Multiple pane sealed glazing unit

• US 5,007,217 A
• Filed: 04/10/1989
• Issued: 04/16/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lauren International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lauren Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Reichert, Gerhard, Glover, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Safavi, Michael
• Application Number:
  US07/338,054
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 52/172, 52/398, 52/399, 52/789, 52/790, 52/171, 428/34
• US Class Current: 52/172
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2003/6638 with coatings
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66323 comprising an interruption of the heat flow in a direction perpendicular to the unit
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66328 of rubber, plastics or similar materials E06B3/66314, E06B3/66323 and E06B3/66342 take precedence; transparent materials E06B3/66333
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66342 characterised by their sealed connection to the panes
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/667 Connectors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6715 specially adapted for increased thermal insulation or for controlled passage of light E06B3/66323 takes precedence; coating of glass pains C03C17/00; devices or arrangements for controlling the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/677 Evacuating or filling the gap between the panes ; Equilibration of inside and outside pressure; Preventing condensation in the gap between the panes by means of spacing elements E06B3/663; Cleaning the gap between the panes

Abstract

There is described a multiple pane insulated sealed glazing unit having two or more glazing sheets which are maintained parallel and spaced apart by a resilient spacing and sealing assembly which runs around the periphery of the sheets. An insulating airspace is thus formed between the sheets. The assembly includes an inner spacer sandwiched between the sheets and located inwardly of the glazing edges, creating an outwardly facing perimeter channel. The inner spacer is comprised of a moisture permeable foam material which may be flexible or semi-rigid. The spacer contains desiccant material and has a pressure sensitive adhesive preapplied on two opposite sides adjacent the sheets. The inwardly directed face of the spacer is reistant to ultra-violet radiation and the spacer can be coiled for storage. The assembly also has an outer sealing filling in the channel. In a preferred embodiment the spacer is substantially backed with a flexible vapor and gas barrier coating, sheet or film.

Claims

1. A multiple plane insulating sealed glazing unit comprising two or more glazing sheets, said sheets being maintained in an essentially parallel and spaced apart relationship to each other by a peripheral resilient spacing and sealing assembly, defining an insulating airspace between said sheets, which spacing and sealing assembly comprises an inner spacer strip sandwiched between said sheets, and located inwardly of the glazing edges, thereby creating an outwardly facing perimeter channel therebetween;

said inner spacer strip being composed of a moisture permeable flexible or semi-rigid silicone foam material preformed to have, when in the uncompressed condition, two opposite sides spaced so as to provide the desired spacing of said glazing sheets and containing desiccant material, said spacer strip having a preapplied ultra-violet resistant pressure sensitive adhesive on said opposite sides thereof and which abut said sheets, said adhesive having high tack and non-outgassing properties and said spacer strip having an inwardly directed face which is resistant to ultra-violet radiation, and having physical properties which permit said spacer strip to be coiled for storage; and

said spacing and sealing assembly further comprising an outer sealant filling said outer perimeter channel.

2. A unit as claimed in claim 1 where said foam spacer strip is substantially backed with a flexible vapor and gas barrier coating, sheet or film and where the spacer strip is capable of being folded, notched or bent around corners so that the vapor and gas barrier is continuous.

3. A unit as claimed in claim 2 where the outer sealant is moisture permeable and where a bead of self adhering material of very low moisture and gas permeability is applied between said vapor barrier and said sheets.

4. A unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein in addition to said at least two glazing sheets, at least one further glazing sheet is provided parallel to and spaced between said at least two glazing sheets to define at least one further airspace, said inner spacer strip being located between at least one adjacent pair of glazing sheets and said outwardly facing perimeter channel being defined by the outermost glazing sheets of the unit.

5. A unit as claimed in claim 4 in which said further glazing sheet is composed of heat shrinkable plastic film.

6. A unit as claimed in claim 1 in which at least one of said glazing sheets is surface coated with a low-emissivity coating and wherein said insulating airspace is filled with a low conductive gas.

7. A unit as claimed in claim 4 in which at least one of said glazing sheets is surface coated with a low-emissivity coating and wherein said insulating airspace is filled with a low conductive gas.