Abstract:
A window assembly creating a multi-pane appearance of a single mounted glazing panel, includes a panel, a frame, a grille and retainer slides slidably mounted on the grille for securely but releasably attaching the grille to the frame. The frame and panel cooperate to define a gap therebetween which is adapted to releasably receive a portion of the retainer slide.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to a window grille, and in particular to an assembly for securing a grille to a frame assembly. 
     The appearance of multi-paned windows are preferred by many people over the single-paned style. However, a multi-paned window structure is more expensive to manufacture and more difficult to clean, paint and otherwise maintain. To alleviate these difficulties, grille units have been developed which overlie a single pane and give the appearance of a multi-paned structure. Further, many prior grille units have been releasably secured to the window frame assembly so that cleaning, staining and other operations may be more easily performed. However, while these type of units lower the cost of fabrication and reduce the maintenance requirements, they have experienced mounting problems. 
     Several ways of releasably attaching the grilles have been designed. The primary alternatives have included: (1) providing fasteners having sharp projections which are forcibly pushed into the window frame; (2) providing fasteners which are fixedly attached to the window frame and secure the grille unit with a snap-fit construction; and (3) providing pins which are inserted into correspondingly drilled holes in the frame. Examples of these structures are disclosed in: U.S. Pat. No. 3,686,814 to Anderson, entitled FALSE WINDOW MUNTIN BAR STRUCTURE; U.S. Pat. No. 4,644,721 to Bloomquist et al., entitled GRILLE FASTENER SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,221,462 to Pomeroy, entitled FASTENER FOR WINDOW STRUCTURES AND THE LIKE HAVING REMOVABLE MULLION UNITS. 
     These systems, however, have many shortcomings. As can be readily appreciated, the structures relying upon the forceful insertion of a sharpened projection are in reality difficult to install. The problem is even further aggravated if a hardwood is used, and cannot be practically employed in connection with a plastic window frame. The attendant piercing also mars and otherwise detracts from the appearance of the frame. The assemblies utilizing a snap-fit fastener require precise manufacturing to ensure that the grille bars accurately align with the attached fasteners. Further, these grilles are often difficult to grasp and remove from the engaged fasteners. The use of pin-hole arrangements also requires precise manufacturing so that the pins align with the corresponding holes. These constructions further tend to be less secure than other structures, since the pins frequently are not positively held within the holes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aforementioned problems are overcome in the present invention, wherein a grille is provided with unique retainer slides which easily and securely, releasably attach the grille to a specially shaped window frame having a recess adjacent the glass. 
     Each grille bar is configured to slidably mount a novel retainer slide on each of its ends. Each slide includes a projecting arm which is adapted for snug receipt within a gap defined between the frame assembly and the glazing panel. 
     This construction enables easy installation and removal of the grille without excessive force or any special skill or tools. Yet, the present structure still securely attaches the grille against unwanted slippage or movement. Further, the present invention ensures easy installation of the grille without the precision manufacturing heretofore required in many systems. This capacity further facilitates a lower cost of fabrication. 
     These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the written specification and appended drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front-elevational view of a window including an attached grille; 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded view of a grille bar and a retainer slide of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the window encircled by line III in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV--IV in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line V--V of FIG. 3 with the slide recessed for installation; 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side-elevational view of an end of one of the grille bars; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line VII--VII in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the retainer slide; 
     FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the retainer slide; and 
     FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the retainer slide. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the preferred embodiment, a window 10 includes a frame 12 mounting a glazing panel 14 and an overlapping grille structure 16. This arrangement may be used in a variety of different window types and styles. One common example is a sliding sash window (FIG. 1). The present structure is equally effective regardless of whether the window is of a plastic or wooden construction. Of course, other materials having the requisite characteristics could also be used. 
     As illustrated, the glazing panel 14 is a double insulated glass panel (FIG. 4) which is secured between an outer frame structure 18 and glazing stop 20 about its entire perimeter. Although virtually any type of panel and frame assembly structure could be used. Glazing stop 20 may be attached to frame structure 18 in the manner disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 113,739, filed Oct. 23, 1987, and entitled INTEGRAL DOOR LIGHT WITH GLAZING STOP, or in any other known manner. As seen in FIG. 4, panel 14 is gripped securely between a pair of opposed mounting surfaces 22, 24 on the frame structure 18 and stop 20, respectively. 
     Glazing stop 20 further includes an inwardly projecting leg 26 having an outer surface 28 contoured for aesthetic appeal and an inner surface 30 spaced from panel 14 to define a continuous gap 32 about the perimeter thereof (FIGS. 4, 5 and 7). Inner surface 30 further has a stepped configuration defined by a distal foot 34 and a recessed face 36. This structure effects a secure mounting of grille 16, as will be described in more detail below. 
     The grille 16 is comprised of a plurality of intersecting vertical and horizontal grille bars 38 (FIG. 1). Grille bars 38 are secured together in any known manner (such as by gluing or nailing) to form an integral grille structure 16 adapted for mounting to frame 12. More specifically, grille bars 38 each include an exterior surface 40 exposed for viewing, an inner surface 42 adapted to engage and lie flush against panel 14, and an end face 44 which is beveled to accommodate leg 26 of glazing stop 20 (FIGS. 2-6). Preferably, when assembled, the exterior surfaces 40 of grille bars 38 are aligned with the exterior surface 46 of glazing stop 20 for visual appeal (FIGS. 4, 5 and 7). 
