Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MULL SYSTEM FOR WINDOWS AND DOORS
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of Application
14/330,199 filed
July 14, 2014 which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.
No. 61/846,683,
filed July 16, 2013, and is a continuation-in-part of Application 13/704,491
filed December 14,
2012 which was a national stage entry of PCT/US11/39137 filed June 3,2011
which claims the
benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/351,771 filed June 4, 2010, all of
the above
referenced applications are herein incorporated by reference in their
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relate generally to fenestration assemblies
and in particular
to a system and method for field mulling of windows and doors.
[0003] Window and door units are sometimes grouped together and installed
into one
opening in the building that must first be connected together and sealed. This
connection of units
is called mulling. Units can be mulled in the factory (Factory Mulled) or on
the jobsite prior to
installation (Field Mulled). Factory mulled windows are typically preferred.
Field mulling is
used when factory mulling cannot be performed due to size, weight or shipping
limits. Field
mulling adds labor and complexity because the installer must assemble and seal
the unit prior to
installation. Once mulled on the jobsite the oversized units must be lifted
into the opening which
risks injury to the installers as well as damage to the mulled unit.
[0004] It would be desirable to provide a system and method for both
factory mulling and
field mulling two or more fenestration assemblies (e.g., windows and/or doors)
that allows each
fenestration assembly to be installed in an opening of a building one at a
time or together.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A system for mulling a plurality of fenestration assemblies in an
opening includes
a first fenestration assembly having a top surface and a first groove
extending therein and a
second fenestration assembly having a top surface and a second groove
extending therein. A
mull connector operatively connects the first fenestration assembly and second
fenestration
assembly together. A sealing cap is positioned on top of the mull connector
and includes a first
portion positioned on a first side of a line groove line defined by the first
groove and the second
groove, and a second portion positioned on the second opposite side of the
line groove
[0006] In accordance with an embodiment, a system for field mulling a
plurality of
fenestration assemblies in an opening includes a first fenestration assembly
positioned in the
opening, the first fenestration assembly comprising a mull halve a second
fenestration assembly
positioned in the opening adjacent to the first fenestration assembly, the
second fenestration
assembly having a mull halve and positioned so that the second fenestration
assembly mull halve
is adjacent to the first fenestration assembly mull halve and at least one H-
shaped mull connector
coupled to the first fenestration assembly mull halve and the second
fenestration assembly mull
halve.
[0007] In accordance with another embodiment, a mulling assembly for field
mulling a
plurality of fenestration assemblies in an opening includes a first mull halve
having an interior
side and an exterior side, a second mull halve having an interior side and an
exterior side, a first
mull connector coupled to the interior side of the first mull halve and the
interior side of the
second mull halve, the first mull connector having an H-shape and a second
mull connector
coupled to the exterior side of the first mull halve and the exterior side of
the second mull halve,
the second mull connector having an H-shape.
[0008] In accordance with another embodiment, a mulling assembly for field
mulling a
plurality of fenestration assemblies in an opening includes a first mull halve
having an interior
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side and an exterior side, the first mull halve comprising a hook-shaped
connector on the exterior
side, a second mull halve having an interior side and an exterior side, the
second mull halve
comprising a tab on the exterior side, wherein the tab is configured to be
received by the hook-
shaped connector of the first mull halve to join the first mull halve and the
second mull halve and
a first mull connector coupled to the interior side of the first mull halve
and the interior side of
the second mull halve, the first mull connector having an H-shape.
[0009] In another embodiment a method for mulling a plurality of
fenestration
assemblies includes providing a first fenestration assembly having a top
surface and a first
groove extending therein; providing a second fenestration assembly having a
top surface and a
second groove extending therein; connecting the first fenestration assembly
and second
fenestration assembly together with a mull connector; and securing a sealing
cap on top of the
mull connector, the securing sealing cap having a first portion positioned on
a first side of a line
groove line defined by the first groove and the second groove, and a second
portion positioned
on the second opposite side of the line groove.
