Thermally regulated electrical deicing apparatus

• US 8,431,868 B1
• Filed: 01/15/2010
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John T. Akin
• Original Assignee: John T. Akin
• Inventors: Akin, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Eugene
• Application Number:
  US12/688,701
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 219/203, 219/202, 219/522, 219/528, 219/529, 219/477
• US Class Current: 219/203
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/02 to electric heating circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A thermally regulated electrical deicing apparatus with a flexible cover portion is mounted to an exterior surface of a vehicular windshield; the flexible cover portion includes an electrical deicing element with either a resistance element heat tape or a serpentine woven heating element directed therethrough in electrical communication with an alternating current power supply. A thermistor effects selective heating in the heating element. The electrical deicing element further includes a male alternating current electrical plug conducting current to the heating element through an electrical power supply line, wherein the thermistor is interposed between the male alternating current plug and the heating element, and controls the current conducted to the heating element; and a female alternating current electrical plug attached to the power supply line, which provides a connection means for a second thermally regulated electrical deicing apparatus.

Claims

1. A thermally regulated electrical deicing apparatus arranged for securement adjacent an exterior portion of a vehicular windshield comprising:

a flexible cover portion with a top edge spaced from a bottom edge and side edges respectfully extending between said top and bottom edges;

a securement means, attached to a front cover face of said flexible cover portion, for attachment of said flexible cover portion adjacent an exterior portion of said windshield; and

an electrical deicing element in direct contact with said windshield and supported by a rear cover face of said flexible cover portion provides energy during deicing of said windshield exterior portion, in which said electrical deicing element comprises;

a male alternating current electrical plug, which when connected to an alternating current voltage source, conducts voltage to a single heating element through an electrical power supply line; and

a thermistor interposed in series between said male plug and said single heating element directly controlling the voltage conducted to the single heating element without the aid of additional devices, and in which said thermistor connected in series with said heating element together form a parallel connection with said electrical power supply line, the electrical power supply line including at least a female alternating current electrical plug, an electrically “

hot”

low resistance, minimal heat generating conductor running continuously physically parallel and adjacent said electrical deicing element and between said male alternating current electrical plug and said female alternating current electrical plug to assure alternating current voltage is available at said female alternating current electrical plug when said male alternating current electrical plug is connected to said alternating current voltage source independent of voltage flow through said electrical deicing element, and wherein alternating current voltage must be present in said electrically “

hot”

low resistance, minimal heat generating conductor for voltage to flow through said electrical deicing element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said female alternating current electrical plug provides a connection for a second thermally regulated electrical deicing apparatus, and wherein both the male and female alternating current electrical plugs extend beyond the confines of the flexible cover portion, in which the confines of the flexible cover portion are defined by the top, bottom, and side edges of the flexible cover portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said vehicular windshield is disposed between a roof and a hood of a vehicle, and in which said securement means is a magnet member, wherein said magnetic member interacts with said roof to secure said electrical deicing element adjacent said exterior portion of said windshield.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, in which said rear cover face comprises a thermal reflective film.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, in which said flexible cover portion comprises a material constructed from novoloid fibers.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, in which said flexible cover portion comprises a material constructed from nylon fibers.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, in which said flexible cover portion comprises a material constructed from wool fibers.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, in which said second thermally regulated electrical deicing apparatus is arranged for securement adjacent an exterior portion of a vehicular side window and comprises:

a second flexible cover portion with a top edge spaced from a bottom edge and side edges respectfully extending between said top and bottom edges;

a second securement means, attached to a front cover face of said second flexible cover portion, for attachment of said second flexible cover portion adjacent an exterior portion of said side window; and

a second electrical deicing element supported by a rear cover face of said second flexible cover portion provides energy during deicing of said side window exterior portion, in which said second electrical deicing element comprises;

a second male alternating current electrical plug, which when connected to an alternating current voltage source, conducts voltage to a second single heating element through a second electrical power supply line; and

a second thermistor interposed in series between said second male plug and said second single heating element, said second thermistor directly controlling the voltage conducted to said second single heating element independent of the voltage conducted to said single heating element, and without the aid of additional devices, and in which said thermistor connected in series with said single heating element together form a parallel connection with said second electrical power supply line.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, in which said vehicular side window is disposed within a vehicle door of the vehicle and adjacent the roof of the vehicle, and in which said securement means is a strap, wherein said strap interacts with said roof and door to secure said electrical deicing element adjacent said exterior portion of said side window.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, in which said rear cover face comprises a thermal reflective film.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, in which said second flexible cover portion comprises a material constructed from novoloid fibers.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, in which said thermally regulated electrical deicing apparatus arranged for securement adjacent said exterior portion of said vehicular windshield, and said second thermally regulated electrical deicing apparatus arranged for securement adjacent said exterior portion of said vehicular side window share a common configuration.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, in which said heating element of said electrical deicing element of said commonly configured thermally regulated electrical deicing apparatus comprises a serpentine configuration adjacent said rear cover face.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, in which said heating element of said electrical deicing element of said commonly configured thermally regulated electrical deicing apparatus comprises a spiral configuration adjacent said rear cover face.

15. A method by steps comprising:

providing a first thermally regulated electrical deicing apparatus;

positioning an electrical deicing element of said first thermally regulated electrical deicing apparatus in direct contact with a windshield of a vehicle; and

connecting said first thermally regulated electrical deicing apparatus to an alternating current voltage source, wherein said electrical deicing element is secured to a rear cover face of a flexible cover, and in which said first thermally regulated electrical deicing apparatus comprises;

a male alternating current electrical plug, which when connected to an alternating current voltage source, conducts voltage to a single heating element through an electrical power supply line; and

a thermistor interposed in series between said male plug and said single heating element directly controlling the voltage conducted to the single heating element without the aid of additional devices, and in which said thermistor is connected in series with said heating element together form a parallel connection with said electrical power supply line, the electrical power supply line including at least a female alternating current electrical plug, an electrically “

hot”

low resistance, minimal heat generating conductor running continuously physically parallel and adjacent said electrical deicing element and between said male alternating current electrical plug and said female alternating current electrical plug to assure alternating current voltage is available at said female alternating current electrical plug when said male alternating current electrical plug is connected to said alternating current voltage source independent of current flow through said electrical deicing element, and wherein alternating current voltage must be present in said electrically “

hot”

low resistance, minimal heat generating conductor for voltage to flow through said electrical deicing element.

16. The method of claim 15, by steps further comprising:

supplying alternating current voltage to said electrical deicing element of said first thermally regulated electrical deicing apparatus; and

regulating said alternating current supply to said electrical deicing element with a thermistor interposed between said alternating current voltage source and said heating element.

17. The method of claim 16, by steps further comprising:

providing a second thermally regulated electrical deicing apparatus;

positioning said second thermally regulated electrical deicing apparatus adjacent a window of the vehicle; and

connecting said second thermally regulated electrical deicing apparatus to said first thermally regulated electrical deicing apparatus.

18. The method of claim 17, by steps further comprising:

supplying alternating current voltage through said first thermally regulated electrical deicing apparatus to a second heating element of said second thermally regulated electrical deicing apparatus; and

regulating said alternating current voltage supplied to said second heating element of said second thermally regulated electrical deicing apparatus with a second thermistor interposed between said alternating current voltage source and said second heating element.