IP Library Granted Patent US 10,326,221
Granted Patent B2
US 10,326,221 · App. 15/969,066 · Granted Jun 18, 2019

Electric connection structure, glass plate with terminal, and method for manufacturing glass plate with terminal

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,326,221
App. No.
15/969,066
Granted
Jun 18, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electric connection structure ( 1 ) is provided with: a glass plate ( 10 ); a power supply part ( 15 ) formed in the glass plate ( 10 ); a terminal ( 20 ) having a base part ( 21 ) opposing the glass plate ( 10 ); and a spring member ( 35 ) formed from a conductor and disposed between the power supply part ( 15 ) and the base part ( 21 ). The power supply part ( 15 ) and the base part ( 21 ) make contact with the spring member ( 35 ), whereby the power supply part ( 15 ) and the base part ( 21 ) are electrically connected via the spring member ( 35 ).

Claims (49)

1. An electric connection structure comprising:

a glass plate;

a power supply member formed on the glass plate;

a terminal having a base portion which is opposed to the glass plate; and

a spring member which is made of a conductor and disposed between the power supply member and the base portion, wherein:

the spring member is formed into a plate-like shape extending in a first direction, and a central portion in the first direction of the spring member is curved so as to be convex in a thickness direction of the glass plate so that the spring member has a curved portion, and

the power supply member and the base portion contact with the spring member, thereby establishing electric continuity between the power supply member and the base portion via the spring member.

2. The electric connection structure according to claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive layer which bonds at least one of the glass plate and the power supply member to the base portion.

3. The electric connection structure according to claim 1 , wherein:

a central portion of the curved portion is in contact with one of the power supply member and the base portion; and

two end portions of the curved portion in the first direction are in contact with the other of the power supply member and the base portion.

4. The electric connection structure according to claim 3 , wherein:

the central portion of the curved portion is in contact with the power supply member; and

the two end portions of the curved portion in the first direction are in contact with the base portion.

5. The electric connection structure according to claim 3 , wherein:

the spring member has an escape portion which is formed with a concave portion; and

the concave portion is concaved toward a side toward which the curved portion is curved so as to be convex, from a reference plane that includes surfaces of the two end portions of the curved portion.

6. The electric connection structure according to claim 5 , wherein the escape portion is formed into a plate-like shape extending in the first direction, and is curved in such a manner that a central portion of the escape portion in the first direction is convex toward the side toward which the curved portion is curved so as to be convex.

7. The electric connection structure according to claim 3 , wherein the spring member has a flat portion which is disposed at least one end of the curved portion in the first direction and extends in the first direction.

8. The electric connection structure according to claim 1 , wherein:

the base portion is formed into a plate-like shape; and

projection portions which project from a major surface of the base portion, are in contact with at least one of the glass plate and the power supply member, and prevent the spring member interposed between the power supply member and the base portion from deforming to a prescribed degree or more.

9. The electric connection structure according to claim 2 , wherein the adhesive layer is disposed so as to surround the spring member.

10. The electric connection structure according to claim 2 , wherein:

the base portion is formed into a plate-like shape; and

a major surface of the base portion has a groove formed between a region where the spring member is disposed and a region where the adhesive layer is formed.

11. A glass plate with terminal, having the electric connection structure according to claim 1 .

12. A method for manufacturing a glass plate with terminal, comprising:

a first step of disposing a spring member made of a conductor between a power supply member of a glass plate and a base portion of a terminal; and

a second step of compressing the spring member in a thickness direction of the glass plate,

wherein:

the spring member is formed into a plate-like shape extending in a first direction, and a central portion in the first direction of the spring member is curved so as to be convex in a thickness direction of the glass plate so that the spring member has a curved portion, and

the power supply member and the base portion contact with the spring member, thereby establishing electric continuity between the power supply member and the base portion via the spring member.

13. The method for manufacturing a glass plate with terminal according to claim 12 , wherein:

the first step forms a thermosetting adhesive layer between at least one of the glass plate and the power supply member and the base portion; and

the second step forms an adhesive layer by heating and setting the thermosetting adhesive layer while the thermosetting adhesive layer is in a state of being compressed in the thickness direction.

14. The method for manufacturing a glass plate with terminal according to claim 13 , wherein the second step comprises:

a softening step of softening the thermosetting adhesive layer first by heating it; and

a setting step of setting the thermosetting adhesive layer by heating it while it is in a compressed state.

15. The method for manufacturing a glass plate with terminal according to claim 13 , wherein:

the glass plate is a laminated glass formed by bonding plural glass single plates via an intermediate film or films; and

the first step and the second step are performed after a heat-bonding step of heating and bonding the plural glass single plates and the intermediate film or films together.

16. The method for manufacturing a glass plate with terminal according to claim 12 , wherein:

the spring member has a flat portion which is disposed at least one end of the curved portion in the first direction and extends in the first direction,

two end portions of the curved portion and the flat portion are made into contact with a major surface of the base portion, and

the central portion of the curved portion is made into contact with the power supply member.

17. The method for manufacturing a glass plate with terminal according to claim 12 , wherein:

the spring member is unitized portions formed by punching and pressing a plate material made of a metal.

18. The electric connection structure according to claim 1 , wherein the spring member is made of a metal.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 7, 2018
From: ASAHI GLASS COMPANY, LIMITED
To: AGC INC.
Reel/Frame 046730/0786 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2018
From: WATANABE, HIDEHIKO
To: ASAHI GLASS COMPANY, LIMITED
Reel/Frame 045694/0395 →