Window glass for a vehicle

A window glass for a vehicle including a laminated glass with a vehicle exterior side glass plate, a vehicle interior side glass plate and an interlayer interposed between the vehicle exterior side glass plate and the vehicle interior side glass plate. The window glass also having a conductor pattern including a heating wire disposed on a vehicle interior side surface of the vehicle exterior side glass plate to heat a heating area, as well as a feeding electrode disposed on a part of the vehicle interior side surface close to a lower side of the vehicle exterior side glass plate such that the heating wire is fed with power through the feeding electrode. The feeding electrode is disposed so as not to extend into the heating area.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to window glass for a vehicle, in particular, window glass for a vehicle, which is equipped with a feeding structure for feeding power from a feeding electrode to a heating wire disposed at a heating area in a surface of a glass plate in order to melt frost, snow, ice or the like adhering to the window glass.

BACKGROUND ART

As disclosed in e.g. JP Patent No. 3317635, there has been known window glass for a vehicle, which is equipped with a heater to melt frost, snow, ice or the like adhering to a glass plate. The heater includes a conductor pattern made of conductors disposed on a glass plate forming a part of window glass for a vehicle, and the conductor pattern includes heating wires disposed at a heating area in a surface of the glass plate, and a feeding electrode connected to the heating wires. The heating area includes a first heating area positioned to extend along a lower side of the glass plate so as to correspond to a standby position where a wiper is normally located during standby, and a second heating area positioned to extend along a lateral side of the glass plate so as to correspond to a moving direction reversing position where the wiper reverses its moving direction during operation such that the first and second heating areas are positioned in a plurality of different areas on the surface of the glass plate. The heating wire includes a first heating wire disposed so as to correspond to the first heating area, and a second heating wire disposed so as to correspond to the second heating area. The feeding electrode includes a positive electrode with a dc voltage (e.g. 12 V) applied thereto, and a negative electrode connected to the body of the vehicle. The electrodes are connected to a dc source disposed in the vehicle and the body through wiring cables (in a wire-harness).

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

The window glass for a vehicle, which is disclosed as being equipped with a heater by the above-identified prior art reference, has a feeding electrode disposed to extend from a lower side edge of a glass plate toward an upper side thereof. The window glass is configured to have heating wires extending from upper parts of lateral sides toward a transverse direction such that the feeding electrode extends into a hearing area which is disposed to extend along a lower side of a glass plate so as to correspond to a standby position where a wiper is normally located during standby.

The feeding electrode has a large area enough to make heating wires generated heat in a sufficient way since the heating wires are fed with a comparatively large power to melt frost, snow, ice or the like adhering to the window glass. When the feeding electrode extends into a hearing area which is disposed to extend along a lower side of the glass plate so as to correspond to a standby position where a wiper is normally located during standby, the feeding electrode does not generate heat in an amount enough to melt frost, snow, ice or the like adhering to the glass plate, resulting in a problem where the frost, snow, ice or the like adhering to the glass plate is not sufficiently melted in a portion of the heating area where the feeding electrode extends into.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution to solve the above-mentioned problem.

Solution to Problem

In order to attain the object, the present invention provides window glass for a vehicle, including:

laminated glass including a vehicle exterior side glass plate, a vehicle interior side glass plate and an interlayer interposed between the vehicle exterior side glass plate and the vehicle interior side glass plate; and a conductor pattern including a heating wire disposed on a vehicle interior side surface of the vehicle exterior side glass plate to heat a heating area, and a feeding electrode disposed on a part of the vehicle interior side surface close to a lower side of the vehicle exterior side glass plate such that the heating wire is fed with power through the feeding electrode; wherein the feeding electrode is disposed so as not to extend into the heating area.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The present invention provides window glass for a vehicle, which generates heat in an amount enough to melt frost, snow, ice or the like adhering to a glass plate, in a heating area disposed in laminated glass.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Now, the present invention will be described in detail, in reference to an embodiment shown as a non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the elements described with respect to the embodiment are examples, and that the spirit and scope of the present invention should not be limited to these elements.

The window glass for a vehicle, to which the present invention is applied, may be, for example, a windshield, a sliding window, a fix sash window or a rear windshield.

As shown inFIG. 2, the window glass for a vehicle10according to the embodiment is laminated glass14which includes a vehicle exterior side glass plate11, a vehicle interior side glass plate12and an interlayer13interposed between the vehicle exterior side glass plate11and the vehicle interior side glass plate12and made of e.g. a polyvinyl butyral resin.

