Patent ID: 8512830

Claim:
A vacuum insulating glazing unit (VIGU) comprising: first and second panes of transparent material, each pane having edges and inner and outer faces, the panes disposed with inner faces substantially opposing one another and separated by a gap having a predetermined height; first and second anchors, the anchors being disposed at the opposite edges of one pane of the VIGU; a plurality of filaments, each filament attached at one end to the first anchor and at the other end to the second anchor, the filaments collectively disposed between the panes and substantially parallel to one another; a plurality of stand-offs, the stand-off elements being affixed to each filament at predetermined positions along the filament, the stand-off elements having a height substantially equal to the predetermined height of the gap such that the stand-off elements touch the inner surfaces of the panes; and seals disposed about the edges of the panes and enclosing the stand-off elements within a volume between the panes from which the atmosphere may be evacuated to form a partial vacuum.