Abstract:
One embodiment of the invention relates to an apparatus for a window frame. The apparatus includes a window frame having a lower frame portion; a window glazing supported by the lower frame portion; a glazing bead; and at least two connectors operatively connecting the glazing bead to the lower frame. The connectors are spaced apart defining a fluid pathway allowing fluid to escape from the lower frame.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    None. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to the field of window construction. Some window designs include a frame that houses the glazing of the window and a glazing bead that couples to the frame to enclose the glazing and provide decorative features. When the window is installed in a building, the outer glazing bead faces the exterior of the building. Water or other fluids or debris may collect in interior spaces of the frame between the frame, glazing, and glazing bead. It would be advantageous to provide drainage for a window frame with inconspicuous outlets. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    One embodiment of the invention relates to an apparatus for a window frame. The apparatus includes a window frame having a lower frame portion; a window glazing supported by the lower frame portion; a glazing bead; and at least two connectors operatively connecting the glazing bead to the lower frame. The connectors are spaced apart defining a fluid pathway allowing fluid to escape from the lower frame. 
         [0004]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, appended claims, and the accompanying exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, which are briefly described below. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is an isometric section view of a window, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the glazing bead for the window of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a section view of the window of  FIG. 1 , taken generally along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an isometric section view of the window of  FIG. 1  with a portion of the glazing bead removed. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a detailed isometric view of the window of  FIG. 2 , taken generally along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a left side view of the window of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a window  10  includes a frame  11  surrounding at least one pane of glazing or glass  18 . Window  10  will be described herein as a generally rectangular frame including a lower frame portion  12  and a side frame portion  14  that is angled relative to lower frame portion  12 . Window  10  may further include a second side frame portion and an upper frame portion, not shown in  FIG. 1 . According to a preferred embodiment, window  10  is a rectangular body with a horizontal lower frame portion  12 , a horizontal upper frame portion, and two vertical side frame portions  14 . 
         [0013]    Lower frame portion  12  and side frame portion  14  may be made of wood, a vinyl material, a composite material, a plastic material, an aluminum material, a steel material, an combination thereof, or any other material suitable for a window. As shown in  FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment, the components of frame are formed with an extrusion process from a suitable material such as a metal (e.g., aluminum, etc.) or a polymer (e.g., vinyl, etc.). 
         [0014]    According to various exemplary embodiments, glazing  18  may include a single pane of glass, double panes of glass, triple panes of glass or any other number of panes. Any space between multiple panes of glass  18  may be filled with air, argon, krypton, a vacuum, or any other substance. Glazing  18  may be made of any type of glass material (e.g., soda lime glass, alkali silicate glass, etc.) of any thickness and may include any features of past, present, or future design (e.g., a low-E coating, lamination, tinting, impact resistance, shatter resistance, etc.) Glazing  18  may also be formed of any other type of window material such as plastic. 
         [0015]    A glazing bead  20  is coupled to frame  11  around the periphery of glazing  18 . Glazing bead  20  is configured to secure glazing  18  in frame  11  and may also be designed as a decorative trim element to provide a pleasing appearance. Glazing bead  20  may be formed from a material used to form frame  11  such as wood, a vinyl material, a composite material, a plastic material, an aluminum material, a steel material, a combination thereof, or any other suitable material. 
         [0016]    According to an exemplary embodiment, glazing bead  20  may include a flexible lip  21  to create a better seal against the surface of glazing  18 . Flexible lip  21  may be formed of the same material as the main body of glazing bead  20  and be flexible because of a reduced thickness or may be a different material that is coextruded, applied as a coating, or otherwise coupled to the main body of glazing bead  20 . 
         [0017]    Glazing bead  20  may comprise several individual elements or may be a single, continuous element that is shaped (e.g., by bending) to extend about the periphery of glazing  18 . Referring to the exploded view in  FIG. 2 , according to one exemplary embodiment, glazing bead  20  includes a lower glazing bead  22  and a side glazing bead  24 . Similar to frame  11 , glazing bead  20  further includes a second side glazing bead and an upper glazing bead not shown. 
