Vehicle glazing assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle glazing assembly (1) comprising a vehicle glazing substrate (2) defining a first and a second glazing surfaces (2a, 2b), an electrical conductor (4) joined to the first glazing surface (2a), and a supporting structure (6) joined to the first glazing surface (2a) to at least partially cover said electrical conductor (4). In the invention, the supporting structure (6) further comprises a connection port (8), comprising a connection window (20) providing access to said electrical conductor (4). Furthermore, the assembly (1) further comprises a connector (10) comprising a main body (12) and electrically conductive terminals (14). The main body (12) is removably receivable in the connection port (8) in a mounting position in which the conductive terminals (14) are in electrical contact with the conductor (4) through. Finally, the vehicle glazing assembly (1) comprises removably attachment means (16) for removably attaching in said mounting position, said main body (12) in said connection port (8).

Description

[0001] VEHICLE GLAZING ASSEMBLY

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] Field of the invention

[0004] The invention relates to a vehicle glazing assembly comprising: a vehicle glazing substrate defining a first and a second glazing surfaces an electrical conductor joined to said first glazing surface, and a supporting structure joined to said first glazing surface to at least partially cover said electrical conductor.

[0005] State of the art

[0006] Modern vehicle glazing assemblies include several electronic devices such as e.g. rain sensors, forward-facing cameras to assist the driver, driver monitoring cameras to control the drivers performance, light sensors to adapt the illumination of the dashboard to light conditions, LIDAR sensors for distance measurement, ultrasonic sensors for detection of objects close to the vehicle, infrared sensors for night driving assistance and early detection of objects or humidity sensors assisting to defog or defrosting the windshield if required, as well as the corresponding heating circuits. These devices are part of the vehicle’s overall sensor network that works together to improve safety, convenience, and driving experience and need to be reliably supplied with electricity. Therefore, this complex system is nowadays extremely relevant for modern vehicles of all types, including to not only cars, but also trains, working machines, planes or other.

[0007] Furthermore, theses complex systems can be applied in different glazing surfaces, that is not only the front windshield of the vehicles, but also the rear windshield, panoramic glazing roofs or the like.

[0008] To this end, a glazing assembly comprises a vehicle glazing substrate with an electrical conductor arranged on a glazing surface of the glazing substrate. To energize the electrical conductor, typically a connector socket is soldered to the electrical conductor. The bonding of the socket onto the electrical conductor provides a reliable electrical connection.

[0009] However, this prior art solution has also some drawbacks. After some time of use it can happen that the socket gets damaged, e.g. due to temperature differences between winter and summer conditions, mechanical vibrations or the like. In this prior art solution, there is no option to repair the assembly. In other words, if the socket gets damaged the complete assembly, including the whole windshield must be replaced. This operation is not only complex, and requires from skilled workforce, but also it is very expensive for the vehicle owner.

[0010] Document US 5676562 A discloses a connector for connecting a terminal and a conductor attached to a glass plate comprises a first connector and a second connector. The first connector is fixedly mounted on the glass plate and has a fitting hood bridging the conductor. The fitting hood has a first opening which opens towards the conductor. The second connector has a body to be fitted into the fitting hood. The body has a terminal accommodating chamber for accommodating the terminal and a second opening which allows a part of the terminal to project towards the conductor.

[0011] Document US 2017 / 338575 A1 discloses a male connector includes a housing fixed to a base, a holding unit supported in such a manner as to enable displacement with respect to the housing; and an elastically deformable male terminal held by the holding unit. The housing is able to maintain the holding unit in a stationary state with the terminal undeformed and apart from the conductive film, while the holding unit is in the temporal locking position with the housing fixed to the base. The housing is able to maintain the holding unit in a stationary state with the terminal elastically deformed and contacting the conductive film, while the holding unit is in the non-temporal locking position with the housing fixed to the base.

