FR2685157A1 - DEVICE ASSOCIATED WITH A MIRROR FOR AVOIDING THE FORMATION OF BUEE. - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (1) associated with a mirror to prevent fogging. The reflecting surface of the mirror is applied against an assembly which consists of a succession of sandwich layers, two of which (4, 6) are made of an electrically insulating material, between which an electric resistance (5) is placed, while on the outer layer in electrically insulating material is applied a layer of thermal insulating material (7) and another layer (8) of mechanical protection and against humidity. The electric resistance is connected to the mains to obtain a temperature on the mirror greater than that corresponding to the dew point. Application in particular in bathrooms.

Description

The present invention relates to a device associated with a mirror or

  ice to prevent fogging. The problem of fogging on a mirror is well known because it prevents one from seeing oneself in the mirror; this is the case, for example, for bathroom mirrors, automobile mirrors, etc., that is to say that when the mist settles on the mirror, it becomes practically unusable as long as the mist was not properly

eliminated.

  This problem is explained by the physical principles, that is to say, that the mist appears when the temperature of the mirror is lower than that corresponding to the

dew point.

  The invention provides a simple and novel device maintaining the temperature of the mirror above the dew point. As it is designed, this device can be an integral part of all kinds of mirrors, they are also of all sizes, shapes and quality The device also allows all kinds of finishes, frames and incorporations to the furniture or construction of the wall located behind the mirror, as well as cabinet doors or walls

  and funds these cabinets and closets.

  The heating of the mirror is realized by Joule effect

  by means of flat, printed or spiral resistors.

  This device has the advantage of being of a simple construction with no difficulties in

installation and use.

  According to the invention, the device comprises, on the posterior face of the glass, a metal layer which defines the

  mirror together with that of the glass.

  The device is mounted in the form of a sandwich on the metal layer and is defined by two layers of electrical insulating material between which is disposed an electrical resistance, another layer of mineral fiber thermal insulation being also arranged on the extreme electrical insulation On the mineral fiber thermal insulation layer, there is a protective layer of fiberglass associated with polyester, plastic or metal. The device, as described in what

  precedes, can be framed with the mirror.

  The glass and the metal layer constitute the

  mirror as previously defined.

  Therefore, this device is defined by the electrical resistance and the two extreme layers of electrical insulation, one of which is fixed on the internal face of the mirror, while the other layer of insulation is fixed on a layer of insulation thermal and on another extreme layer

protective.

  The device comprises a partition provided with a heating system consisting of a resistance which is

  connected to the mains using a connecting cable.

  The mirror is heated by this electrical resistance while on the other side of the resistance is fixed a layer of insulating material forming a partition to protect the resistance

  while avoiding heat loss.

  The heat transmitted through the wall is

used to heat the mirror.

  It is obvious that the wall or partition must be

  a material allowing the transmission of heat that is to say

  have a high heat capacity The material used may consist of refractory bricks, etc. In addition, the lateral surface of the partition ensuring the transmission of heat may be covered

  an insulating material to prevent the flow of heat.

  The arrangement and the number of electrical resistances are variable Moreover, the heat transmitter can be the air existing in a housing provided, for this purpose, on the partition on which is provided the fixing of the mirror, in which case the electrical resistance can be found inside this dwelling, being shut up by the

insulating partition extreme.

  According to another variant of the invention, the device is constituted by a chamber or enclosure sealed with internal fluid heated by an electrical resistance

  connected to the mains by means of a socket.

  The mirror is part of one of the faces of the sealed chamber, inside which there is heated fluid

by an electrical resistance.

  The fluid is the heat conductor Thus it is the fluid itself that heats the mirror forming part of the chamber. According to yet another variant of the invention, the device is constituted by a frame support where is installed the integral mirror of its front face On the lower part of this frame, a hot air generator box is suitably installed, apparatus with a

  internal resistance of air heating.

  It is the frame itself, in its perimeter, which defines a pipe for the transport of the hot air produced, which is distributed uniformly by diffusion mouths on the whole of the external surface of the mirror so

to prevent fogging.

  Obviously, the shape of the frame-support, as well as the shape of the mouths of diffusion and their location in said frame can be the subject of modifications of construction without one so far falls out of the frame of the

present invention.

  The constitution of the device of the invention and its use will be better understood by means of practical examples of embodiment given solely as examples.

non-limiting.

  In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a side view of a bathroom cupboard which includes a mirror associated with the device of the invention. Figure 2 is a side view of the

  stratification of the layers of the device applied to an ice cream.

  FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the whole of

mirror and device.

  Figure 4 is a side view of a variant of

realization of the device.

  Figure 5 is a side view of another

variant of the device.

  Figure 6 is an elevational view of the device

according to yet another variant.

  FIG. 7 is a sectional view along the line

VII VII of Figure 6.

