Wire connection structure for laminated glass and laminated glass including such a wire connection structure

• US 7,663,561 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2007
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AGC, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited (AGC, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hisaeda, Katsumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Wimer; Michael C
• Application Number:
  US11/860,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20080024687A1
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 343/704, 343/713, 343/905, 343/906, 439/329, 439/357
• US Class Current: 343/713
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10293 Edge features, e.g. inserts or holes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10376 Laminated safety glass or glazing containing metal wires
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/04 Pins or blades for co-operation with sockets
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/428 by resilient locking means on the contact members; by locking means on resilient contact members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/02 for antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles

Abstract

There is provided a wire connection structure for laminated glass, which is capable of electrically connecting a conductor embedded in laminated glass and a lead wire without soldering, and laminated glass including such a wire connection structure.

A wire connection structure comprising an embedded electrode 8 embedded in laminated glass 1; a housing 2, 22 configured to form a space along with the laminated glass 1 and to have an insertion slot 13, 33 formed therein so as to communicate with the space, the housing being disposed on the laminated glass 1 so that the space confronts the embedded electrode 8; an elastic terminal 3, 23 received into the space of the housing 2, 22 and made of a conductive material; and a connector 5 connected to a lead wire 4; the terminal 3, 23 including a terminal strip 16, 36 to be detachably connected to the connector 5, and an external electrode 17, 37, the external electrode being configured to be electrostatic-capacitively coupled with the embedded electrode 8 when the terminal is received into the housing 2, 22 and is elastically deformed in the space to be pressed against the laminated glass.

Claims

1. A wire connection structure for laminated glass, which electrically connects a conductor embedded in laminated glass and a lead wire outside the laminated glass, comprising:

an embedded electrode embedded in the laminated glass and connected to the conductor;

a housing configured to form a space along with the laminated glass and to have an insertion slot formed therein so as to communicate with the space, the housing being disposed on the laminated glass so that the space confronts the embedded electrode;

an elastic terminal to be received into the space of the housing and made of a conductive material;

a connector to be connected to the lead wire; and

the terminal including a terminal strip to be detachably connected to the connector, and an external electrode, the external electrode being configured to be electrostatic-capacitively coupled with the embedded electrode when the terminal is received into the housing and is elastically deformed in the space to be pressed against the laminated glass;

whereby when the connector is connected to the terminal strip, the lead wire and the conductor are electrically connected together through electrostatic-capacitive coupling between the embedded electrode and the external electrode.

2. The wire connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the housing and the terminal are configured so that one of the housing and the terminal is fitted into or engaged with the other.

3. The wire connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the conductor comprises an antenna conductor.

4. The wire connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the laminated glass comprises a window glass for a vehicle, and the housing is disposed on a car-interior side.

5. A laminated glass unit including a wire connection structure comprising:

laminated glass;

a conductor embedded in the laminated glass;

an embedded electrode embedded in the laminated glass and connected to the conductor;

a housing configured to form a space along with the laminated glass and to have an insertion slot formed therein so as to communicate with the space, the housing being disposed on the laminated glass so that the space confronts the embedded electrode;

an elastic terminal to be received into the space of the housing and made of a conductive material; and

the terminal including a terminal strip to be detachably connected to a connector outside the laminated glass, and an external electrode, the external electrode being configured to be electrostatic-capacitively coupled with the embedded electrode when the terminal is received into the housing and is elastically deformed in the space to be pressed against the laminated glass.

6. The laminated glass according to claim 5, wherein the housing and the terminal are configured so that one of the housing and the terminal is fitted into or engaged with the other.

7. The laminated glass according to claim 5, wherein the conductor comprises an antenna conductor.

8. The laminated glass according to claim 5, wherein the laminated glass comprises a window glass for a vehicle, and the housing is disposed on a car-interior side.