A door assembly including a first glass pane, a second glass pane, and a spacer positioned between the first glass pane and the second glass pane such that the first pane and the second pane are separated by the spacer. The door assembly also includes an element that is coupled to the first glass pane and the second glass pane and positioned exterior of the spacer. The spacer and the element cooperate to at least partially define a seal passage, and a clear material is disposed in the seal passage to seal the space, the clear material configured to provide structural support to the assembly.

A joiner clip for use in a spacer frame assembly and method of assembly are disclosed herein. The joiner clip includes first and second arms coupled to and extending away from a body, the first and second arms comprising mirror images of each other across a first mirror image axis. The first and second arms are housed within a first channel end of a linear spacer frame when assembled. The joiner clip further includes third and fourth arms coupled to and extending away from the body and away from the first and second arms, the third and fourth arms comprising mirror images of each other across the first mirror image axis. The third and fourth arms are housed within an opposite frame end of the linear spacer frame when assembled. When assembled, the body spaces the first channel end from the opposite frame end.

The application describes a frame assembly. The frame assembly comprises: first and second glass panels substantially parallel to each other; and an intermediate ballistic panel positioned between the first and second glass panels. A spacer element is positioned between the first and second glass panels and adapted to receive the intermediate ballistic panel. The spacer element comprises a recess adapted to receive the intermediate ballistic panel therein. The recess is larger than the intermediate ballistic panel in at least one dimension by a tolerance value to accommodate thermal expansion of the intermediate ballistic panel.

A device for reducing impact forces upon a surface includes a base comprising a first contact portion and a transition portion, a contact member disposed between the base and the surface; and a biasing portion disposed between the first contact portion of the base and the surface. At least a first portion of an impact force upon the surface is transferred from the contact member to the base, and a second portion of the impact force is subsequently returned to the surface, the second portion being less than the first portion.

An insulating glass unit (10) is formed from a plurality of transparent layers (16, 18, 20), in which at least one illuminable panel (20) is arranged between at least two mineral glass panels (16, 18). The mineral glass panels (16, 18) are held at a defined distance from one another by at least one spacer element (14). The illuminable panel (20) is held at least on one longitudinal marginal edge (24) by the spacer element (14). The spacer element (14) is formed by at least one hollow profile (15), which preferably comprises a plurality of adjoining hollow chambers (26, 28). The outer mineral glass panels (16, 18) each adjoins at least two lateral surfaces of the hollow profile (15). The illuminable panel (20) rests on or against the intermediate hollow chamber (28). An illumination element (32) is arranged within the intermediate hollow chamber (28).

This invention provides a sealing spacer for spacing apart two window panes to form a window assembly. The spacer has an elongated, flexible strip having opposed edge surfaces and opposed side surfaces. The spacer also has a fiber reinforced polymer layer over the elongated, flexible strip. The opposed edge surfaces undulate with crests and troughs. The spacer has an activatable sealant for directly sealingly securing the flexible strip to each of the two window panes. The activatable sealant is on each of the opposed side surfaces of the fiber reinforced polymer. The invention also provides methods for making the spacer and window assembly.

A vacuum insulating glazing unit (VIGU) comprises two or more glass lites (panes) spaced apart from one another and hermetically bonded to an edge seal assembly therebetween. The resulting cavity between the lites is evacuated to create at least one insulating vacuum cavity within which are disposed a plurality of stand-off members to maintain separation between the lites. The edge seal assembly is preferably compliant in the longitudinal (i.e., edgewise) direction to allow longitudinal relative motion between the two lites (e.g., from thermal expansion). The longitudinal compliance may be obtained by imprinting a three-dimensional pattern into the edge seal material. The edge seal assembly is preferably bonded to the lites with a first bond portion that is hermetic and a second bond portion that is load-resistant. Methods for producing VIGUs and/or compliant edge seal assemblies and VIGU and edge seal apparatus are disclosed.

A spacer for a multi-pane insulating glazing unit includes a spacer body made from a first material with first and second hollow desiccant chambers extending in a longitudinal direction and a longitudinal groove between the first and second chambers open to a first side of the spacer for holding an intermediate pane of the glazing unit, the groove being delimited in a width direction by first and second side walls and having a bottom wall, and the spacer body having a gas barrier on a second side opposite the first side. The first side wall and/or the second side wall and/or the bottom wall of the groove include at least two electrically conductive portions electrically isolated from each other and configured to make electrical contact with at least one electrical contact of the intermediate pane.

A spacer frame for use in fabricating a window and a method of fabrication thereof is disclosed. The spacer frame for separating first and second glass lites from each other in window. The spacer frame includes a frame forming a multi-sided form comprising a first outwardly facing surface for supporting a first glass lite that is contiguous with a first intermediate wall portion and a second outwardly facing surface for supporting a second glass lite that is contiguous with a second intermediate wall portion. The first and second intermediate wall portions comprise a first material and are linked to each other and spaced from each other by a thermal interruption strip. The first and second intermediate wall portions and the thermal interruption strip comprise an intermediate wall that bridges the first and second outwardly facing surfaces. The spacer frame further includes a film overlaying the intermediate wall portion.

This invention provides a sealing spacer for spacing apart two window panes to form a window assembly. The spacer has an elongated, flexible strip having opposed edge surfaces and opposed side surfaces. The spacer also has a fiber reinforced polymer layer over the elongated, flexible strip. The opposed edge surfaces undulate with crests and troughs. The spacer has an activatable sealant for directly sealingly securing the flexible strip to each of the two window panes. The activatable sealant is on each of the opposed side surfaces of the fiber reinforced polymer. The invention also provides methods for making the spacer and window assembly.