Spacer frame and method of making same

A spacer frame assembly for bending into a multi-sided window or door spacer frame comprising:

• an elongated metal strip bent to form a channel shaped frame element having a base wall that extends between two generally parallel side walls wherein the side walls include spaced apart corner locations defined by notches that extend from an edge of the metal strip into the side walls and wherein telescoping leading and trailing ends of the frame element are defined by a lead portion of said frame element in front and spaced from a first corner location;
• and
• a trailing portion of said frame element behind and spaced from a second corner location wherein at least one of the lead and trailing portions of said frame element include an abutment stop defined by a notch which extends into a side wall of said frame element, the abutment stop for limiting movement of the leading and trailing ends as said leading and trailing ends are telescoped one within the other and said abutment stop defining a lateral connection spaced from said corners and an amount of overlap of the leading and trailing ends of the assembled spacer frame.