Functional safety glazing unit

• US 20050002081A1
• Filed: 08/21/2002
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Original Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Inventors: Boucheret, Jean-Marc, Beteille, Fabien
• Application Number:
  US10/488,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20050002081A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/275
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10045 with at least one intermediate layer consisting of a glass sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10064 comprising at least two glass sheets, only one of which being an outer layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10174 Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10293 Edge features, e.g. inserts or holes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10366 Reinforcements of the laminated safety glass or glazing against impact or intrusion containing metal wires for reinforcement B32B17/10412
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10477 thermochromic
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10513 Electrochromic layer

Abstract

A functional safety glazing unit successively including: a first rigid substrate, a second rigid substrate, a third rigid, semi-rigid or flexible substrate, and at least one active system including at least one layer and placed between the first and second substrates or between the second and third substrates. The third substrate is set back with respect to the other two substrates. Further, at least one polymer film having the function of retaining splinters in the event of breakage of the glazing unit is placed between the first substrate and the second substrate and/or between the second substrate and the third substrate and/or forms part of the third substrate.

Claims

1-24. -24. (Canceled).

25. A glazing unit successively comprising:

a first rigid substrate;

a second rigid substrate;

a third rigid, semi-rigid or flexible substrate, the third substrate being set back with respect to the first and second substrates,

at least one active system comprising at least one layer and placed between the first and second substrates or between the second and third substrates; and

at least one polymer film having a function of retaining splinters in event of breakage of the glazing unit and placed between the first substrate and the second substrate and/or between the second substrate and the first substrate and/or forming part of the third substrate.

26. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 25, wherein the active system includes an electrically controllable system, with variable energy and/or optical properties of an electrochromic system, optical valve, viologen system, liquid crystal system, or electroluminescent system type.

27. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 25, wherein the active system includes a thin layer or a stack of thin layers having a thermal function of low-emissivity or solar-protection type, having an acoustic function, of acoustic attenuation coating type, having an optical function of decorative or absorbent, thermochromic, or thermotropic type.

28. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 25, wherein the first and second substrates are made of glass and the third substrate is either made of glass or of a polymer-based material.

29. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 25, further comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer sheet, having a function of retaining splinters in event of breakage of the glazing unit, provided between the first and second substrates and/or between the second and third substrates.

30. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 25, wherein the first, second, and third substrates are made of glass and are laminated to each other by thermoplastic polymer sheets.

31. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 25, wherein the first and second substrates are made of glass, and the third substrate is a polymer film or a combination of polymer films having the function of retaining splinters.

32. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 25, wherein the third substrate is a polymer film or a combination of polymer films adhering to the second substrate on its face that may or may not be equipped with the functional system, directly or by an adhesive.

33. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 25, wherein the active system is provided on an outer or inner face of the second substrate or on an outer face of the third substrate.

34. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 25, wherein a total thickness of the first and second substrates and of all other materials placed between the first and second substrates is less than or equal to 8 mm, especially less than or equal to 5.5 mm, preferably between 2 mm and 5 mm.

35. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 25, wherein the first and second substrates are of substantially identical dimensions and the third substrate is of smaller dimensions and positioned with respect to the second substrate to delimit an open peripheral groove having a depth of at least 5 mm, especially at least 8 mm, preferably between 10 and 25 mm.

36. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 35, wherein the depth of the groove is constant over an entire perimeter of the second and third substrates that delimit the groove.

37. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 25, wherein the active surface of the active system is of similar or smaller dimensions than an active surface of the third substrate.

38. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 25, further comprising an opacifying peripheral coating, of screen-printing type, on a periphery of an inner face of the first substrate and/or on a periphery of an outer or inner face of the second substrate.

39. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 25, wherein the setting back of the third substrate from the first and second substrates delimits an open peripheral groove in which connector elements of the active system run, where the active system can be electrically controlled.

40. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 25, further comprising at least one peripheral seal in contract with at least a side of the first substrate, and/or the second substrate and/or the third substrate.

41. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 40, wherein the at lest one peripheral seal is brought about or obtained by extrusion or obtained by encapsulation.

42. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 40, wherein the at least one peripheral seal is flush with an outer face of the first substrate.

43. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 40, wherein the at least one peripheral seal at least partially fills the open peripheral groove delimited by the setting back of the third substrate from the first and second substrates.

44. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 43, wherein the at least one peripheral seal is traversed by connection elements of the active system and/or includes at least, in part, mechanical strengthening elements.

45. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 25, wherein the glazing unit is a triple glazing unit, with three panes of the first, second, and third substrates and double lamination, equipped with an all-solid electrochromic system placed on an outer face of the second substrate.

46. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 25, wherein the glazing unit is a glazing unit for automotive industry or a glazing unit for a building.

47. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 25, wherein the glazing unit passes safety tests of ECE R43 and ANSI Z26.1 standards.

48. An automobile, equipped with the glazing unit as claimed in claim 25, preferably flush with bodywork.