Polymeric Insulated Glazing Unit With Molded Frame
AssigneeVTech Patents LLC
InventorsArthur Valentz, John Nemazi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A skylight is formed with a pair of plastic panels having a similarly sized outer peripheral flange and a central region transparent to visible light, aligned in a stacked orientation with the peripheral flanges overlying one another and defining an enclosed central region in-between. Elongated two-sided elastic tape seal is interposed between and bonded to the outer peripheral flanges of elastic panels to form a sealed enclosed region. A peripheral frame is formed in situ about the plastic panels from a moldable polymeric material which entraps the peripheral flanges forming an elite tray type structure with the elastic two-sided tape preventing intrusion of the moldable polymeric frame material into the enclosed region.
Claims27
A skylight assembly comprising:
- a pair of plastic panels each having a similarly sized outer peripheral flange and a central region which is at least semi-transparent to visible light, the pair of plastic panels when aligned in stacked relation with the outer peripheral flanges generally overlying one another, define an enclosed region bounded by the spaced apart central regions of the pair of plastic panels;
- an elongate two-sided elastic tape seal interposed between and bonding outer peripheral flanges of the pair of plastic panels to form a sealed enclosed region which is filled with gas;
- and
- a peripheral frame formed in situ of a moldable polymeric about the pair of plastic panels, entrapping the peripheral flanges thereof and forming a leak tight structural joint therewith;
- wherein the two-sided elastic tape provides a seal as the peripheral frame is molded preventing intrusion of the moldable polymeric material into the enclosed region.
A method of forming a glazing unit comprising:
- forming a pair of plastic panels from a sheet of plastic material which is at least semi-transparent to visible light, the pair of plastic panels having an outer peripheral flange and a central region, which, when stacked upon one another, define an enclosed cavity founded by the spaced apart central regions of the plastic panels when overlying one another;
- installing a two-sided elastic tape strip to the peripheral flange of at least one of the pair of plastic panels;
- stacking the pair of plastic panels to cause the two-sided elastic tape to form a continuous seal about the overlying peripheral flanges thereof;
- inserting the stacked pair of plastic panels with their edges sealed together into a skylight frame mold so that the mold entraps the peripheral flanges of the stacked pair of plastic panels;
- injecting a moldable polymeric material into the mold forming a frame which is securely bonded to the peripheral flanges of the plastic panels wherein the two-sided elastic tape prevents the a moldable polymeric material from entering into the central region formed between the plastic panels;
- and
- removing the skylight assembly from the mold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.