INSULATING SPACER STRIP INCLUDING TWO INSULATIVE CHAMBERS

BANDE D'ECARTEMENT ISOLANTE COMPRENANT DEUX COMPARTIMENTS ISOLANTS

English Abstract

The present invention relates to an insulative
spacer strip adapted to be positioned between opposed
substrates to insulate the opposed substrates. The
insulative spacer strip comprises: a rigid polymeric
support frame, the support frame member forming first and
second adjacent insulative bodies and having first and
second substrate engaging means; the first insulative body
including a hollow passage therein; and the second
insulative body having a desiccant material therein.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An insulative spacer strip adapted to be positioned
between opposed substrates to insulate the opposed substrates,
said insulative spacer strip comprising:
a rigid polymeric support frame, said support frame having
a pair of spaced apart substrate engaging means a connecting
arm extending between and connecting said pair of spaced apart
substrate engaging means and a diagonal support member
extending between said pair of spaced apart substrate engaging
means forming first and second adjacent insulative bodies;
said second insulative body having a desiccant material
therein.
2. The insulative spacer strip as defined in claim 1,
wherein said desiccant material is an insulative polymeric
substance including a desiccant therein.
3. The insulative spacer strip as defined in claim 1,
wherein there is provided a desiccant material and a polymeric
substance in said second insulative body.
4. The insulative spacer strip as defined in any one of
claims 1 to 3, wherein said pair of spaced apart substrate
engaging means are generally parallel and said diagonal support
member forms a common border between said first and second
insulative bodies.

5. The insulative spacer strip as defined in any one of
claims 1 to 4, wherein said pair of spaced apart substrate
engaging means are first and second horizontal arms.
6. The insulative spacer strip as defined in claim 5,
further including a further generally horizontal arm extending
from and connected to said diagonal support arm, said further
generally horizontal arm being adjacent and parallel to said
first generally horizontal arm.
7. The insulative spacer strip as defined in claim 5 or
6, wherein said first generally horizontal arm, said diagonal
support arm and said second generally horizontal arm form a
generally "Z" shaped configuration.
8. The insulative spacer strip as defined in any one of
claims 1 to 7, wherein said diagonal support arm is pivotally
connected to one of said pair of substrate engaging means.
9. The insulative spacer strip as defined in claim 6,
wherein said first generally horizontal arm and said further
generally horizontal arm are generally co-extensive.
10. The insulative spacer strip as defined in claim 6,
wherein said further generally horizontal arm is shorter than
said first generally horizontal arm.
11. The insulative spacer strip as defined in claim 5, 6,
8, 9 or 10, wherein said connecting arm is generally vertical
anal is corrugated.

12. The insulative spacer strip as defined in claim 6, 9
or 10, wherein said first generally horizontal arm and said
further generally horizontal arm are fixedly secured together.
13. The insulative spacer strip as defined in claim 5 or
6, wherein said diagonal support arm of said polymeric support
frame forms a common border between said first and second
insulative bodies.
14. The insulative spacer strip as defined in claim 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, wherein said rigid polymeric support
frame is a one-piece continuous member.
15. The insulative spacer strip as defined in claim 5,
wherein said diagonal support arm and said connecting arm each
have an embossed structure for added strength.
16. The insulative spacer strip as defined in claim 15,
wherein at least one embossed structure includes desiccant
therein.
17. The insulative spacer strip as defined in claim 1,
wherein there is further provided a polymeric coating covering
said desiccant material of said second insulative body and
extending from one of said pair of substrate engaging means to
the other of said pair of substrate engaging means.
18. The insulative spacer strip as defined in claim 1,
wherein there is further provided an end cap covering said
desiccant material of said second insulative body and extending

