Vacuum insulated panel with glass evacuation tube tip seal and method

A vacuum insulating panel comprising:

• a first substrate;
• a second substrate;
• at least one spacer provided in a gap between at least the first and second substrates, wherein the gap is at pressure less than atmospheric pressure;
• an evacuation tube comprising glass;
• wherein an end portion and/or tip portion of the evacuation tube is sealed to form a tip seal, wherein the tip seal includes a first side comprising a convex surface and a second side comprising a concave surface, the second side located closer to the gap than is the first side, so that the convex surface arcs away from the gap and the concave surface arcs toward the gap;
• and
• wherein, for at least one location viewed cross-sectionally, a surface of the second side of the tip seal extending inwardly away from the wall of the tube forms an angle A of from 35-85 degrees with the wall of the tube.

A vacuum insulating panel comprising:

• a first substrate;
• a second substrate;
• at least one spacers provided in a gap between at least the first and second substrates, wherein the gap is at pressure less than atmospheric pressure;
• an evacuation tube comprising glass;
• wherein an end portion and/or tip portion of the evacuation tube is sealed to form a tip seal, wherein the tip seal includes a first side comprising a convex surface and a second side comprising a concave surface, the second side located closer to the gap than is the first side, so that the convex surface arcs away from the gap and the concave surface arcs toward the gap;
• wherein a first bore, a second bore, and a third bore are defined in the first substrate, the first bore being located further from the second substrate than is the third bore, and wherein the second bore is located between at least the first and third bores, wherein the evacuation tube extends through at least portion of the first and second bores, wherein at least one diameter and/or width DB1 of the first bore is greater than at least one diameter and/or width DB2 of the second bore, and the diameter and/or width DB2 of the second bore is greater than at least one diameter and/or width DB3 of the third bore, so that as viewed cross sectionally for at least one location DB1>DB2>DB3;
• a tube seal surrounding at least a periphery of the evacuation tube as viewed from above;
• and
• wherein a second support surface, at a base of the second bore, is configured to support at least the evacuation tube.