Abstract: A device for warming a toilet seat includes a heatable section removably attachable to a toilet lid via an adhesive layer. The present invention further includes flexible heating elements formed from heat-absorbing material and a cover that protects a user from such elements. The device is activated when the toilet lid is in the closed position via a switch connected to the cover. The activating mechanism further includes a control panel that includes a temperature control lever. A power supply mechanism is electrically coupled to the activating mechanism.

Abstract: The use of conductive polyaniline fibers for resistive heating applications is described. Unlike metal wires and conductive-polymer coated fibers, under certain conditions, electric voltages or currents used to generate heat in the fibers were found to produce irreversible changes to the polymer backbone that destroy its electrical conductivity but not its structural integrity. The temperature that these changes occur varies with dopant and fiber diameter, and can be tailored to specific applications. Since these changes occur at lower temperatures than the temperature at which dopant molecules within the conductive polymer are lost or decomposed, both of which lower the conductivity of the material, polyaniline fibers can be used for resistive heating applications where the heating element is in the vicinity of the skin of the wearer thereof.

Abstract: A layered heater is provided with a resistive layer having a resistive circuit pattern, the resistive circuit pattern defining a length and a thickness, wherein the thickness varies along the length of the resistive circuit pattern for a variable watt density. The present invention also provides layered heaters having a resistive circuit pattern with a variable thickness along with a variable width and/or spacing of the resistive circuit pattern in order to produce a variable watt density. Methods are also provided wherein the variable thickness is achieved by varying a dispensing rate of a conductive ink used to form the resistive circuit pattern, varying the feed rate of a target surface relative to the dispensing of the ink, and overwriting a volume of conductive ink on top of a previously formed trace of the resistive circuit pattern.

Abstract: Heating device having an electric heating body arranged within an accumulator block. The electric heating body includes an insulated flat resister. The accumulator block is structured and arranged to store calories. The heating device is adapted for use in a heating apparatus. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: A magnetron arrangement has a coaxial output terminating in a probe which launches energy from the magnetron along a rectangular waveguide. The coaxial output is arranged in an endfire configuration with respect to the waveguide, giving a compact arrangement compared to conventional output designs.

Abstract: A wall-mounted microwave oven is provided capable of performing an exhaust function irrespective of a folded state or an unfolded state of a guide plate while achieving an improvement in the exhaust function. The wall-mounted microwave oven includes an oven body, and the guide plate to guide fumes or smoke rising toward the oven body to an exhaust suction port formed at a bottom wall of the oven body. The guide plate is hingeably mounted to a front wall of the oven body to hinge upwardly to a folded position thereof or hinging downwardly to an unfolded position thereof.

Abstract: A device and method for diagnosing shorts and fault conditions in electrical circuits such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) control circuits. The device includes a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) member to protect the electrical circuit from overcurrent conditions during diagnosis. The device also includes a light emitting diode (LED) and resistor electrically connected in parallel across the PTC member. An overcurrent condition causes the resistance of the PTC member to rise dramatically, creating a potential difference across the PTC member and lighting the LED. The invention also includes a method for locating a short in an HVAC control circuit using the short locating device.

Abstract: A boilerless steamer apparatus is provided having a steamer cavity formed of a steam generating space and a cooking space, wherein the steam generating space is separated from the cooking space by a removable steam lid. The present boilerless steamer apparatus can provide between 7 to 10 lbs./hour (per pan) of steam. Various methods to easily clean the boilerless steamer apparatus are provided.

Abstract: An automotive transparency having a heatable wiper rest area includes a first glass sheet and a second glass sheet secured together by an interlayer material. An opaque band is positioned on the inner surface of the outer glass sheet along a portion of an edge of the outer sheet at an expected wiper rest areas; and an electrically conductive member is positioned on a major surface of the second glass sheet and extends along an edge portion of the second sheet at the wiper rest area. A plurality of bus bars positioned in electrical contact along the conductive member divides the conductive member into a plurality of heatable areas with a first lead electrically interconnecting selected ones of the bus bars and a second lead electrically interconnecting other selected ones of the bus bars with overlying portions of the first and second leads electrically isolated from each other.

Abstract: A boilerless steamer apparatus is provided having a steamer cavity formed of a steam generating space and a cooking space, wherein the steam generating space is separated from the cooking space by a removable steam lid. The present boilerless steamer apparatus can provide between 7 to 10 lbs./hour (per pan) of steam. Additionally, various means are disclosed to reduce the amount of condensate reaching the drainage system. Various methods to easily clean the boilerless steamer apparatus are provided.

