Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02202~89 1997-04-14
CORNER JOINT FOR WINDOW OR DOOR FRAME
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to windows and
doors and in particular, to a corner joint for the frame
of a window or door.
Background of the Invention
Exterior windows and doors are designed with
insulation, weather resistance, and aesthetics in mind.
As a result, most such products are provided with a
durable outer coating, such as vinyl, metal, or paint.
However, difficulties may be encountered when attempting
to coat or otherwise seal joints or seams between
adjacent window frame components. In this regard, there
exists a need to effectively seal or cover the corners
where window frame members meet. Ideally, the resulting
joint should be both weather resistant and aesthetically
pleasing.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention provides a method of
forming a joint or corner between window frame members.
The ends of adjoining window frame members are
configured to mate in desired fashion and then
introduced into opposite ends of a common sleeve or
corner cap. A portion of the sleeve is captured between
the ends of the window frame members, which are then
secured to one another. The sleeve is secured in place
and covers the seam or interface between the window
frame members. As a result, any small separation
between the frame members, which may be caused by
racking or contraction of the vinyl, for example, is not
visible to the casual observer.
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Brief Description of the Drawing
With reference to the Figures of the Drawing,
wherein like numerals represent like parts and
assemblies throughout the several views,
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a
window frame joint constructed according to the
principles of the present invention;
Figure 2 is an exploded exterior view of the
window frame joint of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is an assembled exterior view of the
window frame joint of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a corner
member which is part of the window frame joint of Figure
l;
Figure 5 is another perspective view of the
corner member of Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a top view of the corner member of
Figure 4;
Figure 7 is a side view of the corner member
of Figure 4; and
Figure 8 is an exterior end view of the corner
member of Figure 4.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
A preferred embodiment window frame joint
constructed according to the principles of the present
invention is designated as 101 in Figures 1-3. The
exterior portion of the joint 101 is formed by a first
(or side) outer frame member 110, a second (or head)
frame member 170, and a corner member 150.
The remainder of the window corner 101
includes: a head jamb 211 which is made of wood and is
adjacent the head frame member 170; a head liner 214
which is made of polyvinyl chloride and is secured
inside the head jamb 211; an interior head stop 212
which is made of wood (or foamed PVC) and covers the
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interior interface between the head jamb 211 and the
head liner 214; a side jamb 203 which is made of wood
and is adjacent an interior facing portion of the outer
frame member 110; a side liner 204 which is made of
polyvinyl chloride and is secured inside the side jamb
203; and an interior side stop 205 which is made of wood
(or foamed PVC) and covers the interface between the
side jamb 203 and the side liner 204. The side liner
204 cooperates with a counterpart on an opposite side of
the window to support a pair of window sashes within the
window frame.
Both frame members 110 and 170 may be said to
be elongate, and each has a uniform cross-section or
profile. Both frame members 110 and 170 have a wood
core encased in PVC. Generally speaking, the wood core
provides structural rigidity, and the PVC coating or
shell provides resistance to wear due to handling or
weather.
The side frame member 110 has an outer or
exposed surface 111 which includes a first surface 112
and a second surface 113. The first surface 112 may be
described as facing outside (parallel to the glass
component of the window), and the second surface 113 may
be described as facing laterally (perpendicular to the
first surface 112). The first surface 112 and the
second surface 113 j oin to form a corner 114 which
extends lengthwise along the side frame member 110. A
groove 115 in the second surface 113 extends lengthwise
along the side frame member 110 and divides the second
surface 113 into a relatively exterior portion 116 and a
relatively interior portion 117. The groove 115 iS
sized and configured to receive a nailing flange 181.
The side frame member 110 terminates in an
upper end 118 which is cut or mitered at an angle of
forty-five degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of
the frame member 110 (and both of the surfaces 112 and
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113). A hole 119 is formed through the relatively
exterior portion 116 of the second surface 113,
proximate the groove 115 and extending through the
mitered end 118.
The head frame member 170 is similar in many
respects to the side frame member 110. The head frame
member 170 likewise has an outer or exposed surface 171
which includes a first surface 172 and a second surface
173. The first surface 172 may be described as facing
outside (parallel to the glass component of the window),
and the second surface 173 may be described as facing
upward (perpendicular to the first surface 172 and the
glass component of the window). The first surface 172
and the second surface 173 join to form a corner 174
which extends lengthwise along the head frame member
170. A groove 175 in the second surface 173 extends
lengthwise along the head frame member 170 and divides
the second surface 173 into a relatively exterior
portion 176 and a relatively interior portion 177.
The head frame member 170 terminates in an end
178 which is cut or mitered at an angle of forty-five
degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the frame
member 170 (and the surface 172). A hole 179 is formed
through the relatively exterior portion 176 of the
second surface 173, proximate the groove 175 and
extending through the mitered end 178.
The corner member 150 is shown in greater
detail in Figures 4-8. The corner member 150 is a piece
of injection molded plastic. The corner member 150
includes a first portion 151 which is substantially
planar; a second portion 152 which is substantially
planar; a third portion 153 which is substantially
planar and a mirror image of the second portion 152; a
fourth portion 154 which is substantially planar; a
fifth portion 155 which is substantially planar and a
mirror image of the fourth portion 154; and may
CA 02202~89 1997-04-14
optionally include a sixth portion 156 which is
substantially planar; and a seventh portion 157 which is
substantially planar and a mirror image of the sixth
portion 156. In other words, the corner member 150 may
be described as symmetrical relative to the first
portion 151.
The first portion 151 of the corner member 150
is sized and configured to overlie substantially all of
each mitered end 118 and 178. A first slot 161 is
formed in the first portion 151 to allow a fastener (not
shown) extending through the hole 179 in the head frame
member 170 to enter into the wood core of the side frame
member 110. A second slot 162 is formed in the first
portion 151 to allow a fastener (not shown) extending
through the hole 119 in the side frame member 110 to
enter into the wood core of the head frame member 170.
Additional openings 163 and 164 are formed through the
first portion 151 to further facilitate spreading of a
sealant to both sides of the first portion 151.
Optional holes 165 and 166 are formed through the first
portion 151, proximate the relatively interior portion
thereof, to receive the legs of a staple which may be
used to hold the corner member 150 in place during
assembly. An optional depression 167 in each side of
the first portion 151 surrounds the holes 165 and 166 to
provide clearance for the head of the staple.
The second portion 152 of the corner member
150 and the third portion 153 of the corner member 150
cooperate to form a substantially V-shaped segment
having an outwardly directed vertex or corner. The
angle defined thereby is slightly less than ninety
degrees when the corner member 150 is unstressed. The
second portion 152 is slightly longer than the
relatively exterior surface 116 on the side frame member
110 and overlies a distal portion thereof when the joint
101 is assembled. Similarly, the third portion 153 is
CA 02202~89 1997-04-14
slightly longer than the relatively exterior surface 176
on the head frame member 170 and overlies a distal
portion thereof when the joint 101 is assembled. In
other words, the second portion 152 and the third
portion 153 cooperate to cover or, together with a
sealant, to seal the seam or interface between the
relatively exterior surfaces 116 and 176. The very tips
of these surfaces 116 and 176 may require trimming so as
not to interfere with one another and/or the fillet at
the juncture between the second portion 152 and the
third portion 153.
The fourth portion 154 of the corner member
150 and the fifth portion 155 of the corner member 150
cooperate to form a substantially planar segment which
extends substantially perpendicularly between a
relatively exterior end of the first portion 151 and
relatively exterior ends of the second portion 152 and
the third portion 153. In other words, the fourth
portion 154 and the fifth portion 155 interconnect the
first portion 151 and the second and third portions 152
and 153, and cooperate to close off the relatively
exterior end of the V-shaped segment defined by the
second portion 152 and the third portion 153.