[0012] Document US 2010 / 009565 A1 discloses an antenna connector assembly which eliminates adverse effects to a window glass when being fitted on a manufacture line, and is easily and surely attached and removed even in a small space. The antenna connector assembly for connecting an antenna element and a cable is composed of a plug section and a socket section. A cable is connected to the plug section. The antenna element is connected to the socket section, and the plug section fits in the socket section. The socket section has an inserting port from which the plug section can be inserted by being slid in the longitudinal direction of the socket section. The plug section has an inclined surface on a portion which abuts to the socket section when the plug section is started to be inserted into the inserting port in a diagonal direction. of the invention

[0013] It is an object of the invention to provide a vehicle glazing assembly which is reliable from the electric functioning point of view, but which has an easy and unexpensive reparation procedure. This purpose is achieved by a vehicle glazing assembly of the type indicated at the beginning, characterized in that said supporting structure further comprises a connection port, said connection port comprising a connection window providing access to said electrical conductor through said supporting structure in that said vehicle glazing assembly further comprises a connector comprising a main body and electrically conductive terminals, said main body being removably receivable in said connection port in a mounting position in which said conductive terminals are in electrical contact with said electrical conductor through said connection window to electrically supply said electrical conductor and in that said vehicle glazing assembly further comprises removably attachment means arranged between said main body and said connection port for removably attaching in said mounting position, said main body in said connection port.

[0014] The solution according to the invention has several advantages over the prior art. First it is much easier to assemble, because it avoids the soldering process required to achieve the joining between the connector and the electrical conductor in charge of supplying all electronic devices and resistors. But synergically, this solution provides at the time the possibility to repair the electrical link in case of damage in the connector avoiding complicated repairing operations or the necessity of skilled workforce with knowledge on accurate soldering. It must be taken into account that an incorrect soldering procedure in the solution of the state of the art, can lead to critical damages in the electrical conductor that makes the whole glazing assembly useless and hardly repairable.

[0015] Preferably the supporting structure, the connection port and main body are made of plastic materials such as polyamides and / or polyesters, with or without fillers, e.g. PA PA6.10, PA6, PA6.12, Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) or the like.

[0016] The invention further includes a number of preferred features that are object of the dependent claims and the utility of which will be highlighted hereinafter in the detailed description of an embodiment of the invention.

[0017] Another problem that the invention seeks to solve is to achieve an electrical connection on the electrical conductor which is less sensible to vibrations, but which nevertheless provides an easy mounting process. To this end in a preferred embodiment said electrically conductive terminals are elastically deformable and protrude outwardly from said main body and wherein in said mounting position said conductive terminals are elastically compressed against said electrical conductor.

[0018] Also to achieve a reliable long term electrical connection between the electrically conductive terminals and the electrical conductor in the invention it is provided that the main body has overall dimensions to completely overlap the connection window of said supporting structure when said main body is in said mounting position in said connection port. In other words, the width and the length of the connector are larger at all the perimeter than the width and length of the window. Thanks to this, no gap is left at the window of the support to allow humidity and dust to accumulate between the conductive terminals and the electrical conductor. This can eventually hinder an optimum electrical connection on the long term.

[0019] Optionally said electrically conductive terminals protrude from said connector hookshaped, such that the distal end of said conductive terminals is oriented facing away of said insertion direction to avoid damaging the electrical terminals when inserting the connector in the connection port. The hook shape protects the terminals from getting stuck and damaged during the insertion in the port and makes the assembly procedure even easier.

[0020] It is also preferable that the terminals are made of an electrically conductive sheet metal, such as copper, silver, or other conductive metals. Optionally, the conductive terminals can be plated, with materials such as nickel, silver or others to avoid long term oxidation due to the environmental adverse conditions. Alternatively, instead of sheet metal the terminals can also be made of cable of round cross section. However, this second option reduces the conductive area between the terminals and the electrical conductor and is thus less preferable.

[0021] Also to further reduce the risk of damaging the conductive terminals the main body and said connection port are wedge-shaped, at least in the common surface of the upper part of the main body. Thanks to this solution, the force exerted on the terminals during the mounting procedure increases progressively when the connector is inserted. Also, it is avoided that the force exerted on the conductive terminals causes plastic deformations of the latter during the insertion process.

[0022] Preferably between said supporting structure is connected to said glazing substrate by means of an adhesive layer to achieve an unexpensive and durable connection of the supporting structure.

[0023] Preferably said adhesive layer is an adhesive layer comprising polyurethane based adhesive and / or epoxy based adhesive.

[0024] In another embodiment said a connection port and said main body comprise mounting guiding means for guiding the insertion of said main body in said connection port. Thanks to the guiding means the force applied to the terminals is symmetrical and evenly distributed, such that the terminals cannot be damaged. In another embodiment solving the problem of proposing an assembly with an easier insertion of the connector in the connecting port, said mounting guiding means form an angle with respect to said first glazing surface and in that said angle is comprised between 15° and 60° and preferably between 25° and 55°. It has been found that these ranges of angles provide a progressively increasing force on the terminals which avoids accidental bending and later deformation of the terminals due to an excessive insertion force.

[0025] In an especially preferred embodiment said mounting guiding means are off-center relative to said main body and said connection port thus defining one single mounting orientation between said connection port and said main body in said mounting position.

[0026] Also in a preferred embodiment, said supporting structure is a windshield bracket.

[0027] In another embodiment the removably attachment means arranged between said main body and said connection port for removably attaching in said mounting position, said main body in said connection port, comprises a snap fitting hole, a snap fitting protrusion and a snap fitting arm, said snap fitting arm being elastically deformable to allow the separation of the snap fitting hole and the snap fitting protrusion relative to each other. Alternatively, said removably attachment means comprises a threaded joint.

[0028] Likewise, the invention also includes other features of detail illustrated in the detailed description of an embodiment of the invention and in the accompanying figures.

[0029] Brief description of the drawings

[0030] Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which, without any limiting character, preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0031] Figure 1 shows a perspective diagrammatical view of a vehicle comprising a vehicle glazing assembly according to the invention. Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic side view of a first embodiment of a vehicle glazing assembly of the invention in the removed position.

[0032] Figure 3 shows a diagrammatic side view of the glazing assembly of Figure 2 in the mounted position.

[0033] Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a connector of a second embodiment of a vehicle glazing assembly of the invention.

[0034] Figure 5 shows a side view of the connector of Figure 4.

[0035] Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the glazing assembly of the invention with the connector of Figure 4.

[0036] Figure 7 shows a detailed perspective view of the connector of glazing assembly of Figure 4 in the removed position.

[0037] Figure 8 shows a detailed perspective view of the connector of glazing assembly of Figure 4 in the mounted position.

[0038] Figure 9 is perspective diagrammatical view of a third embodiment of the vehicle glazing assembly according to the invention.

[0039] Figure 10 is a detailed isometric view of the assembly of Figure 9 partially cut along a plane passing through the central plane of the connection port.

[0040] Figure 11 is perspective diagrammatical view of a fourth embodiment of the vehicle glazing assembly according to the invention.

[0041] Figure 12 is a partially cut detailed view of the assembly of Figure 11.

[0042] Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

[0043] Figure 1 shows as a part of the front side of a vehicle 100, in this case a car, comprising a vehicle glazing assembly 1 of the invention. In this case, the vehicle glazing assembly 1 is a front windshield of a car. However, this is only one of the several application examples of the invention. The vehicle glazing assembly of the invention can also be applied to back windshields, rooftops of vehicles or similar glazing surfaces, not only of cars, but of any type of vehicles.

[0044] Figures 2 to 3 show a diagrammatic side view of a first embodiment of a vehicle glazing assembly 1 of the invention. The vehicle glazing assembly 1 comprises a vehicle glazing substrate 2 which defines a first and a second glazing surfaces 2a, 2b. The first glazing surface 2a corresponds to the glazing surface facing the interior of the vehicle 100, while the second glazing surface 2b corresponds to the glazing surface facing the outside of the vehicle 100.

