Abstract:
The invention is a window glazing assembly having a series of segmented and non-segmented intersecting muntins for supporting glass panes. The non-segmented muntins incorporate a continuous carbon fiber insert that is disposed interior of the non-segmented muntin which rests directly against a perimeter edge of the glass panes. The glazing assembly safely disperses wind load or other forces acting against the glass panes.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/840,960 filed on Aug. 30, 2006. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Historic landmark criteria require the wooden sash and doors of designated buildings be fabricated using traditional techniques and construction materials. These traditional construction methods, although aesthetically pleasing and architecturally correct, do not provide adequate wind load and impact resistance. Because building codes in many states now require door and window assembly to meet specific hurricane resistance requirements, a need has existed in the art for a glazing system that meets historic landmarks requirements in terms of construction methods and traditional materials yet at the same time provide hurricane level wind load and impact resistance. The present invention is an effort to meet those needs. 
   The present invention relates to window and door structures and in particular, an improved muntin assembly for securing and sealing glass panes within a window or door frame. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to window glazing assembly for supporting and separating a series of individual panes of glass within the sash or a window or door, the assembly comprises a series of continuous exterior muntin bars adapted to extend from one end of the sash to an opposite end and a series of cooperating interior muntin cap operatively associated with the exterior muntin bar to support a plurality of windowpanes. One edge of the exterior muntin bar is received within the interior muntin cap to form a connection. A carbon fiber insert having a channel portion is disposed between the exterior muntin bar and the interior of the muntin cap. The carbon fiber insert includes at least one flange member adapted to contact the peripheral edge of a windowpane to be supported so that any wind load or impact against the windowpane is caused to be damped or otherwise transmitted away from the windowpane in a safe manner. The assembly includes a series of segmented muntins that cooperate with and are interconnected at right angles to continuous exterior muntin bars with interior caps. A separate carbon fiber insert is provided adjacent the stile and rail members of the sash. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an elevation of the exterior of a window provided with the glazing system of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an alternative embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of the carbon fiber reinforcing channel of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 4B  is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the carbon fiber reinforcing channel according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded view showing the interconnection between the vertical and horizontal muntin bars of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a window glazing assembly of the type as generally shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,301,852, the relevant portions of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a window W fitted with a divided light glazing assembly according to the present invention. The present invention is applicable to a variety of window and door constructions as would be apparent to one of skill in the art. 
   Window W includes a peripheral frame member comprising a top rail  1 , bottom rail  3  and stiles  7  and  9  interconnected in the known manner. Also shown are intersecting vertical muntins VM and horizontal muntins HM extending across the window frame. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates assembly details regarding a horizontal muntin HM which includes an exterior muntin member  2  having a shaped face  4  and an integral bar portion  6 . A cooperating interior muntin member  14  having a shaped face receives post member  6  within a slot cut into the interior muntin member  14  to provide a channel for receiving and retaining exterior glass pane  8 , interior glass panes  12  and seal member  10 . Bottom rail  3  of window W is provided with an exterior muntin face  18  formed or otherwise cut into the rail and a separate interior glazing stop  16 . 
   A carbon fiber insert  20  is provided between the end of bar portion  6  and the slot formed within the interior muntin member  14 . A screw assembly is provided to secure the interior muntin member  14  and the carbon fiber insert  20  against glass pane  12  as best shown in  FIG. 2 . A removable muntin cap is provided over the screw head. As is apparent, other methods of securing the carbon fiber insert within the muntin assembly to hold the glass panes in place are within the scope of the present invention. 
   As best shown in  FIG. 4A , the carbon fiber insert  20  has a generally hat-shaped configuration in cross section and a central channel portion  22  for reinforcing the interconnection between interior muntin member  14  and bar portion  6 . Carbon fiber insert  20  is provided with a pair of flange members  24  and  26  that extend from each side of the central channel portion  22  and which, when assembled within the horizontal muntin HM, rest directly against a pane of glass  12  to support the glass and to distribute load throughout the perimeter edge of the glass and into the glazing stop or muntin in the event the glass is subjected to high winds or impact. 
