FRAMELESS SUPPLEMENTAL WINDOW FOR FENESTRATION

• US 20160348418A1
• Filed: 08/09/2016
• Published: 12/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WexEnergy LLC
• Original Assignee: WexEnergy LLC
• Inventors: Wexler, Ronald M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,196,850 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/34 Extraordinary structures, e.g. with suspended or cantilever parts supported by masts or tower-like structures enclosing elevators or stairs; Features relating to the elastic stability E04B1/342, E04B1/343, E04B1/348 take precedence; for floors E04B5/43; buildings for special purposes, e.g. withstanding earthquake, E04H
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/28 with additional removable glass panes or the like, framed or unframed
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/285 flexible transparent foils without a proper frame fixed and sealed at a distance from the existing glass pane
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/30 Coverings, e.g. protecting against weather, for decorative purposes for door leaves E06B3/7001
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 7/28 Other arrangements on doors or windows, e.g. door-plates, windows adapted to carry plants, hooks for window cleaners edge protecting devices for door leaves E06B3/88; special glazing; emergency glazing; double glazing E06B3/66
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/24 Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blindsoperating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00

Abstract

A novel and useful frameless supplemental window for fenestration incorporating infiltration blockers 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. Infiltration blockers fastened to the sheet or bullnose prevent or minimize air leakage around various window elements. The bullnose edging and infiltration blockers function 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 air enclosed 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.

Claims

1. A supplemental window apparatus comprising:

a foot and an attachment mechanism, wherein the foot is configured to be detachably coupled to a window pane of an existing window by the attachment mechanism such that the foot extends substantially parallel to the window pane when installed on the existing window;

a spacer coupled to the foot and configured to extend at least partially in a direction perpendicular to the window pane when installed on the existing window;

a substantially non porous sheet coupled to the spacer and having a sheet area substantially similar to a window pane area defined by interior surfaces of a first window element holding the window pane, wherein the spacer and the foot substantially define a gap between the sheet and the window pane when installed on the existing window, and wherein the foot extends outward from the spacer toward the interior surfaces of the first window element.

2. The supplemental window apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a constraint configured to be attached to the window pane at a perimeter location of the window pane defined by the interior surfaces of the first window element holding the window pane when installed.

3. The supplemental window apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the constraint comprises an adhesive along edges of the constraint configured to be located at a corner area of the first window element, wherein the adhesive between the constraint and the window pane defines a slot sized to detachably receive the foot when installed.

4. The supplemental window apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the constraint is configured to allow at least a portion of the foot to extend out from under the constraint when inserted into the slot when installed.

5. The supplemental window apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the constraint, when attached to the window pane, is configured to allow a second moveable window element to be moved with respect to the first window element and over the constraint when the foot, the spacer, and the sheet are removed.

6. The supplemental window apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises an adhesive configured to detachably couple the foot to the window pane when installed.

7. The supplemental window apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sheet is positioned substantially parallel to the window pane of the window when the supplemental window apparatus is installed in on the existing window.

8. The supplemental window apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the foot, the spacer, and the sheet are constructed of a single continuous piece of material.

9. The supplemental window apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an edge seal coupled to the sheet and configured to substantially enclose a volume of gas between the window pane and the sheet when installed.

10. The supplemental window apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein the edge seal is configured to be folded on itself to form an open tube encircling a volume of air near a perimeter of the window pane when installed.

11. The supplemental window apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein the edge seal comprises one or more slits along its cross-section to allow a first portion of the edge seal to rest at a different level than a second portion of the edge seal when mounted on the existing window.

12. The supplemental window apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein the spacer comprises a formed edge configured for substantial conformity of the edge seal to the spacer.

13. The supplemental window apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the edge seal is mechanically isolated from the foot, the spacer, and other portions of an edge seal.

14. The supplemental window apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein the edge seal has a cross-section comprising a first arc extending from the sheet, a middle portion configured to interact with at least a portion of the foot, and a second arc extending from the middle portion and configured to be constrained by at least one of the first window element or the window pane when installed.

15. The supplemental window apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein a first intersection between the sheet and the spacer is flexible, a second intersection between the spacer and the foot is flexible, or both the first intersection or the second intersection are flexible.

16. A method of making a supplemental window apparatus comprising:

providing a foot and an attachment mechanism, wherein the foot is configured to be detachably coupled to a window pane of an existing window by the attachment mechanism such that the foot extends substantially parallel to the window pane when installed on the existing window;

coupling a spacer coupled to the foot, the spacer configured to extend at least partially in a direction perpendicular to the window pane when installed on the existing window;

coupling a substantially non porous sheet to the spacer, the sheet having a sheet area substantially similar to a window pane area defined by interior surfaces of a first window element holding the window pane, wherein the spacer and the foot substantially define a gap between the sheet and the window pane when installed on the existing window, and wherein the foot extends outward from the spacer toward the interior surfaces of the first window element.

17. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a constraint configured to be attached to the window pane at a perimeter location of the window pane defined by the interior surfaces of the first window element holding the window pane when installed.

18. The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein the constraint comprises an adhesive along edges of the constraint configured to be located at a corner area of the first window element, wherein the adhesive between the constraint and the window pane defines a slot sized to detachably receive the foot when installed.

19. The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein the constraint is configured to allow at least a portion of the foot to extend out from under the constraint when inserted into the slot when installed.

20. The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein the constraint, when attached to the window pane, is configured to allow a second moveable window element to be moved with respect to the first window element and over the constraint when the foot, the spacer, and the sheet are removed.

21. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises an adhesive configured to detachably couple the foot to the window pane when installed.

22. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the sheet is positioned substantially parallel to the window pane of the window when the supplemental window apparatus is installed in on the existing window.

23. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the foot, the spacer, and the sheet are constructed of a single continuous piece of material.

24. The method as set forth in claim 16 further comprising:

coupling an edge seal to the sheet, the edge seal configured to substantially enclose a volume of gas between the window pane and the sheet when installed.

25. The method as set forth in claim 24, wherein the edge seal is configured to be folded on itself to form an open tube encircling a volume of air near a perimeter of the window pane when installed.

26. The method as set forth in claim 24, wherein the edge seal comprises one or more slits along its cross-section to allow a first portion of the edge seal to rest at a different level than a second portion of the edge seal when mounted on the existing window.

27. The method as set forth in claim 24, wherein the spacer comprises a formed edge configured for substantial conformity of the edge seal to the spacer.

28. The method as set forth in claim 24, wherein at least a portion of the edge seal is mechanically isolated from the foot, the spacer, and other portions of an edge seal.

29. The method as set forth in claim 24, wherein the edge seal has a cross-section comprising a first arc extending from the sheet, a middle portion configured to interact with at least a portion of the foot, and a second arc extending from the middle portion and configured to be constrained by at least one of the first window element or the window pane when installed.

30. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein a first intersection between the sheet and the spacer is flexible, a second intersection between the spacer and the foot is flexible, or both the first intersection or the second intersection are flexible.