         [0018]    Referring still to  FIGS. 1-3 , glazing bead  20  includes a front surface  26  (e.g., first surface, vertical surface, etc.) and a beveled surface  28  (e.g., second surface, angled surface, etc.). According to an exemplary embodiment, lower glazing bead  22  and side glazing bead  24  are coupled together to form a faux-butt joint  30 . Faux-butt joint  30  appears to an observer to be a butt joint (e.g., a joint with the components meeting at a face normal to the front face), however, referring to  FIG. 3 , lower glazing bead  22  includes an angled cut  32  that is configured to mate with beveled surface  28  of side glazing bead  24 . Coupling lower glazing bead  22  and side glazing bead  24  along the angled mating surface between angled cut  32  and beveled surface  28  facilitates forming a better seal by increasing the area of contact between lower glazing bead  22  and side glazing bead  24 . 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , connectors  40  are provided to couple glazing bead  20  to frame  11 . Connectors  40  are generally flat, elongated members that are received in a slot  15  in frame  11  and a slot  25  in glazing bead  20 . In one embodiment connectors  40  are continuous along the upper frame portion and side frame portions  14 . The continuous connectors  40  secured to the upper frame portion and side frame portions connect the glazing bead  20  and connect on the upper frame portion and side frame portions provide a water shed or seal to prevent leaks. However, in one embodiment multiple connectors  40  may be used along the bottom of lower frame portion  12 . The length, number, and spacing of connectors  40  may be varied based on the requirements of frame (e.g., the force needed to retain glazing  18 , etc.). The spacing between connectors  40  along the lower frame portion  12  on the exterior provides the route through which fluid may exit. Connectors  40  are also provided to couple an interior covering  92  to an interior surface of the frame. Note that connectors  40  on the lower frame portion  12  on the interior side of the frame that connect covering  92  need provide spacing. A continuous connector  40  may be used on the interior lower frame portion  12  to connect covering  92 . Interior covering  92  may be formed of wood, wood composite, plastic, fiberglass, vinyl or other decorative covering material. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a portion of window  10  is illustrated in greater detail, according to an exemplary embodiment. Connector  40  is configured for mating with frame  11  and glazing bead  20  with one or more barbs  42 . Either end of connector  40  includes multiple flexible barbs  42  (e.g., flaps, protrusions, fins, etc.) to aid in mating with frame  11  and glazing bead  20 . Barbs  42  may extend from either or both faces of connector  40 . As shown, barbs  42  are angled away from the distal edges of connector  40  relative to the main body of connector  40 . 
         [0021]    Slots  15  and  25  are sized such that barbs  42  are compressed and otherwise deformed when connector  40  is inserted into slot  15  and/or slot  25 . The distortion of barbs  42  when connector  40  is inserted into slots  15  and  25  is resisted by an outward biasing force. The outward force provided by barbs  42  retains connector  40  in slots  15  and  25  and therefore couples glazing bead  20  to frame  11  and to secure glazing  18  in frame  11 . The retaining force of barbs  42  is sufficient to overcome opposing forces such as the weight of glazing bead  20 , wind, rain, etc. However, the retain force provided by barbs  42  can be overcome by a sufficient outward force, allowing glazing bead  20  to be removed for maintenance or replacement. 
         [0022]    While barbs  42  are shown as being generally planar members of a single size and relative orientation, many variations are possible while still providing sufficient force for coupling frame  11  and glazing bead  20 . For example, instead of a continuous body extending the length of connector  40 , barb  42  may comprise several discrete elements. Barbs  42  may be oriented at a different angle or may have a different cross-sectional shape (e.g., triangular, rounded, etc.). Barbs  42  may vary in size on either side of connector to mate with slots of different sizes in frame  11  and glazing bead  20 . Further, barbs  42  may vary in size between the top and bottom faces of connector  40 . 
         [0023]    The main body of connector  40  and barbs  42  may be made of different materials and integrally formed with a suitable process such as coextrusion. According to various exemplary embodiments, barbs  42  may be made of flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), flexible urethane, a rubber based material, or a similar flexible extruded material. According to various exemplary embodiments, connector  40  may be made of PVC, polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), or any other rigid extrudable material. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , an end view window  10  is shown according to an exemplary embodiment, showing the structure below glazing  18 . Lower frame portion  12  may be a substantially hollow body (e.g., formed as an extruded aluminum or vinyl body, etc.) defined at least partially by an top face  60 , a first wall  62 , a first shelf  64 , a second wall  66 , a second shelf  68 , and a third wall  70 . Lower frame portion may further include an interior wall  72  extending along the inside face of glazing  18 . Wall  72  provides a physical stop that helps to secure and locate glazing  18  in frame  11 . 
         [0025]    Glazing  18  is generally supported above top face  60  of lower frame portion  12  with support structures or spacers. Below the lower edge of glazing  18  is formed an open volume  50  (e.g., space, chamber, cavity, etc.), which is substantially enclosed by lower frame portion  12  and glazing bead  20 . Volume  50  is generally defined by glazing  18 , glazing bead  20  and top face  60  and wall  72  of lower frame portion  12 . 
         [0026]    While the seal formed around glazing  18  by glazing bead  20  prevents the majority of water from passing through, moisture may still enter volume  50 . For example, moist air may enter volume  50 , allowing water to condense in volume  50 . A glazing compound  56  is placed between glazing bead  20  and glazing  18  to secure glazing bead  20  to glazing  18 . Glazing compound may include other materials and/or tape known in the art including but not limited to silicon compound, one hundred percent silicon, or a hot melt material. Wall  72  prevents water from flowing out of volume  50  into the interior space of the building or enclosure including window  10 . Glazing compound  56  is also located between wall  72  and glazing  18 . Glazing compound  56  assists in keeping water from entering the interior of the structure as well as from entering the interior of frame regions  50  and  86 . 
