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US 2026/0193933 A1Published application
Welded fenestration unit frame with enhanced performance
OwnerRoss McGruder, Matthew Wilson +4inventors
InventorsRoss McGruder, Matthew Wilson, Ryan Mohs, Jeffrey Skeels, Claire Swank, Micah Thorson
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Abstract
Welded fenestration unit frames with enhanced water penetration and air infiltration performance and related methods are described herein. The welded fenestration unit frames include a 2-piece sill design including a sill member welded to side jambs and a separate sill stop attached to the sill member and side jambs. The fenestration unit frames may also include primary and secondary water containment and drainage features.
Claims26
A fenestration unit frame for a fenestration unit, the fenestration unit frame comprising:
- a sill member comprising a first sill end and a second sill end, wherein a sill axis extends between the first sill end and the second sill end, wherein the sill member comprises an interior sill face proximate an interior side of the fenestration unit frame and an exterior sill face on an exterior side of the fenestration unit frame, wherein the interior sill face and the exterior sill face are separated from each over a depth of the fenestration unit frame along an interior/exterior axis of the fenestration unit frame;
- a first side jamb comprising a first side jamb end attached to the first sill end at a first mitered frame joint, wherein the first side jamb comprises a first side jamb interior face and a first side jamb exterior face, wherein the first side jamb interior face and the first side jamb exterior face are separated from each along the interior/exterior axis, and wherein the first mitered frame joint comprises a welded joint between the first side jamb end and the first sill end;
- a second side jamb comprising a second side jamb end attached to the second sill end at a second mitered frame joint, wherein the second side jamb comprises a second side jamb interior face and a second side jamb exterior face, wherein the second side jamb interior face and the second side jamb exterior face are separated from each along the interior/exterior axis, and wherein the second mitered frame joint comprises a welded joint between the second side jamb end and the second sill end;
- a sill stop attached to the interior face of the sill member, the sill stop comprising an upper edge and a lower edge extending between the first side jamb and the second side jamb, wherein the upper edge of the sill stop is aligned with the sill axis and located above a top edge of the sill member between the first side jamb and the second side jamb, and wherein the lower edge of the sill stop is located below the top edge of the sill member between the first side jamb and the second side jamb such that the sill stop forms a dam above the sill member between the first side jamb and the second side jamb;
- a first jamb notch formed into the first side jamb interior face proximate the first side jamb end, wherein the first jamb notch comprises a first exposed notch face located between a first notch top edge and the first side jamb end, wherein the first exposed notch face is inset from the first side jamb interior face, and wherein a first end portion of the sill stop occupies the first jamb notch such that the upper edge of the sill stop faces the top edge of the first jamb notch;
- and
- a second jamb notch formed into the second side jamb interior face proximate the second side jamb end, wherein the second jamb notch comprises a second exposed notch face located between a second notch top edge and the second side jamb end, wherein the second exposed notch face is inset from the second side jamb interior face, and wherein a second end portion of the sill stop occupies the second jamb notch such that the upper edge of the sill stop faces the top edge of the second jamb notch.
4 more elements
A method of constructing a fenestration unit frame, the method comprising:
- welding a first sill end of a sill member to a first side jamb end of a first side jamb to form a first mitered frame joint at a first corner of the fenestration unit frame;
- welding a second sill end of the sill member to a second side jamb end of a second side jamb to form a second mitered frame joint at a second corner of the fenestration unit frame;
- removing a first notch portion of the first side jamb from the first side jamb, wherein the removing forms a first jamb notch in a first side jamb interior face of the first side jamb proximate the first side jamb end, wherein the first jamb notch comprises a first exposed notch face located between a first notch top edge and the first side jamb end, wherein the first exposed notch face is inset from the first side jamb interior face;
- removing a second notch portion of the second side jamb from the second side jamb, wherein the removing forms a second jamb notch in a second side jamb interior face of the second side jamb proximate the second side jamb end, wherein the second jamb notch comprises a second exposed notch face located between a second notch top edge and the second side jamb end, wherein the second exposed notch face is inset from the second side jamb interior face;
- and
- attaching a sill stop to the fenestration unit frame, wherein the sill stop is positioned over an interior sill face of the sill member such that a first end portion of the sill stop is located over the first exposed notch face of the first jamb notch and a second end portion of the sill stop is located over the second exposed notch face of the second jamb notch.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.