Insulating glass unit - Patent Review 5313761

Claims

Having described my invention I claim:

1. A spacer assembly for an insulating glass unit comprising:

a. a spacer frame having first and second opposite ends and comprising a plurality of spacer frame elements connected to form a polygonal spacer frame disposed generally in a plane with frame corners formed by spacer frame element junctures;

b. each frame element defining a laterally extending outer peripheral wall and first and second lateral walls integral with said outer wall and extending inwardly therefrom generally parallel to said frame plane;

c. said outer wall and said lateral walls extending substantially continuously about the spacer frame between said opposite ends; and

d. connecting structure for joining said first and second spacer frame ends; said connecting structure comprising:

i. a connecting tongue continuous with and projecting from said first spacer frame end, said tongue defined by a tongue body continuous with said outer wall and first and second tongue stiffening walls continuous with said first and second lateral walls, respectively, said tongue body having a lateral extent less than the lateral extent of said outer wall and the distance said tongue stiffening walls extend from said tongue body being less than the distance said lateral walls extend from said outer wall;

ii. said second spacer frame end defining at least a tongue receiving structure forming a telescopic joint with said tongue, said tongue receiving structure comprising keeper structure for engaging said tongue stiffening wall edges when said tongue and second spacer frame end are telescoped together;

iii. said tongue and tongue receiving structure sized relative to each other to define said telescopic joint between the spacer frame ends with said tongue body and stiffening walls extending within said receiving structure.

2. The spacer assembly claimed in claim 1 wherein said tongue is continuous with said first frame end at a frame corner, said tongue extending transversely with respect to the direction of extent of an associated frame element.

3. The spacer assembly claimed in claim 2 wherein said tongue defines a U-like cross sectional shape with said tongue stiffening walls engaging the lateral walls of said second spacer frame end.

4. The spacer assembly claimed in claim 3 further comprising a weak zone between each said tongue stiffening wall and its respective associated frame element lateral wall for enabling bending said tongue at the weak zone to form pleat-like wall regions.

5. The spacer assembly claimed in claim 1 wherein said keeper structure comprises flanges formed on said lateral walls at said second spacer frame end, each flange projecting from its respective lateral wall toward the other flange for engaging a respective tongue stiffening wall.

6. The spacer assembly claimed in claim 1 further including a shoulder formed at the juncture of said tongue and said first spacer frame end, said shoulder engaging said second frame end.

7. The spacer assembly claimed in claim 1 wherein said connecting structure further comprises a fastener for securing said spacer frame ends together.

8. The spacer assembly claimed in claim 7 wherein said connecting structure further comprises aligned openings in said tongue and tongue receiving structure, said fastener extending through said openings.

9. A spacer assembly for an insulating glass unit comprising:

a. a plurality of spacer frame elements connected to form a generally planar polygonal frame with frame element junctures forming frame corners;

b. each frame element defining an outer peripheral wall and first and second lateral walls integral with said outer wall and extending inwardly from opposite outer wall sides parallel to said frame plane;

c. each lateral wall defining a transverse stiffening flange having a projecting edge extending at least partially along the length thereof, said stiffening flanges extending generally toward each other with projecting edges spaced apart and spaced from said peripheral wall; and

d. a muntin bar assembly supported by said frame, said muntin bar assembly comprising at least one bar member and clip means for securing said bar member to one frame element;

e. said clip means comprising a clip body engaging said one frame element and spanning said stiffening flanges, a muntin bar support member projecting from said body for supporting the muntin bar member relative to the clip body, and latch means for connecting said clip means to a frame element stiffening flange, said latch means comprising a relatively rigid latch body member projecting from said clip body beyond said stiffening flanges between said first and second lateral walls of said one frame element, and a resiliently deflectable finger for coupling said latch body member to one of said stiffening flanges and securing said latch body member against being removed from between said first and second lateral walls of said one spacer frame element, said one stiffening flange defining an abutment engagable with said latch body member to prevent movement of said clip means along said frame element, said clip body and the other stiffening flange secured together at a location spaced laterally from said stiffening flange abutment.

10. The spacer assembly claimed in claim 9 wherein said stiffening flange abutment is defined by a notch for receiving said latch body member and anchoring said clip means.

11. The spacer frame claimed in claim 9 wherein said frame defines opposite ends connected together by a telescopic joint, one of said ends comprising a projecting tongue and the other end defining a tongue keeper structure for securing said tongue in place when said ends are telescoped.

12. The spacer frame claimed in claim 11 wherein said tongue defines a U-like cross sectional shape comprising tongue walls continuous with said frame element lateral walls and a tongue body continuous with said frame element peripheral wall.

13. The spacer frame claimed in claim 12 wherein said tongue extends within said opposite frame end.

14. The assembly claimed in claim 9 wherein said clip means is secured to said other stiffening flange member by a second relatively rigid latch body member projecting from said clip body beyond said stiffening flanges between said first and second lateral walls and a second resiliently deflectable finger for coupling said second latch body member to said other stiffening flange and securing said second latch body member against being removed from between said first and second lateral walls, said other stiffening flange defining an abutment engagable with said second latch body member to prevent movement of said clip means along said frame element.

15. The assembly claimed in claim 14 wherein said second latch body member is fixed to said clip body at a location spaced from said first latch body member in the direction of extent of said frame element.

16. The assembly claimed in claim 14 wherein said first and second resiliently deflectable fingers are attached to said first and second latch body members, respectively, and each finger engages a respective stiffening flange to secure said latch body member in place.

17. The assembly claimed in claim 9 wherein said latch body member is in latching engagement with each of said stiffening flanges at two separate locations spaced apart along said frame element, each of said stiffening flanges defining abut