# US 10,119,326 B1 · Load bearing spacer for skylight installations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,119,326 B1 - Document ID: US10119326B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/686,267 - Filed: 2017-08-25 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-08-28 - Applicants: Wayne Conklin - Inventors: Wayne Conklin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119326B1 ## CPC - E04B 5/46: Special adaptation of floors for transmission of light, e.g. by inserts of glass (of ceilings E04B9/32, block-shaped elements E04C1/42; slab- or sheet-shaped elements E04C2/54; for roof covering E04D3/06) - E06B 3/66304: {Discrete spacing elements, e.g. for evacuated glazing units} - E04B 7/18: Special structures in or on roofs, e.g. dormer windows (in connection with roof coverings E04D13/00, especially domes E04D13/03) - E04D 13/03: Sky-lights; Domes; Ventilating sky-lights (E04D13/14 takes precedence; structures therefor, {e.g. dormer windows} E04B7/18; {saw-tooth roofs with light-transmission E04B7/12}) - E04D 13/0335: {Skylight guards, security devices protecting skylights or preventing objects or persons from falling through skylight openings} - E06B 3/66: Units comprising two or more parallel glass or like panes permanently secured together {(reforming and uniting glass sheets by fusing C03B23/00; joining glass to glass or to other materials C03C27/00; laminated glass B32B17/10)} - E06B 3/663: Elements for spacing panes - E06B 3/66361: {with special structural provisions for holding drying agents, e.g. packed in special containers} - E06B 3/6715: {specially adapted for increased thermal insulation or for controlled passage of light (E06B3/66323 takes precedence; coating of glass pains C03C17/00; devices or arrangements for controlling the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light G02F1/00)} - E04B 5/10: with metal beams or girders, e.g. with steel lattice girders (E04B5/14 takes precedence) - E04B 5/14: with beams or girders laid in two directions - E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001}) - E06B: FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES (shades or blinds for greenhouses A01G9/22; curtains A47H; lids for car boots or bonnets B62D25/10; skylights E04B7/18; sunshades, awnings E04F10/00) - E04D: ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS (coverings of outer walls by plaster or other porous material E04F13/00) ## Abstract A spacer member, for allowing a walkable skylight with an insulating glass unit to be created with a structural glass panel and a thermal glass panel. The spacer member includes a slab part and a tube part having substantially the same thickness. The tube part is hollow, containing desiccant material for absorbing moisture within the insulating glass unit. The spacer members may be joined together to create a spacer frame. The spacer frame defines an inner rectangular region. When the spacer frame is sealed between the structural glass panels and the thermal glass panel, an air gap is created within the inner rectangular region. The desiccant material effectively removes moisture from air within the air gap. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A spacer for creating an insulating glass unit using a structural glass panel and a thermal glass panel, comprising: a top surface, a bottom surface, an inner edge, and an outer edge, the top surface is adapted to support the structural glass panel, and the bottom surface is adapted to rest upon the thermal glass panel; a slab part, the slab part extending from the inner edge, having an upper edge that both coincides and is coplanar with the top surface, a lower edge that both coincides and is coplanar with the bottom surface, the slab part is substantially solid between the upper edge and lower edge, and is adapted to carry the weight of the structural glass panel; a tube part, the tube part having an outer wall at the outer edge, the tube part having an upper wall that both coincides and is coplanar with the top surface, a lower wall that both coincides and is coplanar with the bottom surface, the tube part adjoining the slab part, and having a tube hollow between the upper wall, lower wall, and outer wall, wherein the slab part is elongated from the inner edge toward the tube part; and the slab part having a slab thickness, the slab thickness being a constant thickness from the inner edge to the tube part desiccant material, contained within the tube part, for absorbing moisture in air adjacent to the inner edge. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The spacer as recited in claim 1 the tube part having a tube thickness between the top surface and bottom surface, wherein the tube thickness and slab thickness are the same. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The spacer as recited in claim 2, wherein the tube part has a tube part width, the slab part has a slab part width, and wherein the slab part width is at least twice the tube part width. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The spacer as recited in claim 3, wherein the slab part further has venting holes that extend from the inner edge to the tube hollow for communicating air from the inner edge to the desiccant material within the hollow. ### Claim 5 A spacer frame, for creating an insulating glass unit with a structural glass panel and a thermal glass panel, comprising: four spacer members, each spacer member having: a top surface, a bottom surface, an inner edge, and an outer edge, a first end and a second end, the top surface is adapted to support the structural glass panel, and the bottom surface is adapted to rest upon the thermal glass panel; a slab part, the slab part extending from the inner edge, having an upper edge that both coincides and is coplanar with the top surface, a lower edge that both coincides and is coplanar with the bottom surface, the slab part elongated from the inner edge and substantially solid between the upper edge and lower edge, the slab part is adapted to carry the weight of the structural glass panel; a tube part, the tube part having an outer wall at the outer edge, the tube part having an upper wall that both coincides and is coplanar with the top surface, a lower wall that both coincides and is coplanar with the bottom surface, the tube part adjoining the slab part, and having a tube hollow between the upper wall, lower wall, and outer wall; and wherein for each spacer member the slab part has a slab thickness, the slab thickness being a constant thickness from the inner edge to the tube part desiccant material, contained within the tube part, for absorbing moisture in air adjacent to the inner edge; and wherein the spacer members are joined together, with the first end of each of the spacer members joined to the second end of another of the spacer members, the inner edges of the spacer members together creating an inner rectangular region. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The spacer frame as recited in claim 5, the tube part has a tube thickness between the top surface and bottom surface, and wherein the tube thickness and slab thickness are the same. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The spacer member as recited in claim 6, wherein for each spacer member the tube part has a tube part width, the slab part has a slab part width, and wherein the slab part width is at least twice the tube part width. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The spacer member as recited in claim 7, wherein for each spacer member the slab part further has venting holes that extend from the inner edge to the tube hollow for communicating air from the inner edge to the desiccant material within the hollow. ### Claim 9 A spacer for creating an insulating glass unit using a structural glass panel and a thermal glass panel, comprising: a top surface, a bottom surface, an inner edge, and an outer edge, the top surface is adapted to support the structural glass panel, and the bottom surface is adapted to rest upon the thermal glass panel; a slab part, the slab part extending from the inner edge, having an upper edge that both coincides and is coplanar with the top surface, a lower edge that both coincides and is coplanar with the bottom surface, the slab part is substantially solid between the upper edge and lower edge and has a slab thickness therebetween the slab thickness being a constant thickness from the inner edge to a tube part, the slab part is adapted to carry the weight of the structural glass panel; the tube part having an outer wall at the outer edge, the tube part having an upper wall that both coincides and is coplanar with the top surface, a lower wall that both coincides and is coplanar with the bottom surface, and a tube thickness therebetween wherein the slab thickness and the tube thickness are the same, the tube part adjoining the slab part, and having a tube hollow between the upper wall, lower wall, and outer wall, wherein the slab part is elongated from the inner edge toward the tube part; and desiccant material, contained within the tube part, for absorbing moisture in air adjacent to the inner edge. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The spacer as recited in claim 9, wherein the slab part further has venting holes that extend from the inner edge to the tube hollow for communicating air from the inner edge to the desiccant material within the hollow. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The spacer as recited in claim 10, wherein the tube part has a tube part width, the slab part has a slab part width, and wherein the slab part width is at least twice the tube part width.