Electric heating – Heating devices – Combined with diverse-type art device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-22
2001-07-03
Walberg, Teresa (Department: 3742)
Electric heating
Heating devices
Combined with diverse-type art device
C219S203000, C219S522000, C338S308000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06255624
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to vehicles and, more specifically, to an electrically heated backlite assembly and method of making the same for a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to provide a glass panel for an opening on a vehicle. It is also known to provide an electrically heated backlite on the glass panel to defog or de-ice the same, thereby providing a clear window in the vehicle. An example of such an electrically heated backlite is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,388,522 to Boaz. In this patent, the electrically heated backlite includes an opaque, electrically nonconductive coating bonded to a glass panel and an electrical resistance heater overlying and bonded to the electrically nonconductive coating. The electrically heated backlite also includes an electrical conductor bonded to a terminal end of the heater.
To manufacture the electrically heated backlite, the opaque, electrically non-conductive coating is black in the form of an ink or paint, which is screen printed onto the glass panel. The electrical resistance heater line is silver in the form of an ink or paint, which is screen printed onto the electrically non-conductive coating and the glass panel.
Although these electrically heated backlites have worked well, it is desirable to deposit a heavier layer of silver to help in the terminal soldering process at selected locations. It is also desirable to provide an electrically heated backlite that does not require modification of the screen that prints the silver on the glass panel. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide an electrically heated backlite assembly and method that meets these desires.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is an electrically heated backlite assembly including a glass panel and an opaque, electrically nonconductive coating bonded to the glass panel. The electrically nonconductive coating has an outer surface with a plurality of first undulations at selected locations. The electrically heated backlite assembly also includes an electrically conductive coating overlying and bonded to the electrically nonconductive coating. The electrically conductive coating has a generally smooth outer surface and an inner surface with a plurality of second undulations complementary to the first undulations at the selected locations. The electrically heated backlite assembly includes a conductor strip attached to the electrically conductive coating at the selected locations and for connection to a source of power to provide power to the electrically conductive coating to heat the glass panel to deice and defog the glass panel.
The present invention is also a method of making an electrically heated backlite assembly. The method includes the steps of providing a glass panel, depositing an electrically nonconductive coating on the glass panel and forming an outer surface with a plurality of first undulations at selected locations. The method also includes the steps of depositing an electrically conductive coating on the electrically nonconductive coating and the glass panel and forming an inner surface with second undulations at the selected areas complementary to the first undulations of the electrically nonconductive coating and an outer surface being generally smooth. The method further includes the steps of attaching a conductor strip to the electrically conductive coating at the selected locations to provide power to the electrically conductive coating to heat the glass panel to de-ice and defog the glass panel.
One advantage of the present invention is that a new electrically heated backlite assembly is provided for a vehicle. Another advantage of the present invention is that a method of making the electrically heated backlite assembly is provided to vary the amount of silver deposited in the screen printing process. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the electrically heated backlite assembly has a heavier or thicker layer of silver deposited at selected locations to help in the terminal soldering process. Still another advantage of the present invention is that the electrically heated backlite assembly has a surface contour on the glass panel controlled to vary the amount of silver deposit. A further advantage of the present invention is that the electrically heated backlite assembly does not require modification of the construction of the screen that prints the silver.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood after reading the subsequent description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3067310 (1962-12-01), Walz et al.
patent: 3612745 (1971-10-01), Warren
patent: 3765994 (1973-10-01), Quaintance et al.
patent: 3790752 (1974-02-01), Boaz et al.
patent: 3833451 (1974-09-01), Wagner
patent: 3903396 (1975-09-01), Boaz et al.
patent: 3999040 (1976-12-01), Ellis
patent: 4137447 (1979-01-01), Boaz
patent: 4246467 (1981-01-01), Boaz
patent: 4352006 (1982-09-01), Zega
patent: 4373130 (1983-02-01), Krasborn et al.
patent: 4385226 (1983-05-01), Sauer
patent: 4388522 (1983-06-01), Boaz
patent: 4429216 (1984-01-01), Brigham
patent: 4443691 (1984-04-01), Sauer
patent: 4450346 (1984-05-01), Boaz
patent: 4634242 (1987-01-01), Taguchi et al.
patent: 4721845 (1988-01-01), Kunert et al.
patent: 4910380 (1990-03-01), Reiss et al.
patent: 5332888 (1994-07-01), Tausch et al.
patent: 5344591 (1994-09-01), Smuckler
patent: 5388509 (1995-02-01), Cutcher
patent: 5390595 (1995-02-01), Cutcher
patent: 5421256 (1995-06-01), Cutcher
patent: 5796071 (1998-08-01), Morin et al.
patent: 6011244 (2000-01-01), Castle
Boaz Premakaran Tucker
Kolokowski Paul Joseph
Dahbour Fadi H.
Shelton Larry I.
Visteon Global Technologies Inc.
Walberg Teresa
LandOfFree
Electrically heated backlite assembly and method does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Electrically heated backlite assembly and method, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electrically heated backlite assembly and method will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2488389