Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates to window framing systems which seal against exterior door surfaces, and particularly garage door surfaces, including embossed surfaces. The extruded fame is held together with a plurality of screws in which the extruded hollow frame into which the screw is inserted contains a hollow void having a V-shaped strut contained therein which provides additional structural support to the hollow member and minimizes any dimpling or screw breakthrough due to the use of automatic screwdrivers having a torque which is in excess of the mechanical strength of the extruded hollow frame member.  
           [0002]    Consumers often request the inclusion of a series of decorative windows in garage doors and exterior door surfaces in general. When used in a garage, these windows are usually incorporated into the upper section of the garage door. The windows are formed in individual panels of the upper section and provide daylight illumination of the closed garage. A window opening is generally cut or preformed in each panel into which a window is to be inserted.  
           [0003]    Insertion of windows into the window openings typically involves fastening two hollow extruded frames together within the garage door. In order to maximize the speed with which this operation could be performed, installers typically use automatic screwdrivers or screwdriver bits inserted into drills. These tools, are designed for high speed screwing operations and generally possess a sufficient degree of power to screw right through the extruded hollow frame if the operator is either working too fast or carelessly.  
           [0004]    The Prior Art solutions fail to effectively provide a window framework system which permits high speed installation without the attendant problems of improper installation or aesthetically-imperfect installation.  
         SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0005]    In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a hollow extruded window frame with improved structural integrity which permits the quick installation of window frames minimizing the possibility of dimpling or screw breakthrough.  
           [0006]    It is an object of this invention to effect screwing engagement of a front and a rear window frame system wherein the rear window frame contains additional structural support.  
           [0007]    It is another object of this invention to improve the aesthetics of the installed window frame thereby reducing consumer rejection of various installations.  
           [0008]    These and other objects of this invention will be evident when viewed in light of the drawings, detailed description and the pending claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and wherein: FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a front and a rear window frame having hollow portions disposed, said hollow portions support by essentially vertical structural support and illustrating a screw which has been improperly installed due to overtightening resulting in the head of the screw breaking through the surface of the frame; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a window frame of FIG. 1 showing a second improper installation due to overtightening of the screw resulting in a dimpling of the surface of the inner window frame; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a window frame of FIG. 1 showing the improved internal design of the hollow frame member which minimizes the problems identified in FIGS.  1   2  ; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an interior extruded frame showing non-mirror image structural supports; and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 3 showing the improved internal design of the hollow frame member in conjunction with a non-V shaped external frame member.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]    [0010] 25  Referring now to the drawings wherein the showing is for the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same, the figures show how the improved internal structural design of the window frame can eliminate or at least minimize the plastic deformations or breakthrough which may occur when using automatic screwing devices.  
         [0011]    As illustrated in FIG. 1, the window framing system is shown having an exterior extruded window frame  10 , and interior extruded window frame  20  and a portion of a garage door  30 . Exterior window frame  10  is an extruded piece having two hollow voids  16 ,  18 , said voids separated by an inwardly-facing (or inverted) V-shaped internal support  24 . The exterior frame has a peripherally extending foot  12  for contacting engagement with an exterior wall  56  of a garage door, a exterior surface  14 , two side surfaces  28 ,  32  and a bottom surface  22 , said bottom surface often characterized as an inwardly-facing V-shape. Interior side surface  28  often has a plurality of indentations as well as a flexible sealing strip  26  for contact with a pane of glass (not shown) while opposing exterior side surface  32  is often in contact with at least a portion of an interior side  54  of garage door  30 . Interior frame  20  is also an extruded piece having two hollow voids  48 ,  50 , said voids separated by a perpendicular inner wall  62 . The interior frame has a peripherally extending foot  44  for contacting engagement with an interior wall  52  of the garage door, an interior surface  38 , two side surfaces  40 ,  46  and an exterior wall  42 , at least a portion of side surface  46  often being in physical contact with at least a portion of interior side  54  of garage door  30 .  
         [0012]    During installation of the window framing system, the outer frame  10  and inner frame  20  are secured in fastening engagement by a plurality of screws having threads  34  and heads  36 . When using high speed and high torque screwdrivers and drills having screwdriver bits positioned thereinto, the probability exists that through rapid rotational movement of the screw into the exterior wall  42  of inner frame  20 , with subsequent penetration through interior wall  38  of said frame, followed by fastening engagement with inverted V-shaped bottom surface  22  of exterior frame  10 , and often corresponding inverted V-shaped middle wall  24  of the frame, screw head  36  often penetrates through exterior wall  42  thereby creating an unsightly aperture  60  where none is intended. This also creates a loose fitting arrangement between the inner and outer frames, causing customer rejection of that installation.  
         [0013]    As illustrated in FIG. 2, not only is screw penetration an issue, but so is exterior wall  42  deformation caused by screw head  36  being overtightened, but not to the point of causing penetration therethrough as illustrated in FIG. 1. The dimpling  72  is still unacceptable to the consumer and often causes customer rejection of that installation.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 innovatively solves the problems illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 by placing additional structural support at precisely the location needed. By the incorporation of additional angled struts  70 , shown V-shaped in this embodiment, creates three voids  64 ,  66 ,  68  wherein only one void  50  existed previously. The internal bracing provides compressive longitudinal resistance to increased penetrational longitudinal movement of the screw and screw head thereby minimizing if not eliminating the dimpling  72  evidenced in FIG. 2 and apertured breakthrough  60  evidenced in FIG. 1. While the additional structural support  70  is shown as V-shaped, it is important that this feature will be achieved by any non-perpendicular support which forms a plurality of triangular cavities  64 ,  66 ,  68 , although it is recognized that the shape of the structural support and resulting cavity defined therein can be other than triangular, one of the important facets being angularity of a support  74 ,  76  illustrated in FIG. 4, at the location of screw penetration, such support laterally migrating toward interior surface  38  although not necessarily touching this surface in that the terminus of supports  70  could be either interior wall  62  or side wall  46  or combinations thereof. It is important that the structural support be positioned at an acute angle as defined by the structural support and exterior wall  42  of inner frame  20 .  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein fastening engagement is with horizontal bottom surface  22   a  rather than inverted V-shaped bottom surface  22  of exterior frame  10  shown in FIG. 3 as well as horizontal middle wall  24   a  rather than corresponding inverted V-shaped middle wall  24  of exterior frame  10  shown in FIG. 3. It is additionally recognized that while exterior frame  10  is shown as an extruded shape, there is no need to limit the invention to such, and this frame component may be solid plastic, wood, metal, e.g., both hollow and non-hollow aluminum, etc.  
         [0016]    This invention has been described in detail with reference to specific embodiments thereof, including the respective best modes for carrying out each embodiment. It shall be understood that these illustrations are by way of example and not by way of limitation.

Technology Category: 0