     The ends 48 of each grille bar 38 are specially configured to slidably mount a retainer slide 50 designed to releasably mount grille 16 to frame 12 (FIGS. 2 and 4-7). More particularly, each end 48 includes a pair of substantially parallel cutouts. First, a slot 52 is defined medially in end 48 by a pair of opposing walls 54, 56 and a stop wall 58. Walls 54, 56 are positioned generally parallel to exterior and inner surfaces 40, 42 of bar 38. Further, slot 52 opens at end face 44 and along each lateral side 60, 62 of grille bar 38. Second, a recess 64, defined by a recessed wall 66 and a shoulder 68, is formed along the inner surface 42. Cutouts 52, 64 cooperate with one another to slidably receive portions of retainer slide 50 for slidable mounting thereof on grille bar 38. 
     Retainer slides 50 (FIGS. 2 and 8-10) each include a pair of parallel side panels 70, 72 spaced apart so that their inner faces 74, 76 matingly receive sides 60, 62 of the grille bar 38 to which it is mounted (FIG. 3). Side panels 70, 72 are interconnected by a bridge 78 and a projecting arm 80. Bridge 78 is fixedly attached to inner faces 74, 76 near the top edges 82, 84 of panels 70, 72. Preferably, bridge 78 has a shallow, U-shaped cross-sectional configuration for additional strength (FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 7 and 9), although virtually any shape could be used. Arm 80 is also fixedly attached to inner faces 74, 76 near bottom edges 86, 88 of panels 70, 72. Arm 80 extends beyond front edges 90, 92 of panels 70, 72 to facilitate its receipt within gap 32 (FIGS. 4 and 7), as discussed below. 
     Each slide 50 is mounted to a grille bar 38 by receiving bridge 78 in slot 52 and arm 80 in recess 64 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 7). Further, bottom edges 86, 88 of side panels 70, 72 are positioned in alignment with inner surface 42 of the corresponding grille bar 38 and therefore are to be engaged flush against panel 14 when grille 16 is installed. This engagement of bottom edges 86, 88 with panel 14 acts to hold the slide 50 steadily in its proper orientation. Additionally, top edges 82, 84 of side panels 70, 72, are preferably recessed below exterior surface 40 of the corresponding grille bar 38 to reduce the visual impact of slide 50. Moreover, in the most preferred embodiment, slides 50 are composed of a transparent plastic material so that they are not readily detected by the casual observer. Also, similarly to end face 44, front edges 90, 92 are beveled along their outer portions to accommodate the projecting leg 26 of glazing stop 20 (FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 7 and 9). 
     When attaching grille 16 to frame 12, all of the slides 50 are retracted until bridge 78 and arm 80 engage stop wall 58 and shoulder 68, respectively (FIG. 5). In this position, projecting arm 80 is completely received within recess 64 to thereby avoid causing interference with glazing stop 20 during the placement of grille 16 against panel 14. Once grille 16 engages panel 14, slides 50 are individually grasped along the outer faces 94, 96 of side panels 70, 72, and manually extended until arm 80 is securely inserted within gap 32 (FIGS. 4 and 7). The continuous nature of gap 32 obviates misalignment problems encountered in many prior art devices as discussed above. 
     Arms 80 of slides 50 function to secure and hold grille 16 in place. Each arm 80 is essentially a rectangular plate having a pair of side walls 101, 103 which are interconnected by a fixed end 105 and a free end 107 (FIGS. 2 and 8-10). More specifically, arm 80 is fixedly secured to panels 70, 72 along its side walls 101, 103 in a cantilevered manner, such that approximately one-half of the arm extends forwardly beyond the inner portions of front edges 90, 92. The free end 107 of arm 80 is rolled over to form an engagement pad 109 adapted to engage panel 14 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 7). Pad 109 is substantially coplanar with bottom edges 86, 88 of side panels 70, 72 and offset slightly beyond the inner surface 111 of arm 80. This arrangement defines a small gap 113 between inner surface 111 and panel 14. The rolled shape of free end 107 provides an arcuate corner 115 which aids in the insertion of arm 80 within gap 32. 
     In attaching a grille bar 38 to frame 12, the bar is first placed against panel 14 such that interior surface 42, bottom edges 86, 88 and pad 109 are engaged flush thereagainst (FIG. 5). Slide 50 is then slid forwardly so that free end 107 of arm 80 engages the distal foot 34 of leg 26. The outer surface 117 of arm 80 is spaced slightly farther from panel 14 than the mounting face 119 of foot 34. Consequently, upon moving slide 50 further forward, a friction fit causes the mounting face 119 to tightly engage outer surface 117. This forward movement is continued until front edges 90, 92 of panels 70, 72 abuttingly engage glazing stop 20 (FIGS. 4 and 7). 
     Once arm 80 has been fully inserted within gap 32, pad 109 extends past foot 34 and into the enlarged portion 121 of gap 32. Under the pressure of foot 34, arm 80 flexes slightly into a bowed configuration (as shown in an exaggerated manner in FIGS. 4 and 7). This flexing enhances the interference fit of arm 80 in gap 32. Yet, while arm 80 is thereby securely held against inadvertent release from gap 32, it can still be easily removed therefrom by retracting the slide 50 into slot 52 and recess 64. 
     The above description is that of a preferred embodiment of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as set forth in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principals of patent law, including the doctrine of equivalents.