Cripple and Header Assembly for Flush Window Opening Finishes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Window and door openings in construction are challenging due to protruding fasteners and end flaps of cripples, headers, and footers, which create uneven surfaces, complicating the leveling of wall finishes.

Innovation Solution

The use of cripples with transverse legs, flanges, and lips, along with headers and footers that extend along a common plane, allows for a level surface for wall finishes by integrating flanges and lips with corresponding tracks, eliminating protrusions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional cripples with flaps and fasteners are used to interconnect headers and footers, then the structural connection is achieved, but the surface becomes uneven making wall finish leveling difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural connectionVSAvoidwall finish leveling

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the protruding flaps and fasteners from the exterior surface of the cripple assembly. The flaps are folded back and secured to the interior side of the header and footer, while fasteners are driven from the interior side, eliminating all protrusions that would interfere with wall finish installation and leveling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention inverts the traditional approach by having the flaps extend inward rather than outward, and by driving fasteners from the interior side rather than the exterior side. This reversal of the fastening direction eliminates protrusions on the exterior surface where wall finishes will be applied.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Strength

If flaps extend over headers and footers to provide connection, then structural integrity is maintained, but protruding surfaces are created that complicate finish installation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidsurface uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the protruding flaps from the exterior surface by folding them back to the interior side. The flaps maintain their structural connection function while being repositioned to eliminate surface irregularities, creating a flush exterior surface for wall finishes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If multiple fasteners are used to secure cripples to headers and footers, then reliable connection is achieved, but protruding fasteners create uneven surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidfinish installation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the fastening approach by driving fasteners from the interior side of the header and footer through the flaps to the cripple, rather than from the exterior side. This reversal ensures that fastener heads are positioned on the interior side, eliminating protrusions that would interfere with wall finish installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS20260015857A1Construction cripples and structures incorporating the same

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 STOCKTON PROD

AI summary

A cripple includes a web, a first leg extending transversely from the web, a second leg extending transversely from the web, such that the web, the first leg and the second leg define a channel. A flange extends transversely from the web. Such cripples may be used in combination with a header and header track for defining an opening for receiving a window or door.