Patent ID: 7877825

Claim:
A corner connector assembly for an enclosure for a shower or a tub/shower, comprising: (a) a generally horizontal first header, (b) a generally horizontal second header, (c) a generally vertical first jamb at a first existing first wall, (d) a generally vertical second jamb at a second existing wall, and (e) a generally vertical corner post that (i) has a first attachment portion extending toward the first existing wall, (ii) has a second attachment portion extending toward said second existing wall, and (iii) terminates in a top end, and (f) a corner connector comprising: a first leg having a proximal end, a distal end, and an interior cavity that (i) is open at said first leg distal end, (ii) is also open downwardly between said first leg distal end and said first leg proximal end, and (iii) is sized to receive both the top end of said corner post first attachment portion and a selected length of an end portion of said first header when said first header is inserted lengthwise into said first leg cavity so as to minimize non-lengthwise movement of said first header relative to said first leg; and a second leg having a proximal end, a distal end, and an interior cavity that (i) is open at said second leg distal end, (ii) is also open downwardly between said second leg distal end and said second leg proximal end, and (iii) is sized to receive both the top end of said corner post second attachment portion and a selected length of an end portion of said second header when said second header is inserted lengthwise into said second leg cavity so as to minimize non-lengthwise movement of said second header relative to said second leg, in which said corner connector is adapted for use with said first and second headers which each has a pair of laterally extending bottom flanges that are spaced apart, parallel, and extend toward each other in a common plane; said corner connector first leg and second leg each has a pair of sidewall portions connected by a top portion; said corner connector first leg sidewall portions each has a lower flange extending toward the other lower flange in a common plane for being received under one of said first header bottom flanges; said corner connector second leg sidewall portions each has a lower flange extending toward the other lower flange in a common plane for being received under one of said second header bottom flanges; and the lateral projection of each said lower flange of said corner connector is such that when said first and second headers are inserted in said corner connector first and second legs, respectively, the distal end of each said lower flange of said corner connector is in vertical registration with the distal end of the overlying bottom flange of the associated header.