[0045] The vehicle glazing assembly 1 further comprises an electrical conductor 4 joined to the first glazing surface 2a, and a supporting structure 6 joined to the first glazing surface 2a to at least partially cover said electrical conductor 4. Reference is made to the general example of figure 1 , showing that the electrical conductor 4 is, e.g. an electrical circuit of a metallic material such as copper adhered to the glazing surface and conducting the electricity to electrically supply among others rain sensors, forward-facing cameras to assist the driver, or similar devices explained above, as well as having the function to heat the glazing surface 2 to remove moisture accumulated due to temperature differences between the inside and outside of the vehicle 100 which could hinder the vision of the driver or cause a malfunction of the devices associated with the glazing assembly. Preferably, the supporting structure 6 is connected to the glazing substrate 2 by means of an adhesive layer 18.

[0046] Is it is apparent from figures 2 and 3 in order to provide a vehicle glazing assembly 1 which is reliable from the electric functioning point of view, but which has an easy and unexpensive reparation procedure, in the invention it is provided that the supporting structure 6 further comprises a connection port 8, in form of a socket, the connection port 8 comprising a connection window 20 providing access to the electrical conductor 4 through supporting structure 6.

[0047] The vehicle glazing assembly 1 further comprises a connector 10 comprising a main body 12, a supply cable 36 connected to an electrical supply source known in the art of the vehicle and electrically conductive terminals 14.

[0048] Furthermore, the main body 12 is removably receivable in the connection port 8 in a mounting position, shown in Figure 3, in which the conductive terminals 14 are in electrical contact with the electrical conductor 4. As it is apparent from Figure 3, when the connector 10 is inserted through the connection window 20, the conductive terminals are compressed against the electrical conductor 4, to electrically supply the electrical conductor 4. It is especially preferred that the electrically conductive terminals 14 are elastically deformable and protrude outwardly from the main body 12. Furthermore, in the mounting position the conductive terminals 14 are preferably elastically compressed against said electrical conductor 4.

[0049] In this embodiment, the electrically conductive terminals 14 protrude from the connector 10 hook-shaped, such that the distal end 24 of the conductive terminals 14 is oriented facing away of the insertion direction shown with the arrow A in figure 2, thus not only making the insertion of the connector easier, but also protecting the distal end 24 from an accidental deformation during the insertion.

[0050] In this embodiment, the main body 12 and the connection port 8 are wedge-shaped. In figures 2 and 3, the common surface of the upper part of the main body 12 is wedge- shaped, thus providing an easy insertion which allows a progressive increase in the force applied to the conductive terminals during the insertion.

[0051] Also in the invention, the vehicle glazing assembly 1 further comprises removably attachment means 16 arranged between the main body 12 and the connection port 8 for removably attaching in said mounting position, the main body 12 in the connection port 8. In this embodiment, looking for a robust assembly, the attachment means 16 are formed by a wedge-shaped protrusion on the connector 10 which can be inserted into a corresponding elastically deformable window in the connection port 8.

[0052] Furthermore, in the embodiment of figures 2 and 3 the connection port 8 and the main body 12 comprise mounting guiding means 22 for guiding the insertion of the main body 12 in the connection port 8. In particular, in this case, the connection port 8 comprises two longitudinal grooves 26 and the main body 12 has two complementary longitudinal flaps 28, laterally protruding from the main body 12, which can be inserted into the longitudinal grooves 26. In this embodiment, the mounting guiding means 22 form an angle a with respect to the first glazing surface 2a this angle a being of 35°, indicated by the longitudinal axis L in Figure 2. Finally, as it is apparent from Figure 2 the mounting guiding means 22 are off- center relative to the main body 12 and the connection port 8 thus defining one single mounting orientation between said connection port 8 and the main body 12 in the mounting position.

[0053] Below, further embodiments of the invention are shown having many features in common with the embodiment described above. Therefore, below, only those features which are different to the previous embodiment will be described, while, for the other features reference is made to the description above, unless otherwise indicated.