from one of said pair of substrate engaging means to the other
of said pair of substrate engaging means.
19. The insulative spacer strip as defined in claim 17,
wherein said polymeric coating is a silicon coating having the
property of controlling rapid moisture absorption and UV
protection.
20. The insulative spacer strip as defined in claim 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 15, 17, 18 or 19, wherein said rigid
polymeric support frame comprises a material having a low
moisture vapour transmission, thermal expansion stability and
low thermal conductivity.
21. The insulative spacer strip as defined in claim 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 15, 17, 18 or 19, wherein said rigid
polymeric support frame comprises a material selected from the
group consisting of polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides and
silicones,
22. The insulative spacer strip as defined in

claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 15, 17, 18 or 19, wherein
said rigid polymeric support frame is a polyester material.
23. The insulative spacer strip as defined in
claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 15, 17, 18 or 19, wherein
said rigid polymeric support frame has a thickness of from
about .005" to about .030".
24. The insulative spacer strip as defined in
claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 15, 17, 18 or 19, wherein
said rigid polymeric support frame is comprised of two or
more different plastic materials in the form of a
coextruded or laminated strip.
25. A rigid polymeric support frame for use in
an insulative spacer strip, comprising:
a first generally horizontal arm:
a second angularly disposed arm extending from
one end of said first horizontal army
a third generally horizontal arm extending from
an end of said second vertical arm, said third generally
horizontal arm being generally parallel with said first
generally horizontal arm;
a fourth generally vertical arm extending from an
end of said third generally horizontal arm:
a fifth generally horizontal arm extending from
said fourth generally vertical arm, said fifth generally
horizontal arm being adjacent and parallel to said first
generally horizontal arm;
wherein said rigid polymeric support frame forms
first and second adjacent insulative bodies, said second
angularly disposed arm forming a common border between said

first and second insulative bodies.
26. The rigid polymeric support frame as defined
in claim 25, wherein one of said first and second adjacent
insulative bodies is a hollow member and the other of said
first and second adjacent insulative badies is adapted to
receive a desiccant material.
22. The rigid polymeric support frame as defined
in claim 25, wherein said first generally horizontal arm,
said second angularly disposed arm and said third generally
horizontal arm form a generally "Z" shaped configuration.
28. The rigid polymeric support frame as defined
in claim 25, wherein each of said third generally
horizontal arm and said fifth generally horizontal arm are
adapted for engagement with a pane of glass.
29. The rigid polymeric support frame as defined
in claim 25, wherein said first generally horizontal arm
and said fifth generally horizontal arm are generally
coextensive.
30. The rigid polymeric support frame as defined
in claim 25, wherein said polymeric support frame is a
continuous one-piece member.
31. The rigid polymeric support frame as defined
in claim 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 or 30, wherein said fourth
generally vertical arm is corrugated.
32. The rigid polymeric support frame as defined

in claim 25, wherein said second angularly disposed arm and
said fourth generally vertical arm each have an embossed
structure for added strength.
33. The rigid polymeric support frame as defined
in claim 25, wherein said polymeric support frame comprises
a material selected from the group consisting of
polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides and silicones.
34. The rigid polymeric support frame as defined
in claim 33, wherein said polymeric support frame is a
polyester material.
35. The rigid polymeric support frame as defined
in claim 25 or 34, wherein said polymeric support frame has
a thickness of from about .005" to about .030".
36. The rigid polymeric support frame as defined
in claim 25, wherein said polymeric support frame has a low
moisture vapour transmission, thermal expansion stability
and low thermal conductivity.
37. The rigid polymeric support frame as defined
in claim 25, wherein said first generally horizontal arm
and said fifth generally horizontal arm are fixedly secured
together.
38. In an insulated window assembly having at
least two spaced apart window panes, an insulative spacer
strip between said at least two spaced apart window panes
said spacer strip being positioned around inner peripheries
of said at least two spaced apart window panes and affixed

