Abstract: Fenestration units and method of operation thereof are provided that allow for use of the fenestration units as nodes of a distributed ledger network. The fenestration units include a communication device configured for communication with at least one remote electronic device, a non-transitory, non-volatile memory configured to store computer readable instructions, and a processor in operable communication with the communication device and the memory. The processor is configured to execute the computer readable instructions to function, through the communication device, as a node in a distributed ledger network by storing a local copy of a distributed ledger on the memory, updating the local copy of the distributed ledger, and distributing the local copy to the at least one remote electronic device in response to updating the local copy of the distributed ledger.

Abstract: Methods are provided for producing insulated glazing units. The insulated glazing unit includes a first pane including a first outer edge, a second pane that overlaps the first pane and that includes a second outer edge, an outer edge sealing spacer arrangement that seals and maintains an inter-pane space between the first pane and the second pane, the outer edge sealing spacer arrangement including: a seat that receives the first outer edge and the second outer edge and that extends along the first outer edge and the second outer edge, a shoe that receives the seat, and a coupling between the seat and the shoe configured to maintain the seat within the shoe.

Abstract: A mulling system for a plurality of fenestration units includes a first joining plate configured to attach to a first outer edge of a first fenestration unit. The first joining plate includes a first outer face. The mulling system also includes a second joining plate configured to attach to a second outer edge of a second fenestration unit. The second joining plate includes a second outer face. The second joining plate is configured to engage the first joining plate to join together the first fenestration unit and the second fenestration unit with the first outer face facing the second outer face. The mulling system additionally includes a deflectable seal member attached to the first joining plate and having a sealing surface that faces away from the first outer face. The sealing surface is configured to deflect and seal against the second outer face of the second joining plate.

Abstract: A mulling system includes a first joining plate with a first plate member, a second plate member, and a first thermal breaker that extend longitudinally along a mulling axis with the first thermal breaker attaching the first and second plate members. The mulling system includes a second joining plate that includes a third plate member, a fourth plate member, and a second thermal breaker that extend longitudinally along the mulling axis with the second thermal breaker attaching the third and fourth plate members. The second joining plate is configured to attach to the first joining plate to join together first and second fenestration units with the mulling axis extending between the first and second joining plates. The first joining plate substantially matches the second joining plate to define a corresponding rotated and engaged arrangement of the first joining plate and the second joining plate across the mulling axis.

Abstract: Methods and vacuum pump heads are provided. The vacuum pump head includes a body having sidewalls and a rear wall, wherein interior surfaces of the sidewalls and the rear wall define a chamber therebetween and distal ends of the sidewalls define an opening to the chamber, a sealing member located at the distal ends of the sidewalls and surrounding the opening defined thereby, the sealing member configured to contact and form a vacuum-tight seal against a surface upon generation of a low-pressure environment within the chamber, a vacuum hose port configured to couple to a vacuum hose of a vacuum pump and to provide a fluidic outlet from the chamber to remove gas from the chamber and thereby generate the low-pressure environment, and an aperture in the body configured to allow a laser beam to be directed therethrough toward the surface while the low-pressure environment is maintained.

Abstract: Methods and vacuum insulated glazing units are provided. The methods include providing a first pane, applying a primary sealant to the first pane adjacent to and along a perimeter of the first pane, positioning support pillars on the first pane, positioning an evacuation tube on the first pane, positioning a second pane on the support pillars, heating the primary sealant with a laser beam sufficient to sinter the primary sealant to form a primary seal joining the first and second pane, evacuating an intermediate space defined between the first and second pane, and the primary seal to produce a low-pressure environment in the intermediate space by drawing gas from the intermediate space through the evacuation tube, and sealing the evacuation tube and thereby hermetically sealing the intermediate space within the first and second pane, the primary seal, and the evacuation tube to maintain the low-pressure environment therein.

Abstract: Sealants, vacuum insulated glazing (VIG) units having seals formed from the sealants, and methods for producing the VIG units using the sealants are provided. The sealants include a mixture of glass materials in powder form, a foaming agent in powder form, and a carrier medium. The foaming agent includes carbon black, carbide(s), or a combination thereof. The glass materials have compositions including: 50 to 70 wt. % SiO2; 1 to 7 wt. % CaO; 0 to 7 wt. % MgO; 0 to 6 wt. % Al2O3; 1 to 6 wt. % Fe2O3 or FeO; 0 to 7 wt. % TiO2; 0 to 16 wt. % R2O, wherein R is chosen from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, or a combination thereof; 0 to 1 wt. % SO3; 0 to 2 wt. % MnO; and 0 to 6 wt. % SrO+BaO.

Abstract: Sealants, vacuum insulated glazing (VIG) units having seals formed from the sealants, and methods for producing the VIG units using the sealants are provided. The sealants include a mixture of glass materials in powder form and a carrier medium. The glass materials have compositions including: 0 to 55 wt. % Bi2O3; 10 to 65 wt. % SiO2; 1 to 10 wt. % Al2O3; 10 to 30 wt. % R2O, wherein R is chosen from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, or a combination thereof; 0.01 to 20 wt. % of RO, wherein R is chosen from the group consisting of Ca, Mg, or a combination thereof; 2 to 15 wt. % of BaO; 0 to 5 wt. % TeO2; 0.01 to 20 wt. % of Fe2O3 or FeO; 2 to 30 wt. % of B2O3; 0.1 to 2 wt. % of P2O5; 0.1 to 2 wt. % of ZnO; and 0.1 to 2 wt. % of CuO or Cu2O.