[0054] Figures 4 to 8 show a second embodiment of the vehicle glazing assembly 1 of the invention. Again, the assembly comprises a vehicle glazing substrate with a first and a second glazing surfaces, not shown in the figures, an electrical conductor, neither shown in detail, and joined to the first glazing surface, and a supporting structure 6 joined to the first glazing surface 2a to at least partially cover the electrical conductor 4. In this case, the supporting structure 6 is a windshield bracket of a mirror of the front windshield of a vehicle 100, as the one shown in Figure 1.

[0055] Again, the supporting structure 6 further comprises a connection port 8. The connection port 8 comprises a connection window 20 providing access to the electrical conductor 4 through the supporting structure 6.

[0056] The vehicle glazing assembly 1 further comprises a connector 10 comprising a main body 12 and electrically conductive terminals 14. The main body 12 is removably receivable in the connection port 8 in a mounting position in which the conductive terminals 14 are in electrical contact with the electrical conductor 4 through the connection window 20 to electrically supply the electrical conductor 4. In this case, the vehicle glazing assembly 1 also comprises removably attachment means 16 arranged between the main body 12 and the connection port 8 for removably attaching in the mounting position, said main body 12 in said connection port 8.

[0057] Finally, in this embodiment, it is apparent that the removably attachment means 16 arranged between said main body 12 and the connection port 8 for removably attaching in the mounting position, the main body 12 in the connection port 8, comprises a snap fitting hole 30, a snap fitting protrusion 32 and a snap fitting arm 34. The snap fitting arm 34 includes is provided in this case with the snap fitting protrusion 32. The snap fitting arm 34 is elastically deformable to allow the separation of the snap fitting hole 30 and the snap fitting protrusion 32 relative to each other for disengaging the attachment means 16. By doing this, beginning from the mounting position, the attachment means 16 can be disengaged in an easy way for repairing a damaged vehicle glazing assembly 1. To this end it is simply required that the snap fitting arm 34 is pushed downwards from the attachment position shown in figure 8, to disengage the snap fitting protrusion.

[0058] Compared to the prior art connector soldered to the circuit of the glazing assembly, this allows the glazing assembly to be repaired.

[0059] Furthermore, in this embodiment, it is apparent how the main body 12 has overall dimensions to completely overlap the connection window 20 of the supporting structure 6 when the main body 12 is in the mounting position in the connection port 8. Thanks to this arrangement it is avoided that water or dust can easily reach the electrical conductor and hinder a reliable electrical contact with the conductive terminals.

[0060] Figures 9 and 10 show a further embodiment of the vehicle glazing assembly 1 of the invention.

[0061] The vehicle glazing assembly 1 comprises a vehicle glazing substrate 2, in this case a front windshield of a car, defining a first and a second glazing surfaces 2a, 2b. In Figure 9 it is shown that the glazing assembly 1 further comprises an electrical conductor 4 joined to the first glazing surface 2a and a supporting structure 6, in this case a bracket, joined to the first glazing surface 2a covering part of the electrical conductor 4. The central part of the electrical conductor provides a heating circuit for removing moisture of the glazing substrate 2 and clear the view, among others to the camera 38 mounted on the bracket or other sensors 40, such as the one shown in Figure 1. This electrical conductor 4 is also responsible for electrically supplying the camera 38 and other sensors 40 mounted on the bracket but not shown in detail in this figure 9.

[0062] Also, in this embodiment the supporting structure 6 comprises the connection port 8 with a connection window 20 providing access to the electrical conductor 4 through the supporting structure 6.

[0063] The vehicle glazing assembly 1 further comprises a connector 10 comprising the main body 12, the supply cable 36 and electrically conductive terminals 14 which are elastically deformable and protrude outwardly from the main body 12. In the mounting position the conductive terminals 14 are elastically compressed against said electrical conductor 4.

[0064] The main body 12 is removably receivable in the connection port 8 in a mounting position, not shown, in which the conductive terminals 14 are in electrical contact with the electrical conductor 4. In this case, the vehicle glazing assembly 1 further comprises removably attachment means 16 configured as a snap fitting hole and a snap fitting arm 34 provided in the connection port 8 of the bracket 30 and a snap fitting protrusion 32 in the main body 12. The snap fitting arm 34 is elastically deformable to allow the separation of the snap fitting hole 30 and the snap fitting protrusion 32 relative to each other. Specially preferably the snap fitting arm 34 is formed in the connection port 8. Thanks to this configuration, the attachment means can be disengaged in a very simple manner with, e.g. a screwdriver.

[0065] Finally, in the embodiment of Figures 11 and 12, it is shown that the removably attachment means 16 arranged between the main body 12 and the connection port 8 for removably attaching the main body 12 in the connection port 8, in the mounting position is a threaded joint. Also preferably this threaded joint could be a freely rotatable threaded cap.

Claims

CLAIMS1.- A vehicle glazing assembly (1) comprising:[a] a vehicle glazing substrate (2) defining a first and a second glazing surfaces (2a, 2b),[b] an electrical conductor (4) joined to said first glazing surface (2a), and[c] a supporting structure (6) joined to said first glazing surface (2a) to at least partially cover said electrical conductor (4),[d] said supporting structure (6) further comprises a connection port (8), said connection port comprising a connection window (20) providing access to said electrical conductor (4) through said supporting structure in that[e] said vehicle glazing assembly (1) further comprises a connector (10) comprising a main body (12) and electrically conductive terminals (14),[f] said main body (12) being removably receivable in said connection port (8) in a mounting position in which said conductive terminals (14) are in electrical contact with said electrical conductor (4) through said connection window (20) to electrically supply said electrical conductor (4) and in that[g] said vehicle glazing assembly (1) further comprises removably attachment means (16) arranged between said main body (12) and said connection port (8) for removably attaching in said mounting position, said main body (12) in said connection port (8), characterized in that[h] the main body (12) and said connection port (8) are wedge-shaped, at least in the common surface of the upper part of the main body (12).2.- The vehicle glazing assembly (1) according to claim 1 , wherein said electrically conductive terminals (14) are elastically deformable and protrude outwardly from said main body (12) and wherein in said mounting position said conductive terminals (14) are elastically compressed against said electrical conductor (4).3.- The vehicle glazing assembly (1) according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said main body (12) has overall dimensions to completely overlap the connection window (20) of saidsupporting structure (6) when said main body (12) is in said mounting position in said connection port (8).4.- The vehicle glazing assembly (1) according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said electrically conductive terminals (14) protrude from said connector (10) hook-shaped, such that the distal end of said conductive terminals (14) is oriented facing away of said insertion direction.5.- The vehicle glazing assembly (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein between said supporting structure (6) is connected to said glazing substrate (2) by means of an adhesive layer (18).6.- The vehicle glazing assembly (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said a connection port (8) and said main body (12) comprise mounting guiding means (22) for guiding the insertion of said main body (12) in said connection port (8).7.- The vehicle glazing assembly (1) according to claim 6, wherein said mounting guiding means (22) form an angle (a) with respect to said first glazing surface (2a) and in that said angle (a) is comprised between 15° and 60° and preferably between 25° and 55°.8.- The vehicle glazing assembly (1) according to claim 6, wherein said mounting guiding means (22) are off-center relative to said main body (12) and said connection port (8) thus defining one single mounting orientation between said connection port and said main body (12) in said mounting position.9.- The vehicle glazing assembly (1) according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein said supporting structure (6) is a windshield bracket.10.- The vehicle glazing assembly (1) according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein said removably attachment means (16) arranged between said main body (12) and said connection port (8) for removably attaching in said mounting position, said main body (12) in said connection port (8), comprises a snap fitting hole (30), a snap fittingprotrusion (32) and a snap fitting arm (34), said snap fitting arm (34) being elastically deformable to allow the separation of the snap fitting hole (30) and the snap fitting protrusion (32) relative to each other.

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