Mullion device for window

Claim 2

Cross-joint structure of angularly intersecting elongated members and cross-joint connectors; said cross-joint connectors having ends and recesses, said recesses having bottom walls and end walls, said ends of said cross-joint connectors carrying said elongated members, said bottom walls being in abutting relationship, said bottom walls having lengths greater than their widths thereby permitting relative disposition of said crossjoint connectors at a variety of angles.

Claim 3

The structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said elongated members have ends remote from their cross-joint structure for attachment to support structure and wherein said elongated members are adapted for such attachment through cam or wedge locking witH said support structure by bevel cutting of their remote ends.

Claim 4

The structure in accordance with claim 2, wherein said bevel-cut remote ends of said elongated members have overcut upper portions, undercut lower portions, and center portions between said overcut upper portions and undercut lower portions, and wherein said center portions correspond to the required dimensions to fit said support structure.

Claim 5

The structure in accordance with claim 3, wherein the bevel cuts are made at angles of 3* .

Claim 6

The structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said elongated members have ends remote from their cross-joint structure for fastening to support structure, wherein are further provided inserting members, wherein said remote ends of said elongated members carry said inserting members, wherein said inserting members are adapted for engagement with said support structure, and wherein said elongated members are fastened to said support structure by engagement of said inserting members with said support structure.

Claim 7

The structure in accordance with claim 5, wherein said remote ends of said elongated members interiorly carry said inserting members, wherein each inserting member has a projecting point, neck, serrated flange, main body portion and two, symmetrical, transverse wing portions, wherein said projecting point is centrally imbedded in said main body portion, wherein said transverse wing portions extend oppositely outwardly from said main body portion, have rounded lateral edges and symmetrical, angled, lateral sides, wherein said elongated members have longitudinal slots formed through their remote ends, wherein said longitudinal slot engaged said neck, wherein the width of each of said longitudinal slots in less than the width of each of said necks to thereby provide interference fit, wherein said elongated members have interior surfaces, wherein said interior surfaces guide said transverse wing portions, wherein said serrated flanges facilitate manipulation of said inserting members, wherein each of said serrated flanges has a bottom surface, wherein each of said elongated members has a flat upper surface in abbuting relationship with, and guiding, said bottom surface of said serrated flange, wherein said serrated flange covers said longitudinal slot, wherein each of said projecting points of said inserting members engages said support structure to fasten its associated elongated member with said support structure, and wherein said angled, lateral sides of said traNsverse wing portions adapt said elongated members for fastening to said support structure at a variety of angles.

Claim 8

The structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said elongated members have angularly intersecting ends remote from their cross-joint structure, wherein are further provided angle-joint connectors, and wherein said angle-joint connectors structurally join together said angular intersecting ends of said elongated members to form angular joints.

Claim 9

The structure in accordance with claim 7, wherein each angle-joint connector is of right circular cylindrical configuration and has two ends of equal radii separated by a reduced center portion whose radius is less than the radii of said ends, wherein one remote end of an angularly intersecting elongated member interiorly receives and carries one end of an angle-joint connector and the other remote end of an angularly intersecting elongated member interiorly receives and carries the other end of said angle-joint connector, wherein said elongated members have interior surfaces, and wherein said interior surfaces have portions whose radial distances are less than the radii of said angle-joint connector ends thereby providing interference fit.

Claim 10

The structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said elongated members are mullion tubes of a mullion device or grill simulatively converting a single-light window to multiple light, wherein each of said mullion tubes has relatively flat upper and lower surfaces symmetrically disposed with respect to each other, has relatively flat top and bottom surfaces symmetrically disposed with respect to each other, has inclined webs, one of said webs joining said flat upper surface and flat top surface, another of said webs joining said flat lower surface and flat bottom surface, and the other of said webs joining said flat bottom surface and flat upper surface, said flat upper and lower surfaces, flat top and bottom surfaces and inclined webs having interior surfaces substantially parallel to their respective outer surfaces, wherein each of said cross-joint connectors is of right circular cylindrical configuration and its said ends are of equal radii separated in the middle by a raised, shoulder portion of slightly greater radius, wherein said interior surfaces of said inclined webs have portions whose radial distances are less than the radii of said cross-joint connector ends thereby providing interference fit, wherein said raised, shoulder portion structurally functions as a limit stop to prevent further insertion of said cross-joint connector interiorly of said mullion tube upon establishment of abutting relationship of said mullion tubes.

Claim 11

The structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said elongated members are runners adapted to form a ceiling suspension grid for holding ceiling panels, wherein each of said runners is in the shape of an inverted T, has a vertical web, at the top of which is a tubular ridge and at the bottom of which are two symmetrical, transverse flanges extending oppositely outwardly, wherein each of said cross-joint connectors is of right circular cylindrical configuration and its said ends are of equal radii, wherein said tubular ridge interiorly receives and retentively carries an end of said cross-joint connector and wherein the radius of the interior of said tubular ridge is less than the radii of said cross-joint connector ends thereby providing interference fit.

