
at least three pairs of fingers, one of each pair on each side of
the slot, said fingers being angled inward such that they become
guides when said glazing is inserted, and
at least one pair of fingers located farthest back in the slot,
perpendicular to the plane of the glazing, to resist bending on
insertion of said glazing and thus to act as a stop during the
insertion operation, yet sufficiently flexible to bend under
pressure of the glazing from expansion due to changes in
temperature.
6. A storm window assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein said
channel of said frame retainer is formed by two extruded concave
upstanding arms which are flexible,
and wherein said ridge of said frame is formed by an upstanding
neck branching into two extruded concave flexible arms,
such that said two arms of said ridge snap in between said two arms
of said retainer for the length of both, resulting in said frame
being removably attached to said retainer, there being provided an
airtight seal between them, and there being allowed an angle of up
to 22 degrees between said frame and said retainer.
7. A storm window assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein said
attaching means includes both a dual-sided pressure-sensitive
adhesive foam tape strip placed between said frame retainer and the
existing window casing, and nails.
8. A storm window assembly as recited in claim 7 further comprising
means for capping the channel means of said frame retainer in order
to protect the channel means from dirt and contaminants when said
ridge of said frame is not snapped into the channel means.
9. An insulating storm window assembly for attachment to a
plurality of existing adjoining window casings, comprising:
a plurality of adjoining storm window frames, each of said frames
having a slot;
a storm window glazing fastened into the slot of each of said
frames;
each of said storm window frames also having a ridge;
a plurality of retainers, each having channel means for
snap-accepting the ridge of each .Iadd.of .Iaddend.said frames such
that each of said frames is allowed to pivot with respect to.Iadd.,
and about, .Iaddend.the retainer into which it is snapped, and thus
providing an airtight seal;
means for permanently attaching said retainers about the existing
window casing; and
means.Iadd., separate from said storm window frames, .Iaddend.for
joining each pair of adjoining frames to each other, said joining
means being glued onto one of said pair of frames and snapped onto
the other of said pair of frames, such that each of said frames can
be removed without removing the adjoining frame.
10. A storm window assembly as recited in claim 9 further
comprising means for joining a plurality of said glazings within a
single said frame.
11. A storm window as recited in claim 9 further comprising a
plurality of gripping fingers located inside the slot of said storm
window frame for holding said glazing in said frame without
glue.
12. A storm window as recited in claim 11 wherein said glazing
joining means includes an H-shaped member, having a plurality of
gripping fingers inside the two slots formed by the H-shape, for
holding said glazing without the use of glue.
13. A storm window assembly as recited in claim 11 or claim 12
wherein said gripping fingers include
at least three pairs of fingers, one of each pair on each side of
the slot, said fingers being angled inward such that they become
guides when said glazing is inserted, and
at least one pair of fingers located farthest back in the slot,
perpendicular to the plane of the glazing, to resist bending on
insertion of said glazing and thus to act as a stop during the
insertion operation, yet sufficiently flexible to bend under
pressure of the glazing from expansion due to changes in
temperature.
14. A storm window assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein said
channel of each of said frame retainers is formed by two extruded
concave upstanding arms which are flexible,
and wherein said ridge of each of said frames is formed by an
upstanding neck branching into two extruded concave flexible
arms,
such that said two arms of said ridge snap in between said two arms
of said retainer for the length of both, resulting in each of said
frames being removably attached to each of said retainers, there
being provided an airtight seal between them, and there being
allowed an angle of up to 22 degrees between said frame and said
retainer.
15. A storm window assembly as recited in claim 14 wherein said
attaching means includes both a dual-sided pressure-sensitive
adhesive foam tape placed between each of said frame retainers and
the existing window casing, and nails.
16. A storm window assembly as recited in claim 15 further
comprising means for capping the channel means of each of said
frame retainers in order to protect the channel means from dirt and
contaminants when said ridge of said frame is not snapped into the
channel means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to storm windows and in particular to those
storm windows and third glazings which can be added in an
aftermarket context to improve the insulating capability of the
building in which they are used.
Previous third glazings have had the disadvantage that they must be
installed as original equipment on the building or replace the
entire window and frame, on the one hand, or the glazing must be
removed separately from the frame on the other.