The laminated glass14has an opaque shielding layer (dark ceramic layers)15in a dark color (black) disposed in a belt pattern along the entire periphery of a peripheral area of each of the glass plates. Although the shielding layer15is shown to be disposed on each of a vehicle interior side surface of the vehicle exterior side glass plate11and a vehicle interior side surface of the vehicle interior side glass plate12inFIG. 2as an example, the shielding layer may be disposed only on the vehicle interior side surface of the vehicle exterior side glass plate11. The shielding layer15has such a function that a sealant, such as a urethane sealant, to be used for bonding and holding the laminated glass14to the body of a vehicle is protected from deterioration by ultraviolet light. The shielding layer15is disposed by applying ceramic paste on the vehicle interior side surface of the vehicle exterior side glass plate11and/or the vehicle interior side glass plate12, followed by baking the applied paste. A part of the shielding layer15close to a lower side of the laminated glass has a width of about 50 mm to about 100 mm, and a part of the shielding layer15close to a lateral side of the laminated glass has a width of about 20 mm to about 40 mm.

A vehicle, to which the laminated glass14is mounted, includes a wiper to wipe an exterior side surface of the laminated glass14. The wiper includes a first wiper and a second wiper (both being not shown) such that the first wiper moves between a state positioned in substantially parallel to the lower side of the laminated glass14(first wiper standby position41a) and a state positioned at substantially the center of the laminated glass14(first wiper moving direction reversing position). The second wiper moves between a state positioned in substantially parallel to the lower side of the laminated glass14(second wiper standby position41b) and a state positioned substantially in parallel to a lateral side of the laminated glass14(second wiper moving direction reversing position41c). In the case of a right-hand drive vehicle, the first wiper standby position41ais positioned on a front passenger seat side while the second wiper standby position41bis positioned on a driver seat side. The first wiper and the second wiper are capable of wiping frost, snow, ice or the like adhering to the exterior side surface of the laminated glass14and have such a function that the frost, snow, ice or the like wiped by the wipers during movement is pushed away toward the lower side and the lateral side on the driver seat side of the laminated glass.

The laminated glass14has a heating area disposed on a surface thereof to generate heat by heating wires. The heating area is positioned on each of a plurality of heating areas on the surface of the laminated glass14. Specifically, the heating areas includes a lower side heating area24and a lateral side heating area34as shown inFIG. 1. In the case of a right-hand drive vehicle, the lower side heating area24is disposed in an area corresponding to the first wiper standby position41ain the vicinity of the lower side of the laminated glass14in a first wiper wiping range40aon the front passenger seat side and the second wiper standby position41bin the vicinity of the lower side of the laminated glass14in a second wiper wiping range41bon the driver seat side. The lateral side heating area34is disposed in an area corresponding to the second wiper moving direction reversing position41cin the vicinity of the lateral side of the laminated glass14in a second wiper wiping range40b. The number of the wiping ranges is determined depending on the number of wipers to be mounted to a vehicle. Although it is shown inFIG. 1that the wiping ranges are located at two positioned, the number may be one or at least three.

The vehicle exterior side glass plate11has a conductor pattern made of conductors disposed on the vehicle interior side surface. The conductor pattern may be disposed by printing or applying, e.g. conductive silver paste (material having a resistivity of 0.5×10−8Ω·m to 9.0×10−8Ω·m) on the vehicle interior side surface of the vehicle exterior side glass plate11, followed by baking the applied paste. The conductor pattern includes heating wires21and31for heating the heating areas24and34, and a feeding electrode50for connection with the heating wires21and31. The heating wires21and31are fed with power from the feeding electrode50to generate heat to function as a deicer to melt frost, snow, ice or the like adhering to the laminated plate14.

The heating wires21and31are disposed so as to correspond to the heating areas24and34respectively, and include a lower side heating wire21corresponding to the lower side heating area24and a lateral side heating wire31corresponding to the lateral side heating area34. Each of the lower side heating wire21and the lateral side heating wire31is fed with power to generate heat so as to melt frost, snow, ice or the like adhering to the laminated plate14by the generated heat.

