Various architectural elements, such as windows and doors, may include cladding attached to a frame of the architectural element. The cladding may be an external finish to the architectural element and may be exposed to environmental conditions. In certain instances, the frame of the architectural element and the cladding may be formed of different materials that may differently react to the environmental conditions. For example, one of the frame of the architectural element and the cladding may change shape or arrangement (e.g., expand or contract) in response to a hot or cold environment (compared to room temperature) or the frame of the architectural element and the cladding may change shape or arrangement at different rates. The change in shape or arrangement may affect the functionality of the frame of the architectural element and the cladding.
Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems, and methods of maintaining a configuration of a cladding arrangement of a fenestration apparatus. Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward a fenestration apparatus that includes a frame configured to house a glass pane and having a first coefficient of thermal expansion. The fenestration apparatuses may also include two or more sections of cladding arranged on the frame and perpendicular to one another. The two or more sections of cladding may have a second coefficient of thermal expansion with the second coefficient of thermal expansion being different than the first coefficient of thermal expansion. In addition, the fenestration apparatuses may include one or more springs arranged between the frame and the two or more sections of cladding and configured to mitigate against movement of the two or more sections of cladding relative to the frame in response to a force between the two or more sections of cladding.
Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward fenestration apparatuses that may include a frame configured to house a glass pane and a cladding arrangement arranged on the frame having a plurality of components. The plurality of components may include a first vertical component, a second vertical component, and horizontal components therebetween. In addition, the frame and the cladding arrangement may have different coefficients of thermal expansion. The fenestration apparatuses may also include a first spring arranged between the frame and the cladding arrangement and a second spring arranged between the frame and the cladding arrangement. The first spring and the second spring may be configured to maintain a configuration of the cladding arrangement in response to a force between the plurality of components of the cladding arrangement.
Various aspects of the present disclosure are also directed toward methods of maintaining a configuration of a cladding arrangement of a fenestration apparatus. The methods may include arranging the cladding arrangement on a frame. The frame may be configured to house a glass pane and having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and the cladding arrangement having a second coefficient of thermal expansion with the second coefficient of thermal expansion being different than the first coefficient of thermal expansion. In addition, the methods may include absorbing forces on the cladding arrangement with one or more springs arranged between the frame and the cladding arrangement to maintain the configuration of the cladding arrangement.
While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.
While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below. The intention, however, is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward a fenestration assembly having a cladding arrangement. The fenestration assembly may include a glass pane and a frame, with the cladding arrangement arranged on the frame. The cladding arrangement and the frame may react differently to forces that occur on within the fenestration assembly. These forces may be the result of shifting or movement of the building in which the fenestration assembly is installed, temperatures changes, or other forces between the cladding arrangement and the frame. Temperature changes may cause the cladding arrangement and the frame to change shape or configuration (e.g., expand or contract) at different rates. Thus, aspects of the present disclosure may include one or more springs arranged with the fenestration assembly to maintain a configuration of the components of the fenestration assembly in response to forces that may be applied thereto.
