# US 9,439,245 B2 · Electrical connector for a laminated window > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,439,245 B2 - Document ID: US9439245B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/196,297 - Filed: 2014-03-04 - Published: 2014-09-11 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-07 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Nigel Philip Harold Fawcett; Tom Boettger; Oliver Sterzenbach; Larry Agius - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9439245B2 ## CPC - H05B 3/86: the heating conductors being embedded in the transparent or reflecting material {(H05B3/845 takes precedence)} - B32B 17/10036: {comprising two outer glass sheets} - B32B 17/10293: {Edge features, e.g. inserts or holes} - B32B 17/10385: {for ohmic resistance heating} - B32B 17/10761: {containing vinyl acetal} - H05B 2203/005: using multiple resistive elements or resistive zones isolated from each other - H05B 2203/014: Heaters using resistive wires or cables not provided for in H05B3/54 - H05B 2203/016: Heaters using particular connecting means - Y10T 156/1064: Partial cutting [e.g., grooving or incising] - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A laminated window is disclosed having a window heater unit which is connected to an external source of electrical power by means of an electrically conductive strip. At least a part of each of the electrically conductive strips is bonded on all sides to one or more laminating interlayer interposed between and bonding together two panes of glass. The bonding of the laminating interlayer to the electrically conductive strips during manufacture of the laminated window produces a water impervious seal between the laminating interlayer and the respective electrically conductive strip. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrical connector for a window having two panes of glass with at least one laminating interlayer interposed between and bonded to the two panes of glass and an electrical device interposed between the two panes of glass, wherein the electrical connector comprises an electrically conductive strip for connecting one input of the electrical device to a source of electrical power, wherein the electrically conductive strip is bonded on all sides to the at least one laminating interlayer to form a water impervious seal therebetween, and wherein the electrically conductive strip has a first portion interposed between said one pane of glass and the laminating interlayer for connection to the electrical device and a second portion interposed between the other pane of glass and the laminating interlayer for connection to the source of electrical power, and a third portion joining the first and second portions together, wherein the third portion extends through the laminating interlayer and is bonded to the laminating interlayer to form the water impervious seal, and wherein the first portion of the electrically conductive strip terminates in contact with said one pane of glass at a location between said one pane of glass and the laminating interlayer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is a single laminating interlayer, the electrical device is interposed between one of the two panes of glass and the laminating interlayer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third portion extends through the laminating interlayer so as to be substantially normally arranged with respect to the two panes of glass. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third portion is inclined with respect to the first and second portions to which it is joined so as to produce an internal angle greater than ninety degrees (90°) between it and the respective one of the first and second portions to which it is connected. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third portion has no electrical insulation thereon so as to reduce possible water leak paths between the second and first portions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the second portions of the electrically conductive strip has an end portion projecting out from a periphery of the window for connection to the source of electrical power. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are two laminating interlayers and the electrical device and the electrically conductive strip are located between the two laminating interlayers and the electrically conductive strip is bonded to both of the two laminating interlayers so as to form the water impervious seal therebetween. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical device is a window heater. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An electrically heated window comprising two panes of glass with at least one laminating interlayer interposed between the two panes of glass, an electrical device in the form of a window heater interposed between the two panes of glass and an electrical connector as claimed in claim 1 for connecting one input of the window heater to a source of electrical power. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The window as claimed in claim 9, wherein the window further comprises a second electrical connector for connecting a second input of the window heater to the source of electrical power. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The window as claimed in claim 10, wherein each of the first and second electrical connectors has an end portion projecting out from a periphery of the electrically heated window for connection to the source of electrical power, and wherein the end portion of the first and second connectors are located adjacent to one another but on opposite sides of the laminating interlayer. ### Claim 12 A method of manufacturing a laminated window, wherein the method comprises: producing a pair of matching window panes; producing a laminating interlayer, cutting the laminating interlayer in predefined positions to produce slits therein; threading an electrically conductive strip through a respective slit in the laminating interlayer so that a first portion of the electrically conductive strip is positioned and terminates in contact with one of the window panes on one side of the laminating interlayer and a second portion of the electrically conductive strip is positioned on an opposite side of the laminating interlayer and a third portion of the electrically conductive strip passes through the respective slit; and bonding with heat the two panes together to produce the laminated window and to form a water impervious seal between the third portion of electrically conductive strip and the laminating interlayer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the electrical device is a window heater and the laminated window is an electrically heated laminated window. ### Claim 14 An electrically heated window comprising: a first glass pane; a second glass pane; a laminating interlayer interposed between and bonded to the first and second glass panes; at least one heating wire interposed between the first and second glass panes; and an electrically conductive strip coupled to an electrical power source and bonded on all sides to the laminating interlayer to form a water impervious seal therebetween, the electrically conductive strip in contact with the first and second glass panes and extending between the first and second glass panes and terminating in contact with the first glass pane at a location between the first, glass pane and the interlayer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The electrically heated window as claimed in claim 14, wherein said electrically conductive strip comprises a first portion interposed between said first glass pane and the laminating interlayer and coupled to the at least one heating wire, a second portion interposed between the second glass pane and the laminating interlayer and coupled to the electrical power source, and a third portion joining the first and second portions together, wherein the third portion extends through the laminating interlayer and forms a seal between both sides of the electrically conductive ribbon and the laminating interlayer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electrically heated window as claimed in claim 15, wherein the laminating interlayer has a slit formed therein prior to assembly and the third portion of the electrically conductive ribbon extends through the slit in the plastic laminating interlayer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The electrically heated window as claimed in claim 16, wherein the at least one heating wire is connected at one end to a common bus bar interposed between the first pane of glass and the laminating interlayer and the first portion of the electrically conductive ribbon is electrically connected to the common bus bar. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The electrically heated window as claimed in claim 14, wherein the third portion extends through the laminating interlayer so as to be substantially normally arranged with respect thereto. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The electrically heated window as claimed in claim 14, wherein the third portion is inclined with respect to the first and second portions to which it is joined so as to produce an internal angle greater than 90 degrees between it and the respective one of the first and second portions to which it is connected. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The electrically heated window as claimed in claim 14, wherein the window is located on a motor vehicle.