Frameless Supplemental Window for Fenestration

• US 20150068140A1
• Filed: 11/12/2014
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WexEnergy LLC
• Original Assignee: WexEnergy LLC
• Inventors: Wexler, Ronald Myron
• Granted Patent: US 9,845,636 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/203
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 1/34 Coverings, e.g. protecting against weather, for decorative purposes
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/28 with additional removable glass panes or the like, framed or unframed
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/285 flexible transparent foils without a proper frame fixed and sealed at a distance from the existing glass pane
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/30 Coverings, e.g. protecting against weather, for decorative purposes for door leaves E06B3/7001

Abstract

A novel and useful frameless supplemental window for fenestration suitable for use with existing windows. The supplemental window, in one embodiment, comprises plastic sheet material with bullnose edging around it. Corner braces add rigidity and strength to corners in several embodiments. An attachment mechanism secured either to the sheet material or the bullnose edge functions to fasten and/or seal the supplemental window to an existing window. The bullnose edging functions to substantially enclose (i.e. trap) a volume of air between the window pane and the plastic sheet material. The supplemental window is configured such that the layer of trapped air is of an optimum thickness within a preferred range of 0.15 to 0.75 inches to maximize thermal insulation properties of the supplemental window.

Claims

1. A supplemental window apparatus, comprising:

a substantially non porous sheet material having dimensions defining a perimeter area of a window pane;

a seal attached to the edges of said sheet material and shaped such that when said supplemental window apparatus is attached to the window pane, a volume of gas is substantially enclosed between the window pane and said sheet material;

wherein said seal comprises an attachment mechanism operative to releasably attach said supplemental window apparatus to a window and to seal said supplemental window apparatus to the window pane; and

wherein said sheet material is positioned substantially parallel to the window pane.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein corners formed by said seal on adjacent edges of said sheet material are mitered and bonded together.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said seal and said sheet material comprise different materials bonded together.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said seal and said sheet material comprise the same material but are fabricated as separate pieces bonded together.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said seal and said sheet material comprise the same contiguous material.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said attachment mechanism comprises a layer operative to aid in holding said supplemental window apparatus in position against the window pane.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said seal comprises a layer operative to aid in providing a seal against the window pane.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said seal is operative to determine a spacing between said sheet material and the window pane.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a height and width of a combined sheet material and seal are substantially geometrically similar to the window pane height and width.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a height and width of a combined sheet material and seal are substantially congruent to the window pane height and width.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said substantially non porous sheet material is selected from the group comprising transparent substantially non porous sheet material, substantially non porous infrared reflective sheet material, substantially non porous low emissivity sheet material, semi-transparent substantially non porous sheet material, translucent substantially non porous sheet material and opaque substantially non porous sheet material.

12. A supplemental window apparatus, comprising:

a substantially non porous sheet material having dimensions defining a perimeter area of a window pane;

a seal attached to the edges of said sheet material and shaped such that when said supplemental window apparatus is attached to the window pane, a volume of gas is substantially enclosed between the window pane and said sheet material, said seal comprising an attachment mechanism operative to releasably attach said supplemental window apparatus to a window frame or to seal said supplemental window apparatus to the window pane; and

wherein said sheet material is positioned substantially parallel to the window pane.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a corner brace located in corners created by the intersection of seals along adjacent edges of said sheet material; and

a corner brace seal attached to each corner brace and operative to inhibit gas leaks through said corners.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a spring attached to the underside of said sheet material at each corner and operative to apply an outward force against a respective corner brace.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein corners formed by said seal on adjacent edges of said sheet material are mitered and bonded together.

16. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said seal and said sheet material comprise different materials bonded together.

17. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said seal and said sheet material comprise the same material but are fabricated as separate pieces bonded together.

18. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said seal and said sheet material comprise the same contiguous material.

19. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said attachment mechanism comprises a layer operative to aid in holding said supplemental window apparatus in position against the window pane.

20. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said seal comprises a layer operative to aid in providing a seal against the window pane.

21. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said seal is operative to determine a spacing between said sheet material and the window pane.

22. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said substantially non porous sheet material is selected from the group comprising transparent substantially non porous sheet material, substantially non porous infrared reflective sheet material, substantially non porous low emissivity sheet material, semi-transparent substantially non porous sheet material, translucent substantially non porous sheet material and opaque substantially non porous sheet material.

23. A supplemental window apparatus, comprising:

a substantially non porous sheet material having dimensions defining a perimeter area of a window pane;

a post and attachment mechanism operative to releasably attach said supplemental window apparatus to the window pane, wherein said post and attachment mechanism determine the distance between said window pane and said sheet material when said supplemental window apparatus is attached to the window pane;

a seal attached to the edges of said sheet material and shaped such that when said supplemental window apparatus is attached to the window pane, a volume of gas is substantially enclosed between the window pane and said sheet material; and

wherein said sheet material is substantially parallel to the window pane.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein corners formed by said seal on adjacent edges of said sheet material are mitered and bonded together.

25. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said seal and said sheet material comprise different materials bonded together.

26. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said seal and said sheet material comprise the same material but are fabricated as separate pieces bonded together.

27. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said seal and said sheet material comprise the same contiguous material.

28. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said seal comprises a layer operative to aid in holding said supplemental window apparatus in position against the window pane.

29. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said seal comprises a layer operative to aid in providing a seal against the window pane.

30. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said attachment mechanism comprises a suction cup.

31. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said post is affixed to said sheet material using a method that pierces said sheet material.

32. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said post is fastened to said sheet material using a method that does not pierce said sheet material.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising a spring positioned between said post and one or more corner braces, said spring operative to apply an outward force against a respective corner brace.

34. The apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising:

a corner brace located in each corner created by the intersection of seals along adjacent edges of said sheet material; and

a corner brace seal attached to each corner brace and operative to inhibit gas leaks through said corners.

35. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein a height and width of a combined sheet material and seal are substantially geometrically similar to the window pane height and width.

36. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein a height and width of a combined sheet material and seal are substantially congruent to the window pane height and width.

37. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said post and attachment mechanism comprises a layer operative to aid in holding said supplemental window apparatus in position against the window pane.

38. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said seal comprises a layer operative to aid in providing a seal against the window pane.

39. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said substantially non porous sheet material is selected from the group comprising transparent substantially non porous sheet material, substantially non porous infrared reflective sheet material, substantially non porous low emissivity sheet material, semi-transparent substantially non porous sheet material, translucent substantially non porous sheet material and opaque substantially non porous sheet material.