Patent Application
20120180293
(NOT APPLICABLE)
The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for mounting a curved sheet element on a surface and, more particularly, relates to apparatus and methods for mounting a windshield on the deck of a boat. Use of the term “curved sheet” is intended to encompass a generally flat sheet with some curvature to the sheet wings and fronts.
Systems for mounting curved sheet elements to a surface, particularly mounting curved windshields to the deck of a boat, are known. One such mounting system includes an elongated member having upper, intermediate and lower portions wherein the upper portion comprises, in cross-section, a generally channel-shaped receptacle for receiving the lower edge of the curved windshield. The lower portion includes a flat which extends from the intermediate portion at an angle of approximately 45° relative to the base of the channel-shaped upper portion. The intermediate portion includes angularly related portions connected along one edge intermediate of and to the base of the channel while the other angularly related portion extends rearwardly for connection with the flat. The forward portion of the flat terminates in a free edge defining a receptacle for receiving the trim piece with the base of the channel, the intermediate portion and the inside surface of the flat.
In using such a mounting system, it is necessary to bend the elongated member to conform it to the curvature of the lower edge of the glass. In bending the member, however, twisting also occurs, causing the flat to stand up from the deck. That is, the flat will not maintain a flush continuous contact with the deck over the full length of the member. Additionally, the mounting member is secured to the deck by screws disposed through the flat. The compound curvature of the mounting member, however, makes it difficult to mount the screws and secure the mounting member and windshield to the deck. Even after such securement, gaps appear between the mounting member and the deck.
Some of the more modern boats are using a flush glazed window that hides the bottom trim so that it is not seen from the outside of the boat. Design approaches to achieve this flush glazed look have used either a combination of two bottom trims, one that is mounted to the boat deck and the other that is mounted to the inside of the windshield, or trims that have fixed angles. The first approach is often bulky and requires twice the number of extrusions as a standard mounting system. The second approach is limited in the angle between the windshield and the boat deck such that it is unusable on the boat deck if the angle changes much along the length of the windshield, as most boat windshields do.
According to the preferred embodiments, a bottom trim member is designed to overcome the drawbacks of the prior constructions. The trim member is compact and incorporates a bottom gasket that is usable in multiple ways. One of the ways uses only one extrusion with a mounting clip. Another is screwed directly to the deck. The third approach uses another compact extrusion along the length of the windshield.
In an exemplary embodiment, a bottom trim member secures a curved sheet element such as a windshield or the like on a surface. The bottom trim member includes a bottom trim extrusion having a connecting leg affixable to the curved sheet element and a gasket receiving leg. A gasket is disposed in engagement with the gasket receiving leg, where the gasket is shaped such that the bottom trim extrusion is positionable in multiple orientations relative to the surface and such that the gasket maintains a sealing engagement in any of the bottom trim extrusion multiple orientations. A securing member is affixable to the surface and cooperable with the bottom trim extrusion to secure the bottom trim extrusion to the surface in any one of the bottom trim extrusion multiple orientations. Preferably, the gasket is cylindrical.
In one arrangement, the securing member is a mounting clip affixable to the surface with a connector, such as a screw or the like. The mounting clip includes a connecting arm engageable with the gasket receiving leg in a channel defined between the gasket receiving leg and the connecting leg of the bottom trim extrusion. With a cylindrical gasket, the gasket receiving leg may be shaped corresponding to an external surface of the gasket, where the connecting arm has a curved inside surface engageable with an outside surface of the gasket receiving leg.
In another arrangement, the securing member is a connector extendable through the gasket receiving leg and the gasket into the surface. In this context, a cover may be disposed over an outside surface of the gasket receiving leg to conceal the connector.
In still another arrangement, the securing member includes a lower extrusion including a base leg securable directly to the surface via a connector and a support leg engageable with the gasket receiving leg in a channel defined between the gasket receiving leg and the connecting leg of the bottom trim extrusion. The base leg and the support leg preferably define a receiving area therebetween, where the gasket receiving leg and the gasket are secured in the receiving area.
In another exemplary embodiment, a bottom trim member secures a windshield to a boat surface. The bottom trim member includes a bottom trim extrusion including a connecting leg affixable to the windshield and a gasket receiving leg; a cylindrical gasket disposed in engagement with the gasket receiving leg, the cylindrical gasket being formed of an elastic material; and a securing member affixable to the boat surface and cooperable with the bottom trim extrusion and the gasket to secure the bottom trim extrusion to the boat surface. The gasket is disposed in a compressed state to hold the bottom trim extrusion and the securing member in engagement with each other. With the mounting clip arrangement, the gasket is compressed between the boat surface and the connecting arm. With the connector arrangement, the gasket is compressed between the boat surface and a head of the connector. Finally, with the lower extrusion arrangement, the gasket is compressed between the base leg and the support leg. The base leg and the support leg may define a receiving area therebetween, where the gasket receiving leg and the gasket are secured in the receiving area.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, a method of securing a curved sheet element on a surface includes the steps of affixing a connecting leg of a bottom trim extrusion to the curved sheet element; positioning a cylindrical gasket in engagement with a gasket receiving leg of the bottom trim extrusion, the cylindrical gasket being formed of an elastic material; affixing a securing member to the surface; and compressing the cylindrical gasket and the gasket receiving leg into a space defined by the securing member.
These and other aspects and advantages will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The bottom trim extrusion 4 includes a connecting leg 4a that is affixable to the curved sheet element 1 and a gasket receiving leg 4b that receives a preferably cylindrical shaped gasket 5. The gasket 5 is also common to each of the described embodiments, and is preferably formed of an elastic material such as rubber or the like. As shown, the gasket receiving leg 4b is shaped corresponding to an external surface of the gasket 5. The connecting leg 4a and the gasket receiving leg 4b are disposed relative to each other generally to define a channel 4c.
Although the gasket 5 is preferably cylindrical shaped, other shapes may be suitable to achieve its intended objective. In particular, with continued reference to
Also common to each embodiment is a securing member that is affixable to the surface 8 and cooperable with the bottom trim extrusion 4 and the gasket 5 to secure the bottom trim extrusion 4 to the surface 8 in any one of the bottom trim extrusion multiple orientations. In a first embodiment, the securing member comprises a mounting clip 6 affixable to the surface 8 with a connector 7 such as a screw or the like. The mounting clip 6 includes a connecting arm 6a engageable with the gasket receiving leg 4b in the channel 4c defined between the gasket receiving leg 4b and the connecting leg 4a of the bottom trim extrusion 4. As shown, the connecting arm 6a is preferably provided with a curved inside surface engageable with an outside surface of the gasket receiving leg 4b. In this manner, the connecting arm 6a fixes the bottom trim extrusion 4 in place in any of the bottom trim extrusion multiple orientations (e.g., compare the position of the connecting arm 6a on the gasket receiving leg 4b in
In assembling the bottom trim member shown in
The shape of the support leg 11b generally corresponds to the shape of the gasket receiving leg 4b. As such, the bottom trim extrusion 4 is positionable relative to the surface 8 in the lower extrusion 11 between a narrow angled positioned as shown in
In an exemplary application for securing a windshield 1 to a boat deck 8, in the embodiments shown in
The described construction utilizes a bottom gasket and bottom trim extrusion to accommodate angle changes of a curved sheet element such as a windshield on a surface such as a boat deck. The simple construction is not bulky and reduces the number of parts as compared with the prior art constructions.
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/208,622, filed Sep. 11, 2008, pending, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in this application.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 12208622 | Sep 2008 | US |
| Child | 13430832 | US |