Abstract: Information handling system peripherals that use a heating element are protected from catastrophic failure due to overheating by a thermal failsafe associated with the heating element that fails the heating element if excessive temperatures are reached. For instance, the failsafe releases the vacuum from a heating element bulb so that the application of power to the filament of the heating element bulb oxidizes the filament resulting in failure of the filament and ceasing of generation of heat. The failsafe includes a melting agent, such as wax or solder, which seals an opening in the bulb unless a thermal runaway temperature is reached in excess of a desired operating temperature. Alternatively, the failsafe includes an expanding agent, such as a ceramic or a liquid-filled bubble, which releases the vacuum by fracturing an opening in the bulb at the thermal runaway temperature. The thermal runaway temperature is selected to induce failure before catastrophic overheating of the peripheral.

Abstract: A carbon heating apparatus utilizing a graphite felt and a method of manufacturing thereof are presented comprising: a carbon heater made of a carbon fiber cut having a preset length and width, being performed heat treatment in a hydrogen gas atmosphere, a pair of terminal parts having a flat portion (31) at one end for connecting to outside power supply lines and clamping brackets (32) with protrusions (33) at opposite end for securely attaching to the carbon heater, and a quartz glass tube (10) with melt-jointing potions (15) for sealing both ends of the carbon heater.

Abstract: A method for making a heating element adhered to a substrate by applying a photocurable composition to a flexible substrate in a pattern having one or more grid lines is provided. The photocurable composition is curable into an electrically conductive layer and volatile organic compounds are present in an amount of less than about 10% total weight of the photocurable composition. After the pattern is deposited on the substrate is cured by illuminating the photocurable composition with light for a sufficient period of time to cure the photocurable composition. Heating elements made by the method are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a heater for flip chip bonding. The heater transfers more heat to the periphery of a die than to the center. This results in a more even temperature profile along the die and helps prevent epoxy voiding problems.

Abstract: An electric heating device that is constructed in a unique fashion that allows it to be drapeable so that its three-dimensional, ‘scoop-like’ shape fits the curvature of a relaxed shoulder, a crooked knee or a crooked elbow, and is held in place by an adjustable strap whose ends are attached to the device. The heating element configuration that is contained within a singular, sealed, water-tight vinyl envelope that is produced as one piece, with the three panels briefly connected at a point where the heating element wiring crosses from one panel to the other.

Abstract: A system and method for heating materials is provided. Generally, the system contains a first layer upon which a material may be placed for heating the material, wherein the first layer has sufficient conductivity to allow heat to travel through the first layer. The system also contains a heater layer provided on the first layer, which is capable of providing heat to the first layer for heating the material. In addition, the system has an insulator layer for protecting the heater layer from contaminants.

Abstract: A method of increasing the useful life of heating elements that consist essentially of molybdenum silicide and alloys thereof, wherein the heating elements operate at high temperatures in heat treatment processes and generally rest against the floor and/or the ceiling of a furnace. The heating elements contain aluminum to an extent sufficient to maintain a stable, slowly growing layer of aluminum oxide on the surfaces of the heating elements, and the heating elements are placed in direct abutment with an aluminum oxide brick material.

Abstract: A method of increasing the length of life of heating elements that consist essentially of molybdenum-silicide, and alloys thereof, when the elements are operated at a low temperature, such as at a temperature ranging from 400-600° C. The heating element material contains Mo(Si1-xAlx)2, and that material contains sufficient aluminum to substantially prevent the formation of pest.

Abstract: A heater including an electrically insulative panel having a decorative image on a first side and a resistive heating layer on the second side. The resistive heating layer is preferably a graphite containing sol gel material. The invention can also include a surface or support for supporting an article such as a towel or piece of clothing adjacent to the heated surface to heat and/or dry the article.

Abstract: A ceramic heater element and a glow plug incorporating the novel heater element. The heater element has a base portion and a heater portion. Conductive, insulative and resistive layers extend through both the base and heater portions. An outer conductive layer is applied to the outside of the base portion to provide a highly conductive return path. This lends to limit the heating of the resistive layer in the base portion and results in better and more reliable heat concentration in the heater portion. The heater element is further provided with a waterproof non-electrically conductive outer layer. The heater element can be assembled to form a glow plug for a diesel engine.