Search

US-20260125913-A1 - METHOD FOR EXTENDING A WINDOW WELL USING A MODULAR WINDOW WELL INSERT

US20260125913A1US 20260125913 A1US20260125913 A1US 20260125913A1US-20260125913-A1

Abstract

A modular window well insert is composed of a long fiber reinforced plastic. The modular insert has at least some fibers that are omnidirectional relative to the other fibers in the plastic. The window well insert is configured in size and shape to be attached to an existing window well, having a matching width and depth of the existing window well. In some instances, the module well insert also has a recessed section that facilitates mating the window well insert to the window well.

Inventors

  • Vaughn Allen Cook
  • David Wayne Hoagland
  • Rodney William Slade

Assignees

  • ROCKWELL LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20260105

Claims (18)

  1. 1 . A method of extending a window well with a window well insert, the method comprising: providing a window well to be extended; and attaching a modular window well insert over a top portion of the window well, the modular window well insert having a recessed section designed to mate with the window well, wherein the recessed section of the modular window well insert that mates with the window well is on a bottom portion of the modular window well insert, which recessed section mates to a top portion of the window well, so as to extend a height of the window well with the attached modular window well insert.
  2. 2 . The method claim of 1 , wherein the modular window well insert is composed of (i) a fiber reinforced plastic, (ii) steel, (iii) aluminum, or (iv) another metal.
  3. 3 . The method claim of 1 , wherein the modular window well insert is attached to the window well while the window well remains attached to a home or other structure.
  4. 4 . The method claim of 1 , wherein the modular window well insert and the window well each have one or more attachment holes, and wherein one or more of the attachment holes of the modular insert align with one or more attachment holes of the window well when the modular window well insert is mated to the window well.
  5. 5 . The method claim of 1 , wherein a height of the modular window well insert ranges from 15 cm to 150 cm.
  6. 6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the modular window well insert comprises one or more tabs and one or more slots that facilitate mating with the window well, wherein the window well also has one or more tabs and one or more slots.
  7. 7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a body of the modular window well insert has a varying wall thickness.
  8. 8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the body comprises of a plurality of ribs and wall surface portions, and wherein the variable wall thickness of the body is thicker at the ribs than the wall surface portions, the body of the modular window well insert having fewer ribs than the window well.
  9. 9 . The method claim of 1 , wherein the modular window well insert is composed of a fiber reinforced plastic.
  10. 10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein at least some fibers within the fiber reinforced thermoplastic have a length of greater than about 6 mm.
  11. 11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein at least some fibers within the fiber reinforced thermoplastic have a length of greater than about 10 mm.
  12. 12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the fiber reinforced plastic is a thermoplastic.
  13. 13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the fiber reinforced plastic is a thermoset plastic.
  14. 14 . The method claim of 1 , wherein the modular window well insert is composed of steel.
  15. 15 . The method claim of 1 , wherein the modular window well insert is composed of aluminum.
  16. 16 . The method claim of 1 , wherein the modular window well insert is composed of a metal other than steel or aluminum.
  17. 17 . A method of extending a window well, the method comprising: providing a window well comprising a window well body, wherein the body comprises a plurality of ribs and a plurality of corresponding grooves interposed between a plurality of wall surface portions, each of the plurality of ribs being positioned between two different wall surface portions of the plurality of wall surface portions; and providing a modular window well insert comprising a modular window well insert body wherein the modular window well insert body comprises a second plurality of ribs and a second plurality of corresponding grooves interposed between a second plurality of wall surface portions, each of the second plurality of ribs being positioned between two different wall surface portions of the second plurality of wall surface portions; attaching the modular window well insert over a top portion of the window well so as to extend a height of the window well; and wherein the modular window well insert is initially separate from the window well, but is configured in size and shape to be attached to the window well, the modular window well insert and the window well having a generally matching width and depth, wherein at least two ribs in the modular window well insert mate with at least two ribs in the window well such that a portion of a face of the modular window well insert overlaps a portion of a face of the existing window well when attached; wherein the modular window well insert includes a plurality of planar flanges and a plurality of attachment holes located on the planar flanges; wherein the modular window well insert is coupled to the window well by a plurality of screws and/or bolts placed in the attachment holes, so as to couple the modular window well insert to the window well.