Claim 12

The structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said intersecting elongated members form a geodesic configuration.

Claim 13

The structure in accordance with claim 11, wherein some of said elongated members angularly intersect to form T-joints, wherein are further provided T-joint connectors and cross-joint connectors, and wherein said T-joint connectors and cross-joint connectors structurally joining together said intersecting elongated members forming said T-joints form said T-joints.

Claim 14

The structure in accordance with claim 12, wherein each T-joint comprises a cross-joint connector and a T-joint connector, wherein said cross-joint connector of said T-joint has ends and a recess, said cross-joint connector recess of said T-joint having a bottom wall and end walls, said cross-joint connector ends of said T-joint carrying said elongated members, wherein said T-joint connector has ends and a recess, said T-joint connector recess having a bottom wall and end walls, wherein one T-joint connector end carries one of said elongated members, wherein the other T-joinT connector end is tapered and has its terminal portion in the configuration of a hook, wherein said cross-joint connector bottom wall of said T-joint and said T-joint connector bottom wall are in abutting relationship, and wherein said terminal hook portion of said T-joint connector end is disposed relative to and hooked over said cross-joint connector bottom wall of said T-joint.

Claim 15

The structure in accordance with claim 12, wherein one of said elongated members forming said T-joint has on its end a 45* miter cut relative to its longitudinal axis, and wherein said remaining elongated members forming said T-joint have on their ends 45* miter cuts relative to their longitudinal axes.

Claim 16

An inserting member adapted for use in fastening the ends of a mullion tube to window sash structure at a variety of angles, said mullion tube end interiorly carrying said inserting member, said mullion tube having relatively flat upper and lower surfaces symmetrically disposed with respect to each other, relatively flat top and bottom surfaces symmetrically disposed with respect to each other, inclined webs, one of said webs joining said flat upper surface and flat top surface, another of said webs joining said flat top surface and flat lower surface, another of said webs joining said flat lower surface and flat bottom surface, and the other of said webs joining said flat bottom surface and flat upper surface, said flat upper and lower surfaces, flat top and bottom surfaces and inclined webs having interior surfaces substantially parallel to their respective outer surfaces, said mullion tube end having a longitudinal slot formed through said flat upper surface, said inserting member having a projecting point, neck, serrated flange, main body portion and two, symmetrical, transverse wing portions, said serrated flange, neck and transverse wing portions terminating in the common planar surface of said main body portion, said projecting point being centrally imbedded in said main body portion and extending from said common planar surface of said main body portion, said transverse wing portions extending oppositely outwardly from said main body portion, said transverse wing portions having rounded lateral edges and symmetrical, acute-angled, planar lateral sides immediately diverging from said common planar surface of said main body portion, said longitudinal slot engaging said neck, the width of said longitudinal slot being less than the width of said neck thereby providing interference fit, said interior surfaces of said flat top and bottom surfaces guiding said transverse wing portions, said serrated flange facilitating manipulation of said inserting member, said serrated flange having a bottom surface, said flat upper surface of said mullion tube being in abutting relationship with, and guiding, said bottom surface of said serrated flange, said serrated flange covering said longitudinal slot, and said projecting point being engaged with said window sash structure to fasten said mullion tube to said window sash structure.

Claim 17

An inserting member adapted for use in fastening the ends of a mullion tube to window sash structure at a variety of angles, said mullion tube end interiorly carrying said inserting member, said mullion tube having relatively flat upper and lower surfaces symmetrically disposed with respect to each other, relatively flat top and bottom surfaces symmetrically disposed with respect to each other, inclined webs, one of said webs joining said flat upper surface and flat top surface, another of said webs joining said flat top surface and flat lower surface, another of said webs joining said flat lower surface and flat bottom surface, and the other of said webs joining said flat bottom surface and flat upper surface, said flat upper and lower surfaces, flat top and bottom surfaces and inclined webs having interior surfaces substantially parallel to their respective outer surfaces, said mullion tube end having a longitudinal slot formed through said flat upper surface, said inserting member having a projecting point, neck, serrated flange, main body portion and two, symmetrical, transverse wing portions, said serrated flange, neck and transverse wing portions terminating in the common planar surface of said main body portion, said projecting point being centrally imbedded in said main body portion and extending from said common planar surface of said main body portion, said transverse wing portions extending oppositely outwardly from said main body portion, said transverse wing portions having rounded lateral edges and symmetrical, acute-angled, planar lateral sides immediately diverging from said common planar surface of said main body portion, said longitudinal slot engaging said neck, the width of said longitudinal slot being less than the width of said neck thereby providing interference fit, said interior surfaces of said flat top and bottom surfaces guiding said transverse wing portions, said serrated flange facilitating manipulation of said inserting member, said serrated flange having a bottom surface, said flat upper surface of said mullion tube being in abutting relationship with, and guiding, said bottom surface of said serrated flange, said serrated flange covering said longitudinal slot, and said projecting point being engaged with said window sash structure to fasten said mullion tube to said window sash structure.

