WO1992019135A1

WO1992019135A1 - An anti-condensation mirror to be utilized in high humidity level environments, particularly bathrooms

Info

Publication number: WO1992019135A1
Application number: PCT/IT1991/000049
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giocondo De Riz
Original assignee: Giocondo De Riz
Priority date: 1991-05-08
Filing date: 1991-06-12
Publication date: 1992-11-12
Also published as: ITPN910027A0; AU7966491A; ITPN910027A1

Abstract

An anti-condensation mirror to be utilized in high humidity level environments, particularly bathrooms. The mirror (1) has on the rear surface (12) a heating element of an electrical type that suitably supplied in a controlled manner heats the sheet of glass of said mirror (1) avoiding the fogging. The device realizing such a system is composed of a resistor formed of a thin filiform conductor (21) applied in adhesion on the rear surface (12) of the mirror (1) connected to an electrical transformer (3) whose supply has the possibility of being opportunely regulated by a suitable control means and/or thermostatic system (4-5) of a known type.

Description

An anti-condensation mirror to be utilized in hiαh humidity l ev e l environments, particularly bathrooms.

The object of this invention is an anti-condensation mirror to be utilized in high humidity level environments, particularly bathrooms.

As known, in bathrooms, and also saunas, pools and the like, there is normally at least one mirror, or also more mirrors of various sizes. In such places there is often a development, for example when the basin is filled with hot water or when the shower is used, a notable increase of the relative humidity in the air and consequently on various surfaces that have a temperature lower than that of frosting point, there is a developing of water vapor condensation that in the case of such surfaces whether they be mirrors, causes a notable fogging that practically prevents to mirror.

Anti-condensation mirrors are well known in prior art, in particular as car retro-visor mirrors in which a transverse horizontal visible thin electric filiform conductor resistance is enclosed in a mirror glass sheet.

But in prior art antifogging system use in big size mirrors, to be utilized in bathrooms, saunas, pools and the like is not known because of different difficulties:

- non-aesthetical appearance for the visualization of such a electrical filiform conductor resistance;

- difficulty of realization;

- danger use in electric 110/220V building connections.

The purpose of the present invention is avoid these drawbacks.

1 The invention solves this problems as claimed by an anti-condensation

2 mirror to be utilized in high humidity level environments, particularly

3 bathrooms, saunas, pools and the like, in which heating means is provided to

4 heat the mirror to avoid condensation in its surface, characterized in that it

5 comprises:

6 - on the rear surface of the mirror, adhesively fixed under the respective

7 refletion stratum, there is a heating resistor means to sufficiently heat the

8 mirror skeet taking it to a suitable temperature able to prevent, on the same,

9 the condensation -of water vapor contained in the air of the environment in

I 0 which said mirror is displayed,

I I - an electrical transformer means to supply to said heating resistance means 1 2 an electric power substantially reduced in tension to be not dangerous;

1 3 - control breaking means of electric power supply to interrupt electric

1 4 power to said resistance means. 5 6 Advantageously said control breaking- means is a thermostatic means and or a 7 timer, to allow complete control of the operation of said resistance means. 8 The mirror in the preferred solution includes also a light. 9 0 The operating tension in said resistance means is 6V or 12V or 24V. 1 2 For a better understanding of the characteristics and the advantages obtained 3 from the anti-condensation system, as well as the relative device that realizes 4 it, according to a preferred solution as per enclosed drawings in which: 5 Figs. 1 and 2 show in perspective views, a mirror to which the anti- 6 condensation device is applied, respectively in frontal and rear viewing. 7 8 The mirror 1 made in a traditional manner comprises an electrical resistor 9 12. being made up of a number of thin longitudinal filiform conductors 21 , placed in parallel fashion and having a certain distance between them, such thin longitudinal filiform conductors 21 being electrically connected at their ends to respective two transverse collectors presenting a greater section 22- 23 widening at one end of their connectional ends 221 -231 to which the corresponding extremity of a flexible, electrical conductor is electrically connected 31-32 It should be noted in fig. 1 that said electrical resistor and other elements later described, are indicated for clarity by a thin dotted line. Supplying therefore, through flexible electrical conductors 31 -32 and with a suitable electrical current, the resistor, made up of said thin longitudinal filiform conductors 21 , the mirror is heated, through Joule effect because having contact with the rear surface 12 of the mirror 1 , the heat go through the. protective and the reflecting back film (12), heating the glass sheet of said mirror 1 in uniform way allowing the frontal. surface 11 to be heated preventing condensation on it.

