Mirror defogger with elongated frame member and downwardly extending heater sheet

• US 5,302,809 A
• Filed: 03/06/1992
• Issued: 04/12/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Abby Ghiassy
• Original Assignee: Abby Ghiassy
• Inventors: Ghiassy, Abby
• Primary Examiner(s): Reynolds, Bruce A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jeffery, John A.
• Application Number:
  US07/847,178
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 219/219, 219/528, 219/529, 219/549, 219/522, 219/213, 219/526, 219/520, 338/307, 338/308, 338/309, 392/439, 392/435, 392/438
• US Class Current: 219/219
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/845 specially adapted for reflecting surfaces, e.g. bathroom - or rearview mirrors

Abstract

A resistive sheet electrical mirror heater is provided for defogging a bathroom mirror. The heater may be retrofitted to a standard wall-mounted mirror. An elongated frame member rests along the top of the mirror and contains electrical circuitry. A planar heater sheet extends downwardly from and is supported by the frame member between the mirror and the wall. A power cord for connecting directly to a household outlet may extend from either end of the frame member.

Claims

1. A resistive sheet electrical mirror heater for defogging a rectangular mirror having a horizontal top edge fixed proximate to a mounting surface, the heater comprising:

an elongated frame member having a U-shaped cross section, the frame member comprising an elongated top panel with opposed spaced-apart elongated front and rear panels depending downwardly therefrom, the front and rear panels defining a channel therebetween sized to receive a portion of a top edge of a mirror, the front and rear panels having opposed inwardly facing surfaces;

a planar heater sheet having electrically resistive heating elements, the sheet having an upper edge attached to the rear panel of the frame member and a lower portion comprising the majority of the area of the sheet depending downwardly therefrom, the entire lower portion being positioned at a level below the entire frame member with the sheet being suspended solely from above by the frame, the lower portion of the heating element being adapted to be positioned between the mirror and the mounting surface; and

electrical control means for providing power to the heater sheet, the control means being adapted to be connected to an external source of power and substantially contained within the channel of the frame member.

2. The heater of claim 1 wherein the frame member has an end cap attached at each end to enclose the space therein.

3. The heater of claim 1 wherein the frame member includes a support member within the channel to align the frame member with the top edge of the mirror.

4. A retrofit mirror defogger for heating a rectangular sheet glass mirror mounted on a wall surface, the defogger comprising:

an elongated channel member configured to receive a top edge of the mirror;

a planar sheet heating element suspended solely from the channel member, the heating element having a lower portion comprising a majority of the sheet area and depending downwardly from the channel member, the entire lower portion being positioned at a level below the entire channel member, and the lower portion adapted to be positioned in laminar contact between the mirror and the flat surface.

5. A retrofit mirror defogger for heating a rectangular sheet glass mirror mounted on a wall surface, the defogger comprising:

an elongated channel member configured to receive a top edge of the mirror;

a planar sheet heating element suspended solely from the channel member, the heating element having a lower portion comprising a majority of the sheet area and depending downwardly from the channel member, the entire lower portion being positioned at a level below the entire channel member, and the lower portion adapted to be positioned in laminar contact between the mirror and the flat surface; and

an electrical control means for providing power to the heating element, the control means being adapted to be connected to an external source of power and being substantially contained within the channel member.

6. A retrofit mirror defogger for heating a rectangular sheet glass mirror mounted on a wall surface, the defogger comprising:

an elongated channel member configured to receive a top edge of the mirror;

a planar sheet heating element suspended solely from the channel member, the heating element having a lower portion comprising a majority of the sheet area and depending downwardly from the channel member, the entire lower portion being positioned at a level below the entire channel member, and the lower portion adapted to be positioned in laminar contact between the mirror and the flat surface; and

a pair of end caps, each attached to a respective end of the channel member.

7. A fog-free apparatus including:

a vertical wall;

a mirror fixed proximate to the wall with a gap defined therebetween, the mirror having a width;

a heater comprising an elongated channel member having a length less than the width of the mirror, configured to receive the top edge of the mirror and to be supported thereby, the heater also comprising a planar sheet heating element depending downwardly from the channel member and positioned between the mirror and the wall; and

an electrical control means for providing power to the heating element, the control means being adapted to be connected to an external source of power and being substantially contained within the channel member.

8. A fog-free mirror apparatus including:

a vertical wall;

a mirror fixed proximate to the wall with a gap defined therebetween, the mirror having a width;

a heater comprising an elongated channel member having a length less than the width of the mirror configured to receive the top edge of the mirror and to be supported thereby, the heater also comprising a planar sheet heating element depending downwardly from the channel member and positioned between the mirror and the wall; and

a pair of end caps, each attached to a respective end of the channel member.