Electrical crimp connector with a tail

Abstract

A glazing panel which comprises an electrical connector with a tail to avoid a wicking effect. The glazing panel is particularly suitable for a vehicle glazing comprising an electrically conductive connector connected to electrically conductive structure such as a heat-able coating or an antenna.

Claims

1. A glazing panel comprising: a substrate with an electrically conductive structure; an electrical crimp connector soldered by soldering material to the electrically conductive structure; and an electrical cable, wherein the electrical crimp connector comprises a body with crimp wings and a tail that does not have crimp wings; wherein the cable is crimped with crimp wings of the body of the electrical crimp connector; and wherein the tail of said electrical crimp connector protrudes from the body of the electrical crimp connector at least 10% of a length of an intersection of the crimp wings of the electrical crimp connector to avoid a wicking effect between the soldering material and the cable.

2. The glazing panel according to claim 1, wherein the tail protrudes from the body of the electrical crimp connector at least a diameter of the cable.

3. The glazing panel according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is a glass substrate.

4. The glazing panel according to claim 1, wherein the tail extends below the cable as the cable exits the body with crimp wings of the electrical crimp connector where the cable is crimped with the crimp wings.

5. An electrical crimp connector, comprising: a body with crimp wings; and a tail that does not have crimp wings, wherein the body allows crimping an electrical cable with said body of the electrical crimp connector and the tail of said electrical crimp connector protrudes at least at a region of an output of the cable, wherein the tail protrudes from the body of the electrical crimp connector at least a diameter of the cable, and wherein the tail protrudes from the body of the electrical crimp connector at least 10% of a length of an intersection of the crimp wings of the electrical crimp connector.

6. The electrical crimp connector according to claim 5, wherein the tail extends below the cable as the cable exits the body with crimp wings of the electrical crimp connector where the cable is crimped with the crimp wings.

7. A glazing panel comprising: a substrate with an electrically conductive structure; an electrical crimp connector soldered by soldering material to the electrically conductive structure; and an electrical cable, wherein the electrical crimp connector comprises a body with crimp wings and a tail that does not have crimp wings; wherein the cable is crimped with crimp wings of the body of the electrical crimp connector; wherein the tail of said electrical crimp connector protrudes from the body of the electrical crimp connector and extends between the cable and the substrate as the cable exits a section of the electrical crimp connector where the cable is crimped with crimp wings, and wherein the tail protrudes from the body of the electrical crimp connector at least 10% of a length of an intersection of the crimp wings of the electrical crimp connector.

8. The glazing panel according to claim 7, wherein the tail protrudes from the body of the electrical crimp connector at least a diameter of the cable.

9. The glazing panel according to claim 7, wherein the substrate is a glass substrate.

10. The glazing panel according to claim 7, wherein the tail extends below the cable as the cable exits the body with crimp wings of the electrical crimp connector where the cable is crimped with the crimp wings.

Description

FIGURES

(1) The present invention will now be more particularly described with reference to drawings and exemplary embodiments, which are provided by way of illustration and not of limitation. The drawings are a schematic representation and not true to scale. The drawings do not restrict the invention in any way. More advantages will be explained with examples.

(2) FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the glazing panel according to the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a plan view of one embodiment of the glazing panel according to the invention.

(4) FIG. 3 is plan view of an electrical crimp connector according to the invention.

(5) FIG. 4 is plan view of another electrical crimp connector according to the invention.

(6) Referring to the FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, according to one embodiment of this invention, a glazing panel (1) comprises, a glass substrate (2) with an electrically conductive structure (3); an electrical crimp connector (4) fixed on the electrically conductive structure (3).

(7) The electrical crimp connector (4) soldered by soldering material (5) on the electrically conductive structure (3). A cable (6) is crimped with the electrical crimp connector (4).

(8) In this embodiment, the electrically conductive structure (3) is an antenna structure. The antenna is a silver layer printed on the surface of the glass substrate. In case of hidden antenna, antennas are printed in border of the glazing panel (1) and hidden by a black band. The black band can be deposited on the other surface of the glazing panel or between the glass substrate (2) and the electrically conductive structure (3). The black band can be a enamel frit deposited by silk printing.

(9) In this embodiment, the electrical crimp connector (4) is a connector that crimps the metallic part of the cable made of Copper. The electrical crimp connector (4) comprises a body (4a) and a tail (4b). The tail (4b) protrudes at least the diameter of the cable (6). And preferably, the tail (4b) protrudes with at least 10% of the length of the intersection of the crimp wings of the electrical crimp connector (4).

(10) During the manufacturing and the handling of the glazing panel (1), the operator manipulates and folds the cable (6) in direction of the center of glazing panel (1). Due to the tail (4b), no soldering material, is in contact with the cable (6) thus the cable (6) can be manipulated without risk of breakage. Thus, there is no direct connection between the glass and the wire, due to the tail, no or reduced wicking effect is possible.

(11) Referring to FIG. 3, according to the invention, an electrical crimp connector (4) comprises a body (4a) and a tail (4b). The body (4a) and the tail (4b) are made in a single piece. The tail (4b) protrudes at least 10% of the length of the electrical crimp connector (4). In one, the tail (4b) is about 1.8 mm, the crimp wings or the body (4a) is about 4.5 mm. The dimension of electrically conductive crimp depends of the cable and thus the current passing through it. In one embodiment, for a low current application i.e. below 8A The cross-section of the cable is about 0.5 mm.sup.2.

(12) Referring to FIG. 4, according to the invention, an electrical crimp connector (4) comprises a body (4a) and a tail (4b). The body (4a) and the tail (4b) are made in a single piece. To minimize the size of the electrical crimp connector (4), the body (4a) is composed of two parts, a crimping part with the crimp wings (4c) and a cut part (4d). This cut part (4d) allows the folding of the cable (6) with a limited length of the electrical crimp connector (4). The tail (4b) protrudes at least 10% of the length of the intersection of the crimping part (4c) of the body of the electrical crimp connector (4). The cut part (4d) is opened on the cable (6) with an angle (A). The angle (A) is at least 80° and no more than 150° and preferably between 95° and 120°. An angle of 180° corresponds to the embodiment of FIG. 3.

(13) In one embodiment referring to FIG. 4, the electrical crimp connector (4) is about 5 mm. The crimping part (4c) is about 3.2 mm. The cut part (4d) and the tail (4b) is about 1.8 mm. The angle (A) is about 105°. The electrical crimp connector (4) is made of Copper.