Patent Publication Number: US-6904727-B2

Title: Basement window system

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a method of installing a basement window system and to the forms for use in such installation. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In the erection of a concrete foundation of a building which includes the provision for basement window systems, it is very difficult to install and protect the window system against damage during the pouring of the concrete foundation wall and the subsequent erection of the above grade wall and exterior treatment. Such damage includes breaking of the glass where the windows are left in the frame of the system as well as distortion of the frame. Thus failure to fully protect the window system throughout the erection procedure can lead to costly retrofits including window replacements. 
   To date there has been no easy or reliable low cost answer to this problem and it is the object of the present invention to provide a very simple and low cost solution which will ensure integrity of the window system during both the erection of the concrete foundation and the above grade walls and exterior treatment. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In installing the window system, the frame of the system, which can have its windows in place, is first secured against potential damages during the construction activity between a pair of releasably attached preformed window forms which precisely cover opposite faces of the system and into which fasteners can be driven for mounting the assembled window system and forms between the foundation wall forms. 
   In accordance with the preferred form of the invention, the window forms are molded plastic members. 
   A basement window system in widespread use is a 3¼ inch system in which the sides of the frame are provided with grooves for accessory attachments. 
   For such standard window systems according to the preferred form of the invention, the window forms interconnect with the grooves of the frame of the window system for accurate location and as well are adhesively secured to the system&#39;s frame. For handling prior to installation, the assembled window system and window forms are preferably strapped together, the straps, of course, being removed at the job site when ready for installation. 
   When ready for use, the strapping is removed and this window assembly, i.e. the window system which as noted by virtue of the invention can include the windows mounted in the frame of the system and the window forms, is then located in position between the foundation wall forms with the upper edge of the assembled window and window forms substantially flush with the top of the wall forms. This window and window forms assembly is held in position by clamps or by fasteners driven through the foundation wall forms and into the window forms. The transverse width of the assembled window and window forms at their periphery is such as to span between the foundation wall forms. 
   Following installation, concrete is poured around the frame of the window system and the periphery of the sandwiching window forms until the concrete is flush with the top of the wall forms. Then, after the concrete has set, the foundation wall forms are removed. 
   Next the above grade wall is erected. This wall may, for example, be brick with the bricks then laid over the top of the assembled window and window forms following which, and any other exterior wall treatment, the releasable window forms are removed from the window frame leaving the window system installed and totally free from damage. 
   In another aspect, the invention also involves the provision of novel, low cost forms for protecting the window system during erection of the building. 
   In this connection, each window form is of molded composite plastic material having a peripheral wall which tapers inwardly from an outer border flange to an inner mounting flange parallel to the border flange. The peripheral wall and inner flange support a window covering platform into which fasteners can be driven disposed within the outer flange and lying just inwardly of the outer surface of the outer flange. The platform is reinforced by a series of intersecting reinforcing webs on its underside. 
   The plastic material from which the window form is molded is preferably a composite material comprising particles of recycled filler material bound together by recycled thermoplastic material. 
   As such, these window forms upon being damaged constitute recyclable material for use in producing new forms so that the forms never need to be discarded thus reducing the costs and adding to the efficiency of the system. 
   Again, according to the preferred form of the invention, the inner flange of the window form has a thin web projecting perpendicular thereto around the perimeter thereof. This web or wall forms a peripheral bayonet wall for insertion into grooves, i.e. the accessory grooves, around the perimeter of the frame of the window system to ensure accurate registration of the form and the window system throughout the entire operation from delivery of the window system sandwiched between the forms until removal upon the erection of the above grade walls and any exterior treatment. Further, according to a preferred form of the invention, border openings are provided around the perimeter of the platform of the window form to enable the form to be easily gripped for removal. 
