Ppg Industries Ohio, Inc.

Stephen L Crandell

Barent A Rosskamp

Cory D Steffek

William B Davis

Mehran Arbab

Michael J Buchanan

Albert E Thompson, Jr

David E Singleton

Raymond G Gallagher

Bradley P Boone

Jack B McCandless

William Klingensmith

William R Siskos

An integrated window sash includes a sash frame having a base between first and second sheet supporting surfaces and first and second sheets each having a first surface and an opposite second surface. The marginal edge portions of the first surface of the first sheet are secured to the first supporting surface, and marginal edge portions of the first surface of the second sheet are secured to the second supporting surface. The first surface of the second sheet faces and is spaced from the second surface of the first sheet to provide a compartment therebetween. A desiccating medium carried in a groove, or on the base communicates with the compartment, and the base and the desiccating medium define an interior opening in the sash frame, wherein the first sheet is sized to pass through the interior opening to the first sheet supporting surface without contacting the desiccating medium.

Integrated window sash with groove for desiccant material

A grid simulating muntins is retained or secured by clips within a spacer frame between glass sheets. The clips include a spacer-engaging member having a platform, and upright walls bendable toward one another, and a grid-engaging member. The grid-engaging member is mounted on the platform, extends upward between and spaced from the upright walls, and is received into one of the ends of the elongated members of the grid. The platform and portions of the upright walls of the spacer-engaging member are positioned within the spacer frame such that the ends of the elongated members of the grid are below the sight line of the unit. The spacer-engaging member and the grid-engaging member can be a monolithic piece, or the grid-engaging member can be detachably secured to the platform of the spacer-engaging member.

Retainer clip for grid simulating muntins

A corner key for joining ends of spacer sections to form a corner of a spacer frame of a multi-sheet unit includes an elongated body having a first end and an opposite second end and a cut out between the ends of the body. The body is bendable to decrease spacing of the cut out to form a corner of the spacer frame.

Plastic spacer stock, plastic spacer frame and multi-sheet unit, and method of making same

The present invention provides spacer stock for making a spacer frame for a multi-sheet unit. The spacer stock includes a first supporting surface; a second supporting surface opposite to, and facing away from, the first supporting surface; a base surface between and connecting the first and second supporting surfaces, and wherein the first and second supporting surfaces and base surface are 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 surface.

An insulating unit includes a first and a second sheet, each of the sheets having a first major surface and an opposite second major surface; an arrangement to position the first and second sheets in spaced relation to one another to provide a compartment between the sheets, the second major surface of the first sheet and the first major surface of the second sheet facing the compartment; a lattice made of muntin bars in the compartment, the lattice having end portions adjacent to and spaced from the arrangement; and a retainer clip having a first end portion connected to an end portion of the lattice and the opposite second end portion having a compressible base, the compressible base in surface contact with the second major surface of the first sheet and the first major surface of the second sheet to retain the lattice in position between the sheets.

Integrated window sash with lattice frame and retainer clip

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.

A method of making an integrated window sash includes providing a sash frame having a first sheet supporting surface, a second sheet supporting surface, and a base extending from the first sheet supporting surface to toward the second sheet supporting surface; applying a layer of an adhesive sealant having a low gas and moisture permeability on the first sheet supporting surface; applying a layer of an adhesive sealant having a low gas and moisture permeability on the second sheet supporting surface; applying a layer of a moisture pervious matrix having a desiccant therein on the base; moving a first sheet having a first major surface and an opposite second major surface into the spacer frame over and spaced from the matrix to move the first major surface of the first sheet against the first layer, and moving a second sheet having a first major surface and an opposite major surface toward the second layer to move the first major surface of the second sheet against the second layer, wherein the first surface of the second sheet is spaced from the second surface of the first sheet to provide a compartment therebetween and the desiccant is in communication with the compartment.

Method of making an integrated window sash

An integrated window sash includes a sash frame having a first sheet supporting surface, a second sheet supporting surface spaced from the first sheet supporting surface, and a base between the first and second sheet supporting surfaces, the base defining an opening; a first sheet having a first major surface and an opposite second major surface with marginal edge portions of the first surface of the first sheet secured to the first sheet supporting surface, the first sheet sized to pass through the opening toward the first sheet supporting surface; a second sheet having a first major surface and an opposite second major surface with marginal edge portions of the first surface of the second sheet secured to the second sheet supporting surface, the second sheet sized to be larger than the opening, wherein the first major surface of the second sheet faces the second major surface of the first sheet and is spaced therefrom to provide a compartment between the sheets; and a retainer mounted on the base between the sheets and having a first end portion engaging surface portions of the second surface of the first sheet and an opposite second end portion secured to the base.

Integrated window sash

An insulating unitless window sash includes a sash frame made of four linear sash members having their mitered edges joined together. Each of the sash members in cross section includes a peripheral surface, a first and outer side walls and a first groove spaced from a second groove. Each of the grooves has a base and spaced walls. The base of the first groove is spaced a greater distance from the peripheral surface than the base of the second groove. Peripheral and marginal edges of a first sheet are in the first groove and peripheral and marginal edges of a second sheet are in the second groove. A shim is mounted on the sash frame adjacent the outer surface of the first sheet to give a balance configuration. A method of fabricating the insulating unitless sash is also disclosed.

Insulating unitless window sash

An insulating unitless window sash includes a sash frame made of four linear sash members having their mitered edges joined together. Each of the sash members in cross section includes a peripheral surface, a first and outer side walls and a first groove spaced from a second groove. Each of the grooves has a base and spaced walls. The base of the first groove is spaced a greater distance from the peripheral surface than the base of the second groove. Peripheral and marginal edges of a first sheet are in the first groove and peripheral and marginal edges of a second sheet are in the second groove. A shim is mounted on the sash frame adjacent the outer surface of the first sheet to give a balance configuration.

A multi-sheet glazing unit includes a closed spacer frame, the spacer frame has one side having a pair of legs joined to a base to provide the spacer frame with a U-shaped cross-section. An inner sheet has an edge mounted in an edge receiving member mounted between the legs of the U-shaped side of the spacer frame. The remaining edges of the inner sheet are within the interior of the closed spacer frame and spaced from the spacer frame. The inner sheet is held within the spacer frame by sheet retaining members mounted to the spacer frame. A sheet e.g. glass sheet is secured by a moisture-impervious adhesive to outer surface of each of the legs of the spacer frame. One type of sheet retaining members has a horizontal member and a vertical member, and a locking member. The locking member is mounted on the horizontal member spaced from the vertical member to form a groove to hold the inner sheet within the closed interior of the spacer frame. Another type of the sheet retaining member includes a pair of flexible fingers mounted on a platform member, angled away from the platform member toward one another and having their ends spaced from one another to provide a groove to hold the inner sheet within the closed interior of the spacer frame. A method for making the unit is also disclosed.

Multi-sheet glazing unit and method of making same

An insulating glass unit is provided having a first glass sheet spaced from a second glass sheet by a spacer frame. The spacer frame, preferably a flexible spacer frame, has a first side and a second side, with the first side located adjacent an inner-surface of the first glass sheet and the second side located adjacent the inner-surface of the second glass sheet. A sealant system, e.g. a three component sealant system, is provided adjacent each side of the spacer frame, e.g. by forming or flowing the sealant system on the outer surface of the spacer frame, to hold the glass sheets to the spacer frame. The sealant system includes a first structural sealant, such as a thermosetting material, spaced from a second structural sealant, such as another or the same thermosetting material. A moisture barrier material, preferably a thermoplastic material such as PIB, is located between the first and second structural sealant materials.

Growing community of inventors

Cranberry Township, PA, United States of America

Stephen L Crandell