Insulated channel seal for glass panes

Abstract

A spacer channel for a frame which separates window panes to form an insulated window has a plurality of openings through a wall of the channel that faces outward along the periphery of the frame and glass sandwich. The openings are designed to prevent significant passage of sealant from the outside of the channel to the inside of the channel through the openings. This is done by the cross sectional area of each opening being so small that it resists viscous flow of the sealant through the opening, or by a cover over the opening.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A spacer channel for mounting between a first window pane having a first edge and a second edge from a corner of the first pane, and a second window pane, adjacent to said first edge for separating the window panes to form a channel and pane sandwich insulated window when said spacer channel is mounted between the panes, said spacer channel comprising: 
 a first elongate wall for facing the first pane, a second elongate wall for facing the second pane, a third elongate wall connected to the first and second walls, said channel being configured so that said third elongate wall faces outward along the periphery of the channel and pane sandwich when said spacer channel is mounted between the panes extending along the first and second edges, and a plurality of openings through said third wall along the length of said third wall.    
     
     
         2 . The spacer channel of    claim 1    wherein said openings are made by removing a substantial portion of the area of said third elongate wall.  
     
     
         3 . The spacer channel of    claim 1    wherein the total cross sectional area of said openings comprises 80 percent to 95 percent of the cross sectional area of said third elongate wall.  
     
     
         4 . The spacer channel of    claim 1    further comprising a low thermal conductivity strip covering said plurality of openings.  
     
     
         5 . The spacer channel of    claim 1    further comprising a sealant extending over the first, second and third elongate walls of the channel and covering said plurality of openings.  
     
     
         6 . The spacer channel of    claim 4    further comprising a sealant extending over the first, second and third elongate walls of the channel, covering said plurality of openings, and against said low thermal conductivity strip.  
     
     
         7 . The spacer channel of    claim 4   , further comprising a sealant extending over the first and second elongate walls and said low thermal conductivity strip.  
     
     
         8 . The spacer channel of    claim 5    further comprising the cross sectional size of each of said plurality of openings being small enough so that sealant cannot significantly enter the channel to the area between the first and second elongate walls by way of the openings.  
     
     
         9 . In an insulated window assembly comprising a first pane, a second pane, a spacer channel mounted between the first and second panes for separating the panes to form a channel and pane sandwich insulated window, said spacer channel comprising: 
 a first elongate wall facing said first pane, a second elongate wall facing said second pane, a third elongate wall connected to the first and second walls, facing outward along the periphery of the channel and pane sandwich, and a plurality of openings through said third elongate wall along the length of said third elongate wall.    
     
     
         10 . The spacer channel of    claim 9    wherein said openings are made by removing a substantial portion of the area of said third elongate wall.  
     
     
         11 . The spacer channel of    claim 9    wherein the total cross sectional area of said openings comprises 80 percent to 95 percent of the cross sectional area of said third elongate wall.  
     
     
         12 . The spacer channel of    claim 9    further comprising a low thermal conductivity strip covering said plurality of openings.  
     
     
         13 . The spacer channel of    claim 9    further comprising a sealant extending over the first, second and third elongate walls of the channel and covering said plurality of openings.  
     
     
         14 . The spacer channel of    claim 12    further comprising a sealant extending over the first, second and third elongate walls of the channel, covering the plurality of openings, and against said low thermal conductivity strip.  
     
     
         15 . The spacer channel of    claim 12    further comprising a sealant extending over the first and second walls and said low thermal conductivity strip.  
     
     
         16 . The spacer channel of    claim 13    further comprising the cross sectional size of each of said plurality of openings being small enough so that sealant cannot significantly enter the channel to the area between the first and second elongate walls by way of the openings.  
     
     
         17 . In a spacer channel for a frame for separating window panes to form a frame and glass sandwich insulated window, said spacer channel comprising a plurality of openings through a first wall of the spacer channel that faces outward along the periphery of the frame and glass sandwich, the openings being spaced from each other.  
     
     
         18 . The spacer channel of    claim 17    wherein the openings comprise 80 to 95 percent of the cross sectional area of said first wall of a straight side of said sandwich.  
     
     
         19 . The spacer channel of    claim 17    further comprising a low thermal conductivity strip covering said plurality of openings.  
     
     
         20 . The spacer channel of    claim 19    further comprising a sealant extending over said plurality of openings and against said strip.  
     
     
         21 . The spacer channel of    claim 17    further comprising the cross sectional size of the openings being small enough so that a predetermined sealant as it is applied cannot significantly enter the channel from the outward side of said first wall by way of said openings.