Abstract:
A frame assembly for a fenestration assembly includes a frame having a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side. A groove is disposed continuously along the first side, the second side, the third side and the fourth side. A one piece reinforcement is disposed within the groove of the frame and a trim assembly positioned over the one piece reinforcement and the frame.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/221,898, filed Sep. 22, 2015, entitled “One Piece Window Reinforcement For Window Frame Assembly” and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relate generally to the construction of fenestration assemblies and in particular to a one piece reinforcement for a frame in a fenestration assembly. 
         [0003]    Window frames may include a hollow profile that is typically filled with multiple pieces of reinforcing material, such as aluminum or steel extrusion, to stiffen the frame. The pieces of reinforcing material, however, are typically separate and the frame may still flex substantially at the corners of the frame. As a result, many existing methods of reinforcement use thick pieces of reinforcing material which may be less energy efficient. 
         [0004]    It would be desirable to provide a method for reinforcing a window or window sash frame that uses a single piece reinforcement that may reduce the frame profile and increase stiffness in the corners of the frame. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In accordance with an embodiment, a frame assembly for a fenestration assembly includes a frame comprising a first side, a second side, a third side, a fourth side and a groove disposed continuously along the first side, the second side, the third side and the fourth side, a one piece reinforcement disposed within the groove of the frame; and a trim assembly positioned over the one piece reinforcement and the frame. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a frame for a window or window sash in accordance with an embodiment; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an exploded or perspective view of the frame of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an embodiment; and 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the frame of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0009]    The following description discusses a frame assembly for a fenestration assembly. While the following description refers to windows, it should be understood that the frame assembly described herein may also be used with other types of fenestration assemblies (e.g., doors). In addition, the frame assembly described herein may be used with any operating style of window such as, for example, casement, single hung, double hung, and horizontal sliding windows. 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a frame for a window or window sash in accordance with an embodiment. Window (or window sash)  18  includes a trim assembly  10  and a frame  14  with rails  22  and stiles  24 . The frame  14  may be constructed from any material suitable for a window such as, for example, wood, vinyl, a composite material, or a plastic material. A glazing (not shown) may be housed within the frame  14 . In various exemplary embodiments, the glazing may include a single piece of glass, double panes of glass, triple panes of glass, or any other number of panes. Frame  14  also includes a one piece reinforcement as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is an exploded or perspective view of the frame of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an embodiment. The frame  14  includes a groove  20 . Groove  20  is continuous along each rail  22  and stile  28  (i.e., along each of the four sides) of the frame  14 . A one piece reinforcement  12  is received within the groove  20 . Spacers  30  are positioned in each corner of the frame  14  between the one piece reinforcement  12  and the frame  14 . The one piece reinforcement  12  acts as a single monolithic structure that stiffens both the sides and corners of the frame rather than having four flexible corners. The one piece reinforcement  12  may be constructed from a material such as, for example, aluminum. In various exemplary embodiments, other components such as tilt latches (not shown) and pivot bars (not shown) may also be integrated into the one piece reinforcement  12 . A trim assembly  10  is positioned over the frame  14  and one piece reinforcement  12  to complete the frame assembly.  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the frame of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an embodiment.  FIG. 3  illustrates the cross section along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . The one piece reinforcement  12  is positioned within the groove  20  of the frame  14 . 
         [0012]    In one embodiment, groove  20  is routed into frame  14 . With standard windows with no reinforcement the components of the frame must have sufficient mass to support the rigidity of the frame and the glazing. The one piece reinforcement allows for enhanced rigidity of the window  18  and glazing assembly with the frame  14  having a smaller width and thickness. Stated another way, for a window without a one piece reinforcement to have the same rigidity of a window with a one piece reinforcement the width and thickness of the frame without the one piece reinforcement must be greater than the width and/or thickness of the frame with a one piece reinforcement. The use of a one piece reinforcement allows the window to have a smaller width and/or thickness than a window without the one piece reinforcement while maintaining the same rigidity or better rigidity than the window without the one piece reinforcement. The smaller frame width and/or thickness allows for greater viewing ratio of glazing to frame thickness. The term rigidity as used herein includes the resistance of the frame to movements when a bending moment, shear, and axial loads are applied to the frame. The greater the rigidity, the greater resistance to movement of the frame to forces applied to the frame included but not limited to the force of gravity applying a bending moment, shear or axial load to the frame. In one embodiment, frame  14  includes a groove  20  that is routed into a single piece of material defining the frame  14  thereby eliminating the need for corner connectors of individual frame members. This aspect in combination with the one piece reinforcement member acts to further increase the rigidity of the finished frame with the one piece reinforcement member. 
         [0013]    It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of the frame assembly as described herein is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present inventions 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 in the claims. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements and vice versa, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present inventions as expressed in the appended claims.