Patent ID: RE40041

Claim:
A window frame for being fixedly mounted in an opening provided in a wall of a structure, the structure having a frame defining an inner wall and an outer wall, said window frame comprising: a window frame body member for being received in and circumscribing the opening in the wall and adapted to extend from proximate the outer wall toward the inner wall when received in the opening, said window frame body member having a retainer means for receiving and supporting at least one window, said window frame body member having a header portion, a sill portion, and first and second jamb portions; a J-rail return member integrally formed with said window frame body member so as to extend outward from said window frame body member when said window frame body member is received in the opening, said J-rail return member having a) a flange portion for extending radially around the opening and for attachment of said window frame to the structure, b) a projecting portion extending away from said flange portion in a direction perpendicular to said flange portion, wherein the projecting portion of said header portion is continuous and unperforated from an outer edge of said first jamb section to said outer edge of second jamb section, and c) a return portion having a proximate edge and a distal edge, said proximate edge being connected to an outermost extent of said projecting portion, said return portion being substantially parallel with said flange portion to define a substantially rectangularly shaped slot between said return portion and said flange portion, said slot having an opening at said distal edge of said return portion for accepting siding to be attached to the outer wall of the structure, said return portion having a width of at least about 3 / 4 inch and effective to cover the siding even during any contraction of the siding and to accommodate movement of said siding due to thermal fluctuation , said J rail return portion member of said header portion being aligned with the J-rail return portion member of said jamb portions thereby serving as a rain gutter for said window frame whereby said window frame can be installed as a unit within the opening of the structure with minimal labor to receive at least one window and the siding in a secure manner.