Patent Abstract:
A method and system for use in forming arched openings in both concrete block and wood frame building construction. In block construction the present invention provides for the use of monolithic plant pre-cast and reinforced concrete header and arched filler combination units that is load-bearing, and in wood frame construction the present invention provides for the use of non-load-bearing pre-formed arch-filling members that could be made from recycled plastic attached to or including a lintel for overlaying the surrounding wall frame. Use of the present invention would eliminate the need for labor-intensive post and beam type headers with a site-built wooden arch and thereby reduce the on-site costs currently associated with site installation of windows and doors having an arched upper perimeter. The materials from which the present invention is made would determine its load-bearing capacity. In addition to having a labor saving advantage, the method of the present invention is also costs-efficient by eliminating material waste that results from materials being incorrectly measured and cut on a job site. Applications may include, but are not limited to, use in more rapidly, cost-efficiently, and easily forming openings for windows and doors having an arched upper perimeter in both residential and commercial construction.

Full Description:
This patent application is for the invention disclosure in provisional patent application No. 60/116,465, filed by the same inventor on Jan. 20, 1999. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to materials and methods used in building construction to make arched-shaped openings, specifically to a method and system for use in forming arched openings in both concrete block and wood frame building construction. The materials from which it was made would determine its load bearing capacity. Applications may include, but are not limited to, use in more rapidly and easily forming a window opening with an arched upper perimeter in both residential and commercial construction. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     In recent construction of both residential and commercial buildings, one can see the increasing popularity of building designs having windows and doors with an arched upper perimeter. They add an aesthetically pleasing and architecturally sophisticated look to a building. However, to make the openings for installation of such windows and doors. plywood and 2×4&#39;s are commonly used to form the concavely configured upper perimeter and such structures are commonly built on site. The disadvantage of this prior art method is that it is time consuming. A framer would have to refer to the radius of curvature of the window or door intended for installation and accordingly measure and cut several structural 2×4 pieces of wood having incremental differences in length. Once a standard rectangular window or door frame was constructed around a wall opening of sufficient height to accommodate installation of the intended arched window or door. the shortest 2×4 pieces of wood would then be attached centrally to the upper perimeter of the standard frame so as to downwardly and perpendicularly depend therefrom. Thereafter, in succession the incrementally longer 2×4 pieces of wood would be placed at spaced-apart distances from the shortest 2×4 piece or pieces of wood and also attached to the standard frame so as to also downwardly and perpendicularly depend therefrom. Referring again to the radius of curvature of the window or door intended for installation, the framer would then measure and cut two pieces of plywood each with one concavely arcuate perimeter edge having a radius of curvature identical to that of the window or door intended for installation within the wall opening. The cut plywood pieces would then each he oriented with its arcuate perimeter edge facing the center of the wall opening and secured within the inside perimeter of the standard frame to each of the 2×4 pieces attached to the upper perimeter of the standard frame. When the above cutting, measuring and attaching steps are repeated for the installation of even a few arched windows and doors used in a building design, the total time required to perform the extra framing steps for the arched windows and doors becomes significant. 
     The method of the present invention contemplates the use of monolithic pre-cast arched concrete headers in block construction. as well as the use of pre-formed arches in wood frame construction that could be made from recycled plastic attached to or including a lintel. Installation time for each pre-formed arch is estimated to be as little as five minutes. Use of the method disclosed in the present invention would eliminate the need for post and beam type headers with a site-built wooden arch and thereby reduce the amount of labor required on a job site to install windows and doors having an arched upper perimeter. Where load bearing capacity is required, the method of the present invention accounts for such needs. In addition to having a labor saving advantage, the method of the present invention also reduces construction site cost by eliminating the material waste associated with materials that are incorrectly measured and cut on a job site. Although it is known to have interconnecting structural panels each having a top load-carrying header plate to erect a load bearing wall, devices used to support a masonry arch during construction, and prefabricated concrete slabs which can be vertically positioned within an elongated ground trench and connected to form a building structure, as well as apparatus for molding prefabricated concrete sections on site for use in the construction of vaulted structures such as culverts and tunnels, it is not known to have a method and system for using monolithic pre-formed structures for the installation of arched windows and doors that has all of the advantages of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION—OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     It is the primary object of this invention to provide a time saving method for installing arched windows and doors in residential and commercial construction. It is a further object of this invention to provide a cost reducing method for installing arched windows and doors in residential and commercial construction. It is also an object of this invention to provide a monolithic pre-formed header and arch opening in standard sizes that can be easily transported to a construction site and easily handled during installation into standard sizes of rectangularly framed window and door openings. A further object of this invention is to provide monolithic pre-formed header and arch openings for custom work involving non-standard sizes of windows and doors. It is also an object of this invention to provide a monolithic pre-formed header and arch opening that is made from plant pre-cast and reinforced concrete so as to be load bearing. It is a further object of this invention to provide monolithic pre-formed header and arch openings that are not load bearing. A further object of this invention is to provide pre-formed arched structures for wood frame construction that are not load bearing and made at least in part from recycled plastic. 
     As described herein, properly manufactured and used to install arched windows and doors within framed rectangular openings in block and wood frame structures, the method and system of the present invention would provide a means for more rapid and cost efficient on-site installation of the arched windows and doors than is currently possible with the commonly used method of site-built arches made from plywood and 2×4&#39;s. The present invention can be configured for installing standardize size arched windows and doors, as well as the nonstandard sizes needed for custom work. In block construction the present invention contemplates the use of a plant pre-cast and reinforced concrete monolithic header and arched opening combination for each arched window or doorway incorporated into a building design, which after manufacture is transported to a job site, set upon the exposed upper surfaces of blocks positioned on opposite sides of the wall opening to create the intended arched window or doorway configuration. and thereafter attached directly to the block adjacent to the upper portion of the window or doorway opening with mortar and/or mortar in combination with other attachment means. When attached in its usable position, the top of the monolithic header and arched opening combination is approximately level with the top of the wall opening. In setting each pre-cast monolithic header and arched opening combination upon the upper surface of blocks on both sides of a wall opening, a near seamless and uniformly concave upper perimeter is formed within the wall opening. Since the concrete header and arched opening combination is monolithic. it is load bearing and provides strong support for the wall structure above the window or doorway opening. and it can be readily and easily connected to adjacent block with mortar. In addition it is contemplated for the pre-cast concrete header and arched opening combinations to have a central upper groove extending longitudinally the entire length of its upper surface. at least one reinforced steel rod or bar positioned below the upper groove and extending longitudinally the entire length of the concrete header and arched opening combination, and at least one second groove positioned within the upper surface of the concrete header and arched opening combination which intersects with the longitudinal upper groove and is oriented approximately perpendicular thereto. Although not limited thereto, the most preferred embodiment would have two rods and one second groove. It is contemplated that mortar be placed within the longitudinal upper groove and each of the second grooves in the upper surface of the concrete header and arched opening combination to help provide an enhanced base structure for more secure support of the block to be placed directly above the combination. The portions of the reinforcing rods or bars extending beyond the ends of the header further help to stabilize the concrete header and arched opening combination in its usable position against block on the upper side walls of the window or doorway opening, as the rod extensions are inserted into receiving holes formed in the adjacent wall block and become secured therein with mortar. 
     In contrast, for wood frame construction the pre-formed header and arched opening combination can be made load-bearing or non-load-bearing. For non-load-bearing wood frame construction use, it is contemplated for one embodiment of the arch filler comprising the pre-formed header and arched opening combination to be made in the same configuration as the concrete embodiment with opposed downwardly depending appendages each set upon a piece of support framing during use. The top of such an embodiment can be set within the wall opening so that the top of the arch filler is approximately level with the top of the wall opening for attachment to an independent superimposed lintel. In the alternative, the top of such an embodiment can be set within the wall opening so that the top of the arch filler is substantially horizontal and slightly below the top of the wall opening for attachment to a piece of framing material, over which a load-bearing lintel would be secured. It is contemplated for all of the above-mentioned non-load-bearing wood frame construction embodiments to be made from lightweight, cost efficient materials, such as recycled plastic. Also, in non-load-bearing situations. molded embodiments of the present invention could be made to comprise a lintel and be thereby configured as a lightweight, one-piece arch filler and lintel unit. However, in wood frame construction where load-bearing capacity is required, a lintel and attached arch filler would be made at least in part from stronger materials. For wood frame installation of the header and arched opening combination contemplated by the present invention, a rectangular opening for a window or doorway would be created during routine construction of a building wall. Additional wood framing material could be added to the bottom portion of the window or doorway opening, if needed, to provide support for the lateral downwardly depending appendages of the arched opening part of the combination. The appendage support framing would have a length dimension that allowed any upwardly depending lintel to overlay and be supported by framing on both sides of the window or doorway opening. For example, if the curvature of the arched opening dictated appendages extending approximately one-third the vertical distance of the wall opening, support framing material for the appendages could be added to approximately the inside bottom two-thirds of the window or doorway opening to allow the top of the arch filler to be positioned approximately level with the top of the framing on both sides of the window or doorway opening. In the alternative, it is considered within the scope of the present invention for the downwardly