   In the case of the horizontal muntin HM shown in  FIG. 2 , the carbon fiber insert has a length extending continuously from stile  7  to stile  9 . In an embodiment where the carbon fiber insert is provided within a vertical muntin VM, the carbon fiber insert  20  will have a length extending from the top rail  1  to bottom rail  3 . 
   As best shown in  FIG. 2 , a second carbon fiber insert  28  is interfitted between a glazing stop  16  and a perimeter edge of a glass pane  12  when the horizontal muntin HM is adjacent rail  3 . As is apparent, a second carbon fiber insert  28  is likewise adapted for interconnection with a stile (not shown) in the event carbon fiber insert  20  is provided within a vertical muntin adjacent the stile. The second carbon fiber insert  28  is shown in  FIG. 4B  to have a generally angular S-shaped configuration and will have a length extending the full width of the window frame between stile  7  and stile  9 . 
   Turning to  FIG. 2 , second carbon fiber insert  28  can be seen to comprise a first flange  30  that engages a perimeter edge of glass pane  12  to secure the glass pane and to distribute any load on the glass pane in the same manner as is accomplished with respect to carbon fiber insert  20 . 
   Second carbon fiber insert  28  further includes a central portion  32  and a downwardly extending flange  34  that is fitted within a slot cut within rail  3 . An interior glazing stop  16  is fitted over the second carbon fiber channel  28  and secured using an adhesive or some means such as a screw or other connector. 
   As is apparent, a carbon fiber channel will typically be provided within each horizontal muntin HM of the window frame shown in  FIG. 1  so that at least two opposing glass edges of each glass pane is provided with the load support afforded by the present invention. It is of course within the scope of the present invention to provide the carbon fiber insert within each of the vertical muntins VM and the stiles rather than the horizontal muntins HM and the rails  1  and  3 . 
   The location of the carbon fiber insert within the muntins of a window will sometimes depend upon the dimensions of the window in order that the most effective reinforcement and load distribution is achieved. For example, a window having a substantially greater width than height might dispose the carbon fiber inserts of the present invention within the vertical muntins in an effort to most effectively distribute load and impact forces that may occur against that glass pane. 
   Turning  FIG. 3 , a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment flitch plates or reinforcing bars  36  and  38  are provided. The flitch plate may be constructed from any rigid material including but not limited to stainless steel. 
   The horizontal muntin HM shown in  FIG. 3  is similar to that shown in  FIG. 2  but employs a flitch plate  36  rather than a bar portion  6 . In this embodiment, the exterior muntin member  2  having a shaped face  4  is identical to the interior muntin member  14  and each includes a slot which receives an opposite side of the flitch plate  38  to provide a channel for receiving the glass panes in the manner shown. 
   A carbon fiber insert  20  is disposed between one side of the flitch plate  38  and the slot formed within the interior muntin member  14 . As is apparent, the exterior muntin  2  may also be provided with an insert  20  or it alone may receive the insert depending upon the nature of the application and the desired load and impact resistance. 
   A screw assembly is provided to connect the interior muntin member  14  to the flitch plate and to secure the carbon fiber insert  20  against a glass pane  12  in the manner shown in  FIG. 3 . A removable muntin cap is provided over the screw head. As is apparent, other methods of securing the carbon fiber insert within the muntin assembly to hold the glass panes in place are within the scope of the present invention. A screw assembly is also provided to connect the exterior muntin member  2  to the flitch plate  36  so that the glass panes are secured in the manner as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   The carbon fiber insert  20  has a generally hat-shaped configuration in cross section and a central channel portion  22  for reinforcing the interconnection between interior muntin member  14  and the flitch plate  36 . A pair of flange members  24  and  26  extend from each side of the central channel portion  22  and rest against the glass panes so that load and impact forces against the glass are uniformly and effectively distributed without damage to the glass. 