[0010] In accordance with another embodiment, a method for field mulling a
plurality of
fenestration assemblies on an opening includes positioning a first
fenestration assembly in the
opening, the first fenestration assembly having a mull halve, connecting the
first fenestration
assembly to a frame of the opening, positioning a second fenestration assembly
in the opening
adjacent to the first fenestration assembly, the second fenestration assembly
having a mull halve
and wherein the second fenestration assembly is positioned so that the second
fenestration
assembly mull halve is adjacent to the first fenestration assembly mull halve,
connecting the
second fenestration assembly to the frame of the opening and connecting the
first fenestration
assembly mull halve to the second fenestration assembly mull halve using at
least one H-shaped
connector.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a building wall frame and multiple
fenestration
assemblies in accordance with an embodiment;
[0012] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a window with a mull halve in
accordance with
an embodiment;
[0013] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a window and a pair of mull halves
in
accordance with an embodiment;
[0014] Figure 4 illustrates a method for field mulling two or more
fenestration assemblies
in accordance with an embodiment;
[0015] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a wall frame with a first window
installed in
accordance with an embodiment;
[0016] Figure 6 is a view of a lower mull bracket of FIG. 5 attached to a
sill of a wall
frame in accordance with an embodiment;
[0017] Figure 7 is a view of an upper mull bracket of FIG. 5 attached to a
header of a
wall frame in accordance with an embodiment;
[0018] Figure 8 is a view of a mull halve and an upper mull bracket in
accordance with
an embodiment;
[0019] Figure 9 is a perspective view of a wall frame with two windows
installed in
accordance with an embodiment;
[0020] Figure 10 is a perspective view of components of a mull assembly in
accordance
with an embodiment;
[0021] Figure 11 is a top view of two mull halves in accordance with an
embodiment;
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[0022] Figure 12 is a top view of two mull halves in accordance with an
embodiment;
[0023] Figure 13 is a top view of components of a mull assembly in
accordance with an
embodiment;
[0024] Figure 14 is a top view of a completed mull assembly in accordance
with an
embodiment;
[0025] Figure 15 is a top view of components of a mull assembly in
accordance with an
embodiment;
[0026] Figure 16 is a top view of two mull halves in a in accordance with
an
embodiment;
[0027] Figure 17 is a top view of two mull halves in accordance with an
embodiment;
[0028] Figure 18 is a top view of components of a mull assembly in
accordance with an
embodiment;
[0029] Figure 19 is a top view of a completed mull assembly in accordance
with an
embodiment;
[0030] Figure 20 is a perspective view of a completed mulled window in
accordance with
an embodiment;
[0031] Figure 21 is a perspective view of a window with a mull halve in
accordance with
an embodiment;
[0032] Figure 22 is a perspective view of a window and a pair of mull
halves in
accordance with an embodiment;
[0033] Figure 23 is a view of straps attached to a jamb and sill of a wall
frame in
accordance with an embodiment; and
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[0034] Figure 24 is a view of straps attached to a jamb and header of a
wall frame in
accordance with an embodiment.
[0035] Figure 25 is a top view of two mull halves in accordance with one
embodiment.
[0036] Figure 26 is a top view of two mull halves of Figure 25 in an
adjacent position.
[0037] Figure 27 is a perspective view of components of a mull assembly in
accordance
with an embodiment.
[0038] Figure 28 is a perspective view of a sealing cap.
[0039] Figure 29 is a side view of the sealing cap of Figure 28.
[0040] Figure 30 is a partial top view of the exterior portion of the mull
assembly in the
region of the sealing cap.
[0041] Figure 31 is a cross sectional view of the flashing fin, sealing
cap and mull
assembly taken generally along line 31-31 of Figures 30.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0042] The following description discusses a system and method for field
mulling two or
more fenestration assemblies (e.g., windows and/or doors). While the following
description
refers to windows, it should be understood that the systems and methods
described herein may
also be used with other types of fenestration assemblies (e.g., doors). For
the purposes of this
application, the term "exterior" will refer to the direction toward the
outside of an enclosure or
building while the term "interior" will refer to the direction toward the
inside of the enclosure or
building.
