# US 7,743,570 B2 · Method of fabricating muntin bars for simulated divided lite windows

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- Number: US 7,743,570 B2
- Document ID: US7743570B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 09/775,074
- Filed: 2001-02-01
- Published: 2001-11-01
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 1999-08-13
- Assignees: Edgetech I.G., Inc.
- Inventors: Gerhard Reichert
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7743570B2

## CPC

- E06B 3/6675: {for connection between the spacing elements and false glazing bars}
- E06B 3/6604: {comprising false glazing bars or similar decorations between the panes (connectors therefor E06B3/6675)}
- E06B 3/667: Connectors therefor
- Y10T 29/49616: Structural member making
- Y10T 29/49771: Quantitative measuring or gauging
- Y10T 29/4978: Assisting assembly or disassembly
- Y10T 29/49792: Dividing through modified portion
- Y10T 29/49794: Dividing on common outline
- Y10T 29/49798: Dividing sequentially from leading end, e.g., by cutting or breaking
- Y10T 29/49906: Metal deforming with nonmetallic bonding
- Y10T 29/5142: and means to sever work from supply
- Y10T 29/53013: Computer input
- Y10T 29/53383: and means to fasten work parts together
- E06B: FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES (shades or blinds for greenhouses A01G9/22; curtains A47H; lids for car boots or bonnets B62D25/10; skylights E04B7/18; sunshades, awnings E04F10/00)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A method for fabricating muntin grid pieces includes steps that attach an outer muntin grid element to an inner muntin grid element to form a two piece muntin grid piece. The outer muntin grid element surrounds at least three sides of the inner muntin grid element and may be held to the outer muntin grid element without connectors such as adhesive. The outer muntin grid element may be a slit tube that is spread open to be positioned over the inner muntin grid element.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A simulated divided lite insulating glazing unit having an internal muntin bar grid; the unit comprising:
first and second spaced glass sheets spaced apart by a perimeter spacer; the first and second glass sheets and spacer defining an insulating chamber;
an internal muntin bar grid disposed inside the insulating chamber; the internal muntin bar grid extending between different portions of the perimeter spacer to divide the insulating chamber into separate lites to provide a divided-lite appearance to the glazing unit; the internal muntin bar grid having a plurality of inner muntin grid elements that each has a longitudinal direction and a plurality of flexible, collapsible outer muntin grid elements that each has a longitudinal direction; the inner muntin grid elements being arranged in a grid that defines the pattern of the internal muntin bar grid;
the outer muntin grid elements surrounding the inner muntin grid elements to completely hide the inner muntin and elements of the internal muntin bar grid from view; and
when the combined inner and outer muntin grid elements are viewed in a cross section taken perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the outer muntin grid element completely surrounding the inner muntin grid element.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The unit of claim 1, wherein the outer muntin grid elements are fabricated from a foam material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The unit of claim 2, wherein the outer muntin grid elements have a desiccant.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The unit of claim 1, wherein at least one of the outer muntin grid elements includes at least one protruding foot that increases the width of the outer muntin grid element; the foot protruding in a direction perpendicular to the first and second glass sheets.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The unit of claim 1, wherein the outer muntin grid elements are resilient.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The unit of claim 1, wherein the inner muntin grid elements cross each other at lap joints and the outer muntin grid elements are notched at the lap joints.

### Claim 7

A simulated divided lite insulating glazing unit having an internal muntin bar; the unit comprising:
first and second spaced glass sheets spaced apart by a perimeter spacer; the first and second glass sheets and spacer defining an insulating chamber;
an internal muntin bar disposed inside the insulating chamber; the internal muntin bar extending away from the perimeter spacer to divide the insulating chamber into separate portions to provide a divided-lite appearance to the glazing unit;
the internal muntin bar having an inner muntin grid element and a flexible, collapsible outer muntin grid element;
the outer muntin grid element substantially surrounding the inner muntin grid element to hide the inner muntin grid element from view on both sides of the insulating glazing unit;
the outer muntin grid element having a longitudinal direction; the outer muntin grid element defining a longitudinal slit that allows the outer muntin grid element to be opened and wrapped around the inner muntin grid element.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The unit of claim 7, wherein the outer muntin grid element defines opposed longitudinal ends that define the slit; the opposed longitudinal ends being configured to overlap each other to close the slit.