Abstract: A fenestration unit includes a fenestration frame with a first frame member, and a sash including a sash frame to support a glazing unit. The fenestration unit includes a channel defined in one of the first frame member and the sash frame that extends along a first axis. The fenestration unit includes a retainer base associated with the other of the first frame member and the sash frame that extends along the first axis. The fenestration unit includes a retainer removably coupled to the first frame member and the sash frame to removably retain the sash frame on the fenestration frame. The retainer has a first retainer arm, a second retainer arm and a third retainer arm. The third retainer arm is movably coupled to the channel and the first retainer arm is movably coupled to the retainer base.

Abstract: A fenestration unit includes a sash configured to receive a glazing unit, and a frame. The frame includes a plurality of walls configured to support the sash. A first wall of the plurality of walls includes a cover coupling portion having a first cantilevered coupling wall spaced apart from a second cantilevered coupling wall. The frame includes an access cover defining at least one tab configured to releasably engage with at least one of the first cantilevered coupling wall and the second cantilevered coupling wall.

Abstract: A door includes a first skin, a second skin, and a core. The core is disposed between the first skin and the second skin in a thickness direction of the door and spans between the first and second skins. The core includes a corrugated medium that is fluted with fluting running back and forth in the thickness direction between the first skin and the second skin as the corrugated medium spans between the first and second skins. The door also includes a compressed section where at least one of the first skin and the second skin is compressed into the core toward the other of the first skin and the second skin in the thickness direction.

Abstract: A frame for a fenestration unit includes a corner member at a corner joint of first and second elongate frame members. The second elongate frame member includes a profile member and an elongate reinforcement beam disposed therein. The elongate reinforcement beam has a terminal end. The second elongate frame member further includes a corner reinforcement plug with an insert end that is received in the terminal end of the elongate reinforcement beam. The corner reinforcement plug also includes a corner end that is engaged with the corner member and an intermediate portion that is disposed between the insert end and the corner end. The corner reinforcement plug has a shoulder at a transition between the intermediate portion and the insert end, and the shoulder abuts against the terminal end. The intermediate portion is disposed within the interior of the profile member.

Abstract: A wet glazing shield gasket includes a support portion and a sweep that extends from the support portion and that terminates at a barrier lip. The sweep is supported for resilient flexure between a neutral position and a flexed position relative to the support portion. Furthermore, the barrier lip is configured to engage a glazing unit for collapsing the sweep onto the support portion as the sweep flexes away from the neutral position and toward the flexed position. The sweep is configured to extend between the frame and the glazing unit and to be a barrier for the seal member as the sweep flexes away from the neutral position and toward the flexed position. The sweep and the support portion are configured to layer over each other and cooperatively occupy a gap between the glazing unit and the frame when in the flexed position.

Abstract: A crank handle assembly for actuating a panel of a fenestration unit relative to a frame includes an arm. The arm is elongate and is configured to be supported at one end by the frame for rotation to actuate the moveable panel relative to the frame. The crank handle assembly also includes a knob that is moveably attached to an opposite end of the arm and that extends therefrom. The knob is supported for movement between an aligned position and a misaligned position relative to the arm. The arm and the knob cooperatively define a crank handle longitudinal axis. The knob, in the aligned position, is aligned with the arm and the crank handle longitudinal axis is straight. The knob, in the misaligned position, is misaligned with the arm, and the crank handle longitudinal axis is nonlinear.

Abstract: An assembly for a door or window frame including an elongated sill and a corner key attached to each end of the sill. The corner key includes a water chamber for collecting water therein and a plurality of ports for diverting water from the water chamber outwardly through a drain port. The water chamber and plurality of ports are designed to temper a high-pressure gradient in the sill and effectively promote water egress away from the sill.

Abstract: A fenestration unit includes a frame corner key that includes a corner key fluid outlet and a cladding having an aperture for the corner key fluid outlet. The fenestration unit also includes a weep drainage system with a fluid path defined from the frame corner key, through the corner key fluid outlet, and through the aperture to drain from the fenestration unit.

Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to a window assembly designed to facilitate the construction process by providing a simple and efficient method for joining mullion members and frame members along a window joint. The assembly includes a mullion end cap with a seal extending around the periphery of the end cap to help minimize moisture entry into the window assembly via the window joints. In addition, the seal includes fastener bosses designed to seal against fasteners extending therethrough to help seal the joint without need for separately applying a silicone or other sealant in a post-assembly process.

Abstract: A shootbolt system for a fenestration assembly, such as a sliding patio door system, includes a chassis mountable to a stile of a sliding panel of the fenestration assembly, and a shootbolt slidably coupled to the chassis. The shootbolt is designed to be coupled to a corner drive system of the sliding panel for movement therewith upwardly or downwardly along the stile in response to an applied actuation force, such as from an operator handle. When extended, the shootbolt engages a receiver or stop mounted to the frame to prevent the sliding panel from rebounding when an adjacent second sliding panel is slidably moved to a closed position in contact with the sliding panel.

Abstract: A corner joint for fenestration frames and the like includes first and second frame members having hollow interiors and ends joined in abutment. A corner key insert has legs inserted into the ends of the frame members. End portions of the legs engage the hollow interiors of the frame members forming adhesive cavities within the frame members and along the end portions of the corner key legs. Adhesive is disposed within the cavities to bond the corner key legs to the frame members, thereby creating a structural joint between the frame members. The corner key insert may include multiple injection ports for delivering adhesive to the cavities from a selected side of the frame assembly. Legs of the corner key may have notches formed therein to receive an internal wall of the frame members, and distal ends of the legs may include a flow barrier that contours along the notches.