The fourth portion 154 is substantially
trapezoidal in shape, with the longer parallel side
thereof adjoining the fifth portion 155. The longer
parallel side is approximately as long as the mitered
edge of the first surface 112 on the side frame member
110, and the fourth portion 154 overlies a distal
portion thereof when the joint 101 is assembled.
Similarly, the fifth portion 155 is substantially
trapezoidal in shape, with the longer parallel side
thereof adjoining the fourth portion 154. The longer
parallel side is approximately as long as the mitered
edge of the first surface 172 on the head frame member
170, and the fifth portion 155 overlies a distal portion
CA 02202~89 1997-04-14
thereof when the joint 101 is assembled. In other
words, the fourth portion 154 and the fifth portion 155
cooperate to cover or (together with a sealant) to seal
the seam or interface between the surfaces 112 and 172.
The optional sixth portion 156 of the corner
member 150 and the optional seventh portion 157 of the
corner member 150 cooperate to form a substantially
planar segment which extends substantially
perpendicularly between an intermediate portion of the
first portion 151 and relatively interior ends of the
second portion 152 and the third portion 153. In other
words, the sixth portion 156 and the seventh portion 157
interconnect the first portion 151 and the second and
third portions 152 and 153, and cooperate to close off
the relatively interior end of the V-shaped segment
defined by the second portion 152 and the third portion
153.
The sixth portion 156 is substantially
trapezoidal in shape, with the longer parallel side
thereof adjoining the seventh portion 157. The longer
parallel side is approximately as long as the depth of
the groove 119 on the side frame member 110, and the
sixth portion 156 is received within the groove 115 and
overlies its sidewall when the joint 101 is assembled.
Similarly, the seventh portion 157 is substantially
trapezoidal in shape, with the longer parallel side
thereof adjoining the sixth portion 156. The longer
parallel side is approximately as long as the depth of
the groove 179 on the head frame member 170, and the
seventh portion 157 is received within the groove 179
and overlies its sidewall when the joint 101 is
assembled. In other words, the sixth portion 156 and
the seventh portion 157 cooperate to cover or (together
with a sealant) to seal the seam or interface between
the sidewalls of the grooves 115 and 175.
CA 02202~89 1997-04-14
The sixth portion 156 and the seventh portion
157 also function to discourage exterior movement of the
corner member 150 relative to the frame members 110 and
170. In similar fashion, the fourth portion 154 and the
fifth portion 155 may be seen to discourage interior
movement of the corner member 150 relative to the frame
members 110 and 170.
The joint 101 is assembled by first mitering
the ends of frame members 110 and 170 and forming
respective holes 119 and 179 therein. A sealant is then
disposed on one of the mitered ends 118 or 178, and the
corner member 150 is moved into place, with the first
portion 151 overlying the mitered cut and, if
applicable, with one of the portions 156 and 157 in a
respective groove 115 or 175. If the sealant is
insufficient to hold the corner member 150 in place,
then a staple may be used in the manner suggested above.
Additional sealant may be applied to the exposed side
of the first portion 151 prior to inserting the mitered
end 118 or 178 of the other frame member 110 or 170 into
the corner member 150. As used herein, the term
"sealant" is intended to include any material having the
adhesive and cohesive properties needed to form a seal
in a joint. Examples of suitable sealants include (but
are not limited to) polyurethane adhesive, silicone
sealant, and poly-vinyl acetate emulsions.
The fasteners are then driven through the
holes 119 and 179 to secure the joint 101 together.
Additional structure on the frame members 110 and 170
facilitates connection to additional, relatively
interior frame components, as well as the wall of a
building or other structure.
From the foregoing description, the portions
152-155, alone or together with the portions 156-157 of
the corner member 150 may be seen to function as a
covering means for covering interfaces or seams between
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surfaces on the frame members 110 and 170, and the first
portion 151 may be seen as a securing means for securing
the covering means to the frame members 110 and 170.
Although described with reference to specific
embodiments and applications, the scope of the present
invention is limited only to the extent of the claims
which follow.