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[0043] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a building wall frame and multiple
fenestration
assemblies in accordance with an embodiment. The building (or other enclosure)
wall frame 12
includes an opening 14 defined by a header 16, a sill 18 and jambs 28 and 30.
Wall frame 12
also includes a top plate 20, a bottom plate 22 and studs 32. The opening 14
is designed to
receive multiple windows. In FIG, 1, a first window 34, a second window 36 and
a third window
38 may be installed in the opening 14 of wall frame 12 and mulled together
within the opening
using the systems and methods described herein. Wall frame 12 and windows 34,
36, 28 have an
exterior side 24 and an interior side 26. It should be understood the field
mulling systems and
method described herein may be used with other types of windows than shown in
Figures 1-20,
such as, for example, casement, single hung, double hung, horizontal sliding
windows or any
other operating style of window. It should also be noted that a structure with
three separate
fenestration assemblies (e.g., windows 34, 36, 38) is exemplary and that in
various embodiments
two or more separate fenestration assemblies may be used. The two or more
fenestration
assemblies are designed to be installed in an opening side-by-side as
illustrated by item 40.
[0044] A mull assembly is provided to facilitate the mulling of the first
window 34 and
the second window 36 and the mulling of the second window36 and the third
window 38. FIG. 2
is a perspective view of a window with a mull halve in accordance with an
embodiment.
Window 50 (e.g., first window 34, second window 36 or third window 38)
includes a frame 52
with rails 56 and stiles 58. A glazing 54 is housed within the frame 52. A
first side 68 of frame
52 is perpendicular to an exterior side 24 and an interior side 26 of the
frame 52. A second side
70 of frame 52 is perpendicular to the exterior side 24 and the interior side
26 of the frame 52
and parallel to the first side 68 of the frame 52. A mull halve 60 is attached
to the first side 68.
In one embodiment, the mull halve is secured to the window 50 prior to the
window 50 being
installed in an opening. Mull halve 60 is used for field mulling of the window
50 with another
window in an opening 14 (shown in FIG 1). An upper mull bracket 64 and a lower
mull bracket
66 are attached to mull halve 60 and used to secure the frame 52 to a wall
frame 12 (shown in
FIG. 1)
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[0045] When a window will be connected with two other windows, the window
50 may
also include a second mull halve 62 attached to the second side 72 of the
frame 52 as shown in
FIG. 3. Mull halve 60 and mull halve 62 are designed to cooperate or
interconnect with a mull
halve on another window to secure the windows together. Each mull halve 60, 62
may be
attached to the frame 52 using mechanical fasteners, for example, screws. For
example, in FIG.
3, mull halve 60 may be secured to frame 52 using mechanical fasteners 76. The
upper mull
bracket 64 may be attached to the frame 52 and mull halve 60 using mechanical
fasteners 72.
The lower mull bracket 66 may be attached to the frame 52 and mull halve 60
using mechanical
fasteners 74.
[0046] Two or more windows 50 with a mulling assembly as described herein
may be
field mulled as described further below with respect to FIGs. 4-20. FIG. 4
illustrates a method
for field mulling two or more fenestration assemblies in accordance with an
embodiment. At
block 402, a first window is placed in an opening, for example, an opening 14
(shown in FIG. 1)
in a building wall frame. Figure 5 is a perspective view of a wall frame with
a first window
installed in accordance with an embodiment. In FIG. 5, the first window 34 is
placed in the
opening 14 of wall frame 12 in the direction as shown by arrow 80. The first
window may be
made plumb, level and square with shims. At block 404 of FIG. 4, the first
window 34 is
attached to the frame of the opening. For example, the first window 34 may be
attached to frame
12 using a nailing fin (not shown). In an embodiment, the frame 52 may include
a groove or kerf
(not shown) that is used to connect the nailing fin to the frame 52. In
addition, the upper mull
bracket 64 and lower mull bracket 66 are attached to the wall framel2 as shown
in Figures 5-7.
