This application relates to windows. In particular, this application relates to windows, methods of assembly, and mounting of windows, especially for garage doors.
Windows are used to provide exterior light into otherwise enclosed buildings. Windows are also used to enhance the attractiveness of enclosed buildings. They can also help to prevent criminal activity by allowing for the activities within an enclosed building to be visible from the exterior through the window.
Windows on garage doors are useful for all of these reasons. There is a need for an inexpensive, quick-assembled window that can be used in, for example, garage doors.
A window assembly is provided including a plurality of frame pieces connected together to form a rectangular frame. The frame pieces are configured with appropriately provided grooves and channels to allow for a quickly-assembled window.
In one embodiment, the window assembly has first, second, third, and fourth frame pieces. Each of the frame pieces has first and second opposite ends, an inside face, and a muntin-engaging face. The inside face defines a glass-receiving groove therein. The muntin-engaging face is orthogonal to the inside face and defines a muntin-receiving channel. The frame pieces are connected together to form a rectangular frame. The frame pieces are connected together by rabbet joints, such that the glass-receiving groove of each frame piece is in communication with an adjacent glass-receiving groove. A first muntin is oriented in muntin-receiving channels of the frame pieces, and a second muntin is oriented in muntin-receiving channels of the frame pieces, such that the first and second muntins cross over to engage at a first half lap joint.
In another aspect, a garage door is provided. The garage door includes a door to selectively allow and prevent access to a garage interior. The door has at least one window assembly. The window assembly can be a type of window assembly as characterized above.
In another aspect, a method of making a window assembly is provided. The method includes providing first, second, third, and fourth frame pieces, each of the frame pieces having first and second opposite ends, an inside face, and a muntin-engaging face. The inside face defines a glass-receiving groove therein. The muntin-engaging face is orthogonal to the inside face and defines a muntin-receiving channel. The method includes connecting the first frame piece first end to the third frame piece first end with a rabbet joint. The first frame piece glass-receiving groove is arranged to be in communication with the third frame piece glass-receiving groove. The method includes connecting the first frame piece second end to the fourth frame piece first end with a rabbet joint, so that the first frame piece glass-receiving groove is in communication with the fourth frame piece glass-receiving groove. The method also includes orienting a first muntin in at least the first frame piece muntin-receiving channel. The method also includes orienting a second muntin in at least the third frame piece muntin-receiving channel to engage against the first muntin at a first half lap joint.
Reference is made to
In the embodiment of
Still in reference to
The inside face 24 of the first frame piece 18 defines a glass-receiving groove 36 therein. The glass-receiving groove 36 has a width and a depth sufficient to hold a typical pane of glass, such as a regular double strength glass or an insulated glass. Such a glass has a thickness of 0.5 inch or less. A pane of glass 38 can be seen in the exploded window assembly 16.
Still in reference to
The window assembly 16 further includes a third frame piece 62. The third frame piece 62 has a first end 64 and an opposite second end 66. The third frame piece 62 also has an outside face 68 and a muntin-engaging face 70 generally orthogonal to the outside face 68. Orthogonal to the muntin-engaging face 70 and opposite of the outside face 68 is an inside face 72. The inside face 72 has a glass-receiving groove identical to the groove shown at 36 for the first frame piece 18. The muntin-engaging face 70 defines a muntin-receiving channel 74 therein. In the embodiment shown, the muntin-receiving channel 74 is centered between the first end 64 and the second end 66. In the embodiment shown, the muntin-receiving channel 74 has a rectangular cross-section, generally matching a cross-section of muntins, described further below.
The first end 64 and second end 66 of the third frame piece 62 differs from the ends of the first frame piece 18 and second frame piece 42. While the first and second frame pieces 18, 42 have notches 32, 34, 56, 58, the third frame piece 62 has flat, flush ends 64, 66. These ends 64, 66 cooperate with the ends of the first frame piece 18 and second frame piece 42 to form rabbet joints, as described further below.
