Patent Publication Number: US-10309146-B1

Title: Screwless window fastening system

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to window installation and, more particularly, relating to a screwless window fastening system for installing and securing a window within a window opening in a wall. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Prefabricated windows are conventionally installed in a window opening in a wall of building by using penetrating fasteners such as nails and screws that are nailed or screwed through the window frame and into the surrounding building structure that forms the window opening. While penetrating fasteners securely fasten the window in place, there are several problems with using penetrating fasteners. 
     A predominate problem with using penetrating fasteners to secure a window in place is that the fasteners create holes through the window frame and the surrounding building structure. And these holes provide an opportunity for undesirable water intrusion through the window frame and into the surrounding building structure. Accordingly, there is a need and desire for a new way to secure a window that overcomes this problem and other inherent problems with current window installation systems and methods. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing problems with conventional window fastening systems and methods, embodiments of the present invention provide a screwless window fastening system for securing a window in place without using fasteners that penetrate the window frame or the surrounding building structure. 
     In general, in one aspect, a screwless window fastening system has a frame having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a peripheral wall extending between the exterior and interior surfaces. The peripheral wall has an inward facing surface forming a window opening for receiving a window assembly through the exterior surface. At least one window clip has a window frame receiving channel and is attachable to a window frame of a window with the window frame disposed in the window channel to form an assembly that is insertable into the window opening. And when the assembly is inserted into the window opening, the at least one window clip engages with the frame to prevent withdrawal of the assembly from the window opening. 
     In general, in another aspect, the screwless window fastening system may have at least one fastening clip that is removably engagable with the at least one window clip and the interior surface of the window frame. 
     In general, in another aspect, that at least one fastening clip may have a first prong and a second prong. The first prong being removably receivable by a groove formed in the at least one window clip and the second prong being removably receivable by a groove formed through the interior surface of the window frame to attach the at least one fastening clip to the at least one window clip and the frame to further secure the assembly in the window opening. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. 
     Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be clear to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following drawings illustrate by way of example and are included to provide further understanding of the invention for illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the invention. No attempt is made to show structural details of the embodiments in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. Identical reference numerals do not necessarily indicate an identical structure. Rather, the same reference numeral may be used to indicate a similar feature of a feature with similar functionality. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is an exterior elevation view of a window installed and secured in a wall by a screwless window fastening system constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an interior elevation view of the window and screwless window fastening system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a frame of the screwless window fastening system shown being inserted into a rough opening of a wall; 
         FIG. 4  is a front or exterior elevation view of the frame of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a back or interior elevation view of the frame of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a fragmented, perspective view of a window clip of the screwless window fastening system; 
         FIG. 7  is a fragmented, perspective view of a fastener clip of the screwless window fastening system; 
         FIG. 8  is an elevation view of a window showing a plurality of window clips being installed on the window frame of the window; 
         FIG. 9  is an elevation view of an assembly comprising the window and the window clips attached to the window; 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged, fragmented cross-sectional view along line  10 - 10  in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 11  is a fragmented, perspective view of a window clip according to an alternative embodiment of the screwless window fastening system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-10  of the drawings, there is representatively shown a screwless window fastening system  10  that is constructed according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     In  FIG. 1 , there is shown an exterior view of a window  12  that is installed within wall  14  by the screwless window fastening system  10 . In the depicted embodiment, the window fastening system  10  includes a frame  16  and a plurality of window clips  18   a - 18   d . The frame  16  is disposed in a rough opening formed in the wall  14  and provides a window opening in which the window  12  is disposed and secured in place by the window clips  18   a - 18   d , which are arranged around the window. 
     In  FIG. 2 , there is shown an interior view of window  12  that is installed within wall  14  by the screwless window fastening system  10 . As shown, in this embodiment, the system  10  includes a plurality of fastener clips  20   a - 20   d  that are arranged around the window  12  and which secure to the frame  16  and window clips  18   a - 18   d , which will be described in further detail below. 
     In  FIG. 3 , there is shown a perspective, exterior view of the wall  14  having a rough opening  22  formed therein and the frame  16  being inserted into the rough opening. Frame  16 , as depicted, includes a plurality of side walls that define a window opening  24 . Frame  16  further includes a sill flange  26  that is disposed at the back or interior side of the frame and which is formed around the window opening and extends inwardly and perpendicular to the side walls of the frame. The frame  16  is further depicted in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , which show the front or exterior side and the interior side of the frame, respectively. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the frame  16  further includes a groove  28  that is formed through an interior side of the frame and that runs around the perimeter of the frame. 
