Spacer for insulating glass panes

Abstract

A spacer for insulating glass panes has a profile body having a cross section having first and second side walls, an inner wall and an outer wall, forming a closed hollow profile, wherein first and second filamentary reinforcing elements are arranged in the inner wall, the first primary reinforcing element being arranged in a first portion of the cross section in which the inner wall adjoins the first side wall, and the second reinforcing element being arranged in a second portion of the cross section in which the inner wall adjoins the second side wall, the first and second primary reinforcing elements being arranged, as regards their cross sectional surfaces, at most approximately 50% in the first and/or in the second side wall, and such that spacing between the centroids of the cross sectional surfaces of these reinforcing elements is approximately 40% or more of spacing between the side walls.

Claims

1. A spacer for insulating glass panes, including a profile body made from plastics material which has a substantially rectangular cross section having first and second mutually parallel side walls and an inner wall that extends between the first and the second side wall, wherein glass panes abut against the first and second side wall, the spacer further comprising an outer wall that extends between the first and the second side wall, substantially parallel to the inner wall, the profile body forming a closed single cavity hollow profile, wherein the spacer comprises a first and a second filamentary primary reinforcing element each having an outer contour, a cross sectional surface and a centroid, the first filamentary primary reinforcing element and the second filamentary primary reinforcing element being arranged spaced apart from each other in a part of the inner wall and parallel to an axial direction of the spacer profile body, such that the spacing between the centroids of the cross sectional surfaces of these reinforcing elements is approximately 50% or more of the spacing between the side walls, and the spacing is at least approximately 4 mm, the cross sectional surfaces being completely in the parts of the inner wall and their outer contours maintain a spacing of approximately 0.5 mm or more to the side walls, and wherein the first and second primary reinforcing elements are each arranged adjacent to a part of the hollow volume of the hollow profile in which, once the hollow profile has been bent at 90 around a bend axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and parallel to inner wall, the parts of the inner wall accommodating the first and the second primary reinforcing elements are spaced from the outer wall.

2. The spacer according to claim 1, wherein the outer wall is made from plastics material.

3. The spacer according to claim 1, wherein the spacing between the centroids of the cross sectional surfaces of the primary reinforcing is at least approximately 5 mm.

4. The spacer according to claim 1, wherein the cross section of the filamentary primary reinforcing elements is rectangular, round or oval.

5. The spacer according to claim 1, wherein at least the outer wall is provided with or forms a diffusion barrier.

6. The spacer according to claim 1, wherein the plastics material of the hollow profile comprises PP, PC, PVC, SAN, polyester, PA and/or ABS.

7. The spacer according claim 1, wherein the first filamentary primary reinforcing element and the second filamentary primary reinforcing element each have a weight, and the profile body plastics material has a weight, and a weight ratio between the weight of the primary reinforcing elements and the weight of the plastics material is approximately 1:6 to approximately 2:1.

8. The spacer according to claim 1, wherein the plastics material has a content of reinforcing fibres which is approximately 20 weight % or less.

9. The spacer according claim 1, wherein the plastics material includes additives.

10. The spacer according claim 1, wherein the inner wall has a thickness, at least in the regions thereof in which the first and second primary reinforcing elements are arranged, which is approximately 1 to approximately 2.5 of the cross sectional surface of the primary reinforcing elements in a direction of the thickness of the inner wall.

11. The spacer according claim 1, wherein the thickness of the inner wall is smaller in a central region between the primary reinforcing elements than in the regions in which the primary reinforcing elements are arranged.

12. The spacer according claim 1, wherein the profile body has a centre, and the inner wall has a thickness that is reduced, directly adjacent to the side walls, by comparison with the adjoining region of the inner wall in a direction of the profile body centre.

13. The spacer according to claim 1, wherein in the hollow profile there are arranged, in addition to the first and second filamentary primary reinforcing elements, further reinforcing elements.

14. The spacer according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the further reinforcing elements is arranged on and/or in the outer wall.

15. The spacer according to claim 14, wherein a ratio of the total cross sectional surfaces of all the reinforcing elements in the inner wall to the total cross sectional surface of reinforcing elements in the outer wall is approximately 2:1 to approximately 1:2.

16. The spacer according to claim 14, wherein the reinforcing element(s) arranged in the region of the outer wall have a higher elongation at break than the reinforcing elements arranged in the region of the inner wall.

