Pella Corporation

John Wayne Scharff

Bruce A Hagemeyer

Merlan J Rolffs

Bruce A Baier

Howard C Anderson, Iii

Andrew P Schirz

Steven D Lauritsen

Paul E Smith

Paul Martin Pfitzenmaier

William R Guthrie

Gregory D De Boer

Lawrence A Schneider

Michael Gonnerman

Seth Masters

Rashid Bharucha

A connector for holding an internal muntin assembly away from a perimeter spacer of an insulating glass assembly until the assembler is ready to affix the muntin bar to the perimeter bar using an attachment device. The connector includes a positioning tab for holding the muntin bar away from the perimeter spacer to allow positioning of the muntin bar assembly until the positioning tab is moved relative to a baseplate so that the attachment device, such as thick double stick tape, is pressed to the perimeter spacer.

Muntin bar connector with positioning tabs

A screen assembly for installation in a fenestration product of the type having a window covering with a sliding operator. The screen assembly includes a screen frame having a screen material and is adapted to releasably attach to an interior side of the fenestration product. The screen assembly includes a screen operator slidable relative to the screen frame and releasably engagable with the sliding operator, such that the screen operator is operable from the interior side of the screen assembly.

Sliding operator for between the glass window coverings

A fenestration product such as a door or a window includes a plurality of frame members positioned in a surrounding relationship about a panel, each of the members having a pair of opposite open ends. A plurality of corner locks couple the beveled ends of the frame members together to form secure corners of the frame. A miter joint interface line is defined between the abutting, beveled ends of the members at each corner. Each corner lock comprises a generally L-shaped body having a pair of legs that are secured within the open ends of the corresponding frame members. A pair of parallel sealant channels extend along the back, top and front of the body and are disposed on opposite sides of and laterally offset from the interface line so that sealant filling the channels creates a pair of parallel seal paths between the lock and the frame that are laterally offset from the interface line. This keeps the sealant from escaping through the interface line onto the decorative surface of the frame and creating an unsightly deposit, yet provides a secure seal against the environment. A small notch in the frame at each corner allows a small amount of the sealant to flow out of the corner and onto the non-decorative surface of the frame for covering the interface line on the non-decorative surface.

Fenestration corner lock

A slatted blind (10) includes a headrail (12) with a pair of ladder cords (16, 18) depending therefrom with slats (14) supported on the wefts (44, 52) extending between the warps (42a,b, 50a,b) of each cord and further includes a tilt mechanism (20) to extend one warp of each cord and to retract the other in order to tilt the slats. The preferred tilt mechanism (20) includes a pair of slides (60, 62) positioned on the bottom wall (26) of the headrail (12). The ends of the warps (42a,b, 50a,b) are coupled with the slides (60, 62) on opposed sides of respective cord holes (82, 90) defined through the slides (60, 62) and extend therethrough and also through respective cord openings (30, 32) in the bottom wall. Back and forth shifting of the slides (60, 62) along the bottom wall (26) alternately extend one warp of each cord and retract the other in order to tilt the slats.

Sliding tilt mechanism for horizontal slatted blinds

A dual glazing window having a removable glazing panel is provided with a breather system connecting the air chamber between the glazing panels with the outside ambient air by routing an outwardly facing channel into the window rail or stile member either on its end edge or side face. The abutting rail or stile member will close the open side of the channel in the end edge while the adjacent glazing panel closes the channel in the side face. A breather sleeve is press fitted into the channel to protect the wood from absorbing moisture.

Window panel with breather system

Growing community of inventors

Pella, IA, United States of America

John Wayne Scharff