Patent Publication Number: US-6711861-B2

Title: Window frame for an opening closure with internal channel

Description:
OTHER RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part pending of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/201,762, filed on Jul. 23, 2002, for a window assembly for opening closures, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a window frame, and more particularly, to the type that includes an internal channel for receiving security-fastening members. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Many designs for window frames have been designed in the past. None of them, however, includes internal channels in the outer frame assemblies for receiving security-fastening members therein. 
     Applicant believes that the closest reference corresponds to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/885,603 filed on Jun. 20, 2001 by the applicant of the present invention for a keyed window assembly for garage doors. The keyed window assembly includes resilient male ( 30 ) and female ( 40 ) frame members that are brought towards each other to sandwich the borders of the door panel ( 20 ) defining the window opening and the cooperatively dimensioned transparent panel ( 50 ). The male frame member ( 30 ) includes a peripherally extending leg member ( 31 ) that is lockingly received within a cooperative channel notch ( 51 ) on the transparent panel ( 50 ). Fastening members ( 60 ) are used to keep the male ( 30 ) and female ( 40 ) frame members securely against each other. However, it differs from the present invention because the present invention includes inner peripheral surfaces with channels having a T-shape cross-section defining a longitudinal cavity and a neck, the former being wider than the latter. The cavity is intended to slidably receive the nuts when the user cooperatively positions the fastening member through the neck, securing the outer member, the inner frame, the transparent member and the panel. 
     Other patents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a reinforced window frame that withstands substantial wind loads and object impacts. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a burglar resistant window frame. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a window frame that can be readily installed in a panel opening. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a window assembly that is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain while retaining its effectiveness. 
     Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 represents an isometric view of one of the preferred embodiments for the window frame object of the present invention, mounted to a garage door panel (partially shown). 
     FIG. 2 shows a rear elevational view of the outer frame, for the embodiment represented in FIG. 1, showing the internal channels for slidably receiving nut members. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged view taken from FIG. 2, showing a nut member slidably received within the channel. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  in FIG. 1 showing the engagement of the bolt of fastening member with the nut member. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment for the present invention, taken in the same position than FIG. 4, wherein the transparent member is sandwiched between the panel and the inner frame assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral  10 , it can be observed that it basically includes outer and inner frame assemblies  20  and  40 , respectively, that sandwich transparent member  60  and panel or skin  80  (such as steel) having an opening of predetermined dimensions, as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     Outer frame assembly  20  includes elongated vertical frame assemblies  22  and  24  that are kept at a spaced apart and parallel relationship with respect to each other by perpendicularly mounted elongated horizontal members  26  and  28 . Peripheral surfaces  23 ;  25 ;  27  and  29  of members  22 ;  24 ;  26  and  28 , respectively, include longitudinal channels  33 ;  35 ;  37  and  39 , respectively, as seen in FIG.  2 . Channels  33 ;  35 ;  37  and  39  have substantially T-shape cross-sections. Channels  33 ;  35 ;  37  and  39  extend, in the preferred embodiment, along the entire length of members  22 ;  24 ;  26  and  28 , respectively. But, it is also possible that these channels do not extend the entire length and extend only sufficiently to provide cooperative positions for the engagement of nut members  90 . The innermost portion  33 ′;  35 ′;  37 ′ and  39 ′ of channels  33 ;  35 ;  37  and  39  is wider than neck portions  33 ″;  35 ″;  37 ″ and  39 ″, as best seen in FIG.  4 . Innermost portions  33 ′;  35 ′;  37 ′ and  39 ′ slidably receive nut members  90 , as best seen in FIG.  3 . The user places nut member  90  in a cooperative position for fastening members  92  to go through neck portions  33 ″;  35 ″;  37 ″ and  39 ″ and engaging with nut member  90 . This permits a user to secure outer member  20 , inner frame assembly  40 , transparent member  60  and panel  80 . 
     Channels  33 ;  35 ;  37  and  39  include entry openings  33 ′″;  35 ′″;  37 ′″ and  39 ″ for receiving nut members  90 . As shown in FIG. 4, in the preferred embodiment, peripheral surface  25  includes inner peripheral surface  25 ′, which is a stepped cutout and outer peripheral surface  25 ″. Surfaces  25 ′ and  25 ″ are in different planes. The step between them cooperatively provides for the necessary space to receive the edge of transparent panel  60 . In this embodiment, transparent member  60  is sandwiched between inner peripheral surface  25 ′, panel  80  and peripheral surface  45  of inner frame assembly  40 . 
     Inner frame assembly  40  includes elongated vertical frame members  42  and  44  that are kept at a spaced apart and parallel relationship with respect to each other by perpendicularly mounted elongated horizontal members  46  and  48 . Peripheral surfaces.  43 ;  45 ;  47  and  49  are defined in members  42 ;  44 ;  46  and  48 , respectively. Frame members  42 ;  44 ;  46  and  48  include through openings  52 ;  54 ;  56  and  58 , respectively. Also, transparent member  60  includes through openings  62 ;  64 ;  66  and  68  cooperatively disposed to coincide with through openings  52 ;  54 ;  56  and  58 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, a user slides nut member  90  in a cooperative position to coincide with through openings  52  (or  54 ;  56  and  58 ). The bolts of fastening members  92  go through openings  52  (or  54 ;  56  and  58 ), through openings  62  (or  64 ;  66  and  68 ) and necks  33 ″ (or  35 ″;  37 ″ and  39 ″). Fastening members  92  secure outer member  20 , inner frame assembly  40 , transparent member  60  and panel  80 . 
     An alternate embodiment for the mounting mechanism is shown in FIG.  5 . Here, inner peripheral surface  145 ′, which is a peripheral stepped cutout of alternate inner frame assembly  140 , extends at a spaced apart plane with respect to outer peripheral surface  145 ″. The separation is cooperatively sufficient to receive the edge of transparent panel  160 . In this embodiment, transparent panel  160  is sandwiched between surface  145 ′ and panel  180 , which in turn abuts with flat surface  125  of this alternate outer window frame  120 . Frame member  124  includes longitudinally extending channels  135  with innermost portion  135 ′ and neck portion  135 ″. 
     The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.