     Turning to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a fragmented, perspective view of window clip  18   a , the remaining clips  18   b - 18   d  having the same construction. As depicted, window clip  18   a  is elongated and is of a generally C-channel shape having a central web  30 , forward leg or flange  32  that extends perpendicularly along one edge of the web, and a rear leg of flange  34  that extends perpendicularly along the opposite edge of the web. The web and flanges  32  and  34  define a window frame reception channel  36 . Clip  18   a  further includes a ledge  38  that extends along an outward side, relative to the channel  36 . Ledge  38  includes a groove  40  the top edge of which includes a lip  42  and the bottom edge 44 of which has a prong-shape in cross section as depicted. Groove  40  opens in a direction that is perpendicular to flange  34 . 
     In  FIG. 7  there is shown a fragmented, perspective view of fastener clip  20   a , the remaining clips  20   b - 20   d  having the same construction. As depicted, fastener clip  20   a  is elongated and includes web  46 , an elongated prong  48  that runs along the length of the web  46 , a brace flange  50  that runs along the length of web  46  and spaced from prong  48 , and a second prong  52  that runs along the length of web  46  and spaced from flange  50 . Prong  48 , flange  50 , and prong  52  are disposed on the same side of web  46 . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 8 , there is shown the window  12  and window clips  18   a - 18   d  being installed onto the window frame  54  of the window. Particularly, each window clip  18   a - 18   d  are installed on a respective side of the window frame with that side of the window frame being disposed within the window channel  36  of the respective clip and with flange  32  dispose at the front or exterior side of the window frame and flange  34  disposed at the exterior side of the window frame. Clips  18   a - 18   d  may be secured to the window frame by double-sided tape, adhesive, caulking, or other suitable means that is disposed within the window channel  36 . 
     In  FIG. 9  there is shown window  12  with the window clips  18   a - 18   d  attached to and secured to the window frame  54  and forming an assembly  56  for insertion into the window opening  24  of frame  16  in a direction through the exterior side thereof and toward the interior side where the sill flange  26  is disposed. 
     In  FIG. 10  there is shown an enlarged, fragmented cross-sectional view taken along line  10 - 10  in  FIG. 1 . As depicted, frame  16  is disposed within the rough opening of the wall  14  and assembly  56  has been inserted into and is disposed within window opening  24  of frame  16  with flange  34  of window clip  18   c  pressed against window sill flange  26 . In this position, prong  44  of clip  18   c  is engaged with the sill flange  26  as shown to prevent assembly  56  from being withdrawn from the frame  16 . Fastener clip  20   c  is engaged with window clip  18   c  by prong  48  being disposed or received within groove  40  and engaged with lip  42 . Fastener clip  20   c  is also engaged with frame  16  by prong  52  being disposed or received within grove  28  of the frame  16 . As further shown, double-sided foam tape  58  is located within the window channel  36  between the window frame  54  and web  30 , thereby securing the window clip  18   c  to the window frame. 
     While not illustrated here, window clips  18   a ,  18   b , and  18   d  are engaged with the frame in the same manner as clip  18   c . And fastener clips  20   a ,  20   b , and  20   d  are engaged with the frame  16  and window clips  18   a ,  18   b , and  18   d  in the same manner as clip  20   c.    
     Additionally, a sealant (not shown) may be used between the window clips  18   a - 18   d  and the frame  16  to weather proof the contact surfaces between the window clips and the frame. 
     To this end, with the screwless window fastening system  10 , window  12  is installed and secured in place in wall  14  without screws or types of penetrating fasteners extending through the window frame  54  and into the surrounding wall structure that forms the rough opening  22 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 11 , in an alternative embodiment, window clips  18   a - 18   d  are replaced with window clips  60   a - 60   d  which do not include groove  40 . Rather, window clips  60   a - 60   d  include a prong  62  that extends along and outwardly from flange  34  for engagement with window sill flange  26  in the same manner as prong  44  of clips  18   a - 18   d  engage with the window sill flange. Further, in this embodiment, fastener clips  20   a - 20   d  are not used. 
     Several embodiments of the present invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are with the scope of the following claims.