An example of the first instance is Potter, U.S. Pat. No.
3,992,815, issued Nov. 23, 1976, wherein a complete window unit is
described, including a permanent conventional sliding window and an
extruded frame member for holding the screen or storm window, which
can be locked into place. Replacing an existing window with this
system would clearly be more expensive than adding a third glazing
to an existing window system.
An example of the second instance is Casamayor, U.S. Pat. No.
4,184,297, issued Jan. 22, 1980, which shows hinged perimeter and
jointer strips holding insulating panels on larger windows. Here,
if the storm window is to be removed the framing strip must be
unsnapped and opened, and the glazing only removed from the frame.
The glazing must then assumably be carried and stored unframed, in
which case breakage or other damage is a real possibility.
This invention relates to solutions to the disadvantages and
problems raised by the invention described above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention includes an extruded female frame retainer which is
permanently attached to the existing window casing, and into which
is snapped an extruded male frame member. This frame member has a
somewhat flexible male portion which snaps into the channel portion
of the frame retainer, and a slot portion, with soft gripping
fingers, into which is inserted the acrylic glazing. This glazing
is held in the frame by the fingers, without need of glue or any
other adhesive, for ease of manufacture.
An object of this invention is to provide an improved storm window
attachment for existing structures.
Another object of the invention is to provide a storm window
attachment which attaches easily and securely to the existing
window casing and provides an airtight seal.
A more specific object of the invention is to provide a storm
window attachment having an extruded female frame retainer
permanently attached to the existing window casing, and an extruded
male portion holding the window glazing which snaps into the female
portion to form a weathertight seal.
Another specific object of the invention is to provide a storm
window attachment wherein the storm window glazing slides into the
frame having the extruded male portion and is held there without
adhesive by gripping fingers within the frame.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear
hereinafter.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view of the invention attached to an
existing window casing.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded view of the invention in section
taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged isometric view of the storm window frame
portion of the invention.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged isometric view of the female frame
retainer.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged isometric view of the frame retainer cap.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged isometric view of the multiple glazing
H-channel joiner which is also a part of the invention.
FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a multiple window frame H-channel
joiner.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a multiple window H-channel
with frame installed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
.[.Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, this invention begins with a
conventional glass window 10 and a conventional window casing 12,
in this case made of wood. Throughout this description and the
claims that follow, the term "casing" is used to refer to the
mounting surface of the existing window, including the casing,
frame, trim or molding. An extruded female retainer 14 is then
permanently attached to window casing 12 by means of dual-sided
pressure-sensitive foam tape adhesive 16, shown best in FIG. 4, and
by nails 18 for added assurance of adhesion..].
.Iadd.As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a storm window assembly of
this invention comprises a frame 20 and a frame retainer 14.
Glazing 22 may be assembled into the frame 20 prior to the
installation of the storm window assembly over an existing window
installation. It is seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, and especially FIG. 2,
that retainer 14, frame 20 and glazing 22 are each separate,
tangible/touchable components as used in the illustrated assembly.
In that regard, retainer 14 is seen, in FIG. 2 to be attached, as a
separate component, to window casing 12 by adhesive tape 16 and
nail 18. Frame 20 is separably attachable to retainer 14 by means
of ridge 20A being insertable into channel 14A of retainer 14, as
indicated in FIG. 2, and as described in more detail hereinafter.
.Iaddend.
Retainer 14 has a channel 14a which runs its length. A storm window
frame member 20 has a ridge 20a which fits into channel 14a.
Channel 14a is formed by the space between two extruded concave
upstanding arms 14b and 14c, which are flexible to an extent. Ridge
20a is extruded similarly, having a neck 20b and two curved
upstanding arms 20c and 20d which again are somewhat flexible.
Ridge 20a snaps into channel 14a for the length of the frame, so
that the storm window frame is retained against the existing window
casing, providing a good air seal and thus good insulating
qualities.