### Claim 9

A simulated divided lite insulating glazing unit having an internal muntin bar; the unit comprising:
first and second spaced glass sheets spaced apart by a perimeter spacer; the first and second glass sheets and spacer defining an insulating chamber;
an internal muntin bar disposed inside the insulating chamber; the internal muntin bar extending away from the perimeter spacer to divide the insulating chamber into separate lites to provide a divided-lite appearance to the glazing unit; the internal muntin bar having:
an inner muntin grid element;
an outer muntin grid element having an inner surface and an outer surface;
the outer muntin grid element being fabricated from a foam material;
the outer muntin grid element being in the form of a tube disposed around the inner muntin grid element to hide the inner muntin grid element from view on both sides of the unit when the muntin grid piece is installed; and
the tube having a sidewall and defining a slit that allows the tube to be opened and wrapped around the inner muntin grid element; the slit extending from the inner surface to the outer surface through the sidewall of the tube.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The unit of claim 9, wherein the outer muntin grid element has a desiccant.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The unit of claim 9, wherein the slit in the outer muntin grid element defines opposed ends; the opposed ends being angled away from each other.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The unit of claim 9, wherein the tube is collapsible and resilient.

### Claim 13

In combination, an inner muntin grid element and an outer muntin grid element used to form a muntin grid piece in a simulated divided lite window having an insulating chamber; the muntin grid piece being adapted to be disposed within the insulating chamber of the simulated divided lite window; the outer muntin grid element being adapted to fold around the inner muntin grid element; the inner muntin grid element having a longitudinal direction, a plurality of spaced corners and a cross sectional perimeter dimension measured about a cross section viewed normal to the longitudinal direction of the inner muntin grid element; the combination comprising:
an outer muntin grid element having a body having a width and a longitudinal direction;
the body having spaced longitudinal ends that define the width of the body;
the width being substantially equal to the cross sectional perimeter dimension of the inner muntin grid element; and
the body defining one corner notch for at least three of the corners of the inner muntin grid element, each of the corner notches extending into the body of the outer muntin grid element; the corner notches being spaced apart to align with the corners of the inner muntin grid element when the body is wrapped around the inner muntin grid element.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The combination of claim 13, wherein the body is flexible.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The combination of claim 14, wherein the body is resilient.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The combination of claim 15, wherein the body is fabricated from a foam.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The combination of claim 16, wherein the foam includes a desiccant.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The combination of claim 13, further comprising an adhesive connected to the body; the adhesive adapted to connect the body to the inner muntin grid element when the body is wrapped around the inner muntin grid element.

### Claim 19

A simulated divided lite insulating glazing unit having an internal muntin bar; the unit comprising:
first and second spaced glass sheets spaced apart by a perimeter spacer; the first and second glass sheets and spacer defining an insulating chamber;
an internal muntin bar grid disposed inside the insulating chamber; the internal muntin bar grid dividing the insulating chamber into separate portions to provide a divided-lite appearance to the glazing unit;
the internal muntin bar grid having a plurality of inner muntin grid elements and a plurality of outer muntin grid elements; the outer muntin grid elements being fabricated from a non-metallic foam material;
the inner muntin grid elements having at least pairs of longitudinal edges and at least pairs of longitudinal sides;
the inner muntin grid elements being disposed in a grid arrangement that defines the pattern of the internal muntin bar grid;
each of the outer muntin grid elements being a unitary tube having a continuous sidewall that encloses a length of an inner muntin grid element longitudinal edges and longitudinal sides to hide the longitudinal edges and longitudinal sides of the enclosed portion of the inner muntin grid element from view on both sides of the insulating glazing unit.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The unit of claim 19, wherein each of the inner muntin grid elements extends between two spaced portions of the perimeter spacer.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The unit of claim 20, wherein the inner muntin grid elements cross each other at lap joints.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The unit of claim 21, wherein the outer muntin grid elements are notched at the lap joints.