Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
SIZE-ADJUSTABLE WINDOW INSERT A~iSEMBLY
FI ELD OF THE INVENT ION
This inv~ntion is ge~erally relate~ to window
inserts which are mountable in an existing window frame,
and more particularly to a window insert assembly having
a solid pane, such as glass, which is-mountable next tp
;~ ~ an existing window to thereby provide a "double-paned"
thermally insulative window structure.
~: ~ BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The single greatest source of energy loss in `
a building is generaIly considered to be through the
window areas. This ls caused~in large part by conduc~
tive heat transfeir through glass window panes, i.e.,
heat transmitted Yrom one side of the glass pane to the
other. Air movement through gaps that may exist betwee~
t~ window element~, such as between the window pane
and sash, also contribute to heat transfer through the
window area. Energy loss through the window areas
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from such a temperature and/or pressure gradient exist-
ing between the inside and outside of the windows is
particularly aggravated in older buildings, such as
older homes, having single-pane windows which have become
loosely fitted in their sashes with age and us~.
It is known that heat conduction can be greatly
inhibited through the use of two thicknesses of glass
with an air space or gap formed between the two glass
panes. This air gap forms an insulative barrier between
the two glass panes.
Efforts have been made to insulate existing
windows by adding an additional pane of glass to that
already in place in the original window structure.
Some of these attempts have taken the form of factory-
manufactured insulated window units, which can only bèinstalled in certain kinds of window frames, typically
; require professional installation, and are generally
not well suited for cost efficient residentia~ use, in
particular. Exterior aluminum storm windows are
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available, but also require substantial installation
effort, are considered to be unattractive, may provide
little or no insulating value, and constitute only a
minor barrier to air infiltration.
Rigid window units of the foregoing types
are, in general, also not readily a~justable to accom-
modate varying window frame dimensions, even in
'standard" window frame sizes.
Non-glae;s window insulation kits are avail-
able which typically constitute a sheet o~ thin plastic
film that can be ~astened by tape, magnets, etc. around
- the outside of a w.indow frame. These latter plastic
~ilm thermal ~twindows" are generally unsightly, require
- substantial effort to install properly, and typically
d~ not last long.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a principal objective of the present
invention to provide a window insert assembly that is
readily adjustable without tools to ~it within an exist-
ing window frame, and which retains itself therein in amanner that effectively seals the insert with the window
frame to eliminate, or a~ least substantially reduce,
air infiltration past the insert. It is a particular
object of this invention to provide such a window insert
assembly for use with an existing window structure to
form a thermally insulating air layer sandwiched be- "
; tween a primary window pane and the window insert pane
to substantially reduce heat conduction through the
window area.
- These objectives have been accomplished by
the ~resent invention in a size-adjustable window
insert assembly that uses a spring-ioaded window frame
construction for the insert pane which allows the window
insert to be compressed to fit the size of an existing
2~ window frame openiny. When the insert is positioned~ -
within the window opening and the compression released,
the perimeter of the insert frame assembly is bia~sed
into engagement with the window frame to thereby retain
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the insert in place and seaI it with the window frame
In one form of the inventio~n, the window
insert assembly comprises a first frame within which a
~ ~ rigid window pane, such as a glass pane, is mounted.
! This irst frame is carried within a second frame having ~-
an inboard facing channel which receives the first frame.
The seCond frame includes at least a pair of frame sec-
tions Which are movable relative to each other to adjust
the size o~ the second frame, i.e. to increase or de-
- crease its exterior circumference (within limits).
; ' The second frame is biased away from the first
frame, such as through the use of springs interposed
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between the first and second frames. The second frame
is thus capable of being compressed inwardly against
this bias to adjust the size (circumference) of the
second frame.
The second frame would be so compressed when
installing the window insert assembly into an existing
window frame that is slightly smaller in size than that
of the uncompressed second frame. Once positioned in --
the existing window frame openinq, the second frame is
released, whereupon the spring bias forces the outboard
edge of the second frame into engagement with the inside
of the existing window frame to thereby retain the window
insert asse~bly in place. A compressible sealing mater-
ial is advantageously provided around the outboard edge~; ; lS of the second frame to seal the second frame aqainst
the existinq window frame to eliminate, or~at least
substantially prevent, air infiltration past the window
insert assembly.
It will thus ~e seen that the window insert
assembly of the present invention is readily in~talled
; in an existing window frame without the need of any
tools whatsoever.