  If we consider the drawings, we have shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a device 1 disposed on the surface

reflective 2 of glass 3.

  It is well known that glass 3 and surface

  reflective 2 constitute the mirror.

  On the reflective surface is applied the body of the device 1, consisting of a sandwich group defined by a layer 4 of electrical insulation on which is fixed another layer constituted by an electrical resistance 5, which is fixed, in turn, another layer 6 that is

of the same nature as layer 4.

  On the layer 6 is fixed a layer of thermal insulation 7, and on it, an extreme protective layer 8, for example, fiberglass associated with polyester, a

plastic material or metal.

  The device thus constituted by the layers 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 can be arranged in an invisible frame 9 and

  together, with an ice cream in a frame 10.

  The electrical resistance may consist of an adequate arrangement for electrical resistors with a

  connection to the known network.

  The device 1 of FIG. 4 is constituted by a wall or partition 11, made for example by means of bricks 12, and the crystal 13 is fixed on one of its end faces while on the other face an electrical resistance element 14 is arranged. covered with partition insulation. The electrical resistance 14 is connected to the mains by a socket 16. By Joule effect, the partition 12 is heated by the electrical resistance 14 and the heat released is transmitted to the surface of the ice 13, which must be at a temperature greater than the dew point in order to avoid the

  fogging on its outer face.

  For the operation of the resistor, a thermostat is used which triggers the operation of the resistor when the temperature of the ice falls below the dew point Moreover, the general operation of the electrical resistance can be controlled, for example, during

the lighting of the bathroom.

  FIG. 5 represents the device 1 constituted by a chamber 17 whose one of the largest faces is formed by the ice 18 itself, where it is desired to avoid formation

of steam.

  The other face coming in front is constituted by a

wall 19 which can be glass.

  The lateral closure of the room is ensured by

  a frame 20 of a suitable material.

  Inside the chamber, there is fluid

  21, which is heated by the electrical resistance 22.

  This electrical resistance 22 transmits the heat generated by the Joule effect to the ice-heating fluid at a temperature of

  temperature above that of the dew point.

  The control of the device can be carried out automatically, manually, by thermal sensor, by humidity sensor or by means of the light of the enclosure o

is placed the mirror.

  With regard to FIGS. 6 and 7, it should be noted that they show the device 1 constituted by a support frame 23, the ice-cream being fixed on the surface

34 of the latter.

  The support frame 23 has a frame body 26 provided in its lower portion 27 with a housing 28 in which a generator box is located.

hot air 29.

  The hot air circulates inside some tubular elements 30 of the frame o are disposed hot air outlet mouths 31 which project the hot air on the outer surface 32 of the ice thus avoiding

  the formation of mist on said ice.

  Obviously, the operation of the box

  Hot air generator is triggered by electrical energy.

Claims (5)

  1 Device associated with a mirror or ice (3, 2; 13) to prevent fogging, characterized in that the reflecting surface of the mirror is in contact with the entire device which consists of a succession of sandwich layers, two of which (4, 6; 11) are of electrical insulating material between which is disposed an electrical resistance (5; 14), while the end layer of electrical insulating material is attached to another layer of thermal insulation (7) and a layer extreme (8; 15) for the mechanical protection and against moisture, the electrical resistance being connected to the sector to obtain a mirror temperature greater than that corresponding to the dew point.   2 Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the layers which constitute the device are placed in an invisible frame and in that the device and the mirror are in a frame outside (26).   3 Device associated with a mirror to prevent fogging characterized in that it is constituted by a wall or partition (11) of a heat conducting material such as bricks (12), the mirror (13) is fixed by one of its extreme faces while the partition is heated by an electrical resistance (14) connected to the sector (16) and is protected by an insulating material (15) constituting the other side   partition coming from the other side of the mirror (13).   4 Device according to claim 3 characterized in that the electrical resistance connected to the mains is controlled by pressing a switch for controlling lighting such as that of the bathroom and in that the resistor (14) is set Thermostat service when the temperature of the mirror is lower than the temperature of the dew.   Device associated with a mirror to prevent fogging, characterized in that it consists of at least one chamber (17), one of the largest faces of which is defined by the mirror (18), the chamber containing a fluid which is heated directly by an electrical resistance (22) properly connected to the sector and the fluid is heated above the dew point which forms the mist on the outer face of the mirror and in that the operation of the device is triggered automatically or manually, by thermal sensor, by humidity sensor or by actuating   the switch used to illuminate the enclosure associated with the mirror.   6 Device associated with a mirror to prevent fogging, characterized in that it is constituted by a support frame (23) on which the mirror (25) is suitably fixed, and whose frame has in its lower part a housing (28) for a hot air generating box (29), which is heated by an electrical resistance housed in said box, the hot air being conducted through a conduit space (30) formed by the edge of the frame, on which hot air outlets (31) are arranged, the air being distributed uniformly over the outer surface (32) of the mirror.