Patent Grant
7421790
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus of determining the length for forming or cutting each false hollow muntin bar to length for a starburst or other pattern within multi-pane sealed window units and the method of using the apparatus and for securing and transporting the muntin bar pattern to a next phase of fabrication. Starburst and other patterns are commonly formed by muntin bar placement during and the fabrication of multi-pane sealed glass window units. The disclosure relates to the apparatus and method of determining the length required for each muntin bar in the pattern and the use of the template in the fabrication process for multi-pane window units.
Forming patterns, within sealed multi-pane window units by placement of false hollow muntin bars, are commonly encountered. The determination of the length for each individual muntin bar, required for a pattern, is generally accomplished by a workman taking measurements, with a tape measure, from a muntin bar clip or muntin bar first end to the edge of the glass pane. This hand measurement process typically results in the assembly of the appropriate number of “cut to size” muntin bars. It will be expected to find that a generally symmetrical pane will require muntin bars of varying lengths.
In the typical multi-pane fabrication process a glass pane, for which muntin bars have been cut for a particular pattern, will be removed to an assembly area. The application of the muntin bars, in the process of forming the sealed multi-pane unit, is subject to smudging and inadvertent contamination of the bottom pane exposed during placement of each of the several muntin bars. Such contamination requires additional inspection and cleaning with attendant increased manufacturing expense. The patents referred to herein are provided herewith in an Information Disclosure Statement in accordance with 37 CFR 1.97.
The apparatus and process of using the apparatus disclosed herein eases several steps which must be performed in fabrication of a multi-pane window unit. First, the apparatus allows ease of measurement of the length required of each false hollow muntin bar required for a pattern. Second, the “cut to size” muntin bars are easily assembled with a central muntin bar clip. The assembled muntin bars with central muntin bar clip are easily secured to a radial pattern template which is transported, without disturbance of the precisely positioned muntin bars and central muntin bar clip, to the next phase of fabrication. And fabrication is completed.
The apparatus of this invention comprises a radius table (100) having a radius table frame (200) supporting one or more spokes (300) extending from a spoke anchor (5). Each spoke (300) supports a graduated measurement strip (400). The spoke (300) comprises a track which secures and guides measuring device (500). The measuring device (500) has a graduated measurement strip viewer (510) bearing at least one scribe mark (511).
A glass pane (800) is placed on the radius table (100) and is centered by a centering system (600). The measuring device (500) via the graduated measurement strip viewer (510) bearing at least one scribe mark (511) is moved into contact with the glass pane (800) and a muntin bar length, determined by at the scribe mark (511) viewing the graduated measurement strip (400), is noted at each spoke (300). The muntin bar length is used in cutting muntin bars as required for each pattern.
A central muntin bar clip (10) is placed on the spoke anchor (5) and the “cut to size” muntin bars (900) are affixed to the central muntin bar clip (10) forming the pattern. Multiple false hollow muntin bars will be received and secured by the central muntin bar clip (10). The central muntin bar clip (10) will be secured to the SUPER SPACER®, or other multi-pane spacing system structure thereby securing the muntin bars in position. A radial template (700) is placed over the pattern and, via one or more muntin clamps (710), each muntin bar (900) is clamped to the radial template (700). The radial template (700) bearing the clamped muntin bars (900) and central muntin bar clip (10) are transported to final fabrication for fabrication completion of a multi-pane window unit (2000).
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Seen in
The radius table frame (200) has a substantially horizontal frame support (210); an upwardly extending frame right upright (220) and an upwardly extending frame left upright (240) immovably affixed to the frame support (210). The frame left upright is immovably affixed to the frame support. The frame right upright (220) and the frame left upright (240) are immovably joined by a substantially horizontal frame top (230).
A spoke anchor (5), seen in
The centering system (600) illustrated in
The centering arm (652) may be pivoted away from the frame support (200) to remove the centering arm (652) from the proximity of the frame support top (211) thereby allowing glass panes of larger sizes to be placed on the radius table (100). When pivoted upwardly toward the frame support (200) rotational movement toward the frame support (200) is limited by a stop means such as a centering arm stop (657) projecting toward the frame support (200) and contacting the respective centering unit right top (680) and centering unit left top (690). A variety of detent means will lock the respective centering arms (652) into place either when rotated up and into slidable contact with the frame support top (211) or when rotated down and away from the frame support (200).
