Spacer for insulating glass panes

Abstract

A spacer for insulating glass panes comprises a profile body made using a first plastics material, which has a substantially U-shaped cross section with first and second side walls arranged in parallel, each having a free end and an inner wall extending between the first and the second side wall, and a vapor diffusion barrier made of a poorly heat conducting material, extending from the free end of the first side wall to the free end of the second side wall, wherein the vapor diffusion barrier is arranged substantially in parallel to and spaced apart from the inner wall. The profile body together with the vapor diffusion barrier encloses a cavity of the spacer which is optionally configured to accommodate a desiccant.

Claims

1. A spacer for insulating glass panes, comprising a profile body made using a first plastics material, having a main body with a substantially U-shaped cross section with first and second side walls arranged in parallel and an inner wall extending between the first and second side walls, and a vapor diffusion barrier made of a sheet material which is poorly heat conductive, wherein the first and the second side wall each have a free end which is spaced apart from the inner wall, wherein the vapor diffusion barrier is spaced apart from and extends substantially in parallel to the inner wall from the free end of the first side wall to the free end of the second side wall, and wherein the profile body together with the vapor diffusion barrier enclose a cavity seen in a cross section of the spacer, wherein the profile body comprises an integrally formed outer wall, which extends substantially in parallel to the inner wall from the first side wall to the second side wall, wherein the outer wall has a multitude of regularly arranged through holes, which have a round, oval, or polygonal free cross section, and wherein the vapor diffusion barrier is arranged abutting the outer wall from the exterior.

2. The spacer in accordance with claim 1, wherein the poorly heat conductive sheet material of the vapor diffusion barrier is different from the first plastics material.

3. The spacer in accordance with claim 1, wherein the vapor diffusion barrier extends over regions of the side walls and abuts the side walls from the exterior.

4. The spacer in accordance with claim 1, wherein the vapor diffusion barrier is selected from a single or multilayer thermoplastic polymer film, a thermoset polymer film, an elastomeric polymer film, and an ultrathin glass tape.

5. The spacer in accordance with claim 4, wherein the polymer film has a coating on its external surface.

6. The spacer in accordance with claim 5, wherein the polymer film has a thickness in the range of about 5 m to about 60 m.

7. The spacer in accordance with claim 4, wherein the polymer film is made out of a material selected from polyester, polyolefin, cyclo-olefin copolymers (COC), polyether, polyketone, polyurethane, polycarbonate, vinyl polymer, polyamide (PA), silicone, polyacrylonitrile, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polyhalogen olefin, liquid crystalline polymer, and blends of these materials.

8. The spacer in accordance with claim 4, wherein the ultrathin glass tape has a thickness of about 100 m or less.

9. The spacer in accordance with claim 4, wherein the ultrathin glass tape has a minimum bending radius of about 5 mm to about 8 mm.

10. The spacer in accordance with claim 1, wherein the vapor diffusion barrier comprises a stiffening element.

11. The spacer in accordance with claim 1, wherein the free ends of the first side wall and the second side wall each have a chamfered end region, wherein the chamfered end regions are inclined toward each other.

12. The spacer in accordance with claim 1, wherein the profile body comprises a multi-part outer wall with a first wall segment and a second wall segment spaced apart from each other transversely to a longitudinal direction of the spacer, wherein the first wall segment and the second wall segment are each connected to the free end of the first side wall and the second side wall, respectively, and extend away from the respective side wall and toward each other.

13. The spacer in accordance with claim 12, wherein the first wall segment and the second wall segment of the outer wall have substantially the same extension transversely to the longitudinal direction of the spacer and/or are substantially planar.

14. The spacer in accordance with claim 12, wherein the outer wall is made of the same material as the inner wall of the profile body.

15. The spacer in accordance with claim 11, wherein the side walls and optionally the outer wall in the interior of the profile body have one or more rib-shaped projections running in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the spacer.

16. The spacer in accordance with claim 11, wherein the profile body has a reduced wall thickness for the formation of articulation areas in the wall regions in which the integrally formed outer wall connects to the first side wall and the second side wall respectively, or the first wall segment and the second wall segment of the outer wall connect to the first side wall and the second side wall respectively, and/or in the side walls adjacent to their chamfered end regions.

17. The spacer in accordance with claim 1, wherein the through holes are arranged in two or more parallel rows.

18. The spacer in accordance with claim 1, wherein a first reinforcing element and a second reinforcing element are arranged in the inner wall in parallel to a longitudinal direction of the spacer profile, wherein the first reinforcing element is arranged in a first segment of the inner wall adjacent to the first side wall, and wherein the second reinforcing element is arranged in a second segment of the inner wall adjacent to the second side wall.