In particular, the lower mull bracket 66 may be attached to the sill 18 of the
wall frame 12 using
mechanical fasteners 77 as shown in FIG. 6. The upper mull bracket 64 may be
attached to the
header 16 of wall frame 12 using mechanical fasteners 78 as shown in FIG. 7.
As mentioned, the
upper mull bracket 64 and the lower mull bracket 66 are also attached to the
mull halve 60 which
is attached to a first side 68 of the window 34. FIG. 8 is a view of a mull
halve 60 and an upper
mull bracket 64 in accordance with an embodiment. FIG, 8 shows one embodiment
of a mull
halve 60 structure. Mull halve 60 is designed to cooperate with a mull halve
on a second
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window to facilitate mulling of the first window and the second window as
described further
below.
[0047] Returning to FIG. 4, at block 406 a second window is placed in the
opening. FIG.
9 is a perspective view of a wall frame with two windows installed in
accordance with an
embodiment. In FIG. 9, the second window 36 is placed in the opening 14 of
wall frame 12 in
the direction as shown by arrow 82. The second window 36 is positioned
adjacent to the first
window 34. The second window may be made plumb, level and square with shims.
At block
408 of FIG. 4, the second window 36 is attached to the frame of the opening.
For example, the
second window 36 may be attached to frame 12 using a nailing fin (not shown).
In an
embodiment, the frame 52 may include a groove or kerf (not shown) that is used
to connect the
nailing fin to the frame 52. In addition, the upper mull bracket 64 and lower
mull bracket 66 on
a first side 90 of the second window 36 may be attached to the wall frame 12
as discussed above
with respect to Figures 6 and 7.
[0048] Referring again to FIG 4, at block 410 the mull halve on the first
side 68 (shown
in FIG. 5) of the first window 34 and the mull halve on the second side 92
(shown in FIG. 9) of
the second window 36 are attached or secured together. FIG. 10 is a
perspective view of
components of a mull assembly in accordance with an embodiment and FIG. 13 is
a top view of
components of a mull assembly in accordance with an embodiment. In FIGs. 10
and 13, the mull
assembly components consist of a mull halve 60 on the first side 68 of a first
window 34 and a
mull halve 98 on a second side 92 of a second window 36. On the interior side
26, a mull
connector 100, a trim connector 102 and an interior trim 104 are used to
secure together the mull
halves 60, 98. On the exterior side 24, a sealing connector 106 and exterior
trim 108 are used to
secure together the mull halves 60, 98.
[0049] As mentioned, the mull halves on each window are designed to
cooperate or
interconnect. FIG. 11 is a top view of two mull halves in accordance with an
embodiment. In
FIG. 11, a mull halve 60 on the first window includes a tab 116 on the
interior side 26 of the
mull halve and a mull halve 98 on the second window includes a tab 118 on the
interior side 26
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of the mull halve. Mull halve 60 includes a hook-shaped connector 110 on an
exterior side of the
mull halve and mull halve 98 includes a tab or extension 112 on the exterior
side of the mull
halve. The tab 112 is designed to be positioned or received in the hook shaped-
connector 110 as
indicated by arrow 114. Tab 116 and tab 118 are designed to be positioned
adjacent to one
another as indicated by arrow 120. FIG. 12 shows the two mull halves 60 and 98
after they are
positioned next to each other. Tab 112 is positioned in hook-shaped connector
112 to secure the
exterior side of the mull halves 60, 98. Tab 116 and 118 are adjacent one
another. A mull
connector 100 is used to join the tabs 116, 118 on the interior side as shown
in FIGs. 13 and 14.
Mull connector 100 has a U-shape. In an alternative embodiment, as shown in
FIG. 15, the mull
connector 100 used to join tab 116 and tab 118 of mull halves 60 and 98,
respectively, is an H-
shaped connector.
