Electrically heatable automobile window power-supply connector assembly

• US 4,707,591 A
• Filed: 06/24/1986
• Issued: 11/17/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Sprenger, Willi
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw, Clifford C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Preston, Gerald E.
• Application Number:
  US06/877,810
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 219/203, 219/522, 219/541, 219/543, 219/547, 338/308, 338/309, 339/255 R, 200/61.78, 200/61.81
• US Class Current: 219/541
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/016 Heaters using particular connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/06 Heater elements structurally combined with coupling elements or holders
• 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

Abstract

An electrically heatable fixed rear window of a motor vehicle has resistance heating strips extending over part of the window area and a bus bar which electrically connects the resistance heating strips to each other and provides a contact on the window which cooperates with, and a counter-contact on the motor vehicle body which is connected to an electrical power source such as the motor vehicle battery.

The counter-contact on the motor vehicle body comprises a compression spring-loaded pin which moves in the direction perpendicularly of the window surface, which is connected at its rear end to a power cable connected to the electrical power source and which is operatively connected to the bus bar at its front end surface.

Claims

1. An electrically heatable window of a motor vehicle having resistance heating strips extending over at least part of the window area, a bus bar electrically connecting the resistance heating strips to each other, a contact on the window associated with the resistance heating strips, and a counter-contact on the motor vehicle body which is connected to an electrical power source such as the motor vehicle battery, contact and counter-contact being constructed as push contacts such that in the assembled or closed position of the window, the contact and counter-contact engage each other with additional spring pressure, closing the electrical circuit between the resistance heating strips and the power source characterized in that,

the contact on the window consists of the bus bar itself and the counter-contact on the motor vehicle body is disposed on a flange like edge which serves as a support surface for the window in the assembled or closed position and comprises a compression spring-loaded pin which extends perpendicularly or essentially perpendicularly to the window surface and which is movable in the direction perpendicularly or essentially perpendicularly of the window surface, said spring loaded pin being connected at its rear end to a power cable connected to an electrical power source and operatively connected to the bus bar at its front end surface.

2. An electrically heatable window according to claim 1, characterized in that the window is fixed to the flange-like edge by an adhesive bead which is spaced in close proximity of the compression spring-loaded contact pin serving as the counter-contact so that relative movement between the window and the contact pin is prevented when the window is in the assembled position.

3. An electrically heatable window according to claim 2, characterized in that the compression spring-loaded contact pin serving as the counter-contact is disposed axially movably in a hole in the flange-like edge of the body panels.

4. An electrically heatable window according to claim 2, characterized in that the compression spring-loaded contact pin serving as the counter-contact is disposed movably in a bracket which is connected in releasable clamping relationship to the flange-like edge of the body panels.

5. An electrically heatable window according to claim 4, characterized in fact that the bracket comprises a clamp for cooperating with the flange-like edge which is made of spring steel.

6. An electrically heatable window according to claim 5, characterized in that the bracket comprises a sleeve for retaining and guiding the movable contact pin which is spot welded to the clamp.

7. An electrically heatable window according to claim 5, characterized in that the bracket comprises a sleeve for retaining and guiding the movable contact pin which is formed integrally on the clamp.

8. An electrically heatable window according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 characterized in that the contact pin has a head, the front end surface of the contact pin which is operatively connected to the bus bar is a convexly curved surface of the head, and the contact pin is surrounded by a plastic sleeve which serves to insulate supply of power to the convexly curved surface.

9. An electrically heatable window according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 characterized in that the compression spring acting on the contact pin in the direction perpendicularly or essentially perpendicularly of the window is constructed as a coil spring and is designed in such a way that its spring resistance can be overcome simply by the installation weight of the window.