Claims
- 1. In an improved inflexible substantially straight, structural frame member of predetermined shape, for windows and doors, said frame member comprising:
- a first elongated element having a length, at least one surface, and being substantially non-hollow in transverse cross section, said first element being a metal, and being inflexible and structural in nature, for contributing structural strength to said frame member,
- a second element, said second element being a plastic, and being inflexible, structurally strong independently of said first element, comprising the shape of the frame member, and enclosing said first element on essentially all surfaces along its length in a composite, unitary molding with said first element, said first element comprising a first wall substantially the length of said first element, and a second wall, said first wall having a first side, a second side, a front and a back, and said second wall having a first side, a front and a back,
- said second wall being connected on its first side to the first side of said first wall in a substantially continuous joining, substantially along the length of said first wall, and angled from said first wall,
- a first plurality of openings through said first wall exclusive of said second wall,
- said second element being molded to itself from the front to the back of said first wall through said first plurality of openings,
- the improvement comprising said first element further being discontinuous in that it comprises a third wall being essentially separate from said first and second walls, and being generally parallel with said first and second walls substantially along the length of said first wall, as parallel strips.
- 2. The frame member of claim 1, further comprising:
- said first plurality of openings comprising said second side, said second element being molded to itself through said second side with said first plurality of openings.
- 3. The frame member of claim 2, further comprising:
- said first plurality of openings being larger on one of the front and back of said first wall than on the second side of said first wall.
- 4. The frame member of claim 2 further comprising:
- said first plurality of openings comprising recesses in said first wall.
- 5. The frame member of claim 4, further comprising:
- said recesses in said first wall comprising a serpentine surface on said first wall.
- 6. The frame member of claim 2, further comprising:
- said third wall and one of said first and second walls intersecting laterally.
- 7. In an improved inflexible substantially straight, structural frame member of predetermined shape, for windows and doors, said frame member comprising:
- a first elongated element having a length, at least one surface, and being substantially non-hollow in transverse cross section, said first element being a metal, and being inflexible and structural in nature, for contributing structural strength to said frame member,
- a second element, said second element being a plastic, and being inflexible, structurally strong independently of said first element, comprising the shape of the frame member, and enclosing said first element on essentially all surfaces along its length in a composite, unitary molding with said first element,
- said first element comprising a first wall substantially the length of said first element, and a second wall, said first wall having a first side, a front and a back, and said second wall having a first side, a front and a back,
- said second wall being connected on its first side to the first side of said first wall in a substantially continuous joining, substantially along the length of said first wall, and angled from said first wall,
- a first plurality of openings through a wall of said first element,
- said second element being molded to itself from the front to the back of the wall containing said first plurality of openings, through said first plurality of openings,
- the improvement comprising said first element further being discontinuous in that it comprises a third wall being essentially separate from said first and second walls, and being generally parallel with said first and second walls substantially along the length of said first wall, as parallel strips.
- 8. The frame member of claim 7, further comprising:
- said first plurality of openings comprising an included side between the front and back of said wall containing said first plurality of openings,
- said second element being molded to itself through said included side with said first plurality of openings.
- 9. The frame member of claim 8, further comprising:
- said first plurality of openings being larger on one of the front and back of said first wall, than on said included side.
- 10. The frame member of claim 8, further comprising:
- said first plurality of openings comprising recesses in said included side.
- 11. The frame member of claim 10, further comprising:
- said recesses in said included side comprising a serpentine surface of said included side.
- 12. The frame member of claim 10, further comprising:
- said recesses in said included side being generally rectangular, the longer walls of the rectangles extending lengthwise with said first wall.
- 13. The frame member of claim 7, further comprising:
- said third wall and one of said first and second walls intersecting laterally.
- 14. In an improved inflexible substantially straight, structural frame member of predetermined shape, for windows, and doors, said frame member comprising:
- a first elongated element having a length, at least one surface, and being substantially non-hollow in transverse cross section, said first element being a metal, and being inflexible and structural in nature, for contributing structural strength to said frame member,
- a second element, said second element being a plastic, and being inflexible, structurally strong independently of said first element, comprising the shape of the frame member, and enclosing said first element on essentially all surfaces along its length in a composite, unitary molding with said first element,
- said first element comprising a first wall substantially the length of said first element, and a second wall, said first wall having a first side, a front and a back, and said second wall having a first side, a front and a back,
- said second wall being connected on its first side to the first side of said first wall in a substantially continuous joining, substantially along the length of said first wall, and angled from said first wall,
- a first plurality of openings through a wall of said first element exclusive of adjacent walls of said first element,
- said second element being molded to itself from the front to the back of the wall containing said first plurality of openings, through said first plurality of openings,
- the improvement comprising said first element further being discontinuous in that it comprises a third wall being essentially separate from said first and second walls, and being generally parallel with said first and second walls substantially along the length of said first wall, as parallel strips.
