Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Window or window sash – sill – mullion – or glazing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-04
2001-10-16
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Window or window sash, sill, mullion, or glazing
C052S656600, C052S204700, C052S456000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06301843
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to muntin bar assemblies and, more particularly, to a connector for making an orthogonal joint between two muntin bars.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Older colonial style homes frequently had windows which consisted of an assembly of smaller glass panes separated from one another by horizontal and vertical wooden strips or muntin bars. Modern construction has emulated the decorative appearance of these muntin bars by assembling a false muntin bar assembly adjacent a single pane of glass or between the glass panes in an insulating glass unit to give the appearance that the glass is formed from a number of smaller window panes separated from one another. These false muntin bar assemblies typically consist of a series of flattened tubular components, ordinarily formed from metal or plastic, joined together in horizontal and vertical directions to form a latticework. Retaining clips may be used to secure the free ends of the muntin bar assembly to the window frame. The retaining clips generally include a first portion which fits snugly within the hollow end of the muntin bar, and a second portion which connects to the window frame or to the spacer frame sandwiched between the glass panels of an insulating glass unit.
When a muntin bar extending in a vertical orientation intersects a muntin bar extending in a horizontal orientation, a connector may be used to hold the two muntin bars in assembled relationship. In a typical arrangement, the muntin bars in one series, for example the vertical series of muntin bars, extend continuously between opposite sides of a window frame, with each such muntin bar including apertures extending transversely therethrough at the positions where they are to intersect with horizontal muntin bars. The horizontal muntin bars may be formed in segments sized to fit between the window frame and the nearest vertical muntin bar, or between two consecutive vertical muntin bars. The horizontal muntin bar segments may be assembled to the vertical muntin bars by a muntin connector, such as the conventional prior art connector
10
shown in FIG.
1
. Muntin connector
10
includes a male connecting portion
12
and a female connecting portion
14
. Male connecting portion
10
includes an elongated spine
16
having a pair of fingers
18
and
20
formed at end
22
thereof. A slot
24
formed between fingers
18
and
20
enables the fingers to deflect toward one another during the connection of male connecting member
12
to female connecting member
14
. A pair of lugs
26
and
28
, formed on the ends of fingers
18
and
20
, respectively, define laterally projecting latch surfaces
30
and
32
which, as described below, engage mating surfaces on female connecting member
14
to hold the connecting members in assembled relationship. At its opposite end
34
, spine
16
includes a plurality of fins
36
projecting laterally from opposite sides thereof. Fins
36
are angled toward end
22
of connecting member
12
so as to resist the removal of the connecting member once it has been inserted into a muntin bar segment. Connecting member
12
also includes a pair of arms
38
and
40
which project laterally from spine
16
so as to define a pair of coplanar stop surfaces
42
and
44
at a predetermined distance from the end
22
of the connecting member.
The female connecting member
14
may include a central body
46
having an opening
48
formed at end
50
thereof. Opening
48
is sized and shaped so that fingers
18
and
20
deflect toward one another upon insertion of end
22
of connecting member
12
into opening
48
. Apertures
52
and
54
formed through body
46
intersect opening
48
and define ledges
56
and
58
for mating with the latch surfaces
30
and
32
formed on the free ends of fingers
18
and
20
. Female connecting member
14
also includes a plurality of fins
60
projecting laterally from opposite sides of body
46
. As with fins
36
on connecting member
12
, fins
60
are angled toward end
50
of connecting member
14
so as to resist the removal of the connecting member after it has been inserted into a muntin bar segment. A pair of arms
62
and
64
project laterally from body
46
and define a pair of coplanar stop surfaces
66
and
68
coextensive with end
50
of connecting member
14
.
Muntin connector
10
may be used as follows to connect two horizontal muntin bar segments to a vertical muntin bar. Firstly, connecting member
12
is inserted through a transverse aperture in the vertical muntin bar until stop surfaces
42
and
44
contact one longitudinal edge of the muntin bar with fingers
18
and
20
protruding from the opposite longitudinal edge. Connecting member
14
may then be assembled over fingers
18
and
20
of connecting member
12
until latch surfaces
30
and
32
on the fingers engage ledges
56
and
58
in opening
48
, locking the two connecting members together. At this point, the stop surfaces
66
and
68
on connecting member
14
will contact or be in very close proximity to the longitudinal edge of the vertical muntin bar opposite connecting member
12
so that the vertical muntin bar is sandwiched between the connecting members. The horizontal muntin bar segments are then assembled over the exposed portions of connecting members
12
and
14
and pushed toward and against the vertical muntin bar to form a gapless connection. In this regard, the width and thickness of connecting members
12
and
14
are dimensioned to create a snug friction fit engagement within the horizontal muntin bar segments, thereby providing a secure assembly of the horizontal muntin bar segments to the vertical muntin bar.
Although muntin bar connector
10
provides a neat and secure connection between vertical and horizontal muntin bars, it creates difficulties should the muntin bars need to be disassembled from one another, as may be the case where a muntin bar is defective or becomes damaged during window assembly. Thus, for example, to remove a horizontal muntin bar segment, a pulling force is exerted on the muntin bar segment in an effort to slide it off the connecting member on which it is assembled. However, because the frictional force between the muntin bar segment and the underlying connecting member is frequently greater than the force holding connecting members
12
and
14
together, attempts to remove a horizontal muntin bar segment from the underlying connecting member often result in the disassembly of the muntin connector. When that occurs, the end
22
of connecting member
12
protrudes from the end of the muntin bar segment and can be easily grasped to remove the connecting member from the muntin bar segment. Although this is not a difficult procedure, it adds to the overall time required to complete a muntin bar assembly. Connecting member
14
, on the other hand, will lie entirely within the muntin bar segment, and as a result requires special tools for removal. This is a time-consuming process, increasing the cost of manufacture. To maintain manufacturing speed, connecting member
14
may simply be discarded along with the its associated muntin bar segment, again at an increase in manufacturing costs.
There therefore exists a need for a muntin connector having components which are easily assembled to one another, but which allow muntin bar segments to be removed therefrom without the components becoming disassembled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses these needs.
One aspect of the present invention provides a connector for joining a pair of muntin bars having hollow ends in transverse relationship to a third muntin bar. In one embodiment, the connector includes a first connecting member having a body, a connecting portion extending in an elongation direction from the body to one end, and a holding portion extending from the body to another end in a direction opposite the elongation direction. The connecting portion has an engagement surface intermediate the body and the one end, the engagement surface be
Friedman Carl D.
Lerner David Littenberg Krumholz & Mentlik LLP
Silver Line Building Products Corp.
Varner Steve
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