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US 11,988,034 B1Granted
Compound fenestration assemblies with mull end connectors and methods
AssigneeAndersen Corporation
InventorsArik Van Asten, Jeremyah Biederman, Stephen Rippe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Compound fenestration assembly mull joints including one or more mull end connectors, compound fenestration assemblies using those mull joints, and methods of making and using the same are described herein. The compound fenestration assembly mull joints including one or more mull end connectors described herein are configured to be attached to the building opening using a flowable bonding agent (in addition to attachment of the fenestration units to the building openings).
Claims27
A compound fenestration assembly comprising:
- a first frame member of a first fenestration unit attached to a second frame member of a second fenestration unit along a mull joint having a first end and a second end,
- wherein the mull joint defines a mull joint axis extending along a length of the mull joint between the first and second ends of the mull joint,
- wherein the first and second frame members comprise exterior sides facing in the same direction and interior sides facing in an opposite direction from the exterior sides, wherein an interior/exterior axis extends between the interior and exterior sides in a direction transverse to the mull joint axis,
- wherein the first frame member faces the second frame member across the mull joint, wherein a separation axis extends through the mull joint between the first and second frame members, the separation axis extending in a direction transverse to both the mull joint axis and the interior/exterior axis;
- a first joining strip attached to the first frame member of the first fenestration unit, the first joining strip comprising a first end proximate the first end of the mull joint, wherein the first joining strip comprises a channel aligned with the mull joint axis, the channel opening towards the exterior side of the first fenestration unit;
- a second joining strip attached to the second frame member of the second fenestration unit, the second joining strip comprising a first end proximate the first end of the mull joint, wherein the second joining strip comprises a channel aligned with the mull joint axis, the channel opening towards the interior side of the second fenestration unit such that the channel on the first joining strip mechanically interlocks with the channel on the second joining strip, wherein the mechanically interlocked channel of the first joining strip and the mechanically interlocked channel of the second joining strip prevent movement of the first frame member away from the second frame member along the separation axis, prevent movement of the first frame member towards the exterior side of the second frame member along the interior/exterior axis, and prevent movement of the second frame member towards the interior side of the first frame member along the interior/exterior axis;
- and
- a mull end connector comprising a base and a connector leg,
- the base comprising an inner face facing the first end of the mull joint and an outer face facing away from the first end of the mull joint,
- the connector leg attached to the inner face of the base, the connector leg extending away from the inner face along the mull joint axis, the connector leg extending into a mull end connector cavity at the first end of the mull joint,
- a bonding agent cavity on the outer face of the base, the bonding agent cavity comprising a border defining at least a portion of a cavity perimeter located within a base perimeter on the outer face of the base, and
- a chamber configured to deliver bonding agent to the bonding agent cavity, the chamber comprising an input port opening located along the interior/exterior axis and a delivery port opening into the bonding agent cavity, wherein the input port is in fluid communication with the bonding agent cavity through the chamber and the delivery port.
9 more elements
A compound fenestration assembly comprising:
- a first frame member of a first fenestration unit attached to a second frame member of a second fenestration unit along a mull joint having a first end and a second end,
- wherein the mull joint defines a mull joint axis extending along a length of the mull joint between the first and second ends of the mull joint,
- wherein the first and second frame members comprise exterior sides facing in the same direction and interior sides facing in an opposite direction from the exterior sides, wherein an interior/exterior axis extends between the interior and exterior sides in a direction transverse to the mull joint axis,
- wherein the first frame member faces the second frame member across the mull joint, wherein a separation axis extends through the mull joint between the first and second frame members, the separation axis extending in a direction transverse to both the mull joint axis and the interior/exterior axis;
- a first joining strip attached to the first frame member of the first fenestration unit, the first joining strip comprising a first end proximate the first end of the mull joint, wherein the first joining strip comprises a channel aligned with the mull joint axis, the channel opening towards the exterior side of the first fenestration unit;
- a second joining strip attached to the second frame member of the second fenestration unit, the second joining strip comprising a first end proximate the first end of the mull joint, wherein the second joining strip comprises a channel aligned with the mull joint axis, the channel opening towards the interior side of the second fenestration unit such that the channel on the first joining strip mechanically interlocks with the channel on the second joining strip, wherein the mechanically interlocked channel of the first joining strip and the mechanically interlocked second joining strip prevent movement of the first frame member away from the second frame member along the separation axis, prevent movement of the first frame member towards the exterior side of the second frame member along the interior/exterior axis, and prevent movement of the second frame member towards the interior side of the first frame member along the interior/exterior axis;
- and
- a mull end connector comprising a base and a connector leg,
- the base comprising an inner face facing the first end of the mull joint and an outer face facing away from the first end of the mull joint,
- the connector leg attached to the inner face of the base, the connector leg extending away from the inner face along the mull joint axis, the connector leg extending into a mull end connector cavity at the first end of the mull joint, wherein the connector leg is retained within the mull end connector cavity by an interference fit, wherein the connector leg comprises a connector leg depth measured along the interior/exterior axis, and wherein the base comprises a base depth measured along the interior/exterior axis, wherein the connector leg depth is less than the base depth, and wherein the connector leg is not centered on the base in a direction aligned with the interior/exterior axis,
- a bonding agent cavity on the outer face of the base, the bonding agent cavity comprising a border defining at least a portion of a cavity perimeter located within a base perimeter on the outer face of the base,
- a chamber configured to deliver bonding agent to the bonding agent cavity, the chamber comprising an input port opening located along the interior/exterior axis and a delivery port opening into the bonding agent cavity, wherein the input port is in fluid communication with the bonding agent cavity through the chamber and the delivery port,
- a fill vent which opens into the bonding agent cavity, the fill vent configured to provide an exit path out of the bonding agent cavity for a flowable bonding agent delivered into the bonding agent cavity through the input port.
10 more elements
A method of installing a compound fenestration assembly in a building opening in a building:
- inserting a connector leg of a mull end connector into a mull end connector cavity in a first end of a mull joint connecting a first fenestration unit to a second fenestration unit, wherein the mull joint defines a mull joint axis extending along a length of the mull joint between the first end and a second end of the mull joint, and wherein the connector leg extends into the mull end connector cavity along the mull joint axis;
- placing the first fenestration unit and the second fenestration unit in a building opening after inserting the connector leg of the mull end connector into the mull end connector cavity in the mull joint formed between a first fenestration unit and a second fenestration unit, wherein an outer face of a base of the mull end connector faces an opening surface defining the building opening proximate the first end of the mull joint;
- delivering a flowable bonding agent into a bonding agent cavity on the outer face of the base after placing the first fenestration unit and the second fenestration unit in the building opening such that the outer face of a base of the mull end connector faces the opening surface defining the building opening, wherein the bonding agent bonds the base of the mull end connector to the opening surface defining the building opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.