Mullion joinery for window frame assembly
AssigneeJELD-WEN, Inc.
InventorsYoshua Gombo, Jerry Jones, Jacob Nelson, David Belau, Ryan Schroeder, Nick Strahm
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosure relates generally to a window assembly designed to facilitate the construction process by providing a simple and efficient method for joining mullion members and frame members along a window joint. The assembly includes a mullion end cap with a seal extending around the periphery of the end cap to help minimize moisture entry into the window assembly via the window joints. In addition, the seal includes fastener bosses designed to seal against fasteners extending therethrough to help seal the joint without need for separately applying a silicone or other sealant in a post-assembly process.
Claims20
An assembly for a fenestration system comprising:
- a frame including a frame member and a mullion;
- an end cap including a body with a mullion-facing surface and an opposite frame-facing surface, the end cap seated against the mullion along the mullion-facing surface and seated against the frame along the frame-facing surface;
- a seal coupled to the body of the end cap, the seal extending along a periphery of the body, the seal including one or more fastener bosses formed thereon, the one or more fastener bosses each having a passageway extending from the mullion-facing surface to the frame-facing surface when the seal is coupled to the body of the end cap;
- one or more fasteners extending through the frame member, each fastener further extending through the passageway of a corresponding one of the one or more fastener bosses and into the mullion, wherein the fastener bosses each form a seal against the respective fastener when the frame, mullion, and end cap are coupled together;
- and
- the body of the end cap further including one or more openings extending from the mullion-facing surface to the frame-facing surface, the one or more openings being in communication with an interior portion of the mullion to provide water drainage from the interior portion of the mullion through the openings.
A method of joining a frame member and a mullion in making a fenestration frame, the method comprising:
- obtaining an end cap having a seal with one or more fastener bosses formed thereon, each of the fastener bosses having a passageway extending from a mullion-facing surface of the end cap through to a frame-facing surface, the end cap further including one or more openings extending from the mullion-facing surface to the frame-facing surface;
- forming one or more apertures through the frame member;
- aligning the mullion-facing surface of the end cap against the mullion with the seal of the end cap seated against the mullion;
- aligning the frame-facing surface of the end cap against the frame such that each of the one or more fastener bosses is aligned with a corresponding one of the one or more apertures of the frame member;
- inserting a fastener through the one or more apertures of the frame member, the fastener extending through the passageway of the corresponding fastener boss and into the mullion, wherein the fastener bosses each form a seal against the respective fastener without applying a sealant;
- and
- aligning the one or more openings with an interior portion of the mullion to provide water drainage from the interior portion of the mullion through the openings.
An assembly for a fenestration system comprising:
- a frame including a frame member and a mullion;
- an end cap including a body with a mullion-facing surface and an opposite frame-facing surface, the end cap seated against the mullion along the mullion-facing surface and seated against the frame along the frame-facing surface;
- a seal coupled to the body of the end cap, the seal extending along a periphery of the body, the seal including one or more fastener bosses formed thereon, the one or more fastener bosses each having a passageway extending from the mullion-facing surface to the frame-facing surface when the seal is coupled to the body of the end cap;
- one or more fasteners extending through the frame member, each fastener further extending through the passageway of a corresponding one of the one or more fastener bosses and into the mullion, wherein the fastener bosses each form a seal against the respective fastener when the frame, mullion, and end cap are coupled together;
- and
- the seal being a rubber seal coupled to the body via an overmolding process.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.