Abstract:
A modular egress window well structure which is constructed of structurally identical walls that interlock and attach to the foundation of a building via a termination strip. The identical wall members allow for ease of manufacturing and installation of the egress window well. The method of installation comprises removing soil away from the foundation of a building, securing the termination of strips to the foundation, assembling the egress window well and then backfilling the soil around the structure.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a modular window well egress and a method of installing the same. More specifically, though not exclusively, the invention relates to a modular egress window well with modular walls that are structurally identical and providing a simple means of installing a window well egress below ground level that is also easy to manufacture. 
   As land prices have increased, homeowners have looked for means of better utilizing a building&#39;s footprint. To do so, building owners have turned to using basement or below grade level space as living space. This raises several issues, such as being able to quickly exit the building in case of an emergency. To allow egress from the basement, building designers have incorporated means of exiting through a basement window into window well designs. These designs have included window well walls with built in steps, hand grips, and other devices that facilitate exiting through the basement window. 
   Many different designs have been used to create basement window wells. Early designs incorporated window wells into foundations of the building or home. The well was lined with bricks and then capped with additional bricks, wood or iron plating. This was done in an attempt to retain soil and increase the amount of light that entered into the below ground living space. The window was also used to allow the passage of materials, typically coal, into the basement without having to carry the material through the house. These early designs had to be incorporated at the beginning of construction and were nearly impossible to install after the building was formed. 
   The next step in the design evolution was to create a structure that could be manufactured separately from the foundation of the building. Still in use today, this design typically involves using corrugated and galvanized sheets of metal bent into a generally U-shaped structure that was then attached to the exterior of a building&#39;s foundation. The galvanized metal resisted the elements better than previous materials and was easily manufactured. Unfortunately, the galvanized material is unsightly and unattractive to an individual looking out the window. Further, the unitary design increases the difficulty of handling and installing the galvanized metal well structure. 
   For relatively shallow window wells, there was no need for the window well to incorporate devices or structures that would assist an individual in exiting through a basement window. But with increased building code regulations, the size of a basement window has increased to facilitate egress from within the basement. With this increase in window size, came the requirement for window wells to become deeper. With a deeper window well, there is a need for a structure within the well itself to facilitate exiting the window well. The first solution was the incorporation of a ladder structure outside of the confines of the window well that had to be lowered in. Later designs incorporated recesses and protrusions in the surface of the window well itself. Because the wells were typically constructed of galvanized corrugated sheet metal, the steps and handles were difficult to form and slippery when wet. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,999,334 to Webb discloses a basement escape window structure with a one-piece unit that has a hinged top that serves as an escape hatch from the basement. It also discloses a device with a plurality of steps that allow for easily ascending from the basement in order to escape from an opening in a basement wall. Because of the unitary design, the system is difficult to install. Further because of the lid, the device does not allow sunlight into the basement and completely obstructs the view that might have been afforded with the use of a more traditional window well. 
   The most recent development in egress window well design is a modular approach as demonstrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,107,640 to 5,657,587 to Gefroh. Instead of the structure being constructed as a single unit, it is instead comprised of multiple parts and modules. The modular design allows for ease of construction, either during the original construction of the building or as a later addition. The modular concept also allows for the replacement of damaged and weathered parts without complete removal and disposal of the entire egress structure. The current designs are deficient in that they are comprised of multiple components of various sizes and shapes. 
   The variance in the modular pieces increases the cost of manufacturing a complete modular egress window well structure. Multiple tool sets are required to be used in the production of the individual walls. A greater number of individualized components cause a manufacturer&#39;s boxing and shipping system to be more complex to ensure that the correct components are shipped. The variance in shapes and size of the components also increase the number of shipping containers necessary to transport the entire system to the final destination. Further, because of the variety of necessary components, a retailer must stock many more components than is necessary to meet on demand needs. 
   Therefore, there is a need for an improved egress window well structure that consists of a limited number of components that can be easily manufactured. This structure should consist of components that are sightly yet constructed of material that are durable to environmental elements. 
   FEATURES OF THE INVENTION 
   A general feature of the present invention is the simplification of the construction of a below ground modular window well egress. 
   A further feature of the present invention is the provision of a modular window well egress with walls that are structurally identical. 
   An additional feature of the present invention is the provision of window well egress walls that interlock with one another. 
   Yet another feature of the present invention is the provision of a wall termination strip that interlocks with a window well egress wall. 
   Another general feature of the present invention is the provision of a rigid step that is placed between two non-parallel window well egress walls. 
   Still another feature of the present invention is the ability to stack the window well egress walls one on top of another to vary the depth below ground of the window well. 
   Still yet another feature of the present invention is the provision of a rigid wall for a modular egress window well structure that is easy to mass produce. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention generally comprises a method and apparatus for installing an egress window well. This structure consists of structurally identical walls that interlock via a system of protruding tenon and recessed notch. The pattern of protruding tenon and recessed notch could consist of any multiple number of tenon and notches such that one end pattern is the reciprocal of the other. Further, the walls are constructed of any material rigid enough to retain soil away from a below ground window. The space created allows the admittance of light and further allow the window to be used as an egress from the interior of a building. The walls are secured to the foundation of the building via interlocking termination strips. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a modular wall section. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a modular wall section. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention including a rigid step. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention comprising multiple layers of wall components. 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of a building foundation and the surrounding soil. 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of a building foundation in a hole excavated adjacent to the foundation. 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a section of the building foundation with a first and second interlocking strip mounted thereon. 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of  FIG. 10  with a first interlocking wall section joining with the first termination strip. 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of  FIG. 11  with a second interlocking wall section joining with the second termination strip. 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of  FIG. 12  with a third interlocking wall section interlocking with the first and second wall sections. 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of  FIG. 13  with multiple layers of wall components. 
