Patent ID: 6131364
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: E06B

Abstract:
An elongate tubular spacer frame bar used to space first and second glass panes, said spacer frame bar comprising:an elongate tubular spacer member having first and second longitudinal sidewalls for engaging first and second glass panes in spaced relationship, and upper and lower longitudinal walls each spanning from said first sidewall to said second sidewall and defining a spacer width between said first and second sidewalls;said first and second sidewalls and upper and lower walls defining an interior space of said bar for holding a particulate desiccant material therein;said upper wall comprising first and second spaced sequences of longitudinally oriented elongate slits defined in said upper wall so as to create a thermal energy conductive path across said upper wall from said first sidewall to said second sidewall which is greater in length than said spacer width between said sidewalls; each said elongate slit being defined by a first portion of said upper wall along a first edge of said slit which is displaced relative to a second portion of said upper wall along a second, opposite edge of said slit, by an amount which is sufficiently great to open an air gap between said edges of said slit, but which is sufficiently small to avoid creating an opening wide enough to permit unobstructed passage of said particulate desiccant material therethrough.