US3579243A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Windshield antenna system
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
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Filing: 1969-08-11
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Granted: 1971-05-18
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Expires: 1989-08-11
Abstract
Abstract An improved windshield antenna system is described in which a pair of laminated glass sheets forming the windshield contains a pair of antenna wires adhered to the laminating interlayer. The wires have free ends which extend out beyond a cutout portion formed in one of the glass sheets. The free ends of the wires are terminated to an attaching area of a conductive terminal which terminal is received in the cutout portion of the glass sheet. An electrical lead is also connected to the conductive terminal at the attaching area. A nonconductive tab is affixed to one surface of the glass sheet away from the cutout portion of the one glass sheet. The tab holds the electrical lead in a relatively stable position with respect to the attaching area of the conductive terminal at which the lead is terminated to the antenna wires. A potting compound overlies the region of the termination of the antenna wires and the electrical lead to the attaching area of the conductive terminal.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard T Dickason
- 👤 John A Richardson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:47
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B17/00; B32B17/06; B32B17/10; B32B17/10005; B32B17/10165; B32B17/10293; B32B17/10302; B32B17/10009; B32B17/10036; B32B17/10376; H; H01; H01Q; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/12; H01Q1/1271
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
412 words
In a windshield antenna system which includes a first sheet of glass, a second sheet of glass having a cutout portion overlying the first sheet of glass, an interlayer of resinous material between the two glass sheets bonding the same together in an assembled condition, and at least a paIr of antenna wires adhered to the inner layer between the glass sheets, the antenna wires being initially exposed for a portion of their length at the cutout portion of the second glass sheet, the improvement comprising: a conductive terminal formed so as to engage at least a small portion of the cutout portion of the second glass sheet to leave an opening between most of said terminal and the surface of the second glass sheet defining the cutout portion thereof, the initially exposed portions of the antenna wires passing through said opening; an electrical lead insulated over a major portion of its length and having an exposed end; attaching means on said conductive terminal for securing both said antenna wires thereto and said exposed end of said electrical lead thereto, said attaching means including (1) a small projecting portion formed on said terminal about which the exposed ends of the antenna wires may be wrapped to terminate the same and which may be folded over on the exposed end of said insulated lead to clamp said lead between said projecting portion and said terminal, and (2) electrically conductive solder flowed over the area of said projecting portion on said terminal both to which the antenna wires are terminated and which clamps the exposed end of said insulated lead; a nonconductive tab affixed to the surface of the first glass sheet away from the second glass sheet, said tab having a portion thereof defining an elongated passageway extending along the edge of the assembled glass sheets, said insulated portion of said electrical lead being received in said passageway whereby any force applied to the exposed end of said electrical lead is transmitted through engagement of the insulated portion of sad lead and said passageway to said plastic tab and then to the glass sheets and not to the connection formed by the antenna wires, said attaching means and said exposed end of said electrical lead; and sealing means overlying the region of the pair of glass sheets wherein the cutout portion is located for sealing said conductive terminal, the antenna wires and said exposed end of said electrical lead to protect the same.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
412 words
In a windshield antenna system which includes a first sheet of glass, a second sheet of glass having a cutout portion overlying the first sheet of glass, an interlayer of resinous material between the two glass sheets bonding the same together in an assembled condition, and at least a paIr of antenna wires adhered to the inner layer between the glass sheets, the antenna wires being initially exposed for a portion of their length at the cutout portion of the second glass sheet, the improvement comprising: a conductive terminal formed so as to engage at least a small portion of the cutout portion of the second glass sheet to leave an opening between most of said terminal and the surface of the second glass sheet defining the cutout portion thereof, the initially exposed portions of the antenna wires passing through said opening; an electrical lead insulated over a major portion of its length and having an exposed end; attaching means on said conductive terminal for securing both said antenna wires thereto and said exposed end of said electrical lead thereto, said attaching means including (1) a small projecting portion formed on said terminal about which the exposed ends of the antenna wires may be wrapped to terminate the same and which may be folded over on the exposed end of said insulated lead to clamp said lead between said projecting portion and said terminal, and (2) electrically conductive solder flowed over the area of said projecting portion on said terminal both to which the antenna wires are terminated and which clamps the exposed end of said insulated lead; a nonconductive tab affixed to the surface of the first glass sheet away from the second glass sheet, said tab having a portion thereof defining an elongated passageway extending along the edge of the assembled glass sheets, said insulated portion of said electrical lead being received in said passageway whereby any force applied to the exposed end of said electrical lead is transmitted through engagement of the insulated portion of sad lead and said passageway to said plastic tab and then to the glass sheets and not to the connection formed by the antenna wires, said attaching means and said exposed end of said electrical lead; and sealing means overlying the region of the pair of glass sheets wherein the cutout portion is located for sealing said conductive terminal, the antenna wires and said exposed end of said electrical lead to protect the same.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The windshield antenna system as defined in claim 1, wherein said projecting portion formed on said terminal extends initially before termination of the antenna wires and clamping of said lead in a direction towards and beyond the exposed edges of the glass sheets.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
95 words
The windshield antenna system as defined in claim 2, wherein said conductive terminal is formed generally in a crescent configuration to conform to the cutout shape of the second piece of glass, opposite ends of the terminal having extending legs which engage the cutout surface of the second glass sheet at the spaced points whereby said opening is left between said terminal and the cutout portion of the second glass sheet for passage of said antenna wires therethrough, and wherein said projecting portion of said terminal is positioned at a location intermediate said extending legs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
110 words
The windshield antenna system as defined in claim 2, wherein said conductive terminal is formed generally in a crescent configuration to conform to the cutout shape of the second piece of glass, the central portion of said terminal having an extending leg which engages the cutout surface of the second glass sheet at a location between the two antenna wires whereby an opening is left on either side of said extending leg between said terminal and the cutout portion of the second glass sheet for passage of said antenna wires therethrough, and wherein said projecting portion of said terminal is positioned in alignment with the axis of said extending leg.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The windshield antenna system as defined in claim 4, wherein said tab is affixed to the surface of the first glass sheet away from the second glass sheet by a binding material initially carried by said tab.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
The windshield antenna system as defined in claim 5, wherein said portion of said tab defining Said passageway also defines a wall which extends along another portion of the edges of the two glass sheets, said wall and said portion of said tab defining said passageway providing protection for said connection of the antenna wires from direct physical contact being made therewith when the edges of the glass sheets are engaged by an object.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The windshield antenna system as defined in claim 6, wherein said tab is formed from ABS plastic.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The windshield antenna system as defined in claim 7, wherein said sealing means is a potting compound formed from a silicone rubber base adhesive.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-17 | 1974-11-16 | 1975-05-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-17 | 1978-11-16 | 1979-05-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-17 | 1982-11-16 | 1983-05-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |