PAULOWNIA BASED FENESTRATION STRUCTURES

摘要

The fenestration structures include external frame segments facing the interior and exterior surfaces of a building wall, and an internal frame segment “sandwiched” between the external frame segments. The external frame segments are made from a relatively hard, dense and/or resilient material, such as hard wood, while the internal frame segment is made from paulownia which is a moisture-resistant, dimensionally stable thermal barrier material. The external frame segments therefore provide durable and attractive exterior and interior surfaces of the fenestration frame, while the internal paulownia segment provides superior resistance to thermal transfer across the frame, while also remaining dimensionally stable across a variety of moisture and temperature levels. Internal paulownia segments may be positioned around the entire periphery of the fenestration frame to create a comprehensive thermal barrier.

主权项

1. A composite fenestration frame comprising:
a plurality of frame segments defining a central opening through the fenestration frame, the plurality of frame segments cooperating to define an exterior frame surface on one side of the central opening and an interior frame surface on an opposing side of the central opening; at least one of the plurality of frame segments comprising an internal frame segment made from paulownia and an external frame segment made from a second material having a material property different from paulownia, the internal frame segment substantially completely covered by the exterior frame surface and the interior frame surface, whereby the internal frame segment is not exposed.