Patent Publication Number: US-2005115168-A1

Title: Window and door casing

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The use of vinyl siding in place of wood, aluminum or other materials on the exterior of a house in new construction as well as remodeling has become quite prevalent. Such siding has historically been made of aluminum or wood. Window and door openings in the exterior wall of a house are generally trimmed with wood casings or moldings framing the window and providing an aesthetically finished exterior look. One version of such a window trim has been the “Eastern” casing. Typically, the window manufacturer attaches a 3-4″ wide board that is ¾″ to {fraction (5/4)}″ thick to the face of the window jamb and ships the window with this feature applied. Alternatively, the builder constructs the wood casing at the site. The house siding, whether wood or vinyl, is fitted to or butted up against the trim casing. In the case of vinyl siding, a “J” channel is nailed to the wall board and the vinyl siding slides behind the face of the J channel. One problem with this, however, is that the wooden casings are not compatible with aluminum or vinyl siding. For example, the wood requires continued painting, defeating the maintenance-free advantages of vinyl siding, the appearance will be inconsistent, and wood against vinyl creates the potential for unsightly gaps because of their different thermal characteristics.  
      With the introduction of the vinyl window an Eastern casing trim option had not been available in an extruded vinyl add-on. Accordingly, builders desiring the aesthetics of an Eastern casing, were relegated to using wood and/or wood wrapped in aluminum cladding requiring custom fitting, a labor intensive and expensive process.  
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART  
      U.S. Pat. No. 4,193,238 describes a window casing cover comprised of trim molding members that snap onto a plurality of separate brackets that are individually attached to the original casing. Although the covers provides a maintenance free surface, the numerous components involved and the “do it yourself” appearance of the add-on side portions and coverings do not offer the structure and strength or appearance of an integrated component, nor is the problem of differing thermal expansion/contraction resolved.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 4,389,824 discloses window trim comprised of upper and side panels and a window sill covering. Each panel has a receiving strip which is fitted around the inside of the window casing and a substantially flat panel is bent at the site into an L-shaped configuration which is then fitted around the casing and overlies the siding. The receiving strip includes a spring held receiving slot for the L-shaped panel. U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,204 discloses a similar receiving strip and L-shaped facing strip in which the receiving strip may be attached to the front of the casing. Both of these approaches are time consulting to fabricate and install, are comprised of many components having different angles and fittings, and include the cumbersome method of using L-hooks screwed into the house to hold and align the strips.  
      A do-it-yourself kit of prefabricated components for retrofitting cladding over an existing door or window frame is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,192. The kit comprises sections for covering the side and the header surfaces of the existing trim. A lengthwise lip folds inward along one edge of each section and a lengthwise flange portion folds inward around the opposite edge of each such section, gripping the trim in frictional engagement. A J-strip exists around the frame, to retain the siding, the folded flange fitting between the J-strip and the siding. A drawback of this approach is that the use of friction to hold the cladding in place lacks stability and durability and will result in an inconsistent fit and appearance over time.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a window and door casing for use with new constriction as well as remodeling that is simple to fit and install, will provide a durable, secure and complete aesthetic finished look, and will not be subject to differing thermal characteristics, The trim casing is comprised of extruded portions or sections with an integral “J” channel built in providing superior aesthetic features; two side sections, a header or top section and, in the case of a window application a sill bottom section. The sill also has caps attached at either end. The trim casing is mountable on a window or door frame and is securely fastened to the side of the house ensuring a tight fit.  
      In the preferred embodiment, the casing is comprised of extruded vinyl, and comprises pre-mitered side sections and the header section include a rapid fastening system incorporating a screw boss in the extrusion coupled with a tongue-in-groove design on the inside edge which is received by an accessory groove (channel) with a flexing accessory lock incorporated on the sides of the window or door frame, and a nailing fin on the opposite side, and in the case of a window, an extruded attachable sill nosing which simulates the thick wood look having insertable end caps to cover the open ends and an integral flange to cover the meeting point of the side casing to the sill nosing.  
      A method of installing the casing consistent with the invention includes the steps of: in the case of new construction, first installing, leveling and squaring the window or door properly; securing the window or door by nails, staples or screws using the window&#39;s or door&#39;s nailing fin; pre-assembling the top section of the pre-mitered casing to the side casings, mating the angled ends thereof and then screwing the sections together; sliding the resulting three-sided “horseshoe” shaped assembly over the front of the window or door, the tongues of the assembly fitting into the accessory grooves located on the window or door frame. Then placing the tongue or flange of the sill section into the accessory groove on the bottom end of the window and snapping it onto place and/or tapping the assembly with a mallet to secure a snug fit, with the side sections also fitting behind flange at the meeting point of the side sections to the sill section and the end caps are fitted into the sides of the sill section. The sill section is then fastened to the side sections with screws and the casing is secured to the side of the house with nails using the attached nailing fins.  
