Glazing with electrical terminal

• US RE41,715 E1
• Filed: 01/25/2001
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pilkington Italia SPA (Pilkington PLC)
• Original Assignee: Pilkington Italia SPA (Pilkington PLC)
• Inventors: Capriotti, Luigi, Paudice, Ciro
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoang; Tu B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel; Vinod D
• Application Number:
  US11/500,517
• Time in Patent Office: 3,526 Days
• Field of Search: 219/203, 219/219, 219/522, 219/541, 219/547, 219/543, 362/492, 428/209, 524/271, 298/54, 156/91, 156/99, 156/235, 136/244
• US Class Current: 219/203
• 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

Abstract

A glazing provided with an electric circuit includes an electrically conducting substrate and a terminal for making electrical connection thereto. The terminal is attached to the glazing by an adhesive, rather than solely by solder, and the electrical connection between the terminal and the substrate is provided by means other than, or additional to, physical contact between the terminal and the substrate. For instance, the adhesive may be electrically conducting, or a soldered joint may additionally be provided if the adhesive is electrically insulating, or of insufficient conductivity for the type of circuit in question. The adhesive may be pre-applied to the terminal, and may be a tack-free adhesive activated or cured by heat. The terminal may be in two parts, with the base part of a standardized design. The glazing is suitable for use in buildings, appliances or vehicles, especially automotive vehicles.

Claims

1. A glazing provided with an electric circuit including an electrically conducting substrate and a terminal for making electrical connection thereto, the glazing comprising a pane of sheet glazing material which carries the electric circuit,

wherein the terminal is attached to the substrate by both adhesive and solder, such that the adhesive bears the mechanical load on the terminal and the solder provides the electrical connection between the terminal and the substrate,

wherein the terminal comprises a base part and a connector part,

wherein the base part and the connector part are separate,

wherein the base part and the connector part are adapted to mutually engage,

wherein the connector part directly contacts the solder, which solder directly contacts the electrically conducting substrate,

wherein the base part directly contacts the adhesive, which adhesive directly contacts the glazing.

2. A glazing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the terminal comprises separate base and connector parts which are adapted to mutually engage, and the base part of the terminal is attached to the substrate by the the adhesive.

3. A glazing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adhesive is one which is activated or cured by heat.

4. A glazing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adhesive is electrically conducting.

5. A glazing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adhesive and solder have melting points within 20°

C., preferably 10°

C., most preferably 5°

C. of each other.

6. A glazing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrically conducting substrate is made from an ink which is applied to the glazing, dried, and fired to provide a durable conducting path.

14. A glazing as claimed in claim 2, wherein the adhesive is one which is activated or cured by heat.

15. A glazing as claimed in claim 2, wherein the adhesive is electrically conducting.

16. A glazing as claimed in claim 3, wherein the adhesive is electrically conducting.

17. A glazing as claimed in claim 2, wherein the adhesive and solder have melting points within 20°

C., preferably 10°

C., most preferably 5°

C. of each other.

18. A glazing as claimed in claim 3, wherein the adhesive and solder have melting points within 20°

C., preferably 10°

C., most preferably 5°

C. of each other.

19. A glazing as claimed in claim 2, wherein the electrically conducting substrate is made from an ink which is applied to the glazing, dried, and fired to provide a durable conducting path.

20. A glazing as claimed in claim 3, wherein the electrically conducting substrate is made from an ink which is applied to the glazing, dried, and fired to provide a durable conducting path.

21. A glazing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connector part has two oppositely facing surfaces, and wherein the mutual engagement comprises portions of the base part facing both of said surfaces of the connector part.

22. A glazing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mutual engagement comprises the base part possessing tabs extending around the connector part.

23. A glazing as claimed in claim 2, wherein the connector part has two oppositely facing surfaces, and wherein the mutual engagement comprises portions of the base part facing both of said surfaces of the connector part.

24. A glazing as claimed in claim 2, wherein the mutual engagement comprises the base part possessing tabs extending around the connector part.

25. A glazing as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base part is attached to the pane of sheet glazing material before the base part and connector part are mutually engaged.

26. A glazing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base part is attached to the pane of sheet glazing material before the base part and connector part are mutually engaged.

31. A glazing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adhesive and solder have melting points within 10°

C. of each other.

32. A glazing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adhesive and solder have melting points within 5°

C. of each other.

7. A method of making a glazing provided with an electric circuit including an electrically conducting substrate and a terminal for making electrical connection thereto, comprising the steps of:

providing a pane of sheet glazing material carrying the electric circuit and substrate, and

attaching the terminal, which comprises a base part and a connector part, wherein the base part and the connector part are separate, and wherein the base part and the connector part are adapted to mutually engage one another, to the substrate with both adhesive and solder, such that the adhesive bears the mechanical load on the terminal and the solder provides the electrical connection between the terminal and the substrate, such that the connector part directly contacts the solder, which solder directly contacts the electrically conducting substrate, and such that the base part directly contacts the adhesive, which adhesive directly contacts the glazing.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the adhesive is provided in the form of a tack-free tablet which is placed in contact with the terminal.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the tablet is pre-shaped to match the part of the terminal that the tablet is in contact with.

10. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the adhesive is pre-applied to the terminal.

11. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the adhesive is heated to activate or cure it.

12. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the heat of soldering also activates or cures the adhesive.

13. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the electrically conducting substrate is made from an ink which is applied to the glazing, dried, and fired to provide a durable conducting path.

27. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the connector part has two oppositely facing surfaces, and wherein the mutual engagement comprises portions of the base part facing both of said oppositely facing surfaces of the connector part.

28. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the mutual engagement comprises the base part possessing tabs extending around the connector part before the base part of the terminal is attached to the pane of glazing material.

29. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the base part of the terminal is attached to the pane of sheet glazing material before the base part and the connector part are mutually engaged.

30. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the base part and the connector part are mutually engaged with one another after the base part of the terminal is attached to the pane of sheet glazing material, the mutual engagement comprising tabs of the base part that extend around the connector part.

33. A glazing provided with an electric circuit including an electrically conducting substrate and a terminal for making electrical connection thereto, the glazing comprising a pane of sheet glazing material which carries the electric circuit,

wherein the terminal is attached to the substrate by both adhesive and solder, such that the adhesive bears the mechanical load on the terminal and the solder provides the electrical connection between the terminal and the substrate,

wherein the adhesive adheres to an exposed surface of the pane,

wherein the terminal comprises a base part and a connector part,

wherein the base part and the connector part are separate, and

wherein the base part and the connector part are adapted to mutually engage.