The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 04, 2000
Filed:
Jan. 23, 1997
Derek Charles Castle, West Midlands, GB;
Mark Andrew Chamberlain, Birmingham, GB;
Pilkington United Kingdom Limited, Merseyside, GB;
Abstract
A window is provided which includes an array of fine, closely spaced wires through which electric current is passed to heat the window. Such windows are useful as vehicle windows, e.g. windscreens, because the heating disperses ice or condensation on the surface of the window, thereby improving visibility. According to the invention, at least some of the wires extend along diverging lines, so that the heated area extends over substantially the whole of the transparent portion of the window. It is also described how to achieve a sufficiently uniform heating effect over the extended heated area. A method of manufacturing such windows, and an apparatus for forming such arrays of wires, are also provided.