      These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood with reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a window of a house and including the casing according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the assembled casing according to the invention;  
       FIG. 3  is perspective exploded view of the casing of  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 4   a  is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper right corner of the casing of  FIG. 3 ;  
       FIG. 4   b  is a perspective view of the lower right corner of the casing of  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 4   c  is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the lower right corner of the casing of  FIG. 3 ;  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective of two sides of a window frame according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 5   b  is a fragmentary perspective view of an add-on accessory groove device;  
       FIG. 6  is a fragmentary perspective view of a sill of the casing according to the invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a fragmentary perspective view of an end cap of a sill of the casing according to the invention;  
       FIG. 8   a  is a side view of a sill mounted on the bottom of a window frame installed on a house showing the exterior siding;  
       FIG. 8   b  is an exploded side view of a sill and the bottom of a window frame;  
       FIG. 9  is a top elevational view of a sill mounted on the bottom of a window frame according to the invention;  
       FIG. 10   a  is a top plan view of a side casing section mounted on the side of the window frame installed on a house showing the exterior siding;  
       FIG. 10   b  is an exploded top view of a side casing section and the side of the window frame; 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Referring to  FIG. 1  is shown a preferred embodiment of an eastern casing  10  mounted on the window frame  3  of a window  2  installed on a house. In  FIG. 2  the assembled casing  10  is shown independent of the window or house. In the preferred embodiment casing  10  is comprised of two side sections  5   a  and  5   b,  header or top section  5   c  and sill or bottom section  6  with end caps  8  attached at either end of the sill. The sections of the casing may be pre-cut for standard sized windows or may be custom cut in advance or at the site, for non-standard sized windows. Preferably, the casing  10  is comprised of extruded vinyl, although other materials such as aluminum, may be used. The top corners of side sections  5   a  and  5   b  are pre-mitered at 45° angles and meet flush with the ends of the top section  5   c  which are also pre-mitered at 45° angles at corners  7 . It is appreciated that the mitered angles of the top and side sections may vary from 0-90° depending upon the aesthetic look desired or to combine with decorative caps or millwork, for example. It should also be understood that the same type of casing, with the exception of the sill, may be used in trimming a door or other opening.  
      Referring now again to  FIG. 2 , nailing fins  11  are located on the outside edges of the side and top sections  5   a,    5   b  and  5   c.  When the casing  10  has been mounted on the window, nailing fins  11  sit flush against the sheathing or other underlayer of the house and nails are driven through the plurality of slotted nail holes  12  extending the length of the nailing fins to further secure the casing to the house. Along the length of the inside edges of top and sides casings  5   a,    5   b  and  5   c  are located tongues  9  to be received by accessory grooves or channels  18  inside the window frame  3  as shown in  FIGS. 5, 10   a  and  10   b.  Along the inside edge of sill  6  is located a sill tongue  15  which is received by the accessory groove or channel  18   a  in the bottom of the window frame  3  as shown in  FIGS. 8   a,    8   b  and  9 . Preferably, sill tongue  15  has a notch or flange at its upper end to overlap a flexible locking accessory J 7  in accessory groove  18   a  in the bottom of the window frame. End caps  8  are attached to sill  6  to complete the finished look.  
      As seen in  FIGS. 3, 4   a,    4   b  and  4   c,  a complete window casing  10  is comprised of few components and is easily assembled and mounted on the window frame. In the preferred embodiment, after first installing the window and window frame  3  in the house in known fashion, nails or screws are driven through the nail slots  31  in the window nailing fin  30  as shown in  FIG. 5  into the sheathing  16 , to secure the installed window. Then, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4   a,  the pre-mitered ends  7  of side sections  5   a  and  5   b  are placed adjacent to the pre-mitered ends  7  of top casing section  5   c  and attached by screws  13  inserted in the top casing, preferably through predrilled holes, into receiving screen bosses  25  located in the side casings, creating a three-sided “horseshoe” shaped assembly. The horseshoe shaped assembly is then slidably mounted over the window frame  3 , tongues  9  on the inside edges of the side sections  5   a  and  5   b  being first inserted in the accessory grooves  18  of the sides of the window frame  3  as shown in  FIGS. 5, 10   a  and  10   b,  then tongue-in-groove, sliding the three-sided assembly down over the front of the window frame, the tongues  9  of the side casing sections assembly fitting into the accessory grooves  18  located on the sides of the window frame  3  until the tongue  9  of the top casing section  5   c  mates with and is seated in the accessory groove  18  of the top of the window frame. Referring to  FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b,  in a preferred embodiment, nailing fin  11  of the side and top casings  5   a,    5   b  and  5   c  is in the form of an L-shaped flange, portion  11   a  of the flange extends generally perpendicular from the back of the casing approximately ¾″ and the other portion  11   b  of L-shaped nailing fin  11  extends in a direction away from the window france  3  generally parallel with exterior face of the casing so that potion  11   b  of nailing fin  11  lies essentially flush with the underlayer or sheathing  16  of the house. Portion  23   a  of second L-shaped flange  23 , extends generally perpendicular from the back of the casing approximately ¾″ and the other portion  23   b  of said L-shaped flange  23  extends in a direction toward window frame  3  generally parallel with exterior face of the casing so that portion  23   b  of L-shaped flange lies in slot  19  essentially flush with the nailing fin  30  of the window frame providing further support for the casing on the window frame.  
