Frameless Supplemental Window Air Seal and Insulation
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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 new materials each season, with issues like air leakage and difficulty in size customization.
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 infiltration blockers to inhibit air leakage, allowing for easy installation and reusability without impeding window operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If supplemental window features (films, film support elements, window treatments) are added to minimize heat transfer, then thermal insulation is improved, but the operability of non-fixed windows is inhibited and installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The supplemental window system is divided into separate components: a removable frameless window assembly and a permanent infiltration blocker. This segmentation allows the infiltration blocker to remain installed for continuous thermal protection while the frameless window can be removed when operability is needed, resolving the contradiction between thermal insulation and window operability.
Solution Approach 2:
The frameless supplemental window is designed to be dynamically removable and reinstallable by the end user. This dynamic characteristic allows the system to adapt between two states: installed for thermal insulation and removed for window operability, eliminating the permanent conflict between these functions.
2Loss of energy
If window films are mounted to create an insulating layer, then thermal insulation is improved, but the dimension constraints are dictated by existing window features and installation becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The infiltration blocker serves multiple functions: it acts as a thermal barrier, an air seal, and a mounting surface for the frameless window. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies installation, addressing the complexity issue while maintaining thermal insulation benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The frameless supplemental window extracts the essential insulating function from traditional framed windows, eliminating the need for complex frames, mullions, and attachment hardware. Only the critical infiltration blocking and sealing functions remain, significantly simplifying the overall system.
3Loss of energy
If existing window solutions are used to minimize heat transfer, then thermal insulation is improved, but air leakage around window elements occurs and operability is impeded
Solution Approach 1:
The infiltration blocker is installed beforehand to seal all potential air leakage paths around window elements before the frameless window is assembled or operability issues arise. This preliminary sealing action ensures that thermal insulation is not compromised by air infiltration, independently of the window's operational state.
4Strength
If supplemental windows are designed with frames and traditional structures, then structural strength is improved, but manufacturing cost and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The frameless design utilizes a tensioned membrane or thin panel structure that provides sufficient structural strength without requiring traditional heavy frames. This approach significantly reduces manufacturing complexity and material costs while maintaining the necessary structural integrity for the supplemental window application.
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 prevents air leakage, offering improved energy efficiency, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness by using existing materials, while allowing for self-adjustment to fit various window sizes.
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
Implementation Method 2
an infiltration blocker configured to substantially enclose the outward interior side of a volume of gas between the window pane and the sheet material when the supplemental window apparatus is installed, inhibit air leakage around one or more window elements into an interior space by simultaneous contact with both a movable window element and a stationary window element
Data Source
AI summary
A novel and useful 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.