IP Library Granted Patent US 47,919
Granted Patent E1
US 47,919 · App. 16/023,549 · Granted Mar 31, 2020

Secure corner assembly for high-strength windows

Inventors: Kenneth John Vanderbent, Jr. (Bradenton, FL); Samuel Ray Bryant (Englewood, FL); Arlin James Beechy (Sarasota, FL); Michael Dietmar Nau (North Port, FL)
Assignee: PGT Industries, Inc.
E06B3/5063E06B3/9641E06B3/9648E06B3/9688
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 47,919
App. No.
16/023,549
Granted
Mar 31, 2020
Kind
E1
Abstract

Windows and secure corner assemblies are generally described. The windows may include a sash having stiles arranged on vertical sides thereof and rails arranged on horizontal sides thereof. Primary reinforcement members may be arranged within the stiles. Secure corner assemblies may be configured to be arranged within corners of the sash formed by intersections of the stiles and the rails. The secure corner assemblies may include at least one secondary reinforcement member arranged on an external surface of one of the rails, such as a top rail. A tilt mechanism may be configured to be coupled to a primary reinforcement member and the at least one secondary reinforcement member, thereby providing a continuous reinforcement connection around the window sash. Vinyl windows using corner assemblies according to some embodiments may have increased pressure ratings compared to vinyl windows that do not include such corner assemblies.

Claims (66)

1. A window, comprising:

at least one sash comprising two stiles arranged on opposing vertical sides of the sash and two rails arranged on opposing horizontal sides of the sash, wherein four corners are formed by intersections of each of the two stiles with each of the two rails;

two primary reinforcement members, each of the two primary reinforcement members being arranged within one of the two stiles; and

a plurality of secure corner assemblies comprising:

at least one secondary reinforcement member coupled to one of the two rails, the at least one secondary reinforcement member being arranged along an external perimeter surface of the one of the two rails, and

a tilt latch assembly being arranged within one of the four corners, the tilt latch assembly comprising a vertical component coupled to one of the two primary reinforcement members, and a horizontal component coupled to the at least one secondary reinforcement member.

2. The window of claim 1 , wherein the two stiles and the two rails are formed from vinyl.

3. The window of claim 1 , wherein each of the two primary reinforcement members is formed from aluminum.

4. The window of claim 1 , wherein the at least one secondary reinforcement member is formed from aluminum.

5. The window of claim 1 , wherein the tilt latch assembly is formed from at least one of a nylon polymer material and a zinc material.

6. The window of claim 1 , further comprising a cap configured to enclose the at least one secondary reinforcement member.

7. The window of claim 1 , further comprising:

a resilient member arranged on the vertical component; and

a tensioning mechanism configured to provide a tensioned joint between the tilt latch assembly and the at least one secondary reinforcement member.

8. The window of claim 1 , wherein the two stiles and the two rails are formed from vinyl, and the window has a pressure rating of greater than 80 lbs/ft 2 .

9. A secure corner assembly for reinforcing a window, the secure corner assembly comprising:

at least one secondary reinforcement member coupled to a perimeter surface of a rail of the sash of the window, and

a tilt latch assembly configured to be arranged within a corner of the window, the tilt latch assembly comprising:

a vertical component configured to be coupled to a primary reinforcement member arranged within a stile of the sash, and

a horizontal component configured to be coupled to the at least one secondary reinforcement member.

10. The secure corner assembly of claim 9 , wherein the at least one secondary reinforcement member is formed from aluminum.

11. The secure corner assembly of claim 9 , wherein the tilt latch assembly is formed from at least one of a nylon polymer material and a zinc material.

12. The secure corner assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a cap configured to enclose the at least one secondary reinforcement member.

13. The secure corner assembly of claim 9 , further comprising:

a resilient member arranged on the vertical component; and

a tensioning mechanism configured to provide a tensioned joint between the tilt latch assembly and the at least one secondary reinforcement member.

14. A method of manufacturing a window, the method comprising:

providing at least one sash comprising two stiles arranged on opposing vertical sides of the sash and two rails arranged on opposing horizontal sides of the sash, wherein four corners are formed by intersections of each of the two stiles with each of the two rails;

arranging each of two primary reinforcement members within one of the two stiles; and

providing a plurality of secure corner assemblies comprising:

at least one secondary reinforcement member coupled to one of the two rails, the at least one secondary reinforcement member being arranged along an external perimeter surface of the one of the two rails, and

a tilt latch assembly being arranged within one of the four corners, the tilt latch assembly comprising a vertical component coupled to one of the two primary reinforcement members, and a horizontal component coupled to the at least one secondary reinforcement member.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the two stiles and the two rails are formed from vinyl.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein each of the two primary reinforcement members is formed from aluminum.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least one secondary reinforcement member is formed from aluminum.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the tilt latch assembly is formed from at least one of a nylon polymer material and a zinc material.

19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising providing a cap configured to enclose the at least one secondary reinforcement member.

20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

forming a resilient member arranged on the vertical component; and

providing a tensioning mechanism configured to provide a tensioned joint with the resilient member between the tilt latch assembly and the at least one secondary reinforcement member.

21. A window comprising:

a sash comprising two stiles arranged on opposing vertical sides of the sash and two rails arranged on opposing horizontal sides of the sash, wherein four corners are formed by intersections of each of the two stiles with each of the two rails;

a primary reinforcement member arranged within one of the two stiles; and

a secondary reinforcement member coupled to one of the two rails, the secondary reinforcement member coupled to the primary reinforcement member at a first corner of the four corners; and

wherein the secondary reinforcement member is arranged along an external perimeter surface of the one of the two rails.

22. The window of claim 21, wherein:

the primary reinforcement member is a first primary reinforcement member;

the window further comprises a second primary reinforcement member arranged within a second of the two stiles; and

the secondary reinforcement member is coupled to the second primary reinforcement member at a second corner of the four corners.

23. The window of claim 21, further comprising a tilt latch assembly arranged within the one of the four corners, the tilt latch assembly coupling the primary reinforcement member to the secondary reinforcement member.

24. The window of claim 23, wherein the tilt latch assembly comprises:

a vertical component coupled to the primary reinforcement member; and

a horizontal component coupled to the secondary reinforcement member.

25. The window of claim 21, wherein the two stiles and the two rails are formed from vinyl.

26. The window of claim 25, wherein the window has a pressure rating of greater than 80 lbs/ft 2 .

27. The window of claim 21, wherein the primary reinforcement member and the secondary reinforcement member are formed from aluminum.

28. The window of claim 21, wherein the secondary reinforcement member extends substantially along a length of the one of the two rails, and wherein the primary reinforcement member extends substantially along a length of the one of the two stiles.

29. The window of claim 21, wherein the primary reinforcement member extends in a vertical direction, and wherein the secondary reinforcement member extends in a horizontal direction.

30. A window comprising:

a sash comprising two stiles arranged on opposing vertical sides of the sash and two rails arranged on opposing horizontal sides of the sash, wherein four corners are formed by intersections of each of the two stiles with each of the two rails;

a primary reinforcement member arranged within one of the two stiles;

a tilt latch assembly arranged within one of the four corners, the tilt latch assembly coupled to the primary reinforcement member; and

a secondary reinforcement member coupled to one of the two rails and arranged along an external perimeter surface of the one of the two rails.

31. The window of claim 30, wherein the two stiles and the two rails are formed from vinyl and wherein the primary reinforcement member is formed from aluminum.

32. The window of claim 30, wherein the tilt latch assembly comprises a vertical component coupled to the primary reinforcement member.

33. The window of claim 30, wherein the primary reinforcement member extends in a vertical direction.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE (REEL 050897 / FRAME 0075) Recorded Apr 3, 2024
From: TRUIST BANK (AS SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO SUNTRUST BANK)
To: PGT INNOVATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 067000/0709 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Apr 2, 2024
From: CGI WINDOWS AND DOORS, LLC; MDM UTAH, LLC; PGT INDUSTRIES, LLC; PGT INNOVATIONS, LLC; WWS ACQUISITION, LLC; WESTERN WINDOW HOLDING, LLC
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066974/0256 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM) Recorded Apr 2, 2024
From: CGI WINDOWS AND DOORS, LLC; MDM UTAH, LLC; PGT INDUSTRIES, LLC; PGT INNOVATIONS, LLC; WWS ACQUISITION, LLC; WESTERN WINDOW HOLDING, LLC
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066975/0062 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Mar 29, 2024
From: PGT INNOVATIONS, LLC; WESTERN WINDOW HOLDING, LLC; MDM UTAH, LLC; PGT INDUSTRIES, LLC; CGI WINDOWS AND DOORS, LLC; WWS ACQUISITION, LLC
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066953/0070 →
ENTITY CONVERSION AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 28, 2024
From: PGT INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: PGT INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 066946/0145 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 31, 2019
From: PGT INNOVATIONS, INC.
To: SUNTRUST BANK
Reel/Frame 050897/0075 →
Continuity (2)
Reissue 15046229 · Feb 17, 2016
Provisional Application 62117424 · Feb 17, 2015