Combined corner guard and spacer clip for fenestrations

Abstract

A clip and method for protecting and properly installing fenestrations during installation of building masonry and insuring a minimum clearance between the masonry and the fenestration frame. The clip is fitted to each side of the frame and temporarily secured by insertion of a retention rib into a slot formed into the outside of each side of the frame. An outer locator flange projects a distance equal to the desired minimum clearance. The clips may also be used to secure a protective film wrapped over the outer side of the fenestration.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application 60/772,216 filed on Feb. 21, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns installation of windows and doors in building walls which have a masonry exterior, such as brick, but also including stucco, EF is, stone, etc.

More particularly, the invention concerns a corner guard and spacer clip and method for insuring proper clearance between windows and doors installed during construction and where masonry such as brick or stone, stucco, or other siding material will subsequently be applied to the framing wall.

Windows and doors (collectively referred to in the industry as fenestrations) installed during the construction of a building are often provided with plastic corner guards along the exposed side edges of the frames.

Window and door frames are typically provided with perimeter slots such as to mull join multiple units together with clips. Protective corner guard clips have also been used in which a retention lip spaced from one of the corners pushed into this slot on each side of the window. After construction, the clips are pulled out and discarded.

A common problem with fenestrations installed during construction is caused when a contractor installs masonry such as bricks, stone, etc., too close to the protruding window or door frame. When the building settles due to the expansion and contraction of materials or the drying out of the wood in the framing, pressure is exerted on the window frame by the relatively immobile masonry, particularly by a masonry sill. This can distort the window or door frame and cause interference with opening of movable sashes or door panels. This is a significant service problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the concept of the present invention, a novel corner guard clip configuration is provided having a locator flange profile protruding outwardly from the perimeter of the frame a distance corresponding to the proper masonry clearance, i.e. approximately ⅜″ around the sides of the window or door frame. This effectively prevents a mason contractor from installing masonry within that clearance space. The clips can be removed after the masonry or other siding material has been applied and the clearance joint is then caulked.

The locator flange can also be serrated or toothed and a plastic film such as a stretch wrap cover applied over the outer face of the window and wrapped around the flange and clip side to protect the exposed outer face of the window or door from dirt, paint, etc. In this case, both the plastic film cover and the clips are removed after construction is completed.

A plastic film cover can also be installed by inserting the lip of the corner guard into the sheet previously put over the front of the window, pushing it into a slot to secure the same to the window or door.

Such clips can be configured variously to match a particular window design and frame attachment method. For example, perimeter slots maybe provided in different locations and be of differing sizes, etc.

The clip can be provided with a grip projecting normally from the plane of the window or door to aid in removal to eliminate the need to use a tool such as a screw driver to remove the same. This minimizes the possibility of damage from improper use of the tool.

The protective plastic film can also be attached by a band wound around the window or door frame holding the film in place over the clips

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a window installed in an opening into a building wall shown in fragmentary form having clips according to the present invention fitted thereto.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of clips according to the invention installed on a window shown in phantom lines.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary partially exploded pictorial enlarged view of one corner of the window and a clip as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the clip shown in FIG. 3 with a portion of the clip shown in FIG. 3 with a portion of an associated fenestration shown in phantom lines.

FIG. 4A is a side view of a modified embodiment of a clip according to the invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a window corner having installed thereon a modified embodiment of the clip shown in FIGS. 1-4, with a fragmentary portion of a protective view film installed thereon.

FIG. 5A is an end view of a clip with a film layer captured in a groove in a window shown in phantom lines.

FIG. 6 is a reduced size side view of a window having a protective film installed on a window using a clip as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6A is a side view of a window having a protective film installed with the aid of an encircling band.

FIG. 7 is an end view of another embodiment of a clip according to the present invention.

FIG. 7A is an enlarged fragmentary end view of the clip shown in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, certain specific terminology will be employed for the sake of clarity and a particular embodiment described in accordance with the requirements of 35 USC 112, but it is to be understood that the same is not intended to be limiting and should not be so construed inasmuch as the invention is capable of taking many forms and variations within the scope of the appended claims

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a fenestration comprised of a window 10 is shown installed in an opening 12 of a building structure 16, having a masonry facing 14 (shown as brick).

A series of clips 18 are installed on the window 10, on each side. The clips 18 maybe long enough to occupy most of the length of a respective side. Alternatively, shorter clips 18 may be used, preferably in a greater number.

Each clip 18 is advantageously constructed of a plastic molding or extrusion, although other materials and methods, such as formed metal could be used.

The clips 18 are shaped generally as an angle piece having a pair of integral legs 20, 22 extending at approximately a right angle to each other as to be fit to side and front surfaces of the window frame 24.

A retainer rib 26 projects back from the front leg 22 spaced below the side leg 20, and is received in a corresponding slot 28 extending around the perimeter of the window frame 24 (FIG. 4). An angled retention feature 30 is formed on the distal end of the retainer rib 26 and sized and configured to create a frictional engagement with the slot 28 when inserted therein.

Thus, the clips 18 can be easily installed and later removed, but held securely in position once installed.

A spacer flange 32 projects outwardly from the corner where legs 20, 22 of each clip 18 meet, preferably extending outwardly a distance of approximately ¼ to ⅜ of an inch. A distance of 0.325 inches is preferred.

The locator flange 32 prevents any part of the masonry surface from being installed against or too close to the window frame 24 so that a minimum clearance is always provided for to avoid the problems described above.

The clips 18 will be removed after construction is completed. Thus, the window frame 24 and the window 10 are both protected from damage and adequate clearance from the masonry 14 is insured.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the window 10 can be further protected by wrapping plastic film 34 around the front of the window 10. The spacer flanges 32A serrated along the upper edge 36 thereof to engage and hold the film 32 stretched across the front of window 10.

FIG. 4A shows the addition of an outwardly projecting grip tee shape 38 which facilitates removal of the clip 18 without the need for a screwdriver or pry bar.

FIG. 5A shows an alternative method of securing a sheet of film 34 by pushing the retention rib 26 of the clip 18 into an edge of the film 34 to push the film 34 into the slot 28 where it is retained by the clip 18.

FIG. 6A shows the film 34 secured with a band stretched over the wrapped film 34, wrapped around the window frame 24.

FIGS. 7 and 7A show further details of an embodiment of a clip 18.

The front and the side legs 20, 22, the locator flange 32, the retention rib 26 and grip section 38 are thick enough to be relatively rigid, i.e., having a thickness t of 0.030 inches.

The retention feature 30 is comprised of an upper portion of a thinner thickness (0.015 inches) so as to be relatively flexible to enable deflection upon pushing the same into the slot 28 while generating a frictional engagement serving to hold the clip 18 on the window 10.

It is noted that the entire retainer rib 26 may be angled to generate further friction as the rib 26 will be deflected laterally as it is pushed into the slot 28 to increase the frictional engagement force.

In the example of a clip 18 shown, the front and side legs 20, 22 have a length L of 0.75 inches.

The grip height is 0.25 inches and has a width W of 0.2 inches.

The retainer rib 26 is angled at 10° and is of a depth d of 0.20-0.23 inches.

It is noted that the clips 18 are effectively usable with doors or windows, referred collectively to in the claims as “fenestrations” as noted above.

Claims

1. In combination a plurality of locator and guard clips and a generally rectangular fenestration, said clips having:

a front leg and a side leg extending at an approximately right angle to each other to form an angle piece able to be fit to a respective side fenestration frame;

a retention rib projecting from said front leg spaced below said side leg and extending in the same direction;

said retention rib received in a slot in one side of said fenestration frame and correspondingly spaced inwardly from side of said fenestration frame; and

a locator flange projecting substantially normally to said side leg from a point proximate said front leg and extending a distance corresponding to a predetermined minimum clearance space between said fenestration frame and an adjacent building opening into which said fenestration is installed.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said locator-guard clips each further include an angled retention feature at a distal end of said retention rib frictionally engaging a sidewall of said slot.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said retention feature is of a thinner thickness than said retention rib to be flexible.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said retention rib of each clip is shallowly angled with respect to said side leg to be deflected laterally when inserted in said slot.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said locator and guard clips each further including a grip portion projecting from said front leg and approximately normal thereto.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said locator and guard clips further include a protective film stretched over the front of said fenestration and around said series of clips.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said film is held tucked into each slot in said fenestration frame by said retention rib of each clip.

8. The combination of claim 6 wherein said locator flange of each clip is serrated and said film is stretched over said serrated edge of said locator flange of each of said clips.

9. The combination of claim 6 wherein said film is wrapped over said side of said fenestration frame and retained thereon by a band wrapped around the perimeter of said frame.

10. A method of installing a fenestration into an opening in a building to be covered with a masonry outer facing, comprising:

temporarily installing one or more removable clips on each side of a fenestration frame, each clip having a locator flange extending outwardly from said perimeter of said frame a distance from said frame corresponding to a predetermined minimum clearance between said frame and an opening in said building;

installing said fenestration with said flanges disposed in a common plane with said masonry outer facing to be constructed;

constructing said masonry while; and thereafter removing said clips, whereby said minimum clearance is maintained.

11. The method according to claim 10 further including wrapping a protective film over an outer face of said fenestration and around said outer edge of said clips and holding said film by forming serrations on said outer edge to engage and hold said film in position.

12. The method according to claim 11 further including forming an outwardly projecting grip on each clip to assist in removal thereof.

13. The method according to claim 11 wherein said clips are temporarily installed by forming a retention rib on each clip and inserting said rib of each clip in a groove formed into a respective side of said fenestration frame, said slot and rib being configured so as to create a frictional securement therein.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein each clip is integrally formed with a front and side leg fitted to an outer edge of said fenestration frame to provide a corner protection thereto.

15. The method according to claim 13 further including wrapping a protective film over said retention ribs of said clips and thereafter inserting said retention rib of each clip into a respective slot to secure said film in position therein.