Frame assembly and a method of manufacturing the same
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
E04H-012/00
출원번호
US-0748048
(2010-03-26)
등록번호
US-8572925
(2013-11-05)
발명자
/ 주소
Sawyers, Jeff V.
Pich, Ron J.
출원인 / 주소
Quanex Building Products Corporation
대리인 / 주소
Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
2인용 특허 :
27
초록▼
A frame assembly supports an article. The frame assembly comprises a frame member having a plurality of walls extending between a first end and a second end. The walls define an interior of the frame member. The frame assembly also comprises at least one foldable cornerlock. The foldable cornerlock
A frame assembly supports an article. The frame assembly comprises a frame member having a plurality of walls extending between a first end and a second end. The walls define an interior of the frame member. The frame assembly also comprises at least one foldable cornerlock. The foldable cornerlock has first and second body portions movable relative to each other. A method of manufacturing the frame assembly comprises the steps of forming at least one notch in the frame member spaced from the ends of the frame member, inserting the foldable cornerlock into the notch, and bending the frame member about the notch of the frame member.
대표청구항▼
1. A frame assembly comprising: a frame member having a plurality of walls extending between a first end and a second end spaced from said first end, with said walls defining an interior of said frame member and also defining at least one notch spaced from said ends of said frame member wherein at l
1. A frame assembly comprising: a frame member having a plurality of walls extending between a first end and a second end spaced from said first end, with said walls defining an interior of said frame member and also defining at least one notch spaced from said ends of said frame member wherein at least one of said plurality of walls is continuous between said ends of said frame member and is bendable at said notch to form a corner of said frame member;at least one foldable cornerlock comprising first and second body portions movable relative to each other for inserting said foldable cornerlock into said notch of said frame member with said foldable cornerlock further comprises at least one arm member spaced from one of said body portions thereby defining a gap between said one of said body portions and said arm member with at least one of said walls of said frame member disposed within said gap. 2. A frame assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body portions move between a pre-inserted position where said body portions establish an acute angle relative to each other and a locked position where said body portions establish an right angle relative to each other. 3. A frame assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said foldable cornerlock further comprises a hinge portion coupling said body portions together and defining an axis extending in a longitudinal direction through said hinge portion, with said body portions movable relative to each other by rotation about said axis. 4. A frame assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said body portions have an end spaced from said hinge portion with said ends having an arcuate configuration for sliding along said interior of said frame member as said foldable cornerlock is inserted in said notch. 5. A frame assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one arm member is further defined as a first arm member spaced from said first body portion thereby defining a first gap between said first body portion and said first arm member, and a second arm member spaced in said longitudinal direction from said second body portion thereby defining a second gap between said second body portion and said second arm member, with said first gap receiving one of said walls of said frame member and said second gap receiving another on of said walls of said frame member. 6. A frame assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said body portions of said foldable cornerlock have an exterior surface and an opposing interior surface with said first arm member spaced in said longitudinal direction from said exterior surface of said body portions and with said second arm member spaced in said longitudinal direction from said interior surface of said body portions for allowing the frame member to be disposed between said arm members with said arm members covering the walls of the frame member. 7. A frame assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of walls of said frame member are further defined as a top wall, a bottom wall spaced opposite from said top wall, an exterior wall interconnecting said top wall and said bottom wall, and an interior wall spaced opposite from said exterior wall and interconnecting said top wall and said bottom wall wherein said bottom wall is continuous over an entire length of said frame member and is bendable at said notch to form said corner of said frame member. 8. A frame assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said foldable cornerlock further comprises interlocking portions configured to engage each other for securing said body portions together to prevent said body portions from moving relative to each other once said interlocking portions engage each other. 9. A frame assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said interlocking portions comprise a female portion defined by said first body portion and a male portion extending from said second body portion configured to mate with said female portion to prevent said body portions from separating once said interlocking portions engage each other. 10. A frame assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a fenestration article coupled to said frame member. 