US 11,859,439 B2
Low thermal conducting spacer assembly for an insulating glazing unit
William Davis, II, Fombell, PA (US); Bradley P. Boone, Pittsburgh, PA (US); and Roxana Shabani, Gibsonia, PA (US)
Assigned to Vitro Flat Glass LLC, Cheswick, PA (US)
Filed by Vitro Flat Glass LLC, Cheswick, PA (US)
Filed on Apr. 14, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/230,564.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/010,169, filed on Apr. 15, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0324676 A1, Oct. 21, 2021
Int. Cl. E06B 3/66 (2006.01); E06B 3/67 (2006.01); E06B 3/673 (2006.01); E06B 3/663 (2006.01)
CPC E06B 3/67313 (2013.01) [E06B 3/66309 (2013.01); E06B 3/66342 (2013.01); E06B 3/66361 (2013.01); E06B 2003/6639 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An insulating glazing unit comprising:
a first panel and a second panel, the first panel having a No. 1 surface and an opposite No. 2 surface and marginal edges, the second panel having a No. 3 surface and an opposite No. 4 surface and marginal edges;
a metal spacer formed from a single metal sheet, having an internal side and an opposite external side, affixed with adhesive to marginal portions of the No. 2 surface of the first panel and the No. 3 surface of the second panel and supporting the first and second panel in a spaced-apart configuration forming a chamber, with the internal side of the metal spacer, the No. 2 surface of the first panel, and the No. 3 surface of the second panel defining a sealed compartment, the metal spacer comprising:
a first wall on a first lateral side of the spacer adjacent to the No. 2 surface of the first panel, having a major planar portion and comprising a first lip extending from an inward side of the first wall toward the No. 3 surface of the second panel;
a second wall on a second lateral side of the spacer opposite the first wall and adjacent to the No. 3 surface of the second panel, having a major planar portion and comprising a second lip extending from an inward side of the second wall toward the No. 2 surface of the first panel, wherein the first and second lips define a gap opening into the compartment, wherein the gap opening is in fluid communication with the chamber formed by the first and second panel, and
a central portion extending from a marginal side of the first wall opposite the first lip to a marginal side of the second wall opposite the second lip, comprising two or more longitudinal ridges with a first lateral valley portion between and connecting the first wall and an adjacent ridge and defining a first lateral valley on the internal side of the spacer, a second lateral valley portion between and connecting the second wall and an adjacent ridge and defining a second lateral valley on the internal side of the spacer, and one or more central valley portions between and connecting longitudinal ridges and defining one or more central valleys on the internal side of the spacer, each ridge comprising a plurality of walls comprising parallel portions parallel to each other, with peak portions connecting adjacent walls; and
desiccant disposed in a central valley, wherein the insulating glazing unit has a Res-value of at least 175 (in-hr-° F.)/BTU.