Warm Window System

• US 20060283084A1
• Filed: 06/06/2006
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energized Glass, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sabrina, LLC
• Inventors: Johnson, Steven X.
• Granted Patent: US 7,728,260 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 13/026 in door, windows
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/016 Heaters using particular connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/03 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/22 non-flexible
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/84 Heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas, e.g. for demisting or de-icing windows, mirrors or vehicle windshields
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/00 Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]

Abstract

Disclosed is a warm window system that utilizes individual buss bars that are placed within the space between an inside window pane and an outside window pane and creates sufficient physical force to create an electrical contact on the tin oxide layer on the inside surface of the inside pane of glass. An insulating nonconductive layer can also be used in conjunction with the buss bars. That include metal strips, braided wires, spring loaded indentations, etc. The buss bars have a modulus of elasticity to ensure sufficient electrical contact with the tin oxide layer. The buss bars can be used with either hard coat or soft coat tin oxide coatings on tempered glass or annealed glass. Electrical connections and wires are hidden from the viewing area of the warm window system to enhance the aesthetic value of the warm window system. Retrofit systems allow use of the warm window system in conjunction with an existing installed window system.

Claims

1. A warm window system comprising:

an outside pane of glass;

an inside pane of glass that is coated with a tin oxide layer over substantially all of a inner surface of said inside pane of glass;

at least one spacer that is disposed between said inside pane of glass and said outside pane of glass in a peripheral area, said inside pane of glass and said outside pane of glass being substantially aligned so that said inner surface of said inside pane of glass faces an interior portion of said warm window system;

at least two buss bars placed in said interior portion of said warm window system adjacent to said at least one spacer, said buss bars having a size, shape and modulus of elasticity that causes said buss bars to produce a sufficient amount of physical force on said inner surface of said inside pane of glass to create an electrical contact between said buss bars and said tin oxide layer on said inner surface of said inside pane of glass that is capable of carrying a sufficient current to warm said warm window system, and a sufficient amount of physical force to hold said buss bars in a substantially stationary position in said interior portion of said warm window system.

2. The warm window system of claim 1 further comprising:

a tin oxide layer disposed on an inner surface of said outside pane that reflects heat back to said inside pane.

3. The warm window system of claim 2 wherein said tin oxide layer disposed on said inner surface of said outside pane covers only a portion of said inner surface so that said buss bars do not make electrical contact with said tin oxide layer disposed on said inner surface of said outside pane.

4. A method of applying current to a tin oxide layer in a heated window system comprising:

assembling a first pane of glass having said tin oxide layer disposed on an inner surface of said first pane of glass, at least one spacer and a second pane of glass;

placing at least two buss bars between said first pane of glass and said second pane of glass, said buss bars having a size, shape and modulus of elasticity that causes said buss bars to produce a sufficient amount of physical force on said tin oxide layer disposed on said inner surface of said first pane of glass to create an electrical contact between said buss bars and said tin oxide layer disposed on said inner surface of said first pane of glass that is capable of carrying a sufficient current to warm said heated window system, and a sufficient amount of physical force to hold said buss bars in a substantially stationary position in said heated window system.

5. A warm window system comprising:

an outside pane of glass;

an inside pane of glass that is coated with a tin oxide layer over substantially all of a inner surface of said inside pane of glass;

at least one spacer that is disposed between said inside pane of glass and said outside pane of glass in a peripheral area, said inside pane of glass and said outside pane of glass being substantially aligned so that said inner surface of said inside pane of glass faces an interior portion of said warm window system;

an insulating and nonconducting material placed between said inside pane of glass and said outside pane of glass proximate to said at least one spacer;

at least two metal strips affixed on one side of said insulating and nonconducting material, said metal strips affixed to said insulating and nonconducting material so that said metal strips are disposed between said insulating and nonconducting material and said inner surface of said inside pane of glass, said metal strips having a size, shape and modulus of elasticity that causes said metal strips to produce a sufficient amount of physical force on said inner surface of said inside pane of glass to create an electrical contact between said metal strips and said tin oxide layer on said inner surface of said inside pane of glass that is capable of carrying a sufficient current to warm said warm window system, and a sufficient amount of physical force to hold said metal strips affixed to said insulating and nonconducting material in a substantially stationary position in said interior portion of said warm window system.

6. The warm window system of claim 5 wherein said metal strip has serrations on a side such that said serrations contact said inner surface of said inside pane of glass to increase contact surface area between said serrations and said inside pane of glass to provide sufficient current to warm said warm window system.

7. The warm window system of claim 5 further wherein said metal strip has spring loaded contact arms on a side such that said spring loaded contact arms contact said inner surface of said inside pane of glass to increase contact surface area between said spring loaded contact arms and said inside pane of glass to provide sufficient current to warm said warm window system.

8. A method of applying current to a tin oxide layer in a heated window system comprising:

assembling a first pane of glass having said tin oxide layer disposed on an inner surface of said first pane of glass, at least one spacer and a second pane of glass;

providing an insulating and nonconducting material;

affixing metal strips on to said insulating and nonconducting material;

placing said insulating and nonconducting material and said metal strips that are attached to said insulating and nonconducting material between said first pane of glass and said second pane of glass, said insulating and nonconducting material and said metal strip having a size, shape and modulus of elasticity that causes said metal strip to produce a sufficient amount of physical force on said tin oxide layer disposed on said inner surface of said first pane of glass to create an electrical contact between said metal strips and said tin oxide layer disposed on said inner surface of said first pane of glass that is capable of carrying a sufficient current to warm said heated window system, and a sufficient amount of physical force to hold said metals strips affixed to said insulating and nonconducting material in a substantially stationary position in said heated window system.

9. A warm window system comprising:

an outside pane of glass;

an inside pane of glass that is coated with a tin oxide layer over substantially all of a inner surface of said inside pane of glass;

at least one spacer that is disposed between said inside pane of glass and said outside pane of glass in a peripheral area, said inside pane of glass and said outside pane of glass being substantially aligned so that said inner surface of said inside pane of glass faces an interior portion of said warm window system;

an insulating and nonconducting material placed between said inside pane of glass and said outside pane of glass adjacent to said at least one spacer;

at least two braided wires embedded in said insulating and nonconducting material, said braided wires and said insulating and nonconducting material having a size, shape and modulus of elasticity that causes said braided wires to produce a sufficient amount of physical force on said inner surface of said inside pane of glass to create an electrical contact between said braided wires and said tin oxide layer on said inner surface of said inside pane of glass that is capable of carrying a sufficient current to warm said warm window system, and a sufficient amount of physical force to hold said braided wires embedded in said insulating and nonconducting material in a substantially stationary position in said interior portion of said warm window system.

10. A method of applying current to a tin oxide layer in a heated window system comprising:

assembling a first pane of glass having said tin oxide layer disposed on an inner surface of said first pane of glass, at least one spacer and a second pane of glass;

providing an insulating and nonconducting material;

inserting braided wire in to said insulating and nonconducting material;

placing said insulating and nonconducting material and said braided wire that embedded in said insulating and nonconducting material between said first pane of glass and said second pane of glass, said insulating and nonconducting material and said braided wire having a size, shape and modulus of elasticity that causes said braided wire to produce a sufficient amount of physical force on said tin oxide layer disposed on said inner surface of said first pane of glass to create an electrical contact between said braided wire and said tin oxide layer disposed on said inner surface of said first pane of glass that is capable of carrying a sufficient current to warm said heated window system, and a sufficient amount of physical force to hold said braided wire embedded in said insulating and nonconducting material in a substantially stationary position in said heated window system.