ACCESSORY MOUNTING DEVICES FOR WINDOW SYSTEMS

• US 20090277108A1
• Filed: 04/29/2009
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hawkes Design And Consulting, LLC
• Original Assignee: The Muhler Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Weber, Bruce, Hay, Henry M. III
• Granted Patent: US 8,196,363 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/204.620
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/005 Storm panels; hurricane shutters
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/02 Shutters, movable grilles, or other safety closing devices, e.g. against burglary louvre windows or grilles E06B7/08; lamellar blinds E06B9/26

Abstract

A window system for installation in a structure is provided. The window system includes a front side that faces away from the structure and a back side that faces into the structure when the window system is installed in a structure. The window system further includes at least one window pane having a front side that faces away from the structure and a back side that faces into the structure when the window system is installed in a structure; at least one sash that surrounds the at least one window pane, wherein the sash has a front side that faces away from the structure and a back side that faces into the structure when the window system is installed in a structure; at least one window frame comprising at least one head, sill, and jamb; and at least one mounting base integral to the window.

Claims

1. A covering for an opening in a structure, comprising:

a frame for installation in the opening in the structure, the frame having a side that faces away from the structure, said frame having an aperture formed therein;

a window pane disposed within said frame;

a mounting base that engages said aperture in said frame, said mounting base comprising a fastener; and

an attachment that covers said window pane, wherein said attachment is mounted to said mounting base by said fastener.

2. A covering for an opening in a structure as described in claim 1, wherein said aperture in said frame is elongated, and wherein said mounting base extends into said aperture and said mounting base covers said aperture.

3. A covering for an opening in a structure as described in claim 1, wherein said aperture in said frame is elongated, and wherein said mounting base is elongated, and said mounting base extends into said aperture and said mounting base covers said aperture.

4. A covering for an opening in a structure as described in claim 1, wherein said mounting base comprises:

a head;

a neck; and

a body,

wherein the neck is of reduced dimension relatively to the head, and wherein said neck engages said aperture of said frame and said mounting base is retained in said aperture by engagement of said neck with said frame, and wherein the head is present on an exterior of said frame, and wherein the body is connected to the neck and is opposite the head, and the body extends into an interior of said frame.

5. A covering for an opening in a structure as described in claim 1, wherein said mounting base comprises:

a head;

a neck; and

a body,

wherein the neck is of reduced dimension relative to the head, and wherein said neck engages said aperture of said frame and said mounting base is retained in said aperture by engagement of said neck with said frame, and wherein the head is present on an exterior of said frame, and wherein the body is connected to the neck and is opposite the head, and the body extends into an interior of said frame, and wherein the head covers the aperture in the frame.

6. A covering for an opening in a structure as described in claim 1, wherein the mounting base comprises

a female body, wherein the female body is inserted into said aperture in said frame, and

a male body that is inserted into said female body and is retained in said female body to exert a force on said female body to hold said female body and said mounting base in said aperture.

7. A covering for an opening in a structure as described in claim 1, wherein the mounting base comprises

a female body, wherein the female body is inserted into said aperture in said frame, and

a male body that is inserted into said female body and is retained in said female body to exert a force on said female body to hold said female body and said mounting base in said aperture,

wherein said fastener passes through said male body and engages said female body.

8. A covering for an opening in a structure as described in claim 1, wherein the mounting base comprises

an elongated female body, wherein the female body is inserted into said aperture in said frame, and wherein said female body has an elongated channel that longitudinally traverses said female body;

and

a male body that is inserted into said elongated channel of said female body and is retained in said female body to exert a force on said female body and said mounting base to hold said female body in said aperture.

9. A covering for an opening in a structure as described in claim 1, wherein said mounting base comprises:

a female body, said female body comprising a head, a neck; and

a lower body,

wherein the neck is of reduced dimension relative to the head, and wherein said neck engages said aperture of said frame and said mounting base is retained in said aperture by engagement of said neck with said frame, and wherein the head is present on an exterior of said frame, and wherein the lower body is connected to the neck and is opposite the head, and the lower body extends into an interior of said frame, and wherein the head covers the aperture in the frame, and

a male body that is inserted into said female body and is retained in said female body to exert a force on said female body to hold said mounting base in place in said aperture by engagement of said neck with said frame.

10. A covering for an opening in a structure as described in claim 1, said covering comprising at least two mounting bases, wherein said mounting bases are positioned in said frame and above said window pane, and wherein said attachment is mounted to both of said mounting bases.

11. A covering for an opening in a structure as described in claim 1, said covering comprising two apertures in said frame and two mounting bases, with one of said mounting bases engaging one of said apertures and a remaining mounting base engaging a remaining aperture, wherein said mounting bases are positioned in said frame and above said window pane.

12. A covering for an opening in a structure as described in claim 1, said covering comprising two elongated apertures formed in said frame and two elongated mounting bases, with one of said elongated mounting bases engaging one of said elongated apertures and a remaining mounting base engaging a remaining elongated aperture, wherein said elongated mounting bases are positioned in said frame and above said window pane, and a length of each of two elongated said mounting bases is generally parallel to a length of an elongated member of said frame in which said two elongated apertures are present.

13. A covering for an opening in a structure as described in claim 1, wherein said mounting base comprises:

a head;

a neck; and

a body,

wherein the neck is of reduced dimension relatively to the head, and wherein said aperture is formed in a planar material that forms an exterior of said frame, and the neck engages said planar material of said frame at said aperture, and said mounting base is retained in said aperture by engagement of said neck with said frame, and wherein the head is present on an exterior of said frame, and wherein the body is connected to the neck and is opposite the head, and the body extends into a hollow interior of said frame.

14. A covering for an opening in a structure as described in claim 1, wherein said mounting base comprises:

a head;

a neck;

a body, and

a foot

wherein the neck is of reduced dimension relatively to the head, and wherein said aperture is formed in a planar material that forms an exterior of said frame, and the neck engages said planar material of said frame at said aperture, and said mounting base is retained in said aperture by engagement of said neck with said frame, and wherein the head is present on an exterior of said frame, and wherein the body is connected to the neck and is opposite the head, and the body extends into a hollow interior of said frame, wherein said foot extends at generally a right angle from a lower end of said body.

15. A covering for an opening in a structure as described in claim 1, wherein said mounting base comprises:

a head;

a neck;

a body, and

a foot

wherein the neck is of reduced dimension relatively to the head, and wherein said aperture is formed in a planar material that forms an exterior of said frame, and the neck engages said planar material of said frame at said aperture, and said mounting base is retained in said aperture by engagement of said neck with said frame, and wherein the head is present on an exterior of said frame, and wherein the body is connected to the neck and is opposite the head, and the body extends into a hollow interior of said frame, wherein said foot extends at generally a right angle from a lower end of said body, and said foot engages a wall of an interior of said frame.

16. A covering for an opening in a structure as described in claim 1, wherein the mounting base is located in the frame on an exterior side of the structure.

17. A covering for an opening in a structure as described in claim 1, wherein the mounting base is located in the frame on an interior side of the structure.

18. A covering for an opening in a structure as described in claim 1, wherein said attachment is selected from the group consisting of storm panels, storm shutters, blinds, and combinations thereof.

19. A covering for an opening in a structure as described in claim 1, wherein the covering is a window.