# US 12,179,676 B2 · Vehicle exterior part

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- Number: US 12,179,676 B2
- Document ID: US12179676B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/238,859
- Filed: 2021-04-23
- Published: 2021-12-02
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2020-05-26
- Assignees: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Hiroyuki Yamada
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179676B2

## CPC

- B60R 13/005: {Manufacturers' emblems, name plates, bonnet ornaments, mascots or the like; Mounting means therefor}
- H05B 3/286: {the insulating material being an organic material, e.g. plastic}
- B60S 1/66: for cleaning vehicle exterior
- H05B 3/84: Heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas, e.g. for demisting or de-icing windows, mirrors or vehicle windshields
- H05B 2203/003: using serpentine layout
- H05B 2203/014: Heaters using resistive wires or cables not provided for in H05B3/54
- H05B 2203/016: Heaters using particular connecting means
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- B60S: SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A vehicle exterior part includes: a decoration body including a base and a transparent plastic layer arranged on an outer side of the base; a heater seat including a seat base and a heat wire; and a connector pin. The heater seat includes: a heat-generating body arranged on an outer side of the transparent plastic layer; and an extension extending from an edge of the heat-generating body. A section of the heater wire in the extension is a terminal electrically connected to the connector pin. An outer part of the connector pin is embedded in a periphery of the base. An inner part of the connector pin is exposed from the base. The extension extends inward in an outer-inner direction in the periphery of the base. The terminal of the heater wire is joined to the outer part of the connector pin in the periphery of the base.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle exterior part comprising:
a decoration body configured to decorate a vehicle;
a heater seat including a seat base and a heater wire, the heater wire being arranged on an inner surface of the seat base and generating heat when energized; and
a connector pin configured to be coupled to a device used to supply power, wherein
the decoration body includes a base and a transparent plastic layer,
the heater seat includes a heat-generating body and an extension, the extension extending from an edge of the heat-generating body,
the base is arranged on an inner side of the transparent plastic layer,
the heat-generating body is arranged on an outer side of the transparent plastic layer,
a section of the heater wire in the extension is a terminal that is electrically connected to the connector pin,
an outer part of the connector pin is embedded in a periphery of the base,
an inner part of the connector pin is exposed from the base,
the extension extends inward in an outer-inner direction in the periphery of the base,
the terminal of the heater wire extends along the extension and inward in the outer-inner direction in the periphery of the base, and
the terminal of the heater wire is joined to the outer part of the connector pin in the periphery of the base.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle exterior part according to claim 1, wherein
the outer part of the connector pin extends in the outer-inner direction,
the extension overlaps the outer part of the connector pin in the periphery of the base, and
the terminal of the heater wire is joined to the outer part of the connector pin at a portion of the extension which overlaps the outer part of the connector pin.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicle exterior part according to claim 1, wherein
the base includes a base body and an annular frame, the base body being a framework of the base, the frame being embedded in a periphery of the base body,
the outer part of the connector pin is embedded in the frame such that a portion of the outer part of the connector pin is exposed from the frame,
the extension is arranged in the periphery of the base and at a boundary between the frame and the base body, and
the terminal of the heater wire is joined to the portion of the outer part of the connector pin exposed from the frame.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The vehicle exterior part according to claim 1, wherein the heater seat is bent at a boundary between the heat-generating body and the extension such that an angle formed by the heat-generating body and the extension is obtuse.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The vehicle exterior part according to claim 1, wherein
the base includes a base body and an annular frame, the base body being a framework of the base, the frame being embedded in a periphery of the base body,
the extension is arranged in the periphery of the base and at a boundary between the frame and the base body and is substantially parallel to an edge of the periphery.