Apparatus for heating a mirror or the like

• US 4,942,286 A
• Filed: 02/06/1989
• Issued: 07/17/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Littelfuse Incorporated
• Original Assignee: The Thermacon Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Ronald L., Monter, Robert P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa J.
• Application Number:
  US07/307,051
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 219/219, 219/541, 219/504, 219/505, 219/522, 219/203, 219/528, 219/529, 219/548, 219/549, 350/588, 350/582, 338/308, 338/309
• US Class Current: 219/219
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/845 specially adapted for reflecting surfaces, e.g. bathroom - or rearview mirrors

Abstract

A layer of conductive polymer having a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) of resistivity and a unifrom thickness, is laminated between copper foils to form a composite sheet which is die-cut to form a planar heater assembly. A small portion of the laminated heater assembly is bent laterally outwardly to form a connector tab, and the heater assembly is adhesively bonded to the back surface of a rear view mirror having a corresponding shape and size. A plastic case supports the mirror and spring-like electrical contact terminals which engage the copper foils on the tab, and the terminals are connected to electrical conductors to provide for heating the entire mirror according to variations in temperature on the mirror surface. The tab may be lanced from the heater assembly or be formed from a projecting edge portion, and the heater assembly may be enclosed within a flexible plastic film to provide resistance to chemical corrosion. In another embodiment, the foils are connected by rivets and insulating sleeves to corresponding electrical tabs or terminals located on the inner side of the heater assembly.

Claims

1. A mirror and heater assembly comprising a mirror having a predetermined shape and size, a single layer of conductive polymer having opposite parallel flat surfaces providing said layer with a substantially uniform thickness, said polymer having a positive temperature coefficient of resistivity, a set of continuous metal foils bonded to said opposite surfaces of said layer and cooperating to form a laminated heater assembly having a uniform thickness with only said single layer of said polymer between said foils, said metal foils and said polymer layer having the same size and shape, means for attaching one of said metal foils forming one side of said heater assembly to said mirror, an integral portion of said laminated heater assembly projecting laterally outwardly from the plane of said heater assembly to form a connecting tab, means for connecting a pair of electrical conductors to the portions of said metal foils on said tab, and said heater assembly being effective to heat substantially the entire mirror according to variations in temperature of different areas of the mirror.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said connecting tab is spaced inwardly from the peripheral edge of said heater assembly and forms a hole through said heater assembly.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said portion of said heater assembly forming said tab comprises a peripheral edge portion of said heater assembly.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprise a set of electrical conductive spring terminals engaging said metal foils on said portion forming said tab.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 and including a mirror case of molded plastics material for supporting the mirror and said heater assembly, and said case supports said terminals in position to engage said metal foils on said tab.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 and including a connector body of electrical insulating material and supporting said spring terminals.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and including a film of plastics material surrounding said heater assembly and providing a protective enclosure for said heater assembly.