Patent Abstract:
A window jamb channel attachment apparatus. The apparatus can include a channel clip, the channel clip including a first foot, a second foot, a first leg, a second leg, and a joining portion, the first foot and the second foot adapted to couple to a window jamb channel, the first leg having a first end coupled to the first foot and a second end coupled to the joining portion, the second leg having a first end coupled to the second foot and a second end coupled to the joining portion, the joining portion including an aperture defined therein. The apparatus can further include an object holder removably coupled to the channel clip, the object holder including a body, a fastener portion sized and shaped to be received in the aperture of the channel clip, and an object support portion.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/547,697, filed Oct. 15, 2011 and entitled CHANNEL CLIP WITH SUPPORT AND SEALING MEANS, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Window decorations for holidays, window treatments and other devices that are displayed alongside windows (such as thermometers) are traditionally mounted using suction cups that attach to the window glazing or hardware that is permanently fastened to the wall sections around the window. Additionally, in some use scenarios such as in rented apartments, the tenants might not be allowed to make intrusive changes to the building walls and window frames. As such, a non-intrusive solution for attaching objects to windows is desired. 
     Solutions for non-intrusive attachment of objects and accessories to windows include, for example, suction cups and adhesives such as double sided tape. However, these tend to detach easily and become unusable over time. Furthermore, in some types of windows, the sealing between the window sash and the window frame is insufficient, resulting in poor insulation and increased utility bills. A solution for securely and non-intrusively mounting objects on windows is therefore desired. A solution for mounting objects on windows that allows for repetitive use is also desired. A solution for improving sealing and insulation of window frames is also desired. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to at least one exemplary embodiment, a window jamb channel attachment apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus can include a channel clip, the channel clip including a first foot, a second foot, a first leg, a second leg, and a joining portion, the first foot and the second foot adapted to couple to a window jamb channel, the first leg having a first end coupled to the first foot and a second end coupled to the joining portion, the second leg having a first end coupled to the second foot and a second end coupled to the joining portion, the joining portion including an aperture defined therein. The apparatus can further include an object holder removably coupled to the channel clip, the object holder including a body, a fastener portion sized and shaped to be received in the aperture of the channel clip, and an object support portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments. The following detailed description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a channel clip in an unlocked configuration. 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a channel clip in a locked configuration. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a channel clip in an unlocked configuration. 
         FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a channel clip in a locked configuration. 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a channel clip and an exemplary embodiment of an object holder. 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a channel clip coupled to an exemplary embodiment of an object holder. 
         FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a channel clip coupled to an exemplary embodiment of an object holder. 
         FIG. 8  is top view of an exemplary embodiment of a channel clip in an unlocked configuration. 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a channel clip coupled to an exemplary embodiment of an object holder. 
         FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a channel clip and an exemplary embodiment of a foam block in a first position. 
         FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a channel clip and an exemplary embodiment of a foam block in a second position. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a channel clip in an unlocked configuration coupled to a window jamb channel. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a channel clip in a locked configuration coupled to a window jamb channel. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a channel clip coupled to a window jamb channel, with an exemplary embodiment of a foam block in a first position. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a channel clip coupled to a window jamb channel, with an exemplary embodiment of a foam block in a second position. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a channel clip coupled to a window jamb channel, with an exemplary embodiment of an object holder. 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a channel clip coupled to a window jamb channel, coupled to an exemplary embodiment of an object holder. 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a channel clip coupled to a window jamb channel, coupled to an exemplary embodiment of an object holder, and with a foam block in a second position. 
         FIG. 19  is an elevational view of an object supported by a pair of exemplary window channel attachment apparatuses. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description discussion of several terms used herein follows. 
     As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance or illustration.” The embodiments described herein are not limiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood that the described embodiment are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms “embodiments of the invention”, “embodiments” or “invention” do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation. 
     According to at least one exemplary embodiment, a window jamb channel attachment apparatus may be disclosed. The window jamb channel attachment apparatus may include a channel clip  50 , an object holder  60 , and an insulating portion  90 . 
       FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of a channel clip  50 . Channel clip  50  may include an anchoring portion  10  and a sliding portion  40 . Anchoring portion  10  may include a pair of feet  11  and a pair of legs  12 , which may be held together by a flexible joining section  13 . Feet  11  can include a retaining head portion  15  and a bulb-out portion  17 , a top surface  21  and a flange portion  29 . Sliding portion  40  can include a shoulder section  41  and a body section  42 . Body section  42  of sliding portion  40  can further include side grooves, which may be sized and shaped to receive bulb-out portions  17  of feet  11 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , when sliding portion  40  is positioned proximate flexible joining section  13 , channel clip  50  may be in an unlocked configuration, which can allow for lateral movement of feet  11  such that feet  11  may be brought into closer proximity to each other, which can facilitate attaching channel clip  50  to a window channel or the like. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the retaining head portion  15  may include an inner surface  28 , a tip  30  and an outer surface  32 . Tip  30  can include an inner surface  16  and a forward surface  31  and may be substantially trapezoidally shaped. Flange portion  29  can include a forward surface  14 , an outer surface  25  and an inner surface  33 . Flange portion  29  and retaining head portion  15  can be disposed in substantially parallel planes and may be joined to each other by a joining portion, which may extend in a plane orthogonal to the planes of flange portion  29  and retaining head portion  15 , and may be disposed proximate bulb-out portion  17 . Each of legs  12  can include an outer surface  18 , a rail portion  19  and an inner surface  22 . The rail portion  19  may include a top surface  26 . Flexible section  13  can include a flat top surface  20 , a curved outer surface  23 , a curved inner surface  24  and a mounting hole  27 . Finally, the shoulder section  41  of the sliding portion  40  may include a top surface  43  and a side surface  44  while the body section  42  may include a front surface  45  and a top surface  44 . 
     The top surfaces  21  of feet  11 , top surface  43  of sliding portion  40 , and top surface  20  of flexible section  14  may be coplanar. The surface of the side portion  44  of the shoulder section  41  may be tangent to the curved outer surface  23  of the flexible joining section  13 . The width of the material in the anchor shaped clip may be uniform in all its constituent parts, including feet  11 , legs  12  and flexible joining section  13 , and may also be equal to the width of shoulder section  41  and body section  42  of the sliding portion  40 . 
       FIG. 2  shows an exemplary embodiment of channel clip  50  having sliding portion  40  disposed proximate to feet  11 . When sliding portion  40  is proximate feet  11 , bulb-out portions  17  of feet  11  may be received within the side grooves of sliding portion  40 . In such a configuration, sliding portion  40  can impede feet  11  from coming into closer proximity to each other, thereby placing channel clip  50  into a locked configuration. When channel clip  50  is affixed to a window channel or the like, the locked configuration can reduce the likelihood of channel clip  50  being withdrawn from the channel. Consequently, when it is desired to remove channel clip  50  from a window channel or the like, sliding portion  40  can be moved away from feet  11  so as to place channel clip  50  into an unlocked configuration. Sliding portion  40  can be moved between the locked and the unlocked positions when the necessary directional force is applied by an operator, for example on the shoulder sections  41  of sliding portion  40 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of channel clip  50 , illustrating the back surface  47  of the sliding member  40  as well as the mounting hole  27 .  FIG. 3  further shows sliding member  40  proximate flexible section  13 , channel clip  50  consequently being in the unlocked configuration.  FIG. 4  shows a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of channel clip  50  with sliding member  40  proximate feet  11 , channel clip  50  consequently being in the locked configuration. 
       FIG. 5  shows an exemplary embodiment of channel clip  50  and an exemplary embodiment of object holder  60 . Object holder  60  can include a body section  61  and a push-in removable rivet  62 . Body section  61  can include a curved inner surface  63 , a flat outer surface  64  and a flat top surface  65 . Curved inner surface  63  of object holder  60  may have a shape complementary to curved outer surface  23  of flexible joining section  13 . Rivet  65  can include a head  66  and a shank  67 . Head  66  of rivet  65  may be sized and shaped to be removably insertable through mounting hole  27 . Object holder  60  may further include an object support portion  80 , which can include a hook  81  and a shank  82 . Object support portion  80  can be fixedly or removably coupled to object holder  60 . 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  show object holder  60  coupled to channel clip  50 . The coupling of channel clip  50  and object holder  60  may be facilitated by the push-in removable rivet  62 . The shank  67  may be inserted through the mounting hole  27  until the head  66  reaches the inner side of the flexible joining section  13 . The head  66  may then snap open and rest against the curved inner surface  24  of flexible joining section  13 , such that the curved inner surface  63  of object holder  60  and the curved outer surface  23  of flexible joining section  13  are disposed in contact with each other. 
       FIG. 8  shows a top view of an exemplar embodiment of channel clip  50 , with the sliding portion  40  in the unlocked position. In this configuration, the channel clip  50  can be easily inserted into a channel by applying inward pressure on the outer surface  18  of the leg sections  12  while pushing the anchoring portion  10  into the channel. 
       FIG. 9  shows a top view of an exemplary embodiment of object holder  60  and object support portion  80  coupled to channel clip  50 . The inner curved portion of the flexible joining section  13  can be sized so as to accommodate the push-in removable rivet  62  when the rivet  62  is disposed therein. 
       FIG. 10  shows an exemplary embodiment of channel clip  50  with an exemplary embodiment of a foam block  90  disposed in the cavity between legs  12  and feet  11  of channel clip  50 . When sliding portion  40  is in the unlocked position, as shown, foam block  90  can be disposed inside the cavity of the channel clip  50  so as to allow for insertion of channel clip  50  into the channel. Foam block  90  can be fixedly or removably coupled to the front surface  45  of the body section  42  of sliding portion  40 . As non-limiting examples, if the channel clip  50  is intended to be used for sealing or insulation purposes, foam block  90  can be attached with an adhesive, for example during the manufacturing process. Alternatively, if channel clip  50  is intended to be used for support purposes, foam block  90  can be attached by the user, for example using a double sided adhesive band, hook-and-loop fasteners, or any similar fasteners known in the art. 
       FIG. 11  shows foam block  90  is shown in the expanded position. When sliding member  40  is disposed in the locked position, foam block  90  may be moved out of the cavity between legs  12  of channel clip  50 , and can consequently expand outward beyond feet  11  of channel clip  50 , so as to fill the channel to which channel clip  50  is attached. 
     In some exemplary embodiments, the components of channel clip  50 , including anchoring portion  10  and sliding portion  40 , as well as the object holder  60  and the object support portion  80  can be manufactured of a thermoplastic polymer such as, for example, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or any other known materials having similar properties of elasticity and durability that allow channel clip  50  to function as described herein. Such components can be manufactured, for example, by plastic injection or extrusion. Foam block  90  may be made from a polyurethane foam or any other known material that enables foam block  90  to function as described herein. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 12-13  and  FIGS. 16-18 , the components of the channel attachment apparatus are shown in operation, coupled to a window jamb liner  100 . The jamb liner channel  101  can house the hardware that provides support and allows for movement of the window sash  110  along the jamb liner  100 . The jamb liner  100  is typically firmly attached to the window frame and therefore is capable of offering reliable support means for certain objects that might be displayed in the window such as signs, curtains, screens, thermometers, plant pots, etc. However, as such objects cannot attach directly to the jamb liner, the components of the channel attachment apparatus facilitate supporting such objects in a window by coupling with the jamb liner channel  101 . This can be facilitated by inserting the anchoring portion  10  into the jamb liner channel  101 , and attaching the desired object to object support portion  80  of object holder  60 . 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 12-13  and  FIGS. 16-18 , the retaining head portions  15  of feet  11  can be inserted into flange section  102  of the jamb liner channel  101 . The forward surface  14  of flange portion  29  can rest on the outer surface of the jamb liner  100  while the inner surface  16  of the tip  30  may make contact with the inner surface of the jamb liner channel  101 . The distance between forward surface  14  and inner surface  16  may be approximately equal to the width of the wall of the flange section  102 , thereby facilitating a snap-fit mount of channel clip  50  into jamb channel  101 . Further securing of the clip can be achieved by sliding member  40  into the locked position as shown in  FIG. 13 ,  FIG. 16 ,  FIG. 17 , and  FIG. 18 . Object holder  60  can then be attached as shown in  FIG. 16  and  FIG. 17  by inserting push-in removable rivet  62  into the mounting hole  27  such that head  66  of the push-in removable rivet  62  snaps open so as to be locked in the channel clip  50 . The assembly formed by the channel clip  50 , the object holder  60  and object support portion  80  can now support external objects, as shown in  FIG. 19 . For example, in  FIG. 19 , two channel clips  50  are affixed to opposing window jamb liners  100 , and a window screen  120  is supported between the two channel clips  50 . 
       FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15 , show an exemplary embodiment of channel clip  50  in use in conjunction with an exemplary embodiment of foam block  90 , so as to provide a sealing or insulation function. The foam block  90  is shown in the retracted position in  FIG. 14  and in the expanded position in  FIG. 15 . To facilitate sealing or insulation, the channel clip  50  can be attached to the window jamb liner  100  such that it is flush with the window sash  110 . In this position, the bottom surface (i.e., the surface opposite to the top surface  21 ) the channel clip  50  can be contact with the top side  112  of the window sash  110 . Still referring to  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15 , for completeness only, the window glazing  111  is also shown. As the sliding portion  40  is moved from the unlocked position shown in  FIG. 14  and into the locked position shown in  FIG. 15 , foam block  90  can expand into the jamb channel  101  so as to facilitate the sealing or insulation function. 
     While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed. 
     The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. 
     Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8