19. The spacer in accordance with claim 18, wherein the reinforcing elements are wire-shaped.

20. The spacer in accordance with claim 18, wherein the inner wall, in regions of the reinforcing elements, has projections extending in the direction of the cavity formed by the spacer, wherein the regions have a greater wall thickness than the adjacent regions of the inner wall.

21. The spacer in accordance with claim 18, wherein the outer wall in each of the regions aligned in parallel to the inner wall, which are opposite the regions of the inner wall accommodating the reinforcing elements, has in each case a recess.

22. The spacer in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first plastics material comprises polyolefin, polycarbonate (PC), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), styrene-acrylonitrile-copolymer (SAN), polyphenylene ether (PPE), polyester, polyamide (PA) and/or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (ABS), and blends of these materials.

23. The spacer in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first plastics material has an amount of reinforcing fibers of about 1% by weight to about 80% by weight.

24. The spacer in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first plastics material comprises natural fibers.

25. The spacer in accordance with claim 1, wherein the profile body is formed with pores at least in portions of the inner wall and the side wall, and of the outer wall.

26. The spacer in accordance with claim 1, wherein the vapor diffusion barrier is bonded to the side walls and to the outer wall.

27. A method for the production of a spacer in accordance with claim 1, the method comprising providing the profile body, having a main body with a substantially U-shaped cross section, providing the vapor diffusion barrier out of a sheet material, aligning of the vapor diffusion barrier to the longitudinal direction of the profile body, and connecting the vapor diffusion barrier to the side walls and to the outer wall of the profile body, while forming a closed cavity as seen in the cross section of the spacer.

28. The method in accordance with claim 27, wherein the vapor diffusion barrier is coiled on a spool in a planar form.

29. The method in accordance with claim 27, wherein the vapor diffusion barrier is made of an ultrathin glass tape.

30. The method in accordance with claim 29, wherein the ultrathin glass tape, before being connected to the profile body, is heated to a shaping temperature.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and further advantages of the invention are discussed in more detail below by way of the drawings. They show in detail:

(2) FIG. 1: a first embodiment of a spacer in accordance with the invention in its installation situation in an insulating glass pane;

(3) FIG. 2: a second embodiment of a spacer in accordance with the invention in its installation situation in an insulating glass pane;

(4) FIG. 2A: a variant of a polymer film as a vapor diffusion barrier of the spacer in accordance with the invention; FIG. 2B: a variant of an ultrathin glass tape as a vapor diffusion barrier of the spacer in accordance with the invention; FIG. 2C: a variant of the second embodiment of a spacer in accordance with the invention in its installation situation in an insulating glass pane; FIG. 2D: a variant of a polymer film as a vapor diffusion barrier of the spacer in accordance with the invention; FIG. 2E: a variant of a ultrathin glass tape as a vapor diffusion barrier of the spacer in accordance with the invention;

(5) FIG. 3: a further embodiment of a spacer in accordance with the invention;

(6) FIGS. 3A and 3B: further variants of the vapor diffusion barrier of a spacer in accordance with the invention;

(7) FIG. 4: a further embodiment of a spacer in accordance with the invention; FIG. 4A: a further embodiment of a spacer in accordance with the invention;

(8) FIG. 5: a further embodiment of a spacer in accordance with the invention;

(9) FIG. 6: a possible variant of the outer wall of a spacer in accordance with the invention;

(10) FIG. 7A to 7C: further variants of the outer wall of a spacer in accordance with the invention;

(11) FIG. 8: A further variant of the outer wall of the spacer in accordance with the invention;

(12) FIG. 9: a further variant of the outer wall of a spacer in accordance with the invention; and

(13) FIG. 10: a further variant of the outer wall of a spacer in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(14) FIG. 1 shows a rim segment of an insulating glass pane 10 having a first and a second glass pane 12, 14 and a spacer 50 in accordance with the invention that holds the panes 12, 14 spaced apart in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the spacer 50.

(15) The first and second glass panes 12, 14 are bonded to the spacer 50 by means of a primary butyl sealant 16. In the installed state, the glass panes 12, 14 and the spacer 50 bent to a frame enclose an interspace 20 between the panes, of which only a section is shown here.

(16) The spacer 50 in accordance with the invention comprises a profile body 52 made of a first plastics material, which has a main body with a substantially U-shaped cross section. The profile body 52 is typically integrally produced in an extrusion process. In the present case, the profile body 52 is made of polypropylene (PP), in particular a polypropylene homopolymer.

(17) The first plastics material preferably comprises hemp fibers. Natural fibers in the form of hemp fibers are configured to increase the heat transfer resistance in comparison to plastics materials without natural fibers.

