Patent Publication Number: US-6662507-B1

Title: Window anti-fog system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable to this application. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable to this application. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to windows and more specifically it relates to a window anti-fog system for preventing fogging between windowpanes. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Insulated window units have been in use for years. Conventional insulated window units utilizes a pair of transparent windowpanes secured within a frame defining a sealed interior cavity filled with a gas such as air or argon gas. The windowpanes are typically bonded together using aluminum, foam, or butyl spacers. 
     The main problem with conventional insulated windows is that moisture eventually enters the interior cavity between the windowpanes thereby fogging the interior surfaces of the windowpanes during temperature changes making it difficult to see through. Another problem with conventional insulated windows is that the argon gas will eventually dissipate over time. Another problem with conventional insulated windows is that they must be replaced with a costly new window after becoming contaminated with moisture within the interior cavity between the windowpanes. 
     While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for preventing fogging between windowpanes Conventional insulated windows are not suitable for long-term anti-fog protection. 
     In these respects, the window anti-fog system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art. and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of preventing fogging between windowpanes. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of window anti-fogging systems now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new window anti-fog system construction wherein the same can be utilized for preventing fogging between windowpanes. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new window anti-fog system that has many of the advantages of the window anti-fogging systems mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new window anti-fog system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art window anti-fogging systems, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises an aperture within a lower portion of a first windowpane, a gas container containing a pressurized volume of gas, and a delivery tube fluidly connected to the gas container with a distal portion inserted within the aperture within the first windowpane. The delivery tube preferably has a size smaller than the aperture for allowing air to escape, however, another opening within the windowpane may be utilized. The gas container preferably contains a gas lighter than air such as nitrogen. A valve between the gas container and the delivery tube controls the flow of the gas into the interior cavity between the first windowpane and a second windowpane. As the gas rises within the interior cavity, the gas eventually displaces the air within the interior cavity thereby forcing the air outwardly through the aperture about the delivery tube. This process continues during the life of the window unit to ensure that moisture and air do not enter the interior cavity. If a gas heavier than air is desired, such as argon gas, then the aperture is positioned within an upper portion of the first windowpane. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a window anti-fog system that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices. 
     A second object is to provide a window anti-fog system for preventing fogging between windowpanes. 
     Another object is to provide a window anti-fog system that may be utilized within existing or new window units. 
     An additional object is to provide a window anti-fog system that provides continuous anti-fog protection between windowpanes. 
     A further object is to provide a window anti-fog system that is easy to install and utilize. 
     Another object is to provide a window anti-fog system that reduces the need to replace windows thereby saving money. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention. 
    
    
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of the present invention with the aperture and delivery tube within the lower portion of the first windowpane when utilizing a gas lighter than air. 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the delivery tube within the window unit. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is an upper perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention with the aperture and delivery tube within the upper portion of the first windowpane when utilizing a gas heavier than air. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 through 4 illustrate a window anti-fog system  10 , which comprises an aperture  50  within a lower portion of a first windowpane  24 , a gas container  30  containing a pressurized volume of gas, and a delivery tube  40  fluidly connected to the gas container  30  with a distal portion inserted within the aperture  50  within the first windowpane  24 . The delivery tube  40  preferably has a size smaller than the aperture  50  for allowing air to escape, however, another opening within the windowpane may be utilized. The gas container  30  preferably contains a gas lighter than air such as nitrogen. A valve  32  between the gas container  30  and the delivery tube  40  controls the flow of the gas into the interior cavity  28  between the first windowpane  24  and a second windowpane  26 . As the gas rises within the interior cavity  28 , the gas eventually displaces the air within the interior cavity  28  thereby forcing the air outwardly through the aperture  50  about the delivery tube  40 . This process continues during the life of the window unit  20  to ensure that moisture and air do not enter the interior cavity  28 . If a gas heavier than air is utilized, such as argon gas, then the aperture  50  is positioned within an upper portion of the first windowpane  24 . 
