IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0696432
(2007-04-04)
|
등록번호 |
US-7739851
(2010-07-12)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Davis, William B.
- Arbab, Mehran
- Buchanan, Michael
- Crandell, Stephen L.
- Rosskamp, Barent A.
- Siskos, William R.
- Steffek, Cory D.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
1 인용 특허 :
71 |
초록
▼
The present invention provides a spacer frame for making a multi-sheet unit. The frame includes a spacer stock member having a first end and a second end, and a corner key comprising a bendable elongated body having a first end in the first end of the spacer stock member, an opposite second end in t
The present invention provides a spacer frame for making a multi-sheet unit. The frame includes a spacer stock member having a first end and a second end, and a corner key comprising a bendable elongated body having a first end in the first end of the spacer stock member, an opposite second end in the second end of the spacer stock member, and a cut out between the ends, the ends of the corner key bendable relative to one another to decrease the spacing of the cut out.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A spacer frame for making a multi-sheet insulating unit comprising: a spacer stock member having a first end and a second end, and a corner key comprising: a bendable elongated body having a first end in the first end of the spacer stock member, an opposite second end in the
What is claimed is: 1. A spacer frame for making a multi-sheet insulating unit comprising: a spacer stock member having a first end and a second end, and a corner key comprising: a bendable elongated body having a first end in the first end of the spacer stock member, an opposite second end in the second end of the spacer stock member: a first upright leg and a second upright leg joined to a base and spaced from one another to provide the body of the corner key with a generally U-shaped cross section, wherein the base has an inner surface facing a space between the first and second upright legs of the body of the corner key and the first end of the body of the corner key comprises a first end of the first upright leg, a first end of the second upright leg and a first end of the base; the opposite second end of the body of the corner key comprises an opposite second end of the first upright leg, an opposite second end of the second upright leg and an opposite second end of the base; a first V-shaped cut out and a second V-shaped cut out in the first upright leg and a third V-shaped cut out and a fourth V-shaped cut out in the second upright leg, wherein each of the first and the second cut outs comprises a first sloping side extending from edge of the first leg to the base and a second sloping side facing the first sloping side and extending from the edge of the first leg to the base, and the first and second sides meeting at a vertex adjacent the base, and a section of the first upright leg between the first and the second V-shaped cut outs, wherein one of the sloping sides of the first cut out and one of the sloping sides of the second cut out provide sides of the section of the first leg extending from the edge of the first leg to the base, and wherein each of the third and the fourth V-shaped cut outs comprises a third sloping side extending from edge of the second leg to the base and a fourth sloping side facing the third sloping side and extending from the edge of the second leg to the base, and the third and fourth sloping sides meeting at a vertex adjacent the base, and a section of the second upright leg between the third and the fourth V-shaped cut outs, wherein one of the sloping sides of the third cut out and one of the sloping sides of the fourth cut out provide sides of the section of the second leg extending from the edge of the second leg to the base, and bending the first end and the second end of the corner key toward one another in a direction over the inner surface of the base decreases the spacing of the first, second, third and fourth V-shaped cut outs to move the first and second sloping sides of the first cut out against one another, to move the first and second sloping sides of the second cut out against one another, to move the third and fourth sloping sides of the third cut out against one another, and to move the third and fourth sloping sides of the fourth cut out against one another to form a corner of the spacer frame wherein, there are no more than 2 V-shaped cut outs in each of the first and second legs. 2. The spacer frame according to claim 1, wherein the base of the corner key has an outer surface opposite to the inner surface of the base, and the vertex of each of the cut outs of the corner key extend below the inner surface of the base of the corner key and terminate short of the outer surface of the base, and further comprising a first groove in the inner surface of the base between and connected to the vertex of the first and third cut outs and a second groove in the inner surface of the base between and connected to the vertex of the second and fourth cut outs, wherein the inner surface of the base between the first and the second upright legs lies in a flat plane extending from the first end to the second end of the body of the corner key, and opening of the first and the second grooves is at the flat plane and base of the first and the second grooves is between the flat plane and the outer surface of the base. 3. The spacer frame