Each of the centering unit right (650) and centering unit left (651) having a rail guide (654) and a rail guide slot (656) to slidably receive the “I” beam frame support (210).
Pulleys (655) respectively proximal the frame right upright (220) and the frame left upright (240) receive a tensioned centering flat belt (620). A centering flat belt attachment right (660) extends outwardly from the centering unit right (650) and is immovably affixed to the centering flat belt (620) centering flat belt affixing means. In the preferred embodiment the centering flat belt attachment right (660) extends upwardly and outwardly from the centering unit right top (680) and is affixed to the centering flat belt (620) proximal the frame support top (211). A centering flat belt attachment left (670) extends outwardly from the centering unit left (651) and is immovably affixed to the centering flat belt (620) by centering flat belt affixing means.
Centering flat belt affixing means, for the preferred embodiment comprises a plate pressing the centering flat belt (620) against the centering flat belt attachment right (660) and against the centering flat belt attachment left (680) wherein screw or bolt means is received through the plate and into the respective centering flat belt attachment right (660) and against the centering flat belt attachment left (680). In the preferred embodiment the centering flat belt attachment left (670) extends downwardly and outwardly from the centering unit left bottom (691) and is affixed to the centering flat belt (620) distal the frame support top (211).
As is appreciated, movement of either the centering unit right (650) or the centering unit left (651) will cause the each of the centering unit right (650) and the centering unit left (651) to move in opposite directions. That is, movement of the centering unit right (650) toward the center will cause the centering unit left (651) to move toward the center. A glass pane (800), placed on the frame support top (211), will be contacted and moved by the centering arm (652), of either the centering unit right (650) or the centering unit left (651), until the centering arm (652) of the opposing either centering unit right (650) or centering unit left (651) contacts the glass pane (800).
Movement of the centering arms (652) and the glass pane (800) will be to a predetermined calibrated position, which, in the preferred embodiment, is the center of the spoke anchor (5). It will be appreciated that a calibrated position may be other than the center of the spoke anchor (5) with this determined by the patterns to be formed and by the configuration of the table frame (200).
The radial template (700), seen in
A measurement viewer (510) having at least one scribe mark (511) is immovably attached to and extends outwardly from the measuring device (500), proximal to or over the graduated measurement strip (400), for viewing a measurement at the graduated measurement strip (400). The measurement viewer (510), in the preferred embodiment, is transparent. The measuring device (500) has a measuring device front (520), a measuring device body (501), a measuring device rear (525) and a measuring device bottom (527). The measuring device front (520) has a substantially vertical measuring device front muntin bar slot (521). The measuring device front (520) and measuring device front muntin bar slot (521) are distal to the measuring device rear (525). The measuring device front muntin bar slot (521) is sized to securely receive a muntin bar (900). The measuring device front (520) is immovably affixed to the muntin device body (501), by screw means via a measuring device front screw (522), during operations. The selection of the measuring device front (520) will be determined by the width of the muntin bar (900) to be used in forming a pattern and hence will dictate the width of the required muntin device front muntin bar slot (521).
There is a substantially horizontal measuring device slot (530) beneath the measuring device front (520), distal to the measuring device rear (525) and proximal the spoke (300). The measuring device slot (530) receives a glass pane (800) when the measuring device (500) is slidably moved into contact with the glass pane (800). A measuring device rail slot (540) and a measuring device rail guide (550) is received by the spoke (300). The spoke (300) has a substantially mirror image slot and rail to slidably receive the measuring device (500). A measuring device glass pane contact (505) beneath the measuring device front (520), proximal the measuring device bottom (527) and the measuring device slot (530) is contacted by a glass pane (800) when the measuring device (500) is slidably moved into contact with the glass pane (800). In the preferred embodiment the measuring device glass pane contact (505) is outwardly protruding to form a contact point. The measuring device body (501) and measuring device front (520) are composed of semi-rigid or rigid, materials including plastics. The measuring device glass pane contact (505) is composed of a semi-rigid material to lessen the likelihood of chipping the glass pane (800) upon contact.
The radius table frame (200), the at least one spoke (300), the measuring unit (500), the centering unit (650), and the radial template are comprised of elongated rigid materials including plastics, metals, composite materials and including aluminum rail.