Practically such a resistor can be obtained by depositing in opportune manner, for example by means of silkscreening, a suitable ink or electrically conducting varnish so as to form a suitable, design (as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2), realizing said thin longitudinal conductive filiform resistances 21 , said electrical collectors 22,23 and relative enlarged connectional parts 221-231. The electrical resistor, so made, can receive an electricity supply through the flexible electrical conductors 31 -32 from a suitable source of electrical energy such as an electrical transformer 3 able to provide an adapt tension to the value of the resistance of the same resistor and that normally will be discreetly lower than, the value of the tension of the net, such a transformer (3) will have dimensions according to its absorbment capacity. The supply may be continuous and in such case the resistor network and the relative supply shall be calculated in a way that the absorbed energy is equal to the dissipated energy at normal functioning temperature. In this case however, the functional operating of the system requires a few minutes.

In view of this it will be possible to provide an increased initial supply to the resistor so as to reach the desired temperature in less time, after which, the supply will be regulated according to normal functional needs. Such a solution can be obtained, for example, by disposing a suitable temporizer, preferably of an adjustable type, and a transformer with two outlets, for different tensions, interconnected one to another as well as to the resistor in an obvious manner that needs no description.

According to this solution, the resistor will be supplied initially with a greater tension than that required for normal functioning and after a determined period by the temporizer, will be supplied with minor tension able to maintain a temperature that prevents condensation.

A further possible solution is the use of a thermostatic control. Such a thermostatic control, as clearly seen in the above figures, can be obtained by applicating to the rear surface 12 of the mirror 1 , a temperature sensor 4 suitably connected to a control device 5 which, controlled by said temperature sensor, is able to control the supply to the resistor, interrupting it when the temperature value, detected by the temperature sensor 4 slightly overcomes that required for combatting condensation and reactivating it when the detected value falls below said level. The temperature sensor 4 can be composed of a normal temperature-detecting electrical element, of a known type, and the said control device 5 made up of a suitable electronic circuit containing, also of known origin, an electronic amplifier for the incoming signal from said temperature sensor 4 that controls a suitable relay, installed as a circuit-breaker, in the supply circuit to the resistor. One well understands that various variants may be introduced into the anti- condensation system in question as well as to the device that realizes it without exiting from the ambit of the afore described, and here later claimed, with reference to the attached design and therefore from the dominion of protection of the present industrial monopoly.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An anti-condensation mirror to be utilized in high humidity level environments, particularly bathrooms in which heating means is provided to heat the mirror to avoid condensation in its surface, characterized in that it comprises: - on the rear surface (12) of the mirror (1), adhesively fixed to the same, there is a heating resistor means (22-23-21 ) to sufficiently heat the mirror sheet (1) taking it to a suitable temperature able to prevent, on the same, the condensation of water vapor contained in the air of the environment in which said mirror (1) is displayed, - an electrical transformer means (3) to supply to said heating resistance means (21) an electric power substantially reduced in tension to be not dangerous equal or less then 24 V.; - control breaking means (4-5) of electric power supply to interrupt electric power to said resistance means (21).

2. An anti-condensation mirror according to claim 1., characterized in that said filiform conductors (21 ) of said heating resistor means (21 ) are parallel.

3. An anti-condensation mirror according to claim 1., characterized in that said control breaking means (4-5) comprises a thermostat (4) to interrupt or reactivate automatically the power supply to said resistor means (22-23- 21) when a certain temperature value reaches the respective mirror surface.

4. An anti-condensation mirror according to claim 1., characterized in that said control breaking means (4-5) comprises a timer (4) to interrupt or reactivate automatically the power supply to said resistor means (22-23- 21 ) .

5. An anti-condensation mirror according to claim 1., characterized in that the low tension electric system operating the anti-condensation comprise also a light integrated in a mirror border.