according to claim 1, wherein: the first upright leg of the corner key comprises an inner surface facing the second leg; an opposite outer surface; a first outer portion extending from the first end of the first leg toward and terminating short of first and second cut outs; a second outer portion extending from the second end of the first leg toward and terminating short of the first and the second cut outs; an intermediate portion having the first and second cut outs, the intermediate portion of the first leg between the first and second outer portions of the first leg, and thickness of the intermediate portion of the first leg is greater than thickness of the first outer portion, and of the second outer portion, of the first leg; the second upright leg of the corner key comprises an inner surface facing the first leg; an opposite outer surface; a first outer portion extending from the first end of the second leg toward and terminating short of third and fourth cut outs; a second outer portion extending from the second end of the second leg toward and terminating short of the third and fourth cut outs; an intermediate portion having the third and fourth cut outs between the first and second outer portions of the second leg, and thickness of the intermediate portion of the second leg greater than thickness of the first outer portion, and of the second outer portion, of the second leg; the base of the corner key comprises a first outer portion extending from the first end of the base to a first predetermined location, a second outer portion extending from the second end of the base to a second predetermined location, wherein the first and the second predetermined locations are spaced from one another and the cutouts are between the first and the second predetermined locations an intermediate portion between the first and second predetermined locations, and thickness of the intermediate portion of the base is greater than thickness of the first outer portion, and of the second outer portion, of the base such that the first outer portion of the corner key fits into the first end of the spacer stock member, the second outer portion of the corner key fits into the second end of the spacer stock member and surface of the intermediate portion of the corner key is generally flush with surface of the spacer stock member. 4. The spacer frame according to claim 1, wherein: the first upright leg of the corner key comprises an inner surface facing the second leg; an opposite outer surface; a first outer portion extending from the first end of the first leg toward and terminating short of the first and second cut outs; a second outer portion extending from the second end of the first leg toward and terminating short of the first and second cut outs; an intermediate portion having the first and second cut outs between the first and second outer portions of the first leg, and thickness of the intermediate portion of the first leg greater than thickness of the first outer portion, and of the second outer portion, of the first leg; the second upright leg of the corner key comprises an inner surface facing the first leg; an opposite outer surface; a first outer portion extending from the first end of the second leg toward and terminating short of the third and fourth cut outs; a second outer portion extending from the second end of the second leg toward and terminating short of the third and fourth cut outs; an intermediate portion having the third and fourth cut outs between the first and second outer portions of the second leg, and thickness of the intermediate portion of the second leg greater than thickness of the first outer portion, and of the second outer portion, of the second leg, and wherein height of the first outer portion, and of the second outer portion, of the first leg of the corner key is less than the height of the intermediate portion of the first leg, and the height of the first outer portion and of the second outer portion, of the second leg of the corner key is less than the height of the intermediate portion of the second leg such that portions of the first and second ends of the spacer stock member contact the intermediate portion of the corner key. 5. The spacer frame according to claim 1, wherein the body of the corner key is made of a plastic material selected from a moisture impervious material, a gas impervious material, and a moisture and gas impervious material. 6. The spacer frame according to claim 1, wherein the body of the corner key comprises a core made from a material selected from a moisture pervious material, a gas pervious material, and a moisture and gas pervious material and a barrier film over selected surfaces of the core, the barrier film selected from a moisture impervious material, a gas impervious material, and a moisture and gas impervious material. 