Granted Patent B2

US 8,840,333 · App. 13/724,188 · Granted Sep 23, 2014

Abstract

Claims (30)

1. A window frame having a rear face and a front face, the window frame comprising:

a first member including a cavity extending from an opening in a rear face of the first frame member toward a front face of the first frame member;

a second frame member including a cavity extending from an opening in a rear face of the second frame member toward a front face of the second frame member;

wherein the opening in the first frame member and the opening in the second frame member are not in the same plane; and

a first neck opening through a side of the first frame head cavity; and

at least one frame joint connector connecting the first frame member and the second frame member, the at least one frame joint connector comprising;

a first head having a first axial length;

a second head having a second axial length greater than the first axial length; and

a neck interconnecting the first head and the second head, wherein the first head forms a first shoulder adjacent the neck facing the second head, wherein the second head forms a second shoulder adjacent the neck facing the first head, wherein the first head is within the first head cavity, wherein the second head is within the second head cavity and wherein the neck extends through the first neck opening and the second neck opening to connect the first frame member and the second frame member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a frame having a front face and a rear face, the frame comprising:

a first frame member comprising:

a first head cavity extending from the rear face toward the front face; and

a first neck opening through a side of the first head cavity;

a second frame member comprising:

a second head cavity extending from the rear face toward the front face; and

a second neck opening through a side of the second head cavity;

wherein the first head of the frame joint connector is within the first head cavity, wherein the second head of the frame joint connector is within the second head cavity and wherein the neck extends through the first neck opening and the second neck opening to connect the first frame member and the second frame member;

wherein the first head cavity has a first opening in a first rear surface and wherein the second head cavity has a second opening in a second rear surface offset from the first rear surface in a direction towards the front face of the frame, the first rear surface and the second rear surface being in different planes.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first head has a first axial length and wherein the second head has a second axial length greater than the first axial length.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first head cavity has a first opening in a first rear surface and wherein the second head cavity has a second opening in a second rear surface extending in a same plane as the first rear surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein a majority the first head cavity is cylindrical and wherein a majority of the second head cavity is cylindrical.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein a majority the first head is cylindrical and wherein a majority the second head is cylindrical.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first head includes a flared rim overlying an edge of the first head cavity.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first head cavity and the second head cavity terminate prior to the front face of the frame.

9. The window frame of claim 1 , wherein a majority the first head cavity is cylindrical, wherein a majority of the second head cavity is cylindrical, wherein a majority the first head is cylindrical and wherein a majority the second head is cylindrical.

10. The window frame of claim 1 , wherein the first head includes a flared rim overlying an edge of the first head cavity.

11. The window frame of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first head and the second head form one of an alphanumeric symbol and a logo.

12. The window frame of claim 1 , wherein the distance between the first shoulder and the second shoulder is slightly less than the distance between a corresponding interior surface of the first cavity and an interior surface of the second cavity.

13. The window frame of claim 1 , wherein the first head cavity and the second head cavity terminate prior to the front face of the frame.

Assignments (9)