Insulating glass unit construction with an electrically heated pane

• US 20070235441A1
• Filed: 03/28/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Commercial Refrigerator Door Company, Inc. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Commercial Refrigerator Door Company, Inc. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Winsler, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US11/390,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20070235441A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/522
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/013 Heaters using resistive films or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/016 Heaters using particular connecting means
• 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: H05B 3/86 the heating conductors being embedded in the transparent or reflecting material H05B3/845 takes precedence

Abstract

Disclosed is the construction of an insulating glass unit (“IGU”) utilizing two or more glass panes. The construction employs powered bus bars and connecting wires to deliver a voltage to a resistive coating that is applied to one of the panes. The voltage heats the area between two of the panes and thereby reduces condensation on the outer surface of the IGU. In accordance with the present invention, the bus bars are secured within a sealant at a location that is outside of the spacer and the viewing area of the pane. This arrangement increases the total viewing area and eliminates the risk of electric shock in the event the pane is broken, and eliminates moisture from entering the IGU leading to failure.

Claims

1. An insulating glass unit comprising:

a first pane of glass defined by a peripheral edge and upper and lower areas, the first pane constituting an exterior pane of the insulating glass unit;

a spacer positioned upon the first pane adjacent the peripheral edge, the spacer containing a desiccant, a viewing area bounded by the spacer;

an electrically conductive and transparent coating applied to the glass pane, the coating having a predetermined amount of resistance;

a second pane of glass defined by a peripheral edge and upper and lower areas, the second pane constituting an interior pane of the insulating glass unit;

a sealant applied to the upper and lower areas of the first and second panes, the sealant functioning to join the panes in an airtight manner and trap a gas therebetween, the desiccant absorbing any moisture within the space;

a first bus bar positioned within the sealant of the upper area, a second bus bar positioned within the sealant of the lower area,

wires supplying a voltage to the first and second bus bars and the coating to heat the first pane by way of the resistance in the coating, whereby the placement of the first and second bus bars outside of the viewing areas eliminates the danger of electric shock in the event the glass is broken.

2. A device for reducing condensation comprising:

a pane of glass defined by a peripheral edge and a peripheral area;

a spacer positioned upon the pane interior of the peripheral edge and the peripheral area, a viewing area bounded by the spacer;

an electrically conductive coating applied to the glass, the coating having a resistance;

a sealant applied to the peripheral area;

a bus bar positioned within the sealant, the bus bar supplying a voltage to the coating to heat the pane by way of the resistance in the coating, whereby the placement of the bus bar outside of the viewing area eliminates the danger of electric shock.

3. The device as described in claim 2 wherein two or more panes of glass are included which are joined together by the sealant and wherein the two panes together constitute an insulating glass unit.

4. The device as described in claim 3 wherein the spacer includes a desiccant for eliminating moisture from within the insulating glass unit.

5. The device as described in claim 2 wherein the peripheral area is at an upper portion of the pane.

6. The device as described in claim 2 wherein the peripheral area is at a lower portion of the pane.

7. An insulating glass unit comprising:

first and second panes of glass, each pane defined by a peripheral edge, the first and second panes together constituting the insulating glass unit with one pane forming an exterior surface and the other pane forming an interior surface;

a spacer positioned upon one of the panes interior of the peripheral edge, a viewing area bounded by the spacer;

an electrically conductive and transparent coating applied to the glass;

a sealant functioning to join the first and second panes in an airtight manner;

a bus bar positioned outside of the viewing area and within the sealant, the bus bar coupled to a source of power for supplying a voltage to the coating to heat the first and second panes.