Irl a presently preferred form of the inven- ~ `
; tion, the window insert assembly is adapted for installa- ;
tion in a rectangular window opening. Each of the fou~r
sides of the second~frame are independently movable~and
; are each spring-loaded, i.e. biased away from the adj~a-
cent ~underlying) first frame side. Each side can~thus
be independently compressed for installation. Both the
height as well as the width of the window insert can
therefore be separately varied. The insert;will also
accommodate existing window frame irregularities and
`~ ' ` window openings Which deviate from a standard rectangu-
lar configuration, since each side is capable of being
3S separately angled.~ Spring loading of all four sides
further ensures a~ good seal between the seal1ng materlal
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provided along the outboard side edge of the windowinsert and the window frame within which it is installed.
The foregoing objectives, features and advan-
tages of the present invention will be more readily
understood upon consideration of the following detaile~
description of the invention taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings, in which:
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BRIEF_DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a window
insert assembly made in accordance with the present
invention shown installed in a window opening;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view along
line 2-2 of Fig. 1 detailing an outboard side of the
window insert assembly and indicating its placement
relative to an existing window;
EIG. 3 is a sectional view along line 3-3 of
! Eig. l;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view along
line 4-4 of Fig. l;
; 20 FIG. S is an enlarged partial sectional view
along line 5-5 o~ Eig. 2;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view (in perspective~
taken along line 6-6 of Fig.f~ with the window opening
frame deleted and a portion of the second (outer) frame
cut-away for detail;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view which is similar
; to that of Fig. 5i with a corner of the first (inner)
~rame broken away or detail; and
, FIG., 8 is a perspective view of an L used in
connecting together the irst (inner) frame side ele-
ments.
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` DETAILED_DESCRIPTION OF THE IMVENTION
Referring first to FIG. 1, the illustrated
embodiment of a size-adjustable window insert assembly
made in accordance with this invention is generally
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comprised of a first frame 10 which carries a pane of
glass 11, and an adjustable second frame 12 within which
the first frame 10 is carri~d. The adjustability of
second frame 12 and its interrelationship with the first
frame 10 will be discussed in further detail below. It
will be understood at this point, however, that this
illustrative window insert assembly is particularly
adapted for installation within a pre~existing window
opening defined by the window frame 8, i.e., the window
opening need not be adapted to receive the window insert
assembly.
The inventio~'s most advantageous application
to date is as a "second pane" for an original window
structure. In such an application (Fig. 2), the window
-15 insert àssembly forms a double-wall or a double-pane
glass window structure in combination with an original
; (or primary~ window pane 9, with a thermally insulatlve~ -
layer of air 13 formed between the two panes. This
` insulative air layer substantially reduces heat conduc-~
tion through the window structure caused by a temperature
gredient existing between the outdoor and indoor sides~;
of the window. (The window insert assembly is shown in
the figures installed adjacent and spaced from the indoor
side of the primary window 9.)
As will be more particularly shown, the window
insert assembly also forms a barrier against air infil-
~tration throu~h the window structure, thus eliminatlng, ~
or at least substantially reducing, energy losses from ~ ;
air movement through the window structure.
It Will be urther understood that while this
description of the invention is in the context of a
window insert adapted for use as such a "thermal barrier,"
the window insert assembly may be advantageously used
as a primary window (i.e., used by itse}f).
The fir5t ~rame lO is comprised of four side
elements lOa-lOd (Fig. 1). A mitered joint is used in
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connection of the side elements lOa-lOd to form the
rectangular shaped first frame 10. An inboard openiny
glazing channel tha~ receives the glass pane 11 therein
is formed in the first frame by channels provided in
each of the side elements lOa-lOd, two of such channels
15a and 15b being particu~arly shown herein. A gasket
material 18 is provided in this glazing channel for a
firm, substantially air-tight fit between pane 11 and
frame 10.
A snap-fit interconnection is used for assem-
bling the side elements lOa-lOd together and around the
glass pane 11. An L or corner-key 16 (Figs. 7 and 8)
having a resilient catch portion 16a formed on the out-
board facing sides of each leg of the ~ is used in
connection of each of the frame corners. These r.~ s~ ~16
are common}y available, such as supplied by Allmetal,
Inc., 755 Busse Road, Bensenville, Illinois 60106. ~
Each leg of an L 16 fits into a respective longitudinally
extending channel 17a-~7d at the ends of adjacent side
elements lOa-lOd. These channels 17a 17d extend below~ ~
~; the respective glazing channels 15a-15d. ~ ;
The side elements lOa-lOd are locked together
using the L's 16; this is particularly illustrated in
Fig. 7 in règaxd to one frame corner, and described
below. It will be understood that all of the first
frame ~lements lOa--lOd are joined in a like manner.
