Triple pane window spacer having a sunken intermediate pane

• US 9,677,321 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2016
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guardian Glass LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Guardian IG, LLC
• Inventors: Nieminen, Raimo T., Rapp, David, Ahnen, Richard, Terpstra, Paul, Rapp, Eric B.
• Primary Examiner(s): FIGUEROA, LUZ ADRIANA
• Application Number:
  US15/019,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20160208544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 52204593
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/26301 with prefabricated insulating strips between two metal section members with two metal frame members having interpenetrating or overlapping parts when mounted E06B3/26336; combined with insulating elements formed in situ E06B3/2675
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/273 with prefabricated insulating elements held in position by deformation of portions of the metal frame members
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/5454 inside U-shaped section members
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6612 Evacuated glazing units
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66304 Discrete spacing elements, e.g. for evacuated glazing units
• 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: E06B 3/66366 specially adapted for units comprising more than two panes or for attaching intermediate sheets
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 7/12 Measures preventing the formation of condensed water double glazing E06B3/24 - E06B3/28 and E06B3/677 ; heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas H05B3/84
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 7/16 Sealing arrangements on wings or parts co-operating with the wings specially adapted for fireproof or similar closures E06B5/164; E06B7/098 takes precedence ; fixed sealing joints E04B1/68; devices for fitting sealing strips E04F21/00

Abstract

In one embodiment, a window spacer has an outer elongate strip with a first surface and a second surface. The window spacer also has first and second inner elongate strips that each has a first surface and a second surface. The inner elongate strips are arranged so that each of the first surfaces of the inner elongate strips is spaced from the second surface of the outer elongate strip. The inner elongate strips are also spaced from each other to form an elongate intermediate pane gap. Support legs extend between the outer elongate strip and the two inner elongate strips.

Claims

1. A window unit, comprising:

an intermediate pane disposed in an interior space defined between first and second panes; and

a spacer arranged about a perimeter of the first, second, and intermediate panes, the spacer comprising;

an outer metal strip (i) defining a width corresponding to a distance between inner surfaces of the first and second panes and (ii) supporting the intermediate pane;

a first inner metal strip defining a first outer edge and a first inner free edge, the first inner metal strip (i) extending from the inner surface of the first pane towards a first surface of the intermediate pane and (ii) being offset from the outer metal strip towards the interior space; and

a second inner metal strip defining a second outer edge and a second inner free edge, the second inner metal strip (i) extending from the inner surface of the second pane towards a second opposing surface of the intermediate pane and (ii) being offset from the outer metal strip towards the interior space,

wherein an intermediate pane gap is defined between the first and second inner free edges.

2. The window unit of claim 1, wherein the first and second inner metal strips are coplanar.

3. The window unit of claim 1, wherein the outer metal strip contacts the intermediate pane.

4. The window unit of claim 1, further comprising a sealant disposed between the intermediate pane and the outer metal strip.

5. The window unit of claim 1, wherein:

the spacer further comprises first and second non-metal support legs;

the first non-metal support leg is arranged between the outer metal strip and the first inner metal strip and offset from both the inner surface of the first pane and the first surface of the intermediate pane; and

the second non-metal support leg is arranged between the outer metal strip and the second inner metal strip and offset from both the inner surface of the second pane and the second surface of the intermediate pane.

6. The window unit of claim 5, further comprising a sealant disposed (i) between the first non-metal support leg and the inner surface of the first pane and (ii) between the second non-metal support leg and the inner surface of the second pane.

7. The window unit of claim 5, wherein:

the spacer further comprises third and fourth non-metal support legs;

the third non-metal support leg is arranged between the outer metal strip and the first inner metal strip and offset from the first non-metal support leg towards the intermediate pane; and

the fourth non-metal support leg is arranged between the outer metal strip and the second inner metal strip and offset from the first non-metal support leg towards the intermediate pane.

8. The window unit of claim 7, wherein the third and fourth non-metal support legs are each arranged (i) approximately parallel to the first and second non-metal support legs and (ii) offset from the intermediate pane.

9. The window unit of claim 7, wherein the third and fourth non-metal support legs are each arranged at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the outer metal strip such that the third and fourth non-metal support legs are configured to assist in registering the intermediate pane with the outer metal strip through the intermediate pane gap.

10. The window unit of claim 7, wherein:

the first and second inner metal strips each define a plurality of apertures; and

the spacer further comprises a desiccant disposed (i) in a first cavity defined by the outer metal strip, the first inner metal strip, and the first and third non-metal support legs and (ii) in a second cavity defined by the outer metal strip, the second inner metal strip, and the second and fourth non-metal support legs.

11. An insulated glass unit (IGU), comprising:

a first pane;

a second pane;

a third pane disposed in an interior space defined between the first and second panes; and

a spacer arranged about a perimeter of the first, second, and third panes, the spacer comprising;

an outer metal strip (i) defining a width corresponding to a distance between inner surfaces of the first and second panes and (ii) supporting the third pane;

a first inner metal strip defining a first outer edge and a first inner free edge, the first inner metal strip (i) extending from the inner surface of the first pane towards a first surface of the third pane and (ii) being offset from the outer metal strip towards the interior space; and

a second inner metal strip defining a second outer edge and a second inner free edge, the second inner metal strip (i) extending from the inner surface of the second pane towards a second opposing surface of the third pane and (ii) being offset from the outer metal strip towards the interior space,

wherein an intermediate pane gap is defined by the first and second inner free edges.

12. The IGU of claim 11, wherein the first and second inner metal strips are coplanar.

13. The IGU of claim 11, wherein the outer metal strip contacts the third pane.

14. The IGU of claim 11, further comprising a sealant disposed between the third pane and the outer metal strip.

15. The IGU of claim 11, wherein:

the spacer further comprises first and second non-metal support legs;

the first non-metal support leg is arranged between the outer metal strip and the first inner metal strip and offset from both the inner surface of the first pane and the first surface of the third pane; and

the second non-metal support leg is arranged between the outer metal strip and the second inner metal strip and offset from both the inner surface of the second pane and the second surface of the third pane.

16. The IGU of claim 15, further comprising a sealant disposed (i) between the first non-metal support leg and the inner surface of the first pane and (ii) between the second non-metal support leg and the inner surface of the second pane.

17. The IGU of claim 15, wherein:

the spacer further comprises third and fourth non-metal support legs;

the third non-metal support leg is arranged between the outer metal strip and the first inner metal strip and offset from the first non-metal support leg towards the third pane; and

the fourth non-metal support leg is arranged between the outer metal strip and the second inner metal strip and offset from the first non-metal support leg towards the third pane.

18. The IGU of claim 17, wherein the third and fourth non-metal support legs are each arranged (i) approximately parallel to the first and second non-metal support legs and (ii) offset from the third pane.

19. The IGU of claim 17, wherein the third and fourth non-metal support legs are each arranged at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the outer metal strip such that the third and fourth non-metal support legs are configured to assist in registering the third pane with the outer metal strip through the intermediate pane gap.

20. The IGU of claim 17, wherein:

the first and second inner metal strips each define a plurality of apertures; and

the spacer further comprises a desiccant disposed (i) in a first cavity defined by the outer metal strip, the first inner metal strip, and the first and third non-metal support legs and (ii) in a second cavity defined by the outer metal strip, the second inner metal strip, and the second and fourth non-metal support legs.