Spacer for insulated windows having a lengthened thermal path

Abstract

A spacer frame bar for insulated windows or other insulated glass panels. The bar includes an elongate tubular spacer member having first and second side webs for engaging first and second glass panes in spaced relationship, and upper and lower webs spanning from the first side web to the second side web, each side web being formed of a yieldable material and having at least one corrugation that defines a vertically spaced gap, so that in response to bending of the spacer frame bar about the upper web the gaps of the corrugations collapse so as to reduce a height of the spacer bar and thereby reduce the distance by which the lower web is stretched at an outside radius of the bend.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A spacer frame bar comprising: 
 an elongate tubular spacer member having first and second side webs for engaging first and second glass panes and upper and lower webs spanning from said first side web to said second side web; 
 each said side web being formed of a yieldable material and comprising at least one corrugation that defines a vertically spaced gap;  
 so that in response to bending of said spacer frame bar about said upper web said gaps of said corrugations collapse so as to reduce a height of said spacer bar and thereby reduce the distance by which said lower web is stretched at an outside radius of the bend.  
   
     
     
         2 . The spacer frame bar of  claim 1 , wherein each said side web comprises an upper portion that forms a contact area for engaging a pane of glass and a lower portion having said at least one corrugation formed therein.  
     
     
         3 . The spacer frame bar of  claim 2 , wherein said lower portion of each side web comprises a plurality of said corrugation.  
     
     
         4 . The spacer frame bar of  claim 3 , wherein each said corrugation comprises: 
 upper and lower wall portions that are spaced apart by said gaps and that move into engagement so as limit collapse of said side webs as said spacer frame bar is bent.    
     
     
         5 . The spacer frame bar of  claim 4 , wherein said well portions of said corrugation extend generally parallel to one another.  
     
     
         6 . The spacer frame bar of  claim 5 , wherein said wall portions of said corrugations extend generally parallel to said upper and lower webs of said bar.  
     
     
         7 . The spacer frame bar of  claim 6 , wherein said upper and lower webs and said first and second side webs define a hollow interior of said bar, and wherein said wall portions of said corrugations limit collapse of said side webs to a predetermined amount such that a passage remains open through said interior of said bar at said bend.  
     
     
         8 . The spacer frame bar of  claim 1 , wherein said lower web comprises: 
 a seam joining first and second sides of said lower web.    
     
     
         9 . The spacer frame bar of  claim 8 , wherein said seam is a lap seam.  
     
     
         10 . The spacer frame bar of  claim 8 , wherein said seam is a welded seam.  
     
     
         11 . The spacer frame bar of  claim 1 , wherein said yieldable material is roll formed aluminum alloy.