Movable or removable closures – Combined seal – stop and stiffener; i.e. – cleat
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-03
2001-09-11
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Movable or removable closures
Combined seal, stop and stiffener; i.e., cleat
C049S469000, C049S470000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286263
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a window track cover device for use with horizontally sliding windows having a generally U-shaped track.
Over a period of time the exposed portion of the tracks of horizontally sliding windows tend to collect dust, dead insects, etc. Such tracks are hard to clean.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a cover for the exposed portion of the tracks of horizontally sliding windows.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a window track cover that is adjustable to fit into tracks of different widths.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such a track cover which, secondarily, acts as a window locking mechanism.
These and other objects are achieved by providing an adjustable, substantially rigid window track cover which fits into generally U-shaped window tracks. The cover is comprised of an elongated male subassembly and an elongated female subassembly which fit together to form the track cover.
The male subassembly is comprised of a longitudinally extending tongue plate having upper and lower planar surfaces, longitudinal side edges and ends. A longitudinally extending male leg member depends from adjacent one longitudinal edge of the tongue plate, slightly inboard thereof to provide a longitudinally extending shoulder or ledge extending beyond the male leg. The lower surface of the tongue plate has a plurality of convex corrugations extending therefrom.
The female subassembly is comprised of longitudinally extending upper and lower flange plates which are spaced apart and substantially parallel, each flange plate having upper and lower planar surfaces, longitudinally extending side edges and ends. The flange plates are joined along one of their longitudinal side edges to the upper part of a longitudinally extending female leg member. The height of the slot formed between the upper and lower flange plates is substantially the same as the thickness of the tongue plate of the male subassembly. The female leg member extends downwardly from the juncture of the flange plates. A shoulder or ledge extends beyond the juncture of the flange plates and female leg member, at approximately the midpoint of the slot located between the flange plates, the major plane of the shoulder being substantially parallel to the major planes of the flange plates. The inner surface of the lower flange plate has a plurality of concave corrugations located therein.
The slot formed between the flange plates of the female subassembly is adapted to receive the tongue plate of the male subassembly. The material from which the female flange plates are made are sufficiently flexible to permit the ridges (apexes) of the convex corrugations of the male tongue plate to be pushed past the ridges of the female corrugations of the lower female plate until the male and female legs are spaced apart a distance substantially equivalent to the width of the window track. When the proper width is obtained, the convex corrugations of the male tongue plate are seated in the concave corrugations of the lower female flange plate to lock the subassemblies together.
The male and female legs of the thus assembled track cover are inserted into the widow track until the male and female shoulders abut the upper surfaces of the window tracks.
The shoulder and tongue plate of the male subassembly and the shoulder and upper flange plate of the female subassembly form a cover over the window track to prevent dirt, etc. from entering it. The length of the track cover is selected to extend between the end of the window track and the closed window seated in the track to prevent the window from being opened.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3349519 (1967-10-01), Nehlig
patent: 3800488 (1974-04-01), Swanson
patent: 4782630 (1988-11-01), Kleyn
patent: 4856241 (1989-08-01), Eriksson
patent: 4912879 (1990-04-01), Mozuras et al.
patent: 4986034 (1991-01-01), Mozuras et al.
patent: 5070651 (1991-12-01), Jeter
patent: 5168669 (1992-12-01), Knapp
patent: 5291687 (1994-03-01), Abad
patent: 5802672 (1998-09-01), Rohder
Cohen Curtis
Howard Robert E.
Stodola Daniel P.
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