US 4,357,744 AGranted

Method of connecting insulated glass frame

OwnerEverett R. McKenzie, Thomas E. Smithinventors

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Abstract

A corner connector for connecting adjacent hollow intermediate frames used in the construction of insulated glass panels. The corner connector includes a two-part body having a flexible mid-portion. One end of each body portion has a retaining arm. When each retaining arm of each corner connector positioned along a longitudinal center connected to an intermediate frame it holds or secures the hollow intermediate frames together. The two hollow intermediate frames can then be moved toward each other to form a ninety degree angle therebetween. The resilient mid-portion of the body of the corner connector may be locked in place to maintain that perpendicular relationship. Therefore four intermediate frames may be positioned along the same longitudinal line during manufacturing.

Claims3

Dependent claims

A method of constructing between two glass panels an insulating space by using a first corner flexible connector with a notch having a locking device, second corner flexible connector with a notch having a locking device, third corner flexible connector with a notch having a locking device, and fourth corner flexible connector with a notch having a locking device in conjunction with a first tubular member, second tubular member, third tubular member, and a fourth tubular member in end to end relation along the same longitudinal line, comprising:

functionally inserting said first corner connector into and between the adjacent ends of said first member and said second member lying along said line;
frictionally inserting said second corner connector into and between the adjacent and other end of said second member and the adjacent end of said third member;
frictionally inserting said third corner connector into and between the adjacent and other end of said third member and the adjacent end of said fourth member;
moving said first member and said second member into a generally right angle relationship with each other;
locking said first corner connector to maintain said generally right angle relationship between said first member and said second member;
moving said second member and said third member into a generally right angle relationship with each other;
locking said second corner connector to maintain said generally right angle relationship between said second member and said third member;
moving said third member and said fourth member into a generally right angle relationship with each other;
locking said third corner connector to maintain said generally right angle relationship between said third member and said fourth member;
frictionally inserting said fourth corner connector into and between the other ends of said first member and the adjacent said fourth member;
locking said fourth corner connector to maintain said generally right angle relationship between said fourth member and said first member, for use between glass panels.

8 more elements

A method of constructing a four sided structure with ninety degree angles therebetween by using a first corner flexible connector with a notch having locking device, second corner flexible connector with a notch having a locking device, third corner flexible connector with a notch having a locking device, and fourth corner flexible connector with a notch having a locking device in conjunction with a first tubular member, second tubular member, third tubular member, and a fourth tubular member in end to end relation along the same longitudinal line, comprising:

frictionally inserting said first corner connector into and between the adjacent ends of said first member and said second member lying along said line;
frictionally inserting said second corner connector into and between the adjacent and other end of said second member and the adjacent end of said third member;
and
frictionally inserting said third corner connector into and between the adjacent and other end of said third member and the adjacent end of said fourth member placing said first corner connector, said second corner connector and, said third corner connector, and said first member, said second member, said third member, and said fourth member in a straigh line;
moving said first member and said second member into a generally right angle relationship with each other to automatically lock said first corner connector to maintain said generally right angle relationship between said first member and said second member;
moving said second member and said third member into a generally right angle relationship with each other to automatically lock said second corner connector to maintain said generally right angle relationship between said second member and said third member;
moving said third member and said fourth member into a generally right angle relationship with each other to automatically lock said third corner connector to maintain said generally right angle relationship between said third member and said fourth member;
frictionally inserting said fourth corner connector into and between the other ends of said first member and the adjacent said fourth member;
locking said fourth corner connector to maintain said generally right angle relationship between said fourth member and said first member, for forming said four sided structure.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.