Frameless Supplemental Window Air Gap Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing window solutions fail to effectively minimize heat transfer while maintaining optical transparency, operability, and aesthetics, and often require customization, are costly, and do not adequately address air leakage around window elements.
Innovation Solution
A frameless supplemental window with a sheet material and edging seal that traps a volume of air between the window pane and the sheet, using corner braces for rigidity and incorporating infiltration blockers to reduce air leakage, and can be easily installed and removed without impeding window operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If supplemental window features such as films and window treatments are added to minimize heat transfer, then thermal insulation is improved, but the dimension of the dead air space is constrained by existing window features and the aesthetics and operability of the window are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The supplemental window is divided into separate functional components: a frameless sheet material for thermal insulation, corner braces for structural support, and infiltration blockers for sealing. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without compromising the overall simplicity and aesthetics of the window system.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from two-dimensional window films to a three-dimensional frameless supplemental window structure with depth, creating a dead air space between the original window and the supplemental window. This dimensional change enables effective thermal insulation while maintaining a clean exterior appearance.
2Loss of energy
If window films are mounted to create an insulating layer, then thermal insulation is improved, but the operability of non-fixed windows is inhibited
Solution Approach 1:
The supplemental window incorporates flexible sealing elements and infiltration blockers that can dynamically adapt to the movement of non-fixed windows. The sealing mechanism remains effective whether the window is open or closed, allowing full operability while maintaining thermal insulation when the window is closed.
3Reliability
If infiltration blockers are added to eliminate air leakage, then sealing performance is improved, but the complexity of the window system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The infiltration blockers are merged with the corner braces and edging seal components of the supplemental window, creating a unified sealing system. This integration eliminates the need for separate infiltration blocking components, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining effective air leakage prevention.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution significantly reduces heat transfer, maintains transparency and operability, is cost-effective, and minimizes air leakage, providing improved energy efficiency and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
The edging functions to substantially enclose (i.e., trap) a volume of air between the window pane and the plastic sheet material
Data Source
AI summary
A frameless supplemental window for fenestration incorporating infiltration blockers suitable for use with existing windows. The supplemental window, in one embodiment, comprises plastic sheet material with bullnose edging around it. Corner braces add rigidity and strength to corners in several embodiments. An attachment mechanism secured either to the sheet material or the bullnose edge functions to fasten and/or seal the supplemental window to an existing window. Infiltration blockers fastened to the sheet or bullnose prevent or minimize air leakage around various window elements. The bullnose edging and infiltration blockers function to substantially enclose (i.e. trap) a volume of air between the window pane and the plastic sheet material. The supplemental window is configured such that the layer of air enclosed is of an optimum thickness within a preferred range of 0.15 to 0.75 inches to maximize thermal insulation properties of the supplemental window.