     As shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the window unit  20  is comprised of a first windowpane  24  and a second windowpane  26  secured within a frame  22  forming a sealed interior cavity  28 . The frame  22  may be comprised of wood, vinyl, aluminum or other material commonly utilized to manufacture a window unit  20 . The shape of the windowpanes  24 ,  26  and the frame  22  may be comprised of various well known shapes such as but not limited to rectangular, square, circular, oval and the like. The present invention may be utilized with a new window unit  20  manufactured to receive the delivery tube  40 , or the aperture  50  may be created within an existing window unit  20  to receive the delivery tube  40 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawings, an aperture  50  extends within a lower portion of the first windowpane  24  of the window unit  20 . The first windowpane  24  is preferably the interior windowpane of the window unit  20 , though not required. The aperture  50  may be comprised of any shape and size, but is preferably larger than the outer portion of the delivery tube  40  as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The aperture  50  is preferably adjacent the lower portion of the frame  22  a finite distance such as to not weaken the first windowpane  24 . The aperture  50  is formed utilizing conventional glass cutting tools such as a diamond head bit upon a drill or water cutting. Tools for cutting holes within glass are commonly utilized within the glass industry and further explanation of glass drilling techniques is not required. 
     The gas container  30  is comprised of any well-known container capable of storing a pressurized gas such as but not limited to nitrogen, argon or krypton. A valve  32  either directly upon the gas container  30  or remotely connected to the gas container  30  via a connection tube is utilized to control the flow of the gas from the gas container  30 . A delivery tube  40  is fluidly connected to the valve  32  for delivering the gas into the interior cavity  28  defined between the first windowpane  24  and the second windowpane  26 . A distal portion of the delivery tube  40  extends into the interior cavity  28  through the aperture  50  as best illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings. The size of the delivery tube  40  is preferably smaller than the aperture  50  thereby allowing air and gas to escape through from the interior cavity  28  as illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings. However, the delivery tube  40  may be sealed within the aperture  50  and an alternative opening within the first windowpane  24  allows the air and gas to escape while the delivery tube  40  dispenses the gas into the interior cavity  28 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the aperture  50  is positioned within an upper portion of the first windowpane  24  and the delivery tube  40  dispenses a gas heavier than air. Alternatively, the aperture  50  may also be positioned adjacent to the side portions of the window unit  20 . 
     For the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawings, a gas lighter than air is preferably utilized for first displacing the upper portions of the interior cavity  28  and thereby forcing the air downwardly out through the aperture  50 . The preferred gas for this application is nitrogen, however various other gases may be utilized that are lighter than air. 
     For the invention illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings, a gas heavier than air is preferably utilized for first displacing the lower portions of the interior cavity  28  and thereby forcing the air upwardly out through the aperture  50 . The preferred gas for this application is argon, however various other gases may be utilized that are heavier than air. 
     In use, the user determines the desired flow rate of the gas desired and adjusts the valve  32  accordingly. During the initial installation, the user may purge the interior cavity  28  by increasing the volume of gas flow and then decreasing the gas flow to the desired constant rate. The valve  32  allows the desired flow of gas from the gas container  30  through the delivery tube  40  into the interior cavity  28  of the window unit  20 . The gas displaces the air within th&amp; interior cavity  28  by forcing the air outward through the aperture  50 . The user allows the continued flow of gas into the interior cavity  28  for a prolonged period of time thereby maintaining the interior cavity  28  free of moisture and air which keeps the interior surfaces of the window unit  20  fog free while providing the desired insulating qualities of a gas such as argon. The period of time that the gas is dispensed within the interior cavity  28  preferably is the period of time that the window unit  20  remains in usage which can easily exceed 5 years. It can be appreciated than an automated system may periodically dispense gas into the interior cavity  28  at predefined intervals. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should. be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed to be within the expertise of those skilled in the art, and all equivalent structural variations and relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications. and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.