  18. 18 . A modular window well system comprising: a window well comprising a window well body, wherein the body comprises a plurality of ribs and a plurality of corresponding grooves interposed between a plurality of wall surface portions, each of the plurality of ribs being positioned between two different wall surface portions of the plurality of wall surface portions; and a modular window well insert comprising a modular window well insert body wherein the modular window well insert body comprises a second plurality of ribs and a second plurality of corresponding grooves interposed between a second plurality of wall surface portions, each of the second plurality of ribs being positioned between two different wall surface portions of the second plurality of wall surface portions; wherein the modular window well insert is initially separate from the window well, but is configured in size and shape to be attached to the window well, so as to extend a height of the window well or replace a damaged portion of the window well, the modular window well insert and the window well having a generally matching width and depth, wherein at least two ribs in the modular window well insert mate with at least two ribs in the window well such that a portion of a face of the modular window well insert overlaps a portion of a face of the existing window well when attached; the window well insert including a plurality of planar flanges and a plurality of attachment holes located on the planar flanges; and wherein the modular window well insert is coupled to the window well by a plurality of screws and/or bolts placed in the attachment holes, so as to couple the window well insert to the window well.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/516,687 filed on Nov. 21, 2023, entitled “METHOD FOR REPAIRING A WINDO WELL USING A MODULAR WINDOW WELL INSERT”, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/173,007 filed on Feb. 10, 2021, entitled “MODULAR INSERT FOR A WINDOW WELL”, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/979,264 filed on Feb. 20, 2020, entitled “MODULAR INSERT FOR A WINDOW WELL,” as well as U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/979,265 filed on Feb. 20, 2020, entitled “VEIL PRINTING PROCESSES FOR MOLDING THERMOPLASTIC WINDOW WELLS,” as well as U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/013,268 filed on Apr. 21, 2020, entitled “MODULAR STEP FOR A WINDOW WELL.” application Ser. No. 17/173,007 is also a continuation-in-part of United States Design patent application Ser. No. 29/713,875 filed on Nov. 19, 2019, entitled “WINDOW WELL,” as well as United States Design patent application Ser. No. 29/713,876 filed on Nov. 19, 2019, entitled “WINDOW WELL EXTENSION,” as well as U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/925,759 filed on Jul. 10, 2020, entitled “LIGHTWEIGHT AND DURABLE WINDOW WELL,” which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/874,844 filed on Jul. 16, 2019, entitled “LIGHTWEIGHT AND DURABLE WINDOW WELL,” as well as U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/979,264 filed on Feb. 20, 2020, entitled “MODULAR INSERT FOR A WINDOW WELL,” as well as U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/979,265 filed on Feb. 20, 2020, entitled “VEIL PRINTING PROCESSES FOR MOLDING THERMOPLASTIC WINDOW WELLS,” as well as U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/013,268 filed on Apr. 21, 2020, entitled “MODULAR STEP FOR A WINDOW WELL,” as well as United States Design patent application Ser. No. 29/713,875 filed on Nov. 19, 2019, entitled “WINDOW WELL,” as well as United States Design patent application Ser. No. 29/713,876 filed on Nov. 19, 2019, entitled “WINDOW WELL EXTENSION.” All of the foregoing applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. BACKGROUND Technical Field This disclosure generally relates to window wells and modular inserts for window wells. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to lightweight and durable window wells and lightweight and durable modular inserts for window wells. Related Technology A window well is one type of a building component that can be used to hold back dirt and other material from a window that is below ground level. A typical window well is embodied as a U-shaped wall formed out of metal. One purpose of a window well is to let natural light into basement windows, while also providing an access point for entry/escape, should it be necessary. Window wells are often attached directly to a building structure and are visible from both the inside and outside of the building structure. Additionally, window wells must be strong enough to hold back and retain backfill soils without deflecting. Many window wells are made of steel or a similar metal, which makes them relatively heavy and difficult/expensive to transport. Additionally, metal window wells can be easily damaged during transportation and installation. Even after installation, a metal window well can be damaged. For instance, a window well can be impacted by other devices after the window well has been installed. When a damaged window well needs to be replaced, it can be an expensive and time intensive process to excavate and replace an installed window well. Additionally, since the window wells are exposed to the elements, they can become corroded and rust (depending on their material composition). Even when not corroded, metal window wells can be somewhat unattractive. Furthermore, it is difficult to make a metal window well look like a natural material or be aesthetically pleasing. Some window wells are manufactured out of plastic materials, which makes them easier to apply an aesthetic texture to. However, the improved aesthetics often come at a cost of sacrificing durability and strength. In particular, existing window wells manufactured out of current plastic materials are typically not strong enough to compete with metal window wells because the types of plastic that are suitable for injection molding or rotomolding (the typical processes used for manufacturing plastic window wells), for example, cannot be used to manufacture a layered or reinforced plastic material. Accordingly, there is a need for a window well that is durable, lightweight and visually attractive. Additionally, there is a need for improving techniques for repairing and replacing window wells. The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only prov