      Once the three-sided assembly is in place, preferably, at least one nail or screw will be driven through nail slots  12  in each of the nailing fins  11  to hold the three-sided assembly in place on the window frame. As shown in  FIGS. 3, 4   b,    4   c,    8   a,    8   b  and  9 , sill  6  is then raised upwards toward the bottom of the window frame  3  inserting sill tongue  15  into the accessory groove  18  on the bottom of the window frame  3  and snapping it onto place. Preferably, sill tongue  15  is notched or flanged and lockingly engages flexible accessory lock  17  on the window frame. As shown in  FIGS. 4   b  and  4   c,  the bottoms  27  of the side casings  5   a  and  5   b  seat flat on sill  6  at meeting places  26 , behind the step  21  of tile sill, which may be tapped into place with a mallet, if necessary. End caps  8  are fitted into the sides of the sill section  6 . The sill  6  is then secured to the side casings  5   a  and  5   b  with screws  14  inserted in the sill and received in screw bosses  25  located in the side casings. Preferably the sill  6  should have pre-drilled holes  32  to accommodate screws  14 . The completed casing  10  is then secured to the side of the house with nails, screws or staples being driven through nail holes  12  in nailing fins  11 . Thereafter, siding  1  is then installed on the house in known fashion, the portion of the siding that lies adjacent to the window frame and casing being cut to fit snugly between the casing J-channel in recess  33  formed by the back of the casing and L-shaped section  11 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 5  is shown a portion of the top and sides sections window frame  3 , nailing fin  30  and nail slots  31  for securing the window frame to the house and accessory groove  18  for receiving tongue  9  of the window casing and flexible accessory lock  17  to lockingly engage the tongue  9 . Sill tongue  15  of sill  6  is similarly received in accessory groove  18  of the bottom section of the casing. It will be understood that not all window frames will have accessory groves. This particularly will be the case in older construction where the original windows and window frames are not being replaced. In order to use the casing system of the present invention with these older style windows, a pre-fabricated structure having an accessory groove can be installed around the periphery of the window frame to accommodate the casing. Such a device  35  as shown in  FIG. 5   b,  is essentially a C-shaped member and includes accessory groove  18  and J-channel  17  and may be made of materials such as extruded vinyl or aluminum, for example. Device  35  may be affixed to the window frame in a conventional manner, such as by use of nails, screws or staples.  
      One side of sill  6  and end cap  8  are shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The sill  6  includes sill tongue  15  which is inserted in accessory groove  18  of the bottom section of the window frame  3 . In the preferred embodiment, sill tongue  15  has a notch or flange at one end which lockingly engages a J-channel  17  in the said accessory groove. As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , sill tongue  15  is recessed inwardly from the side of sill  6  to enable the bottom  27  of the side casing sections  5   a,    5   b  to seat flat on sill  6  at meeting place  26 , behind the step  21  extending upward from the sill. Preferably, the meeting place  26  is approximately the width of the side casing sections  5   a,    5   b  which are maintained in place between the rear side of the step  21  and the exterior of the siding  1  of the house. The end caps  8  may be made of the same material as the sill and are sized and configured to fit securely in the opposite sides of the sill section  6 . As is also shown in  FIG. 3, 4   b  and  4   c,  screws  14  are then inserted through pre-drilled holes  32  in the sill and pre-drilled holes  33  in the end caps and received in screw bosses  25  in the side casings  5   a  and  5   b.    
      In addition to utilizing the casing as described in connection with windows, the casing of the present invention may be used in connection with doors, passageways, or any other type of opening in a structure. Further, the casing system of the present invention is not limited to four-sided openings, and may be utilized in archways calling for a curved trim, a one-piece ornamental header, a multi-sided window or other structure, and may be prefabricated or cut at the site.  
      Although described in terms of the presently preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described.