Plastic fenestration product

Abstract

A fenestration product such as a skylight or a window assembly is provided having a frame with a peripheral wall with a light transmitting central region and a plastic dome formed of a light transmitting material mounted to the frame. The plastic dome has a central region which transmits light, a downwardly extending peripheral wall extending about and mounted to the peripheral frame, and an outwardly extending flashing flange for mounting the assembly to a building structure. Various embodiments of the part illustrated include a skylight assembly having a frame formed of a plastic layer formed into an inverted ‘U’ shape cross-section forming an annular channel filled with insulating foam. A sealed, vertically mounted window unit is also disclosed. Other embodiments have an insulating layer of transparent plastic material spaced from the dome forming an enclosed, gas filled insulating region. Methods of forming and installing a fenestration assembly are also described.

1 . A fenestration product assembly comprising:
 a frame having a first vertically extending peripheral wall portion defining a central opening, a second vertically extending peripheral wall portion spaced outboard from the first wall portion and an upper region therebetween forming an integral trough for collecting condensate; and   a dome formed of a first plastic material which transmits visible light, the dome mounted to the frame and having a central panel portion overlying the frame central opening, a vertically extending peripheral dome wall having a lower edge which extends about the frame second peripheral wall, and an outwardly extending flashing flange extending outward of the dome wall lower edge, the flashing flange being permanently securable about its periphery to a building structure for mounting the assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The fenestration product assembly of  claim 1  wherein the frame comprises a unitary plastic ring portion. 
     
     
         3 . The fenestration product assembly of  claim 2  wherein the frame forms has an inverted U-shaped cross section. 
     
     
         4 . The fenestration product assembly of  claim 3  wherein the frame further comprises a thermal insulation material which substantially fills the inverted U-shaped cross section. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The fenestration product assembly of  claim 3  wherein the frame further comprises a flashing flange portion extending outward from the wall portion and at least partially underlying the flashing flange of the dome. 
     
     
         7 . The fenestration product assembly of  claim 1  further comprising an insulating layer formed of a plastic material which is transparent to visible light, the insulating layer mounted to at least one of the frame and the dome, and having a central panel portion overlying the frame central opening and a peripheral edge which is mounted to at least one of the frame and the dome to define an enclosed cavity between the insulating layer and the dome. 
     
     
         8 . The fenestration product assembly of  claim 7  further comprising a second insulating layer formed of a plastic material which is transparent to visible light, the second insulating layer mounted between the insulating layer and the dome, and having a central panel portion overlying the frame central opening and a peripheral edge which is mounted to at least one of the frame peripheral wall, the insulating layer and the dome, thereby subdividing the enclosed cavity between the insulating layer and the dome. 
     
     
         9 .- 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A fenestration product assembly comprising:
 a dome formed of a first plastic, which transmits a portion of the visible light spectrum, the dome having a central panel, a peripheral side, and a peripheral flange attached to at least a portion of the side;   an interior layer formed of a second plastic, the interior layer having a first peripheral edge, a peripheral flange, and a second peripheral edge connected to the dome, forming a first cavity between the interior layer and the dome, the first cavity capable of receiving air from the atmosphere, the interior layer having a plurality of apertures capable of transporting air from the first cavity; and   a third layer formed of a third plastic, the third layer having a peripheral edge connected to at least one of the dome and the interior layer, the third layer and the interior layer forming a second cavity, the third layer having a second plurality of apertures capable of transporting air from the second cavity to a building interior space.   
     
     
         29 . The fenestration product assembly of  claim 28 , wherein the second cavity includes an air filter. 
     
     
         30 . The fenestration product assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the air filter includes a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. 
     
     
         31 . The fenestration product assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the third layer includes an access door. 
     
     
         32 . The fenestration product assembly of  claim 31 , wherein the third layer includes an airflow controller. 
     
     
         33 . The fenestration product assembly of  claim 28 , wherein an angle between the dome's peripheral side and the roof ranges from 15 degrees to 45 degrees. 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A fenestration product assembly comprising:
 a frame having an upward extending peripheral wall portion defining an aperture;   a dome formed of a plastic material which transmits at least a portion of visible spectrum light, the dome being mounted to the frame and having a exterior side away from the frame and having a downwardly extending peripheral edge which extends about the peripheral wall, and an outwardly extending flashing flange; and   a decorative layer connected to the exterior side of the dome.   
     
     
         36 . The fenestration product of  claim 35 , wherein the decorative layer includes a shingle graphic. 
     
     
         37 . The fenestration product of  claim 36 , wherein the shingle graphic comprises dots having a density in the range from 10 to 600 dots per inch. 
     
     
         38 . The fenestration product of  claim 36 , wherein the shingle graphic admits a quantity of visible spectrum light to the aperture ranging from 20% to 90% of the visible spectrum light impinging upon the decorative layer.