Resistance heating device for flat objects such as mirrors

• US 5,904,874 A
• Filed: 10/10/1997
• Issued: 05/18/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Josef Winter
• Original Assignee: Josef Winter
• Inventors: Winter, Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROBINSON, DANIEL LEON
• Application Number:
  US08/948,518
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 219/219, 219/522, 219/543, 219/203, 338/306, 338/307, 338/308, 338/309, 338/314, 392/432, 392/433, 392/434, 392/435, 392/438, 392/439
• US Class Current: 219/544
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/02 Mirrors used as equipment hand, pocket, or shaving mirrors A45D42/00; optical viewing means for vehicles B60R1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/1815 with cooling or heating systems cooling arrangements for laser mirrors H01S3/0401
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/003 using serpentine layout
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/014 Heaters using resistive wires or cables not provided for in H05B3/54
• 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

A mirror heater which is suitable for bathrooms and humid spaces includes electrically insulating layers which are partially provided by double-sided adhesive tapes. The double-sided adhesive tapes fix the various layers to one another and provide an insulative layer.

Claims

1. A resistance heating device for flat objects comprising:

a flat, electrically insulating substrate having a first main surface and a second main surface, said flat electrically insulating substrate forming a first electrically insulating layer;

a heating layer arranged on the first main surface;

a first double-sided adhesive tape layer having a first adhesive layer attached to said heating layer, a second adhesive layer, and a first intermediate layer made of an electrically insulating material between the first and second adhesive layers, said first intermediate layer forming a second electrically insulating layer;

a first insulation layer attached to the second adhesive layer of the first double-sided adhesive tape, said first insulation layer forming a third electrically insulating layer;

a second double-sided adhesive tape layer having a third adhesive layer attached to the first insulation layer, a fourth adhesive layer, and a second intermediate layer made of electrically insulating material between the third and fourth adhesive layers, said second intermediate layer forming a fourth electrically insulating layer;

a third double-sided adhesive tape layer having a fifth adhesive layer attached to the second main surface of the electrically insulating substrate, a sixth adhesive layer, and a third intermediate layer made of electrically insulating material between the fifth and sixth adhesive layers, said third intermediate layer forming a fifth electrically insulating layer; and

a second insulation layer attached to the sixth adhesive layer of the third double-sided adhesive tape, said second insulation layer forming a sixth electrically insulating layer.

2. The resistance heating device according to claim 1, wherein the heating layer is connected to a power source by feed lines.

3. The resistance heating device according to claim 2, wherein the feed lines are silicone-insulated.

4. The resistance heating device according to claim 2, wherein an on/off switch is provided in the feed lines.

5. The resistance heating device according to claim 2, further comprising a moisture sensor and a switching device for disconnecting an electrical connection between the power source and the heating layer when the moisture level exceeds a threshold.

6. The resistance heating device according to claim 2, further comprising a temperature sensor and a switching device for disconnecting an electrical connection between the power source and the heating layer when the temperature exceeds a threshold.

7. The resistance heating device according to claim 1, wherein the fourth adhesive layer is covered by a protective film.

8. The resistance heating device of claim 1, wherein the fourth adhesive layer is attached to an object to be heated.

9. The resistance heating device according to claim 1, wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth electrically insulating layers are each formed of a flexible plastic film having a thickness of from 0.008 millimeters to 0.09 millimeters.

10. The resistance heating device according to claim 1, wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth electrically insulating layers are each formed of a flexible plastic film having an electric breakdown strength of at least 2000 volts.