A spacer for an insulated glazing unit (IGU) is provided herein, along with an IGU and methods of making the spacer and IGU. The spacer imparts high thermal insulation to the IGU. Also provided are methods of preparing an insulating glazing unit, as well as methods of preparing a spacer for an IGU.

The present invention relates to a frameless glass door or window arrangement comprising a static frame and a movably mounted or stationary casement, wherein the casement further comprises a multiple glazing and at least one drip groove provided on the glazing, and wherein that at least one drip groove is provided between the plan defined by the external surface of the external glass plate and the plan defined by the internal surface of the internal glass plate of the glazing.

Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to vacuum insulated glass (VIG) units, and/or methods of making the same. An integrated pump-out tube is formed in a first substrate such that, when viewed in cross-section, the first glass substrate includes (a) first and second channel portions provided adjacent to opposite sides of a through-hole and (b) first and second sealing wall portions defined therebetween. An edge seal seals together the first and second substrates. A cavity is defined by the first and second substrates. Spacers provided between the first and second substrates in the cavity help maintain the first and second substrates in substantially parallel, spaced-apart relation to one another. The cavity is evacuated to a pressure less than atmospheric. The first and second sealing wall portions are preferentially heating to cause them to sag together and form a bridge covering the through-hole, hermetically sealing the VIG unit.

A glass panel unit having an exhaust pipe not protruding from the glass panel unit and an evacuation port tightly sealed, a glass window. A glass panel unit includes a first panel, a second panel, a seal member having a frame shape, a pore sealing material, and a bonding portion. The seal member hermetically bonds a peripheral portion of the first panel and a peripheral portion of the second panel together such that a hermetically sealed space in an evacuated state is formed between the first panel and the second panel. The pore sealing material hermetically seals an evacuation port formed in one of the first panel and the second panel. The bonding portion is bonded to the first panel and the second panel at part of a peripheral portion of the evacuation port and to suppress the first panel and the second panel from separating from each other.

A method for applying a patch to a spacer discontinuity or other seal breach includes the step of applying pressure to the patch during the application of the patch to cause sealant carried by the patch to be injected into the spacer discontinuity. This step can be performed with or without the application of heat. Pressure is applied to the patch long enough to position the sealant entirely across the gap between the lites such that the sealant wets out against both interior glass surfaces. Pressure is also applied to the patch long enough to inject sealant into openings defining the discontinuity. A sealant is then applied over the entire patch. The structure of the patch and the patched IG unit are provided.

A glass panel unit manufacturing method includes a punching step and a pillar mounting step. In the punching step, a punch punches at least one of a plurality of portions from a base material of a sheet to form at least one pillar. Each of the plurality of portions is surrounded by a corresponding one of a plurality of loop-shaped grooves in the base material. In the pillar mounting step, the at least one pillar is mounted on a surface of a first substrate including a glass pane.

Provided is a glass panel capable of, even after elapse of a long period, reliably sealing a suction hole and keeping a gap in an airtight state. A suction hole sealing metal material 15 has a first protruding portion 15a formed on an atmospheric side around a suction hole 4, and a second protruding portion 15b formed on a gap side around the suction hole 4, and as seen in a thickness direction of the glass plates 1A, 1B, a first contour 16a which is an outermost edge of a first adhesion surface portion S1 where the first protruding portion 15a is in contact with an atmospheric-side surface 17A of the glass plate 1A, and a second contour 16b which is an outermost edge of a second adhesion surface portion S2 where the second protruding portion 15b is in contact with a gap-side surface 17B of the glass plate 1A, are on an outer side of a third contour 16c which is a gap-side hole edge of the suction hole 4.

Glazing assembly are described comprising at least a first (inner) glass pane, a second (outer) glass pane and at least one peripheral spacer structure for providing a predetermined separation between the first and second glass pane, the peripheral spacer structure being positioned at the peripheral area of the first and second glass pane; one or more photovoltaic (PV) cell modules mounted on at least part of the peripheral spacer structure, the one or more PV cell modules being positioned in the space defined by the first and second glass panes and the peripheral spacer structure (inter-pane space); wherein at least part of the peripheral spacer structure comprises one or more mounting members adapted to orient a light receiving surface of PV cells of the PV cell modules in a tilted position with respect to the plane of the second (outer) glass pane.

An insulating glazing includes two glass sheets that are spaced apart by an air- or gas-filled cavity, a spacer arranged at periphery of the glass sheets and that keeps the glass sheets spaced apart, the spacer being transparent and placed on one of the sides of the glazing, and a first barrier that is leaktight to water, formed by a structural seal, the material of which is watertight, and a second barrier that is leaktight to gases and to water vapor, the first and second barriers associated to the transparent spacer being made of transparent material, wherein the second barrier that is leaktight to gases and to water vapor and made of transparent material is arranged at an interface between the glass sheets and the transparent spacer on an internal side of the glazing, the structural seal also at the interface being positioned abutted and aligned with the second barrier.

A glass panel unit manufacturing method includes a punching step and a pillar mounting step. In the punching step, a punch punches at least one of a plurality of portions from a base material of a sheet to form at least one pillar. Each of the plurality of portions is surrounded by a corresponding one of a plurality of loop-shaped grooves in the base material. In the pillar mounting step, the at least one pillar is mounted on a surface of a first substrate including a glass pane.