# US 2012/0073240 A1 · Reinforced mull post assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2012/0073240 A1 - Document ID: US20120073240A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/194,784 - Filed: 2011-07-29 - Published: 2012-03-29 - Earliest claimed: 2009-01-30 - Assignees: Plastpro 2000, Inc. - Inventors: Pao Yu An; Albert Lin; Tong Mingyong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120073240A1 ## CPC - E06B 1/52: Frames specially adapted for doors - E06B 1/32: Frames composed of parts made of different materials - E06B 1/524: {Mullions; Transoms} - E06B 3/222: {with internal prefabricated reinforcing section members inserted after manufacturing of the hollow frame} - E06B: FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES (shades or blinds for greenhouses A01G9/22; curtains A47H; lids for car boots or bonnets B62D25/10; skylights E04B7/18; sunshades, awnings E04F10/00) ## Abstract A composite reinforced mull post is disclosed for use in an entryway assembly. The mull post may engage a door on one side and a side light window on the other side. The mull post may comprise a one or two piece outer portion and one or more internal reinforcing members. The outer portion may comprise a plurality of interlocking pieces. The pieces may include a stop portion and a support portion, each with interlocking ribs. A first internal reinforcing member may be formed of engineered material such as a wood laminate, and a second reinforcing member may comprise a channel that extends partially around the first reinforcing member. The reinforcing member may include orthogonal portions conterminously received within a correspondingly shaped central chamber formed by the housing formed by the joined interlocking pieces. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A reinforced mull post assembly, comprising: a mull post comprising a two piece housing formed by an elongated support piece and a stop piece coupled together by interlocking flanges, the support piece having opposed external first and second support faces and the stop piece having first and second legs forming first and second raised stops laterally offset from the first and second support faces, respectively, the housing including a central chamber therein; the interlocking flanges including the stop piece having first flanges, each having a recess therein, and the support piece having second flanges, each second flange having a rib received within a corresponding recess of the corresponding first flange; the central chamber including a longitudinal void section and a transverse void section; and a reinforcing member disposed within the central chamber and including portions within the longitudinal void section and the transverse void section. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The reinforced mull post assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongated support piece extends in a longitudinal direction and the first and second flanges each extend substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The reinforced mull post assembly of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member is a T-shaped single member and substantially fills the central chamber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The reinforced mull post assembly of claim 3, wherein the reinforcing member comprises one of engineered wood material and laminated veneer lumber (LVL) wood. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The reinforced mull post assembly of claim 1, further comprising a further reinforcing member disposed within the central chamber in cooperation with the reinforcing member, the further reinforcing member being made from a material that is different than that of the reinforcing member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The reinforced mull post assembly as in claim 5, wherein the further reinforcing member is formed of steel and at least partially surrounds the reinforcing member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The reinforced mull post assembly of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member is slidably received within the central chamber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The reinforced mull post assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongated support piece includes an external portion formed of a wood composite and an internal portion formed of a different material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The reinforced mull post assembly of claim 8, wherein the different material comprises PVC. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The reinforced mull post assembly of claim 1, wherein the stop piece is substantially U-shaped and includes an external portion formed of a wood composite and an internal portion formed of a different material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The reinforced mull post assembly of claim 1, wherein the stop piece is substantially U-shaped and the first flanges extend transversely inwardly, each first flange including an upper surface being substantially flat and a lower surface including a hump adjacent to the recess. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The reinforced mull post assembly of claim 11, wherein the second flanges extend outwardly from the opposed external first and second support faces of the elongated support piece and the ribs extend upwardly. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The reinforced mull post assembly of claim 1, wherein the second flanges extend outwardly from the opposed external first and second support faces of the elongated support piece and the ribs extend upwardly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The reinforced mull post assembly of claim 1, wherein the stop piece is substantially U-shaped and the two piece housing includes the elongated support piece received partially within the stop piece. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The reinforced mull post assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second raised stops are laterally offset from the first and second support faces by respective slots configured to receive a tab member of an adjacent structure or a length of weather stripping for sealing the mull post to an adjacent structure. ### Claim 16 A reinforced mull post, comprising: a mull post comprising a two piece housing formed by an elongated support piece and a stop piece coupled together by interlocking flanges, the stop piece having first and second legs forming corresponding first and second raised stops disposed laterally outside the elongated support piece and offset from external surfaces of the elongated support piece, the housing including a central chamber therein; the interlocking flanges including the stop piece having opposed first flanges and the support piece having opposed second flanges, one of the first and second flanges having a protuberance and the other of the first and second flanges having a recess that receives the protuberance; the central chamber including a longitudinal void section and a transverse void section; and a reinforcing member disposed within the central chamber and including a longitudinal portion disposed within the longitudinal void section and a pair of opposed transverse portions received in the transverse void sections. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The reinforced mull post of claim 16, wherein external surfaces of the elongated support piece comprise opposed first and second support faces, the first and second legs are substantially parallel to the first and second support faces, the opposed first flanges extend substantially orthogonally inwardly from the first and second legs and the opposed second flanges extend substantially orthogonally outwardly from the first and second support faces of the elongated support piece. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The reinforced mull post of claim 16, wherein the first and second flanges each extend substantially transverse to the elongated support piece and the first and second raised stops are laterally offset from the first and second support faces by respective slots configured to receive a tab member of an adjacent structure or a length of weather stripping for sealing the mull post to an adjacent structure. ### Claim 19 A reinforced mull post assembly, comprising: a mull post comprising a two piece housing formed by an elongated support piece and a substantially U-shaped stop piece coupled together by interlocking flanges, the elongated support piece having first and second support faces and the substantially U-shaped stop piece having first and second ends forming first and second raised stops disposed laterally outside the support piece and offset from the first and second support faces of the elongated support piece, the two-piece housing including a central chamber therein; the interlocking flanges including the substantially U-shaped stop piece having opposed first flanges and the support piece having opposed second flanges, one of the first and second flanges having a protuberance and the other of the first and second flanges having a recess that receives the protuberance; the central chamber including a longitudinal void section and a transverse void section; and a reinforcing member disposed within the central chamber and formed of a different material than the substantially U-shaped stop piece and the elongated support piece. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The reinforced mull post assembly of claim 19, wherein the opposed first flanges extend substantially orthogonally inwardly from opposed sides of the substantially U-shaped stop piece and the opposed second flanges extend substantially orthogonally outwardly from the first and second support faces of the elongated support piece. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The reinforced mull post assembly of claim 19, wherein the reinforcing member includes a plurality of components formed of different materials that combine to form a T-shaped member that substantially fills the longitudinal void section and transverse void section of the central chamber.