Thermally insulated and connected window frame members and the method of making the same

Abstract

A thermally insulated and connected window frame construction including first and second frame members having interfitting spaced portions with voids therebetween. An initial web portion connects the first and second frame portions. The inner surfaces of the frame members are coated with a bond inhibitor such as talcum powder. A plastic resin is applied into the voids between the interfitting frame portions. The resin is then allowed to "set" and following that the initial web portion is removed with the sole connection of the frame members being the resinous material with the frame members freely slidable upon the bond inhibitor during expansion and construction of the frame members. The frame construction may be given structural integrity by inserting an elongated strip of material which extends into the voids between the frame members prior to the applying the resin, the strip of material is also coated with a bond inhibitor prior to the application of the resin. SUMMARY The invention relates broadly to an improvement in metal window frames and more particularly to inner and outer metal window frames joined and insulated by a thermal separator connector member generally made of plastic. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,204,324 an insulating spacer member 12 is formed by first extruding inner and outer metal window frame members connected by a metal web portion. An epoxy resin or the like is then poured into the voids and channels formed between the connected frame members. When the resin "sets" into a ridid formation it forms an insulative connector member. The web connecting portion of the frames is then cut away whereby there is no metal connection between the frame members to conduct heat and cold. The bond between the resin and the metal frame members is so substantial that upon expansion and contraction of the matal frames due to temperature changes the resin is fractured thereby lending to deterioration and ultimate destruction of the connector member. The present invention overcomes the above problem by first coating the inner surfaces of the metal frame members with a resin-to-metal bond inhibitor or preventor such as talcum powder, a layer of relatively thin plastic or the like. The resin or plastic of low thermal conductivity is then poured into the voids between the frames and when it "sets" it forms the insulative connector member, and there is no bond between the resin connector member and the metal frames whereby the frames may expand and contract upon the resinous connector without affecting the connector. Additionally, a reinforcing strip member may be positioned in the voids between the frame members prior to the coating of the interior surfaces of the frame members and the depositing therein the resinous material which forms the connector member, whereby structural integrity is given to the frame member connection.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.