Conversion muntins for glazing frames

Claim 1

A conversion muntin for use on a T-shaped glazing muntin to adapt the latter to support a light-transmitting panel, said T-shaped glazing muntin having a stem and a cross-piece defining a pair of bearing surfaces for said panels, said conversion muntin comprising a muntin cover element having a generally T-shaped configuration including a recessed stem and a pair of oppositely extending bearing arms, said recessed stem being adapted to receive the stem of the glazing muntin with said bearing arm overlying the bearing surfaces of the glazing muntin, said bearing arms each having continuous panel support elements formed on the sides thereof opposite said bearing surfaces of the glazing muntin and having free ends including means for clamping the cover element to the edges of the cross-piece of the glazing muntin, said clamping means being spaced from one another to define an opening therebetween providing access to said recessed stem to allow insertion of the glazing muntin into the cover element, said recessed stem of the muntin cover element having a plurality of longitudinally-extending grooves formed therein on both sides thereof; and a clamping strip adapted to be mounted on said recessed stem to hold a light-transmitting panel against said panel support elements, said clamping strip comprising a pair of elongated parallely-extending rails and a hood integrally formed therewith to receive a portion of said recessed stem, said rails having oppositely-facing slightly-spaced longitudinally-extending lips and being joined to said hood to form an obtuse angle therebetween opening towards said muntin cover element to receive therebetween said recessed stem and allow said lips to be engaged in said grooves.