Further, the fact that arms 14a and 14b of retainer 14 and arms 20c
and 20d of ridge 20a are curved and that neck 20b is narrower than
the gap between arms 14a and 14b results in the assembly having the
ability to pivot. That is, frame 20 can pivot up to 22 degrees with
respect to retainer 14. Consequently, retainer 14, and thus the
window itself, cna be mounted on a surface which is not flat, or on
one which is not parallel to the existing window.
As also shown in FIG. 2, a storm window glazing 22 is inserted into
frame 20 by force and held there by soft vinyl gripping fingers 20e
which are slanted inward inside frame 20, without glue or any other
adhesive. This greatly simplifies assembly of the storm window
glazing and frame, since the glue used in other storm windows can
leak out or be over applied. Further, conventional glazings which
are glued into the frame tend to be more easily broken, since the
glued-in frames are less flexible and cause excessive warping and
cracking due to extreme temperature changes. The entire
glazing-frame unit is then required to be replaced at great
expense.
In order to avoid this expense, room for expansion of glazing 22 at
the back of the slot in frame 20 is provided by vinyl fingers 20f
which are perpendicular to the frame and parallel to the edge of
glazing, not slanted. When the glazing 22 is assembled into frame
20, it stops at fingers 20f. Then, once installed to the existing
window casing, glazing 22 is allowed to expand beyond fingers 20f
as required by the ambient temperature. Thus, warping and cracking
of the glazing is prevented, resulting in longer life as well as
better appearance of the glazing with fewer distortions.
All of the fingers 20e and 20f are extruded at the same time and in
the same manner as the rest of frame 20 for ease of manufacture and
to ensure that the air space between glazing 22 and the existing
window casing is well sealed against drafts.
During those times of year when the extra insulation provided by
these storm windows is unnecessary, the frame and window pane
assembly is merely snapped out and stored. As stated previously,
however, the retainer 14 is permanently affixed to the existing
casing 12. It therefore becomes advantageous from an aesthetic
point of view to provide means for filling channel 14a until the
storm windows are again installed. This means is provided by a
retainer cap 24, shown in FIG. 5. This cap 24 snaps into channel
14a much the same way ridge 20a of frame 20 does. The purpose in
this case, however, is to fill the channel 14a so that it keeps its
shape and remains relatively free of debris (such as cobwebs,
etc.).
Referring now to FIG. 6, if the window to which the storm window
attachment is to be added is larger than acrylic sizes allow, two
sections of storm window glazing 26 and 28 are joined by a double
glazing H-channel joiner 30. H-channel joiner 30 holds glazings 26
and 28 in the same manner frame 20 holds glazing 22 as described
above. That is, the glazings are inserted between slanted flexible
gripping fingers 30a and held there by friction, without glue or
other adhesive. Fingers 30b are not slanted and become a partial
stop for glazings 26 and 28, which allows expansion of these
glazings. The purpose of the joiner 30 is merely to permanently
join glazings 26 and 28, excepting of course if one of the glazings
must be replaced due to breakage or other cause.
Shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is a double window H-channel joiner 32,
which is used outside the window frame to join two separate window
frames 20. Joiner 32 includes two parallel portions 32a and 32b,
one longer than the other, joined at the center by a crossbar 32c.
On each side of crossbar 32c is a knob 32d for spacing frame 20
away from the crossbar 32c itself. One of the frames 20 is
permanently attached, preferably by gluing, into joiner 32, while
the other frame 20 is snapped into the joiner so that it can be
removed if desired.
The purpose of joiner 32 is to provide a "take-apart" feature for
larger sizes, so that the one of the pair of assembled storm
windows can be removed without removing the other, such as for
summer ventilation or if the owner prefers to handle a smaller size
of storm window. This joiner 32 is very different from joiner 30
since joiner 30 merely joins two glazings, within a continuous male
frame assembly and one glazing is not normally removed alone,
although it can be removed in case of glazing replacement. In using
joiner 32, one frame 20 snaps into and out of the joiner separately
which in turn is glued to the other frame 20.
While the apparatus hereinbefore described is effectively adapted
to fulfill the aforesaid objects, it is to be understood that the
invention is not intended to be confined to the particular
preferred embodiments of storm window attacement herein set forth
inasmuch as they are susceptible of various modifications without
departing from the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *