Window and Trim Assembly and Method
An improved window and trim assembly that facilitates quick and easy installation of a trim assembly on a window includes a window or door unit having a casing that defines a plurality of clip receiving grooves, a plurality of resilient clips receivable in the clip receiving grooves, and a pre-assembled trim cover retained on the window or door unit by the resilient clips. Attachment of the exterior trim cover to the window or door unit involves inserting clips into the grooves and pushing the cover onto the window or door unit until features on the trim cover engage the clips.
1 . A window or door and exterior trim assembly, comprising:
a window or door unit having a casing defining a plurality of clip receiving grooves;
a plurality of resilient clips received in the clip receiving grooves; and
a trim cover retained on the window unit by the resilient clips.
2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the resilient clips are comprised of a plastic material.
3 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the resilient clips are comprised of polyvinyl chloride.
4 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clips have a resilient compressible configuration that allows compressive flexing of the clip during attachment of the trim cover and resilient decompression thereafter to lock the trim cover onto the window or door unit after it has been fully inserted onto the window unit.
5 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein each clip receiving groove defines serrations that facilitate insertion of a foot of a resilient clip into the groove and resists withdrawal of the foot from the groove.
6 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein each resilient clip has a generally V-shaped profile including an inner leg and an outer leg connected at a vertex, an inner foot extending inwardly toward the window or door and partially back along the inner leg toward the vertex, and an outer foot extending generally at an acute angle away from the outer leg toward a landing on the trim cover.
7 . The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the inner foot includes a barb that engages a serration defined in the groove of the window or door unit.
8 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the trim cover is an exterior trim cover.
9 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the trim cover is made of aluminum.
10 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the window or door unit includes nailing fins projecting from the casing to facilitate securement of the window or door unit to building structure.
11 . A method of trimming a building window or door, comprising steps of:
providing a window or door unit having a casing defining clip receiving grooves;
inserting resilient clips into the clip receiving grooves; and
retaining a trim cover on the window or door unit by employment of an interference connection between the clips and the trim cover.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the resilient clips are comprised of a plastic material.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the resilient clips are comprised of polyvinyl chloride.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the clips have a resilient compressible configuration that allows compressive flexing of the clip during attachment of the trim cover and resilient decompression thereafter to lock the trim cover onto the window or door unit after it has been fully inserted onto the window unit.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein each clip receiving groove defines serrations that facilitate insertion of a foot of a resilient clip into the groove and resists withdrawal of the foot from the groove.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein each resilient clip has a generally V-shaped profile including an inner leg and an outer leg connected at a vertex, an inner foot extending inwardly toward the window or door and partially back along the inner leg toward the vertex, and an outer foot extending generally at an acute angle away from the outer leg toward a landing on the trim cover.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the inner foot includes a barb that engages a serration defined in the groove of the window or door unit.
18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the trim cover is an exterior trim cover.
19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the trim cover is made of aluminum.
20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the window or door unit includes nailing fins projecting from the casing to facilitate securement of the window or door unit to building structure.