Covered window sash and method for making the same

Claim 1

A window sash comprising, in combination, upright and elongated spaced wood stiles interconnected by top and bottom spaced and elongated wood rails, an exterior portion on each of said rails and stiles, a continuous inwardly directed rabbet defined by said interconnected rails and stiles, window glass received within said rabbet, means positioned within said rabbet for providing a weather seal between said rails and stiles and said window glass, said exterior portions of said stiles and rails having a continuous inner edge portion defining an outer wall for said continuous rabbet, a continuous inner peripheral portion defined on said inner edge portion, a continuous outer peripheral portion spaced outwardly from said inner peripheral portion defined on said exterior portion, a plurality of elongated, flexible, metallic panels mounted over and adjacent each of said exterior stile and rail portions and defining a continuous protective covering for said exterior stile and rail portions, the ends of adjacent panels being in substantial overlapping relationship, weather seal means defined at said overlapping ends, each of said panels having inner and outer edge portions, longitudinal hook means defined on said inner and outer edge portions, said inner and outer hook means cooperating with both said inner and outer peripheral portions, respectively, for defining the sole means for securing said panels to said stiles and rails, said longitudinal hook means on said inner edge portions cooperating with said weather seal means to define a seal therewith, said hook means and said peripheral portions being constructed and arranged to have said hook means pass over said peripheral portions of said stiles and rails in a direction transverse to the length of said elongated stiles and rails and into permanent securing relationship with said peripheral portions of said stiles and rails, thereby defining said sole securing means therebetween.