Frameless supplemental window for fenestration
First Claim
1. A supplemental window apparatus for improving thermal insulating properties of an existing fenestration, comprising:
- a substantially non porous sheet material having edges defining a sheet area configured to substantially correspond to a perimeter area of a window pane;
a spacer and an attachment mechanism operative to attach the supplemental window apparatus to the window pane with the sheet material substantially parallel to the window pane, wherein the spacer and the attachment mechanism determine a distance between the window pane and the sheet material when the supplemental window apparatus is attached to the window pane; and
a seal attached to the edges of the sheet material, the seal comprising slits or a notch configured to be located over a contour projecting from the window pane to minimize loss of contact between the window pane and the seal, the seal shaped such that when the supplemental window apparatus is attached to the window pane, a volume of gas defined by the distance is substantially enclosed between the window pane and the sheet material.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
270 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A supplemental window apparatus for improving thermal insulating properties of an existing fenestration, comprising:
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a substantially non porous sheet material having edges defining a sheet area configured to substantially correspond to a perimeter area of a window pane; a spacer and an attachment mechanism operative to attach the supplemental window apparatus to the window pane with the sheet material substantially parallel to the window pane, wherein the spacer and the attachment mechanism determine a distance between the window pane and the sheet material when the supplemental window apparatus is attached to the window pane; and a seal attached to the edges of the sheet material, the seal comprising slits or a notch configured to be located over a contour projecting from the window pane to minimize loss of contact between the window pane and the seal, the seal shaped such that when the supplemental window apparatus is attached to the window pane, a volume of gas defined by the distance is substantially enclosed between the window pane and the sheet material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A supplemental window apparatus for improving thermal insulating properties of an existing fenestration, comprising:
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a substantially non porous sheet material having edges defining a sheet area configured to substantially correspond to a perimeter area of a window pane, the sheet material comprising a layer of infrared reflective material; a spacer and an attachment mechanism located substantially along the edges of the sheet material and operative to attach the supplemental window apparatus to the window pane with the sheet material substantially parallel to the window pane, wherein the spacer and the attachment mechanism determine a distance between the window pane and the sheet material when the supplemental window apparatus is attached to the window pane, wherein the spacer and the attachment mechanism are configured to provide an air layer having an air layer thickness between the sheet material and the window pane when the supplemental window apparatus is attached to the window pane, and an air layer area of the air layer substantially corresponding to the perimeter area of the window pane; and a seal attached to the edges of the sheet material and in contact with the window pane when the supplemental window apparatus is attached to the window pane, the seal comprising slits or a notch configured to be located over a contour projecting from the window pane to minimize loss of contact between the window pane and the seal, the seal shaped to provide the air layer when the supplemental window apparatus is attached to the window pane. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A supplemental window apparatus for improving thermal insulating properties of an existing fenestration, comprising:
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a substantially non porous sheet material having edges defining a sheet area configured to substantially correspond to a perimeter area of a window pane; a spacer and an attachment mechanism operative to attach the supplemental window apparatus to the window pane with the sheet material substantially parallel to the window pane, wherein the spacer and the attachment mechanism determine a distance between the window pane and the sheet material when the supplemental window apparatus is attached to the window pane; and a seal attached to the edges of the sheet material, the seal in contact with the window pane when the supplemental window apparatus is attached to the window pane, the seal comprising slits or a notch configured to be located over a contour projecting from the window pane to minimize loss of contact between the window pane and the seal, the seal shaped such that when it contacts the window pane a volume of gas is substantially enclosed between the window pane and the sheet material, wherein adjacent portions of the seal meet to form at least a portion of a corner closure when the supplemental window apparatus is attached to the window pane.
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25. A supplemental window apparatus for improving thermal insulating properties of an existing fenestration, comprising:
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a substantially non porous sheet material having edges defining a sheet area configured to substantially correspond to a perimeter area of a window pane; and a seal attached to the edges of the sheet material and having sealing material thereon operative to attach the supplemental window apparatus to the window pane with the sheet material substantially parallel to the window pane, the seal comprising slits or a notch configured to be located over a contour projecting from the window pane to minimize loss of contact between the window pane and the seal, the seal shaped such that when the supplemental window apparatus is attached to the window pane the seal, the sealing material, or both the seal and the sealing material contacts the window pane to substantially enclose a volume of gas between the window pane and the sheet material wherein the seal determines a distance between the window pane and the sheet material when the supplemental window apparatus is attached to the window pane, wherein adjacent portions of the seal meet to form at least a portion of a corner closure when the supplemental window apparatus is attached to the window pane.
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26. A supplemental window apparatus for improving thermal insulating properties of an existing fenestration, comprising:
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a substantially non porous sheet material having edges defining a sheet area configured to substantially correspond to a perimeter area of a window pane; a seal formed from the edges of the sheet material and in contact with the window pane when the supplemental window apparatus is attached to the window pane, the seal comprising slits or a notch configured to be located over a contour projecting from the window pane to minimize loss of contact between the window pane and the seal, the seal shaped such that when the supplemental window apparatus is attached to the window pane, a volume of gas is substantially enclosed between the window pane and the sheet material; and a plurality of corner closures formed from the sheet material and operative to provide sealing in corner areas of the sheet material, the corner closures comprising an attachment mechanism integral thereto and operative to attach the supplemental window apparatus to the window pane with the sheet material substantially parallel to the window pane, wherein the corner closures determine a distance between the window pane and the sheet material when the supplemental window apparatus is attached to the window pane that provides a substantially enclosed volume of trapped gas.
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Specification