7. The spacer frame according to claim 6, wherein the corner key further comprises a protective film over selected portions of outer surface of the barrier film to prevent ultraviolet degradation of the barrier film. 8. The spacer frame according to claim 3, wherein the spacer stock member comprises a first upright leg and a second upright leg spaced from one another and maintained in spaced relation to one another by a base, each of the upright legs of the spacer stock member have an extension that extends toward one another over the base of the spacer stock member and the extensions are spaced from one another, each of the extensions adjacent the first and the second ends of spacer stock member has a cut out and the corner key further comprising: a tab on the edge of the first outer portion and the second outer portion of the first leg of the corner key, the tabs of the first leg of the corner key facing away from the base of the corner key and extending above the edge of first and second outer portions of the first leg of the corner key, wherein the tab on the first outer portion of the first leg of the corner key is in one of the cut outs at the first end of the spacer stock member and the tab on the second outer portion of the first leg of the corner key is in one of the cut outs at the second end of the spacer stock member, and a tab on the edge of the first outer portion and second outer portion of the second leg of the corner key, the tabs of the second leg of the corner key facing away from the base of the corner key and extending above the edge of first and second outer portions of the second leg of the corner key, wherein the tab on the first outer portion of the second leg of the corner key is in the other one of the cut outs at the first end of the spacer stock member and the tab on the second outer portion of the second leg of the corner key is in one of the cut outs at the second end of the spacer stock member. 9. The spacer frame according to claim 1, wherein a wall of one of the cut outs of the corner key has a tab and facing wall of the one of the cut outs has a groove having the tab. 10. The spacer frame according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the outer surfaces of the first and second portions of the first upright leg of the corner key, the second upright leg of the corner key and the base of the corner key has a friction surface. 11. The spacer frame according to claim 1, further comprising a layer of a moisture pervious matrix having a desiccant therein on portions of inner surface of the base of the corner key. 12. The spacer frame according to 1 wherein a portion of the first and second upright legs of the corner key extend over inner surface of the base. 13. The spacer frame according to claim 1, wherein the spacer stock member comprises a first spacer stock section having the first end and an opposite second end, a second spacer stock section having the second end and an opposite first end, and one or more spacer sections between and joining the second end of the first spacer stock section and the first end of the second spacer stock section, the first spacer stock section comprising: a first supporting surface; a second supporting surface opposite to and facing away from the first supporting surface; and a base between and connecting the first and second supporting surfaces with inner surface of the base of the first spacer stock section facing a space between the first and the second supporting surfaces. 14. The spacer frame according to claim 13, wherein the spacer stock section is made of plastic and rate of moisture and/or gas movement through portions of the first and second supporting surfaces is greater than the rate of moisture and/or gas movement, respectively through the base. 15. The spacer frame according to claim 13, wherein the first supporting surface of the first spacer stock section is outer surface of a first upright member; the second supporting surface of the first spacer stock section is outer surface of a second upright member; the base of the first spacer section is between and connecting the first and second upright members, and the first and second upright members and the base are made from a material selected from a moisture impervious material, a gas impervious material, a moisture pervious material, a gas pervious material, and combinations thereof, and further comprising a moisture and/or gas impervious barrier layer between the outer surface, and inner surface, of the base member. 16. The spacer frame according to claim 13, further comprising a barrier layer over the base of the spacer stock sections, the barrier layer made from a material selected from a moisture impervious material, a gas impervious material, and a moisture and gas impervious material, and a connector to connect spacer stock sections, wherein the connector comprises a flat portion and the first spacer stock section in cross section comprises a first interconnecting portion connecting the first supporting surface to the flat portion of the base and a second interconnecting portion connecting the second supporting surface to the flat portion of the base. 17. The spacer frame according to claim 13, wherein the first spacer section comprises: a plastic core made from a material selected from the group of a moisture pervious material, a gas pervious material, and a moisture and gas pervious material, the plastic core comprising outer surface portions and opposite inner surface portions, and a barrier layer made from a material selected from the group of a moisture impervious plastic material, a gas impervious plastic material, and a moisture and gas impervious plastic material, the barrier layer over selected surface portions of the plastic core. 18. The spacer frame according to claim 17, further comprising an ultraviolet barrier layer over portions of the barrier layer to prevent degradation of the barrier layer wherein the ultraviolet barrier layer is a coating. 