US 9,631,415 B2 · Paulownia based fenestration structures

Abstract

The fenestration structures include external frame segments facing the interior and exterior surfaces of a building wall, and an internal frame segment “sandwiched” between the external frame segments. The external frame segments are made from a relatively hard, dense and/or resilient material, such as hard wood, while the internal frame segment is made from paulownia which is a moisture-resistant, dimensionally stable thermal barrier material. The external frame segments therefore provide durable and attractive exterior and interior surfaces of the fenestration frame, while the internal paulownia segment provides superior resistance to thermal transfer across the frame, while also remaining dimensionally stable across a variety of moisture and temperature levels. Internal paulownia segments may be positioned around the entire periphery of the fenestration frame to create a comprehensive thermal barrier.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A composite fenestration frame comprising:

a plurality of frame segments defining a central opening through the composite fenestration frame, the plurality of frame segments cooperating to define an exterior frame surface on one side of the central opening and an interior frame surface on an opposing side of the central opening when the composite fenestration frame is installed into a wall;
at least one of the plurality of frame segments comprising an internal frame segment made from paulownia and a plurality of external frame segments made from a second material having a material property different from paulownia, the external frame segments respectively defining the exterior and interior frame surfaces such that the internal frame segment substantially completely covered by the exterior frame surface and the interior frame surface, whereby the internal frame segment is not exposed at the interior frame surface or the exterior frame surface when the composite fenestration frame is installed into the wall.

A method of installing a composite fenestration frame of a building, the method comprising:

installing an internal frame segment made from paulownia at a peripheral portion of a fenestration opening;
installing a first external frame segment at the peripheral portion of the fenestration opening and adjacent an interior wall of the building, such that the first external frame segment substantially completely covers the internal frame segment from the interior of the building and the internal frame segment is not exposed when facing the interior wall of the building, the first external frame segment made from a first material having a material property different from paulownia;
and
installing a second external frame segment at the peripheral portion of the fenestration opening and adjacent an exterior wall of the building, such that the second external frame segment substantially completely covers the internal frame segment from the exterior of the building and the internal frame segment is not exposed when facing the exterior wall of the building, the second external frame segment made from a second material having a material property different from paulownia.

1 more element

A method of assembling a composite fenestration frame having an interior side and an exterior side, the method comprising:

forming at least a portion of a periphery of the composite fenestration frame with an internal frame segment made from paulownia, the internal frame segment having at least one exterior-facing surface and at least one interior-facing surface opposed to the exterior-facing surface;
assembling an interior frame segment over the interior-facing surface of the internal frame segment at the periphery of the composite fenestration frame, such that the interior frame segment substantially completely covers the interior-facing surface of internal frame segment and the internal frame segment is not exposed when facing the interior side of the composite fenestration frame, the interior frame segment made from a first material having a material property different from paulownia;
and
assembling an exterior frame segment over the exterior-facing surface of the internal frame segment at the periphery of the composite fenestration frame, such that the exterior frame segment substantially completely covers the exterior-facing surface of internal frame segment and the internal frame segment is not exposed when facing the exterior side of the composite fenestration frame, the exterior frame segment made from a second material having a material property different from paulownia.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Paulownia based fenestration structures

Life of this patent

Paulownia based fenestration structures

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20