[0050] In another embodiment, each mull halve may have tabs on the
interior and
exterior sides and the mull assembly includes two-H-shaped connectors as shown
in FIG.s 16-19.
FIG. 16 is a top view of two mull halves in accordance with an embodiment. In
FIG. 16, a mull
halve 130 on a first window includes a tab 136 on the interior side of the
mull halve and a mull
halve 132 on a second window includes a tab 134 on the interior side of the
mull halve. Mull
halve 130 includes a tab 140 on an exterior side of the mull halve and mull
halve 132 includes a
tab 138 on the exterior side of the mull halve. Tab 134 and tab 136 are
designed to be positioned
adjacent to one another when the two mull halves 130, 132 are brought together
as indicated by
arrows 180 and 182. Tab 138 and tab 140 are designed to be positioned adjacent
to one another
when the two mull halves 130, 132 are brought together as indicated by arrows
180 and 182.
FIG. 17 shows the two mull halves 60 and 98 after they are positioned next to
each other. Tabs
134 and 136 are positioned adjacent one another and tabs 138 and 140 are
positioned adjacent to
one another.
[0051] FIG. 18 is a top view of components of a mull assembly in
accordance with an
embodiment. The mull assembly components consist of a mull halve 130 on the
first side of a
first window and a mull halve 132 on a second side of a second window. On the
interior side 26,
a mull connector 150, a trim connector 152 and an interior trim 154 are used
to secure together
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the mull halves 130, 132. On the exterior side 24, a mull connector 160, a
sealing connector 156
and exterior trim 158 are used to secure together the mull halves 130, 132.
The mull connector
150 is used to join the tabs 138, 140 on the interior side as shown in FIGs.
18 and 19. The mull
connector 150 is an H-shaped connector. The mull connector 160 is used to join
the tabs 134,
136 on the exterior side as shown in FIGs. 18 and 19. The mull connector 160
is an H-shaped
connector.
[0052] Returning to FIG. 4, at block 412 a third window 38 is placed in
the opening 14 of
the wall frame 12 as shown in FIG. 20. The third window 38 is installed
adjacent to the second
window 36 with the mull halves of the second window 36 and third window 38
interconnected.
The third window 38 may be made plumb, level and square with shims. At block
414 of FIG. 4,
the third window 38 is attached to the frame 12 of the opening 14. For
example, the third
window 38 may be attached to frame 12 using a nailing fin (not shown). In an
embodiment, the
frame 52 may include a groove or kerf (not shown) that is used to connect the
nailing fin to the
frame 52. In addition, the upper mull bracket 64 and lower mull bracket 66 are
attached to the
wall frame12 as discussed above with respect to Figures 6 and 7.
[0053] At block 416 of FIG. 4, the mull halve on the first side 90 (shown
in FIG. 9) of
the second window 36 and the mull halve on a first side 174 (shown in FIG. 20)
of the third
window 38 are attached. As described above with respect to FIGS. 11-19, the
mull halves are
designed to cooperate or interconnect. In one embodiment as shown in FIGs. 11-
15, the mull
halves 60, 98 include tabs 116, 118 on an interior side 26 and a hook-shaped
connector 110 and
tab 112 on the exterior side 24 of the mull halves. A mull connector 100 is
used to join the tabs
116, 118 on the interior side. The mull connector 100 may be, for example, a U-
shaped
connector or an H-shaped connector. On the exterior side 24, tab 112 is
positioned in the hook-
shaped connector 110. In another embodiment as shown in FIGs. 16-19, the mull
halves130, 132
include tabs 138, 140 on an interior side 26 and tabs 134, 136 on an exterior
side 24. An H-
shaped mull connector 150 is used on the interior side 26 to secure tabs 138,
140 together. An
H-shaped mull connector 160 is used on the exterior side 24 to secure tabs
134, 136 together.
