Panel fastener system and retaining member

• US 4,561,223 A
• Filed: 02/03/1983
• Issued: 12/31/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Defender Energy of Connecticut Incorporated 177 State St Bridgeport CT
• Original Assignee: Defender Energy of Connecticut Incorporated
• Inventors: Lavigne, Eric, Newman, Robert, Gold, Stanley
• Primary Examiner(s): Murtagh, John E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ford, Kathryn
• Application Number:
  US06/463,629
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 52/202, 52/203, 52/400, 52/DIG. 4, 52/208, 52/788, 52/476, 49/478, 49/501, 49/403, 24/303
• US Class Current: 52/202
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/28 with additional removable glass panes or the like, framed or unframed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 52/04 Magnetic connecting means for building components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 52/13 Hook and loop type fastener

Abstract

A panel fastener system is provided for securing a panel sheet to a frame across an opening, e.g. window opening. The system comprises a frame member mounted along the length of the frame and having a first magnetic element non-adhesively mounted to the frame member. A panel sheet is provided of suitable size to cover the opening. A panel retaining member extends along is mounted to the edges of the panel. The retaining member has an outer and an inner leg connected to each other at one end, the edges of the panel being retained and mounted therebetween. A second magnetic element is non-adhesively mounted to the inner leg. The first and second elements are magnetically attachable to each other. The inner leg and second magnetic element mounted thereto are both shaped and mounted to each other to form a rigidized elongated hollow structural member therebetween along the length of the edges of the panel. The frame member preferably comprises two legs hingedly mounted to each other at substantially right angles, one leg of which is mounted to the length of the frame and the other leg having mounted thereto the first magnetic element.

The rigidized elongated hollow structural member provides rigidity to the sheet and added support. The hinged frame member legs provide flexibility while still providing for secure fastening of the panel to the frame. The non-adhesive mountings of the magnetic elements to the frame and panel members insures a secure mounting.

Claims

1. A panel fastener system for securing a panel to a frame across an opening comprising:

a frame member mounted along the length of the frame and having a first magnetic element non-adhesively mounted thereto;

a panel means of suitable size to cover the opening;

a panel retaining member extending along and mounted to the edges of the panel, the retaining member having an outer and an inner leg connected to each other at one end, the edges of the panel being retained and mounted therebetween;

a second magnetic element non-adhesively mounted to the inner leg, the first and second elements being magnetically attachable to each other;

wherein the inner leg and second magnetic element mounted thereto are both shaped and mounted to each other to form a rigidized elongated hollow structural member therebetween along the length of the edges of the panel.

2. The panel fastener system of claim 1, wherein the frame member comprises two legs joined to each other at substantially right angles, one leg of which is mounted to the length of the frame and the other leg having mounted thereto the first magnetic element.

3. The panel fastener system of claim 2, wherein the legs of the frame member are hingedly joined to each other.

6. The panel fastener system of claim 3 or 5, wherein the panel is a glazing sheet of acrylic.

7. The panel fastener system of claim 3 or 5, wherein the frame and panel retaining member are polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS).

8. The panel fastener system of claim 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the first magnetic element is mounted to the leg by two retaining lips projecting from the leg along the length of the leg between which the magnetic element is retained.

9. The panel fastener system of claim 1, or 5, wherein the second magnetic element and inner leg each have a pair of projecting retaining lips which rigidly interlock to each other to mount the magnetic element to the inner leg.

10. The panel fastener system of claim 8, wherein the first magnetic element is an elongated extruded member slidably mountable between the retaining lips.

11. The panel fastener system of claim 9, wherein the second magnetic element is an elongated extruded member slidably mountable within the pair of projecting retaining lips of the inner leg.

4. A panel fastener system for securing a panel to a frame across an opening comprising:

a frame member mounted along the length of the frame and having a first magnetic element non-adhesively mounted thereto;

a panel means of suitable size to cover the opening;

a panel retaining member extending along and mounted to the panel, the retaining member having an outer and an inner leg connected to each other at one end, the edges of the panel being retained and mounted therebetween;

a second magnetic element non-adhesively mounted to the inner leg, the first and second element being magnetically attachable to each other;

wherein the frame member comprises two legs hingedly joined to each other at substantially right angles to each other, one leg of which is mounted to the length of the frame and the other leg having mounted thereto the first magnetic element.

5. The panel fastener system of claim 4, wherein the inner leg and second magnetic element mounted thereto are both shaped and mounted to each other to form a rigidized elongated hollow structural member therebetween along the length of the edges of the panel.

12. A panel retaining member for mounting to the edges of a panel comprising:

an elongated member having an outer and an inner leg connected to each other at one end, the edges of the panel being retained and mounted therebetween, the inner leg having a pair of spaced projecting retaining lips diverging from one another and defining spaced retaining channels on the outer sides of the retaining lips;

an elongated magnetic element having a U-shaped cross-section and being non-adhesively mounted to the inner leg, the magnetic element having a contact wall and a pair of projecting retaining lips converging toward one another;

wherein the inner leg and magnetic element are interlocked to each other by the pairs of projecting retaining lips thereon to form a rigidized elongated hollow structural member therebetween along the length of the edges of the panel, the retaining lips of the magnetic element extend into the retaining channels on the outer sides of the retaining lips of the inner leg and the contact wall of the magnetic element is thereby positioned outwardly beyond the inner leg and the pair of retaining lips thereon.

13. The panel retaining member of claim 12, wherein the member is polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS).

14. The panel retaining member of claim 12, wherein the magnetic element is an elongated extruded member slidably mountable within the pair of projecting retaining lips of the inner leg.

15. A frame member used in combination with a panel retaining member thereby forming a panel fastening system comprising first and second legs, the first leg adapted to be mounted to a framing member, a magnetic element mounted to the second leg by two retaining lips projecting from the second leg along the length thereof between which the magnetic element is retained, and hinge means joining the first and second legs so the legs normally extend at a right angle relative to each other and for permitting the legs to move relative to each other, the hinge means has a durometer hardness of about A-60 to A-72 and the legs have a durometer hardness greater than D-70 (shore).

16. The frame member of claim 15, wherein the frame is polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or acrylonitrile (ABS).

17. The frame member of claim 15, wherein the magnetic element is an elongated extruded member slidably mountable between the retaining lips.

18. The frame member of claim 16, wherein the hinge means has a durometer hardness of about A-60 to A-68 and the legs have a durometer hardness of about D-75 to D-81 (shore).