Planar heating device for use with mirrors

• US 5,716,536 A
• Filed: 01/23/1997
• Issued: 02/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tokyo Cosmos Electric Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Tokyo Cosmos Electric Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Hiroshi, Fukuda, Kouji, Yokoto, Shigenori, Tsukamoto, Mitsunori, Morii, Shunichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeffery, John A.
• Application Number:
  US08/787,603
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 219/202-203, 219/219, 219/522, 219/528, 219/536, 219/542, 219/544, 219/548-549, 359/507, 359/838, 359/841, 15/250.003, 338/254, 338/306
• US Class Current: 219/219
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/016 Heaters using particular connecting means
• 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: H05B 3/845 specially adapted for reflecting surfaces, e.g. bathroom - or rearview mirrors

Abstract

Main electrodes 3, 4 are formed on the inner surface of a flexible insulating sheet 2 along opposed edges thereof, and junction electrode sections 3a, 4a are formed on the main electrodes at their central portions. Comb-toothed sub-electrodes 7, 8 extend from the main electrodes 3, 4 into interdigitated relation, and a layer of electrically resistive material 9 is formed over the main and sub-electrodes. Electrically conductive paths 5, 6 are formed on the inner surface of a terminal mounting substrate to which terminals are attached, and one ends of the conductive paths 5, 6 are connected with the corresponding junction electrode sections 3a, 4a while the other ends thereof are connected with the terminals to be connected to a power supply. The terminal mounting substrate with the terminals is bonded to the insulating sheet.

Claims

1. A planar heating device for use with a mirror comprising:

a flexible electrically insulating sheet;

a first main electrode and a second main electrode formed on one side surface of said insulating sheet along opposed edge portions thereof, respectively;

a plurality of first comb-toothed sub-electrodes and a plurality of second comb-toothed sub-electrodes formed on the one side surface of said insulating sheet and having one ends connected with said first and second main electrodes, respectively, said first and second comb-toothed sub-electrodes extending into interdigitated relation;

a layer of electrically resistive material formed on the one side surface of said insulating sheet over said first and second sub-electrodes;

a terminal mounting substrate affixed to the one side surface of said insulating sheet over said layer of resistive material, said terminal mounting substrate being made of a flexible electrically insulating sheet;

a first electrically conductive path and a second electrically conductive path formed on the inner surface of said terminal mounting substrate opposing said insulating sheet, said first and second electrically conductive paths facing said layer of resistive material and having one ends in opposing relation with said first and second main electrodes;

first and second electrode connecting means for electrically connecting said one ends of said first and second electrically conductive paths with said first and second main electrodes, said first and second conductive paths being connected with said first and second main electrodes at midpoints of the first and second main electrodes between their opposite ends, respectively;

said first and second electrode connecting means comprising first and second junction electrode sections formed on the one side surface of said insulating sheet and connected with said corresponding first and second main electrodes, electrically conductive washer means interposed between said first and second junction electrode sections and the one ends of said first and second corresponding conductive paths, and first and second eyelet means for urging said first and second junction electrode sections and the one ends of said corresponding first and second conductive paths against said conductive washer means sandwiched therebetween by pressing said insulating sheet and said terminal mounting substrate from the outsides thereof; and

a first terminal and a second terminal attached to the outer surface of said terminal mounting substrate at the other ends of said first and second electrically conductive paths and electrically connected with said first and second electrically conductive paths, respectively, said first and second terminals being adapted to be connected with a power supply.

2. The planar heating device according to claim 1 wherein the other ends of said first and second conductive paths are in opposing proximity with each other.

3. The planar heating device according to claim 2 wherein a thermostat is electrically connected in series between one end of one of said first and second conductive paths and the corresponding terminal, and is attached to said terminal mounting substrate and located so as to overlie said layer of resistive material.

4. The planar heating device according to claim 3 wherein said one of said first and second conductive paths is separated in two sections intermediate its opposite ends, and said two sections are electrically connected together at their adjacent ends through said thermostat.

5. The planar heating device according to claim 4 wherein a double faced adhesive tape is affixed to the surface of the insulating sheet on which said layer of resistive material is formed.

6. The planar heating device according to claim 1 wherein a double faced adhesive tape is affixed to the one side surface of said insulating sheet on which said layer of resistive material is formed.