thereto, the improvement wherein said insulative spacer
strip comprises:
a rigid polymeric support frame member, said
:support frame member forming first and second adjacent
insulative bodies;
said first insulative body including a hallow
passage therein; and
said second insulative body having a desiccant
material therein.
39. The insulated window assembly as claimed in
claim 38, wherein said rigid polymeric support frame
comprises a first generally horizontal arm, a second
generally vertical arm extending upwardly from an end of
said first horizontal arm, a third generally horizontal arm
extending from said second vertical arm, said first and
third generally horizontal arms being generally parallel
and a fourth angularly disposed arm extending downwardly
from said third horizontal arm wherein said fourth
angularly disposed arm forms a common border between said
first and second insulative bodies.
40. An insulated window assembly as claimed in
claim 38, wherein said rigid polymeric support frame member
includes a first generally horizontal arm, a second
angularly disposed arm extending from one end of said first
horizontal arm, a third generally horizontal arm extending
from an end of said second angularly disposed arm, said
first and third generally horizontal arms being generally
parallel, a fourth generally vertical arm extending from an
end of said third horizontal arm, and a fifth generally
horizontal arm extending from said fourth generally

vertical arm, said fifth generally horizontal arm being
adjacent and parallel to said first generally horizontal
arm.
41. The insulated window assembly as claimed in
claim 40, wherein said first generally horizontal arm, said
second angularly disposed arm and said third generally
horizontal arm form a generally "z" shaped configuration.
42. The insulated window assembly as claimed in
claim 40, wherein said second angularly disposed arm forms
a common border between said first and second insulative
bodies.
43. The insulated window assembly as claimed in
claim 40, wherein said second and fourth generally vertical
arms have an embossed structure for added strength.
44. The insulated window assembly as claimed in
claim 40, wherein said rigid polymeric support frame member
is comprised of suitable polyester material.
45. The insulated window assembly as claimed in
claim 40, wherein said rigid polymeric support frame member
has a thickness of from about .005" to about .030".
46. The insulated window assembly as claimed in
claim 40, wherein said rigid polymeric support frame member
is a continuous one-piece member.
47. The insulated window assembly as claimed in
claim 40, 41, 42, 44, 45 or 46, wherein said fourth
generally vertical arm is corrugated.

Description

INSULATING SPACER STRIP INCLUDING TWO INSULATIVE CHAMBERS
The present invention relates to an insulative
spacer for insulating opposed substrates.
More particularly, the present invention relates
to an insulative spacer for insulating opposed panes or
sheets of glass.
Sealed window units are known which include a
pair of panes of glass sealed together around their inner
peripheries by an insulative strip of material which spaces
the panes part and includes a desiccant to aid in removal
of moisture from between the panes of glass. Typically,
there is also provided a backfill material which fills the
area between the edges of the panes of glass and the
insulative strip.
In one typical prior art arrangement an aluminum
channel is used to space and support the panes of glass in
a sealed window unit. The aluminum channel together with
a desiccant is positioned between the glass panes spaced
inwardly from the outer edges thereof and a backfill
material is inserted between the edges of the glass panes
and the aluminum channel. One disadvantage of this type of
spacer is that aluminum is a poor insulator, i.e. the
temperature transfer of aluminum is very high. A further
disadvantage is that in order to be able to go around the
corners of a pane of glass, the aluminum channel must be
cut at the corner and an additional section started on the
next straight edge.

N
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Another prior type of insulative spacer known is
in the form of a strip of aluminum surrounded by butyl
rubber which has a desiccant milled therein. Although the
thermal conductivity of this strip is somewhat better than
that of an aluminum channel alone, the heat transfer of
this strip is still quite high.
A self-supporting foam layer including a
desiccant has also been utilized as an insulative spacer
between two panes of glass. Such an insulative spacer is
costly to manufacture.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention there is provided an insulative spacer strip
adapted to be positioned between opposed substrates to
insulate the opposed substrates. The insulative spacer
strip comprising: a rigid polymeric support frame, the
support frame member forming first and second adjacent
insulative bodies and having first and second substrate
engaging means; the first insulative body including a
hollow passage therein: and the second insulative body
having a desiccant material therein.
In the structure of the present invention,
Applicant has found that by providing a structure
preferably of a one-piece integral nature, sufficient and
reliable spacers can be provided without the costly
necessity of utilizing e,g, rigid aluminum spacers or the
integral foam spacers, which overcome the inherent
disadvantages of such spacers. More particularly, the
spacers of the present invention have a configuration and

