NZ242501A - Anti-mist mirror with electric resistance heater incorporated in laminated structure - Google Patents

Description

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P.:JldL n-ii.qi n iz-9/, 11-1.1:.% C&ro.nW»«» 9ps?Kicatksn Filed: Z3.:.W.£l. 2.7AWM995- P.O. vKriHiijl, «o: Vf 1.ML....V Patents Form No. 5 Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION DEVICE INCORPORATED INTO A MIRROR TO AVOID THE FORMATION OF MIST We, Miguel CASALS MACIA, Jaime FONT CAMPRUBI, Juan BESORA TORRADEFLOT, and Alberto CASELLAS PONS, all of Spanish nationality, all of Nueva, 6 08500 VIC, Barcelona, SPAIN, hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 1 (followed by la) P rfE^T OFFICE 1 17 NOV 1994 RSCglVED - la - 242501 The present invention refers to a device incorporated into a mirror to avoid the formation of misting.

The problem is already known that arises when misting is formed on a mirror so that nothing can be seen in it, for example, in bathrooms, autombiles, etc., that is, while the misting covers the mirror the latter is practically unusable until the misting is cleaned off.

This problem is known from physical principles, that is, that misting occurs when the temperature of the mirror is lower than that of the dew point.

The intention of the invention is to design a simple and novel device that keeps the temperature of the mirror above the dew point.

This device can be used, because of its make-up, to form part of mirrors of all types, qualities, shape and size, allowing all classes of finishes, frames and incorporation with the furnishings or construction of the wall behind the mirror, and also on cupboard doors and the walls or bases of bathroom cabinets.

The heating of the mirror is by the Joule effect, using flat, printed or spiral type resistances.

The device has the great advantage of being simple in its constructional aspect and also presents no difficulties in installation or use.

In accordance with the invention, the device consists of placing a metal layer on the back of the glass and the former, together with the glass, form the mirror.

The device is placed on a metal layer in the form of a sandwich, defined by two layers of electrical insulation material between which is placed an electrical resistance and on the end electrical insulation and on this a protective layer of the fibre glass type with polyester, plastic or metal.

The device, constituted as described, can be framed with the mirror.

The glass and metal layer form the mirror as already indicated above.

Therefore the device is defined by the electrical resistance and the two covering layers of electrical insulation, one of them fixed to the rear side of the mirror, while the other insulating layer is attached to another layer of thermal insulation and a further ending layer of protection.

According to the invention, a variation in the device consists of its having a wall or partition of appropriate material and thickness.

This partition has a heating system consisting of an electrical resistance that is plugged into the power line using a conductor, and by means of this the electrical resistance is heated and one of its surfaces is attached to the mirror while on the opposite surface is attached a layer of insulation material to form a partition to protect the resistance and also avoid heat losses taking place.

The heat transmitted by the wall is used to heat the mirror.

It is obvious that the wall or partition must be of a heat transmitting or conducting material and also have an important calorific capacity. This material may be refractory bricks, etc..

Also, the lateral surface of the heat transmitting partition may be covered by insulating material to avoid heat losses.

The layout and number of electrical resistances is variable and also the heat transferrer may be the air in a seating made for this reason in the partition and which 242501 is attached to the mirror, in which case the electrical resistance may be inside this seating which is closed by the top insulation partition.

In another variation of the invention, the device is formed by a chamber or sealed enclosure with internal fluid heated by an electrical resistance connected to the power line by a plug.

The mirror forms part of one of the sides of the sealed chamber inside which is a fluid heated by an electrical resistance.

The fluid is a heat conductor, so that the fluid itself heats the mirror that forms part of the chamber.

In another variation of the invention, the device is formed by a supporting frame in which the mirror is completely attached to form the front face in which frame and in the lower part, is appropriately placed a hot air generating box, since the apparatus has an internal resistance for air heating.

The perimeter of the frame itself defines a conduit to carry the hot air that comes out and spreads it uniformly from diffusion nozzles in order to send the hot air over the whole outer surface of the mirror, thus avoiding the formation of misting.

Logically, the shape of the supporting frame and the shape of the diffusion nozzles and their placement on the frame, are subject to constructional alteration, always provided this does not modify the essence of the invention.

In order to more easily understand not only the make-up but also the actual use of the object of the invention, reference is made below to various practical examples made up, the said examples being merely enunciative and in no case limiting the invention, all as shown in the attached drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of, for example, a bathroom cabinet including a mirror with the invention device.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the stratification of the layers of the device attached to a mirror.

Figure 3 shows a sectional view of the whole mirror and device.

Figure 4 shows a side view of a variation in the make-up of the device.

Figure 5 shows a side view of a variation in the make-up of the device.

Figure 6 shows a front view of the invented device.

Figure 7 shows a sectional view of the line VII-VII of Figure 6.

With reference to the drawings, these show: in Figures 1, 2 and 3 the device 1 that is placed on the reflecting surface 2 of the glass 3.

As is known the glass 3 and the reflecting surface 2 form the mirror.

To the reflecting surface is adhered the body of the device 1 formed by a sandwich-like group made up of a layer 4 of electrical insulation to which is attached another formed by an electrical resistance 5, on which goes another layer the same as layer 4.

On the layer 6 is attached another of thermal insulation 7 and on this a last protective layer 8, for example, fibre glass with polyester or plastic or metal.

The device thus formed by the layers 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 can go into an invisible frame 9 and the whole with the mirror into a frame 10.

The electrical resistance may consist of a device appropriate for electrical resistances with an already known connection to the power line.

The device 1 in Figure 4 is formed by a wall or partition 11, for example of brick 12, on one of whose end faces is attached the mirror 13 while on the other face appears an electrical resistance 14 covered by insulation 15 to form a partition. 242 The electrical resistance 14 is connected to the power line by a plug 16.

By the Joule effect the partition 12 is heated by means of the electrical resistance 14 and this heat is transmitted to the surface of the mirror 13 that must have a temperature above dew point to avoid the formation of misting on its front face.

In order for the resistance to work, a thermostat is used that starts the resistance when the temperature of the mirror is below dew point. Also, the general working of the electrical resistance starts when the light is turned on, for example, in the bathroom.

Figure 5 shows the device 1 formed by a chamber 17 one of whose larger sides is formed by the mirror itself 18 on which it is desired to prevent the formation of misting.

The other facing side is formed by a wall 19 that may be of glass.

The lateral closure of the chamber is by means of a frame 20 of appropriate material.

Inside the chamber is a fluid 21 that is heated by an electrical resistance 22.

This electrical resistance transmits the heat by the Joule effect to the fluid that heats the mirror to a temperature above dew point.

The activation of the device may be automatic, manual, buy thermosensor, by humidity sensor or together with the light in the room where the mirror is installed.

With reference to Figures 6 and 7, these show: the device 1 formed by a support frame 23 on the surface of which 24 is appropriately attached the mirror 25.

The support frame 23 have a frame body 26 on the lower part of which 27 is a seating 28 where a hot air generator box 29 is appropriately fixed.

The hot air circulates inside some tubular shapes 30 in the frame itself, in which are placed nozzles 31 for hot air outlets to spread the air over the front surface 32 of the mirror, to avoid the formation of misting on the mirror itself.

Logically, the air generating box works by means of electrical energy.

Having sufficiently described the nature of the invention and the manner of carrying it out in practice, it should be noted that the layouts indicated above and shown in the attached drawings may be modified in their details, provided this does not alter the fundamental principle. 24 2 5 0 1

Claims (3)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A device incorporated into a mirror to avoid the formation of mist wherein the reflecting surface of the mirror is attached to a plurality of sandwich-type layers consisting of a layer of each of two electrical insulation materials between which is a layer of an electrical resistance material, a layer of electrical insulation material attached to a layer of thermal insulation material and an end layer of anti-humidity materials and mechanical protection materials; the electrical resistance material being connected to a power line to obtain a temperature on the mirror above that of dew point.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the layers forming the device are hidden by a frame and the device and the mirror are set in an external frame.

3. A device incorporated into a mirror to avoid the formation of misting, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 3, of the accompanying drawings. Miguel Macia CASALS. Jaime Camprubi. FONT. Juan Torradeflot BESORA. and Alberto Pons CASELLAS. by their authorised agents, P.L. BERRY & ASSOCIATES. per: ' PATENT OFFICE 21 OCT 1994