The conductor pattern is disposed so as to be interposed between the vehicle exterior side glass plate11and the vehicle interior side glass plate12. The conductor pattern is disposed on the vehicle interior side surface of the vehicle exterior side glass plate11in an overlapping range with the shielding layer15so as not to be seen from a vehicle exterior side. Specifically, the conductor pattern is disposed on a surface layer of the shielding layer15disposed on the vehicle interior side of the vehicle exterior side glass plate11, and is interposed by the interlayer13and the vehicle exterior side glass plate11. The shielding layer15has a function of achieving an improved design property such that the lower side heating wire21, the lateral side heating wire31, a first wire for the lateral side heating wire32, a second wire for the lateral side heating wire33, and a positive electrode51and a negative electrode52of the feeding electrode50are prevented from being seen from a vehicle exterior side.

The laminated glass14has an arc-like cutout portion53formed in a part of a lower side of the vehicle interior side glass plate12. The positive electrode51and the negative electrode52of the feeding electrode50are disposed so as to be apart with a slight distance therebetween in a position corresponding to the cutout portion formed in the vehicle interior side. The positive electrode51and the negative electrode52of the feeding electrode50are disposed on the vehicle interior side of the vehicle exterior side glass plate11, and are exposed in the cutout portion53.

The positive electrode51and the negative electrode52of the feeding electrode50are connected to wiring cables (in a wire-harness) through soldered terminals. The feeding electrode50has a function of feeding an electric current to the heating wires from the wiring cables.

The connection of the positive electrode51and the negative electrode52to the wiring cables are made at the cutout portion53. A sealant made of silicone or a polyurethane polymer is disposed in a connection part where the positive electrode51and the negative electrode52are connected to the wiring cables, in order to seal the connection part. The positive electrode51is an electrode to be applied with a dc voltage (e.g. 12 V) from a dc source disposed in the vehicle through a wiring cable, and the negative electrode52is an electrode connected to the body of the vehicle through a wiring cable.

The positive electrode51and the negative electrode52are connected to the lower side heating wire21and the lateral side heating wire31.

The lower side heating wire21includes a plurality of heating wires in the vicinity of the lower side of the laminated glass14(the lower side heating area24corresponding to the standby position where the first wiper is normally located during standby) extending substantially in parallel to each other along the lower side of the laminated glass14. Specifically, the lower side heating wire is disposed in a pattern to be connected to the positive electrode51of the feeding electrode50, extend along the lower side of the laminated glass14, turn back in the vicinity at a left end and/or right end in a width direction of the lower side heating wire24, and return to the negative electrode52.

The lateral side heating wire31is disposed in a position close to the lateral side of the laminated glass14(in the lateral side heating area34corresponding to the second wiper moving direction reversing position) and is connected to the first wire for the lateral side heating wire32and the second wire for the lateral side heating wire33, which extend along the lower side of the laminated glass14. Specifically, the second wire for the lateral side heating wire33has one end connected to the positive electrode51of the feeding electrode50, and the lateral side heating wire31has one end connected to a part of the second wire for the lateral side heating wire33in the vicinity of the other end of the second wire for the lateral side heating wire33out of connection to the positive electrode51. The lateral side heating wire31is disposed in such a pattern that the lateral side heating wire extends along the lateral side of the laminated glass14(i.e. a side pillar) and turns back in the vicinity of an upper end of the lateral side heating area34, and the other end of the lateral side heating wire31out of connection with the second wire for the lateral heating wire33is connected to a part of the first wire for the lateral heating wire32in the vicinity of an end of the first wire for the lateral side heating wire32, and the other end of the first wire for the lateral side heating wire32out of connection with the lateral side heating wire31is connected to the negative electrode52. Alternatively, the second wire for the lateral side heating wire33may be connected to the negative electrode52. In the alternative case, the first wire for the lateral side heating wire32is connected to the positive electrode51.

FIG. 3is a schematic diagram showing the conductor pattern of the window glass for a vehicle according to this embodiment. As shown inFIG. 3, the conductor pattern of the window glass for a vehicle according to this embodiment is configured such that the lower side heating wire21, the first wire for the lateral heating wire32and the second wire for the lateral side heating wire33extend toward an upper side of the laminated glass14. The first wire for the lateral heating wire32is disposed between the lower side heating wire21and a lower side edge18of the vehicle exterior side glass plate11in order to feed an electric current to the lateral side heating wire31corresponding to the lateral side heating area34. The second wire for the lateral side heating wire33is disposed on the vehicle exterior side glass plate11at a position closer to the upper side than the lower side heating wire21.

FIG. 4is a schematic view of a conventional conductor pattern for a vehicle window. As shown inFIG. 4, the conventional feeding electrode150has a positive electrode151and a negative electrode152disposed so as to extend from a lower side edge18of a vehicle exterior side glass plate11toward an upper side of the vehicle exterior side glass plate11and to extend into a lower side heating area124. Although the feeding electrode150has a comparatively large area enough to sufficiently generate heat in the lower side heating area124, the feeding electrode150per se does not sufficiently generate heat for the purpose of melting frost, snow, ice or the like adhering to the laminated plate. As a result, the frost, snow, ice or the like adhering to the laminated plate fails to be sufficiently melted in an area where the feeding electrode150extends into the lower side heating area124. This causes a problem in that the frost, snow, ice or the like in an unmelted state hinders a driver's field of view, and that the movement of a wiper is adversely affected.

In contrast, as shown inFIG. 3, the conductor pattern of the window glass for a vehicle according to the embodiment is configured such that the lower side heating wire21, the first wire for the lateral side heating wire32and the second wire for the lateral side heating wire33extend from the feeding electrode50toward the upper side of the vehicle exterior side glass plate11so as to prevent the feeding electrode50from extending into the lower side heating area24. This arrangement advantageously allows frost, snow, ice or the like adhering to the laminated plate14to be melted, with the result that a driver's field of view is not hindered and that the movement of a wiper is not adversely affected.

The positive electrode51and the negative electrode52of the feeding electrode are disposed by printing or applying, e.g. conductive silver paste on the vehicle interior side surface of the vehicle exterior side glass plate11. As a result, a part of the glass plate where the conductive silver paste is applied is adversely affected by heat reflection of the silver during forming the glass plate (e.g. bending the glass plate) to have a lower temperature than a part of the glass plate where no conductive silver paste is applied, with the result that a temperature difference could generate between both parts to cause failure in forming the glass plate.

Since the feeding electrode50according to this embodiment allows the areas of the positive electrode51and the negative electrode52to be reduced in comparison with the conventional feeding electrode, a temperature difference by heat reflection of the silver is less liable to be generated between both parts to cause failure in forming the glass plate, with the result that the present invention is preferred for forming a glass plate.

The feeding electrode50is disposed so as to be exposed in the cutout portion53. When the feeding electrode50is entirely exposed in the cutout portion, the lower side heating wire21, the first wire for the lateral side heating wire32and the second wire for the lateral side heating wire33could be broken in a step for laminating the laminated glass14because of having a thin conductor width. From this point of view, at least a part of the feeding electrode50is preferred to be disposed without being exposed in the cutout portion53. In this case, the feeding electrode50is preferred to be disposed so as to extend into an inner area of the laminated glass14by about 2 mm to about 5 mm from an edge of the cutout portion53.

In the conductor pattern of the window glass for a vehicle according to the embodiment shown inFIG. 3, a part of the first wire for the lateral side heating wire32, which extends in parallel to the lower side heating wire21, has the same heat generation capacity per unit length as a single conductor of the lower side heating wire21including a plurality of conductors, or a heat generation capacity per unit length enough to generate heat so as to melt frost, snow, ice or the like adhering to the laminated glass14. By this arrangement, the lower side heating area24is heated by lower side heating wire21and the part of the first wire for the lateral side heating wire32, which extends in parallel to the lower side heating wire21. The remaining part of the first wire for the lateral side heating wire32, which does not extend in parallel to the lower side heating wire21, may be subjected to adjustment, such as an increase in the number of the conductors or the conductor width, for the purpose of securing a voltage required for causing the lateral side heating wire31to generate heat at a target temperature. The second wire for the lateral side heating wire33has no purpose for generating heat, being different from the lower side heating wire21, the lateral side heating wire31, and the part of the first wire for the lateral side heating wire32, which extends in parallel to the lower side heating wire21. For this reason, the second wire for the lateral side heating wire may be subjected to adjustment, such as an increase in the number of the conductors or the width of the conductors, for the purpose of securing a voltage required for causing the lateral side heating wire31to generate heat at a target temperature. It should be noted that the feeding electrode50and a part of the second wire for the lateral side heating wire33, which branches out into a plurality of conductors, or which has a width increased, may also have the same heat generation capacity per unit length as the part of the first wire for the lateral side heating wire32, which extends in parallel to the lower side heating wire21.

As shown inFIG. 4, in the conventional conductor pattern for a vehicle window, a first wire for a lateral side heating wire132and a second wire for a lateral side heating wire133, which feed power to a lateral side heating wire131corresponding to a lateral side heating area134, have lowered a heat generation capacity by being subjected to adjustment, such as an increase in the number of the conductors or the conductor width, for the purpose of securing a voltage required for causing the lateral side heating wire131to generate heat at a target temperature. For this reason, the first wire for a lateral side heating wire132and the second wire for a lateral side heating wire133do not have a heat generation capacity per unit length enough to melt frost, snow, ice or the like adhering to laminated plate14.

