Ported stabilized window structures and systems and methods for ported stabilization of window structures

Abstract

A ported stabilized window structure includes a light transmissible patch secured over an opening of the window structure, a body of unifying material bonded to the patch to form a cohesive mass, and a port in the cohesive mass providing visualization and/or light transmission. The port is formed by a passage in the body of unifying material and by a segment of the patch that is maintained free of the unifying material. A system for ported stabilization of a window structure provides the components used to obtain a ported stabilized window structure. A method for ported stabilization of a window structure involves covering an opening of the window structure with a light transmissible patch, shielding a segment of the patch, applying a body of unifying material to the patch around the shielded segment to form a passage in the body of unifying material, and providing visualization and/or light transmission via a port formed by the passage and by the shielded segment.

1 . A ported stabilized window structure, comprising 
 a window structure having a window frame circumscribing an opening devoid of glass; a patch removably secured to said window structure to cover said opening and presenting an exposed surface area within said opening, said patch being made of a material permitting light transmission therethrough; 
 a body of unifying material bonded to said exposed surface area of said patch around a segment of said exposed surface area that is maintained free of said unifying material, said body of unifying material having a passage therethrough in communication with said segment of said exposed surface area, said body of unifying material and said sheet bonded thereto forming a cohesive mass; and  
 a port in said cohesive mass formed by said passage and by said segment of said exposed surface area to provide light transmission through said cohesive mass.  
   
   
   
       2 . The ported stabilized window structure recited in  claim 1  wherein said patch is made of a material permitting visualization therethrough and said port provides visualization through said cohesive mass.  
   
   
       3 . The ported stabilized window structure recited in  claim 1  wherein said patch is releasably adhesively secured to said window structure to cover said opening.  
   
   
       4 . The ported stabilized window structure recited in  claim 1  and further including a securing device releasably securing said patch to said window structure to cover said opening.  
   
   
       5 . The ported stabilized window structure recited in  claim 1  wherein said window structure includes a track extending around said opening and said patch is releasably secured in said track to cover said opening.  
   
   
       6 . The ported stabilized window structure recited in  claim 1  wherein said unifying material is a polymeric foam.  
   
   
       7 . The ported stabilized window structure recited in  claim 6  wherein said unifying material is applied to said exposed surface area of said patch in fluidic form and thereafter solidifies to form said cohesive mass.  
   
   
       8 . The ported stabilized window structure recited in  claim 7  and further including a release element releasably secured on a surface of said window structure to be protected from the application of said unifying material.  
   
   
       9 . The ported stabilized window structure recited in  claim 1  wherein said window structure has an exterior side and an interior side, said patch being disposed along said exterior side and said body of unifying material being disposed along said interior side.  
   
   
       10 . The ported stabilized window structure recited in  claim 1  and further including a shield device comprising a shield body having an interior and an open abutment end in communication with said interior, said shield body being bonded to said body of unifying material as part of said cohesive mass with said abutment end disposed over said segment of said exposed surface area of said patch, said passage being formed by said interior of said shield body.  
   
   
       11 . The ported stabilized window structure recited in  claim 10  wherein said shield body has an open end opposite said abutment end in communication with said interior.  
   
   
       12 . The ported stabilized window structure recited in  claim 1  wherein said patch is a first patch and further including a second patch disposed over said body of unifying material with said body of unifying material sandwiched between said first patch and said second patch.  
   
   
       13 . The ported stabilized window structure recited in  claim 12  wherein said second patch is bonded to said body of unifying material as part of said cohesive mass.  
   
   
       14 . A system for ported stabilization of a window structure having a window frame circumscribing an opening devoid of glass, said system comprising 
 a sheet of material for being secured on the window structure to cover the opening and present an exposed surface area within the opening, said material permitting light transmission therethrough;    a supply of a fluidic unifying material for being applied to the exposed surface area of said sheet as a body of unifying material, said unifying material solidifying after application to bond to said sheet and form a cohesive mass; and    a shield device for being disposed over a segment of the exposed surface area of said sheet to shield the segment from application of said unifying material to form a port in the cohesive mass including the shielded segment and a passage in the body of unifying material to provide light transmission through the cohesive mass.    
   
   
       15 . The system for recited in  claim 14  wherein said material of said sheet permits visualization therethrough and the port provides visualization through the cohesive mass.  
   
   
       16 . The system recited in  claim 14  wherein said shield device includes a shield body for being placed in contact with said sheet for application of said unifying material around said shield body, said shield body being removable from the body of unifying material to form the passage in the body of unifying material in the place vacated by said shield body and to reveal the shielded segment of said sheet.  
   
   
       17 . The system recited in  claim 14  wherein said shield device includes a shield body for being placed in contact with said sheet for application of said unifying material around said shield body, said shield body being bondable to said unifying material as part of the cohesive mass, said shield body having an interior, an open abutment end in communication with said interior for being placed over the segment of the exposed surface area of said sheet, and having an end opposite said abutment end providing light transmission therethrough, said interior of said shield body forming the passage in the body of unifying material.  
   
   
       18 . The system recited in  claim 14  wherein said shield device includes a mask for being removably disposed on said sheet for application of said unifying material around said mask to form the passage in the body of unifying material, said mask being removable from said sheet to reveal the shielded segment of said sheet.  
   
   
       19 . The system recited in  claim 14  wherein said shield device includes a mask for being removably disposed on said sheet for application of said unifying material over and around said mask, said mask being removable from said sheet along with a section of the body of unifying material to reveal the shielded segment of said sheet and form the passage in the body of unifying material in the place vacated by the removed section.  
   
   
       20 . A method for ported stabilization of a window structure having a window frame circumscribing an opening devoid of glass, said method comprising the steps of 
 securing a light transmissible patch on the window structure to cover the opening and present an exposed surface area within the opening;    shielding a segment of the exposed surface area;    applying a body of unifying material of fluidic polymeric foam to the exposed surface area of the sheet around the shielded segment to form a passage in the body of unifying material in communication with the shielded segment;    allowing the fluidic polymeric foam to solidify and bond to the sheet to form a cohesive mass; and    providing light transmission through the cohesive mass via a port formed by the passage and by the shielded segment of the exposed surface area.