US20030146641A1

US20030146641A1 - Weather de-icer

Info

Publication number: US20030146641A1
Application number: US10/066,959
Authority: US
Inventors: Primitivo Ruiz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-02-06
Filing date: 2002-02-06
Publication date: 2003-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 2022-02-06
Also published as: US6609747B1

Abstract

The WEATHER DE-ICER is a heated shutter system that will keep the windows of a vehicle free and clear of ice, snow and fogging. The shutters are to be mounted on the outside of the vehicle, but operated from the inside. The heat is to be supplied by hot air via tubes. The shutters will also give added protection from sun, hail and break-ins.

Description

Patent description that follows is for a SYSTEM, whose main element is a decorative insulating protective moveable remotely controlled shutter that will enclose a VERY thin layer of hot air that will reduce heat transfer via the windows, will de-ice in cold weather and defog in warm humid weather.

The shutters ([0002] item 1, FIG. 1) could be transparent, semitransparent, or opaque. Which ever style is chosen is to be insulating and must compliment the decor of the vehicle. Imbedded in the bottom ofeach shutter are two small wheels (casters) (item 7, FIG. 2) the function of which is to cause the shutter to move freely. They are to project below the bottom edge of the shutter no more than ¼ th inch.
The roll up electricly heated curtain ([0003] item 2, FIG. 1) is simply a standard application to complete the protection afforded by the shutters.
The top guide channel ([0004] item 3, FIG. 2) is an inverted U shape and is closed at each end.
The lower guide track ([0005] item 4, FIG. 2) is U shaped and is closed at the left end. The right end encloses an electric motor. The shutters are moved by means of a threaded rod which passes lugs (item 10, FIG. 4) that are attached to the lower underside of each shutter. As the rod is turned by an electric motor (item 9, FIG. 4), which may need to be geared down, the shutters are caused to move. The threads are right hand threaded at one end and left hand theaded at the other end. The action is much like a turn-buckle. By rotating the rod both shutters will move, toward the center or away from the center, depending on wheather the rotation is turned clockwise or counterclockwise. The motor is to have an overload switch so that the motor will shut off when the shutters are fully closed or fully open. The motors could be remotely operated individually or all at once.
An alternate system to move the shutters is by means of cords or cables. In this case the lower guide channel will need to have a ledge on each inside wall of the guide channel on which the wheels (casters) ride . The space in the center would allow the cords to pass through. One pair of cords to open and one pair to close. The arrangement of the cords is fully diagramed in FIG. 6. The ½″ that enclose the cord would lead to a central location and could be operated by a hand crank or a motor. [0006]
The hot air is to be supplied by a ¼th inch tube ([0007] item 5, FIGS. 2,3 &5) and is to be concealed in the wall of the vehicle. It is to go all the way around the vehicle at the height of the windows (FIG. 5). At the window opening the tube is to be located behind the shutter and outside of the window (item 5, FIGS. 2,3, &5). Where the tube passed in front of the window there are to be 4 to 6 small holes to allow the hot air to escape. Any of several systems could be used to 60 heat the air and force it through the hot air delivery tube.
The whole SYSTEM is to be operatable from the inside of the vehicle. [0008]

SUMMERY

The WEATHER DE-ICER is a heated shutter system for the windows of a motor home. [0009]
PURPOSE [0010]
A) De-ice and/or defog windows [0011]
B) Protect windows from sun, hail dirt or thrown objects and make break-ins more difficult. [0012]
C) Privacy [0013]
DESCRIPTION [0014]
A) Device consists of solid lightweight insulted panels that roll on a track outside of the vehicle. [0015]
B) Device to be operatable from the inside either manually or by power. [0016]
C) De-icing to be accomplished by heated air supplied by a heater and piped to the windows by small tubing. [0017]
D) When the divice is use on the windshield of a vehicle it will consist of a roll-up curtain with guides on each side. Optional: curtain to be heated either by heated air or by electric heating elements or unheated, in which case it would serve only as a protective screen. [0018]
VARIATIONS [0019]
A) Color, size, and style could be varied to match the decor of the vehicle. [0020]
B) Shutter could be constructed of wood, aluminum, copper, plastic, etc. [0021]
C) Usage need not be limited to motor homes, but could be adapted for aircraft, long haul trucks, pleasure boats, even homes, hotels, etc. [0022]

Claims

1) I claim that the WEATHER DE-ICER will keep the windows of a vehicle free and clear of ice, snow and fogging, even in severe weather.

2) I further claim that the WEATHER DE-ICER will reduce heating and cooling cost by reducing the heat transfer through the windows.

3) I further claim that the WEATHER DE-ICER will give the occupants additional protection from sun, hail, thrown objects and break-ins.