KR20000069330A - integrated multipane window unit and sash - Google Patents

Abstract

The window unit consists of two or more substantially parallel window panes with a window frame, wherein the window frame consists of an integrally spaced structure that holds the window pane in a substantially parallel spaced shape.

Description

Integrated multipane window unit and sash}

Background of the Invention

A window unit consists of a sash and at least two substantially parallel spaced panes, which are integral spacing structures that hold the pane in a substantially parallel spaced shape. Is made of.

Insulated glass units (IG units) are used in windows and doors to reduce heat loss from the inside of the building out in the winter and into the building interior from the outside in the summer. Insulated glass units are usually formed separately from the window frame, and then in a separate step, the insulated glass unit is installed in the window frame. In the present invention, the IG unit and the window frame are manufactured as a single unit, and there is no need to manufacture the IG unit separately.

The IG unit generally consists of two or more parallel spaced glass sheets with a space between the panes sealed along the periphery of the pane so as to be spaced apart from each other and surrounding the air layer between the panes. Spacer bars are located along the perimeter of the space between the two panes. These spacer bars are generally elongated hollow perforated metal pieces made of aluminum alloy and manufactured by injection molding or by rolling from flat strip material. The hollow interior of the spacer contains a desiccant used to absorb residual moisture that may be present in the closed air and to absorb additional moisture that may enter the sealing unit over time. Spacers are generally assembled into rectangular frames by bending or using corner keys.

IG units are constructed using single or double seals. In the case of a single sealing unit, the structural air and moisture seals are combined into one seal. Sealants commonly used in single seal designs include thermoplastic sealants such as butyl or thermoset sealants such as polysulfide and polyurethane. In general, thermoset sealants may be more permeable to moisture than thermoplastic sealants.

In the case of double sealed IG units, there is a main external seal as well as an internal seal, which generally functions as an additional moisture seal. In general, in the case of double sealing units, the inner seal is a thermoplastic material such as polyisobutylene and the beads of polyisobutylene are attached to the side of the spacer adjacent the glass sheet. The spacer frame is then placed between the panes, and heat and / or pressure is applied such that the polyisobutylene is compressed and completely permeates the surface of the glass. In the case of the second outer seal, a thermosetting sealant such as silicone, polyurethane or polysulfide is generally used and applied around the outwardly facing between the two panes.

The construction of the aforementioned IG unit is known in the art and is described, for example, in US Pat. No. 3,919,023 to Bowser et al .; US Patent No. 4,994,309 to Reichert et al .; US Pat. No. 4,479,988 in Dawson; US Patent No. 5,313,761 to Leopold; And US Pat. No. 5,568,714 to Peterson. Manufacturing methods for such IG units are also known and are disclosed, for example, in US Pat. No. 5,295,292 to the name Leopold. The above described IG unit is configured as a separate unit to be incorporated into the window frame. IG units incorporated in window frames may then be installed as windows, doors or insulated panels in buildings, refrigeration units, vehicles and the like.

The inventors describe herein a window unit consisting of an integrated window frame design in which the window frame is incorporated with the integral spacing structure such that the two or more window panes are fitted directly into the window frame member in a partial shape spaced substantially parallel. The integrated window frame design allows the manufacture of window units consisting of window frames and insulated window glass as a single unit, which reduces the processing steps and costs associated with manufacturing separate IG units and then installing the IG units in the window frames.

Summary of the Invention

The window unit consists of two or more substantially parallel windows apart from the window frame, the window frames comprising an integrally spaced structure that holds the windows in a substantially parallel spaced shape.

Brief description of the drawings

1 illustrates a window unit consisting of a window sill with two substantially parallel spaced panes positioned therein;

2 illustrates a cross section of a window frame consisting of two parallel spaced panes maintained in a substantially parallel spaced shape by the unitary spacing structure of the window frame;

3 illustrates a cross section of a window frame comprised of an integrally spaced structure.

Detailed description of the invention

The present invention consists of a window frame and at least two substantially parallel spaced panes, the window frame being a window unit consisting of an integrally spaced structure that holds the pane in a substantially parallel spaced shape.

The invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 attached hereto. 1 illustrates a window unit within the scope of the present invention. The window unit shown in FIG. 1 consists of a window frame 1 in which two substantially parallel spaced panes 2 are located. 1 also illustrates a muntin bar simulating assembly 3 located between the window panes 2 and attached to the window frame 1. The window frame 1 comprises a sealing channel 4 in which the space between the panes 2 is vacuumed and, if necessary, an insulating gas is provided between the panes 2.