   A second flitch plate  38  is provided within a recess  40  cut within the bottom rail  3  and the second flitch plate is secured by a countersunk screw as shown. A second carbon fiber insert  28  is provided and comprises a first flange  30  that engages a perimeter edge of glass pane  12  to secure the glass pane and to distribute any load on the glass pane in the same manner as earlier described with respect to  FIG. 2 . The second carbon fiber insert  28  includes a central portion  32  ( FIG. 4B ) and a downwardly extending flange  34  fitted within a slot that is cut within rail  3 . The central portion  32  and the flange  34  contact one side of the flitch plate  38 . An interior glazing stop is fitted over the second carbon fiber insert  28  and is secured with an adhesive or some means such as a screw or other connector. 
     FIG. 5  illustrates the manner in which the segmented vertical muntins VM interconnect with the continuous horizontal muntin HM shown in  FIG. 2 . The segmented vertical muntins VM extend along the vertical axis of the window frame and intersect the bar portion  6  and the muntin faces  2  and  14  of the horizontal muntin HM at right angles so as to provide a glazing for glass panels (not shown). As is apparent, the segmented muntins may be arranged within a window frame in a variety of configurations and locations depending upon the design of the window. 
   Each segmented vertical muntin VM comprises an interior muntin portion  48  and exterior muntin member  50  having a bar portion  52  adapted to interfit a slot extending within muntin portion  48 . The end of the segmented vertical muntin VM is provided with a tenon  54  configured to interfit a passageway  56  extending within bar portion  6  of horizontal muntin HM. As is apparent, each end of muntin portion  48  and muntin member  50  is shaped so as to uniformly insect the exterior faces of shaped muntin face  4  and interior muntin member  14  as is known in the art. 
   In a similar manner, the segmented vertical muntin VM shown situated below the horizontal muntin HM comprises an interior muntin portion  58  and exterior muntin member  60  having a bar portion  62  adapted to interfit a slot  64  extending within muntin portion  58 . The end of the lower segmented vertical muntin VM is also provided with a tenon  66  configured to interfit passageway  56  that extends within bar portion  6  of the horizontal muntin HM. Each end of muntin portion  58  and muntin member  60  is shaped to provide a clean interfit against the exterior faces of the shaped muntin face  4  and interior muntin member  14 . 
   Other approaches for attaching the segmented muntin the horizontal muntin are within the scope of the present invention so long as the locking system may be readily disassembled. For example, a pin or dowel may be employed. 
   As is apparent, the ends of the segmented vertical muntins VM adjacent the top rail  3  and bottom rail  7  may be secured to the top or bottom rail in any manner, including, but not limited to, a mortise and tenon interlock, pins, dowels or a bar plate countersunk within the rail or stile to which the end of the muntin VM is secured. 
   The glazing assembly of the present invention meets history landmark provisions and other design parameters that require manufacturers to maintain specific material use and fabrication methods while at the same time providing increased structural and impact resistance performance beyond that available from traditional wooden sash and door components and fabrication methods. 
   The present invention enhances the structural support of a conventional wooden sash and door divided light muntin assembly so that the panes of glass held by the muntin meet wind load and impact resistance standards yet also enable easy extraction of the glazing stops when replacement of the glass is desired. 
   The present invention solves a problem inherent in traditional mortise and tenon wood joinery; namely, the inability of such structures to withstand a high degree of wind load and impact resistance regardless of the type of wood used in the construction. The carbon fiber inserts  20  and  28  of the present invention effectively transmit any load and impact forces occurring against the glass away from the glass so as to prevent damage to the glass. The use of a bar portion or flitch plate inserted within a cooperating muntin in combination with a carbon fiber insert at that interconnection provides superior resistance to load and impact forces occurring against the glass. The present invention allows individual panes of insulating glass to be subjected to maintenance or replaced without having to also replace the entire wooden sash or door leaf. 
   While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, it is understood that it is capable of further modifications, and uses and/or adaptations following in general the principle of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the central features hereinbefore set forth and within the scope of the invention.