Curved triple-pane glazing

• US 4,853,264 A
• Filed: 01/14/1988
• Issued: 08/01/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Southwall Technologies, Inc. (Eastman Chemical Company)
• Original Assignee: Southwall Technologies, Inc. (Eastman Chemical Company)
• Inventors: Behling, Gerald R., Gomm, William E., Hood, Thomas G., Vincent, Steve M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Ellis P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Loney, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US07/143,728
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 428/34, 428/412, 428/430, 428/483, 428/480, 428/432, 428/433, 428/469, 428/263, 428/265, 428/192, 428/119, 428/913, 428/457, 428/458, 428/38, 52/172, 52/171, 52/788, 52/789, 52/790, 156/108, 156/109, 156/107, 156/99, 156/102, 156/160, 156/166, 156/196, 156/292
• US Class Current: 428/34
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/1469 with double or multiple walls
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66 Units comprising two or more parallel glass or like panes permanently secured together reforming and uniting glass sheets by fusing C03B23/00; joining glass to glass or to other materials C03C27/00; laminated glass B32B17/10
• 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: Y10S 428/913 Material designed to be responsive to temperature, light, moisture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24777 Edge feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2495 Thickness [relative or absolute]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31507 Of polycarbonate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31616 Next to polyester [e.g., alkyd]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31678 Of metal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31681 Next to polyester, polyamide or polyimide [e.g., alkyd, glue, or nylon, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31786 Of polyester [e.g., alkyd, etc.]

Abstract

Curved, insulated glazing structures and their preparation are disclosed. The glazing structures comprise two rigid outer surfaces (generally glass) and a suspended inner film surface parallel to the outer surfaces. The inner film is adhered to the outer surfaces only on its curved edges--its straight edges being unattached. The inner film is generally heat shrunk in the direction parallel to the straight edges and preferably carries a heat reflective coating.

Claims

1. A curved insulated glazing structure comprising

a first rigid glazing panel having a perimeter defined by two opposite parallel curved edges and two opposite parallel straight edges,

an intermediate flexible plastic glazing panel at least about 5 mils in thickness, similar in size, shape and perimeter to, and spaced from and parallel to, the first rigid glazing panel, and

a second rigid glazing panel similar in size, shape and perimeter to, and spaced from and parallel to, the first rigid glazing panel and the intermediate flexible glazing panel, with

the first and second rigid panels being joined to one another in their spaced parallel relationship on substantially their entire perimeter with the flexible panel being joined into the structure only on its parallel curved edges and being substantially free from attachment into the structure on its parallel straight edges.

2. The glazing structure of claim 1 wherein the first and second rigid panels are glass sheets.

3. The glazing structure of claim 1 wherein the flexible panel is a plastic panel.

4. The glazing structure of claim 3 wherein the plastic panel is a 5 to 25 mil thick plastic sheet.

5. The glazing structure of claim 4 wherein the plastic panel is unidirectionally heat shrunk in the direction parallel to the two parallel straight edges.

6. The glazing structure of claim 5 wherein the plastic panel is polyester.

7. The glazing structure of claim 1 wherein the flexible panel carries a heat-reflective coating.

8. The glazing structure of claim 7 wherein the heat-reflective coating is a dielectric/metal/dielectric interference filter.

9. The glazing structure of claim 3 wherein the flexible panel carries a heat-reflective coating.

10. The glazing structure of claim 9 wherein the heat-reflective coating is a dielectric/metal/dielectric interference filter.

11. The glazing structure of claim 4 wherein the flexible panel carries a heat-reflective coating.

12. The glazing structure of claim 11 wherein the heat-reflective coating is a dielectric/metal/dielectric interference filter.

13. A curved insulated triple-pane glazing structure comprising

a first curved glass panel having a perimeter defined by two opposite parallel curved edges and two opposite parallel straight edges,

an intermediate flexible polyester panel, said polyester panel being similar in size, shape and perimeter to, spaced from, and parallel to the first curved glass panel, said flexible panel being 5 to 15 mils in thickness, and comprising a dielectric/metal/dielectric heat-reflective filter on one of its surfaces,

a second curved glass panel similar in size, shape and perimeter to, spaced from, and parallel to the first curved glass panel,

the first and second rigid panels being joined to one another in their spaced parallel relationship on substantially their entire perimeter, with the flexible panel being joined into the structure only on its parallel curved edges.

14. The glazing structure of claim 13 wherein the polyester panel is unidirectionally heat shrunk in the direction parallel to the two parallel straight edges.

15. A method for producing a curved triple-pane glazing structure comprising assembling an inner curved glass pane, an intermediate curved plastic sheet and an outer curved glass pane in parallel spaced relationship, the two glass panes being joined on substantially their entire perimeter and the plastic sheet being attached only on its curved sides and being free on its straight sides, the plastic sheet being 5 to 25 mils in thickness and being preferentially heat shrinkable in the direction parallel to the straight sides and heating the assembled panel for a time and temperature adequate to preferentially heat shrink the intermediate plastic sheet.