Insert for glazing unit

A glazing unit comprising:

• a pair of outer glazing sheets;
• a spacer extending about the peripheries of said glazing sheets;
• and
• an insert disposed adjacent to said spacer, said insert being fabricated from a non-flowable material having substantially stable dimensions;
• said insert including a desiccant disposed throughout its body;
• the insert being formed before being placed adjacent to the spacer.

A glazing unit comprising:

• a pair of outer glazing sheets;
• a spacer extending about the peripheries of said glazing sheets;
• an insert disposed adjacent to said spacer;
• said insert being fabricated from a non-flowable material having substantially stable dimensions;
• said insert having an inner surface;
• the insert being formed before being placed adjacent to the spacer;
• an intermediate glazing sheet disposed between said outer glazing sheets, said insert having at least one longitudinal, inwardly-facing glazing sheet-receiving channel formed in the inner surface of said insert, said intermediate sheet being seated in said channel;
• said unit being free of a bead of flowable material disposed on the inner surface of the spacer.

A glazing unit comprising:

• a pair of outer glazing sheets;
• a spacer extending about the peripheries of said glazing sheets;
• an insert disposed adjacent to said spacer, said insert being fabricated from a non-flowable material having substantially stable dimensions;
• the insert being formed before being placed adjacent to the spacer;
• an intermediate glazing sheet disposed between said outer glazing sheets;
• said insert having at least one longitudinal, inwardly-facing glazing sheet-receiving channel;
• said intermediate glazing sheet being seated in said channel;
• said intermediate glazing sheet slidably engaging said insert and forming a first cavity between one of said outer glazing sheets and said intermediate glazing sheet and a second cavity between the other of said outer glazing sheets and said intermediate glazing sheet, said first cavity being in fluid communication with said second cavity about the end of said intermediate glazing sheet through the inwardly-facing glazing sheet-receiving channel.

A method for manufacturing a glazing unit comprising the steps of:

• providing at least two outer glazing sheets;
• providing a U-shaped, substantially rigid spacer having a base with two spaced legs;
• inserting a preformed insert into the spacer, the insert being fabricated from a non-flowable material having substantially stable dimensions;
• the insert including a desiccant disposed throughout the body of the insert;
• and
• connecting the outer glazing sheets to the spacer.

A method for manufacturing a glazing unit comprising the steps of:

• providing at least two outer glazing sheets;
• providing a U-shaped, substantially rigid spacer having a base with two spaced legs;
• inserting a preformed insert into the spacer, the insert being fabricated from a non-flowable material having substantially stable dimensions;
• the insert having an inwardly-facing longitudinal channel;
• inserting an intermediate glazing sheet into the inwardly-facing longitudinal channel of the insert;
• slidably adjusting the position of the intermediate glazing sheet within the channel after it is received in the channel;
• and
• connecting the outer glazing sheets to the spacer.