(18) The profile body 52 comprises first and second side walls 54, 56 arranged in parallel to each other, and an inner wall 60 extending from the first side wall 54 to the second side wall 56. The first and the second side wall 54, 56 each have a free end 62, 64 spaced apart from the inner wall 60.

(19) The spacer 50 further comprises a vapor diffusion barrier 70 which is made of a poorly heat conducting sheet material and which extends from the first side wall 54, its free end 62, over the free end 64, to the second side wall 56. The vapor diffusion barrier 70 extends substantially in parallel to the inner wall 60 in the region between the free ends 62, 64 of the side walls 54, 56, at a specified spacing from the side walls 54, 56.

(20) The poorly heat conducting sheet material of which the vapor diffusion barrier 70 is made is different from the first plastics material.

(21) It is also conceivable for the purposes of the invention that the poorly heat conducting sheet material of the vapor diffusion barrier 70 is substantially identical to the first plastics material of the profile body 52.

(22) Finally, between the glass panes 12, 14, a secondary sealant 22 is applied on the outer side of the vapor diffusion barrier 70.

(23) The spacer 50 has a cavity 80 that is enclosed by the profile body 52 and the vapor diffusion barrier 70. On the side opposite the inner wall 60, the cavity 80 is delimited only by the vapor diffusion barrier 70.

(24) The cavity 80 is connected to the interspace 20 between the panes via perforation openings 90 in the inner wall 60.

(25) The cavity 80 in the assembled state may be filled with desiccant (not shown), which may absorb water vapor or moisture out of the interspace 20 between the panes via perforation openings 90.

(26) FIG. 2 shows a further spacer 150 in accordance with the invention in the installed state in an insulating glass pane 100. The insulating glass pane 100 is shown in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the spacer 150. The depicted insulating glass pane 100 comprises a first and a second glass pane 102, 104 in addition to the spacer 150 in accordance with the invention.

(27) The glass panes 102, 104 are bonded to the spacer 150 using a primary sealant (not shown). The spacer 150 bent to a frame and the glass panes 102, 104 enclose, in the assembled state of the insulating glass pane 100, an interspace 108 between the panes, which is only partially shown here.

(28) The spacer 150 comprises a profile body 152 made using a first plastics material, the profile body 152 having a main body with a substantially U-shaped cross section.

(29) The profile body 152 comprises a first and a second side wall 154, 156 that are arranged in parallel to each other, and an inner wall 160 extending from the first side wall 154 to the second side wall 156. The first and the second side walls 154, 156 each have, spaced apart from the inner wall, a free end 162, 164 having a chamfered end region 166, 168.

(30) The profile body 152 is typically produced integrally in an extrusion process.

(31) The chamfered end regions 166, 168 are aligned inclined toward each other and spaced apart from each other. In the present case, the chamfered end regions 166, 168 of the first and the second side wall 154, 156 are formed at an obtuse angle of about 135 to the respective adjacent side wall 154, 156. The chamfered end regions 166, 168 are presently of planar form.

(32) An approximately triangular volume in cross section, that is configured to accommodate the secondary sealant 106, is created toward the glass panes 102, 104 by the chamfered end regions 166, 168 which, seen in cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the profile body 152, have an obtuse angle (in the present case about 135) to the respective adjacent side wall 154, 156 and an acute angle (in the present case about 55) to the inner wall 160.

(33) The triangular volumes in cross section allow for the realization of significantly larger contact surfaces of the secondary sealant 106 on sides of the glass panes 102, 104 and on sides of the spacer 150, compared to the installation situation of the spacer 50 of the insulating glass pane 10 of FIG. 1, such that a significantly improved sealing of the rim region of the insulating glass pane 100 is achieved.

(34) The spacer 150 further comprises a vapor diffusion barrier 170 that is made of a sheet material and is poorly heat conducting and which extends from the first side wall 154 to the second side wall 156. The vapor diffusion barrier 170 in arranged between the free ends 162, 164 of the side walls 154, 156 substantially in parallel to and spaced apart from the inner wall 160.

(35) The spacer 150 according to the variant shown in FIG. 2C comprises an outer wall 180 spaced apart from the inner wall 160, wherein the outer wall 180 in a first variant comprises a first and a second wall segment 182, 184 that are arranged in parallel spaced apart from each other. The first and second wall segments 182, 184 are connected to the respective free end 162, 164 of the first and second side wall 154, 156, respectively, and extend away from the respective side wall 154, 156 and toward each other. The first and second wall segments 182, 184 are arranged aligned substantially in parallel to the inner wall 160.

(36) The first and second wall segments 182, 184 presently have substantially the same extension transversely to the longitudinal direction of the spacer 100 and are substantially planar.

