Insulating a window pane

• US 4,873,803 A
• Filed: 06/13/1988
• Issued: 10/17/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TruSeal Technologies Incorporated (Quanex Building Products Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Rundo, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHILCOT, RICHARD E
• Application Number:
  US07/206,075
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 52/202, 52/203, 52/208, 52/211, 52/217, 52/393, 52/400-402, 52/717.1, 52/766, 52/772, 52/775, 52/776, 52/397-403
• US Class Current: 52/202
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/5418 Permanently fixing of an additional unframed pane compound frames E06B3/2605

Abstract

A window structure using a structural retainer support for converting a conventional window into a double insulated window. Sealant tape is applied to the inside periphery of the primary conventional window pane. A thin flat retainer is secured to the window adjacent to the sealant tape. The flat retainer has a flange that is integral with the retainer and extends from its midsection and lies parallel to the adjacent flat portion defining a channel therebetween. A second window pane lies in abutting contact with the flange of the retainer while also lying in abutting contact with the sealant strip which is tacky to provide a dead air space between the two window panes. A trim member is latched to the retainer by having a longitudinally extending strip means that latches into a latch means in the channel of the retainer. The trim member exerts pressure on the second window pane to firmly retain the pane against the sealant tape.

Claims

1. A double glazed window structure consisting of a rectangular window frame;

a first pane seated in said window frame;

said first pane having an exterior surface, an interior surface and a periphery;

said window frame being recessed to abuttingly contact said interior surface along said periphery to receive said first pane to define a one piece unit;

glazing means abutting the periphery of said exterior surface of said first pane and said window frame to securely fasten and retain said first pane in said window frame;

a sealant tape mounted around and adhered to the peripheral interior surface of said first pane, a flat longitudinally extending rigid retainer support member mounted on said window frame closely adjacent said peripheral interior surface of said first panel;

said retainer having a forwardly disposed edge and a rearwardly disposed edge;

said forwardly disposed edge abutting said first pane;

said retainer having a plurality of spaced holes closely adjacent to said forwardly disposed edge to receive securing means to fasten said retainer to said window frame;

said retainer having a midportion located between said forwardly disposed edge and said rearwardly disposed edge;

said retainer having a longitudinally extending flange member integrally connected to said midportion of said retainer;

said flange member cooperative with that portion of said retainer adjacent to said rearwardly disposed edge to define a narrow channel therebetween;

said flange portion disposed inside of said narrow channel has at least a pair of abutments;

a second pane having the peripheral edge of one surface in abutting contact with said sealant tape;

said second pane having its peripheral edge in sealing contact with said flange;

a thin longitudinally extending flat rigid trim member having a running length with an upper portion and a lower portion;

the juncture of said upper portion and said lower portion having an outwardly extending thin continuous strip member; and

said strip member having an abutment for locking engagement with said abutments in said narrow channel to position the uppermost end of said upper portion against the other peripheral surface of said second pane to exert a pressure thereon as said lower portion flexes and contacts said window frame.

2. A window structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retainer and said trim member are substantially thinner in cross section than the thickness of said panes.

3. A window structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said lower portion of said trim member is approximately one-half the thickness of said upper portion.

4. A double glazed window structure consisting of a rectangular frame with a first pane securely mounted therein, said first pane having a periphery, a sealant tape adhesively fastened to said entire periphery of said first pane, a rigid flat retainer support member securely fastened to said frame, said rigid retainer support member extends around said entire periphery of said first pane, said retainer having one end abutting said first pane, said retainer having the other end parallel to said one end and defining a linear edge, said retainer support member having a flange extending parallel to the body of said retainer and in a direction away from said first pane, said retainer support member having a midpoint on said body that is substantially midway between said one end and said other end, said flange is connected to and integral with said midpoint of said retainer, said flange having an edge parallel to said linear edge and adjacent thereto, a second pane in sealing engagement with said flange and said tape to define a dead air space between said panes, said flange cooperative with said retainer to define a channel therebetween, said flange having a series of abutments lying inwardly to said channel, a flat longitudinally extending trim member having an outwardly extending strip, said strip having abutment means for latching with said one of said abutments on said flange to secure said trim member into position such that its one outer end abuts said frame and the other outer end abuts said second pane to maintain pressure thereon to maintain said second pane in engagement with said sealant tape.

5. A compression decorative retainer for maintaining a secondary window pane against a sealing strip to create with an existing primary window pane and window frame a dead air space between the primary window pane and the secondary window pane, the compression retainer having a flat longitudinally extending rigid support strip secured to the window frame, said retainer support including a flat face for contacting said window frame, a rigid longitudinally extending flange integrally formed with said support strip, said flange extends parallel to said strip but spaced therefrom to define a narrow channel therebetween, said flange having a plurality of abutments projecting into said channel, said flange contacting and supporting said secondary pane in abutting contact with said sealant strip, a flat trim member having one end portion resting on said window frame and the other end portion contacting said secondary plane, said trim member having a latch projecting into said channel for latching with one of said abutments, and said latch being selectively engageable with said abutments for adjusting the compression of said other end portion of said trim member to adjust the compression of said secondary pane on said sealing strip along the full continuous length thereof.

6. A system for creating a dead air space between an existing window with a periphery that is fully seated within a window frame and a piece of glazing to be mounted adjacent thereto, said system comprising a piece of glazing with an exterior surface an interior surface and a periphery, said exterior surface being closer to said existing window than said interior surface, a deformable sealant tape adhered to the periphery of said existing window for contact with said exterior surface of said glazing, said sealant means operative to space said piece of glazing away from the existing window and to seal the space therebetween when said piece of glazing is properly compressed, retainer means secured to said window frame and being operative to compress said piece of glazing against said sealant means thereby forming a dead air space, said retainer means having a continuously longitudinally extending linear abutment means running the full length of the periphery of said glazing, said retainer means having a flat continuous rail member secured along its length to said window frame running the full length of the periphery of said glazing, a trim member with a continuously longitudinally extending latch means running the full length of the periphery of said glazing but spaced away from and movable with respect to said retainer means to latch onto said abutment means for compressing said piece of glazing against said sealing strip, and said latch means being selectively operable with said abutment means for adjusting the space between said retainer means and said trim member by tensioning said trim member to compress said glazing while seating a portion of said trim member firmly against said window frame to compress said sealant tape mounted between said piece of glazing and said window, and said trim member maintaining a constant continuous pressure along the full peripheral length of contact with said glazing.