Window installation method and apparatus

{
  "publication_number": "US7823833B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Window installation method and apparatus",
  "abstract": "An exemplary window frame assembly includes a window frame and spring clips. The window frame includes a window frame body, and flanges extend from the window frame body. The spring clips are removably attachable to the flanges. Each flange may define at least one first locking member and each spring clip may define at least one second locking member configured to engage the first locking member. For example, the at least one first locking member may include saw tooth grooves and the at least one second locking member may include a pair of angled tabs. As another example, the at least one first locking member may include a pair of angled tabs and the at least one second locking member may include saw tooth grooves. Each spring clip may further define a release mechanism, such as a tab, that is configured to disengage the spring clip and the flange.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A window frame assembly comprising: a window frame including: a window frame body, the window frame body including a first surface configured to attach to an interior side of an outer skin of a structure, a second surface configured to attach to an interior side of an inner skin of the structure, and a third surface between the first surface and the second surface and configured to attach to a portion of the structure between the outer skin and the inner skin; and a plurality of flanges extending from the window frame body; and a plurality of spring clips that are removably attachable to the plurality of flanges.",
    "2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of flanges defines at least one first locking member.",
    "3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of spring clips defines at least one second locking member configured to engage the first locking member.",
    "4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein: the at least one first locking member includes a plurality of saw tooth grooves; and the at least one second locking member includes a pair of angled tabs; wherein, during installation of a first spring clip of the plurality of spring clips onto a first flange of the plurality of flanges, the pair of angled tabs of the first spring clip are moveable from a first retained position in a first of the saw tooth grooves to a second retained position in a second of the saw tooth grooves to achieve an installation position of the first spring clip relative to the first flange.",
    "5. The assembly of claim 3, wherein: the at least one first locking member includes a pair of angled tabs; and the at least one second locking member includes a plurality of saw tooth grooves; wherein, during installation of a first spring clip of the plurality of spring clips onto a first flange of the plurality of flanges, the saw tooth grooves of the first spring clip are moveable from a first retained position where a first of the plurality of saw tooth grooves retains the pair of angled tabs to a second retained position where a second of the plurality of saw tooth grooves retains the pair of angled tabs to achieve an installation position of the first spring clip relative to the first flange.",
    "6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of spring clips further defines a release mechanism configured to enable disengaging the spring clip from a corresponding flange by rotating the spring clip away from a window installed in the window frame.",
    "7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the release mechanism includes a tab.",
    "8. A window frame comprising: a window frame body, the window frame body including a first surface configured to attach to an interior side of an outer skin of a structure, a second surface configured to attach to an interior side of an inner skin of the structure, and a third surface between the first surface and the second surface and configured to attach to a portion of the structure between the outer skin and the inner skin; and a plurality of flanges extending from the window frame body, each of the plurality of flanges defining a plurality of locking members to enable retention of a spring clip at multiple installed positions on each of the plurality of flanges.",
    "9. The window frame of claim 8, wherein the at least one locking member includes a plurality of saw tooth grooves.",
    "10. The window frame of claim 8, wherein the at least one locking member includes a pair of angled tabs.",
    "11. A structure comprising: a section of the structure having an inner skin, an outer skin, and defining a plurality of window cutouts; a plurality of window frames received in the plurality of window cutouts, each of the plurality of window frames including: a window frame body, the window frame body including a first surface adhered to an interior side of the outer skin of the structure, a second surface adhered to an interior side of an inner skin of the structure, and a third surface between the first surface and the second surface and adhered to a portion of the structure between the outer skin and the inner skin; and a plurality of flanges extending from the window frame body; a plurality of spring clips removably attached to the plurality of flanges; and a plurality of window assemblies removably retained in the plurality of window frames by the plurality of spring clips.",
    "12. The structure of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of flanges defines at least one first locking member.",
    "13. The structure of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of spring clips defines at least one second locking member configured to engage the first locking member.",
    "14. The structure of claim 13, wherein: the at least one first locking member includes a plurality of saw tooth grooves; and the at least one second locking member includes a pair of angled tabs.",
    "15. The structure of claim 13, wherein: the at least one first locking member includes a pair of angled tabs; and the at least one second locking member includes a plurality of saw tooth grooves.",
    "16. The structure of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of spring clips further defines a release tab that enables disengaging the spring clip from a corresponding flange by rotating the spring clip in a direction that unloads compression of a biasing portion of the spring clip.",
    "17. The structure of claim 16, wherein the release tab includes a face that enables a tool to be used to apply a force to rotate the spring clip to disengage the spring clip from the corresponding flange.",
    "18. The structure of claim 11, wherein the portion of the structure between the outer skin and the inner skin includes a honeycomb material that is adhered to the third surface of the window frame body.",
    "19. The structure of claim 18, wherein the section of the structure includes a section of an aircraft fuselage.",
    "20. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a first spring clip of the plurality of spring clips includes a curved edge on a side of the first spring clip that is installed on an opposite side of one of the plurality of flanges from a window when the window is installed in the window frame.",
    "21. The structure of claim 11, wherein each of the window cutouts define an outer aperture in the outer skin and an inner aperture in the inner skin, wherein the outer aperture is smaller than the inner aperture.",
    "22. The structure of claim 11, further comprising a window installed in at least one of the plurality of window frames and retained by first spring clips installed on corresponding flanges, wherein each of the first spring clips is installed on a corresponding flange to an adjustable height that does not fully compress a biasing member of the first spring clip, and wherein the first spring clips inhibit damage to the window by absorbing blunt exterior impacts against the window."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Window assemblies are installed in a wide variety of structures to permit natural light to enter the structure, to permit occupants of the structure to view outside the structure and, sometimes, to permit viewing of the interior of the structure from the exterior of the structure. Window assemblies can also help isolate and protect the interior of the structure from the environment external to the structure. Such structures can include buildings and vehicles, such as land vehicles, maritime vessels, and aircraft. In some cases, such as when the structure is an aircraft, the window assembly can be part of a pressure boundary to help maintain desired pressure inside the structure. In such a case, an aircraft window assembly typically has been installed in an aperture that has been excised from aluminum skin of an aircraft fuselage section. However, in a departure from conventional aluminum aircraft skins and structure, honeycomb fuselage skins are being used in aircraft. This use of honeycomb fuselage skins is in keeping with a general desire to reduce aircraft weight. In aircraft with honeycomb fuselage skins, window apertures are excised after final cure of the fuselage honeycomb structure, thereby exposing internal honeycomb structures that entail sealing and closeout to resist moisture ingression.\n\nThe foregoing examples of related art and limitations associated therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.",
  "cpc": [
    "B64C 1/1492",
    "B60J 1/006",
    "E06B 3/5481",
    "F16B 5/0635",
    "Y10T 403/70"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B64C 1/14"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "BOEING CO"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "WOOD JEFFREY H"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2007-03-05",
  "publication_date": "2010-11-02",
  "grant_date": "2010-11-02",
  "priority_date": "2007-03-05",
  "application_number": "US-71445607-A",
  "family_id": "39507962",
  "citations": [
    "CH216624A",
    "EP0287692A1",
    "EP0528526A1",
    "GB952029A",
    "US1073805A",
    "US1793127A",
    "US2005082432A1",
    "US4541595A",
    "US5271581A",
    "US6082674A",
    "US6736352B2",
    "US6786453B2",
    "US6789765B2",
    "US6793182B2",
    "US7162841B2",
    "WO2005115840A1"
  ]
}