depending appendages to be manufactured off-site so as to extend to the bottom of the intended window or doorway opening. While such an alternative would slightly reduce on-site construction time and might be favored in some custom construction work, reduced convenience in handling, transport, and storage would cause such an alternative to be disfavored for the installation of standard sizes of arched windows and doors. After transport to a construction site, wood frame construction embodiments of the present invention would then be placed into their usable positions and secured into place with fasteners, bonding agents, or differing combinations of both. It is also contemplated that the pre-formed header and arched opening embodiments for wood frame construction could have a central upper groove extending longitudinally the entire length of its upper surface. Reinforced steel rod positioned below the upper groove and extending longitudinally the entire length of the header and arched opening combination, would not generally be required for wood frame construction. It is contemplated that the longitudinal upper groove will help to more securely attach the combination to the upper wall structures adjacent to the opening and help to provide an enhanced base structure for more secure support of any wall placed directly above the header and arched opening combination. 
     The description herein provides preferred embodiments of the present invention but should not be construed as limiting its scope. For example, variations in the number of reinforced steel bars used, the positioning of the steel bars relative to the longitudinal upper groove, the dimension of the longitudinal upper groove, the use of a second groove, the use of additional grooves similar to the second groove which intersect the longitudinal upper groove and are approximately perpendicular to it, and the radius of curvature of the concave arcuate perimeter edge of the arched opening, other than those shown and described herein, may be incorporated into the present invention. Thus the scope of the present invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than the examples given. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical arched window installed within a building wall. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a prior art method for installing the type of arched window shown in FIG. 1 that involves a site-built arch constructed of 2×4 &#39;s and plywood. 
     FIG. 3 is a front view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention contemplated for block construction and having a monolithic plant pre-cast and reinforced concrete header and arched opening with a groove centrally located in its upper surface approximately perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, the lower lateral appendages on either side of the arched opening being supported upon the upper surface of wall block adjacent to the wall opening formed for the installation of an arched window. such as the arched type of window shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the first embodiment of the present invention taken along line  4 — 4  in FIG.  3  and showing a longitudinal groove extending the entire length of its upper surface, as well as two reinforced steel bars positioned longitudinally through the end of the first embodiment at a spaced-apart distance from one another beneath the longitudinal groove. 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention contemplated for wood frame construction and having an arched opening filler, the lower lateral appendages of the arched opening filler being arcuate and attached directly to framing adjacent to the window opening. a separate lintel overlaying the upper surface of the wall frame adjacent to the window opening for load bearing support. 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the second embodiment of the present invention taken along line  6 — 6  in FIG.  5  and showing a longitudinal groove extending the entire length of its upper surface. 
     FIG. 7 is a front view of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention contemplated for wood frame construction and having a lintel and arched opening filler combination, the lower lateral appendages of the arched opening filler being supported upon the upper surface of wood framing pieces attached to approximately the lower two-thirds of the framed wall opening formed for the installation of an arched-type window, such as the arched-type window shown in FIG.  1 . and the lintel overlaying the upper surface of the wall frame adjacent to the window opening. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention discloses a method and system for use in forming arched openings in both concrete block and wood frame building construction for the installation of arched-type windows. such as the arched window  4  shown in FIG.  1 . The materials from which the present invention was made would determine its load-bearing capacity. Although the discussion herein and the examples illustrated in FIGS. 1-7 relate to the installation of a standardize size and configuration of arched window with a convex upper perimeter, as illustrated in FIG.  1 . applications could also include other uses. such as creation of arched doorways into which a framed door would be installed arched walkways into which no framed door would be installed, round or oval openings in a wall into which no framed window would be installed, lower arcuate surfaces in window openings for the installation of a framed window having a convex lower perimeter such as what might be expected for an elongated or round stained glass window, or the upper and lower convexly arcuate surfaces in window openings for the installation of a framed window having concave upper and lower perimeters such as what could be expected for an unusual artistic design in a stained glass window. 
