Enhanced field of view for fenestration units

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10982484-B2
Application number	US-201916448140-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 21, 2019
Priority date	Jun 22, 2018
Publication date	Apr 20, 2021
Grant date	Apr 20, 2021

Abstract

A fenestration unit comprising a frame having a center, a sash coupled to the frame, an interior pane coupled to the sash, a spacer coupled to the interior pane, an exterior pane coupled to the sash and the spacer, the exterior pane including an inward-facing surface, and a peripheral shield disposed on the inward-facing surface of the exterior pane such that, when viewed at direct angle, the peripheral shield hides the spacer, the sash, and at least part of the frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fenestration unit comprising:
a frame having an outward-facing surface, a plurality of frame members and a center;
a sash coupled to the frame, the sash including a first support surface and a second support surface, each of the first and second support surfaces being outward-facing, the first support surface positioned farther away from the center of the frame than the second support surface;
an exterior pane coupled to the first support surface of the sash, the exterior pane including an inward-facing side and a first edge having a first length, the outward-facing surface of the frame being positioned less outward than the exterior pane such that the exterior pane is the most outwardly positioned member of the fenestration unit;
a peripheral shield disposed on the inward-facing side of the exterior pane and coupled to the sash such that the sash is shielded from observation by the peripheral shield when viewed at direct angle;
a spacer coupled to the exterior pane and shielded from observation by the peripheral shield when viewed at direct angle; and
an interior pane coupled to the second support surface of the sash, the interior pane including a first edge having a second length shorter than the first length.

2. The fenestration unit of claim 1 , wherein the peripheral shield has a first width between an inner edge and an outer edge, the outer edge being substantially adjacent to the first edge of the exterior pane.

3. The fenestration unit of claim 2 , wherein the first width of the peripheral shield is smaller or equal to two inches.

4. The fenestration unit of claim 1 , wherein the peripheral shield is opaque to the naked eye.

5. The fenestration unit of claim 4 , wherein the peripheral shield is formed as black fritting deposited on the exterior pane.

6. The fenestration unit of claim 1 , wherein the frame is configured such that, when viewed at direct angle, at least part of the frame is directly behind the exterior pane.

7. The fenestration unit of claim 1 , wherein the first edge of the interior pane is closer to the center of the frame than the first edge of the exterior pane.

8. The fenestration unit of claim 1 , wherein the exterior pane is coupled to the first support surface of the sash using sealant, and the interior pane being coupled to the second support surface of the sash using sealant.

9. The fenestration unit of claim 8 , wherein the peripheral shield disposed on the exterior pane is adhered to the first support surface of the sash using sealant.

10. The fenestration unit of claim 8 , wherein the sealant is shielded from observation by the peripheral shield when viewed at direct angle.

11. The fenestration unit of claim 1 , wherein the sash comprises pultruded fiberglass.

12. The fenestration unit of claim 1 , wherein the sash is rigidly coupled to the frame.

13. The fenestration unit of claim 1 , wherein the sash is coupled to the frame such that the sash is configured to vent.

14. A fenestration unit comprising:
a frame having a center and an outward-facing surface;
a sash coupled to the frame;
an interior pane coupled to the sash;
a spacer coupled to the interior pane;
an exterior pane coupled to the sash and the spacer, the exterior pane including an inward-facing surface, the outward-facing surface of the frame being positioned less outward than the exterior pane such that the exterior pane is the most outwardly positioned member of the fenestration unit; and
a peripheral shield disposed on the inward-facing surface of the exterior pane such that, when viewed at direct angle, the peripheral shield hides the spacer, the sash, and at least part of the frame.

15. The fenestration unit of claim 14 , wherein the exterior pane is positioned more outwardly than the frame such that an extra region exterior to the external pane is unobstructed to viewing.

16. The fenestration unit of claim 15 , wherein the extra region comprises the region directly exterior to the exterior pane and peripheral shield.

17. The fenestration unit of claim 14 , wherein the peripheral shield includes an inner edge such that when viewing from the exterior side of the fenestration unit equal to or farther from the center of the frame than the inner edge of the peripheral shield, the spacer, the sash, and at least part of the frame are shielded from observation by the peripheral shield.

18. The fenestration unit of claim 14 , wherein the frame comprises an outward-facing surface having substantially the same appearance as the peripheral shield.

19. The fenestration unit of claim 18 , wherein outward-facing surface and the peripheral shield are at least one of opaque, black, and matte-finished.

Assignees

• Pella Corp

Inventors

• Bernhagen Todd A
• Schroder Paul D
• Vande Haar Evan R

Classifications

• E06B3/325 Primary

  Wings opening towards the outside · CPC title

• E06B3/6617

  one of the panes being larger than another · CPC title

• E06B3/66309

  Section members positioned at the edges of the glazing unit · CPC title

• E06B2003/66385

  with special shapes · CPC title

• E06B3/64 Primary

  Fixing of more than one pane to a frame · CPC title