Patent ID: 6192631
Filing Date: 2001-02-27
Classification: E06B

Abstract:
A window retention system, comprising:a door frame having an exterior panel, an interior panel, and an opening extending therethrough so as to define an inner peripheral channel between the opening and the door frame;the channel including a pair of spaced and substantially parallel walls protruding into the opening, a first wall of the pair of walls extending from the exterior panel and a second wall of the pair of walls extending from the interior panel, the first wall extending farther into the opening than the second wall, whereby the first wall is adapted to limit movement of a window element in an exterior direction after the window element is inserted into the opening and past the second wall from an interior panel side of the door;a resiliently flexible window retainer strip yieldably and detachably mounted on the door frame between the second wall and the window element for retaining the window element in the opening;the channel further including first and second spaced apart stop members thereon for engaging the retainer strip and thereby limiting movement thereof in two generally opposing directions;the strip having a longitudinal axis and including a first upright portion spaced apart from and in an opposing relation with the first wall so as to delimit a first track in the channel and retain the window element therein, a second upright portion of the strip laterally spaced from the first upright portion of the strip, the second upright portion of the strip being biased toward and yeildingly interlocking with the second stop member in a mounted state, and a flange extending from the first upright portion of the strip to engage the first stop member and thereby limit movement of the first upright portion of the strip in one direction;the first upright portion of the retaining strip comprising a spring member form by first and second legs joined together in an inverted V shape in a free state, each leg having a free end that springs apart from the other leg with an outward biasing force when the legs are forced inwardly and yieldingly interlocked against the first and second stop members in the channel;the free end of the second leg having a lateral portion extending therefrom; andthe lateral portion having an exposed free end which allows both installation and removal of the strip.