Claim 18

Cross-joint connectors adapted for use with angularly intersecting elongated members in structurally joining together said elongated members in a cross joint, said cross-joint connectors having ends and recesses, said recesses having bottom walls and end walls, said ends of said cross-joint connectors being adapted for carrying said elongated members, said bottom walls being in abutting relationship, said bottom walls having lengths greater than their widths thereby permitting relative disposition of said cross-joint connectors at a variety of angles.

Claim 19

Cross-joint connectors adapted for use with angularly intersecting elongated members in structurally joining together said elongated members in a cross joint, said cross-joint connectors having ends and recesses, said recesses having bottom walls and end walls, said ends of said cross-joint connectors being adapted for carrying said elongated members, said bottom walls being in abutting relationship, said bottom walls having lengths greater than their widths thereby permitting relative disposition of said cross-joint connectors at a variety of angles.

Claim 20

The structure in accordance with claim 16, wherein said recesses are of half-cylindrical configurations.

Claim 21

The structure in accordance with claim 16, wherein each of said cross-joint connectors is of right circular cylindrical configuration.

Claim 22

The structure in accordance with claim 16, wherein said cross-joint connector ends are of equal radii, wherEin said elongated members have interior surfaces, wherein said cross-joint connector ends are adapted to be received interiorly by said interior surfaces of said elongated members, wherein said elongated-member interior surfaces have portions whose radii are less than the radii of said cross-joint connector ends thereby providing interference fit.

Claim 23

The structure in accordance with claim 16, wherein said cross-joint connectors have slightly raised, shoulder portions separating said cross-joint connector ends, and wherein said raised, shoulder portions structurally function as limit stops after points of limit-stop engagement of said shoulder portions interiorly of said elongated members to prevent further interior insertion of said cross-joint connectors interiorly of said elongated members upon establishment of abutting relationship of said elongated members.

Claim 24

The structure in accordance with claim 18, wherein said recesses are of half-cylindrical configuration.

Claim 25

The structure in accordance with claim 19, wherein said recesses are of half-cylindrical configuration.

Claim 26

The structure in accordance with claim 19, wherein said cross-joint connectors have slightly raised, shoulder portions separating said cross-joint connector ends, and wherein said raised, shoulder portions structurally function as limit stops after points of limit-stop engagement of said shoulder portions interiorly of said elongated members to prevent further interior insertion of said cross-joint connectors interiorly of said elongated members upon establishment of abutting relationship of said elongated members.

Claim 27

The structure in accordance with claim 23, wherein said recesses are of half-cylindrical configuration.

Claim 28

The structure in accordance with claim 23, wherein each of said cross-joint connectors is of right circular cylindrical configuration.

Claim 29

The structure in accordance with claim 16, wherein said cross-joint connector ends are of equal radii, wherein said elongated members have tubular ridges, wherein said cross-joint connector ends are adapted to be received interiorly of said tubular ridges, wherein said tubular ridges have interiors, and wherein said tubular-ridge interiors have radii less than the radii of said cross-joint connector ends thereby providing interference fit.

Claim 30

The structure in accordance with claim 26, wherein said recesses are of half-cylindrical configuration.

Claim 31

A T-joint connector and a cross-joint connector adapted for use with elongated members to form a structural T-joint, said T-joint connector having ends and a recess, said recess having a bottom wall and end walls, the length of said bottom wall being greater than its width, one of said T-joint connector ends being adapted for carrying one of said elongated members, the other T-joint connector end being tapered and having its terminal portion in the configuration of a hook, said cross-joint connector having ends and a recess, said recess having a bottom wall and end walls, the length of said cross-joint connector bottom wall being greater than its width, said cross-joint connector ends being adapted for carrying said elongated members, said bottom walls of said T-joint and cross-joint connectors being in abutting relationship, said terminal hook portion of said T-joint connector being disposed relative to and hooked over said cross-joint connector bottom wall, and the greater lengths of said bottom walls of said T-joint and cross-joint connectors relative to their respective widths permitting thereby relative disposition of said T-joint connector and cross-joint connector at a variety of angles.

