IP Library Granted Patent US 11,326,391
Granted Patent B2
US 11,326,391 · App. 17/102,089 · Granted May 10, 2022

Window assembly

Inventor: Michael Luvison (Cuyahoga Falls, OH)
Assignee: Associated Materials, LLC
E06B3/9684E06B3/20E06B3/5409E06B3/5481E06B3/5821E06B3/9641E06B3/9644
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 11,326,391
App. No.
17/102,089
Granted
May 10, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A polymer window assembly includes a polymer window frame with a pair of jambs and a sill, and a glass unit carried by the window frame. A pair of brackets are attached to the jambs proximate corners between the jambs and the sill. Each bracket has an upright member, a horizontal member orthogonal to the upright member and a hook attached to a rear surface of the upright member. The brackets attach to the jambs so that the hook extends through a hole in the jamb, the upright member is adjacent a surface of the jamb and the horizontal member is disposed above (e.g., spaced above) the sill. The brackets support and transfer the weight of the glass unit to the jambs to inhibit (e.g., prevent) the sill from bearing the load of the glass unit, thereby inhibiting (e.g., preventing) the crushing or bowing of the sill by the glass unit and thereby inhibiting (e.g., preventing) the formation of gaps in the window assembly that allow for air and/or water infiltration through the window assembly.

Claims (34)

1. A window assembly, comprising:

a polymer window frame having a pair of jambs and a sill extending between and interconnecting the pair of jambs at a pair of corners of the window frame;

a glass unit carried by the window frame; and

a pair of brackets attached to the jambs proximate the pair of corners, each bracket comprising:

an upright member,

a horizontal member substantially orthogonal to the upright member, and

a hook attached to a rear surface of the upright member,

wherein each of the brackets attaches to one of the jambs so that the hook extends through a hole in the jamb, the upright member is adjacent a surface of the jamb and the horizontal member is spaced above the sill, the brackets configured to support and transfer a weight of the glass unit to the jambs to suspend the glass unit relative to the sill, thereby inhibiting the sill from bearing an entire weight of the glass unit.

2. The window assembly of claim 1 , wherein the brackets suspend the glass unit above the sill so that a gap is defined between the horizontal member of the brackets and the sill.

3. The window assembly of claim 2 , wherein the gap is approximately 1/16 inch.

4. The window assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hook extends at an acute angle relative to a rear surface of the upright member.

5. The window assembly of claim 1 , wherein the horizontal member has a length of approximately 1 inch.

6. The window assembly of claim 1 , wherein the horizontal member has a width of between about ¼ inch and about 1 ½ inch.

7. The window assembly of claim 1 , wherein the window frame is made of vinyl.

8. The window assembly of claim 1 , wherein the brackets are made of vinyl.

9. The window assembly of claim 1 , wherein the brackets can support a load of up to approximately 350 lbs.

10. The window assembly of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the horizontal member and the upright member of the brackets have a thickness of approximately ⅛ inch.

11. A window assembly, comprising:

a window frame having a pair of jambs and a sill extending between and interconnecting the pair of jambs at a pair of corners of the window frame;

a glass unit carried by the window frame; and

one or more brackets attached to the jambs proximate the pair of corners, each bracket comprising:

an upright member,

a horizontal member substantially orthogonal to the upright member, and

a hook attached to a rear surface of the upright member,

wherein each of the brackets attaches to one of the jambs so that the hook extends through a hole in the jamb, the upright member is adjacent a surface of the jamb and the horizontal member is spaced above the sill, the brackets configured to support and transfer a weight of the glass unit to the jambs to suspend the glass unit relative to the sill, thereby inhibiting the sill from bearing an entire weight of the glass unit.

12. The window assembly of claim 11 , wherein the brackets suspend the glass unit above the sill so that a gap is defined between the horizontal member of the brackets and the sill.

13. The window assembly of claim 12 , wherein the gap is approximately 1/16 inch.

14. The window assembly of claim 11 , wherein the hook extends at an acute angle relative to a rear surface of the upright member.

15. The window assembly of claim 11 , wherein the horizontal member has a length of approximately 1 inch.

16. The window assembly of claim 11 , wherein the horizontal member has a width of between about ¼ inch and about 1 ½ inch.

17. The window assembly of claim 11 , wherein the window frame is made of vinyl.

18. The window assembly of claim 11 , wherein the brackets are made of vinyl.

19. The window assembly of claim 11 , wherein the brackets can support a load of up to approximately 350 lbs.

20. The window assembly of claim 11 , wherein one or both of the horizontal member and the upright member of the brackets have a thickness of approximately ⅛ inch.

Assignments (4)
PATENT SECURITY INTEREST ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT Recorded May 31, 2023
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 063815/0536 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2022
From: ASSOCIATED MATERIALS, LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 059246/0606 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2022
From: ASSOCIATED MATERIALS, LLC
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 059246/0619 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 23, 2020
From: LUVISON, MICHAEL
To: ASSOCIATED MATERIALS, LLC
Reel/Frame 054449/0955 →
Cited By (2)
US 12,460,457 US 12,577,828