Energy efficient insulated glass unit

Abstract

An insulated glass unit (IGU) comprises impact resistant safety films on the inner surfaces of the glass panes, providing an impact resistant, energy-saving IGU for use in windows and doors. A layer of the safety film providing energy savings may be trimmed from the edges of a glass pane; witch may be sealed within the interior of the IGU, preventing corrosion while providing no loss in impact resistance. A scratch-resistant, chemical vapor deposited coating may be added to an interior glass surface (i.e. facing the building interior) in order to prevent heat loss from the building. An IGU may have an Energy Star rating for both summer and winter use.

1 . An insulated glass unit comprising:
 a first glass pane having a first surface and a second surface opposite of the first surface;   a second glass pane having a third surface and a fourth surface opposite of the third surface;   a first safety film comprised of a plurality of polymer films adhesively laminated one to the other is adhesively bonded to the second surface of the first glass pane;   a second safety film comprised of a plurality of polymer films adhesively laminated one to the other and a metallized coating on one surface of the plurality of polymer films is adhesively bonded to the third surface of the second glass pane such that the metallized coating is opposite of the adhesively bonded surface of the second safety film;   a spacer positioned between the first safety film on the second surface and the second safety film on the third surface of the second glass pane, such that the spacer separates the first glass pane from the second glass pane;   a frame enclosing the perimeter of the first glass pane and the second glass pane such that a space is defined between the spacer and the frame; and   a sealant backfilled within the space defined by the spacer and the frame such that the insulated glass unit is sealed from moisture or damp air.   
   
   
       2 . The insulated glass unit of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of polymer films of the first safety film and the second safety film are of polyethylene terephthalate. 
   
   
       3 . The insulated glass unit of  claim 2 , further comprising an inert gas within a cavity defined by the first glass pane, the second glass pane, and the spacer. 
   
   
       4 . The insulated glass unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first safety film and the second safety film have a thickness ranging from 0.004 to 0.0025 inches. 
   
   
       5 . The insulated glass unit of  claim 1 , wherein the metallized coating is a pyrolytically applied layer. 
   
   
       6 . The insulated glass unit of  claim 1 , wherein the metallized coating has an emissivity in a range of 0.03-0.30. 
   
   
       7 . The insulated glass unit of  claim 6 , wherein the metallized coating has a visible light transmission in a range of 35-91%. 
   
   
       8 . The insulated glass unit of  claim 1 , wherein a perimeter portion of the metallized coating is removed before the insulated glass unit is sealed. 
   
   
       9 . The insulated glass unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a low emissivity coating on the fourth surface of the second glass pane. 
   
   
       10 . The insulated glass unit of  claim 9 , wherein the low emissivity coating is scratch resistant. 
   
   
       11 . The insulated glass unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a metallized layer on a surface of the first safety film opposite of the surface adhesively bonded to the first glass pane. 
   
   
       12 . The insulated glass unit of  claim 11 , wherein a perimeter portion of the metallized layer is trimmed before the insulated glass unit is sealed. 
   
   
       13 . The insulated glass unit of  claim 1 , wherein an ultraviolet absorbing material is added to the adhesive used to adhesively bond one or more of the first safety film to the first glass pane on the second safety film to the second glass pane or one of the plurality of polymer films of the first safety film or the second safety film to one of the other of the plurality of polymer films. 
   
   
       14 . An insulated glass unit comprising:
 a first glass pane having a first surface and a second surface opposite of the first surface;   a sputtered solar control low emissivity coating on the second surface of the first glass pane;   a second glass pane having a third surface and a fourth surface opposite of the third surface;   a first safety film comprised of a plurality of polymer films adhesively laminated one to the other is adhesively bonded to the second surface of the first glass pane;   a second safety film comprised of a plurality of polymer films adhesively laminated one to the other is adhesively bonded to the third surface of the second glass pane;   a spacer positioned between the first safety film on the second surface and the second safety film on the third surface of the second glass pane, such that the spacer separates the first glass pane from the second glass pane;   a frame enclosing the perimeter of the first glass pane and the second glass pane such that a space is defined between the spacer and the frame; and   a sealant backfilled within the space defined by the spacer and the frame such that the insulated glass unit is sealed from moisture or damp air.   
   
   
       15 . The insulated glass unit of  claim 14 , wherein an adhesive comprises an ultraviolet blocking agent and the adhesive is used in one or more of the adhesive laminating of one or more of the plurality of polymer films or adhesive bonding of the first safety film to the first glass pane or the second safety film to the second glass pane. 
   
   
       16 . The insulated glass unit of  claim 14 , wherein the sputtered solar control low emissivity coating is scratch resistant. 
   
   
       17 . The insulated glass unit of  claim 14 , wherein the sputtered solar control low emissivity coating has an emissivity in a range of 0.03-0.30. 
   
   
       18 . The insulated glass unit of  claim 14 , wherein the sputtered solar control low emissivity coating has a visible light transmission in a range of 35-91%. 
   
   
       19 . The insulated glass unit of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of polymer films of the first safety film and the second safety film are of polyethylene terephthalate. 
   
   
       20 . The insulated glass unit of  claim 14 , wherein the first safety film and the second safety film have a thickness ranging from 0.004 to 0.0025 inches.