← Back to Patent Explorer
US5525401A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Vehicle window and method of making the same

Assignee: Decoma International Inc
•
Filing: 1994-10-24
•
Granted: 1996-06-11
•
Expires: 2014-10-24
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A vehicle window comprising a relatively thin sheet of clear plastic material having opposed surfaces, an electrically operable defrosting grid adhered to one surface of the relatively thin sheet, and a relatively thick substrate layer of clear plastic material having opposed surfaces curved into a vehicle window configuration. The relatively thick substrate layer is adhered to the one surface of the relatively thin sheet and the electrically operable defrosting grid adhered thereto while in contact therewith in a molten state under heat and pressure within a cavity defined by two generally parallel curved die surfaces of cooperating injection molding dies so that upon solidification the surfaces of the relatively thin sheet are retained in a curved configuration in generally parallel coextensive relation to corresponding curved surfaces of the relatively thick substrate layer and a method of making the window wherein the electrically operable defrosting grid is formed by silk screening onto one surface of the relatively thin sheet while in a substantially planar condition a curable electrically conductive ink in the form of a defrosting grid and then curing the curable electrically conductive ink on the one surface of said relatively thin sheet so that the defrosting grid is stably adhered thereto.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gerhard Hirmer

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 09:53
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B3/00; H05B3/84; H05B3/86; B; B29; B29C; B29C45/00; B29C45/14; B29C45/14778; B29C45/14811; B60; B60S; B60S1/00; B60S1/02; B60S1/023; B60S1/026; B29K; B29K2995/00; B29K2995/0003; B29K2995/0005; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/30; B29L2031/3052; H05B2203/00; H05B2203/017; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24802; Y10T428/24893; Y10T428/24909; Y10T428/24926; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31511; Y10T428/31515; Y10T428/31522

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 138 words
A vehicle window comprising a relatively thin sheet of clear plastic material having opposed surfaces, an electrically operable defrosting grid formed from a curable conductive ink cured to one surface of said relatively thin sheet, and a relatively thick substrate layer of clear plastic material having opposed surfaces curved into a vehicle window configuration, said relatively thick substrate layer being adhered to said one surface of said relatively thin sheet and the electrically operable defrosting grid cured thereto while in contact therewith in a molten state under heat and pressure within a cavity defined by two generally parallel curved die surfaces of cooperating injection molding dies so that upon solidification the surfaces of said relatively thin sheet are retained in a curved configuration in generally parallel coextensive relation to corresponding curved surfaces of said relatively thick substrate layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 138 words
A vehicle window comprising a relatively thin sheet of clear plastic material having opposed surfaces, an electrically operable defrosting grid formed from a curable conductive ink cured to one surface of said relatively thin sheet, and a relatively thick substrate layer of clear plastic material having opposed surfaces curved into a vehicle window configuration, said relatively thick substrate layer being adhered to said one surface of said relatively thin sheet and the electrically operable defrosting grid cured thereto while in contact therewith in a molten state under heat and pressure within a cavity defined by two generally parallel curved die surfaces of cooperating injection molding dies so that upon solidification the surfaces of said relatively thin sheet are retained in a curved configuration in generally parallel coextensive relation to corresponding curved surfaces of said relatively thick substrate layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 62 words
A vehicle window as defined in claim 1 wherein said electrically conductive defrosting grid is silk screened to the one surface of said relatively thin sheet by depositing an electrically conductive ink on said one surface through a silk screen while the one surface is in a planar condition, the deposited ink being thereafter cured to adhere it to said one surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 41 words
A vehicle window as defined in claim 2 wherein the surface of said relatively thin sheet opposed to said one surface has a coating of an abrasive resistant material thereon, said opposed surface constituting an exterior surface of said vehicle window.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 29 words
A vehicle window as defined in claim 3 wherein said abrasive resistant material is a thermoset material taken from the group consisting of polysiloxane, acrylic resin or aliphatic polyurethane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 22 words
A vehicle window as defined in claim 2 wherein said relatively thin sheet has a thickness within a range of 5-40 mils.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
A vehicle window as defined in claim 2 wherein said relatively thin sheet has a thickness within a range of 10-30 mils.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 20 words
A vehicle window as defined in claim 2 wherein said relatively thin sheet has a thickness of approximately 20 mils.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 29 words
A vehicle window as defined in claim 2 wherein said relatively thin sheet is formed from a thermoplastic material taken from the group consisting of polycarbonate or polyester resin.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 23 words
A vehicle window as defined in claim 2 wherein said relatively thick substrate layer has a thickness within a range of 50-500 mils.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 23 words
A vehicle window as defined in claim 2 wherein said relatively thick substrate layer has a thickness within a range of 100-150 mils.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 21 words
A vehicle window as defined in claim 2 wherein said relatively thick substrate layer has a thickness of approximately 125 mils.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 36 words
A vehicle window as defined in claim 2 wherein said relatively thick substrate layer is formed of a thermoplastic material taken from the group consisting of polycarbonate or cyclic polyolefin or polymethylmethacrylate or any modification thereof.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USRE25711E Cited
US3900634A Cited
US4218500A Cited
US4109044A Cited
US4453669A Cited
US4600627A Cited
US4623582A Cited
US4743741A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-06-11 1999-12-11 2000-06-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-06-11 2003-12-11 2004-06-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-06-11 2007-12-11 2008-06-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag