US3946531A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Muntin bar unitary frame
Assignee: ELCA DESIGNS Ltd
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Filing: 1975-01-27
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Granted: 1976-03-30
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Expires: 1995-01-27
Abstract
Abstract A muntin bar unitary frame for disposition in confronting planar relationship to a glass pane to provide a visual appearance of the window glazing generally that of a divided glass assembly. The muntin bar unitary frame has a plurality of bars arranged in a desired pattern, with each of the bars being hollow with an internal central planar strengthening web defining a pair of tubular cavities and with a cross-joint where two bars intersect being formed by cutting of the two bars and reducing the thickness of the central web of the two bars to bring the central web surfaces in juxtaposed relation for bonding of the bars together. The planar walls of a bar for disposition adjacent glass panes each have raised ribs along the edge thereof to prevent contact of the planar walls with the surfaces of the glass panes.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry P. Armstrong
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:15
CPC Classifications
E; E06; E06B; E06B3/00; E06B3/66; E06B3/663; E06B3/667; E06B3/6604
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A muntin bar unitary frame comprising a plurality of bars arranged in a desired pattern with at least one cross-joint wherein two of said bars intersect, each of said bars being hollow with a central planar strengthening web defining a pair of tubular cavities extending lengthwise thereof, said central web of each bar having a thickness to have a part thereof at each side of a longitudinal central plane of the bar, and said central web of two bars at a cross-joint being reduced in thickness by removal of a part at one side of a longitudinal central plane to provide juxtaposed planar bonding surfaces meeting along said longitudinal central plane and with the thickness of the frame at the cross-joint being substantially the same as that of a single bar.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
A muntin bar unitary frame comprising a plurality of bars arranged in a desired pattern with at least one cross-joint wherein two of said bars intersect, each of said bars being hollow with a central planar strengthening web defining a pair of tubular cavities extending lengthwise thereof, said central web of each bar having a thickness to have a part thereof at each side of a longitudinal central plane of the bar, and said central web of two bars at a cross-joint being reduced in thickness by removal of a part at one side of a longitudinal central plane to provide juxtaposed planar bonding surfaces meeting along said longitudinal central plane and with the thickness of the frame at the cross-joint being substantially the same as that of a single bar.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A muntin bar unitary frame as defined in claim 1 wherein the central strengthening web has a thickness approximately twice that of the peripheral wall of the bar.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
164 words
A muntin bar unitary frame positionable between spaced glass panes of an insulating glass unit comprising a plurality of generally rectangular elongate bars arranged in a desired pattern with at least one cross-joint wherein two of said bars intersect, each of said bars having a pair of opposite planar walls positionable one adjacent each of said spaced glass panes and a central internal planar strengthening web parallel to said planar walls and defining a pair of elongate tubular cavities located one at either side of said central web, said central web of each bar having a thickness sufficient whereby the thickness of the central webs of two bars at an overlapping cross-joint are reduced to interfit two intersecting bars with mechanical interlocking of said bars by edge contact of said central webs where they overlap and with the opposed planar surfaces of said two central webs at the cross-joint providing abutting planar surface areas for bonding together to hold the bars in assembled relation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
164 words
A muntin bar unitary frame positionable between spaced glass panes of an insulating glass unit comprising a plurality of generally rectangular elongate bars arranged in a desired pattern with at least one cross-joint wherein two of said bars intersect, each of said bars having a pair of opposite planar walls positionable one adjacent each of said spaced glass panes and a central internal planar strengthening web parallel to said planar walls and defining a pair of elongate tubular cavities located one at either side of said central web, said central web of each bar having a thickness sufficient whereby the thickness of the central webs of two bars at an overlapping cross-joint are reduced to interfit two intersecting bars with mechanical interlocking of said bars by edge contact of said central webs where they overlap and with the opposed planar surfaces of said two central webs at the cross-joint providing abutting planar surface areas for bonding together to hold the bars in assembled relation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A muntin bar unitary frame as defined in claim 3 wherein said bars are of extruded rigid plastic and a pair of ribs extend outwardly one from each edge of a planar wall to prevent contact between a planar wall and the adjacent glass pane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
151 words
A muntin bar unitary frame having a plurality of elongate extruded plastic bars arranged in a desired pattern, each of said bars being of a hollow generally rectangular cross-section with a pair of external planar walls and a central strengthening web parallel to said planar walls, said central web extending across the width of the bar to define a pair of tubular cavities therebetween, at least one cross-joint where two of said bars intersect and each of said bars being cut to an equal depth at said cross-joint to interfit and with the central web of each of said bars being reduced in thickness at the cross-joint to have the bars overlap with the thickness at the overlap being no greater than the thickness of a bar, and said central webs having opposed planar surfaces at the cross-joint in face-to-face relation and bonded together to hold the bars in assembled relation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
151 words
A muntin bar unitary frame having a plurality of elongate extruded plastic bars arranged in a desired pattern, each of said bars being of a hollow generally rectangular cross-section with a pair of external planar walls and a central strengthening web parallel to said planar walls, said central web extending across the width of the bar to define a pair of tubular cavities therebetween, at least one cross-joint where two of said bars intersect and each of said bars being cut to an equal depth at said cross-joint to interfit and with the central web of each of said bars being reduced in thickness at the cross-joint to have the bars overlap with the thickness at the overlap being no greater than the thickness of a bar, and said central webs having opposed planar surfaces at the cross-joint in face-to-face relation and bonded together to hold the bars in assembled relation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-03-30 | 1979-09-29 | 1980-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-30 | 1983-09-29 | 1984-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-30 | 1987-09-29 | 1988-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |