초록 ▼

An improved plastic, e.g., vinyl, window construction includes an exterior casing rigidly mounted to a window frame and which may advantageously be preattached to the window frame, allowing the window construction to be installed as a single unit. The exterior casing may include an exterior sill and

An improved plastic, e.g., vinyl, window construction includes an exterior casing rigidly mounted to a window frame and which may advantageously be preattached to the window frame, allowing the window construction to be installed as a single unit. The exterior casing may include an exterior sill and may be constructed to provide the appearance of a traditional wooden window. In another aspect, a window construction with an integrated interior casing is also provided. In yet a further aspect, a method for manufacturing a plastic window construction with integrated exterior casing is provided.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A window construction for mounting in an opening in a wall of a structure, comprising:a window frame for being received in said opening in the wall; an integrated exterior casing fastened to said frame, wherein an exterior-most exterior facing surface of said exterior casing is substantially flus

1. A window construction for mounting in an opening in a wall of a structure, comprising:a window frame for being received in said opening in the wall; an integrated exterior casing fastened to said frame, wherein an exterior-most exterior facing surface of said exterior casing is substantially flush with an adjacent exterior facing surface of said window frame; said exterior casing comprising a peripheral nailing flange adapted to receive a plurality of spaced-apart fasteners; and said exterior casing being sufficiently rigidly attached to said window frame so as to permit secure attachment of said window construction to said structure via said nailing flange and said plurality of spaced-apart fasteners. 2. The window construction of claim 1, further comprising:said window frame comprising a lower horizontally extending frame member and at least one additional frame member; said integrated exterior casing comprising an exterior casing member and fastened to each of said at least one additional frame members and an integrated exterior sill attached to the lower horizontally extending frame member; said integrated exterior casing and said integrated exterior sill circumscribing said window frame; and each of said at least one exterior casing members and said exterior sill member having a mounting face extending in a direction perpendicular to said wall, said face engaging and rigidly mounted against an aligned, facing surface of the window frame. 3. The window construction of claim 1, wherein said window frame is rectangular.4. The window construction of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said window frame is curved and wherein a portion of said exterior casing adjacent to said curved portion of said window frame is curved.5. The window construction of claim 1, wherein said integrated exterior casing includes a lip adapted to receive a plurality of spaced apart fasteners for securing said lip to said window frame.6. The window construction of claim 1, wherein said exterior casing further comprises a generally L-shaped bracket engaging a complimentary recess formed on said window frame.7. The window construction of claim 1, further comprising an integrated interior casing adapted to generally inscribe said opening in the structure.8. The window construction of claim 1, wherein said exterior casing further comprises a peripheral channel adapted to receive a siding material applied to an exterior surface of said building.9. The window construction of claim 1, wherein the exterior casing is configured to give an appearance of a wooden window casing.10. A window construction for mounting in an opening in a wall of a structure, comprising:a rectangular window frame for being received in said opening in the wall, said window frame having upper and lower horizontally extending frame members and first and second vertically extending frame members, said window frame adapted to carry one or more window sashes; an integrated exterior casing comprising a first exterior casing member fastened to the upper horizontally extending frame member and second and third integrated casing members fastened to the first and second vertically extending frame members, respectively, wherein each of said first, second, and third exterior casing members comprise an exterior-most exterior facing surface which is substantially flush with an adjacent exterior facing surface of said window frame; an integrated exterior sill attached to the lower horizontally extending frame member; said integrated exterior casing and said integrated exterior sill circumscribing said window frame including a peripheral nailing flange adapted to receive a plurality of spaced-apart fasteners; and said integrated exterior casing and said integrated exterior sill being sufficiently rigidly attached to said window frame so as to permit secure attachment of said window construction to said structure via said nailing flange and said plurality of spaced-apart fasteners. 11. The window construction of claim 10, further comprising two sashes vertically slideably received within said window frame.12. The window construction of claim 10, wherein said integrated exterior casing and said integrated exterior sill each include a lip adapted to receive a plurality of spaced apart fasteners for securing said lip to said window frame.13. The window construction of claim 12, wherein said plurality of spaced apart fasteners for securing said lip to said window frame are screw-type fasteners.14. The window construction of claim 10, wherein each of said exterior casing members and said exterior sill member further comprise a generally L-shaped bracket engaging a complimentary recess formed on said window frame.15. The window construction of claim 14, wherein each of said L-shaped brackets comprises a first leg portion which forms a portion of an exterior facing surface of said casing member, and a second leg portion engaging said complimentary recess.16. The window construction of claim 10, wherein said integrated exterior casing and said integrated exterior sill further comprise a peripheral channel adapted to receive a siding material applied to an exterior surface of said building.17. The window construction of claim 10, wherein the exterior casing members are configured to give an appearance of a wooden window casing and wherein the exterior sill member is configured to give an appearance of a wooden sill.18. A window construction for mounting in an opening in a wall of a structure, comprising:a rectangular