     FIG. 1 shows the system  2  of the present invention being used to attach an arched window  4  within an opening in a building wall  6 . FIG. 2 shows a labor-intensive prior art system  10  for installing arched windows  4  through the use of site-built arches made from plywood  8  and structural two-by-fours  14 . A wood frame  12  would first be installed around the window opening in a building wall. such as wall  6  in FIG.  1 . Then the person making the site-built arch from plywood  8  and structural two-by-fours  14  would have to refer to the radius of curvature of the upper perimeter of arched window  4  and accordingly measure and cut several structural two-by-fours  14  having incremental differences in length. The shortest structural two-by-fours  14  would then be attached centrally to the upper perimeter of wood frame  12  so as to downwardly and perpendicularly depend therefrom. Thereafter, in succession the incrementally longer structural two-by-fours  14  would be placed at spaced-apart distances from the shortest structural two-by-fours  14  and also attached to wood frame  12  so as to also downwardly and perpendicularly depend therefrom. Referring again to the radius of curvature of arched window  4 , two pieces of plywood  8  would be measured and cut each with one concavely arcuate perimeter edge having a radius of curvature identical to that of the upper perimeter of arched window  4 . Plywood pieces  8  would then each be oriented with its arcuate perimeter edge facing the center of wood frame  12  and secured within the inside perimeter of wood frame  12  to each of the structural two-by-fours  14  attached to the upper perimeter of wood frame  12 . Thereafter. the outer frame of arched window  4  would be attached to both wood frame  12  and plywood pieces  8  to securely install it within building wall  6 . Thus, the prior art system was time consuming and cost inefficient. 
     FIG. 3 shows a first embodiment of the present invention for use in block construction and providing for the use of a monolithic arched plant pre-cast and reinforced concrete header and arch filler  6  for each arched window  4  incorporated into a building design. Each concrete header and arch filler  16  would be made off-site and thereafter transported to a construction job site for use. FIG. 3 shows concrete header and arch filler  16  positioned within a cinder block wall  18  to provide the definition of the upper perimeter of arched window opening  20 . FIG. 3 also shows concrete header and arch filler  16  having a groove  22  centrally positioned within the upper surface of concrete header and arch filler  16  and oriented approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of concrete header and arch filler  16 . It is contemplated for mortar (not shown) to be placed within groove  22  to help provide an enhanced base structure for more secure support of the non-illustrated portion of cinder block wall  18  that would be placed directly above concrete header and arch filler  16 . Although not shown and not critical to the present invention, it is contemplated in the present invention to have more than one groove  22  positioned in the upper surface of concrete header and arch filler  16  in an orientation approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of concrete header and arch filler  16 . As shown in FIG. 3, the lower lateral appendages of concrete header and arch filler  16  are set upon the upper surface of blocks on both sides of cinder block wall  18  so that the lower lateral appendages downwardly extend approximately one-third of the vertical height of arched window opening  20  and the upper surface of concrete header and arch filler  16  is approximately level with the upper surface of the top row of block in cinder block wall  18 . The length dimension of the lateral downwardly extending appendages would be determined by the curved configuration of the window opening needed to complement the convex curvature the window, such as arched window  4 , intended for installation therein, and would not always be limited to one-third of the vertical distance of the window or door opening. When concrete header and arch filler  16  is placed in its usable position with its upper surface approximately level with the upper surface of a row of block in cinder block wall  18 , the upper configuration of arched window opening  20  becomes uniformly concave and seamlessly formed. The means of securing concrete header and arch filler  16  to cinder block wall  18  is not shown and is not critical, as long as concrete header and arch filler  16  becomes securely attached to cinder block wall  18  in a manner that allows concrete header and arch filler  16  to become a load-bearing part of cinder block wall  18 . Typically, this would involve the use of mortar between the sides of concrete header and arch filler  16  and cinderblock wall  18 , as well as between the top of concrete header and arch filler  16  and any portion of cinderblock wall  18  positioned above concrete header and arch filler  16 . Reinforced rods or bars, such as reinforced steel rods  26  shown in FIG. 4, and fasteners (not shown) could also enhance the attachment between concrete header and arch filler  16  and cinderblock wall  18 . The monolithic structure of concrete header and arch filler  16  provides strong support for any portion of cinder block wall  18  that might be constructed above arched window opening  20  and it allows for easy connection to adjacent portions of cinder block wall  18  through the use of mortar (not shown) or a combination of mortar and other appropriate attachment means. 
     FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal groove  24  extending centrally through the entire length of the upper surface of concrete header and arch filler  16 . FIG. 4 also shows two reinforced steel rods  26  positioned at a spaced-apart distance from one another below longitudinal groove  24  and extending through the end of concrete header and arch filler  16 . Although not shown and not critical to the present invention, in the preferred embodiment it is contemplated for reinforced steel rods  26  to longitudinally extend through the entire length of concrete header and arch filler  16 . Also, although two reinforced steel rods  26  are shown in FIG. 4, the use of two reinforced steel rods  26  is not critical to the present invention and it is contemplated to have more or less than two reinforced steel rods  26  extending longitudinally through concrete header and arch filler  16 . The positioning of reinforced steel rods  26  relative to longitudinal groove  24  is also not critical, however, in the preferred embodiment it is contemplated for reinforced steel rods  26  to be approximately centered between the lower perimeter of grooves  22  and the upper perimeter of arched window opening  20 . Further, although not shown in FIG. 4, it is contemplated for reinforced steel rods  26  to extend beyond both ends of concrete header and arch filler  16  for use in attachment of concrete header and arch filler  16  to adjacent portions of cinder block wall  18 . Also, the dimension of longitudinal groove  24  is not critical to the present invention, however, longitudinal groove  24  should be of sufficient dimension to allow secure attachment of concrete header and arch filler  16  with mortar (not shown) to any structure placed above concrete header and arch filler  16 . Although not shown, it is contemplated for one means of attachment of concrete header and arch Filler  16  to a structure placed above it would be through the placement of mortar within longitudinal groove  24 , as well as in groove  22  shown in FIG.  3 . Although the means for securing concrete header and arch filler  16  to cinder block wall  18  is not shown and although not limited to the following, in the preferred embodiment it is contemplated for concrete header and arch filler  16  to be secured to cinder block wall  18  through the use of mortar, fasteners, reinforced steel rods  26 , and varying combinations thereof. 
     FIG. 5 shows a second preferred embodiment of the present invention contemplated for use in wood frame construction and providing a pre-formed arch-filling member  30  downwardly depending from the upper portion of a wooden wall frame  34  and positioned between the upper sides of wall frame  34  within wall opening  36  for use in rapid and cost-efficient on-site installation of a window or door therein, such as arched window  4  shown in FIG.  1 . FIG. 5 shows the lower lateral surfaces of an independent load-bearing lintel  32 . centered above opening  36  and overlaying the upper surface of wooden wall frame  34 . FIG. 5 also shows the lower lateral surfaces of pre-formed arch-filling member  30  being arcuate and attached directly to wall frame  34  without supplemental appendage support, such as that shown in FIG. 7 as being a part of wall frame  34 . Although FIG. 5 shows pre-formed arch-filling member  30  extending approximately one-fourth of the vertical length of opening  36 , the height dimension of pre-formed arch-filling member  30  would not be limited thereto and instead would vary according to the convex curvature of the window, such as arched window  4  in FIG. 1, intended for installation within opening  36 . Also, although not shown and where load-bearing capacity is not required, it is contemplated that lintel  32  and pre-formed arch-filling member  30  could be made as a one-piece unit from molded construction, perhaps from recycled plastic. Where load-bearing capacity is required, lintel  32  and pre-formed arch-filling member  30  could be made as separate pieces from different materials and combined off-site to facilitate on-site installation. The method of construction and materials used for lintel  32  and pre-formed arch-filling member  30  would therefore not be critical and would depend upon the intended use. For installation of lintel  32  and pre-formed arch member  30  within wooden wall frame  34  for defining the upper perimeter of opening  36 , wooden wall frame  34  would be constructed so as to have an essentially rectangular space therein. Such a space can be open-ended or closed, depending on whether lentil  32  and arch-filling member  30  are attached to one another off-site. Although not shown, it is contemplated for pre-formed arch-filling member  30  shown in FIG. 5 to be secured to wooden wall frame  34  through the use of fasteners, bonding agents, or a combination of both. 
     FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal groove  38  that could extend centrally through the entire length of the upper surface of arch-filling member  30 . Reinforcing rods or bars, such as steel rods  26  in FIG. 4, are not critical to the second embodiment of the present invention. Although not shown in FIG. 6, in the second preferred embodiment when both lintel  32  and pre-formed arch-filling member  30  can be made off-site as a one-piece unit through molded construction from plastic, each can be separately formed from different materials and assembled off-site for enhanced speed of on-site installation of an arched window or door, or pre-formed arch-filling member  30  can be formed off-site and made available as a one-piece or two-piece unit for rapid on-site installation. In addition to ease of on-site handling, the two-piece embodiment of pre-formed arch-filling member  30  would also allow more efficient transport and pre-use storage thereof. Further, the dimension of longitudinal groove  38  is not critical to the present invention, however, longitudinal groove  38  should be of sufficient dimension to allow secure attachment of pre-formed arch-filling member  30  to any structure placed above it. Although not shown, it is contemplated for one means of attachment of pre-formed arch-filling member  30  to any structure placed above it would be through the placement of a bonding agent or adhesive within longitudinal groove  38 , in addition to securing pre-formed arch-filling member  30  to the structure and wall frame  34  with nails, screws, or other fasteners. 
     FIG. 7 shows a third preferred embodiment of the present invention contemplated for use in wood frame construction and providing a lintel  32  with a pre-formed arch-filling member  30  downwardly depending from lintel  32 . FIG. 7 shows the lower lateral surfaces of lintel  32  overlaying the upper surface of a wooden wall frame  34  defining approximately the lower two-thirds of an opening  36  in wooden wall frame  34  formed for the installation of an arched-type window, such as arched window  4  in FIG.  1 . FIG. 7 also shows the lower lateral surfaces of pre-formed arch-filling member  30  resting on the upper surfaces of a portion of wooden wall frame  34  that extends upwardly along the sides of opening  36  approximately two-thirds of the vertical height of opening  36  so as to allow lintel  32  to rest upon the upper surfaces of wooden wall frame  34  lateral to opening  36 . In the alternative, although not shown, pre-formed arch-filling member  30  could be made with sufficiently elongated lateral extensions that would rest upon the bottom inside surface of opening  36  and obviate the need for the additional supporting pieces of wooden wall frame  34  that are otherwise required. Although not shown in FIG. 7, it is contemplated for lintel  32  and pre-formed arch-filling member  30  to be made from molded construction as a one-piece unit, perhaps from recycled plastic. However, where load-bearing capacity is required, it is also contemplated for lintel  32  and pre-formed arch-filling member  30  to each be made as separate pieces from different materials. The method of construction and materials used for lintel  32  and pre-formed arch-filling member  30  would therefore not be critical and would depend upon the intended use. For installation of lintel  32  and pre-formed arch member within wooden wall frame  34  for defining the upper perimeter of opening  36 , opening  36  would be constructed in wooden wall frame  34  so as to have an essentially rectangular configuration with an open upper end. If needed, additional wood framing material would be added to approximately the inside bottom two-thirds of opening  36  to provide support for the lateral downwardly depending appendages of pre-formed arch-filling member  30 . The lintel  32  and pre-formed arch-filling member  30  combination would then be placed into its usable position so that lintel  32  overlays the upper surface of wooden wall frame  34 , with lintel  32  and pre-formed arch-filling member  30  both being secured in the preferred embodiment to wooden wall frame  34  through the use of fasteners (not shown), bonding agents (not shown), or a combination of both. Although one-third and two-thirds measurements are illustrated in FIG. 7, it is considered within the scope of the present invention to include other height dimensions as determined by the curvature of the convex configuration of the window, such as arched window  4  shown in FIG. 1, intended for installation within opening  36 . 
     Although not shown, it is contemplated for the radius of curvature of the downwardly oriented arcuate surfaces of arched window opening  20  shown in FIG.  6  and openings  36  shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 to vary. It is further contemplated for the surface texture of pre-formed arch-filling member  30  to be variable. In the preferred embodiment it is also contemplated for the approximate installation time of lintel  32  and pre-formed arch-filling member  30  within wooden wall frame  34  to take no more than five minutes. In addition, in the preferred embodiments it is contemplated for the thickness dimensions of concrete header and arch filler  16 , as well as lintel  32  and pre-formed arch-filling member  30 , to correspond to the thickness dimensions of cinder block wall  18  and wall frame  34  built according to code and with commonly available building materials typically used in residential and commercial building construction.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4