Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
Frame for enclosing an opening in siding
FIEhD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a frame, which i:~ used
to enclose a vent opening, a window opening and the like in
siding.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
0 Whenever an opf=ping is required in siding, that opening
must be framed in order to give the opening a finished
appearance. This is true whether the opening is relatively
small to accommodate a vent or relatively large to
accommodate a window. At the present time ~~ J" trim is cut
into pieces and assembled to form a frame around the opening.
The formation of such frames is time consuming and finicky
work.
SLT1~~IARY OF THE INVENTION
?(~ What is required is a frame for enclosing an opening in
siding, which facilitates a more rapid siding installation.
According to the present invention there is provided a
frame for enclosing an opening in siding which includes a
unitary sleeve having a first end and a second end, The
sleeve is rectangular in cross-section. An outwardly
extending peripheral flange is positioned at the first end
of the sleeve. Means are provided for mounting the second
end of the sleeve to a surface. Edges of siding covering
the surface, and positioned against the sleevf~, are
concealed by the f langc~ .
It is envisaged that frames, as described above, will
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be provided in a number of standard sizes. A frame of
suitable size is selected. The unitary sleeve is secured in
position surrounding an opening in a surface. The surface is
then covered by siding. Edges of the siding are positioned
against the sleeve, so that such edges are concealed by the
flange.
There are various ways of securing the sleeve to the
surface being covered with siding. It is preferred that the
i0 means f_or mounting the second end of the sleeve is in the
form of tabs which extend outwardly from the second encl of
the sleeve substantially parallel to the flange. The gabs
have openings, which are adapted to receive fasteners.
1r, Although beneficial results may be obtained through the
use of the frame, as described above, professional
installers are sometimes asked to cut an opening to
accommodate a vent after the siding has been installed.
Even more beneficial results may, therefore, be obtain~ad
20 when the tabs are detachable from the sleeve. This enables
the tabs to be removed and the frame secured over the siding
using adhesive.
Two embodiments will hereinafter be described, each of
2~ which have removable tabs. In a first embodiment, the tabs
are made detachable by a frangible connection. In a ~.econd
embodiment the tabs are made detachable by track engaging
members on the tabs, which engage tracks on the sleeve.
J O
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will become
more apparent from the following description in which
reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are
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for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to
in any way limit the scope of the invention to the part:~cular
embodiment or embodi-nent.~ shown, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of
frame for enclosing an opening in siding.
FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of a second
embodiment of frame for enclosing an opening in siding.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
1G A first embodiment of frame for enclosing an opening in
siding generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now
be described with rE:ference to FIGURE 1~
Structure and Relationship of Parts:
7.r Referring to FIGURE 1, frame 10 has a unitary sleeve 12
having a first end 14 and a second end 16. In the
illustrated embodiment, sleeve 12 has a rectangular cross-
section. It will also be appreciated that sleeve 12 may be
in alt=ernate sizes depending upon the need. An outwardly
;?0 extending peripheral flange 18 extends from first end 14 of
sleeve 12. Tabs 20, adapted for mounting second end 16 of
sleeve 12 to a surface, extend outwardly from second end 16
such that they are substantially parallel to flange 18. Each
of tabs 20 is adapted with an opening 22. Each of gabs 20
2'_~ is formed to sleeve 12 with a frangible connection 24 such
that repetitive stressing will detach any selected tab 20
from sleeve 12.
Operation:
;30 The use and o:perat.ion of frame 10 will now be described
with reference to FIGURE 1- Where siding is presently being
installed upon a surface, a frame 10 with an appropriate
size sleeve 12 is positioned at any openings that require a
frame. Flange 18 is positioned such that it covers edges of
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the adjacent siding 26. In the illustrated embodiment,
screws 28 engage openings 22 thereby attaching sleeve 12 to
the surface. It will be appreciated that other means of
attachment may be used. Where siding has already been
installed upon a surface, the siding can merely be c.ut to
the dimensions of the required opening. Any of tabs 20 may
be detached by stressing frangible connection 24, al:Lowing
sleeve 12 to be positioned within the opening made i.n the
siding. In such a case, attachment and sealing may be
accomplished with adhesives.
Variations:
A second embodiment of frame for enclosing an opening in
siding generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now
~5 be described with rE:ference to FIGURE 2~
Structure and relationship of parts:
Referring to FIGURE 2. frame 10 has a unitary sleeve 12
having a first end 14 and a second end 16. In the
?C? illustrated embodiment, sleeve 12 has a rectangular cross
section. It will also be appreciated that sleeve 12 may be
in alternate sizes depending upon the need. An outwardly
extending peripheral flange 18 extends from first end 14 of
sleeve 12. Tabs 20, adapted for mounting second end 16 of
2'~ sleeve 12 to a surface, extend outwardly from second end 16
such that they are substantially parallel to flange 18. Each
of tabs 20 is adapted with an opening 22. Each of gabs 20
is further adapted with track engaging members 30. Second
end 16 of sleeve 12 is also adapted with track 32 such that
~~0 track engaging mernbers 30 of tabs 20 engage track 32 in
snap-lock relation, thereby facilitating attachment of frame
10 to a surface.
Operation:
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The use and operation of a second embodiment of frame
will now be described with reference to FIGURE 2. Where
siding is presently being installed upon a surface, a frame
10 with an appropriate size sleeve 12 is positioned ~~t any
'; openings that requiNe a frame. Flange 13 is positioned such
that it covers edges of the adjacent siding 26. I:n the
illustrated embodiment, screws 28 engage openings 22 thereby
attaching sleeve 12 to the surface. It will be appreciated
that other means of attachment may be used. In the
10 illustrated embodiment, tabs 20 adapted with track engaging
members 30 may be detached from track 32 and re-positioned.
Where siding has already been installed upon a surface, the
siding can merely be cut to the dimensions of the required
opening. In the illustrated embodiment, any of tabs 20
1'_~ adapted with track engaging members 30 may be detached by
disengaging them from track 32, allowing sleeve 12 to be
positioned within the opening made in the siding, att<~chment
and sealing being accomplished with adhesives.
In this patent document, the word "comprising" .is used
in its non-limiting sense to mean that items follow_Lng the
word are included, but items not specifically mentio:zed are
not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite
article "a" does not exclude the possibility that more than
one of the element is present, unless the context clearly
requires that there be one and only one of the element;.
It, will. be apparent to one skilled in the art that
modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment
C without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention
as hereinafter defined in the Claims.