The at least one muntin clamp (710) is affixed via muntin clamp screws (740) at the radial frame (750) and at the stabilizer frame (760). The radial frame (750) and the stabilizer frame (760) shaped to accommodate the muntin bar (900) pattern desired for fabrication.
The muntin clamp (710) includes a threaded means, generally a threaded bolt immovably affixed to the radial frame (750) or stabilizer frame (760), which is upwardly extending from the radial frame (750) or the stabilizer frame (760). The clamp screw (740) threadably receives the upwardly extending threaded means. At least two opposing muntin clamp compression jaws (720) are slidably and movably retained by the upwardly extending threaded means and compressed between the clamp screw (740) and the radial frame (750) or stabilizer frame (760) when the clamp screw (740) is tightened.
The muntin clamp compression jaws (720) are also downwardly extending and have a spring bias to securely and immovably engage a muntin bar (900) when the opposing muntin clamp compression jaws (720) are urged toward each other and the clamp screw (740) is tightened. The muntin clamps (710) are positioned at the radial frame (750) and stabilizer frame (760) depending on the muntin bar pattern desired for fabrication.
A method of using the radius table (100) in combination with the radial template (700) to assemble muntin bars for multi-pane window unit fabrication is seen herein. The process is as follows:
a. calibrating the distance from the frame support (210) to the measuring device (500) at each spoke (300);
b. placing a glass pane (800) on the frame support (210) and against and supported by the spokes (300); urging the centering unit (650) toward the glass pane (800) and moving the glass pane (800) toward and centered at the spoke anchor (5);
c. moving the measuring devices (500) toward the glass pane (800) such that the measuring device slot (530) receives the glass pane (800); viewing the graduated measurement strip (400) through or proximal the measurement viewer (510) and noting the measurement at the scribe mark (511);
d. cutting false hollow muntin bars (900) to the lengths determined by the measurement;
e. placing a central muntin bar clip (10) proximal the spoke anchor (5); inserting a muntin bar clip (950) in each false hollow muntin bar (900) and attaching each false hollow muntin bar (900) to the central muntin bar clip (10) with the muntin bar clip (950) distal to the central muntin bar clip (10);
f. placing a radial template (700) over and into contact with the central muntin bar clip (10) and the muntin bars (900); opening the muntin clamp compression jaws (720) to receive the respective muntin bar (900); urging the opposing muntin clamp compression jaws (720) together and tightening the respective muntin clamp screw (740) thereby securing the respective muntin bar (900);
g. removing the radial template (700) with respective muntin bars (900) and transporting the radial template (700) and muntin bars (900) for multi-pane window unit fabrication;
h. placing the radial template (700) with muntin bars (900) in a glass pane (800) with a SUPER SPACER® or other spacing system for the placement of muntin bar clips (950) and a central muntin bar clip (10) relative to the SUPER SPACER® or other spacing system; placing a second glass pane (850) over the placed muntin bars (900) forming a multi-pane window unit.
As seen in
In the alternative embodiment, seen in
In the alternative embodiment the ‘n’ overlap spoke end pieces (310), seen in
The spoke end pieces (310) at the overlap spoke second end (313) is immovably and rotatably affixed by spoke affixing means to a spoke (300). Spoke affixing means is comprised generally of rivet or shoulder bolt interconnection allowing rotation. The overlapping spoke assembly (305) allows movement of each of the spokes (300) attached thereto to be positioned relative to the radius table frame top (204) at a position required for the particular frame desired.
As seen in
In this alternative embodiment the radius table frame (200) has a radius table frame radius D2 (206), seen in
The radius table frame (200) is immovably affixed to the frame support (210) at the radius table frame first end (202) and the radius table frame second end (203) or by at least one radius table frame brace (208) from the radius table frame (200) to the frame support (210).
While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
This application is a Continuation in Part pending from the parent application titled “The Apparatus of and Method of Use of a Radius Table and Radial Template for Forming Muntin Bar Patterns for Multi-Pane Window Units”, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/689,388 filed Jan. 26, 2007 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,370,425.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4537391 | Watkiss et al. | Aug 1985 | A |
| 5488776 | Schoenefeld | Feb 1996 | A |
| 6216354 | Carbone | Apr 2001 | B1 |
| 6430820 | Chessari et al. | Aug 2002 | B1 |
| 6523269 | Vincent | Feb 2003 | B1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 11698388 | Jan 2007 | US |
| Child | 11852321 | US |