With reference now to Fig. 7, each of the
legs of an L 16 i~ locked into a respective longitudlnal
channel 17c, 17d ~hro~gh the action of the catch portion
; 30 16a engaging with a respective shoulder formed within
the longitudinal channels 17c, 17d. Each shoulder~
herein takes the form of a portion of a pop rivet 19
which extends into a respective channel 17c, 17d through
an associated aperture 20 formed through the outboard
.35 sides 14c of the first frame side elements lOc, lOd.
Each pop rivet 15 lS spaced inwardly from the end of a
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respective side element lOc, lOd a sufficient distance
to aLlow a leg of the L 16 to be inserted into a longi-
tudinal channel (e.g., 17c, 17d) such that the catch
portion 16a completely passes over the portion of the
pop rivet 19 which extends into the Longitudinal channel,
with the edge 16b of the catch then engaging with the
far side of the pop rivet 19. Each leg of an L 16 is
thus locked into position in a respective longitudinal
channels 17c, 17d to join adjacent mitered side alements
lOc, lOd in a flush fit. It will thus be seen that all
of the side elements lOa-lOd can be readily assembled
around the glass pane 11 through this snap-fit inter-
connection.
The assembled first frame 10 is carried within
the size-adjustable second frame 12. The second frame
12 is generally comprised of side elements 12a-12d which
are joined together in a rectangular shape. The side
elements 12a-12d each have a pair of lateral side-walls
21a, 21b and an outboard acing sidewall 21c. Corner
element pairs 22a, 22b (Figs. 1, 4 and 6) are addition
ally provided within which adjacent side elements 12a-12d
are received. While these corner element pairs 22a,
22b are largely cosmetic, they also contribute to the
effectiveness of the air seal between the window insert
and the window frame 8, as will be shown herein.
As best shown in FIGs.4 and 6, tongue and
groo~e connections are used between the corner eIements
~22a, 22b and the second frame side elements 12a-12d.~ ~ `
This enables the side elements 12a-12d to slide along
their respecti~e longitudinal axes relative to the cor-
ner element pairs 22a, 22b to thereby expand or con-
tract the circumference of the second frame 12.
: More particularly, a U-shaped channel 23 is
formed along one side edge o each corner element 22a,
22b with another channel 24 formed along the opposite
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side edge of the corner element. Flange or topgue por-
tions 25, 26 formed along the sides 21a, 21b of each
second frame side element 12a-12d are received within
respective channels 23, 24.
In order to lock a tongue 26 within a channel
2g, a second tongue and groove connection is provided
for each corner element 22a, 22b in this area. This is
comprised of V-shaped grooves 28 formed along the out-
board facing wall 21c of each side element 12a-12d
within which is received a correspondingly shaped tongue
29 of a respective corner element 22a, 22b. The tongue
29 extends along the interior side of the outboard leg
of the U-shaped channel 24 formed in each corner
element 22a, 22b.
Each of the second frame side elements 12a-12d
has a respective U-shaped channeI 31a-31d formed therein
by its opposed lateral sidewalls 21a, 21b and outboard
sidewall 21c. When the second frame side elements 12a-12d
are assembled with the corner element pairs 22a, 22b, a
continuous U-shaped channel is thus formed around the
inboard side of the second frame 12. It is within this
second frame channel (31a-31d) that the first frame 10
is carried.
The second frame side element channels 31a~31d
have a lateral width which is approximately the same or
slightly greater than the rnaximum lateral width of the
first frame side elements lOa-lOd ~each of which is
; received in a respective channel 31a-31d). The first
frame 10 is captured within the channels 31a-31d of the
second frame 12 by opposed flanges 32 which extend
longitudinally alon~ the interior of the sidewalls 21a,
~lb of each of the second frame side elements 12a-12b.
These flanges 32, which are continuous, engage respective
` shoulders 33 which extend longitudinally along the out-
side of the lateral sides 14a, 14b of the first frame
side elements lOa-lOd. The shoulders 33, which are
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also continuous, are formed by lateral extensions 34a,
34b of first frame sides 14a, 14b.
The channels 31a-31d have a sufficient depth
to permit a respective first frame side element lOa-lOd
to move toward and away from the outboard sidewall 30c
of a respective side element 12a-12d. Viewed in alterna-
tive fashion, each of the second side frame elements
12a-12d can move inwardly as well as outwardly relative
to the first frame 10. In this regard, the flanges 32
along the inside of the second frame channel (31a-31d)
slide along the outside of the first frame 10. Likewise,
lateral sidewall extensions 34a, 34b of the first frame
10 siide along the inner sidewalls of the second frame
channel (31a-31d). A fairly close fit is maintained
between these inwardly/outwardly sliding portions of
the respective frames which substantially reduces air
passing between the frames 10, 12 from one side of the
window assembly to the other side.
An additional seal between the two frames 10,
12 is further provide by resilient strip seals 38, such
as tubular rubber strips, which are carried within
longitudinal channels 39 formed in each of the lateral
- sidewall extensions 34a, 34b. It will be understood
that the strip seals 38 have a thickness at least slight-
ly greater than that of the depth of the channels 39 sothat the seals 38 are compressed between the two frames
10, 12. A further air seal between the frames is further
provided in the form of resilient foam pieces 40 which
are located in the corners of the second frame channel
(31a-31d~. .
A principal attribute of the invention is the
abi}ity to install the window insert assembly in various-
ly sized window openings without tools, and with a good
seal between the window insert assembly and the window
frame in which it is installed. The adjustabiLity of
the present insert has already been illustrated in terms
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of the ability to move the second frame side elements
12a-12d relative to the first frame 10. Fixing and
sealing of the window insert assembly within a primary
window frame is accomplished herein by biasing the side
elements 12a-12d of the second frame away from the first
frame 10. This "spring loading" of the first and second
frames is done in this embodiment by inserting one or
more leaf springs 42 ~Figs. 1 and 5) in each of the
channels 31a-31d between the outboard sidewall 21c of
the second frame side elements 12a-12d and the outboard
sidewall 14c of the first frame side elements lOa-lOd.
The leaf springs 42 are made of spring steel,
and have a generally smooth curved shape terminating in
eet 42a. The springs 42 are centrally located in t:he
channels 31a-31d, with the feet 42a against the outboard
sidewaLls 21c of the second frame side elements and the
apex of the curve against the outboard sidewalls 14c of
the first frame elements. The second frame side elements
12a-12d are thus biased outwardly relative to the first
framP 10.
All four sides of the window insert assembly
are spring loaded in this fashion: In this regard, it
will be noted that adjacent ends of second frame side
elements 12a-12d within a respective corner element
pair 22a, 22b are spaced from one another. The spacing
permits a side element 12a-12d to slide within the corner
element pair 22a, 22b when the circumference of the
second frame 12 is changed through movement of its
adjacent (companion) side element against the respec-
tive spring load.
Installation of the window insert assembly isthus readily accomplished by first selecting a window
- insert which is somewhat larger than the window opening
in which it is to be installed. One or more of the
second frame sidç elements 12a-12d are then pressed
inwardly (toward first ~rame 10) to fit the insert
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assembly within the window opening. The compressed
sides are then released, whereupon they then engage
with the primary window frame 8 by virtue of the spring
bias. One or more handles 41 can be provided on the -
second frame to facilitate installation and remo~al of
the insert assembly.
To prevent, or at least substantially reduce,
; air infiltration between the perimeter of the window
insert assembly and the primary window frame 8, a
resilient layer of sealing material is provided around
the outboard side of the second frame 12 (best shown in
Figs. 1, 2 and 5~. For example, weather stripping 44
; such as felt or resilient foam is adhesively fixed to
the exterior of outboard sidewaLls 21c of each of the
side elements 12a-12d, and extends approximately the
entire length of each of these side elements. Thinner
strips 45 of such weather stripping is also provided
along the outboard side edges of each of the corner
elements 22a, 22b. It will be noted that the thick-
; ~ ~ 20 nesses of the weather stripping 44, 45 is preferably
adjusted such that a fairly uniform side edge is formed
around the outer circumference of the second frame 12.
Upon installation, the weather stripping 44,45 is compressed against the primary window frame to
form a substantially air-tight seal between the window
frame and the window insert. ~The weather stripping
further serves to accommodate any surface irregularities
in the window frame which it overlies.
The entire window insert assembly of this in-
vention lends itself to quick and efficient manufacturein a variety of basic sizes that accommodate most com-
monly used window openings. The various pieces making
up the first and second frames 10, 12 are advanta~eously
formed of a PVC plastic, which reduces the cost of the
window insert assembly.
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Thus, while the invention has been described
in connection with a certain presently preferred
embodiment, those skilled in the art will recognize
many modifications to structure, arrangement, portions,
elements, materials, and components which can be used
in the practice of the invention without departing from
the principals of this invention.
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