Skylight with multi-layer polymeric panel
AssigneeVTech Patents LLC
InventorArthur J. Valentz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A skylight is formed with a pair of plastic panels having outer peripheral flanges 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. An inner and outer pair of circumferentially oriented spacer frames are 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 integral leakproof structure with the spacer frames preventing intrusion of the moldable polymeric frame material into the enclosed region.
Claims19
A skylight assembly comprising:
- a pair of plastic panels each having a generally 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 the inner periphery flanges;
- an inner and outer pair of circumferentially oriented spacer frames interposed between and bonded to the outer peripheral flanges of the pair of plastic panels to form a central enclosed region which is filled with gas and bounded by the inner spacer frame and a central section of the pair of plastic panels;
- and
- a peripheral frame formed in situ of a moldable polymeric material bonded to the outer spacer frame and the peripheral flanges of the pair of plastic panels, entrapping the peripheral flanges and forming a leak tight structural joint therewith;
- wherein the outer spacer frame provides a seal between the peripheral flanges of the pair of plastic panels as the peripheral frame is molded preventing intrusion of the moldable polymeric material into the central 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 bounded by the spaced apart central regions of the plastic panels when overlying one another;
- bonding an inner and outer pair of circumferentially oriented spacer frames between the outer peripheral flanges of the pair of plastic panels to form a central enclosed region which is filled with gas bounded by the inner spacer frame and the pair of plastic panels;
- inserting the bonded pair of plastic panels 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 and the outer spacer frame wherein the outer spacer frame 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.