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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a frame and muntin assembly for use on thin
panels, such as windown glass, and to a panel assembly embodying such a
frame and muntin assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For centuries there have been windows with an outer frame and cross-pieces,
called muntins, which separate individual panes of glass and are
physically attached to them. Such muntins sometimes are called "true"
muntins because they physically separate adjacent panes of glass. More
recently, there have been windows with so-called "false" muntins or grids
that are either glued or painted onto a large pane of glass to make it
appear to be composed of smaller individual panes. Other expedients
intended to provide the same visual effect have been grids extending
across the inside of a large window pane and snapped in place in the outer
frame of the window, and grids extending across the outside of a large
window pane and attached to the outer frame by screws.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a novel frame and muntin assembly for
use in a window or with another thin panel for a building structure to
give the window pane or other panel the appearance of being divided into
smaller neighboring panes.
A particular advantage of the present invention is that, when in place on
the outer frame, the muntins are flush with the exposed surfaces of the
frame.
Another advantage is that the outer frame has elongated grooves which
enable the muntins to be positioned in a great variety of different ways
extending across the window pane or other panel but without permitting air
or water leakage through the frame. Another advantage is that the muntins
are removable and interchangeable with other muntins.
Preferably, the present invention has a frame composed of substantially
rigid frame members interconnected to extend around the window pane or
other panel along its periphery. Each frame member has an outwardly
protruding segment with an exposed first surface, a narrow blind groove
which is open along the inside of this exposed surface, and an inwardly
protruding segment extending inward from and offset behind the outwardly
protruding segment. In use, the inwardly protruding segments of the frame
members engage the front of a window pane or other thin panel along its
periphery and the blind grooves in the frame members extend outside the
periphery of the window pane or other panel. Muntins extend across the
frame in front of the inwardly protruding segments of the frame members.
The exposed front faces of the muntins are flush with the exposed front
surfaces of the outwardly protruding segments of the frame members.
Fasteners are received in the grooves in the frame members to hold the
opposite ends of the muntins in place on the frame. Since there is only
one light, glass replacement is easy and leakage is minimized.
A principal object of this invention is to provide a novel frame and muntin
assembly for use in window or with another relatively thin panel for a
building structure.
Another principal object of this invention is to provide a novel panel
assembly for use on a building structure having such a frame and muntin
assembly.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the
following detailed description of several presently preferred embodiments,
shown in the accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing the outside of a semi-circular,
single-glazed, picture window assembly embodying the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view shownin the sill and the
middle muntin in this picture window assembly;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the outside of one end of
the middle muntin in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a similar view showing the inner side of this muntin;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal longitudinal section taken along the
line 5--5 in FIG. 1 where the middle muntin is attached to the head of the
window frame;
FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-section taken along the line 6--6 in FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a view like FIG. 6 but showing a second embodiment of the
invention in a double-glazed window;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the spacers between the
two panes of glass in FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a muntin anchor, which may be used in place
of a sheet metal screw to hold the muntin in each frame piece of the
window assembly; and
FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 6 and showing a window assembly with
muntin anchors as shown in FIG. 9.
Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in
detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its
application to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the
invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used
herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to FIG. 1, in broad outline the picture window assembly shown
there has a single semi-circular pane of glass 15 held in a frame having a
straight horizontally elongated sill 19 along the bottom and a
semi-circular elongated head 20 along the top. The head 20 extends between
and is rigidly attached to the opposite ends of the sill 19. On the
outside, or front, of the window assembly the pane of glass is covered by
three muntins or grids 21, 22 and 23 extending between sill 19 and head
20. The middle muntin 22 extends perpendicularly from the midpoint of sill
19 to the midpoint of head 20. The left and right muntins 21 and 23 extend
from sill 19 on opposite sides of the middle muntin 22 to the head 20,
making opposite 45 degree angles with the sill 19. From the outside, or
front, of the window assembly the muntins seem to divide the single pane
of glass 15 into four sectors of almost 45 degrees each.
FIG. 6 shows the cross-sectional shape of the sill 19 and of the head 20
along the entire length of each except where they are attached to one
another. They have the same cross-section but facing in opposite
directions so that each is a mirror image of the other.
Sill 19 has a flat horizontal cross wall 24, a front flange 25 on the
outside extending perpendicularly down from cross wall 24 at its front
edge, a rear flange 26 on the inner side extending perpendicularly down
from cross wall 24 at its rear edge, and a middle flange 27 extending
perpendicularly down from cross wall 24 midway between the front and rear
flanges 25 and 26. The rear flange 26 is shorter vertically than the front
flange 24. In the particular embodiment shown, the middle flange 27 has
the same vertical dimension as the rear flange 26. However, the middle
flange 27 may have a greater vertical dimension (i.e., perpendicular to
the cross wall 24) than the front flange 25, if desired.
Sill 19 also has a short upstanding segment 28, which extends
perpendicularly up from its cross wall 24 about midway between its front
and middle flanges 25 and 27. An upper horizontal wall 29 is joined to
segment 28 at the top and extends in front of and behind it parallel to
the cross wall 24. An upper outside wall 30 extends perpendicularly up
from wall 29 at its front edge. Wall 30 is offset a predetermined distance
rearward from the front flange 25. The upper outside wall 30 has
horizontal grooves 31 in its back face. The upper horizontal wall 29 has a
rearwardly depending, vertically short lip 32 along its back edge which
presents a forwardly-facing internal shoulder 33 extending perpendicular
to the bottom face of wall 29.
In the window assembly, as best seen in FIG. 6, the front flange 25 of sill
19 is an outwardly protruding segment that is positioned outside the
periphery of the window pane 15 and it presents an exposed front face
offset in front of the window pane.
In cross-section the head 20 of the frame is a mirror image of sill 19.
Corresponding elements of head 20 are given the same reference numerals as
those of sill 19 but with an "a" suffix added. Head 20 differs from sill
19 in that its cross wall 24a and its lower wall 29a are both
substantially half-cylinders, its front, rear and middle flanges 25a, 26a
and 27a extend radially out from cross wall 24a, its segment 28a extends
radially in from cross wall 24a, and its lower outside wall 30a extends
radially in from its lower wall 29a .
As shown in FIG. 2, the sill 19 of the frame has a horizontally elongated,
vertically narrow, continuous blind groove 34 on the outside between its
upper horizontal wall 29 and its cross wall 24 and in front of its
upstanding segment 28. Groove 34 is open along the front of the sill
immediately above its front flange 25 for its entire length between the
opposite ends of head 20.
As best seen in FIG. 6, the upper outside wall 30 of sill 19 is an inwardly
protruding segment that extends inward from groove 34 and is offset behind
the front flange 25 by the front-to-back thickness of each muntin 21, 22
or 23.
Similarly, the head 20 of the frame has an elongated, vertically narrow,
continuous, blind groove 34a on the outside extending in a semi-circle
immediately below its upstanding front flange 25a. Groove 34a is located
between the cross wall 24a and lower wall 29a and in front of segment 28a
of head 20.
Again referring to FIG. 6, a retainer member in the form of a glazing bead
35 is mounted on the sill 19 of the frame to hold the pane of glass 15
against the grooved back face of the upper outside wall 30 of the sill.
Preferably, this glazing bead is a long polyvinyl chloride extrusion. The
glazing bead has a flat bottom segment 36 directly overlying the cross
wall 24 behind the upstanding segment 28 of sill 19. An upwardly and
rearwardly inclined, tapered lip 37 on the glazing bead extends up from
the front edge of its bottom segment 36 into engagement with the internal
shoulder 33 at lip 32 on sill 19. The glazing bead has a relatively thick,
rigid, back wall 38 extending up from its bottom segment 36 behind lip 32
on the sill, engaging the rear surface of that lip when the lip 37 of the
glazing bead engages the internal shoulder 33 of the sill. The glazing
bead has a flexible and resilient lip 39 which is inclined upward and
forward from the upper end of the back wall 38 and engages the rear face
of the window glass pane 15 in FIG. 6 at the level of the top edge of the
upper front wall 30 of sill 19.
