Abstract: An insulating unit has a pair of glass sheets about an edge assembly to provide a compartment between the sheets. The edge assembly has a U-shaped spacer made of metal, metal coated plastic, gas and moisture impervious polymer, or gas and moisture impervious film coated polymer. The outer legs of the spacer and the glass provide a long diffusion path to limit the diffusion of argon gas out of the compartment. The edge assembly has materials selected and sized to provide edge assembly having an RES-value of at least 75. A spacer for use in insulating units includes a plastic core having a gas impervious film e.g. a metal film or a halogenated polymer film. Also taught herein are techniques for making the unit and spacer.

Abstract: An insulating unit has a pair of glass sheets about an edge assembly to provide a compartment between the sheets. The edge assembly has a U-shaped spacer made of metal, metal coated plastic, gas and moisture impervious polymer, or gas and moisture impervious film coated polymer. The outer legs of the spacer and the glass provide a long diffusion path to limit the diffusion of argon gas out of the compartment. The edge assembly has materials selected and sized to provide edge assembly having an RES-value of at least 75. A spacer for use in insulating units includes a plastic core having a gas impervious film e.g. a metal film or a halogenated polymer film. Also taught herein are techniques for making the unit and spacer.

Abstract: A gas cap cover device for an automotive vehicle gas cap includes a shell configured to be disposed over a portion of a gas cap. A connector is supported on the shell and is configured to engage the gas cap and cause the gas cap to rotate when the cover device is rotated. A message-bearing element is supported on the cover device and is configured to display a message formulated to influence a vehicle operator to take some action. In addition, a method for reducing emissions from automotive vehicles includes replacing old leaking gas caps with new gas caps that each include a message advertising a product or service or encouraging participation in activities related to automotive emissions reduction. The message may be included on the message-bearing element of the gas cap cover device.