window frame for being received in said opening in the wall, said window frame having upper and lower horizontally extending frame members and first and second vertically extending frame members, said window frame adapted to carry one or more window sashes; an integrated exterior casing comprising a first exterior casing member fastened to the upper horizontally extending frame member and second and third integrated casing members fastened to the first and second vertically extending frame members, respectively; an integrated exterior sill attached to the lower horizontally extending frame member; said integrated exterior casino and said integrated exterior sill circumscribing said window frame including a peripheral nailing flange adapted to receive a plurality of spaced-apart fasteners: said integrated exterior casing and said integrated exterior sill being sufficiently rigidly attached to said window frame so as to permit secure attachment of said window construction to said structure via said nailing flange and said plurality of spaced-apart fasteners; and an integrated interior casing adapted to generally inscribe said opening in the structure, said integrated interior casing including a peripheral channel formed about an edge of said interior casing, and a fastener secured within said channel and engaging an interior facing surface of said window frame. 19. The window construction of claim 18, wherein each of said first, second, and third exterior casing members comprise an exterior-most exterior facing surface which is substantially flush with an adjacent exterior facing surface of said window frame.20. The window construction of claim 18, wherein said integrated interior casing comprises wooden panels.21. A window construction for mounting in an opening in a wall of a structure, comprising:a window frame for being received in said opening in the wall; an integrated exterior casing fastened to said frame; said exterior casing comprising a peripheral nailing flange adapted to receive a plurality of spaced-apart fasteners; said exterior casing being sufficiently rigidly attached to said window frame so as to permit secure attachment of said window construction to said structure via said nailing flange and said plurality of spaced-apart fasteners; an integrated interior casing adapted to generally inscribe said opening in the structure, said integrated interior casing comprising a peripheral channel formed about an edge of said interior casing, and a fastener secured within said channel and engaging an interior facing surface of said window frame. 22. The window construction of claim 21, wherein each of said first, second, and third exterior casing members comprise an exterior-most exterior facing surface which is substantially flush with an adjacent exterior facing surface of said window frame.23. A method for manufacturing a window construction for installing within an opening formed in a wall of a structure, comprising:forming a window frame for being received in said opening in the wall; forming an integrated exterior casing including a peripheral nailing flange adapted to receive a plurality of spaced-apart fasteners; prior to installing the window construction in the opening in said structure, attaching said integrated exterior casing to the window frame in sufficiently rigid fashion so as to allow secure attachment of said window construction to the wall of the structure via said nailing flange and said plurality of spaced-apart fasteners and such that an exterior-most exterior facing surface of said exterior casing members is substantially flush with an adjacent exterior facing surface of said window frame. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein said integrated exterior casing is formed separately from the window frame.25. The method of claim 23, wherein at least a portion of the exterior casing and a portion of the window frame are monolithically formed at the same time.26. The method of claim 23, wherein said attaching is performed at a centralized location prior to transporting the window to the structure.27. The method of claim 23, wherein said exterior casing comprises a mounting face extending in a direction perpendicular to said wall, and further wherein said attaching comprises aligning and fastening said mounting face against an aligned, facing surface of the window frame.28. The method of claim of claim 23, further comprising:said window frame forming a rectangular window frame having upper and lower horizontally extending frame members and first and second vertically extending frame members, said window frame adapted to carry one or more window sashes; and said integrated exterior casing comprising a first exterior casing member fastened to the upper horizontally extending frame member and second and third integrated casing members fastened to the first and second vertically extending frame members, respectively, and an integrated exterior sill attached to the lower horizontally extending frame member. 29. A method for manufacturing a window construction for installing within an opening formed in a wall of a structure, comprising:forming a window frame for being received in said opening in the wall; forming an integrated exterior casing including a peripheral nailing flange adapted to receive a plurality of spaced-apart fasteners; prior to installing the window construction in the opening in said structure, attaching said integrated exterior casing to the window frame in sufficiently rigid fashion so as to allow secure attachment of said window construction to the wall of the structure via said nailing flange and said plurality of spaced-apart fasteners; and prior to installing the window construction in the opening in said structure, attaching an integrated interior casing adapted to generally inscribe said opening in the structure. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein said attaching comprises aligning and fastening said exterior casing such that an exterior-most exterior facing surface of said exterior casing members is substantially flush with an adjacent exterior facing surface of said window frame.31. The method of claim 29, further comprising:said window frame forming a rectangular window frame having upper and lower horizontally extending frame members and first and second vertically extending frame members, said window frame adapted to carry one or more window sashes; and said integrated exterior casing comprising a first exterior casing member fastened to the upper horizontally extending frame member and second and third integrated casing members fastened to the first and second vertically extending frame members, respectively, and an integrated exterior sill attached to the lower horizontally extending frame member.