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US 2013/0199737 A1Published application
Blinds-between-glass window with thermal break
AssigneeMedieval Glass Millennium Ltd.
InventorMichael A. Wilson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A blinds-between-glass window assembly includes spacers with a thermal break. The assembly is modular in that the same components can be used to form window assemblies of varying thicknesses by replacement of the corner keys. A spring counter-balance mechanism is mounted within a side rail to provide a counter-balancing force against a magnetic follower. Guards are disclosed to reduce scratching or marring that can occur if the blind slats bump against the frame or glass.
Claims19
A window assembly comprising:
- a frame assembly, the frame assembly including an operating-side rail, a non-operating-side rail, a top rail and a bottom rail, the operating-side rail being connected to the top rail by a first corner clip and being connected to the bottom rail by a second corner clip, the non-operating-side rail being connected to the top rail by a third corner clip and being connected to the bottom rail by a fourth corner clip;
- an interior glass panel mounted to the frame assembly at an interior side of the frame assembly;
- an exterior glass panel mounted to the frame assembly at an exterior side of the frame assembly opposite from the interior side;
- a blind assembly operably attached to the top rail between the glass panels;
- a follower carriage retained within the operating-side rail, the follower carriage being operably connected to the blind assembly such that movement of the follower carriage within the operating-side rail in a first direction causes adjustment of the blind assembly towards an open configuration and movement of the follower carriage within the operating-side rail in a second direction causes adjustment of the blind assembly towards a closed configuration;
- and
- an operator magnetically coupled to the follower carriage at the interior glass panel, whereby movement of the operator causes corresponding movement of the follower carriage;
- and wherein:
- the operating-side rail includes an operating-side exterior spacer plate and an operating-side interior spacer plate, the operating-side interior spacer plate being held apart from the operating-side exterior spacer plate by the first and second corner clips whereby the operating-side interior spacer plate is not in direct thermally conductive contact with the operating-side exterior spacer plate;
- and
- the non-operating-side rail includes a non-operating-side exterior spacer plate and a non-operating-side interior spacer plate, the non-operating-side interior spacer plate being held apart from the non-operating-side exterior spacer plate by the third and fourth corner clips whereby the non-operating-side interior spacer plate is not in direct thermally conductive contact with the non-operating-side exterior spacer plate.
8 more elements
A window assembly comprising:
- a first glass panel;
- a second glass panel;
- a first side rail assembly comprising an interior spacer plate fixed to the first glass panel, an exterior spacer plate fixed to the second glass panel, and a first clip connecting the interior spacer plate to the exterior spacer plate such that the interior and exterior spacer plates are held apart from each other without direct thermally conductive contact between the spacer plates.
A window assembly comprising:
- an exterior glass panel;
- an interior glass panel;
- a frame assembly forming a rectangular frame, the frame having an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter, the glass panels being fixed to opposite sides of the frame assembly;
- a blind assembly, the blind assembly being operably attached to the frame assembly between the glass panels and being contained within the inner perimeter of the frame;
- an insert attached to the frame assembly between the inner perimeter of the frame and the blind assembly to prevent the blind assembly from directly contacting the inner perimeter of the frame.
2 more elements
A blinds-between-glass window assembly comprising:
- a frame, the frame including an operating-side rail, a non-operating-side rail, a top rail, and a bottom rail;
- an interior glass panel mounted at one side of the frame,
- an exterior glass panel spaced apart from the interior-side glass panel and mounted at an opposite side of the frame such that an insulated space is provided between the glass panels,
- a blind assembly operationally mounted to the frame within the insulating space;
- a follower carriage within the operating side rail operably connected to the blind assembly such that movement of the follower carriage causes adjustment of the blind assembly;
- an operator slidingly engaged with the interior glass panel, the operator being magnetically coupled with the follower carriage such that movement of the operator causes corresponding movement of the follower carriage;
- a spring holder mounted to the operating side rail;
- a spring supported by the spring holder, the spring being connected to the follower carriage to assist movement of the follower carriage in a first direction.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.