Multiple connection terminal assembly for an electrically heated transparency

• US 5,543,601 A
• Filed: 05/03/1993
• Issued: 08/06/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vitro Flat Glass LLC (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Original Assignee: PPG Industries Incorporated (Nouryon BV)
• Inventors: Bartrug, Bruce A., Koontz, Harry S., Winter, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeffery, John A.
• Application Number:
  US08/056,979
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• Field of Search: 219/541, 219/522, 219/203, 439/845, 439/849, 439/850, 439/877, 439/878-882, 439/917
• US Class Current: 219/203
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10174 Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10293 Edge features, e.g. inserts or holes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/016 Heaters using particular connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/031 Heaters specially adapted for heating the windscreen wiper area
• 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

A multiple terminal assembly includes a plurality of connectors secured within a housing in close proximity to and electrically insulated from each other. The terminals include an electroconductive strip extending outwardly from one side of the housing and an electroconductive tab extending outwardly from an opposite side of the housing. The terminals are spaced apart a fixed, predetermined distance along the housing so that when the assembly is used to supply electrical power to a structure having current carrying members extending to a connection area along an edge portion of the structure, each of the terminal strips is aligned with one of the current carrying members at the connection area and each of the tabs is aligned with a corresponding connector of a multiple connector harness assembly.

Claims

1. A multiple terminal assembly to electrically interconnect an electrical power source to a plurality of current carrying members extending into a connection area along an edge of a laminated transparency, comprising:

a housing; and

a single row of electroconductive terminals secured within said housing in close proximity to and electrically insulated from each other, wherein said terminals are arranged in a generally planar relationship and each of said terminals includes a generally flat electroconductive strip extending outwardly from one side of said housing along a plane and an electroconductive tab extending outwardly from an opposite side of said housing generally along said plane and further wherein said terminals are spaced apart a fixed predetermined distance so as to align each of said terminals with one of said current carrying members at said connection area of said transparency.

2. The assembly as in claim 1 further including a non-electroconductive, moisture and heat resistant sealant positioned between said overlaying housing members to seal said terminals.

3. The assembly as in claim 1 wherein said housing includes a non-electroconductive, heat resistant material molded around portions of said terminals to form a unitary assembly structure and maintain said terminals at said fixed, spaced apart distance.

4. The assembly as in claim 1 wherein said predetermined spacing between said terminals is such that each of said terminal tabs is aligned with a corresponding connector of a multiple connector harness assembly, said connectors being arranged within said harness assembly in close proximity to each other to simultaneously receive each of said outwardly extending tabs of said terminals.

5. The assembly as in claim 1 further including electroconductive adhesive bonded to a major surface of each of said terminal strips to allow said strips to be secured to a corresponding one of said current carrying members.

6. The assembly as in claim 1 wherein said electroconductive strip is a metal foil.

7. The assembly as in claim 1 wherein said transparency is a windshield.

8. In an electrically heatable transparency having a first transparent sheet with a terminal connecting area along an edge of said heatable transparency, a first bus bar having first electroconductive extension means extending along a major surface of said first sheet and into said terminal connecting area, a second bus bar having a second electroconductive extension means electrically insulated from said first extension means and extending along said major surface of said first sheet into said terminal connecting area, an electroconductive heating member extending between and electrically interconnecting said first and second bus bars, and a second transparent sheet laminated to said first sheet, wherein said bus bars, first and second extension means and heating member are laminated between said first and second sheets, the improvement comprising:

a multiple terminal assembly positioned along said edge of said heatable transparency at said terminal connecting area, said terminal assembly having terminals secured within a housing in close proximity to and electrically insulated from each other, wherein each of said terminals includes a generally flat electroconductive strip extending outwardly from one said of said housing along a plane and laminated between said first and second sheets, and an electroconductive tab extending outwardly from an opposite side of said housing generally along said plane and further wherein said terminals are spaced apart a fixed predetermined distance such that each of said terminal strips is aligned with and electrically interconnected to one of said extension means and said tabs are aligned with a corresponding connector of a multiple connector harness assembly having connectors such that each of said outwardly extending tabs of said terminals may be simultaneously received by a corresponding connector of said harness assembly.

9. The heatable assembly as in claim 8 further including a moisture and heat resistant sealant applied along said terminal connecting area to seal said terminal assembly to said heatable assembly.

10. The assembly as in claim 8 wherein said transparency is a windshield.