In certain instances, the vertical rails 302, 304 may have a greater length than the horizontal rails 306, 308 such that the horizontal rails 306, 308 are arranged within the bounds of the vertical rails 302, 304 as is shown in
In certain instances, one or more springs 318, 320, 322, 324 may be arranged with the cladding arrangement 300. In certain instances, the one or more springs 318, 320, 322, 324 may be an elastomeric material that is resistant to forces similar to the springs shown herein. Similar to the cladding arrangement 300, the springs 318, 320, 322, 324 may also be coupled or affixed to the frame of the fenestration apparatus (e.g., as shown in
The springs 318, 320, 322, 324 may be arranged between the frame of the fenestration assembly (not shown) and the cladding arrangement 300, as shown in further detail in
In certain instances, the frame of the fenestration assembly may have a first coefficient of thermal expansion and the cladding arrangement 300 may have a second coefficient of thermal expansion being different than the first coefficient of thermal expansion. Thus, the frame of the fenestration assembly (not shown) and the cladding arrangement 300 may react (e.g., expand, contract, shift, move) differently to temperature changes and shift (in the direction of the arrows shown in
For example, the cladding arrangement 300 may be formed from aluminum and the frame of the fenestration assembly (not shown) may be formed from wood (or fiberglass). The aluminum cladding arrangement 300 may be exposed to the exterior portion of a building and therefore the exterior temperature, with the wood (or fiberglass) frame may be exposed to temperature of the interior of the building (e.g., room temperature). Aluminum is a better thermal conductor than wood (or fiberglass). Thus, the aluminum cladding arrangement 300 may carry a negligible amount of the temperature gradient with the majority of the temperature gradient being carried on the wood (or fiberglass) frame. As a result, the aluminum cladding arrangement 300 may expand/contract with the wood (or fiberglass) frame being configured to expand/contract be at a proportion of the coefficient of thermal expansion of the wood (or fiberglass) frame. In certain instances, the wood (or fiberglass) frame may be considered to include a zero or negligible coefficient of thermal expansion. In certain instances, the frame of the fenestration assembly may be formed of wood, vinyl, or fiberglass, and the cladding arrangement 300 may be formed of aluminum or another metal.
The springs 318, 320, 322, 324 may mitigate against the movement of the cladding arrangement 300 and maintain the configuration or shape thereof. In addition, the springs 318, 320, 322, 324 may absorb and dampen the forces that result from the temperature changes (or other forces) such that the configuration or shape of the cladding arrangement 300 may be maintained. In certain instances, the springs 318, 320, 322, 324 may maintain the gaps 310, 312, 314, 316 between the components (the vertical rails 302, 304 and the horizontal rails 306, 308) of the cladding arrangement 300. As noted above, the gaps 310, 312, 314, 316 may be between approximately 0.01 inches and approximately 0.1 inches. For example, the gaps 310, 312, 314, 316 may be maintained between 0.000 inches to 0.030 inches are more particularly about 0.010 inches. The maintained size of the gaps 310, 312, 314, 316 may not be dependent on the size of the cladding arrangement 300 or fenestration.
The springs 318, 320, 322, 324 may damper the forces between the components (the vertical rails 302, 304 and the horizontal rails 306, 308) of the cladding arrangement 300 such that the gaps 310, 312, 314, 316 do not substantially expand. Substantially expanding the gaps 310, 312, 314, 316 would be a between approximately 0.03 inches and approximately 0.06 inches expansion. In certain instances, the temperature change resulting in forces may be up to a 100° F. swing from manufactured temperature (e.g., room temperature) of the cladding arrangement 300. Substantially expanding the gaps 310, 312, 314, 316 would be a between approximately 0.065% of the length of horizontal rails 306, 308. The springs 318, 320, 322, 324 may act independently of one another to dampen the forces that may occur. For example, forces occurring nearest one of the springs 318, 320, 322, 324 will cause the nearest spring to absorb more force than the others of the springs 318, 320, 322, 324.
The springs 318, 320, 322, 324 being configured to mitigate expansion of the gaps 310, 312, 314, 316 assists in the maintaining the configuration or shape of the cladding arrangement 300 thereby maintaining the aesthetics of the cladding arrangement 300. A person viewing the fenestration assembly may see no discernable change in the look and shape of the fenestration assembly and cladding arrangement 300. In addition, the springs 318, 320, 322, 324 being configured to mitigate expansion of the gaps 310, 312, 314, 316 assists in the maintaining the functionality of the cladding arrangement 300.