Those skilled in the art are not limited to the window units illustrated in FIG. 1 and use the case for residential and commercial buildings as casement windows, hanging windows on both sides, hanging windows on one side, permanently positioned windows, and insulated panels. It will be appreciated that it may include window units suitable for the following. The window unit of the present invention can be used as doors and windows, for example in refrigerators and refrigerated display cases. The window units of the present invention can be used as windows in vehicles, including automobiles, trucks, heavy equipment, and boats.

The window frame of the present invention can be made of standard materials constituting the window unit window frame. The term “window” refers to a component that surrounds two or more panes to produce a window unit suitable for positioning in a support structure such as, for example, a window frame, building structure, refrigeration unit or vehicle. The material of the window frame may be, for example, wood, a metal such as aluminum, a plastic such as ABS or styrene, glass fibers, a plastic composite, and a composite made of wood and plastic. Factors to consider when selecting the window frame as a constituent material include compressive strength, hardness, brittleness, modulus of elasticity, thermal conductivity, processability, fasteners and shape retaining capacity, and cost. The method of making the window frame is not critical to the invention and will depend on the material of manufacture. The window frame can be manufactured by milling, rolling, stamping, injection molding, molding, and a combination thereof.

Preferred window frames for use in the present invention are made of plastic consisting of polyvinylchloride (PVC) as the main component. PVC may contain small amounts of additives such as processing aids, processing modifiers, solid fillers, reinforcing materials, lubricants to promote injection molding and curing compounds. In addition, PVC may contain other polymer components, such as mixtures, to control the performance of PVC. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the window frame is formed by injection molding of PVC.

The window frame surrounds the perimeter of two or more panes. As illustrated in FIG. 1, in one embodiment the window frame is formed into a rectangle or a square. However, the shape of the window frame is not important in the present invention as long as the window frame is shaped like the shape of the window glass. The window sill can be formed as a multi-component coupled to the mitered end, for example, by methods such as screws, rivets, bolts, clips, inserts and welds, or a combination thereof. The window frame may be formed as a single linear component by means such as stamping or injection molding and then bent butt by the method as described above by bending the linear component into a suitable shape.

The window frame of the window unit of the present invention consists of an integrally spaced structure that holds two or more panes in a substantially parallel spaced shape. The term "integrated" means that the spacing structure is part of the window frame and the glazing is separately fixed to the spacing structure as part of the window frame. As illustrated, FIG. 2 shows a cross section of a window frame 1 with an integrally spaced structure 5. 2 illustrates an example of a window frame within the scope of the invention consisting of an integrally spaced structure 5. 2 is not intended to limit the scope of the claims to these structures. The physical shape of the unitary spacing structure is not critical as long as it maintains two or more panes in a shape spaced substantially parallel. The physical shape will depend somewhat on the composite material of the window frame. Integral spacing structures are preferably produced, for example, as part of the process of milling, injection molding or stamping window frames, but integral spacing structures may be manufactured separately to provide methods such as glue bonding, welding, bolting, screwing, and the like. It can be coupled to the window frame by a similar coupling method. The window frame and the integral spacer structure may be made of the same or different materials. For example, the window frame may be manufactured as a co-injection molding in which the window frame and the integrally spaced structure are made of different polymeric materials. In some cases, the method of co-injection molding may be desirable to provide the window sill with suitable physical properties, such as strength, for example, and to provide an integral spacing structure with, for example, acceptable swelling ratio and suitable bonding to the window pane. . The integral spacing structure may be in the form of a solid ridge, hollow ridge or trough, for example. The shape of the unitary spacer structure preferably provides sufficient surface area and strength to the two or more panes to be maintained in a substantially parallel spaced shape by an adhesive sandwiched between the walls of the unitary spacer structure and the inner surface edge of the pane. As long as it is not important. FIG. 2 illustrates a preferred shape for an integral spacing structure wherein the structure forms a trough with a desiccant inside and into which the cladding cladding assembly can be fastened inwards by a clip or friction bond.

The window unit of the present invention consists of two or more substantially parallel spaced panes. The term "substantially parallel" means that the pane forms an inner chamber when positioned in a window frame adjacent to the integrally spaced structure with the inclusion material, such as adhesive and impermeable material. The pane can be, for example, single glass, tempered glass, safety glass, glass-thermoplastic stacks and sheets made of thermoplastics. The pane can be transparent or translucent. The pane can be coated with a standard coating that reduces ultraviolet and visible light transmission. The pane can be colored by methods known in the art. Preferred panes for use in the present window units consist of glass and glass laminates.

The window frame structure illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 is provided with two panes, but the invention is not limited to only two panes. The window frame of the present invention may be designed to accommodate additional panes or films positioned between substantially parallel panes.

The invention is further illustrated with reference to FIG. 3. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional area of a window unit within the scope of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the window frame 1 consists of an integrally spaced structure 5. The pane 2 has an edge adjacent the integrally spaced structure 5 located in the frame structure and held by the adhesive 6. In the hole formed between the panes 2, the cladding cladding assembly 3 is positioned and held in place by a clip inserted into a slot extending along the longitudinal axis of the unitary spacing structure. In the unitary spacing structure 5 an adsorbent 7 is located. The window frame 1 further comprises a groove 8 in which the glazing beads 9 are located, in which a seal is formed adjacent to the outer surface of the window glass 2.

In a preferred embodiment of the window unit of the present invention, two or more substantially spaced panes are coupled to the unitary spacer structure by an adhesive, such as a structural sealant. The adhesive is preferably capable of forming a seal that is resistant to air and moisture between the integral spacer structure and the pane. The specific adhesive required will depend on the material of the window frame and the glazing and the conditions of use of the window unit. Various materials can be considered to be used as the adhesive. For example, the adhesive can be a natural or synthetic thermoplastic such as polysulfide, polyurethane, polyisobutylene, epoxy, epoxy polysulfide mixture and polysulfide-polyurethane mixture. This adhesive may be a thermosetting platinum catalyzed silicone rubber composite described in US Pat. No. 5,364,921 to Gray et al., Which is incorporated herein by reference to inform the adhesive composites useful in the present invention. have. This adhesive may be a room temperature curable composite consisting of an acrylic functional isobutylene polymer as described in US Pat. No. 5,665,823 to Saxena et al., Which is incorporated herein by reference to disclose adhesive compositions useful in the present invention. It is described as a reference. It is preferable when an adhesive agent is the room temperature curable composite described in the publication of the name of Saxena. The adhesive may be a preformed glazing tape made of a material such as butyl, polyethylene, polyurethane or polyvinylchloride.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the adsorbent or absorbent is placed in the spaces created between the panes to prevent the accumulation of moisture between the panes and, if necessary, to adsorb chemicals that penetrate into the spaces between the panes and obscure the panes. . The terms adsorbent and absorbent are commonly referred to as adsorbents which refer to substances which can retain water, chemicals or both by adsorption or absorption. In a preferred embodiment, the adsorbent 7 is located in the channel formed by the integral spacer structure. One skilled in the art can have channels formed by integral spacing structures having various shapes such as rectangular, square and elliptical and should not be entirely open to the space created between the panes. The channels formed by or in the integral spacer structure are spaced apart, for example, by the slots illustrated in FIG. 3 or along the integral spacer structure connecting the channels formed in the integral spacer structure with the space created between the panes. Openings can communicate with the space created between the panes.

Adsorbents or adsorbents that may be used in the window unit of the present invention may be naturally occurring or synthetically produced adsorbents that adsorb water and chemicals released into the space formed by the windowpanes, which may preferably cloud the windowpanes. . Preferred adsorbents are zeolite A, zeolite Z, and mixtures thereof. The physical form of the adsorbent used will depend on the channels formed in the integral spacer structure. The adsorbent may be in powder form, in which case the channels formed in the integrally spaced structure should be substantially closed with holes of appropriate size connecting the channels and the space created between the panes. Ulisch, for example, US Pat. No. 3,868,299 discloses the use of adsorbents designed for use in multilayer insulating glass windows consisting of narrow pore zeolites in combination with a wide pore adsorbent and, optionally, clay binders. . Ulysses publications are hereby incorporated by reference in order to provide examples of desiccants useful in the present invention. U. S. Patent No. 5,493, 821 to Cohen et al. Discloses a hollow, low density mass useful for adsorbing water useful in the present invention, which is described herein by reference to inform useful adsorbents.

