Frame assembly and environmental enclosure
First Claim
1. A frame assembly for an environmental enclosure, comprising:
- a plurality of channel-shaped members, each channel-shaped member including a first end wall, opposed spaced side walls extending generally perpendicular to and integral with said first end wall, an opening opposite said first end wall adapted to receive and retain an end cap for retaining a film over said frame assembly, and an integral internal retainer channel including a wall integral and generally perpendicular to one of said side walls spaced from said first end wall forming an internal channel with said first end wall; and
said plurality of channel-shaped frame members including a first channel-shaped frame member in abutting relation with a second channel-shaped frame member and a retainer element received in said internal channel of said first channel-shaped frame member interconnecting said first and second channel-shaped frame members.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A frame assembly for an environmental enclosure including a plurality of channel-shaped members each including an end wall, opposed spaced side walls and an opening opposite the end wall adapted to receive and retain an end cap for retaining a film over the frame assembly having an integral internal channel which receives a connector element for interconnecting the frame members into a rectangular frame assembly and the frame assemblies are then interconnected to form an environmental enclosure. In one embodiment, the channel-shaped frame members include a generally L-shaped connector portion integral with one of the side walls for interconnecting the frame assemblies in side to side and end to end relation. In the other embodiment, the rectangular frame assembly has a height equal to the height of the environmental enclosure and transverse bracing elements having a U-shaped connector plate including transverse slots received in the internal channel.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A frame assembly for an environmental enclosure, comprising:
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a plurality of channel-shaped members, each channel-shaped member including a first end wall, opposed spaced side walls extending generally perpendicular to and integral with said first end wall, an opening opposite said first end wall adapted to receive and retain an end cap for retaining a film over said frame assembly, and an integral internal retainer channel including a wall integral and generally perpendicular to one of said side walls spaced from said first end wall forming an internal channel with said first end wall; and
said plurality of channel-shaped frame members including a first channel-shaped frame member in abutting relation with a second channel-shaped frame member and a retainer element received in said internal channel of said first channel-shaped frame member interconnecting said first and second channel-shaped frame members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A frame assembly for an environmental enclosure, comprising:
a plurality of channel-shaped frame members, each of said channel-shaped frame members including a first end wall, opposed spaced side wall integral with and extending generally perpendicular to said first end wall, an opening opposite said first end wall having parallel sides adapted to receive and retain an end cap for retaining a film over said frame assembly, and an integral internal channel within said channel-shaped frame members including a first generally L-shaped internal channel wall portion integral with one of said side walls including a first portion integral with and extending generally perpendicular to said one of said side walls and an end portion extending toward said first end wall and a second internal channel wall integral with and extending generally perpendicular to said first end wall portion extending toward said second end portion of said first generally L-shaped internal wall portion. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A frame assembly for an environmental enclosure, comprising:
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a plurality of interconnected frame members, each of said frame members including a channel-shaped portion having a first end wall portion, opposed spaced side walls extending generally perpendicular to and integral with said first end wall portion defining an open end opposite said first end wall portion, said side walls having opposed inwardly projecting portions adjacent said open end adapted to receive and retain an end cap, and a connector portion integral with said channel-shaped portion including a second end wall portion generally aligned with said first end wall portion extending generally perpendicular to and integral with said second end wall portion spaced from an adjacent side wall portion;
said plurality of interconnecting frame members including two frame members having abutting leg portions; and
a fastener interconnecting said leg portions. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A frame assembly for an environmental enclosure, comprising:
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a first plurality of frame members each including a channel-shaped portion having a first end wall portion, a first side wall extending generally perpendicular to and integral with said first end wall portion, a second side wall spaced from said first side wall extending generally perpendicular to and integral with said first end wall portion, said first side wall including an end portion extending toward said second side wall and said second side wall including an end portion extending toward said first side wall, and a connector portion including a second end wall portion integral with said second side wall generally aligned with said first end wall portion and a leg portion spaced from said second side wall extending generally perpendicular to and integral with said second end wall portion having a length less than said side wall;
a second plurality of frame members each being a mirror image of said first plurality of frame members, each including a first end wall portion, a first side wall extending generally perpendicular to and integral with said first end wall portion, a second side wall spaced from said first side wall extending generally perpendicular to and integral with said first end wall portion, said first end wall portion including an end portion extending toward said second side wall, said second side wall including an end portion extending toward said first side wall and a connector portion including a second end wall portion integral with said second side wall aligned with said first end wall portion and a leg portion spaced from said second side wall extending generally perpendicular to and integral with said second end wall portion, wherein said leg portions of one of said first plurality of frame members and said leg portion of one of said second plurality of frame members are abutting; and
a fastener interconnecting said leg portions of said one of said first plurality of frame members to said leg portion of said one of said second plurality of frame members. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification