Patent Publication Number: US-10314115-B2

Title: Heating tape and vehicle having the same

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a heating tape and a vehicle having the same. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Typically, vehicles have rear windows with wires that are embedded in window glasses. When defrosting frost or ice formed on the rear window, the embedded wires are configured to generate heat to melt the frost or ice. 
     However, if there is malfunction in some of the embedded wires in a window glass, the window glass needs to be entirely replaced along with the embedded wires, which may lead an increase in the replacing cost. 
     In view of the above, it is an objective to provide a heating tape and a vehicle having the same, which can be easily replaced without replacing a window glass. 
     SUMMARY 
     This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. 
     In a first aspect of the present disclosure, a heating tape for a vehicle includes a base layer, an adhesive layer, and an electrically-resistive layer. The base layer has a strap shape and has optical transparency. The adhesive layer is formed of an adhesive having optical transparency. The adhesive layer is formed on one side of the base layer and is adhesive to a window glass of the vehicle. The electrically-resistive layer is formed of an electrically-resistive material having optical transparency. The electrically-resistive layer generates heat when an electric current passes through the electrically-resistive layer. 
     In a second aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle includes a window glass and a heating tape. The heating tape is stuck to the window glass. The heating tape includes a base layer, an adhesive layer, and an electrically-resistive layer. The base layer has a strap shape and has optical transparency. The adhesive layer is formed of an adhesive having optical transparency. The adhesive layer is formed on one side of the base layer that faces the window glass and is adhesive to the window glass. The electrically-resistive layer is formed of an electrically-resistive material having optical transparency. The electrically-resistive layer generates heat when an electric current passes through the electrically-resistive layer. 
     Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective rear view of a vehicle according to a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a rear window taken along II-II line in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of a heating tape according to the first embodiment; and 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a rear window according to a second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As follows, a plurality of embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. In the embodiments, a part that corresponds to a matter described in a preceding embodiment may be assigned with the same reference numeral, and redundant explanation for the part may be omitted. When only a part of a configuration is described in an embodiment, another preceding embodiment may be applied to the other parts of the configuration. The parts may be combined even if it is not explicitly described that the parts may be combined. The embodiments may be partially combined even if it is not explicitly described that the embodiments may be combined, provided there is no harm in the combination. 
     First Embodiment 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a vehicle  10  having heating tapes  12  according to the present embodiment will be described below. In the present embodiment, the heating tapes  12  are applied to a rear window  14  of a regular type of vehicle  10 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Each of the heating tape  12  generally includes a base layer  16 , an adhesive layer  18 , and an electrically-resistive layer  20 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The heating tape  12  further includes connecting terminals  22  at both ends of the heating tape  12 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The base layer  16  is formed of a plastic, such as polypropylene, and has optical transparency. The base layer  16  has a strap shape elongated along a lateral direction of the rear window  14 . For example, the base layer  16  has substantially the same length as the rear window  14  in the lateral direction. The base layer  16  has a first surface  16   a  that faces the rear window  14  and a second surface  16   b  that is opposite to the first surface  16   a.    
     The base layer  16  includes ultra violet inhibitors (UV inhibitors  16   c ). Each of the UV inhibitor  16   c  is made of a UV protective material such as a UV absorber or a UV blocker. The UV inhibitors  16   c  inhibit an ultraviolet radiation from passing through the UV inhibitors  16   c.    
     The adhesive layer  18  is formed of an adhesive suitable for glass bonding, such as a polyvinylbutyral adhesive. The adhesive layer  18  has optical transparency. The adhesive layer  18  is formed on the entire of the first surface  16   a  of the base layer  16 . 
     In the present embodiment, the adhesive layer  18  is stuck to an outer surface  14   a  of the rear window  14 . The adhesive layer  18  is configured to have grabbing strength (a holding force) to retain the rear window  14 . Therefore, when the rear window  14  is broken, the adhesive layer  18  retains the rear window  14  to prohibit the rear window  14  from scattering. 
     The electrically-resistive layer  20  is formed of an electrically-resistive material such as indium tin oxide. The electrically-resistive layer  20  is formed substantially entirely on the second surface  16   b  of the base layer  16 . The electrically-resistive layer  20  is formed to be a very thin film shape by, e.g., cold plasma coating (atmospheric plasma coating) so that the electrically-resistive layer  20  has optical transparency. 
     The connecting terminals  22  are disposed at both ends of the heating tape  12 . The connecting terminals  22  are electrically connected to a power source (not shown), such as a 12V power source mounted to the vehicle  10 , through wiring. A voltage is applied to both the connecting terminals  22 , when a user manipulates a switching device (not shown) disposed in a dashboard in the vehicle cabin. 
     Each of the connecting terminals  22  is interposed between the base layer  16  and the electrically-resistive layer  20  so that the electrically-resistive layer  20  is in physically contact with both the connecting terminals  22 . Therefore, a voltage is applied to the electrically-resistive layer  20  through the connecting terminals  22  from the power source. An electric current passes through the electrically-resistive layer  20  when the voltage is applied to the electrically-resistive layer  20 . The electrically-resistive layer  20  is configured to generate heat when an electric current passes through the electrically-resistive layer  20 . More specifically, the electrically-resistive layer  20  is configured to heat to a specified temperature (e.g., 120 degrees Fahrenheit) to melt an ice or frost formed on the rear window  14  but not to degrade the base layer  16  and the adhesive layer  18 . 
     When putting the heating tape  12  on the rear window  14  of the vehicle  10 , a user brings the adhesive layer  18  into contact on the outer surface  14   a  of the rear window  14  to have the adhesive layer  18  stuck to the outer surface  14   a  of the rear window  14 . For example, three heating tapes  12  may be put on the rear window  14 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The three heating tapes  12  are arranged to be parallel to each other along the lateral direction of the rear window  14  with substantially constant intervals. In this way, the heating tape  12  can be easily affixed to the rear window  14  without any tool. After affixing the heating tapes  12  to the rear window  14 , the connecting terminals  22  of each of the three heating tapes  12  are electrically connected to the power source through wiring. 
     In a case where frost or ice forms on the rear window  14  under a cold weather condition, a user turns on the switching device to apply a voltage to the heating tapes  12 . By applying the voltage to the heating tapes  12 , an electric current passes through the electrically-resistive layer  20  of each of the heating tapes  12 . Then, the electrically-resistive layer  20  of each of the heating tapes  12  generates heat, and thus the frost or ice formed on the rear window  14  is melted (defrosted). In this case, the electrically-resistive layer  20  is configured to heat to the specified temperature sufficiently to melt frost or ice but not to degrade the base layer  16  and the adhesive layer  18 . Thus, neither the base layer  16  nor the adhesive layer  18  would be adversely affected by the heat generated from the electrically-resistive layer  20 . 
     Furthermore, the adhesive layer  18  retains the rear window  14  with a sufficient holding power. Therefore, even if the rear window  14  is broken due to, e.g., a car accident, the heating tape  12  inhibits the rear window  14  from scattering. As a result, occupants in the vehicle  10  can be protected from being injured by scattered glasses. 
     If one of the heating tapes  12  is damaged, the heating tape  12  can be easily replaced with new one by removing the damaged heating tape  12  from the rear window  14 . In other words, only the damaged heating tape  12  can be replaced without replacing the rear window  14 . Therefore, the cost for replacing the heating tape  12  can be suppressed as compared to the conventional heating wire, which would need the entire replacement of the rear window  14 . 
     Second Embodiment 
     Next, the heating tape  12  and the vehicle  10  according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG. 4 . In the first embodiment, the heating tape  12  is attached to the rear window  14  from an outside of the vehicle  10 . On the contrary, in the second embodiment, the heating tape  12  is attached to the rear window  14  from an inside (i.e., from the vehicle cabin) of the vehicle  10 . 
     More specifically, the adhesive layer  18  is stuck to an inner surface  14   b  of the rear window  14 . In this way, by attaching the heating tape  12  to the inner surface  14   b  of the rear window  14 , the heating tape  12  is not exposed to an outside environment of the vehicle  10 . Therefore, the heating tape  12  can be more securely attached to the rear window  14 . Furthermore, since the heating tape  12  is not exposed to an outside environment, product life cycle can be elongated as compared to a case where the heating tape  12  is attached to the outer surface  14   a  of the rear window  14 . 
     Other Embodiments 
     In the above-described embodiments, the heating tape  12  is used for the rear window  14 . However, the heating tape  12  can be used for other window glasses, such as side windows or a windshield of the vehicle  10 . In the above-described embodiments, the three heating tapes  12  are used, but one or two heating tape  12 , or four or more heating tapes  12  can be used. 
     In the above-described embodiments, the heating tape  12  is used for a regular type of a vehicle. However, the heating tape  12  can be used for any type of vehicle such as a recreational vehicle, a pickup truck, or the like. 
     The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure. 
     Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.