(37) Indicated by a line 186 in FIG. 2, a variant with an outer wall 180 is depicted. In this variant, the outer wall 180 is integrally formed and extends from the chamfered end region 166 of the first side wall 154 to the chamfered end region 168 of the second side wall 156. It (the outer wall 180) is arranged substantially in parallel to the inner wall 160.

(38) The outer wall 180 in accordance with this variant has a multitude of regularly arranged through holes (not shown in FIG. 2). Possible variants of the outer wall 180 are depicted in more detail in FIGS. 7A to 7C as well and in FIGS. 8 to FIG. 10.

(39) The vapor diffusion barrier 170 is arranged abutting the outer wall 180 and extends over regions of the side walls 154, 156 and abuts them from the exterior. It (the vapor diffusion barrier 170) is shown in preferred variants in detail in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2D and 2E.

(40) The profile body 152 together with the vapor diffusion barrier 170 encloses a cavity 190. This cavity 190 is connected to the interspace 108 between the panes via regularly arranged perforation openings 192 in the inner wall 160.

(41) The cavity 190 in the assembled state of the spacer 150 in the insulating glass pane 100 is configured to accommodate desiccant which may bind moisture and water vapor, respectively, out of the interspace 108 between the panes.

(42) The first plastics material, by the use of which the profile body 152 is preferably integrally made, is polypropylene (PP) in the present case and preferably has an amount of glass fibers of 40% by weight. The plastics material is preferably foamed, whereby the increased weight due to the glass fiber amount and the increased heat conductivity due to the glass fiber amount may be compensated. In particular, the first plastics material is formed with closed pores.

(43) FIGs. 2A and 2B show, respectively, the portion designated in FIG. 2 by 2A and 2B. FIGS 2D and 2E show, respectively, the portion designed in FIG. 2C by 2E and 2D. FIGS. 2A and 2D show possile variants of a three-layer polymer film 171 as the vapor diffusion barrier 170 of the spacer in accordance with the invention shown in cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the spacer 150. Also depicted is a sealant 106 by means of which glass panes 102, 104 and spacer 150 are bonded to each other in the installation situation in an insulating glass pane 100 shown in FIGS. 2 and 2C. FIGS. 2B and 2D show an ultrathin glass tape as vapor diffusion barrier 170.

(44) The vapor diffusion barrier 170 is preferably materially bonded to the side walls 154, 156 and to the outer wall 180.

(45) The polymer film 171 has, in the present case, three layers 172, 173, 174, which are each formed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) having a thickness of about 12 m. The interior layer 172 of the polymer film 171, which points away from sealant 106, and the exterior layer 174 of the polymer film 171, which points toward sealant 106, each have a coating 175 formed by metal plating on both sides. The interior layer 173 of the polymer film 171 has a coating 175 formed by metal plating on one side. In the present case, the coatings 175 formed by metal plating are made of aluminum and with a thickness of about 80 nm.

(46) Presently, the vapor diffusion barrier 170 made of a poorly heat conducting sheet material is made of a sheet material that is different from the first plastics material.

(47) It is also conceivable for the purposes of the invention that the vapor diffusion barrier 170 or the layers 172, 173, 174 of the vapor diffusion barrier 170 formed as polymer film 171 are made of a sheet material which is substantially identical to the first plastics material of the profile body 152 (presently PP).

(48) Alternatively to polypropylene, the layers 172, 173, 174 of the polymer film 171 and the profile body 152 may be made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), for example.

(49) The coatings formed by metal plating of the interior layer 173 of the polymer film (middle layer) and of the exterior layer 174 directly adjoin each other in the present case and are optionally connected to each other with a layer of adhesive (not shown).

(50) It is also conceivable for the purposes of the invention that all three layers 172, 173, 174 have a coating 175 formed by metal plating on both sides, in such a way that both between the layer 172, which points away from the sealant, and the interior middle layer 173 of the polymer film 171, and between the layer 174, which points toward the sealant, and the interior middle layer of polymer film 173, two coatings formed by metal plating 175 adjoin or abut each other (not shown).

(51) In the case of adjoining or abutting coatings 175 formed by metal plating, the probability is minimal that two gas-permeable voids in the various layers overlap. As a result, the probability that gas molecules on a direct path through overlapping voids pass through both adjoining coatings 175 formed by metal plating is drastically minimized and the barrier effect of the vapor diffusion barrier 170 is maximal. Hence, the principle of the Tortuous Path is achieved.

(52) Moreover, gas-permeable voids in a coating 175 formed by metal plating are in particular closed off or sealed by the adjoining coating formed by metal plating.

