SPACER FOR INSULATING GLAZING UNITS
An insulating spacer has a body defining at least one closed insulating cavity. In one embodiment, the spacer is fabricated from a foam material having a desiccant. In one embodiment, the spacer includes a plurality of insulating cavities while maintaining a structure that provides strength to the glazing unit.
1 . A spacer adapted to be disposed between opposed panes of glass in a glazing unit; the spacer comprising:
a non-metal, insulating body defining at least one closed insulating cavity; the body defining opposed sides adapted to be disposed adjacent the opposed panes of glass when the perimeter spacer is disposed between the opposed panes of glass.
2 . The spacer of claim 1 , wherein the body defines a longitudinal direction; the insulating cavity extending in the longitudinal direction.
3 . The spacer of claim 2 , wherein the insulating cavity is continuous in the longitudinal direction.
4 . The spacer of claim 1 , wherein the body is fabricated from a foam material permeable to moisture vapor.
5 . The spacer of claim 4 , wherein the body includes a desiccant.
6 . An insulating glazing unit using the spacer of claim 1 , the unit comprising:
first and second glass sheets; each of the sheets having an outer perimeter;
the body of the spacer disposed between the first and second glass sheets inwardly from the outer perimeter to define a sealant channel outwardly of the body and an insulating chamber disposed between the body and the first and second glass sheets; and
the insulating cavity of the body being filled with a gas and the insulating chamber being filled with a gas; the gas of the insulating cavity having the same pressure as the gas in of the insulating chamber.
7 . The glazing unit of claim 6 , wherein the body of the spacer is fabricated from a permeable foam.
8 . The glazing unit of claim 7 , wherein the insulating cavity of the body is completely surrounded by the foam of the body.
9 . The glazing unit of claim 8 , further comprising a desiccant carried by the body of the spacer.
10 . A perimeter spacer adapted to be disposed between opposed panes of glass in an insulating glazing unit; the spacer comprising:
a non-metal, insulating body defining a plurality of spaced-apart, closed insulating cavities; the body defining opposed sides adapted to be disposed adjacent the opposed panes of glass when the perimeter spacer is disposed between the opposed panes of glass.
11 . The spacer of claim 10 , wherein the body defines an intermediate body portion between each pair of insulating cavities; the intermediate body portion having a width; each insulating cavity has a width; the width of the intermediate body portion being equal to or greater than the width of the insulating cavities between which it is disposed.
12 . The spacer of claim 10 , wherein the insulating cavities are disposed at a common height within the body.
13 . The spacer of claim 10 , wherein the insulating cavities are disposed at different heights within the body.
14 . The spacer of claim 10 , wherein the body of the spacer is fabricated from a permeable foam.
15 . The spacer of claim 14 , wherein the insulating cavity of the body is completely surrounded by the foam of the body.
16 . The spacer of claim 15 , further comprising a desiccant carried by the body of the spacer.
17 . The spacer of claim 10 , wherein each of the insulating cavities extends continuously in the longitudinal direction.
18 . The spacer of claim 10 , wherein each pair of the insulating cavities is separated by a support that extends between the opposed sides of the spacer body.