3
structure which permits the formation of an internal
chamber or first insulative body capable of providing an
air body, and a second insulative body or chamber which is
capable of receiving a desiccant or an insulation material
containing a desiccant, thus providing a highly efficient
insulation body which has low thermal conductivity
extending between two panes of glass or the like.
In the preferred form of the structure of the
present invention, the rigid polymeric support frame of the
spacer strip or element includes a pair of supporting
members, one of which extends between the strip portions
engaging or adapted to be placed against the surfaces of
the glass panes or lites, and in which the supporting
member is angularly disposed relative to the strip portions
which engage the glass lites while the other of the
supporting members is preferably generally vertically
oriented or slightly inclined and which is further located
in a position spaced from the first mentioned angularly
disposed supporting member. In this way, an interior
chamber or insulative body may be formed and further, the
second chamber or insulative body positioned to receive a
desiccant material between the upper and lower glass
engaging members of the spacer element.
By utilizing a pair of supporting members as
described above, one chamber or insulative body formed
within the spacer element may be completely enclosed;
within this enclosed chamber, an insulating material may
be utilized if desired, e.g. a foam insulating material, or
even a non-foamed substance. Depending on the type of

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window structure to be used in conjunction with the spacer
element of the present invention, additional desiccant
containing material may also be included in this enclosed
chamber.
In one variation of the present invention, the
generally vertically oriented support member may function
solely as a supporting member; alternately, this supporting
element may be of a corrugated nature which functions to
permit some flexing of the support member to relieve stress
on double glass lites formed into an assembly where stress
may be encountered due to wind or atmospheric conditions
which will cause flexing of the glass panes or lites with
consequent flexing of the spacer element or strip. In this
way, where large surface areas of glass panes are used in
conjunction with the spacer element, a degree of
flexibility can be provided without disrupting the
integrity of the spacer element.
In a still further embodiment, the vertically
oriented as well as the angularly disposed supporting
members of the spacer element may include additional
reinforcing means such as by including an embossed
structure thereon. Such an embossed structure could be in
the form of. a plurality of spaced apart ribs, etc.
'rhe outer chamber or insulative body of the
spacer element, which forms a chamber facing the interior
of the window assembly, is conventionally provided with
desiccant material. Such desiccant material may be
incorporated either as pure desiccant material or mare

~664~88
conventionally, in a carrier such as a polymeric carrier
which may be of a foamed or non-foamed nature. The
desiccant material preferably fills the entire outer
chamber.
A coating may be applied over the outer chamber
or insulative body to protect the material therein, such a
coating may be in the form of a silicon coating.
Alternatively, a suitable end cap may be provided to
protect the material within the outer chamber.
Preferably, the spacer strip of the present
invention includes a integral polymeric support frame which
includes a first generally horizontal arm; the angularly
disposed support arm forming a second arm extending from
one end of the first horizontal arm; a third generally
horizontal arm extending from one end of the angularly
disposed support arm; the vertically oriented support arm
forming a fourth arm extending downwardly from the third
horizontal arm. The first and third horizontal arms being
generally parallel. In this arrangement, the first and
third horizontal arms form the strip portions which engage
the glass liter.
In a particularly preferred arrangement, the
polymeric support frame is also pravided with a fifth
horizontal arm which extends from the fourth arm and is
adjacent and parallel to the first horizontal arm. In this
arrangement, the third horizontal arm and the fifth
horizontal arm form the strip portions which engage the
glass lites.