(53) The outer coating 175 formed by metal plating of the layer 174, which points toward the secondary sealant 106, enables an improved adhesion between polymer film 171 and sealant 106 in comparison to a polymer film without an exterior coating formed by metal plating.

(54) The outer coating 175 formed by metal plating preferably at least partially has a metal oxide layer (not shown) which creates protection against corrosion and scratches and thus enables a longer storage of the polymer film 171.

(55) The individual layers 172, 173, 174 of the polymer film 171 which, in the present case, have coatings in the form of coatings 175 formed by metal plating are preferably materially bonded to each other with a layer of adhesive (not shown). The layer of adhesive preferably has a thickness of about 4 m or less, in particular a thickness of about 3 m or less.

(56) The construction of the vapor diffusion barrier 170 described in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2D and 2E is also suitable for the vapor diffusion barrier 70 depicted in conjunction with FIG. 1.

(57) FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a spacer in accordance with the invention in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the spacer 200. The profile body 202 of the spacer 200 comprises first and second side walls 204, 206 arranged in parallel to each other with free ends 212, 214 which have chamfered end regions 232, 234, and an inner wall 210 extending between the first side wall 204 and the second side wall 206.

(58) The chamfered end regions 232, 234 are, as in FIG. 2 (c.f. 166, 168), formed inclined toward each other and have, in the present case, an obtuse angle of about 140 to the respective adjacent side wall 204, 205.

(59) A vapor diffusion barrier 220 made of a sheet material, which is spaced apart from and oriented substantially in parallel to the inner wall 210, extends between the chamfered end regions 232, 234. The vapor diffusion barrier 220 extends over regions of the side walls 204, 206 and over the chamfered end regions 232, 234 attaching to the side walls 204, 206, and abuts them from the exterior.

(60) In the present case, the vapor diffusion barrier 220 is made of an ultrathin glass tape and has a thickness of about 70 m. It is integrated in a flush manner into the profile body 202 in regions of the side walls 204, 206.

(61) The vapor diffusion barrier 220 made of an ultrathin glass tape preferably has a minimum bending radius of about 7 mm.

(62) The profile body 202 and the vapor diffusion barrier 220 enclose a cavity 240 that, in the installed state in an insulating glass pane (not shown), is configured to accommodate desiccant. The desiccant may absorb water vapor or moisture out of an interspace between the panes (not shown) formed by the spacer processed to a frame and the glass panes, thus enabling a water vapor-free interspace between the panes. The contact between the cavity 240 of the spacer 200 filled with desiccant and the interspace between the panes is provided by perforation openings 242 in the inner wall 210 that are formed in the inner wall 210, regularly arranged along the longitudinal direction of the spacer 200.

(63) A layer 244 of the inner wall 210 of the spacer 200 directed to the interspace between the panes is visible to an observer of the insulating glass pane (not shown). This layer 244 of the profile body 202, which is visible in the interspace between the panes, is preferably made of a pigmented plastics material, in the present case made of a polypropylene (PP)-homopolymer. The rest of the profile body 202 is made of a polypropylene (PP)-copolymer in the present case.

(64) The pigmented layer 244 is typically made with the other parts of the profile body 202 in a coextrusion process. The pigmented layer 244 enables an additional optimization of the appearance of the spacer 200.

(65) Alternatively, in particular the entire profile body 202 may be made of a recyclate, in particular polycarbonate or PET.

(66) The present embodiment of the spacer 200 in accordance with the invention has a first and a second reinforcing element 246, 248. The reinforcing elements 246, 248 are arranged in the inner wall 210 in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the spacer 200.

(67) The first reinforcing element 246 is arranged in a first segment of the inner wall 210, adjacent to the first side wall 204. The second reinforcing element 248 is arranged in a second segment of the inner wall 210, adjacent to the second side wall 206, wherein the reinforcing elements 246, 248 maintain a defined spacing from their midpoint and their geometric center of gravity, respectively, parallel to the inner wall 210 of the respective side wall 204, 206, with respect to a spacing between the first and second side wall 204, 206. The spacing of the reinforcing elements 246, 248 from the respective side wall 204, 206 corresponds, in the present case, to about 15% of the spacing between the side walls 204, 206.

(68) The reinforcing elements 246, 248 are formed wire-shaped and typically have a corrugated surface (not shown). Thus, the adhesion to the plastics material of the profile body 202 is improved and the reinforcing elements 246, 248 may in particular be integrated into the first plastics material in a shear resistant manner.

(69) The inner wall 210 in the region of the reinforcing elements 246, 248 has first and second projections 250, 252 that extend in the direction of the cavity 240 enclosed by the spacer. The risk that the reinforcing elements 246, 248 come out of the profile body 202 during a bending process of the spacer to a frame is minimized by these projections 250, 252.

