Edge bond bracket and insulating glass unit containing the same

• US 9,487,994 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2011
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Technoform Glass Insulation Holding GmbH (Technoform Caprano + Brunnhofer GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Technoform Glass Insulation Holding GmbH (Technoform Caprano + Brunnhofer GmbH & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Lenz, Joerg, Bebber, Ferdinand, Cempulik, Peter, Schedukat, Nils, Deckers, Norbert, Stephan, Henrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Buckle, Jr., James
• Application Number:
  US13/574,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20120297707A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,120 Days
• Field of Search: 521/72, 523/08, 527/861, 527/861.3, 527/881
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2003/66395 U-shape
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6621 with special provisions for fitting in window frames or to adjacent units; Separate edge protecting strips E06B3/66347 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66319 of rubber, plastics or similar materials
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66347 with integral grooves or rabbets for holding the panes E06B3/66366 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66366 specially adapted for units comprising more than two panes or for attaching intermediate sheets

Abstract

An edge bond bracket for an insulating glass unit extends in a longitudinal direction with a constant cross-section and includes an at least substantially U-shaped bracket body made of a material having a specific thermal conductivity less than or equal to 0.3 W/(mK). The bracket body includes at least one base, a first side wall and a second side wall. At least two troughs are defined in the base between the first side wall and the second side wall for accommodating adhesive and a pane. A gas impermeable diffusion barrier layer is formed integrally on and/or in the bracket body, extends continuously between two troughs starting from an inner wall of one of the two troughs and ending on an inner wall of the other of the two troughs, and extends either along an outer side of the U-shape of the bracket body or through the bracket body.

Claims

1. An edge bond bracket configured for use with an insulating glass unit, the edge bond bracket extending in a longitudinal direction (z) with a cross-section that is constant as viewed in a plane (x-y) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, comprising:

a bracket body made of a first material having a specific thermal conductivity less than or equal to 0.3 W/(mK), the bracket body including a base wall, at least one base supported by the base wall, a first side wall and a second side wall, the side walls being connected to the base wall such that the base wall and side walls form a U-shape, wherein at least two troughs are defined in the base wall between the first side wall and the second side wall on an inner side of the U-shape, the troughs each being configured to accommodate adhesive and a pane of the insulating glass unit, and

a gas-impermeable diffusion barrier layer that extends continuously through, and at least partially embedded in, the bracket body in a manner selected from;

(i) starting from an inner wall of one of the troughs and ending at an inner wall of an adjacent trough,

(ii) starting from a bottom wall of one of the troughs and ending at a bottom wall of an adjacent trough,

(iii) starting from an outer side of the at least one base and ending at an opposite outer side of the at least one base, and

(iv) starting from an inner side of the first side wall and ending at an opposing inner side of the second side wall.

2. The edge bond bracket according to claim 1, wherein the troughs taper in a height direction (y) and/or are narrowed by projections extending in a transverse direction (x) from respective edges of the first and second side walls, which respective edges are opposite of the at least one base in the height direction.

3. The edge bond bracket according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one functional element provided on the outer side of the U-shape.

4. The edge bond bracket according to claim 1, wherein recesses and/or cavities are defined on the outer side of the U-shape and/or in the bracket body.

7. An insulating glass unit comprising:

at least two panes disposed parallel to each other so as to define at least one pane interspace therebetween,

the edge bond bracket according to claim 1 having the at least two panes respectively affixed in the at least two troughs, and

a gas-impermeable adhesive disposed adjacent to, and continuous with, the gas-impermeable diffusion barrier layer of the edge bond bracket such that a gas-impermeable barrier is formed and seals the at least one interspace between adjacent panes in a gas-impermeable manner.

8. The edge bond bracket according to claim 1, wherein the first material comprises polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or a polycarbonate-Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) blend.

9. The edge bond bracket according to claim 8, wherein the first material further comprises glass fibers.

10. The edge bond bracket according to claim 9, wherein the gas-impermeable diffusion barrier layer comprises a metal layer, a metal foil or a layer of a gas-impermeable plastic.

11. The edge bond bracket according to claim 10, wherein the gas-impermeable diffusion barrier layer has a thickness less than or equal to 0.2 mm.

12. The edge bond bracket according to claim 9, wherein the gas-impermeable diffusion barrier layer comprises a metal layer or a metal foil comprising stainless steel or zinc-coated steel and having a thickness less than or equal to 0.1 mm.

13. The edge bond bracket according to claim 9, wherein the gas-impermeable diffusion barrier layer comprises Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol (EVOH).

14. The edge bond bracket according to claim 1, wherein the gas-impermeable diffusion barrier layer comprises a metal layer, a metal foil or a layer of a gas-impermeable plastic and has a thickness less than or equal to 0.2 mm.

15. The edge bond bracket according to claim 1, wherein the gas-impermeable diffusion barrier layer comprises a metal layer or a metal foil comprising stainless steel or zinc-coated steel and having a thickness less than or equal to 0.1 mm.

16. The edge bond bracket according to claim 1, wherein the gas-impermeable diffusion barrier layer comprises Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol (EVOH).

18. The edge bond bracket according to claim 16, wherein the troughs taper in a height direction (y) and/or are narrowed by projections extending in a transverse direction (x) from respective edges of the first and second side walls, which respective edges are opposite of the at least one base in the height direction.

19. The edge bond bracket according to claim 16, wherein the first material comprises polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or a polycarbonate-ABS blend.

20. The edge bond bracket according to claim 18, wherein the first material further comprises glass fibers.

5. An edge bond bracket configured for use with an insulating glass unit, the edge bond bracket extending in a longitudinal direction (z) with a cross-section that is constant as viewed in a plane (x-y) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, comprising:

an at least substantially U-shaped bracket body made of a first material having a specific thermal conductivity less than or equal to 0.3 W/(mK), the bracket body including a first side wall and a second side wall, which extend in parallel and form first and second legs of the U-shape, and a bottom wall connecting the first and second side walls, an inner side of the U-shape being defined by inwardly-facing sides of the first and second legs and the bottom wall, and

a diffusion barrier layer integrally formed with the bracket body and extending continuously either along an outer side of the U-shape of the bracket body or through the bracket body starting from an inner side of the first leg and ending on an opposing inner side of the second leg.

6. An insulating glass unit comprising:

at least two panes disposed parallel to each other so as to define at least one pane interspace therebetween,

the edge bond bracket according to claim 5 having the at least two panes respectively affixed in the at least two troughs, and

a gas-impermeable adhesive disposed adjacent to, and continuous with, the gas-impermeable diffusion barrier layer of the edge bond bracket such that a gas-impermeable barrier is formed and seals the at least one interspace between adjacent panes in a gas-impermeable manner.

17. An edge bond bracket configured for use with an insulating glass unit, the edge bond bracket extending in a longitudinal direction (z) with a cross-section that is constant as viewed in a plane (x-y) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, comprising:

a bracket body made of a first material having a specific thermal conductivity less than or equal to 0.3 W/(mK), the bracket body including a base wall, at least one base supported by the base wall, a first side wall and a second side wall, the side walls being connected to and forming a U-shape with the base wall, wherein at least two troughs are defined in the base wall between the first side wall and the second side wall on an inner side of the U-shape, the troughs each being configured to accommodate adhesive and a pane of the insulating glass unit, and

a gas-impermeable diffusion barrier layer formed on the bracket body and integrally therewith,

wherein the diffusion barrier layer extends continuously along an outer side of the U-shape of the bracket body starting from an inner wall of one of the two troughs and ending on an inner wall of the other of the two troughs.