Window system for concrete walls and associated method

A system for installing a window in a window opening in a poured concrete wall, the poured concrete wall being formed from cured concrete previously poured between spaced wall forms, the system comprising:

• a reusable generally rectangular window buck having four sides and being adapted for placement between the spaced wall forms to divert the poured concrete around the window buck to form the window opening in the concrete wall, the window buck being removable from the poured concrete wall for subsequent re-use after the wall forms are removed from the poured concrete wall;
• a plurality of retainers coupled to at least three sides of the window buck while the concrete is being poured around the window buck, the retainers each being adapted to be at least partially embedded in the concrete wall proximate the window opening and adapted to be uncoupled from the window buck when the window buck is removed from the poured concrete wall;
• a generally rectangular window unit adapted to be inserted into the window opening in the concrete wall;
• and
• a plurality of clips each adapted to engage one of the retainers embedded in the concrete wall proximate the window opening to secure the window unit within the window opening.

A system for forming a window opening in a poured concrete wall, the window opening being adapted to retain a window therein, the poured concrete wall being formed from cured concrete previously poured between spaced wall forms, the system comprising:

• a reusable generally rectangular window buck adapted for placement between the spaced wall forms to divert the poured concrete around the window buck to form the window opening in the concrete wall, the window buck being removable from the poured concrete wall for subsequent re-use after the wall forms are removed from the poured concrete wall;
• and
• a plurality of retainers coupled to the window buck while the concrete is being poured around the window buck, the retainers each being adapted to be at least partially embedded in the concrete wall proximate the window opening and adapted to be uncoupled from the window buck when the window buck is removed from the poured concrete wall, the retainers each being adapted to provide an attachment location for securing the window within the window opening;
• wherein each retainer further comprises,
• (a) a retainer body;
• (b) a socket formed in the retainer and which is exposed when the retainer is embedded in the poured concrete wall;
• (c) an anchor oriented generally parallel to the retainer body and adapted to be embedded in the concrete;
• (d) at least one gusset spanning between and joining together the retainer body and the anchor.

A window unit to be installed in a window opening formed in a wall, the window unit comprising:

• a frame sized and configured to fit within the window opening in the wall;
• a window element captured in the frame;
• a plurality of clips mounted to the frame and adapted to engage the wall proximate the opening to thereby mount the frame in the window opening;
• and
• a pair of similarly oriented, spaced tangs each offset from one another on each of the clips and projecting outwardly therefrom to engage the wall;
• wherein at least one of the tangs on each clip is offset from a remainder of the tangs on the clip in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the window element.

A method of installing a window in a poured concrete wall comprising the steps of:

• temporarily coupling a plurality of retainers to a window buck, at least one of the retainers being coupled to a bottom side of the window buck;
• pouring concrete around the window buck, the retainers being at least partially embedded within the poured concrete;
• curing the poured concrete to form the poured concrete wall;
• uncoupling the retainers at least partially embedded in the poured concrete wall from the window buck;
• removing the window buck from the poured concrete wall to thereby expose a window opening in the poured concrete wall, a portion of each retainer being exposed in the poured concrete wall;
• inserting a window unit in the window opening;
• and
• engaging each of a plurality of clips mounted on a periphery of the window unit with the exposed portion of one of the retainers to thereby secure the window in the window opening in the poured concrete wall.