(70) The profile body 202 in the regions on the side of the cavity 240 in which the chamfered end regions 232, 234 connect to the side walls 204, 206, has articulation areas in the form of grooves 254, 256, which improve the bending properties of the spacer.

(71) For the further improvement of the cold bending properties, further reinforcing elements 260, 262 could optionally be embedded in the chamfered end regions 232, 234 thatoptionally with a somewhat smaller diametermay be formed similarly to the wire-shaped reinforcing elements 246, 248.

(72) The vapor diffusion barrier 220 may, as shown schematically in FIGS. 3A and 3B, be additionally modified with reinforcing elements 264, 266 and 268, 270, respectively, that are selected from wire materials, glass fiber bundles, rovings etc. that, for example, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B by way of the vapor diffusion barrier 220 and 220, respectively, are preferably arranged meandering or in zig-zag pattern on the side of the vapor barrier 220 and 220, respectively, lying toward the cavity. These reinforcing elements 264, 266 and 268, 270, respectively, may typically be bonded onto the surface of the vapor diffusion barrier 220 and 220, respectively.

(73) In particular, the vapor diffusion barrier 220 has a stiffening element which preferably comprises a woven fabric for improving the torsional rigidity (not shown).

(74) FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of a spacer 300 in accordance with the invention in a cross section perpendicular to its longitudinal direction. The spacer 300 comprises a profile body 302 with first and second side walls 304, 306 arranged in parallel, each with a free end 312, 314 having chamfered end regions 332, 334, and an inner wall 310 that extends between the side walls 304, 306.

(75) The spacer 300 further comprises a vapor diffusion barrier 320 that extends from the first side wall 304 over the chamfered end regions 332, 334 to the second side wall 306. The profile body 302 is constructed like the profile body depicted in FIG. 3.

(76) In the present case, the vapor diffusion barrier 320 is made of an ultrathin glass tape and has a thickness of about 30 m.

(77) The profile body 302 and the vapor diffusion barrier 320 enclose a cavity 340 that, in the installed state of the spacer in an insulating glass pane, communicates via perforation openings 342 in the inner wall 310 with an interspace between the panes formed by glass panes and spacer (not shown). The perforation openings 342 are arranged at regular spacings in longitudinal direction of the spacer 300.

(78) The cavity 340 in the installed state of the spacer 300 in the insulating glass pane preferably accommodates desiccant which may absorb water vapor and/or moisture out of the interspace between the panes of the insulating glass pane. The water vapor and/or the moisture reach the cavity filled 340 with desiccant via the perforation openings 342.

(79) The profile body made of propylene (PP) in the present case is typically produced in an extrusion process. The profile body is preferably foamed and particularly preferably has an amount of long glass fibers of 40% by weight. The plastics material of the profile body 302 is optionally pigmented in a layer 344 visible in the interspace between the panes.

(80) Wire-shaped reinforcing elements 346, 348 formed as flat wire are present in the inner wall 310 in the longitudinal direction of the spacer 300. In the region of the reinforcing elements 346, 348, the inner wall 310 has projections 350, 352 having an increased wall thickness and extending in the direction of the cavity 340.

(81) The greater wall thickness preferably corresponds to about the sum of the thickness of one of the reinforcing elements 346, 348 measured perpendicularly to the surface of the inner wall 310 and to the thickness of the adjacent regions of the inner wall 310.

(82) In regions in which the chamfered end regions 332, 334 connect to the side walls 304, 306, articulation areas in the form of grooves 354, 356 are also formed on the side of the cavity. The grooves reduce a deformation of the side walls 304, 306 when bending the frame to corner regions and thus counteract a reduced contact area between glass panes and spacer 200.

(83) In the case that the spacer comprises a closed outer wall 330, as shown in FIG. 4, it may be beneficial if the outer wall 330 in the regions aligned in parallel to the inner wall 310, which lie opposite the regions of the inner wall 310 that accommodate the reinforcing elements 346, 348, each has a recess 360, 362 that is formed complimentary to the greater thickness of the projections 350, 352 of the inner wall 310, and preferably corresponds to half of the thickness of the reinforcing elements 346, 348. FIG. 4A shows a variant in which the outer wall 330 is not closed.

(84) FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of a spacer 400 in accordance with the invention in a cross section perpendicular to its longitudinal direction. The spacer 400 comprises a profile body 402 with first and second side walls 404, 406 arranged in parallel with free ends 412, 414, an inner wall 410 extending from the first side wall 404 to the second side wall 406, and an integrally formed outer wall 430 that extends from the first to the second side wall 404, 406 and that is arranged in parallel to and spaced apart from the inner wall 410. The free ends 412, 414 of the first and second side wall 404, 406 have chamfered end regions 432, 434 which are formed inclined toward each other.