The adsorbent may be in a matrix, where the adsorbent is mixed with a mediator that adheres in a channel formed in the integral spacing structure. The media may be, for example, silicone rubber, butyl, quick-drying adhesive or polyurethane. The adsorbent may be mixed with a curable liquid silicone rubber composite or sealant that is injection molded into the channels formed in the integral spacer structure and attached thereto upon curing.

In order to improve the insulation performance of the window unit of the present invention, it is preferable to remove air from the space created between the window panes or replace the air with an inert gas such as nitrogen, argon or krypton. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a sealing channel 4 may be provided in the window frame to replace air with gas or to make a vacuum.

In FIG. 3, the window frame 1 consists of grooves 8 which can be positioned such that the glazing beads 9 form a seal adjacent to the outer surface of the window glass 2. The shape of the groove 8 is not important in the present invention and the shape illustrated in FIG. 3 is only one of various shapes. The groove 8 preferably has a shape in which the glazing beads 9 are snapped into place and held. Alternatively, the glazing beads 9 remain pressed or glued into the grooves 8.

The glazing beads 9 are fixed to the window frame 1 and attached to the outer surface of the window glass 2. The composition of the glazing beads 9 is not critical and any of the materials known in the art for use in this application is possible. The glazing beads 9 can be made of natural or synthetic rubber or plastics, for example. The glazing beads 9 can be made of silicone rubber, for example. The glazing bead 9 also serves as an ornament, so that it can be manufactured by a method such as injection molding in an ornament shape and design and colored as required.

1 and 3 illustrate a cladding clamshell assembly 3 positioned between the window pane 2 and fixed to the window frame 1 by a slot in the integrally spaced structure 5. The wedge cladding assembly 3 is optional in the present invention and can be made of conventional design and manufacturing materials as is known in the art. The door cladding imitation assembly 3 is preferably made of aluminum or plastic material that does not release chemicals into the space created between the panes capable of flowing the pane. The wedge cladding assembly 3 can be manufactured to be easily clipped to the window frame and the design thereof is illustrated in FIG. 3.

Claims (18)

A window unit, comprising: a window frame and two or more substantially parallel spaced apart panes, the window frame comprising an integrally spaced structure that holds the pane in a substantially parallel spaced shape. 2. The window unit of claim 1, wherein the window frame and integral spacing structure are made of aluminum. The window unit according to claim 1, wherein the window frame and the integrally spaced structure are made of polyvinyl chloride. The window unit according to claim 1, wherein the window pane is freely selected from the group consisting of single glass panes, tempered glass panes, safety glass panes, glass-thermoplastic laminate panes and thermoplastic panes. The window unit of claim 1, wherein the window pane is a glass pane or a glass laminate pane. The window unit of claim 1, wherein the window pane is a glass pane. 2. The window unit of claim 1, wherein the window pane is attached to the integral spacing structure with an adhesive. 8. The window unit according to claim 7, wherein the adhesive is a thermosetting platinum catalyst treated silicone rubber compound. 8. The window unit of claim 7, wherein the adhesive is an acrylic functional isobutylene polymer. The window unit of claim 1, wherein the absorbent, adsorbent, or mixture thereof is located in a space created between substantially parallel spaced panes. 11. The unitary spacer structure of claim 10, wherein the integral spacer structure is formed with a trough communicating with a space between two or more substantially parallelly spaced panes, the trough having an absorbent, an adsorbent, or a mixture thereof. Characteristic window unit. The window unit of claim 1, wherein the space between the substantially parallel spaced panes is filled with an inert gas. 13. The window unit of claim 12, wherein the inert gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, krypton and argon. The window unit of claim 1, further comprising a cladding cladding assembly positioned between the substantially parallel spaced panes. 15. The window unit of claim 14, wherein the door cladding imitation assembly is secured to the unitary spacing structure. It consists of a window sill and two substantially parallel spaced panes, the window sill consisting of an integrally spaced structure that holds the panes in a substantially parallel spaced shape, the window frame and the integrally spaced structure comprising polyvinyl chloride as the main component. Window unit, characterized in that made of plastic. 2. The window unit of claim 1, wherein the window frame and integral spacing structure are made of plastic. The window unit of claim 1, wherein the window frame and the integrally spaced structure are made of a material selected from the group consisting of glass fibers, plastic composites, and composites made of wood and plastics.