The head 20 of the frame supports a glazing bead 35a which is a mirror
image of the glazing bead 35 on sill 19 except that it curves
semi-circularly lengthwise in accordance with the curvature of head 20.
Elements of the head's glazing bead 35a which correspond to those of the
sill's glazing bead 35 have the same reference numerals but with an "a"
suffix.
Except at the ends, each muntin 21, 22 and 23 in the window assembly has a
rectangular cross-section, with flat front and rear faces and thinner flat
end faces. As shown in FIG. 6 for the middle muntin 22, the flat rear face
R of each muntin engages the flat front face of the upper outside wall 30
of the sill 19 and the corresponding lower outside wall 30a of the head 20
of the window frame. The front-to-back thickness of each muntin is equal
to the distance that the front face of the front flange 25 of sill 19 is
offset in front of the front face of its upper outside wall 30, and equal
to the distance that the front face of the front flange 25a of head 20 is
offset in front of the front face of its lower outside wall 30a.
Therefore, the flat front face F of each muntin 21, 22 and 23 is coplanar
with the exposed front faces of the front flanges 25 and 25a of sill 19
and head 20 of the window frame. Thus, on the outside (or front) of the
window assembly all the exposed surfaces of the window frame and the
muntins are co-planar.
As shown in FIG. 6 for the middle muntin 22, each muntin is held in place
on the frame by a lower sheet metal screw 40, which is screw-threadedly
received in the front groove 34 of sill 19, and an upper sheet metal screw
40a, screw-threadedly received in the front groove 34a of head 20. As
shown in FIG. 2 for the middle muntin 22, the lower end of each muntin has
a U-shaped recess 41 for passing the lower screw 40. Also, each muntin has
a similar recess in its upper end for passing the upper screw 40a.
As shown in FIGS. 3-5 for the middle muntin 22, near each end the muntin is
formed with narrow slits 42 and 43 extending in from its opposite end
edges toward the u-shaped recess 41. Between each of these slits and its
adjacent end, the muntin is bent rearward to provide tabs 44 and 45 which
project behind the flat rear face R (FIG. 4) of the muntin. As shown in
FIG. 5 for the upper end of the middle muntin 22, its tabs 44 and 45
project into the front groove 34a in the head 20 of the window frame.
Likewise, the corresponding tabs on the lower end of the muntin project
into the front groove 34 on the sill 19 of the window frame. The same is
true of the tabs on each end of each of the other muntins 21 and 23.
As is clear from FIG. 1, the lower end face of the left muntin 21 (on
opposite sides of its groove 41 there) extends at a 45 degree angle to the
longitudinal axis of this muntin so that when this muntin is in place its
lower end face rests on the cross wall 24 of sill 19 in front of its upper
front wall 30. This is also true of the right muntin 23. Each of the left
and right muntins 21 and 23 has a short vertical, beveled inner edge that
directly engages the adjacent end edge of the middle muntin 22, so that
the lower screws 40 for the three muntins are as close to each other as
practicable.
In this window assembly, the front flange 25 of sill 19 and the front
flange 25a of head 20 are outwardly protruding segments of the frame which
are positioned outside the periphery of the window pane 15 and are offset
in front of the window pane. The upper outside wall 30 of sill 19 and the
lower outside wall 30a of frame 20 are segments of the frame that are
offset behind its outwardly protruding segments 25 and 25a and are engaged
on the front by the muntins 21, 22 and 23 and engaged on the back by the
front face of window pane 15.