Claim 32

A T-joint connector and a cross-joint connector adapted for use with elongated members to form a structural T-joint, said T-joint connector having ends and a recess, said recess having a bottom wall and end walls, the length of said bottom wall being greater than its width, one of said T-joint connector ends being adapted for carrying one of said elongated members, the other T-joint connector end being tapered and having its terminal portion in the configuration of a hook, said cross-joint connector having ends and a recess, said recess having a bottom wall and end walls, the length of said cross-joint connector bottom wall being greater than its width, said cross-joint connector ends being adapted for carrying said elongated members, said bottom walls of said T-joint and cross-joint connectors being in abutting relationship, said terminal hook portion of said T-joint connector being disposed relative to and hooked over said cross-joint connector bottom wall, and the greater lengths of said bottom walls of said T-joint and cross-joint connectors relative to their respective widths permitting thereby relative disposition of said T-joint connector and cross-joint connector at a variety of angles.

Claim 33

A suspension grid for suspended ceilings and for use in holding and supporting ceiling panels of diamond shape, square shape or rectangular shape, said suspension grid comprising runners and cross-joint connectors, said cross-joint connectors having ends and recesses, said recesses having bottom walls and end walls, said cross-joint connector enDs carrying said runners, said bottom walls of said cross-joint connectors being in abutting relationship, said bottom walls having lengths greater than their widths thereby permitting relative disposition of said cross-joint connectors at a variety of angles to correspondingly support by such relative disposition of said cross-joint connectors said ceiling panels of diamond shape, square shape or rectangular shape.

Claim 34

A suspension grid for suspended ceilings and for use in holding and supporting ceiling panels of diamond shape, square shape or rectangular shape, said suspension grid comprising runners and cross-joint connectors, said cross-joint connectors having ends and recesses, said recesses having bottom walls and end walls, said cross-joint connector enDs carrying said runners, said bottom walls of said cross-joint connectors being in abutting relationship, said bottom walls having lengths greater than their widths thereby permitting relative disposition of said cross-joint connectors at a variety of angles to correspondingly support by such relative disposition of said cross-joint connectors said ceiling panels of diamond shape, square shape or rectangular shape.

Claim 35

The structure in accordance with claim 29, wherein each of said runners is in the shape of an inverted T, has a vertical web at the top of which is a tubular ridge and at the bottom of which are two symmetrical, transverse flanges extending oppositely outwardly, wherein said tubular ridges are arranged and constructed to receive said cross-joint connector ends and to be retentively carried by said cross-joint connector ends, and wherein said cross-joint connector ends thereby carry said runners.

Claim 36

The structure in accordance with claim 30, wherein said flanges support said ceiling panels.

Claim 37

A geodesic structure having elongated members forming cross joints, said geodesic structure comprising elongated members and cross-joint connectors, said cross-joint connectors having ends and recesses, said recesses having bottom walls and end walls, said cross-joint connector ends carrying said elongated members, said bottom walls of said cross-joint connectors being in abutting relationship, said cross-joint connector bottom walls having lengths greater than their widths thereby permitting relative disposition of said cross-joint connectors at a variety of angles.

Claim 38

A geodesic structure having elongated members forming cross joints, said geodesic structure comprising elongated members and cross-joint connectors, said cross-joint connectors having ends and recesses, said recesses having bottom walls and end walls, said cross-joint connector ends carrying said elongated members, said bottom walls of said cross-joint connectors being in abutting relationship, said cross-joint connector bottom walls having lengths greater than their widths thereby permitting relative disposition of said cross-joint connectors at a variety of angles.

Claim 39

The structure in accordance with claim 32, wherein are further provided T-joints formed by T-joint connectors, cross-joint connectors and elongated members, and wherein each T-joint has a T-joint connector and a cross-joint connector.

Claim 40

The structure in accordance with claim 33, wherein each of said T-joint connectors has ends and a recess, wherein said T-joint connector recess has a bottom wall and end walls, wherein one T-joint connector end carries one of said elongated members, wherein the other T-joint connector end is tapered and has its terminal portion in the configuration of a hook, wherein said cross-joint connectors associated with said T-joints are similar in form and construction to said cross-joint connectors utilized for said cross joints, wherein said bottom walls of said T-joint connector and said associated cross-joint connector are in abutting relationship, and wherein said terminal hook portion of said T-joint connector end is disposed relative to and is hooked over said bottom wall of said associated cross-joint connector.

Claim 41

The structure in accordance with claim 33, wherein one of said elongated members forming said T-joint has on its end a 45* miter cut relative to its longitudinal axis, and wherein said remaining elongated members forming said T-joint have on their ends 45* miter cuts relative to their longitudinal axes.

Claim 42

The structure in accordance with claim 35, wherein said 45 degree miter cuts on the ends of said remaining elongated members are at an angle of 90* relative to each other.