Fenestration frame with bonded support brackets and method of making same
First Claim
1. A fenestration unit having an interior side and an exterior side and comprising:
- a frame having a substantially planar outer surface between the interior side and the exterior side; and
at least one support bracket bonded and secured to the substantially planar outer surface and extending therefrom in an interior direction or an exterior direction for securing the fenestration unit in a roughed-in opening, the support bracket being bonded and secured only to the substantially planar outer surface and without the presence of holes, other penetrations, or fasteners that extend into the frame;
wherein the support bracket comprises a metal core with a vinyl coating bonded thereto.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fenestration unit such as a window or door has a frame with an outer peripheral surface. An array of support brackets are secured to the outer peripheral surface and extend inwardly toward the interior of a building in which the fenestration unit is to be installed. The support brackets are formed with a bendable metal and are secured to the outer surface of the frame without forming holes in the frame through which water may leak. The support brackets may be secured by heat, sonic, or friction welding, or with solvents or adhesives, structural tapes, or other appropriate mechanisms. In one embodiment for use with frames having a vinyl surface, the support brackets may be vinyl coated steel to enable attachment of the support brackets with welding or vinyl adhesive techniques. A method of fabricating fenestration frames with support brackets includes obtaining support brackets and securing them to the fenestration frame without forming holes in the fenestration frame.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A fenestration unit having an interior side and an exterior side and comprising:
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a frame having a substantially planar outer surface between the interior side and the exterior side; and at least one support bracket bonded and secured to the substantially planar outer surface and extending therefrom in an interior direction or an exterior direction for securing the fenestration unit in a roughed-in opening, the support bracket being bonded and secured only to the substantially planar outer surface and without the presence of holes, other penetrations, or fasteners that extend into the frame; wherein the support bracket comprises a metal core with a vinyl coating bonded thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A fenestration unit having an interior side and an exterior side and comprising:
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a frame having a substantially planar outer surface between the interior side and the exterior side; and at least one support bracket bonded and secured to the substantially planar outer surface and extending therefrom in an interior direction or an exterior direction for securing the fenestration unit in a roughed-in opening, the support bracket being bonded and secured only to the substantially planar outer surface and without the presence of holes, other penetrations, or fasteners that extend into the frame; wherein the surface of the frame at least at the location where the support bracket is bonded is selected from the group consisting of wood, paint, acrylic capped, metal, and a wood composite.
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13. A fenestration unit having a frame with a substantially planar outer surface extending around a periphery thereof and a plurality of support brackets, each of the plurality of support brackets having a proximal portion that is bonded and secured only to the substantially planar outer surface without holes or fasteners that extend into the frame, and a distal portion extending in a direction generally transverse to a plane of the fenestration unit to be bent against and secured to the framing of a roughed-in opening in which the fenestration unit is to be positioned to support and secure the fenestration unit within the roughed-in opening;
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wherein the frame comprises a vinyl outer surface; wherein the proximal portions of the plurality of support brackets comprise a vinyl outer surface; and wherein the support brackets further comprise a metal core. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification