Electroformed patterns for curved shapes

• US 4,845,310 A
• Filed: 04/28/1987
• Issued: 07/04/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PPG Industries Incorporated (Nouryon BV)
• Original Assignee: PPG Industries Incorporated (Nouryon BV)
• Inventors: Postupack, Dennis S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grimley, Arthur T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TONE, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/043,920
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 174/35 MS, 174/35 R, 219/10.55 D, 219/203, 340/550, 428/38
• US Class Current: 174/389
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1476 Canopies; Windscreens or similar transparent elements
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 1/08 Perforated or foraminous objects, e.g. sieves C25D1/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/18 Screening arrangements against electric or magnetic fields, e.g. against earth's field
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0094 being light-transmitting, e.g. transparent, translucent

Abstract

A method for electroforming a metal grid capable of conforming to a curved substrate is disclosed, as well as use of such a grid in an aircraft transparency.

Claims

1. A curved transparent article comprising:

a. a curved transparent substrate; and

b. a conformable electroformed metal grid comprising nonlinear segments disposed on a surface of said transparent substrate.

2. A transparent article according to claim 1 wherein said electroformed metal grid comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of nickel and copper.

3. A transparent article according to claim 2, wherein the electroformed metal grid comprises copper.

4. A transparent article according to claim 3, wherein said grid comprises at least 100 apertures per square inch.

5. A transparent article according to claim 2, wherein the electroformed grid comprises nickel.

6. A transparent article according to claim 5, wherein said grid has sufficient resistance to function as a heating element.

7. A transparent article according to claim 6, wherein said grid comprises at least 10 lines per inch.

8. A transparent article according to claim 1, wherein said transparent substrate is selected from the group consisting of glass and rigid transparent plastics.

9. A transparent article according to claim 8, wherein said transparent substrate comprises a plurality of transparent layers in a laminated configuration.

10. A transparent article according to claim 9, wherein the electroformed grid is assembled between two transparent layers of a laminated substrate.