         [0027]    To allow water, other fluids, or debris to exit volume  50 , flow paths  54  are formed by the components of window  10 . Flow paths  54  are formed by the arrangement of lower frame portion  12 , glazing bead  20 , and connectors  40  and does not require any additional openings (e.g., channels, holes, slots, etc.) to be formed in components. The weep or exit of flow paths  54  is provided inconspicuously between the lower edge  84  of glazing bead  20  and lower frame portion  12 . 
         [0028]    According to an exemplary embodiment, flow path  54  is formed between glazing bead  20  and lower frame portion  12 . Connectors  40  couple glazing bead  20  to lower frame portion  12  such that glazing bead  20  creates a seal against glazing  18  while maintaining a separation  52  from first wall  62  of lower frame portion  12 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , instead of a single component extending the entire length of lower frame portion  12 , connectors  40  are provided as multiple, separate components separated by gaps  56 . Flow path  54  extends between glazing bead  20  and lower frame portion  12  through gaps  56  between connectors  40 . 
         [0029]    A second volume  80  is formed between lower frame portion  12  and glazing bead  20  below first volume  50 . Volume  80  is generally defined by first wall  62  and first shelf  64  of lower frame portion  12  and glazing bead  20 . After flowing out of volume  50 , fluids and debris enter volume  80 . Glazing bead  20  is coupled to lower frame portion  12  by connectors  40  such that a gap  82  is formed between the lower edge  84  of glazing bead  20  and first shelf  66  of lower frame portion  12 . Gap  82  is the only portion of flow path  54  that is visible when window  10  is assembled and installed. 
         [0030]    Flow path  54  directs fluids and debris out of the interior of window  10  without entering lower frame portion  12 . Fluids and debris are allowed to escape volume  80  through gap  62 , flow down second wall  66  of lower frame portion  12 , over second shelf  68 , down a third wall  70 , and escape into the exterior environment. Top face  60 , first shelf  64 , and second shelf  68  of lower frame portion  12  may be pitched or angled to facilitate the flow of fluids and debris to the exterior space. 
         [0031]    Volumes  50  and  80  and flow paths  54  direct any fluids or debris that may collect in the interior of window  10  to the exterior space, reducing the likelihood of damage to window  10  caused by the fluids or debris (e.g., by expansion of freezing water, etc.). The formation of flow paths  54  by the arrangement of components is advantageous because openings formed in components can be obstructed by debris, reducing the ability of fluids to escape volume  50 . Further, openings formed in components of window  10  to create flow paths may require additional manufacturing steps (e.g., machining, stamping, etc.), increasing manufacturing time and cost of window  10 . 
         [0032]    A third volume  86  is located below first volume  50  and second volume  80  and is sealed such that no water is permitted to enter into volume  86 . Third volume  86  is formed by top face  60 , first wall  62 , first shelf  64 , a second wall  66 , a second shelf  68 , a third wall  70 , a bottom wall  88  and a fourth wall  90 . 
         [0033]    For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” means the joining of two components directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally defined as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components or the two components and any additional member being attached to one another. Such joining may be permanent in nature or alternatively may be removable or releasable in nature. 
         [0034]    While window  10  is described as rectangular body, in other exemplary embodiments, window  10  and glazing  18  may differently shaped and still include construction that provides an inconspicuous weep. For example, window  10  may be square, another polygonal shape (e.g., hexagonal, octagonal, etc) or rounded. Regardless of the overall shape of window  10 , the lower portion of frame  11  and glazing bead  20  may be arranged such flow paths are formed to allow fluids and debris to flow out of the lower portion of window  10 . 
         [0035]    The arrangement and construction of the frame members and glazing bead for window  10  provides an inconspicuous weep that can be adapted to many other styles of windows. While window  10  is shown in the FIGURES as a picture window frame, in other embodiments, window  10  may be of another construction, such as a casement window, a double hung window, or a bay window. 
         [0036]    The present disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, however, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. For example, although different example embodiments may have been described as including one or more features providing one or more benefits, it is contemplated that the described features may be interchanged with one another or alternatively be combined with one another in the described example embodiments or in other alternative embodiments. Because the technology of the present disclosure is relatively complex, not all changes in the technology are foreseeable. The present disclosure described with reference to the example is manifestly intended to be as broad as possible. For example, unless specifically otherwise noted a single particular element may also encompass a plurality of such particular elements. 
         [0037]    It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the system as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a certain number of embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. 
         [0038]    Further, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the assemblies may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connectors or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment or attachment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present subject matter.