17. The spacer according to claim 1, wherein the hollow profile has an overall height, and a longitudinal direction, when the hollow profile is bent, it has a neutral axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and parallel to the inner wall and is arranged in a region approximately 40% to approximately 60% of the way up the overall height of the hollow profile.

18. The spacer according to claim 1, wherein the hollow profile has an overbend angle of approximately 20 or less for producing a portion bent at 90.

19. The spacer according to claim 1, wherein the outer wall is itself constructed as a reinforcing element.

20. The spacer according to claim 2, wherein the plastics material is compatible or identical with the plastics material of the profile body.

21. The spacer according to claim 20, wherein the outer wall is extruded in one piece with the profile body.

22. The spacer according to claim 4, wherein the filamentary primary reinforcing elements each have a surface that is knurled, or provided with an externally threaded structure, and/or is provided with a coating of adhesion promoter.

23. The spacer according to claim 5, wherein the diffusion barrier is selected from a metal or plastics foil that is impermeable to water vapour, a metal coating that is applied to the hollow profile or a plastics coating that is applied to the hollow profile or co-extruded therewith.

24. The spacer according to claim 8, wherein the plastics material has a content of reinforcing fibres which is approximately 10 weight % or less.

25. The spacer according to claim 9, wherein the plastics material includes additives selected from fillers, pigments, light stabilisers, impact modifiers, antistatic agents and/or flame retardants.

26. The spacer according to claim 11, wherein the inner wall has a thickness, at least in the regions thereof in which the first and second primary reinforcing elements are arranged, which is approximately 1.5 to approximately 2.5 of the cross sectional surface of the primary reinforcing elements in a direction of the thickness of the inner wall.

27. The spacer according to claim 15, wherein the reinforcing element(s) arranged in the region of the outer wall have a higher elongation at break than the reinforcing elements arranged in the region of the inner wall.

28. The spacer according to claim 19, wherein, when the outer wall is a diffusion barrier, the outer wall is made from a metal foil.

29. The spacer according to claim 24 wherein the plastic is substantially free of reinforcing fibres.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

(1) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a spacer including primary reinforcement elements according to the invention, wherein FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C show other forms of a primary reinforcement element;

(2) FIGS. 2A to 2C show three variants of a further embodiment of a spacer according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a spacer according to the invention;

(4) FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of a spacer according to the invention;

(5) FIGS. 5A and 5B show further embodiments of a spacer according to the invention;

(6) FIGS. 6A to 6C show various illustrations of a portion of a spacer according to the invention which has been bent into a corner region according to FIG. 2A;

(7) FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of a spacer according to the invention; and

(8) FIGS. 8A to 8C show further embodiments of a spacer according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) FIG. 1 shows a spacer 10 according to the invention, having a profile body which is made from plastics and forms, in one piece with an outer wall, a closed hollow profile 12 which has a substantially rectangular cross section. The hollow profile 12 is typically made by the extrusion method.

(10) The hollow profile 12 includes two parallel side walls 14, 16 and an inner wall 18, which extends between the side walls 14, 16, and an outer wall 20 which adjoins the side walls 14, 16 and is aligned substantially parallel to the inner wall 18. The outer wall 20 adjoins the side walls 14 and 16 at two chamfered regions 21, 22.

(11) In the assembled condition of an insulating glass pane, glass panes 27, 28 which are connected to the spacer 10 by way of an adhesive (not illustrated) abut against the parallel side walls 14, 16.

(12) The chamfered regions 21, 22 each create a substantially triangular volume towards the glass panes 27, 28, and this can receive adhesive.

(13) Embedded in the hollow profile, in the region of the inner wall 18, are a first and a second primary reinforcing element 24, 26 in the form of a wire of circular cross section. The inner wall 18 is thicker in the regions in which the reinforcing elements 24, 26 are embedded than in the region lying in between. FIG. 1A shows a primary reinforcing element 24 having a rectangular cross-section, FIG. 1B shows a first primary reinforcing element 24 having a threaded surface, and FIG. 1C shows a first primary reinforcing element 24 having a knurled surface.

(14) Provided on the outer wall 20 and the chamfered regions 21, 22 and large regions of the side walls 14, 16 is a peripheral diffusion barrier coating 26 which is substantially impermeable to water vapour and is made for example from metal, in particular stainless steel. Instead of a metal foil, the diffusion barrier coating 26 may also be formed by a plastics toil having appropriate properties or a coating, in particular a vapour-deposition metal coating, an applied plastics coating or an extruded-on plastics coating.

(15) The hollow profile 12 surrounds a hollow space 30 which communicates by way of through openings 32 in the inner wall 18 with the volume enclosed in the insulating glass pane. The through openings are arranged in a regular distribution in the longitudinal direction of the spacer 10.

(16) In the installed condition of the spacer in an insulating glass pane, the hollow chamber 30 receives desiccant which serves to absorb moisture from the interior of the insulating glass pane.

(17) By comparison with its overall height, the spacer 10 in FIG. 1 has a relatively great width, which may in reality be for example 24 mm, the height of the spacer typically being approximately 6 mm to approximately 7.5 mm. The spacing A2 between the centroids of the cross sectional surfaces of the primary reinforcing elements 24 and 26 is approximately 90% of the spacing A1 between the side walls 14 and 16.

(18) The plastics material from which the hollow profile 12 is made is in the present case polypropylene (PP) and is free of reinforcing fibres.

(19) The strength of the profile is substantially determined by the primary reinforcing elements 24, 26 and in some cases by the diffusion barrier coating 26, where the latter is made from a metal coating in the form of a foil, for example a steel foil. The thickness of the metal coating may be small, for example approximately 0.1 mm or less, for example approximately 0.05 to approximately 0.08 mm.

(20) The spacer 10 may be deformed by means of cold forming to give corner regions which are required for forming a, for example, rectangular frame, which is laid between the two glass panes 27, 28 and glued.

(21) FIGS. 2A to 2C show three variants of a spacer 40 according to the invention, which in order to distinguish it is designated 40 and 40 respectively in FIGS. 2B and 2C. Like reference numerals are used for like profile features.

(22) The underlying structure of the spacer in FIGS. 2A to 2C is the same, with the exceptions to be discussed below.

(23) The spacer 40 in FIG. 2A includes a closed plastics hollow profile 42 having side walls 44, 46 which are arranged parallel to one another and between which there extends an inner wall 48 and an outer wall 50, here too with chamfered regions 51, 52. Here too, the profile body comprising the side walls 44, 46 and the inner wall 48 is extruded in one piece with the outer wall 50 and its chamfered regions 51, 52.

(24) Received in the hollow profile 42, on the inner wall 48 side, are primary reinforcing elements 54, 56, and the inner wall 48 is constructed to be thicker in the region of the reinforcing elements 54, 56 than in the region tying in between.

(25) The hollow profile 42 surrounds a hollow space 58 which can communicate with the outside of the inner wall 48 by way of perforation through openings 60.

(26) On the outside of the outer wall 50 and the chamfered regions 51, 52 and large parts of the adjoining side walls 44, 46 there is applied, in particular glued, a metal foil 62 made from stainless steel which acts as a diffusion barrier coating.

(27) Common to the embodiments in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2A is the positioning of the reinforcing elements 24, 26 and 54, 56, both of which are arranged offset from the regions of the side walls 14, 16 and 44, 46 respectively. Here too, the specification that the spacing between the centroids of the cross sectional surfaces of the primary reinforcing elements 24, 26 and 54, 56 is at least 40% or more of the spacing between the side walls, but at least 4 mm, is observed.

(28) Similarly, the complete cross sectional surface of the reinforcing elements 24, 26 is located in the inner wall 18, with the result that the measure that at most 50% of the cross sectional surface of the reinforcing elements 24, 26 and 54, 56 respectively can be received in the regions of the side walls 14, 16 and 44, 46 is also fulfilled.

(29) The diameter of the primary reinforcing elements 24, 26 and 54, 56 is approximately 0.8 min, and the thickness of the walls 14, 16 and 44, 46 is approximately 0.9 mm.

(30) In the region in which the primary reinforcing elements 24, 26 and 54, 56 are received, the thickness of the inner wall 18 and 48 respectively is approximately 1.8 mm, that is to say about 2.2 the diameter of the reinforcing elements.

(31) FIG. 2B shows a spacer 40 according to the invention which has a hollow profile 42 that differs from the hollow profile 42 in FIG. 2A only in that reinforcing elements 54, 56 are received in a different position in the cross section of the hollow profile 42, such that approximately 50% of their cross sectional surface is arranged in the first and second side wall 44 and 46 respectively.

(32) The further variant shown in FIG. 2C relates to a spacer 40 of the present invention in which once again the underlying structure of the spacer of FIG. 2A is used, but wherein the primary reinforcing elements 54 and 56 have their centroids of the cross sectional surfaces brought closer together, but still maintain a spacing of 40% of the spacing between the side walls 44 and 46 and at least 4 mm. The inner wall 48 here has a uniform thickness of 1.8 mm over the entire width.

(33) FIG. 3 shows a spacer 70 according to the invention which is of comparatively narrow construction, having a width of approximately 8 mm, and with an overall height of approximately 7 mm has an almost square cross section. The spacer 70 includes a closed hollow profile 72, which has parallel side walls 74, 76 and inner and outer walls 78, 80 that extend between the side walls 74, 76. The hollow profile, which comprises a profile body (side walls 74, 76 and inner wall 78) and the outer wall 80, is extruded as a one-piece body.

(34) The outer wall 80 once again adjoins the side walls 74 and 76 by way of chamfered regions 81, 82 respectively.

(35) Two primary reinforcing elements 84, 86 which are in the form of a wire of circular cross section are arranged in the inner wall 78, maintaining the minimum spacing of 4 mm between the centroids of the cross sectional surfaces of the reinforcing elements. Furthermore, the spacing is approximately 65% of the spacing between the side walls 74, 76.

(36) The hollow profile 72 surrounds a hollow volume 88 which is available for filling with desiccants. The desiccant in the hollow volume 88 is connected to the outer surface of the inner wall 78 by way of perforation through holes 90.

(37) On the outer wall 80, the chamfered regions 81, 82 and large parts of the side walls 74, 76 there is arranged a barrier coating 92 made from a stainless steel foil.

(38) FIG. 4 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention using a variation of the geometry as shown in FIG. 2C.

(39) The spacer 100 has a closed hollow profile 103 made from plastics material, in which side walls 104, 106 are arranged parallel to one another and wherein an inner wall 108 extends between these side walls 104, 106. The outer wall 110 adjoins the side walls 104 and 106 by way of chamfered regions 111, 112 respectively.

(40) Arranged in the inner wall 108 there are, in addition to the primary reinforcing elements 114, 116, two further reinforcing elements 118, 120 which are all made from a wire of circular cross section.

(41) In addition to the reinforcing elements in the inner wall 108, three reinforcing elements 121, 122, 123 are arranged in the outer wall 110 and these are also in the form of wires but have an oval cross section.

(42) The ratio of the cross sectional surfaces of the reinforcing elements, 114, 116, 118, 120 of the inner wall to the cross sectional surfaces of the reinforcing elements 121, 122, 123 is approximately 1.2. Because of the further slight thickening effect of the barrier coating 124, the neutral axis N is approximately half way up (50%) the overall cross section of the hollow profile 102.

(43) The complete profile 102 surrounds a hollow volume 126 which can receive a desiccant. The hollow volume 126 is accessible by way of perforation through holes 128.

(44) FIG. 5A shows a spacer 140, the geometry of which is derived from the spacer 40 in FIG. 2A and which includes a closed plastics hollow profile 142 having side walls 144, 146 which are arranged parallel to one another and between which an inner wall 148 and an outer wall 150, here too having chamfered regions 151, 152, extend.

(45) Primary reinforcing elements 154, 156 are received in the hollow profile 142 on the inner wall 148 side, and the inner wall 148 is constructed to be thicker in the region of the reinforcing elements 154, 156 than in the region lying in between.

(46) The hollow profile 140 surrounds a hollow space 158 which can communicate with the outside of the inner wall 148 by way of through openings 160.

(47) On the outside of the outer wall 150 and the chamfered regions 151, 152 and large parts of the adjoining side walls 144, 146 there is applied, in particular glued, a metal foil 162 made from stainless steel which acts as a diffusion barrier coating.

(48) The diameter of the primary reinforcing elements 154, 1156 is approximately 0.8 mm, and the thickness of the walls 144, 146 is approximately 0.9 mm.

(49) In the region in which the primary reinforcing elements 154, 156 are received, the inner wall 148 is approximately 1.8 mm thick, that is to say around approximately 2.2 the diameter of the reinforcing elements 154, 156.

(50) By comparison with FIG. 2A, the spacer 140 has two further reinforcing elements 164, 166 which take the form of metal strips.

(51) Because of the cross section of the reinforcing elements 164, 166, they can be completely received in the wall of the side walls 144, 146, whereof the thickness can still be the original dimension of approximately 0.9 mm.

