Insulated window units
First Claim
1. A multiple-glazed unit, comprising:
- a pair of sheets;
spacing and sealing means having a pair of opposed horizontal legs and a pair of opposed vertical legs joined at their ends positioned between said pair of sheets for maintaining said sheets in space relation to each other and defining a sealed insulating airspace between said sheets; and
a plurality of openings provided through said spacing and sealing means to put said insulating airspace in direct communication with atmosphere external to the unit to thereby allow the air pressure within said airspace and the air pressure of said external atmosphere to equalize wherein said openings are sized and configured such as to cooperatively function to minimize haze formation within said airspace and to maintain haze level within said airspace below a threshold level of about 7% haze as measured with a Hunter Model D554 instrument, after the unit is subjected to about one week exposure at about 140°
F. (66°
C.), 90% relative humidity, in a controlled testing environment.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multiple-glazed window unit comprises a pair of glass sheets held in spaced relation to each other by a spacer and sealant assembly defining a sealed, insulating airspace between the sheets. The surface of the sheets facing the airspace has a protective surface. The spacer and sealant assembly is free of any desiccant. If desired, an opening may be provided through the spacer and sealant assembly to put the airspace in communication with the atmosphere external to the unit. In the stance where opposed openings are provided, and sized and configured to allow free movement of atmospheric air and water vapor molecules through the airspace to equalize airspace pressure and relative humidity with that of the external atmosphere, the protective surface is not needed. A filtering element is employed to minimize infiltration of liquid water, dust, dirt, and the like through the openings and into the airspace. The unit also comprises a sash retaining the unit within a structural opening. The protective coating on the interior surface of the glass sheets and the openings provided a multiple-glazed unit that does not have a desiccant material and has the interior surfaces free of haze.
127 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A multiple-glazed unit, comprising:
-
a pair of sheets; spacing and sealing means having a pair of opposed horizontal legs and a pair of opposed vertical legs joined at their ends positioned between said pair of sheets for maintaining said sheets in space relation to each other and defining a sealed insulating airspace between said sheets; and a plurality of openings provided through said spacing and sealing means to put said insulating airspace in direct communication with atmosphere external to the unit to thereby allow the air pressure within said airspace and the air pressure of said external atmosphere to equalize wherein said openings are sized and configured such as to cooperatively function to minimize haze formation within said airspace and to maintain haze level within said airspace below a threshold level of about 7% haze as measured with a Hunter Model D554 instrument, after the unit is subjected to about one week exposure at about 140°
F. (66°
C.), 90% relative humidity, in a controlled testing environment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification