US3895433A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrically heated transparent panel
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1973-02-22
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Granted: 1975-07-22
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Expires: 1993-02-22
Abstract
Abstract An electrically heated transparent panel is described for a laminated safety glass window construction having a clear polymer inner layer with a pattern of wrinkled resistance wires oriented in a three-dimensional non-parallel random fashion so as to reduce glare from the wires when the window is used in automotive and other type vehicles. The individual resistance wires are partially embedded in the polymer sheet by a technique utilizing shrinkage of a thermoplastic polymer from its original dimensions when heated to an elevated temperature together with having the individual wires change configuration when relaxed from tension forces on the wire when first assembled with the polymer sheet. An improved form of bus-bar electrode means are connected at each end of the individual resistance wires by heat-bonding directly to the thermoplastic polymer sheet to provide the composite panel which can thereafter be handled and assembled by conventional further heat-bonding as the inner layer of a laminated safety glass construction.
Inventors
- 👤 George A Gruss
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:09
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B3/00; H05B3/84; B; B32; B32B; B32B17/00; B32B17/06; B32B17/10; B32B17/10005; B32B17/10009; B32B17/10036; B32B17/10165; B32B17/10293; B32B17/10376; B32B17/10385; B32B17/1055; B32B17/10761; H05B3/86; H05B2203/00; H05B2203/014; H05B2203/016; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49082; Y10T29/49083; Y10T29/49101
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
A process of forming a composite sheet member which comprises: a. applying a pair of segmented electrically conductive foil strips upon one major surface of a sheet of transparent thermoplastic polymer which shrinks from its original dimensions when heated to an elevated temperature so that each strip is located proximate and parallel to an Opposing marginal edge of a curved safety glass window member. b. applying a transverse pattern of resistance wires in parallel orientation with respect to one another between said segmented foil strips so that said wire pattern extends beyond the strips and securing the wire patten to the same major surface of the polymer sheet with electrical heating electrodes located at each end of the individual resistance wires. c. supplying electrical power to the heating electrodes so that the polymer sheet and resistance wires can expand and contract during heating to embed portions of the wires in the surface of the polymer sheet, and d. securing continuous electrically conductive foil strips of greater width and thickness than the segmented foil strips by heat-bonding said continuous foil strips to the same major surface of the polymer sheet for direct contact with the individual resistance wires and the subjacent segmented foil strips whereby portions of the segmented foil strips partially envelop said individual resistance wires.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
A process of forming a composite sheet member which comprises: a. applying a pair of segmented electrically conductive foil strips upon one major surface of a sheet of transparent thermoplastic polymer which shrinks from its original dimensions when heated to an elevated temperature so that each strip is located proximate and parallel to an Opposing marginal edge of a curved safety glass window member. b. applying a transverse pattern of resistance wires in parallel orientation with respect to one another between said segmented foil strips so that said wire pattern extends beyond the strips and securing the wire patten to the same major surface of the polymer sheet with electrical heating electrodes located at each end of the individual resistance wires. c. supplying electrical power to the heating electrodes so that the polymer sheet and resistance wires can expand and contract during heating to embed portions of the wires in the surface of the polymer sheet, and d. securing continuous electrically conductive foil strips of greater width and thickness than the segmented foil strips by heat-bonding said continuous foil strips to the same major surface of the polymer sheet for direct contact with the individual resistance wires and the subjacent segmented foil strips whereby portions of the segmented foil strips partially envelop said individual resistance wires.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the foil strips are aligned along the longitudinal marginal edges of the curved safety glass member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 1 which includes integrally bonding the composite member between a pair of curved glass sheets to form a laminated safety glass window construction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
256 words
A process of forming a composite sheet which comprises: a. applying a pair of segmented electrically conductive foil strips upon one major surface of a sheet of transparent thermoplastic polymer which shrinks from its original dimensions when heated to an elevated temperature so that each strip is located proximate and parallel to an opposing marginal edge of a curved safety glass window member, b. prestressing electrical resistance wire to provide wrinkles therein when the resistance wire is not under tension, c. applying a transverse pattern of the prestressed resistance wire under tension between said segmented foil strips so that said wire pattern extends beyond the strips and securing the wire pattern to the same major surface of the polymer sheet with electrical heating electrodes located at each end of the individual resistance wires, d. relaxing tension on the resistance wires while retaining physical contact between the pattern of resistance wires and the surface of thermoplastic polymer so that the polymer sheet can contract along the direction of the wire path, e. supplying electrical power to the heating electrodes sufficient to embed those portions of the wires in physical contact with the surface of the polymer sheet, and f. securing continuous electrically conductive foil strips of greater width and thickness than the segmented foil strips by heat-bonding said continuous foil strips to the same major surface of the polymer sheet for direct contact with the individual resistance wires and the subjacent segmented foil strips whereby portions of the segmented foil strips partially envelop said individual resistance wires.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
256 words
A process of forming a composite sheet which comprises: a. applying a pair of segmented electrically conductive foil strips upon one major surface of a sheet of transparent thermoplastic polymer which shrinks from its original dimensions when heated to an elevated temperature so that each strip is located proximate and parallel to an opposing marginal edge of a curved safety glass window member, b. prestressing electrical resistance wire to provide wrinkles therein when the resistance wire is not under tension, c. applying a transverse pattern of the prestressed resistance wire under tension between said segmented foil strips so that said wire pattern extends beyond the strips and securing the wire pattern to the same major surface of the polymer sheet with electrical heating electrodes located at each end of the individual resistance wires, d. relaxing tension on the resistance wires while retaining physical contact between the pattern of resistance wires and the surface of thermoplastic polymer so that the polymer sheet can contract along the direction of the wire path, e. supplying electrical power to the heating electrodes sufficient to embed those portions of the wires in physical contact with the surface of the polymer sheet, and f. securing continuous electrically conductive foil strips of greater width and thickness than the segmented foil strips by heat-bonding said continuous foil strips to the same major surface of the polymer sheet for direct contact with the individual resistance wires and the subjacent segmented foil strips whereby portions of the segmented foil strips partially envelop said individual resistance wires.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 4 wherein the foil strips are aligned along the longitudinal marginal edges of the curved safety glass member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 4 which includes integrally bonding the composite member between a pair of curved glass sheets to form a laminated safety glass window construction.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
269 words
A method of forming a composite sheet member which comprises: a. wrapping a sheet of transparent thermoplastic polymer which shrinks from its original dimensions when heated to an elevated temperature around the circumference of a collapsible drum and fixing both ends of the sheet to the drum, b. applying a pair of segmented electrically conductive foil strips to the outer surface of said polymer sheet so that each strip is located proximate and parallel to an opposing marginal edge of a curved safety glass window member which is aligned with its longitudinal dimension in the direction of the longitudinal drum axis, c. winding a helical coil of prestressed resistance wires in closely spaced relationship upon said drum in contact with the outer surface of the affixed polymer sheet and maintaining tension upon each turn of the resistance wires to form a composite member, d. securing the wire coil to the outer surface of the affixed polymer sheet with heating electrode located between the segmented foil strips but not in the area of the curved safety glass window member, e. collapsing the drum by a predetermined decrease in diameter, f. supplying electrical power to the heating electrodes sufficient to embed portions of the wire in the surface of the polymer sheet, and g. securing continuous electrically conductive foil strips of greater width and thickness than the segmented strips by heat-bonding said continuous foil strips to the same major surface of the polymer sheet for direct contact with the individual resistance wires and the subjacent segmented foil strips whereby portions of the segmented foil strips partially envelop said individual resistance wires.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
269 words
A method of forming a composite sheet member which comprises: a. wrapping a sheet of transparent thermoplastic polymer which shrinks from its original dimensions when heated to an elevated temperature around the circumference of a collapsible drum and fixing both ends of the sheet to the drum, b. applying a pair of segmented electrically conductive foil strips to the outer surface of said polymer sheet so that each strip is located proximate and parallel to an opposing marginal edge of a curved safety glass window member which is aligned with its longitudinal dimension in the direction of the longitudinal drum axis, c. winding a helical coil of prestressed resistance wires in closely spaced relationship upon said drum in contact with the outer surface of the affixed polymer sheet and maintaining tension upon each turn of the resistance wires to form a composite member, d. securing the wire coil to the outer surface of the affixed polymer sheet with heating electrode located between the segmented foil strips but not in the area of the curved safety glass window member, e. collapsing the drum by a predetermined decrease in diameter, f. supplying electrical power to the heating electrodes sufficient to embed portions of the wire in the surface of the polymer sheet, and g. securing continuous electrically conductive foil strips of greater width and thickness than the segmented strips by heat-bonding said continuous foil strips to the same major surface of the polymer sheet for direct contact with the individual resistance wires and the subjacent segmented foil strips whereby portions of the segmented foil strips partially envelop said individual resistance wires.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 7 which includes integrally bonding the composite member between a pair of curved glass sheets to form a laminated safety glass window construction.
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) | 1978-07-21 | 1979-01-20 | 1979-07-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-21 | 1983-01-20 | 1983-07-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-21 | 1987-01-20 | 1987-07-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |