US 5,347,106 A · Fog-resisant mirror assembly

Abstract

The mirror assembly uses a reflective coating as a heating element for preventing fog formation on a mirror exposed to a humid environment such as is found in a bathroom. As compared to other typically reflective mirror coatings, the coating used in this invention has a relatively high resistance. The coating may be split into separate conductive elements with one or more scribe lines in order to control the length of the conductive path from inlet bus to outlet bus. The buses are made from an ultra thin foil tape which can be adhered to the reflective coating and which is solderable for securement of power lines thereto. The bus tape possesses both in plane and through plane conductive characteristics and can simply be cut to any length desired for the mirror sizes being produced. Power levels supplied to the mirror assembly are varied, with the initial level being higher so as to heat up the mirror quickly, and the maintenance level, which follows, being lower whereby mirror temperature can be maintained without producing an undesirable high mirror temperature. Power change is accomplished by a simple switch. If needed, the mirror assembly can possess a high degree of reflectivity.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A fog-resistant mirror assembly usable with conventional household current, said assembly comprising:

a) a first glass sheet having an electrically conductive material coating on a surface thereof;
b) a scribe line traversing said conductive material coating to divide the latter into adjacent electrically conductive separate parts, said scribe line being covered with a high dielectric strength material sufficient to prevent arcing across said scribe line;
c) a current-inlet bus connected to one of said conductive material coating parts at one end of said first glass sheet;
d) a current outlet bus connected to an adjacent one of said conductive material coating parts at said one end of said first glass sheet;
e) a current transfer bus connected to both of said conductive material coating parts and spanning said scribe line at an opposite end of said one end thereof;
and
f) said inlet, transfer and said outlet buses being formed from a foil tape having both in-plane and through-plane conductance and combining with said scribe line to increase the current to a length which exceeds the distance between said first and opposite ends of said first glass sheet.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fog-resisant mirror assembly

Life of this patent

Fog-resisant mirror assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19