Systems, methods, and components associated with electrochromic preforms

Abstract

A system for containing electrochromic preforms comprising: a rigid structure defining a compartment; and a vapor barrier disposed within the compartment and adapted to define a selectively sealable internal volume, wherein a plurality of electrochromic preforms are receivable in the internal volume, and wherein the internal volume defines a reference tool for aligning at least one of the plurality of electrochromic preforms. A component adapted to couple with an edge of an electrochromic preform comprising: a body defining an electrochromic preform engagement portion and a tool engagement portion pivotally coupled with the electrochromic preform engagement portion, wherein reducing a dimension of the tool engagement portion increases a corresponding dimension in the electrochromic preform engagement portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A component adapted to couple with an edge of an electrochromic preform comprising:
 a body defining an electrochromic preform engagement portion and a tool engagement portion pivotally coupled with the electrochromic preform engagement portion,   wherein reducing a dimension of the tool engagement portion increases a corresponding dimension in the electrochromic preform engagement portion.   
     
     
         2 . The component of  claim 1 , wherein the electrochromic preform engagement portion comprises a receiving area adapted to receive the electrochromic preform, and a plurality of projections extending into the receiving area. 
     
     
         3 . The component of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the projections comprises a deformable material, such as an elastomer. 
     
     
         4 . The component of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the projections lies along a best fit line disposed at an angle, as measured with respect to a sidewall of the component, in a range of 1° and 89°. 
     
     
         5 . The component of  claim 2 , wherein at least two projections of the plurality of projections extend different distances from the sidewall of the component into the receiving area. 
     
     
         6 . The component of  claim 2 , wherein the receiving area further comprises a stop feature adapted to prevent over insertion of the electrochromic preform into the receiving area. 
     
     
         7 . The component of  claim 6 , wherein the stop feature comprises a deformable material, such as an elastomer. 
     
     
         8 . The component of  claim 7 , wherein the stop feature is disposed adjacent to a pivot point between the electrochromic preform engagement portion and the tool engagement portion. 
     
     
         9 . The component of  claim 8 , wherein the electrochromic preform engagement portion comprises a first sidewall and a second sidewall spaced apart from one another by the receiving and wherein at least one of the sidewalls comprises a flange adjacent to a distal end of the at least one sidewall. 
     
     
         10 . The component of  claim 9 , wherein the flange extends a distance, D F , as measured from the sidewall, wherein at least one of the projections extends a distance, D P , and wherein D F  is in a range of 0.1 D P  and 2.0 D. 
     
     
         11 . A system for containing electrochromic preforms comprising:
 a rigid structure defining a compartment; and   a vapor barrier disposed within the compartment and adapted to define a selectively sealable internal volume,   wherein a plurality of electrochromic preforms are receivable in the internal volume, and wherein the internal volume defines a reference tool for aligning at least one of the plurality of electrochromic preforms.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the rigid structure comprises a multi-piece rigid structure including at least 6 sidewalls. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the vapor barrier defines:
 a wall thickness in a range of 1 mil and 100 mil, as measured according to ASTM D2103, or   a tensile strength of at least 10 lbs/in, as measured according to ASTM D882.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the vapor barrier comprises an oxygen transmission rate (OTR) in a range of 0.0001 cc/100 in 2 /day and 0.001 cc/100 in 2 /day, as measured according to ASTM D3985 or a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) in a range of 0.0001 cc/100 in 2 /day and 0.001 cc/100 in 2 /day, as measured according to ASTM F1249. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the vapor barrier is adapted to be selectively sealable upon application of a temperature of at least 400° F., a pressure of at least 40 PSI, for a time of at least 1 second. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein, in a closed, unbiased state the internal volume has a volume, V MIN , less than a volume, V EP , of the internal volume when full of electrochromic preforms and wherein V MIN  is less than 0.99 V EP  and no less than 0.25 V EP . 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the system is adapted to receive:
 a first electrochromic preform adjacent to the reference tool,   a third electrochromic preform, and   a second electrochromic preform disposed between the first and third electrochromic preforms,   wherein a nearest distance between the first electrochromic preform and the system is different than a distance between the second and third electrochromic preforms.   
     
     
         18 . A method of transporting an electrochromic preform comprising:
 at a first location, moving the electrochromic preform toward a selectively sealable internal volume defined by a vapor barrier;   sealing the selectively sealable internal volume with the electrochromic preform inside; and   transporting the electrochromic preform to a secondary location.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein moving the electrochromic preform toward the selectively sealable internal volume comprises moving a plurality of electrochromic preforms toward the selectively sealable internal volume and wherein the plurality of electrochromic preforms comprise at least 2 electrochromic preforms. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the electrochromic preforms are generally planar, and wherein moving the electrochromic preforms toward the selectively sealable internal volume is performed in a direction generally normal to the generally planar electrochromic preforms.