Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Framing to receive door – doorjamb – or window sash – Architrave; i.e. – finish strip on floor – ceiling – or wall...
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-09
2003-03-04
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Framing to receive door, doorjamb, or window sash
Architrave; i.e., finish strip on floor, ceiling, or wall...
C052S212000, C052S204530, C052S204540, C052S202000, C052S203000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06526709
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present Invention relates generally to window frames and flanges.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vinyl Replacement windows for residential and commercial buildings are becoming increasingly popular. Among their many benefits they provide increased comfort, updated looks, and energy efficiency. Installation of these windows, however, if not done properly, can result in severe damage caused by water seepage into the interior walls of the structure. Current installation methods include, but are not limited to the following:
Method A, the exterior siding around the perimeter of the window frame is cut away to expose the nailing fin that holds the window in place. This old window is then removed and a new construction style (nail fin frame) window of the same width and height is installed. A filler board is used to replace the cut away siding and 1×4 trim boards are typically installed to hide this cut away area. (Prior art FIG.
2
).
Method B, leaving the old aluminum window's main frame in place, the new window is sized to fit inside of the old frame and is sealed in place with caulking between the old frame and a flush fin on the new window. (Prior art FIG.
3
).
Method C, after complete removal of the old aluminum window, the new window is sized to fit inside of the sheetrock and framing and is sealed in place with caulking between the exterior siding and a flush fin on the new window. (Prior art FIG.
4
).
The preceding methods as well as most others, rely on caulking as a primary seal to prevent water from seeping into the structure. Deterioration of the caulking, cracks in the adjacent siding, improper caulking application and other factors can lead to failure of this seal and water seepage into the walls of the structure.
The present invention is designed to provide a “new construction” type of window flashing, eliminate the need for caulking as a primary seal and prepare the opening for installation of a replacement window.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
FIG. 1
is a sectional view showing the most typical new construction installation of a conventional aluminum window frame
10
attached to a wall
11
. Wall
11
includes on its interior, a drywall
12
and a casing
13
. A jam liner
14
is attached to the perimeter of the window opening. Sidings
15
are attached in front of a subsiding
1
6
, which is attached to wall framing
17
. Window frame
10
includes a vertical nailing flange
18
between siding
15
and subsiding
16
, and a horizontal member
19
extending forwardly from the lower edge of nailing flange
18
. Similar items at the lower part of the window are indicated by the symbol (′) next to the number. Dimension D
1
is the distance between the lower horizontal edge of siding
15
directly above horizontal member
19
and the upper horizontal edge of siding
15
′ directly below horizontal member
19
′. Dimension D
2
is the overall height of window frame
10
from the upper edge of nailing flange
18
to the lower edge of nailing flange
18
′. Because siding
15
and
15
′ overlap nailing flange
18
and
18
′, dimension D
1
is always smaller than dimension D
2
. It is this overlapping of siding
15
on nailing flange
18
and
18
′ that makes this “new construction” type of installation waterproof. Rain water, as indicated by the dashed arrow, hitting horizontal member
19
can seep under siding
15
, but is prevented by nailing flange
18
from entering wall
11
.
FIG. 2
is a sectional view showing a replacement window frame
20
installed into wall
11
. The original aluminum window frame has been removed by cutting away part of siding
15
and exposing the windows nailing flange. Window frame
20
has a nailing flange
21
extending vertically from its upper and lower horizontal edges for the purpose of attaching window frame
20
to wall
11
against subsiding
16
. A filler board
22
is cut to size and installed over nailing flange
21
to replace siding
15
that was removed previously. Trim board
23
is installed over filler board
22
and siding
15
to hide any uneven cuts or gaps. Caulking
24
is applied to a joint between trim board
23
and siding
15
to prevent water entry.
However, caulking
24
is sometimes improperly applied or fails because of movement between trim board
23
and siding
15
. Also, by cutting away siding
15
to facilitate the removal of the original window frame
10
and the installation of the replacement window frame
20
, siding
15
is not able to overlap nailing flange
21
and form a “new construction” type of seal. These conditions will result in a path for rainwater to seep into the interior of the structure as indicated by the dashed arrow.
FIG. 3
is a sectional view showing a replacement window frame
30
installed into wall
11
over aluminum window frame
10
. Window frame
30
has been sized to fit within the interior dimensions of window frame
10
. A flush fin
31
extends vertically from the outer edge of window frame
30
to cover the exterior of window frame
10
. Caulking
32
is applied to a joint between flush fin
31
and aluminum window frame
10
to prevent water entry.
However, caulking
32
is sometimes improperly applied or fails because of movement between flush fin
31
and window frame
10
. These conditions will result in a path for rainwater to seep into the interior of the structure as indicated by the dashed arrow.
FIG. 4
is a sectional view showing another common replacement method. With this method the original aluminum window frame has been collapsed and removed leaving the siding
15
intact. Window frame
30
is sized to fit between upper jam liner
14
and lower jam liner
14
′. Caulking
32
is applied to a joint between flush fin
31
and siding
15
to prevent water entry.
Again, caulking
32
is sometimes improperly applied or fails because of movement between flush fin
31
and siding
15
. These conditions will result in a path for rainwater to seep into the interior of the structure as indicated by the dashed arrow.
FIG. 5
is a sectional view showing a replacement window frame
40
installed into wall
11
using a waterproof window flange
41
(U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,293). Frame
40
is a “block” style frame, indicating that it has no vertical nailing flange as with frame
20
, or vertical flush fin as with frame
30
. Flange
41
consists of a vertical member
42
, a horizontal member
43
, a channel
44
for receiving a right angle comer key for aligning adjoining flanges, and a borehole
45
to receive a screw for securing adjoining flanges together. In the detailed description (U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,293) of flange
41
it is indicated that in its preferred embodiment flange
41
can be cut to any desired length, usually with angled ends for forming a rectangular frame. Each corner of the rectangular frame receives a comer key in channel
44
and a screw in bore hole
45
to hold the rectangular frame together. Further description indicates that this frame is then installed around the window opening without cutting siding
15
. Member
42
is installed between siding
15
and subsiding
16
with the top surface of member
43
against the bottom of siding
15
. The overlapping of siding
15
on member
42
is what gives flange
41
its waterproof ness. The problem with flange
41
is that in its preferred embodiment as an assembled rectangular frame, it is not possible to install this frame behind siding
15
without cutting away siding
15
. Dimension D
1
(the distance between the lower horizontal edge of siding
15
directly above horizontal member
43
and the upper horizontal edge of siding
15
′ directly below horizontal member
43
′) is always smaller than Dimension D
2
(the overall height of the assembled rectangular frame from the upper edge of member
42
to the lower edge of member
42
′). Cutting away siding
15
to allow for installation of the assembled frame would result in a potential water seepage problem similar to that of FIG.
2
.
SUMMARY OF PRESENT INV
Friedman Carl D.
Keusey, Tutunjian & & Bitetto, P.C.
McDermott Kevin
LandOfFree
Replacement window installation and flashing system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Replacement window installation and flashing system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Replacement window installation and flashing system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3058810