19. The spacer frame according to claim 18, wherein the coating is selected a two-component isocyanate containing clear coat, and a solvent-borne, thermosetting clear coat. 20. The spacer frame according to claim 13, wherein the spacer stock sections are made of plastic and the first supporting surface is outer surface of a first upright member having an end; the second supporting surface is outer surface of a second upright member having an end; the base connected to the first and second upright members provides the spacer stock sections with a generally U-shaped cross section with the end of each the first and second members facing away from the base; and the ends of the first and the second members having a “T” shaped cross section. 21. The spacer frame according to claim 1, wherein the spacer stock member comprises a first upright member, a second upright member, and a base, the base between and connecting the first and second upright members to provide the spacer stock member with a generally U-shaped cross section; the first upright member has an inner surface opposite to an outer surface; the second upright member has an inner surface opposite to an outer surface, and the base has an outer surface opposite an inner surface with the inner surface of the base facing space between the first and second upright members and the spacer stock member has at least one corner, and peripheral surface of the spacer frame at the at least one corner is continuous. 22. The spacer frame according to claim 21, wherein the spacer stock member comprises a first sheet supporting surface, an opposite second sheet supporting surface and an inner base surface, the inner base surface having a groove at the at least one corner extending between the first and the second supporting surfaces. 23. The spacer frame according to claim 21, wherein each of the first and second upright members of the spacer stock member at the at least one corner has a V-shaped cut out with apex of the V-shaped cut out of each of the upright members below the inner surface of the base of the spacer stock member with one sloping side of the V-shape cut outs of the first and second upright members having a receiving portion and the an d other opposite sloping side of the V-shaped cut outs has a tab in the receiving portion. 24. The spacer frame according to claim 21, wherein each of the first and second upright members of the spacer stock member at the at least one corner has a V-shaped cut out, with an apex of the V-shaped cut out of each of the first and second upright members below the inner surface of the base of the spacer stock member, the first and second upright members of the spacer stock member each comprising an extension extending from the first and second upright members toward one another over the inner surface of the base, with the extensions of each of the upright members generally continuous at the at least one corner of the spacer stock member. 25. The spacer frame according to claim 21, wherein each of the first and second upright members of the spacer stock member at the at least one corner has a portion of each of the first and second upright members spaced from the base removed and portion of each of the first and second upright members between the removed portion and the base having first and second bend lines having a V-shape with apex of the V-shape below inner surface of the base and a third bend line between the first and second bend lines and extending away from the apex. 26. The spacer frame according to claim 21, wherein each of the first and second upright members of the spacer stock member at the at least one corner has a plurality of cut outs. 27. The spacer frame according to claim 26, wherein each one of the cut outs in the first upright member is opposite to a cut out in the second upright member with selected ones of the pair of cut outs having a connecting groove in the inner surface of the base and extending between the pair of cut outs. 28. The spacer frame according to claim 21, wherein the spacer stock member further comprises: a first upright member having an outer supporting surface and an opposite inner surface; a second upright member having an outer supporting surface and an opposite inner surface; a base interconnecting the first and second upright members to provide the spacer stock member with a generally U-shaped cross section, the base having an inner surface facing a space between the upright members and an opposite outer surface; and the at least one corner comprising a V-shaped area with a wall thickness of the upright members within the V-shaped that is greater than zero and less than a wall thickness of the upright members adjacent to and out of the V-shaped area, and the portion of the first and second upright members within the V-shape area at the at least one corner of the spacer frame extending over the base toward one an other. 29. The spacer frame according to claim 28, wherein the V-shaped area at the at least one corner of the spacer stock member is one of a plurality of V-shaped areas, wherein each one of the V-shaped areas in the first upright member is opposite to a V-shaped area in the second upright member to provide a plurality of pairs of V-shaped areas at the at least one corner of the spacer stock member wherein portions of the upright members within the V-shaped areas extend over the inner surface of the base toward one another. 30. The spacer frame according to claim 29, further comprising a groove in the base between the upright members at the at least one corner of the spacer stock member.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.