Stretched strips for spacer and sealed unit
AssigneeInfinite Edge Technologies, LLC
InventorsEric B. Rapp, Paul Trpkovski, Gary R. Matthews
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A spacer for a sealed unit is formed of a stretched elongate strip of material, such as metal. The elongate strip is longitudinally stretched, causing a reduction in the thickness of the material. Stretching is performed by applying a tension across a segment of an elongate strip. The tension can be applied to the elongate strip by passing the elongate strip through at least two spaced sets of rollers. A first set of rollers operating at a first speed engages with the elongate strip and a second set of rollers operating at a second speed applies a tension to the elongate strip to cause stretching of the material. Corrugated rollers can also be used to form the material into an undulating shape.
Claims16
A spacer for a sealed unit, the spacer comprising:
- at least a first longitudinally stretched elongate strip of metal having lateral undulations, wherein peak portions of the undulations run perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the spacer, and wherein the stretched elongate strip has a non-uniform thickness in the longitudinal direction and a uniform thickness in the lateral direction.
A method of forming a spacer for a sealed unit, the method comprising:
- applying a tension to a segment of an elongate strip of a metal material, the tension being sufficient to cause longitudinal stretching of the elongate strip;
- bending the elongate strip of material into an undulating shape while applying a tension to the segment of the elongate strip;
- and
- forming a spacer from at least the stretched elongate strip of material wherein the stretched elongate strip has a non-uniform thickness in the longitudinal direction and a uniform thickness in the lateral direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.