(52) Here too, the neutral axis N is approximately 50% of the way up the overall height H of the hollow profile 142, provided a suitable selection is made for material for the barrier coating 162 and the coating thickness thereof.

(53) The variant of a spacer 180 according to the invention in FIG. 5B refers back to the embodiment in FIG. 4, wherein here a closed hollow profile 182 is constructed with side walls 184, 186, an inner wall 188 and an outer wall 190 having chamfered regions 191, 192 by means of which the outer wall 190 adjoins the side walls 184, 186.

(54) Primary reinforcing elements 194, 196 are received in the inner wall 188. Supplementary reinforcing elements 198, 200 are arranged in the inner wall 188 adjacent to the side walls 184, 186.

(55) Furthermore, the side walls 184, 186 include reinforcing elements 204, 206 which take the form of metal strips, with the result that they simply fit within the predetermined cross section of the side walls 184, 186.

(56) Reinforcing elements of oval construction are received in the outer wall 190 and are designated by the reference numerals 214, 216, 218.

(57) The hollow profile 182 surrounds a hollow volume 210 which is accessible by way of through openings 212 in the inner wall 188.

(58) On the outer wall 190, the chamfered regions 191, 192 and large parts of the side walls 184, 186 there is once again arranged a vapour barrier coating 202.

(59) The reinforcing elements 204, 206 that are arranged in the side walls 184, 186 lie approximately within the range of the neutral axis of the spacer 180.

(60) The hollow profiles of the spacers 140 and 180 in FIGS. 5A and 5B are each extruded in one piece.

(61) FIGS. 6A to 6C show a portion of the spacer 40 from FIG. 2A which has been bent to give a corner region 65.

(62) FIGS. 6A and 6B show the corner region 65 in perspective illustration, from the side with the outer wall 50 and the diffusion barrier 62 that is glued onto it, and from the side with the inner wall 48 respectively. To produce the corner region 65, a bending die (not illustrated), the width of which may be smaller than the extent of the inner wall 48 between the side walls 44, 46 is pressed against the inner wall 48, and the spacer is then bent by somewhat more than 90 around the bending die such that the corner region 65 is obtained with limbs 65a, 65b at an angle of 90.

(63) Because of the tensile and compressive forces that occur during this cold forming, a permanent deformation of the plastics hollow profile, the (primary reinforcing elements 54, 56 received therein and the barrier coating 62 is obtained. A depression 66 which is recessed from the inner wall surfaces 48 of the limbs 65a, 65b is produced on the inside of the corner region. A bulge 68 in the outer wall 50 of the limbs 65a, 65b is obtained on the outside.

(64) FIG. 6C shows the corner region 65 in a sectional illustration along the line VIa-VIa, partially supplemented by the outer contour of the spacer 40 before cold forming. It is clear from the cross section that the inner surfaces of the outer wall 50 and the inner wall 48 approach one another, and depending on the geometry of the plastics hollow profile even abut against one another.

(65) The originally present single hollow space 58 is reduced and two partial spaces 58a, 58b remain.

(66) In the course of deformation of the inner wall 48, the primary reinforcing elements received there, together with parts of the inner wall 48, move towards the approaching outer wall 50, resulting in the positions 54a and 56a for the primary reinforcing elements.

(67) Because of the inventive construction of the spacer, in particular the arrangement of the primary reinforcing elements 54, 56 in the region of the inner wall 48, the deformation can be carried out without this resulting in undesirable deformations of the side walls 44, 46 and without the primary reinforcing elements 54, 56 hampering the cold forming.

(68) Finally, FIG. 7 shows a spacer 220 having a profile body 222 which is formed from a plastics material with side walls 224, 226 and an inner wall 228. The side walls 224, 226 carry wall regions 230, 232 which are chamfered at their free ends remote from the inner wall 228.

(69) A metal foil 236 is added to the profile body 222 in order to create a closed hollow profile 234, this metal foil forming, with the chamfered wall regions 230, 232, the outer wall of the hollow profile 234. At the same time, the metal foil 236 serves as a diffusion barrier. For this reason, it also extends beyond the chamfered wall regions 230, 232 and covers large parts of the side walls 224, 226.

(70) A first and a second primary filamentary reinforcing element 238, 240 are embedded in the inner wall 228.

(71) In this exemplary embodiment, the metal foil 236 also acts as a further reinforcing element.

(72) The hollow volume 242 surrounded by the hollow profile 234 is in connection by way of through openings 244 in the inner wall 228 with the intermediate space between the panes of an insulating glass unit which is formed using the spacer 220.

(73) FIG. 8A shows a spacer 250 having a hollow profile body 252 which is formed from a plastics material and has side walls 254, 256, an inner wall 258 and an outer wall 260.

(74) Primary first and second reinforcing elements 262, 264 are arranged completely embedded in the inner wall 258. The regions of the inner wall that receive the primary reinforcing elements 262, 264 are thicker than the region lying in between, in order to completely embed the reinforcing elements 262, 264 in the plastics material.

(75) In the regions 266, 268 directly adjoining the side walls 254, 256, the inner wall 258 has a reduced thickness so that the inner wall 258 adjoins the side walls 254, 256 by way of a type of articulation. This ensures that the geometry of the side walls is substantially retained when corners are formed as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, such that the glass panes of the insulating glass pane abut in optimum manner even in the corner region.

(76) In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 8A, the outer contours of the primary first and second reinforcing elements maintain a spacing from the side walls which corresponds approximately to the diameter of the reinforcing elements, in the present case approximately 0.8 mm.

(77) Further examples of modifying the way the inner wall is attached to the side walls of the spacer according to the invention are shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, in which again the inner wall is modified such that a type of articulation is formed and deformation of the spacer for the purpose of forming corners for the spacer frame is facilitated.

(78) The exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 8B and 8C, that is to say the spacers 340 and 340 respectively, are substantially based on the embodiment which was already shown in the context of FIG. 2A.

(79) The spacers in FIGS. 8B and 8C also have a closed hollow profile 342, 342 with side walls 344, 346 which are arranged parallel to one another and between which there extend an inner wall 348 and an outer wall 350. Moreover, the outer wall 350 is once again connected to the side walls 344 and 346 respectively by way of chamfered regions 351, 352. The profile body of the plastics hollow profile 342 is extruded as a whole in one piece.

(80) Primary reinforcing elements 354, 356 are received in the hollow profile 342 on the inner wall 348 side, and the inner wall 348 is constructed to be thicker in the region of the reinforcing elements 354, 356 than in the region of the profile centre lying in between.

(81) The hollow profile 342 surrounds a hollow space 358 which can communicate, by way of perforation through openings 360, with the outside of the inner wall 348, which is adjoined in the assembled condition of an insulating glass pane by the insulating glass pane interior.

(82) On the outside of the outer wail 350 and the adjoining chamfered regions 351, 352 and large parts of the side parts of the side walls 344, 346 there is applied, in particular glued, a metal foil 362, preferably made from stainless steel, which acts as a diffusion barrier coating.

(83) In addition to the construction features of the profile 40 in FIG. 2A, in FIG. 8B through openings 364, 366 are arranged in the spacer 340, on the inner wall 348 side and at regular intervals along the length of the spacer profile 340, and these on the one hand enable a gas exchange, in addition to the perforation openings 360, between the hollow chamber 358 and the outside of the inner wall 348 and the interior of the insulating glass pane that is later produced.

(84) On the other hand, the through openings 364, 366, which are repeated at regular intervals along the profile, result in a type of articulation function by means of which deformation of the inner wall 348 is supported in a defined manner when the corners are formed for the purpose of forming a spacer frame.

(85) In the case of the embodiment 340, the same features apply to the basic structure of the spacer profile 342 as was described earlier in the context of FIG. 8B. For this reason, the reference numerals are also given the same numbers.

(86) Unlike the embodiment in FIG. 8B, however, the spacer 340 in FIG. 8C does not have additional through openings 364, 366 but channel-like depressions 368, 370 which extend in the longitudinal direction of the spacer 340, on the outside of the inner wall 348.

(87) Once again, in this way the reduced thickness of the inner wall in its region by which it adjoins the side walls 344 and 346 respectively results in the formation of a type of articulation such that, here too, as already described in connection with the embodiments of the spacer in FIGS. 8A and 8B, deformation of the inner wall 348 in relation to the side walls 344 and 346 is facilitated in a defined manner when corners are formed for the purpose of forming a spacer frame.

(88) All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

(89) The use of the terms a and an and the and at least one and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The use of the term at least one followed by a list of one or more items (for example, at least one of A and B) is to be construed to mean one item selected from the listed items (A or B) or any combination of two or more of the listed items (A and B), unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms comprising, having, including, and containing are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning including, but not limited to,) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., such as) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

(90) Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.