Windshield de-icing and defrosting mitt using microwave energy heating and method
First Claim
1. Apparatus for removing frozen water from a vehicle windshield or window by hand, comprising:
- a cured microwave-heatable layer including, prior to cure;
at least one curable polydiorganosiloxane gum having a Williams plasticity in the range of 120 to 170 mm;
a curing catalyst adaptable to cure said gum; and
microwave-heatable particulate matter dispersed in said gum, said cured microwave-heatable layer having opposed inner and outer faces, an external surface of said apparatus including said outer face of said cured microwave-heatable layer;
an insulative fabric layer which is substantially transparent to microwave energy and which is affixed to said inner face of microwave-heatable layer, said insulated layer adapted to be interposed between said inner face and the hand; and
means for attaching the hand adjacent said insulative layer, said microwave-heatable layer adapted to be heated by microwave energy and then directly applied to a vehicle windshield or window to melt frozen water therefrom.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus (10, 50) for removing frozen water from vehicle glass includes a cured, microwave-heatable layer (14, 64). The microwave-heatable layer (14, 64) may be formed from at least one elastomeric gum, a curing catalyst adaptable to cure the gum, and microwave-heatable particulate matter dispersed in the gum. In one embodiment, the apparatus (10) is a mitt including an insulative layer (42) which is positioned to be interposed between an inner surface (27) of the elastomeric pad (14) and the hand, such that the hand does not undergo temperature stress. The mitt (10) also preferably includes a visual marker (30) to indicate the temperature of the elastomeric pad (14).
62 Citations
20 Claims
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1. Apparatus for removing frozen water from a vehicle windshield or window by hand, comprising:
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a cured microwave-heatable layer including, prior to cure; at least one curable polydiorganosiloxane gum having a Williams plasticity in the range of 120 to 170 mm; a curing catalyst adaptable to cure said gum; and microwave-heatable particulate matter dispersed in said gum, said cured microwave-heatable layer having opposed inner and outer faces, an external surface of said apparatus including said outer face of said cured microwave-heatable layer; an insulative fabric layer which is substantially transparent to microwave energy and which is affixed to said inner face of microwave-heatable layer, said insulated layer adapted to be interposed between said inner face and the hand; and means for attaching the hand adjacent said insulative layer, said microwave-heatable layer adapted to be heated by microwave energy and then directly applied to a vehicle windshield or window to melt frozen water therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. Apparatus for removing frozen water from vehicle windshields and windows by hand, comprising:
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a cured, elastomeric microwave-heatable layer having inner and outer faces and including, prior to cure; at least one elastomeric gum; a curing catalyst adaptable to cure said gum to form a matrix; and microwave-heatable particulate matter dispersed in said matrix; and means affixed to the microwave-heatable layer for controlling the apparatus by the hand, said means including means for insulating the hand from the microwave-heatable layer, an external surface of said apparatus including said outer surface of said microwave-heatable layer, said external surface adaptable to be directly applied to the vehicle windshield or window. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. Apparatus for removing frozen water from vehicle glass by hand, comprising:
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a cured, microwave-heatable elastomeric layer including, prior to cure; at least one elastomeric gum; a curing catalyst adaptable to cure said gum to form a matrix; and microwave-heatable particulate matter dispersed in said matrix, said microwave-heatable layer having opposed inner and outer faces; an insulative layer which is substantially transparent to microwave energy and which is affixed to said inner face of said microwave-heatable layer, said insulative layer adapted to be interposed between the microwave-heatable layer and the hand; and means for containing the hand in a position adjacent the insulative layer, a surface of said apparatus adaptable to be applied to the vehicle glass including said outer face of said microwave-heatable layer.
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15. A mitt for removing frozen water from a vehicle windshield or window by hand comprising:
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a cured, elastomeric microwave-heatable layer having inner and outer faces and including, prior to cure; at least one elastomeric gum; a curing catalyst adaptable to cure said gum to form a matrix; and microwave-heatable particulate matter disposed in said matrix; and a fabric body having at least first and second fabric layers, said first and second fabric layers joined to create a cavity for insertion of the hand, said inner face of said elastomeric microwave-heatable layer affixed to said fabric body, an outer surface of said mitt including said outer face of said elastomeric microwave-heatable layer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method for removing frozen water from a vehicle windshield or window by hand, comprising the steps of:
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heating a microwave-heatable elastomeric layer in a microwave oven to a predetermined temperature; removing the heated elastomeric layer from the microwave oven; insulating the elastomeric layer from the hand by interposing an insulative layer therebetween; applying the heated elastomeric layer to a surface of the windshield or window having accumulated thereon frozen water; and in response to said step of applying, melting the frozen water in order to clear the windshield or window. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification