Window shutter frame with magnetic faceplate
A mounting frame for mounting structures in buildings, which has a faceplate for concealing unsightly mounting points along the mounting frame. The faceplate is attached to a base of the mounting frame by means of magnetic coupling, which may include a magnet provided in either one of the base or the faceplate, and a complementary magnet or magnetic material attached to the other one of the base or the faceplate. In one aspect of the present invention, the mounting frame is structured to support shutters for windows.
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This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/667,440, filed Mar. 30, 2005, which is fully incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
All publications referenced herein are fully incorporated by reference, as if fully set forth herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to ornamental mounting frames in buildings, and particularly to window shutter frame assemblies.
2. Description of Related Art
In buildings such as private homes, aesthetics of visible building components is an important design consideration beyond functional considerations. For example, the structures for windows and doors are designed with aesthetics in mind. Modern private homes are designed with many windows on the walls of the building. More aesthetic design considerations would be necessary for the large areas occupied by the window. Some owners have chosen to install window shutters to not only provide privacy, but as an attractive alternative to blinds, shades, and drapes. Window shutters are typically provided with a frame structure that is attached to the wall around the edges of a window, and that supports the shutter panels that cover the windows.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,474,038 to Nien et al. discloses a window shutter frame for attaching window shutters to a wall, which provides an elongated rigid mounting strip that is retained by friction in a mounting channel along frame sections. The frame sections are attached by screws to the wall at mounting points along the mounting channel. The mounting strip conceals the screws after mounting the frame sections to the wall, thus providing an appealing appearance.
For wood shutter frames, the friction fit of the mounting strip may come loose with time, as the wood frame expands or contracts, bends or warps under environmental conditions, such as moisture, temperature, etc. For long frame sections, it is sometimes difficult to provide sufficient tolerance to maintain consistent friction fit at different locations along the entire longitudinal sections, and it may be difficult to insert the mounting strip into the channel because of insufficient clearance at different locations along the longitudinal sections.
It is therefore desirable to provide an improved window frame structure that is aesthetic and durable with respect to concealment of mounting points.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to a mounting frame for mounting structures to a wall in buildings, which has a faceplate for concealing unsightly mounting points along the mounting frame. The faceplate is attached to a base of the mounting frame by means of magnetic coupling, which may comprise a magnet provided in either one of the base or the faceplate, and a complementary magnet or magnetic material attached to the other one of the base or the faceplate.
In one aspect of the present invention, the mounting frame is structured to support shutters for windows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFor a fuller understanding of the scope and nature of the invention, as well as the preferred mode of use, reference should be made to the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the following drawings, like reference numerals designate like or similar parts throughout the drawings.
The present description is of the best presently contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the appended claims.
For purposes of illustrating the principles of the present invention and not by limitation, the present invention is described herein below by reference to a mounting frame structure relating to a window shutter. However, it is understood that the present invention is equally applicable to window shutters of other structural designs, and other types of mounting frames for a building, such as door frames, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
In the illustrated embodiment, the frame section 13 is made up of two separate pieces, including a base 22 and a faceplate 24. The frame section 13 has an overall external surface profile 25 that is aesthetic or visually appealing. The back 26 of the frame section 13 is shaped for attachment to the periphery wall 28 of a window (shown in dotted lines). The frame section 13 has a step 30 that provides a support or stop to the sub-frame 14.
The base 22 has a slot or channel 32 that receives the faceplate 24. The depth of the channel 32 and the thickness of the faceplate 24 may be chosen to provide a smooth or flush surface transition from the base 22 to the faceplate 24 and vice versa. The particular physical configuration would depend on the desired visual profile for the frame section 13.
At least one magnetic coupling structure is provided between the faceplate 24 and the base 22. The bottom surface of the base plate 24 includes a permanent magnet or a piece of magnetic material (e.g., soft iron), and the opposing surface of the channel 32 of the base 22 includes a magnetic piece or a permanent magnet, in a complementary fashion to provide a magnetic coupling between the base 22 and the faceplate 24. The magnetic piece and the magnet may be completely embedded in the respective base 22 and faceplate 24, with or without the surface of the magnet and the magnet material exposed. The exposed surface may be flush or sunk with respect to the surrounding structure. It is noted that only one of the faceplate 24 or base 22 needs to have a magnet, and the other piece can have a complementary magnet (with the poles of the magnet aligned appropriately to provide an attractive coupling force to the magnet in the faceplate) or a complementary magnetic piece.
In the illustrated embodiment of
There may be multiple magnet/magnetic piece pairs distributed along the longitudinal frame section 13 (e.g., at uniform spacing or concentrated at certain sections such as the ends of the longitudinal frame section and/or the mid section), to provide the necessary magnetic coupling between the faceplate 24 and the base 22 to securely hold the faceplate 24 in the channel 32 after installation. The magnets and magnetic pieces may be located and aligned along the median axis of the channel 32, or off such axis. In the alternate, the magnets and/or the magnetic pieces may be in the shape of a continuous strip covering part of or the entire longitudinal frame section, or short sections of strips that may be evenly distributed along the longitudinal frame section 13.
