Pella Corporation

Fred L Hrdlicka

Mearl J Minter

Scot C Miller

Gary R Newman

Jeffrey S Wetter

An edge protector for a fenestration product is integrally formed of a single sheet of corrugated paperboard that has been perforated, slit, scored, glued, and folded in a particular manner so as to be generally flat in overall configuration prior to being placed in use. At the time of installation, the protector is partially unfolded out of its flat plane to assume an overall generally transversely L-shaped configuration, having a pair of legs intersecting one another at right angles to form a receiving corner for the face and side margins of the product. One leg of the protector forms a flap that covers a marginal portion of the face of the product when the protector is fitted onto the product, while the other leg forms a second flap that covers a marginal portion of the sides of the product. A stiff, relatively short spacer flange comprising a double layer of the material glued together projects edgewise from the outside of the corner in the opposite lateral direction from the side flap to keep the face of the product spaced away from foreign objects. Wrapping of the protector around an outside corner of the product is facilitated by the provision of tear-out tabs embodied in the face flap so that the appropriate tab aligned with the corner of the product may be torn out to leave an empty notch in the flap at that location. The absence of material at the corner of the product eliminates the structural rigidity otherwise afforded by the face flap at that location to enable the protector to more readily bend around the corner.

Flanged edge protector for window unit

A single or double glazing panel is received in a groove in a wood sash frame. The glazing panel carries on it a bead of butyl sealant along the exterior face adjacent the peripheral edge while a bead of silicone adhesive is placed on the peripheral edge or in the bottom of the groove. Insertion of the panel into the groove causes the sealant to roll and flow along the exterior wall of the groove and along the exterior face of the glazing panel such that no cleanup after assembly is required. Adhesive is prevented from contacting viewable areas of the glazing thereby avoiding cleanup. Cladding may be placed over the exterior of the wood sash frame covering the sealant and space in which it is contained.

Growing community of inventors

Pella, IA, United States of America

Fred L Hrdlicka