Embedded vacuum insulating glass unit, and/or method of making the same
First Claim
1. A window unit, comprising:
- at least first, second, third and fourth substantially parallel spaced-apart glass substrates arranged in this order so as to form a center gap between the second and third, or two inner, substrates and first and second outer gaps respectively between each of the two inner substrates and the two outer substrates;
one or more spacer elements provided to maintain the first, second, third and fourth substrates in substantially parallel-apart relation to one another;
a sealant provided proximate a periphery of the window unit so as to at least partially seal the window unit,wherein the center gap between the two inner substrates is provided at an inner gap pressure, the inner gap pressure being a pressure less than atmospheric pressure,wherein the first and second outer gaps are provided at pressure(s) greater than the inner gap pressure,wherein the window unit has an R-value of at least about 11 measured at a center thereof, andwherein the sealant extends between the first and fourth glass substrates so that the second and third glass substrates are interior of the sealant.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to a vacuum insulating glass (VIG) unit surrounded by two glass substrates, with at least one spacer element being disposed adjacent to and/or cradling the VIG and with a sealant sealing the entire unit at each end of the VIG, thereby reducing the chances of the VIG being damaged and/or improving the insulating features of the entire window unit. In certain example embodiments the spacer may be substantially U-shaped, whereas two pillar-like spacers may be used in connection with certain other example embodiments. The spacer element(s) may be butyl-based, foam-based, warm-edge spacer element(s), etc. The sealant may be polysulfide based, one- or two-part silicone based, polyurethane based, a dual seal equivalent sealant product, a hot melt butyl based sealant product, etc. The R-value of the window unit may be at least about 11, but typically is about 15-16, when measured at the center of the lite.
38 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A window unit, comprising:
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at least first, second, third and fourth substantially parallel spaced-apart glass substrates arranged in this order so as to form a center gap between the second and third, or two inner, substrates and first and second outer gaps respectively between each of the two inner substrates and the two outer substrates; one or more spacer elements provided to maintain the first, second, third and fourth substrates in substantially parallel-apart relation to one another; a sealant provided proximate a periphery of the window unit so as to at least partially seal the window unit, wherein the center gap between the two inner substrates is provided at an inner gap pressure, the inner gap pressure being a pressure less than atmospheric pressure, wherein the first and second outer gaps are provided at pressure(s) greater than the inner gap pressure, wherein the window unit has an R-value of at least about 11 measured at a center thereof, and wherein the sealant extends between the first and fourth glass substrates so that the second and third glass substrates are interior of the sealant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A window unit, comprising:
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a vacuum insulating glass unit; first and second glass substrates located on opposing sides of the vacuum insulating glass unit so as to form first and second outer gaps between the first substrate and the vacuum insulating glass unit and between the vacuum insulating glass unit and the second substrate, respectively; at least one spacer element provided proximate to each end of the vacuum insulating glass unit so as to maintain the first and second glass substrates and the vacuum insulating glass unit in substantially parallel-apart relation to one another; and a sealant provided at least adjacent to the at least one spacer element at each end of the major axis of the vacuum insulating glass unit so as to at least partially seal the window unit, wherein the vacuum insulating glass unit includes an inner air gap at an inner gap pressure, the inner gap pressure being a pressure below atmospheric, wherein the first and second outer gaps are provided at pressure(s) greater than the inner gap pressure, wherein the window unit has an R-value of at least about 11 measured at a center thereof, and wherein the sealant extends between the first and second glass substrates so that the vacuum insulating glass unit is interior of the sealant. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification