Rotary fastener for securing a fenestration panel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11549534-B2
Application number	US-201816226431-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2018
Priority date	Dec 19, 2018
Publication date	Jan 10, 2023
Grant date	Jan 10, 2023

Abstract

A fastener system for securing a panel to a frame comprises one or more rotating fasteners installed in the perimeter edge of the panel. In operation, one or more cam surfaces of the fastener engage receiving surfaces of a receiver on the frame such that, upon rotation of each fastener, the panel is drawn toward the frame. In some embodiments, the panel is moved in a first direction parallel to the panel and a second direction perpendicular to the panel or in a composite diagonal direction inclined relative to the panel. The fastener system may facilitate compression of seals disposed along the perimeter edge of the panel and between a side of the panel and rabbet ledge of the frame and may further facilitate removal and maintenance of the panel.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system attaching a fenestration panel to a frame, the panel comprising opposing front and rear sides having a thickness therebetween, and the frame comprising an opening sized to receive the panel and having a ledge surface extending inwardly from an inner perimeter of the opening, the system comprising:
a fastener rotatably coupled to one of an outer perimeter of the panel or the inner perimeter of the frame for rotation about an axis of rotation between a first position and a second position, the axis of rotation disposed transverse to the front and rear sides of the panel, the fastener comprising:
a first side and a second side, the axis of rotation of the fastener intersecting the first side and the second side, the first side including an axially facing surface that is flat and perpendicular to the axis of rotation, a thickness direction of the fastener defined between the first side and the second side,
a slot that is open at the first side and the second side to define a hook, the slot including an inward facing radial cam surface having a decreasing radius in a first angular direction of the fastener about the axis of rotation, and the hook including a helical cam surface that is ramped in the thickness direction and that is helical with respect to the axis of rotation, the helical cam surface intersecting and blending into the axially facing surface of the first side; and
a receiver coupled to the other one of the outer perimeter of the panel or the inner perimeter of the frame, such that the receiver is able to be in alignment with the fastener, the receiver comprising:
a cavity comprising a receiver surface proximate to the ledge surface, the hook received in the cavity when in the first position, the hook disposed outside the cavity when in the second position, the receiver surface positioned to contact and follow the helical cam surface as the fastener moves between the first position and the second position, and
a cross member extending across the cavity from the receiver surface and defining a cam follower positioned to contact and follow the radial cam surface as the fastener moves between the first position and the second position,
wherein upon rotation of the fastener from the second position to the first position, a contact force between the radial cam surface and the cam follower moves the panel relative to the frame in a first direction perpendicularly toward the axis of rotation, and a contact force between the helical cam surface and the receiver surface moves the panel relative to the frame in a second direction along the axis of rotation toward the ledge surface.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the fastener is rotatable through a first angle of rotation and a second angle of rotation when moving from the second position to the first position, and
rotation of the fastener through the first angle of rotation moves the panel in the first direction and rotation of the fastener through the second angle of rotation moves the panel in the second direction.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first angle of rotation and the second angle of rotation at least partially overlap.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the second angle of rotation precedes the first angle of rotation.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a chassis mountable within a recess disposed along a perimeter edge of the panel, such that a top edge of the chassis is flush with or recessed beneath the perimeter edge, and wherein the fastener is rotatably coupled to the chassis.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the fastener comprises a curved surface disposed partially about the axis of rotation defining a portion of a perimeter of the fastener.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein:
the fastener comprises a protrusion extending radially from the curved surface, and
the protrusion engages the chassis to limit rotation of the fastener.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the fastener comprises a flat surface disposed parallel to the axis of rotation defining a portion of the perimeter of the fastener, the flat surface positioned relative to the axis of rotation so as to be aligned with the top edge of the chassis when the fastener is disposed at an initial angular position.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the fastener comprises a detent, the detent inhibiting rotation of the fastener away from the initial angular position in the absence of a torque applied by a tool.

10. The system of claim 5 , wherein:
the fastener comprises an axle fixedly coupled to the fastener coincident with the axis of rotation, and
the axle is rotatably coupled to the chassis.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the axle comprises a tool interface disposed on one or both ends of the axle to facilitate application of a torque to the fastener via a tool.

12. A fenestration assembly comprising:
a panel comprising a front side, a rear side opposite the front side, and a thickness between the front side and the rear side;
a frame comprising an opening sized to receive the panel, the frame having a ledge surface extending inwardly from an inner perimeter of the opening;
at least one rotatable cam fastener disposed along at least a portion of an outer perimeter of the panel between the front and rear sides, the at least one rotatable cam fastener supported for rotation about an axis of rotation relative to the panel between a first position and a second position, the axis of rotation disposed transverse to the front and rear sides of the panel, the at least one rotatable cam fastener comprising:
a first side and a second side, the axis of rotation of the at least one rotatable cam fastener intersecting the first side and the second side, the first side including an axially facing surface that is flat and perpendicular to the axis of rotation, a thickness direction of the rotatable cam fastener defined between the first side and the second side, the axis of rotation disposed perpendicular to the panel,
a slot that is open at the first side and the second side to define a hook, the slot including a radial cam surface having a decreasing radius in a first angular direction of the fastener about the axis of rotation, and the hook including a helical cam surface that is ramped in the thickness direction and that is helical with respect to the axis of rotation, the helical cam surface intersecting and blending into the axially facing surface of the first side; and
at least one receiver disposed along at least a portion of the inner perimeter of the frame, such that the at least one receiver is positioned to be in alignment with the at least one rotatable cam fastener, the at least one receiver comprising:
a cavity comprising a receiver surface proximate to the ledge surface of the at least one receiver, the hook received in the cavity when in the first position, the hook disposed outside the cavity when in the second position, the receiver surface positioned to contact and follow the helical cam surface as the fastener moves between the first position and the second position, and
a cross member extending across the cavity from the receiver surface and defining a cam follower positioned to contact and follow the radial cam surface as the at least one rotatable fastener moves between the first position and the second position, and
wherein upon rotation of the at least one rotatable cam fastener from the second position to the first position, a contact force between the radial cam surface and the cam follower moves the panel relative to the frame in a first direction perpendicularly toward the axis of rotation, and a contact force between the helical cam s

Assignees

• Jeld Wen Inc

Inventors

• Meyer Shane
• Graetsch Chris
• Yagla David
• Perkins Philip

Classifications

• F16B12/2027

  with rotating excenters or wedges · CPC title

• F16B2005/0678

  in abutting relationship · CPC title

• F16B2/18

  using cams, levers, eccentrics, or toggles {(for connections of rods or tubes engaged telescopically F16B7/1418, F16B7/1427, F16B7/1454)} · CPC title

• F16B5/07

  by means of multiple interengaging protrusions on the surfaces, e.g. hooks, coils, · CPC title

• F16B5/0084

  characterised by particular locking means · CPC title