Electric heating – Heating devices – Combined with diverse-type art device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-08
2001-01-30
Walberg, Teresa (Department: 3742)
Electric heating
Heating devices
Combined with diverse-type art device
C338S306000, C338S314000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06180921
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to windshields for vehicles and, more particularly, to a heating device for a windshield of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to provide a windshield for a front opening in a vehicle body of a vehicle. Typically, the windshield includes two glass panels or sheets laminated to each other by an adhesive film or interlayer therebetween. It is also known to provide wipers to wipe an outer surface of the windshield. Typically, the wipers are pivotally mounted to the vehicle body and rest against the outer surface of the windshield in a wiper rest area at a bottom thereof. During cold weather conditions, these windshields and wipers can become covered with snow and ice. As a result, it is desirable to de-ice the windshield and/or wipers.
For de-icing purposes, it is known to provide a heating element for heating the wiper rest area of the windshield. An example of such a heating element is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,877,473. In this patent, a heating element is positioned on an inner or second surface of an outer glass sheet and held in position by the interlayer securing the inner and outer glass sheets together. The heating element has extensions extending beyond the edge of the windshield to provide external electrical access to power the heating element to heat the wiper rest area of the windshield.
Although the above heating element has worked, it is desirable to mount a heating device on an inner or fourth surface of the inner glass sheet. It is also desirable to heat specific areas of the windshield for de-icing purposes. It is further desirable to provide a heating device as a decal that can be applied to any windshield. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a heating device for a windshield of a vehicle that meets these desires.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is a heating device for heating a windshield of a vehicle includes a first layer adapted to be mounted to a fourth surface of a windshield. The heating device also includes at least one resistance element embedded in the first layer for connection to a source of power to heat a predetermined area of the windshield.
One advantage of the present invention is that a heating device is provided for a windshield of a vehicle to heat specific areas of the windshield. Another advantage of the present invention is that the heating device is a decal to heat glass sheets, and in particular, the windshield and other windows of the vehicle. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the heating device is mounted to the fourth or inner glass sheet surface to heat a wiper rest area of the windshield for de-icing purposes. Still another advantage of the present invention is that the heating device includes wires embedded in a substrate and eliminates heating elements disposed between the glass sheets of the windshield. A further advantage of the present invention is that production of the windshield for the vehicle is simplified.
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.
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Dahbour Fadi H.
Shelton Larry I.
Visteon Global Technologies Inc.
Walberg Teresa
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