Claims
- 1. A method of assembling a muntin bar lattice for use in an insulating glass unit, comprising the steps of:
providing a muntin bar segment having a wall; providing a keeper dimensioned for piercing the wall of the muntin bar segment; and piercing the wall of the muntin bar with the keeper.
- 2. The method of claim 1, further including the step of positioning the keeper in a desired position in which a first portion of the keeper extends beyond a first side of the muntin bar segment and a second portion of the keeper extends beyond a second side of the muntin bar segment.
- 3. The method of claim 2, further including the step of locking the keeper in the desired position.
- 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of providing a keeper comprises the step of providing a keeper including a lock.
- 5. The method of claim 2, further including the step of inserting the second portion of the keeper into a cavity of a second muntin bar segment.
- 6. The method of claim 2, further including the step of inserting the first portion of the keeper into a cavity of a third muntin bar segment.
- 7. A keeper for joining a muntin bar segment to a second muntin bar segment, comprising:
an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end; the body having a tip portion disposed at the proximal end thereof; and the tip portion being dimensioned for piercing a wall of the muntin bar segment to create an opening therein.
- 8. The keeper of claim 7, wherein the body has an overall thickness that is less than an overall thickness of the muntin bar.
- 9. The keeper of claim 8, wherein the body has an overall thickness that is less than about half the overall thickness of the muntin bar.
- 10. The keeper of claim 7, wherein the tip portion of the body comprises a first cutting edge.
- 11. The keeper of claim 10, wherein the first cutting edge has a length that is substantially equal to a thickness of the body.
- 12. The keeper of claim 7, wherein the tip portion of the body includes a second cutting edge disposed at a first angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the body.
- 13. The keeper of claim 12, wherein the tip portion of the body includes a third cutting edge disposed at a second angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the body.
- 14. The keeper of claim 13, wherein the second angle is substantially equal to the first angle.
- 15. The keeper of claim 7, wherein the body is substantially symmetrical about a longitudinal axis thereof.
- 16. The keeper of claim 7, wherein the body is substantially symmetrical about a lateral axis thereof.
- 17. The keeper of claim 7, wherein the body has an overall width dimensioned to be received in a cavity of the second muntin bar segment.
- 18. The keeper of claim 7, wherein the muntin bar segment comprises a material having a first modulus of elasticity and the keeper comprises a material having a second modulus of elasticity greater than the first modulus of elasticity.
- 19. The keeper of claim 7, wherein the muntin bar segment comprises a material having a first yield strength and the keeper comprises a material having a second yield strength greater than the first yield strength.
- 20. The keeper of claim 7, wherein the muntin bar segment comprises a material having a first hardness and the keeper comprises a material having a second hardness greater than the first hardness.
- 21. The keeper of claim 7, wherein the muntin bar segment comprises aluminum and the keeper comprises stainless steel.
- 22. The keeper of claim 7, further including a lock for holding the keeper in a desired position relative to the muntin bar segment.
- 23. The keeper of claim 22, wherein the lock includes a ramping surface that is dimension to elastically deform the wall of the muntin bar segment.
- 24. The keeper of claim 22, wherein the lock includes a locking surface that is dimension to cooperate with the wall of the muntin bar segment to prevent retrograde motion of the keeper.
- 25. A spacer for the separation of panes in an insulating glass unit, comprising:
a tubular member comprising a wall defining a lumen; a mounting flange comprising a first portion of the wall that is doubled back upon itself; and a plurality of mounting holes defined by the mounting flange.
- 26. The spacer of claim 25, further including a second mounting flange comprising a second portion of the wall that is doubled back upon itself.
- 27. The spacer of claim 25, further including a seam formed between a first leg of the mounting flange and a second leg of the mounting flange.
- 28. The spacer of claim 25, wherein the mounting holes are dimensioned to receive a plurality of prongs of a clip.
- 29. The spacer of claim 25, further including a plurality of granules disposed within the lumen.
- 30. The spacer of claim 29, wherein the granules comprise a desiccant.
- 31. The spacer of claim 29, wherein the granules comprise clay.
- 32. A spacer for the separation of panes in an insulating glass unit, comprising:
a tubular member defining a first lumen and a second lumen; a seal interposed between the first lumen and the second lumen; and a plurality of mounting holes communicating with the second lumen and separated from the first lumen by the seal.
- 33. The spacer of claim 32, wherein the mounting holes are dimensioned to receive a plurality of prongs of a clip.
- 34. The spacer of claim 32, further including a plurality of granules disposed within the first lumen.
- 35. The spacer of claim 34, wherein the granules comprise a desiccant.
- 36. The spacer of claim 34, wherein the granules comprise clay.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/262,807 by Trpkovski filed on Jan. 19, 2001 the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60262807 |
Jan 2001 |
US |