Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Structurally defined web or sheet – Including variation in thickness
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-06
2001-02-27
Loney, Donald (Department: 1772)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Structurally defined web or sheet
Including variation in thickness
C428S034000, C428S038000, C428S207000, C428S210000, C052S311100, C052S786100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06194055
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to decorative glass, and more specifically to annealed or tempered glass sheets of the type described in which a colored band and, alternatively, one or more parallel, adjacent grooves are formed on at least one surface thereof to simulate the look of a multi-pane structure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent years the interior and exterior design of buildings and structures, as well as the furnishings therefor, have employed increasing quantities of decorative glass. For example, it is now commonplace for glass sheets to be used in various types of doors such as shower doors, storm doors, patio doors, entry doors, bi-fold doors, and in decorative windows, mirrors, and other furniture and architectural applications. As the scope of architectural and design tastes expand, the industry has become receptive to glass sheet products which have unique visual effects.
One such visual effect is achieved by the use of a ground groove in the surface of such glass products. The groove is formed by grinding into the surface of an annealed glass sheeting, however, the glass sheets may subsequently be bent, or curved, or further processed (such as by tempering). A unique and attractive method for achieving a remarkable visual effect is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,416 to Eichhorn et al. In that patent is described a decorative glass sheet having a plurality of immediately adjacent parallel grooves and a method for forming the same. Such grooves have steeper walls, thereby achieving more extreme refraction and/or reflection results, more distortion, and therefore a more striking visual difference between the ribbed or grooved section and the other surface of the glass sheet.
Another related use for glass sheets is in insulated glass units (commonly referred to as “IGUs”) as used in windows or patio doors for residential and commercial buildings. IGUs typically include a frame in which two sheets of glass or plexiglass are mounted in a parallel arrangement, supported by the frame which engages their respective peripheral edges. The panes define a gap therebetween and, in combination with the frame which spans the gap about the edges, form an enclosed airspace therein. The airspace serves as an insulator.
One problem experienced with conventional IGUs involves the simulation of traditional paned windows. Traditional paned window generally consist of a plurality of panes separated by a grid of muntins. It is known to provide a grid of aluminum or like material secured to the inner surface (i.e., facing the gap) or outer surface of the inside glass panel (i.e., the panel adjacent the interior of the dwelling). These grids, being formed from materials having greater heat transfer properties than the air or vacuum in the airspace, compromise the insulating efficiency of the IGU. Additional disadvantages of these types of grid include their tendency to become loose during shipment resulting in unsatisfactory rattles upon installation. Additionally, the grids can be difficult to install correctly and, as a result, often become crooked during use.
Thus, there exists a need for a decorative glass sheet having a unique decorative visual effect. There exists a need for such a glass sheet which may be incorporated into insulated glass units and like applications while avoiding the installation and appearance problems described above. There exists a need for such a glass sheet which serves to simulate the muntins of a traditional pane glass window. There exists a need for a glass sheet of this type which does not unduly compromise the insulating ability of the insulated glass unit. There exists a need for such a glass panel which may be cost effectively manufactured. Moreover, there exists a need for a technique and tool for forming such a decorative glass sheet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a continuous transparent glass sheet including a glass panel having opposed surfaces. At least one colored band is formed in at least one of the surfaces. A remaining portion of the surface not covered by the colored band contrasts with the colored to the simulate a muntin that divides the glass panel into at least two individual panes.
The glass sheet may further include at least one straight walled groove disposed parallel to and immediately adjacent the roughed band to enhance the simulated muntin effect. Alternatively at least one such straight walled groove may be provided on opposed sides of the colored band, with each of the grooves positioned parallel to the colored band and two of the straight walled grooves disposed immediately adjacent the colored band. Moreover, the glass sheet may include a plurality of parallel, immediately adjacent straight walled grooves positioned parallel to the colored band, at least one of the straight walled grooves positioned immediately adjacent the colored band. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of parallel, immediately adjacent straight walled grooves are positioned on opposed sides of the colored band, the straight walled grooves positioned parallel to the colored band and two of the straight walled grooves positioned immediately adjacent the colored band.
A second decorative band may be formed on the surface and intersecting the first decorative band. Preferably, the colored band is from about 4 to 25 mm wide.
The present invention also relates to a continuous transparent glass sheet having the appearance of a multi-pane structure including a glass panel having opposed surfaces and first and second colored bands formed on at least one of the surfaces and intersecting one another. This embodiment further includes a plurality of parallel, immediately adjacent straight walled grooves positioned on opposed sides of the colored band, the straight walled grooves positioned parallel to the colored band and two of the straight walled grooves positioned immediately adjacent the colored band. The remaining portion of the surface not covered by the colored bands contrasts with the colored bands to simulate the appearance of a plurality of muntins in the glass panel dividing the glass panel into a plurality of individual panes.
In an alternative embodiment the present invention relates to a simulated multi-pane window glass sheet, including a continuous glass panel having opposed surfaces and at least one colored band formed on at least one of the surfaces the colored band having the appearance of a multi-pane window muntin. The remaining portion of the surface not covered by the colored band contrasts with the colored band to simulate the appearance of multi-pane window having at least two individual panes.
The present invention is further directed to an insulated glass unit. The insulated glass unit includes a frame and a pair of opposed glass panels mounted in the frame and defining a gap therebetween. At least one of the glass panels is a simulated muntin glass sheet as described above. Preferably, the colored band or bands of this glass sheet are formed in the surface thereof facing the gap.
An object of the present invention is to provide a continuous glass sheet that simulates the appearance of a plurality of individual panes joined by muntins.
An object of the present invention is to provide an insulated glass sheet having a simulated muntin feature as described above which may be incorporated in insulated glass units. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide such a glass sheet wherein the simulated muntin feature does not unduly compromise the insulating efficiency of the insulated glass unit.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an insulated glass unit incorporating a glass sheet as described.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a simulated muntin glass sheet as described above which may be cost effectively manufactured.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a technique for forming the glass sheet of the present invention.
Other objects and a fuller understanding of the present invention will become
Loney Donald
Rhodes & Mason P.L.L.C.
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