Spacers and connectors for insulated glass units
First Claim
1. A connector key for joining a pair of open ends of one or more spacers in an insulated glass unit (IGU), the connector key comprising:
- two ends, each of which is configured to mate with a separate one of the pair of open ends of the one or more spacers;
surfaces for mating with lites of the IGU, the lites of the IGU being substantially parallel; and
a channel configured to accommodate an electrical connection, wherein the channel passes at least partially through the connector key, and wherein the channel has a width of between about 4.5-10 mm, the width being measured in a direction between the two ends of the connector key that mate with the pair of open ends of the one or more spacers.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This disclosure describes insulated glass units (IGUs) that incorporate electrochromic devices. More specifically, this disclosure focuses on different configurations available for providing an electrical connection to the interior region of an IGU. In many cases, an IGU includes two panes separated by a spacer. The spacer defines an interior region of the IGU and an exterior region of the IGU. Often, the electrochromic device positioned on the pane does not extend past the spacer, and some electrical connection must be provided to supply power from the exterior of the IGU to the electrochromic device on the interior of the IGU. In some embodiments, the spacer includes one or more holes (e.g., channels, mouse holes, other holes, etc.) through which an electrical connection (e.g., wires, busbar leads, etc.) may pass to provide power to the electrochromic device.
156 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A connector key for joining a pair of open ends of one or more spacers in an insulated glass unit (IGU), the connector key comprising:
-
two ends, each of which is configured to mate with a separate one of the pair of open ends of the one or more spacers; surfaces for mating with lites of the IGU, the lites of the IGU being substantially parallel; and a channel configured to accommodate an electrical connection, wherein the channel passes at least partially through the connector key, and wherein the channel has a width of between about 4.5-10 mm, the width being measured in a direction between the two ends of the connector key that mate with the pair of open ends of the one or more spacers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. An insulated glass unit (IGU) comprising:
-
a first substantially transparent substrate having an electrochromic device disposed thereon; a second substantially transparent substrate positioned substantially parallel to the first substantially transparent substrate; one or more spacers positioned between the first and second substantially transparent substrates, each of the one or more spacers having surfaces that mate with the first and second substantially transparent substrates; a connector key joining a pair of ends of the one or more spacers, the connector key comprising; two ends, each of which mates with one of the ends of the one or more spacers, surfaces for mating with the substantially transparent substrates, and a channel configured to accommodate an electrical connection, wherein the channel passes at least partially through the connector key; and a sealing material bonding the first and second substantially transparent substrates to the one or more spacers and to the connector key, thereby forming a sealed interior region between the first and second substantially transparent substrates and interior of the one or more spacers and connector key. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A connector key for joining a pair of open ends of one or more spacers in an insulated glass unit (IGU), the connector key comprising:
-
two ends, each of which is configured to mate with a separate one of the pair of open ends of the one or more spacers; surfaces for mating with lites of the IGU, the lites of the IGU being substantially parallel; and a channel configured to accommodate an electrical connection, wherein the channel passes at least partially through the connector key, wherein the channel has a height between about 0.1-1 mm, the height being measured in a direction perpendicular to the lites of the IGU.
-
Specification