Patent Publication Number: US-2017355156-A1

Title: Method for Repairing Vinyl Window Frames

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/348,191 filed on Jun. 10, 2016. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method for repairing vinyl. More specifically, the present invention provides a method for recovering a vinyl window frame. 
     Many window frames are composed of a vinyl material, which can be substantially damaged. Such damage, if not properly addressed, can lead to further problems, such as allowing leaks to pass therethrough, or the accumulation of insects within the vinyl frame itself. One option to deal with the damage is to replace the entire window frame, however such an action could be unnecessary, leading to unwarranted expenses. Therefore, a method of repairing vinyl window frames that doesn&#39;t require a complete replacement of the window frame is provided. 
     In light of the devices disclosed in the known art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the known art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing vinyl repair methods. In this regard, the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known methods of repairing vinyl frames now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a method of repairing vinyl frames wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when repairing vinyl window frames. 
     The present system comprises a method for recovering vinyl window frames comprising identifying damages in an existing vinyl frame having a plurality of planes, wherein the damages exist in at least one plane. The area of the existing vinyl frame to be covered is then measured. A template is created by securing pre-cut plates together such that a gap is formed sufficient to allow the pre-cut plates to bend about the gaps to conform to each plane of the existing vinyl frame. The template is then used to guide the user in marking the cuts to be made in the replacement cover. The replacement cover is then cut to duplicate the existing vinyl frame, and then applied over the existing vinyl frame. 
     In some embodiments, the edges of the replacement cover are sanded to provide a blended appearance with the existing vinyl frame. In yet other embodiments, weep holes are cut into the replacement cover. In some embodiments, the replacement cover is painted to match the color of the existing vinyl frame. In yet other embodiments, the replacement cover is sealed by applying silicone along the edges of the replacement cover. In some embodiments, grooves are cut in the replacement cover to provide flexibility. In yet other embodiments, the replacement cover is bent along those grooves to conform to the shape of the existing vinyl frame. In some embodiments, the replacement cover is secured to the existing vinyl frame by at least one adhesive. In yet other embodiments, the adhesives used include silicone and cyanoacrylate. In some embodiments, the area to be covered is measured by applying tape to the area and cutting the applied tape to the shape and size of the area to be covered. In yet other embodiments, the tape is then removed and used as a guide for the cuts to be made to the replacement cover. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the template being used to approximate the shape of the existing vinyl frame. 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the template being used to mark cuts to be made into the replacement cover. 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the vinyl frame being measured with tape. 
         FIG. 4A  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the replacement cover with a groove. 
         FIG. 4B  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the replacement cover being bent along the groove. 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the replacement cover being applied to the existing vinyl frame. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the method of repairing vinyl frames. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the template being used to approximate the shape of the existing vinyl frame. An existing vinyl frame  11  comprises a plurality of planes  12 . In the present invention, a template  13  is used to form the shape of an existing vinyl frame  11  that has been damaged, such that the damaged portion of the vinyl frame can be recovered without having to replace the entire window frame. The template  13  comprises a combination of pre-cut plates  14  secured together such that a gap  15  is formed. In the illustrated embodiment, the pre-cut plates  14  are secured together via an adhesive strip. The template  13  is adapted to bend about the gap  15  such that the template  13  can conform to the shape of the existing vinyl frame  11 . The gap  15  extends the entire length of the pre-cut plates  14 . The width of the gap  15  is at least as large as the thickness of the pre-cut plates  14 . In this way, the template  13  is free to bend about the gap  15  without the pre-cut plates  14  interfering with the movement thereof. Each of the pre-cut plates  14  are adapted to rest flush against each of the plurality of planes  12 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the template being used to mark cuts to be made into the replacement cover. The template  13  is placed on a vinyl sheet  20  to determine where cuts should be made to create a replacement cover (shown in  FIG. 4, 16 ). Cut markings  17  are made on the vinyl sheet  20  following along the base of each of the pre-cut plates  14 . In this way, the gap  15  and the base of the template  13  are marked to designate where the vinyl sheet  20  should be cut to duplicate the section of the existing vinyl frame  11  to be covered. In other embodiments, a weep hole (shown in  FIG. 5, 19 ) is cut into the vinyl sheet  20 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the vinyl frame being measured using tape. In the illustrated embodiment, tape  21  is applied to the portion of the existing vinyl frame  11  that the user wishes to recover to measure the area to be covered. In some embodiments, after the tape  21  is cut to the same size and shape of the existing vinyl frame  11  to be covered, the tape  21  is removed and used to outline further cuts to be made in the vinyl sheet. In the illustrated embodiment, the tape  21  comprises a series of individual strips layered on top of each other creating a single sheet of connected tape  21 . If a weep hole  19  is present in the existing vinyl frame  11 , the tape  21  can be cut to indicate the location of the weep hole  19  to be marked when cutting the vinyl sheet. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the replacement cover with a groove and a perspective view of an embodiment of the replacement cover being bent along the groove, respectively. The vinyl sheet is cut along the cut markings such that it can conform to the shape of the existing vinyl frame and rest flush against each of the plurality of planes. In some embodiments, a groove  18  is created in the replacement cover  16  along the marking designated by the gap in the template. The groove  18  is cut by making a shallow cut along the length of the vinyl sheet and extends along the length of the replacement cover  16 . The groove  18  allows the replacement cover  16  to be bent about the groove  18  such that the replacement cover  16  can rest flush against the plurality of planes. In the illustrated embodiment, the replacement cover  16  comprises an upper section  22  and a lower section  23 , wherein the upper and lower sections  22 ,  23  are disposed on opposing sides of the groove  18 . The replacement cover  16  further comprises a front side  24  having the groove  18  disposed thereon, and a rear side  25 , wherein the rear side  25  comprises a planar surface. In this way, the rear side  25  represents the visible surface when the replacement cover  16  is applied to the existing vinyl frame. In some embodiments, the replacement cover  16  comprises multiple grooves  18 , such that the replacement cover  16  can rest flush against an existing vinyl frame having at least three planes. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the replacement cover being applied to the existing vinyl frame. The replacement cover  16  is applied to the plurality of planes  12 . In some embodiments, the replacement cover  16  is secured to the plurality of planes  12  by at least one adhesive. In some embodiments, the replacement cover  16  is secured to the plurality of planes  12  by silicone and cyanoacrylate, such that the cyanoacrylate provides a fast adherence, and the silicone provides a long term securing solution that expands and contracts in response to changes in the temperature of the environment. In another embodiment, an adhesive film is applied over the replacement cover  16  after it is installed. The adhesive film provides protection to paint applied and serves to reinforce the replacement cover  16  about the groove. In yet other embodiments, the edges of the replacement cover  16  are sanded to be thinner and appear to blend with the plurality of planes  12 . In some embodiments, the replacement cover  16  is painted to match the color of the existing vinyl frame. In yet other embodiments, silicone is applied along the edges of the replacement cover  16  to seal it against the environment. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , in one use, the user examines the existing vinyl frame  11  for damage. Upon finding damage in at least one plane of the plurality of planes  12 , the user measures the area of the existing vinyl frame  11  that must be covered to remedy the damage. In one embodiment, the measurement process includes taping the section of the existing vinyl frame  11  to be covered. This tape is cut to take on the shape of the section to be covered. The user then removes the tape to use as a guide when cutting the replacement cover  16  to duplicate the section of the existing vinyl frame  11  to be covered. A template  13  is created using a selection of pre-cut plates  14 . The pre-cut plates  14  are adapted to approximate the shape and size of each of the plurality of planes  12 . The pre-cut plates  14  are taped together such that a gap  15  is formed between them. The gap  15  allows the template  13  to bend such that the pre-cut plates  14  rest flush with each of the plurality of planes  12 . The template  13  is then placed on the vinyl sheet  20 , and cut markings  17  are made on the vinyl sheet  20  indicating where cuts must be made to create the replacement cover  16 . The vinyl sheet  20  is then cut along the cut markings  17  to create the replacement cover  16 . In some embodiments, the cuts made along the cut markings  17  made within the gap  15  of the template  13  create a groove  18 . The groove  18  in the replacement cover  16  allows the replacement cover  16  to be bent along the groove  18  to conform to the shape of the existing vinyl frame  11 . The replacement cover  16  is then applied to the existing vinyl frame  11 . In some embodiments, the replacement cover  16  is secured by at least one adhesive, such as silicone and cyanoacrylate. In some embodiments, the replacement cover  16  is then painted to match the color of the existing vinyl frame  11 . In yet other embodiments, the edges of the replacement cover  16  are sanded to blend the replacement cover  16  with the existing vinyl frame. In some embodiments, silicone is applied along the edges of the replacement cover  16  in order to provide a seal against the elements. 
     It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.