Patent Application
20240418029
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The disclosure relates to window panel devices and more particularly pertains to a new window panel device for enhancing the thermal efficiency of a double pane window. The device includes a windowpane and a surround extending around the windowpane that can be installed in the window screen opening of a window frame. In this way the windowpane replaces the window screen thereby inhibiting wind from passing through the window screen opening in the window frame.
The prior art relates to window panel devices including a variety of thermal inserts for window frames that includes a thermally insulating blanket that is positioned in a window frame and a variety of modular windowpane inserts for attaching an additional windowpane to a window frame. In no instance does the prior art discloses a windowpane and casement that is structured to integrate into a window screen opening of a window frame for enhancing the thermal efficiency of a double pane window.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a surround that is structured to have dimensions which conform to a window screen opening in a window frame. A windowpane is integrated into the surround and the windowpane is comprised of a fluid impermeable material to inhibit wind from passing through the windowpane. A pair of tension springs is each attached to the surround and each of the tension springs is compressible to lie flat against the surround when the surround is inserted into the window screen opening in the window frame. Each of the pair of tension springs is biased to curve upwardly from the surround to retain the surround in the window screen opening. A pair of tabs is coupled to the surround for gripping to install the surround in the window screen opening.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
A windowpane 28 is integrated into the surround 12 and the windowpane 28 is comprised of a transparent material, including but not being limited to glass or plastic, to pass light through the windowpane 28. Additionally, the windowpane 28 is comprised of a fluid impermeable material, including but not being limited to glass or plastic, to inhibit wind from passing through the windowpane 28. The windowpane 28 has a perimeter edge 30 that is attached to the inwardly facing side 22 of each of the plurality of intersecting members 18 of the surround 12 such that the windowpane 28 closes an opening defined by the surround 12.
A pair of tension springs 32 is provided and each of the tension springs 32 is attached to the surround 12. Each of the tension springs 32 is compressible to lie flat against the surround 12 when the surround 12 is inserted into the window screen opening 14 in the window frame 16 to facilitate the surround 12 to be fully seated in the window screen opening 14. Furthermore, each of the pair of tension springs 32 is biased to curve upwardly from the surround 12 thereby facilitating the tension springs 32 to retain the surround 12 in the window screen opening 14. Each of the tension springs 32 has a coupled end 34 and a free end 36 and the coupled end 34 of each of the tension springs 32 is coupled to the lower bounding surface 26 of the channel 24 in a topmost one of the plurality of intersecting members 38 of the surround 12. The free end 36 of each of the tension springs 32 rests against the lower bounding surface 26 of the channel 24 in which the tension springs 32 are positioned. Each of the tension springs 32 is curved between the coupled end 34 and the free end 36 such that each of the tension springs 32 forms an arc on the lower bounding surface 26 of the channel 24 in which the tension springs 32 are positioned. Additionally, the free end 36 of each of the pair of tension springs 32 is directed toward each other.
A pair of tabs 40 is provided and each of the tabs 40 is coupled to and extends upwardly from the surround 12. In this way the pair of tabs 40 can be gripped for subsequently urging the surround 12 upwardly in the window screen opening 14 in the window frame 16 to compress the tension springs 32 for fully seating the surround 12 in the window screen opening 14. Each of the tabs 40 extends upwardly from the inwardly facing side 22 of a bottommost one of the plurality of intersecting members 42. Additionally, each of the tabs 40 is positioned between the windowpane 28 and a front side 44 of the bottommost intersecting member 42. In an alternative embodiment 44 shown in
In use, the existing window screen in a window frame 16 is removed from the window screen opening 14 and the windowpane 28 and surround 12 are installed into the window screen opening 14. In this way the windowpane 28 inhibits wind from passing through the window screen opening 14 when the window frame 16 is opened. Thus, the windowpane 28 enhances the thermal efficiency of the window frame 16. As is shown in the alternative embodiment 44, the windowpane 28 and the surround 12 can be attached to the window frame 16 with fasteners, for example, when the window frame 16 does not have a window screen opening 14. In this way the windowpane 28 and the surround 12 can be retrofitted onto any existing window frame 16 for enhancing the thermal efficiency of the existing window frame 16.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, device and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
