Compound fenestration assembly mull joints and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9932765-B1
Application number	US-201615044610-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Feb 16, 2016
Priority date	Feb 16, 2015
Publication date	Apr 3, 2018
Grant date	Apr 3, 2018

Abstract

Compound fenestration assembly mull joints, compound fenestration assemblies using those mull joints, and methods of making and using the same are described herein. The mull joints in compound fenestration assemblies as described herein use universal joining strips to form both sides of a mull joint, as well as other universal components such as, e.g., corner gussets, locator plates, end plugs, seal members, etc. that may be used as needed to form mull joints as required in a compound fenestration assembly.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A compound fenestration assembly comprising:
a first frame member of a first fenestration unit attached to a second frame member of a second fenestration unit along a mull joint having a first end and a second end,
wherein the mull joint defines a mull joint axis extending along a length of the mull joint between the first and second ends of the mull joint,
wherein the first and second frame members comprise exterior sides facing in the same direction and interior sides facing in an opposite direction from the exterior sides, wherein an interior/exterior axis extends between the interior and exterior sides in a direction transverse to the mull joint axis,
wherein the first frame member faces the second frame member across the mull joint, wherein a separation axis extends through the mull joint between the first and second frame members, the separation axis extending in a direction transverse to both the mull joint axis and the interior/exterior axis;

a first joining strip attached to the first frame member of the first fenestration unit, the first joining strip comprising a first end proximate the first end of the mull joint and a second end proximate the second end of the mull joint, wherein the first joining strip comprises a pair of channels extending along the length of the first frame member, wherein each channel of the pair of channels is aligned with the mull joint axis and opens towards the exterior side of the first fenestration unit;
a second joining strip attached to the second frame member of the second fenestration unit, the second joining strip comprising a first end proximate the first end of the mull joint and a second end proximate the second end of the mull joint, wherein the second joining strip comprises a pair of channels extending along the length of the second frame member, wherein each channel of the pair of channels on the second joining strip is aligned with the mull joint axis and opens towards the interior side of the second fenestration unit such that each channel of the pair of channels on the first joining strip mechanically interlocks with one channel of the pair of channels on the second joining strip, wherein the mechanically interlocking channels prevent movement of the first frame member away from the second frame member along the separation axis, prevent movement of the first frame member towards the exterior side of the second frame member along the interior/exterior axis, and prevent movement of the second frame member towards the interior side of the first frame member along the interior/exterior axis;
wherein the second joining strip is a mirror image of the first joining strip across the mull joint such that the channels on the second joining strip face the channels on the first joining strip and the channels on the second joining strip and the channels on the first joining strip open in opposite directions;
a first corner gusset attached to the first fenestration unit, wherein the first corner gusset comprises:
a first gusset plate leg positioned between the first joining strip and the first frame member of the first fenestration unit at the first end of the mull joint, and
a first base plate attached to the first gusset plate leg and extending away from a corner of the first fenestration unit proximate the first end of the mull joint, wherein the first base plate extends away from the first fenestration unit in a direction aligned with the separation axis, wherein first base plate is configured for attachment to an interior surface of an opening in which the first fenestration unit is located; and

a second corner gusset attached to the second fenestration unit, wherein the second corner gusset comprises:
a second gusset plate leg positioned between the second joining strip and the second frame member of the second fenestration unit at the first end of the mull joint, and
a second base plate attached to the second gusset plate leg, wherein the second base plate extends over and is attached to a frame member of the second fenestration unit meeting the second frame member at a corner of the second fenestration unit proximate the first end of the mull joint;
wherein the second base plate is stacked with the first base plate when the channels on the first joining strip on the first fenestration unit mechanically interlock with the channels on the second joining strip on the second fenestration unit such that the second base plate is located between the first base plate and the second fenestration unit.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first joining strip extends over a majority of the length of the first frame member and the second joining strip extends over a majority of the length of the second frame member.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the pair of channels of the first joining strip extend along the entire length of the of the first joining strip and wherein the pair of channels of the second joining strip extend along the entire length of the of the second joining strip.

4. An assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the interior and exterior sides of the first and second frame members define a frame depth along the interior/exterior axis, and wherein the mechanically interlocking channels on the first and second joining strips are positioned such that a bottom of the channel on the first joining strip that is closest to the interior side of the first frame member is located within 20% or less of the frame depth from the interior side of the first frame member and a bottom of the channel on the second joining strip that is closest to the exterior side of the second frame member is located within 20% or less of the frame depth from the exterior side of the second frame member.

5. An assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the interior and exterior sides of the first and second frame members define a frame depth along the interior/exterior axis, and wherein the mechanically interlocking channels on the first and second joining strips are positioned such that a bottom of the channel on the first joining strip that is closest to the interior side of the first frame member is located within 15% or less of the frame depth from the interior side of the first frame member and a bottom of the channel on the second joining strip that is closest to the exterior side of the second frame member is located within 15% or less of the frame depth from the exterior side of the second frame member.

6. An assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a first locator plate is positioned between the first joining strip and the first frame member, the first locator plate comprising a frame surface facing the first frame member and a joining strip surface facing the first joining strip, wherein the frame surface and the first frame member comprise complementary mating features configured to position the first locator plate in one selected location and orientation relative to the first frame member, and wherein the joining strip surface and the first joining strip comprise complementary mating features configured to position the first locator plate in one selected location and orientation relative to the first joining strip such that the first locator plate is configured to position the first joining strip in one selected orientation relative to the first frame member and in one selected location on the first frame member along the interior/exterior axis.

7. An assembly according to claim 6 , wherein a second locator plate is positioned between the second joining strip and the second frame member, the second locator plate comprising a frame surface facing the second frame member and a joining strip surface facing the second joining strip, wherein the frame surface of the second locator plate and the second

Assignees

• Andersen Corp

Inventors

• Kelley Timothy J
• Fier Duane
• Boe Jeremiah
• Dekko Jon

Classifications

• E06B1/6007 Primary

  between similar contiguous frames (bay windows E06B1/363) · CPC title

• E06B1/363

  Bay windows · CPC title

• E06B3/964

  using separate connection pieces, e.g. T-connection pieces (E06B3/9604 - E06B3/9636 and E06B3/984 - E06B3/99 take precedence) · CPC title

• E06B3/673

  Assembling the units (E06B3/677 takes precedence {; making hollow glass sheets or bricks C03B23/24}) · CPC title

• E06B1/366

  Mullions or transoms therefor · CPC title