The window assembly 16 further includes a fourth frame piece 78. The fourth frame piece 78 is preferably identical to the third frame piece 62. As such, the fourth frame piece 78 includes first and second flat, flush ends 80, 82, an inside face 84, a muntin-engaging face 86, and an outside face 88. The inside face 84 defines a glass-receiving groove 90 extending between the first end 80 and the second end 82. A muntin-engaging face 86 defines a muntin-receiving channel 92, which in the embodiment shown, is centered between the first end 80 and second end 82. In the embodiment shown, the muntin-receiving channel 92 is coaxial with the muntin-receiving channel 74 of the third frame piece 62. The third frame piece 62 has a glass-receiving groove that is identical to the glass-receiving groove 90. The first, second, third, and fourth frame pieces 18, 42, 62, 78 cooperate to form a frame 112. In the embodiment shown, the frame 112 is rectangular.
Also shown in the embodiment of
The first and second muntins 94, 96 are preferably constructed identically to each other. The first muntin 94 has a first end 98 and an opposite second end 100. Centered between the first end 98 and the second end 100 is a muntin-receiving channel 102. Again, in other embodiments, the muntin-receiving channel 102 can be at a location other than centered between the first end 98 and the second end 100.
The second muntin 96 has a first end 104 and an opposite second end 106. In the embodiment shown, centered between the first end 104 and the second end 106 is a muntin-receiving channel 108. After assembly, the muntin-receiving channel 102 of the first muntin 94 engages the muntin-receiving channel 108 of the second muntin 96 to engage at a first half lap joint 110 (
As mentioned above, the first frame piece 18, second frame piece 42, third frame piece 62, and fourth frame piece 78 are connected together to form a rectangular frame 112 (
The first frame piece second end 22 is connected to the fourth frame piece first end 80 by a rabbet joint. Again, the flush first end 80 is received within the notch 34 of the first frame piece 18. The glass-receiving groove 36 of the first frame piece 18 is in communication with the fourth frame piece glass receiving groove 90.
The second frame piece first end 44 is connected to the third frame piece second end 66 by a rabbet joint 114. The rabbet joint 114 is formed by the flush second end 66 being received by the first notch 56 in the second frame piece 42. The glass-receiving groove of the second frame piece 42 is in communication with the glass-receiving groove of the third frame piece 62.
The second frame piece second end 46 is connected to the fourth frame piece second end 82 by a rabbet joint 116. In particular, the second end 82 is received by the second notch 58 of the second frame piece 42. The glass-receiving groove 90 is in communication with the glass-receiving groove of the second frame piece 42.
The window assembly 16 is formed so that the pane of glass 38 is received by and installed within the glass receiving groove of each of the frame pieces 18, 42, 62, 78. The first and second muntins 94, 96 are placed over the glass 38. In particular, the first muntin 94 is oriented in the first frame piece muntin-receiving channel 30 and the second frame piece muntin-receiving channel 54. The second muntin 96 is oriented in the third frame piece muntin-receiving channel 74 and in the fourth frame piece muntin-receiving channel 92.
The window assembly 16 is then complete and can be mounted in the garage door 12, 14. Typically, the garage door 12, 14 has a hole cut into it, and the window assembly 16 is mounted in the hole and secured to the door 12, 14 by, for example, screwing the frame pieces 18, 42, 62, 78 to the door 12, 14 with screws 140 (
The window assembly 16 can be used to retrofit a pre-existing garage door that did not already have windows (a “windowless” garage door). To retrofit an existing garage door that does not have windows, holes are cut into the garage door sized to receive the desired shaped window assembly 16. If desired, the garage door has an overlay mounted over the door for decorative purposes. The overlay can be boards, such as western red cedar boards that are nailed to the garage door. The overlay is mounted on the garage door such that it does not cover the exposed holes for receiving the window assembly 16. After the holes are cut into the door, the window assembly 16 is dropped in so that it is received by the hole. If an overlay was provided, the window assembly 16 is dropped in or placed in the hole from the side without the overlay and pressed flush against the overlay. The window assembly 16 is then secured to the garage door using, for example, screws 140 to allow for selective removal of the assembly 16 in case, for example, the glass 38 breaks.
