Framing corner joint and method of manufacture

Abstract

A framing corner joint includes first and second framing rails of fiberglass-reinforced resin construction. The first and second framing rails have hollow mitered ends. A pair of thermoplastic plugs are received in the mitered ends of the respective framing rails. Each of the plugs includes a body inserted into the hollow interior of an associated framing rail and a flat plug flange at an angle of 45° to the body. The plug flanges extend outwardly from the peripheries of the bodies between the rail ends and have flat end faces that are bonded to each other. The bodies of the plugs preferably are hollow, and preferably are received by interference press-fit within the ends of the rails. The plug flanges of the plugs preferably are welded to each other.

1 . A framing corner joint that includes: 
 first and second framing rails of fiberglass-reinforced resin construction, said first and second framing rails having hollow mitered ends,    a pair of thermoplastic plugs received in said mitered ends of said rails,    each of said plugs including a body inserted into the hollow end of an associated rail and a flat end wall at an angle of 45° to said body,    said end walls extending outwardly from peripheries of said bodies between said mitered ends of said rails and having flat end faces that are bonded to each other.    
   
   
       2 . The framing corner joint set forth in  claim 1  wherein said plugs are of constructions that are mirror images of each other.  
   
   
       3 . The framing corner joint set forth in  claim 1  wherein each of said plug bodies is received by interference press-fit within the associated rail end.  
   
   
       4 . The framing corner joint set forth in  claim 3  including a sealing or bonding agent between said plug bodies and interior surfaces of said rails.  
   
   
       5 . The framing corner joint set forth in  claim 3  wherein said plug bodies are hollow.  
   
   
       6 . The framing corner joint set forth in  claim 1  wherein said end walls are welded to each other.  
   
   
       7 . The framing corner joint set forth in  claim 6  wherein said end walls are imperforate.  
   
   
       8 . A framing corner joint that includes: 
 first and second framing rails of fiberglass-reinforced resin construction, said first and second framing rails having interiors of predetermined mirror-image contours and hollow mitered ends,    a pair of thermoplastic plugs received in respective ends of said rails, said plugs having constructions that are mirror images of each other,    each of said plugs including a hollow body received by interference press-fit into the hollow interior of the associated rail end and an imperforate flat end wall at an angle of 45° to said body,    said end walls extending outwardly from peripheries of said bodies between said rail ends and having flat end faces that are welded to each other.    
   
   
       9 . A method of joining mitered ends of fiberglass-reinforced framing rails, which includes the steps of: 
 (a) providing a pair of plugs, each of said plugs having a body and an end wall at an angle of 45° to said body, said plugs being of thermoplastic construction and of geometries that are mirror images of each other,    (b) press fitting the bodies of said plugs into mitered ends of said rails so that the end walls of said plugs overlie the mitered ends of said rails, and    (c) bonding said end walls to each other.    
   
   
       10 . The method set forth in  claim 9  wherein said step (c) is carried out by welding said end walls to each other.  
   
   
       11 . The method set forth in  claim 9  including applying a bonding agent to said bodies prior to said step (b).