11. A frame assembly as set forth in claim 10 further comprising a flange extending from said frame member for securing said fenestration article to said frame member. 12. A frame assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a coupling cornerlock disposed in each of the ends of the frame member for coupling said ends of said frame member together. 13. A frame assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one notch is further defined as a first notch, a second notch, and a third notch defined in said walls with each of said notches spaced from each other and from said ends of said frame member, and said at least one foldable cornerlock is further defined as a first foldable cornerlock, a second foldable cornerlock, and a third foldable cornerlock disposed in said first, second, and third notches, respectively. 14. A method of forming a frame assembly for supporting an article, the frame assembly comprising a frame member having a plurality of walls extending between a first end and a second end which is spaced from the first end, with the walls defining an interior of the frame member and also defining at least one notch spaced from the ends of the frame member wherein at least one of the plurality of walls is continuous between the ends of the frame member, and at least one foldable cornerlock having first and second body portions movable relative to each other with at least one arm member spaced from one of the body portions thereby defining a gap between one of the body portions and the arm member, said method comprising the steps of: forming the at least one notch in the frame member spaced from the ends of the frame member;inserting the foldable cornerlock into the notch such that the body portions of the foldable cornerlock extend into the interior of the frame member;bending the at least one of the plurality of walls that is continuous between the ends of the frame member at the notch to define a corner of the frame member;disposing at least one of the walls of the frame member within the gap defined between the at least one arm member and one of the body portions. 15. A method as set forth in claim 14 further comprising the step of moving the body portions of the foldable cornerlock into a pre-inserted position such that the body portions establish an acute angle relative to each other. 16. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein the step of inserting the foldable cornerlock is further defined as positioning the foldable cornerlock within the notch with the body portions in the pre-inserted position. 17. A method as set forth in claim 15 further comprising the step of applying a force to the foldable cornerlock to move the body portions from the pre-inserted position toward an inserted position such that the body portions are planar relative to each other and the body portions slide along the frame member in the interior of the frame member. 18. A method as set forth in claim 17 further comprising the step of moving the body portions of the foldable cornerlock from the inserted position toward a locked position where the body portions establish a right angle relative to each other as the frame member is bent about the notch of the frame member. 19. A method as set forth in claim 18 wherein the foldable cornerlock has interlocking portions configured to engage each other and said method further comprises the step of forcing the interlocking portions of the foldable cornerlock together to retain the foldable cornerlock in the locked position. 20. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the foldable cornerlock further has a hinge portion coupling the body portions together and defining an axis extending in a longitudinal direction through the hinge portion and said method further includes the step of rotating the body portions into a pre-inserted position such that the body portions establish an acute angle relative to each other. 21. A method as set forth in claim 14 further comprising the step of coupling the ends of the frame member together with a coupling cornerlock. 22. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the article is further defined as a fenestration article and said method further comprises the step of attaching the fenestration article to the frame member. 23. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the step of forming at least one notch in the frame member is further defined as forming a first notch, a second notch, and a third notch in the frame member with each of the notches spaced from each other and from the ends of the frame member. 24. A method as set forth in claim 23 wherein the at least one foldable cornerlock is further defined as a first foldable cornerlock, a second foldable cornerlock, and a third foldable cornerlock and the step of inserting the foldable cornerlock into the notch is further defined as inserting the first foldable cornerlock, the second foldable cornerlock, and the third foldable cornerlock into the first notch, the second notch, and the third notch, respectively, such that the body portions of each of the foldable cornerlocks extend into the interior of the frame member. 25. A method as set forth in claim 24 wherein the step of bending the frame member about the hinge portion of the foldable cornerlock is further defined as bending the frame member about the hinge portion of each of the first cornerlock within the first notch, the second cornerlock within the second notch, and the third cornerlock within the third notch to present the frame assembly with a rectangular configuration.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (27)
Subra, Renaud, Association of two hollow section ends made of plastic using a connector.
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