With this arrangement, the muntins 21, 22 and 23 combine with the sill 19
and head 20 of the frame to present an aesthetically pleasing appearance
because all of these parts are coplanar on the outside of the window
assembly. At the same time, there is no air or water leakage through the
frame because of the presence of the wall 28 in its sill 19 and the wall
28a in its head 20 behind their respective longitudinal grooves 34 and 34a
which extend along the outside or front of the frame. Because these
grooves are continuous, they make it possible to position muntins at any
desired locations along the grooves, thus enabling a great variety of
geometric designs to be obtained. For example, if desired, in FIG. 1 all
three muntins 21, 22, 23 could extend perpendicular to the sill 19 at
selected locations along it. It is to be understood that the frame may
have a shape different from the semi-circular shape shown in FIG. 1--for
example, a full circle, a quarter circle or various polygons with equal or
unequal sides.
Also, it is to be understood that the present frame and muntin assembly may
be used on a relatively thin panel other than a window pane, for example,
an awning.
FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the invention in which the window
assembly has two panes of glass. Elements of this embodiment which are
identical to elements of the first embodiment are given the same reference
numerals, plus 100, as those in FIGS. 1-6. The detailed description of
these elements will not be repeated.
In FIG. 7 a second pane of glass 50 is positioned inside, or behind, the
first pane of glass 115. A straight, elongated, hollow spacer 51 is
engaged between the rear of the outside pane 115 and the front of the
inside pane 50 a short distance above the upper horizontal wall 129 of the
sill 119 of the frame. An elongated, arcuate, hollow spacer 51a is
similarly engaged between two panes of glass near the head 120 of the
frame.
The glazing bead 135 at the sill 119 differs from the glazing bead 35 in
FIGS. 1-6 in that it has a back wall 52 of greater vertical extent than
the back wall 38 of glazing bead 35. This back wall 52 has several
forwardly-porjecting longitudinal ribs 53, separated by grooves 54, which
engage the rear or inside face of the inner pane of glass 50.
The glazing bead 135a at the head 120 of the frame is a mirror image of
bead 135 except that it extends lengthwise in an arc to match the
curvature of head 120.
FIG. 10 shows a third embodiment of the invention which is identical to the
first embodiment (FIGS. 1-6) except that the screws 40 and 40a are
replaced by plastic anchors as shown in FIG. 9 and the sill and head of
the frame have a slightly modified construction to fit these anchors.
Elements in FIG. 10 which correspond to those in FIGS. 1-6 are given the
same reference numerals plus 200.
Each anchor has a flat outer wall 60 with a U-shaped peripheral edge 61, a
smaller body segment 62 with a U-shaped peripheral edge 63 joined to the
back of outer wall 60, a substantially straight leg 64 extending
rearwardly from body segment 62 at its lower end and perpendicular to the
outer wall 60, and a flexible and resilient lip 65 which is inclined
upward and forward from the end of leg 64 remote from the outer wall 60.
As shown in FIG. 10, the body segment 62 of the anchor has a snug sliding
fit in the end recess 241 in the corresponding muntin 222 (which
corresponds to the recess 41 in the end of the muntin in FIGS. 2, 3 and
4). Around this end recess in the muntin, the outer wall 60 of the anchor
engages the outer or front face of the muntin.
The cross wall 224 of sill 219 has a tapered recess or groove 66 on the
bottom and it presents a rearwardly-facing, vertically short, internal
shoulder 67 which is coplanar with the back face of the outside wall 230
of the sill. The lip 65 on the anchor fits snugly in this groove and
engages internal shoulder 67 of the sill.
At the head 220 of the frame, the muntins are held in place by anchors
which are mirror images of the anchor shown in FIG. 9. These anchors have
the same reference numerals with an "a" suffix added. The head 220 has a
tapered recess or groove 66a and an internal shoulder 67a which are mirror
images of recess 66 and shoulder 67 on the sill 219.
From the foregoing, it will be evident that the muntin fastensers, either
the screws or the plastic anchors shown in FIG. 9, can be inserted into
the blind grooves in the frame anywhere along those grooves without the
necessity of providing drilled holes in the frame to receive them. Also,
these fasteners are readily removable from the frame to enable the muntins
to be detached from the frame, when desired. The muntins are
interchangeable with other muntins. The muntins can be of various shapes,
and they may have decoration on their surface if desired. The panels may
be operable if desired.
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