Patent Publication Number: US-7222581-B1

Title: Transition device for coupled metal frames

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/737,717, filed Nov. 17, 2005. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to interconnected metal frames for sheet structures and, more particularly, to an apparatus for providing an adjustable and smooth transition between corner joints of abutting metal frames. 
     Sheet or plate assemblies, such as windscreens, e.g., windshields, have a sheet member that is generally supported in some form of frame structure. The sheet member may be a glass or plastic. For example, windscreens used for boats generally have a tempered glass sheet that is supported within an aluminum frame. The frame is made up of metal, typically aluminum, channels that have various different cross sectional configurations but at least have a lengthwise extending slot into which the glass sheet fits. Some form of seating material is placed in the slot to support the glass sheet in the slot and out of contact with the metal frame. 
     The present invention has particular utility in the assembly of metal framed windshields on boats but can be used in any application in which metal frames are brought together at different angular orientations. In an application as applied to a boat, it is common to have a windshield extending transversely across a bow of a boat with such front windshield encased in a metal frame. There are also provided side windshields extending at an angle from the front windshield to support the small side windows that prevent spray from entering the boat from the sides. The front windshield frame may be formed in four sections comprising a top section, a bottom section and a pair of opposite side sections. The bottom section of frame is particularly configured to allow attachment to a bow of the boat for supporting the windshield in an upright position. The top section extends along a top edge of the windshield while the side sections extend vertically between the bottom section and the top section of the frame. The side windshields may be structured differently, such as in a triangular configuration so that only three frame sections are used, i.e., a front section that mates with the side section of the front windshield and a top and bottom section that extend from the front section and outline the other two edges of the triangular side windshield. 
     Typically, a variable angle joint is created between the front windshield and the side windshield using a pair of mating channels formed in respective ones of the side frame section on the front windshield and the front frame section on the side windshield. One of these two mating frame sections may be formed with a longitudinal slot with an arcuate cross section and the other may be formed with an arcuately shaped longitudinal flange that fits into and mates with the slot in the one of the frame sections. The arcuate cross section of the slot and flange of the two mating frame sections allows some degree of angular adjustment between a plane of the front windshield and a plane of the side windshield. What this particular joint does not address is a transition between the upper frame sections of the front and side windows and the ends of the two mating side sections where all four sections meet to form a corner. Quite often, this joint leaves an edge that can snag clothing or perhaps injure someone bumping into the edge. Further, because boats tend to be individually assembled, it is not unusual for the angle at which the trim pieces from the front windshield and a side windshield interest to be different from one boat to another. As a result, each boat may have individual trimming or shaping that needs to be done in order to create the joint between the front windshield frame and a side windshield frame. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention is described in association with a water vehicle, such as a boat, having a forward facing or front windshield and a side facing windshield, both the windshields being mounted in a formed aluminum molding, the improvement comprising a transition device for providing a smooth transition between the windshield at an angular joint between the windshields, the transition device comprising a first element attached to the molding of the forward facing windshield at an upper end of the joint and terminating at the joint in a ball, a second element attached to the molding of the side facing windshield at the upper end of the joint and terminating in a socket, the ball and the socket being shaped and sized to fit together to form a smooth transition at the upper end of the joint. In the illustrative form, the transition device may be characterized as a ball and socket joint. 
     In a preferred form, the first and second elements extend over and cover all terminating edges of the moldings at the joint so as to minimize any exposed edges of the moldings that could snag a persons clothing or skin. Each of the elements may be formed with tangs extending into the respective moldings to which they are attached. The elements may be held to the moldings by screws extending through at least a portion of each molding and engaging the tangs. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a corner joint formed by the intersection of four windshield moldings using the transition devices of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a reverse side view of the corner joint of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 3A–3G  are illustrations of one element of the transition devices taken from different viewer perspectives; 
         FIGS. 4A–4I  are illustrations of the other of the transition devices taken from different viewer perspectives; 
         FIGS. 5A–5I  are illustrations taken from different perspectives of the devices of  FIGS. 3A–4I  in their assembled configuration; and 
         FIG. 6  is a partial cutaway view of the corner joint of  FIG. 1  illustrating how the devices seat on the moldings. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a transition device that is universally adapted to provide a transition between metal frames that will accommodate a wide range of angular orientations between the connected frames. Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown one example of a pair of metal frames  10  and  12  joined at the intersection or corner joint  14 . The metal frame  10  comprises a top piece  16  and a vertical piece  18 , each of which are joined together to form a frame surrounding a glass or plastic panel  19 . The metal frame  12  comprises the top member  20  and a vertical member  22  that are also joined together to form a frame for a side glass or plastic panel  21 . In  FIG. 1 , the frame  10  and panel  19  defines the forward windshield while frame  12  and panel  21  defines a side windshield or spray screen. The windshields are assemblies of transparent panels and supporting frames.  FIG. 2  is a view of the joint  14  of  FIG. 1  from a reverse position looking outward into the joint. Typically, the vertically extending members  18  and  22  are formed with an interlocking edge providing a relatively smooth transition along the edge from the side window to the front windshield. The interlocking edge may be the above described arcuate channel and mating arcuate shaped flange of a type well known in the boating industry. The vertically extending members  18  and  22  then attach to the upper frames  16  and  20  by means of screw connections indicated at  24 . Because the corner intersection at  14  requires joining four different metal pieces, the joints tend to be somewhat rough creating edges that can snag or injure a person. 