   It will also be understood that such forms will be of light weight for handling adding to the facility with which the installation can be made. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the frame of a conventional basement window system, for example, a standard 3¼ inch window system with accessory grooves to be installed in a foundation wall, the windows of the system having been removed from the frame for ease of illustration; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the outside or front face of a window form to be used in installing the window system of  FIG. 1  in accordance with the invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the inner or rear face of the window form of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  shows the window system frame of  FIG. 1 , which by virtue of the invention can safely include the windows of the system during installation assembled between a pair of the window forms of  FIGS. 2 and 3  which are releasably secured to the frame, the assembly being readied to be inserted between spaced foundation wall forms as a first step in the installation of the window system; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the second step of the installation in which the assembled window frame and window forms are secured between the foundation wall forms with the top of the assembly being substantially flush with the top of the foundation forms and showing the concrete being introduced into the foundation forms; 
       FIG. 6  is a vertical sectional view through the assembled window frame and window forms mounted between the foundation wall forms after the concrete has been poured into the foundation wall forms; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing the next step of the installation in which the foundation wall forms have been removed and the above grade wall is being installed over the assembled window frame and window forms; 
       FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 7  but showing the window forms removed from the window frame; 
       FIG. 9  is an enlarged broken away perspective view showing the use of an extruded adapter which snap locks with the window frame grooves and to which the window forms are adhered to interconnect between the window frame and the window forms. 
       FIG. 10  is a view similar to  FIG. 9  but showing a slightly modified window form which snap locks with the adapters as well as being adhesively secured thereto. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION ACCORDING TO THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a frame  1  of a standard 3¼ inch window system having a peripheral accessory groove  2  on each face thereof which system is to be installed in the foundation wall of a building. 
   It will be understood that frame  1  carries the windows of the window system which for simplicity of illustration are not shown. While, of course, frame  1  can be installed without the windows being present, the invention allows the window system to be safely installed with the windows mounted in the frame. 
     FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate the front and rear of one of the window forms  3  used to protect the window system during installation. 
   As a first step, the window frame  1 , preferably with its window in place, is assembled between a pair of window forms  3  as shown in  FIG. 4  for mounting between the foundation wall forms  4 . 
     FIG. 5  shows the assembled frame and window forms  1  and  3  respectively mounted in position between the foundation wall forms  4  by fasteners  5  driven through the wall forms into the window forms with the upper surface of the assembly substantially flush with the top of the wall forms and showing concrete  6  being introduced between the wall forms to flow around the perimeter of the window frame and forms assembly that projects down into the foundation wall forms  4 . As will be apparent, the window forms  3  into which the fasteners  5  are driven totally cover and protect any window mounted in the frame  1 . 
   Each of the window forms  3  is molded from a suitable plastic material and is formed with a peripheral wall  7  having a short outturned border flange  8  at its outer side and an inturned flange  9  at its inner side. 
   Extending outwardly from the inner flange  9  to a point just inside the flange  8  are a series of spaced wall sections  10  which taper inwardly of the peripheral wall  7  and support a front face plate  11  just inwardly of the outer flange  8 . The spacing between the wall sections  10  leave openings  10 ′ by means of which the face plate  11  can be easily gripped to facilitate removal of the forms. 
   The face plate  11  is reinforced with a grid work of intersecting webs or walls  12  with those of the webs  12  which fall between the wall sections  10  being connected with the peripheral wall  7  as indicated at  13 . 
   Projecting perpendicularly inwardly from the inner flange  9  is a thin web or wall  14  which, in effect, comprises a peripheral bayonet wall for projecting into the accessory groove  2  on the respective sides of the frame  1  as illustrated in FIG.  6 . 
   The inner flange  9  is also provided with a very short stub projection  14 ′ disposed inwardly of the bayonet wall  14  to maintain a space  15  between the flange  9  and the side of the frame  1  to receive a suitable adhesive to adhesively yet releasably secure the form  3  to the frame  1 . 
