TAGS HAVING SMART CHIPS HIDDEN IN WINDOW AND DOOR FRAMES AND ASSOCIATED METHODS

Abstract

A frame for a window or door having a panel secured thereto and a tag having a smart chip secured thereto disposed within a recess in the frame with the smart chip being hidden from the exterior of the frame. The smart chip which may be an NCF chip is structured to receive and store data and to be accessible for data access from outside of the frame by authorized sources. A related method provides the frame with a tag receiving recess, inserting the tag into the recess where it is hidden from view outside of the frame. Digital information is introduced into the smart chip with it being accessible from outside of the frame by a plurality of authorized users.

Claims

1. A frame for a window or door comprising a panel secured to said frame, said frame having a tag receiving recess defined within the interior of said frame, a tag having a smart chip secured thereto disposed within said recess, said smart tag being hidden from view from the exterior of said frame, and said frame having location indicia visible from the exterior thereof and being disposed generally adjacent to said hidden smart chip.

2. The frame of claim 1 including said frame being a window frame and said panel having at least one glass pane.

3. The frame of claim 1 including said smart chip being selected from the group consisting of an NFC chip and a RFID.

4. The frame of claim 3 including said chip being an NFC chip.

5. The frame of claim 4 including said NFC chip structured to receive and store data to be accessible for data retrieval from a plurality of sources.

6. The frame of claim 5 including said NFC chip being structured to receive and store data from a fabricator and permit access to said data by an installer and an end user.

7. The frame of claim 1 including said frame being a door frame.

8. (canceled)

9. The frame of claim 1 including said frame being an extruded frame.

10. The frame of claim 9 including said frame being composed of a material which permits radio frequency delivered information to pass therethrough.

11. The frame of claim 10 including Said frame being composed of polyvinyl chloride.

12. A method for delivery of information about a specific window or door comprising providing said frame with a panel secured thereto, providing a tag having a smart chip secured thereto, providing said tag embedded with a recess defined within the interior of said frame being hidden from view from the exterior of said frame, the exterior of said frame having location indicia visible from the exterior of said frame and being disposed generally adjacent to said hidden smart chip, and delivering information in digital form to said smart chip for storage therein and access thereto from the exterior of said frame by a plurality of authorized individuals.

13. The method of claim 12 including said information being provided to said chip by a manufacturer of windows or doors, and said information being accessible to authorized installers and end users.

14. The method of claim 13 including permitting access to said smart chip stored information by a cell phone which has an appropriate app.

15. The method of claim 14 including said smart chip being an NFC chip.

16. The method of claim 12 including employing said method with a window or door having an extruded frame.

17. The method of claim 16 including employing said method with a window or door having a PVC frame.

18. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 shows schematically a form of single hung window as viewed from the interior of a building. The letters AB can be a logo or other indicia which will advise people where to seek information as that is where the hidden tag containing the smart chip is located.

[0021] FIG. 2 is an elevational view showing a tag which has a smart chip.

[0022] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a window sill in combination with the frame which receives the window and a glazing bead for securing the exterior of the insulated glass (not shown in that view).

[0023] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of FIG. 3 with the tag having a smart chip.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional exploded view showing the tag and the overlying insulated glass glazing bead and the structure which will house the tag.

[0025] FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of FIG. 4 showing the tag 16 before insertion into the window frame.

[0026] FIG. 7 is a left side elevational view of FIG. 5.

[0027] FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 5.

[0028] FIG. 9 is a top plan view of FIG. 5.

[0029] FIG. 10 is a figure similar to FIG. 5, but shows the tag embedded within the sill and the insulated glass glazing in its final sill position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] As employed herein, the term smart chip will refer to a chip which is capable of storing digital information of value to multiple levels of those involved in the fabrication, installation and end users of windows and doors with this being accomplished by storage of data on the smart chip and permitting access thereto by an external device such as a smart phone having access thereto through an appropriate app. Among the chips which may be employed are RFID chips with the preferred smart chip being an NFC chip.

[0031] By way of example, the fabricator of the window may, for example, store on the smart chip information regarding the specification for the particular window including profile, fittings, glass, dimensions, and type of window, as well as other documentation such as test certificates, warranty information, fire protection certificates, U-value calculations and installation procedures. The installer will, through the installer app, be provided with the detailed window information and installation details and, in some instances, may have the opportunity to add information to the smart chip. The customer/end user will be provided with detailed information regarding the specific window and can readily download the desired information by employing the appropriate window app.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a window construction to schematically a single hung window which has a window frame 4 which is secured to a building secured frame 8. Glass panes 10 and 12 are secured to frame 4. The sill portion 14 of the window frame 4 contains the embedded smart chip of the present invention. A logo or other identifying material such as represented by the letters AB at 15 identify for those who are going to access the smart chip at the specific location of the chip. In general, the smart phone or other suitable device normally will be placed about 0.50 inch from the frame in order to get effective communication with the chip.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown an example of a tag 16 which has secured to it a smart chip 18.

[0034] As shown in the exploded views of FIGS. 3 and 4, a frame 20 has secured to it a window frame 22 which will be operatively associated with glazing bead 40 when the assembly is completed. For clarity of illustration, neither the tag nor the insulated glass window is shown in FIG. 3. An upwardly channel 44 is provided within window frame 22. As shown in FIG. 4, when the smart chip 16 is lowered into the frame 22 through an opening in channel 44 and into tag receiving opening 50 wherein it is securely positioned. The tag be hidden from view outside of the frame and be positioned adjacent to identifying indicia 15. When assembled, the glazing bead 40 will move downward to secure and seal the insulated window 30 in place. It will be appreciated that while a preferred use of the smart chip containing tag as disclosed herein shows it secured in a hidden manner, in the sill, it will be appreciated that it may be provided in other portions of a window frame or door frame.

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view in elevation of the exploded assembly. When assembly is completed, smart chip 16 will be received within opening 50 and will underlie the glazing bead 40 which will have moved downwardly such that projection 42 is mechanically secured within channel 44 and seal 45 is against the lower portion of the insulated window 30.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown the front elevational view with the tag 16 containing the smart chip 18 before it has been moved downward to its storage position within frame portion 22.

[0037] FIG. 7 is a left side elevational view of FIG. 5 showing the insulated glass 30, the frame 22 and adjacent frame member 20.

[0038] FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 5 showing the underside of the frames 22.

[0039] FIG. 9 is a top plan view of FIG. 5 showing the insulated window 30 along with frame 22 and adjacent frame 40.

[0040] FIG. 10 shows the previously disclosed exploded structure in its final preferred assembled state. It will be seen that the tag 16 has been received in recess in hollow 50 within frame 22 and is shielded from being visually accessible from the outside of frame 22. The axial location of tag 16 within the hollow 50 will be generally aligned with the outside indicia 15 (FIG. 4). This facilitates positioning a cell phone or other suitable device in close proximity to where the smart chip is located. In general, the smart phone or other device would be positioned about 0.50 inch from the exterior surface of the frame 22.

[0041] Whereas particular embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous variations of the details may be made without departing from the invention as described in the appended claims.