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[0054] Returning to FIG. 4, at block 418, the mull between the first
window 34 and the
second window 36 and the mull between the second window 36 and third window 38
are sealed.
As shown in FIGs. 13, 14, 15, 18 and 19 a sealing connector 106, 156 is
positioned external to
the mull connector on the exterior side 24 of each mull. In an embodiment, a
sealing block (not
shown) may be filled with silicone caulking to complete the sealing of the
mulls. At block 420
of FIG. 4, trim connectors are attached to the mulls as shown in FIGs. 13, 14,
15, 18 and 19. A
trim connector 102, 152 is positioned external to the mull connector 100, 150
on an interior side
26. At block 422, trim is attached to the interior side 26 and exterior side
24 to complete the
mull assembly. As shown in FIGs. 13, 14, 15, 18 and 19, the exterior trim 108,
158 is positioned
external to the sealing connector 106, 156 on the external side 24 and the
interior trim 104, 154 is
attached external to the trim connector 102, 152 on the interior side 26.
FIGs. 14 and 19 show
competed mull assemblies in accordance with various embodiments. FIG. 20 shows
a completed
mulled window 170. In FIG. 20, a first window 34, a second window 36 and a
third window 38
are installed and field mulled in the opening 14 of the wall frame 12.
[0055] As discussed above with respect to FIGs. 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7, an upper
mull bracket
64 and a lower mull bracket 66 may be used to attach a window (e.g., first
window 34, second
window 36, third window 38) to a wall frame 12. In an alternative embodiment,
a set of straps
may be used to connect the window to the wall frame 12. The straps may be
connected to the
window on the sides of the window frame that do not have a mull halve. FIG. 21
is a perspective
view of a window with a mull halve in accordance with an embodiment. In this
embodiment,
straps 86 are attached to the upper and lower rails 56 and to the stile 58 on
the second side 70 of
the window 50. A mull halve 60 is attached to a first side 68 of the window
frame 62, In FIG.
21, three straps 86 are positioned on each of the upper and lower rails 56 and
three straps 86 are
positioned on the stile 58, however, in various embodiments, a different
number of straps 86 may
be used. For a window that has two mull halves, such as the window shown in
FIG. 3, the straps
86 may be attached to the upper and lower rails 56 as shown in FIG. 22. In
FIG. 22, a mull halve
60 is attached to a first side 68 of the window 50 and a mull halve 62 is
attached to a second side
70 of the window 50.
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[0056] The straps 86 may be attached to the window frame 52 using
mechanical
fasteners, such as, for example, screws, In addition, the straps may be
attached to the wall frame
12 using mechanical fasteners as shown in FIGs. 23 and 24. In FIG. 23, straps
86 are shown
attached to a jamb 28 and a sill 18. For example, a strap 86 is connected to
the sill 18 using a
mechanical fastener 88. If the depth of the wall frame provides sufficient
space, the strap 86
may be connected to the wall frame in a flat configuration as shown in FIG.
23. If, however, the
depth of the wall frame does not have sufficient space, the straps 86 may be
bent to attach to the
wall frame as shown in FIG. 24. In FIG. 24, straps 86 are shown attached to a
jamb 28 and a
header 16. For example, a strap 86 is connected to the header 16 using a
mechanical fastener 88.
The straps 86 may be constructed from a metal, for example, galvanized steel.
[0057] Referring to FIG 27 a mull assembly 200 consists of a first mull
halve 202 on a
first side 204 of a first window 206 and a second mull halve 208 on a second
210 of a second
window 212. On an interior side 214, a mull connector 216, a trim connector
218 and an interior
trim 220 are used to secure together the mull halves 202 and 208. On the
exterior side 222, a
sealing connector 224 and exterior trim 226 are used to secure together the
mull halves 202 and
208. A Sealing cap 228 is positioned above upper edges of the first mull halve
202 and second
mull halve 208 proximate the exterior side 220 as will be discussed in further
detail below.
[0058] A flashing fin 230 is positioned within a groove 232 extending into
an upper
surface 234 of first window 206 and within a groove 236 extending into an
upper surface 238 of
second window 212. Grooves 232 and 236 extend generally perpendicular into the
top surface
234 and 238 of first window 206 and second window 212 respectively in a
direction toward the
bottom of first window 206 and second window 212 respectively. Or stated when
the windows
are in an installed position within a building having vertical walls, the
groove extends downward
in the direction of gravity.
[0059] Referring to FIG. 25 first mull halve 202 is secured to first window
206 and a
second mull halve 208 secured to second window 212. The first mull halve 202
and second mull
halve 208 are secured with a fastener is known in the art such as nails,
screws, adhesive or other
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fasteners known in the art. First mull halve 202 includes a first or exterior
end 240 that is close to
the exterior of a building than second or interior end 244. Exterior end 240
includes an opening
248 that receives a portion of sealing cap 228. Second mull halve includes an
exterior end 242
and an interior end 246.
[0060] Referring to FIG. 26 first mull halve 202 and second mull halve 208
interact with
one another to secure first window 202 and second window 208 together.
Exterior end 242 of
second mull halve 208 goes over and around the exterior end 240 of first mull
halve 202. The
interior end 244 and the interior end 246 of first mull halve 202 and second
mull halve 208
respectively are coupled together with 216
[0061] Referring to FIG 28 sealing cap 228 includes a first leg 250 and a
second leg 252
that extends perpendicular to first leg 250. First leg 250 includes an upper
surface 260 and a
terminal free end 264 that is distal from second leg 252. Second leg 250 has a
bottom surface
258 which is opposite to and generally offset and parallel to surface 260.
Extending from bottom
surface 258 in direction away from top surface 260 is an extension member 262.
In one
embodiment extension member has a terminal end distal from lower surface 258
that has a cross-
sectional area that is less than the cross-sectional area of a region of the
extension member 262
proximate to the lower side or lower surface 258 of first leg 250. Second leg
252 has a first or
interior side 254 and a second or exterior surface 256 that is closer to
terminal free end 264 of
first leg 250 than interior surface 254. In one embodiment terminal free end
264 has a width
defined by the direction perpendicular to the vector direction between upper
surface 260 and
lower surface 258 and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of extension
member 262. The
width of terminal free end 264 in one embodiment is less than the width of
first leg 250
proximate second leg 252. The narrower width proximate terminal free end 264
allows for
interaction with the legs of sealing connector 224.
[0062] Referring to FIG 30 and FIG 31 Sealing cap 228 is positioned
between first
window 206 and second window 212 and directly above the upper terminal ends of
first mull
halve 202 and second mull halve 208. Bottom surface 258 of sealing cap 228 is
directly adjacent
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and contacting the upper terminal edges of first mull halve 202 and second
mull halve 208.
Additionally upper surface 260 defines a plane that is not coplanar with upper
surface 238 of first
window 206 and upper surface 238 of second window 212. The upper surface 260
defines a
plane that is a distance below upper surface 234 and 238. The upper surface of
second leg 252 is
coplanar with upper surface 234 and upper surface 238 of first window 206 and
second window
212 respectively. Ceiling 228 is positively located and positioned relative to
first mull halve 202
and second mull halve 208 by positioning extension member 262 within opening
248. Opening
248 is part of first mull halve 202 that extends the entire length of mull
halve 202. In this manner
sealing cap 228 is positively located within mull assembly 200. All halve 202
and mull halve 208
are operably secured to first window 206 and second window 212 by fasteners as
maybe known
the art such as screws rivets or other connectors including but not limited to
adhesives. First mull
halve 202 may be positively located relative to first window 202 by a tab or
other extension
member extending from mull halve 202 with in a groove or kerf that extends
vertically along the
surface 204 first window 206. The groove or kerf that extends vertically along
the surface 204 is
aligned with groove 232. In this manner, first mull halve 202 and second mull
halve 208 are
positively aligned with groove 232 and 236. Since sealing cap 228 is
positively aligned with
first mull halve via location of extension member 262 within extruded boss or
opening 248,
sealing cap 228 is positively aligned with groove 232 and 236.