- 15. The frame member of claim 14, further comprising:
- said first plurality of openings comprising an included side between the front and back of said wall containing said first plurality of openings,
- second element being molded to itself through said included side with said first plurality of openings.
- 16. The frame member of claim 15, further comprising:
- said first plurality of openings being larger on one of the front and back of said first wall, than on said included side.
- 17. The frame member of claim 15, further comprising:
- said first plurality of openings comprising recesses in said included side.
- 18. The frame member of claim 17, further comprising:
- said recesses in said included side comprising a serpentine surface of said included side.
- 19. The frame member of claim 15, further comprising:
- said recesses in said included side being generally rectangular, the longer walls of the rectangles extending lengthwise with said first wall.
- 20. The frame member of claim 14, further comprising:
- said third wall and one of said first and second walls intersecting laterally.
- 21. An inflexible frame member of predetermined shape, for windows and doors, said frame member comprising:
- a first element having a length, at least one surface, and comprising a tube substantially the length of said first element and having a side, said first element being a metal, and being inflexible and structural in nature, for contributing structural strength to said frame member,
- a second element, said second element being a plastic, and being inflexible, structurally strong independently of said first element, comprising the shape of the frame member, and enclosing said first element on essentially all outer surfaces of the first element along its length in a composite, unitary molding with said first element,
- a first wall having a front, a back, a first side and a second side, said first wall being attached on said first side to said tube extending from said tube substantially the length of said first element,
- a first plurality of openings through said first wall,
- said second element being molded to itself from the front to the back of said first wall through said first plurality of openings.
- 22. The frame member of claim 21, further comprising:
- said first plurality of openings through said first wall being enclosed within said first wall.
- 23. The frame member of claim 21, further comprising:
- said first plurality of openings comprising said second side, said second element being molded to itself through said second side with said first plurality of openings.
- 24. The frame member of claim 23, further comprising:
- said first plurality of openings being larger on one of the front and back of said first wall than on the second side of said first wall.
- 25. The frame member of claim 23 further comprising:
- said first plurality of openings comprising recesses in said first wall.
- 26. The frame member of claim 25, further comprising:
- said recesses in said first wall comprising a serpentine surface on said first wall.
- 27. The frame member of claim 25, further comprising:
- said recesses in said first wall being generally rectangular, the longer walls of the rectangles extending lengthwise with said first wall.
- 28. The frame member of claim 21, further comprising:
- a second plurality of openings through the side of said tube, said second element extending into said second plurality of openings.
- 29. The frame member of claim 28, further comprising:
- said second element being molded to itself through said second plurality of openings.
- 30. The frame member of claim 29, further comprising:
- said tube being filled with plastic substantially the length of said first element.
- 31. An inflexible frame member of predetermined shape, for windows and doors, said frame member comprising:
- a first element having a length, at least one surface, and comprising a tube substantially the length of said first element and having a side, said first element being a metal, and being inflexible and structural in nature, for contributing structural strength to said frame member,
- a second element, said second element being a plastic, and being inflexible, structurally strong independently of said first element, comprising the shape of the frame member, and enclosing said first element on essentially all outer surfaces of the first element along its length in a composite, unitary molding with said first element,
- a first wall having a front, a back, a first side and a second side, said first wall being attached on said first side to said tube extending from said tube substantially the length of said first element,
- a first plurality of openings through the side of said tube,
- said second element being molded through said first plurality of openings.
- 32. The frame member of 31, further comprising:
- said second element being molded to itself through said first plurality of openings.
- 33. The frame member of claim 31, further comprising:
- said tube being filled with plastic substantially the length of said first element.
- 34. The frame member of claim 33, further comprising:
- the plastic substantially filling said tube comprising said second element.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/469,333 filed Jun. 6, 1995, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/203,712, filed Feb. 28, 1994 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,491,951, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 07/788,632, filed Nov. 6, 1991 now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (18)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
The Design Engineers Guide to Polymer/Metal Composites, Nov. 1986 by Kingston-Warren Co. Newfields, NH 03856. |
Continuations (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
203712 |
Feb 1994 |
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Parent |
788632 |
Nov 1991 |
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
469333 |
Jun 1995 |
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