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.

Various embodiments provide a window assembly comprising an insulated glazing unit and a frame. The frame can extend around the perimeter of the insulated glazing unit. The insulated glazing unit can include a first sheet of glass, a second sheet of glass, and a space frame disposed between the two sheets of glass. Various spacer designs are provided herein.

This invention describes a process flow and method to assemble triple IG units without contaminating the center glass lite. A non-contact vacuum pad is used to lift a glass lite off from a horizontal or vertical support that conveys it from a glass washer to an assembly station. Each of multiple pads has a capacity to lift approximately seven to ten pounds. Use of multiple pads per glass sheet or lite allows lites having dimensions up to 70 by 100 inches (assuming glass thickness of one quarter inch) to be assembled.

A multiple pane insulated glazing unit for a fenestration unit includes a first outer pane including a first thickness defined between a first outer surface and a first inner surface. A first spacer is coupled to the first inner surface. A second outer pane has a second thickness defined between a second outer surface and a second inner surface. A spacer is coupled to the second inner surface, and an intermediate pane is coupled to at least one of the first spacer and the spacer. The intermediate pane has a third thickness defined between a third inner surface and a fourth inner surface that is less than the first thickness and the second thickness. The third thickness is between about 0.2 millimeters (mm) to about 1.2 millimeters (mm), and the first outer pane, the second outer pane and the intermediate pane are composed of boron-free soda lime silicate glass.

A method for producing a triple insulating glazing unit is presented. According to the method, one pane is inserted into a groove of a spacer that is peripherally shaped to form a spacer frame to enframe the pane. A first pane and a second pane are connected to corresponding contact surfaces of the spacer frame by way of an upper edge and lateral edges of the first and second panes. Lower edges of the first and second panes are bent outward. Formed interpane spaces are filled from below with a protective gas, and the arrangement of the panes and the spacer frame is sealed and pressed together.

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.

This invention describes a process flow and method to assemble triple IG units without contaminating the center glass lite. A non-contact vacuum pad is used to lift a glass lite off from a horizontal or vertical support that conveys it from a glass washer to an assembly station. Each of multiple pads has a capacity to lift approximately seven to ten pounds. Use of multiple pads per glass sheet or lite allows lites having dimensions up to 70 by 100 inches (assuming glass thickness of one quarter inch) to be assembled.

An insulating glazing unit having a first pane, a second pane, a third pane arranged between the first pane and the second pane, an outer pane interspace, an inner pane interspace, and a spacer is described. The spacer having a plastic profile with a first glazing interior surface and a second glazing interior surface, a first pane contact surface, a second pane contact surface, a primary sealing means, and a main member containing a sealing material and a drying material. The plastic profile includes a groove, into which the third pane is inserted and which runs parallel to the first pane contact surface and to the second pane contact surface. The plastic profile separates the outer pane interspace from the inner pane interspace. The main member is arranged in the outer pane interspace between the plastic profile and the primary sealing means, the main member being adjacent the plastic profile and the primary sealing means.

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 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.