(85) The spacer 400 further comprises a vapor diffusion barrier 420 that extends from the first side wall 404 over the chamfered end regions 432, 434 and the outer wall 430 to the second side wall 406, abuts them from the exterior, and is arranged in a region between the chamfered end regions 432, 434 substantially in parallel to and spaced apart from the inner wall 410.

(86) The vapor diffusion barrier 420 is preferably made of a three-layer polymer film out of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), wherein the outer layers each have on both sides and the middle layer has on one side a layer of aluminum formed by metal plating, each with a thickness of about 80 nm. The layers of the polymer film each have a thickness of about 12 m.

(87) The profile body 402 encloses a cavity 440 that is configured to communicate with an interspace between the panes (not shown) via periodically arranged perforation openings 442 in the inner wall 410. The interspace between the panes is, in the installed state in an insulating glass pane, enclosed by the spacer and glass panes.

(88) In the present case, the profile body 402 is made of polypropylene (PP) and is typically produced integrally in an extrusion process.

(89) The profile body 402 has reinforcing elements in the inner wall 410 and the outer wall 430 arranged in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the spacer 400, the reinforcing elements here in the form of fiber strands or rovings 470, 472 that, in the present case, are shaped elliptically in cross section.

(90) The reinforcing elements 470, 472 may be incorporated in the outer wall 430 or between the outer wall 430 and the vapor diffusion barrier 420 in an arrangement as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. In that case, typically only two instead of four reinforcing elements are used.

(91) An integral outer wall like the outer wall 430 of FIG. 5 has, in accordance with the invention, regularly arranged through holes that here are shown merely by means of broken lines. Possible variants of an integrally formed outer wall having through holes of the spacer in accordance with the invention are depicted in more detail in FIGS. 7A to 7C and in FIGS. 8 to FIG. 10.

(92) The present through holes (shown with broken lines) in the outer wall may easily be formed between the fiber strands 472 in the outer wall 430, for example in the form of slits. In the present case, there are in each case four fiber strands 470, 472 regularly arranged in the inner wall 410 and the outer wall 430, wherein the four fiber strands 472 in the outer wall 430 seen in cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the spacer 400 are each arranged oriented vertically toward the four fiber strands 470 in the inner wall 410.

(93) The profile body 402 also has an increased wall thickness toward the cavity 440 in regions in which the side walls 404, 406 transition into the chamfered end regions 432, 434.

(94) Moreover, the profile body 402 has rib-shaped projections 454, 456 toward the cavity on the side walls 404, 406 in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the spacer 400. The rib-shaped projections 454, 456 are each arranged on the side walls 404, 406 at about 65% of the height with respect to a height of the spacer 400 from the outer wall 430 to the inner wall 410. The rib-shaped projections may, in particular in combination with the increased wall thickness, match the spacer 400 processed to a frame to conventional corner connectors, which are configured to be held in a press fit in corner regions in the cavity 440.

(95) Further variants are depicted with broken lines, in accordance with which the rib-shaped projections 458, 460, 462, 464, 466, 468 may be arranged. In this variant, two rib-shaped projections 458, 460 are additionally formed toward the cavity in cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the spacer 400 on the side walls 404, 406 in regions in which the respective side wall 404, 406 connects to the inner wall 410.

(96) Two further rib-shaped projections 462, 464 are arranged on the respective side wall 404, 406 toward the cavity 440 in regions in which the respective side wall 404, 406 connects to the region of increased wall thickness.

(97) Also or alternatively, two further rib-shaped projections 466, 468 may be arranged on the outer wall 430 toward the cavity 440, each in regions in which the outer wall 430 connects to the respective chamfered wall region 432, 434.

(98) These further variants in which the rib-shaped projections 458, 460, 462, 464, 466, 468 may be arranged, in combination with the regions of increased wall thickness, enable a matching of the inner contour of the cavity 440 to existing corner connectors, such that corner connectors may be held in the cavity 440 in a press fit and may thus stabilize the frame built from the spacer 400 in accordance with the invention in the corner regions.

(99) Alternatively, frames may also be produced made from the spacer 400 by way of cold bending, wherein a longitudinal connector is then used to close the frame, which, like the aforementioned corner connectors, may be inserted into the cavity 440 of the spacer 400 in a force-fit manner.

(100) FIG. 6 shows a possible variant of the outer wall 180 depicted in FIG. 2 of a spacer in accordance with the invention in a top view along the longitudinal direction L of the spacer. The longitudinal direction L is depicted by an arrow. The outer wall 180 comprises a first and a second wall segment 182, 184. The first and second wall segments 182, 184 are formed spaced apart from each other and in parallel to the inner wall (not depicted).