Recently, it is demanded that the wiper standby positions41aand41bbe set at a position of the laminated glass14closer to the lower side from the viewpoint of improved vehicle design. In the conventional conductor pattern for a vehicle window, the first wire for a lateral side heating wire132and the second wire for a lateral side heating wire133are disposed below a lower side heating wire121, with the result that the lower side heating wire121is disposed in a position closer to an upper side with respect to the lower side edge18of a vehicle exterior side glass plate11. As a result, it is difficult to set the wiper standby positions41aand41bat a position of the laminated glass14closer to the lower side.

In contrast, the conductor pattern for a vehicle window according to the embodiment allows the wiper standby positions41aand41bto be set at a position closer to the lower side of the laminated glass14than the conventional conductor pattern for a vehicle window since the lower side heating area24is heated by the lower side heating wire21and the first wire for the lateral side heating wire32.

FIG. 5is a cross-sectional view of essential parts of the lower side area of the window glass for a vehicle10with the window glass for a vehicle10according to the embodiment being mounted to the vehicle.

As shown inFIG. 5, a sealing member60is an elongated member, which extends in right and left directions or a width direction of the window glass for a vehicle10. The sealing member60includes an upper plate61to be bonded to a lower edge of the vehicle interior side of the vehicle interior side glass plate12by an adhesive layer64, a lip part62projecting toward the vehicle exterior side and having a leading edge interposed between a lower edge face of the vehicle exterior side glass plate11and an upper edge face of a cowl top70, and a hook part63extending downward so as to be curved to have a convex vehicle interior side surface and opening toward the vehicle exterior side.

The cowl top70is a lid for closing an upper opening of a cowl box (not shown). The cowl top70has a rib formed in an arrowhead shape so as to project toward a vehicle interior side and to be engaged with the hook part63of the sealing member60.

In the embodiment, the sealing member60is configured such that the lip part62has a face exposed on the vehicle exterior side so as to be substantially flush with the lower edge face of the vehicle exterior side glass plate11and the top end face of the cowl top70. It should be noted that the wording “substantially flush with” means not only that the face exposed on the vehicle exterior side shares a complete common plane (or is flush) with the lower edge face of the vehicle exterior side glass plate11and the top end face of the cowl top70but also that the face exposed on the vehicle exterior side is out of alignment due to e.g. manufacturing error.

Recently, it has been demanded to reduce air resistance and achieve an improved design property by flush-surfacing (where a vehicle body surface and a window surface are flush with each other). Under the circumstance, the wiper standby positions41aand41btrend to be set at a position of the laminated glass closer to the lower side.

In the case of the conductor pattern for a vehicle window according to the embodiment, when the wiper standby positions41aand41bare set at a substantially central position of the lower side heating area24in a height direction thereof, it is possible to reduce the distance between the wiper standby positions41aand41b, and the lower side edge18of the vehicle exterior side glass plate11in comparison with the distance in the conventional conductor pattern for a vehicle window.

In other words, in the case of the conventional conductor pattern for a vehicle window, when the wiper standby positions41aand41bare set at a position of the laminated glass14closer to the lower side, the lower heating area124is shifted upward with respect to an area corresponding to the wiper standby positions41aand41b. When the lateral side heating wire132and the second wire for a lateral side heating wire133do not sufficiently generate heat, the deicing function is degraded.

In contrast, in the case of the conductor pattern for a vehicle window according to the embodiment, even when the wiper standby positions41aand41bare set at a position of the laminated glass14closer to the lower side, it is possible to set the wiper standby positions41aand41bat a position of the laminated glass14closer to the lower side without degrading the deicing function since the lower side heating area24is prevented from being shifted with respect to an area corresponding to the wiper standby positions41aand41b.

Although the present invention has been described in reference to the embodiment, it should be construed that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. With regard to the structure and the details of the present invention, numerous modifications and changes can be made as being understood by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The window glass with a sealing member according to the present invention is advantageously applicable not only to the opening of an automobile but also to any kinds of vehicles, such as an electric, diesel or diesel-electric locomotive, a railroad vehicle or a truck. Further, the window glass with a sealing member according to the present invention is not limited to the use in a vehicle but is advantageously applicable to an airplane or a ship.

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-246441 filed on Dec. 20, 2016 including specification, claims, drawings and summary is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.