Patent ID: 8266852

Claim:
A method of fabricating a filled insulated glass unit, comprising the steps of: providing a first lite of glass; placing the first lite in a horizontally supported position, a first surface of the first lite facing upwardly; affixing a spacer frame around a periphery of the first surface; affixing a first end of a first joiner element to a center of the first surface, the first joiner element extending substantially normal to the first surface and having an upward height that slightly exceeds an intended gap to be formed; building up a filler design atop the first surface by arranging a plurality of infill elements within the spacer frame; applying a bead of adhesive sealant around a top surface of the spacer frame; providing an adhesive on an upwardly-extending second end of the first joiner element; registering a second lite of glass atop the spacer frame and the first joiner element, a first surface of the second lite in facing relationship to the first surface of the first lite; and applying pressure to the second lite to sealingly secure it to the spacer frame, forming a filled glass unit with the intended gap between the respective first surfaces; wherein the infill elements are sized and selected to be maintained in the filler design in the gap when the filled glass unit is turned to a vertical position.