     The present invention provides a means for transitioning at the joint  14  between the upper aluminum members  16  and  20 , while at the same time providing a transition from each of the vertically extending members  18  and  22 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , a transition member  26  is shown in one form as comprising a pair of mating elements  28  and  30 . The element  28  is fastened to the upper frame member  20  while the element  30  is fastened to the upper frame member  16 . The top surfaces of each of the element  28  and  30  are shaped to conform to the configuration of the top surface of each of the elements  16  and  20 . At the intersection of the elements  28  and  30 , the element  30  is provided with a ball socket while the element  28  terminates in a ball that sits within the ball socket of element  30 . A reverse view of this ball and socket pair is shown in  FIG. 2 . The ball and socket allow the angle between the elements  16  and  20  to be adjusted without affecting the transition between the element  28  and the element  30 . 
     Referring to the drawings  FIGS. 3A–3G , there are shown different views of the element  28  which terminates in the ball portion of the ball and socket connection. Turning first to the perspective view in  FIG. 3A , it can be seen that the element  28  has a ball  28 A at one end and a tang  28 B at an opposite end. The portion in between the tang  28 B and the ball  28 A, identified as  28 C, is generally shaped along its top surface to conform to the shape of the metal frame on which the ball is installed. As can be seen in the side view in  FIG. 3B , the bottom surface  28 D, also shown in  FIG. 3F , is generally flat but may have different shapes depending upon the particular piece of metal frame on which the element  28  is to be installed.  FIG. 3C  is a top view of the element  28 ,  FIG. 3D  is a front view of the element  28  showing the ball  28 A while  FIG. 3G  is an end view of element  28  showing the configuration of the tang  28 B.  FIG. 3E  is merely a reverse view of  FIG. 3B  illustrating the symmetrical configuration in this embodiment. It should be noted in  FIGS. 3A and 3G  that the portion of the element  28  that abuts the moldings  22  is tapered outward to provide a slight overhanging edge at  28 E and  28 F that will cover the upper edges of the molding  22 . Also, it is preferable to have the size of the element slightly larger in cross section than the end of the upper molding  20  so that the metal edge of the molding is covered at the joint  14 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4  comprising  FIGS. 4A–4I , there is shown different views of the element  30 .  FIG. 4A  is a generally perspective view showing the top shape of the device at  30 A with a tang  30 B extending from the back of the device. The socket for receiving the ball  28 A is indicated at  30 C. As with the element  28 , the element  30  has a top shape at  30 A that is configured to mate with the top surface of the frame  16  but preferrably have a slight overlap to assure coverage of the metal edge of the molding  16 . The general shape of the ball socket  30 C can be seen in  FIGS. 4E and 4H . The extent of the tang  30 B extending from the rear of the element  30  is best seen in  FIGS. 4F and 4H .  FIG. 4B  is a reverse side view of the element shown in  FIG. 4F . Note that element  30  has a base  30 D substantially identical to that of element  28  with outward directed flanges  30  E and  30 F that overlap the top edges of the side molding  18   
     Turning now to  FIG. 5 , comprising the  FIGS. 5A–5I , there are shown various views of the elements  28  and  30  in their mating position. The views in  FIG. 5  illustrate how the ball  28 A fits into the socket  30 C to form a smooth transition between the elements  28  and  30 . As can be seen in the views of  FIG. 5 , the ball and socket joint formed by elements  28  and  30  have a relatively wide range of motion that will allow for variation in the angle between the four moldings  16 ,  18 ,  20  and  22  at their juncture. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a partial cross-sectional view through the frame member  20  illustrating how the elements  28 ,  30  fit into the moldings, in this instance, the element  28 . As can be seen, the frame molding  20  in cross-section has a lengthwise extending channel  40  in which the tang  28 B is seated. A screw  42  threaded into the bottom of the frame engages the tang  28 B to prevent the element  28  from sliding out of its position or association with the frame member molding  20 . The frame member molding  20  is also attached to the vertical member  22  by means of the screws  24 . While this arrangement is a preferred embodiment for the particular type of molding  20  that is being used in this application, it will be apparent that other types of attachments of the elements  28  or  30  could be utilized with different molding shapes. It can also be seen that the flange  28 E just slightly overhangs an edge of the molding at  42  and that the diameter of the element at body portion  28 C is slightly larger than the molding  20 . 
     While the invention has been described in what is presently considered to be a preferred embodiment, various modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art. In particular, the invention may be modified or adapted to be used with other shapes of moldings and the configuration of the ball and socket joint may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended therefore that the invention be interpreted within the full spirit and scope of the appended claims and not limited to the specific disclosed embodiment.