Warm window system

• US 7,728,260 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2006
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Energized Glass, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sabrina, LLC
• Inventors: Johnson, Steven X.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Jr.; Richard E
• Assistant Examiner(s): FERENCE, JAMES M
• Application Number:
  US11/422,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20060283084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 521/712, 521/713, 522/046.2, 524/79, 527/861, 219/522, 219/203, 219/547
• US Class Current: 219/200
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 13/026 in door, windows
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/016 Heaters using particular connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/03 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/22 non-flexible
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/00 Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]

Abstract

Disclosed is a warm window system that utilizes individual buss bars that are placed within the space between an inside window pane and an outside window pane and creates sufficient physical force to create an electrical contact on the tin oxide layer on the inside surface of the inside pane of glass. An insulating nonconductive layer can also be used in conjunction with the buss bars. That include metal strips, braided wires, spring loaded indentations, etc. The buss bars have a modulus of elasticity to ensure sufficient electrical contact with the tin oxide layer. The buss bars can be used with either hard coat or soft coat tin oxide coatings on tempered glass or annealed glass. Electrical connections and wires are hidden from the viewing area of the warm window system to enhance the aesthetic value of the warm window system. Retrofit systems allow use of the warm window system in conjunction with an existing installed window system.

Claims

1. A warm window system comprising:

an outside pane of glass;

an inside pane of glass;

a tin oxide layer that is disposed over substantially all of an inner surface of said inside pane of glass;

at least one spacer having a predetermined modulus of elasticity that is disposed between said inside pane of glass and said outside pane of glass in a peripheral area, said inside pane of glass and said outside pane of glass being substantially aligned so that said inner surface of said inside pane of glass faces an interior portion of said warm window system;

at least two buss bars placed in said interior portion of said warm window system between said at least one spacer and said inside pane of glass, said buss bars made from a metal strip that is folded along a length of said metal strip in at least one location, said metal strip having a size, shape and modulus of elasticity that, together with said predetermined modulus of elasticity of said at least one spacer, causes said buss bars to produce a sufficient amount of physical force directly on said inner surface of said inside pane of glass to conform to said tin oxide layer and create an electrical contact between said buss bars and said tin oxide layer on said inner surface of said inside pane of glass that is capable of carrying a sufficient current to warm said warm window system, and a sufficient amount of physical force to hold said buss bars in a substantially stationary position in said interior portion of said warm window system between said outside pane of glass and said inside pane of glass.

2. The warm window system of claim 1 further comprising:

a tin oxide layer disposed on an inner surface of said outside pane that reflects heat back to said inside pane.

3. The warm window system of claim 2 further comprising:

a controller that applies an AC electrical current to said buss bars that is sufficient to generate heat from said tin oxide layer on said inside pane of glass.

7. The warm window system of claim 1 further comprising:

a controller that controls said current applied to said inside pane of glass, said controller disposed in a window frame that comprises a portion of said warm window system.

4. A warm window system comprising:

an outside pane of glass;

an inside pane of glass that is coated with a tin oxide layer over substantially all of an inner surface of said inside pane of glass;

at least one spacer that is disposed between said inside pane of glass and said outside pane of glass in a peripheral area, said inside pane of glass and said outside pane of glass being substantially aligned so that said inner surface of said inside pane of glass faces an interior portion of said warm window system;

an insulating and nonconducting material placed between said inside pane of glass and said outside pane of glass proximate to said at least one spacer, said insulating and nonconducting material having a predetermined modulus of elasticity;

at least two metal strips that are folded at least once along a length of said metal strips to form folded metal strips, said folded metal strips affixed on one side of said insulating and nonconducting material, said folded metal strips affixed to said insulating and nonconducting material so that said folded metal strips are disposed between said insulating and nonconducting material and said inner surface of said inside pane of glass, said folded metal strips having a size, shape and modulus of elasticity that, together with said predetermined modulus of elasticity of said insulating and nonconducting material, causes said folded metal strips to produce a sufficient amount of physical force on said inner surface of said inside pane of glass to conform to said tin oxide layer and create an electrical contact between said folded metal strips and said tin oxide layer on said inner surface of said inside pane of glass that is capable of carrying a sufficient current to warm said warm window system, and a sufficient amount of physical force to hold said folded metal strips affixed to said insulating and nonconducting material in a substantially stationary position in said interior portion of said warm window system.

5. The warm window system of claim 4 wherein said folded metal strip has serrations on a side such that said serrations contact said inner surface of said inside pane of glass to increase electrical contact surface area between said serrations and said inside pane of glass to provide sufficient current to warm said warm window system.

6. The warm window system of claim 4 further wherein said metal strip has spring loaded contact arms on a side such that said spring loaded contact arms contact said inner surface of said inside pane of glass to increase contact surface area between said spring loaded contact arms and said inside pane of glass to provide sufficient current to warm said warm window system.

8. The warm window system of claim 4 further comprising:

a controller that controls said current applied to said inside pane of glass, said controller disposed in a window frame that comprises a portion of said warm window system.