Patent ID: 8484926

Claim:
A frame member configured to be mounted either inside an opening in a structure or around the opening in the structure, the frame member comprising an elongate channel-containing section and an elongate plate section that extends from the channel-containing section, the channel-containing section having a longitudinally extending channel that comprises a narrow section and a relatively wider section, the narrow section of the channel defining an entrance to the channel, the channel being sized for receiving spline material that secures a screen to the frame member, wherein the channel has an interior wall and wherein the channel-containing section includes a plurality of longitudinally extending nubs located on portions of the interior wall that confront the entrance to the channel, wherein the portions of the interior wall having the longitudinally extending nubs are on opposite sides of the entrance to the channel and wherein the longitudinally extending nubs facilitate retention of spline within the channel, the channel-containing section comprising a rear wall, a first sidewall and a second sidewall, wherein the first and second sidewalls are parallel to each other and wherein the first sidewall has a flat outer surface and the second sidewall has a flat outer surface that is parallel to the flat outer surface of the first sidewall, wherein the interior wall of the channel has flat portions that are located on either side of each longitudinally extending nub and parallel to the flat outer surfaces of the first and second sidewalls, the channel-containing section further comprising a first front wall and a second front wall, wherein the first front wall is contiguous with the first sidewall and perpendicular to the flat outer surface of the first sidewall and the second front wall is contiguous with the second sidewall and perpendicular to the flat outer surface of the second sidewall, wherein the first front wall is located on one side of the entrance to the channel and the second front wall is located on the opposite side of the entrance to the channel, and wherein the first front wall is coplanar with the second front wall, the elongate plate section being attached to and extending from the rear wall of the channel-containing section, wherein the elongate plate section has an outer surface that is coplanar with the flat outer surface of one of the sidewalls of the channel-containing section so as to enable the outer surfaces of both said elongate plate section and said one of the sidewalls of said channel-containing section to directly contact a structure when the frame member is mounted inside an opening in the structure.