~06~3~~
6
In accordance with another embodiment of the
present invention there is provided a rigid polymeric
support frame for use in an insulative spacer strip,
comprising: a first generally horizontal arm; a second
angularly disposed arm extending from one end of the first
horizontal arm; a third generally horizontal arm extending
from an end of the second vertical arm, the third generally
horizontal arm being generally parallel with the first
generally horizontal arm; a fourth generally vertical arm
extending from an end of the third generally horizontal
arm; a fifth generally horizontal arm extending from the
fourth generally vertical arm, the fifth generally
horizontal arm being adjacent and parallel to the first
generally horizontal arm; wherein the rigid polymeric
support frame forms first and second adjacent insulative
bodies, the second angularly disposed arm forming a common
border between the first and second insulative bodies.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the
present invention there is provided an insulated window
assembly having at least two spaced apart window panes, an
insulative spacer strip between the at least two spaced
apart window panes the spacer strip being positioned around
inner peripheries of the at least two spaced apart window
panes and affixed thereto, the improvement wherein the
insulative spacer strip comprises: a rigid polymeric
support frame member, the support frame member forming
first and second adjacent insulative bodies; the first
insulative body including a hollow passage therein; and the
second insulative body having a desiccant material therein.

~~6~~9F
The rigid polymeric support frame may be of any
suitable material which is self-supporting and suitably
rigid. Preferably, the rigid polymeric support frame is a
material selected from polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides
and silicones; polyesters being particularly preferred. In
addition, if desired, the polymeric support frame may
include a metallized surface or surfaces.
Preferably, the support frame has a thickness in
the range of approximately .005" to .030".
Having thus generally described the present
invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying
drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the
present invention wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a part of a
insulated window assembly utilizing one embodiment of the
insulative spacer strip of the present invention;
Figure 2 is an end view of the spacer strip
illustrated in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a laid open view of the rigid
polymeric support frame of the spacer strip illustrated in
Figure 2;
Figure 4 is an end view of an alternate
embodiment of the spacer strip of the present invention;
Figure 5 is an end view of another alternate
embodiment of the spacer strip of the present invention;
and
Figure 6 is an end view of a further alternate
embodiment of the spacer strip of the present invention.

8
Reference will be initially made to Figures 1 and
2, which illustrate one preferred embodiment of the spacer
strip of the present invention.
The spacer strip of the present invention,
generally designated by reference numeral 10, includes a
first insulative body 12 and a second insulative body 14.
The first insulative body 12 is a generally hollow body
which includes air therein, air being known as a good
insulative material. Alternately, the first insulative
body 12 may include any suitable insulative material
therein (not shown). The second insulative body includes
a desiccant material 16 therein. The desiccant material 16
may be a desiccant, a polymeric material including a
desiccant therein, a desiccant and a polymeric insulating
material or any other suitable combination.
The insulative bodies 12 and 14 are formed by a
rigid polymeric support frame structure, generally
designated by reference numeral 17.
The rigid polymeric support frame member 17 is
preferably of a one-piece unitary construction, although
other constructions may be utilized such as two or more
different coextruded or laminated strips.
The rigid polymeric support frame 17, as best
illustrated in Figure 2, includes a first arm 18 which is
generally horizontally oriented, a second arm 20 which is
generally angularly oriented, a third arm 22 which is
generally horizontally oriented and is generally parallel

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9
to the first arm 18, a fourth arm 24 which is generally
vertically oriented and a fifth arm 26 which is generally
horizontally oriented.
The support frame 17 preferably has a thickness
of approximately .005" to .030 inch and is of any suitable
material which is self-supporting and suitably rigid such
as polyolefins, polyesters, silicones and polyamides;
polyesters being particularly preferred. If desired, the
support frame 17 may also have a metallized surface or
surfaces. Preferably the material of the support frame 17
has the following properties: low moisture vapour
transmission, thermal expansion stability and low thermal
conductivity.
As best seen from Figure 2, the fifth arm 26 is
preferably parallel, adjacent and coextensive with the
first arm 18; although the first arm 18 may be shorter or
larger than the fifth arm 26. In a particularly preferred
form, the fifth arm 26 and the first arm 18 are fixedly
secured together by way of any suitable adhesive means (not
shown) and the first arm 18, the second arm 20 and the
third arm 22 form a generally "Z" shaped configuration.
Both the second arm 20 and the fourth arm 24
preferably have embossments 28 thereon. Such embossments
28, which may be in the form of spaced apart ribs, add
strength to the support frame structure 17. It is
contemplated that the embossed structures 28 may also
include a desiccant material therein (not shown).