[0063] In one embodiment the bottom surface 258 of sealing cap 228 may
have cavities
that extend upwardly toward upper surface 260 of sealing cap 228. Silicone or
other sealant
known in the art is placed in the cavities prior to locating sealing cap 228
on top of mull halves
202 and 208 to provide a water tight seal between the sealing cap 228 and the
mull halves.
[0064] Exterior surface 256 of second leg 252 is located intermediate of a
line defined by
groove 232 and groove 236 and the exterior side of first window 206 and second
window 212. In
this manner leg 250 is on one side of the line defined by first groove 232 and
second groove 236,
and second leg 252 is located on the other side of the line defined by first
groove 232 and second
groove 236.
CA 02918916 2016-01-22
[0065] Referring to FIG 31 flashing fin 230 includes a first member 266
that extends
upward from surface 234 and surface 238 of first window 206 and second window
212
respectively. Flashing fin 230 also includes a second leg 268 that extends
perpendicular from
first member 266 in direction parallel to first surface 234 and second surface
238 the first
window 206 and second window 212 respectively. A bottom surface of second leg
268 is in
contact with the upper surface of second leg 252 of sealing 228. Extending
downward from a
bottom surface of second leg 268 of flashing fin 230 is an engagement leg 270.
In one
embodiment engagement leg 270 includes a plurality of barbs that engage into
first groove 232
of first window 206 and second groove 236 of second window 212. Flashing fin
230 is situated
such that a portion of engagement leg 270 is located adjacent to exterior
surface 256 of second
leg 254 and a bottom edge of engagement leg 270 is located adjacent to top
surface 260 of first
leg 250.
[0066] Referring to FIG. 31 a pocket is defined by the space above surface
260 of first
leg 250 and between the 202 and second window 212, and between exterior
surface 256 of
second leg 254 and sealing connector 224. The opening of the pocket is co-
planar with the
surface 234 and surface of 238 of first window 206 and second window 212
respectively. A
sealant material 272 such is deposited in the pocket to create a seal between
the first window 206
and second new window 212 between finishing fin 230 and sealing connector 224.
In one
embodiment the sealant material is silicone. In one embodiment a sealant known
in the art may
be used to provide a water tight seal between finishing fin 230, first window
206, second window
212, and mull halves 202 and 208. Finishing fin 230 is secured to the outside
of a building
structure as is known in the art.
[0067] Although sealing cap 228 has been described in connection with mull
assembly
200 sealing 228 may be use with the other mull assembly embodiments described
herein as well.
Although the example provided identified windows any fenestration assembly may
be mulled
together as outlined above in the various embodiments including but not
limited to doors.
Although not described above straps 251 are secured to the upper surfaces of
the first window
and second window to aid in securing the first window and second window to a
building
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structure. Straps 251 may be rigid or flexible and bent as needed to optimize
installation of the
mulled windows to a building structure. In one embodiment straps 251 have a
plurality of
apertures through which a fastener such as a screw or mail may secure the
straps 251 to the
windows and building structure.
[0068] It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of
system for field
mulling of a plurality of fenestration assemblies as described herein is
illustrative only.
Although only a few embodiments of the present inventions have been described
in detail in this
disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily
appreciate that many
modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures,
shapes and
proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting
arrangements, use of
materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the
novel teachings and
advantages of the subject matter recited in the claims. For example, elements
shown as
integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements and vice
versa, the position of
elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of
discrete elements or
positions may be altered or varied. Accordingly, all such modifications are
intended to be
included within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended
claims. The order
or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced
according to
alternative embodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and
omissions may be
made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the exemplary
embodiments
without departing from the scope of the present inventions as expressed in the
appended claims.
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