   In this connection, the window forms  3  are releasably secured to the frame  1  by a suitable adhesive placed in the space  15  between the flanges  9  of the forms  3  and the sides of the frame  1  with the bayonet walls  14  inserted into the accessory grooves  2  to provide accurate registration of the window forms with the frame. 
   The peripheral walls  7  of the window forms, at least in the ends and the bottoms of the forms which come in contact with the concrete  6 , are sloped inwardly from the outer flange  8  to the inner flange  9  to facilitate their ultimate removal. 
   It will be understood that the combined width of the frame  1  and the window forms  3  at the periphery thereof will span the space between the wall forms  4  so that the concrete will only flow around the sides and bottom of the window frame and forms assembly. 
   Following setting of the concrete  6 , the wall forms  4  are removed leaving the releasably attached window forms  3  assembled with the frame  1  secured in the foundation wall  16 . 
   Next the above grade wall shown as a brick wall  17  is erected over the assembled window frame and forms as shown in FIG.  7 . 
   After the erection of the above grade wall  17 , the window forms  3  are removed, for example, by gripping their plate portions  11  through the openings  10 ′ and pulling them away from the window frame to complete the installation as illustrated in FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 6  shows the bayonet wall  14  of the window forms inserted directly into the accessory grooves  2  of the window frame with the close fit between these bayonet walls and the grooves  2  and the adhesive in the space  15 ′ providing the releasable connection therebetween.  FIGS. 9 and 10  show alternative arrangements for releasably securing the window forms  3  to the frame  1 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 9 , it will be seen that the grooves  2 ′ of the window frame  1 ′ are provided with an inwardly sloping latching lip or ledge  18  for interlocking engagement with a corresponding latching lip or edge  19  of an extruded adapter  20  having a groove  21  to receive the bayonet edge  14  of the window form  3 . The window form  3  is then releasably secured to the surface  22  of adapter  20  by means of a band of adhesive  24  introduced into the space  15  between the bayonet edge  14  and the projection  14 ′. 
   In the modified arrangement of  FIG. 10 , the window frame  1 ′ is as described with respect to  FIG. 9  but the adapter  20 ′ in addition to having the latching edge  19 ′ corresponding to the latching edge  19  of adapter  20  also has an interned latching lip or edge  25  in the channel  26  into which the window form  3 ′ is to be inserted. In the case of  FIG. 10 , the window forms  3 ′ instead of having a simply bayonet edge are formed with bayonet walls  27  which have a rearwardly inclined latching lip or edge  28  to interlock with the lip  25  of the adapter  20 ′ to provide one releasable interconnection between the forms  3 ′ and the adapters  20 ′. Additional releasable securement between the forms  3 ′ and the adapters  20 ′ may be obtained by again providing adhesive between the forms and the frame in the manner as illustrated in FIG.  9 . 
   The wall forms  3  or  3 ′ are preferably molded from a composite plastic material comprising a mixture of thermoplastic particles and particles of waste or filler material. The plastic may, for example, be recycled thermoplastic in the form of reground low, medium or high density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethethylene terephthalate, or PVC. The waste or filler particles may, for example, comprise sawdust, ground wood pieces, ground cloth, paper, shells, husks or other particulate material. The ratio of thermoplastic material to filler material in the composite material can vary over a substantial range with the recycled thermoplastic varying from about seventy percent to thirty percent and the filler material from about thirty percent to seventy percent depending on the materials used. 
   In the event that the window forms  3  or  3 ′ become damaged after extended use or through accident or otherwise, they can be returned for recycling to be used as material in the molding of new forms. 
   While the use of molded forms of plastic material as described significantly add to the facility of assembling the window frame and the window forms and to provide very cost effective forms both from the standpoint of the original production through molding and, as well, through the fact that they are recyclable, it will be understood that other window forms may be employed so long as they can be accurately registered with the window frame and releasably secured thereto and provide a cover over the faces of the frame into which fasteners can be driven and when introduced between the foundation wall forms will span the space therebetween. 
   It will be understood that various other modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.