IP Library Granted Patent US 8,621,794
Granted Patent B2
US 8,621,794 · App. 13/764,198 · Granted Jan 7, 2014

Reinforced mull post assembly

Inventors: Pao Yu An (Tustin, CA); Sungtse “Albert” Lin (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA); MingYong Tong (Wukang Town, CN)
Assignee: Plastpro 2000, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,621,794
App. No.
13/764,198
Granted
Jan 7, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A composite reinforced mull post is disclosed for use in an entryway assembly. The mull post may engage a door on one side and a side light window on the other side. The mull post may comprise a one or two piece outer portion and one or more internal reinforcing members. The outer portion may comprise a plurality of interlocking pieces. The pieces may include a stop portion and a support portion, each with interlocking ribs. A first internal reinforcing member may be formed of engineered material such as a wood laminate, and a second reinforcing member may comprise a channel that extends partially around the first reinforcing member. The reinforcing member may include orthogonal portions conterminously received within a correspondingly shaped central chamber formed by the housing formed by the joined interlocking pieces.

Claims (22)

1. A reinforced mull post, comprising:

a stop component including a first stop and a second stop that are spaced apart from one another, the first stop including a first flange disposed along its length, and the second stop including a second stop disposed along its length;

a support component including a first support face and a second support face that are spaced apart from one another, the first support face including a third flange configured to engage the first flange of the stop component, and the second support face including a fourth flange configured to engage the second flange of the stop component; and

a reinforcing member sized and configured to be received within a cavity defined by the stop component and the support component when the stop component is joined to the support component.

2. The reinforced mull post of claim 1 , wherein the first flange defines a first recess that is sized and configured to receive a first rib extending from the third flange, and wherein the second flange defines a second recess that is sized and configured to receive a second rib extending from the fourth flange.

3. The reinforced mull post of claim 1 , wherein the cavity includes a transverse void section and a longitudinal void section when the stop component is joined to the support component.

4. The reinforced mull post of claim 3 , wherein the reinforcing member includes a transverse portion that is sized and configured to be received within the transverse void section and a longitudinal portion that is sized and configured to be received within the longitudinal void section.

5. A reinforced mull post assembly, comprising:

a housing defining a cavity including a transverse void section and a longitudinal void section, the housing including

a stop component comprising a first stop and a second stop that are spaced apart from one another, the first stop including a first flange disposed along its length, and the second stop including a second stop disposed along its length, and

a support component comprising a first support face and a second support face that are spaced apart from one another, the first support face including a third flange that engages the first flange of the stop component, and the second support face including a fourth flange that engages the second flange of the stop component; and

a reinforcing member disposed within the cavity defined by the housing.

6. The reinforced mull post assembly of claim 5 , wherein the reinforcing member includes a transverse portion disposed within the transverse void section and a longitudinal portion disposed within the longitudinal void section.

7. The reinforced mull post assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first flange defines a first recess that receives a first rib extending from the third flange, and the second flange defines a second recess that receives a second rib extending from the fourth flange.

8. The reinforced mull post assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first stop is spaced apart from an exterior surface of the first support face to define a first slot therebetween, and wherein the second stop is spaced apart from an exterior surface of the second support face to define a second slot therebetween.

9. The reinforced mull post assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first support face and the second support face each include a respective ridge outwardly extending therefrom.

10. The reinforced mull post assembly of claim 5 , wherein the reinforcing member includes one of engineered wood and laminated veneer lumber.

11. The reinforced mull post assembly of claim 5 , wherein the reinforcing member includes steel.

12. The reinforced mull post assembly of claim 5 , wherein the support component includes an external portion formed from a first material and an internal portion formed from a second material.

13. The reinforced mull post assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first material includes a wood composite and the second material includes PVC.

14. The reinforced mull post assembly of claim 5 , wherein the stop component includes an interior portion formed from a first material and an exterior portion formed from a second material.

15. The reinforced mull post assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first material includes a wood composite and the second material includes PVC.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2013
From: AN, PAO YU; LIN, SUNGTSE "ALBERT"; TONG, MINGYONG
To: PLASTPRO 2000, INC.
Reel/Frame 031050/0689 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 13194784 · Jul 29, 2011
Continuation In Part 12693552 · Jan 26, 2010
Provisional Application 61148652 · Jan 30, 2009
Related Publication 20130152495A1 · Jun 20, 2013