Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Light transmissive sheets – with gas space therebetween and...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-17
2001-01-23
Loney, Donald (Department: 1772)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Light transmissive sheets, with gas space therebetween and...
C428S207000, C052S314000, C052S455000, C052S786100, C052S786110
Reexamination Certificate
active
06177156
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
a) Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to multiple-pane sealed glazing units and more particularly to units that incorporate decorative features that simulate the appearance of traditional divided-lite windows.
b) Description of the Prior Art
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,715, issued to Glover, there is a description of the various efforts that have been made in recent years to improve both the energy efficiency and condensation resistance of multiple glazed sealed units. These improvements include: low-e coatings, argon or krypton gas fill, insulating spacingand-desiccant systems for perimeter edge seals and narrow-width cavities (approximately ⅜″ spacing for argon gas filled units).
As also noted in U.S. Pat. No. 4,494,715, there is a growing consumer interest in heritage window features. Perhaps the most popular of these features is the addition of muntin bars that create the appearance of colonial style divided-lite windows. In the past, various efforts have been made to simplify the assembly of these divided-lite windows and these efforts have been documented in the patent literature.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,598,520 issued to Ellstrom describes the use of two separate but aligned wood muntin grid assemblies that are permanently adhered to either side of a multiple-pane sealed unit using double-sided adhesive foam tape. When viewed at a somewhat inclined angle, the visual illusion is created of a solid muntin-grid assembly. However, when viewed at a more oblique angle, this visual illusion is lost because daylight can be seen between the two muntin grid assemblies.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,938 issued to Palmer describes a muntin-grid window assembly similar to the assembly described in the Ellstrom patent but where an additional metal muntin-grid is also incorporated within the sealed unit. However, although the addition of a metal spacer muntin-grid better simulates the appearance of a divided-lite window, window energy efficiency is reduced because of increased heat loss through the muntin grid assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,743 issued to Baier describes a muntin grid window assembly similar to the assembly described in the Palmer patent but where a flexible foam spacer with pre-applied adhesive is substituted for the metal spacer grid. Although more energy efficient than a simulated divided-lite window with a metal spacer muntin-grid, the double muntin grid assembly method still remains a labour intensive manufacturing process and the grid assembly is still a weak link in the thermal envelope.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,715 issued to Glover describes how the visual illusion of a muntin grid window is created by means of decorative stripe patterns that are applied to the three separate glazing sheets of a triple glazed unit with the glazing sheets being typically located no more than ⅜″ apart.
Traditional wood muntins are typically colored white, and when all three muntin stripes are colored white, experience has shown that because of various shading and optical effects, a convincing visual illusion of a divided lite window is not always created. The decorative surface patterns can be fabricated from a wide range of materials, including inks and paints. Because of potential durability problems, the stripe material must be non-outgassing and with high volume production methods, experience has again shown that for typical coating materials, this is a very demanding technical requirement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a sealed glazing unit that simulates the appearance of a traditional divided-lite window, said sealed glazing unit comprising: two spaced apart parallel co-extensive glazing sheets; a peripheral seal extending continuously between the edges of said glazing sheets to define an insulating cavity between said two glazing sheets; muntin grid elements located on at least two surfaces of said glazing sheets, said muntin grid elements on respective surfaces being in mutually aligned registration with each other and of a width parallel to the glazing sheet surfaces that is sufficient to create the visual illusion of solid muntin bars within said cavity; wherein each said muntin grid element has one side that is of a relatively light shade and an opposite side that is of a relatively dark shade, said elements being attached to said glazing sheets in an orientation such that the side of relatively light shade is presented towards the adjacent exterior side of the glazing unit whereas the side of relatively dark shade is presented towards the opposite side; wherein at least one of said two surfaces is located within said cavity, the muntin grid elements on said at least one surface comprises a decorative grid pattern that is in the form of thin strips applied to said one surface.
The thin strips are preferably made from a flexible tape that carries a pre-applied pressure sensitive adhesive thereon, the tape most preferably being of plastic sheet material such as polyethylene terephthalate. The adhesive may be at least partially of acrylic material. The strips incorporate a dark shade coating on one side, the other side being of a light shade to create the above discussed appearance.
Instead of strips of plastic material, the muntin grid elements could be formed by applying a layer of ceramic frit material, and this material can readily be formulated to be dark on one side and light on the other.
The muntin grid elements or muntin pattern elements on both of the glazing sheets may both be within the insulating cavity, but since all of the strips are relatively thin, they do not significantly detract from the heat insulation properties of the cavity. The glass sheets are preferably spaced no more than about 10 mm apart, and the cavity filled with argon gas or the like.
The invention also provides a sealed glazing unit that simulates the appearance of a traditional divided-lite window, said sealed glazing unit comprising:
three spaced apart parallel co-extensive glazing sheets; a peripheral seal extending continuously between the edges of said glazing sheets to define a respective insulating cavity between each adjacent pair of said glazing sheets; first muntin grid elements located on the outer surfaces of the outer two of said glazing sheet, secondary muntin grid elements being in the form of thin strips attached to the central one of said glazing sheets, said muntin grid elements on respective surfaces being in mutually aligned registration with each other and of a width parallel to the glazing sheet surfaces that is sufficient to create the visual illusion of solid muntin bars within said cavity; wherein each of said first muntin grid elements has one side that is of a relatively light shade and an opposite side that is of a relatively dark shade, said elements being attached to said glazing sheets in an orientation such that the side of relatively light shade is presented towards the adjacent exterior side of the glazing unit whereas the side of relatively dark shade is presented towards the opposite side; and wherein said secondary muntin grid elements have opposite sides that are both of a shade corresponding to said relatively dark shade.
The secondary muntin grid elements may take any of the forms discussed in the foregoing. The first muntin grid elements may be in the form of thin strips attached to the cavity faces of said outer glazing sheets. Alternatively they may comprise bulky profile members, but in either case they include outwardly presented surfaces that are of the relatively light shade and surfaces presented towards the interior of the cavity having the appearance of the relatively dark shade. The bulky profiles can be adhered to the glazing sheets by the use of adhesive foam tapes, and may for example be formed by co-extruded PVC profiles. In this case the PVC profile will comprise a rigid hollow PVC profile with flexible longitudinal edge fins to engage against the glass surface. These fins, as well as the adhesive foam tape securing the profile to the glass, will be of the dark sha
Field Stephen
Glover Michael
Bowmead Holding Inc.
Loney Donald
Wenderoth , Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.
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