Insulated assembly incorporating a thermoplastic barrier member

• US 5,773,135 A
• Filed: 08/09/1995
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Luc Lafond
• Original Assignee: Luc Lafond
• Inventors: Lafond, Luc
• Primary Examiner(s): LONEY, DONALD J
• Application Number:
  US08/513,180
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 428/34, 428/192, 428/212, 428/304.4, 428/309.9, 428/319.3, 52/172, 52/786.13, 49/475.1
• US Class Current: 428/304.4
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2003/6639 sinuous
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2003/66395 U-shape
• 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 3/66333 of unusual substances, e.g. wood or other fibrous materials, glass or other transparent materials
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66342 characterised by their sealed connection to the panes
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66361 with special structural provisions for holding drying agents, e.g. packed in special containers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24777 Edge feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249953 Composite having voids in a component [e.g., porous, cellular, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24996 With internal element bridging layers, nonplanar interface between layers, or intermediate layer of commingled adjacent foam layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249991 Synthetic resin or natural rubbers

Abstract

An insulating spacer for use in glazing assemblies is provided. The spacer comprises a foamed insulating body and further includes a second sealant material. The insulating body partially contacts the substrates as does the sealant to provide a double seal when used in a glazing assembly. In other embodiments the spacer is a composite of foam, sealant material, rigid plastics and desiccated matrices. A further embodiment discloses an undulating foam spacer body for easy manipulation about the corner in glazing assemblies. The result of incorporation of the foam is a substantially energy efficient spacer and assembly.

Claims

1. A composite spacer for spacing substrates, said spacer having opposed substrate engaging surfaces, comprising:

a foam body, said foam body having a pair of first surfaces, each said first surface adapted for sealing engagement with a substrate;

a pair of second substrate engaging surfaces of a layer of a second material different from said foam, said second surfaces being coplanar with said first surfaces of said foam body; and

a pair of third substrate-engaging surfaces of a layer of a third material different from said foam material, said third surfaces being coplanar with said first and second surfaces and, whereby said spacer provides a pair of opposed substrate engaging surfaces each having a plurality of discrete component surfaces adapted to seal with said substrates and with said first surfaces in a position to be non-adjacent the space enclosed by the substrates on assembly, and with one of said layers extending in the plane of the assembled substrates.

2. A composite spacer as set forth in claim 1, including at least one additional layer selected from a fluid barrier and a desiccant-containing matrix.

3. A composite spacer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said foam body comprises an ultra-violet curable foam.

4. A composite spacer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second material and said third material are selected from a group comprising polyurethane, butyl, polyisobutylene or mixtures thereof.

5. A composite spacer for spacing substrates according to claim 1, in the form of a body extrudable as a single unit.