Referring also to
To install the mounting frame 12 to the wall 28, the base 22 is mounted against the wall 28 by nails or screws 40. The faceplate 24 is inserted into the channel 32 in the base 22 and held in place substantially by magnetic coupling, thus covering the unsightly screw or nail heads. Because the nails or screws are driven into the channel 32 of the base 22 that has a relatively thinner cross section compared to its overall thickness, the screws and nails used could be shorter, and thinner. After installation, a desired surface profile is formed by the faceplate 24 and the section of the base 22 which is exposed to view, thereby concealing the underlying mounting points. The faceplate 24 is not held in place in the channel 22 substantially by friction between the faceplate 24 and the channel 22.
The base 22 and the faceplate 24 may have uniform or non-uniform cross-sections different from the embodiment shown in the drawings. The base 22 and faceplate 24 may be made of the same or different material, including synthetic (e.g., plastic), metal, wood (solid or compressed wood), or a composite of two or more different materials. The base 22 and/or faceplate 24 may be flexible or rigid. The faceplate and the complementary channel in the frame base may be sized and shaped in any manner, such as a curved or wavy longitudinal profile, and/or of varying width along the longitudinal frame section.
Alternative embodiments may include a base that is entirely or partially made of a magnetic material or magnet, and the faceplate that is entirely or partially made of a complementary magnet or magnetic material.
Further, while
The frame base and/or faceplate may include a surface finish, including, for example, textured, matte, polished, finishing layer such as coating, chroming, plating, paint, or other surface finishes or finishing layers. In the alternative or in addition, structural features may be provided on the faceplate, such as studs, carving, attachments, and/or other decorative ornamental features.
While the invention has been described with respect to the described embodiments in accordance therewith, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the shutter louvers may be a horizontal row of vertical louvers, which may be movable or fixed in relation to the mounting frame.
Accordingly, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited by the specific illustrated embodiments, but only by the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A frame for mounting a structure to a wall, comprising:
- a base having a rear section for mounting to a wall and a front section exposed to view after installation; and
- a faceplate magnetically coupled to the base, wherein the faceplate has a front surface exposed to view after installation.
2. The frame as in claim 1, wherein the faceplate comprises at least a magnet or a magnetic material, and the base comprises at least one complementary magnet or magnetic material, to form a magnetic coupling between the base and the faceplate.
3. The frame as in claim 2, wherein the base comprises a channel sized and shaped to receive the faceplate.
4. The frame as in claim 3, wherein the faceplate is held in place in the channel substantially by the magnetic coupling.
5. The frame as in claim 3, wherein the faceplate is not held in place in the channel substantially by friction between the faceplate and the channel.
6. The frame as in claim 3, wherein the channel has a floor along which the at least a magnet or a magnetic material is disposed.
7. The frame as in claim 6, wherein the faceplate comprises a concealed surface on which the at least a magnet or a magnetic material is disposed.
8. The frame as in claim 7, wherein the channel is provided with mounting points.
9. The frame as in claim 8, wherein the mounting points comprise through holes through the base from the channel.
10. The frame as in claim 1, further comprising a frame section that comprises the base and faceplate.
11. The frame as in claim 10, wherein the frame is structured to mount a shutter for a window, and wherein the frame section is structured to support shutter louvers.
12. The frame as in claim 11, wherein the frame section is structured to support a sub-frame that supports shutter louvers.
13. The frame as in claim 1, wherein the exposed faceplate and the exposed front section of the base form a desired surface profile of the frame.
14. The frame as in claim 1, wherein the structure to be mounted to the wall is a shutter for a window.
15. A window shutter, comprising:
- the frame as in claim 14; and
- a shutter supported by the frame.
16. A window shutter, comprising:
- a frame for mounting shutters to a wall, comprising: a base having a section for mounting to a wall and a front section exposed to view after installation, and a faceplate magnetically coupled to the base, wherein the faceplate is exposed to view after installation; and
- a shutter supported by the frame.
17. The window shutter as in claim 16, wherein the faceplate comprises at least a magnet or a magnetic material, and the base comprises at least one complementary magnet or magnetic material, to form a magnetic coupling between the base and the faceplate.
18. The window shutter as in claim 17, wherein the base comprises a channel sized and shaped to receive the faceplate, and wherein the faceplate is held in place in the channel substantially by the magnetic coupling.
19. The frame as in claim 18, wherein the channel has a floor along which the at least a magnet or a magnetic material is disposed.
20. The frame as in claim 19, wherein the faceplate comprises a concealed surface on which the at least a magnet or a magnetic material is disposed.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 24, 2006
Publication Date: Nov 9, 2006
Applicant:
Inventor: Andy Ho (Long Beach, CA)
Application Number: 11/389,606
International Classification: E04C 3/02 (20060101);