       FIG. 15  is a perspective view of  FIG. 14  with soil back filled around the egress window well. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The present invention will be described as it applies to its preferred embodiment. It is not intended that the present invention be limited to the described embodiment. It is intended that the invention cover all modifications and alternatives, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention. In a preferred embodiment, the modular egress window well is constructed as three identical planar structures that interlock and connect to a building foundation via termination strips. 
   Now, referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates the preferred embodiment as a modular egress window well  10  having a first side wall  14 , a second side wall  18 , and a front wall  22 .  FIG. 1  illustrates the first side wall  14  and second side wall  18  attaching to termination strips  24 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the front wall  22  interlocks with the first side wall  14  and second side wall  18 . 
     FIG. 3  illustrates another embodiment of a modular egress window well  10  having a first arcuate side wall  16  and a second arcuate side wall  20 .  FIG. 3  illustrates that two arcuate walls  16 ,  20  attaching to termination strips  24  that attach to the foundation of a building. Further, the arcuate side walls  16 ,  20  interlock to form a solid barrier to form a space about a below ground window. The two embodiments described disclose a planar and arcuate rectangular wall to form the necessary side walls to create an egress window well. Other shapes and sizes are contemplated, including shapes with an upper surface  26  and a lower surface  28  that is sinusoidal, scalloped, triangular, and/or of any other fanciful design that can have the reciprocal image formed along the opposite surface (see  FIGS. 5 ,  5 A,  5 B). 
   As shown in  FIG. 5 , the generic modular egress window well wall  12  has an interior surface  30 , exterior surface  32 , upper surface  26 , and a lower surface  28 . The wall  12  further has a first end  34  and second end  36  that consist of a pattern of tenon  38  and notch  40 . The first ends  34  pattern of tenon  38  and notch  40  is the reciprocal of the second ends  36  pattern of tenon  38  and notch  40 . The pattern created by the tenon  38  and notch  40  can vary both by the number of each and the spacing between and still be effective so long as the two ends  34 ,  36  have a reciprocal pattern that facilitates the wall  12  interlocking with each other. 
   A further feature is depicted in  FIG. 6 . A rigid step  42  is shown to be spanning two non-parallel walls  18 ,  22 . The rigid step  42  rests upon the upper surface  26  and engages the interior  30  and exterior  32  surfaces of the two walls  18 ,  22 . The rigid step  42  provides further rigidity to the egress window well  10  as well as provide a stepping surface for providing escape from deeper window wells. 
   To provide for deeper window wells, the modular walls  12  can be stacked on top of one another.  FIG. 7  depicts multiple walls  12  stacked one on top of another to create a deeper well. Depending upon the design of the upper surface  26  and lower  28  surface, the stacked walls  12  may interlock vertically as well as horizontally. 
     FIGS. 8-15  relate to a method of installing a modular egress window well.  FIG. 8  depicts a cross-section of a building foundation  44  and the soil  46  that is adjacent to the foundation  44 .  FIG. 9  shows a hole  48  dug in the soil  46  adjacent to the foundation  44 .  FIG. 9  shows the preferred method of installation. Another method would be the installation of the modular egress window well  10  before soil  46  is placed against the foundation  44  and hence there would be no need of a hole  48 . The size and dimension of the hole  48  is dependent upon the size of the window within the foundation  44  and the desired size of the window well. 
     FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a foundation  44 . Two termination strips  24  are secured to the foundation  44  separated by a space. The first termination strip  24  is secured by glue, nails, screws or other suitable methods to foundation  44 . The second termination strip  24  is also secured to the foundation  44  with the opposite orientation of the tenon  38  and notch  40  pattern. The two termination strips  24  are parallel to each other and are horizontally level with the bottom edge of each aligning with the other. 
   The termination strips  24  can be constructed of any material that provide sufficient rigidity to be formed into a tenon  38  and notch  40  pattern and secure the modular wall  12  to the foundation  44 . Examples of material that could be used to form the termination strip  24  include aluminum and high density plastic. 
     FIG. 10  further depicts a foundation  44  without a window. The egress window well  10  can be installed before or after installation of a window into the foundation  44 . 
     FIG. 11  shows the installation of the first side wall  14  onto the termination strip  24 . The modular wall  12  is constructed of a material sufficiently rigid to retain soil  46  and to be formed with tenon  38  and notch  40 . The walls  12  are constructed of high density plastic in the preferred embodiment but also may be made of high density polyethylene skin in a linear low density polyethylene core. 
     FIG. 12  further illustrates the installation of an egress window well  10  with an insertion of a second side wall  18  into a termination strip  24 .  FIG. 13  shows a front wall  22  interlocking with the first side wall  14  and a second side wall  18 .  FIG. 14  shows a second layer of wall sections  12  having been stacked on top of the first layer of wall sections  12  and terminated unto additional termination strips  24 .  FIG. 15  depicts the egress window well  10  having been backfilled around, thus creating a space within the structure that can be used as an egress in conjunction with a window. 
   A general description of the present invention as well as a preferred embodiment to the present invention has been set forth. Those skilled in the art which the present invention pertains will recognize and be able to practice additional variations in the method and systems described which fall within the teachings of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications and additions are deemed to be within the scope of the invention which is to be limited only by the claims appended hereto.