Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CA 02279668 2004-09-17
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An Electric Heating Device for a Vehicle Window Parapet
The invention relates to a vehicle having a window
parapet an the inside of the vehicle and a profiled strip which is
fixed on said parapet.
In the interior of vehicles, a window parapet which is on
the side of the vehicle body generally forms the lower end of
vehicle side windows. The window parapet is generally flitted with
a profiled strip which is provided for aesthetic reasons but also,
with a perpendicularly downwardly pointing leg, serves to hold
vehicle interior panelling elements. Window parapets of this type
are provided in many vehicles (land craft, aircraft and
watercraft), so that the term ~~vehicle~~ should be understood in
the widest possible sense.
As has been shown in practice, vehicle occupants like to
lean against the profiled strip (parapet strip) or also use the
latter as an armrest. However, this type of use decreases rapidly
during the cold season, because the temperatures transmitted to
the profiled strip by the respective window pane and vehicle shell
are then found to be extremely unpleasant. On the other hand,
manufacturers of vehicles are very interested in providing their
customers with the greatest possible comfort, which also includes
suppressing or covering cold bridges.
The present invention, in the case of a vehicle having a
window parapet and a facing, profiled strip or the like fixed on
it, seeks to provide a facing or profiled strip that may also be
used during the cold season as an armrest, for example, without
accompanying unpleasantness.
According to the invention, this aspect is achieved by an
electric heating device arranged in the window parapet region.
An electric heating device of this type, which can be
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operated by the general vehicle electrics, makes it possible to
bring the garapet strip rapidly to a pleasant temperature and to
maintain this temperature. The fact that electrical heating
devices are customary in the vehicle sphere, specifically in the
form of heatable rear windows, exterior mirrors or else seats,
could not readily lead to the invention because for this to happen
for one thing the problem described would have had to have been
recognized and also, for another thing, the statement would have
had to have been made to the effect that the vehicle electricity
supply system can be used to solve the problem and also is
sufficient for the power consumption. Credit is also due to the
inventor that after he recognized the problem he provided an
electric heating device and did not, for example, fall back on a
relatively complicated hot water circuit, as may have possibly
have been more obvious.
The electric heating device can be arranged in a simple
manner between the window parapet and the profiled strip. The
arrangement may also take place on the window parapet and/or on
the profiled strip.
If the arrangement of the electric heating device on the
profiled strip is preferred, it is recommended to construct the
profiled strip with channels which run longitudinally through it
and may be open or else closed towards the window parapet as well
as extruded in.
The heating device comprises at least one electric
resistance wire which is optionally laid in a zigzag or wave
shape. The resistance wire is expediently embedded in a support
consisting of electrically insulated material. In the simplest
case, the support consists of covering foils which cover the heat
conductor on both sides.
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In accordance with a refinement of the
invention, the heat conductor can be formed from a
metallized surface-area construction, such as band
material, textile material, mesh material, nonwoven
material, metallized staple fibres or from a wire
winding.
In order to keep the power consumption as low
as possible, in a development of the invention means
are provided which essentially deflect the heat output
of the heat conductor towards the profiled strip and
largely suppress the dissipation of heat towards the
window parapet on the side of the vehicle body. For
this purpose, the heat conductor can be embedded in a
support which, on the side of the heat conductor,
consists of a heat-insulating material and, on the
other side of the heat conductor, consists of a
material which does not hinder the area-specific heat
output of the heat conductor. It may additionally be
advisable to fit the profiled strip with
heat-conductible means, such as aluminium foils or the
like.
An exemplary embodiment of the invention is
explained in more detail below with reference to the
drawing, the drawing merely comprising Fig. 1. /
Fig. 1, which is the sole figure, shows a
vehicle side wall 1, which may be the side wall of a
bus. A profiled strip 3, which consists, for example,
of plastic, is supported on a window parapet 2 in the
interior of the vehicle, the horizontally aligned
profiled limb of which profiled strip bears against a
vehicle side window pane 4 and the vertically aligned
limb of which fits over a vehicle panelling element 5.
An exterior profiled strip 6 bears against the outside
of the vehicle side window pane 4.
Vehicle occupants like to lean against the
profiled strip 3 or else use it as an armrest. In order
to make this use possible even in the cold season
without the vehicle occupants experiencing an
unpleasant cold effect, an electric heating device
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having at least one heat conductor 7 is now provided in the window
parapet region. The heating device is situated between the window
parapet 2 and the profiled strip 3 and expediently, at the same
time, in a longitudinal channel 8 running through the profiled
strip 3. The arrangement of the heating device in a longitudinal
channel 8, which may also - other than shown - be designed as a
hollow channel, makes it possible for the heating device to be
preassembled on the profiled strip 3.
An aluminium foil 9 is incorporated in the prof fled strip
3. A film of the type of foil 9 may also be stuck on at the back.
A heat-insulation layer (not shown may advantageously also be
provided.
A cable lug 11, which is connected to an electric
conductor 12 belonging to the vehicle electric supply system, may
in each case be attached to the ends of the heat conductor 7. It
goes without saying that the cable lug 11 and conductor 12 are to
be arranged such that they are covered.
The design of the electric heating device will not be
explained in more detail because an expert can to this extent go
back to conventional systems which are then to be appropriately
adapted to the new intended purpose. It should also be left open
as to whether the electric heating device is to be fitted with an
electric control device to avoid overheating, or as to whether it
is advisable to set the resistance of the heat conductor 7 in such
a manner that at the maximum operating voltage, in particular at
the customary voltage of 12 or 24 V in motor vehicles, a certain,
specified temperature is not exceeded. The expert should have all
options within the context of the invention left open. To this
extent, an expert should also not be prevented from providing a
heat conductor 7 which extends over the entire length of a
vehicle, for example a bus, or is divided into heat conductor
elements arranged in series.