A second embodiment is shown in
The third muntin 120 includes a first end 124 and an opposite second end 126. Centered between the first and second ends 124, 126 is a muntin-receiving channel 128.
The fourth muntin 122 includes a first end 130 and a second end 132. Centered between the first and second ends 130, 132 is a muntin-receiving channel 134.
The third muntin 120 is oriented in the first frame piece muntin-receiving channel 30 and the second frame piece muntin-receiving channel 54. Preferably, the glass pane 38 is oriented such that it is between the third muntin 120 and the first muntin 94.
The fourth muntin 122 is oriented in the third frame piece muntin-receiving channel 74 and in the fourth frame piece muntin-receiving channel 92. The glass pane 38 is between the fourth muntin 122 and the muntin 96. The third muntin 120 and the fourth muntin 122 cross over to engage at a second half lap joint 136. In the particular, the muntin-receiving channel 128 engages the muntin-receiving channel 134 so that when the third and fourth muntins 120, 122 are connected together in an overlapping fashion, the intersection is smooth and continuous. In preferred embodiments, the third muntin 120 is identical to the fourth muntin 122.
A method of making a window assembly is provided. The method includes providing first, second, third, and fourth frame pieces, such as the frame pieces 18, 42, 62, and 78 described above. The first frame piece first end 20 is connected to the third frame piece first end 64 with a rabbet joint. This is done such that the glass-receiving groove of each frame piece is in communication to be a continuous groove. The first frame piece second end 22 is connected to the fourth frame piece first end 80 with a rabbet joint. Again, the glass-receiving grooves are aligned to be in communication with each other and to be continuous. There is a step of orienting a first muntin 94 in at least the first frame piece muntin-receiving channel 30 and orienting a second muntin 96 in at least the third frame piece muntin-receiving channel 74 to engage against the first muntin 94 at the first half lap joint 110.
The method further includes a step of inserting a pane of glass, such as glass 38, into the glass-receiving grooves of the first frame piece 18, third frame piece 62, and fourth frame piece 78.
The method also includes connecting the second frame piece second end 46 to the third frame piece second end 66 with a rabbet joint. Again, the glass-receiving grooves are aligned to be in communication with each other. Next, the second frame piece second end 46 is connected to the fourth frame piece second end 82 with a rabbet joint. The glass-receiving grooves are aligned to be in communication.
In one embodiment, after the steps of orienting first and second muntins 94, 96, there is the step of inserting a pane of glass 38 into the glass-receiving grooves of the first frame piece 18, third frame piece 62, and fourth frame piece 78. After this step, a third muntin 120 is oriented in at least the first frame piece muntin-receiving channel 30 over the pane of glass 38, and a fourth muntin 122 is oriented in at least the third frame piece muntin-receiving channel 74 to engage against the third muntin 120 at a second half lap joint. In this embodiment, there is further the step of connecting the second frame piece first end 44 to the third frame piece second end 66 with a rabbet joint, the glass-receiving grooves being in communication. Further, the second frame piece second end 46 is connected to the fourth frame piece second end 82 with a rabbet joint, and the glass-receiving grooves are in communication with each other.
The assembled windows 16, 16′ can then be mounted in the garage doors 12, 14. Of course, the window assemblies 16, 16′ can be used in structures other than garage doors.
The window assemblies 16, 16′ can be made from a variety of materials, and are preferably wood, in particular, cedar. In other embodiments, the windows 16, 16′ can be made from plastic or metallic pieces, or composites.
The window assemblies 16, 16′ can be built to custom size. Typical sizes include the frame pieces being made from pieces of wood two inches in width and one inch in thickness. The dimension of each window can typically be many different sizes, for example one foot by one foot, and larger.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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954003 | Perkins | Apr 1910 | A |
4122633 | Holdiman | Oct 1978 | A |
5123211 | Schlicht et al. | Jun 1992 | A |
6035597 | Donaldson | Mar 2000 | A |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20070022698 A1 | Feb 2007 | US |