(101) An opening is formed between the wall segments 182, 184 that, in the present case, is about 30% with respect to a total surface area of the outer wall 180.

(102) FIGS. 7A to 7C show further variants of the outer wall of a spacer in accordance with the invention in top view, as is shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 7A shows a variant of the outer wall of a spacer in accordance with the invention in which the outer wall 180.sup.I is integrally formed and has regularly arranged slit-shaped through holes 191 arranged periodically in a row whose longitudinal direction is aligned in parallel to the longitudinal direction L of the spacer. In the regions of the slit-shaped through holes 191, the cavity 190 is only closed by the vapor diffusion barrier 170 abutting the outer wall 180.sup.I from the exterior (not shown).

(103) The through holes 191 have, in the present case, a free cross-sectional area of about 30% with respect to a total surface area of the outer wall 180.sup.I.

(104) FIG. 7B shows a further variant of how the outer wall of a spacer in accordance with the invention may be configured. The outer wall 180.sup.II is integrally formed and has a multitude of regularly arranged through holes 192a, 192b. The through holes 192a, 192b are formed in a slit shape whose longitudinal direction is oriented substantially in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the spacer. The slit-shaped through holes 192a, 192b having a longitudinal extension are arranged in two parallel rows and both rows are arranged offset from each other. The slit-shaped through holes 192a, 192b of the individual rows are each arranged at a distance from each other in longitudinal direction L, wherein the distance between two slit-shaped through holes 192a, 192b corresponds to about double the longitudinal extension of a slit-shaped through hole 192a, 192b.

(105) The through holes 192a, 192b have, in the present case, a free cross-sectional area of about 40% with respect to a total surface area of the outer wall 180.sup.II.

(106) FIG. 7C shows a further variant of how the outer wall of a spacer in accordance with the invention may be configured. The outer wall 180.sup.III is integrally formed and has periodically arranged through holes 193a, 193b. The through holes 193a, 193b are, in the present case, slit-shaped and are formed having a longitudinal extension that is aligned in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the spacer. The through holes 193a, 193b are, in the present case, arranged in two parallel rows and the slit-shaped through holes 193a, 193b of the rows are arranged offset from each other and are overlapping in transverse direction. The path for the heat flow is thereby lengthened. The slit-shaped through holes 193a, 193b of the individual rows are each arranged at a distance from each other in longitudinal direction L that corresponds to about the longitudinal extension of a slit-shaped through hole 193a, 193b.

(107) The through holes 193a, 193b have, in the present case, a free cross-sectional area of about 45% with respect to a total surface area of the outer wall 180.sup.III.

(108) FIG. 8 shows a further variant of how the outer wall of a spacer in accordance with the invention may be configured. The outer wall 180.sup.IV is integrally formed and has regularly arranged through holes 194a, 194b. The through holes 194a, 194b have a circular cross section and are arranged in two parallel rows that are arranged in parallel to the longitudinal direction L of the spacer. The through holes 194a, 194b of the rows, which have a circular cross section, are arranged offset from each other.

(109) The through holes 194a, 194b have, in the present case, a free cross sectional area of about 45% with respect to a total surface area of the outer wall 180.sup.IV.

(110) FIG. 9 shows a further variant of how the outer wall of a spacer in accordance with the invention may be configured. The outer wall 180.sup.V is integrally formed and has regularly arranged through holes 195. The through holes 195 are formed slit-shaped, wherein their longitudinal direction L is oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction L of the spacer. The slit-shaped through holes 195 are arranged at a distance from each other in longitudinal direction L of the spacer and have a width in the longitudinal direction of the spacer that corresponds to the distance between two through holes 195 in longitudinal direction.

(111) The through holes 195 have, in the present case, a free cross-sectional area of about 45% with respect to a total surface area of the outer wall 180.sup.V.

(112) FIG. 10 shows a further variant of how the outer wall of a spacer in accordance with the invention may be configured. The outer wall 180.sup.VI is integrally formed and has regularly arranged through holes 196a, 196b. The through holes 196a, 196b are, in the present case, formed triangular in cross section, wherein one side of a triangular through hole 196a, 196b is arranged alternating pointing in parallel to the longitudinal direction in the direction of the first side wall (not shown) and one is oriented pointing in the direction of the second side wall (not shown). A vertex of the triangular through hole 196a, 196b subtending the side points in each case in the direction of the other side wall, respectively.

(113) The through holes 196a, 196b have, in the present case, a free cross sectional area of about 60% with respect to a total surface area of the outer wall 180.sup.VI.