A vacuum insulating glass panel is provided that includes two sheets of glass spaced apart by a predetermined distance, a structured pillar unit disposed between the two sheets of glass where the predetermined distance is a height of the structured pillar unit, and a wall interconnecting edges of the two sheets of glass, wherein space enclosed by the two sheets of glass and the wall is vacuumed to a predetermined pressure level. Vacuum compressive pressure from outer surface of two sheets of glass toward internal vacuum space provides semi-permanent life time. The structure pillar unit may be made of glass or engineering plastic, enabling mass production at affordable price with better quality compared to conventional products.

A vacuum insulating glass panel is provided that includes two sheets of glass spaced apart by a predetermined distance, a structured pillar unit disposed between the two sheets of glass where the predetermined distance is a height of the structured pillar unit, and a wall interconnecting edges of the two sheets of glass, wherein space enclosed by the two sheets of glass and the wall is vacuumed to a predetermined pressure level. Vacuum compressive pressure from outer surface of two sheets of glass toward internal vacuum space provides semi-permanent life time. The structure pillar unit may be made of glass or engineering plastic, enabling mass production at affordable price with better quality compared to conventional products.

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.

An encapsulated glass assembly includes a plastic frame having at least three sides and corners, with the frame having a channel extending within its outer frame surface that includes a lower wall portion connected to a side wall portion. The outer frame surface further includes at least one upper wall portion extending from the side wall portion and extending along at least one side of the frame, each one of the at least one upper wall portions further defining a portion of the channel as a C-shaped channel. A glass panel coupled to the frame is retained within the C-shaped channel along at least one side of the frame such that the edge of the panel is adjacent to the side wall portion. An encapsulant having a Shore hardness less than the frame is bonded onto the panel and onto the frame to secure the panel to the frame.

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 lights 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.

An insulating glass element suitable for a refrigeration cabinet. The insulating glass element includes a first pane and a second pane spaced at a distance from the first pane. The first pane has two opposite parallel horizontal edges and two opposite parallel vertical edges. The second pane has two opposite parallel horizontal edges and two opposite parallel vertical edges. According to one aspect, two horizontal spacers are arranged between the first pane and the second pane. According to another aspect, two vertically arranged flat profiles are secured to the vertical edges of the first pane and to the vertical edges of the second pane. According to yet another aspect, the spacers and the flat profiles enclose an inner interpane space between the first pane and the second pane, and one of the two flat profiles is transparent.

An encapsulated glass assembly includes a plastic frame having at least three sides and corners, with the frame having a channel extending within its outer frame surface that includes a lower wall portion connected to a side wall portion. The outer frame surface further includes at least one upper wall portion extending from the side wall portion and extending along at least one side of the frame, each one of the at least one upper wall portions further defining a portion of the channel as a C-shaped channel. A glass panel coupled to the frame is retained within the C-shaped channel along at least one side of the frame such that the edge of the panel is adjacent to the side wall portion. An encapsulant having a Shore hardness less than the frame is bonded onto the panel and onto the frame to secure the panel to the frame.

Embodiments herein relate to methods for attachment of a retention member to an insulating glazing unit, resulting structures, and systems for the accomplishing the same. In some embodiments, a method of attaching a retention member to an insulating glazing unit can include placing a spacer unit between a first pane of glass and a second pane of glass to form the insulating glazing unit and applying an adhesive composition to at least one of a perimeter of the insulating glazing unit and the retention member. The method can further include mounting the retention member onto perimeter edges of at least one of the first pane and the second pane. Other embodiments are also included herein.

A method of manufacturing VIGUs and IGUs comprises providing a first lite; providing a second lite spaced apart from the first lite to form a cavity therebetween; and encircling the lites with a one piece band. Spacers of a metal solder alloy or other reflowable material are inserted between the band and the perimeter edges of the lites. The assembly is heated in an evacuated environment, causing the spacers to melt and hermetically bond to the lites, but not until the cavity has been substantially evacuated.

The invention relates to a glass panel including a first (5) and a second (5) glass sheet combined together via at least one spacer (8) that keeps the glass sheets at a certain distance from each other, wherein an inner gap (4) between said glass sheets (5) includes at least a first recess (41) in which a vacuum of lower than 1 mbar is formed, said recess being sealed by a peripheral seal arranged at the periphery of the glass sheets around said inner space (4), the seal (1) being a metal seal rigidly connected to the first and second glass sheets, respectively. According to the invention, the metal seal (1) further includes a means (11) for placing the inner gap (4) in communication with the outside of the panel, wherein said communication means can be sealed.