~~G4~~~
As will be noted, from Figure 2 in particular,
the second arm 20 forms a common border for each of the
insulative bodies 12 and 14.
An end member 30 may be provided which covers and
protects the desiccant material 16 in the second insulative
body 14 and extends from the fifth arm 26 to the third arm
22. Such an end member may be in the form of any suitable
polymeric coating or may be in the form of an end cap of
10 any suitable material. Preferably, such an end member is
in the form of a silicon coating having a UV resistance
additive and further having the property of preventing
rapid moisture absorption and saturation of the desiccant
material 16 when exposed to atmospheric conditions, and
providing sufficient necessary moisture absorption when
between two panes of glass.
As best illustrated in Figure 1, when the spacer
strip i0 of the present invention is assembled between two
panes of glass 36, the third arm 22 and the fifth arm 26
are fixedly secured to the panes of glass 36 by way cf any
suitable adhesive.
Figure 3 illustrates the rigid polymeric support
frame 17, as described above with reference to Figures 1
and 2, in a laid out condition. The embossments 28 on the
second arm 20 and the fourth arm 24 are readily apparent
from this Figure. Although in Figure 3, the embossments 28
on the second arm 20 are shown on the top surface and the
embossments 28 on the fourth arm 24 are shown on the bottom
surface, it will be understood that the embossments 28

z~~~~~
11
could be on either or both of the surfaces of arms 20 and
24.
To form the spacer strip, the rigid polymeric
support frame 17 is bent along the margins 29 to form the
first horizontal arm 18, the second angularly disposed arm
20, the third horizontal arm 22, the fourth generally
vertical arm 24 and the fifth horizontal arm 26 (see
polymeric support frame 17 in the spacer strip illustrated
in Figures 1 and 2).
Figure 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of
the present invention. The embodiment of Figure 4 is very
similar to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, with
like reference numerals designated like parts.
In the embodiment of Figure 4, however, the
fourth arm 24 is of a corrugated construction, which
permits some flexing of this support member to release
stresses. All other elements of this embodiment are as
shown and described with reference to Figures 1 to 3.
Figure 5 illustrates another embodiment of the
spacer strip 10 of the present invention, which again is
very similar to the embodiment of Figure 2, with like
reference numerals designating like parts. In the Figure
5 embodiment, the support frame 17 does not include a fifth
arm. The end cap 30 covering the desiccant material 16
extends from the first arm 18 to the third arm 22. In this
embodiment, the first arm 18 and the third arm 22 form the
strips which engage the glass panels, and are affixed

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12
thereto by any suitable adhesive.
A further embodiment of the present invention is
illustrated in Figure 6. In this embodiment, a first arm
40 is provided which is generally horizontal. A second arm
42, which is generally vertical, extends upwardly from one
end of the first arm 40. A third arm 44 which is parallel
to the first arm 40 extends from the second arm 42 and a
fourth arm 46 is angularly disposed and extends downwardly
from the third arm 44, the fourth arm 46 has a free end
which is adjacent the point where the first arm 40 and the
second arm 42 are joined. The fourth arm 46 forming a
common border between the first and second insulative
bodies 12 and 14. In this arrangement, the first arm 40
and the third arm 44 form the glass lite engaging strips
and the end cap 30 covering the desiccant material 16
extends from the first arm 40 and the third arm 44.
Having described preferred embodiments of the
present invention, it will be understood that various
modifications or alterations can be made to the above
described embodiments without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention.

Representative Drawing