Two-piece mullion reinforcement

• US 6,662,512 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2002
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PLY GEM Pacific Windows Corporation (Cornerstone Building Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CertainTeed Corp. (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Inventors: Westphal, Dennis C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McDermott, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US10/068,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20020092248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 524/66, 524/68, 525/821, 522/35, 522/045, 522/041, 522/046.2, 526/565, 527/303, 527/341
• US Class Current: 52/204.5
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 1/6007 between similar contiguous frames bay windows E06B1/363

Abstract

A mullion reinforcement is provided comprising a first member that is fastenable to a portion of a first window frame. It includes at least one pilot that is formed on a surface of the first member, a first portion of a latch, and a first portion of a catch. A second member is also provided that is fastenable to a portion of a second window frame. It includes at least one pilot receptacle formed on a surface of the second member, and is engagable with the at least one pilot when the first window frame is assembled to the second window frame. The second member includes a second portion of a latch and a second portion of a catch that are complementary to the first portion of a latch and the first portion of a catch. When the first window frame is assembled to the second window frame, the first member and the second member cooperate to form a latch and a catch.

Claims

1. A mullion reinforcement for use in forming an assembly of windows comprising:

a first member, fastenable to a portion of a first window frame, including at least one pilot formed on a surface of said first member and a first portion of a latch and a first portion of a catch; and

a second member, fastenable to a portion of a second window frame, including at least one pilot receptacle formed on a surface of said second member and engagable with said at least one pilot when said first window frame is assembled to said second window frame, said second member comprising a second portion of a latch and a second portion of a catch that are complementary to said first portion of a latch and said first portion of a catch so that when said first window frame is assembled to said second window frame said first member and said second member cooperate to form a latch and a catch.

2. A mullion reinforcement according to claim 1 wherein said at least one pilot comprises a tab projecting outwardly from said surface of said first member and said at least one pilot receptacle comprises a profile that is complementary to said tab.

3. A mullion reinforcement according to claim 2 wherein said first member includes a first portion of a latch and said second member includes a second portion of said latch that is complementary to said first portion so that when said first window frame is assembled to said second window frame said first member and said second member cooperate to form said latch.

4. A mullion reinforcement according to claim 2 wherein said first member includes a first portion of a second latch and said second member includes a portion of said second latch that is complementary to said portion of said second latch so that when said first window frame is assembled to said second window frame said first member and said second member cooperate to form a pair of latches.

5. A mullion reinforcement according to claim 1 wherein said latch and said catch am arranged in spaced apart relation to one another.

6. A mullion reinforcement according to claim 1 wherein said latch and said catch each comprise a pair of confronting cantilever beams.

7. A mullion reinforcement according to claim 1 wherein said catch is positioned between a pair of spaced apart said cantilever beams.

8. A mullion reinforcement according to claim 7 wherein each of said spaced apart cantilever beams includes an outwardly projecting portion that is sized and shaped so as to engage a confronting portion of at least one of said first and second window frames.

9. A mullion reinforcement according to claim 1 wherein each of said first portion of said latch and said second portion of said latch are U-shaped.

10. A window assembly including adjacent first and second windows each having a frame and being connected by a reinforcing mullion comprising, in combination:

(a) an elongated first window frame portion;

(b) an elongated second window frame portion; and

(c) a mullion reinforcement comprising a first member, fastenable to said first window frame portion, and including at least one pilot formed on a surface of said first member and facing outwardly of said first window frame portion, and a first portion of a latch and a first portion of a catch; and

a second member, fastenable to second window frame portion and including at least one pilot receptacle farmed on a surface of said second member and facing outwardly of said second window frame portion and engagable with said at least one pilot when said first window frame portion is assembled to said second window frame portion so as to form said window assembly, said second member including a second portion of a catch and a second portion of a latch that are complementary to said first portion of a latch and said first portion of a catch so that when said first window frame is assembled to said second frame said first member and said second member cooperate to form a latch and a catch.

11. A window assembly according to claim 10 wherein said at least one pilot comprises a tab projecting outwardly from said surface of said first member and said at least one pilot receptacle comprises a profile that is complementary to said tab.

12. A window assembly according to claim 10 wherein said catch is positioned between a pair of spaced apart said cantilever beams.

13. A window assembly according to claim 12 wherein each of said spaced apart cantilever beams includes an outwardly projecting hook portion that is sized and shaped so as to engage a portion of at least one of said first and second window frames.

14. A window assembly according to claim 12 further comprising a thermal barrier securely fastened to said latch wherein said thermal barrier comprises a channeled cross-section having a web and a pair of spaced apart flanges with a first catch projecting outwardly from said web so as to be positioned between said flanges and engaged with said latch and a second catch projecting outwardly from said web so as to be positioned away from said flanges.

15. A window assembly according to claim 14 wherein said first and second portions of a catch comprise a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape.

16. A window assembly according to claim 14 wherein said thermal barrier further includes insulating flanges that project outwardly from an intersection between said web and said pair of spaced apart flanges in substantially parallel relation to said web.

17. A window assembly according to claim 14 further comprising an exterior cover securely fastened to said thermal barrier wherein said exterior cover comprises an insulating channel including a web and spaced apart flanges wherein said spaced apart flanges include inwardly projecting shoulders positioned at a terminal end that are engageble with said second catch.

18. A window assembly according to claim 14 further comprising an interior cover comprising a channel-shaped cross-section having a web and spaced apart and a pair of spaced apart latching flanges that project outwardly from said web in substantially parallel relation to one another wherein each of said latching flanges includes inwardly projecting shoulders positioned at a terminal end and adapted to engage said latch.

19. A mullion reinforcement for use in forming an assembly of windows comprising:

a first member having a first end and a second end, and fastenable to a portion of a first window frame, including one elongate piloting tab extending along and projecting outwardly from a surface of said first member, a first portion of a latch positioned at said first end and a first portion of a catch positioned at said second end; and

a second member having a first and a second end, and fastenable to a portion of a second window frame, including one elongate piloting receptacle formed on a surface of said second member, having a profile that is complementary to said piloting tab, and engagable with said one piloting tab when said first window frame is assembled to said second window frame and a second portion of a latch positioned at said second member first end and a second portion of a catch positioned at said second member second end so that when said first window frame is assembled to said second window frame said first member and said second member cooperate to form a latch and a catch.

20. A mullion reinforcement for use in forming an assembly of windows comprising:

a first member, fastenable to a portion of a first window frame, including;

at least one pilot formed on a surface of said first member;

a first portion of a latch;

a first portion of a catch; and

a second member, fasten able to a portion of a second window frame, including at least one pilot receptacle formed on a surface of said second member and engagable with said at least one pilot when said first window frame is assembled to said second window frame wherein said second member includes a second portion of a latch that is complementary to said first portion of a latch so that when said first window frame is assembled to said second frame said first member and said second member cooperate to form a latch and further wherein said second member includes a second portion of a catch that is complementary to said first portion of a catch so that when said first window frame is assembled to said second window frame said first member and said second member cooperate to form a catch.