The fenestration assembly 400 may also include a spring 404 arranged between the frame 406 and the cladding component 402. The spring 404 may be configured to mitigate movement of the cladding component 402 and the additional cladding component(s) (not shown) relative to the frame 406 in response to a force acting on the cladding component 402 and the additional cladding component(s). In certain instances, the spring 404 may absorb and dampen forces that act to move the cladding component 402 relative to the frame 406 such that a configuration of the cladding component 402 (and additional cladding component(s)) is maintained. For example, the cladding component 402 and additional cladding component(s)may include one or more gaps therebetween depending on the number of additional cladding component(s) (as shown in
In certain instances, the forces may occur from a physical push or pull) to the cladding component 402. In other instances, the forces may be due to environmental conditions on the cladding component 402 (or additional cladding component(s)). The environmental conditions, for example, may be the result of a temperature change that alters the properties of the frame 406 and the cladding component 402. The frame 406 and the cladding component 402 having different coefficients of thermal expansions cause the frame 406 and/or the cladding component 402 to react (e.g., expand, contract, shift, move) differently to temperature changes and shift the cladding component 402 (or additional cladding component(s)) relative to frame 406. The spring 404 may maintain dampen the forces that result from the temperature changes (or other forces) such that the configuration or shape of the cladding component 402 (and additional cladding component(s)) may be maintained. In addition, the spring 404 mitigates against the frame 406 bowing or otherwise changing shape. The spring 404 dampens the forces that may occur and allows for the cladding component 402 to shift relative to the frame 406 while maintaining a configuration of the cladding component 402 (and other additional cladding component(s) arranged therewith). The spring 404 may be configured to absorb up to between 15 to 30 pounds of force in response to a temperature change.
In certain instances, the spring 404 may be arranged within a portion of the frame 406. The frame 406, for example, may include a slot 410 that is cut-away from the frame 406 into which the spring 404 may be arranged. In addition, the spring 404 may be arranged within the slot 410 such that the spring is angled outwardly relative to the frame 406. The spring 404 may be configured to press the cladding component 402 outwardly from the frame 406. Portions 412, 414 of the cladding component 402 may be configured to grasp or grip the frame 406 to hold the cladding component 402 tight on and against the frame 406. The spring 404 may be arranged at an angle 416 between 10 degrees and 30 degrees outwardly relative to the frame 406. As shown in
The spring 404 being configured to mitigate expansion of the gaps between the cladding component 402 and additional cladding component(s) assists in the maintaining the configuration or shape of the cladding component 402 and additional cladding component(s) thereby maintaining the aesthetics of the cladding component 402 and additional cladding component(s) (e.g., a cladding arrangement). A person viewing the fenestration assembly may see no discernable change in the look and shape of the fenestration assembly and the cladding arrangement. In addition, the spring 404 being configured to maintain the configuration or shape of the cladding component 402 and additional cladding component(s) assists in the maintaining the functionality of the cladding arrangement. For example, the cladding component 402 and additional cladding component(s) may be used for aesthetic purposes and/or to provide a protective material layer against the infiltration of weather elements. The spring 404 mitigating against expansion of gaps within the cladding arrangement (gaps between the cladding component 402 and the additional cladding component(s) as shown in
The illustrative components shown in
The spring 504 may be configured to mitigate movement of the cladding component 502 and the additional cladding component(s) (not shown) relative to the frame 506 in response to a force acting on the cladding component 502 and the additional cladding component(s). In certain instances, the spring 504 may absorb and dampen forces that act to move the cladding component 502 (or the additional cladding component(s)) relative to the frame 506 such that a configuration of the cladding component 502 (and additional cladding component(s)) is maintained. For example, the cladding component 502 and additional cladding component(s) may include one or more gaps therebetween depending on the number of additional cladding components (as shown in
In certain instances, the forces may be due to environmental conditions (such as temperature changes). Temperature changes may cause the frame 506 and/or the cladding component 502 to react (e.g., expand, contract, shift, move) differently to temperature changes and shift the cladding component 502 (or additional cladding component(s)) relative to frame 506. The spring 504 may maintain dampen the forces that result from the temperature changes (or other forces) such that the configuration or shape of the cladding component 502 (and additional cladding component(s)) may be maintained. In addition, the spring 504 mitigates against the frame 506 bowing or otherwise changing shape. The spring 504 dampens the forces that may occur and allows for the cladding component 502 to shift relative to the frame 506 while maintaining a configuration of the cladding component 502 (and other additional cladding component(s) arranged therewith).
The illustrative components shown in
As shown in
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, while the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
This application claims priority to Provisional Application No. 62/435,215, filed Dec. 16, 2016, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20180171699 A1 | Jun 2018 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62435215 | Dec 2016 | US |