Pressure compensated glass unit
First Claim
1. A glass unit comprising:
- (a) a spacer defining a perimeter of the glass unit, wherein the spacer has a front side, a back side, an interior perimeter edge and an exterior perimeter edge;
(b) a front glass pane attached to the front side of the spacer;
(c) a back glass pane attached to the back side of the spacer, wherein the front glass pane and the back glass pane are maintained by the spacer in a spaced-apart parallel relationship which defines an interior space of the glass unit between the front glass pane and the back glass pane;
(d) a pressure equalization conduit in fluid communication with an exterior of the glass unit and in fluid communication with, the interior space of the glass unit, wherein the pressure equalization conduit contains a desiccant;
(e) an intermediate layer contained within the interior space of the glass unit, wherein the intermediate layer has a perimeter; and
(f) a floating suspension system associated with the intermediate layer and the spacer, wherein the perimeter of the intermediate layer is supported by the spacer with the floating suspension system so that the intermediate layer is in a spaced-apart parallel relationship with the front glass pane and the back glass pane and so that the intermediate layer is capable of moving biaxially within the interior space of the glass unit, wherein the intermediate layer is a film layer and wherein the floating suspension system is comprised of;
(i) a film bar attached to the film layer around the perimeter of the film layer, wherein the film bar is comprised of a plurality of film bar members arranged around the perimeter of the film layer, and wherein each of the film bar members is comprised of a pair of members attached to opposing sides of the film layer so that the film layer is interposed between the pair of members;
(ii) a film slot defined by the spacer around the interior perimeter edge of the spacer, for receiving the film layer therein;
(iii) a suspension chamber defined within the spacer amend the perimeter of the glass unit, wherein the suspension chamber is in communication with the film slot, for receiving the film bar therein; and
(iv) a biasing mechanism for biasing the film bar away from the interior perimeter edge of the spacer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A glass unit including a spacer, a front glass pane attached to a front side of the spacer, a back glass pane attached to a back side of the spacer, and a pressure equalization conduit defined by and within the spacer, wherein the pressure equalization conduit has a first end and a second end, wherein the pressure equalization conduit contains a desiccant and is in fluid communication with an exterior of the glass unit at a first end port adjacent to the first end and with an interior space of the glass unit at a second end port adjacent to the second end. The glass unit may further include one or more intermediate layers contained within the interior space and one or more floating suspension systems for supporting the intermediate layers.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A glass unit comprising:
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(a) a spacer defining a perimeter of the glass unit, wherein the spacer has a front side, a back side, an interior perimeter edge and an exterior perimeter edge; (b) a front glass pane attached to the front side of the spacer; (c) a back glass pane attached to the back side of the spacer, wherein the front glass pane and the back glass pane are maintained by the spacer in a spaced-apart parallel relationship which defines an interior space of the glass unit between the front glass pane and the back glass pane; (d) a pressure equalization conduit in fluid communication with an exterior of the glass unit and in fluid communication with, the interior space of the glass unit, wherein the pressure equalization conduit contains a desiccant; (e) an intermediate layer contained within the interior space of the glass unit, wherein the intermediate layer has a perimeter; and (f) a floating suspension system associated with the intermediate layer and the spacer, wherein the perimeter of the intermediate layer is supported by the spacer with the floating suspension system so that the intermediate layer is in a spaced-apart parallel relationship with the front glass pane and the back glass pane and so that the intermediate layer is capable of moving biaxially within the interior space of the glass unit, wherein the intermediate layer is a film layer and wherein the floating suspension system is comprised of; (i) a film bar attached to the film layer around the perimeter of the film layer, wherein the film bar is comprised of a plurality of film bar members arranged around the perimeter of the film layer, and wherein each of the film bar members is comprised of a pair of members attached to opposing sides of the film layer so that the film layer is interposed between the pair of members; (ii) a film slot defined by the spacer around the interior perimeter edge of the spacer, for receiving the film layer therein; (iii) a suspension chamber defined within the spacer amend the perimeter of the glass unit, wherein the suspension chamber is in communication with the film slot, for receiving the film bar therein; and (iv) a biasing mechanism for biasing the film bar away from the interior perimeter edge of the spacer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification