대표
청구항
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What is claimed is: 1. A spacer profile comprising: a profile body comprising an elastically-plastically deformable material having a heat conductivity of less than about 0.3 W/(m쨌K), the profile body having defined therein: a base wall, first and second side walls extending substantially perpendicularly from opposite terminal ends of the base wall, an upper wall extending substantially in parallel with the base wall, a first connecting segment connecting the first side wall to the upper wall, the first connecting segment defining a first inwardly cu...
What is claimed is: 1. A spacer profile comprising: a profile body comprising an elastically-plastically deformable material having a heat conductivity of less than about 0.3 W/(m쨌K), the profile body having defined therein: a base wall, first and second side walls extending substantially perpendicularly from opposite terminal ends of the base wall, an upper wall extending substantially in parallel with the base wall, a first connecting segment connecting the first side wall to the upper wall, the first connecting segment defining a first inwardly curved or angled groove between the upper wall and the first side wall, a second connecting segment connecting the second side wall to the upper wall, the second connecting segment defining a second inwardly curved or angled groove between the upper wall and the second side wall, and a hollow chamber having a first space in communication with a second space, the first space being disposed adjacent to the base wall and the second space being disposed adjacent to the upper wall, the first space having a greater width than the second space, in which the width direction is defined as being parallel to the base wall and upper wall of the profile body, and a reinforcement layer provided in or on at least the upper wall, the first and second connecting segments, and the first and second side walls, the reinforcement layer having a heat conductivity of less than about 50 W/(m쨌K). 2. A spacer profile as in claim 1, wherein the hollow chamber has a cross-section selected from the group consisting of substantially T-shaped, substantially bell-shaped, substantially pyramid shaped and substantially stepped-shaped. 3. A spacer profile as in claim 2, wherein the first and second spaces of the hollow chamber are each substantially rectangular shaped. 4. A spacer profile as in claim 3, further comprising a hygroscopic material disposed within the hollow chamber, wherein a plurality of apertures are defined in the base wall. 5. A spacer profile as in claim 4, wherein the reinforcement layer has a breaking elongation of at least 20%. 6. A spacer profile as in claim 5, wherein the reinforcement layer comprises a stainless steel layer having a thickness of equal to or less than about 0.2 mm. 7. A spacer profile as in claim 6, wherein the reinforcement layer has a thickness of equal to or less than about 0.1 mm. 8. A spacer profile as in claim 7, wherein the heat conductivity of the reinforcement layer is less than about 15 W/(m쨌K). 9. A spacer profile as in claim 8, wherein the reinforcement layer has a breaking elongation of about 25-30%. 10. A spacer profile as in claim 9, wherein the spacer profile has an overall tensile strength of about 350-370 N/mmn2. 11. A spacer profile as in claim 10, wherein the reinforcement layer extends continuously from the first side wall to the second side wall. 12. A spacer profile as in claim 11, wherein the profile body comprises at least one of polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide and polycarbonate. 13. A spacer profile as in claim 12, wherein the profile body is reinforced. 14. A spacer profile as in claim 13, wherein the profile body is reinforced with at least one of glass fiber, carbon fiber and natural fiber. 15. A spacer profile as in claim 12, wherein the profile body is not reinforced. 16. A spacer profile as in claim 12, further comprising at least one of fiberglass and talc dispersed within the profile body. 17. A spacer profile as in claim 12, wherein each of the first and second connecting segments includes a first portion extending substantially perpendicularly from the upper wall and a second portion connecting the first portion to the respective side wall. 18. A spacer profile as in claim 17, wherein the second portions each extend substantially perpendicularly from the respective side wall. 19. A spacer profile as in claim 18, wherein the first and second grooves each extend toward the base wall inward of a hypothetical line connecting a terminal end of the first side wall and a terminal end of the second side wall. 20. A spacer profile as in claim 19, wherein the first and second grooves each have a depth that is between about 0.1 and 1 times the length of the first portion. 21. A spacer profile as in claim 20, wherein the depth of the first and second grooves is between about 0. 5 to 5 times the thickness of the side walls. 22. A spacer profile as in claim 21, wherein the depth of the first and second grooves is less than twice the width of the first and second grooves. 23. A spacer profile as in claim 22, wherein the grooves are one of substantially U-shaped and substantially V-shaped. 24. A spacer profile as in claim 22, wherein opposing walls of the grooves defined an angle of between about 60-90째. 25. An insulating window unit comprising: a first window pane disposed substantially in parallel with a second window pane, a spacer frame formed by bending and connecting terminal ends of the spacer profile of claim 23, wherein the spacer frame is disposed between and supports the first and second window panes, the respective side walls are adhered to the first and second window panes, the base wall is oriented toward an inner space defined between the first and second window panes, and the upper wall is oriented toward an outer peripheral edge of the first and second window panes, and a mechanically stabilizing sealing material disposed on at least the upper wall. 26. An insulating window unit according to claim 25, wherein the mechanically stabilizing sealing material comprises at least one of a polysulfide, a polyurethane and a silicon. 27. An insulating window unit comprising: a first window pane disposed substantially in parallel with a second window pane, a spacer frame formed by bending and connecting terminal ends of the spacer profile of claim 1, wherein the spacer frame is disposed between and supports the first and second window panes, the respective side walls are adhered to the first and second window panes, the base wall is oriented toward an inner space defined between the first and second window panes, and the upper wall is oriented toward an outer peripheral edge of the first and second window panes, and a mechanically stabilizing sealing material disposed on at least the upper wall. 28. A spacer profile comprising: a profile body having a base wall, first and second side walls extending from the base wall, an upper wall extending substantially in parallel with the base wall, a first connecting segment connecting the first side wall to the upper wall and a second connecting segment connecting the second side wall to the upper wall, the first and second connecting segments respectively defining a substantially U-shaped or substantially V-shaped groove between the upper wall and the respective first and second side walls, the grooves each extending inward of a hypothetical line connecting terminal ends of the first and second side walls, wherein a hollow chamber is defined within the profile body, the hollow chamber having a cross-section providing a first substantially rectangular shaped space in communication with a second substantially rectangular space, the first substantially rectangular space being disposed adjacent to the base wall and the second substantially rectangular space being disposed adjacent to the upper wall, the first substantially rectangular space having a width greater than the second substantially rectangular space along a direction parallel to the base and upper walls, and wherein the profile body is integrally formed without interfaces from an elastically-plastically deformable material having a heat conductivity of equal to or less than about 0.3 W/(m쨌K), and a reinforcement layer permanently coupled to at least the upper wall, the first and second connecting segments, and the first and second side walls, the reinforcement layer having a thickness equal to or less than about 0.2 mm, a heat conductivity of equal to or less than about 50 W/(m쨌K), a breaking elongation of at least 20% and being substantially impermeable. 29. A spacer profile comprising: an elongated profile body comprising an elastically-plastically deformable material having a heat conductivity of less than about 0.3 W/(m쨌K), wherein a transverse cross-section of the profile body integrally provides without interface therebetween: a base wall extending in a width direction of the elongated profile body, first and second side walls extending from opposite terminal ends of the base wall in a height direction of the elongated profile body, the width direction being perpendicular to the height direction, each side wall comprising a terminal end opposite from the base wall, an upper wall extending substantially in parallel with the base wall, a first connecting segment having a first portion extending substantially perpendicularly from the upper wall and a second portion connecting the first portion to the first side wall, a first groove being defined by the at least one of the first and second portions and extending inward of a hypothetical line connecting the terminal ends of the first and second side walls, and a second connecting segment having a first portion extending substantially perpendicularly from the upper wall and a second portion connecting the first portion to the second side wall, a second groove being defined by the first and second portions and extending inward of a hypothetical line connecting the terminal ends of the first and second side walls, wherein the first and second grooves each have a depth that is at least one of: (a) between about 0.1 and 1 times the length of the first portions and (b) between about 0.5 to 5 times the thickness of the side walls, and a hollow chamber defining in communication: a centrally disposed space bounded in the height direction by the base wall and the upper wall, a first laterally disposed space bounded in the height direction by the base wall and the second portion of the first connecting segment and bounded in the width direction by the first side wall and the centrally disposed space, and a second laterally disposed space bounded in the height direction by the base wall and the second portion of the second connecting segment and bounded in the width direction by the second side wall and the centrally disposed space, and a reinforcement layer permanently coupled to at least the upper wall, the first and second connecting segments, and the first and second side walls, the reinforcement layer having a heat conductivity of less than about 50 WI(m쨌K). 30. A spacer profile as in claim 29, wherein the second portions each extend substantially perpendicularly from the respective side walls, the hollow chamber has a cross-section selected from the group consisting of substantially T-shaped, substantially bell-shaped, substantially pyramid shaped and substantially stepped-shaped, and the reinforcement layer has a breaking elongation of about 25-30% and comprises stainless steel having a thickness of equal to or less than about 0.1 mm, wherein the heat conductivity of the reinforcement layer is equal to or less than about 15 W/(m쨌K), the reinforcement layer extends continuously from the first side wall to the second side wall, the depth of the first and second grooves is less than twice the width of the first and second grooves and the profile body comprises at least one of polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide and polycarbonate and the profile body is reinforced with a fiber material.