Back to results
US 6,804,924 B2Granted
Repair of insulating glass units
AssigneeCardinal IG Company
InventorsBenjamin J. Zurn, Bernie Herron, Robert G. Spindler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for repairing an insulating glass unit and apparatus to facilitate such repair. A bore is drilled through a frame encasing an insulating glass unit to expose the peripheral spacer of the unit, and a hole is drilled through a wall of the spacer to enable air to enter the space between the panes. The hole in the spacer is then sealed, for example, with a rivet, and the bore in the frame is then filled and sealed as well.
Claims22
In combination:
- an in situ insulating glass unit encased in a frame;
- the insulating glass unit comprising a pair of panes and a peripheral spacer having an outer wall extending between the panes;
- the outer wall of the peripheral spacer defining a hole communicating with a between-pane space defined by the panes and the spacer;
- the frame defining a bore fluidly communicating with the hole;
- and
- a rivet having a body disposed in the bore of the frame the body having a first, undeformed shape and the body being capable of assuming a second, deformed shape in which an end wall and a side wall of the rivet extend completely across the hole;
- and
- wherein moving a stem of the rivet relative to the body causes the body to assume the second, deformed shape.
5 more elements
In combination:
- an in situ insulating glass unit encased in a frame;
- the insulating glass unit comprising a pair of panes and a peripheral spacer having an outer wall extending between the panes;
- the outer wall of the peripheral spacer defining a hole and the frame defining a bore generally aligned with the hole;
- a rivet having a body received in the hole and a stem extending beyond the frame;
- the body having a first, undeformed shape and the body being capable of assuming a second, deformed shape in which an end wall and a side wall of the rivet extend completely across the hole;
- and
- wherein moving the stem relative to the body causes the body to assume the second, deformed shape.
4 more elements
In combination:
- an in situ insulating glass unit encased in a frame;
- the insulating glass unit comprising a pair of panes and a peripheral spacer having an outer wall extending between the panes;
- the outer wall of the peripheral spacer defining a hole and the frame defining a bore generally aligned with the hole;
- a rivet having a body received in the hole and a stem extending beyond the frame;
- the body having a first outer diameter;
- the body being capable of assuming a deformed shape in which a distal portion of the body has a second outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter;
- the first outer diameter being smaller than an inner diameter of the hole and the second outer diameter being greater than the inner diameter of the hole;
- and
- wherein moving the stem relative to the body causes the body to assume the deformed shape.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.